What do you like most in a story hour?

[Oghma]

What things attract you most to a story hour? What brings you back for new posts?

[Kid Charlemagne]

Thats a really tough poll to answer, because the answer is really "All of the above."

However, writing skill is a basic prerequisite. If the first installment of a Story Hour is just one long two page paragraph, I won't even bother reading a single sentence - I'll see it and back right out.

Competent writing allows all the other elements to be seen. After that, I think the character of both the setting and the PC's is what draws me in - it did in Sagiro's and Piratecat's Story Hours, thats for sure. Wulf's drew me in because of the PC characterizations, and the distinctive writing style that got Wulf's personality across so clearly.

I'm not generally too fond of Story Hours that delve into modules - I might want to play in those modules! For example, there's a Story Hour about Freeport going; I know that one group I play wth plans on going through those modules. That means that no matter how well written, I won't read that Story Hour.

I also like Story Hours that use the conventions of the game in neat ways and tht give me cool ideas to spring on my own players - Piratecat and Sagiro are particularly good at that.

[Carnifex]

I've got to agree with Kid Charlemagne. All of those qualities can make a story hour good.

In terms of story hours delving into modules, I don't mind too much, since I rarely if ever use modules at the moment (I'm using a homebrew campaign setting).

I'd say in terms of good story hours, Sagiro's and Piratecat's are certainly the masters

[drnuncheon]

Originally posted by Kid Charlemagne

I'm not generally too fond of Story Hours that delve into modules - I might want to play in those modules! For example, there's a Story Hour about Freeport going; I know that one group I play wth plans on going through those modules. That means that no matter how well written, I won't read that Story Hour.

Crumbs.

J

Tell them to hurry up and run the things already!

[el-remmen]

To me it is all about characters. . . If I cannot remember the names of the PCs and what makes them distinct my interest fades quickly. . .


It is one of the things I love about Sagiro's Story Hour (and that I think is good about mine) is that the characters are distinct, and little larger than life and memorable.

[The Sunderer]

Chalk me up as another all of the above!

[Rashak Mani]

We very rarely play in higher levels and Piratecats groups super duper spells and the enemies using a lot of magic and different tactics... are very different from my regular gaming.

I voted combat thing... but I really like the tactics and magic used in his story hour... Piratecats babies tied to front tactic was great ! Spells I never have seen used before in very dramatic combat stories....

[Wulf Ratbane]

GRIT.

[DoctorB]

I think I like everything too, but Pirate Cat's good writing is what draws me to it.

I am determined to write the Legacy of Alexander story in a more literary way now. It could be a good way to make the world come alive for me and my players too!

[Horacio]

Oghma, in your story hour it can be resumed in a word:

Posy

The best character ever

In general, I must say I like stories with well defined characters and twisted plots (like Nemmerle's one ), and I don't like stories where the PCs are so dull I cannot even remember their names or personalities, but there are not many like that in the boards...

[Scarab]

I was going to vote for the combat option because I love Wulf Ratbane's style, but then I realized it was actually Wulf himself I liked (no, not like that, you perverts!). He sure has a good writing style combined with attitude...

[CRGreathouse]

It's all about characters, both PCs and NPCs. Good writing is neccisary but insufficient.

[Paka]

Grit, good answer.

Writing, good writing is what curls my toes.

[Horacio]

Originally posted by CRGreathouse
It's all about characters, both PCs and NPCs. Good writing is neccisary but insufficient.

So it's like for a good gaming adventure, the memorable PCs are NPCs are most important than convoluted plots...

Well, I think I agree.

[Dinkeldog]

Not grit.

I like heroic stories featuring heroes. If someone starts the story hour out: "these PCs aren't good", I back out and look again.

Other than that, KidCharlemagne's list works for me. I enjoy myself more when my internal English teacher doesn't have to correct grammar as I read.

[Wulf Ratbane]

Originally posted by Dinkeldog
Not grit.

I like heroic stories featuring heroes. If someone starts the story hour out: "these PCs aren't good", I back out and look again.

Or you convince yourself that they bad guys are really good...

[Dinkeldog]

It's a good thing that I can.

Real life is full of grit. I don't play games in my off time to provide even more to it. I play games that have heroes that can solve the problems that can't be solved in real life.

I read stories about games that I would like to play in.

[Dr Midnight]

I'm with Dinkeldog. I don't like grit, I'm not a big fan of antiheroes. I like your classic epic adventure; grand heroic fantasy, sweeping vistas, poetic justice, good vs. evil, etc.

[el-remmen]

Why can't you have both?

In my game the PCs are in a gritty world, with harsh realities, pain and anaguish and constantly dealing with the trouble of trying to do the good thing.

But they are still clearly good and clearly heroic - it is just that being heroic isn't all its cracked up to be sometimes - I guess I come from the Spider-man school of heroism.

[Wulf Ratbane]

Exactly, Nemm...

I had something I wanted to say but you said it better.

So dinkeldog, I know you're reading our story hour, which means that one of us is kidding himself...