Author: Ryan (---.imcinternet.com)
Date: 01-11-2005 13:00
Why so worked up about what seems to have been a good session overall? Let's look at the facts:
At the beginning of the session, the PCs were all being held captive, having destroyed the current batch of zombies, and having sabatoged the zombie-making machines .
At the end of the current session the players are all free, the confederate and french soldiers are fighting, the players defeated a mechanical monstrosity, and a gunboat is on it's way.
I really don't see any problem with that, other than the fact that the PCs accomplished their goals in a way other than the one you wanted them to. Which is why you should always plan goals for the players to accomplish, but NEVER plan the ways you want them to accomplish those goals. Personally, I always plan the goals I think the players need to accomplish to succeed, and then try to note down at least 3 ways to accomplish each of those goals. And even then you've still got to roll with the punches if the players choose another course of action.
OK, let's bring it down to specifics.
The two main problems I see you had were:
1) The players did not pick up on the hostility of the french troops towards the confederates.
This is just a communication mistake. What steps did you take to ommunicate ths fact to your players? French soldiers looking away in disgust and shame when guarding the PCs, an overheard converstation (perhaps half in french, half in english) about how the soldiers detested the "ungodly" experiments, mayeb a witnessed bit of tension or a fight between french and confederate troops. Those would have helped. Even then you have to be ready for the PCs to devise a completely different plan of attack.
2) Combat-crazy PCs.
Common problem. The PCs try to tackle each and every problem head on, usually through violence, with nary a thought about more cerebral solutions. This is a tough one. Usually it requires a few months of work on your part, leading them towards non-violent colsutions where appropriate, and giving them big rewards or acknowledgement when they do find a non-combat solution. Perhaps if they'd sabatoged the mechas, then they could have been given commendations later in the campaign for the "capture of ennemy artillery". And hey, if they're bound and determined to take a walking tank head on, then let them get squished. :-) Anyone else have thoughts on this? I know this is a common GM problem.
anyways, the wrap up (and I hope you're not offended by this response thus far, I personally think your session turned out fine, and sounds pretty damn fun!).
Your current situation is the PCs are loose somewhere between the camp and the jungle. The head baddies are not defeated, but their plans are in ruins. Hmmnnn. Sounds like a perfect opportunity for a climactic battle between one of the defeated head baddies and your PCs. Perhaps a flight into the jungle as the general pursues the wounded party? Or maybe a stand off between the PCs (backed by a few french troops) as the general leads a damaged mecha towards them? In the end, this whole jungle portion of the campaign seems pretty much wrapped up, but the ramifications of the destruction of the zombie lab may be more esciting than the initial investgation itself. I'm interested to see what happens when they get back to Rio...
-Ryan
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