DMG news from Rich Baker blog

[The Ubbergeek]

Blue Booking is an excellent technique to get more 'feel' for the game between sessions and during the session while dealing with multiple players/plot lines.

I hope the DMG includes a section on it.

Sorry... what's 'blue booking'?

 

[Merlin the Tuna]

Naw, you're just an OOOOOllDDDDD boy. Nobody under the age of 25 knows what you're talking about.

All I can assume is that it was a city that got destroyed by a Falcon Punch.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Sorry... what's 'blue booking'?

From http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Vocabulary.html

Blue-Booking: A term originated by Aaron Allston (or at least his playing group) for a role-playing technique in which the actions of individual characters, especially out of combat and away from the main character group, are described in writing rather than speech. If this is done using a school exercise book or similar, a permanent log of the character's fictional life is thus created. Blue-booking allows for character development and minor "solo" plot activity without distracting the GM unduly from the main, group-based, plot. It evolved from the note-passing common in many playing groups as a means of dealing with individual character actions of which the rest of the PCs are unaware.

 

[Glyfair]

From http://www.philm.demon.co.uk/Miscellaneous/Vocabulary.html

Blue-Booking: A term originated by Aaron Allston (or at least his playing group) for a role-playing technique in which the actions of individual characters, especially out of combat and away from the main character group, are described in writing rather than speech. If this is done using a school exercise book or similar, a permanent log of the character's fictional life is thus created. Blue-booking allows for character development and minor "solo" plot activity without distracting the GM unduly from the main, group-based, plot. It evolved from the note-passing common in many playing groups as a means of dealing with individual character actions of which the rest of the PCs are unaware.

I'll note that this first appeared in the Strike Force supplement for Champions. Given the nature of the game, the adventures tended to be very action focused. However, the genre also had a significant focus on "secret identity" subplots. Playing them out tended to be solo and could easily boor the rest of the group. Blue-booking allowed you to take care of such things "off-camera." It also gave players something to do when the party was split and they weren't doing anything.

The title comes from Aaron's group habit of using "blue books" which are small notebooks of blank pages that used to be used in college (not sure if they still use them). They are cheap and lighter than most notebooks which means they can be passed around much easier.

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

I like a lot of the ideas behind this town, I like that it's on the ruins of an older town, I like that it's a sort of port where you must stop to get on with your voyage, very nice (I would have gone for a seaport, but this one is close enough and probably less obvious)

well done!

 

[Arnwyn]

Love the town idea, and that it's in the DMG. That stuff is always great.

We’re working on some swordmage rules right now for a 2008 release, and the class is really shaping up to be something special. He’s an arcane defender; not really a gish,

Well, of course he isn't, since he's not a githyanki.

 

[Wolfspider]

Well, of course he isn't, since he's not a githyanki.

Indeed.

 

[carmachu]

Looks good that you have a starter town and adventure for the newer DM's.

But, even with your reasoning, I'm completely disappointed you reneged on making it an iconic town.

 

[jdrakeh]

Eh?

Random chartsy stuff is awesome.

It is also covered in hundreds of products, which makes the inclusion of such material in the DMG more than somewhat superfluous.

 

[JoeGKushner]

It is also covered in hundreds of products, which makes the inclusion of such material in the DMG more than somewhat superfluous.

as opposed to random small towns such as the very first adventure? The adventure that's actually out BEFORE the DMG?

"The town of Winterhaven stands watch over a ruined keep that was once a bastion of good in the realm. This keep overlooks the Shadow Rift, a dark scar in the world that was once a gateway to the Shadowfell but has been dormant for many years. Now, an evil cleric of Orcus, Demon Lord of the Undead, seeks to re-open the gate, and the only thing standing in his way is a small yet determined band of heroes from Winterhaven."


If we're going with 4e is brand new and needs a small town for the new gms, then it also needs random tables for those SAME new gms no?