Need some advice

[csyphrett]

I have been running a mail game for the last four years, and I am thinking of changing the setting in a major way, either temporarily or permanently depending on the players.

The mechanism is already in place for this change.

Should I give them a warning ahead of time?
CES

[Hugh Neilson]

Considering you want the change to be temporary or permanent, depending on the players, I'd likely just go ahead and do it. You may be able to assess whether to make a permanent change from their reaction to the temporary one, or you may want to discuss it with them when you have to decide whether it's temporary or permanent, by which time they should have some experience with the changes and be better able to answer.

[ghost-angel]

nope. drop it on 'em like a bomb. A world shattering event shouldn't been seen coming.. this way you'll get the real reactions of confusion, fear and chaos as everything they know turns out to be wrong.

[Kirby]

I have been running a mail game for the last four years, and I am thinking of changing the setting in a major way, either temporarily or permanently depending on the players.

The mechanism is already in place for this change.

Should I give them a warning ahead of time?
CES
It depends on the mechanicsm, in my opinion. If it's an extra-dimensional or alien invasion, then no. If it's a nuclear bomb being dropped, then yes. You can always foreshadow without explicitly explaining what's going on.

Even if it is an alien invasion or X-Dim invasion, you could foreshadow with a probe testing the planet, if you want.

If it's something like a dimensional rift that catches everyone off guard, then there's no need to bother?

Are you willing to divulge what's going to happen, or are your players on this board?

[pinecone]

You've been running this a while ,only you know thw playas...some groups will be thrilled with a big change ...other folks don't react well to big changes...Likely only you know who from who...

[Soulcatcher]

Forshadowing is ok but not necessary.

I would just do it and, if they don't like it, you can always go the temporary way and eventually give them an out. Its more dramatic and realistic this way.

[Roy_The_Ruthles]

do it! you can always claim it was a dream

[csyphrett]

Thanks guys.


Are you willing to divulge what's going to happen, or are your players on this board?- Kirby

Back when the game started, I set up an entombed, sleeping god-like entity in a park next to the main NPC's martial arts school. The lock on this tomb was in the Astral Plane. The villianous mastermind, working toward a global summoning, had locked a lot of the city's magic energy around this area, and built his HQ on top of it so he could siphon off parts of this thing's energy.

Trying to free up the energy for the summoning, the villain has a disasterous run in with the heroes. One of the heroes cracks the god's tomb open by accident. He and another PC was trapped in the astral plane, he saw the marker, cracked it open.

Fast forward game week/real time years, part of the god escape from the crypt and created a castle in the middle of the city. His only thought is mating, which brings him into conflict with the heroes. After some wrangling, Jody's mage enters the astral plane and shuts him down.

She noticed that there were four more rocks to go with the original but didn't know the signifigance and had to quit before she told anyone.

I told you that so I can tell you that he was able to impregnate four women rescued by the heroes. The team is out of town on other business, and no one has been alerted of the sudden pregnacies.

So when the moms give birth, their kids will all have portions of their dad's powers to use on the city.

They may even be able to release him again. I'm still thinking about that.

CES

[Kirby]

My adviced (take it, leave it, adjust it) is to let them finish the current adventure, then have this be the next adventure.

[csyphrett]

My adviced (take it, leave it, adjust it) is to let them finish the current adventure, then have this be the next adventure.

I think this will be the right thing to do. Right now the majority of the active players are trying to deal with a haunted house to my amusement.
CES