Conveying Setting Information

[Zaukrie]

I only introduce a few things at a time. Max 1 page info dump, plus discussion before session zero (you want to play in X campaign or Y) and during session zero. Then, if/when things come up their PCs would know, I let them learn it / tell them. I think, and this is 100% IMO, that it doesn't matter as much as many believe, that the players really KNOW the world and stuff all that much.

 

[Voadam]

So, what do you do to present the world to the players? Do you infodump? Do you expect them to research? Do you provide a primer? And how does the players' lack of knowledge interact with the (assumed) knowledge of the PC?

It varies, I sometimes provide a short primer. I have done both a short and a longer primer with the longer one mostly being for me to put stuff down for myself rather than expect my players to read it. I usually provide a little bit on the broad setting (henotheistic holy lothian empire split by a succession civil war) and a bit more on the local region and starting stuff relevant for that campaign.

Here was my setting primer when I ran a Freeport campaign here with things like the who's who section being filled in as the party met people.

The city primer was four paragraphs and the big one for players to read.

Spoiler: Freeport info

The city-state of Freeport is a bustling cosmopolitan center of trade. Located on an easily defensible isle in the Serpent’s Teeth chain of islands, Freeport is an important center of maritime commerce in the world. Once known only as a pirate haven, the city grew over time and its residents became a major naval power under the command of the resident Sea Lords two-hundred years ago. The city has become an official nation state of its own with alliances and trade relations with the major powers of the world today. Ruled by the Sea Lord Milton Drac and the Council of Captains, Freeport has recently turned its back on many allies as the continental empire is torn apart by religious schisms and civil war. Freeport’s large fleet of privateers and welcoming policy of few questions for sea captains bearing goods to sell leads many to say that the pirate roots of Freeport are not buried deep in the past but lie just under the surface today.

Since the assassination of the former Sea Lord and his own ascension to power Milton Drac has been engaged with two domestic projects for the last ten years. He constantly works to solidify his hold on power by attempting to gain control of the fractious Council of Captains. He also pushes forward his one great public works project, the construction of a massive lighthouse for the city’s harbor. The Council governs the day to day affairs of the city while the lighthouse is designed to both serve the harbor and to act as a monument to his reign as Sea Lord. Drac has diverted public funds and poured them into these efforts of his at the cost of other spending priorities of the city-state.

While Lord Drac crows that the lighthouse will increase the ease and safety of maritime navigation to the harbor thus bringing greater prosperity to all of Freeport, many call the project “Milton’s Folly”. His detractors consider it a boondoggle for the Sea Lord’s favored agents whose only good aspect is that it will soon be completed and no longer a massive drain on the city’s resources.

Services in the city have degenerated under Lord Drac’s rule. The garrison has shrunk and is largely confined to the Old City. The docks are policed haphazardly, if at all. Crime has skyrocketed, but as long as it remains in the shadows the Council is content to pretend that it does not exist as they focus on their internal struggles and personal affairs.

The broader continent setting primer was six paragraphs and less crucial for playing the game:

Spoiler: Northern Continent setting primer

The theocratic empire is split by civil war. The first emperor was both head of the Lothian church and political ruler of the imperial domains. Upon his death however the two institutions were split. The state church has been supportive but separate from the political empire since the time of the second emperors until the present. The last imperial line died without an heir though and the head of the church has stepped in claiming a directive from Lothian to return the empire to its unified true Lothian roots. Meanwhile the emperor's old chancellor claimed the throne as regent and certain nobles claimed rights to the throne by blood. The holy emperor is the strongest claimant but taking control of such a vast continental empire is difficult. Many cities were only nominally under the authority of the empire and have taken the opportunity to officially declare themselves independent city states.

Church imperialists seek to solidify the empire, increase regulation/conscription of magic users to their cause, are engaged in intense levvying for imperial legions, and are for centrally consolidating church power at the expense of the traditional centers of power in each city held by the local bishops, all in the name of divine directives from Lothian sent directly to the Holy Emperor.

A number of Lothian bishops have supported their cities' moves for independence, declaring that infernal corruption has struck the central church and that the directives to take political power do not originate from Lothian.

Former elven desmesnes are in open revolt after the church ordered compulsory magical registration and conscription.

Many arcane casters have fled imperial cities, remembering the edicts of deviltry when arcane magic not bound and authorized by the church was punishable by burning at the stake as the church zealously pursued hidden diabolists no matter the cost.

Imperial legions march on former imperial cities and war wracks the land, leaving borders with badlands open and vulnerable. Rumors run rampant each more fantastical than the last. The church is said to be developing construct armies using conscripted mages and rune master lore. The renegade cities are said to be havens for fiends opposed to Lothian. The old gods are empowering mortal champions throughout the land. The elves are said to have unleashed spells so powerful they take on life of their own. The church plans to implement a new edict forbidding worship of non-Lothian gods and all will be required to convert to monotheistic Lothianism. The Red Man walks among cities and countrysides proclaiming The Coming. Demonic forces gather outside of the empire and humanoid hordes are massing at the borders, waiting for the time to strike the weakened empire. Some have erupted into the empire and cannot be stopped. The former imperial capital fell to orcish barbarians.

 

[Bedrockgames]

The discussion around the Cosmere RPG kickstarter got me thinking about how we go about presenting setting information to players who have not, and probably won't, read the books or your primer or anything else. This is especially oriented toward worlds that have unusual or novel settings (Like Roshar in the Stormlight Archives) and you can't simply rely on tropes and assumptions (aka "it's like Earth except where we say it isn't.")

So, what do you do to present the world to the players? Do you infodump? Do you expect them to research? Do you provide a primer? And how does the players' lack of knowledge interact with the (assumed) knowledge of the PC?

I try to give players a basic rundown without boring them (just broad sketch), and then answer questions if they ask them. My approach though is more 'lets get started and over time you will become more familiar with the setting anyways".

 

[overgeeked]

So, what do you do to present the world to the players?

Wait for it to be actually, directly relevant to something happening in the game, then explain it (if the PCs would know it) or give them hints and clues (if it's something the PCs are learning in that moment).

Do you infodump?

Never. It's mostly wasted breath, time, and effort.

Do you expect them to research?

The players, never. The PCs, always.

Do you provide a primer?

In the broadest strokes, yes. Something like the various lists of 8-10 things that make this setting unique you've probably seen in various products.

And how does the players' lack of knowledge interact with the (assumed) knowledge of the PC?

Whenever it comes up in game, I'll explain it.

 

[Reynard]

Wait for it to be actually, directly relevant to something happening in the game, then explain it (if the PCs would know it) or give them hints and clues (if it's something the PCs are learning in that moment).

This bothers Mr just a little because we all constantly make decisions to door not do things based on internalized "setting information" in our lives. It's unreasonable, then, to expect players to immerse themselves and making in character decisions when they don't have that information.

Of course,this is much more important when we are talking about agency and player directed action.

 

[mamba]

That is when you introduce it. My experience is that no one wants to be infodumped and often players would rather learn something organicall

that, and if it were in the infodump, they have all forgotten about most of it by now

 

[Reynard]

There's also the "opposite" problem where you try and run a game in a media property and it turns out one or more players is REALLY into it and spends all session correcting you...

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I am in agreement with what other people have written already.

If it is seriously different, I will make a very short campaign primer with a brief introduction to some major highlights/differences.

How short? Shorter than one of my thread starters. Ideally a page. Any thing more than that, and you lose people.

I prefer to have information revealed during play. I think that works best, and players tend to engage with it more. And by revealed, I mean organically- never, ever, ever as an exposition dump.

 

[Reynard]

I am in agreement with what other people have written already.

If it is seriously different, I will make a very short campaign primer with a brief introduction to some major highlights/differences.

How short? Shorter than one of my thread starters. Ideally a page. Any thing more than that, and you lose people.

I prefer to have information revealed during play. I think that works best, and players tend to engage with it more. And by revealed, I mean organically- never, ever, ever as an exposition dump.

Let's say that you decide to run Star Wars (Clone Wars era) for a group that has never, ever seen anything star wars. In your one page primer, what key points do you hit?

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Let's say that you decide to run Star Wars (Clone Wars era) for a group that has never, ever seen anything star wars. In your one page primer, what key points do you hit?

That's hard, because I have trouble imagining a group that has never seen any Star Wars. And because I don't know the specific rules.

Let me explain why that makes a difference- for example, if the rules for character creation include "Jedi," then I would NOT include a quick definition of what a Jedi is.

I would probably just have a brief overview of the time period- there is a war between two sides called the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems (the separatists). It's called the Clone Wars because the troops of the GR are clones. Meanwhile, the separatists primarily use droids.

Real basic. If we are playing in a specific area, I would include brief information about that.


ETA- I forgot to include a not. It's not there in all-caps.