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Weyr
Acolyte
11 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Dec 2009 : 17:49:06
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Alright, let me preface this by saying this is my first scroll in the fount of knowledge that is Candlekeep. My current DM in 2e has convinced me to run a game based on my stomping grounds, the Moonsea. One of the first things that came to mind was the Gold Box series released by TSR. I wanted to run the series in its entirety, however, my gaming group is the type that would be unable to maintain interest in Pools of Radiance.
So, I thought I'd start off with Haunted Halls of the Eveningstar, since it was highly recommended, and happens to be fairly close to what I planned to be the second module, Curse of the Azure Bonds. If possible, I want to keep the same party (barring unforeseen deaths) throughout the saga. Do you have any advice? Especially when I have to start writing my own material.
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4687 Posts |
Posted - 07 Dec 2009 : 22:13:37
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Advice, hey at least you have some material to start with. Back in the day... *G* ... I hard to write my own.
DMing is an art, by having a plan you should always plan that the players will not follow the plan. The best advice that I can offer at this point of time with limited knowledge of the playing characters is that you be ready to adjust to surprise decisions. No game goes as a DM hopes and had as a starting plan, unless the DM forces the players to do what he wants (A very bad idea as players can be lost quickly if a DM is heavy handed). Go with the flow, be ready for surprise choices, do not tell a player on a success role that they can not kill a foe you planned to reappear (One thing that I saw clearly as a problem was the Dangonlance series when directions to DM included even if the party killed the foe that the DM was required to invent a way that the foe survived to appear in a later adventure).
There is no way any can tell you how to have a perfect game. The goal of the game is for all to have fun. Do not force players to take a path you want, do not allow players to force you into a game you do not enjoy. |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Afetbinttuzani
Senior Scribe
Canada
434 Posts |
Posted - 07 Dec 2009 : 22:41:01
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I´ve said it elsewhere. I´ll say it here too. Pick up Robin´s Laws of Good Game Mastering by Robin Laws. You can pick it up in pdf form at Steve Jackson Games. It is non-rules specific and has some of the best advice and observations on Game Mastering that I have ever read.
http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=SJG30-3009 |
Afet bint Tuzaní
"As the good Archmage often admonishes me, I ought not to let my mind wander, as it's too small to go off by itself."
- Danilo Thann in Elfsong by Elaine Cunningham |
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froglegg
Learned Scribe
317 Posts |
Posted - 13 Dec 2009 : 03:58:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Weyr
Alright, let me preface this by saying this is my first scroll in the fount of knowledge that is Candlekeep. My current DM in 2e has convinced me to run a game based on my stomping grounds, the Moonsea. One of the first things that came to mind was the Gold Box series released by TSR. I wanted to run the series in its entirety, however, my gaming group is the type that would be unable to maintain interest in Pools of Radiance.
So, I thought I'd start off with Haunted Halls of the Eveningstar, since it was highly recommended, and happens to be fairly close to what I planned to be the second module, Curse of the Azure Bonds. If possible, I want to keep the same party (barring unforeseen deaths) throughout the saga. Do you have any advice? Especially when I have to start writing my own material.
When you start writing your own just let it rip so to speak and have fun with it and be ready for when your player's go where you never thought they would or do what you had no idea they would try. Yes young DM you must be ready to make it up as you go along.
John |
Long live Alias and Dragonbait! Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb the Realms need you more then ever!
On my word as a sage nothing within these pages is false, but not all of it may prove to be true. - Elminster of Shadowdale
The Old Grey Box gets better with age! |
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woodwwad
Learned Scribe
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 26 Dec 2009 : 00:02:36
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| I've been running rpgs for 22 years now and one thing that's really important is to develope a lot of information beforehand. So you have a conclusion to the game and more than one plot, lots of little plots and don't be upset if the pcs don't bite on all of them. The biggest problem you may have is the pcs wanting to force the game in a direction you are not perpaired for which means you'll likely have nothing for them and the game may fall a bit flat. So try to have a few ideas that can be dropped in anywhere ready before the game starts, so you can put them in when you need to. It'll keep them interested until you have time between games to write and research the area they decide to go to. The Realms are huge and the pcs will have a lot of ideas on what they want to do. As far as those modules Curse of the Azure Bonds starts off with the pcs with no memories, so that would be a good place to start the game. I've never placed the module but loved the video game for the commidor 64 and the book. Alias is a great character too, so if you havn't read the book, make sure to do a bit of research on her and that green grocier Akabar. |
Check out my reviews on youtube of Forgotten Realms and other rpg products. http://www.youtube.com/user/woodwwad?feature=mhum |
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First Time DM needing advice
