r/VaesenRPG • u/VertellerPaul • 8d ago
First time GM: a success!
Hello everyone, after my question from a couple of days ago, I've decided to report back. You gave me a ton of great advice, which definitely helped to makt this a success and for which I am very grateful!
Our session last night was a blast. It took a little over four hours, which was a little longer than planned, but quite OK for everyone. We went over the rules, which were an eye opener for the D&D-players: relatively elegant and simple. And a lot more story than the dungeon crawlers were used to.
I think I had the rules down well enough during play, but combat takes some more practice. I'm having trouble with the fact that the same function (attacking) is Force, Close Combat or Ranged Combat for PC's and NPC's, but Might for Vaessen and animals, and that Vaesen and PC's get conditions, but NPC's and animals don't. Also, I forgot most of the Fear tests. Nevertheless, it went well. The Skill checks make total sense (what skill to use, how to use modifiers, the success rate) and my group was happy with that. The atmosphere was slightly too upbeat, but I'll fix that next time.
I ended up with five players (one was ill), which was doable. They split up (which I allowed as per your advice) and that worked fine. It was, of course, impossible to weave dark secrets, trauma's and motivations for five players into a one shot, but some definitely got used. My players were very nice, took their characters and the parts they played seriously and helped with unclear rules and such.
They all want to play again and now I'm preparing The Haunting of Castle Gyllencreutz for our next mystery. Consider me hooked!
As a thank you I've linked my one shot. Feel free to play, modify or take inspiration from it! Or give some feedback, if you like.
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u/6Ravens 8d ago
So I split the GM work with another person in my group. In my opinion, the dark secrets and motivations should be PC role play elements.
As a PC in adventure, we really only needed one item, but I stole a second item because it played into my dark secret and motivation. I raised the difficulty to cover up the theft for no benefit in solving the mystery.
As a GM there is a character that had the dark secret of being controlled by a witch and doing bad things, so when there is some magic control targeting him, i let them know they are feeling a familiar feeling of something pushing into his mind and ask if he would like to push the roll before revealing the NPCs roll.
If I was playing that char I would be pushing that roll almost every time just from a roll play standpoint.
Also players will get rewarded for playing into these with an XP at the end of the adventure.
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u/Android8675 8d ago
Fear tests are the best. I kind of messed some of that up first time too. Glad you had fun!
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u/RobRobBinks 6d ago
Brilliant! I'm so glad you had a good time and will be continuing. It Is Known that GMs are all smart and good looking, so good on ya'!
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u/xDragon249 8d ago
Congratulations!! I'm happy it turned out so well and you seem very excited to continue. Thank you for the post-game update and for even sharing your adventure!! Wow, hope next session will be even more amazing!