Campaign with Time Skips

[JCurwen3]

Do you think this could be fun? Basically, a campaign wherein between each major sequence of interrelated sessions, say, N number of years passes. Players describe how they spent those N years, and everyone gets a fixed number of CP for that time, making projections based on how many points per session you were handing on out between interrelated sessions, and scaled by how much time was passing between those sessions on average. CP rewards are handed out based on the quality of each player's description of their character's life during that time. Then, a campaign reason is agreed upon for why the PCs are back together again (if they ever stopped being together), and you're off, N years wiser and more experienced. I thought I might try it out with a group and see.

Also, it again makes me realize there should be some sort of Unusual Background modifier on things like Unaging, Extended and Short Lifespan, etc. based on how significant they are in the specific campaign. Sometimes the campaign won't have supernatural aging attacks or ultra-tech aging rays, and won't last for more than 5-10 campaign world years. And some games will have intentionally large time skips, or aging attacks. For instance, imagine the above campaign idea with 5 PCs, one which, unbeknownst to the others, was Unaging for some reason (e.g. "good" vampire hunting other vampires with humans who don't know he's a vampire) - that Age Control (+20%) enhancement starts to make more sense now, huh?

[Sunrunners_Fire]

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

Do you think this could be fun? Basically, a campaign wherein between each major sequence of interrelated sessions, say, N number of years passes. Players describe how they spent those N years, and everyone gets a fixed number of CP for that time, making projections based on how many points per session you were handing on out between interrelated sessions, and scaled by how much time was passing between those sessions on average. CP rewards are handed out based on the quality of each player's description of their character's life during that time. Then, a campaign reason is agreed upon for why the PCs are back together again (if they ever stopped being together), and you're off, N years wiser and more experienced. I thought I might try it out with a group and see.

Also, it again makes me realize there should be some sort of Unusual Background modifier on things like Unaging, Extended and Short Lifespan, etc. based on how significant they are in the specific campaign. Sometimes the campaign won't have supernatural aging attacks or ultra-tech aging rays, and won't last for more than 5-10 campaign world years. And some games will have intentionally large time skips, or aging attacks. For instance, imagine the above campaign idea with 5 PCs, one which, unbeknownst to the others, was Unaging for some reason (e.g. "good" vampire hunting other vampires with humans who don't know he's a vampire) - that Age Control (+20%) enhancement starts to make more sense now, huh?

Worked Example: Dragon Age II. It does this. (This being: Adventure! Time Passes. Adventure! Time Passes. More Adventure!)

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

Basically, a campaign wherein between each major sequence of interrelated sessions, say, N number of years passes

I have done this in a steampunk campaign. That kicked off with the characters getting involved with Hiram Maxim's attempts at steam-powered aviation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_M...lying_machines) which worked, and rapid advances followed. After a while, the campaign took a break, during which several years passed, in less-exciting stuff, but which allowed the technology to spread widely and be applied in many ways, and then resumed when there was the chance for more adventures.

I didn't give the characters significant numbers of points for the time skip, although the ones with the Invention unusual background (this was 3e steampunk) got to move the points into new inventions, the old ones having become widely used.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

Also, it again makes me realize there should be some sort of Unusual Background modifier on things like Unaging, Extended and Short Lifespan, etc. based on how significant they are in the specific campaign. Sometimes the campaign won't have supernatural aging attacks or ultra-tech aging rays, and won't last for more than 5-10 campaign world years. And some games will have intentionally large time skips, or aging attacks. For instance, imagine the above campaign idea with 5 PCs, one which, unbeknownst to the others, was Unaging for some reason (e.g. "good" vampire hunting other vampires with humans who don't know he's a vampire) - that Age Control (+20%) enhancement starts to make more sense now, huh?

The current cost of Unaging is predicated on the idea that time skips WILL occur. That's what the Training rules are for.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

The current cost of Unaging is predicated on the idea that time skips WILL occur. That's what the Training rules are for.

I thought you were on the "Unaging costs too much" side last time this came up?

[Figleaf23]

I was just in a campaign where time would skip several months after each story arc. The off-screen periods involved no character points, but activities could be specified for the period -- e.g. build stuff, arrange hirelings, relationships, etc. -- all of which could then be plot-relevant in the next story arc.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

I thought you were on the "Unaging costs too much" side last time this came up?

I am, but I certainly wouldn't want the cost increased just because Unaging was actually seeing some use.

[Novembermike]

Originally Posted by jeff_wilson

I thought you were on the "Unaging costs too much" side last time this came up?

The problem with things like Unaging is that they are going to be overcosted in 90% of campaigns. If the campaign doesn't actually care about long term time then I'd just make it a Quirk or something.

[Anthony]

I've been in a campaign like that (GURPS Vampire). Two recommendations: either everyone or no-one should have unaging, and don't use the training rules, just give a flat xp gain over time skips.

[Phoenix_Dragon]

I sort of did this for my current campaign. A "Newbies" start. Characters started underage, at 50 character points, and go on minor adventures lasting a single session. Each time, they'd get 10cp, and time would advance about six months. Once they became adults, they started on their -proper- adventuring career, and time (And experience) progressed as normal, with the only time-skips largely being when they're taking time off. Which hasn't really been as much as they might like, lately :>