What To Expect From A Male Brazilian

Metaplot: "if you like you do, if you do not, then you boo!"

The setting - for the most important as the rules of an RPG (it led to at least the survey of blood and glass at the blood swords ). Which is now in Tanelorn forum with a future Setting Challenge taken into account. No wonder that the German blogosphere also takes the theme: Vermi calls for new, unused settings, and Alexandro gives tips on dealing with possible incompleteness of the same. Reason enough to numb my blog again, unfortunately, over the semester to give life and to address an issue on which opinions differ: the Metaplot .

First off some fine definitions:

The metaplot is the overarching storyline that binds together events in a role-playing game. Major story events that change the world, or simply move important non-player characters from one place to another, are part of the metaplot for a game (Aus der Wikipedia )

A metaplot is a plot that is more important than other plots. A metaplot is a grand, over-reaching plot that affects and controls all other plots. A metaplot is the master of all subservient plots ( Blog von Blacklight Productions ).

Mit Metaplot bezeichnet man die fortlaufende, planvolle Veränderung einer Spielwelt in mehreren Steps (usually by the publisher), but the customer revealed (usually) only gradually is ( RPG Info ).

A Metaplot is a focused framework for action in a setting that evokes the extreme case, major changes in the game world and its basic concepts redefined ( Grey Wood Designer Blog ).

A metaplot is an ongoing story taking place in a game world, told in installments via the supplements provided for a Particular RPG (RPG-Net Wiki ).

A Metaplot thus has the following features, although not all must be true:

• into a framework of action is for a game world is
• He is above the other plots, and controlled it
• It changes the game world
• It is only bit by bit He explained
  
• is by using supplements continued
  

The last point I can not leave without comment: In addition to supplements, you can of course also include novels and postils Aventurian like the messenger. It is fascinating, however, that did not address the definition to the player is: Of course he should continue, especially by adventure (eg, the deal harshly criticized G7 campaign). If the tacitly assumed? Will that - inappropriately - subsumed under the "Supplements"? Or is it just an inherent problem of Metaplots, namely that the adventure only secondarily, but primarily it described Supplements? More on that later ... This is the disambiguation

be satisfied. I am more interested in the question of why one love him, the other hate it. The advantages using Metaplots are obvious:

• He lets the game world appear alive. The players feel in a real and imaginable world and immerse in cold sterility. This can be for the immersion of the utmost importance. But: What's needed is a Metaplot? You can generate a far more subtle way the feeling of vitality and an active history of the world: random encounters (refugees fleeing the great war of the kingdoms of Nowhere and Somewhere), subplots (the search for the adventure McGuffin performs through this war-torn landscape), and subtle hints from the NSC ("Please save my daughter, she is my only child - since my son in the army of Nowhere served and has fallen is ").
  
  
• He can be a thrilling, exciting and offer epic story . I have never" Legend of the Five Rings played, "but at the end of the Clan War storyline, players such as designers have rolled howling at the bottom of the GenCon (says at least John Wick ) However.. With creative, sensitive players and the right SL, the perfectly ordinary princesses rescue produce a similar emotional effect addition, a campaign should be quite epic, without the to shake the foundations of the settings, will read: without being a Metaplot
  

However Metaplots bring a whole truckload. problems with it at :

• The first problem of Metaplots is the already mentioned change in the Settings , sometimes even Metaplot finished the setting for its fulfillment (Gehenna of oWoD). This change destroys any reliable information of the game world: even after some game time, they are probably outdated. This can not be ignored even if the Metaplot can be left to his own campaign, playing time, as this removes the universe own campaign from the official canon (Butterfly Effect). If the beginning even smaller effects that can be solved by spontaneous action of the director, , the long tail of a rat to lead to deviations. Be problematic if you still need some time following publications, for example in a new edition of the RPG (D & D 3.5 to 4). These are then no longer use without much modification effort. In addition, the single thematic basis loses in discussion with third parties that do not belong to the group, but in the same setting play. One moves away from setting specific community.
  
  
• If the Metaplot is presented only bit by bit, this means a lack of information to the team captain . One may argue about the meaning and nonsense, whether the players the Metaplot should know or do not - but the game master, who runs an official Metaplotkampagne should be able at the beginning of the campaign anticipate all developments to railroad, depending on the style in place or be able to play bass. Otherwise there is a danger of falling into a narrative dead end from which you can also wind also without much trouble. Even simple adventure a shudder when the capped novelist who has written to build on the team captain, please (!) A tension tries.
  

• played after Metaplot, the player must come to terms with the fact that SC are not cool Ass kicker, but only henchmen provides services for important NPC. Because the NSC will make the actions, these are the schemers, kings and gods, to whose fate turns the world. This is because the Metaplot a story told and a story with open protagonists points is unthinkable. Must remain open protagonists concepts because the authors of the Metaplotabenteuer can not plan with the unknown character of the many local rounds. This Entkonkretisierung expresses narrative compulsions, the SC in pure extras roles.
  
  
• run fourth and first place Metaplotabenteuer always Railroading . Let the great fortunes of the world - again from narrative constraints - for only a result of the campaign: The adventure is done, exactly the way authors have provided it. No decision trees, no aberrant end result, not a lost cause, not an important NPC dies against the plan. Because if that happened, we would have another Butterfly Effect with various strands of reality. Therefore, there can be only one output. The canceled but the players decisions. The SC are no longer protagonists, not even so simple players as they do not operate properly. Thus, it is questionable whether a Metaplotabenteuer actually the term "adventure" deserves - Setting The description of a supplement is such an "adventure" but brought to life, but without giving players the options, which actually make up an adventure.

How can I as "World hobbyists" circumvent these reefs?

• M OSSIBLE 1: omit the Metaplot.
  For 20 years, and now three or four editions, the players begin to Hârnworld in 720 TR. This year there are Plothooks en masse, schemers, unstable political conditions, vulnerable kingdoms, secret cults, etc. - enough material to from then on the own campaign to play. New Source Books go in the width (other areas, the same year), and there are no new editions of the familiar with a few more years more in-game. Masses of detail (perhaps too many and too few role-playing Relevant) - but nothing is out of date, although it is already published since 1983. In this (!) Respects the setting is exemplary!
  
  
• Option 2: The SC the center of the Metaplots place.
  This possibility requires that the GM background designs explicitly for his round. Then and only then, can circumvent such risks and Metaplot an outstanding event can be: by tailoring it to the players and lets outcome. This requires the GM to accept that the future depends not only on its setting of his own creativity, but from that of the entire group (and maybe some dice throws). The personal background of the game in order - this is a painful step for most SLs, but it's worth it. When the SCs king, high priest, dragon rider and for all subsequent age to legend, when the SCs not only a dungeon, but a whole world - whether good or bad - have shaken, then one has done as a world builder of his obligation to satisfy.

Tertium non datur !

It greets

Grimnir

Oh yes: There are rubber points! And indeed for those who guesses where the title comes.