Being Everything Else: A Podcast about all things GM. [Discussion/Other]

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

The Point of this thread:

Heyo! Hukuna Sensei here!!! I came across a rather interesting Show that while for more Traditional Tabletop RPs I feel may be a great tool for those who wish to Host in these forums. The purpose of this thread is to dump stuff here, and well just talk about it, maybe each of these can be a launching point to a discussion or to invoke thought in would-be hosts ((or veterans)) to maybe think and apply these lessons to their RPs here even if they are more TRPG related.

Introduction of the Show and the Hosts of it:

I will probably be plopping one here a week to keep the discussion focused and pin-pointed. Now, there are a few of these videos and they are podcasts so they have a bit of heft to them and they relate heavily to some series that go on with them. ((As these fellows are the the GMs for a Twitch/Youtube series by itmeJP called the Rollplay series. It is a series that focuses on some campaigns of actual TRPGs such as the Dungeons and Dragons series they have, but they also have some lesser known RPGs such as Stars without Number or Shadowrun.))

The show is run by both Steven Lumpkin and Adam Koebel, 2 GMs that I respect very highly as they are very good GMs and do some very powerful and entertaining work. ((for some big examples of their work and RPs they will be talking about Steven Lumpkin runs the Rollplay: West Marches and Rollplay: Research and Development. The West Marches are a procedurally built One-Shot world, where parties of characters build upon the world. It is run in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. Rollplay: R&D is a show where they take a new RP and run a short 5 to 8 week campaign within that system. Adam Koebel runs the Rollplay shows of Rollplay: Mirrorshades and Rollplay: Swan Song. Mirrorshades is run in the Cyber Punk meets Fantasy World of Shadowrun((think The Matrix meets Dungeons and Dragons.)). Swan Song is run in Stars without Number system which is an entirely Sci-fi RP.))

The first Discussion will be on the Topic of GM Preparation, and while this ties into the Tabletop Aspects more, some of this relates very much to Forum RPs and how to go about prepping the world for use of play. I will link the 2 episodes down below and ask that you watch both parts through.

Week 1: GM Prep; Things to think about when prepping the world for the RP. ((this says Episode 3... why? Because there are 2 previous episodes to this one, however, they are veeeery TRPG focused. They don't really have much in the way that can be discussed here in this thread.))

Part 1:

Part 2:

Some Discussion Sparkers:

What do you think of the points said in the Video?

How much do think Applies to Forum RPing?

More Specific Points I want to Target:

What do you think of Steven and Adam's consensus on World-building? Do you think that only points around the players that are being used ((or to be used soon within the future)) should be focused on? Or do you more closely agree with the Gygaxian((this will be something mentioned a lot. Gary Gygax was one of the original creators of the first edition of Dungeons and Dragons, as such, the old ways of TRPG and RP in general are sometimes referred to as Gygaxian RPGing etc. The are considered the old school principles of RPGs and most styles of it flow from here.)) way of GMing or running a game, in that the Host should know everything of their world they possibly can before bringing it to their players? Or do you believe a Balance of the two is more appropriate?

Closing:

I ask, below please keep all discussion civil. There doesn't need to be any bashing of what others say or their ideas. Please keep swearing etc to a minimum as well. They tend to bloat points with unnecessary filler words. While I don't have a problem with swearing, it is something that doesn't belong in a discussion such as this as it just dilutes one's point with as I said, needless bloat.

If anyone would like a dump of all the collected episodes to watch them in advance ((as there is a bit of this show on backlog.)) I would be happy to provide. Also, if you guys want to see more of Adam and Steven or the Rollplay series they will tell you all the relevant places to go in the videos. Good Day, and til I see you the next time, PLAY MORE ROLES!!! Hukuna Sensei out~

[Commander]

I've only listened only about 20 minutes, but they are giving some very, very good advice even during that short amount of time and I highly recommend watching it. I really feel like there is good advice for hosts at all levels.

Since it's the only thing I've heard so far, how well you prepare is definitely something to consider. Personally, I use a light plot point method when I designed my RP. When the next chapter gets closer, I'll make a list of a couple of things that will happen, but not usually too detailed with some points I might not do. There are certain things that are going to happen, but I can easily fluctuate something to better fit the situation. I also like how they gave the box text example and how Adam reacted. Something like that is definitely not an uncommon reaction when something's thoroughly written all the time.

That's all I'm going to do until I finish watching the whole podcast (it's great to listen to while doing homework) and I'll be adding a lot more to discuss in my post after that.

[Chim]

I've also watched the first 20 minutes. Their experience is completely different from mine so I'll just talk about how I created Ymora / my preferences.

When it comes to world-building I prefer the Gygaxian way. I'll admit Pokémon isn't that hard to create and everyone here is familiar with it but I still gave it my own twists about how I think it should be. I also made a completely different Region so I think it's important to create as much as possible. Also because everyone knows Pokémon I had to create a completely different history which leads to questions from the players.

First I started with the location compared to the other Regions, excluding those like Orre. From there on out I could create a climate, locations, ... many more details that only I know. After all the players are in 'my' world and if I want them to get used to it, I feel like I should know as much as possible. Of course there are things a host can't foresee. Many of my players picked Hoenn as their home and questions rose about Hoenn Academy etc. Also some people mentioned how little kids defeated crime organizations, something I wanted to avoid, but because I didn't mention it I just had to roll with it. (Not that it made such an impact but it's to show how easily minor details can be forgotten if they aren't mentioned) Some things are just impossible to know for players so I added as much information as possible and answered questions. That's why I prefer the Gygaxian way.

However I also think a host should listen to his players suggestions. I remember Murdoc suggesting to befriend legendaries to give something extra. I thought about it, could fit it easily in the story and gave him the first encounter. (His character is best suited for it) But I would only do it if it adds something extra. (Another reason why creating as much details as possible comes in handy)

When it comes to the actual story I prefer the middle way. I know what I want to reach at the end of each year and always change the middle part. Players should also have the feeling they can change things. It's the first RP I'm hosting so I tried to create that feeling by creating my PC. Right now I have between 4-8 possible outcomes by only letting the players influence my PC. The rest is up to me by creating situations to test them and maybe even get a completely different outcome.

I forgot to add my conclusion:

World-building: Gygaxian

Actual story: Balance between Gygaxian and only planning slighly ahead

Edited February 17, 2015 by Chimchain

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

I will add my own thoughts.

I very much believe in the expansion through play rather than hashing out everything beforehand. ((says the guy who spent 4 years working on Graterras, though that was long form rough idea forming.)) Hell, a lot of my ideas came from it alone. ((Such as the dream sequences in Chapter 3 of World in Peril, the RP I am running for my players..)) While, I did build some of the world and lay out the structure of the way it would be. I knew there would be 9 islands and basic stuff about the homelands of the races etc... However, I never ever drew a map. I didn't plot in the fine details. Those are what I would use the game to pencil in. I would visit those places along with my players and see them with them. I would get a feel fro my world as they did and be just as surprised as them in the wanderlust.

In Story, I strictly believe in what Adam and Steven will expand upon in later episodes. ((cause I watched all of them back to back they are lumping together for me XD>)) But the story/plot of the RP simply doesn't exist yet. It only exists after the players have gone through etc... While I have a direction I would like to go, I am flexible. I am willing to change that plan on the fly and in reaction to my players and what they as characters do. The Death Knight fight in Chapter 2? I Actually was pretty sure I would kill at least a character. However, the brilliant combo that Akuma and Sigurd set up along with Odin impressed me enough that I decided That the Death Knight would fall much, much sooner than I planned. ((Though Brass's sacrifice definitely weakened him a lot too.)).

And on your point of that a Host should listen, in a later episode they will talk about the Rule of "Yes, and." It is too take such a suggestion of a player etc, and expand upon that suggestion in some way. This rule is taken directly from Improv Theatrics. ((and a lot from Theatre is actually helpful in RP.)), other variations of this rule Include "Yes, but" in that it is slightly different than normally suggested and "No, but". This is a technique to force yourself to think of things or to adapt Player suggestions to something that would work in your world. Now, don't do it all the time. SOmetimes you just shouldn't include a suggestion because it is asked. Use your discretion. If you think it wouldn't be good fro the world or the RP explain this to that player.

In short, I like the more only finely prep what your player's will be touching in the near future approach. It prevents you from overloading yourself and leaves you room for variation and to change up the story as you go along. It also allows you the Host to be surprised by your own world sometimes, which is just as fun and excited fro you as it is the players.