Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sunseeker" data-source="post: 7112072">No, I don't think so.  I think a lot of players accept that the beginning of a game is always a little contrived in order to get the party together.  I may give them some ulterior motive for being in town (or ask them to give me one) and I usually don't set them up as already knowing each other (unless the party wants that), but typically I think the players accept that "the story has to start somewhere" and "the party has to get together somehow".  Sometimes I add in extra NPCs like with OotA who I get to use as redshirts in dangerous situations.  Normally the players are at worst in the same town and are brought together by a shared event (the town is attacked, a famous person is about to be executed, a bounty is posted on an infamous pirate and they all want the prize, etc...).  Typically though I just start right from that moment when the party has already gathered within arms reach and give them a little push to meet up.  "You see an odd-looking fellow in the crowd who doesn't seem to be cheering/booing/as interested as the other people."  "You see a woman, clearly of non-local dress and bristling with weapons..."I absolutely will not start out players in their home town, or on their own and attempt to lead them into town.  I've played with too many strong personality types who, when away from the party are more likely to say "shove this!" and wander off on their own.Of course, any two or more players are allowed to say that they know each other beforehand and are already together.  They both have to agree on this and trade at least 1 item of "secret information" (I make each player give me 5 at game start).So, still, no, I don't find things very difficult to start off because both my party and I all accept some level of suspension of disbelief as to why we're all here.</blockquote>

Verification