Hey, y'all! I'm running a game where the PCs are about to visit a big stadium and watch the setting equivalent of a soccer cup game. I've already let them have some input on things like team names and colors since I revealed the concept, and I have a way to determine which teams will actually be present at the match (each player just rolled d20 for their chosen team, with the highest result designating the reigning champions, and the second-highest deciding their opponents). What I'm working on now is a way for the PCs to have some impact on how the game plays out as they watch it from the stands—something that allows them to participate meaningfully in the outcome as fans, rather than as players on the field.
I don't want to drag the scene out, since it's just meant to be a fun diversion that relieves tension between other, heavier stuff going on. So, it needs to be pretty simple and lightweight. I've been considering simple opposed rolls for the teams to determine who gets each point, but I need some way for the PCs to add to or subtract from those rolls so the players feel like their interaction with the game has an effect on the outcome. Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome, especially if you've ever done something similar in a game of your own.
I was thinking of maybe giving the relevant team +1 to rolls for each piece of merchandise the PCs buy/wear/etc. (pennants, flags, the renaissance analog of giant foam fingers)—or more broadly, for each strong show of support (since painting letters on your chest isn't something that can be bought XD). That's just a flat, passive bonus, though, not something active, which means it won't work satisfactorily on its own. Maybe some kind of cheering system, where they can roll Charisma checks or something like Insight to yell advice at their team or just generally affect morale in their part of the stadium? The soccer players won't really be able to hear them, but the mood of the crowd often really does affect how well a team does, so uplifting other onlookers in their colors and jeering at or demoralizing opposing fans might be the way to go.
I'm thinking you could do more if you focused on having the player interaction occur outside of the game. For example, have the players throw "tailgating parties" (or something similar) before the game. If the player's do well (make them roll to cook, mingle with fans, get them pumped up, etc), then the crowd is all the more excited, which can help the team via some bonus to the roll. You could expand upon this by having the players rent out certain venues for parties on game day, decorate the venue, etc.
You could also take a more direct approach: have the players meet the coach/star player/team owner/someone important on the team outside of a match as an NPC, and act as a quest giver of sorts. Have the NPC send the players out to acquire materials for better equipment, find sponsorship, or other things which gives the team a better bonus on rolls.
Both good ideas. The PCs are low-level, right now, so they're kind of at that stage where they're relatively small fish in a big pond; thus, I don't want them to have too much large-scale influence—but these are things almost anyone could reasonably do, so they're not a bad compromise. More importantly, I hadn't thought of either, yet, so thanks for that! I especially like the first bit, because I want the crowd to feel like the major element as far as the players are concerned, given that's what they'd best be able to work with in a pinch, after the game starts.
So, the characters have differing opinions about the teams in play. They get into a fanatic discussion, dragging the surrounding spectators into the ribbing, the give and take. Someone bumps the wrong person, someone's feelings get hurt and the whole thing goes straight to sugar honey iced tea. The authorities show up. "Alright, who started all this mess anyway?" All fingers point to...
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Thank you. ChrisW
Ones are righteous. And one day, we just might believe it.
Well, that could certainly reflect poorly on one team or the other (or both), so that's another possibility. Might combine well with the idea of something like a tailgate/party.
Thanks for the suggestions so far, folks! They've already been very helpful. If you have any more, feel free to keep them coming. The party's some ways out from the event in question, so I've still got a comfortable amount of planning time.
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Hey, y'all! I'm running a game where the PCs are about to visit a big stadium and watch the setting equivalent of a soccer cup game. I've already let them have some input on things like team names and colors since I revealed the concept, and I have a way to determine which teams will actually be present at the match (each player just rolled d20 for their chosen team, with the highest result designating the reigning champions, and the second-highest deciding their opponents). What I'm working on now is a way for the PCs to have some impact on how the game plays out as they watch it from the stands—something that allows them to participate meaningfully in the outcome as fans, rather than as players on the field.
I don't want to drag the scene out, since it's just meant to be a fun diversion that relieves tension between other, heavier stuff going on. So, it needs to be pretty simple and lightweight. I've been considering simple opposed rolls for the teams to determine who gets each point, but I need some way for the PCs to add to or subtract from those rolls so the players feel like their interaction with the game has an effect on the outcome. Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome, especially if you've ever done something similar in a game of your own.
I was thinking of maybe giving the relevant team +1 to rolls for each piece of merchandise the PCs buy/wear/etc. (pennants, flags, the renaissance analog of giant foam fingers)—or more broadly, for each strong show of support (since painting letters on your chest isn't something that can be bought XD). That's just a flat, passive bonus, though, not something active, which means it won't work satisfactorily on its own. Maybe some kind of cheering system, where they can roll Charisma checks or something like Insight to yell advice at their team or just generally affect morale in their part of the stadium? The soccer players won't really be able to hear them, but the mood of the crowd often really does affect how well a team does, so uplifting other onlookers in their colors and jeering at or demoralizing opposing fans might be the way to go.
I'm thinking you could do more if you focused on having the player interaction occur outside of the game. For example, have the players throw "tailgating parties" (or something similar) before the game. If the player's do well (make them roll to cook, mingle with fans, get them pumped up, etc), then the crowd is all the more excited, which can help the team via some bonus to the roll. You could expand upon this by having the players rent out certain venues for parties on game day, decorate the venue, etc.
You could also take a more direct approach: have the players meet the coach/star player/team owner/someone important on the team outside of a match as an NPC, and act as a quest giver of sorts. Have the NPC send the players out to acquire materials for better equipment, find sponsorship, or other things which gives the team a better bonus on rolls.
Both good ideas. The PCs are low-level, right now, so they're kind of at that stage where they're relatively small fish in a big pond; thus, I don't want them to have too much large-scale influence—but these are things almost anyone could reasonably do, so they're not a bad compromise. More importantly, I hadn't thought of either, yet, so thanks for that! I especially like the first bit, because I want the crowd to feel like the major element as far as the players are concerned, given that's what they'd best be able to work with in a pinch, after the game starts.
So, the characters have differing opinions about the teams in play. They get into a fanatic discussion, dragging the surrounding spectators into the ribbing, the give and take. Someone bumps the wrong person, someone's feelings get hurt and the whole thing goes straight to sugar honey iced tea. The authorities show up. "Alright, who started all this mess anyway?" All fingers point to...
Thank you.
ChrisW
Ones are righteous. And one day, we just might believe it.
Well, that could certainly reflect poorly on one team or the other (or both), so that's another possibility. Might combine well with the idea of something like a tailgate/party.
Thanks for the suggestions so far, folks! They've already been very helpful. If you have any more, feel free to keep them coming. The party's some ways out from the event in question, so I've still got a comfortable amount of planning time.