I’m finding this game has the easiest setup for a GM/MC. It’s just a case of picking a mission, adding a few names and letting the players do the heavy lifting. Just about every MC move is just reacting to the players ideas and throwing the odd wrench into their plans.
The toughest part of building the setting is asking the players what sort of style they are looking for and picking up on the names of Corporations that they throw up. Making sure you get their Directives noted so that you can use those to work the game into various twists is only slightly harder. The game nearly runs itself with the MC mostly responding to the players and upping the stakes by moving clocks.
It probably wouldn’t suit a GM that isn’t very comfortable with generating things on the fly though. Anyone not comfortable without a full and detailed scenario listing covering every possibility might have issues.
If full impro isn’t your thing I found the rule of three very helpful to feel comfortable in these kind of games. Prepare three interesting NSCs, three interesting locations and three things that could happen. Then make/get a list of random names for places and people and you are set. Prep is fast and fun this way but I still feel well prepared to get the story rolling.
This is exactly the way I run The Sprawl, and other games in general, Nigel, so I’m glad the text conveys that to you.
I’m trying to add in support for MCs who might not be so comfortable running games in this style. I think the MC who wants to meticulously prepare things should still be able to use that preparation, but they’ll have to be careful not to dictate methods and approaches or there could be trouble. I’ve never seen anyone try to run it that way, so I’m not entirely sure how that would go down.
Me Too Hamish Cameron I’ve been running games since the original 3 books and published stuff in the past and find that nowadays I’m happy to let the youngsters do all the work. It’s nice to get a game where I can kick back and enjoy myself. If I wasn’t playing in +Mike Cowles game I’d sure be playing the heck out of this. I’ve already scheduled a full slate for UKGames Expo at the end of May or I’d be pushing this like mad. Maybe at Indiecon or Dragonmeet later in the year especially if your workload has allowed you to complete and get the book into print.