Odd idea for a campaign start

Warthur · August 30, 2007, 06:47:41 AM

When I did the amnesia thing with my A|State campaign I let my players come up with the skills and ideas for their characters - partially because I wanted them to feel that the characters were "theirs" from the get-go, to help them empathise with these backgroundless cyphers, and partially so I could write notes for them from their pre-amnesiac selves explaining why they'd deliberately wiped their memories. (And to remind them not to lose the memory-wiping device... which was missing when they woke up.)

Hackmaster · August 30, 2007, 07:11:28 AM

In my instance, the players definitely just didn't buy into the whole concept to begin with. I should have layed out the situation better at the beginning. Maybe starting the campaign with a flashback or two to set the scene and give a hint of past events. Something to make the characters want to care about their history.

While I didn't want to railroad too heavily, I did drop in hints about their past and had them accosted by the big bad corporation once or twice, but for the most part they were just eager to get back to being free traders.

ancientgamer · August 30, 2007, 12:27:39 PM

Hi Dar,

Don't worry about it...consider it an expansion on my initial thoughts about this thread. GoOrange's later comments illuminated more of the situition for me. I thought there was some sort of interest that faded out during play rather than more of a surprise. I certainly agree the players need to know something about the direction of a campaign or adventure...such as asking if mysteries are cool or they want straightforward scenerios.

rcsample · September 04, 2007, 12:47:22 PM

You should look for the old Chameleon Eclectic game, Psychosis...sounds similar to what you are trying to do...albeit with different mechanics most likely...

Here's some info on it:

http://www.eldritch.org/erskin/psychosis/

James McMurray · September 04, 2007, 01:53:14 PM

Thanks! It's hard to tell if the system is what I'm looking for, but the Gordian Knot module looks pretty cool. Even if I never find the rules for it, I may swipe it for a future game night.

VBWyrde · September 04, 2007, 02:00:20 PM

Quote from: Serious PaulThis is one of the hardest things to deal with, and I've been there myself. You bust monkey balls making a cool idea and setting, and working up back story and everyone just shits on it, and says who cares? Or worse don't even acknowledge it!

It happens, it sucks, but it happens.

Well, perhaps one thing that might make them care is if there's something in their past that then comes stalking after them. In which case it then becomes paramount for them to follow whatever clues they can to find out wtf is going on, before they all get snuffed... ?

You'd have to have a little finesse to avoid making this too pat, but with a little bit of subtlety it might work.

James McMurray · September 04, 2007, 02:09:30 PM

Wouldn't it be better just to ask them in advance to care? Let them know you want to run a game about finding the PCs' identity and see if they're on board for it?

It seems to me like it's a setup that can be really cool or fall completely flat on its face, depending on how well the players get sucked in by it.

Odd idea for a campaign start

Warthur

Hackmaster

ancientgamer

rcsample

James McMurray

VBWyrde

James McMurray