I'm going to use this (or a better version of this depending on your advice) with a group of new players before we start playing. Just wanted the community at large to let me know if there's something I missed. I'm using free surveymonkey so I can't actually ask any more questions (because you have to use a question slot for the instructions at the top), but I can certainly change what's here. Or make a part 2. Help me perfect this.
My Roleplaying Game
Please choose the answer that BEST describes your current attitude toward each situation.
1. The play style that I like the best is...
A. Hack/Slash then Loot (Story and Roleplay Light)
B. Part Hacking, Part Talking (Medium Storytelling, Medium Roleplay)
C. Immersive Roleplay (Heavy Player Character and Non-Player Character Interaction, Focus on Storytelling)
2. My ideal GM is...
A. A great storyteller that never lets the rules get in the way of a good narrative.
B. A stickler for mechanics who makes sure the rules of the game are always followed as closely as possible.
C. A GM that balances both mechanics and storytelling and knows when to adhere to the rules, and when to let them go for the purposes of the story.
3. My ideal campaign type is...
A. Completely linear, with one major story that drives every encounter.
B. Mostly linear, but with optional side-quests for more experience and a richer, more diverse world.
C. A sandbox - completely nonlinear letting me go where I want, when I want, and do whatever I want.
4. My ideal campaign environment is... (Click all that apply)
A. Wilderness (lots of unknown terrain, strange beasts, and tribal baddies)
B. Rural (lots of farmers, small cities, some roads, and a government that is rarely seen or heard, with frequent orc, goblin, bandit and barbarian raids)
C. Urban (big cities, active government, political intrigue, and powerful organizational hierarchies)
D. Dungeon/Cavern (lots of dark underground twisting and turning, with magical creatures and strange races)
E. Planar (frequent inter-dimensional travel, lots of elementals, demons, and plane-touched creatures)
5. My ideal setting is...
A. High magic: Magic-useres abound; there are lots of scrolls, lots of wands, lots of potions and lots of magical weapons and armor.
B. Medium magic: Magic-users are not rare, but also not that uncommon, and they make powerful allies or enemies; scrolls, wands, potions and magical arms and armor are around, but not easily found, and worth much more than mundane items.
C. Low magic: Magic-users are a secretive and hidden group; finding a scroll, wand, potion or magical weapon or armor is a cause for major celebration and all are worth a fortune.
6. My ideal party makeup is...
A. Part of an organization. Examples: Druid's Circle, Magic School, Thieves' Guild, Religious Sect, Mercenary Company, etc.
B. Working for a powerful patron. Examples: King, Noble, Rich Merchant, etc.
C. Relatives: Siblings, Cousins, etc.
D. Thrown Together: Group is tied together by coincidence and circumstance, nothing else.
E. Destined: Mystical forces bring us together from diverse backgrounds for a common goal.
7. My view of alignment as a game mechanic is...
A. Totally necessary tool that drives character choices and world interaction on every level.
B. A constant shadow that helps to make character decisions easier to understand, but does not drive everything they do.
C. Completely hidden; alignment is nothing more than a line on my character sheet and doesn't affect the way I play at all.
8. My view of supplemental content is...
A. Everything goes. If I find it and I like it, I get to use it.
B. Somewhere in the middle. If I find it, and my GM and I agree on it, I can use it.
C. Supplements are off limits. Only core rules are allowed at the table.
9. My view of dice rolling is...
A. Love it! Let me roll them bones as often as possible.
B. Meh. I like it in moderation, so I don't mind the GM making 50% or more of the rolls.
C. Hate it! GM can roll as often as is necessary even in combat.
|
I think you are giving them too many options - Ideal Campaign Environment and Ideal Party Makeup could be cut down to 3 options each and I would be concerned that the results would be contradictory.
I would also consider a question on campaign risk like:
What level of risk would you like to see in a campaign?
A. Nobody ever dies.
B. Stupidity leads to character creation.
C. A session isn't complete unless someone has died.
I think you are giving them too many options - Ideal Campaign Environment and Ideal Party Makeup could be cut down to 3 options each and I would be concerned that the results would be contradictory.
I would also consider a question on campaign risk like:
What level of risk would you like to see in a campaign?
A. Nobody ever dies.
B. Stupidity leads to character creation.
C. A session isn't complete unless someone has died.
The campaign environment is a "click all that apply" so I'll be okay with contradictory answers there. In fact the more clicks there the better because it means I can use more that's available from the Golarion setting when I design the campaign. I could very easily do the same with party makeup, just have it be a click all that apply, and then cater the organization of the party to what the majority of the group wants. I'm sure there are going to be some where the answers are contradictory, in that case I'll be looking at splitting the group into two smaller groups. Luckily I have that luxury. Great idea on the campaign death question. I'll probably forgo the instructions (as it takes up a question slot) and put that one in. Thanks for the helpful advice. Anyone else out there with helpful ideas?
Here's a few more I can think of from my own campaigns:
.
.
.
.
- Seriousness of campaign? Beer & Preztels vs. Immersive vs. some middle-ground
- Adult Content? PG, PG-13, or R-Rated?
- GM-NPCs (i.e. NPCs that are essentially party members)? Yes, No, Depends (please comment)
- Commitment? Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly
- Influences the player likes (list all that apply)? Animé, Comic Books, Conan, DragonLance, Tolkien, etc.
- Game or Story? The story is an incidental byproduct of the game. vs. The purpose of the game is to support the shared story we are telling.
- Power Level? Superheroes/chosen-by-the-gods, heroes, average Joes
- Player vs Player? Yes, No
- Evil Party Members? Yes, No
- Tactical Knowledge? I hit it with my axe, I get an AoO on that guy right, I attempt to provoke AoOs from these guys so my fragile flanking buddy can move into position
It could also be interesting to read a bit on what the players think the alignment they've chosen for their characters constitutes. i.e. Do they see Chaotic Neutral as insane and Lawful Good as Lawful Stupid?
Also if an overly long questionnaire scares anyone away, that could tell you a few things too (just as a long questionnaire might tell them a few things). ;)
Here's a few more I can think of from my own campaigns:
.
.
.
.
- Seriousness of campaign? Beer & Preztels vs. Immersive vs. some middle-ground
- Adult Content? PG, PG-13, or R-Rated?
- GM-NPCs (i.e. NPCs that are essentially party members)? Yes, No, Depends (please comment)
- Commitment? Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly
- Influences the player likes (list all that apply)? Animé, Comic Books, Conan, DragonLance, Tolkien, etc.
- Game or Story? The story is an incidental byproduct of the game. vs. The purpose of the game is to support the shared story we are telling.
- Power Level? Superheroes/chosen-by-the-gods, heroes, average Joes
- Player vs Player? Yes, No
- Evil Party Members? Yes, No
- Tactical Knowledge? I hit it with my axe, I get an AoO on that guy right, I attempt to provoke AoOs from these guys so my fragile flanking buddy can move into position
It could also be interesting to read a bit on what the players think the alignment they've chosen for their characters constitutes. i.e. Do they see Chaotic Neutral as insane and Lawful Good as Lawful Stupid?
Also if an overly long questionnaire scares anyone away, that could tell you a few things too (just as a long questionnaire might tell them a few things). ;)
Wow, there a lot there that I definitely want to include. Thank you for these. You've inspired me to go ahead and create the part 2 survey. I'll see if I can post that after it's created.