Time Heroes - Fate Adaptation - The World of Time Heroes - Part 3. Example Collaborative Location Creation

Yesterday I wrote about collaborative location creation. In today's post I'm going to go through a quick example of what the process might look like. Should anyone be interested in running a Time Heroes of Fate game, hopefully this will make things a little easier to do so.

Paul, Ashley, Ben and the GM Andrew are sitting around a table. They've decided the best thing to do - even prior to character creation - is define the setting itself. The following is what a collaborative setting-creation exchange might look like.

Andrew (GM): "OK, so the first thing we should probably decide is what era we want to set this in. What do you guys think?"

Ben: "I was hoping to make use of the Future Tech skill with my character in some sense or other. With the description of the era 'past,' it looks like that would be tough to rationalize so I'd prefer present or future."

Ashley: "I'm interested in the more humorous aspects of the game. If we went with future, I'd rather avoid the possible dark overtones associated with things and keep it lighthearted. Plus, I'm a bit fantasied out, so I'd also rather not run in the past."

Andrew (GM): "Well, it sounds like unless Paul has a major objection to it, the past is out of the running then."

Paul: "Damn. I was thinking of going a Conan-ish thug route. I can come up with another plan though."

Andrew (GM): "Well, don't write that off yet. If that's the kind of character you want to run, that's still feasible in the present era. That seems like a pretty fair compromise across the board. Plus, with Ash's preference for humor, it's the more natural way to go."

At this point everyone agrees to go with Era: Present. Once that is complete, the group moves onto the next step.

Andrew (GM): "So, we've settled on the era. Let's focus in a bit. Where do we want to set the game, or at least start it? I think with what I've heard so far rural probably won't scratch your respective itches."

Ashley: "Why not set it in a city somewhere? Lots of people, lots of potential jobs to take."

Ben: "Yeah. Plus, night life!"

Andrew (GM): "So, your future tech-based character is going to be a party animal. Might want to think about working that into an aspect of some sort, Ben."

Paul: "I like the city idea as well. But aren't we going to look funny running around on the streets? Me in a loin cloth, Captain Future over there with his cybernose or whatever and...whatever Ashley's gonna be?"

Ashley: "I haven't been inspired yet. Once we're done with the setting I might have a better idea. In regards to a city, why not L.A.? With everyone running around there, who's gonna notice a librarian and a cyborg?"

Everyone chuckles and agrees that's the best way to go. Andrew writes Location: Los Angeles on the setting card.

Andrew (GM): "And onto the Lifestyle Aspect. "

Ben: "How about 'Weird is Everywhere' since we're in L.A.?"

Andrew (GM): "Not bad, but that sounds like more an answer to one of the questions about the setting as a whole."

Ashley: "So...how about 'Weird is blase?' As in, everyone in L.A. has seen it all and nothing shocks them anymore. So maybe we can invoke it when we are about to do something that would make others aware of the war and they'll just shrug and move on."

Andrew (GM): "OK, and how about for compels?"

Paul: "Ooh! You could drop a compel, say, when we're trying to alert people to danger and they'd just not be scared enough to hurry or follow directions or something."

Andrew (GM): "Not too shabby guys. I'll write that down. If we need to refine it later for whatever reason, we can. And remember, the Lifestyle Aspect isn't necessarily set in stone forever. It's possible circumstances could change it."

Andrew records Lifestyle Aspect: Weird is Blase.

Andrew (GM): "And the last step before I ask some questions to give myself a good idea of the setting is deciding on a Franchise Stunt. What do you guys want your group to be known for?"

Paul: "I think I'm sticking with my barbarian. I was thinking maybe he signed up to smash magic."

Ben: "I like that idea. Maybe my future tech guy's price to be brought to the 'past' was that he could learn magic and bring that back to his time to assist in the rebellion."

Andrew (GM): "OK, so far we have two thoughts revolving around magic. That's pretty vague. What about the supernatural in general?"

Ashley: "What, investigating it? Like the Ghostbusters? Ooh, could my character be a Ghostbuster-type?"

Andrew (GM): "I have no problems with that. Could lead to a lot of humorous circumstances. So we're going to have a barbarian who loathes and in fact has vowed to destroy all things magic, a"

Ben: "Cyberjanitor with a lasermop!"

Andrew (GM): "cyberjanitor with a lasermop and a girl who's watched 'Ghostbusters' too many times. Nothing could possibly go wrong! So here's my suggestion. How about we call the franchise 'Ghostbusters' and the benefit would be that someone could spend a Quantum Point if something supernatural is discovered and that person could make a Magic or Lore roll to create an advantage against that supernatural thing in a future scene. You guys ok with that?"

Ben, Ashley and Paul: "Love it!"

Andrew writes down Franchise Stunt: Ghostbusters and makes a note on what the Franchise Stunt does.

Andrew (GM): "OK, last step before we can get to character creation. Although, I have to say that the world creation seems to have gone a long way towards solidifying character ideas in your guys' minds. Anyway, first question: Is the war overt or covert?"

Paul: "I like the idea of it being covert."

Ashley: "Me too. Everyone isn't supposed to know it's going on. In L.A. it might be less noticed, but even then we don't want to be blasting at spooks in the middle of the street."

Ben: "What they said."

Andrew: "Great! That right there gives me a bunch of ways to complicate lives for you guys. Next question: Where is your franchise?"

Without hesitation, everyone simultaneously says fire hall. They spontaneously decide that Ashley's character picked out their headquarters.

Andrew (GM): "Moving on. Is your franchise itself overt or covert?"

Ben: "Well, the war is covert so wouldn't it make sense our franchise was as well?"

Ashley: "No way! I want a big Ghostbusters sign hanging outside the firehouse! We could hire out as real Ghostbusters!"

Paul: "And we could just be viewed as a bunch of crackpots."

The conversation continues from there and after a few more questions everyone has a good feel for the kind of world their Time Heroes of Fate game is going to be set in. In my next blog post, I will continue this example by moving it into the character creation part of the session.