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Pros and Cons of Epic Level Play?
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<blockquote data-quote="Aenghus" data-source="post: 6283358" data-attributes="member: 2656"><p>I prefer to play and run at mid to high level, including epic level.</p><p></p><p>Pros of epic level play for me</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The PCs can and should change the world</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The PCs are too powerful to ignore, and find it more practical to interact with the high and mighty</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">By implication, the game has gone on for some time and the players are invested in it</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The game should present spectacular vistas and amazing places</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Most random NPCs should be in awe of the PCs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"></li> </ul><p></p><p>Cons</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Epic games are a lot of work</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A constant demand for creativity can be wearing</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Epic plotlines need consensus and buy-in due to to the long-term investment in the PCs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Game mechanics can be fragile at their limits</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Enhanced freedom of action of players can multiply the amount of prep work the game needs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Quick scene changes e.g. teleports can call for a lot of on-the-fly improvisation to fill in the details</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Epic play can split parties as the individual PCs prove to have incompatible long-term ambitions</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The participants can disagree on what constitutes "Epic" play, which can lead to problems</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Constant high-stakes play can burn out some or all of the players</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Some players don't want the playstyle to change to domain management, or epic politics etc etc</li> </ul><p></p><p>I find lots of foreshadowing can work well in games that go to epic. Going from random members of the crowd in front of the royal palace to honoured guests at that selfsame royal palace, to becoming owners of their own palace or kingdom can give the players a visceral sense of progression and accomplishment. </p><p></p><p>I find epic events at too low a level can be missing the point, as the PCs aren't powerful enough to interact with the event as anything other than desperate survivors, spectators or followers of a railroaded <em>Dragonlance</em>-type plot. Which is fine if everyone is happy with that sort of participation, but I for one have a limit to how much I can appreciate or put up with.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Aenghus, post: 6283358, member: 2656"] I prefer to play and run at mid to high level, including epic level. Pros of epic level play for me [LIST] [*]The PCs can and should change the world [*]The PCs are too powerful to ignore, and find it more practical to interact with the high and mighty [*]By implication, the game has gone on for some time and the players are invested in it [*]The game should present spectacular vistas and amazing places [*]Most random NPCs should be in awe of the PCs [*] [/LIST] Cons [LIST] [*]Epic games are a lot of work [*]A constant demand for creativity can be wearing [*]Epic plotlines need consensus and buy-in due to to the long-term investment in the PCs [*]Game mechanics can be fragile at their limits [*]Enhanced freedom of action of players can multiply the amount of prep work the game needs [*]Quick scene changes e.g. teleports can call for a lot of on-the-fly improvisation to fill in the details [*]Epic play can split parties as the individual PCs prove to have incompatible long-term ambitions [*]The participants can disagree on what constitutes "Epic" play, which can lead to problems [*]Constant high-stakes play can burn out some or all of the players [*]Some players don't want the playstyle to change to domain management, or epic politics etc etc [/LIST] I find lots of foreshadowing can work well in games that go to epic. Going from random members of the crowd in front of the royal palace to honoured guests at that selfsame royal palace, to becoming owners of their own palace or kingdom can give the players a visceral sense of progression and accomplishment. I find epic events at too low a level can be missing the point, as the PCs aren't powerful enough to interact with the event as anything other than desperate survivors, spectators or followers of a railroaded [I]Dragonlance[/I]-type plot. Which is fine if everyone is happy with that sort of participation, but I for one have a limit to how much I can appreciate or put up with. [/QUOTE]
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Pros and Cons of Epic Level Play?
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