What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

[TheRavenIs]

Ok, what I learned most was this.....make the Science fit the game.

 

 

Never make the science more important that the players.

[Thia Halmades]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

Oo... disagree.

 

Make the science fit the drama.

 

If you want space aliens with super powers, give 'em super powers if its dramatically appropriate. Doesn't matter if you're going Space Opera or Hard Science or with Landmates, all that matters in a Star Hero campaign - as with any campaign - is that it fits what you're doing, and everyone enjoys it.

 

If they're not having fun, now, yes, you've done something critically wrong.

[Curufea]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

Make the science fit the players

Another option I've come across - I had two players that bored the rest of the party to tears with their hard-sf geekdom in what was essentially a rubber science setting.

I really should have slapped them down far earlier to let everyone else get on with it.

[Erkenfresh]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

"It's impossible to fire a ball of super-heated plasma more than a distance of 1.3m and even then it would dissipate too much to do any damage to the target. Everybody knows that. Hah-*snort*-Hah."

[Old Man]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

"Oh yeah?"

 

**FhBoosh!!**

[Curufea]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

"In the time of the Galactic Republic, men were Real Men; women were Real Women; and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were Real Small Furry Creatures from Alpha Centari."

[alexraccoon]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

"It's impossible to fire a ball of super-heated plasma more than a distance of 1.3m and even then it would dissipate too much to do any damage to the target. Everybody knows that. Hah-*snort*-Hah."

 

best defence of this is the bumblebee an insect that is theoretically impossible to fly yet it does. Another defence vs hard science types is that what they know based on today is subject to change, all they're showing is their ignorance and primitive 20th century ideas.

[Manic Typist]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

best defence of this is the bumblebee an insect that is theoretically impossible to fly yet it does.

 

 

Explanation?

 

Veracity?

[Lucius]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

best defence of this is the bumblebee an insect that is theoretically impossible to fly yet it does.

 

This is no longer the case. At one time it was considered "impossible" because it was assumed that the bee's wings are rigid structures. Once stop-motion photography made it clear that the wings flex and change shape in flight, scientists were able to understand how they generate enough lift to enable a bumblebee to fly. There was never anything wrong with the theory of aerodynamics - they just had the facts wrong!

 

Which, now I think of it, just supports your point below....

 

Another defence vs hard science types is that what they know based on today is subject to change' date=' all they're showing is their ignorance and primitive 20th century ideas.[/quote']

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary is a beast ahead of its time.

[Jomster]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

Just how good the Star Hero book is!

 

Big fan of Spacers Toolkit too (although under the cover it's really more about ships than SF gadgets and gear. Not that I mind, I might add!)

[CrosshairCollie]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

No matter what setting you play in, no matter how detailed or rich the history, your PCs will compare everything to something from their favorite sci-fi TV or movie franchise.

 

Any humanshaped telepathic alien will be a Vulcan.

Any multisetting beam weapon will be a phaser.

Any energy sword will be a lightsaber.

Any being that isn't 'naturally' psionic who uses psionics will be said to be using The Force.

 

As a corollary, some players will be irritated when that turns out NOT to be the case, especially if they've arranged their last actions around these expectations.

[Outsider]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

Corollary #2 to CrosshairCollie's previous :

 

No matter what setting you are running, not only will they expect your universe to conform to their favorite sci-fi TV or movie franchise, someone will insist on running a character based on their favorite sci-fi TV or movie franchise.

 

And become irritated when you dont rearrange your universe to suit that.

[Curufea]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

Corollary #3

On the otherhand, if some of the players find the setting unique and interesting - they will pester you to play it as often as possible. Even if you have to end the campaign because other players have moved to different cities...

[JohnTaber]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

Here is what I learned / am learning...

 

Some players want to solve every problem with a hack or a high-tech device instead of their brains and clever role-playing.

 

I'm lucky as my players really kick butt. This is the first space opera campaign I have a run and it is very challenging. One of my players started doing this so badly that one of the players chastised him for it. Gotta love it when other players help keep things in perspective.

[TheRavenIs]

Re: What I Learned Being a Star Hero GM

 

I have learned it is all about having fun as you and your players learn.