Dying Earth RPG Experiences?

[Glyfair]

I'm considering trying to run a few one-off Dying Earth RPG adventures. However, I'm wary of how well my player's will enjoy it. As far as I know, no one else has read the series. I have copies of the original (in fact, probably multiple copies), but running a game by handing players a book to read may not be the best way to get them to play

So, I'm curious about any experiences running the game. Were most of the players familiar with the series? How well did the players who weren't familiar fit in?

Also, how did the game run? What were the pitfalls?

 

[Hussar]

I played a half a dozen sessions of this with Turjan (if he's lurking around here) a year or two ago, online over OpenRPG. It was an absolute blast. Once you wrap your head around the premise, it's just so much fun.

Actually, I wonder if it was so much fun because it was online. Being online, even in chat, gives you a bit more time to really craft and edit what you say and makes staying in character much easier. I'm not sure if I could play the game live with a straight face.

 

[Turanil]

Being online, even in chat, gives you a bit more time to really craft and edit what you say and makes staying in character much easier. I'm not sure if I could play the game live with a straight face.

This is the problem with the Dying Earth rpg: players need to be witty and gifted in fast talking. Those who only know about rolling a die to see if their sword hits, will have a hard time with this game.

 

[Piratecat]

I really love Dying Earth. I've had fun every time I've played it.

Gospog always prints out a number of witty sayings and gives three of them to every player, getting them points when they use them in conversation. Is that in the Dying Earth core rules, or is that just something he does? I know this has helped shyer people get more into the game.

 

[Farganger]

I really love Dying Earth. I've had fun every time I've played it.

Gospog always prints out a number of witty sayings and gives three of them to every player, getting them points when they use them in conversation. Is that in the Dying Earth core rules, or is that just something he does? I know this has helped shyer people get more into the game.

That sounds like pretty much the basic "tag-line" mechanic. I haven't played but needed the rules for my "Vance collection".

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I really love Dying Earth. I've had fun every time I've played it.

Gospog always prints out a number of witty sayings and gives three of them to every player, getting them points when they use them in conversation. Is that in the Dying Earth core rules, or is that just something he does? I know this has helped shyer people get more into the game.

I've looked through the Dying Earth core book, and I specifically remember seeing that in there.

 

[Piratecat]

Cool. Gospog and Fluffaderm stole that rule for Deadlands, too, which was really fun.

 

[Gospog]

Bah! Your specious confirmations lack conviction. They compete with thoughts of incontrovertible weight in my mental discourse. I shall set things aright and illuminate you all with the specifics!



Technically, the Dying Earth RPG allows a limit of three (3) tag lines per Player, per game. Tag lines are not only great for getting shy Players involved (as PC pointed out) but also are an immense help to those Players who have not read the stories (as they are direct quotes from those stories).

For this reason, I hand out Tag Lines about 3 or 4 times per game. Although this pretty much invalidates the "experience system", I never found that to be a big deal compared to the linguistic one-upmanship that this policy produces.

This also helps with what Turanil pointed out. With a steady supply of tag lines, only the GM needs to be witty and gifted at fast talking.

Running Dying Earth means that I never have to shut up, I just have to make it sound good.

I posted a Dying Earth story hour AGES ago. You may be able to find it by searching, but I'm not sure.

Good luck and have fun!

-Tom

 

[Glyfair]

Gospog always prints out a number of witty sayings and gives three of them to every player, getting them points when they use them in conversation. Is that in the Dying Earth core rules, or is that just something he does? I know this has helped shyer people get more into the game.

Almost the standard "experience" system. Actually, the GM (whatever it's called in this RPG) is supposed to supply two and the player is supposed to supply the third. Still, that's the basic system.

 

[Richards]

I posted a Dying Earth story hour AGES ago. You may be able to find it by searching, but I'm not sure.

I remember that story hour with great fondness.

Johnathan