The Bones of the Burning Wheel

[TickTockMan]

Greetings!

I am going to be trying to promote the Burning Wheel game in anticipation of the 05/05/05 release of the new Burning Wheel. The BW system can be a real paradigm shift for roleplayers, since it is so different from what they are used to, but I do not want to shortchange the game either. So I want to show off the essentials of Burning Wheel, and emphasize the elegance and realism of the system. I could use some advice here. What are the real essentials of the Burning Wheel?

I want to demo the dice system, and I think will use premade characters to show how the lifepath works. I would want an antagonist with a gray shade stat or skill, and to go through some comabt scripting. I think these are the highlights, but if you have demo'd BW before, and have some advice on how to run a streamlined version of it, I am all ears.

My thanks in advance.

[luke]

Hi Ticktock,

Can you give me a few more details as to the conditions of the intro? Are you going to be demoing at a store? Are you trying to show it off to an open-minded group? Or are you trying to pry open a close-fisted group?

If your group does bite, what kind of game do you plan on running? How many sessions? How many players?

What kind of games have been successful with your group (or store) in the past?

-L

[TickTockMan]

Sure!

I am not sure if we will be in a store or at another space, but it was a gamestore where I offered to run the game. I expect there to be 3 or 4 players (my previous demo experience usual indicates about half as many show as say they will). They are decent folks, though, and play at the store pretty regulalrly.

They are open-minded, but they play games as diverse as d20, Palladium and White Wolf. I told them they will be playing a game that is unlike anything they played before, but would reward their inventiveness. Most of them have not ever played a game that has a smaller press run. My regular group likes BW, and I may have an assistant or "plant" in the group as well.

Odds are this wil be a one shot, but I may run a follow game to help everyone learn it more thoroughly and try to answer any questions they have. I will also point them toward this forum.

Is that enough info, Abzu?

I have an extra copy of the Characetr Burner I have offered as a reward to the player voted the best by the other participants. Hopefully that little carrot will get them even more psyched.

[Thor]

Personally, I think the heart and soul of Burning Wheel is BITs -- Beliefs, Instincts, and Traits. Especially when combined with the new Artha system (which you can download from the Web site).

Here's a good thread (http://www.burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=700) that disects Instincts and shows why they're so important (and much of this material is in the Revision, more or less unchanged). You can extrapolate about Beliefs from there.

You may want to also download the preview of the new Orc chapter of the character burner and let them flip through it, especially the orcish Traits. I bet more than a few will drool over stuff like Flights of Murderous Fancy and Unrelenting Savagery.

Combat is, of course, different. Scripting is its own little game. Some people love it, some just can't get into it. While interesting, I think I would try to hook people with BITs first, but that's just my take. If these guys love gritty combat, it might be a good place to start.

If you have some players that are more into the social aspect of things, take them on a spin through the Duel of Wits (you can download a preview of that chapter too).

[luke]

Hi Ticktock,

Ok, an in-store demo is a different animal than a "hey guys, let's try this new cool game" at home demo.

First, don't assume anything about your players. You never really know their tastes or experiences. Approach the demo with an open mind.

Be prepared to keep the game focused. When playing a new game, we love to relate it to our previous experiences. So when a player says "This is just like Yadda Yadda" agree with them, but then turn back to BW: "Sure! But in BW, you do THIS."

As for actual play, I recommend printing out scripting sheets, working up a half dozen characters and running melee demos. I've been very successful running PvP combat. Usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on how quickly the players pick up the game and how much they want to do.

Melee demos work because they give players a good taste of the intensity of the game without too much commitment.

A variation on that (an untested one!) is to run Duel of Wits demos. Burn up social characters, prime their BITs to play off one another and then let players argue it out. This will take a little bit more thought and prep on your end. Coming up with pointed BITs requires some work.

Honestly, I don't recommend running an "adventure" for a debut in a store with new players. I say give them a sharp taste, and let them decide if they like it. If they do, great! You've got a ready pool for your next game. If they don't, it's no big deal. They can simply walk away.

-L

[TickTockMan]

Interesting. I will try it the way you recommend Abzu. Its a safe bet you have run more bW demo's than me. Maybe then if other potential players have their interest piqued, I can find a place for them too.

Cool.

[chapel]

Just having been introduced to BW myself I must say that Abzu's recommendations of a melee demo/duel of wits is a fine way to go about it. Of course that is how I was first introduced to the system, and by Abzu, so I may be a bit biased...

The whole idea of scripting the combat might throw them for a loop at first (though the White Wolf combat card system might be a good starting point for some of them, if they have ever run it like that) but it is really much easier than I had first thought it would be. Heck, I'm an old tried and true Adv D&D player... my group is still trying to get me off THAC0, but I digress. Just take the first few volleys slow (not that you will have any choice) and in no time you will have a group of melee scripting pros.

Now for the Duel of Wits, unfortunately I never got the chance to participate in one myself at Uebercon, but I did get to sit by and watch one unfold, this may be the way you want to start the group if they are more into the "roleplaying" as opposed to "rollplaying".

Oh, but when you print up the melee scripts, it might not be a bad idea to laminate them and use greasepencils... that is an idea I will have to remember and incorporate into my group's sessions. Those little pink eraser curls are still all over the place.