1 Shot Campaigns, and throw away characters.

1QD said:

Yes, I can understand trade shows as I have a bit of experience in that area. I just feel that understanding a profession or race is better done over time. I as a GM typically expect very little until 5th lvl from my players as they are often still defining their characters. I find there is often a vast difference between gameplay styles with a 1st lvl character and a 5th or vs a 20th lvl character.

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You're assuming we're only playing D&D. Thousands of games have much lighter rules. Your question becomes very different when not viewed through a narrow D&D lens.

I like to use one-shots as pickup games when members of the group are absent and the regular campaign wouldn't really function properly with said PC missing (which is almost always the way I run campaigns).

So I use simple systems, like Mausritter or my absolute new favorite, Mothership! Systems like those means it takes but a few minutes to make a PC, so very little time in the session is dedicated to character creation.

The throwaway nature of the PCs means a couple of things that I think really enhance the experience over a regular long form campaign. With a one-shot, because players know it will probably only be a single session, they tend to be WAY less risk adverse, which means PCs take all kinds of crazy risks that don't normally happen in a campaign where the players try hard to keep PCs from harm. It makes for some interesting and unusual gameplay, and lots and lots of laughs. I really love Mothership especially because it's a horror game, so a TPK at the end of the session is pretty much expected. Makes for a nice little concise story with a satisfying horror movie ending.

I actually prefer some styles and genres to be one shots. In that case, I spend much less focus on the character aspects (species, ancestry, ethnicity) and more of a focus on the setting and story. Really leaning into the genre conventions. Its a nice change of pace.

payn said:

I actually prefer some styles and genres to be one shots. In that case, I spend much less focus on the character aspects (species, ancestry, ethnicity)

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Same here, but (if chance and time permit) all that focus goes into its personality instead. I'm only going to get one chance to play this character so I'd better do whatever I can to make it memorable.

1QD said:

I have heard of a trend of 1 shot campaigns, and naturally following throw away characters. I am trying to understand the appeal. It seems like you go through a fair amount of effort only to get rid of the character in a game or two.

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It depends on the game - For example, Call of Cthulhu often has your investigator getting eaten or going insane at the end which is perfect for a three or four hour game.

In our long-running 5e game we used to do one-shot games for flash backs into characters' pasts. Everyone would roll up a new character to play members of a thieves guild or a dwarven clan and we'd fill out a little bit more of the world.

Go to a few Cons so one off games are the thing there.
Weekly home games are always more than a one shot, but sometimes no longer than say doing a starter set, but not continue after that

1QD said:

I have heard of a trend of 1 shot campaigns, and naturally following throw away characters. I am trying to understand the appeal. It seems like you go through a fair amount of effort only to get rid of the character in a game or two.

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Mostly I DM one-shot adventures because I can't commit on longer terms, not because I wouldn't want to.

But one-shots have their own advantages, one of which is exactly that the PCs do not matter as much as in a long campaign, therefore:

• players can try new classes, races, spells or other options and combinations they normally wouldn't, because they don't need to worry about being stuck with a wrong choice
• players focus on the adventure, instead on their own agenda
• there is no level up to plan ahead, so everyone focuses on what they can do here and now
• less worry about dying, more room to dare
• no need to waste time arguing about rulings or rules interpretations because they won't last longer than one session

Bonus benefit: kicking someone out if they are annoying is a non-issue

Reynard said:

What i find is that folks really like short campaigns compressed into a weekend. They get the "epicnesss" of a campaign without spending 60 sessions.



I hope that helped but if you need more detail I am happy to answer questions. I have been doing this for 10 years or so at this poignant have learned a lot.

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Thank you very much yes, I hadn't thought of mini full weekend campaigns...Mostly due to the goal of going through as many groups as possible to expose a greater number of people.

cbwjm said:

I have tended to play or run longer campaigns, but the few one offs I've played in have been great to try out different classes. Generally I think that they're pretty low effort in character creation, the DM can even provide premades for players if it's also a brand new system and you're wanting to get into playing straight away. When it comes to DnD, it also lets you try out those higher levels from time to time, I think last campaign I ran players hit 7th at the end of it and the one I played I reached 8th so it was fun to play in a 12th level one-shot where I could try out a high level paladin.

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Agreed, prerolled are awesome. I have 5 example characters in my book, and bring as many to my cons as well.