Shadows Stepping
So, last weekend was Game 3 of Shadows of Amun. If you have not heard, we super-surprised our PC base by sending this group of 1919 players to the end of the 2nd Crusades, 1168. The looks of shock and horror were fairly awesome, and the transition - amazing.
Of course, this has stirred up a lot of hardship and some difficulties. We tried closing as many personal stories as possible, but a three game arch did not leave much room. Some 1919 tales have been left dangling, or at least that is the perspective. Other stories reached a conclusion, but perhaps not a wholly satisfying conclusion. People are asking for more of 1919 to go back with them. It is understandable.
It can be difficult to ask for player trust after delivering a sucker punch like this. I get that. 1918+ was really in the veins for some folks. We hope that tale will carry into the crusades. Someone compared the switch to A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and I like that. That book is more about the Connecticut Yankee, than King Arthur, and I think that is how this time-travel story should be for the players. 1169 should emphasize what it means to be from 1919, and vice-versa.
Overall, I love the players and staff. I love the vibrancy the players give our world, and I rely on the expertise the seasoned staff provides. On Sunday we fielded 40 npcs - 30 of which were in hideous Bug armor and masks. Amazing! We even had a big bug boss on stilts. Pulling this off, and the time travel? That is EPIC. It may not fit everyone’s expectations, but it is EPIC.
Things I loved this weekend:
- Arguing loudly with npcs to get interest in politics. I feel for 7V Grace npcs.
- Playing a Boss monster (Rose) and sucking so badly, the scene shifts entirely
- Getting tortured by our awesome players - it was quite an experience
- Skulking after giant scarab beetles in the dark as a Native Guide - that was creepy
- Hanging out with Nixon, one of my best friends from College (25 years!)
- My boots - oh, I love my boots
- Working the hook magic on players to fight our great small team of npcs
- Playing the twitchiest, shell-shocked British private that every twitched
- Having said Private interrogated BY THE GERMAN players
- Then the Private witnesses his command staff brutally cut down by PCs
- Coming back in as Cowboy MacKristoff-hat to schmooze during dinner
- Blowing away the Italian gang with players who have no problems doing that
- Getting so incredibly fake-blood sticky that others have to set up my module
- Delivering the face in a box after a rogue states “I don’t want it to take her face off”
- Oh, the emotional hardship of the Domari showdown with the last elder gone bad
- Seeing my huge impact scene work, and seeing it provide said huge impact
- Having Hanif rejoin his family and being part of that Player group
- Seeing the revolution resolve against History because of player actions
- Getting people suited up as giant scarab death beetles
- Explaining the game roughly to outsiders
- Last minute deciding to join the PCs as Hanif (we have enough bugs)
- Fighting side by side with the players. I felt all PC like
- Seeing our Staffer get back up after falling off his stilts (scary!)
- Seeing our players rallying in the face of hopeless odds
- The desperate final push: OMG all the bugs are scary
- The call “Triple Stun by Time” and then the sound effects
- Seeing the crusaders sweep in and take charge of Bugageddon - EPIC setting clash
- The look of shock and the surprise on the players faces
Overall, things went well. I have a weird staff role where I wind up on the PC side as a hook a whole lot. It almost feels like I am playing the game with a full set of spoilers. It is a weird experience, but I sort of like it. I am writing and playing.
At some point I need to get some more combat against the players in. 1168 should help.
More anon…
Of course, this has stirred up a lot of hardship and some difficulties. We tried closing as many personal stories as possible, but a three game arch did not leave much room. Some 1919 tales have been left dangling, or at least that is the perspective. Other stories reached a conclusion, but perhaps not a wholly satisfying conclusion. People are asking for more of 1919 to go back with them. It is understandable.
It can be difficult to ask for player trust after delivering a sucker punch like this. I get that. 1918+ was really in the veins for some folks. We hope that tale will carry into the crusades. Someone compared the switch to A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and I like that. That book is more about the Connecticut Yankee, than King Arthur, and I think that is how this time-travel story should be for the players. 1169 should emphasize what it means to be from 1919, and vice-versa.
Overall, I love the players and staff. I love the vibrancy the players give our world, and I rely on the expertise the seasoned staff provides. On Sunday we fielded 40 npcs - 30 of which were in hideous Bug armor and masks. Amazing! We even had a big bug boss on stilts. Pulling this off, and the time travel? That is EPIC. It may not fit everyone’s expectations, but it is EPIC.
Things I loved this weekend:
- Arguing loudly with npcs to get interest in politics. I feel for 7V Grace npcs.
- Playing a Boss monster (Rose) and sucking so badly, the scene shifts entirely
- Getting tortured by our awesome players - it was quite an experience
- Skulking after giant scarab beetles in the dark as a Native Guide - that was creepy
- Hanging out with Nixon, one of my best friends from College (25 years!)
- My boots - oh, I love my boots
- Working the hook magic on players to fight our great small team of npcs
- Playing the twitchiest, shell-shocked British private that every twitched
- Having said Private interrogated BY THE GERMAN players
- Then the Private witnesses his command staff brutally cut down by PCs
- Coming back in as Cowboy MacKristoff-hat to schmooze during dinner
- Blowing away the Italian gang with players who have no problems doing that
- Getting so incredibly fake-blood sticky that others have to set up my module
- Delivering the face in a box after a rogue states “I don’t want it to take her face off”
- Oh, the emotional hardship of the Domari showdown with the last elder gone bad
- Seeing my huge impact scene work, and seeing it provide said huge impact
- Having Hanif rejoin his family and being part of that Player group
- Seeing the revolution resolve against History because of player actions
- Getting people suited up as giant scarab death beetles
- Explaining the game roughly to outsiders
- Last minute deciding to join the PCs as Hanif (we have enough bugs)
- Fighting side by side with the players. I felt all PC like
- Seeing our Staffer get back up after falling off his stilts (scary!)
- Seeing our players rallying in the face of hopeless odds
- The desperate final push: OMG all the bugs are scary
- The call “Triple Stun by Time” and then the sound effects
- Seeing the crusaders sweep in and take charge of Bugageddon - EPIC setting clash
- The look of shock and the surprise on the players faces
Overall, things went well. I have a weird staff role where I wind up on the PC side as a hook a whole lot. It almost feels like I am playing the game with a full set of spoilers. It is a weird experience, but I sort of like it. I am writing and playing.
At some point I need to get some more combat against the players in. 1168 should help.
More anon…