re: RQ Daily

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From: Sandy Petersen (sandyp@idcube.idsoftware.com)
Date: Wed 30 Mar 1994 - 07:13:37 EEST


Here follows a short essay on gamemastering I sent to a friend recently. Thought I'd share it. It's especially useful in a game whose rules change as often as RQ, and in which the players (those jerks) tend to have their own opinions.

I resort to one of three techniques when I am changing an old rule or introducing a new one, and the players don't like the alteration to their game.

  1. Friendly persuasion. "Give it a chance. Once you see it in play, it will grow on you." This ploy relies on the players' inertia for success. After you've used the new rule for a while, the players are generally too lazy to get you to change it back.
  2. Bait and switch. "Remember, the monsters have to use this rule, too." If the players are slow enough of wit, they may buy this argument and let the change go in. The first few times
  3. Capitulation. "Okay, okay. It was just a suggestion. We'll go back to the old way." After all, it's their game, too. Besides, you can try to introduce the changed rule again a few weeks later.

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