Tips for Integrating New Characters into Ongoing Sims by Amanda Rose
Learn how to smoothly integrate new characters into ongoing simulation games, the challenges involved, and the importance of setting norms to ensure everyone is on the same page.
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Integrating New Characters Integrating New Characters into Ongoing Sims into Ongoing Sims by by Amanda Rose Amanda Rose
Why Not Talk About New Sims? Why Not Talk About New Sims? In a new sim, everyone is on equal footing. Characters are all meeting each other ostensibly for the first time. Everyone is feeling out everyone else s writing styles, though those who have written together before will likely find meetings easier. There s a set point of beginning Everyone should know as much about the sim at the moment of inception.
What are the Problems with Integrating New What are the Problems with Integrating New Characters into Ongoing Sims? Characters into Ongoing Sims? New players do not have the vibe of the sim. How do we explain new character s arrival ? Don t be like The Gamers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSynJyq2RRo at 29:48) The Gamemaster: Guys, please! I want you to roleplay this. Remember you've never met this guy before, the last guys you met tried to kill you, and you're standing in the ruins of an evil, cursed castle. Just act appropriately. Magellan: Hello, I'm Magellan, a traveling mage. I notice your group has no wizard. Rogar, the Barbarian: You seem trustworthy. Would you care to join us in our noble quest? Magellan: Yes. Yes I would. Plot may be completely foreign to the new player. Sim canon may need explaining. Expectations of new and old players may not match.
First Steps with a New Character/Player First Steps with a New Character/Player Highest chance of keeping player is getting the player involved immediately. Why? Highest level of excitement, more likely to be productive. During character creation/approval, let the player know about any game/sim quirks. Perhaps inform player who most active characters/players are. The Key is to Establish the Norms so that EVERYONE is on the SAME PAGE!
What are Typical Starting Posts for New What are Typical Starting Posts for New Characters? Characters? Medical check in Psychological check in Meeting department head Bar meetup
Integrating on Shore Leave Integrating on Shore Leave Pros Can meet a variety of characters in a variety of settings. New character can get to know other characters in an off duty setting and easier to make friends/romances. Allows for a lot of writing freedom. Good opportunity for characters of highly varying ranks to meet Cons Because there is so much freedom, a new player character may not know where to go, what to do, or what may be available. Because it is character down time, it might be hard to schedule time with other characters in sim. Lack of structure and plot could lead to a player malaise.
How To Cure the Cons of How To Cure the Cons of Shoreleave Shoreleave? ? Make sure the CO finds a way to interact with the new character. After all, the CO approved the character, the CO should take some sort of lead on this. If the CO is not seeing activity, set up a small mass JP where the character can meet a lot of the others: a dance, awards banquet, unveiling of new plant exhibit in arboretum . Create an NPC that will bring out character story for the new player. Go to the tried and true medical/psych check up if necessary. Create structure. Create a subplot for the character/player to get activity going.
Integrating During an Ongoing Mission Integrating During an Ongoing Mission Pros The Player Character can immediately feel a part of the plot. Can have a PC writing for a needed position rather than an NPC. Cons Get into a Gamer situation which makes no sense. The New PC may have no idea about history or sim canon. It could be difficult for the PC to catch up on the plot The new character has no background/feel with the sim characters already writing.
How Do We Cure the Cons of Integrating How Do We Cure the Cons of Integrating During an Ongoing Mission During an Ongoing Mission Hopefully, you do not create a Gamers situation. How do we cure this? Potentially do back posts showing previous character interactions so that characters have a feel for one another. Maybe create an explanation for why the characters never interacted before? Different shifts
How Do We Cure the Cons of Integrating How Do We Cure the Cons of Integrating During an Ongoing Mission (Continued) During an Ongoing Mission (Continued) To avoid characters/players not knowing history, the CO/GM should do the following: 1. Explain off screen what has happened in the main plot so far. 2. What the goals of the main plot are. 3. What the character may or may not have been doing during the main plot. 4. What everyone is doing right now. 5. How the new player can assist or what tasks that should be going on. 6. Explain and conventions that the sim has.
What Should New Players Be Doing What Should New Players Be Doing It is really exciting to get moving and writing in a new sim. However, simming is cooperative writing, so writing to write is not helping anyone and can frustrate people. If your CO has not done some or all of the things we discussed, get the information above. Helps story be fluid.
Ways to Introduce a Character that Give Us Ways to Introduce a Character that Give Us Information Information Have them introduce themselves. Use dialog. Ex: "Good morning! What's all this, then?... Ah! it's Mr. Bilbo Baggins. I should have guessed. I beg your pardon. I hadn't noticed you before." - What do we learn about Bilbo from this? Use a visual/audio image. Think intro to story of Star Wars with imperial destroyer heading towards a star. Use descriptive language. What things describe Sherlock Holmes, for example? Show the character s inner conflict/inner turmoil. Show the character s actions. Use a backstory.
