Tanscripts of Actual Play

[JamesDJIII]

I find that I learn a heck of lot from reading about other GMs style just from their descriptions of game play.

I was wondering, does anyone have transcripts of games that have played? Obviously, this is probably something few people do, given the resources and time needed. But perhaps soe of you run online games where this is feasible?)

[Jack Spencer Jr]

Hi James.

Well, you're in the right place for that sort of thing, the Actual Play forum. Not every thread posted here is a transcript, but all of these threads discuss some aspect of actually playing. So hunt around, see what you'll find.

note the Forge policy on posting to older threads see: Etiquette at The Forge (policy)

F. Thread "resurrection"

If you find an older thread (not on the first page of the forum) that you wish to discuss, we ask that you create a new thread and link to the old one instead of "resurrecting" the thread. This helps everyone in terms of researching threads, and seeing where a discussion started and stopped.

[JamesDJIII]

Jack Spencer Jr.,

Thanks for the welcome! I've been reading the Forge for about 2 weeks now.

I'm familiar with most of the Actual Play reports. It's a very high level affair. I'm not looking for the abstractions of play, I'm looking for the word-for-word-what-actually-happened stuff. And yes, I realize that's a tall order.

I have seen some online transcripts. I enjoyed them immensely, so I'm looking to see if the, how shall I put this, more descriminating tastes at the Forge can provide the same.

[Bob McNamee]

I'm not sure the Forge encourages a lot of word for word-type "and then this happened" type Play posts.
I know there are some interesting play transcripts posted  at the Universalis webpages(for the game Universalis)  
http://universalis.actionroll.com/index.html

For on-line game transcripts, try the indie-netgaming group on Yahoo, we try to store most of those transcripts, and we change game systems a lot!
You can find the Group at...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indie-netgaming/

I hope this helps,

[Tor Erickson]

Hi James,

I don't have any game transcripts (though I do have some extensive notes, including scene by scene breakdowns and commentary for a couple of games) but I've always been intrigued by the concept.  Or better yet, an actual audio recording of a session, or a video recording even.  If you've ever been involved in an organized sport you know how interesting and informative it can be to review the tapes after the game... I wonder if there's a useful parallel to the game.

Of course, then you run into issues about the "observer" (be it a tape recorder or video camera) affecting the game; though this may not necessarily be a negative thing.  I think we had a discussion awhile ago about observers in role-playing games that might be applicable.

-Tor

[kregmosier]

i'd even like to HEAR some audio of actual gameplay...with the requests for Mt. Dew or Funyons edited out, of course. ;)

there's so much talk about narrativism, i'd actually like to HEAR some... i.e; i'd like to listen to a Ron Edward's Sorcerer session.

granted, these would be wayy too big to probably download, but they could be streamed or something just like internet radio broadcasts.


-kreg

[Paganini]

An alternative is to visit an Indie-netgaming IRC session and *watch* some. (Boy... it'd be great if we could get Ron in on one of those...)

[Ron Edwards]

Hi there,

Um, I'm just another role-player, guys ... it's not like the heavens open or anything when we play ...

Although I am considering recording a session or two. I don't have the technical know-how to set it up as an on-line thing (I mean, they made it look so easy in American Pie), but I'll ask around.

Best,
Ron

[JamesDJIII]

I convinced some of the regulars of our gamign group to try an online (via GRIP, most likely) game of Sorcerer.

I intend to post the results, of course, and put the transcripts up some where.

I asked the players what they would be into, and some of the responses included "horror," "letters [as in correspondence]," "realistic fantasy," and "historic."

I had an idea for a scenario set in London, in the late 1880's. Sorcerer by Gaslight!

Then the players began to email their character outlines and Kickers.

I thought I'd seen some degenerate PC concepts. But these folks are losers, dope addicts, rotten cops, and opium addled demon summoning freaks. I cannot wait.

[Tor Erickson]

I intend to post the results, of course, and put the transcripts up some where

Hey James,

That sounds cool, let us know when they're up.

Also, in regards to the correspondence, have you seen the Polish game De Profundis?  It's a horror game based in letter writing, Lovecraft style.

-Tor

[JamesDJIII]

I've heard of it. Perhaps I should do that too, some day, and post THAT as well?

[Mike Holmes]

I've heard of it. Perhaps I should do that too, some day, and post THAT as well?

I'm thinking that he was saying that the concepts might work well together. For example, you could play normal Sorcerer for the online sessions, but continue between sessions using De Profundis letter writing. Given the structures that work well for Sorcerer, I think it might work astoundingly well.

Correllate the sessions with meetings of the group. So, for example, perhaps the group is a cabal that represents most of the extant sorcerers worldwide, and they meet annually in London coming in from all over the the globe to discuss matters sorcerous. They, of course, bring with them huge retinues (read Relationship Map NPCs) and there is much skullduggery. Then, between meetings/sessions they write about what goes on throughout the year. Write as much as you want; you're unlikely to be able to fill an entire year with details between sessions of play.

Damn. That sounds too cool, if I do say so. Now I wanna do that. I'd run it as cthulhu sorcerers all trying to stay sane in the face of the terrible other. Hey, look at me and my byakhee demon! Big deal, care to let my nightgaunt tickle you tonight? Or a similar but alternate sort of thing. Hmmm....

Mike

[Matt Gwinn]

This discussion has got me thinking, is anyone going to bring a video camera to Gencon?  I've really enjoyed looking at the photos of last years excursion, but video of Forge booth in action could be cool too.

I have some short video clips of game sessions of Sorcerer (Charnel Gods), d6 Star Wars, and Appalachia Now!.  I will see what I can do to get them into mpeg format if there is interest in me doing that.  I'm not sure if you would learn anything from them though.

,Matt G.

[Mike Holmes]

This discussion has got me thinking, is anyone going to bring a video camera to Gencon?  I've really enjoyed looking at the photos of last years excursion, but video of Forge booth in action could be cool too.

I have some short video clips of game sessions of Sorcerer (Charnel Gods), d6 Star Wars, and Appalachia Now!.  I will see what I can do to get them into mpeg format if there is interest in me doing that.  I'm not sure if you would learn anything from them though.

My digital camera can take movies. I'll have that there.

But I agree with you and Ron that watching me play isn't going to improve anyone's game. Maybe a "what not to do" documentary? Anyhow, anyone who thinks there's a magic bullet for how to play better is missing the fact that the only way to play better is to play.

I myself was curious about how Ron played before playing with him. I now know that it's pretty much like playing with anyone else. Sure, he does certain little things well, and has certain ideocyncracies to his play. But nothing I could just take from him and suddenly become the "Master GM". I'll just have to continue working on it like everyone else.

Like Nathan said, about watching play in action at Indie Netgaming, but I'll one-up him. Come there and play. If you're going to spend the time, you might as well join in and have some fun while you're at it. And maybe you'll learn something that way.

Why read about games when you can actually play them? We're there playing; where are all of you? Playing too much face to face already? ;-)

Indie Netgaming

Mike