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Conversation Guide for Role Playing Characters 3.0

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Conversation Guide for Role Playing Characters 3.0
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Conversation Guide for Role Playing Characters 3.0
Publisher: ThinkDifferent
by Jim B. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 02/19/2019 15:56:27

Frankly, if you don't need much help running a petitioner/granter conversation, these templates probably aren't for you. If you sometimes struggle to decide how an NPC reacts in a petitioner/granter conversation, these templates could help.

The title "conversation guide" is a little misleading. First, the document doesn't cover conversations in general. Instead, it specifically covers a petitioner/granter conversation: the petitioner wants something that the granter is potentially ready, willing, or able to do, say, or offer. The granter might or might not grant the request, and there might be enthusiasm, strings attached, or counter-offers.

Second, I'd expect something called a "guide" to have more guidance. This document offers two printable templates with a few examples filled in. That's it. There's no explanatory text beyond that. There's no guidance on persuasion techniques, personality differences, or whatever else you might expect from something called a conversation guide. Also, why are all the sample action verbs marked "X" in the examples but not in the template? It doesn't say. Why does the Capability/Interest/Control Map have three columns, when the middle column isn't labeled, and isn't used in the examples? The bottom row of the middle column is grayed out, implying a use for the middle column, but there's no explanation.

The templates are system-neutral. You might use the templates to come up with your own mechanics for handling these conversations, such as what drives a petitoner to go with an offer vs a threat, or what it takes to get a granter to respond with one answer or another.

If you're planning ahead, you could use the templates to anticipate some potential conversations between the PCs and particular NPCs. If needed, use the Capability/Interest/Control Map to identify what the NPC is ready, willing, and able to offer or threaten and what the NPC wants or needs. Or at least I suppose that's what that template is for. Review the conversation template as a checklist for different levels of response the NPC might have. You could make templates for whole categories of NPCs, such as city guards, a faction, or an organization.

The templates make no distinction between which side is a PC or an NPC. In general (I assume), you'd fill in only the NPC side of the conversation, according to whether the NPC is the petitioner or the granter.

During play, if you've prepared templates ahead of time, you could hold petitioner/granter conversations without having to think through it all on the fly. If you have to make it up on the fly anyway, the templates might serve as a quick checklist for thinking through the possibilities.

The blank templates aren't fillable PDF forms. Either you print them and fill them out by hand, or you make your own documents using the templates as inspiration.

The version 3.1 document is, as the product description says, more printer-friendly. Where the 3.0 dialog template had filled-in silhouettes for the two characters (needlessly using up more toner), the 3.1 version has facial outlines instead. As of the time I'm writing this, the preview shows the 3.1 version. The content is identical otherwise, including the example comment in which one character offers a bribe by saying "My pursue is not light."



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
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Conversation Guide for Role Playing Characters 3.0
Publisher: ThinkDifferent
by Hans D. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 11/06/2017 12:36:35

Nice simple template. Not sure if I'll print it but it has given me ideas on how to structure a conversation better.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Conversation Guide for Role Playing Characters 3.0
Publisher: ThinkDifferent
by A customer [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 11/04/2017 17:06:29

First, I would simply recommend getting Mr. Arto Saari's "All Think Different BUNDLE". I'd value the bundle at about $5.

I assume Mr Saari isn't a native English speaker. His products contain many odd sentences, grammar mistakes, spelling errors, etc.

The page count of the documents aren't a good benchmark; many pages appear to be presentation slides with text.

That all said, much of what he writes about is interesting from a game master/referee perspective. His illustrations are mostly good and reinforce his ideas well. The update was an improvement.

If I could suggest anything to the author, it would be to reorganize and consolidate all his work in a single document. Target that document to GM's for about $5.

I think the author has a strong interest in Modiphius' Conan RPG using a 2d20 system. Perhaps he could expand his existing content to include a more generous description of his play-style and techniques using that system as well.

There is potential here, but it requires better organization and editing.



Rating:
[2 of 5 Stars!]
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Creator Reply:
Please provide more focused review feedback on the title itself. Your feedback is appreciated but this is the one you have provided for the bundle.
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Conversation Guide for Role Playing Characters 3.0
Publisher: ThinkDifferent
by Jason H. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/29/2017 22:24:01

These worksheets take up a lot of space, and they lack easy-to-find blanks for common deatils like "name" and "location." The advice is great: "think in terms of what a character wants, and what they will do if they get or if they don't". But that idea was presented better elsewhere, including the author's own "Structured Free Association Story Plot Method" and "Elegant Encounter Design." Those other books would be better if they integrated these ideas. Any GM trying to use these worksheets will have a worksheet with 20% useful information, 10% more scribbled in the spaces NOT provided, and 70% toner used up for nothing.



Rating:
[2 of 5 Stars!]
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Creator Reply:
Thanks Jason, I will use your input to produce a more economical and toner-friendly version.
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Thanks Jason, I got a new version 3.1 out now that is more printer friendly.
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Conversation Guide for Role Playing Characters 3.0
Publisher: ThinkDifferent
by Carl M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/15/2017 06:16:48

The author responded to earlier comments and added in examples of how to use the guide at your table. I like all the changes.

I'm impressed by the effort put in and it's easily worth the recommended price.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Creator Reply:
Thanks Carl- your feedback helped me to see the customer perspective better.
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