Post by whenwizardswar on Aug 28, 2008 4:55:44 GMT -5
Traditonally, most DM events are kind of thrown upon the adventuerors, usually they hear rumors and or stumble upon them by accident or have some other way of getting involved.
I dont like giving players the nudge I am about to, but I'm thinking its nessicary because I know from my past experiences alot of players arnt used to a certain way of life when comes to situations.
Adventuerors, while important and nessicary as heros, are often not a part of the big picture. When I set up and start a plot line, I almost always have a progression chart telling me what happen's as time pass's and modify it accordingly based on events and actions by PC's, just because a PC isnt involved in an events resolution, doesnt mean the event stops and waits, far from it, if anything it tends to speed along, sometimes unhindered.
As time goes on, the situation could be worse, or it could very well resolve itself (If the heros/PC's dont solve the situation/problem, its more then likely some NPC hero, or heros would end up dealing with it eventually, thus stealing any potential glory from everyone else).
While its a way of life, that heros other then the PC's are working to save the realms, I try not to use them often as it steals entertainment and glory away from the PC's in a Deus Ex Machina type resolution, after whats the fun if you are at work and you sit their on your arse doing nothing while someone does the work for you?.
Many of you will have noticed that I set up certain areas for some of my plot lines and as time goes on things happen in that area reguardless of PC actions, (Such as the Iron Throne Blockade on the beregost bridge the other day the red wizards still would have arrived reguardless of PC presence or actions).
And yes, sometimes I end up doing events or plot advancements with myself because no one shows up to investigate or no one happens along (Yes this means i play with myself
)
The words I am about to say, I dont like saying because it dwindles secrecy and banishs alittle suspense and it kind of force feeds events to players. but as I said prior I know most people are probably use to being hand led into situations.
I have two major plot lines, the conflict between the Iron Throne and the Red Wizards, which moves along at the speed of plot, and if people dont show active investigations arnt under taken the situation will eventually resolve itself in a potentially negative or positive impact. If you wish to do something involved with this plot line, drop me a tell in game, it could something as simple as "I want to look into the conflict between the Red Wizards or the Iron Throne" or as detailed as "I want to find the High Merchant Emmisary of Thay to discuss the conflicts in the region"(This type I prefer as it helps me set up exactly what is needed).
The other plot is with Cinderanithalaxis, the red dragon who moved into the region a few months ago. The event last night, showed pretty clearly that the dragon is makeing some pretty blunt moves on the regon and hopefully was enough fuel for PC's to do their own investigations into the matter with out being hand led.
When asking to look into a situation, please have as much of a detailed idea as possible as to where you wish to start looking, this makes life easier on myself as I can know exactly whats nessicary, since it cuts down on the "lets wing it" factor. I actually have a note book for my NPC's and timelines for my plots, and theres very little chance that any -specific0direction you wish to look isnt in my book.
The more thought that someone puts into where they want to look, is going to show me they are really interested and will generally yield the most information, where as vague directions on where a PC wants to look or go is more likely to yield very little results as it basically represetns them stumbling around in the dark.
Wiz
I dont like giving players the nudge I am about to, but I'm thinking its nessicary because I know from my past experiences alot of players arnt used to a certain way of life when comes to situations.
Adventuerors, while important and nessicary as heros, are often not a part of the big picture. When I set up and start a plot line, I almost always have a progression chart telling me what happen's as time pass's and modify it accordingly based on events and actions by PC's, just because a PC isnt involved in an events resolution, doesnt mean the event stops and waits, far from it, if anything it tends to speed along, sometimes unhindered.
As time goes on, the situation could be worse, or it could very well resolve itself (If the heros/PC's dont solve the situation/problem, its more then likely some NPC hero, or heros would end up dealing with it eventually, thus stealing any potential glory from everyone else).
While its a way of life, that heros other then the PC's are working to save the realms, I try not to use them often as it steals entertainment and glory away from the PC's in a Deus Ex Machina type resolution, after whats the fun if you are at work and you sit their on your arse doing nothing while someone does the work for you?.
Many of you will have noticed that I set up certain areas for some of my plot lines and as time goes on things happen in that area reguardless of PC actions, (Such as the Iron Throne Blockade on the beregost bridge the other day the red wizards still would have arrived reguardless of PC presence or actions).
And yes, sometimes I end up doing events or plot advancements with myself because no one shows up to investigate or no one happens along (Yes this means i play with myself
)The words I am about to say, I dont like saying because it dwindles secrecy and banishs alittle suspense and it kind of force feeds events to players. but as I said prior I know most people are probably use to being hand led into situations.
I have two major plot lines, the conflict between the Iron Throne and the Red Wizards, which moves along at the speed of plot, and if people dont show active investigations arnt under taken the situation will eventually resolve itself in a potentially negative or positive impact. If you wish to do something involved with this plot line, drop me a tell in game, it could something as simple as "I want to look into the conflict between the Red Wizards or the Iron Throne" or as detailed as "I want to find the High Merchant Emmisary of Thay to discuss the conflicts in the region"(This type I prefer as it helps me set up exactly what is needed).
The other plot is with Cinderanithalaxis, the red dragon who moved into the region a few months ago. The event last night, showed pretty clearly that the dragon is makeing some pretty blunt moves on the regon and hopefully was enough fuel for PC's to do their own investigations into the matter with out being hand led.
When asking to look into a situation, please have as much of a detailed idea as possible as to where you wish to start looking, this makes life easier on myself as I can know exactly whats nessicary, since it cuts down on the "lets wing it" factor. I actually have a note book for my NPC's and timelines for my plots, and theres very little chance that any -specific0direction you wish to look isnt in my book.
The more thought that someone puts into where they want to look, is going to show me they are really interested and will generally yield the most information, where as vague directions on where a PC wants to look or go is more likely to yield very little results as it basically represetns them stumbling around in the dark.
Wiz
