How To Start It?

Harles · Post by **Harles** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:16 pm

My group is finally opening up to trying Castles and Crusades (I bought the hardcover the month it first came out). We have been playing 3rd edition for nearly 7 years, so it's an old habit that will die hard.

Would you suggest pre-generated characters so we can get into the action right away? Or do you think it would be more fun for the group to create their own characters? (Keep in mind we have 1 book and 7-8 people gaming each week; and this group is notorious for taking a long time in 3rd edition to create characters.)

Also, if I'm to do one session and be judged for the future of C&C in my gaming group, should I run a C&C module or an old classic updated to C&C?

Your input is appreciated.

Harles

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:21 pm

Those are some hard questions, because you would know your group better then us.

However, I think a good way to understand the C&C game (even as easy as it is) is to make characters. This kind of forces players to read through different rules when adjusting options and building a PC. However, if you're really looking to show the strength of C&C to your players, maybe pre gen'ing a bunch of characters is the way to go. The latter option also sounds good because or your limited resources.

As for adventures, a good way to impress players is with a good adventure. When there is a good adventure, some times the rules system you are using fades into the background.

I'd suggest running an adventure that you are comfortable with.

And, last but certainly not least good sir, welcome to the Crusade.

.........................................Omote

FPQ
_________________
> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:21 pm

Folks should always do their own character creating, in my estimation.

1) They are playing what they want to play

2) You learn how the system works

3) It takes 5 minutes. ^_^
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:21 pm

It will take about 3 minutes to create a character, since all it is is rolling some dice, picking a race and class, assigning a Prime or two, and getting some equipment... so, I say, let them make their own characters. As for what to run, doesn't really matter, as long as its fun.

Lhorgrim · Post by **Lhorgrim** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:48 pm

I'm no veteran Crusader, but my suggestion would be to either have everybody roll ability scores ahead of the game time, or roll several sets yourself and have them available for draw at the game.

This should save some time at character creation. Then, the players can focus on the hardest part of making a C&C character....thinking of a name.
I think your players will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly they can create a unique character with C&C as compared to the game you have been playing for the last seven years or so.

As far as presenting them with an enjoyable game, if you've been doing that for seven plus years you already know what will give them enjoyment. Use your best judgment on an adventure and go with the strengths of C&C such as fast pacing, with the rules (as few as there are.) fading into the background.

Welcome to the Crusade!

Harles · Post by **Harles** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:38 pm

Maybe we could start with some equipment packs or something. I'm afraid that purchasing equipment will take the longest - and it's one of the things (when I'm a player) that I find least interesting about character creation.

As far as the adventure goes ... is there a particular adventure specifically designed for C&C that really shines? Something that we could run through in a single 4 session?

If not, maybe I'll scour some of the classic adventures for something short n' sweet.

Thanks

Harles

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:42 pm

Try The Rising Knight. It is both free, and good, and specifically designed to showcase C&C in its glory.

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:42 pm

Welcome Harles! Glad to have another Crusader on board (or one these boards)!
I would only add - The Rising Knight, free from the Trolls is a great intro module and has some NPCs complete with stats - so you could certainly use them as pre-gens if you would say have one or two of your players that would want to do that instead of roll characters.

Some of them are very interesting characters. In our game we used a couple of them that stayed with for a long time.

Enjoy the game!!!
_________________
Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:43 pm

serleran wrote:
Try The Rising Knight. It is both free, and good, and specifically designed to showcase C&C in its glory.

Heh, good timing!!!
_________________
Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Ghul · Post by **Ghul** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:30 am

Roll up characters together on the first night, I say. Roll them bones! Character creation is quick. Make sure they have a basic understanding in the difference between attributes and prime skills. Attributes indicate natural ability (or lack thereof, as the case may be); Primes indicate some bit of training and practice. With that in mind, alert them to primes and how they correlate to class abilities. For example, a 1st level knight has horsemanship for a class skill. This is a dexterity based skill, so it makes good sense for a knight (besides the requisite charisma prime) to have a prime in dexterity as well.

jman5000 · Post by **jman5000** » Tue May 01, 2007 12:33 am

I would recommend creating characters - with 7-8 people, it might take you a full hour to get everything ironed out... you might want to speed things up a bit by cribbing the equipment lists etc, and having a bunch of copies ready for each player once the "hard" part of character creation is done
as for adventure. 1 would recommend rolling your own (if you are good with this) with 2 manditory requirements

a) you must have an encounter within the first minute of play - BAM! get them fighting and showcase the ease, speed and simplicity of C&C combat, use this as a tutorial and show them how to incorporate other edition "feat like" abilities in their combats, and how to descriptively make it exciting

b) you must exercise at least 1 Siege mechanic instance, for the same reasons as a, and in a very short time after adventure start.

mechanically, you'll have really shown the power and difference of C&C in an hour and 15 minutes (including char building), which should sell most anybody.

but other than that.... have fun and enjoy the liberating experience. Get that mage tumbling and get that fighter walking quietly and see the pure joy on you and your players faces
Cheers,

J.

anglefish · Post by **anglefish** » Tue May 01, 2007 1:00 am

I haven't done this yet, so take it with a grain of salt ...

Have your players make 5th to 6th level characters. For those who love options to chose from, this gives them some abililties to try out and it shouldn't take much longer during character creation.

Tank · Post by **Tank** » Tue May 01, 2007 2:45 pm

With so many players looking at one book, I'd make a few Xerox copies of important tables beforehand. Most notably, the equipment tables. If everyone has one of those, that should speed you up a lot. If you have a laptop handy to game with, run the C&C e-screen for quick reference to class and race abilities.

In a couple weeks, I'll be going through the same thing you are now. So let us know how it goes and what pitfalls to avoid! Good luck!

Jyrdan Fairblade · Post by **Jyrdan Fairblade** » Tue May 01, 2007 2:48 pm

I'll also chime in that they should make their own characters, rather than use pregens. It's fast and fun, and is one of the definite joys of the game. But I've never been a fan of using pregens for any game.

Tank · Post by **Tank** » Tue May 01, 2007 3:54 pm

Hah! I found it! The C&C cheat sheet. It's 11 pages of equipment tables, 1st level class and race abilities, and 0th and 1st level spells. Print out a few of those, and everyone should be able to make a character in a snap.

goreanmale.homestead.com%2Ffiles%2Fcnc%2Fcnccheatsheet.pdf

Stuie · Post by **Stuie** » Tue May 01, 2007 4:20 pm

Harles wrote:
Maybe we could start with some equipment packs or something.

That's what I did for my campaign... still took forever rolling up characters because my kids are new to role playing so I had to explain everything (and the implications of everything), but being able to say "Here's your equipment and you have a dozen silver pieces" really got things moving faster. Of course, I could justify this because they were starting in a small farming village and given a task (and their equipment) by their characters' fathers....
_________________
Laudir Agus Mir

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Tue May 01, 2007 4:29 pm

If you need some advice on how one might adjudicate C&C while maximizing its strengths, please feel free to check out the following thread:
http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Tue May 01, 2007 10:11 pm

Tank wrote:
Hah! I found it! The C&C cheat sheet. It's 11 pages of equipment tables, 1st level class and race abilities, and 0th and 1st level spells. Print out a few of those, and everyone should be able to make a character in a snap.

goreanmale.homestead.com%2Ffiles%2Fcnc%2Fcnccheatsheet.pdf

Great idea, use this, let the players roll thier characters, and run Rising Knight, and settle back for a fun night of gaming.

Welcome to the Crusade!
_________________
Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

Troll Lord Games

How To Start It?

How To Start It?

Re: How To Start It?