Friendship is Dragons
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Page 1245 - Timing is Anything
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Newbiespud
11th Jul 2019, 6:00 AM
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Batman always has a bonus to those checks. Because he’s Batman.
I loved the scene in one of the animated shows where Batman and Superman are having a discussion. Batman turns away as he explains something, but when he turns back, Superman is long gone.
"Huh. So that's what it feels like."
"Huh. So that's what it feels like."
When Gygax wrote an example of play in the 1e DMG, his example DM had the party already together and agreed to murder-hobo for fun and profit. There are many who could benefit from his wisdom.
It's always fun to say "you guys already know each other," and let them make up how they know each other while playing. Lots of opportunity for improvised RP, and a clever GM can use background information their players make up to fill in any blanks in worldbuilding or just turn offhand comments into plot hooks for sidequests.
PLAYER 1: One-time president of a small railroad that flopped after the market crashed in '29.
PLAYER 2: "Hey, I know you, I was a gandy dancer on your railroad! You stiffed me on my final pay!"
PLAYER 1: "That wasn't my fault! The paymaster made off with half the payroll!"
PLAYER 3: (Detective/trouble-shooter) "That's right, he hired me to catch the rat."
PLAYER 2: "Hey, I know you, I was a gandy dancer on your railroad! You stiffed me on my final pay!"
PLAYER 1: "That wasn't my fault! The paymaster made off with half the payroll!"
PLAYER 3: (Detective/trouble-shooter) "That's right, he hired me to catch the rat."
That's what I did with my group. "You're a group of adventurers. Why are you hanging out and fighting monsters together?"
They haven't necessarily, though. The players have agreed to an adventure, but the characters need not have answered the Call to Adventure when you start.
Of course, if the characters haven't pre-answered the Call then it should come early in the session and it shouldn't be refused when it comes. But there can still be room for some negotiating.
Of course, if the characters haven't pre-answered the Call then it should come early in the session and it shouldn't be refused when it comes. But there can still be room for some negotiating.
Oh boy. This reminds me of when I ran my Jumanji campaign. It took four sessions for my group to actually make their way to the plot hook.
More than half of that was me desperately trying to arrange them to *become* a group despite what I can only conclude was active sabotage of that goal on their parts.
More than half of that was me desperately trying to arrange them to *become* a group despite what I can only conclude was active sabotage of that goal on their parts.
The one time I tried out Pathfinder 2e, we went something like two sessions where my character never met up with the rest of the party. And was going to go off on his own to the dungeon ahead of the others. The GM tried to get us together, but the way the dice and the narrative from the other PCs flowed, it just wasn't happening. XD
A fantastic example of why the "Dark, mysterious loner who doesn't care about anyone or anything" is a terrible character for an RPG.
One player tried making that as a PC. Character refused to go with the rest of the group when we went beyond the entrance of a dungeon. Player was utterly surprised when the DM gave him no screen time - nothing happened to him, and he was unable to do anything of note - unless and until he returned to the group. I suspect that player did not make that mistake again.
* Sometimes it's just a bit of flavor text that nonetheless is part of character generation so you can't officially complete it until you have links to the party.
* Sometimes there's a mechanical bribe - such as an extra skill level or two - for linking to fellow PCs.
* And sometimes, the players are actively involved in setting creation, officially/by the book not allowed to make their characters until the environment and party context is established (whether or not the players are thinking ahead to the characters they want to play).
In my case, I try to actively see what character I have, or have to make, to fit with the party's existing composition... be it a group that just did session 0 and had someone drop, the general back and forth of people coming up with ideas the days leading into the first session (because of no formal session 0), or a few sessions in and filling a slot for whatever reason.
At this point, I've got just about everything in some flavor... cleric, bard, rogue, sorcerer, and even a under-HP bardbarian one-hippogryph wall (ok, he's a Skald... basically a barbarian with bard HP, and a mix of both's skills)
At this point, I've got just about everything in some flavor... cleric, bard, rogue, sorcerer, and even a under-HP bardbarian one-hippogryph wall (ok, he's a Skald... basically a barbarian with bard HP, and a mix of both's skills)
These comments remind The Werefrog of something repeatedly said at Fear the Boot: the best games are those with a party template. All players agree how their character fits in the party and they all came together before the adventure.
Of course, they also had times in which only GM knew the truth about a character for some final twist that the player would reveal.
Of course, they also had times in which only GM knew the truth about a character for some final twist that the player would reveal.
"Calling them to Adventure a second time when they're right in front of you is about as weird and rote as it sounds."
I prefer to think of it as a Fae Contract. Thrice Called. Thrice Answered.
I prefer to think of it as a Fae Contract. Thrice Called. Thrice Answered.