Primetime Adventures
Encyclopedia
Primetime Adventures is a role-playing game
by Matt Wilson
, independently published
by Dog-eared Designs. The players create a TV-show together, establishing setting elements and potential main characters. One player takes on the role of the producer, while the rest of the players take on the role of the main characters, or protagonists. Each season of the show spans five or nine sessions, or episodes as they're called. For each episode the protagonists have a screen presence between 1 and 3, which says how influential the character is in that episode and how much resource they bring into conflicts.
The first edition of the game used dice to handle conflict resolution, but the second edition uses regular playing cards. A character draws as many cards as they have screen presence, with each red card counting as a success. The side with the most successes wins the conflict, and the highest individual card gets the final word on what the outcome is. This means that it can be either the winner or the loser of the conflict that narrates the result.
The game suggests that the group draw inspiration for story complexity and ensemble
structure from series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls
or Firefly. But the genre, tone, and setting specifics for the series are only limited by the imagination and preferences from the group.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
by Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson
Matthew Wilson may refer to:* Matt Wilson , Irish international footballer of 1880s.* Matt Wilson , of Trip Shakespeare and the Flops* Matt Wilson , New York jazz drummer & composer* Matthew Wilson, British rally driver...
, independently published
Indie role-playing game
An indie role-playing game is a role-playing game published outside of traditional, "mainstream" means. Varying definitions require that commercial, design, or conceptual elements of the game stay under the control of the creator, or that the game should just be produced outside of a corporate...
by Dog-eared Designs. The players create a TV-show together, establishing setting elements and potential main characters. One player takes on the role of the producer, while the rest of the players take on the role of the main characters, or protagonists. Each season of the show spans five or nine sessions, or episodes as they're called. For each episode the protagonists have a screen presence between 1 and 3, which says how influential the character is in that episode and how much resource they bring into conflicts.
The first edition of the game used dice to handle conflict resolution, but the second edition uses regular playing cards. A character draws as many cards as they have screen presence, with each red card counting as a success. The side with the most successes wins the conflict, and the highest individual card gets the final word on what the outcome is. This means that it can be either the winner or the loser of the conflict that narrates the result.
The game suggests that the group draw inspiration for story complexity and ensemble
Ensemble cast
An ensemble cast is made up of cast members in which the principal actors and performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance and screen time in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on...
structure from series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
or Firefly. But the genre, tone, and setting specifics for the series are only limited by the imagination and preferences from the group.
External links
- Official homepage of Primetime Adventures.
- Discussion forum for Primetime Adventures at the Forge.