Your point about the animal options is well received!
One reason why I was thinking that starting in a more "standard/normal" Redwall-themed faction/region/geopoliticalwhatever would be that it would have a decent variety on the starting list of optional creatures: Mice, Moles, Shrews, Hedgehogs, Skunks, Turtles, Badgers, Squirrels, Raccoon, Possum, etc. A wretchedly North American collection, I know.
I have considered the idea of a "species cap" meant to preserve a rational ratio of various critters. It is more fun if there's a lot of variety, rather than some kind of overwhelming badger super-majority or something. Right?
On the other hand, maybe that's all just overcomplicating it a bit; I'd think of that as being more on the order of a secondary game mechanics question, something to keep in mind, and consider for if/when the game's population starts skewing unbalanced. Until it's a problem, it's not a problem, after all.
I also agree that keeping the plot moving would present challenges; it's a pretty bucolic kind of a genre, overall, and prone to narrative stagnation. Ther's a tendency on Jamjar games to try and lean on the central mystery of "oooeeeeewooo how did we get jamjarred!" as a motivating factor, but I don't think that's as compelling for players as it might (rationally) be for their characters.
My initial thoughts are a month with a more chill event, like a seasonal activity, cultural exchange, preparation/recovery/exploration related to previous or upcoming events..... followed by a more intense and action-heavy event the next month, alternating on and off like that.
For example: It's harvest season right now, and so there would be lots of concerns in an agrarian society like the one we're discussing surrounding the oncoming winter. Not getting the harvest in, the foraging gathered, and enough stores put away isn't just a cute activity, it's life or a slow, agonizing death by starvation. Players who've chosen creatures that hibernate might find themselves plagues by bouts of alternating insomnia and narcolepsy, and might need to be rescued from wherever they end up passing out. Preserving so much food is an all-paws-on-deck(hehe) activity, and people who've never heard of canning before are going to have to learn in a hurry or risk being ostracized. And to cap off the month, there's a big party! Dancing! Pumpkin feast! Cute cultural play featuring all the community's children telling a definitely not forshadowing spooky halloween story about frost ghosts that try to kill people all the time!
And then next month frost ghosts start trying to kill people! Oh no! What was the plot of that play and how did they fend them off again?
In any case, I've never moderated a game before! I'm not sure how well I might do. It's quite nervewracking to think about it.
no subject
Your point about the animal options is well received!
One reason why I was thinking that starting in a more "standard/normal" Redwall-themed faction/region/geopoliticalwhatever would be that it would have a decent variety on the starting list of optional creatures: Mice, Moles, Shrews, Hedgehogs, Skunks, Turtles, Badgers, Squirrels, Raccoon, Possum, etc. A wretchedly North American collection, I know.
I have considered the idea of a "species cap" meant to preserve a rational ratio of various critters. It is more fun if there's a lot of variety, rather than some kind of overwhelming badger super-majority or something. Right?
On the other hand, maybe that's all just overcomplicating it a bit; I'd think of that as being more on the order of a secondary game mechanics question, something to keep in mind, and consider for if/when the game's population starts skewing unbalanced. Until it's a problem, it's not a problem, after all.
I also agree that keeping the plot moving would present challenges; it's a pretty bucolic kind of a genre, overall, and prone to narrative stagnation. Ther's a tendency on Jamjar games to try and lean on the central mystery of "oooeeeeewooo how did we get jamjarred!" as a motivating factor, but I don't think that's as compelling for players as it might (rationally) be for their characters.
My initial thoughts are a month with a more chill event, like a seasonal activity, cultural exchange, preparation/recovery/exploration related to previous or upcoming events..... followed by a more intense and action-heavy event the next month, alternating on and off like that.
For example: It's harvest season right now, and so there would be lots of concerns in an agrarian society like the one we're discussing surrounding the oncoming winter. Not getting the harvest in, the foraging gathered, and enough stores put away isn't just a cute activity, it's life or a slow, agonizing death by starvation. Players who've chosen creatures that hibernate might find themselves plagues by bouts of alternating insomnia and narcolepsy, and might need to be rescued from wherever they end up passing out. Preserving so much food is an all-paws-on-deck(hehe) activity, and people who've never heard of canning before are going to have to learn in a hurry or risk being ostracized. And to cap off the month, there's a big party! Dancing! Pumpkin feast! Cute cultural play featuring all the community's children telling a definitely not forshadowing spooky halloween story about frost ghosts that try to kill people all the time!
And then next month frost ghosts start trying to kill people! Oh no! What was the plot of that play and how did they fend them off again?
In any case, I've never moderated a game before! I'm not sure how well I might do. It's quite nervewracking to think about it.