When you begin a West Marches game, it’s worth thinking about your player base.

People had been using words in game with each other and only sort of even been in the same ballpark.

This changes the dynamic instantly, altering our attitude, throwing us into conflict, one against the other for dominance, where before there had been a shared story.

Some people I know are really good at handling massive player groups and making sure people have a great time.

Ever notice that the dynamics of your campaign can change?

While it is useful to recognise those skillsets and use them to add extra elements to your game, it is easy to overlook the other skill set that people bring to your table: social roles.

Players are maybe the best hidden resource the Role playing game format has.

We’ve been discussing safety for a while now, and while it pains me to say it, it is likely that at some point, there will be a moment when a game goes somewhere you didn’t expect, or you make a mistake about safety.

During the conversation, the player said to me ‘you know, looking back, I realise I wasn’t really comfortable with some stuff in the game’. Even though most of it was related to a single players actions, that was hard to hear.

So what can we conclude about safety tools? They are a necessary element, but they need to come as part of a more holistic approach that involves making the table a safe space for all to play.