Roleplaying the same circus trick yet again

[Moppy]

Another show, the same act again. Usually the audience expects the same act for a season (perhaps an AP). You can change which performers are on, but when you're on, do you want to roleplay your trick the same once each week? Doesn't it get repetitive?

[xNellynelx]

I can only speak for myself, but my group hasn't done enough circus shows where it feels repetitive. We've done a total of three shows (Start of book 1, End of book 1, Towards the end of Book 2's first chapter).

We also...basically just good off during our show. I'm a Leshy Sorc (with the personality of a child) who does a horror show for his act. I've enjoyed coming up with a random horror story each show.

You also have control, for the most part, on when you do or don't have a show. So if you guys are doing a show each week, maybe slow it down if it's causing fatigue.

[KyoYagami068]

We are in the middle of book 3. We have done a lot of presentations. My players change what they do every time. Last time their show as like a theater presentation.

They told a diferent interpretation of the Earthfall. They did their take on the Noah's Ark. We had a lot of fun that night.

[profounddark]

One thing I've thought a bit about was the idea of themed shows. Especially as more performers have been added to the show. Something like, "oh, this is the animal themed show," with bonuses towards acts with animal or similar focuses. But, basically, the goal is to mix up the regular arrangement.

For example, maybe the first week in a town, the Circus of Wayward Wonders does the Carnival of the Animals, where most of the performers have animal themed shows. On the second week, it's all feats of agility and strength. Or something like that.

I've also focused on the idea of NPC performers getting better as the story moves on, though, so it would be easier at higher levels to still put on a successful show only using performers of a certain theme.

Part of my experience is that one of the PCs is basically a luchador. He didn't participate in the first performance, but there was an invitation made to a certain character in Chapter 2 of The Show Must Go On (known for their wicked haymaker) to come to their next show. And there's already the "so she can fight!" aspect... I'm actually 100% okay with "the Circus of Wayward Wonders also becomes a professional wrestling promotion," so the idea of the show mixing it up every time they perform makes sense.