Folks, I've got some ideas for running what I call townie campaigns in Burning Wheel. But before I get into the details (if I ever will!), let me explain: As a GM, I'm not big into hack-'n-slash, though I'm not resistant to attempts at using force to solve problems. I'm also not big into long and drawn-out campaigns, which isn't to say that I'm not all for interesting character development. I'm not even married to being GM, if someone else would like to give it a shot once in a while. As it is, I'm a big fan of players guiding the story to where it needs to go; it's their story, after all. Me, I'd mostly like for some open-minded people to get together and have fun with townie characters, using the Burning Wheel system.
Now, what do I mean by "townie"? To me, the term means, simply, a non-combat-trained character. Do I need to list the examples? You know, all those invisible support characters your little sister's Dragonborn ate for lunch every time your D&D party stopped at a village -- because they were there. Yeah, that's what you'll be.
And what do I mean by "townie campaign"? To me, that is any setting and overarching situation in which townies (like your character) must act, if only because the combat-trained characters can't, won't, or do act but in a stupid or harmful way. So pick up that sword, by all means, if you're used to it; utter those magical incantations, if that's what tickles your funny bone. Just be prepared -- in case you should take those routes -- to fail, and to fail amusingly. You'll find much more to do with what your grandpappy, the tailor, taught you to do: Sew, or some shit like that. Whichever way, it'll be your job to get rid of that dragon problem.
But these are just simple strictures, once you think about it. Me, I'm prepared to do any sort of campaign that might interest you. These are all "townie campaigns" to me:
-- Average folk in a backwater burgh (the classic)
-- Vagrants on a road (waiting for someone?)
-- Orc peons in the horde (yes, an Orc campaign!)
-- Dwarven whateversmiths ("greedy greedy hippos")
-- Elven wieners in la-la land (making Rice Krispies)
-- Bonehead sorcery students (in, ahem, wizard school)
-- YOU NAME IT!
Interested? Newbies and veterans welcome!
Oh, did I forget to mention the logistical details? Well, if enough of you respond and actually intend to show up, then this'll be happening in the general mid-town Baltimore region and a bit north of that -- Charles Village, Hampden, and those locales, you know. And yes, I prefer to game over the weekend. And no, I prefer not to argue too much over the time of day (afternoon-evening) and place (my house), but, well, you should let me know, and we'll see what we can do to accommodate you.
There's also a cat here. And no smoking allowed.
Geez, can we get to some Burning Wheel gaming already?
Now, what do I mean by "townie"? To me, the term means, simply, a non-combat-trained character. Do I need to list the examples? You know, all those invisible support characters your little sister's Dragonborn ate for lunch every time your D&D party stopped at a village -- because they were there. Yeah, that's what you'll be.
And what do I mean by "townie campaign"? To me, that is any setting and overarching situation in which townies (like your character) must act, if only because the combat-trained characters can't, won't, or do act but in a stupid or harmful way. So pick up that sword, by all means, if you're used to it; utter those magical incantations, if that's what tickles your funny bone. Just be prepared -- in case you should take those routes -- to fail, and to fail amusingly. You'll find much more to do with what your grandpappy, the tailor, taught you to do: Sew, or some shit like that. Whichever way, it'll be your job to get rid of that dragon problem.
But these are just simple strictures, once you think about it. Me, I'm prepared to do any sort of campaign that might interest you. These are all "townie campaigns" to me:
-- Average folk in a backwater burgh (the classic)
-- Vagrants on a road (waiting for someone?)
-- Orc peons in the horde (yes, an Orc campaign!)
-- Dwarven whateversmiths ("greedy greedy hippos")
-- Elven wieners in la-la land (making Rice Krispies)
-- Bonehead sorcery students (in, ahem, wizard school)
-- YOU NAME IT!
Interested? Newbies and veterans welcome!
Oh, did I forget to mention the logistical details? Well, if enough of you respond and actually intend to show up, then this'll be happening in the general mid-town Baltimore region and a bit north of that -- Charles Village, Hampden, and those locales, you know. And yes, I prefer to game over the weekend. And no, I prefer not to argue too much over the time of day (afternoon-evening) and place (my house), but, well, you should let me know, and we'll see what we can do to accommodate you.
There's also a cat here. And no smoking allowed.
Geez, can we get to some Burning Wheel gaming already?