So I'm the President of my campus' Role Playing Club (I'll save the story of my bloodless coup is for another time)
Yesterday I attempted running the Beginner Box. This was my second time ever attempting to run a game, and the first one went pretty badly (though to my defense, I TOLD the group the game was not ready yet).
We stumbled through the Cantina scene, pausing often to double check the rules. While I had read through the book previously, I tend to forget things easily, especially when on the spot. That, and I could never figure out what to do with the Advantages beyond refunding Strain. There was a fun bit with Oskara rolling high enough (with a Triumph!) that I let her punch through the first Gamorrean and take out a second (using the rules for minion groups, I had to do it!).
Then they get to the junk shop to collect the pilot light for the hyperdrive and the guy playing 41-Vex started plotting to rob the shopkeeper. Later, after having successfuly made Overseer Brynn surrender and free the ship, he started to demand heading back to the junk shop to kill the old man (who was MEAN to DROIDS) and free the enslaved R5. One of his justifications was that the droid could work on the ship they were about to steal, or that they could sell it later. Yeah, way to promote droid rights.To put an end to his premeditated homicide I just interrupted it with the scheduled Stormtrooper encouter.
"Look, there they are! And that droid we are looking for!"
The other real "What the heck?" moment was, after having successfully entered the starport control through the side entrance, the Wookie decided to walk up to Overseer Brynn and start a conversation. To the complete objection of the rest of the group. I tried to help, pointing out he was probably the only Wookie in Mos Shuuta, not to mention all of Tatooine (Chewbacca would be off doing Rebellion things with Han). That and the fact he spoke Shyriiwook and Overseen Brynn did not, but he managed to drag the afformentioned homicadal 41-Vex with him as a translator. Inconspicuous, thy name is Lowhhrick.
Before Brynn could set the alarm, the droid drops a stun grenade and managed to bring Brynn down to a single wound (having no strain) and I managed to convince the group that the advancing droids with weapons armed were more a threat than the nearly incapacitated Overseer. Another homicide averted.
I think for the most part the group had plenty of ideas, but that they either went against common sense or else overcomplicated their attempts at deception. For example, wanting to get into the Docking Bay by offering Lowhhrick to Trex.
"Teemo the Hutt has asked us to offer you this Wookie for you to hunt! Also, we have the part your ship requires."
"The Wookie? I would relish a chance to- how did you know I needed a part?"
I may continue with Long Arm of the Hutt with them next weekend, or weasel out of that by offering to let another group try Escape from Mos Shuuta.
And I am a fan of all things weasel.
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