tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post8541445203803440379..comments2024-03-28T15:32:19.036-04:00Comments on Dungeon Fantastic: Mission Based vs. Location Based playPeter Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-81903656080577404132013-03-30T21:43:52.121-04:002013-03-30T21:43:52.121-04:00That's always a concern - the party can ditch ...That's always a concern - the party can ditch the mission partly through and leave it all in the lurch.<br /><br />But if they're settling down to deal with one area, roll with it. Throw them an occasional travel-and-return mission if you need a break.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-3639171802359044272013-03-30T14:48:14.096-04:002013-03-30T14:48:14.096-04:00We started out in the Montporte dungeon (with me a...We started out in the Montporte dungeon (with me as GM) doing a mission-based session, because it was supposed to be a one-shot. However, I used a huge dungeon that I had already started working on. It has made completing the mission much tougher because they are losing their focus, but we also decided to keep it going. So, two sessions in, we are straddling the mission/location fence. It is an uncomfortable place to be, but there are enticements to not completely the mission and going off in another direction to explore. There are also consequences. It is up to the players as to their direction and action.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-11252052309635021742013-03-29T15:21:53.847-04:002013-03-29T15:21:53.847-04:00Not exactly by coincidence, but in parallel to the...Not exactly by coincidence, but in parallel to the player's own actions. It's not like you can't have a location and then some non-PC actors who take their own actions and have their own plots. And you can have pre-planned outside events that affect the location, too.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-74317636193539975052013-03-29T11:40:31.185-04:002013-03-29T11:40:31.185-04:00On the other hand if you do want a narrative arc o...On the other hand if you <i>do</i> want a narrative arc other than what the players generate for themselves, location-based play makes it pretty certain that that will only happen by coincidence. (Unless the GM shuffles things around behind the scenes.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-15702436981195495992013-03-29T09:02:11.148-04:002013-03-29T09:02:11.148-04:00It's a terrible, terrible co-incidence. Just l...It's a terrible, terrible co-incidence. Just like how when I find a bunch of cool minis, coincidentally monsters that look like them attack the PCs.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-30596063308088828292013-03-28T21:47:00.028-04:002013-03-28T21:47:00.028-04:00I like mission based especially with GURPS Worming...I like mission based especially with GURPS Worminghall. The PCs go on quests to find various magic items for a Wizard professor. For the most part my gameworld is set in mythic England but now the PCs need to go find an item in India. It has nothing to with the fact that I just bought Arrows of Indra :)b-doghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11618256665898788769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-21546596750378350152013-03-28T20:52:34.571-04:002013-03-28T20:52:34.571-04:00You are very fortunate indeed. My players have a l...You are very fortunate indeed. My players have a lot going on, three come from out of state (and one has a medical residency going on), and at least half have kids. So we rarely have a full house.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-26717776750587661192013-03-28T20:51:28.090-04:002013-03-28T20:51:28.090-04:00Wandering monsters, or their equivalent, help imme...Wandering monsters, or their equivalent, help immensely. That way you can pretty much generate play areas just ahead of the players. That's all that matters.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-79325170028312134832013-03-28T20:50:36.060-04:002013-03-28T20:50:36.060-04:00Location based has the advantage that people can c...Location based has the advantage that people can choose their own adventures based on what they've found before, and on the team that shows up. At least one of our sessions was "avoid the wights at all cost oh wait Inquisitor Marco just walked in - kill the wights, full speed ahead!"<br /><br /><br />Con games have their own issues. At least I know the craziness I'm getting into, running games for my buddies. ;)Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-60208721761966593582013-03-28T20:48:19.264-04:002013-03-28T20:48:19.264-04:00If I think of things the same way Ken Hite does, t...If I think of things the same way Ken Hite does, that's just awesome.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-53848337293314122352013-03-28T17:17:21.517-04:002013-03-28T17:17:21.517-04:00Interesting you bring this up. On a recent episode...Interesting you bring this up. On a recent episode of the Ken & Robin Talk About Stuff podcast, they discussed the false dichotomy of railroad vs. sandbox and pretty much landed on redefining terms as mission-based vs. location-based as well. The segment's worth a listen if you're inclined.<br /><br />As for myself, I do prefer mission-based, but in small, focused dollops with allowances for PC investigation of the location if sufficient interest develops.David Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04133630988557116729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-26633581467014832992013-03-28T16:44:48.439-04:002013-03-28T16:44:48.439-04:00That's why I mostly run con games. Far fewer o...That's why I mostly run con games. Far fewer organizational hassles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-67431152977821704982013-03-28T16:36:50.916-04:002013-03-28T16:36:50.916-04:00Your guys go back to town nearly every session, th...Your guys go back to town nearly every session, though, right? That effectively (and usefully) hybridizes the problem. you get the benefits of the location-based game but the "who shows is not important" that you get with mission-based stuff.<br /><br />that being said, even in episodic games, I was very pissed when people didn't RSVP, or worse yet, did RSVP and then flaked anyway.Douglas Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292678529266123501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-61769505660379316102013-03-28T14:44:45.233-04:002013-03-28T14:44:45.233-04:00I'm going location-based for that reason - tha...I'm going location-based for that reason - that way I don't customize a mission and then have a critical team member not show up. Or have a mission that should end in one session but can't, and then next time some people can't show and others can.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-44081334795909593242013-03-28T14:43:47.985-04:002013-03-28T14:43:47.985-04:00I think you're partly conflating "mission...I think you're partly conflating "mission based" and "specific story arc based." They aren't the same. "Go Find the MacGuffin in the Dungeon of Doom" is a mission - you don't need to plot anything, just stick a MacGuffin into the dungeon.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-47026752267584129002013-03-28T12:18:27.886-04:002013-03-28T12:18:27.886-04:00My game is definitely mission-based, although the ...My game is definitely mission-based, although the players passed up on a mission once. No problem, next mission.<br /><br />I must be very fortunate to have the players that I do, because all five show up almost every time.Grouchy Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02373507172047421320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-1665875681688203092013-03-28T11:53:12.007-04:002013-03-28T11:53:12.007-04:00I nearly always gravitate to episodic/mission base...I nearly always gravitate to episodic/mission based play for the "who shows up is random" factor, even though location/epic arc play is actually my preferred style.Douglas Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292678529266123501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-49167476324666617252013-03-28T11:20:17.195-04:002013-03-28T11:20:17.195-04:00If your Missions are sufficiently small as to be c...If your Missions are sufficiently small as to be completed in a single session, you eliminate the need for consistent player presence as well. New mission comes up, team is assembled based on who is present for that session, mission is performed, tie up loose ends so next time you can start a fresh mission with whoever happens to be around. Can also be used to allow players to play different characters each session, if they're the sort that like to stretch their wings a little.Jason Packerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02240705069654358715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-4867293343208966372013-03-28T10:27:31.181-04:002013-03-28T10:27:31.181-04:00I would argue that Location Based adventure is ult...I would argue that Location Based adventure is ultimately less prep than a Mission Based session.<br /><br />The need for plotting, narrative arc, and resolution in the latter is just a huge headache for me, anyway. A properly engineered location gives you the freedom to not even consider those things. Sure, there will be a continuous stream of just-in-time prep along the way, but the players have been delegated the story for the most part.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-80471558313301188112013-03-28T08:33:34.286-04:002013-03-28T08:33:34.286-04:00In my new campaign about Reclaiming Moria, I'l...In my new campaign about Reclaiming Moria, I'll be using an hybrid mechanics leaning toward mission-based. The driving factor is a reckless King with a gung-ho style who will hatch plans left and right. The PCs and NPCs are going to try to shape or cancel these plans using social combats and court intrigues. If no PCs take on the mission, I'll resolve it abstractly: opening/closing new locations and creating new situations. There will always be a chance for the PCs to pick a direction and explore what's in there. However, ignoring the missions will tend to cause the military campaign to bog down and eventually fail. It shouldn't be a railroad because the PCs will have a say on what is coming next, and the option of participating or not in the live sessions. <br /><br />Some stalling tactics is in order, as well as a good way to generate stuff randomly on the fly works well for area-based approaches.bongotastichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06403616300118528548noreply@blogger.com