I've been doing a lot of reading recently, re-learning how to GM and prepare adventures. Over the years I got into the habit of having no preparation beyond a general idea of the plan and a book from which to pull names. Thoughts and plans are beginning to coalesce and today I've been pondering Campaigns.
How Much Realism Is Too Real
In the past I've been a strong advocate and supporter of realism. I still lean towards realism in my design and planning but I've started re-thinking my opinion on the matter recently. There is such a thing as too much realism. For example...
Believable Villains
Light and Dark can be found in everyone. It can be fun to have a villain that is pure evil, with no redeeming qualities. In such cases the players don't have anything to feel guilty about when they defeat the villain. However, in mortals (and immortals if you take your cosmology cue from most polytheistic religions) Good and Evil can be found within everyone.
Re-learning to GM
I have't GM'd a regular game in years. I used to be pretty decent, though I'd never say great. Over the years, my style and game quality have declined. It's time to get back to the basics.
The plan for now is to start with a small shanty-esque town outside a larger city. The scene begins with the players having been kicked out of the larger city for one reason or another (perhaps to be determined by the players themselves), leaving us with a smaller city area for them to role-play in. In the shanty-town there will be one developed NPC who offers the PC's a job in a simple dungeon, either simply for pay or in exchange for the means of getting back into the city. The means, of course, may or may not involve additional work/adventures to come to fruition.
The plan for now is to start with a small shanty-esque town outside a larger city. The scene begins with the players having been kicked out of the larger city for one reason or another (perhaps to be determined by the players themselves), leaving us with a smaller city area for them to role-play in. In the shanty-town there will be one developed NPC who offers the PC's a job in a simple dungeon, either simply for pay or in exchange for the means of getting back into the city. The means, of course, may or may not involve additional work/adventures to come to fruition.
The Reflection in the Jewel
Maybe I'm behind the times, perhaps you've already seen this. But if not, it's fascinating! Grab your D&D 3.5 player's manual (I know you've got one. If not, head to your local gaming store and check it out there) . . . anyway, grab your manual, turn it upside down and look at the yellow jewel in the (now) top left corner (it'll be the bottom right corner if held right-way up).
Designer's Block: Solution 1
Yesterday I wrote briefly about Designer's Block and wondered at whether it could be resolved with some of the same solutions available when dealing with Writer's Block. The answer is a resounding Yes. I tried unfiltered writing, that is, I just jotted down every option that came to mind without trying to figure out how each one would work, and then when I finished/ran out of time went back later to add mechanics to what I'd written and it worked beautifully. I had 9 deities to assign clerical powers for and now have only 3 to do, after less than an hour of brainstorming.
I don't think I'm going to meet my arbitrary Year's End deadline for having Renaissance ready for Beta testing, but it won't be long after.
Also, the title of this post is "...Solution 1". I may or may not post additional solutions as I come across them so be on the look out for those. And, naturally, if you have any solutions of your own for Designer's Block, please share them in the comments below!
I don't think I'm going to meet my arbitrary Year's End deadline for having Renaissance ready for Beta testing, but it won't be long after.
Also, the title of this post is "...Solution 1". I may or may not post additional solutions as I come across them so be on the look out for those. And, naturally, if you have any solutions of your own for Designer's Block, please share them in the comments below!
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