Realm-Weavers

I’m back in the learning stage after a 40 year layoff from gaming. I realize I’ll always be in the learning stage, but I’ve quickly learned just how much gaming has changed in the last forty years. 

Recently I ran Delta Green’s Last Things Last one shot. Sadly, I didn’t remember the cardinal rule that less is more, especially for one-shots.

One-shots usually have a cool climatic cinematic experience. When I was a trainer, we would call this the Primary Takeaway (purposely capitalized). I’d always ask, what is the one thing I want my audience to get from this?

In a one-shot session, it’s the climactic  crescendo. 

This time I forgot what I learned as a professional trainer-  don’t spend so much time on the build up that when it’s time to get to the Takeaway, there’s just not enough time. 

I spent an hour to an hour and a half on the set up, so much that when we got to climax, it was late, everybody was tired, and one of the players said let’s postpone this until next time… 

Note to self- the set up is important, but it should never diminish the power of the climax. 

Ironically, I learned the same thing  when I ran one-shots at a convention. Much of my life is about remembering what I forgot. Instead of relearning that in public, I can come back here and remind myself, so I don’t have to do this next time.

I’m sure this is a huge Pro-Tip for the beginning pro. The set-up only needs to be just that- if it doesn’t accentuate the take-away and make it more memorable, it should be jettisoned with no regrets.