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From: dorettas@iddic.UUCP (Doretta Schrock)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: modular refereeing
Message-ID: <2271@iddic.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 14:02:42 EST
Article-I.D.: iddic.2271
Posted: Tue Oct 29 14:02:42 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 02:15:36 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
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[The fastest way to a monster's heart is with a halberd]

Here's an idea I thought of recently that I haven't seen in these parts:
modular refereeing (or DMing, etc.).  Basically, the idea is to let several
people get in on the joys (!? :*) of refereeing in a short time period
with minimal chaos and reality distortion.  It also helps stave off referee
burn-out, since everyone gets to play as well.

Here's how it works:  One person acts as the super-ref, and sketches an
outline for an adventure (say, 12 to 18 hours worth, very rough ideas).
He or she then breaks the adventure into modules at natural break points
(like when the party goes from city to forest, etc.) and assigns each module
to a different person.  These people are then free to develop their section
of the adventure as they see fit, with a few restrictions.  The super-ref
tells them what the general setting is, how long (playing time) it should
be, what the players' goals during the module are, and, specifically, what
NPCs will be going in, which should come out (i.e., which ones have to be
introduced or killed off during the module), and what items, if any, need
to be found during the module.  The designer of the module is then free to
orchestrate these events however he or she likes (what?  You say it sounds
like software design?! How dare you!! :-), including any red herrings, 
diversions, obstacles, etc. that he or she wants to include.  The super-ref
runs the first and probably last modules, with everyone playing in everyone
else's modules.  This requires that everyone be on at least fairly good terms,
since someone is going to have to run your character(s) when you referee 
your module.

Now, before I begin to get those "marshmallow toastie" feelings, let me
say that this idea is completely untested.  I'm getting together with some
old college buddies for a pseudo-reunion in a couple of months, and we're
going to be doing this with our homebrew FRPG (which, really, is the best
game you've ever seen :-).  I've got module #4, which may or may not be
significant (the super-ref won't tell us, and we aren't telling each other),
and boy oh boy do they have some surprises waiting for them (evil laughter,
evil laughter).  I'll let you know how it turns out.  If anyone else has
tried anything like this, do you have any pointers?  If this is really an
old shopworn idea that I somehow missed, would you like to hear about another
neat new idea I have? I call it "special relativity"...:-)

		Mike Sellers <--note the name difference from above

"You've got to do some
stupid things once in a while,
if you want to be a hero."
	-- Rocky J. Squirrel