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Topic: One Shots vs Campaigns (Read 388 times) |
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Ochobee
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Just a discussion thread for old and new players alike:
When it comes to playing (or DM'ing) a game, which do you prefer? What is it about one type that you prefer over the other?
Currently I play in a weekly campaign, which has been an outstanding experience so far, but when I DM I prefer to do one shots.
As a DM I think I really prefer the tidyness of one shot games. The entire story is (hopefully) resolved in one sitting, and there are no continuity issues that sometimes occur when one or more players can't make a campaign session. I like to think of it as something akin to watching a movie as opposed to a weekly show on TV.
With the movie, my time spent may be twice as long as a single episode of a TV show, but I get a sense of closure. I may want to see a sequel if the ending leaves options for one, but I am satisfied with the experience.
With a weekly show on TV, the experience may be much deeper, but it requires more patience to resolve. I have to wait a full week to see what happens next, and some episodes will be less dramatic than others due to the story and the time allowed each week to tell that piece of it.
So which is it for you? Most likely it is a little of both, but what is it about each that you like?
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Eliandi
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I prefer DMing a campaign, but enjoy DMing or playing an occasional one-shot. The difference to me is I love moral and emotional challenges for PCs, and its so much more powerful in a campaign where the PCs are well established.
Never been a player in a campaign.
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Rofelli
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Campaign for both. Gives time for a richer, thicker plot to develop, and gives more time for new player interactions. In a one-shot, I've never had much of a reaction to how I interacted with others. In campaigns, I've had a few moments where a strong emotion manifested in me (I still feel their weight, even now when I'm just thinking about them) due to interactions with other people in the group.
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| « Last Edit: on: Jun 25, 2004, 3:52PM » |
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Bigbluepaw
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Campaigns. I like to see character development from NPCs as well as the PCs.
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Festivus
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When DMing, I prefer one shots or very short duration campaigns (no more than 3-4 sessions total). I think I prefer this because it gets frustrating when you have a whole new mix of folks at the next session... the continuity is all broken up.
As for playing, I haven't really tried a longer campaign, I could see really getting into my character development. I seem to have limited playtime as it is however, so I really would rather DM short sessions.
One thing I have done is take Orawebs "U" series, and run several sessions of each of them. Basically they work out to be a mini campaign when all put together, but you can elect to do U1 (a 4 hour game) one week, and then hit U2 in a few months when I run it again (an 8 hour game) and then conclude sometime later when I run U3 (a 12+ hour game). By the time I get to U3, I have folks who know the story to that point, and just have them meet up in the tavern. With the stories broken up into short sessions, they make for nice break points in the game.
If I wasn't so lazy I would write my own modules that would do this too, but with a 10 month old at the house my playtime is already restricted enough 
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Dane Bramage
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I prefer to play the longer mods DLed from The Vault. Most of them are quite long, so I'm not sure if you would call that a one-shot since they take several sessions to complete. But it is kind of like a one-shot, because we normally make new characters for each mod. I have, on occasion, had some continuity with the same character over several mods (normally a series).
I have yet to play in what most folks here would consider a "campaign", so I can't really say what that experience is like. I have played a real 'one-shot' once. It was during the Con. I would have to agree that it is difficult to gain the same level of attachment to the characters and the rest of the party. Other than that, it was a great experience.
Dane.
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egpaul
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I far prefer a campaign. One shots simply don't allow for the character development and growth of a campaign. Additionally a one shot can be a toss of the dice as to whether the group is compatible with one another. In a campaign, you know who you're playing with. In one shots I've seen that the roleplaying is often over the top as everyone is trying to get their character's personality quirks etc across in a short period of time whereas in a campaign you can slowly develop your character and allow others to have the spotlight.
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J'Dai Voisin
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As a player, I enjoy both campaigns and one-shots, but for very different reasons.
Campaigns give me the chance to learn more about the other players and the characters each of us creates.
One-shots provide the opportunity to meet different players, try new character ideas without a long-term commitment, see a number of different modules and develop new ideas for characters/stories/building.
I view it much like cross-training and each gamestyle lends something significant to my overall experience.
- J'Dai
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Play Mate
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Playing, I prefer campaigns because it allows for character development and interaction.
DMing, campaigns are really great. I tend to adjust campaigns and quests to the actions of the group, which requires building every week and this can become a bit tedious, especially when it is a busy week, but in the end it is really cool to give that personal touch to players.
However on a night on which I'm not free every week, a one-shot serves its purpose and is absolutely not something that is necessary inferior to campaigns.
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Carlo One
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Good topic!
In general, do you prefer an excellent movie or an excellent television series? Both have their place and trade-offs. Of course, people can and do legitimately prefer one to the other.
I've DM'd and played a lot of both styles. I personally think a well-run campaign is the kind of experience both DMs and players really strive for. On the other hand, contrary to the general trend I believe, I've had the most intense roleplay experiences DMing one-session games, largely due to Desperate Measures. Some of the PCs in those sessions have made huge impressions on me and on the players involved.
One example: the first PC to ever escape was a cleric who was fascinated, then obsessed by wounds and their effects on people. He had been put on death row for refusing to cure a group of children he had experimented on - wounding, healing, wounding in a repeated fashion. The character appeared normal at first, even pleasant, but over the course of the session the monster showed itself. He was smart and ruthless enough to make it out alive when no one else did. (For those demanding justice, the PC was eventually caught and killed during a standoff in the sequel, "The Hunted", which was also a memorable session.)
I also have to give credit to the last crew that did Desperate Measures and The Hunted, they were a truly memorable group and it was a privilege to be a part of the experience.
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Valas
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I prefer DMing and playing in campaigns. As a DM, it gives me time to get to know the players and develop a rich plot and story. As a player, I enjoy getting to know the other characters more so than developing my own character.
I've done a few one shots. In fact I use one shots as a recruiting tool for my campaigns. But other than that, they just aren't as enjoyable as campaign.
Valas
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Arawen
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Both as a player and DM, I enjoy campaign games much more than one shots.
As a DM, I enjoy seeing PCs develop and weaving plots around them. One campaign is built around the PCs and the other is highly tailored. This often involves a fair amount of time in the toolset since every game is a newly built module. I feel a dynamic focus around on-going PC stories makes the campaigns come alive.
As player, I like to interact with other characters and I enjoy discovering a deep story.
One shot games are not really my cup of tea, but I do enjoy meeting new players. One shot games seem to be the best way to do that, so I try to run one every four to six weeks as a community service.
Arawen
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Poetic Colossus
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I agree Arawen..perfect example of why more one-shots are needed..I dm'ed a one-shot game this afternoon for 4 brand spanking new players to NWC...they all had experiences with PW's on Gamespy, but that was about it...they loved it and were amazed to see the difference between a small session with 4 players and one DM and 30 players and 1 DM...plus, they were AWESOME rp'ers...a great reason of why I think as DM's we need to provide more "community service" by DM'ing one-shots to show newcomers what the NWC experience can be like and to find those "gems in the rough" out there...
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Bigbluepaw
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Yes, you are right PC. I guess that's the 'freebie' that gets the new players addicted...and it really is a service to the community here because it brings in and keeps new players around.
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Lazybones
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I'm trying to fit in a few runs of my one-shot mods "Shrine of the Eth'barat" and "Tome of Secrets" on Wednesday nights when my wife travels. Did one last Wednesday and it went over well; had no difficulty finding players and they were a pretty good lot.
I'm actually a bit surprised that we continue to get new players at the rate we do, given the maturity of NWN. We should grab 'em and draw 'em into the community with these sorts of games while the flow continues.
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Silvarian
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'I haven't heard of a single player who started right out in PnP-style games before playing for at least a few months in a PW. (Though I'm sure I'll hear of a few right now ) '
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Well I'm one of those people that started here first  The reason was simply that I had played MUDS and MMPORGS for years but couldn't find any real roleplaying in any of them. And then I discovered this site, and boom. I did try some persistant worlds soon after, and even now have the intention of playing on one of them seriously... but I can't seem to find the time. Truly this is where its at.. DMed games 
(though I have to admit I am addicted to an mmporg called EVE Online too so between that and NWN DMed games, Im pretty much done...)
As for one shots vs campaigns - as a player starting last september.. I had no choice except one shots then... so few spaces in campaigns! The same problem of finding games is alwaysa a thing but I signed in for every one-shot I found interesting and then later when I played in many campaigns, I have to say my best memories are pretty much split between the two types.
In campaigns you have the amazing situation of developing characters and cohesion. You grow with experience as do your companions and it feels 'epic' in many cases. However the downside to campaigns is the fact that the players need to have the discipline to keep coming every single week and also you really have to enjoy the company of everyone, otherwise your dislike for a certain player could ruin your experience. But if you get a mix of top dms/players and they have the discipline to keep playing, boy are you in for a treat.
On the opposite end one shots are short and sweet - no need for commitment... log in, play and have a blast. One would say little char development and history means its significantly inferior, but it is great at what it does, and sometimes the best one shots are really the experiences you remember for a LONG time. I think I can go as far as saying that up to date that some of my best experiences here have been one and two-shot games (currently its Carlo's Desperate Measures and Hunted - though the fact they were so unique plays a big part.. we really need more variety. I enjoyed the Firefly Sci-Fi oneshot recently, good memory  )
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| « Last Edit: on: Jul 1, 2004, 12:29AM » |
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Reig
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I have been DM'ing the same campaign for a tad over two years now and I truly believe that this is where NwN shines. I think if you can find a small group of quality players and build the campaign around them - allowing them to shape events in the world, and perhaps even help dictate how you build future modules, then you've got something great. Make the Pc's feel they have an impact in a living world and they want to keep coming back for more - as a DM, it is the level of enjoyment the players have (at least what they tell me) that motivates me to continue building and DM'ing. That I'm still doing this two years after the first session should speak to the level of enjoyment on both sides of the DM screen.
In a capmaign, you are able to begin with raw, low-level characters and over the weeks, months, years, develop not just levels and new feats, but dynamics with other members of the party, devlop tactics, personal relationships, quirks, mannerisms ... it's great to look at the PC's now, all level 8-10 and look back to when they were just beginning and see how they have developed their characters.
Of course, I think a lot of it hinges on what you want out of NwN, as well as how much time you can put into it. If you don't have much free time or have an uncertain schedule, then one-shots or persistant worlds are probably the way to go. Personally, I will probably take a brief respite from building/Dm'ing here soon and play a little more - I just recently joined here as a player in a DM'ed campaign, and I am having fun on other side of the adventure for now.
Reig
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Talondale
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Well as a newbie having only played one one-shot I would say for my hectic schedule (building a new house, a 3.5 yr old and twin 1.5 year olds, MARRIED)one shots may be all thats available to me. I just can't commit to any regularly scheduled campaigns unless they were short (3-4 games). So I would say don't restrict the one-shots to just newbs. What I would like to see is the possibility for continuity across a series of one shots. Sort of like what Festivus mentioned but not something linear. Perhaps a group of mods that have a similar feel that you could port your character to and wander in and out of as you have time yet still develop that character. In "real life" the possibility that one group would stay together for long periods is unlikely. Rather you would stray in and out of each others life as circumstances dictated/allowed. It would be great to rp a reunion of characters that had travelled together but hadn't seen each other in some time and would be amazed in the changes of each other and the stories they could tell. Just don't know how to do it.
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Keenam
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on Jul 6, 2004, 7:21 PM, Talondale wrote:| What I would like to see is the possibility for continuity across a series of one shots. Sort of like what Festivus mentioned but not something linear. Perhaps a group of mods that have a similar feel that you could port your character to and wander in and out of as you have time yet still develop that character. |
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I like this idea, something like a community built set of modules (town/city + surrounding areas, but a DM could always guide his players out of the area for a short campaign for variety). Many short campaigns and one shots could be run in the area, with available players coming and going as time dictates. I think over time the *history* of these campaigns would start to limit the direction players and DMs could follow. But we could just start a new area, if that becomes a problem.
It might be an interesting situation if groups of good / evil / monster players are each running their own mini campaigns in the same region. Hmm - not sure how we could ensure that each group does not kill critical plot npc's for other groups. Just need to log them somewhere I guess, and have them always manage to escape. Then again the death of an npc may be critical to a plot. Then there is the issue of repeating one shot adventures.
*shrugs* I liked the idea, but it might just be too complex to administer to really be worth it. Oh well, looks like the suggestion of a collection of loosly related mods would work better.
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