Comments on: Timing mechanisms: clocks http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/09/19/timing-mechanisms-clocks/ Inside the Mind of Thomas Robertson Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:23:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Christoph Boeckle http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/09/19/timing-mechanisms-clocks/#comment-753 Christoph Boeckle Fri, 29 Sep 2006 00:11:03 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/76-timing-mechanisms-clocks#comment-753 There are a few games from this year's Game Chef that kind of use this mechanism. <i>Crime and Punishment</i> for example only leaves fifty minutes for acting. There are a few games from this year’s Game Chef that kind of use this mechanism. Crime and Punishment for example only leaves fifty minutes for acting.

]]> By: Thomas Robertson http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/09/19/timing-mechanisms-clocks/#comment-758 Thomas Robertson Tue, 26 Sep 2006 22:22:58 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/76-timing-mechanisms-clocks#comment-758 Christoph, I've done a couple of similar informal experiments. It's something I wish we saw a lot more of because I'll bet there's some really cool techniques just waiting to be discovered using clocks. Also, that sounds like a fun time. That's just the sort of thing I think <i>Shadowrun</i> is great for. Thomas Christoph,

I’ve done a couple of similar informal experiments. It’s something I wish we saw a lot more of because I’ll bet there’s some really cool techniques just waiting to be discovered using clocks.

Also, that sounds like a fun time. That’s just the sort of thing I think Shadowrun is great for.

Thomas

]]> By: Christoph Boeckle http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/09/19/timing-mechanisms-clocks/#comment-757 Christoph Boeckle Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:18:48 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/76-timing-mechanisms-clocks#comment-757 Hi Thomas, For what it's worth, I once played in a three table (and three GM) session of Shadowrun, where each mission played a squad with it's own specialities to accomplish a common mission (a spec-ops squad, a magical one and a matrix squad). We had a limited amount of time to accomplish our mission and we played in "real time" so to speak. It definetly focused every one on the tasks at hand: lots of tactical decision making and some illusioning around by the GMs :) Hi Thomas,

For what it’s worth, I once played in a three table (and three GM) session of Shadowrun, where each mission played a squad with it’s own specialities to accomplish a common mission (a spec-ops squad, a magical one and a matrix squad).
We had a limited amount of time to accomplish our mission and we played in “real time” so to speak.
It definetly focused every one on the tasks at hand: lots of tactical decision making and some illusioning around by the GMs :)

]]> By: Anthony http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/09/19/timing-mechanisms-clocks/#comment-756 Anthony Tue, 26 Sep 2006 06:08:34 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/76-timing-mechanisms-clocks#comment-756 As a general rule, I think players feel too restricted or forced by clocks and timers. They're oppressive. Even when their use has a perfectly practical benefit (like we need to close in three hours), it still feels somehow like every moment we are doing anything is wasting time. Just my opinion there as a player. As a GM, I've found pacing by a clock and having a brief outline of scenes I'd like to include help a lot. It also helps if you note how long you spent on each scene. There are a lot of cool things you can do with just time awareness as a GM, but it's almost impossible to discuss such matters on forums with other GMs because the results vary so much from game group to game group. I currently want to try a new game with my group, but its focus is on player-controlled episodic sessions. As a GM, I'm concerned that we may have left over time and have to end early when my players decide to leave town, if I take all the GM advice within the game. It's an example of timing issues and why they are important. As a general rule, I think players feel too restricted or forced by clocks and timers. They’re oppressive. Even when their use has a perfectly practical benefit (like we need to close in three hours), it still feels somehow like every moment we are doing anything is wasting time.

Just my opinion there as a player.

As a GM, I’ve found pacing by a clock and having a brief outline of scenes I’d like to include help a lot. It also helps if you note how long you spent on each scene. There are a lot of cool things you can do with just time awareness as a GM, but it’s almost impossible to discuss such matters on forums with other GMs because the results vary so much from game group to game group.

I currently want to try a new game with my group, but its focus is on player-controlled episodic sessions. As a GM, I’m concerned that we may have left over time and have to end early when my players decide to leave town, if I take all the GM advice within the game. It’s an example of timing issues and why they are important.

]]> By: Thomas Robertson http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/09/19/timing-mechanisms-clocks/#comment-755 Thomas Robertson Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:08:35 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/76-timing-mechanisms-clocks#comment-755 'Pacers'? Thomas ‘Pacers’?

Thomas

]]> By: shreyas http://blog.thomas-robertson.com/2006/09/19/timing-mechanisms-clocks/#comment-754 shreyas Wed, 20 Sep 2006 07:25:37 +0000 http://www.thesmerf.com/blog/76-timing-mechanisms-clocks#comment-754 What about pacers? Way cooler than timers. What about pacers?

Way cooler than timers.

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