Group vs solo Player dynamic

[blinky55]

I wish to post some thoughts on this subject. Eric Wujcik has created this game in the spirit of group play. This in my mind clashes with the books that always struck me as one player/protagonist(ofc Corwin and then Merlin) fulfilling his own goals during 5 sessions of the overarching campaign. This is not how Amber rpg constructs games. They are played by a group that consists of (according to the books if i remember) the next generation of players. Naturally i doubt this games players and gm's have held onto this selective casting but the thought you play a group of such capable and diversly motivated individuals while heaping an overarching plot seems a bit much for the Game master to handle unless hes giving it his all. I mean its not as complex as for example Continuum Rpg Playing in the Yet but its still like herding cats. The tone of the books seemed to me part noir story where the protag is the center of the story. Here we have a bifurcated player ensemble all going in diffrent direction with the GM throwing threads to tie them together. My experience with Amber rpg is only theoretical so i may be wrong but isnt a game of GM and one Player more in line with the books? Has anybody played such games?

[thondor]

The two (three?) oneshots I've run have all had about 3 players. I included two NPC "siblings" in the auction to add a little extra dynamics.

From talking with some folks who have played/run more, it can certainly be challenging to keep balls in the air as the GM. The majority of the time all the players will not be in the same place at the same time.
At the same time, it's not uncommon to just sit back and let the players bedevil themselves, with only small nudges from the GM. And conversations/RP between players can take place wile you are focussed on a different PC.

[ed]

This is a way that forum games work great for Amber. PCs can be solo or in small groups scattered about the cosmos and there doesn't need to be downtime of plyers sitting around waiting while the GM is focused on one or two of them.

There are a few things in the rules which don't quite match the spirit of the books, like the need for a 'party' but that is common in all rpgs based on properties, I guess.

[thondor]

Have you run or played in any play-by-post Amber games Ed?
Interested in hearing your experience.