Comments on: The RPG Campaign as Episodic TV: Two Techniques http://ludusnovus.net/2009/12/02/the-rpg-campaign-as-episodic-tv-two-techniques/ The Art of Interaction Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:43:29 +0000 hourly 1 By: Gregory Weir http://ludusnovus.net/2009/12/02/the-rpg-campaign-as-episodic-tv-two-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-49894 Gregory Weir Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:10:38 +0000 http://ludusnovus.net/?p=618#comment-49894 I may have subconsciously cribbed it from Primetime Adventures; I remember glancing at the game system. Screen Presence sounds interesting, but I'm not sure I want to carry the TV metaphor that far. NormalVision does seem a lot like the cutscene/vignetting technique. I think it's something that's been discussed quite a bit in the "I want to be more narrativist but not a hippy indie RPGer" crowd. I may have subconsciously cribbed it from Primetime Adventures; I remember glancing at the game system. Screen Presence sounds interesting, but I’m not sure I want to carry the TV metaphor that far.

NormalVision does seem a lot like the cutscene/vignetting technique. I think it’s something that’s been discussed quite a bit in the “I want to be more narrativist but not a hippy indie RPGer” crowd.

]]> By: Selene http://ludusnovus.net/2009/12/02/the-rpg-campaign-as-episodic-tv-two-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-49893 Selene Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:43:40 +0000 http://ludusnovus.net/?p=618#comment-49893 At the end of each session/episode of <a href="http://www.dog-eared-designs.com/games.html" rel="nofollow">Primetime Adventures</a>, players get to describe a "Next Week on..." snippet, similar to your Episode Previews. There's no XP reward for having the scene show up in the next session. Primetime Adventures is a really good system for playing TV shows. You might be able to crib the screen presence+spotlight episode mechanic from it. It's basically a way of tracking how important each character is in a particular episode. Screen Presence 1 means the character is there but not really important to the story, e.g. River in most of Firefly. Screen Presence 3 means the episode revolves around that character (their "spotlight episode"). 2 is in-between. Screen Presence is also your character's effectiveness in-game. The Cutscene technique reminds me of <a href="http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/10/normalvision-part-1/" rel="nofollow">NormalVision</a>, which Ben Robbins wrote a couple of posts about. He does some very cool things with D&D, like West Marches. At the end of each session/episode of Primetime Adventures, players get to describe a “Next Week on…” snippet, similar to your Episode Previews. There’s no XP reward for having the scene show up in the next session. Primetime Adventures is a really good system for playing TV shows. You might be able to crib the screen presence+spotlight episode mechanic from it. It’s basically a way of tracking how important each character is in a particular episode. Screen Presence 1 means the character is there but not really important to the story, e.g. River in most of Firefly. Screen Presence 3 means the episode revolves around that character (their “spotlight episode”). 2 is in-between. Screen Presence is also your character’s effectiveness in-game.

The Cutscene technique reminds me of NormalVision, which Ben Robbins wrote a couple of posts about. He does some very cool things with D&D, like West Marches.

]]> By: Gregory Weir http://ludusnovus.net/2009/12/02/the-rpg-campaign-as-episodic-tv-two-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-49845 Gregory Weir Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:29:58 +0000 http://ludusnovus.net/?p=618#comment-49845 My group's good about it so far. If a scene should keep certain secrets, then it's easy enough to make sure that the players' temporary characters don't find out about those secrets. I trust my players not to blatantly metagame, but if one were about to find out the big episode twist in a cutscene, I'd say something like "And then you see something shocking. Meanwhile, your characters are back at base." That way, the tension and mystery is maintained, and the PCs will be the ones to actually reveal the mystery instead of some one-off character. My group’s good about it so far. If a scene should keep certain secrets, then it’s easy enough to make sure that the players’ temporary characters don’t find out about those secrets. I trust my players not to blatantly metagame, but if one were about to find out the big episode twist in a cutscene, I’d say something like “And then you see something shocking. Meanwhile, your characters are back at base.” That way, the tension and mystery is maintained, and the PCs will be the ones to actually reveal the mystery instead of some one-off character.

]]> By: Nels Anderson http://ludusnovus.net/2009/12/02/the-rpg-campaign-as-episodic-tv-two-techniques/comment-page-1/#comment-49843 Nels Anderson Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:14:34 +0000 http://ludusnovus.net/?p=618#comment-49843 Coincidences abound, because I my copy of <i>Geist</i> shipped from Amazon a few days ago. I've been considering the idea of doing some different things exposition-wise and these ideas are interesting. I'll be curious to see some more specific examples of how they operated. Do your players have a problem (or even care) about separating the things their character knows vs. what they learn playing someone else during a cutscene? That's the only bit I can see being potentially sticky, but if obviously highly depending on the group's style and goals. Coincidences abound, because I my copy of Geist shipped from Amazon a few days ago. I’ve been considering the idea of doing some different things exposition-wise and these ideas are interesting. I’ll be curious to see some more specific examples of how they operated.

Do your players have a problem (or even care) about separating the things their character knows vs. what they learn playing someone else during a cutscene? That’s the only bit I can see being potentially sticky, but if obviously highly depending on the group’s style and goals.

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