tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714327904580798843.post5677874854263042774..comments2024-03-16T20:19:35.738+00:00Comments on alea iactanda est: Worldbuilding, and why I didn't do anyAlea iactanda esthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17951704235056042923noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714327904580798843.post-34575539499588353392014-05-25T09:49:40.246+01:002014-05-25T09:49:40.246+01:00I liked 3/3.5 edition OK before the rules bloat to...I liked 3/3.5 edition OK before the rules bloat took over. I was never really a fan of the overly-mechanistic & top-down approach to everything from the start, but if you just had the three main books it was playable enough. <br /><br />A 22 page character sheet seems nightmarish. I played a wizard character who started (at third level) out at 3 pages: the front and back of the official character sheet and a piece of lined paper for his spellbook, scrolls, and familiar. By the time he hit about 13th level, his spellbook had expanded so much that I had to write on the back of the lined paper as well. I think you may have encountered aninsane GM!<br /><br />That said, I don't intend to ever play 3/3.5/Pathfinder ever again. <br /><br />I think my solo GMing style is redolent of the way I run games for other people too. I once ran an epic destroy-the-evil-artifact quest over several months from ~4 pages of scribbled notes, which were mostly stat blocks for the first set-piece combat encounter.Alea iactanda esthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17951704235056042923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714327904580798843.post-11215728148016382102014-05-24T11:27:51.205+01:002014-05-24T11:27:51.205+01:00The latter part of my previous comment is, of cour...The latter part of my previous comment is, of course, referring to "social" games where one is GMing with real live players.Bluebear Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05171345165563779232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714327904580798843.post-40516833923229143752014-05-24T11:25:22.620+01:002014-05-24T11:25:22.620+01:00One of the reasons that I prefer the earlier (i.e....One of the reasons that I prefer the earlier (i.e., B/X) versions of D&D to AD&D is the amount of detail and added rules and tables to make things more "realistic". I much prefer the "imagination" that the simpler rules encourage.<br /><br />I think that THAT is what so many of the retro-clones are really trying to recapture. A few years back I was lured to join a 3rd edition AD&D game. I told the GM what I wanted to play (a Cleric) and received a 22-page "character sheet" . . . I mean really? 22 pages. I didn't even bother to read most of it.<br /><br />Personally I like the way you've been "winging it". I think that it is a great way to go with a solo project . . . but I also think that as a GM one has to keep the nature of his/her players in mind and prepare things that will involve them all . . . including (especially) the quieter ones. <br /><br />That doesn't mean pre-planning everything, just having ways to keep everyone involved. Puzzles are always good. Taking a player aside and telling them that they've had a significant dream about something is good. Keeping everyone interested is good. And sometimes I've stopped a battle when the party is well ahead and said something like "you kill all the rest; now roll 1d6 and subtract three -- that's how much more damage you take."<br /><br />Keep the story moving. Don't be concerned that they go somewhere unexpected or do something you aren't prepared for . . . just go with the flow.<br /><br /><br />-- Jeff<br />Bluebear Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05171345165563779232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714327904580798843.post-85330315449815014152014-05-24T10:19:40.595+01:002014-05-24T10:19:40.595+01:00Thank you. It was surprisingly hard to write. I gu...Thank you. It was surprisingly hard to write. I guess that's the down side of keeping all the setting information stored in ones head.<br /><br />I know my methods aren't for everyone, but I hope some ofthe ideas here can convince people to start playing with a minimum of preparation and just let things develop organically. <br /><br />The idea to try an all-elf campaign only came to me after I offered up a replacement hero for the Ever-expanding Dungeon. Eight days later I had played at least two sessions and gotten the first one cleaned up enough to post. I know this, because Castle Vyljusz is on the first map, but not included in the setting paragraph; it didn't get its name until the characters randomly had to go there.Alea iactanda esthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17951704235056042923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8714327904580798843.post-33550356302192620612014-05-23T20:50:25.827+01:002014-05-23T20:50:25.827+01:00Thank you, sir. This is a very informative post a...Thank you, sir. This is a very informative post and I appreciate your sharing it with us.<br /><br /><br />-- JeffBluebear Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05171345165563779232noreply@blogger.com