Re: [DL] Re: deadlands-digest.20000108

["Ed Greaves" <temporus@hotmail.com>]

I would think this is completely up to the Marshall.

In my campaign which I am currently designing, and hope to launch in the 
spring, I intend that the players know as little as is possible.  In fact, 
I'm trying to avoid letting them know exactly what game system they will be 
playing, because I want to ease them into the genre.  (Just my personal 
preference, not necessarily a recommendation on how you have to do it.)  My 
idea is to start off with several more traditional western adventures, then 
slowly bring on the weird stuff.

Now to be more specific...I created a detailed print out of general campaign 
history.  Very general stuff, to let them know the setting.  It's about 14 
pages, although more than half of that is just generic history lesson, 
because few in my group know anything about the 1800's in general or the 
West.  In my history, I slapped in lots of generic info, enough to let them 
know that things aren't just normal.  But I avoid mentioning things like 
actual undead, or strange monsters.   I put in some hints, which when things 
start popping up, they will go back and read and realize the significance of 
some of the entries.

My next step is to go through, have everyone give me their character 
concept, and a brief idea of a background, and then I will fill each person 
in on more specific details relevant to their experience.

Now this will probably only work, because none of the players have played 
the system before, and know nothing about the game world.  I wouldn't try 
this method with a group that's familiar with the game.

If your group all ready has been playing DL for a while, I would have them 
create their characters, and individually give each player as much info 
about the world as is feasible.  IE, if someone is a Ranger/Pinkerton, they 
might know a lot more than someone who's just come from back east.

The Epitath is a good measure of info, but I think you need to decide just 
how seriously is it taken.  Is it the Sun? Weekly World News, or the 
Enquirer?  It certainly reasonable for your folks to know anything contained 
in the Epitath, but it's up to you what kind of knowledge the players start 
with.

Ed Greaves

>From: JHorner443@aol.com
>Reply-To: deadlands@gamerz.net
>To: deadlands@gamerz.net
>Subject: [DL] Re: deadlands-digest.20000108
>Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2000 11:07:37 EST
>
>In my recent Deadlands game the issue of just how much background 
>information
>about the weird west the players would know arose.
>
>Does anyone have any ideas on the issue. One of the players suggested 
>reading
>the Tombstone Epitaph.
>
>Hope you can be of some help.
>
>John Horner

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