Continuing my tale of Magical Spokane's first outing.
The Game Itself: 4) The devs have written that combat sucks, that you should be terrified of it the way Harry is. I told my players this. They went in like it was 4th Ed. D&D, every man for himself tank & spank. Guess what happened?
b) When the first combat ended, the first words out of a player's mouth was, "Combat Sucks! This isn't D&D! This is Cyberpunk!"
The second set of words, "We're going to have to work together next time!"
Third, "Right, I'll be ready for those baddies next time."
Me: "Duh....I told you guys this, but you didn't believe me. "
Everyone now looks at me like they've been stupid for the past hour.
c) I wish the first book had more examples of Consequences at all levels. I could only think of so many on my own, but the book is already 400+ pages long.
d) Tip to other new players: Remind your players that there is more than just physical combat and that it's okay to do so.
The Negotiator is a
Freeholding Lord, he's a walking City-State. They were fighting Faeries. We were trying to get a handle one combat, sure, but if he had identified himself, the
BBWs would have negotiated with him. They wouldn't necessarily ask for Tea and Biscuits, but a social encounter to get them to stop would have been just as fun as physical combat (like it was negotiating with
The Sky King) and
The Negotiator would have owned. And,
Sgt. Poe wouldn't have ended up in the Hospital.
e) Overall, Combat is fun. A week later,
Sgt. Poe's player is still talking about almost getting killed by a Washing Machine/Dryer.
5) City Creation in the town you are in is very rewarding.
a) Most of my players hate the town we live in. My primary acid test for the DFRPG was City Creation.
If the DFRPG could turn that perpetual p%$# and vinegar into fun, the game is good....
Conclusion after 1 session? The Game F&$#ing works....
b) Even going outside the city is fun. I decided to let them go into the Nevernever for a little bit. They ended up in a
Green Field.
They followed of stone path and encountered a
Pile of Straw (My brother abruptly facepalmed and still wants to kick my ass),
then a
Pile of Broken Branches,
then (everyone asked at once) a Pile of Shattered Bricks.
They ended up at a
house Reinforced Steel Bunker/Bomb Shelter. It was manned by a 500lb. Faerie
Pig sporting an Elmer Fudd Rifle. This was a hard compel of
Sgt. Poe's
Unbeliever, "I am on Morphine....in Sacred Heart....I am tripping Balls..."
6) April Fool's Day Faerie Mischief is fun...
Antics included(These were adlibbed):
A troll got pinned to the Target sign by a giant arrow.
A classroom or two at Gonzaga got warded against mortal flesh just before a test.
A Bar Mitzvah got it's main course replaced with a Hogtied and Glamoured Faerie Pig with an apple in his mouth. When the Glamour went down, the pig went, "Hey!!!!!!" (I am still getting dirty looks for that one.)
Some Sidhe dropped some quarters on the ground in the downtown. A lot of bargains were made that day.....
But, I never got chance though for the
Leanansidhe's Protegee to do her musical number.....
The PCs' compels got them to participate with
The Sky King's help. They got a thousand Ravens into the house of
Sgt. Edgar Poe (After he came home from the hospital), when he ended his house, he had to wade through the media horde in front because of his Media Spotlight aspect and then all 1000 Ravens started to recite, The Raven. The media caught it all on tape.
Sgt. Poe blamed his partner,
Lenny the Clued-In Conspiracy Theorist. And yes, I stole his partner's name from Mr. Lead System Designer.....
That's all I have to report.