Hi Rob,
as http://nerdypapergames.com seems to be offline, I hope you are still reading these comments here. :)
I really like King Nothing, played it a couple of times and as I am German, I translated it in german language. I would like to share this online (perhaps here on itch.io). Would you give me your permission for this?
I'm so glad you enjoyed the game, Gerdino, and honored that you took the time to translate it into German.
You have my permission to share your translation online so long as you make it freely available to all (you can do PWYW or have a "tip jar," you just can't require payment for the game). Please also include the original credits page and link back to the original here.
Thank you for reaching out!
Hi Rob
i am thinking about adding a sentence in my translation that refers to the choice of the player-characters. I think it would be helpful to mention if Saraneth should be chosen by one player. All other non chosen characters just don't appear in the story, but Saraneth is the centerpiece of the story.
You didn't mention this topic in your text. So do you think the choice of Saraneth as a PC is mandatory? Otherwise the GM has to control her as an NPC. But that would change the GM's role quite a bit.
That's an interesting question. I don't think it's mandatory, per se, that a player selects Saraneth. There are a few options worth considering:
- As you mentioned, the GM can run Saraneth as an NPC or GM-PC
- The players can control Saraneth as a group
- The players can take turns controlling Saraneth
- You can actually run the game without Saraneth! Any information, power, or authority that she has could be gifted or granted to one of the other party members. Perhaps she gives someone her magic staff, or she tells someone King Nothing's secret name. It can be really fun to figure out, as a GM or a group, why Saraneth isn't there (is she dead? trapped? diverting KN's attention elsewhere?) and how she--or the party!--has made up for her absence.
Of course, please feel free to add whatever guidance you think is helpful in your translation :)
