Does anyone produce an in-game newspaper that highlights the secondary and tertiary effects of their players actions? If anyone is familiar, I'm hoping for something like the Baldur's Mouth Gazette in Baldur's Gate 3
I love the idea of having a new edition every now and then, letting them know how their actions effect the world and how the world is changing around them. Does anyone do this, or have experience making something like this for their games?
It’s cool idea, but it really seems like a lot of effort. You’d mock up a whole paper (or maybe just a front page) when all you want is for the characters to see one article. It’s just as easy, I’d think, to have the PCs see the changes happening. Or if they’ve traveled, to hear other travelers talking in the inn about the crazy crap that just happened over there, and the PCs know it was them. That also allows for an rp opportunity if the characters want to take the credit for it — and face consequences when people know it was them.
Also, a newspaper means a printing press, which opens a whole can of worms in terms of technology level.
I actually do have a newspaper. My game is like a sandbox, where the overarching goal is to kill the BBEG, since he's just running around doing evil crud. I like to use newspapers to have them detail stuff that's happening around, and how their actions worked in-game. For example, newspapers may alert them to possible threats, bounties, and if a major event happened.
A newspaper implies movable type, which is an element of world building that doesn't always serve... I did it as rumors the characters have overheard...
The News from N'earth... Anun - Youngest Darling ruler yet to ascend throne. Coronation preparations delayed by removal of dead cats from Palace grounds. This headline from The Palace Gazette, whose offices have since burnt down. Wawloon - Diplomats hope to conclude negotiations with Anun by summer, Praise Gohsn! A comment often made before the start of a sermon. Nymiir - Criers announce 234th anniversary of Ychla's defeat to be celebrated with a rededication of memorial to the fallen. To be held at the site of the famous battle on the slopes of Mt. Tornos. Vyddh - Merchant prince Reggie An Dara elected king, according to other merchant princes. Icthala - Tabaxi ninja tries to sell ghosts at county fair. A good time had by all? Elkenbrand - Clan Brekke's exile will end soon according to a rumor told by clan mothers. Uloomu - Criers announce 234th anniversary of Ychla's defeat to be celebrated with a parade to honor heroes of the past. Ft. Ghul - Criers whisper 234th anniversary of Ychla's defeat to be celebrated with stolid refusal to talk about it... Wizard Kings - Topline from a popular pamphlet circulating among the upper echelons of the Northern City States: Seven signs your vizier is plotting a coup, #4 will astound you! (Please also note the debatable usage of a comma which was done intentionally and which caused me physical pain...) Merfolk - Sailors report sighting Merfolk in unprecedented numbers. Sahuagin - Sailors report sighting Sahuagin in unprecedented numbers. Gnolls - The people of Icthala sigh with relief over the lack of Gnoll sightings. Tabaxi - The Dread Pirate M reported to be rotten Tabaxi corpse, according to someone the speaker knows but whom you don't.
Giants' Roads - Sign Posted by Kaia Ancalagon: Be Elsewhere or Fall Prey to Moros the Undying Lord. Skeletons in his service sighted at some distance from the entrance. No one's safe. Angels - Security forces in Northern city states report red-eyed robot in white tabard with sea azure, an iceberg vert, crowned with a city or, the shadow of a serpent sable overall, seeking whereabouts of winged figure overheard asking about purple tentacle-lady. Demons - Security forces in Northern city states report man with bat wings seeking information on the whereabouts of purple tentacle-lady. Faeries - Man with crow's head seen cow-tipping near Icthala, according to officials from Icthala (No one listens to officials from Icthala because they have titles like Town Meeting Secretary or Animal Control Officer...) Ester's End - Town evacuated a few centuries ago to forestall plague according to Wawloonese Inquisition. Cyra - Town looted and burned by the Dread Pirate. The Moon - New craters and new lights have appeared in recent decades.
Does anyone produce an in-game newspaper that highlights the secondary and tertiary effects of their players actions? If anyone is familiar, I'm hoping for something like the Baldur's Mouth Gazette in Baldur's Gate 3
I love the idea of having a new edition every now and then, letting them know how their actions effect the world and how the world is changing around them. Does anyone do this, or have experience making something like this for their games?
Thanks,
- Brad (he/him)
Player Since 2020, DM Since 2022, Nerd Since Way Back
I have done it in many of my campaigns.
Example 1
Example 2
It’s cool idea, but it really seems like a lot of effort. You’d mock up a whole paper (or maybe just a front page) when all you want is for the characters to see one article.
It’s just as easy, I’d think, to have the PCs see the changes happening. Or if they’ve traveled, to hear other travelers talking in the inn about the crazy crap that just happened over there, and the PCs know it was them. That also allows for an rp opportunity if the characters want to take the credit for it — and face consequences when people know it was them.
Also, a newspaper means a printing press, which opens a whole can of worms in terms of technology level.
Thanks! I'm trying to get permission to view 😊
Thanks,
- Brad (he/him)
Player Since 2020, DM Since 2022, Nerd Since Way Back
I actually do have a newspaper. My game is like a sandbox, where the overarching goal is to kill the BBEG, since he's just running around doing evil crud. I like to use newspapers to have them detail stuff that's happening around, and how their actions worked in-game. For example, newspapers may alert them to possible threats, bounties, and if a major event happened.
How did you build it? Do you have an editable template that you swap out headlines and photos for? Did you get an already made photo and edit that?
Thanks,
- Brad (he/him)
Player Since 2020, DM Since 2022, Nerd Since Way Back
I usually take notes of the main things the newspaper covers and I tell my players what it says.
Fixed permissions. I use Slides/Power Point to create. Ten Towns Revalia
Yes! Thank you! That's exactly the inspiration I'm looking for.
PowerPoint, interesting! I hadn't thought of that
Thanks,
- Brad (he/him)
Player Since 2020, DM Since 2022, Nerd Since Way Back
A newspaper implies movable type, which is an element of world building that doesn't always serve... I did it as rumors the characters have overheard...
The News from N'earth...
Anun - Youngest Darling ruler yet to ascend throne. Coronation preparations delayed by removal of dead cats from Palace grounds. This headline from The Palace Gazette, whose offices have since burnt down.
Wawloon - Diplomats hope to conclude negotiations with Anun by summer, Praise Gohsn! A comment often made before the start of a sermon.
Nymiir - Criers announce 234th anniversary of Ychla's defeat to be celebrated with a rededication of memorial to the fallen. To be held at the site of the famous battle on the slopes of Mt. Tornos.
Vyddh - Merchant prince Reggie An Dara elected king, according to other merchant princes.
Icthala - Tabaxi ninja tries to sell ghosts at county fair. A good time had by all?
Elkenbrand - Clan Brekke's exile will end soon according to a rumor told by clan mothers.
Uloomu - Criers announce 234th anniversary of Ychla's defeat to be celebrated with a parade to honor heroes of the past.
Ft. Ghul - Criers whisper 234th anniversary of Ychla's defeat to be celebrated with stolid refusal to talk about it...
Wizard Kings - Topline from a popular pamphlet circulating among the upper echelons of the Northern City States: Seven signs your vizier is plotting a coup, #4 will astound you! (Please also note the debatable usage of a comma which was done intentionally and which caused me physical pain...)
Merfolk - Sailors report sighting Merfolk in unprecedented numbers.
Sahuagin - Sailors report sighting Sahuagin in unprecedented numbers.
Gnolls - The people of Icthala sigh with relief over the lack of Gnoll sightings.
Tabaxi - The Dread Pirate M reported to be rotten Tabaxi corpse, according to someone the speaker knows but whom you don't.
Giants' Roads - Sign Posted by Kaia Ancalagon: Be Elsewhere or Fall Prey to Moros the Undying Lord. Skeletons in his service sighted at some distance from the entrance. No one's safe.
Angels - Security forces in Northern city states report red-eyed robot in white tabard with sea azure, an iceberg vert, crowned with a city or, the shadow of a serpent sable overall, seeking whereabouts of winged figure overheard asking about purple tentacle-lady.
Demons - Security forces in Northern city states report man with bat wings seeking information on the whereabouts of purple tentacle-lady.
Faeries - Man with crow's head seen cow-tipping near Icthala, according to officials from Icthala (No one listens to officials from Icthala because they have titles like Town Meeting Secretary or Animal Control Officer...)
Ester's End - Town evacuated a few centuries ago to forestall plague according to Wawloonese Inquisition.
Cyra - Town looted and burned by the Dread Pirate.
The Moon - New craters and new lights have appeared in recent decades.
I love how worlds full of magic that can do anything is given, but the printed word is unheard of 😅
Thanks,
- Brad (he/him)
Player Since 2020, DM Since 2022, Nerd Since Way Back
You're assuming the magic isn't being levied against the printed word...