Andrew Shields – Page 32 – Blades in the Dark G+ Archives

Suggestion: it would be helpful to add “Military” as a possible background.

Well, tonight I ran my first session of Blades in the Dark.

Well, tonight I ran my first session of Blades in the Dark. It was a disaster. By the end of it, the players were very frustrated. I am discouraged, to say the least.

I’ll break down the analysis tomorrow, after sleep. Probably put one or two issues per post to unpack the problems my players had.

I planned to run an online game on Monday, and now my confidence is shaken to the point I may cancel.

Anyway, good night.

In looking through the quick start, there’s something that I just assume my group will change.

In looking through the quick start, there’s something that I just assume my group will change. It’s fast and easy, and makes sense to me, so I haven’t thought to mention it.

The quickstart suggests doing experience for a session at the beginning of the next session. The most obvious reason not to do it that way is because even in a stable group you may not have the same people at every session. So you play, but you don’t get experience if you don’t show up the next time. Or, people who do show up for the first time (or missed last session) can’t participate in the discussion of what you did last time.

Also, time passes and people forget. Even a week later, they may not remember who did what last time. No, experience really needs to be handled at the end of the session.

I could see doing down time at the beginning of the next session.

Is there a crucial point I’m missing?