My initial thoughts on Blades in the Dark.
Originally shared by Jeremy Friesen
Last Thursday I ran a session of John Harper‘s Blades in the Dark for seven other players. Beforehand, I read the rules, printed the handouts, and assembled my GM screen. John Harper crafts an evocative setting into the rules – ghosts, soot, capitalist…
http://takeonrules.com/2017/07/04/blades-in-the-dark-by-john-harper/
Good review, but citing a problem with your specific session (“I had 7 people, which is too many”) as what you “Struggled with” tilts the tone of the article away from reviewing the game system and more into talking about that specific session, which feels a little weird.
Sure. But those are my thoughts.
Jeremy Friesen Yes, but they’re not your thoughts about this game they’re your thoughts about your session. Which some people might be interested in, but I imagine it’s fewer people than are interested in your thoughts about the game.
That’s all. If you’re not actually interested in critique, that’s fine too.
Mike Pureka it is a valid critique for a review. And the phrasing could be refined to say “I ran the game outside the recommended number of players, and recommend not running for that many players.”
Mike Pureka I removed that paragraph as it was a vestigial remnant of the session report I was noodling on.
CAn’t wait till you’ve got a few more sessions under your belt Jeremy Friesen, perhaps even as a rotating GM. Great review on the strengths of system and the stories it engenders.
Nathan Roberts I doubt I’ll get a rotating GM, but I’m certain there will be more sessions in the future.
Hey Jeremy – thanks for the shoutout at the end! Also for what it’s worth I enjoyed your article. 😀
Sidenote on resolving things (your complaint at the end). I decide what’s good on combats based on how the job is going, and often how the engagement rolls. If the crew is in the shadows about to spring a coordinated plan against another group … I leave group action up to the players (“K, this sounds like a group action skirmish to me. Now tell me how this plays out according to the rolls. Thorne there saves all your bacon – how?”)
If they’re in a manor, and guards sport them, and they’re engaged and under pressure and don’t have a coordinated plan – generally I have them deal with whatever problem is on each of them individually (assists and protects and the like in full swing).
Dunno if that helps ^_^
Stras Acimovic It helps provide additional context; As with many post-Forge games, context and examples help refine each GMs understanding and approach.
For what it’s worth, I believe Scum & Villainy may hit the table next (as it better aligns with the mega-context that most every gamer knows).
Excited to read your after-action article if one appears ^_^
Thanks for the review!