Let's Talk About Clocks, Countdowns, Etc...

[Thierry-Advent]

To build tension, I just roll dice (for no good reason and make noise). Players ears perk up. If they ask, I say, 'something happened' or I say 'nothing' smiling or 'you'll see'. Once in a while I follow through with an encounter but most of the time I don't.

 

[Retros_x]

I don't know what to tell you. Those are my experiences with using clocks in the open like that sometimes. So I pick and choose between when clocks are open, when they are hidden, and whatever in between works at the moment.

your experience was that players did decisions in a different way than if you would describe the narrative pressure? how did you test that? And did I understand correctly, that you still use clocks you just dont show them? If so, why do you use them at all what is the benefit for you?

 

[dragoner]

We tried them with S&V, and I guess they didn't work out.

 

[Reynard]

your experience was that players did decisions in a different way than if you would describe the narrative pressure? how did you test that? And did I understand correctly, that you still use clocks you just dont show them? If so, why do you use them at all what is the benefit for you?

If you re-read the quote you posted, you'll see that what I said is I use them how they seem most beneficial at the time: sometimes open, sometimes hidden but described, and sometimes behind the screen just for me.