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<blockquote data-quote="Piratecat" data-source="post: 1747363" data-attributes="member: 2"><p>Nah. I've done more than three dozen one-shots in "new" systems, and they work wonderfully for me. Just spend 15 minutes explaining the most important rules (other rules can be taught later as needed), prepare reference-sheets of important rules for people, and give them pre-gen characters. If you do that, a one shot is a great way to find out if a new system is fun.</p><p></p><p>I strongly recommend that when you make pre-gen characters, put a line on them about how each PC feels about the others. This helps roleplaying immensely.</p><p></p><p>For instance, from my Mutants and Masterminds game, here's the character description for the sonic-based character "Diva":</p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px">Personality: High-strung, picky, vain, generous, manipulative, adventurous, intolerant.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">General Concept: Incredible (but vain) opera singer appalled by most people’s choices in music and her own failed performance career, with vocal powers that she uses to crush crime in all its forms. </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Tactics: Stay in the air and use your sonic powers to blast or deafen your foes. Use a sonic force-field to keep yourself safe. Steal attention from Revere and men from Ultimate.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Costume: Valkyrie outfit, complete with spear and winged helmet that allows your beautiful long black hair to swing freely.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">History: You are often called beautiful by those who meet you. They’re correct. However, for some reason it hasn’t served you well; despite your incredibly voice you’ve been fired as a opera singer multiple times, and you have trouble keeping female friends. Odd. Even worse, the tabloids and news stations always seem to pay attention to Revere instead of yourself. What’s up with that? Maybe you need a publicist. It probably has something to do with your impromptu rant against rap and rock music the other day. You know, you know, but it’s hard to tolerate other forms of music when opera is such the perfect art form.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">In the mean time, you’ve decided to concentrate on fighting crime as a way of giving something back and raising your stock with the public. Not only can you make your living as a performer, you can use your voice to fight crime! That’s bound to make you famous.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Raised in the North End by your Italian grandmother, you discovered your powers while you were at the Berklee School of Music. So far you’ve had a successful career as a crime-fighter with the Boston Beacons. Your worst experience was when you were trapped under a falling building by Lockjaw, and trapped there for more than a day. Since then, you have suffered from claustrophobia, which you are trying to control.. but the panic is often hard to resist when you are completely enclosed.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Other members of the Boston Beacons:</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Ultimate: A snotty, upper-class health nut with too many muscles, who happens to be blessed with a clever pet and a few motor skills. You’re not sure what everyone sees in her.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Dogstar: Ultimate’s talking German Shepherd who thinks he’s smarter than you are. He fails to acknowledge how well you sing.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Gandalf: This teenaged boy is just precious when he gazes at you with his big puppy-dog eyes! Playing with his mind is sort of fun.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Manitou: Sort of a slob, he can transform into a huge monster when fighting crime. Not a bad sort of fellow, other than his taste in music. </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Revere: Not only is he famous and gorgeous, but he gets great press! Trying to steal some of his spotlight might make sense, especially if you can make him like it.</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">The Gray Streak: You really look up to this older lady. She’s worked all her life, and just recently developed super-powers! Like your Grandmother, this is a woman to respect.</p><p></p><p>You've got a little bit of personality, some interactions, and some tactics for new players. That makes it a lot easier to play on the fly.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Piratecat, post: 1747363, member: 2"] Nah. I've done more than three dozen one-shots in "new" systems, and they work wonderfully for me. Just spend 15 minutes explaining the most important rules (other rules can be taught later as needed), prepare reference-sheets of important rules for people, and give them pre-gen characters. If you do that, a one shot is a great way to find out if a new system is fun. I strongly recommend that when you make pre-gen characters, put a line on them about how each PC feels about the others. This helps roleplaying immensely. For instance, from my Mutants and Masterminds game, here's the character description for the sonic-based character "Diva": [indent]Personality: High-strung, picky, vain, generous, manipulative, adventurous, intolerant. General Concept: Incredible (but vain) opera singer appalled by most people’s choices in music and her own failed performance career, with vocal powers that she uses to crush crime in all its forms. Tactics: Stay in the air and use your sonic powers to blast or deafen your foes. Use a sonic force-field to keep yourself safe. Steal attention from Revere and men from Ultimate. Costume: Valkyrie outfit, complete with spear and winged helmet that allows your beautiful long black hair to swing freely. History: You are often called beautiful by those who meet you. They’re correct. However, for some reason it hasn’t served you well; despite your incredibly voice you’ve been fired as a opera singer multiple times, and you have trouble keeping female friends. Odd. Even worse, the tabloids and news stations always seem to pay attention to Revere instead of yourself. What’s up with that? Maybe you need a publicist. It probably has something to do with your impromptu rant against rap and rock music the other day. You know, you know, but it’s hard to tolerate other forms of music when opera is such the perfect art form. In the mean time, you’ve decided to concentrate on fighting crime as a way of giving something back and raising your stock with the public. Not only can you make your living as a performer, you can use your voice to fight crime! That’s bound to make you famous. Raised in the North End by your Italian grandmother, you discovered your powers while you were at the Berklee School of Music. So far you’ve had a successful career as a crime-fighter with the Boston Beacons. Your worst experience was when you were trapped under a falling building by Lockjaw, and trapped there for more than a day. Since then, you have suffered from claustrophobia, which you are trying to control.. but the panic is often hard to resist when you are completely enclosed. Other members of the Boston Beacons: Ultimate: A snotty, upper-class health nut with too many muscles, who happens to be blessed with a clever pet and a few motor skills. You’re not sure what everyone sees in her. Dogstar: Ultimate’s talking German Shepherd who thinks he’s smarter than you are. He fails to acknowledge how well you sing. Gandalf: This teenaged boy is just precious when he gazes at you with his big puppy-dog eyes! Playing with his mind is sort of fun. Manitou: Sort of a slob, he can transform into a huge monster when fighting crime. Not a bad sort of fellow, other than his taste in music. Revere: Not only is he famous and gorgeous, but he gets great press! Trying to steal some of his spotlight might make sense, especially if you can make him like it. The Gray Streak: You really look up to this older lady. She’s worked all her life, and just recently developed super-powers! Like your Grandmother, this is a woman to respect.[/indent] You've got a little bit of personality, some interactions, and some tactics for new players. That makes it a lot easier to play on the fly. [/QUOTE]
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