shadow_archmagi
2011-08-16, 11:46 PM
So, for my upcoming campaign, I've decided to do a bit of an experiment and try running the game in real time, but only between sessions. That is, after the players kill the dragon or whatever, they let me know what they'll be working on, and I send them emails or update a google document to give them regular updates.
Since I'll be running one session every two weeks, this allows for plenty out of time for more mundane events that are either not important enough to mention during a fight, or simply happen over a slower period of time. The well going dry, the construction of a building, the loss of a war, the research of a new spell- These things are all clunky to do when you're working in six second intervals. They either happen instantly, because the DM says "And then you nap for six months until the plot can move on" or not at all.
Players can say "I want to research demons" and instead of saying "Roll knowledge" "Fifteen" "You know a bit but not a lot." I can stop, and think about it, and then give them something more interesting, like: Your studies into the unholy have lead you into dark places indeed. You successfully summoned a lesser demon, intent on interrogating it, but during the ceremony, something broke the circle, and it vanished. Now, of late, you've been waking up to find your door covered in deep gouges and burn marks, and your apprentice has gone missing. The more superstitious commoners have begun to avoid you, making the Sign against evil as they pass.
Admittedly, it does have the downside that every session has to end at a stopping point, but on the whole, I feel like it should do wonders for improving the flavor and pacing of my game, since I'm not fast enough or my players patient enough to produce or enjoy long paragraphs of description like that while sitting around the table. In weekly update format, though, I know they'll love it. I've talked to them about the idea and they're all in favor.
I just wanted your input, and also to throw it out there as something you might try.
Since I'll be running one session every two weeks, this allows for plenty out of time for more mundane events that are either not important enough to mention during a fight, or simply happen over a slower period of time. The well going dry, the construction of a building, the loss of a war, the research of a new spell- These things are all clunky to do when you're working in six second intervals. They either happen instantly, because the DM says "And then you nap for six months until the plot can move on" or not at all.
Players can say "I want to research demons" and instead of saying "Roll knowledge" "Fifteen" "You know a bit but not a lot." I can stop, and think about it, and then give them something more interesting, like: Your studies into the unholy have lead you into dark places indeed. You successfully summoned a lesser demon, intent on interrogating it, but during the ceremony, something broke the circle, and it vanished. Now, of late, you've been waking up to find your door covered in deep gouges and burn marks, and your apprentice has gone missing. The more superstitious commoners have begun to avoid you, making the Sign against evil as they pass.
Admittedly, it does have the downside that every session has to end at a stopping point, but on the whole, I feel like it should do wonders for improving the flavor and pacing of my game, since I'm not fast enough or my players patient enough to produce or enjoy long paragraphs of description like that while sitting around the table. In weekly update format, though, I know they'll love it. I've talked to them about the idea and they're all in favor.
I just wanted your input, and also to throw it out there as something you might try.