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Greyhawk (Keoland) campaign brainstorming (my players keep out!)
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<blockquote data-quote="Tilla the Hun (work)" data-source="post: 1204099" data-attributes="member: 14214"><p>Just a quick note - anytime you're thinking in terms of 'plot hooks' and 'players options' - you're over-prepared when using the style I referenced in my earlier post.</p><p></p><p>In all honesty - don't worry about what the players 'will' do - they'll never do exactly what you expect them to anyway, so don't even bother.</p><p></p><p>Rather, worry about what they 'are' doing. Sounds like you have several things going on a higher level than the players are seeing. That's great - just start having those higher level plots (what I call meta-plots) start causing minor effects (details) in the players presences. Sooner or later, they'll choose to chase one down. However remote from the meta plot it may be, it will lead them to a clue - and the chasing down of it lends time for the meta-plot to advance, thereby creating additional details or mini-plots that'll likely happen in the presence of the characters, and the cycle repeats until they become aware of the meta-plot and start acting in ways that directly influence it.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The biggest problem I've had is that in any given 6 hours of gaming, I'll need about 5 different 5 minutes of 'hold' time so I can re-write large chunks of plot due to their actions or so that I can prep a quick encounter or 10-15 minutes to prep a random dungeon.</p><p></p><p>Play varies between RP and hack'n'slash at the rate they want it to (either one works for me to have fun), almost when they want it to. I had a bard break down a full fledged fight against some 20 odd orcs by reciting poetry, the mage took it from there and turned a hack'n'slash fight into a full RP session, with me scrambling to find personalities for a orc chieftain and shaman <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />. It was great.</p><p></p><p></p><p>So seriously, don't worry about what options are open, what plot hooks you may have - those players, once they get used to the idea, are going to find their own... And then you get the challenge of dealing with what they find <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tilla the Hun (work), post: 1204099, member: 14214"] Just a quick note - anytime you're thinking in terms of 'plot hooks' and 'players options' - you're over-prepared when using the style I referenced in my earlier post. In all honesty - don't worry about what the players 'will' do - they'll never do exactly what you expect them to anyway, so don't even bother. Rather, worry about what they 'are' doing. Sounds like you have several things going on a higher level than the players are seeing. That's great - just start having those higher level plots (what I call meta-plots) start causing minor effects (details) in the players presences. Sooner or later, they'll choose to chase one down. However remote from the meta plot it may be, it will lead them to a clue - and the chasing down of it lends time for the meta-plot to advance, thereby creating additional details or mini-plots that'll likely happen in the presence of the characters, and the cycle repeats until they become aware of the meta-plot and start acting in ways that directly influence it. The biggest problem I've had is that in any given 6 hours of gaming, I'll need about 5 different 5 minutes of 'hold' time so I can re-write large chunks of plot due to their actions or so that I can prep a quick encounter or 10-15 minutes to prep a random dungeon. Play varies between RP and hack'n'slash at the rate they want it to (either one works for me to have fun), almost when they want it to. I had a bard break down a full fledged fight against some 20 odd orcs by reciting poetry, the mage took it from there and turned a hack'n'slash fight into a full RP session, with me scrambling to find personalities for a orc chieftain and shaman :). It was great. So seriously, don't worry about what options are open, what plot hooks you may have - those players, once they get used to the idea, are going to find their own... And then you get the challenge of dealing with what they find :) [/QUOTE]
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