Poll: Boxed Text, for player or GM?

jgbrowning

Hero

• Jul 4, 2006

• #1

For those of you who like boxed text (for whatever reason), would you find a small section called "Room Description" that's written directly for the DM as opposed to being written to be read to the players more or less useful than standard boxed text?

Would you rather have boxed text that's designed to be read to the players or boxed text designed for the GM?

joe b.

 

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jonesy

A Wicked Kendragon

• Jul 4, 2006

• #2

I'd rather have them directed at the DM. Then they'd be useful everytime. As opposed to 10% of the time, and having to come up with your own description anyway. Most of the time they seem to contain stuff that makes no sense.

You see a room with spikes in the ceiling. The floor is covered in bodies ripped and torn. There's blood everywhere. As you enter the room, the ceiling starts to...

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...now stop right there. Why would it be assumed that the PCs would enter straight away? Ugh.

 

DonTadow

First Post

• Jul 4, 2006

• #3

I'd rather it be avoided and just breakdown the "just" of the sitution. I don't mind a couple line detailed description, but when the box text rambles on it seems more like an excuse for the writers to show their prose

 

the Jester

Legend

• Jul 4, 2006

• #4

???

I'm not sure I understand what the gain is in making boxed text for the dm. Isn't the whole point to give an easy, ready-to-read description for the players, to ensure that no important details get overlooked and such?

Isn't all the non-boxed text for the dm?

 

jonesy

A Wicked Kendragon

• Jul 4, 2006

• #5

the Jester said:

Isn't the whole point to give an easy, ready-to-read description for the players, to ensure that no important details get overlooked and such?

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What you say they should be seems to me to be the opposite of what they usually are.

 

DonTadow

First Post

• Jul 4, 2006

• #6

jonesy said:

What you say they should be seems to me to be the opposite of what they usually are.

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I think he means a summed up text for the DM with no prose description in it. But i advoicate a break down for the DM with maybe one prose descriptive sentence for ambience.

 

J

jmucchiello

Hero

• Jul 4, 2006

• #7

jonesy said:

...now stop right there. Why would it be assumed that the PCs would enter straight away? Ugh.

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That's what I said in the other thread. A boxed description must make assumptions and many times these assumptions are all wrong. Even when the box properly describes the room and doesn't leave out the 3 hulking minotaurs, you can still end up with "Three minotaurs stop what they are doing and advance at you menacingly." Well, what if the party has teamed up with the minotaurs in another room and they have a minotaur guide with them who would put these three minotaurs at ease. Would they still menace the party? It's a minor thing but it still grates.

 

DragonLancer

Hero

• Jul 4, 2006

• #8

I'd rather it be intended for the players. Any further room discription can be placed outside the box text.

 

Odhanan

Adventurer

• Jul 4, 2006

• #9

Excellent question. Boxed text for the GM, actually. It could be completed with a "Designer's Note" kind of boxed text, if you see what I mean.

 

DonTadow

First Post

• Jul 4, 2006

• #10

The DM knows whats going on in the game more than the writer of the module. I think this is a big reason why adventures aren't hot sellers. The big complaint you hear is that it takes too much effort to convert.