14 thoughts on “Paint the Scene”

  3. Ok, I’m going to try it at tomorrow’s session. 🙂 Lets share the descriptive load! I already know one of my players is better at evocative language than I am.

  4. Ok, I’m going to try it at tomorrow’s session. 🙂 Lets share the descriptive load! I already know one of my players is better at evocative language than I am.

  5. I used this for the first time (I think) in a session about a month ago. I’ve always encouraged my players to describe environmental elements during their actions and it’s never quite gelled with them.

    But in this session, I wanted to portray Moulin Rogue-scale decadence and so when I set the scene I said “this place is the most debauched atmosphere you’ve ever seen. Let’s go around and each describe something so outlandish it surprised your character, an indulgence they never expected to see.” The result (among other things) is that these nobles were using servants as furniture.

    I never would have thought of that! Beyond being a tool to reinforce themes and empower players, ideas like Paint the Scene are just good ways to share the cognitive and creative load. If you’ve got good players, that elevates a game in a way that a single GM never could.

  6. I used this for the first time (I think) in a session about a month ago. I’ve always encouraged my players to describe environmental elements during their actions and it’s never quite gelled with them.

    But in this session, I wanted to portray Moulin Rogue-scale decadence and so when I set the scene I said “this place is the most debauched atmosphere you’ve ever seen. Let’s go around and each describe something so outlandish it surprised your character, an indulgence they never expected to see.” The result (among other things) is that these nobles were using servants as furniture.

    I never would have thought of that! Beyond being a tool to reinforce themes and empower players, ideas like Paint the Scene are just good ways to share the cognitive and creative load. If you’ve got good players, that elevates a game in a way that a single GM never could.

  9. I suggested essentially this technique to someone MCing Apocalypse World once, ages ago (probably after discussing it on a forum), and then saw one player loudly and vociferousy refuse to participate in it when it was used.

    Amusingly, this technique would also be super inappropriate in nearly all of the old school games I have played, to a degree that no one would even consider using it (except perhaps in a few very specific and limited cases). It gets pretty close to the difference between old school and storygames for me, even if it’s not the whole deal.

  10. I suggested essentially this technique to someone MCing Apocalypse World once, ages ago (probably after discussing it on a forum), and then saw one player loudly and vociferousy refuse to participate in it when it was used.

    Amusingly, this technique would also be super inappropriate in nearly all of the old school games I have played, to a degree that no one would even consider using it (except perhaps in a few very specific and limited cases). It gets pretty close to the difference between old school and storygames for me, even if it’s not the whole deal.

  11. Johnstone Metzger I make the case quite regularly on FoaBD for techniques like this to be used in old school games. I don’t know if anyone is listening, haha, but who knows?

  12. Johnstone Metzger I make the case quite regularly on FoaBD for techniques like this to be used in old school games. I don’t know if anyone is listening, haha, but who knows?

  13. Jason Cordova Oh, I know! I listen to it. I am pretty certain there are people playing only osr games that would enjoy this technique if they gave it a chance. It just violates the division of responsibilities between GM and players that is the defining element, for me, of exploration in old school games (as opposed to other games).

    I just think it’s funny that it was in a storygame that I saw someone dislike it so much. Maybe it’s understandable, but I’m not sure that player would have liked my old school games either, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  14. Jason Cordova Oh, I know! I listen to it. I am pretty certain there are people playing only osr games that would enjoy this technique if they gave it a chance. It just violates the division of responsibilities between GM and players that is the defining element, for me, of exploration in old school games (as opposed to other games).

    I just think it’s funny that it was in a storygame that I saw someone dislike it so much. Maybe it’s understandable, but I’m not sure that player would have liked my old school games either, so… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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