10.06.2009

Heretical Text! The Foreseeable Future Of Dark Heresy

It's probably not known by some of my regular readers, but Dark Heresy was not played last week, and I'm somewhat sad to say that it wasn't played tonight. David and I discussed it briefly, and his thoughts on the matter are the same as mine, of which I was thankful.

Both of us agree that a large part of the momentum of the game petered out when we lost over half the group (first with Carl, then more importantly, Taylor and Josh, in that order.) That coupled with 2 new characters, that have had to jump in mid-story, and Sam not returning, have done nothing but complicate things a bit more.

Not that complication in gaming on the "viking hat" side of the screen isn't a good thing, I usually like the challenge, it's just too much of a challenge too soon, I guess. I want to run a decently paced game that holds the attentions of and entertains my players and myself, and right now, neither my heart nor head are in the game. I feel burdened, and it's creeping into gameplay.

I think everyone involved can honestly say it is likely for the best that I take some time to "fix" the game, as such. To do a little prep and get myself caught up and all my thoughts loosely sketched out. I don't need a storyline. I've been winging the whole thing, but I do need some up-front prep that will help flesh out what's going on in the game and will paint a better picture both of what I imagine as I brainstorm and what I want to convey to the group as they explore the Imperium.

I guess that's it...nothing too groundbreaking, but I wanted to be more clear than I was before on the reasonings, and maybe shed some light for those of you who read and are interested in the DH game.

In the interim, I think I'm gonna run some one-shots and do some playtesting sessions for ideas I have for the upcoming Dark Sun and other games. Maybe even knock out a session of some game I have setting on the shelf. Scion? Vampire? Marvel Super Heroes? I dunno.

I do want, again, to point out that Dark Heresy is NOT ending. I just need a break so the game doesn't spiral into a shitstorm that there's no recovery from. Sorry to my players.

p.s. Foreseeable is a messed up word, man. I mean, wtf.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Sometimes a break/reboot is the best thing for a game. Hell, I've restarted my epic Dark Sun game about 3 times, due to the same issues you've shared. Sometimes I just want to run One Shots and leave the epic games for a future book to write, lol.

Sohj said...

Ok, here's what we need to do. You, David, and Steve need to move up here--that way Taylor and I have a game group again. It's really the only way.

Alternatively, someone needs to make teleportation technology. I think that'd be the cooler, but less feasible, route.

Buddy Richards said...

Well, Josh H., depending on how some job interviews in the future go, some of us might be closer to your area.

Josh D., yeah, man...but I hate when it happens. Necessary or not, it's just a bummer.