Introducing the game to the players.
How to start the game and set the stage.
Click the logo to return to the Portal.
Games master Page 1
The Games master is
the most important player in the Game. It is your task to keep the Game going.
For this you use a scenario (found on the Scenario
Page) to keep track of the developments in the adventure you play.
You handle the Battle dice for the monsters, give experience points to the
players, tell the story and are the referee when players argue about the rules.
This all seems like a lot of work, but it is real fun to do. Especially if you have written the scenario and story line yourself. The best thing that could happen to you is when your group of players comes with a cunning solution for a problem or riddle, which you have never thought about. The main issue in a Role-Playing game is interaction with the players.
Note: Being a Games master is being very flexible. So whatever happens: use the story as a guideline to play the Game, don not use it as a way to defend your vision on the Story.
A Story is written by
the Games Master. Here you can use your imagination to make a fascinating
scenario. Anything is allowed to make a story line. When you start writing, you
have to think of a goal for the players to achieve. For instance: You want the
players to find a missing person (Arvid the Blacksmith). You can tell the
players at the start of the Game: " Listen guys, I would like you to find
Arvid the Blacksmith, because he is gone away." "Go find him!!!"
(Which is a boring way to start a Game) Or you can mold this into a story, Like:
"It
is cold and wet outside. Rain is pouring down from the sky. Three people meet in
the Tavern. Malcato the barbarian, Syrella the sorceress and Adundra the thief
(the players) sit near the fireplace to warm their bones from the hostile
weathers outside." Now
the Games master waits a bit, so the players can start a little conversation.
When the players start introducing their characters to each other (if not, help
them a little) you tell them the door opens. "A
man, dressed in a black mantle enters the tavern. His head is covered
by a hood. He drags his leg and walks a bit bent over. Instead of walking to
the bar or an empty table, he walks straight to you at the fireplace."
"He throws back his hood, and you're looking at the face of an old man,
with gray/white hair and long beard. His Steel blue eyes look around your group,
with a penetrating stare." "May I introduce myself?" he
says." I am Marlick the Librarian." Now the
players can interact with this Non playing character (NPC). They can ask him
some questions and the Games master answers them, playing Marlick. (The players
will ask questions like, where are you from? What do you want from us? Can't you
go sit somewhere else, you old fart? stuff like that.) After the introduction,
Marlick (played by the Games master) will give an assignment to the players. "My
friends, I have a serious task for you. You all look like
you have experienced some battle and dungeon crawling. I have an easy
assignment for you all. It's not that I need much muscle, but some wits
and intelligence are needed. I want you to find my friend Arvid
Blackstone. He is a blacksmith, and one of the best weapon smiths in the
land. The advisor of the king has asked me to find him, because the
kings' Famed sword "ELRANDIR" has been broken, when he was battling
the Orcs who infest the eastern lands. Arvid is the only living smith,
who has the skill to mend what was broken. The last thing I have heard
from him was about 2 weeks ago, when he left for Kell'Car in the Neg'Rak
Mountains to visit his sick brother. I have received a letter from him
when he stayed at the inn of the last Dragon, in Cassail. I've tried to contact
him there, but he seems to have vanished mysteriously. I want to ask you, if you
would go to Kell'Car and find out what happened to him. I am to old to
undertake such a journey. Do you accept ??"
Of course the players have to accept, otherwise there wouldn't be any game to
play and you have been preparing the game for nothing, so try to convince them.
This was a little example of how you can get a Game going (taken from "The Sword of Yarnack part 1" which will be published in our member section). The most important thing about starting a game, is to drag the players into the story (to catch their attention and make them want to go on an adventure). Use your imagination to make the beginning as fascinating as possible (without overdoing it). It's best to keep a certain balance in the introduction. Don't give away too much of the story at this point, just enough to make the players to go on a quest. The rest of the storyline will be told later on in the adventure and has to be discovered by the players. If you use a well written Introduction, you can create an atmosphere in which the Game takes place. A good start is half the job !!
Next Page: How to create a Story. (Guidelines and pointers to help you write your own adventures)
Copyright by Infinite Quest Productions 2002-2004 © All rights reserved