Character distribution

[nicoleb]

I would really like to optimize the possibility that the characters with the most ambitious goals in the game (without giving anything away)are able to carry them out. I think the games are much more fun when the guests really work to achieve their loftiest goals. It was my experience in the Way Out West game that people needed a lot of encouragement, though.

What can you suggest I do to encourage their success?

Also, which personality types (reserved/outgoing) are most successful with which characters? I'm thinking of giving Helen, Hugh, Shafeez and Saville to my most outgoing guests but gave Alvy to a more reserved one. What do you think?

Thanks, as always, for your help!

Nicole

[mo]

Hi Nicole,

The best way to encourage the success of characters in this situation is to make sure they're using their abilities and items effectively. Some players put their ability cards away in a pocket and forget about them... but in CotP, these characters will need to use theirs, at the right times, and think and plan together about how to do so without being immediately thwarted. You can help this along, if they look stuck or baffled, by quietly asking along the lines 'have you tried doing X yet?' / 'have you any ideas about how that can be used to achieve Y?' / 'but what about Z? 'etc. For the host (or the author!), with a top-down view over the whole plot, it's easy to see how it should all fit together -- but sometimes it's difficult for players to get the right perspective on their parts of the plot elements. A little guidance usually helps considerably.

For casting, the best way (I find) is to think as if it was a film, what role would each character play. Clearly Hugh and Helen are the star romantic leads, so a lot of the focus is going to be on them. Shahfeez as a mysterious, sinister figure will also have a lot of 'camera time'. Lindsay, Ariadne and Robert are more subtle, behnd-the-scenes type characters. William, Alvy and Eva can be played either way as the player wishes -- they can be strong 'character' parts, or quieter schemers, according to preference. So yes, I think the way you have it at the moment should work just fine.

best wishes,

Mo

[nicoleb]

Thanks, Mo.

I was also wondering about getting the German version. My party is on July 12th so I was hoping to send the intro to everyone next week. I emailed you about it but haven't heard back....

Nicole

[mo]

Hi Nicole,

I'm so sorry, I haven't seen your email -- it must have got caught in my spam trap or something. I'm emailing you the password to download the German version right now, to your Yahoo email address.

best wishes,

Mo

[nicoleb]

Hi Mo:

Ok. I got it.

Thanks again,

Nicole

[mo]

Hi Nicole,

Great, we hope you all have a terrific time!

best,

Mo