Tenkar's Tavern: How Does a Master DM Handle a Table with 16 Players?

Sunday, June 8, 2014

How Does a Master DM Handle a Table with 16 Players?

It's all about having the height advantage like +Matt Finch ;)

4 comments:

Scott AndersonJune 8, 2014 at 12:53 AM
Declaration cards: everyone gets a stack of six or so cards with various action categories on them: "melee attack" "retreat" "cast spell" &c. Reveal all at once before initiative is rolled.

Makes combat fly by. Which is critical when you have 16 PCs and their henchmen.
ReplyDelete
Replies
JDJarvisJune 8, 2014 at 11:53 AM
Assuming and maintaining genuine control is the way to go. Keep the action moving,keep the campaign/adventure environemnt reacting to the actions of the players... don't try to restrict. The more players you have the more points of contact the players at the table have with adventure/campaign. The "me me" show reduces as players develop and improve their relationship to the adventure/campaign.
ReplyDelete
Replies
BadmikeJune 9, 2014 at 3:32 PM
Sometimes I think Matt Finch's greatest skill is "DMing from Chair".
ReplyDelete
Replies
Nick LinerJune 9, 2014 at 4:41 PM
Stephen Chenault ran a number of games at GaryCon last March with 15+. Tactical positioning seems to be the common factor. Stephen used a U-shaped table setup and GM'd from the middle; running back and forth like my hyperactive blue heeler pup.

It was the first table that big I'd played at that didn't use a caller.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Why "Swords & Wizardry?"

Believe me when I say I have them all in dead tree format. I have OSRIC in full size, trade paperback and the Player's Guide. I have LL and the AEC (and somewhere OEC, but I can't find it at the moment). Obviously I have Basic Fantasy RPG. Actually, I have the whole available line in print. Way too much Castles & Crusades. We all know my love for the DCC RPG. I even have Dark Dungeons in print, the Delving Deeper boxed set, Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. BOTH editions of LotFP's Weird Fantasy and some dead tree copies of the Greyhawk Grognards Adventures Dark & Deep

I am so deep in the OSR when I come up for breath it's for the OSR's cousin, Tunnels & Trolls

So, out of all that, why Swords & Wizardry? Why, when I have been running a AD&D 1e / OSRIC campaign in Rappan Athuk am I using Swords & Wizardry and it's variant, Crypts & Things, for the second campaign? (Actually, now running a S&W Complete campaign, soon to be with multiple groups)

Because the shit works.

It's easy for lapsed gamers to pick up and feel like they haven't lost a step. I can house rule it and it doesn't break. It plays so close to the AD&D of my youth and college years (S&W Complete especially) that it continually surprises me. Just much less rules hopping than I remember. (my God but I can run it nearly without the book)

I grab and pick and steal from just about all OSR and Original resources. They seem to fit into S&W with little fuss. It may be the same with LL and the rest, but for me the ease of use fit's my expectations with S&W.

Even the single saving throw. That took me longer to adjust to, but even that seems like a natural to me now. Don't ask me why, it just does. Maybe it's the simplicity of it. At 45 52, simplicity and flexibility while remaining true to the feel of the original is an OSR hat trick for me ;)

Swords & Wizardry Light - Forum

RPGNow

Sunday, June 8, 2014

How Does a Master DM Handle a Table with 16 Players?

4 comments:

Blogs of Inspiration & Erudition