July 23, 2004

 

Ground Zero Games - East Coast Convention

Scenario Guidelines

by Jon Davis

Copyright © 2004.

 

Introduction

 

            These scenario guidelines are meant to encourage and support the scenario designer and gamemaster in their preparation of a convention scenario.  Your goal is to create a memorable convention game experience for yourself and your players. 

 

 

Scenario Preparation Tips

 

            Keep it simple.

 

            Every gamemaster would love to run a game with a vast table of figures and terrain, but if it’s too complex with too many players and figures, then the visual impact is lost on what turned out to be a poorly planned event.  A lower number of players will mean more interaction per player, but don’t overwhelm your new players with too many things to manage either.

 

 

Be well versed in the rules you’ll be using.

 

Players will be more confident in your rules judging and decision making if you know the game system well.  If you’re fumbling through the rulebook for a basic table, you’ll slow down the game and bore your players.

 

 

Provide specific objectives and victory conditions for your players.

 

It is very helpful if you lay out the specific objectives and victory conditions for each player or side in the game.  It’s even better if they are written down in the player’s briefing and they are not relying on your verbal instructions at the start of the game.

 

           

Make sure the objectives are obtainable during the timeslot for the game.

 

Their objectives should be able to be accomplished with the time frame of the game. If you’ve decided to require your attackers to start eight turns away from an objective, and you’ve only managed to play four turns in your timed playtesting, you’ll need to reconsider your scenario design.

           

 

            Design your scenario objectives to be accomplished by multiple means.

 

            Your scenario should have multiple methods or strategies that the attackers or defenders can use to accomplish their objectives.  It is up to the opposing sides to counter or thwart those plans.  If one side reaches the conclusion that there is only one way that they can be successful to meet their scenario goals, you’ve taken much of the planning and thought out of the game.

 

 

            Playtest early and well.

 

            You are trying to entertain your players with an engaging scenario.  If your scenario is hopelessly unbalanced or frustrating, you’ll lose your audience.  Playtesting will also help determine the length of the scenario design.  If the scenario is too short, you could add forces and players.  If it’s too long, you’ll need to cut back on forces or the number of players.

           

           

Always keep your players engaged in the game.

 

            If you have a player who is responsible for a reserve force that arrives in two turns, give them an advance detail that is on the board at the start of the game.  All players need to be actively engaged at the beginning of the scenario.

 

 

            Keep some forces in secret reserve if it fits into the scenario design.

 

            If one side is tremendously successful in spite of your playtesting and plans, have a reserve force that the other side can bring on to the table.  It will depend on the scenario, however.  A unit that is cutoff and fighting for its life shouldn’t be reinforced if the objective of the attacker is its elimination.

           

 

Prepare your figures and terrain before the convention.

 

            It communicates volumes to your players on the quality of your event if you come prepared with your figures and terrain.  If you need to use time at the convention to continue painting or basing your figures or constructing terrain, it implies that you haven’t spent enough time playtesting or balancing your event.   It also detracts from your time at the convention.

 

 

Running the Event at the Convention

 

            Prepare a handout.

 

            Prepare a handout for your players that documents the player’s objectives for the scenario and information on his or her units.  If you can anticipate some of the more commonly asked questions, answer them in your handout.  This will save you plenty of time and aggravation in answering the same question multiple times.

            It is also a good idea to have a rules summary sheet for your scenario for new players.  If you are using variant rules or “house” rules, they can also be documented on these sheets for

player reference during the game.

 

 

            Provide enough gaming equipment for your players to participate in your event.

 

            Players will usually bring their own dice, tape measures, and pencils to a gaming event, but it’s a good practice to have some equipment in reserve.

 

 

Set up before your time slot.

 

            Arrive at your event table early in order to set up the terrain and organize the units for your players.  If you have to run into the timeslot, keep your players busy by having them read the background material and handout for the scenario.  They can begin to familiarize themselves with the scenario and begin their planning for the event.

 

 

            Allow space for “just one more” player.

 

            Be flexible with the number of players you can have in your event.  Sometimes when your event is full, a friend of one of your players may be interested in participating, be prepared to divide one command up into two units.

 

 

Briefing your players.

 

            If the defenders need time to evaluate their setup and terrain, brief the defender players first.  Review the handout and answer any further questions that they may raise during the briefing.  If you pay attention to the kinds of questions your players are asking, you’ll be better prepared to anticipate them for the your next scenario.

 

 

            Keep the players’ tension level high with ‘fog of war.’

 

            Unknown reinforcements…  threats of artillery, clouds of dust in the distance, etc. etc.

 

 

Keep the game moving.

 

            Consider any number of ways to help keep the game moving.  If one side has a tendency to take an excessively long period of time to make a normal game turn decision, provide a gentle warning.  If they persist, you can give them a time deadline or else they’ll forfeit their phase.

 

 

Don’t exceed your time limit.

 

Your schedule in the time slot is well known prior to the event.  Your players may have other plans and commitments that depend on you, the gamemaster, completing your event on time.  You will need to take into account that it may take longer for some players to familiarize themselves with the scenario, the background, and discuss plans and tactics with other members of their team.

Even if you and your players want to continue playing the game, there will very likely be another gamemaster and group of players waiting for you and your group to finish.   Please respect their gaming time as well.

 

 

Get your players’ feedback.

 

Every gamemaster and scenario has opportunities for improvement.  Listen to the ‘after game’ comments from your players and note any improvements or changes to the scenario they would have liked.

 

 

Conclusion

 

Your goal is to create a memorable and high quality gaming event for yourself and your players.  Hopefully, these simple tips and guidelines can make your scenario preparation meet these goals.

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

The author would like to thank Stuart Murray, Mike Sarno, and the other fine Game masters at the ECC convention for their comments and insights.

 

 

Reference

 

“Convention Scenario Design,” J. Arnold and D. Bryant, The Courier, Issue 80, pp. 27-28.