Order of the Stick #155

Quasqueton

First Post
I know of lot of you here read this comic like I do, every Monday and Thursday (soon to be 3 times a week). Richard Burlew captures the *real* game in his strip. Should we have a thread each Monday and Thursday to discuss his latest bit?

http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript

What do you think about the metagame convention of passing time? Funny, interesting, sad stories on the topic?

Quasqueton
 

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Well that is exactly how I do it. :D
If no one has any healing/mending/training/etc. to do then we just jump to the next episode of time.

It has never been a problem. I have played in a couple of games where we were expected to say what we were doing for the time period but that was pretty boring so that is why I don't do it.
 

Quasqueton said:
I know of lot of you here read this comic like I do, every Monday and Thursday (soon to be 3 times a week). Richard Burlew captures the *real* game in his strip. Should we have a thread each Monday and Thursday to discuss his latest bit?

http://www.giantitp.com/cgi-bin/GiantITP/ootscript

What do you think about the metagame convention of passing time? Funny, interesting, sad stories on the topic?

Quasqueton
Because of time contraction, I find it hard to get the feel of tedium across. I can give a description of how boring it was, but that will last, what 30 seconds?

Rav
 

I find that just a few seconds of silence does it without slowing the game down too much.

"So you find a good spot and you wait...and wait...what was that sound? Oh, nothing. You wait..."

The players sure are ready to get to the action after that. :)

And, yes, OOTS rules. I love the bit with the familiar in the last couple strips.
 

Attention spans are difficult enough to keep.

I'll ask if they're going to prepare any long term bluff spells like Mage Armor or something and then move on.
 

I love order of the stick. I found it when it was on comic 50 somethin and read them all in one sitting. I love it, best d&d comic strip ever IMHO.
 

Yeah, I got a kick out of the strip today, as its often the case in my games, and the games I've played.

punkorange said:
I love order of the stick. I found it when it was on comic 50 somethin and read them all in one sitting. I love it, best d&d comic strip ever IMHO.

Yeah, when I first found the Order of the Stick I did that too. And its been a topic of the gaming table way to often.
 


Quasqueton said:
What do you think about the metagame convention of passing time? Funny, interesting, sad stories on the topic?
Quasqueton

I just get annoyed when the GM ruins expectations by jumping the gun.
GM: "OK, you arrive in town and find an inn. The next day..."
Player: "Oh. Well I WAS going to take precautions in case our enemies were here and planning to exact revenge, but apparently that's not necessary."
GM: "Oh yeah. Um, so anyone doing anything the night you arrive in town?"

Give the players a chance to wind themselves up before allowing the time to pass; they'll feel better.
GM: "...but other than that, the night passes uneventfully."
Players: "Yay! Thank goodness our combined abilities and plans protected us from the myriad untold dangers which threaten us constantly!"
GM: "Yeah whatever."

:)
 

Quasqueton said:
What do you think about the metagame convention of passing time? Funny, interesting, sad stories on the topic?

I let players tell me what they're doing with the time, but then just jump to the next bit.

It's important that I know what they're up to: For instance, the Order of the Stick crew are waiting outside a bandit camp. Are they a) hiding while keeping a close watch on the camp, b) building seige equipment, c) scribing scrolls d) wandering around aimlessly e) going swimming, f) training for their next PRC, g) Teleporting to Sharn to do a bit of last minute shopping....

Makes a big difference: Their activities would affect the chance of a 'wandering monster' style encounter if nothing else. Closely watching the camp means they have a much better chance of noticing that the camp leader is a half-dragon troll with a really impressive spiked chain... Forewarned is forearmed... Etc.

That said, though, I don't make the players sit around and wait through it: "You wait. Around two PM, you see this huge, scaly... Later, as night closes in..."

Also, although I don't use 'em a lot yet, cut scenes rawk.

A'Mal
 

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