Edge Ov The Twilight Queen's Domain: Mvrkmaal's Tunnel Campaign Hiatus Log
I went too hard in the paint, and now my entire body is Bright Green .-.
In The World Of Fantasy
So! Takeaways from about 6 Sessions of Dungeon Crawl and Occasional Downtime.
It's true what they say! You don't need a lot of Dungeon to run the first few sessions! The PC's only got to about 12 rooms total over the 6 sessions, and the first 3 of those took place mostly within the first 7 rooms!
Torches always seem to run out and throw the PC's into the dark right when the plot thickens! It happened when Savin the MU woke up the Rust Monster slumbering atop the chute to the Treasure Vault in Level 2.(Sadly, not seen this time around ;-;) It happened when the 2 Berserkers teleported into the Furnace Teleporters Room.
It really clicked for me in this campaign, how in a true dungeon environment the consumption of resources pushes the action forward. I'd been out of the game for about a year and some change, and in the past i'd never given much thought to Keeping Track of Resources because I was coming from the 5e Realm of Gaming Early On. .-.
It also became quite apparent to me, just how great Random Encounter Tables are if you are the type of person that likes to roll them and then wait for a contextually satisfying place for the party to arrive at a Particularly Perilous Point.
The Rot Grubs in particular, were a great random encounter to happen as a less Overtly Combat Oriented moment in the session. They served a great purpose. To evoke disgust and discomfort for the Players as you describe these vicious little worms consuming and writhing within decomposing materials.
The next time I design a dungeon, or perhaps when I update Mvrkmaal's Tunnel I will most definitely be expanding the descriptions of each room. One point I forgot to emphasize was Clear Descriptions, Direction Giving and Time Management in an effort to maintain a casual vibe during the sessions.
I think in actuality, it made the game less focused and more of a Hang Out involving a Dungeon than a true Session Of Dedicated Dungeon Crawling. The amount of time, being a strict 1.5 hours also may have been a tad too restrictive. 2 hours will probably work better for a hard cut-off.
All in all, I must become a stricter GM.
Next time, I will definitely aim to grab a larger pool of players to ensure a more consistent party size as well. The issue that comes with this though, is that I will need to have a better grasp on my Time Management Skills along with a True Schedule I adhere to. Running The World, Progressing The Calendar, creating play content and Keeping Strict Time Records all require me to make dedicated time for Gaming within my life.
In The Material Realm
So! A campaign has ended/taken a hiatus!
Why?
I simply bit off more than I could chew, within my own life. I tried to balance multiple loves, and so when it fumbles the entire juggle is sent crashing down.
I am currently an Apprentice in the Trades! 1.5 years in, and very much tired after 8-10 hours of work everyday! (weekends included, sometimes consecutively! x3) I feel fatigued in almost every muscle from head to toe, for I use the Human Body as the Ultimate Tool with which I am learning to Master the Objective Tools of The Trade. My mind focuses in on rest, and preparation for the next day when The War Resumes and one must Be A Union Soldier, Ready To Take Orders and Perform Your Duties By All Means Necessary. My soul as well, weighs heavy. For unfortunately, the world was not ready for me...
Though I am not Out as A Trans Individual in the Material Realm, I am undeniably LGBTQ+ and that means there are those who believe people like me Do Not Belong and Cannot/Should Not Attempt Or Learn To Do A Job For Real Men.
All of this, weighs on me. And instead of focusing on other habits or hobbies that allow me to fully relax, to rest my soul and mind. I attempted to continue forcing my mind to work, my hands to grab pen and paper only a few hours after they were shaking from hours of using Hand Grinders and Finishing Trowels. I would force myself to arrive home, rush a meal to be able to run a game.
I could not keep it up. And attempting to do so would be doing a great disservice to my own well-being. The lesson here being, well, that for as much passion and love I have for Gaming...
Right now is not the time for Games, right now I need to be much more. I must be a Student of The Trade mastering new skills, I must be a Union Soldier on the front lines of the War for Worker's Rights, I must be a Proud LGBTQ Member during a time when being openly so is potentially dangerous.
I may in fact be the first (If not one of the first) Member(s) of my Union to be Transgender (FTM). The world needs me to be a Trailblazer, standing strong against the influx of opposition I will face simply for being The Person That I Am.
So with great sadness, I must put down the Hat of GameMaster/Referee for now. Though I will continue working on Gaming Content (albeit at a slower pace than before) and plan to branch out into Deep Dives/analysis of various OSR products I own, unfortunately Running/Playing Games is something I must cut out of my schedule to make room for practices and hobbies that will allow me to rest the Human Trifecta during these times.
Heads up Comrades, the Battle may be over but the War never lets up.
Yours truly, DoomedAxolotl