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Author Topic: [Risus One-shots] Improve my Game  (Read 789 times)

Narf the Mouse

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[Risus One-shots] Improve my Game
« on: May 12, 2009, 12:49:07 AM »
I imagine myself to be a fair GM. I've read oodles of articles on the techniqes of GM'ing. I would like, however, to be an expert GM. In order to do so, I need both more practical experience and player feedback. The players are, after all, the ones who need to be entertained.

So, the way this works - I present a single, unconnected adventure scenario. You sign up. I GM the adventure. You stay until it's done.

Afterwards, you PM me at least one good critique - Something I could do better; an area I could improve in; something I seem to have missed. And, just to keep things fair and balanced, something I did right. (You could always leave the first out. ;D :D )

Because improvement is a verb, not a noun. Also, GM'ing is tons of fun. :D

Risus in four easy sentences: You have ten d6's. Divide them among three cliches with an acompanying bit of flavour (Exactly what the name says; Rocket Coyboy, Barbarian, Fighter with a Heart Of Gold) up to four dice. High roll wins. If you loose the roll, you temporarily loose a die.

Warchief Slaughter 12d/12d
Orciest Of The Band (Bloood! Death! Slaughter! Beer! WAAAAUUUGH!!!!!) 4d6
Warchief Of The Band (Listen up, you primitive screwheads!) 3d6
Death and Destruction (Axe of much Killing! Axe of Explosions!) 4d6
Likes Polka (Secret, deadly shame) 1d6

The Army is marching on the Orcish lands. In there way is a minor, insignificant fort, guarding the only way into the Orcish lands, through a mountain pass.

Insignificant as it is, a minor impediment to the Armies' invietable, glorious victory, Duke Fairhair has decided that it would be best dealt with by a small scouting party opening the gates. After all, if they storm the entrance, they might loose an Elf or two. *Cough*

Accordingly, you and a few other Valorious Heroes (Suckers who were caught napping) have made your way to the Cliffs Of Bloody Doom ('Doomed orcs, obviously', according the luietenant safely back at camp)

The cliffs rise sheer above you; two hundred feet of bare granite on the right, leading up to the fifty-foot walls of the fortress. To the left is a crumbled, eighty-degree cliff wall. Supposing you found a way up it without being shot by orcish crossbow snipers ('Easy as pie. Orcs are lousy at longbow play. Longbows are, of course, an Elven Invention. Humans are too crude to have invented them'), you would still be across a seventy-foot canyon from the fortress ('A mere ramshackle collection of wooden logs')

You do have, however, an ancient ('Completely reliable') map of a secret way into the fortress, back when it was ('An Elven Stronghold') 'made by Dwarves', some Elven spies snuck inside the Orcish construction site.

You also have Standard Gear for Privates, First Class ('The best stuff money can buy!')
Well, according to the inventory sheets you do. You definitely didn't trade the useless stuff at a Halfling village you passed. You definitely didn't beg, borrow, steal or scrounge whatever you could get your hands on before leaving.

In addition, you each have your own idea (Complete with evidence, or a plan, or old information, or a bit of magic - 'Elven only, of course' - That you bought/inherited/won in a poker game/swiped from your tent-mate/got as loot from the last campaign.

Desertion is far, far from your thoughts. Especially since your location is scry-marked on a map in the Duke's tent - Which you were unfortunately unable to get near ('To bask in the radiance of his presence')

Well, do or die (Possibly do and die), but it's time. The sun has set. Not a problem of course, you are Elves.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2009, 12:54:12 AM by Narf the Mouse »
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.

Spinachcat

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[Risus One-shots] Improve my Game
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2009, 04:56:15 AM »
Quote from: Narf the Mouse;301458
I've read oodles of articles on the techniqes of GM'ing. I would like, however, to be an expert GM.


Narf, I suggest journalling the best bits of your favorite articles.  Then review the various bits and decide which 3 new techniques you want to try out for the session.  

For me, I need to work on my Cliffhanger Endings between scenarios.  I have a friend who is an uber-master at knowing when to end a game session.  Thus, my DM focus has been on developing that talent.

Narf the Mouse

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[Risus One-shots] Improve my Game
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2009, 08:15:35 AM »
'Dungeon design', 'Colour' and 'Moving things along'.
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.

Spinachcat

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[Risus One-shots] Improve my Game
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2009, 06:53:48 PM »
I am a believer in pre-game analysis.   Be specific with your answers!

Dungeon Design...

What has been your trouble previously?

What did you learn in an article that you want to implement?

How will you know when your Dungeon Design skill has improved?

Colour...

What has been your trouble previously?

What did you learn in an article that you want to implement?

How will you know when your Colour skill has improved?

Moving Things Along...

What has been your trouble previously?

What did you learn in an article that you want to implement?

How will you know when your Moving Things Along skill has improved?

Narf the Mouse

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[Risus One-shots] Improve my Game
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2009, 05:07:51 AM »
Dungeon Design
I have yet to grasp how to make them interesting. Flat, boring, one-route; far to realistic (Complete with tunnel details); random and disconnected.

Simple, five-step dungeon design.

That's what the feedback is for. Also, when I'd want to play through it.

Colour

I tend to give the bare facts too much.

Cover all five senses - Sight, smell, taste, tough, hearing.

Feedback - And when I find the description emotive.

Moving Things Along

Lack of experience at judging a good pace for a game session; what to cut and what to keep.

Determing what is important for the players to know. (Somewhat vague, but that's the blunt end of my skills right now)

Again, feedback - And also, when the session draws me in - That will highlight the good points.

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify my thoughts.
The main problem with government is the difficulty of pressing charges against its directors.

Given a choice of two out of three M&Ms, the human brain subconsciously tries to justify the two M&Ms chosen as being superior to the M&M not chosen.