Re: Help a new budding GM

From: Carol Mulholland <Carol@flagship-uk.demon.co.uk>

Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000

Bryan Vakos wrote:

> I'm thinking more of strategy games than RPGs.

<snip>

> But what if
> I just want to wile away the hours cracking skulls? Or better -
> wile away the turns just building stuff? Why do I need some
> computer generated villain trying to crack MY skull for no
> reason? To follow the plot I guess.

I agree that NPCs should be plausible in game terms, not just a
mechanism for cutting everyone down to size - but maybe the
designer included scary ones with the idea of giving players
something to unite against? And while I'm sure there are plenty
of strategy games without powerful NPCs, having real players as
opponents can be much, much scarier...

> BTW, if one of you wonderful GM types out there could come up
> with a strategy game that includes ethnicity in it I'd be more
> than  anxious to play. Something where two of your neighbors
> going at it  causes refugees, strife among those two groups in
> your kingdom, that sort of thing. Most games you win or lose,
> but no one ever seems to get really, genuinely upset.

There are mechanisms for civil unrest in some of the complex
games, though I wonder whether getting people genuinely upset
isn't more appropriate for novelists than for GMs (maybe I've
misunderstood what you're saying). You could play one of the
Dark Side in Middle Earth, if you want to try a wicked
character? For a fairly complex simulation, check out the
review of La Gloire du Roi on our website:
http://www.antsnest.demon.co.uk/flagship/index.html
You sound to me as if you'd enjoy an En Garde! campaign, though
this doesn't exactly fit your parameters...

Carol

References

RE: Help a new budding GM
"dk440lx" <Ask@please.com>
Sat, 01 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Help a new budding GM
"Bryan Vakos" <ruffins@erols.com>
Mon, 03 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Help a new budding GM
"dk440lx" <Ask@please.com>
Mon, 03 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Help a new budding GM
"Bryan Vakos" <ruffins@erols.com>
Mon, 03 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

RE: Help a new budding GM
"dk440lx" <Ask@please.com>
Sat, 01 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Help a new budding GM
"Bryan Vakos" <ruffins@erols.com>
Mon, 03 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Help a new budding GM
"dk440lx" <Ask@please.com>
Mon, 03 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Help a new budding GM
"Bryan Vakos" <ruffins@erols.com>
Mon, 03 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000