Quote from: TonyLB12)  How much of a priority, for you, is feeling something of what your character would (hypothetically) feel?  "Immersion" is a huge bug-a-boo, so I don't want to attach anything to that, but I'd love it if you could describe, in your own words, what kind of relationship you as a player have with the emotions that you imagine for your character.

Hmmm - I very, very seldom play as opposed to GM. When I do, though, I try to live vicariously through my character - experiencing the game directly in my imagination as if I were there. Bumps up the old intensity level. How much of a priority is it? Well, it's important, a strong preference, but I can have fun without it. The fun just gets muted is all.

-clash

Quote from: TonyLBSorry, sorry ... as a term, I consider it a bug-a-boo, because I've seen it defined so many ways.  I've seen the term foul communication.  I've got no problem with pretty much any of the ways I've seen it defined.

That was very poor wording on my part, for which I apologize.

Yeah - I wondered about that for a second, then figured out what you meant. 5 roleplayers, seven definitions of immersion.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceHmmm - I very, very seldom play as opposed to GM.

Cool ... I sometimes think there's even more variation in how different people GM than in how different people play, so ....

13) When you are GMing, what do you try to do?  I get that you'll have some goal ("Make sure everyone has fun" is always popular), and that reacting to the game in progress in order to seek that goal will always inform your GMing, but what, if any, are your opening moves and favorite techniques?

Quote from: TonyLBCool ... I sometimes think there's even more variation in how different people GM than in how different people play, so ....

13) When you are GMing, what do you try to do?  I get that you'll have some goal ("Make sure everyone has fun" is always popular), and that reacting to the game in progress in order to seek that goal will always inform your GMing, but what, if any, are your opening moves and favorite techniques?

"Make sure everyone has fun" is, of course, the goal, though very bland and uninformative, but how to achieve that goal is perhaps more interesting. I'm a situational GM, having no set plot in mind beyond the initial situation - called I think the "kicker" though I've been using the technique since Mr. Edwards was in diapers, it's a good term - to propel the player characters into reacting to the situation and getting active. When things flag, I toss in another situation. I have no idea what the PCs will do with the situation, I just know what the NPCs are attempting to do.

My "goal" if you like is to involve the PCs and keep the interest racheted up, allowing them the most freedom possible to do and be whatever they want and to go anyplace they desire within the setting. I get my kicks vicariously from their enjoyment, from interacting with them as NPCs, and from seeing how they deal with the situations I throw at them. I have no particular attachment to my NPCs, they're just tools to increase the the PCs' enjoyment, and I prefer to roll in the open.

Two of my favorite techniques are the "monkey trap" and "misdirection." The monkey trap is based on the real monkey traps where something shiny is put in a hollowed out gourd or coconut, with an opening just big enough for the monkey to slip his hand in, but too small for him to pull his fist back through, and anchored to a tree or the ground. The monkey reaches in to get the bait, but can't pull it out in his fist. The monkey can leave at any time by letting go of the bait, but they seldom do that. In play, that means the players can leave any time they want, so long as they give up on the bait. Following the bait just leads them into more monkey traps, dialing up the bat and the consequences.

Misdirection involves giving information that is true, but can be interpreted in at least two different ways. When it's done properly, the player characters should have a "D'OH!" moment where they realise they have been looking at the situation in the totally wrong way, and they have to scramble like mad.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmiceI think that about wraps it up! It's not like I do anything interesting with game design, OK?

C'mon, man! The Cold War in spaaaaaaaace! How cool is that?

Quote from: JohnnyWannabeC'mon, man! The Cold War in spaaaaaaaace! How cool is that?

Pfft! That's like:

1: Get cool idea
2: Do Hard Work
3: Publish

Accurate, but not exactly illuminating!

-clash

Quote from: flyingmicePfft! That's like:

1: Get cool idea
2: Do Hard Work
3: Publish

Accurate, but not exactly illuminating!

-clash

Hee hee! Spoken like a true Clash.

Quote from: JohnnyWannabeHee hee! Spoken like a true Clash.

Now, if you're all done interrupting me, I can get back to work!

-clash