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.
TV or Movie?
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- Far-Sighted Wanderer
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- Cold-Hearted Immortal
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Re: TV or Movie?
That's a cool idea. I might have to start doing that.Seath Darcstar wrote: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.
Definitely movies for me... lots of combat, mixed in with episodic adventures that tend to tie into larger themes.
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- Wild-Eyed Zealot
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I'm running two games at the moment (both set in Dave Arneson's Blackmoor). My home game is definitely a movie-like epic with large scale battles (where the PCs are leading small units in armies against clans of rampaging orcs) and with some intense inter-personal relationships between the characters. Each session is a new "scene" or series of scenes in a movie format.
My online game is a novel. Every session is another chapter. A decent amount of action and adventure, but heavy on mood-altering horror splashes. Matter of fact, people can read the session logs at http://jpquinn.mortality.net/player/ (session 4's log is MIA, and session 5 will be up soon).
My online game is a novel. Every session is another chapter. A decent amount of action and adventure, but heavy on mood-altering horror splashes. Matter of fact, people can read the session logs at http://jpquinn.mortality.net/player/ (session 4's log is MIA, and session 5 will be up soon).
JP Quinn
Owner, Dolmen Creative
Giving dice to your imagination!
Goodman Games Writing Credits: A few 3E DCCs, a Complete Guide, and a few books for Blackmoor.
Owner, Dolmen Creative
Giving dice to your imagination!
Goodman Games Writing Credits: A few 3E DCCs, a Complete Guide, and a few books for Blackmoor.