> I disagree. I think scenario's are best when they are stories.
I'm going to assume you mean that a scenario with a storyline, motivations, and NPC interactions are better than a "kill all monsters" dungeon crawl, in which case I agree.
> From: Simon Phipp <soltakss_at_yahoo.com>
> Well, when I read Dragonrise, I was confused about their relationship and
> thought that they may be lovers. It didn't enter my head that he might by her
> son, as I was unaware that she had a son.
Like I mentioned, I only dismissed the lovers idea due to the line in Orlanth is Dead that she swore not to be "wedded or bedded" until Sartar was free.
> Since we have a very good and fairly detailed plan of the Hero Wars already,
> in King of Dragon Pass, why not just sketch out what is going to happen in
> the various stages of the Hero Wars, probably on the Issaries website, and
> let people know what is going to happen?
My thoughts exactly. KoDP lays out the high points of the storyline, there is no need whatsoever to hide such things.
Normally I wouldn't give a fig about Kallyr's son. But the implication here is that the fact Danar was her son has serious consequences for her and what she does in the future. Therefore, it is important to know.
> From: Tim Ellis <tim_at_timellis.demon.co.uk>
> I suspect one answer is the way it was recently reported that Greg runs
> Heroquests, by changing sufficient details and introducing choices such
> that it becomes personal to the players and not just a rote recitation
> of known events.
Absolutely. For instance, I intend to change nothing about the Siege of Whitewall. Whitewall falls. But my players are involved in providing information on the bat, helping to supply them, etc. etc. As far as I am concerned, the Battle of Iceland is a fixed victory for the rebels. But even so, you could lose your whole clan and all your friends.
> In this tale, the Hero (whose role will be taken by the questor) takes
> the family cow to market...
Although I don't think it addresses the particular question, I do think Jack and the Beanstalk makes an AMAZING HeroQuest. :)
> I think the problem for the putative GM is to identify what is important
> about any particular incedent. If the scenario writer says "At point T
> NPC A will be killed by Opponent X" then what parts can the GM allow to
> change without causing themselves problems later. Is it Important that
> NPC A dies, or merely that they are unavailable in the next scene? Is it
> important that it happens at point T (so does NPC A have to be preserved
> to this point if they are in danger earlier, or can their death occur
> anywhere). Is it the fact that Opponent X is involved or can they be
> swapped for an alternative. Or is the incident merely to emphasise the
> danger of the scenario by culling an NPC who has no further part to play
> in the scripted scenario.
I think you've nailed on the head the real point of the whole spoiler discussion. Under the assumption you are playing a scenario, what bits are Important to the overall plot MUST be known by the GM to be able to run it successfully.
LC
End of Glorantha Digest, Vol 11, Issue 231
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