Adventuring in Prime Time

Hey Misfitites, Thayan again talking about my adventuring down the path less traveled. Today I want to take a moment and talk about TV in gaming, well sorta. No not how the Dresden Files is a TV show and Now an RPG, but in the way PTA has captivated me as an audience.
Now Prime Time Adventures, by dog eared publications, is a Story Game with some GM Lite qualities. In it you create the Greatest Show Not on TV. Sound Fun? It is. This was the first Story game I ran with my group and we had a blast. With DOgs In The Vineyard fresh in our minds we sat down to tackle PTA, well I have to be honest I kinda pushed it on the group. I wish I could say Everyone showed up early but truth be told it was a night with 2 players missing and the rest lack luster at first.
On this night I became the Producer. The GM lite position allowed me to place obsticals in the players way and force some conflict. But I had a budget. Thats right I had to work with a budget. I couldnt throw things at the players willy nilley I had to spend tokens to get the cards, PTA uses a card based mechanics, to oppose the players.
So working within the budget I start formulating my evil GM plans as the players start creating characters. Now its been awhile so I cant remember everything but they did decide to create a show that is besed Described as "Veronica Mars On Mars" Called "Red October Skies" with the Main Charcater being October Sky, a too smart for his own good inquistive young man with a penchant for trouble. At his side was his "Cousin" a resident of Mars and also an Android (discovered by October in the pilot) and a sassy, sarcastic Alien.
This is when it gets good. The players start slow but the group really dives in as PTA helps with how the mechanics go and we really get a Story now moment. Granted I had been developing a "Plot" while they were creating characters and grabbing ideas from NPCs and things they came up with as they developed the characters. Well as the story ends the group is loving it alot more then they thought going into it and I had a blast as well.
I do realize this gaming story is a bit longer then last time amd I promise next episode will be a bit more theory and less experience but I needed to share this one with you all. It was really the first Story now experience I have had and It blew me away with how much fun we all had. And Yes I as the GM worked within the budget and havent had as much fun GMing even with an unlimited budget normally.
Well I think that about covers it this Misfit Brew, Thanks again for walking the journey with me and as always...Go Game!