MD: And this game is gonna be just as fun! You’ve got a new transfer student, a big event, and a magical crown to swipe!.
PP: Didn’t you say it was locked up?
FS: I was wondering…
MD: Well, yeah…It’s the Fall Formal crown, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to get it.
RD: But why would we? We don’t know it’s magic. And Dash doesn’t care about this dance.
MD: Well, I mean, you can-
AJ: Ah don’t think I’m too keen on breakin’ and enterin’
MD: I’m not saying you have to commit a crime, just that-
FS: Um, do you think maybe we could…
RT: Is this crown as gaudy as it sounds? Or is it something Rarity might like?
MD: Uh, let me check the notes-
RD: It doesn’t make sense for my character-
AJ: Ah know it’s just a game, but-
PP: What sort of magic we talkin’, anyway?
RT: If you don’t have any ideas, I can draw some out-
FS: Girls, maybe we should…
Twilight Sparkle: You know what? Let’s take a break for food.
MD: YES. PLEASE. LET’S DO THAT.
FS: That’s what I was going to say!
Ah, the joys of your first time DMing. You want to make something simple: save the world, get the item, be a hero. That's all. But the players, even if they're new themselves, want the complex stories. Want the reason, the need, want the epic LOTR style story.
This kind of thing is why I cribbed a rule from the Feng Shui games - the GM sets the scene, and it's the player's part to figure out just how and why they ended up here.
When you GM, always take notes on what motivates your players/characters. A lot of times they'll give away those details in OOC discussions during a break, and they might not even notice that. So they'll feel quite happy when you spring those in the adventure later to hook them in.
I'm having some trouble with that in my current campaign. Mostly because one player (a really cool guy I was a fellow PC in another campaign with) keeps wanting me to get more development for one of his relationships… with another party member. Buddy, that is the one thing in the entire game that isn't my job.
Ah, yeah... that's much more complex than a simple encounter set up. Especially if that third player isn't interested. He'll have to work that out with the other PC.
Guest Author's Note: "It's important to take breaks.
That's it, that's the note. I'm taking a break myself. Author's notes are hard and I've had a long week.
(I'll have more to say Tuesday. : P)"