sanjwise
09-22-2006, 10:35 PM
Kublai Wrote:
When a player-suggested idea does come up, give them what they expect at first, but then twist it horribly so that it takes the story in a unexpected way. That's the real job of a BW GM.
Sunday is our first real session of Burning Wheel. Our group has met two times already to hammer out the characters, the conflict and other details...but I was a little worried that my BANG for the next session might be another attempt at typical railroading.
The players are going to be trying to free themselves from a Nordic slaver and his brutal crew. The Norseman is on a mission...he is chasing this fabled banner that could make him a King in his homeland. The banner is believed to be in a far and distant city called Rakhira, sort of like a trading city at the center of many crossroads in the desert.
To make it there he will need a tough and hardy crew. Ferocious and strong enough to make the dangerous journey across the wastes. He will also need to call on some favours from some very mysterious and powerful poeple.
On board, as guests of the Pirate, is a party of mysterious assassins. They are a cult devoted to the Goddess Kali, and come from an ancient and mystical land called Hind. They are Korba's guides on this journey.
Korba's ship is a brutal, brawling, rugged regime. There is a strict hierarchy. Penelan Slaves at the bottom, Gold and Ivory Coast slaves at the top (mainly because the Norsemen value strength and ferocity over the timid and beaten Penalans). Above them are a handfull of Norse bondsmen, personal servants to some of Korba's men. Then there are the rest of the crew who are all warriors, part of a fraternity called the Wodansvolk. Among the Wodansvolk are twelve berserker warriors who have a special status as spirit warriors, and shock troops. Finally there is the First Mate and the Captain, Korba. Peripheral to these groups are the Thugs of Kali, who are aloof, but seem to serve as guides and personal guards too Korba. And then there is Korba's harem slave, Wen-yu - Run by Oorbee. She is a slave and an addict of Afyam, the narcotic substance that the Thugee's guard so dilligently. She is controlled by Korba, but has power because of her proximity.
Alex is playing - Amadou, the Gold Coast Slave and Dave is playing Guan, Wen-yu's brother.
So...the players want to free themselves from this regime. They want it so bad! When we last talked the planning was to start on the ship, but I have other plans. Korba, will raid a small island village, hide his ship in a cove, subjugate the village and start a boot camp. He and the assassin Thugs are going to condition the slaves, and any fit and able bodied villagers, into a mean fighting force. Mind control, and brutality. They will learn how to fight and sail like Norsmen, how to hunt and stalk like Thugs. They will be subjected to Fear, Hypnotic suggestion and Condbitioning. Korba wants them, "ground into a fighting force" fit to handle all the perils that the Rakhiran Wastes will throw at them.
I'm not sure if this whole development of raiding and subjugating a village is railroading the story or not?
What do you guys think?
Sanj[/b]
When a player-suggested idea does come up, give them what they expect at first, but then twist it horribly so that it takes the story in a unexpected way. That's the real job of a BW GM.
Sunday is our first real session of Burning Wheel. Our group has met two times already to hammer out the characters, the conflict and other details...but I was a little worried that my BANG for the next session might be another attempt at typical railroading.
The players are going to be trying to free themselves from a Nordic slaver and his brutal crew. The Norseman is on a mission...he is chasing this fabled banner that could make him a King in his homeland. The banner is believed to be in a far and distant city called Rakhira, sort of like a trading city at the center of many crossroads in the desert.
To make it there he will need a tough and hardy crew. Ferocious and strong enough to make the dangerous journey across the wastes. He will also need to call on some favours from some very mysterious and powerful poeple.
On board, as guests of the Pirate, is a party of mysterious assassins. They are a cult devoted to the Goddess Kali, and come from an ancient and mystical land called Hind. They are Korba's guides on this journey.
Korba's ship is a brutal, brawling, rugged regime. There is a strict hierarchy. Penelan Slaves at the bottom, Gold and Ivory Coast slaves at the top (mainly because the Norsemen value strength and ferocity over the timid and beaten Penalans). Above them are a handfull of Norse bondsmen, personal servants to some of Korba's men. Then there are the rest of the crew who are all warriors, part of a fraternity called the Wodansvolk. Among the Wodansvolk are twelve berserker warriors who have a special status as spirit warriors, and shock troops. Finally there is the First Mate and the Captain, Korba. Peripheral to these groups are the Thugs of Kali, who are aloof, but seem to serve as guides and personal guards too Korba. And then there is Korba's harem slave, Wen-yu - Run by Oorbee. She is a slave and an addict of Afyam, the narcotic substance that the Thugee's guard so dilligently. She is controlled by Korba, but has power because of her proximity.
Alex is playing - Amadou, the Gold Coast Slave and Dave is playing Guan, Wen-yu's brother.
So...the players want to free themselves from this regime. They want it so bad! When we last talked the planning was to start on the ship, but I have other plans. Korba, will raid a small island village, hide his ship in a cove, subjugate the village and start a boot camp. He and the assassin Thugs are going to condition the slaves, and any fit and able bodied villagers, into a mean fighting force. Mind control, and brutality. They will learn how to fight and sail like Norsmen, how to hunt and stalk like Thugs. They will be subjected to Fear, Hypnotic suggestion and Condbitioning. Korba wants them, "ground into a fighting force" fit to handle all the perils that the Rakhiran Wastes will throw at them.
I'm not sure if this whole development of raiding and subjugating a village is railroading the story or not?
What do you guys think?
Sanj[/b]