From: David Baur (david_baur@cl_63smtp_gw.chinalake.navy.mil)
Date: Tue 02 Aug 1994 - 06:39:01 EEST
How we share information 8/2/94 11:12AM
In response to Brent Krupp (X-RQ-ID: 5355)
You asked about how other GMs pass off information to the group. Our group consists of two people who have reasonably strong knowledge of Gloriantha (Myself not one of them). The rest are not as versed and require prompting from the GM. This group has elements of all your cases -- (a) extensive player knowledge trying to maintain character knowledge; (b) minimally informed and happy with that; and (c) minimally informed and want/need to know information for role-playing.
For the new characters, we have them read about where there character is from (Genertela book 2). Divines read about their god from GoG, then CoP. The GoG tells them what their cult offers them and CoP gives them a stronger flavor for their religion. So much for setting up the character. This allows them a strong start and a good way to start their adventuring. Many of the characters are from different areas of Genertela, so there is some specialized information from those characters and some teaching of the cultures to the other characters.
For specialized scenarios that are not necessarily covered in the book, we give them a lore roll to see if they knew about it, same with characters coming across a monster new to them. Once known, the characters remember about that information (sometimes needing an int roll to have the GM help remember for them). Characters possessing that area of knowledge get a lore roll. Characters outside of that knowledge area get a hard skill roll (skill * 1/2). Sometimes, players come across NPCs that tell them different stories or lore. This sometimes improves lore through training (allowing player knowledge and character knowledge to balance in an area. This seems to be simillar to what Joerg Baumgartner (X-RQ-ID: 5382) <Except lore rolls usually don't get experience checks, though we occationally give the characters an experence roll after they have learned much about a subject just by experiencing it after a long adventure>. BTW Joerg, I whole heartedly agree with the story telling. Most castles and such sometimes had a passing entertainer, but usually they relied on their local talants. They would also have travelers tell their stories of the world since most people don't travel outside of their locality.
This stepwise process encourages a faster general knowledge than force feeding the unwilling. We make available our information and reference books (and even these dailies) to our group to read and develop interests. Some of our group devour specialized information (c), while others resist it (b).
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