[Perfect] Swooping Vulture technique

[joepub]

So, I finally figured out how to run my own game (Perfect, that is).
I submit, for the approval of the midnight society, a GMing technique that I tried out at a local con last weekend. The Swooping Vulture technique. It's tailored for Perfect, but the basic technique can be easily mined for other games.

First of all, have players equally space themselves around them table, leaving no room for you to sit. As the GM, you will not sit during this session.

Take an extra chair, and sit it about four feet away from the table. This will be the Conditioning chair.

Be a Human Spotlight

Now, Perfect is played out in individual vignettes, with occassional splashover between characters. When it's a player's turn to set a scene, walk around the table to somewhere where it's easiest to interact with them. You can use your physical presence at the table to shift spotlight to them - stand close to the acting player, but not right next to him/her. Somewhere where you can easily interact with the person and make eye contact.

I'm not sure why, but for some reason simply walking to a different spot on the table really shifts the focus of the group. Doing it whenever a player introduces a scene helps to spotlight them.

Playing Inspectors

When you are narrating a Discovery test, and you mention that an Inspector is actively pursuing a character, start walking around the table. Very briskly. Very aggressively. Discovery tests (as all tests in Perfect) work as a back-and-forth bidding between the active player and the GM. Note down that you are bidding 2 Inspector Points, say "2", and then say "The Inspector rounds the corner, trained on your silhoutte" while you start circling the character. They invoke an Aspect. Then mark down another 1 Inspector point, say "1", and start walking again, circling in the same direction. Then suddenly wheel around and start walking in the opposite direction, as you say, "It doesn't matter what back alley side-route you take, he follows you".

Obviously don't do this every time. But do this sort of thing once or twice a session. When narrating an NPC in pursuit, or following a character, circle the table.

You are already standing and in motion, so feel free to pantomime any actions you want to.

The reason this is called the Swooping Vulture techique is due to the Interrogation test. When you have an Inspector interrogating a character, actually walk around to behind the player and lean forward, and whisper their threats into the player's ear. Be really menacing about this.

The Conditioning Chair

This little touch was actually suggested by one of the players at the table (He, obviously, had the Masochist archetype). Physically move players to a set-aside Conditioning Chair so that they feel physically isolated and alone while Conditioning them. Pace around the chair, do the Swooping Vulture thing where you lean in and speak into their ear, or simply stand over them. Use your physical presence to be intimidating. Speak in a cold and demanding and precise voice, because you are an Inspector and Inspectors are badass. They have their character sheet on their lap in this chair, so they can invoke as you go.

So, yeah. This is definitely a fun way to play Perfect, and I think to play other games too. Pace around the table. Use your position at the table to spotlight players. Use your physical presence to say something about the Inspectors: be looming, physically cut them off from other players, lean in and talk into their ear, etc.

The players loved it, and it was fun to do. Plus, after so much caffeine, it was a good way to channel excess energy.