(WoD) An Angst-Based Diet

[atolnon]

No, not the entire game line. Just my particular game. 

I have plenty of time to set up games and write up stats, but when Katie and I are alone and hanging out, we tend to opt for movies, long running shows, or video games. We watched Lost in Translation last night, which I had seen twice several years ago before I broke up with Violet. Katie had never seen it at all. There's a lot of angst in that film, and a sense of understanding that these two characters may have grown some or made a connection, but they will not be happy where they are returning to. Angst isn't always bad. It's been given a bad rep. But it's probably easier to watch these events transpire between two characters that you don't have to play. 

We opt to watch an angsty movie rather then play an angsty game. 

It made me realize that I've kind of flooded the engine on the game, a little bit. It went on for one session too long before anything exciting happened. 4th session in, and the car has died. If I can just finish this latest session, the game should pick back up again in a big way, but there's a trick to getting momentum back - we just have to grit our teeth and run the session. 

Anyone else have experience with trying to run a game that hasn't been run in a little too long? I know Brent does with our Burning Wheel sessions. I think the answer to this might be the same as the answer we've found to that - set aside a specific date and time, then stick to it no matter what. 

I'd like to post more frequently, but I might have to stick to once a week. 

Comments

[baronsamedi.livejournal.com]

I've generally not had much luck with running a game if there has been a long break. I try to not miss more then one session in a row for that reason.

[atolnon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I hear ya. Things really fell down when I lost my job and Katie aquired one, and we haven't been able to get back in synch since then. There's only the two of us, so there isn't four other players to say "Suck it up and come play." to keep us in line.

I think the best way might be to set a specific day and hold to it regularly.

[baronsamedi.livejournal.com]

I game a fair amount, and that is the only way I can get games happening regularly. As a bunch of 30somethings with a couple 20somethings and 40somethings, the fact they can know when in July the game happens with a little math means people can plan around it, warn when they can't make it, and we don't have to negotiate when playing next. People have to miss sometimes and we allow for that. Occasionally we try to reschedule to an alternate day, but it is relatively rare especially as if anyone can make day A but not B we never move to B thus never have to choose between people.

Tiiiiiime is on my side, yes it is...

[sciphi.livejournal.com]

I don't have any difficulties taking a break from games -- Los Angeles by Night, Episode 4, was almost a year break after Episode 3.

Of course, I do two things that most people don't do: Decide on a set number of games, and sketch out a narrative to get you there; make lots of notes, for yourself and for the players.

My games end up looking like modules, and we can pick up from where we left off with little difficulty.

If you don't have a narrative path that's written out for the game, it can be pretty difficult to get back to it after more than 3 weeks, in my experience.

Re: Tiiiiiime is on my side, yes it is...

[atolnon.livejournal.com]

I think that modular games the way that you've been running or overseeing are an excellent way to approach large-scale, sporadic, or convention gaming. Unless you do it every month on the same day, like the Cam tends to want to do, it might be the only way, and I think that the Cam can only get away with it because they have a lot of lifers.

After missing a month of gaming or so, you basically have to start all over again, from scratch.