thessalian (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thessalian) wrote2005-01-17 01:47 pm
thessalian) wrote2005-01-17 01:47 pm
Surprises
Tried to tear up a document that I needed to reprint, managed to get a paper cut right across the pad of my right index finger, where I put most of the weight when I type. Suffice to say, this afternoon is not going to be all that fun. At least it's not bleeding at the minute and doesn't hurt too much.
My brain is just about capable of higher function at the minute. Three hours or so and then I get to go home. I fully intended to watch Happy Tree Friends so I can finally return it to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dodgyhoodoo and weaselbitch, so I just hope I can stay awake long enough to actually do so. I've been told there's no hurry, given how much of my stuff they've currently got on loan from the "sickbed entertainment package" I sent to dodgyhoodoo lo these many moons ago. I still like to return things as promptly as humanly possible ... well, okay, with the exception of the sourcebooks, which I am loath to give back until I have copies of my very own. I returned the Technocracy book on request (and because I was done with it -- I only wanted it for a bit of character gen, and I think I have the idea), and I returned Freak Legion because I got my own copy, but I still feel bad because they're not mine, damnit, and yet they sit in my bookshelf and fine, they get used, but still. The only one I could even conceivably see returning before getting a copy of my own is The Path of Screams, and that's only if I was daft enough to copy out all the info I still need from it first. Since that's half the book or so, I'm thinking no. I'm also thinking I remember seeing a copy of The Path of Screams in Playing Games last month, so I think I know where I'm going come payday. Plus I'd better have a shifty around for The Book of Madness; that's got some info I need and some stuff I was thinking about weaving in later.
I was having a conversation withweaselbitch, who tells me that when you're in the GM chair, things that seem obvious to you really aren't to everybody else. And she was right in absolute spades; I didn't think anyone would actually figure it out entirely, but I kind of thought they'd come closer. I think dodgyhoodoo was the only person who even came close to figuring out any of it, given that he eventually guessed at a link between the ritual in the Savoy basement and the amount of Paradox that Molly was accruing. His idea of Molly being used as a Paradox lightning rod was very, very clever, though, and I am extremely impressed, even if he wasn't right. I wonder if they'll ever figure out the rest of it. (Yeah, there's surface and there's stuff underneath, but with the character line-up I've got, I don't think they're going to be delving too deeply into motives and politics. It's just nice to have the option in case anyone decides to get in-depth.)
Of course, it goes both ways. They may not know what I'm leading up to when I think I'm doing everything but posting it in neon lights, but I don't know what the hell they plan to do with the information when they finally get it. I like to think I have a fairly good idea, but every time I read the write-ups, I realise I don't know the characters half as well as I think I do, and certainly nowhere near as well as I know those who play them. Actually, Lucius I know reasonably well, though I didn't think he'd react quite so badly to the fomori thing. Skank, however, is a constant surprise, particularly with his interactions with people. As one of those brusque types who will never, ever give anything away unless he can't avoid it, it's hard to tell how he feels about other members of the cabal. So his reactions to various events (Michelle's disappearance at the start of the session before last, Dawn's Ascension) can sometimes be very surprising. But if I can confuse, surprise, confound and astound them, I suppose they can do the same for me. Keeps me on my toes; keeps me humble.
Hopecholten99 is doing okay in his first day. I won't find out about that until fairly late tonight, if I can stay up that long -- he's out at pub quiz, hence my desire to watch Happy Tree Friends. I've very much got out of the habit of watching anything with cholten99; last time was rewatching The Incredibles and the look on his face when I told him to be quiet so I could watch kind of put me off ever asking that particular favour again. It's easier just to not. I'm not particularly a telly addict anyway, so it's no hardship.
My brain is just about capable of higher function at the minute. Three hours or so and then I get to go home. I fully intended to watch Happy Tree Friends so I can finally return it to
dodgyhoodoo and weaselbitch, so I just hope I can stay awake long enough to actually do so. I've been told there's no hurry, given how much of my stuff they've currently got on loan from the "sickbed entertainment package" I sent to dodgyhoodoo lo these many moons ago. I still like to return things as promptly as humanly possible ... well, okay, with the exception of the sourcebooks, which I am loath to give back until I have copies of my very own. I returned the Technocracy book on request (and because I was done with it -- I only wanted it for a bit of character gen, and I think I have the idea), and I returned Freak Legion because I got my own copy, but I still feel bad because they're not mine, damnit, and yet they sit in my bookshelf and fine, they get used, but still. The only one I could even conceivably see returning before getting a copy of my own is The Path of Screams, and that's only if I was daft enough to copy out all the info I still need from it first. Since that's half the book or so, I'm thinking no. I'm also thinking I remember seeing a copy of The Path of Screams in Playing Games last month, so I think I know where I'm going come payday. Plus I'd better have a shifty around for The Book of Madness; that's got some info I need and some stuff I was thinking about weaving in later.I was having a conversation with
weaselbitch, who tells me that when you're in the GM chair, things that seem obvious to you really aren't to everybody else. And she was right in absolute spades; I didn't think anyone would actually figure it out entirely, but I kind of thought they'd come closer. I think dodgyhoodoo was the only person who even came close to figuring out any of it, given that he eventually guessed at a link between the ritual in the Savoy basement and the amount of Paradox that Molly was accruing. His idea of Molly being used as a Paradox lightning rod was very, very clever, though, and I am extremely impressed, even if he wasn't right. I wonder if they'll ever figure out the rest of it. (Yeah, there's surface and there's stuff underneath, but with the character line-up I've got, I don't think they're going to be delving too deeply into motives and politics. It's just nice to have the option in case anyone decides to get in-depth.)Of course, it goes both ways. They may not know what I'm leading up to when I think I'm doing everything but posting it in neon lights, but I don't know what the hell they plan to do with the information when they finally get it. I like to think I have a fairly good idea, but every time I read the write-ups, I realise I don't know the characters half as well as I think I do, and certainly nowhere near as well as I know those who play them. Actually, Lucius I know reasonably well, though I didn't think he'd react quite so badly to the fomori thing. Skank, however, is a constant surprise, particularly with his interactions with people. As one of those brusque types who will never, ever give anything away unless he can't avoid it, it's hard to tell how he feels about other members of the cabal. So his reactions to various events (Michelle's disappearance at the start of the session before last, Dawn's Ascension) can sometimes be very surprising. But if I can confuse, surprise, confound and astound them, I suppose they can do the same for me. Keeps me on my toes; keeps me humble.
Hope
cholten99 is doing okay in his first day. I won't find out about that until fairly late tonight, if I can stay up that long -- he's out at pub quiz, hence my desire to watch Happy Tree Friends. I've very much got out of the habit of watching anything with cholten99; last time was rewatching The Incredibles and the look on his face when I told him to be quiet so I could watch kind of put me off ever asking that particular favour again. It's easier just to not. I'm not particularly a telly addict anyway, so it's no hardship.
no subject
If the characters screw up and don't get it, then the bad guys win, that simple.
However I always figure out at least one way out for them,
if they miss it or think of something else, then that is their problem/solution.
It can be hard to step back and let the players actions write the story sometimes, especially when you want things to go a certain way.
But that is just one of the many pains of GMing.
If there is something you want the players to figure out, you will have to paint it in neon most of the time.
The flipside is that they often figure out what you don't want them to know with great ease.
Players bounce between genius insight to utter stupidity, with rarly ever any balence beween the two!
no subject
Anyway, the Skank-related unpredictability I was talking about more involved him referring to Michelle as "girlfriend" and Dawn as "friend", neither of which I saw coming. I thought those relationships were, from his point of view, "friend and occasional booty call" and "creepy little girl that I kind of have to respect because she could make me believe I'm a fruit bat without breaking a sweat" respectively. Nothing to do with what he actually does in game.
no subject
B) He spent 5-6 years on his own, and all these guys have pulled together more than pulled apart, so in terms he'd never admit to normally, they're friends...
no subject
B) Oh, not saying it doesn't make sense when I think about it. It's just that, as the ontological shock proves, I've had other things to think about and it's not a thing that slaps one in the face until word-things happen.