Comments on: Adventure Prep: Hacking the Written Word http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/ The Journal of Gamer Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eric Maziade http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54387 Eric Maziade Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:23:01 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54387 I'm still prepping up for Scepter Tower of Spellgard (which my players might end up skipping entirely) and I find that I like the published adventure format better after each reading. It started with a subtle dislike, but telling myself its a roadmap more than a script and remembering that improv is less difficult that it is intimidating, I found myself slowly absorbing the lore and planning how various (noncombat) encounters might play out and how to adapt it to the stories that are starting to happen in our version of reality. Looks like next session might be delayed. Hrrn. <abbr><em>Eric Maziades last blog post..<a href="http://eric.maziade.com/post/2009/03/09/The-Encounter-%5BKobold-Keep-Remix-Finale-Report%2C-Part-2%5D" rel="nofollow">The Encounter [Kobold Keep Remix Finale Report, Part 2]</a></em></abbr> I’m still prepping up for Scepter Tower of Spellgard (which my players might end up skipping entirely) and I find that I like the published adventure format better after each reading.

It started with a subtle dislike, but telling myself its a roadmap more than a script and remembering that improv is less difficult that it is intimidating, I found myself slowly absorbing the lore and planning how various (noncombat) encounters might play out and how to adapt it to the stories that are starting to happen in our version of reality.

Looks like next session might be delayed. Hrrn.

Eric Maziades last blog post..The Encounter [Kobold Keep Remix Finale Report, Part 2]

]]> By: Tommi http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54386 Tommi Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:07:44 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54386 Phil; I much prefer actual books to rpg source books; if I wanted to, say, run a game about dragons, I'd read books where there are dragons. Though for finding out what a historical setting is like GURPS books are decent. Most rpg supplements are awfully boring. Even 3e Draconomicon is fairly boring, even though it tells about dragons. That is not an easy deed to accomplish. Phil;

I much prefer actual books to rpg source books; if I wanted to, say, run a game about dragons, I’d read books where there are dragons. Though for finding out what a historical setting is like GURPS books are decent.

Most rpg supplements are awfully boring. Even 3e Draconomicon is fairly boring, even though it tells about dragons. That is not an easy deed to accomplish.

]]> By: Colmarr http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54385 Colmarr Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:11:36 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54385 I think I recall reading that that was one of the design goals of 4e: That a DM should be able to modify a monster simply by putting a sticky note over the top of its MM entry. So it seems it worked :) I think I recall reading that that was one of the design goals of 4e: That a DM should be able to modify a monster simply by putting a sticky note over the top of its MM entry.

So it seems it worked :)

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54384 ChattyDM Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:43:32 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54384 Here's something I just found out while prepping. The Monster stat blocks in the adventure are perfectly sized to be covered by a Post-it stick on note on which I can write whatever goals and roleplaying traits I want to give to NPCs that might do something else than fight in the adventure. Here’s something I just found out while prepping. The Monster stat blocks in the adventure are perfectly sized to be covered by a Post-it stick on note on which I can write whatever goals and roleplaying traits I want to give to NPCs that might do something else than fight in the adventure.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54383 ChattyDM Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:47:52 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54383 @VulcanStev: The thing is, there's no such thing as GM railroading. It's one of those mental barriers humans are so fond of. I myself have a hard time going against what an adventure says because I still think I'm a terrible improviser. But I do like hacking adventures during prep time. @Soul Existence: Your post showed in Comment Luv so all's good! I'll have a look for sure! @Ameron: I'm with you on this, I rather think a line of adventure for advanced GMs that does away with some of the tutorial stuff could be an idea worth investigating. @Tommi: I liked reading adventures more than reading the non rules parts of sourcebooks like Draconomicon or the Manual of the Planes. At least the adventures that I chose to play. @VulcanStev: The thing is, there’s no such thing as GM railroading. It’s one of those mental barriers humans are so fond of. I myself have a hard time going against what an adventure says because I still think I’m a terrible improviser. But I do like hacking adventures during prep time.

@Soul Existence: Your post showed in Comment Luv so all’s good! I’ll have a look for sure!

@Ameron: I’m with you on this, I rather think a line of adventure for advanced GMs that does away with some of the tutorial stuff could be an idea worth investigating.

@Tommi: I liked reading adventures more than reading the non rules parts of sourcebooks like Draconomicon or the Manual of the Planes. At least the adventures that I chose to play.

]]> By: Tommi http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54382 Tommi Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:11:35 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54382 I'm slowly starting to realise how adventures/modules might actually be useful in some situations; possibly even more useful then books. They are less fun to read, though. I’m slowly starting to realise how adventures/modules might actually be useful in some situations; possibly even more useful then books. They are less fun to read, though.

]]> By: Ameron http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54381 Ameron Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:58:38 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54381 I actually like that the new 4e modules give details about how to work the monsters. Of course, that could have a lot to do with the fact that I’m not intimately familiar with all the changes to 4e monsters yet. I absolutely agree that the DM shouldn’t forget that these are just suggested guidelines. If the DM wants to do something out of left field, they should feel free to do it. Especially if they think it’ll make an encounter better and more fun for the players. <abbr><em>Amerons last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DungeonsMaster/~3/YaDY7xujVsM/" rel="nofollow">Necromancer: Epic Tier</a></em></abbr> I actually like that the new 4e modules give details about how to work the monsters. Of course, that could have a lot to do with the fact that I’m not intimately familiar with all the changes to 4e monsters yet.

I absolutely agree that the DM shouldn’t forget that these are just suggested guidelines. If the DM wants to do something out of left field, they should feel free to do it. Especially if they think it’ll make an encounter better and more fun for the players.

Amerons last blog post..Necromancer: Epic Tier

]]> By: Soul Existence http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54380 Soul Existence Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:53:06 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54380 I've definitely seen the benefit of rewriting the default text when it doesn't make sense or doesn't fit the flow of the adventure. And I posted about skill challenges in social encounters, but i'm still trying to get the backlink stuff to work right. =p <abbr><em>Soul Existences last blog post..<a href="http://rpg.blitzhobbying.com/2009/03/using-skill-challenges-in-social.html" rel="nofollow">Using Skill challenges in social encounters</a></em></abbr> I’ve definitely seen the benefit of rewriting the default text when it doesn’t make sense or doesn’t fit the flow of the adventure.

And I posted about skill challenges in social encounters, but i’m still trying to get the backlink stuff to work right. =p

Soul Existences last blog post..Using Skill challenges in social encounters

]]> By: Vulcan Stev http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54379 Vulcan Stev Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:09:59 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54379 I agree wholeheartedly. I've been homebrewing Reality Bites RunePunk for my Stargate campaign I'm running on Fridays. A GM needs to follow the ebb and flow of what his/her players need. Far too often Setting books tend to, as Viraitha stated, railroad the GM. When that happens you're not RPing you're following a script. <abbr><em>Vulcan Stevs last blog post..<a href="http://vulcanstev.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/game-night-3-13-09/" rel="nofollow">Game Night 3-13-09</a></em></abbr> I agree wholeheartedly. I’ve been homebrewing Reality Bites RunePunk for my Stargate campaign I’m running on Fridays. A GM needs to follow the ebb and flow of what his/her players need.

Far too often Setting books tend to, as Viraitha stated, railroad the GM. When that happens you’re not RPing you’re following a script.

Vulcan Stevs last blog post..Game Night 3-13-09

]]> By: Viriatha http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54378 Viriatha Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:55:49 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54378 Yeah, after all it goes the other way, too. If you have limited space, don't waste it on things we don't need to read. Yeah, after all it goes the other way, too. If you have limited space, don’t waste it on things we don’t need to read.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54377 ChattyDM Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:54:40 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54377 Agreed 100% Viriatha, but old adventure said a lot less about how monster would react and what tactics they would use... I believe that we should drop the 'tactics' part of encounters all together and maybe just note if monsters will fight to the death or run after being bloodied. Agreed 100% Viriatha, but old adventure said a lot less about how monster would react and what tactics they would use… I believe that we should drop the ‘tactics’ part of encounters all together and maybe just note if monsters will fight to the death or run after being bloodied.

]]> By: Viriatha http://critical-hits.com/2009/03/14/adventure-prep-hacking-the-written-word/#comment-54376 Viriatha Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:51:02 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=2440#comment-54376 I think another reason published adventures tend to railroad DMs is because you really only have so many pages for material. Presenting too many options means you run out of space. Can you not mod it to allow more "sand"? <abbr><em>Viriathas last blog post..<a href="http://www.bardofvaliant.com/2009/03/vocal-commands-to-cue-your-computer/" rel="nofollow">Vocal commands to cue your Computer</a></em></abbr> I think another reason published adventures tend to railroad DMs is because you really only have so many pages for material. Presenting too many options means you run out of space. Can you not mod it to allow more “sand”?

Viriathas last blog post..Vocal commands to cue your Computer

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