12-03-2013, 08:12 AM | #1 |
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Seeking advice on a campaign
Hello,
I'm planning a c. TL2 'Heroic' fantasy campaign (think pan-western mythology meets Conan in Lankhmar). The setting has homebrewed magic, cosmology and humanoid races. Gods are real, active, and constructed on GURPS mechanics attainable by PCs through earned CP. That is to say, people in the world can and do aspire to godhood. I am planning for the PCs to enter play at just the level of personal achievement and glory that, in unhumble moments, they might entertain the flicker of such an ambition. I plan to use an iterative/tranched, partially blind character building process that will result in PCs with approximately this point distribution: Total: 500 Attributes and mundane adventuring capabilities: 250-300 Fantasy and cinematic capabilities: 100-150 Social advantages: 100-150 My question today relates to the final item. I intend for the PCs to be leaders of people, opinion, tastes; figures of renown and intrigue; and have seats at tables where fateful decisions are taken. (But I want them to get into the action too, of course.) Characters with this much social power will be new to both me and my player group, and I would appreciate any advice or comments people might have on how to make it work, where to find the gold, and what to avoid. Thanks in advance. |
12-03-2013, 09:33 AM | #2 | |
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Shangri-La
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
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This helps you as GM to think about how the social order is put together (what forms of Rank are available? How do they relate to Status, Wealth, etc? What other social traits are available, and who can have them?), and it takes the guesswork out of character creation for PCs. So, a "Knight of the Realm" lens might look like: Legal Enforcement Powers [10]; Status 2 [10]; Wealth (Comfortable) [10]; Duty (Liege, 9-) [-5]; Current Affairs (High Society -or- Politics) and Savoir-Faire (High Society), both (E) IQ [1]; and Heraldry (Coats of Arms) (A) IQ [2]. 29 points. It might also be worth coming up with several pre-built 'sample' Allies, Contacts, and/or Patrons, if those are going to be important, so that the players have an idea of what's appropriate.
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Current project: HMACE, Heavy Metal Album Cover Evil. Past projects: The Fortress of Xie'e Wu Xing, Mythic Japan. GURPS StarCraft, Alien Bugs vs. Space Marines |
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12-03-2013, 09:56 AM | #3 | ||
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: One Mile Up
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
Hey.
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Avoid railroading with this game. The people who sign up for this are the ones who will enjoy at least some degree of self-determination. Conflicts should mostly come from active opposition by relative peers, if not superior-but-not-omnipotent beings such as Greek-style gods. |
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12-03-2013, 12:07 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
As an homage to Tom Stoppard, might I at least suggest including some maidens seeking Godhead, and vice-versa?
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Online Campaign Planning Last edited by ClayDowling; 12-03-2013 at 12:08 PM. Reason: there was a missing |
12-03-2013, 03:04 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
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OK, I like subtle puns.
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A little learning is a dangerous thing. Warning: Invertebrate Punnster - Spinelessly Unable to Resist a Pun Dangerous Thoughts, my blog about GURPS and life. |
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12-03-2013, 03:13 PM | #6 | |||
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
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A little learning is a dangerous thing. Warning: Invertebrate Punnster - Spinelessly Unable to Resist a Pun Dangerous Thoughts, my blog about GURPS and life. |
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12-04-2013, 08:33 AM | #7 | |||||||
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
Thank you for the responses so far.
I'll reply in regard to some particular comments: Quote:
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I plan to share setting info beforehand, and ask for concepts that I will vet against it. That said, I don't want to pre-define character types too closely. They will all start in and have their primary interests within one 'state', and in some cases likely be known to each other before play begins. I think I will seek to ensure that they share socio-political objectives, but after that their choices will ideally be driven by 'organic' setting events. Quote:
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I have been contemplating the idea of running a concurrent Shakespearean-style 'back stairs' campaign with the same players running PCs who are peons within the retinues of their other characters. Maybe that would be a solution? |
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12-04-2013, 09:13 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ft Collins, CO
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
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My thought is that players might know what they want, but not how to get it/move toward it. If the merchant says to Jeeves, his butler/accountant, "I want to control the bacon market, so only my sandwiches can have bacon!", Jeeves will say "Very good, sir!" and get on it. Then you as the GM can have things happen off-screen, with Jeeves reporting progress every so often. "Sir, the country with all our bacon farms is under attack! All our investments will go for naught if it falls. What do you want to do?" Face it - all powerful people have "people." My $0.02, arnej |
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12-04-2013, 11:26 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
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12-04-2013, 11:55 AM | #10 |
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: Seeking advice on a campaign
Hey. These folks can appear as fun dependants or enemies. The underling who wants you replaced. The royal brat you are supposed to train.
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Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one! |
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