Introducing New Players to Far-Star Victoria

Start “On the Ground”, The Character’s Viewpoint

Begin play in a familiar, immediate situation—a crowded market, a festival, a train station, or a tense border checkpoint. Let the world’s complexity emerge through sights, sounds, and the problems the PCs must solve, not via exposition dumps.

  • Example: “You’ve all gathered in the bustling Perseverance Market Hall in Annwyn during the Sky Whale Festival. The air is thick with the scent of frying bread, and news of a missing shipment of Steam from Erebus has everyone on edge…”

2. Use a “Welcome to the World” Player/Reader Handout

Create a 1-2 page “Visitor’s Guide” or “New Citizen’s Pamphlet,” written in an in-world voice (like Milosh Cheshire’s columns).

  • Highlight 3-5 facts everyone knows (e.g., “Erebus trades Steam for food. Don’t ask about the mines.”)
  • List a few “local tips” or superstitions.
  • Mention major nations or religions as “what you’ll see (or avoid) in the streets.”

3. Give Each Character a Personal Connection or Secret

When making characters, ask each player to pick (or roll for) a tie to the world:

  • A festival or faith they celebrate
  • A family member affected by current events or a recent crisis
  • A rumor they’ve heard about a faction or secret of the worlds
    This ensures each PC has a reason to care and a lens through which to view the setting.

4. Show, Don’t Tell: Use Vivid Details

Describe everyday phenomena that hint at the world’s differences:

  • A steam-powered airship docking above the market
  • A priestess blessing an automaton in the name of the Guardian Engine
  • The hush that falls when a Ruritanian officer strides by
    Let questions naturally arise (“Why does that airship float so high? What’s a Steam canister worth?”), then answer them through NPCs or environmental storytelling.

5. Start Small, Zoom Out

Introduce one city, one festival, or one crisis. Gradually reveal political tensions, lost history, and supernatural phenomena as the characters explore or get drawn into larger plots.

  • Example: The campaign begins in Nova Aurora during the annual Founding Day parade. A sudden tragedy (theft, sabotage, or unusual event) forces the characters to work together, meeting NPCs from various nations and learning about the fragile peace as they go.

6. Use In-World Media

Leverage your “Cat’s-Eye View” columns or snippets from newspapers, wanted posters, or festival flyers as handouts or scene transitions. These give flavor and context without overwhelming backstory.

7. Provide a Quick Reference or Glossary

Hand out the Master Index/Glossary at the table. Encourage new players to check it as they encounter unfamiliar names or terms.

8. Emphasize Player Choice

Make it clear that their actions can shape the world:

  • “Which faction do you trust?”
  • “Do you invoke the faith of your ancestors, or experiment with forbidden Steam tech?”
  • “Will you report the rumor to the authorities—or profit from the chaos?”

Sample Session/Chapter Opening

“Your journey begins in the city of Nova Aurora, where airships crowd the sky and tension simmers below the surface. Steam hisses, catfolk hawk festival masks, and a preacher warns of the Voice in the Storm’s wrath. You each have a reason to be here—some to celebrate, some to escape, some to change the world. The choices you make tonight may shape the future of Far-Star Victoria...”

In summary:

  • Start with relatable, sensory experiences and character goals
  • Let lore emerge naturally through play, discovery, and conflict
  • Use in-world documents and flavor for immersion
  • Provide an index/guide for reference, not exposition