The second layer of definition for a campaign style involves a set of customary channels. These are channels that appear to be both common to most campaigns and of sufficient importance that they play a large part in the nature of the campaign style.
The following channels that have been identified as likely customary channels at this time:
Mechanical Structure:
This channel indicates how structured play is with regard to rules, from completely free-form games to rules-heavy games.
Character Development At Start:
This channel indicates how well-developed player characters are expected to be when play begins, and how much development is expected during play. PCs may range from fully formed at start and without development (even from experience) during play to being developed mainly after play begins.
Character Niche Protection:
This channel indicates how much protection a player can expect for the PC¹s niche in the group. The amount of protection can range from no protection to total protection.
Setting Realism:
This channel indicates how much of an attempt is made to gain the verisimilitude of reality. Campaigns can be played in everything from cartoon worlds to gritty settings.
Scope of Conflicts:
This channel indicates the scope of the contents on which play focuses, and the stakes involved with those conflicts. The conflicts can range from inconsequential problems to saving the known universe.
Adult Content:
?This channel indicates the incidence of adult content--sex and violence--in the campaign. Campaigns can range from from G-rated to X-rated.
Moral Tone:
This channel indicates the tone of the campaign, and can everything from an exercise in moral decay to an uplifting experience moral virtue.
Player Comportment:
This channel indicates how serious play is and how players should comport themselves. Play can range from completely silly to intensely serious.
The contents of this list may increase or decrease over time. It is likely that a few more channels will appear as important enough and prevalent enough to be considered customary channels, and perhaps one or two listed will no longer be considered to meet the standards of a customary channel.
Customary channels are rated in the same fashion as other channels, with a measure of importance, a measure of prevalence, and then an added note.
Copyright 2003 Larry D. Hols. All rights reserved.