09-22-2026, 01:19 PM
I've been running a semi-open table fame using Hot Springs Island (heavily, heavily adapted admittedly). It's not quite fully troupe play but the players are leveraging access to a pool of survivors from their shipwreck as characters. Increasingly as they make connections on the island or add survivors to their band and their base they are choosing to pick up and play those characters when they die or when new players join. It's not fully troupe play in the style of "oh yeah just play this grog" but it's close. And it does really provide a nice continuity even when characters leave the story.
Similarly, retainers in another open table game (snackrifice) have served the same purpose. I've had a character die mid-session and I picked up another player's hireling. When a player retired rather than playing a new guy entirely, he swapped to his retainer. That continuity is excellent in terms of providing a stronger sense of verisimilitude and the nature of the world - even in what I would call relatively Arcade-y modes of play.
Similarly, retainers in another open table game (snackrifice) have served the same purpose. I've had a character die mid-session and I picked up another player's hireling. When a player retired rather than playing a new guy entirely, he swapped to his retainer. That continuity is excellent in terms of providing a stronger sense of verisimilitude and the nature of the world - even in what I would call relatively Arcade-y modes of play.