TV or Movie?
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 10:50 pm
My DM has two games he runs at his store. The first is the standard D&D game, the other is HARN. Both games have been going on for years (in one way or another, with the same players if not the same characters).
Well, the D&D game was always action packed, and along the way one of us mentioned it was like a TV show since it was so full of action and drama. This was made even more prevalent by the fact the DM likes to end the session with a cliffhanger as often as possible. Eventually, we came to the point were we even started naming each game session as if it were an episode of TV. Character’s ambushed while escorting a caravan? Well of course that episode would be “Wagon Full.” Character falls to his death? “Flight of angels.” And so on.
As to the Harn game, well since we were already making comparisons, the GM decided it needed to be compared to a media form. Because any combat in that game system is near fatal, and death is permanent, they spend session after session avoiding it and role-playing their characters. Full of political intrigue and complex relationships, it was a naturally considered to be a huge novel (with the game sessions being chapters.)
Now the question: When you look at your games, are they TV like, Novel like, Movie like? OR something else entirely.
BTW: I strongly suggest that the players (if they are serious) name each session and maybe even jot down a paragraph or two. You’ll find it is immense fun seeing the story arch in miniature. And if nothing else it’s just fun to come up with clever names.
Well, the D&D game was always action packed, and along the way one of us mentioned it was like a TV show since it was so full of action and drama. This was made even more prevalent by the fact the DM likes to end the session with a cliffhanger as often as possible. Eventually, we came to the point were we even started naming each game session as if it were an episode of TV. Character’s ambushed while escorting a caravan? Well of course that episode would be “Wagon Full.” Character falls to his death? “Flight of angels.” And so on.
As to the Harn game, well since we were already making comparisons, the GM decided it needed to be compared to a media form. Because any combat in that game system is near fatal, and death is permanent, they spend session after session avoiding it and role-playing their characters. Full of political intrigue and complex relationships, it was a naturally considered to be a huge novel (with the game sessions being chapters.)
Now the question: When you look at your games, are they TV like, Novel like, Movie like? OR something else entirely.
BTW: I strongly suggest that the players (if they are serious) name each session and maybe even jot down a paragraph or two. You’ll find it is immense fun seeing the story arch in miniature. And if nothing else it’s just fun to come up with clever names.