So, for SGAM this year, Todd Zircher has pitched that challenge should be a board game/solo hybrid setup. While an interesting conceit, I have to admit I’ve been struggling to figure out how to make this work.
1) If the game has any “RPG” Elements to it, couldn’t this just veer into an Actual Play recap?
2) If not, I worry about just “narrativizing” (it is TOO a word) the game play. I.E. my character in Clue goes to the Billiard room, and I just write an “in character justification” for this decision, even though it’s really just a mechanical choice.
3) Using the board game as mere backdrop/jumping off point. Once the game starts, throw the board game to the side and just play a standard Solo. Sure, I’m starting off playing Arkham Horror, but I’m really just doing a Solo Call of Cthulhu game set in Arkham. Or, I say I’m playing Pandemic, but I’m really just playing a CDC scientist with miniD6 and going from there.
I feel like “3” is the best approach, but I wonder if this is really a Hybrid game, when all is said and done. True, you are using the world of the board game to set things up. For example, lets go absurd and try it with Candyland. I could use it as a baseline and tell a whimsical fantasy story set in a magical, candy themed world. If I go with the “Hybrid” approach, then I end up just trying to describe and explain why I moved to purple and not red.
So, has anyone done anything like this before? Are there any AP’s out there you would recommend? Because it sounds interesting, I just don’t think I’m approaching it with the right mind set.
Lone Wolf Roleplaying 