From:	Trajan@frontiernet.net
Sent:	Wednesday, March 08, 2000 9:47 PM
To:	blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com
Subject:	Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Player hooks

Well, I'm more of a watcher on the lists but here is my thoughts on the
subject which was a trouble spot for me too.

After reveiwing the history and gathered the atmosphere as I interpret it,
I went to the gang with a prepared "speech" about the BP world in its
current state on Poseidon.  I guessed if they were interested then they
would ask questions about how this or that happened.  I guessed well - the
more I talked the more they asked about it.  That is probably the best
outcome, so I guess I was lucky.

The other hook I used for a different group was to tell them about a RPG
where they could be any character type they wanted to portray.  This
immediately set off a barrage of questions, like "how?", "what are you
taling about?", "even if its a bum?", "what's the game supposed to be
like?", etc.  I guess what I'm trying to say is that _almost_ every RPG has
a built-in atmosphere; 7th Sea expects the characters to be heroes; In
Nomine expects you to play angelic (or demonic) characters with specific
behaviors; GURPS Black Ops - well c'mon, your a super tough soldier.  The
beauty I find in BP is that the atmosphere is so broad, the GM can work
with any character type and involve them in any story.  The challenge for
the GM is developing the game around the character types involved.  But
doesn't BP1 suggest the characters should be "related" somehow so that the
GM can avoid situations where a medical doctor is working with a Marshal, a
hybrid sailor, a corporate exec, and a hotshot jumpcraft jockey?

Hmmm... I'm not sure I made any sense.  Nor do I think I helped.  But I'm
gonna leave it like this.

JIM
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From:	Kevin L. Nault [jskln1@uas.alaska.edu]
Sent:	Wednesday, March 08, 2000 3:29 AM
To:	blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com
Subject:	Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Undercurrents?

jh39 wrote:
> 
> > Bring women.  Or food.  Go on about Orcas a bit too.  That's what's
> > worked for me.
> 
>         Hrm. Possibly. I did manage to get one player's
> attention by saying you could play "a chromed up killer
> whale". To keep this more on topic for the general list,
> what sort of things have people done to introduce the game
> to their local groups? I asked quite a while ago about the

My group was easy: I just said it was "Hard fiction.  Like, Pournelle
hard, not Niven hard.  And deadly cool."  That sold 'em.

> possibility of a short introductory leaflet and I know of
> at least a couple of people besides myself who have tried
> to concoct something along these lines.

I have (for one player I really wanted to show) photocopied the timeline
to show the massive coolness of the setting.  She would have showed,
too, but the timing didn't work out.

>         Also, what aspects of the game seem to hook people?
> This could apply both to the people on the list and anyone
> else they know who likes the game.

The ability to play cetaceans, and "...to the service of Justice." 
That'll usually hook 'em.

> > ...oh, wait, you're English.  Scratch the food, I've heard about you
> > people  ;->
> 
>         Unfortunately that's pretty accurate. If you want
> good food in England you go to a French restaurant, or
> Chinese, or Indian, or Mexican, or.....and so on. Luckily,
> I live in Belgium - Land of Beer and Chocolate - so I only
> have to put up with it during term time.

Dammit.  I wish I lived in Belgium.  Alaska's cool and all, but the
travel opportunities stink.
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