Emirikol the Chaotic

[subplotkudzu]

It's becoming clear to me that I lack the mental energy in a post-baby universe to run the Revolution game the way I want. I can't be guaranteed of having anywhere near enough sleep the night before the session, or enough concentration the week before to get the multitude of plots and sub plots sorted out. At the session proper we've been digressing a lot lately (not aided by having a toddler around for the last 3rd of every session) and while we're having a fun time it's not producing the immersive and sometimes intense gaming that I want from the game.

In short, I end each session with a mixed feeling of enjoyment and frustration at lost opportunities. No one's doing anything wrong, it's just we have a new reality, and I have to adapt to it. Hence, this month or next is probably the last Revolution game for a while - time to put that one back on the shelf until the kids are older.

So what to do next?


I know that ladegard mentioned possibly running a Weapons of the Gods game, but I also know myself well enough to know that if I'm not running something I'll go quietly mad - and netcurmudgeon is currently behind the screen with my other group. For ease of strain on my psyche I'm thinking of something fairly episodic, low impact and tolerant of digressions, and that means some sort of fantasy, likely in D&D. Both Bec and Cambias said they were cool with that (and this is my sneaky way of getting Ladegard's input), and then Cambias kicked something over in my head by saying he'd never been in a swashbuckler game that got off the ground.

What fell out from that kick was Trampier's Emirikol the Chaotic picture from the 1st edition DMG. I always found that scene, especially the city it presented, as evocative, but nevr felt I got the city right in any other game. A group of lower level (campaign running from, say, 1st to 6th level to keep the fencing matches gritty) fighters, rogues et al in such a city, with a conflict between Law and Chaos, a noble 'phoenix guard' type group for the PCs to aspire towards, with extensive docks and waterborne trade if the players want do some privateering, and tombs of old, dead imperial lines filled with ancient treasures to be unearthed, sounds like it could work.

I'd have a couple of pre-set dungeon tombs for the weeks when I have minimal brain power, and more complicated urban plots for the weeks when I'm better off. I've always found D&D easy to run and plan for, and the setting should keep the kudzu to a minimum.

More on this as it develops.

Comments

[doc-mystery.livejournal.com]

If you lack the prep time or energy or sleep, you may find respite with some of the many innovative German-styled board-games that have been released over the last decade.

Some, like "Betrayal at House on the Hill" have some limited role-playing (and minis!). Others have dungeon or fantasy exploring themes like "Dungeon Twister", "Runebound" or "Descent" if you want to get a D&D-like kick. You may want to avoid games with lots of choking hazards for little ones (I'm looking at you, "Ticket to Ride" until your little one is a little older.

::B::

P.S. Nod about that image of Emirikol the Chaotic being both inspiring and evocative.

[brianrogers.livejournal.com]

We're not really board gamers, no matter how interesting the game might be. We have resorted to Munchkin a few times, but our focus doesn't really run that way. Not sure why, but in general we'd rather do an 'off the top of the GMs head' one shot than pull out a board game.