Character burning: A less crappy evening

[BWA]

My new BW group met up last night to burn up our characters. It went pretty well, and everyone was excited about their concepts. Plus we had some pretty great concepts around the table, and everyone lliked writing beliefs. It was easy to do, considering all the time we spent just talking about the campaign, and what we wanted out of it.

Most of the players' concepts were about older, more experienced characters (it's a cross-the-world-to-return-the-true-kind-to-the-throne kind of thing), so we went with five lifepaths each.

I was surprised at how long it took to burn the characters. It took us about 2-3 hours, but I'm assuming that was because we were mostly new to the process. (Unlike our last game, however, I was much more familiar with the character-burning rules than I was with the combat rules).

I am a little worried about the first game session though. The characters are together (for various reasons) in a distant eastern city (see also: fantasy Shanghai), they've got to get the king-in-exile PC across many miles to his lost kingdom (see also: fantasy Norway). We've got some bad guys, and I guess I'll just throw the bad guys at them and see what happens, but I'm afraid I'll be a little under-prepared.

[luke]

Dude! No, stop! No bad guys just for the hell of it.

First off, you've got a situation. Good.
You've got some antagonists. Good.
But now you need some trials and obstacles.

What do you want to happen on the road? In your mind, what's stopping them from simply going for a nice stroll and plopping the king back on the throne?

-L

[BWA]

Right, right. I didn't mean random monsters. One of the campaign ideas was that the group was trying to get back home, and they were being pursued by the sinister agents of the usurper to the throne. So those are the bad guys I was going to throw at them.

I do need some more obstacles, though, you're right. Everyone decided to take a few days and polish up their characters, so I don't have the final draft of the players' beliefs and instincts. I'm hoping there will be some obvious hooks for me there.

The one player who is finished has come up with what I think is a cool character. His combat and physical skills are scant, but his Resources and Circles are very high, and he bought a big reputation. So I want to put him in situations where his wealth, fame and connections will come up.

[Mel White]

The setting sounds like great fun. I like that the king-in-exile is a PC. I look forward to the social dynamics between the king-i-e and his followers. Why do they support him? Duty (to whom or what)? Family ties? Money? A shot at power? For a lark? All cool reasons. And all potential 'pressure points' for the bad guys to use to influence individual PCs. Some of the bad guys may be sinister. But the really challenging bad guys will be patriots supporting the current king. How could civil war be good for the country? "You rebel scum!"
I'd love to play in that game--my motto would be 'don't trust nobody!'
Mel

[luke]

Sure, but what do you want?

What situations do you imagine happening? What sinister forces are you excited to bring?

The answers to those questions are a huge part of GMing for Burning Wheel.

[BWA]

Hmm. Good one. Not sure. I have been mediating this whole time. Guess I need to get in the game a little more.

Thanks for the help so far, all. This is a great forum. Once I get my player's beliefs lined up, I'll be back for some more concrete advice.