Re: Campaign advice

From: Alison Place <alison_place_at_QkqFjAkKrf1JT36MnUq2n0TdFwKQjwYhsDA2Tub6QED3-stf_2DHdffnGNAL_J1>
Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:27:25 -0700 (PDT)

We've used Runequest since the '80's, and, honestly, roleplaying is fine and fun within that ruleset, also, as Bryan says.  Some of our best scenarios have come because a random encounter turned up on a dice roll.  The cameo 'A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Wine, and Thou' in the old Tales of the Reaching Moon fanzine was from exactly that.  A long, drawn-out and hilarious affair in which we obtained Regrow Limb (you guess which one) for a gelded bison happened because the dice said this particular beast decided to charge Kajabor in the Eternal Battle (critical riding roll, I think).  We wanted to know what was special about this animal, and it went from there.  The GM's imagination is the deciding factor, not the dice.

As with any system, it is what you make of it, and what you and your players like to do.  We always preferred the grittier, more detail-oriented aspects of RQ, although, in practise, we actually used dice only when we felt like it.  We'd kill characters who acted insanely stupidly, or knowingly self-sacrificed themselves, but not generally because the dice said so.  

Another system that you might like to investigate, just for ideas on GMing, is Trail of Cthulhu.  Their scenarios usually rely on investigators solving problems, and you just don't want to screw your players up merely because the dice won't co-operate.  So, if it's plot-critical, the information is always given to the player.  Players with high skills can request extra info by using something like Hero Points.  

Anyway, have fun, and make sure that the players help you by giving their own ideas for you to foment into a better plot!

Alison

>________________________________
> From: bryan_thx <bethexton_at_PDE9Bax9uYB2xxwjeOUvbyXG6pW3NKN83UgTdpsCl5tbHykuUQtzvRhtk9Y-oRHrFsimw2hb3WtiNg.yahoo.invalid>
>To: WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com
>Sent: Monday, September 10, 2012 2:23:46 PM
>Subject: Re: Campaign advice
>
>....
> I totally agree with the other comments about figuring out what sort of story you want to run. Runequest can be good for making death always feel a knife edge away, but makes it more challenging to have the crazy overcoming of impossible odds due to some insane/brilliant scheme.
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>If you think your players are the sort to want to deal with belligerent minotaurs by finding the misfits in the group and winning them over with tea and sympathy, HQ is your game. On the other hand if they would more enjoy holding the ford against waves of trollkin while their health is slowly wittled away, and at the end they are on one good leg, holding their sword in their off hand, while the last of their vitality drains away in the water, trying to stay alive until sunrise, RQ might create that more naturally. (although you could run either scenario in either rule set, of course).
>se ratings (along with other story elements).  ...
>
>I hope this helps in some way!
>
>>
>> Hi
>> I'm thinking of running a campaign set during the Heort resettlement of Dragon Pass. The group are new to Glorantha, I own all the Avalon Hill and Mongoose material. I've got most of the old HW/HQ stuff and am saving for the new HQ stuff. I've the got King of Dragon Pass PC game.
>> Haven't decided on the system as yet.
>> I'm asking for some help with sources, ideas and suggestions.
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>>
>> Andrew
>>
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