And then suddenly...

[lior_shapira]

How many times during running a session do you find yourself saying "Suddenly!" or something along that vein? To me it happens way too often and I've been trying to consciously reduce the number. I'm trying to plan what I'm going to say a bit more and build tension more gradually. Somehow after years of playing the big SUDDENLY just isn't so surprising

What do you think? do you have alternatives for me?

lior

 

[Umbran]

I've never counted.

Things happen suddenly not by my own design, but by the players not being particularly cautious, or they miss their spot checks, and the like. In a dangerous world, if you don't see a thing, it is goign to play smart and attack you when you aren't looking, and it'll seem sudden to you.

Well, the lawful and chaotic things'll do that. Not too many sudden attacks by those LE knights, I guess.

 

[hong]

I have to admit, I've never actually _said_ "suddenly, ninjas attack!" but I've come close.

 

[diaglo]

I have to admit, I've never actually _said_ "suddenly, ninjas attack!" but I've come close.

QFT

 

[Goblyn]

I have to admit, I've never actually _said_ "suddenly, ninjas attack!" but I've come close.

QFT

Seconded.

 

[Wystan]

I like the following:

"Suddenly, and without warning..."

However we also use the following when the game slows down too much:

Player 1 "I attack the $THING$, I got a 20."
Player 2 "You missed, it ate you..."

 

[derelictjay]

You know what, I don't believe I've ever said suddenly. The worst I've done is probably, "Here it comes...". And I can only remember one time doing that.

 

[shilsen]

I rarely say "suddenly." My phrase of choice is "apparently".

 

[Mercule]

"Suddenly" isn't one of my catch phrases. I have 'em, but can't think right now.

 

[lukelightning]

I always say "about" and "around" (as in approximately). It's fine when you're in a room that "is about 30 feet by 40 feet. But as stupid as it sounds I will accidently say "You enter the room and see about five minotaurs." Is it 4 minotaurs? 6 minotaurs? 4.5 minotaurs?