Thirsty Sword Lesbians Campaign
Nov. 13th, 2024 02:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lydamorehouse I talk too much as a GM is what I'm learning.
Because one of our players had to miss, we actually recorded the session. I watched a bit of it to make sure it was working properly. Since I'm still very much new at running games, I thought it was important, too, just to see how cringe I might be. Did I give people time to make decisions? Did I talk over anyone? Did I finish every sentence I started?
I can do better in all of the above categories and one other... probably more important one.
As I was telling a friend this morning in an email, the thing is, Shawn will tell you that if I have a really cool present planned for a birthday or whatever, my desire to spoil it is LEGION. There are so many times when I've nearly said, "Just take it now!!" when the present arrives, because I am so excited to see her reaction to it.
Unfortunately, I'm kind of similar as a game master. I understand that it is uncool to lead your players by the nose, but it's really hard to not want to put up a giant metaphorical ("theater of the mind!") neon sign up that says ADVENTURE BE HERE.
Of course, my players got their revenge, as it were. I have, like all newbie GMs so much stuff planned in the immediate vacinity, and my players are, instead, at the literal tran station LEAVING ALL MY PLANNED STUFF BEHIND.
Classic!
Ah well. Even if the game wasn't riop-roaring fun for everyone, it was a good distraction, I think? I heard from at least one player who had fun and was impressed with my audio-visual props. I'm still deeply unhappy with how some of the actual mechanics of TSL work in-game--fighting is such a mess--but the players are settling into their characters and the story has begun to unfold.
Have you managed anything that feeds the spirit yet? Are you picking up any new hobbies in order to cope?
What's funny is that Shawn has, for reasons known only to herself, decided to learn shorthand. Apparently, this is something she really wanted to learn as a kid, but, of course, ieven already n the late-1970s it was quickly falling out of fashion. So, each of us is doing something that challenges our brains. I'm learning GMing skills; she's learning what is essentially secretarial secret code.
Tonight I have an organizing meeting with Indivisible. So, play last night, fight tonight. Seems like a reasonable balance.
Because one of our players had to miss, we actually recorded the session. I watched a bit of it to make sure it was working properly. Since I'm still very much new at running games, I thought it was important, too, just to see how cringe I might be. Did I give people time to make decisions? Did I talk over anyone? Did I finish every sentence I started?
I can do better in all of the above categories and one other... probably more important one.
As I was telling a friend this morning in an email, the thing is, Shawn will tell you that if I have a really cool present planned for a birthday or whatever, my desire to spoil it is LEGION. There are so many times when I've nearly said, "Just take it now!!" when the present arrives, because I am so excited to see her reaction to it.
Unfortunately, I'm kind of similar as a game master. I understand that it is uncool to lead your players by the nose, but it's really hard to not want to put up a giant metaphorical ("theater of the mind!") neon sign up that says ADVENTURE BE HERE.
Of course, my players got their revenge, as it were. I have, like all newbie GMs so much stuff planned in the immediate vacinity, and my players are, instead, at the literal tran station LEAVING ALL MY PLANNED STUFF BEHIND.
Classic!
Ah well. Even if the game wasn't riop-roaring fun for everyone, it was a good distraction, I think? I heard from at least one player who had fun and was impressed with my audio-visual props. I'm still deeply unhappy with how some of the actual mechanics of TSL work in-game--fighting is such a mess--but the players are settling into their characters and the story has begun to unfold.
Have you managed anything that feeds the spirit yet? Are you picking up any new hobbies in order to cope?
What's funny is that Shawn has, for reasons known only to herself, decided to learn shorthand. Apparently, this is something she really wanted to learn as a kid, but, of course, ieven already n the late-1970s it was quickly falling out of fashion. So, each of us is doing something that challenges our brains. I'm learning GMing skills; she's learning what is essentially secretarial secret code.
Tonight I have an organizing meeting with Indivisible. So, play last night, fight tonight. Seems like a reasonable balance.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 12:38 am (UTC)Have you seen "Lazy GM" advice? Basically, "don't come up with a plot, come up with situations and NPCs with motivations, and let the PCs interact with them".
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 01:56 pm (UTC)I'm also just not THAT GOOD at improv. Like, I can make up dialgoue like a pro, but I need to know what is generally happening in my world so the story isn't entirely random.
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 03:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 01:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 04:44 am (UTC)i think this is the same thing as what happened at the market with the halfling where there were so many things to explore in the market, but it wasn't moving the plot along and we weren't interacting with each other? i hope we're not skipping vital clues or something!
the fight seemed weird but doable--are we meant to fight each other? (it was the flirting with the opponent option that makes me ask that.)
it's going fine, don't worry :) .
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 02:03 pm (UTC)Thirsty Sword Lesbians does not want people to fight. You are correct. The mechanics are super clumsy and focused on ways to make the story emotional rather than fight-y.
In fact, I will tell you right now so you can think about it for next time... y'all aren't going to get much out of that mannequin until you give it Emotional Support... (sigh). So read up on that mechanic!! It's super weird!
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-11-18 02:15 am (UTC)