submitted 1 year ago by KiloGex@lemmy.world to c/rpg@ttrpg.network

24 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Pretty short and sweet, how do you successfully narrate travel between points of interest as a GM without it being all hurky-jerky?

I'm imagining attempting to narrate the epic travel scenes in Lord of the Rings, where they travel for days in fast-forward with nothing really interesting happening, only to then suddenly have time reel down to normal when something is about to happen. Every time I try this in a game though it just feels awkward and abrupt, while also clearly indicating to the players that something is going to happen.

Is there a way to make this a more smooth and natural transition?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] eerongal@ttrpg.network 10 points 1 year ago

Most of the time for travel, i usually default to "red lining" (which is a concept that unfortunately shares its name with a practice of racially profiling people for housing purposes, but is not related in any way), which is a quick blurb/explanation talking about the travel. The idea is supposed to be similar to, like, action movies such as indana jones where you'd see a map and a "red line" is drawn showing their travel as a quick transition to the new locale.

I also prompt players for anything they want to "do" during their travels, which can be whatever the players want to call out.

That said, i usually try to include in my description just quick descriptions of time frames, and sights the characters would see. I.E. "You travel through the foothills for around a week, on the way you take note of the lush forests, rolling terrain, and the peak of mount doom far in the distance looming ominously. You finally arrive at the hamet of (city)."

this post was submitted on 17 Jul 2023

40 points (100.0% liked)

rpg

3141 readers

34 users here now

This community is for meaningful discussions of tabletop/pen & paper RPGs

Rules (wip):

Do not distribute pirate content
Do not incite arguments/flamewars/gatekeeping.
Do not submit video game content unless the game is based on a tabletop RPG property and is newsworthy.
Image and video links MUST be TTRPG related and should be shared as self posts/text with context or discussion unless they fall under our specific case rules.
Do not submit posts looking for players, groups or games.
Do not advertise for livestreams
Limit Self-promotions. Active members may promote their own content once per week. Crowdfunding posts are limited to one announcement and one reminder across all users.
Comment respectfully. Refrain from personal attacks and discriminatory (racist, homophobic, transphobic, etc.) comments. Comments deemed abusive may be removed by moderators.
No Zak S content.
Off-Topic: Book trade, Boardgames, wargames, video games are generally off-topic.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

Avogadro@ttrpg.network

sirblastalot@ttrpg.network

TripHammer@ttrpg.network

Primarch@ttrpg.network

BrentTaylor@ttrpg.network