Behind the Screen: Pickup Games…

2010 February 17
by Dante

We’ve been having a significant problem in our group lately getting a regularly scheduled game together.  This is largely due to Real Life getting in the way, but it has put a damper in the amount of material for this site lately!  Honestly, I’ve been feeling a little bad about the distinct lack of regular content lately so I’m considering starting up a pickup game or two for several reasons.

First, Stupid Ranger’s been bothering me to play a Swordmage.  Our D&D discussions lately consist of the following: “Let me play a Swordmage.  Can I play a Swordmage now?  Can I repurpose Character X to a Swordmage in our campaign?  PLEASE?” So I’m thinking about getting together a side campaign to make this happen.  In addition, thanks to some kind people at Wizards of the Coast we’ve gotten a few review copies that I’ve not made it to yet and I think having a sandbox will help me in doing a proper review of these books.

A few questions, if I may…

How many of you regularly play pick-up games?  Do you go for quick-gen characters?  A shifting campaign setting to encompass a bunch of different ideas?  Dovetailing these campaigns into your main storyline?  I’m interested in hearing how to overcome some of the logistics of having a secondary gaming group and how to make the campaign stay coherent with an irregular schedule.  Help a Dante out!  If you give me a good enough idea, I’m sure I’ll write an article about it so now’s your chance for minor Internet Fame!

2 Responses leave one →
  1. TheJollyLlama875` permalink
    March 31, 2010

    You might want to check out Ars Lundi’s West Marches entry. He’s got some good advice there. It’s not for me, though, I’m a railroader through and through. 😛

    Anyway, here’s the URL, in case you don’t have it.

    http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/78/grand-experiments-west-marches/

  2. Stupid Ranger permalink*
    March 31, 2010

    That is a great article; I read it as part of last year’s Open Game Table Anthology. There’s a lot of good advice in there! Thanks for brining it back to our attention. 🙂

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