Tales from the Gazebo – Character Creation Part 2: The Brown Coat Method

Character Creation Part 2: The Brown Coat Method By Cape Rust There are thousands of Brown Coats out there. In the real world, they want to keep the signal going… they want the people in tinsel town to achieve cranial rectal separation and bring Firefly back. In the actual world of Firefly, the Brown Coats believed in freedom and independence. The Brown Coat method of character creation is...

Tales from the Gazebo – Character Creation Part 1: Crew Style Creation (Continued)

Character Creation Part 1: Crew Style Creation (Continued) By Cape Rust I decided to start this portion of the series out with the crew style or party template method of character creation and last week I discussed at length the importance of selecting a leader for a party with a template. I mentioned a few possible positions characters could fill on a ship and some ways to accommodate player’s...

Tales from the Gazebo – Character Creation Part 1: Crew-style Creation

Character Creation Part 1: Crew Style Creation By Cape Rust Everything should now be outlined and you should have a general idea of how your adventure is going to run. Notice that I said general idea, not a specific plan for how your adventure will run. Some of you will remember that no plan survives the initial contact and this rule is almost as true in gaming as it is in warfare. Now we are moving...

Tales from the Gazebo – Eyestalk of the Beholder

Eyestalk of the Beholder By Cape Rust This is the step in the planning process when we actually put together this Frankenstein-esque monster of a plan into a creature that can be used. We’ve collected all of the ideas and scribbles we have developed over the past few weeks into one place and, depending on how your mind works, you might have even developed a rudimentary file type system so you...

Tales from the Gazebo – A Little Spackling and Some Napalm

A Little Spackling and Some Napalm By Cape Rust I have spent weeks and weeks and weeks discussing preparations for a game. For some my approach might seem overwrought or even stupid, while others hopefully have picked up a few pointers along the way. No matter how you feel about my take on preparing for a game, it is time for more Tales from the Gazebo. This week is where the process starts looking...

Tales From the Gazebo – Foes: Villains as Chia Pets

Foes: Villains as Chia Pets By Cape Rust I once read an article that stressed that villains need to grow as a campaign or adventure progresses. I have found that by following this advice, you can start to develop villains who feel real and are compelling. I advocate asking the player what their goals are for their characters, and there is no reason you shouldn’t do the same for your villains if...

Tales from the Gazebo – Skull Candy

Skull Candy By Cape Rust Last week, we discussed foes and introduced you to the frumpy but likeable Raven who will represent most of the players’ interactions with the Alliance… long live the Brown Coats! This week I will focus on the other two major antagonists, the leader of the Brown Coat sympathizers and our resident villain, the leader of the pirates. As I develop these next two...

Tales from the Gazebo – Foes

Foes By Cape Rust Foes and locations are a huge part of any game. If you don’t have the right bad guys, most games feel kind of flat. Look at Darth Vader, he is one of the baddest bad guys ever and we couldn’t forget him if we tried. In fact, Luke’s showdown with Vader on cloud city was an excellent example of a great location and an epic foe. Well-designed locations will enhance any game and...

Tales from the Gazebo – Concept & Calendars

Concept & Calendars By Cape Rust Having to deviate from your original game concept can be a black hole when it comes to the amount of time you spend planning your game. Because of the input received from the players, my initial concept for the upcoming Firefly game has to go through some major changes. Fortunately, I’ve learned from past mistakes… lots of past mistakes. I will start by...

Tales from the Gazebo – We Have the Tools, We Have the Talent!

We Have the Tools, We Have the Talent! By Cape Rust Here we are at last. We’ve asked a bunch of tough questions to ourselves and our players. We know what our players want out of their next game. We have shaped and influenced the situation so that the game will be fun for everyone involved, what’s next? We actually get to plan. Huzahhh! Knowing what we know now, we have to remember the fun first...

Tales From the Gazebo – Planning Toolbox

Planning Toolbox By Cape Rust We are so close to the type of planning you are accustomed to; here is the time when we pull out the old planning toolbox. Advances in technology have made planning much easier, but with the economy the way it is not everyone has access to some of the cutting edge technology out there. I am going to cover some high-tech planning tools as well as a few analog tools. Most...

Tales from the Gazebo – More Questions and Campaign Creep

More Questions and Campaign Creep By Cape Rust If you have decided to use some of my tips, you will find that you are actually much closer to being ready to run a game than you might think. By socializing your ideas with your players, listening to their input, and adjusting your great ideas, you can create a game that you want to run and, more importantly, that your players want to be part of. Now...

Tales from the Gazebo – If you Make it, They Might Fill it Out

If you Make it, They Might Fill it Out By Cape Rust I know plenty of GMs that have actually developed player surveys. These surveys can contain any questions you want to ask. The goal of these is to get honest input from your players about what their gaming needs and wants are. If you decide to go the survey route, keep a few points in mind. Ask leading questions, find the sweet spot for the length...