Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
I was shocked my players didn't leap at the chance to play Deathmatch Island this year, but I'm hoping to run a one-shot of it at some point as a bonus game so we can see how we feel about it.
Choosing a new campaign
- Thread starter Umbran
- Start date
Theory of Games
Storied Gamist
If the players have provided choices, it's easy: pick the one YOU find the most interesting/entertaining 
Li Shenron
Legend
This is probably going to be a bit underwhelming answer but... When I have been undecided about what to run, I asked the players what they preferred based on just a few key differences such as: genre/theme, focus on what type of challenges, character level and expected length. Although I think it has always been between two options at once, not more, so not very difficult for them to choose... something like "do you prefer option A: gothic horror with investigation and mysteries for 3rd level and 2-3 sessions, or option B: heroic hack'n'slash for 7th level and at least 5 sessions?". I am not good at pitches so I would rather give them such short list of key differences.
I'd run a one shot if they choose Scum and Villany or Lost Colony before we did character generation, just to be sure.
This group was inaugurated with a 5-year long Classic Deadlands campaign, way back when. They have not played SWADE, but it is basically cut-down Deadlands proper, so I don't expect the system to be an obstacle for them.
They haven't tried it yet. For this group, S&V is a far better choice than Blades in the Dark, which much more assumes that characters aren't very nice people.
I ran a one-shot of it at a house con last summer, so I have a handle on it. It's scene resolution will seem weird to them, but they will probably be able to manage it.
If the players have provided choices, it's easy: pick the one YOU find the most interesting/entertaining
Unfortunately, left to their own devices, they are a, "anything you want to run, Big Guy," kind of group. While I am flattered by the confidence, it doesn't assist my decision making
Joshua Randall
Legend
I found Deathmatch Island to be far inferior to Agon proper, FWIW.
But I know some people really bounce off the Greek demigods and heroes vibe and prefer the Squid Game meets Hunger Games vibe.
But I know some people really bounce off the Greek demigods and heroes vibe and prefer the Squid Game meets Hunger Games vibe.
Whoever will be GMing usually just picks something and everyone goes with it. A few years ago, though, I wanted to run one of J.C. Connors' excellent one-shot adventures and posted a prospectus of sorts on our group discord (screenshot below). Votes were clearly in favor of the cliffhanger, which is what we played. Since then, we've run through two of the other three. (Haven't done the spy one yet.)
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
The last time this happened to me, I gave my group four choices (3 D&D, 1 non-D&D) of things I'd be willing to run and had them rank them.
Usually, however, I know exactly what I want to run and when I had the benefit of a large pool of players and was more likely to say, "I'm running X and am open to up to Y number of players" and run from there.
Usually, however, I know exactly what I want to run and when I had the benefit of a large pool of players and was more likely to say, "I'm running X and am open to up to Y number of players" and run from there.
I’m not in your group (obviously), but my personal preferences out of that group would be:
#1/#2 Spirit of the Century/Scum and Villainy
#2/#1 Scum and Villainy/Spirit of the Century
#3 Deadlands: The Lost Colony
#4 Deathmatch Island
Explanation: SotC and S&V both cover genres I like and don’t play enough of. And I can’t decide which of those I’d prefer over the other.
Deadlands is simply cool.
Deathmatch…I’ve never heard of.
Whizbang Dustyboots
Gnometown Hero
Deathmatch Island
A tabletop roleplaying game by Old Dog Games. On a mysterious island of strange secrets, the game is just the beginning. Play to win.
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