#RPGaDAY 2016, Day 13: What Makes a Successful Campaign?

by ThomasNo Comments

First, define “successful”. Also “campaign”.

Back when we played the post-college Shadowrun game, I had the whole campaign outlined ((Remember, this was back when I was still thinking of roleplaying games as primarily the GM’s story where the players enter with their characters to see what happens, rather than the collaborative play style I enjoy now.)) to create story arcs, season arcs like a television show. Each season started and ended on certain points. When we played that game, we went through the first season and had a good ending. Then we tried to do play-by-email once we started all moving away in the second season and that one didn’t have a satisfying ending.

My answer? Endings make a successful campaign.

Plan for an end point.

Continue reading →

#RPGaDAY 2016, Day 12: The Next Game

by ThomasNo Comments

The actual title of today’s prompt is “What game is your group most likely to play next?” That question makes a few assumptions, the foremost being that one plays in a single group.

Take a look at Rich Rogers. Inferring from his posts about gaming and invitations to game (or watch one being streamed), I don’t think he actually has a game group, just a whole bunch of gamer friends that come together to play stuff for a few sessions and then back to the pool. Or if he does have a game group, he has at least three, each with a revolving cast, maybe some regulars in each. (Rich, don’t tell me. I want to believe you live in a magical wonderland of gaming and one day you’ll open a retirement home for all us gamers who can mix and mingle and play throughout our golden years.)

Continue reading →

#RPGaDAY 2016, Day 11: How did the tabletop RPGs you’ve played shape how you play now?

by ThomasNo Comments

Oh, I love this question (again, supplied from Tracy Barnett): How did the RPGs I’ve played shape the gamer I am now? It’s a different question from the real question for day, “Which gamer most affected the way you play?” But there is a bit of overlap.

There are moments in one’s gaming life where something clicks and is so profound it changes how you run (or play) the games you enjoy so. Here, I’m thinking about five different games: InSpectres; Buffy, the Vampire Slayer; (a game session of) Shadowrun, 4th Edition; Burning Wheel; and Apocalypse World.

Continue reading →