2020-06-20

While re-watching the Netflix series, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, I was struck how much depth they create in their story and world by "showing" and not using exposition.  That is always touted as the superior path of story telling, and I appreciate it in my media consumption.  It allows for asking of questions, seeking answers, asking questions of those answers, and so on. But I wonder how effective is that in a TTRPG.
Perhaps the table needs to want that kind of presentation. I can see how it could slow things down and cause confusion which causes frustration and a bad experience, if people just want to KNOW what is going on and what to do.
Maybe this just gets tossed on the heap of "ideas that would be fun 'someday'" and just enjoy that time if it ever comes.

2020-06-12

Another error I made before.

I focused in so much on my story and idea that I never let the players interact.  It was a classic railroad, but I thought I was being so clever and I would "never do that." No one ever said anything about it to me, but I knew they were not having fun. But it was never discussed so it took me a long time to realize the actual source of the issue.

Cringe.

Race 2020-05-31

Something that didn't bother me at first when I was learning, but did, as soon as I started teaching others how to play D&D, was the mechanic and term "race". It made me uncomfortable explaining its role and mechanic in creating your character. I would avoid calling it by its name whenever possible, talking around it.  Then I discovered the Adventures in Middle Earth product and how they didn't use that term, but instead structured it as a "cultural" set of parameters for creation of your character.  It fills that mechanical slot, but it is a change much more than just nomenclature. Divesting gaming from that lens is one less small mental block that surrounds us. That lens which otherwise prevents us from fully and authentically engaging with our fellow humans, not only around a table but in all aspects of life.

Pivot

I shouldn't be surprised that when taking a long step back from something, that your newfound perspective provides a better understanding of where you once were.  I thought I was a great DM, but as I start thinking about how to start playing again, I realize now that isn't true. That perspective time gives, really does point out those ogre-fisted sessions where I was so set on something, that I was oblivious to a path to head down.

Also having not played in a regular game in almost two years, I really do want to start playing again.  Now this isn't the best time to go sitting at a cramped table full of dice, papers, and snacks, but I really do miss the excitement and socialization of it all. I had thought this might be THE TIME to get my family members in on a game, but that is such a tall task, that I don't know if I want to carry that much water and it still be a stress free(-ish) past time.

Who knows, like so many other things in the last year, maybe the answer will just happen.

Fatigue Failure

Playing tabletop role-playing games is a surprisingly exhaustive experience.  Just as driving during a long road trip, constantly being mentally attentive puts a hit on the energy reserves.  When participants are not rested, irregardless of adventure prep, the session is set to be frustrating.

Daily Dram: The Silver Sea

The warm wind blew across the tops of the aspen making their silver leaves shimmer in the sun.  It continues eastward, flowing over the hundreds of miles of forest and up into the Helzoun Mountains where it finally loses all warmth and life.