tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post7292479113985722061..comments2024-03-26T01:17:49.256+00:00Comments on Roles, Rules, and Rolls: The Mediocrity of ImprovisationRoger G-Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08594440701279968693noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-8529544640779499202012-07-17T13:02:19.547+01:002012-07-17T13:02:19.547+01:00I agree.I <a href="http://hackslashmaster.blogspot.com/2012/07/on-preparation.html" rel="nofollow">agree</a>.-Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02331863932906631618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-77259774910692808512012-07-17T11:47:43.495+01:002012-07-17T11:47:43.495+01:00I do know that I probably wouldn't have improv...I do know that I probably wouldn't have improvised the army of 300 goblins the wandering monster table told me were up the road from the 2nd-level PCs.Jaysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03652611193354218021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-7853221246404556132012-07-17T09:41:12.797+01:002012-07-17T09:41:12.797+01:00IMHO, improvisation works best within a well-estab...IMHO, improvisation works best within a well-established framework; i.e. a detailed genre to emulate or a game world you internalized so that it guides you. As a good friend of mine put it, "Live by Canon, Die by Canon".<br /><br />This solves much of what you (rightfully) consider to be issues with "pure" improvisation. It requires another kind of prep, maybe, but it keeps you away from "fixed outcome" scenarios easily.oliofhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283548524872576839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-60558484933022572982012-07-17T05:44:03.832+01:002012-07-17T05:44:03.832+01:00Preparing something before I know when or how PCs ...Preparing something before I know when or how PCs are likely to interact with it gives me license to make that area as dangerous or forgiving as I want (with appropriate clues). There's only so much danger I feel comfortable generating on the spot. Also, I want PCs to be able to gather information beforehand so that they can make real decisions. It is very difficult to support that without some degree of prep. I find wilderness improv is easier than than dungeon improv, because so much of the danger is already encoded in the rules (encounter tables, getting lost, foraging).Necropraxishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12716340801054739658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-6629853018776741102012-07-17T04:56:29.701+01:002012-07-17T04:56:29.701+01:00This is why you let the dice be your improvisation...This is why you let the dice be your improvisational tool. They're far more cruel, kind and creative than any DM.Hanley Tuckshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13047638048463160737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-91148430828016979002012-07-17T03:22:44.822+01:002012-07-17T03:22:44.822+01:00I started reading this post wanting to find fault ...I started reading this post <i>wanting</i> to find fault and disagree with it.<br /><br />But I <i>couldn't</i>.<br /><br />Thanks for giving me much to think about!https://www.blogger.com/profile/14398295844409607075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4829093857574761981.post-82665245552860020992012-07-17T02:02:08.499+01:002012-07-17T02:02:08.499+01:00Good post. I've found this true for me too; i...Good post. I've found this true for me too; if I improvise a trap or treasure it will usually be pretty bland. That's why I try to prep all the objects I can for a game-- there's always more to improvise on top come game time.<br /><br />Though, reading your post makes me think I should probably prep combat tactics for smart monsters more, because I'm not really bloodthirsty, I've got that "unconscious sympathy" going on.Telecanterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238356788092725244noreply@blogger.com