Jedi Quest Mixed level Round-Robin campaign prep thread

By Tramp Graphics, in Star Wars: Force and Destiny RPG

2 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Given that Elias is about to become a first time daddy, he doesn't have the time to GM. He's turning over his GM duties of his own games as it is.

Congratulations to Elias! I'm a first time daddy too! She'll be 3 months old next week.

16 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:

I'm only planning onGMing a few specific modular encounters later down the road after I have some practical experience with the system. I don't want to be a full time GM until Korath has dealt with his nemesis at the very least.

So Tramp, you are obviously the current GM because you have control over the setting, chargen, setup, xp, and all that GM stuff.

But are you willing to completely hand off the GMing of your scenario to someone else so you can play your PC in your scenario? Without trying to make them your puppet GM.

Round-Robin GMing would just result in Tramp as head GM and guest/puppet GMs.

And what self respecting GM would allow themselves to be invested enough in someone else's campaign to take it on without having a say in the setup process?

3 hours ago, Mychal'el said:

So Tramp, you are obviously the current GM because you have control over the setting, chargen, setup, xp, and all that GM stuff.

But are you willing to completely hand off the GMing of your scenario to someone else so you can play your PC in your scenario? Without trying to make them your puppet GM.

Round-Robin GMing would just result in Tramp as head GM and guest/puppet GMs.

And what self respecting GM would allow themselves to be invested enough in someone else's campaign to take it on without having a say in the setup process?

Well, the whole point is for someone else to run those scenarios. In fact, I couldn't run them even if I wanted to (which I don't). I don't want "puppet" GMs. As I said at the very beginning of the thread, whoever is the "current" GM has full authority . My job, right now is simply to organize the game. And most of the set-up process was agreed upon by the original group early on.

12 minutes ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Well, the whole point is for someone else to run those scenarios. In fact, I couldn't run them even if I wanted to (which I don't). I don't want "puppet" GMs. As I said at the very beginning of the thread, whoever is the "current" GM has full authority . My job, right now is simply to organize the game. And most of the set-up process was agreed upon by the original group early on.

No disrespect intended btw.

Ok, well what are we waiting for then?

Edited by Mychal'el
Just now, Mychal'el said:

Ok, well what are we waiting for then?

Enough players. I'd like to get at least 5-7 players/GMs. The Jedi Star has a combined "crew" and passenger capacity of 22 individuals, not including droids . I'd like to fill it up as much as possible.

11 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Enough players. I'd like to get at least 5-7 players/GMs. The Jedi Star has a combined "crew" and passenger capacity of 22 individuals, not including droids . I'd like to fill it up as much as possible.

How many players do we have so far?

11 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Well, the whole point is for someone else to run those scenarios. In fact, I couldn't run them even if I wanted to (which I don't). I don't want "puppet" GMs. As I said at the very beginning of the thread, whoever is the "current" GM has full authority . My job, right now is simply to organize the game. And most of the set-up process was agreed upon by the original group early on.

So I have an idea for a scenario but my starting character is a major part of it. When I'm GMing and playing my characters how do I not show favoritism towards my characters even unintentionally?

6 hours ago, Mychal'el said:

How many players do we have so far?

So I have an idea for a scenario but my starting character is a major part of it. When I'm GMing and playing my characters how do I not show favoritism towards my characters even unintentionally?

Not favoring your own character is nearly impossible, tramp has *significant* troubles with it. What I would recommend is that you let someone else run your character while you GM but even then, not favoring you own character and the person running it is still hard.

I'm very tempted to run this for you, I want to but I know that I shouldn't because my first responsibility is to my wife and child (Samuel Lucas ... ).

Also I am not sure that I would be completely impartial. I'd probably be a bit more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to any else besides Tramp, because tramp is biased and seems not to be aware of his own biases so to me the intent behind his actions are already suspect.

But since I am aware of my own bias, I could in theory (and would attempt in real life) make a conscious effort to overcome them. You are correct that I would have no problem calling Tramp on any shenanigans he attempted, and I probably am the most appropriate potential GM on the planet for dealing with Tramp playing Korath.

23 minutes ago, EliasWindrider said:

Not favoring your own character is nearly impossible, tramp has *significant* troubles with it. What I would recommend is that you let someone else run your character while you GM but even then, not favoring you own character and the person running it is still hard.

I'm very tempted to run this for you, I want to but I know that I shouldn't because my first responsibility is to my wife and child (Samuel Lucas ... ).

Also I am not sure that I would be completely impartial. I'd probably be a bit more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to any else besides Tramp, because tramp is biased and seems not to be aware of his own biases so to me the intent behind his actions are already suspect.

But since I am aware of my own bias, I could in theory (and would attempt in real life) make a conscious effort to overcome them. You are correct that I would have no problem calling Tramp on any shenanigans he attempted, and I probably am the most appropriate potential GM on the planet for dealing with Tramp playing Korath.

You are an honorable man Elias. True modesty is extremely rare quality these days and you exemplified it just now. Bravo!

If you do end up being able to run a casual play-by-post game in the future please let me know. I would very much be interested in joining.

BTW, Samuel L. is a super awesome name!

Edited by Mychal'el
7 minutes ago, Mychal'el said:

You are an honorable man Elias. True modesty is extremely rare quality these days and you exemplified it just now. Bravo!

If you do end up being able to run a casual play-by-post game in the future please let me know. I would very much be interested in joining.

I am unlikely to run a play by post but if I do I will let you know

11 hours ago, Mychal'el said:

How many players do we have so far?

So I have an idea for a scenario but my starting character is a major part of it. When I'm GMing and playing my characters how do I not show favoritism towards my characters even unintentionally?

Right now, only you, me, and Matt Skywalker. The Shy Ion is supposed to play as well, but she's been completelyAWOL from the forums since mid April. One of the potential solutions to the problem of GMs favoring their starting character is for the party to be split between two GMs during certain adventures (primarily training ones), with each GM running their signature character as a standard Mentor running one group, while his starting character is played as a normal PC under the other GM, who's administering the second group.

another option, for when the whole group needs to stick together, is to have the current GM's starting character not take an active role, but rather a purely support role.

Edited by Tramp Graphics
9 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Right now, only you, me, and Matt Skywalker. The Shy Ion is supposed to play as well, but she's been completelyAWOL from the forums since mid April. One of the potential solutions to the problem of GMs favoring their starting character is for the party to be split between two GMs during certain adventures (primarily training ones), with each GM running their signature character as a standard Mentor running one group, while his starting character is played as a normal PC under the other GM, who's administering the second group.

another option, for when the whole group needs to stick together, is to have the current GM's starting character not take an active role, but rather a purely support role.

Tramp, is "standard mentor" a euphemism for you getting to run Korath as a gm pc, EVER, even temporarily? Because for you that, to use a soccer analogy, is a flag on the play red card worthy offense (i.e. automatic ejection from the game) "oh hell no!". The only way this has a snowball's chance on mustafar of working is if the temporary gm's characters are run by another player. Letting you run Korath as a gmpc is a recipe for end of campaign level disaster. And if you actually want to finish out Korath's story you should be doing ever in your power to avoid running Korath as a GMPC. For the record you running Korath in any capacity regardless of the label you apply while you also gm is the definition of a gmpc.

Edited by EliasWindrider
1 hour ago, EliasWindrider said:

Tramp, is "standard mentor" a euphemism for you getting to run Korath as a gm pc, EVER, even temporarily? Because for you that, to use a soccer analogy, is a flag on the play red card worthy offense (i.e. automatic ejection from the game) "oh hell no!". The only way this has a snowball's chance on mustafar of working is if the temporary gm's characters are run by another player. Letting you run Korath as a gmpc is a recipe for end of campaign level disaster. And if you actually want to finish out Korath's story you should be doing ever in your power to avoid running Korath as a GMPC. For the record you running Korath in any capacity regardless of the label you apply while you also gm is the definition of a gmpc.

Wouldn't being GMPC make it feel completely cheap and meaningless?

This conversation gives me an very exciting idea for a story arc ending for Korath and his nemesis. But first I would have to know pretty much everything about their history for it to have the most meaningful impact.

I'd have to have Elias's help because he knows the characters, he knows Tramp, he knows the game, and I trust that he can keep it a surprise.

Of course it's just an idea, but I'd love to bounce it off of Elias at least, with Tramp's permission of course.

Edited by Mychal'el

I could run the game. I'll introduce my characters at the end of my chapter. You two willing to start now?

Us three, and yes, I'm ready

1 minute ago, Matt Skywalker said:

Us three, and yes, I'm ready

Thank you for the correction. Are you three ready? Have characters your going to play created already?

Mine are , I can't speak for the others

8 minutes ago, Matt Skywalker said:

Mine are , I can't speak for the others

Ok. Send the links to Tramp for approval if you haven't already.

15 hours ago, EliasWindrider said:

Tramp, is "standard mentor" a euphemism for you getting to run Korath as a gm pc, EVER, even temporarily? Because for you that, to use a soccer analogy, is a flag on the play red card worthy offense (i.e. automatic ejection from the game) "oh hell no!". The only way this has a snowball's chance on mustafar of working is if the temporary gm's characters are run by another player. Letting you run Korath as a gmpc is a recipe for end of campaign level disaster. And if you actually want to finish out Korath's story you should be doing ever in your power to avoid running Korath as a GMPC. For the record you running Korath in any capacity regardless of the label you apply while you also gm is the definition of a gmpc.

No. It means that during such encounters, the current GM's Signature character is run as a standard NPC Mentor . These encounters are the training encounters where a given instructor is teaching a lesson to students and focuses on the students , not the Masters.

Basically, there are three types of encounters/sessions, I see as what happens in the campaign that each GM runs on his/her turn:

  • Training encounters: these focus on the starting characters taking center stage. The current GM(s) act purely as Mentors giving instruction to the students and providing challenges for them to overcome (as per the Mentoring section of Disciples of Harmony ), This would probably require the group to be split between multiple GMs with each player/GM having his starting character being in one of the other group(s), so that every starting character can participate.
  • Standard field missions: These are sessions, adventures, or encounters, where both Masters and Startinc characters engage in various quests, combat, and other missions together. This will require the current GM's characters to take a back seat to the rest of the players, acting strictly in a support role.
  • Character specific quests: These are sessions which focus primarily on a single character, and primarily focuses on furthering the Master level characters' subplots. These cannot be run by the player of the character whose subplot is the focus of that session/adventure.
3 hours ago, killerbeardhawk said:

Ok. Send the links to Tramp for approval if you haven't already.

We're still building Mycal'els Master level character over in this thread . He's currently working on the Knight Level part of of the build. I'll PM you on how I'm looking to introduce my starting character.

19 hours ago, EliasWindrider said:

Tramp, is "standard mentor" a euphemism for you getting to run Korath as a gm pc, EVER, even temporarily? Because for you that, to use a soccer analogy, is a flag on the play red card worthy offense (i.e. automatic ejection from the game) "oh hell no!". The only way this has a snowball's chance on mustafar of working is if the temporary gm's characters are run by another player. Letting you run Korath as a gmpc is a recipe for end of campaign level disaster. And if you actually want to finish out Korath's story you should be doing ever in your power to avoid running Korath as a GMPC. For the record you running Korath in any capacity regardless of the label you apply while you also gm is the definition of a gmpc.

4 hours ago, Tramp Graphics said:

No. It means that during such encounters, the current GM's Signature character is run as a standard NPC Mentor . These encounters are the training encounters where a given instructor is teaching a lesson to students and focuses on the students , not the Masters.

I say poe-tay-toe you say poe-tah-toe. The effect is the same.

Tramp, I know from first hand experience that *you* are incapable of being fair and impartial when you are both the gm and running Korath (even if your call him a npc athe that time). And I strongly recommend everyone involved to veto this. The more Tramp argues for it the greater the indication that he will abuse the power and you in the process. However having a different person GM while Tramp as Korath "mentors" the other players should be sufficient to reign in the otherwise almost certain to occur abuses.

18 hours ago, Mychal'el said:

Wouldn't being GMPC make it feel completely cheap and meaningless?

This conversation gives me an very exciting idea for a story arc ending for Korath and his nemesis. But first I would have to know pretty much everything about their history for it to have the most meaningful impact.

I'd have to have Elias's help because he knows the characters, he knows Tramp, he knows the game, and I trust that he can keep it a surprise.

Of course it's just an idea, but I'd love to bounce it off of Elias at least, with Tramp's permission of course.

I'm willing to try

For only those "sessions" where Tramp wants to gm and use Korath to "mentor" the players I am willing to gm to limit the abuse, Tramp you can email me what you want to happen in those sessions and filter it into what I hope will be a palatable experience for everyone else.

23 hours ago, Mychal'el said:

Wouldn't being GMPC make it feel completely cheap and meaningless?

This conversation gives me an very exciting idea for a story arc ending for Korath and his nemesis. But first I would have to know pretty much everything about their history for it to have the most meaningful impact.

I'd have to have Elias's help because he knows the characters, he knows Tramp, he knows the game, and I trust that he can keep it a surprise.

Of course it's just an idea, but I'd love to bounce it off of Elias at least, with Tramp's permission of course.

If Elias thinks Tramp will hate it then I'll scrap the story idea

5 hours ago, EliasWindrider said:

Tramp, I know from first hand experience that *you* are incapable of being fair and impartial when you are both the gm and running Korath (even if your call him a npc at that time). And I strongly recommend everyone involved to veto this. The more Tramp argues for it the greater the indication that he will abuse the power and you in the process. However having a different person GM while Tramp as Korath "mentors" the other players should be sufficient to reign in the otherwise almost certain to occur abuses.

I'm willing to try

1 hour ago, EliasWindrider said:

For only those "sessions" where Tramp wants to gm and use Korath to "mentor" the players I am willing to gm to limit the abuse, Tramp you can email me what you want to happen in those sessions and filter it into what I hope will be a palatable experience for everyone else.

What do ya say Tramp? I understand if you don't agree with the reasons why, but do you have any problem with this plan?

Edited by Mychal'el

Tramp wants to start with just him and his Apprentice for the first session then will add in more players individually, as Korath finds them. He should have the In Character post started with his intro and will craft some armor. After that he has a scene set up to introduce his Apprentice. Once he's done with this session, the other player will join in.

46 minutes ago, killerbeardhawk said:

Tramp wants to start with just him and his Apprentice for the first session then will add in more players individually, as Korath finds them. He should have the In Character post started with his intro and will craft some armor. After that he has a scene set up to introduce his Apprentice. Once he's done with this session, the other player will join in.

With Tramp as GM? Why doesn't he just write a fan fiction screenplay instead? I'm new to RPGs, but is this normal?

How long is a session? Will the other players be interrupting something? Will there be smooth jazz playing in the background? Does the ship have a shower? Will the other Characters have to swab the deck afterwards?

Edited by Mychal'el

I think that killerbeardhawk will be GM, and for my group resource, a holocron with unknown benefits

Well I do, you don't

Edited by Matt Skywalker
Forgot something