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04:39, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Advice - Thrones Timing Mismatch.

Posted by icosahedron152
icosahedron152
member, 533 posts
Thu 4 Feb 2016
at 06:55
  • msg #1

Advice - Thrones Timing Mismatch

I’m planning a thrones type game that runs on two scales - a monthly turn strategic scale of domain management and map-painting, and a minutes & hours per turn personal scale of intrigue and romance.

However, I can see this leading to player frustration. The players with a strategic master plan will not want to wait while a month’s worth of intrigue drags by, but equally, those plotting court influence will not want their plans cut short by time jumps to the next month.

I’m sure I’m not the first person to run this type of game. Any advice on how to pull it off?

Thanks.
DementedJ
member, 77 posts
Thu 4 Feb 2016
at 07:16
  • msg #2

Advice - Thrones Timing Mismatch

personally, i think if you just make sure this premise is clear to the players and that they should plan accordingly, there shouldn't be any frustration. i'd probably make sure either everyone has some micro and macro goals that can be worked through at either scale, or allow them multiple characters in the same family or company or whatnot.

if you don't have a system in mind for this, the Song of Ice and Fire RPG from uhhh green ronin? yeah, green ronin, has excellent rules already for this kind of RP. it's a bit weird at some things, but politics and intrigue and gaining resources or your family and using those to build an empire, it excels at.
Aidhogan
member, 5 posts
Thu 4 Feb 2016
at 20:32
  • msg #3

Advice - Thrones Timing Mismatch

I would take a look at at Microscope as a system that handles multiple scales like this elegantly. You'd need to add a rule or two to keep things in linear time, but the overall approach might work for you.
icosahedron152
member, 534 posts
Fri 5 Feb 2016
at 08:12
  • msg #4

Advice - Thrones Timing Mismatch

Thanks both. I think getting the players to play a House, with multiple characters, might be a way to go.

I'm planning a Homebrew, and I've been perusing the ASOIAF rules and Houses of the Blooded, and Labyrinth Lord's AER supplement for 'ideas'. None of them seem to address the time mismatch, though, even though it must arise.

Perhaps it's not such a problem as I'd feared. Maybe it is just a matter of being up front with the concept.

I've taken a look at some reviews of Microscope, thanks, that's a new one on me. I'm not sure I could cope with its 'fractal' nature, but it's an interesting concept that I'll mull over for a month or three and see if it sows any thought seeds. I like things that are different...
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