Demo Experiences?

[Georgios Panagiotidis]

Hello everybody,

I want to demo Primetime Adventures at our local convention in February and would like to prepare a handful of things before-hand to make the game as smooth an experience as I can.

The plan (so far) is to create the show and characters first and then play through the pilot episode. If it's an ensemble cast show, each character will have a screen presence of two, if it turns out to be a show focussed on a single character screen presence among the characters will vary.

As far as character creation goes, I'll let each character have one connection and one edge. I think that using the regular 2/3 split would eat up too much of our 4 hour game.

To everybody who has run (or played in) a one-shot of PTA, what have your experiences been ? What are the most common misconceptions about the game? Which aspects should be made abundantly clear before-hand, which are self-explanatory once the players got into the mindset of the game?

I'm running the game in German, so the self-explanatory nature of certain terms might get lost... which do you find most important or essential to understanding the game?

Joe, busily overthinking things

[azrianni]

Well, I've only run it once, so it was kind of a one-shot, even though we might go back to it at some point.

I think you are overthinking things.  This game is easy.

But if you have experienced RPers, what they'll probably need made most clear is the stuff that's not like other games, basically the shifting of more narrative power to them: alternating scene requests, winning the right to narrate after conflicts.

Let us know how it goes!

[Ron Edwards]

Hello,

One edge and one connection is a good idea. In fact, we found this sufficient for a very moving game even outside of the demo context.

I strongly recommend that the group set up their Screen Presences for the whole season, and then you choose, as a group, which episode to play. Don't be constrained by the idea that you have to play the pilot.

Best,
Ron

[Matt Wilson]

I like what Ron says. And no, I'm not saying that because I owe him money. And Ron, don't start wondering if I owe you money.

Demos are pretty easy, from my experience, and I've always been the "oh god I need to prepare more" anxiety GM. I hated that. This game is meant not to be freakishly overprepared. I would suggest having a couple suggestions stashed away, like "how about a show about a school?" After that there's a good chance that you'll be having to do very little.

Please let me know how it goes!