Dragon Waiting

I'm rereading John M Ford's Dragon Waiting and wanted to share this realization: it's a great exercise in watching the GM tie together 4 PCs constructed by players who haven't talked to each other. I imagine the first session went like this

 

GM: "OK, as we discussed, this is a game of politics in Richard III's court. Our heroes are..."

Jim: "Hwydar is an ageless welsh wizard."

Tom: "Dimitri is an honorable Byzantine mercenary soldier of a royal bloodline."

Bec: "Cynthia is a Florentine doctor with acting experience."

Dave: "Grigory is a German artillery expert. And a Vampire."

GM: "I'm doomed."