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Thanks guys! It has been a long road, but not one I did not enjoy all way through.
Nice job, Carlos. How is your GMing different now that it was 50 games ago?
Honestly, not much has changed in terms of how I prepare for a scenario over time. I would sway the biggest change was that at the beginning, I always looked for scenarios I had not GMed before so I could get a chronicle sheet. That need went completely out the window over time. These days, I don't even take the sheet half the time, even the first time I GM something. Related, I don't really mind GMing a scenario before I have played it anymore (although I still prefer it if I can).
What do you hope to do better, 50 games from now?
I know that my biggest area of improvement is making NPCs (not necessarily enemies, but the allies most of the time) feel unique and alive. I have a hard time coming up with creative personalities just by reading modules. For example, the [redacted] you meet early in Words of the Ancients I had a hard time role-playing until I played it under John Compton and heard how HE did the [redacted]. Then I can copy his mannerisms and personality. Same with Xianguer from Rats Pt1 and others. So I still like playing scenarios before running them myself, if only so I can see how other people run certain NPCs more than anything.
What's been your best experience with the specials or exclusives?
Well, as Andrew noted on the first post, I would say I tend to be on the challenging side. I definitely don't hold back for experienced pathfinders. So I naturally gravitated towards the Bonekeep scenarios as the ones I would run all the time, any time. Love both of them and can't wait for the third.
As a bonus, my "worst" experience with a special was Gencon 2013 special Siege of the Diamond City. I had been requested to prep mid-tier, but when time to muster came I was reassigned to a low-tier table. Now, if you know the scenario, this is all well and good for the most part. The first few acts are the same scenarios with different enemies. But sadly... the final act is not like that. I had no time to read the mechanics of the low tier encounter, so glancing at it quickly when the time came, I pretty much 100% made up the rules for the encounter, on the spot. Still though, the players were none the wiser, and said that it felt seamless and still fun to them. So, mission accomplished, but it was probably the most stressful time I ever had as a GM. From now on, I know to at LEAST read all the subtier mechanics regardless of what I'm assigned!
Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Indianapolis
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I think Carlos GM'ed a game for me at the Pre-Gen Con session on Wednesday at Scotty's last year (Way of the Ki-Rin as I recall.) Not only was he a great GM, he printed the chronicle sheets on a parchment style resume paper, so we would know we got then at a "special event."
He was exceptionally well-prepared, and honestly, more GMs could learn some good tips from him.
(I think Carlos was the GM - if it wasn't just ignore. :) )
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I think Carlos GM'ed a game for me at the Pre-Gen Con session on Wednesday at Scotty's last year (Way of the Ki-Rin as I recall.) Not only was he a great GM, he printed the chronicle sheets on a parchment style resume paper, so we would know we got then at a "special event."
He was exceptionally well-prepared, and honestly, more GMs could learn some good tips from him.
(I think Carlos was the GM - if it wasn't just ignore. :) )
Yeah, that was our table, glad you liked it! I have done special paper in the past (parchment for gencon, metal gold foil for EOTT) as a special touch. Just depends what I can get on sale at stationery stores over here. Little things can make it memorable to players!
Scotty's is one of the things I look the most forward to about Gencon, and I hope to do it again this year. I really, really tried to make Paizocon this year too, but I think it's not in the cards.
Everyone else, if you are playing a table of Weapon in the Rift this coming gencon, I may be your GM! I will ALWAYS be glad to run it on Hard Mode for ya'll >=)
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Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Indianapolis
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I think Carlos GM'ed a game for me at the Pre-Gen Con session on Wednesday at Scotty's last year (Way of the Ki-Rin as I recall.) Not only was he a great GM, he printed the chronicle sheets on a parchment style resume paper, so we would know we got then at a "special event."
He was exceptionally well-prepared, and honestly, more GMs could learn some good tips from him.
(I think Carlos was the GM - if it wasn't just ignore. :) )
Yeah, that was our table, glad you liked it! I have done special paper in the past (parchment for gencon, metal gold foil for EOTT) as a special touch. Just depends what I can get on sale at stationery stores over here. Little things can make it memorable to players!
Scotty's is one of the things I look the most forward to about Gencon, and I hope to do it again this year. I really, really tried to make Paizocon this year too, but I think it's not in the cards.
Everyone else, if you are playing a table of Weapon in the Rift this coming gencon, I may be your GM! I will ALWAYS be glad to run it on Hard Mode for ya'll >=)
Huzzah for my memory!!!
I hope we'll be back at Scotty's again this year - no word yet. Thanks for running that game, Carlos - it was tremendous fun! I'll sit at your table any time!
Congratulations
