This idea came out of Tristan and my conversation on Sunday... What would you put in a guide for players in proactive games? What are the tips that make them and their characters better at the table? I am not sure about what they are, but I do know they are not the same as they were when I was running conventional games. Anyway, here are my four points (overlap a lot with what comes out of the books). I am curious for your feedback and thoughts. 1) The plot comes from the characters. Players need characters with enough depth and complexity (motivations, beliefs, fears; MBF) to drive and support an emerging plot. - These traits (MBF) are the engines that convert world events and conflicts into the best character goals to explore at the table. - These traits (MBF) do not need to be static. They should evolve and change over time in response to interaction with other characters and the world around them. 2) The story focuses on the characters. The best character stories often center around a character’s internal struggles. - Choosing internal struggles (flaws) that are more than cliches and being open about them will aid the group in surfacing and including your character’s story.  - Choosing internal struggles that do not resolve easily, overlap, or resolve in steps so that they stay relevant. You want to be able to make progress without finishing your story. 3) There is more time for your character. Significantly more time at the table is spent on your character (MBF). This means there is more time to resolve struggles and grow and change in response to the story. Are your MBF: - Actionable - generate interesting goals in response to world events - Connected to the World, Setting, Themes, and Tone - lean and push you into the setting - Bring you towards the group instead of away - Responsive to past events, meaning they might shift or change in response to events as the story progresses 4) Character Mechanics Matter. [for rules-heavy systems] You will have more fun if your character build fits the setting, themes, and tone of the game. Your choices in building your character impact how you can interact with the story. Look for options that make a character that can be effective and fun while approaching problems in a way that fits the theme of the game. Look for character options that allow you to participate in each pillar of the game.

Just curious -- I generally have instrumental music on in the background when I write (I find stuff with lyrics distracts me). I tend to listen to Danny Elfman on shuffle when I'm writing. I know a lot of people like Spotify stations but I don't use them because they're evil (you gotta pick your battles). Does anyone else listen to music and -- if so -- do you have a go to artist or album?

It's time for a community workshop. This Sunday evening at 7pm Eastern, come talk about your ongoing game(s) that you're running. This event is for GMs who are using (or moving towards) a proactive approach to running the game. We'll talk about: - Your PCs' goals and how to sharpen them - How you could react to those goals with factions, NPCs, and locations - Encounter design that's fun and also moves the story forward in a meaningful way These are pretty fun and usually pretty small (3-4 people), so come with your notes and prepared to talk in detail about your game. Also please come ready to give other GMs ideas - it's best when we all riff together. (This event is for Gold members only - if you aren't Gold yet, you can read about what it is here).

Here's the signup for next Wednesday's game! Gold members get first pick, but anyone can join us for free. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0B44AFA723A2FB6-64331232-blades More info on what this is is available here: https://www.skool.com/game-masters-laboratory/play-with-us?p=0c940865

I pulled together a group of story focused players to try an emergent campaign (collaborative+proactive). I am going to use this thread to share periodic updates on how it is going and what is working. Meetings will be sparse this fall and then weekly after the new year. It is five players from my in-person games who had to move out of town.