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MAG.E 1
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MAG.E 1.adf
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Tavern
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Tavern
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1977-12-31
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59 lines
CREATING NEW GAMES TO ENLIVEN YOUR TAVERNS
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In my experience as a GM, one of the best sources for new games is
adapting Medieval or foreign games, or alternatively altering the
rules of games that are well known today. Alongside a well considered
plan of action these can be invaluable to a GM wanting to produce a
tavern with an authentic feel to it.
So one of the important places to start your hunt is definetely
your local library. All libraries have small leisure sections which
provide an assortment of book for your disposal. Books of traditional
or Medieval life may also be of use here.
Let`s face it, a good number of campaigns take the form of
Medieval Europe with some magic and monsters thrown in for good
measure. That`s another reason why it is important that evrything in
a tavern "seems" truly original.
The other important thing to remember when designing your games is
that they shoull be for profit in some way. Few people can be seen to
siply play for fun. Therefore it is important to make the odds
worthwhile so that the PCs fee that there is a reaon they should play.
Also remember that the odds must seem affordable to the local
community as they would not typically follow a life of riches similar to
the PCs.
A good thing to do is to put the odds in the favour of the
villagers, remember they will have played these games before, unlike
the PCs. If this proves difficult or impossible have the PCs opponents
outnumber them so that they stand a much greater chance of winning.
There will be times when you feel like taking a more active role in
game design. In these cases try combining two or more games together
and adding a slight twist to the rules. Alternatively have the most
wise members of the village face the PCs in a battle of riddles or
wits. You will have had plenty of time beforehand to collect riddles
and small puzzles so the PCs should not be too difficult to beat. In
this kind of game both the stakes and the rewards should be high,
this may take the form of a trial with a large fine being imposed on
a certain PC otherwise, ie Trial by intelligence.
One final suggestion is an event where one PC is contested with
19 other villagers, similar to the famous Battle Royal wrestling
events that are known today. In this case the PC fights in a
blindfold so that his advantage is lowered. To eliminate the
opponents (who may or may not be in a blindfolds) they must be thrown
out of the playing area. It is possible for a PC to be injured here,
or for a clever GM to find a reason for an adventure.
One example of the last point:
A PC in enlisted into a number of these matches by someone who
the PC thought was a friend. To keep his place in the village community he is
forced to enter. Although the PC successfully wins the first of these
matches the second one is not so much of a success, the PC is
responsible for what he thinks causes the death of one of the
creatures. However he discovers that this suppove villager is really
a doppleganger like all the other creatures he was in the ring with.
The PC must warn the surviving villagers about the threat of the
dopplegangers, whilst successfully keeping out of the way of the
authorities who want him for murder.
Well plenty of ideas there, so be creative. And may your taverns
never run out of ale!