[Grim Tales] Slavelords of Cydonia Round Robin

[Gospog]

Hey all, I'm hoping for some advice from Wulf or anyone who already has (and has read) thier copy of Slavelords of Cydonia.

I am almost always the GM in our gaming group. But we do have 3 or 4 other good GMs in the group. My current campaign (Shadow Chasers) has about three games left.

Then we're going to play Slavelords of Cydonia. But to ease up on my ridiculous schedule, we're planning to "round robin" the GMs, with a different person behind the screens for each game.

We play monthly and have four GMs (including me). We're using Slavelords because it's "already done", so we can each run an adventure and then just "pass the book" to the next GM.

So...what are we in for? Does this sound do-able? Does it sound crazy? Do I need to read the whole book to orchestrate this, or can we each do our piece "blind"?

I will be picking my book up Saturday. What have I gotten myself into here???

Thanks.

-Tom

 

[GlassJaw]

Slavelords or not, I've never been a fan of the round-robin DM. That said, I think it would be even more difficult with SoC. It's one thing to alternate DM's and run modular adventures but with SoC, too many people would know too much about what's to come. And IMO, running SoC successfully requires you to know what's to come.

I think it would also be very difficult to develop any sort of continuity. While there are specific quests that the players will undertake, the campaign as a whole is very seamless. It requires a lot of interaction between player and GM. It's not like an issue of Dungeon magazine for example. Everything is intertwined. The relationships and decisions the PC's make early on can have implications later in the campaign.

The GM is also required to make a lot of decisions along the way, both planned and not. I think Slavelords needs one very experienced GM to keep everything in control. If you haven't read Slavelords yet, perhaps this will become more clear after you do.

Do I need to read the whole book to orchestrate this, or can we each do our piece "blind"?

Well you might not need to read the whole book right away but at the bare minimum, you certainly need to read through the current chapter. The format of SoC is completely dependent on what is required to get to the next chapter in the campaign. The GM must be aware of this at all times.

Good luck is the best I can do because I don't really think it can be done successfully. This is just one man's opinion of course.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I think it might be possible for two GMs to handle it. This is true if one of them handles the strat, then the other takes over from there once the characters get to Cydonia, but that doesn't really help you out.

Many of the characters for all the chapters aren't in the appendix, but rather, appear at the end of the chapter they're introduced in. This means that you'll have to review who the prime movers are, listed for you in each sub-quest, and then read about them and determine how they fit.

Good luck.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

It's one thing to alternate DM's and run modular adventures but with SoC, too many people would know too much about what's to come. And IMO, running SoC successfully requires you to know what's to come.

For the most part, I agree with GlassJaw (unfortunately). It's a very political adventure, so knowing who's pulling the strings at all times is very, very important.

Basically, the problem is, it's difficult to run the campaign without reading the whole thing-- but how fun will the adventure be if everyone already knows the whole story?

However, if you are ALL experienced GM's then there is a way that I think it can work successfully.

Here's how it could work:

1) Anything in the book is "Canon."

2) Each GM in turn has responsibility for ONE major political faction. When it is that GM's turn at the helm, he can make changes to the Canon only with respect to his own faction. Thus, he can put plans in motion that deviate from the Canon and which will be unknown to the other GMs.

2a) Anything any GM changes must be carried forward as Canon by the other GMs.

3) By minimizing the number of things each GM is permitted to change when it's his turn, you preserve as much of the "already done" aspect as you can, while maximizing the amount of surprise and enjoyment the other GMs can have while still knowing the whole big picture.

The politcal factions I would recommend are:

Book One-- none. It's not necessary, as the first GM to step up to the plate should read the whole book, and the other GMs will be blind. After the first Book is completed, all GMs can then read the Book to understand the Canon and the big picture.

Book Two-- Sil'saar. Sil'saar can put plans into motion that deviate from the Canon as outlined in the book.

Book Three-- Vert'jaal. This is Vert'jaal's chapter to really shine and have the PCs doing his dirty work. And, because it occurs prior to the revelation of Vert'jaal's Secret, the GM here could decide, if he wanted, to change or invalidate that secret.

Book Four-- the Lethid. This one would require the most work, as many of the challenges presented in this chapter revolve around various strategic feints and approaches performed by the lethid during the War. The GM here would probably be crafting entirely new challenges for the PCs. On the plus side, because of the mind-controlling powers of the lethid, the GM has great leeway in changing prior allies to enemies and vice versa-- and the changes are reversible.

Book Five-- none. Again, at this point, as the last GM up to bat, you can change whatever you like, so the ending of the book is a complete surprise for your fellow players.

Having said all that, a single, skilled GM and mature, experienced players are the best recipe for a good time.


Wulf

 

[Gospog]

Hmmmm....

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I've been talking it over with one of the other GMs (who is conveniently married to me*) and we're thinking maybe we'll do D&D for the Round Robin game (Eberron?) and I'll just run SoC as the sole GM once our gaming schedule permits.

This game looks cool, I want to "do it right".

Also, more time to convert up minitures for the game. (I already have some Wargods stuff crying out for blasters)

*convenient for me

 

[pogre]

Also, more time to convert up minitures for the game. (I already have some Wargods stuff crying out for blasters)

*convenient for me

Be sure and post those conversions in a thread. I want to check 'em out.

 

[JoeGKushner]

For Miniatures, I've been using some Cooplestone stuff for the Sutu in the first chapter. Harleqeuin has a fantasy line and I've bought a couple sets of lionessess. The first set I turned into leopards and the second set panthers.

Been waiting for War Gods to release more of the crocodile men but I've got Shrend from Reaper in the meanwhile.

 

[Turanil]

Been waiting for War Gods to release more of the crocodile men but I've got Shrend from Reaper in the meanwhile.

CROCODILE MEN?! Please give me the URL!

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

http://www.crocodilegames.com/

 

[drnuncheon]

I've been talking it over with one of the other GMs (who is conveniently married to me*) and we're thinking maybe we'll do D&D for the Round Robin game (Eberron?) and I'll just run SoC as the sole GM once our gaming schedule permits.

Curse you. If I still lived in MA I'd be beating down your door for an Eberron game.

Although you'd have to wrestle me for running SoC.

J