Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

I'd like to ask all of you experienced RPG folks a question of my own, if I may. I've been asked to run some RPGs for the local FLGS for their 'Free RPG Day'; the idea is to introduce people to this kind of game, so it's expected that the players will be 'casuals' and 'walk-ins'. I am being scheduled for three three-hour sessions, and it's been suggested that I run a Barsoom, a "Lord Meren", and maybe a Tekumel session if there's interest. I'll be setting the games up like I did for my gary Con Game from a while back, with pre-rolled generic PCs equipped with little backstories and names appropriate to the world-setting.

My thouhght had been to use Prof. Barker's handy 'rules light' set of house rules, but I'd also like to be able to point people to something like "Arrows of Indra" that they could get for their own games. I am not at all familiar with any of the versions of D&D except for the three-book set that came in the woodgrain box, back in Ye Olden Dayes, nor have I any experience with Pathfinder or any other current commercial RPG. I can certainly do the game - I am told, and Groan can speak to this, that I can spin a yarn with the best of them. I will not be using miniatures, due to the circumstances, but rather the set of 'cardboard heroes' I have, and providing dice. I would like to use a much more 'theater of the mind' approach, and simply have and give a good time.

Any thoughts or suggestions from people?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

I'd like to ask all of you experienced RPG folks a question of my own, if I may. I've been asked to run some RPGs for the local FLGS for their 'Free RPG Day'; the idea is to introduce people to this kind of game, so it's expected that the players will be 'casuals' and 'walk-ins'. I am being scheduled for three three-hour sessions, and it's been suggested that I run a Barsoom, a "Lord Meren", and maybe a Tekumel session if there's interest. I'll be setting the games up like I did for my gary Con Game from a while back, with pre-rolled generic PCs equipped with little backstories and names appropriate to the world-setting.

My thouhght had been to use Prof. Barker's handy 'rules light' set of house rules, but I'd also like to be able to point people to something like "Arrows of Indra" that they could get for their own games. I am not at all familiar with any of the versions of D&D except for the three-book set that came in the woodgrain box, back in Ye Olden Dayes, nor have I any experience with Pathfinder or any other current commercial RPG. I can certainly do the game - I am told, and Groan can speak to this, that I can spin a yarn with the best of them. I will not be using miniatures, due to the circumstances, but rather the set of 'cardboard heroes' I have, and providing dice. I would like to use a much more 'theater of the mind' approach, and simply have and give a good time.

Any thoughts or suggestions from people?

Thanks!

This is not going to give you suggestions for how to run your game, Uncle, for it would be preposterous.
But if you want to point people to games they can get, I'd...actually recommend different games after the three sessions.

After the Tekumel session, I'd recommend Bethorm, by Jeff Dee, because it's geared towards Tekumel newbies (but unlike EPT, Stability and Change aren't Good and Evil).

After the Barsoom session, I'd recommend Savage Worlds with the Mars supplement by Adamant Entertainment - or, if you they don't like Savage Worlds (an acquired taste, to be sure), they might just use Mythras with the wikipedia articles on Barsoom.

After the Lord Meren session, I'd recommend Zenobia - Aegypt, by Zozer Games (which is free, too), since most of the rulebook is about the setting.

It is my opinion that Pathfinder and even all but a handful of OSR clones are ultimately a very poor choice for any of the three, so I wouldn't recommend that.

Originally Posted by Hrugga

Maybe a Professor "rules light" Braunstein type game where you can have some of the players be Lord Meren and his Charioteers against the sly killers. Give each faction their respective notes and objectives. Watch the mayhem ensue...!!!
Murder in the Place of Anubis is still fresh in my mind. So being the Eyes and Ears of Pharoh and company investigating or gathering intelligence for Tutankhamen in regard to the Syrian bandits that are in the pay of the Hittite King. The plots of the Golden One's wife who has never forgiven him for bringing back the worship of the old gods. Could be fun as well. So much you could do.

Wish I could be there!!!

H:0)

I agree about the 'rules light', but I think a Braunstein would not work for this event, as it's intended to be an introduction to RPGs for novices. Braunsteins work best with people who have some game play experience, as they can get into the flow of the game play a lot easier. The plot stays the same, it's just that I'll be doing most of the heavy lifting.

Originally Posted by AsenRG

This is not going to give you suggestions for how to run your game, Uncle, for it would be preposterous.
But if you want to point people to games they can get, I'd...actually recommend different games after the three sessions.

After the Tekumel session, I'd recommend Bethorm, by Jeff Dee, because it's geared towards Tekumel newbies (but unlike EPT, Stability and Change aren't Good and Evil).

After the Barsoom session, I'd recommend Savage Worlds with the Mars supplement by Adamant Entertainment - or, if you they don't like Savage Worlds (an acquired taste, to be sure), they might just use Mythras with the wikipedia articles on Barsoom.

After the Lord Meren session, I'd recommend Zenobia - Aegypt, by Zozer Games (which is free, too), since most of the rulebook is about the setting.

It is my opinion that Pathfinder and even all but a handful of OSR clones are ultimately a very poor choice for any of the three, so I wouldn't recommend that.

Great suggestions! Thank you! I've never seen either "Savage Worlds" or "Zenobia", but I shall give them a look.

Originally Posted by Dulahan

I agree with these. Though might add Hollow Earth Expedition: Revelations of Mars for the Barsoom stuff too. It's a lighter system than Savage Worlds. Both great though!

The Egypt one I definitely agree with, though 'free' isn't the best for something being done in a Game Store to help drum up interest! Sadly, I've yet to find a good Ancient Egypt game. So in addition to being the best option, it's sort of the only option.

that's probably why it's not hard for me to grok the cultural stuff. Even as I always want more. Let's be honest, I want MORE of anything like that. Minoan stuff? Someone crack Linear A already damn it! Early Khitan Liao script? Um, please? Pretty please?

In other news...

My poor group seems cursed. We're down to only 3 of us now, and that demon known as RL got in the way of a session tonight (One of our players is on the planning committee for CoreCon, a local convention here in Fargo, and it's crunch time for them as it takes place in less than a month). So now I'm sad.

At least it's the 3 Ksarul players left over. That keeps things easier by far. But we did lose most of our magical support.

Thank you for the suggestions, too!

I agree about the cultural materials - in my case, I find them vital for my model-making.

Sorry to hear about the group - sounds like you're in the usual pre-convention frenzy. Been there, done that, got the fricking T-shirts. Lots and lots of T-shirts...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Great suggestions! Thank you! I've never seen either "Savage Worlds" or "Zenobia", but I shall give them a look.

Be careful when evaluating Savage Worlds. It is a very "gamest" system that can play very differently depending on who is running it.
There are a lot of "levers" that can be used to effect play that takes some time to adjust to if you have not been exposed to them.
The free version barely mentions these "levers" and can seem somewhat boring.
There is a Combat Survival Guide that mentions many of them and was officially released after being created by a player.
Bennies are a huge way to influence the flow of the game and its feel.

I was working on a Tekumel variant using the Savage Worlds rules but ran out of steam.
=

Originally Posted by Greentongue

Be careful when evaluating Savage Worlds. It is a very "gamest" system that can play very differently depending on who is running it.
There are a lot of "levers" that can be used to effect play that takes some time to adjust to if you have not been exposed to them.
The free version barely mentions these "levers" and can seem somewhat boring.
There is a Combat Survival Guide that mentions many of them and was officially released after being created by a player.
Bennies are a huge way to influence the flow of the game and its feel.

I was working on a Tekumel variant using the Savage Worlds rules but ran out of steam.
=

Hmmm. All right. I'll keep this in mind when I look at this. Thanks for the tip! I'll have a look at your variant too, if I may.