Veteran nWorld Of Darkness Advice for me please

No-Quarter

Howdy. I'd like to speak to ya'll out there who have run any form of nWoDs games. I'm primarily interested if anyone has specifically done Changeling the Lost, but any at all is appreciated too. I'm familiar with the structure of sword and sorcery campaigns, but WoD throws me for a loop. This is more about the story dammit, but I'm just not sure how to integrate the gameplay aspects (The in between the scenes crap like feeding for vamps, or harvesting glamor for changelings). Sending a troupe on a Quest is easy, the stuff in between is what I have trouble with.

Thanks :rotate:

Professor Phobos

Sure, but I'm not sure exactly what your problem is. Could you elaborate?

No-Quarter

I understand how to thread different main events into a narrative- with a beginning, middle points, and an ending. But the down time between these events is what puzzles me. I plan to have around 4-6 people. How do you keep track of the logistics of which characters are where, and who needs to feed, that crap. How does Becky Sue, a vampire in my chronicle's coterie go about doing her individual crap?

I was thinking of using the forum and having IC and OOC threads. I would also likely have another thread for Single player and/or small group play. Our GM for our last Changeling game, terminal_stupidity had done some single player action with one of our characters, and I understood how he handled it,, but I can't imagine how I would handle 4-6 players at once having their own personal threads in the narrative at once.

If one player is devoted to developing their character out of the main session play, how do I deal with a player who doesn't go about harvesting glamor, and buying ammo despite using up their supply during the main sessions. Should I penalize another player who isn't doing that? Obviously some people might not have time during their weeks, but I feel like I would be cheating the more devoted persons. I hope that helps.

Professor Phobos

Well, in tabletop, when the group was separate and doing their own thing, you'd likely switch between them quickly to give everyone a little spotlight time.

In a play-by-post, it should be pretty easy to just divide your attention.

For off-screen stuff like purchasing ammo and harvesting glamour, don't worry about it- if six months go by between scenarios in Vampire, for example, just assume they were hunting all that time.

I still don't quite get how your game is structured though, it is unlike anything I've seen before. Are you talking about a mix between a tabletop/IRC game and a play-by-post?

No-Quarter

Professor Phobos wrote: »

Well, in tabletop, when the group was separate and doing their own thing, you'd likely switch between them quickly to give everyone a little spotlight time.

In a play-by-post, it should be pretty easy to just divide your attention.

For off-screen stuff like purchasing ammo and harvesting glamour, don't worry about it- if six months go by between scenarios in Vampire, for example, just assume they were hunting all that time.

I still don't quite get how your game is structured though, it is unlike anything I've seen before. Are you talking about a mix between a tabletop/IRC game and a play-by-post?

This is what I'm talking about. We'll likely be meeting through IRC for play sessions. How do I divide my attentions with the other players right there?


The PbP is for the in between stuff if they want to do so.

Professor Phobos

Okay. Well, I've run a game on IRC for about four years (not WoD, but the same basic idea) and I can tell you that it's a bitch.

In some ways it's easier, because I split 'em into multiple chat rooms or use private messages- so if the group goes in two directions, or three, or four, it's easier to manage logistically.

But in my experience it inevitably happens that one or two of the "splits" gets noticeably more attention than the others; you really have to work at making sure to keep each window active and responsive.

Eventually I just realized my players were good about separating OOC/IC knowledge and did it all in the same room, maybe splitting one or two off occasionally for dramatic effect. More than two splits, though, and I couldn't keep up the same level of responsiveness for everyone. And I type/read really fast; if you're a slow typer or reader it'd be nightmarish.

It's not impossible to manage successfully, you just have to keep in mind that your attention is divided and take steps to mitigate it. Plus, ask your players- if they prefer their own bits to be separated from the others for secrecy/dramatic/clutter reduction purposes, tell them they'll have to accept that your attention is divided. Ask them to remind you if they think you've forgotten about their scene, be active so it keeps the window bllinking, etc.

No-Quarter

That advice was very helpful. I think I'll have the main sections restricted to full party play, at least until I get more comftorable. Everything else can be done in between via play by post/IM to go along with it. I've asked for 4-6 players and I think 4 would be the easiest to manage, 6 is pushing but 5 sounds like a sweetspot in terms of individual character hooks to juggle.

Professor Phobos

My game started with six players- that was too many. I had five for a good long while; it wasn't perfect, but it was doable. 3-4 was markedly easier to manage.

No-Quarter

I think I'll go with 4 then. I also want a wealth of classes so I think I'll a moratorium if more then 2 people pick Fairest, or Elemental etc. You've been very helpful so far.

Professor Phobos

Don't worry about "classes." The splats in WoD are nowhere near as important as actual character classes. Any two given Fairest could be completely different.

The 'choice' splats tend to have a lot more influence- Covenant, Tribe, Court, Refinement, etc- than the 'inborn' ones.