Sinewgrab asked a good Pulp Alley question that comes up every so often and I thought it was worth sharing with y'all ----
I like this game - a lot. But I am going to be running for a group of people new to it, and I may have as many as 7 people trying to play. Any hints on scenarios leagues, etc? Anyone try to do this?
Yes, we've played/gamemastered many Pulp Alley games with 5-7 players. I think the current Pulp Alley World Record stands at 9-players. This was a convention game with all new players, run by Jaye Wiley. I watched most of the game as an observer, and it lasted about 2.5 hours.
A few tips to keep things running smooth ---
1.
Be the Boss -- First and foremost, this cannot be stressed enough, you (the gamemaster) must always keep track of who has the Initiative and encourage them to direct the action. This is simple and very important.
2.
Table Size -- Use a table appropriate to the size of the group. Once you get over 4 players, I'd encourage you to use a 4' x 4' table or bigger. Be aware that this will change the dynamic of the scenarios and the "action" will frequently break into scattered pockets as players battle each other.
3.
League Size -- Some gamemasters create small leagues for each player, which include 1 Leader, 1 Sidekick, and 1 Ally. Not a bad idea - I've done this myself a few times.
4.
Plot What? -- Don't be surprised if new players ignore the plot points and simply concentrate on fighting each other. This is not unusual.
5.
Deck Size -- Don't be surprised if new players ignore their Fortune cards. And be prepared to reshuffle your Fortune deck at least once, unless you are playing with two decks.
6.
Scenario -- For 5-6 players, I really like
Lost Keys or
Soerabaja Manhunt. If I have more than 6, I fall back on
Smash & Grab -- but make sure the table is not so big that the leagues can't reach the major plot point. :
:
7.
No Sweat -- It is worth noting that you do
not need to change a single rule - regardless of the number of players. Pulp Alley plays exactly the same for 9 players as with 2 players. Try not to sweat the small stuff. It's all about getting together and having fun with friends. If y'all are having fun, then you're doing it right!
HAVE FUN