I ran my first CL-based session last night, so I thought I'd share a newbie's experience...if only for the humor value! I have a long way to go and a lot of CL learning to do before I'm really comfortable.
Background
Background
- This is a campaign that I've been running for a few weeks (4th session).
- I have several years of face-to-face and VTT experience as a GM.
- It's my first foray into the wild world of improv/sandbox/open worlds.
- I was also trying to go without a physical GM screen and just use CL - probably a bridge too far.
- CL loaded up well on the game store WiFi network. No issues at all with connectivity.
- The picture-in-picture feature works astoundingly well in the "Story So Far" GM screen as J4 describes. I will make more and smaller pages and sprinkle links everywhere to use this feature. I'd like to get ALL of my rules, spells, weapons, etc. in to be able to do this.
- I grabbed several 3-line NPCs and names in real-time from the default generators just to see if I could do it. It worked surprisingly well. I covered it up by saying, "Let me look up that person's name..." I'd like to make more scifi-themed generators to use this feature more (planets, systems, etc.). I'd also like to build a "parameterized" generator (e.g., "Make me a CR [1] [Soldier] NPC Stat Block", or "Give me a [CR 3] {Ranged} weapon").
- I was able to make all my notes in log entries and didn't make any undecipherable markings on paper notes. I am in the process of cleaning up the notes, but I think I got everything down without issue. This is a BIG win for me!
- I was almost comfortable in a laptop-only environment. I think as I get more of my information into CL this will improve. I'm still a bit worried about available screen real estate!
- Tracking Initiative. Typing names and Init rolls into CL took me too long. Not worth it, so I'll probably go back to scratching rolls on a piece of paper or getting one of the players to look after it.
- Tracking hit points during combat. I used to just make notes on a sticky note for each monster (arithmetic is distracting). I created a small spreadsheet to do the arithmetic that was a lot better. Nothing in CL does this, right? Spreadsheet is an extra window open using my limited screen space.
- Map and Fog of War. I generally create the map on the table as the players proceed. I had a map image in my 5-room-dungeon (5rd) CL page, and I could see it in the P-i-P display, but I still messed it up as it was unfolding. Luckily it's improv so no one but me knows! I need to make simpler map sketches in my CL page.
- My 5rd was too big for the time. This isn't a CL issue, but is a design issue for me. I'd like to fit everything into a 2-hour time slot. That means I can't do 5 "rooms" if they each have something significant in them. My players are ridiculously inquisitive and need to look in every box before moving on. I need to work on pacing in my 5rd.
- I don't have enough loops, and I didn't make enough use of loopy planning.