General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
It came out about about a month ago, and I haven't seen a thread up here yet on it. I'm just curious, has anyone bought the corebook yet and has begun to play it?
I played a quick story with someone a few days back (I had to cut it short because I needed to re-read the rules. I took notes and stuff) and it worked pretty well. She was quite thrilled with how I played as the Game Master.
I just need a bit of help...(preferably from someone who has used this book or is at least familar with its contents) with being the GM.
Does anyone have any good tips? I find myself feeling a bit awkward, especially when a player makes her character ask a question or say something I'm not expecting. I feel like if I freeze I'll seem that poorer of a GM. But if I say something silly or 'lame', I'll also seem like a pathetic GM.
I'll be asking more questions specifically about the game if I can find someone whose seen and read the corebook.
Well I'm a big fan of the show (have every season up to 4 so far on DVD) and I have the book as well. Probably won't be running it until the monster/magic book comes out since I have a storyline I want to run and I think that book will help alot. Anyway, not sure how much help I can be but I'll try if you have any questions.
__________________ Nobody built like me, I designed myself ...as an
Well I'm a big fan of the show (have every season up to 4 so far on DVD) and I have the book as well. Probably won't be running it until the monster/magic book comes out since I have a storyline I want to run and I think that book will help alot. Anyway, not sure how much help I can be but I'll try if you have any questions.
I've heard it definitely needs a monster book, since there's not a lot of sample monsters IN said book.
...What's this magic/monster book you're talking about? Is Jamie making something else to go along with the corebook? I don't know if I can wait another year of delays.
Do you have any knowledge of when it's to come out or a link to it or something?
The Guide to the Hunted covers the first four seasons of monsters, including the angels, as well as curses, magic, additional rules on rituals, monster creation (which isn't that hard in Cortex, all things considered) and monsters as hunters.
Before that, however, we have an anthology of five adventures planned for release this fall: Supernatural Adventures.
We're following up the Guide to the Hunted with the Supernatural Road Atlas, which is a big location guide to the USA, lots of adventure hooks, supernatural weirdness, and maps.
Jamie's not with the company any longer, but you can always email me if you want more information or help with MWP's licensed properties.
I'll be asking more questions specifically about the game if I can find someone whose seen and read the corebook.
This was one of my first purchases at Gen Con, it is a good book. As for not freezing up when running, this is nothing unique to Supernatural. It is just going to practice for you to get better at running the game and get used to dealing with things like this. Just prepare notes and get a poker face. It's okay when the PCs surprise you but sometimes you don't want them to know when they have.
Does anyone have any good tips? I find myself feeling a bit awkward, especially when a player makes her character ask a question or say something I'm not expecting. I feel like if I freeze I'll seem that poorer of a GM. But if I say something silly or 'lame', I'll also seem like a pathetic GM.
As Crothian mentioned this is about GMing not the specific game. Have notes ready for important NPC's, but don't be afraid to make things up. Try to think ahead. If you have to, there is nothing wrong with a pause to think of an answer to a PC's question. Just be sure that you mention that the NPC didn't really pause, unless it would fit their actions. Also the players might completely throw you for a loop. You might need a 10 or 15 minute break to figure out what to do. Just let them take a snack, smoke, or just hang out break.
Don't worry about looking silly when you are playing make believe.
__________________ Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.
Last edited by Rykion; 24th September 2009 at 05:43 PM..
Another useful tool, although I don't think it fits the genre: When in doubt, Ninja attack.
This is if the PCs are lost, things are going slow, or you need a good opportunity to stall the players. Action always gets everyone's blood pumping and makes them pay attention. Additionally, it lets you drop clues (such as having them on the bodies, the badguy saying something before he's axed, etc).
In this case, demons could be used for ninja. Or the Monster of the Week makes a brief run at the players before fleeing.
I always thought that Supernatural would be best run in World of Darkness. After all, the show is basically "Hunter: The TV Series".
Eh, Early Supernatural has a more folkloric basis then WoD... IMO, the mythology of the WoD (and even moreso with the appearance of many Judeo-Christian elements in the later seasons of Supernatural) just doesn't really fit well with a Supernatural game. Also the system WoD uses is a little too gritty, again IMO, for hunters as depicted in the show. YMMV of course.
Note: Mild spoilers below for Supernatural...
Too the OP: One of the things I'm debating in designing my campaign is whether to draw influences from the early, middle or later seasons of Supernatural. I think the earlier season(s) have a monster of the week feel with only the barest hinting of an overarching plot, while the mid season(s) seem to delve further into the Yellow-Eyed demon/Sam Winchester plot-line more and focus more on demons as adversaries... with the monster hunts used moreso to build suspense and/or break up monotony than as the focus of the show. Finally the later season(s) are definitely focused on the battle between Heaven/Hell as well as the battle between the Winchester brothers.
Personally I'd like to run a long-term campaign that runs the gamut of these things (which is also why I'll probably be waiting for the book Cam mentioned above. I think the core book has some great advice on building adventure and campaigns... I've actually been brainstorming an outline that deals with an overarching plot concerning the bid for the Grigori to re-enter heaven while the majority of the angel's, demon's and hunter's are focused on the release of Lucifer. This way there's a reason the characters have very little back up from other hunters and don't run into the Winchester brothers even though it will take place during the same time period.
__________________ Nobody built like me, I designed myself ...as an
If you want to try the game out or just take a look at how our rules work, you can download the free Supernatural RPG quickstart, The Hunt Begins, from DriveThruRPG. It includes pregenerated characters, rules, and an adventure.
Too the OP: One of the things I'm debating in designing my campaign is whether to draw influences from the early, middle or later seasons of Supernatural. I think the earlier season(s) have a monster of the week feel with only the barest hinting of an overarching plot, while the mid season(s) seem to delve further into the Yellow-Eyed demon/Sam Winchester plot-line more and focus more on demons as adversaries... with the monster hunts used moreso to build suspense and/or break up monotony than as the focus of the show. Finally the later season(s) are definitely focused on the battle between Heaven/Hell as well as the battle between the Winchester brothers.
It certainly feels a lot like the X-Files (or Babylon 5), where the Meta-Plot's frequency increases each season.
I really do miss the Monster of the Week episodes, as I felt Supernatural had really interesting takes on various monsters' origins/ecology. I loved what they did with the djinn, for instance.
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I've actually been brainstorming an outline that deals with an overarching plot concerning the bid for the Grigori to re-enter heaven while the majority of the angel's, demon's and hunter's are focused on the release of Lucifer.
Grigori are who, now?
Another way to address the issue of "Where is everyone else" in terms of NPCs, is to set it in a different country. That might take some folks out of their comfort zone, but somewhere as easy as Canada (which is roughly the same size as the US) can provide a whole new landscape of opportunities.
I personally think Supernatural would make a great PbP game.
It certainly feels a lot like the X-Files (or Babylon 5), where the Meta-Plot's frequency increases each season.
I really do miss the Monster of the Week episodes, as I felt Supernatural had really interesting takes on various monsters' origins/ecology. I loved what they did with the djinn, for instance.
Yeah, I miss them sometimes... but I also appreciate that this show, IMO, is also so focused. It feels like there is a story to tell and that it isn't wandering aimlessly about or becoming so convulted and drawn out it becomes boring and incomprehensible to many.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rechan
Grigori are who, now?
Another way to address the issue of "Where is everyone else" in terms of NPCs, is to set it in a different country. That might take some folks out of their comfort zone, but somewhere as easy as Canada (which is roughly the same size as the US) can provide a whole new landscape of opportunities.
I personally think Supernatural would make a great PbP game.
The Grigori were angels assigned to watch over man but who fell when they laid with the daughters of Adam and created the Nephilim. They also were suppose to have taught man the arts of war, sorcery etc. They're in the Old Testament and are often called the Watchers.
I guess you could set Supernatural in another country, but I do think the show definitely has an "American" feel to it that I like... plus I live in America so I'm familiar with it.
__________________ Nobody built like me, I designed myself ...as an
If by anyone you mean me, then I can give you a rough idea.
We want Supernatural Adventures to go to press mid-October. We'd like Guide to the Hunted to go to press end of November. If they're approved, that's when the PDF goes on sale at DriveThruRPG. The books go into distribution channels about a month later, sometimes longer, depending on the print window.
We've aimed Supernatural Adventures as late fall and Guide as late winter. Supernatural Road Atlas will be late spring.
If by anyone you mean me, then I can give you a rough idea.
We want Supernatural Adventures to go to press mid-October. We'd like Guide to the Hunted to go to press end of November. If they're approved, that's when the PDF goes on sale at DriveThruRPG. The books go into distribution channels about a month later, sometimes longer, depending on the print window.
We've aimed Supernatural Adventures as late fall and Guide as late winter. Supernatural Road Atlas will be late spring.
Cheers,
Cam
As a huge fan of the show, let me tell you: if you need art, I'm your man!
Hell, I even cast Jensen Ackles as my 4e rogue (see below).
The Grigori were angels assigned to watch over man but who fell when they laid with the daughters of Adam and created the Nephilim. They also were suppose to have taught man the arts of war, sorcery etc. They're in the Old Testament and are often called the Watchers.
That is an awesome idea!
__________________ An articulate soul trapped in an inarticulate shell
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