In which Mr. Johnson and Vox talk about how to prepare your Shadowrun campaign. Also included: a review of the recently-released Gear Cards, and a new listener story!
Show Notes:
Link to Joystiq.com article: http://www.joystiq.com/2013/12/27/twenty-developers-you-dont-know-but-should/
The “screenwriter’s bible” book, the author and title of which Vox couldn’t remember? It’s “The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller” by John Truby.
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Great show! I was wondering if you use maps when you GM? similarly how do you keep track of positions/obstacles during firefights?
I just started listening last week, and I marathoned my way through what you have so far. I’ve enjoyed everything so far and I am going to find some time to type up or record a listener story for you.
I wanted to voice my thoughts on one thing you said in this episode. I think plotting is okay, if done right and with the right attitude. Specifically, I sometimes start a campaign arc with an idea of how things would go if the PC’s were not there. I think if you have that knowledge, it is easier to see how things will change based on what the PC’s do. Also if my main antagonist is a plotter I like to figure out exactly how he/she envisions things occurring.
I hope that I don’t come off like a jerk with that, I just wanted to share some thoughts.
Welcome aboard and thank you for the kind words! And you don’t come off like a jerk at all. 🙂 I think that’s a great idea. There’s nothing wrong with plotting, especially if that’s how you view your NPC acting. I wholeheartedly agree with you when you say “plotting is okay, if done right and with the right attitude.” I also definitely see the clarity plotting can yield. It’s just as you say: if you know how things are “supposed” to play out, you’ll know how to react to your players’ decisions.
We just wanted to be sure everyone was aware or remembered that players have an awful lot of monkey wrenches in their toolkit, and are quite fond of throwing them. Murphy’s Law dictates that the more you plot and plan, the more wrenches will be thrown your way. 😉 If you’re prepared (practically ~and~ emotionally) for your plans to be trampled upon, have at it!
I was listening to this today and heard you mention campaign sheets (or something like that) for aspiring GMs. I was wondering where that was posted?
Ack! Thanks for the reminder. We’ll get those posted ASAP!
Did you post the files somewhere?
We’re embarrassed to say we have not. We promise we will have them up by the end of this month (Feb 2015)! Our apologies that this keeps slipping past. We’ll be sure to announce it on the show when they’re up as well.