The Dying City: DM Norv's "Curse of the Crimson Throne"

Game Master The Norv

I'm still around. I've been a bit crazy with my schedule lately. I hope we can continue these stories.

Okay, a few things:

1. Korriban, I'd suggest if you've never GMed before, IMHO better to get some GM experience at a real tabletop. While PBP makes some things easier (especially because you only have to react every so often), the pace is very different and it adds other challenges, especially when you are playing with people you don't really know outside the game. If PBP is your only option to play, then maybe it's the way to go, but that's my advice to take or leave.

2. If starting over is what you want to do, Korriban taking the lead or someone else, then I am out. This is poor Callie's THIRD attempt at CotCT (GM flake first two times; biggest bummer is one of the times she was going to be the Blackjack heir which I lost out on joining this game). While on one hand it would be nice to get another chance to build her up from the ground up, I don't think I can keep straight her early history at this point (what did she say to Gaedren Lamm this time? How does she know Devargo?). I think if I were ever to start Callie in another game I'd have to choose a different AP/adventure. My pulling out should not be a discouragement if that's what the rest of you want to do.

3. I've skimmed through a bit of CotCT and wow, is it a complex adventure (a GREAT adventure, but there are a lot of moving pieces for the GM to track). Some future plot elements depend on how the PCs handle earlier things. Since I wasn't in on this from the beginning, were I to take over as GM, I'd need time to both carefully read through the earlier thread as well as study the adventure and prep ahead. As right at the moment I'm sorting through a bunch of immediate real life obligations (and am running another PBP), if I were the one to take over I'd probably need at least a month, maybe two, to get my head around things. I don't know if you want to wait that long. (On the upshot, maybe the Norv will come back before then.)

4. Besides Korriban's offer, it sounds like none of you are interested in GMing. This is fine, I'm just stating this to be sure I've got it right. (We also have no check in from Matoska, so I don't know if he's still interested or how he feels; if he doesn't check in I assume he's moved on.)

5. Do you want to see if we can recruit a new GM?

(BTW still no email reply from the Norv. Really hope whatever's happened it isn't something dire.)

Yeah, I already am running a game over on RPOL and that's about my limit when it comes to running them unfortunately.

If we want to run a frsh one it might not be as difficult to find a GM willing to start a game fresh as it would be one part way through.

I'm already GMing two live games, I don't think I have the bandwidth to pick up this one given that I've never read it.

I've been enjoying the group and the campaign, I'm interested in continuing if we find another GM but if not that's okay. I feel like I'm missing a lot of context for both the group and the adventure so I'm probably the least invested here.

With my current teaching position, there's no way I could ran a decent game. If someone else steps up, I'd be down for that, even if you had to take time to prepare. I don't really want anyone to have to give up their character, but I feel like groups in search of a DM rarely have luck.

1. Korriban, I'd suggest if you've never GMed before, IMHO better to get some GM experience at a real tabletop. While PBP makes some things easier (especially because you only have to react every so often), the pace is very different and it adds other challenges, especially when you are playing with people you don't really know outside the game. If PBP is your only option to play, then maybe it's the way to go, but that's my advice to take or leave.

Thank you for the advice, Callie. I'll think on it.

2. If starting over is what you want to do, Korriban taking the lead or someone else, then I am out. This is poor Callie's THIRD attempt at CotCT (GM flake first two times; biggest bummer is one of the times she was going to be the Blackjack heir which I lost out on joining this game). While on one hand it would be nice to get another chance to build her up from the ground up, I don't think I can keep straight her early history at this point (what did she say to Gaedren Lamm this time? How does she know Devargo?). I think if I were ever to start Callie in another game I'd have to choose a different AP/adventure. My pulling out should not be a discouragement if that's what the rest of you want to do.

I want to say that maybe, in hindsight, offering a reboot to this campaign wasn't the best option to suggest. I had only said that because I don't feel like I could step in and continue the game as GM in the current place of our journey. We can look for a new GM or wait for Norv.

5. Do you want to see if we can recruit a new GM?

For this point, I think we should give Norv a bit more time (maybe until the end of the week or the end of the month; though that last one is stretching a bit). If not, then we could search for a new GM.

Understandable Callie, I don't want to drive anyone away, and I agree with giving a bit more time for Norv to come back. It wouldn't hurt to ask around in other games we're in to see if we can get any prospects for a replacement GM to get a slight headstart on it though.

How about we check back in a couple weeks, if the Norv hasn't shown up by then, and see where we are. I agree with Lantressa that thinking about other folks we have PBPed with who might be up for running and tentatively putting out some feelers to them won't hurt. I absolutely ideally would like the Norv to return and carry us forward, but sadly I think it is time to consider alternatives just in case.

BTW I did hear from the Norv a couple days ago. After moving he got hit by grad school like a truck. He said he was hoping to get back into things soon. I hope he is able to take the game back on when he can, but I also encouraged him to do whatever he needed to carry on with his priorities.

I really hope he can pick the game back up, and I think we should see if he can post soon here so we can discuss what's happening next with him.

Thank you for this! I wish Norv the best. This party isn't over.

Thank you for the update, Callie! Glad to hear he's okay and I wish him the best.

I just noticed this has been inactive long enough it fell into my "previous campaigns" list.

I haven't heard anything else from the Norv. I expect grad school has simply absorbed him.

I asked someone about taking over as GM but they were unable to. As much as I'd like to take it on I don't think I have time to really do it justice--I'd need to do a lot of reading and prep I just don't think I can find the energy for.

Unless the Norv is able to return and resurrect this, should we prepare to say goodbye for now?

Sadly starting to look that way. I'd still be interested in finding someone to take over but I know better than to volunteer myself. I'm still happy to pick up again when/if Norv makes it back of course.

Same here. I would be interested in finding someone to take over. However, when/if Norv comes back, I'll definitely pick this game back up.

Good luck, all. Hopefully the Norv can pick this back up another time.

It's been fun!

Happy Holidays, everyone!!