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lundi 9 avril 2018

Strategic gamemastering, part 5 : Converting THACOSG links into scenes

Having performed the prescribed steps of the strategic gamemastering methodology, the strategist GM now has obtained the requisite THACOSG.

Accordingly, this THACOSG provides the GM with :

  • an overview of all objects (Themes, Locations, NPCs & Items) which are common to your players' respective creative agendas ;
  • a list of all the links that the GM has created in order to increase the number and interdependencies of objects across the player-characters.

A question remains : how to switch from a strategic level of gamemastering to a tactical level ? Which concepts should be converted into scenes ? How to create these scenes ?

This post aims at answering these questions.

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jeudi 14 décembre 2017

Strategic Gamemastering, part 4: Matrix campaigns

You've read all three installments of the Strategic Gamemastering posts, and you're telling yourself that while the method certainly could work for one-shot scenarios with strongly divergent characters, you are still in doubt that the THACOSG tool could manage the several pre-written adventures, modules or 50-scenario campaign that you have bought for your favorite game.

Your main issue is that if, in accordance to the process described in Part 3 of Strategic Gamemastering, you decompose a single scenario into its base components and enter them into the THACOSG for subsequent exploitation, the player-characters will enter the scenario in a manner certainly consistent with their own objectives or background, but probably not in the manner envisioned by the scenario author but by each following their own creative agendas.

Since player-characters will be entering the narrative threads of the scenario in an uncontrollable and unpredictable manner, there is also a definite possibility that the scenario will unfold in a manner wildly different from the author-driven narrative direction. This, of course, implies a massive uncertainty as to whether the ending of the scenario will match the beginning of the next campaign scenario as envisioned by the campaign designers !

These reservations are quite legitimate. However, the Strategic Gamemastering method also provides for long-winded campaigns and even follow-up campaigns. This post will show you how.

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jeudi 6 juillet 2017

[Stratégie de maîtrise] Strategic Gamemastering traduit sur PTGPTB !

L'équipe de Places To Go, People To Be a eu la bonté (et le courage) de traduire en français intelligible mon premier billet de la série "Strategic Gamemastering". Qu'ils en soient loués et remerciés !

Voici le lien vers la traduction du billet :

"La maîtrise de jeu stratégique"

Les billets suivants de la série "Strategic Gamemastering" sont accessibles via les liens ci-dessous :

lundi 25 juillet 2016

[Tactique de maîtrise] Les descriptions synesthétiques

La mise en œuvre de descriptions captivantes est l'un des piliers d'une narration réussie. Ce billet explore la manière dont le recours à la synesthésie peut constituer un outil utile pour raccourcir les descriptions tout en les faisant s'adresser aux émotions et au ressenti plus qu'à la seule raison.

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mercredi 2 septembre 2015

Strategic Gamemastering, part 3: Flags, THACO, and plot hook writing practices

Readers have brought my attention to several articles on flag framing. Basically, "flags"are all data objects on the character sheet.

If you haven't done so yet, I urge you to go read these insightful articles by experienced gamemasters.

This article aims at clarifying the relationship between flags and systematic strategic exploitation through the THACOSG, and the manner in wich the strategic gamemastering method can be used to design plot hooks for preexisting scenarios.

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