“Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower or a, a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell... musty and-and-and... rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is a... it, ah, it has no texture, no, no context. It’s-it’s there and then it’s gone. If it’s to last then, then the getting of knowledge should be, ah, tangible, it should be, uh... smelly.”
I, Robot... You, Jane
My experiences running Buffy, and the characters’ experiences over seasons.
I’ve been running Buffy The Vampire Slayer since the series ended and would have started earlier if I’d found a regular group. I still regret that I missed a chance to play a homebrew game at the 1999 Nationals, and considered running it with World Of Darkness. It’s a universe ideally suited for the gaming table.
After a one-shot as a player, directed by Steve D with the premise of college-age Watcher trainees, and another as Director, my proper start was The Watch House, and we went with that because my other idea of a band gave the characters a reason to hang out but not to go monster hunting.
And I’ve GMed Sounds Like Hell Season One multiple times, and yes, unless someone leans into the band premise it falls by the wayside, providing a couple of adventure hooks.
The TWH crew could have made it work as they jumped on the interpersonal drama, but that mix of monster of the week, arc plot, and character chaos is required.
Hence the college paper hook I’ve been doing here this year, a reason to investigate mysteries as well...
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Anyhoo, it’s also the end of a season, and that means a Big Bad battle, but also other developments. Characters come and go, die and sometimes get better, unspoken feelings get spoken, and skipping town may be involved.
Buffy season finales are meant to work as endings both to the seasonal story and possibly to the series. Season Six has a last minute “Whaaat?” moment, and Two and Five would have been huge downer endings, but they still mostly provide closure. Most seasons of Angel end on cliffhangers, partially because it was more ongoing to begin with. Knowing if you’ll be back next year is a factor too!
2.21: Night Of The Living Undead
Draugr has the heart of Maloker, demon sire of vampire kind, and with it he can raise any largely intact body to vampirism. Not something he plans to do in the long term due to food supply issues, but good for a temporary boost if he wants to kill a slayer and open a Hellmouth, for example.
“Y’know, I never thought I’d miss the general personal hygiene level of regular vampires.”
2.22: Deadline
Can Shelly destroy the heart, destroying the vampires it raised, and maybe Draugr as well? Can Caitlin push past the blinding effect of the ghostly power surrounding it? Can Willis and Madison talk? Can Ty make a deadline?
“Okay. Let’s do this.”
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