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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!rlgvax!cvl!umcp-cs!arnold
From: arnold@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: re: Help for Beginning GM
Message-ID: <3106@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Oct-83 13:55:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.3106
Posted: Fri Oct 14 13:55:15 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 16-Oct-83 09:26:16 EDT
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 76


I have been playing FRP games for 6 years now and have GM for 5
	years. So here goes my responces to your questions.
	I have played D&D, Runequset, Traveler, Busido, SpaceQuest,
	and other FRP games, as well as board (historial Simulation)
	games.


1)  What is the best way to start GM'ing?
Answer:
	The best way to start GM'ing is to use a subset of the what
	ever game you choice to run. You as the GM should stay in
	control on the game. Your should not let magic item, special
	abilities or bizare happings into your game unless you know
	what they will do in most circumstances. They use of a very
	basic system to start off with also helps.

	You will find that your players will try their best to bend,
	alter, and change the rules that you all are playing by. The
	best solution is to change to rules when you are ready for 
	the change and can control the side effects that the change
	will cause.

2)  What is the best way for a GM to introduce first-timers to FRP?  
	(I am choosing Basic D&D for its rogue-like nature and for 
	the simplicity of the rules.  If you think this is terrible,
	let me know and give me an alternative.  It isn't too late.
	YET!!!!!)
Answer:
	Chaosium, the people who make Runequest, Super World, and 
	Stormbringer, put out a 16 page booklet called Basic Role
	Playing. Basic Role Playing contains the basics for most
	role playing games. It includes definitions for characteristics,
	spell, skills, monsters, sample encounters, what a begginning
	cahracter could carry on an adventure and other information
	useful for beginning players. This booklet is included in
	most of Chaosium's boxed version of FRP games. It is a very
	good introduction to the relm of FRP even if you are not
	going to play any games by Chaosium.


3)  Does anyone have any useful GM tools running under UNIX?  I can
	design my own random number generators (probably better and
	faster than you with the nifty programming language we use
	here).  What I would like would be a fancy window managing
	package with separate processes running in the various parts
	of the window to constantly roll and suggest outcomes and
	encounters and stuff.  And maybe a sexy map displaying pgm.
	I can imagine it all but I don't have the time to develop
	anything extensive.
Answer:
	I do not know of any GM tools running under UNIX.


General Notes:
	One should look at the FRP games on the Market to decide
	which game they want to run. A good GM ( one that stay in
	control of the game) can make all most any system work,
	by creating good plots, NPC's, and other story telling
	devices. A few of the FRP games to look at are:
	Runequest, Travler, Busido, D&D, AD&D, Iron Crown's Game,
	In the Labrinth, Boot Hill, Space Opera, Call of Chuthlu,
	and various other games. Go to your local game store and 
	check out what goes on, Talk to people who have games,
	and read gaming magazines.

	Enough time to slay the Ph.D monster

			--- arnold

-- 
				--- Arnold Miller,
				    U of Maryland,
				    College Park MD
				 Usenet:   ...!seismo!umcp-cs!arnold
				 Arpanet:  arnold%umcp-cs@Udel-Relay