Talk:Game Play

From Shape Shifter

Alignment

Alignment is not one of those stats that we have traditionally kept track of. Peoples goals, and motivations are often more complex than simply "I am good" or "I am evil". By not enforcing this, however, it does make it difficult with certain spells and magic items that have effects that only affect good or evil.

Advancement Speed

After playing twice with the same characters, I have a better idea of how fast characters progress with the experience system in place. We typically get together on a Saturday night and play approximately four hours. On the first night, everyone made their characters and then had the following encounters.

• Met with Baron. Got mission.
• Met with inn keeper. Fought with guards.
• Traveled up mountain. Fought hill giant.

On the second night, a new player joined the group and then had the following ecounters.

• Traveled up mountain. Fought gargoyles.
• Entered tower. Got through portcullis. Encountered traps.
• Talked to Randal Irons. Answered door riddle.

So in general, it takes 4 hours to run 3 encounters. With typical play it will take 3 evenings to reach second level, and consequently double that for each level thereafter.

First Playtest

I don't believe any player has made it past level 3 in the past 10 years we have played. We play so infrequently that by the time we get back together, players have come and gone, character sheets lost, motivation to continue the same story wanes, and various other factors collude to have everyone start over and roll up new characters. Frank and Alaric brought up a good point during the first play test, that rolling up characters can be laborious. Although, by the time we implemented these new rules, everyone seemed to be in agreement that the process was faster and bit more enjoyable.