My players said that their young aristocrat characters to establish a host club in order to help with finances. I didn't know what they meant, and they were all sorely disappointed in me. We changed the subject and I've stalled until I can find out if they were kidding or actually want to do this. Wikipedia makes it sound like a bar with cute serving staff.
Help? Is this like Hooters or something? (If yes then amusing as it might be I'm not pursuing this idea.)
My players said that their young aristocrat characters to establish a host club in order to help with finances. I didn't know what they meant, and they were all sorely disappointed in me. We changed the subject and I've stalled until I can find out if they were kidding or actually want to do this. Wikipedia makes it sound like a bar with cute serving staff.
Help? Is this like Hooters or something? (If yes then amusing as it might be I'm not pursuing this idea.)
To put it simply, yes, a host club is like a certain American chain restaurant that serves you hot wings from a waitress with a tight T-shirt on.
Another comparison is something close to the geisha tea houses in Japan, since 'hosts' in those clubs are generally selling their time and company rather than their bodies.
I suppose I could see a tea house of that sort in Korvosa. Maybe.
Okay, I'll ponder how I'll run it if they decide to pursue it, but I won't do anything to encourage them along these lines.
Thanks for the help!
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What Corey said.
A host club can also be for either gender. Or, at least, if played for laughs it can be. :)
Edit: Also, I approve of the idea in Korvosa. Probably in the Heights or South Shore.
Thanks! Apparently my wife already has this series, so I'll give it a watch.
If I understand wikipedia correctly, and if it's not full of crap, a host club is actually the club were women go to be waited on by male waiters, while a hostess club is the thing for guy to find cute girls to talk to.
Pay them back for their disappointment by having their respective employers show up - all buff young Chelaxian, Varisian and Shoanti males, with some halflings thrown in, making allusions about the merits of their small size.
And then have Seoni, Kyra and Merisiel show up all the time: Merisiel looking for cute young boys (and for an elf, all humans are young) to tease, Kyra to engage in some discussions about comparative religion, and Seoni looking for someone to complain about Valeros and his impulsive nature, not to mention the endless, endlessly tiring "propositions" he keeps putting to her.
I've watched about a dozen episodes of that anime, and while there's no way I'm willing to run a silly campaign (yes, this is still me talking, but none of my games are ever actually silly) I have gained a better understanding of the concept now. The PCs are a mixed group gender-wise, but they'll work something out.
I suspect that their big draw will be that this is an opportunity to spend some social time with an Arkona, or an Ornelos, or whatever. I think that there are going to be a lot of people who'd be interested in paying for a sympathetic ear within those families. (I don't know if they'll have a rule about accepting money to listen to someone rant about their families, but if they don't have such a rule on Day One then I suspect that there will be one in place by day two. *eg*)
I like the idea of the iconics showing up. Thanks, KaeYoss!
McArtor-sama, I have completed watching the Ouran Host Club series as you recommended. I'm really not sure how it's going to mesh with Curse of the Crimson Throne, but I look forward to finding out. Ultimately, it's the players' problem not mine. *eg*
I am not familiar with the concept, but this sounds like a general social club or salon for the bored, but rich. That doesn't sound objectionable on the surface, even if the PCs make sure the servers are attractive. The main thing they need to do is make the place a social hot spot in Korvosa.
I recommend making the party part owners of the club (since they want it to earn an income), and another NPC part owner who is someone from their social circle. This person might be a favorite of Queen Ileosa (for whatever reason is good for you.) Now that Ileosa is sole ruler of Korvosa, all sorts of opportunists are coming to the club for the chance to flatter and impress the NPC in the hopes he'll mention their name to the Queen and the new political elite. If the Queen is too much, than change it to Sabina Merrin or an NPC of you own invention who is close to the "new order." Whatever the case, the NPC part owner can provide the PCs with the "spin" on current events as the Queen would like people to think.
That would allow a lot of interaction between the PCs and the faction around Queen Ileosa. Will they attempt to convince the NPC part owner that the Queen must be opposed? Can they use their connection as an "in" later in the adventure? Lots of opportunities there, if it fits with your interpretation of the AP.
That doesn't sound objectionable on the surface, even if the PCs make sure the servers are attractive.
They're not "servers", they're "models engaged in additional catering activities". That way you can dictate their looks and eating habits ;-)
That doesn't sound objectionable on the surface, even if the PCs make sure the servers are attractive.They're not "servers", they're "models engaged in additional catering activities". That way you can dictate their looks and eating habits ;-)
Indeed. It sounds like there are plans for theme days with regional costumes/decor/food. I suspect that the players will be plundering the gazetteer as soon as we can manage to get hold of it. (I work in a book store, and our supplier doesn't even have it yet.)
At this point I'm not entirely sure how to handle running the host club, but since my players are probably enthusiastically reading non-spoiler threads that might help them figure out how best to run the club I'll start a new thread with "spoilers" in the title to discuss that.
Have you asked your players specifically what they are hoping to accomplish with the club, or what scenes/encounters they hope to see? You are obviously talking with your players, but at the same time I get the sense that you really don't know what they want to do. They tell you they want a host club, but they didn't seem to have told what exactly that was. I find that surprising. I'd directly ask them for examples of what they'd like to see. That's the only way you can prepare for meeting their expectations. From what I am reading so far, this could go so many ways - some of them could be exactly what your players want, and others could be off the mark.
Have you asked your players specifically what they are hoping to accomplish with the club, or what scenes/encounters they hope to see? You are obviously talking with your players, but at the same time I get the sense that you really don't know what they want to do.
I think that when they said that they wanted to do it they expected me to disallow it, or at least some of them did. Once I told them that they could go ahead they were pleased and only then started making plans. This isn't very long ago (IRL), so I'm not sure they they know yet exactly what they want.
They tell you they want a host club, but they didn't seem to have told what exactly that was. I find that surprising. I'd directly ask them for examples of what they'd like to see.
I must have miscommunicated. My apologies. They didn't explain what one was, but they told me where they'd learned about them.
My players were working off the same source material as Mike McArtor recommended above. Once I watched the entire anime series (which I did after starting this thread) I had a much better understanding of what they meant.
That's the only way you can prepare for meeting their expectations. From what I am reading so far, this could go so many ways - some of them could be exactly what your players want, and others could be off the mark.
I think that at this point we'll have to go the trial-and-error route until we discover what's actually going to be fun for them.
Any of my players reading this should please feel free to chime in, either in or out of character.
The grand opening of the host club occurred Saturday evening. Nobles from each of the PCs' families showed up, as well as various rich folks from around South Shore (where the host club is). There were gifts and tense moments and a couple of people made a date.
Our game sessions are scheduled for four hours each and this took two hours. While it was an enormous amount of fun I don't think that we'll want to keep doing that for half our sessions every time, but the club is going to be open for four days a week (Toilday through Fireday evenings).
My plan is to do the encounters on our google group as an editable web page. That way I can describe who arrives and anyone hosting can collect the guest and it won't take a lot of one-on-one time during the game session.
I'll keep everyone posted as to how it's going. :)
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The grand opening of the host club occurred Saturday evening. Nobles from each of the PCs' families showed up, as well as various rich folks from around South Shore (where the host club is). There were gifts and tense moments and a couple of people made a date.
Our game sessions are scheduled for four hours each and this took two hours. While it was an enormous amount of fun I don't think that we'll want to keep doing that for half our sessions every time, but the club is going to be open for four days a week (Toilday through Fireday evenings).
My plan is to do the encounters on our google group as an editable web page. That way I can describe who arrives and anyone hosting can collect the guest and it won't take a lot of one-on-one time during the game session.
I'll keep everyone posted as to how it's going. :)
Yay! Success!!! :D
tbug this sounds awesome! Definitely keep us posted.
I'm trying to talk a player or two into posting an in-character recounting of the evening in our campaign journal, so maybe you'll get more details yet. :)
Thanks for the encouragement!
I think the editable web page idea is great. If I were a player, I'd love that, but I usually have a lot of ideas about things and can't shut up.
Glad to hear things went well with the club. I'd try to set as many scenes there at the club as possible. I don't think it's right that Field Marshal Kroft go to them when she needs them, but you may want to introduce her secretary or assistant. Someone she can send to them on her behalf. That way, you can run all "her" scenes at the Club. It'd also give you another NPC visitor there.
I think the editable web page idea is great. If I were a player, I'd love that, but I usually have a lot of ideas about things and can't shut up.
Thanks! I'm hoping to get it started in the next couple of days, so we'll see how it goes.
Glad to hear things went well with the club. I'd try to set as many scenes there at the club as possible. I don't think it's right that Field Marshal Kroft go to them when she needs them, but you may want to introduce her secretary or assistant. Someone she can send to them on her behalf. That way, you can run all "her" scenes at the Club. It'd also give you another NPC visitor there.
Good call. Thanks for the idea! I've been using generic guard dudes for this sort of thing, but it's probably time to name the NPCs involved.
My plan is to do the encounters on our google group as an editable web page. That way I can describe who arrives and anyone hosting can collect the guest and it won't take a lot of one-on-one time during the game session.
I have found that wiki works great for this sort of thing. I currently use pbwiki.