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Looks like I did something right
Tweet Topic Started: Apr 25 2009, 10:49 PM (371 Views)
kismetrose Apr 25 2009, 10:49 PM Post #1
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I usually run preludes for White Wolf games, covering in a few hours the highlights from a character's life. It's almost like trying on that new pair of shoes after you get them home from the store. Your first major walk lets you know where they pinch and how much you should tighten the laces, and if you're particularly unhappy you can dust them off and take them back.

I want the players to get to know their characters a little and to feel assured that they've put points in the right place. I choose some key events that help shape attitudes and let the players interact with them. I also let them get to see the people their characters are supposed to know well, the folks who are likely to be recurring NPCs. At the end of the session, they can alter their character sheets if need be.

Preludes are part of my standard structure for White Wolf games; all of my WW games start out with preludes. I don't tend to do them for D&D campaigns for reasons I haven't really examined, but I decided to try it for my recent evil campaign. The characters are a bit older, starting out at fifth level, and they're all nobles. I wanted them to get the feel of the power in play. I wanted to introduce them to the country and the family, since both are going to be important to the campaign.

The prelude lasted longer than I intended but I was able to show them how their family had changed while they grew up. They got to see some family tragedies firsthand. They learned which family members to fear and which they liked. For some reason, I wanted them to get a taste of some characters who were going to be dead by the time the campaign started.

But I guess it worked out even better than I'd hoped, and the group's forgiven me if the prelude ran a little long. We've had three sessions in which they've distinguished these new characters from others that they've played before, and they've sprinkled references to their dead kin throughout. Our female character is grateful to her grandmother - "gods rest her soul" - who taught her her trade, and all of them talk about Grandpa Gulyas with affection. But the two brothers have markedly different reactions to their mother's death and it shows whenever she comes up.

It's awesome. It makes me so happy! :woot:
Kismet's D&D - WoD - SG-1 - FB
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