BW Demo

[Ikariniku]

Hello, all. I'm going to be running a 2 hour Burning Wheel demo at Ramapo College of NJ. It will be part of a "Best Games You've Never Played" segment to be held during the Sci-fi Club's "Geek Week" festivities. Now, I have a few ideas for what to do during 2 hours of Burning Wheel. And by a few, I mean one: A melee. Since my creativity has taken a sabbatical, I thought I'd turn to the forums for help. So, I'm a roast, baste me.

[Kublai]

well, a basic combat demo could take an hour. That leaves an hour's worth of adventure to get to the combat. Hmmm...

[Kublai]

A limited dungeon crawl could work. I have notes on an adventure based upon tracking down a wererat below a human city. Very simple, very straight forward and it ends in a brawl. It allows for some limited interaction with NPCs as well as other non-combat skills before getting into the melee. Lemme know if you would like to know more.

[Ikariniku]

I'd definitely be interested in an adventure like that. While a melee would show off my favorite part of Burning Wheel, the combat, I would like to have a more well-rounded experience for the players.

[Kublai]

I moved this because it was about BW, while The Chatterer is supposed to be about non-BW stuff. Yeah, like if that were possible! Pshaw! :roll:

I'll post the adventure here soon! It even has a crappy map! :oops:

[Ikariniku]

Ack, I forgot some highly pertinent information. This demo may be run for a large party, about 10 players (or more, heaven help me). That was the main impetus for my post, and I forgot it. So, if anyone has advice for handling large-party BW demos, I'd be happy to hear it.

[luke]

I completely endorse melee demos as a quick and easy introduction to Burning Wheel.

Pre-gens are a must, as are printed script sheets.

Burning Wheel is a cold swim the first time out. It's different, and sometimes this shocks players. Other times, they find it refreshing.

Starting out with a, "Hey, let's give this a try, no commitment necessary" is a good way to let folks make their own judgements and come to the game on their own terms.

After a melee demo, I strongly recommend a second intro using Pete's Wererat adventure or VGP.

If you'd like specific advice on running the demo, let me know. I am certain I can answer some questions.

And let us know how it goes!
-Luke

[Kublai]

Hmmm... maybe with such a large group, you'd be better running Poisonous Ambition or even The Gift (or whatever the new one is called)?Hmmm...

[luke]

10 people. 2 hours. ... Are you nuts? :)

I hope so, because it sounds like you're going to be in it up to your arse.

I strongly recommend just handing out pregens for a huge brawl. you can't get anything done at a table of 10 rpgers in 2 hours.

Set the stage for the last moments of a coup d'etat and have them all go at it. I suppose you could use the PA orcs if you needed to, just play out the last scene!

-Luke

[Ikariniku]

Well, crazy or no, I'm stuck to my commitment of running a BW demo. A grand melee is sounding really good, and I was planning on pregen-ing the characters. Or stealing pregen-ed characters from other adventures. If The Named and He Who Bears the Lash show up in the demo, so much the better!

[Kublai]

http://www.burningwheel.org/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=13&topic=&allstories=1

Here's another source for pre-burned characters!