| From: | David Buehrer dbuehrer@******.carl.org |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Powerful |
| Date: | Tue, 6 Apr 1999 11:28:46 -0600 (MDT) |
/
/ As a side note, what do people consider a 'powerful' campaign?
I consider a powerful campaign to be one where the PC's actions have far
reaching consequences. I consider PC's to be powerful if their primary
attributes and skills on average are greater than 1.5x whatever is
considered "normal".
[snip: consider's PCs powerful]
/ And yet, when I throw opponents at them there is a consistent problem.
/ Either they wipe the floor with the opposition, or the opposition wipes
/ the floor with *them*: there's no middle ground. Suggestions, anyone?
Here's an easy GM trick: ignore your dice if they aren't going the way
you want them to. If the opposition is wiping the floor with the PCs,
continue to roll your dice behind your screen, but wince and moan as
you *tell* the players that your luck has turned and you only got a few
successes that time. If things are going the other way, and it's
reasonable to do so, praise your dice as you tell the player that the
NPC just got lucky as hell and completely dodged the attack.
Also, using poor tactics, or good tactics, for the NPCs can shift
things quickly. However, it's much easier to balance powerful NPCs
with poor tactics than it is to balance weak NPCs with good tactics.
If the PCs are wiping the floor with the NPCs and it's reasonable to do
so, toss a few more NPCs into the mix from a tactically favorable
position. For example the PCs could be wailing on the gangers in the
street when the rest of the gang opens up from the rooftops (they have
cover and the PCs can't take cover).
Don't let yourself, as a GM, get locked into an encounter. On the other
hand, let chaos reign from time to time.
-David B.
--
"Earn what you have been given."
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