There are plenty of great opportunities to gather gamers to set records of all kinds. I want to see the biggest, the longest, the most, the fastest. I want dice as big as houses, I want life-sized miniatures. I want to see a thousand characters in the same party and naked role-playing on an epic scale!
Where the idea for this story came from, I don’t know. I was sitting in front of my computer with a blank document open trying to create some short story ideas when this one arrived. It’s a near-future SF story about a young man who is something of an artist. It’s not to be taken seriously, but it does predict the future.
Let’s look at the most common mistakes made by Game Masters and how they affect the game, the players and the future of the galaxy as we know it. If you are a Game Master or are thinking of becoming one, you may find this advice useful.
Humans are hard-wired to seek fun, even if at times life, experience and poverty block that need. Even the dourest human should have fun sometimes. Staying home gives you access to collecting porcelain ferrets, rebuilding rotary engines or knitting bobble hats for the neighbours, you name it… What? You need more? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of staying at home and adventuring.
Playing tabletop role-playing games with real people or online. Which one is better, and why? Tabletop games allow social interactions face to face, with people you know and like, even come to love. When it comes to fitting gaming into your life, it’s far easier to play video games than tabletop games. Just don’t shout “die bitch!” on a packed train when you get too involved.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of military science fiction and indeed own dozens of such books. Sometimes though, I find myself thinking maybe they’ve gone a bit too far or perhaps forgot something. Suffice it to say, some people forget the world is three-dimensional.
Locating items or magic potions, discovering a mutant squirrel hideout, or finding a weapon against a demon are all role-playing game scenarios. More or less tricky or exciting. Here is my personal top-ten order; judging fun, originality, playability and player and Game Master expectations. Do your scenarios have the S factor?
How likely are you to merry a princess? Or a prince. Kill six rats or pledge your soul? Once or twice a week, you say? Well, in a game, perhaps. But who knows? All of these things are possible in both worlds, not things you wouldn’t do because you can’t.
Different games, situations and even players require different treatment, but as a general rule, the Game Master shouldn’t ask for a roll when the situation doesn’t need it. Judging this need is the trick of course, and separates good Game Masters from average ones.
This can happen to the most experienced Game Masters. Accidentally killing the entire party due to underestimating the strength of a monster, overestimating the skills of the party, or by pure bad luck. A contingency plan for an “oops!” moment? Let’s look at it.
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