GM Lounge - Bartenders Answer All Your Questions

Started by HockeyGod, January 02, 2012, 03:16:41 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Secretwriter

I've had several games make it to big game status, most of them died for one reason or another.

The first was Darkest Realms: The Underworld Tavern. Zemo and FallenAngelNajdan were my lovely co-GM's.

Planet Bastille followed, with Blitzy and Pockets, though Blitzy left due to school and Lady Kitsune stepped up.  We had trouble finding dominant characters who weren't just into abusing others.

I earned GM status in Crystal Lake, where I still do my good deeds and GM stuffs.

I also ran a game with Adonis and Kendra, Xavier's School for Gifted Young Adults. Lady Lunarius was a member of our staff for a bit. Sadly real life kind of kicked us all in the bottom during this game and it just kind of died.

Personally I prefer freeform games.

As for picking the members for a game, I’m all about an approval process where the GM's work together to decide if a character is fit for the game. The wrong character can ruin things fast and sometimes those things… can't be fixed.  If it's a small game, it's only a few people anyway, but if it's a big game... sometimes up to forty people are playing at once, especially if it generates a lot of interest. That's a lot of members to lose and a lot of people that could be upset if the wrong things happen.

Secret's Bio | Tanja's Bio


I see hell in your eyes. Taken in by surprise. And touching you makes me feel alive.

♦ Kitty's Brain ♥ Pockets's Lucky Charm ♥ Doom Cookie Monster ♥ Shade's Spanking Machine ♥ Najdan's Sinful Little Devil ♦

Senti

#26
I must say I am such a quiet young lady here. I have run and helped run games not only on this board. At the moment I am running a Vampire game (A Cordial Invitation.) Its not fast  but is a stayer, remember sometimes slow and steady can sometimes win the race as it were.

I do a lot of table top GMing too and run games for some very discerning people…

Oh did I offer tea around, I should do that before I clean the bar area. I can clean and chat…

I like to think however I am well versed in many games. Mostly WoD both New and Old. Though I do have others hidden away in my tea pot and may at some time bring them out.

I kind of find system games preferable in many ways, not to roll dice for going lav lav or the like but more as an aid, so that everyone is equal to a point. Also it’s lovely to progress in skills and powers.

I must say that when one GM’s always be prepared for the unexpected. (I kid you not... Silly Senti had a whole fight planned in a werewolf game and the buggers dressed up as council workers, drank tea, chatted and cleared the area, with nothing more than dirty hands.) There is also a player that just loves to bury the plot item in concrete for shits and giggles...Still it keeps me on my toes.

*Goes back to usual tea making and cleaning.*

HockeyGod

#27
Quote from: TheKhan on January 03, 2012, 11:12:46 PM
Ooooo, I like this idea! Quick question, how do GMs on E typically pick players for their games?

Well, typically you start out with a thread advertisement and then people that are interested PM character sheets to you. In general I've found that most group games in E operate on a "first come, first served" process. I like Secret's suggestion of an application.

This https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=124412.msg5471475#msg5471475 might give you more information about promotion.

Senti

I do agree checking players out works well for me, especially in historical type settings. (No your Victorian Maid  may not be a specialist in automatic weapons…)

Sarcasm aside, I find communication works well.  Funnily enough, if one suggests a few changes in a character, in a most polite manner I find it works, also offering suggestions can work to.

For me its all about manners.

Haibane

Alxnjsh, would you like, for your links thread, some useful stuff on Japanese language and bathing customs? I've set a bunch of RPs in Japan and players often ask me about this.

Lord Drake

I have GMed games in RL and one day (probably in a full moon) I'll GM something on a forum.

In the meantime... I tried some time ago to give an explanation of what a system game is. Maybe some other system GM around here would be willing to help making up a tutorial about system games??
Hey.. where did you put that Drake?
I've taken the Oath of The Drake for Group RPs!
“Never waste your time trying to explain who you are
to people who are committed to misunderstanding you.”
— Dream Hampton

TheGlyphstone

'A game with a defined, impartial ruleset for resolving challenges and conflicts' would suffice, I'd think.

Also, I approve of this new forum.


Currently, the only thing I'm GMing is partial ownership of Superheroes vs. Villains. Still intact, though a bit heavily male-dominated at the moment (and almost exclusively male-dominated without Darwishi and his stable of ladies).

HockeyGod

Quote from: Haibane on January 04, 2012, 09:53:36 AM
Alxnjsh, would you like, for your links thread, some useful stuff on Japanese language and bathing customs? I've set a bunch of RPs in Japan and players often ask me about this.

This sounds very interesting! What if we started a new thread on cultural and setting resources, that way people can provide helpful information on any number of cultures?

Senti

Poppett (Lord Drake I would be happy to have a go for you....just because its you.)

HockeyGod

Quote from: Senti on January 04, 2012, 03:54:31 PM
Poppett (Lord Drake I would be happy to have a go for you....just because its you.)

That would be awesome!

Lord Drake

I did this some time ago, then RL blundered in and I succumbed. Do you think it could have any use??
Hey.. where did you put that Drake?
I've taken the Oath of The Drake for Group RPs!
“Never waste your time trying to explain who you are
to people who are committed to misunderstanding you.”
— Dream Hampton

Haibane

Quote from: alxnjsh on January 04, 2012, 03:35:01 PM
This sounds very interesting! What if we started a new thread on cultural and setting resources, that way people can provide helpful information on any number of cultures?
Wherever you think is the best place to put things so they are most easily found. I just assumed it would go in the links thread since that was the only one I saw, but if you've a Master Plan then store it where you like.

I have PM'd you the material.

HockeyGod

Quote from: Lord Drake on January 04, 2012, 03:58:05 PM
I did this some time ago, then RL blundered in and I succumbed. Do you think it could have any use??

yes, very much so! I'll link it ;)

Quote from: Haibane on January 04, 2012, 04:03:37 PM
Wherever you think is the best place to put things so they are most easily found. I just assumed it would go in the links thread since that was the only one I saw, but if you've a Master Plan then store it where you like.

I have PM'd you the material.

I'll set up a thread and then do an index of sorts, but people can post whatever they'd like related to cultural resources for settings.

Senti

I should have something up in a day or two, and thank you poppet. I hope it will help.

Sasha


The only systems style game I am totally familiar with is OWOD ...and more in the area of the Sabbat . I have tinkered in other areas with the Camarilla but I always seem to play a vampire on the outside . Or stepped in to GM out the bad guys .

  I do miss that third element it brings into the game though ...as nothing more fun than playing out a botch or failure . You always have that one character that fails miserably and has a creative comical writer behind it . The element of Surprise and the unknown of the outcome can give one a rush . Though part of me wishes all my characters would roll poorly at some point in time as  have ended up killing a few characters that were most enjoyable.

As far as the screening process and working with the incoming player in setting up his character , aiding in a background story that fits in with what is going on . I find that most enjoyable and indeed as Senti said most are very acceptable to it , it is the approach to the matter. All my games to this point have been open to all so that leads to various levels of ability which is awesome as you can see an individual grow.

Phoenixrisen

*wanders in and keeps an peeks around*

Quote from: HairyHeretic on January 03, 2012, 06:28:27 PM
I'm hoping to get my own games up and running again in the next few weeks, life permiting.

I also have an idea I've been kicking around for building my own world, and running something rules light / freeform there. I have bits and pieces of it fleshed out, some history, some races, some of the general feel of it. I'm not sure if it's quite ready to play in yet though.

I'm actually doing that right now, with a high fantasy setting. It's possible it was my presentation, but it seems that things set in one's own world don't get quite as much interest as those set in places that are at least based of off preexisting ones. I'm not just basing that off of my own experience though, but things I've seen happen with other RP's. Then again, I didn't need anything more than a few devoted players which is exactly what I ended up with anyway.

Will it ever make big game status? Probably not, but I'd be happy with just getting to the end of the first mission...

As for choosing characters, I've tried the come one come all approach, and I've found it doesn't work for me. It's in part why the first time I tried to run A Bard's Tale it failed. What I've found works best is looking at the characters that have been submitted, paying attention to they way they've been written up, if the person involved paid attention to what you as the GM may have had to say about character creation. If the player can take constructive criticism, and if their writing and maturity levels fit with the RP itself, and the other players involved. Stylistic fits and length are important things to consider to. If things are too vastly different, it can be frustrating for everyone. In something that's supposed to be a highly detailed RP for example, having one player who writes one liners almost exclusively when everyone else is giving multiple paragraphs is just gonna throw everything off... I think that's enough rambling on that subject, so I'll finish up with saying, I agree wholeheartedly that if you're looking for a specific feel to a RP choosing your characters on something other than first come first served is important.

~A full heart has room for all things, an empty heart room for nothing.~
PM's and Discord messages always welcome.
New folks friendly.


Write a love story with me? Updated 3/30
Curious how to fan the flames?
Updated 9/21

Aiden

HOLY CRAP I need booze and tons of them! (The new game Kendra and I are planning is sheer madness)





I rarely come across characters who would not fit into any games I am running now, but before I would leave open gaps for people to sneak in something past me. Like a character who can not speak English (So communication is impossible) or players who join my games simply looking to "get off" and then ditch the game. I do give everyone a chance and work with them but if they do not work with me then I tell them the truth and tell them they wouldn't be a good fit.

HockeyGod

Do you think the discussions about systems games warrant a thread? It seems as though there are quite a few games going and a lot of people are interested in learning more.

Quote from: Aiden on January 04, 2012, 11:19:35 PM
HOLY CRAP I need booze and tons of them! (The new game Kendra and I are planning is sheer madness)

Sounds epic!

Senti

#43
hello...doing tea and cleaning...as well as working on system games post or rather more than one...what a mine field... getting help from my 11 year old that is a gamer too (obviously not on E).
All I can say is Bless ...But mum you just roll some dice its easy... after rolling his eyes.

However I would say it might be worth its own thread it is a huge matter.

HairyHeretic

Quote from: Phoenixrisen on January 04, 2012, 10:59:22 PM
*wanders in and keeps an peeks around*

I'm actually doing that right now, with a high fantasy setting. It's possible it was my presentation, but it seems that things set in one's own world don't get quite as much interest as those set in places that are at least based of off preexisting ones.

That may be mostly down to familiarity. In a canon setting you know how things stand. In an entirely new world, you don't know what to expect.

I'd like to toss out another thread idea. World Building for Fun and Profit :) A thread for people to toss out setting and game ideas to kick around, ask for help with or feedback on.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Phoenixrisen

Quote from: HairyHeretic on January 05, 2012, 04:32:49 PM
That may be mostly down to familiarity. In a canon setting you know how things stand. In an entirely new world, you don't know what to expect.

I'd like to toss out another thread idea. World Building for Fun and Profit :) A thread for people to toss out setting and game ideas to kick around, ask for help with or feedback on.

That actually sounds like a great idea. *joins the band wagon*
~A full heart has room for all things, an empty heart room for nothing.~
PM's and Discord messages always welcome.
New folks friendly.


Write a love story with me? Updated 3/30
Curious how to fan the flames?
Updated 9/21

TheGlyphstone

Oh, that would be delightful. I've had a setting-in-progress I've been trying to write for literally years (the initial idea seeds came during high school), and a source for ideas and feedback might be the catalyst to get me working again.

HockeyGod

Sounds like we have a motion, a second and a vote ;)

I'm not certain if I have to create all the threads. I didn't read the manual, but I'll go head and create it ;)

Nom De Plume

So if I had a setting idea that I wanted to lump in one place to edit and receive feedback on, this thread is where I'd post it?
A&A

Phoenixrisen

Quote from: Nom De Plume on January 05, 2012, 09:00:40 PM
So if I had a setting idea that I wanted to lump in one place to edit and receive feedback on, this thread is where I'd post it?

Yup! :-)
~A full heart has room for all things, an empty heart room for nothing.~
PM's and Discord messages always welcome.
New folks friendly.


Write a love story with me? Updated 3/30
Curious how to fan the flames?
Updated 9/21