Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tsura 11-04-07, 01:28 PM	Well, I had an interesting idea of a campaign that I'd like CONSTRUCTIVE criticism on. It's a campaign idea that will involve the players as well as the characters, in a way that hasn't (hopefully) been done before. For this campaign, I'll need players that can fufill two needs: They must be able to get deeply into IC without losing themselves in it, and they have to be ready to put joking aside. Humor will still happen, but I can't have any Outliers in the party unless they're outliers IC...Well, you'll see what I mean. More or less, at the beginning of the campaign, when everyone makes their characters, I want them to hear their characters "speak" to them. It will turn out that they didn't make these characters as a mark of ingenuity, but as a sort of Clairvoyance (Still working on how to make this work without the DM revealing it, suggestions would be nice, one of the players is EXTRAORDINARILY dense), and their characters and their world in the setting actually exist. More or less, the crisis to come, they need the players' help, because their world is in dire need (Cliche, I know, but every story needs a conflict). The thing is, the DM, considered an almighty God by the characters, is at first expected to fix the problem instantaneously, as only he has the power to do. But the players know the DM better as someone who is jittery, and shirks away from any responsibility greater than running a game. If he were to find out, the game would be canceled, and the characters' world doomed. So, unfortunately, this means the players themselves must work together along with their characters without the DM becoming angry of constant metagaming, suspecting his players have gone crazy from too many games, or finding out, all of which will make him stop the game. The ultimate game over. This would be managed by the DM having a small chart by which he notes certain things about the PCs. If he fills in enough of one of these three areas, the game is over, and the PCs have lost. But if the players can keep their wits about them, and use meta-gaming (more or less, they'd be talking or delivering hints to the character that he/she wouldn't know, but the Player does) and other usually non-desirable tricks in a game wisely, they can win. So, what do you think?
Tsura 11-04-07, 01:46 PM	C'mon, now. Is this in the wrong forum? Fine! I will stay here, lurking, until someone answers. I'm waaaaaatching yoooooou...
Daybreaker 11-04-07, 05:11 PM	It sounds like an interesting idea. Very Tron. If I understand correctly, what you're saying is that on the one hand the players have created the characters, but on the other hand the characters have "communed" with the players to have themselves created? Am I following?
Tsura 11-04-07, 05:14 PM	More like that the world and those people already existed, but they communed with that world somehow and were noticed. But I like your idea better. :P More mystical seeming that way.
navar100 11-04-07, 05:56 PM	It sounds like an interesting idea. Very Tron. If I understand correctly, what you're saying is that on the one hand the players have created the characters, but on the other hand the characters have "communed" with the players to have themselves created? Am I following? Not Tron, Neverending Story. :)
Firecatmn 11-04-07, 08:01 PM	Sounds like a bit of "Neverending Story" with a side of "Galaxy Quest" - not that that's a bad thing. It sounds like an interesting idea, with the right group of players (I don't know that it would appeal to me personally, for example, although I might give it a try as an experiment). I think you'd need to be really clear with your players about what constitutes acceptable metagaming and what doesn't. Maybe cut them some slack the first couple of sessions, and let them know what's ok and what isn't, and share some of your reasoning. I only say that because it's going to be really different for the players, and for you, and giving yourself a session or two to expand on things and let everyone get clarity might make for more long-term success. If you decide to do this, how about posting an update? I'd be curious to see how this turns out.
Tsura 11-04-07, 08:05 PM	The thing is, as odd and bad an idea as it might seem, the campaign idea is for the players to cheat as a team without being caught. :P But anyway. Talking to them about it afterwards might be a good idea, but I think that might ruin the mood of it for some of them. Any ideas on a better way to get feedback?
Lord-Dragon 11-06-07, 10:52 PM	Sounds to me like you need a DM team. One will run the "real world" game where the characters use thier player knowledge to help in the game. The other DM will run the "campaign world" and guide all the characters (not the players) through thier game. The two DM's will have to work together, planning out what is and isn't acceptable before the game, then they will work together running the game. The in-game DM should actually be the BBEG and is the one trying to ruin the game world. They are doing this by "channeling" the real-world DM without them knowing it and controlling what they make happen. Personally if I were to run this game I would be the in-game DM and set it up that I was the "main" DM. Make it be like the in-game DM is writing the book about what happens, by controlling the real-world DM. I hope this makes sense.
Tsura 11-06-07, 10:58 PM	Actually, that was a bit confusing on who's the in-game and real world DM, but I get what you're trying to say in general.
Lord-Dragon 11-06-07, 11:16 PM	Sorry, basically You would be the in-game DM. Meaning you would actually be playing the BBEG as a PC, that character can (it would add some interesting twists) be one of the party. Then you have someone else "act" as a DM for the campaign. This person runs the game as if they're simply running a game. However, you "suggest" (via notes, whispers, during game breaks, etc) things to have happen. These things are what's "destroying" the game world. The biggest difference here is You. You'll ultimately have to be playing 4 characters at the same time. 1. Your character in the game. 2. You, being channeled by that character in the game. 3. The BBEG in the game. 4. The DM. Now, your partner DM will run all battles, dungeons, encounters, etc. You will be coming up with ways to mess things up as the BBEG and "secretly" having the DM do those things. This will work really well for everyone if they don't know you're the one actually running things. I hope this clears it up a little.
Zousha_Omenohu 11-06-07, 11:28 PM	C'mon, now. Is this in the wrong forum? Fine! I will stay here, lurking, until someone answers. I'm waaaaaatching yoooooou... To be frank, you'll be better served taking your questions to the Campaign Workshop board. Odds are this'll probably be moved there soon. See you there!;)