Daniel Sell
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Megadungeons
🕑 Added 2023-01-29 13:37:57 +0000 UTCIt's been a long time since I ran a game. I've run games for something like 20 years and they still fill me with dread and a sense that I am a terrible hack. Writing games and selling then to thousands of people, no problem. Running a game for 6 people, existential doubt. It's how it is.
I've been convinced to run games again and my plan is to run the kind of game I'd want to play in. As a player I really don't care for storyline games at all, give me a playground or a mystery or leave me out. Mystery games are hard so we're playing a sandbox.
Following on from The Blancmange & Thistle the players are informed that the pickle bar is closed due to renovations. An extension to the basement has dug in to the labyrinthine foundations of the city and explorers are lining up to start the next great expedition to the antipodal anti-city on the other side of infinity. They're also free to explore the city if they like, but it's currently raining and no umbrellas are spare.
An open table exploration game with juice to last for years. It's, to my mind, what an RPG is supposed to do, everything else is footnotes to that activity. They're supposed to be meditative to prepare and run but I am managing to be neurotic and highly strung about it still. For example, I have prepared about 150 rooms of the 300odd on level 1. The first session cleared exactly 3 rooms. This information will not stop me being crazy. Perhaps in time the stress will be burnt out, rooms will run out of space to be overstuffed, levels will speed years ahead of the party. Maybe.
Comments
Declan Konesky
So then is this also a city crawl? I can see this going either way. I like it's design bc it's easy to navigate but is overwhelming w spaces
Daniel Sell
Oh, feel free to take pleasure in it. I heard that Ursula le Guin refused to work after 8pm because she thought she was very stupid after that time, and it gives me some calm
Daniel Sell
I am sincerely envious of your ability to chill. How many of those 150 rooms will even be used? Likely not many. It's wasted energy which likely results in a less cohesive play experience. The best GM I ever played with I'm pretty sure was making 90% up as he went along.
Edward Lang-Whiston
I'm not taking pleasure in your anxiety, but you feeling like a hack makes me feel better about feeling like a hack. Thanks!
Christopher Robson
I tend to have “guideposts” things I want to work in. And let the players guide me somewhat. As long as they are heading in the right direction. All is good. Your 150 rooms though sound excellent. I just don’t have the time to do that.
