Player Archs? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Player Archs? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
darkstal
06-13-05, 03:18 PM Greetings all!

I have just adopted the new Eberron "Mark of Heroes" Campaign for my GMing experience, I have just finished my Herald GM test (and passed :cool: ) and am now looking over the various modules, RPGA rulings, and various other aspects of the game that I had found interesting for players.

I find a rather large potential for GREAT storylines for each individual character, though with the advent of CoH, EV, and various other rewards that have to be given to players via RPGA, I am a bit concerned about how to implement "Player Archs."

To clarify, a player arch is a Roleplayers influence on the game. Each player in a game has a goal, has a past, and has a HUGE amount of things that can eventually lead to quests that are player centric. Be it a quest to get a dragonshard for research as an artificer, to a Wanna-be sailor wanting to save up coin for her own sea worthy ship. Each player has a family, and that family affects the player as a whole through both good AND bad reputations. To add on top of this, each player grows as a whole as they learn about each other, about their pasts and personalities because it becomes extremely more personal, not only for the player but for the party at large as they learn together.

The ability to write stories is grand and all, but if a GM is limited to being broad he totally eliminates the effectiveness of being in a Campaign in the first place. The ability to change the world and make impressions and names for themselves was a huge selling point for any campaign for the RPGA... though I am finding it difficult to motivate my players to even start the game if they don't have the effect on the world itself.

Mind you, if it is indeed possible, I would like to know and what I would have to do for my players to start a "player arch" of their own, though this is more or less my gift to the players for exceptional roleplay. If this is not possible for the RPGA then maybey I need to find alternatives? It might have just been a bad first impression or a misunderstanding... :confused:

Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions,
Dark§tal
kenobi65
06-13-05, 05:34 PM I think you're looking for a broader ability to "affect the world" than an RPGA campaign can provide to you and your group.

Generally speaking, you, as an RPGA Gamemaster, are supposed to run the modules "as written", and you aren't given the power to radically alter the adventures, add additional features or rewards, etc. It's the trade-off you have to make in order to take advantage of what RPGA campaigns have to offer (prewritten adventures, ability to play your PC at events all over the world, etc.)

(That said, the Mark of Heroes "DM's Mark" adventures give the DM a framework with which they can then create somewhat customized adventures...I don't play MoH, so I'm not sure how well the DM's Mark adventures would meet your needs.)

The idea of "changing the world" in RPGA campaigns often comes from the Critical Event summaries that come with many modules (in Living campaigns), or in the event reporting questionnaire (in D&D campaigns, like Mark of Heroes). In this way, the actions that players take (not just your group, but many groups playing the module) affect future events in the campaign. If, in a majority of times that a particular module is played, the bad guy gets away, then he may well reappear in a later module.

It's not like RPGA campaigns don't have their own built-in campaign arcs, opportunities for player advancement, etc. You just have to take those arcs on the campaign's terms, rather than creating your own. (And, there's nothing preventing your players from coming up with detailed histories and backgrounds for their PCs...but those backgrounds may or may not ever wind up playing out in campaign play.)

All in all, it really sounds to me like you want to run your own campaign for your group, and that running Mark of Heroes (or any RPGA campaign) doesn't seem to be a good fit for you.

Mike Mistele
darkstal
06-14-05, 06:01 PM Greetings kenobi65,

I truely appreciate your honesty and have to admit that after looking over the RPGA rules for Mark of Heroes, the more I find that "restrictions," "locked," and "unlocked" become more of a hinderance than anything. I can completely understand why these settings have been implemented, but for MoH I have found that they took out the use of Dragonmark feats and inhouse feats, but still left in other "race" contact feats that resemble the same feat.

If anything, I will probably end up using the RPGA campaigns that they provide to give myself ideas for the other players in my campaign. Only drawback to being a part of the RPGA is the fact that if I even remotely touch those pre-made campaigns as a GM I will not be able to play them as a player. I totally understand this, though the lack of creativity on the GM's part blows my mind. They make the part of the GM more of a script reader and a judge for determining if players follow the rules or not.

I personally loved the Eberron setting, and would like to eventually play it as well. Though my players I can assure you they do not wish to join such events. Makes it rather difficult for me though I guess I can manage... :P

There are some very good mechanics in the MoH rules that I will probably adopt to make item creation and purchasing easier, though from what you have assured me leads me to believe I will have to start my own campaign.

Thanks again for your time and reply,
Dark§tal
kenobi65
06-14-05, 09:26 PM If anything, I will probably end up using the RPGA campaigns that they provide to give myself ideas for the other players in my campaign. Only drawback to being a part of the RPGA is the fact that if I even remotely touch those pre-made campaigns as a GM I will not be able to play them as a player.

If I understand what you're saying, you're suggesting that you'd like to use the RPGA adventures as creative fodder for writing your home game. Which, technically, you're not supposed to do.

When you order an RPGA module to run (even a DM's Mark), you're agreeing to actually run it for RPGA members, and to report the results back to the RPGA. Ordering modules just to read, or to pick and choose bits from for your home game, isn't allowed.

(If that's not what you were suggesting, sorry.)
darkstal
06-17-05, 10:35 AM Actually yes that was what I was reffering to. Thanks for letting me know... I'm beggining to really lose my interest in the whole RPGA. Oh well, back to the drawing boards... :weep:

Thanks again for the help

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
darkstal 06-13-05, 03:18 PM	Greetings all! I have just adopted the new Eberron "Mark of Heroes" Campaign for my GMing experience, I have just finished my Herald GM test (and passed :cool: ) and am now looking over the various modules, RPGA rulings, and various other aspects of the game that I had found interesting for players. I find a rather large potential for GREAT storylines for each individual character, though with the advent of CoH, EV, and various other rewards that have to be given to players via RPGA, I am a bit concerned about how to implement "Player Archs." To clarify, a player arch is a Roleplayers influence on the game. Each player in a game has a goal, has a past, and has a HUGE amount of things that can eventually lead to quests that are player centric. Be it a quest to get a dragonshard for research as an artificer, to a Wanna-be sailor wanting to save up coin for her own sea worthy ship. Each player has a family, and that family affects the player as a whole through both good AND bad reputations. To add on top of this, each player grows as a whole as they learn about each other, about their pasts and personalities because it becomes extremely more personal, not only for the player but for the party at large as they learn together. The ability to write stories is grand and all, but if a GM is limited to being broad he totally eliminates the effectiveness of being in a Campaign in the first place. The ability to change the world and make impressions and names for themselves was a huge selling point for any campaign for the RPGA... though I am finding it difficult to motivate my players to even start the game if they don't have the effect on the world itself. Mind you, if it is indeed possible, I would like to know and what I would have to do for my players to start a "player arch" of their own, though this is more or less my gift to the players for exceptional roleplay. If this is not possible for the RPGA then maybey I need to find alternatives? It might have just been a bad first impression or a misunderstanding... :confused: Thanks in advance for any comments or suggestions, Dark§tal
kenobi65 06-13-05, 05:34 PM	I think you're looking for a broader ability to "affect the world" than an RPGA campaign can provide to you and your group. Generally speaking, you, as an RPGA Gamemaster, are supposed to run the modules "as written", and you aren't given the power to radically alter the adventures, add additional features or rewards, etc. It's the trade-off you have to make in order to take advantage of what RPGA campaigns have to offer (prewritten adventures, ability to play your PC at events all over the world, etc.) (That said, the Mark of Heroes "DM's Mark" adventures give the DM a framework with which they can then create somewhat customized adventures...I don't play MoH, so I'm not sure how well the DM's Mark adventures would meet your needs.) The idea of "changing the world" in RPGA campaigns often comes from the Critical Event summaries that come with many modules (in Living campaigns), or in the event reporting questionnaire (in D&D campaigns, like Mark of Heroes). In this way, the actions that players take (not just your group, but many groups playing the module) affect future events in the campaign. If, in a majority of times that a particular module is played, the bad guy gets away, then he may well reappear in a later module. It's not like RPGA campaigns don't have their own built-in campaign arcs, opportunities for player advancement, etc. You just have to take those arcs on the campaign's terms, rather than creating your own. (And, there's nothing preventing your players from coming up with detailed histories and backgrounds for their PCs...but those backgrounds may or may not ever wind up playing out in campaign play.) All in all, it really sounds to me like you want to run your own campaign for your group, and that running Mark of Heroes (or any RPGA campaign) doesn't seem to be a good fit for you. Mike Mistele
darkstal 06-14-05, 06:01 PM	Greetings kenobi65, I truely appreciate your honesty and have to admit that after looking over the RPGA rules for Mark of Heroes, the more I find that "restrictions," "locked," and "unlocked" become more of a hinderance than anything. I can completely understand why these settings have been implemented, but for MoH I have found that they took out the use of Dragonmark feats and inhouse feats, but still left in other "race" contact feats that resemble the same feat. If anything, I will probably end up using the RPGA campaigns that they provide to give myself ideas for the other players in my campaign. Only drawback to being a part of the RPGA is the fact that if I even remotely touch those pre-made campaigns as a GM I will not be able to play them as a player. I totally understand this, though the lack of creativity on the GM's part blows my mind. They make the part of the GM more of a script reader and a judge for determining if players follow the rules or not. I personally loved the Eberron setting, and would like to eventually play it as well. Though my players I can assure you they do not wish to join such events. Makes it rather difficult for me though I guess I can manage... :P There are some very good mechanics in the MoH rules that I will probably adopt to make item creation and purchasing easier, though from what you have assured me leads me to believe I will have to start my own campaign. Thanks again for your time and reply, Dark§tal
kenobi65 06-14-05, 09:26 PM	If anything, I will probably end up using the RPGA campaigns that they provide to give myself ideas for the other players in my campaign. Only drawback to being a part of the RPGA is the fact that if I even remotely touch those pre-made campaigns as a GM I will not be able to play them as a player. If I understand what you're saying, you're suggesting that you'd like to use the RPGA adventures as creative fodder for writing your home game. Which, technically, you're not supposed to do. When you order an RPGA module to run (even a DM's Mark), you're agreeing to actually run it for RPGA members, and to report the results back to the RPGA. Ordering modules just to read, or to pick and choose bits from for your home game, isn't allowed. (If that's not what you were suggesting, sorry.)
darkstal 06-17-05, 10:35 AM	Actually yes that was what I was reffering to. Thanks for letting me know... I'm beggining to really lose my interest in the whole RPGA. Oh well, back to the drawing boards... :weep: Thanks again for the help