Have you ever wanted to run a game where the players do all the work? Where you can set up the situation, then just say “Go!” and watch it unfold with little to no input from you? Believe it or not, you can–by using a closed-room scenario for your adventure.
This is the first post of a three-part article on creating closed-room adventures. Today we’re discussing what a closed-room scenario or adventure is; next week I’ll outline the steps I take to create a closed-room adventure; the third section will discuss tips for actually running that game and give some examples of closed-room movies you can use for inspiration.
What is a Closed-Room Scenario?
Most often seen in mysteries, a closed-room scenario takes place in a single “black box” location. What that means is the scenario takes place in a single, limited location. For some reason, the characters can’t leave the location, nor can anyone new enter it until the scenario is over. Everything the characters need to solve the mystery is contained in that one location, whether it be items placed in the location or information the other PCs have.
Frequently, these scenarios require few (if any) NPCs. They also tend to work best with pre-generated characters, which makes them ideal for convention games or for introducing players to a new system. I have run closed-room games where the players brought in their own characters, but these were usually the first adventures of a new campaign; I still knew the characters that would be involved in it. That’s the key to a successful closed-room scenario: you have to tailor it to specific characters.
Next week: The steps I use to create a closed-room adventure.
Other Posts in this Series:
- Steps for Creating a Closed-Room Adventure
- “Mr. Body’s Body…” Tips and Inspiration for Running Closed-Room Adventures
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