Comments on: Keep a Backup RPG on Deck http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck Game mastering advice, ideas & resources • Dedicated to helping GMs Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ken Newquist http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9576 Ken Newquist Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:22:27 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9576 No backup game, but I do have a backup campaign: Maure Castle, from Dungeon Magazine #112. We've been running it on and off for the last two years as a filler when the other DMs need a break, or when things suddenly fall apart and one of them can't make. It's an old school dungeon crawl, filled with lots of nasty traps, spells and guardians, and it makes a good alternative to our more-role-playing oriented regular campaigns. No backup game, but I do have a backup campaign: Maure Castle, from Dungeon Magazine #112. We’ve been running it on and off for the last two years as a filler when the other DMs need a break, or when things suddenly fall apart and one of them can’t make.

It’s an old school dungeon crawl, filled with lots of nasty traps, spells and guardians, and it makes a good alternative to our more-role-playing oriented regular campaigns.

]]> By: Crazy Jerome http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9561 Crazy Jerome Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:02:58 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9561 A backup RPG seldom works for me, because our whole group really prefers long campaigns. It's hard to do a quick backup for a long time. Even when we do one-shots, we try to work them into some campaign--even if only another system. The closest we come to a backup is Toon. It's not always the tone we want, but you really would be hard pressed to find a game that old that picks up that easy. The first time I ran it, very successfully, I'd owned the game for less than an hour, and most of that was driving back to the dorm. :) A backup RPG seldom works for me, because our whole group really prefers long campaigns. It’s hard to do a quick backup for a long time. Even when we do one-shots, we try to work them into some campaign–even if only another system.

The closest we come to a backup is Toon. It’s not always the tone we want, but you really would be hard pressed to find a game that old that picks up that easy. The first time I ran it, very successfully, I’d owned the game for less than an hour, and most of that was driving back to the dorm. :)

]]> By: ScottM http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9554 ScottM Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:26:06 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9554 I'm proposing Spirit of the Century as our backup game-- after everyone makes characters, I'll run it the weeks when we're one person short. After Saturday's success running with strangers, I think it'll work great for our group. I’m proposing Spirit of the Century as our backup game– after everyone makes characters, I’ll run it the weeks when we’re one person short. After Saturday’s success running with strangers, I think it’ll work great for our group.

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9541 Martin Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:51:19 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9541 I guess I put boardgames and cardgames in a different category as backup activities -- more of a default backup, really. We're all friends, we love games and movies -- we can always find something to do. But if we can't game and that's what we really want to do, that's where the backup RPG comes in. I guess I put boardgames and cardgames in a different category as backup activities — more of a default backup, really.

We’re all friends, we love games and movies — we can always find something to do. But if we can’t game and that’s what we really want to do, that’s where the backup RPG comes in.

]]> By: Joe Sixpack http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9540 Joe Sixpack Tue, 20 Feb 2007 01:48:27 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9540 <i><a href="http://www.bayn.org/wushu/" rel="nofollow">WuShu</a></i> is my new backup game. My players and I watch enough over the top movies to have fun no matter what setting I make up. It's also simple enough that I've memorized the rules, I don't even have to have meterials! WuShu is my new backup game. My players and I watch enough over the top movies to have fun no matter what setting I make up.

It’s also simple enough that I’ve memorized the rules, I don’t even have to have meterials!

]]> By: Dr Rotwang! http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9539 Dr Rotwang! Tue, 20 Feb 2007 01:23:45 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9539 <i>Traveller</i>. Totally. It's become my go-to game. If I don't have enough players for my regular campaign, I bust out the LBBs and reprints and fire it up. Traveller.

Totally. It’s become my go-to game. If I don’t have enough players for my regular campaign, I bust out the LBBs and reprints and fire it up.

]]> By: Darth Krzysztof http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9537 Darth Krzysztof Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:38:09 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9537 <i>Paranoia</i> was always my designated backup, but I don't think I ever needed it. Paranoia was always my designated backup, but I don’t think I ever needed it.

]]> By: Blackheart http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9528 Blackheart Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:56:34 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9528 Our group handles this alot like Harry does above. My players and I are avid Magic players, so 95% of the time we have our decks with us. If we dont feel up to it, I'll keep a one shot adventure or a preconstructed adventure handy. Our group handles this alot like Harry does above. My players and I are avid Magic players, so 95% of the time we have our decks with us. If we dont feel up to it, I’ll keep a one shot adventure or a preconstructed adventure handy.

]]> By: lebkin http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9519 lebkin Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:53:01 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9519 Currently, Dogs in the Vineyard is our backup game. I always have a town or two rolling around the back of my head anyway, plus it is not hard to find them online in a pinch. It also works really well with a small number of players, so we can play it no matter how many show up. Currently, Dogs in the Vineyard is our backup game. I always have a town or two rolling around the back of my head anyway, plus it is not hard to find them online in a pinch. It also works really well with a small number of players, so we can play it no matter how many show up.

]]> By: John Arcadian http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9517 John Arcadian Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:32:00 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9517 I've got a copy of a BESM game called Advanced Dimensional Green Ninja-Educational Preparatory Super-Elementary Fortress 555. It's an Anime themed chaos driven game, and it is good for a laugh. I've also got a ninja burger adventure, a set of Axis and Allies Miniatures, and my room-mate has a load of Heroclix strewn about. I’ve got a copy of a BESM game called Advanced Dimensional Green Ninja-Educational Preparatory Super-Elementary Fortress 555. It’s an Anime themed chaos driven game, and it is good for a laugh. I’ve also got a ninja burger adventure, a set of Axis and Allies Miniatures, and my room-mate has a load of Heroclix strewn about.

]]> By: Victor http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9514 Victor Mon, 19 Feb 2007 03:06:35 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9514 For a good backup, I recommend Universalis. (http://www.ramshead.indie-rpgs.com/) It's GM-less and and making up the setting and adventure is part of the game, so it's prep time is zero. --Victor For a good backup, I recommend Universalis. (http://www.ramshead.indie-rpgs.com/) It’s GM-less and and making up the setting and adventure is part of the game, so it’s prep time is zero.

–Victor

]]> By: Harry http://www.treasuretables.org/2007/02/keep-a-backup-rpg-on-deck/comment-page-1#comment-9513 Harry Mon, 19 Feb 2007 02:12:00 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=637#comment-9513 Whoa, my bad, we DO have a backup RPG (among the other games) that performed fantastically well one time: Mythic RPG. We just layered its DM Emulator along with some really simple True20 rules for the combat and skill-monkeying, and BOOM instant RPG goodness: A cooperative little egyptian pyramid-crawl with some mysterious NPCs wandering around inside, everyone playing as a player, no GM, no prep, no effort or stress on anyone's part. It was awesome. Now that I thought about it, I actually wanna play it again. On purpose this time :) Whoa, my bad, we DO have a backup RPG (among the other games) that performed fantastically well one time: Mythic RPG.

We just layered its DM Emulator along with some really simple True20 rules for the combat and skill-monkeying, and BOOM instant RPG goodness: A cooperative little egyptian pyramid-crawl with some mysterious NPCs wandering around inside, everyone playing as a player, no GM, no prep, no effort or stress on anyone’s part. It was awesome. Now that I thought about it, I actually wanna play it again. On purpose this time :)

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