Editing How to Run:Call of Cthulhu
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[[Category:How_to_Run|Call_of_Cthulhu]] | [[Category:How_to_Run|Call_of_Cthulhu]] | ||
− | + | =How to Run: Call of Cthulhu= | |
''(Note: Originally written by somebody from 70.56.250.156 who didn't sign in, and posted to the Talk page for How to Run. Moved here and Wikified by [[User:Knockwood|Lord Knockwood the Mad]] 21:57, 15 November 2005 (PST))'' | ''(Note: Originally written by somebody from 70.56.250.156 who didn't sign in, and posted to the Talk page for How to Run. Moved here and Wikified by [[User:Knockwood|Lord Knockwood the Mad]] 21:57, 15 November 2005 (PST))'' | ||
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− | '''Rule the Fifth: know when to run.''' | + | '''Rule the Fifth: ...who know when to run.''' |
CoC is more about outsmarting the antagonist rather than killing. Head-on conflict tends to produce dead characters and frustrated players. The GM should try to instill the idea that running away to fight another day is better than your friends filling a hole with your remains in the cemetary. | CoC is more about outsmarting the antagonist rather than killing. Head-on conflict tends to produce dead characters and frustrated players. The GM should try to instill the idea that running away to fight another day is better than your friends filling a hole with your remains in the cemetary. | ||
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'''Rule the Sixth: Render Unto PCs Their Victories''' | '''Rule the Sixth: Render Unto PCs Their Victories''' | ||
− | Lovecraft believed in an uncaring universe in which | + | Lovecraft believed in an uncaring universe in which the Mythos is to us as an ant is to us, but the players should feel they've accomplished something meaningful at the end of an adventure. The darkness has been thwarted for another day, and humanity is still in blissful ignorance of the cosmic terror just beyond their senses. (Lovecraft never had to maintain a gaming group, you do...and it will be harder if you tell the players that what they didn't doesn't matter 'cause the Great Old Ones are coming back anyway, as the GM. After all why do something if it's futile, right? The players will eventually find some other game where they think they can make a difference.) In at least one way, the characters are very heroic, no superpowers, extremely powerful adversaries, the characters surviving on their cunning and intelligence alone to save the day. |
− | ''' | + | '''Optional Rule the Seventh: Maim, Fold, Spindle PCs...but don't kill them unless they don't leave you a choice by being stupid.''' |
It's easy to kill characters in CoC. Real easy. But character death in story or game should be meaningful, climactic and earned. They are after all the main characters. An arguement for fudging the dice? Well, maybe. I don't think realism for the sake of realism really adds anything to the story, which after all is about having fun and entertaining people. Players get connected to characters and are understandably miffed when a random dice roll may doom hours of good RPGing. On the other hand, anyone who blindly charges in, expecting GM's immunity should have something suitably nasty happen to them, up to and including character death. Let the reasonable consequences of stupidity be their own reward, but have mercy on the unlucky...just don't ''let'' them know that. :) After all if you know your Lovecraft, you know the worse thing that can happen to you...is sometimes just staying alive... | It's easy to kill characters in CoC. Real easy. But character death in story or game should be meaningful, climactic and earned. They are after all the main characters. An arguement for fudging the dice? Well, maybe. I don't think realism for the sake of realism really adds anything to the story, which after all is about having fun and entertaining people. Players get connected to characters and are understandably miffed when a random dice roll may doom hours of good RPGing. On the other hand, anyone who blindly charges in, expecting GM's immunity should have something suitably nasty happen to them, up to and including character death. Let the reasonable consequences of stupidity be their own reward, but have mercy on the unlucky...just don't ''let'' them know that. :) After all if you know your Lovecraft, you know the worse thing that can happen to you...is sometimes just staying alive... | ||
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