The Second Apocalypse

Miscellaneous Chatter => RPG Discussion => Topic started by: Kellais on September 22, 2013, 03:46:46 pm

Title: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on September 22, 2013, 03:46:46 pm
Just curious.

As Scott himself is one and his Earwa was a Game-Setting before it ever became a setting for novels, i think we are right at home here  ;D

So yes, i am one. And i would kill for an official p&p RPG of Scott's world.

So how about you gals and guys? And if you are a p&p rpg player, tell us what kind of systems and worlds you like.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on September 22, 2013, 10:16:17 pm
I used to be an avid player of D&D 2nd edition YEARS ago.  Then got into D&D 3.5, and most recently Pathfinder and Savage Worlds.  However, my favorite of all time was Rolemaster's Shadow World.  Role master was, imo, one of the more 'realistic' systems, and coupled with all the cool science-fantasy of Shadow World, ticked all my rpg 'like' boxes.  Don't really play much anymore, but I agree with you:  would definitely love to see RSB rpg.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on September 23, 2013, 04:53:25 am
Haven't played in ages but I collect RPG setting books.

Right now I'm looking at the Numenera book, which is pretty awesome. I also liked the books for Mage: The Ascension, Mage: The Awakening, Eberron, and just about everything Planescape related.

In fact, I continually add to the Planescape Inspiration List (http://www.planewalker.com/forum/ps-inspiration-thread), which is more a collection of art, poetry, music, film, short fiction, gaming stuff, and so on at this point...
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on September 23, 2013, 10:18:44 am
Okay, so i'm not the only uber-geek here  ;D

I myself am a total Fantasy-nut. Sci Fi is not my thing, i guess. The only exceptions are Star Wars and Star Trek (maybe Stargate if you count that as Sci Fi).

Right now, i'm playing the new Star Wars game and really like it (done by FFG). I like the new fancy dice-mechanism  8)

In general i am much more into games that utilize dice-pools (versus linear distribution games like all the DnD stuff, d20 games and d100 games). Although Runequest6 might get a chance at my table soon.

Favorite Settings are Dragonlance (nostalgia reasons  ;D ) and Birthright from TSR era, 7th Sea, Exalted and Artesia.

As said, i'd "kill" for a Earwa game and also for a rpg treatment of Steven Erikson's Malazan world. Maybe one of these days i have to do an adaption by myself.

Right now i am working on an own setting with a good friend of mine. It will be more bronze/iron age style instead of the usual fake european medival age.

Oh and, stating the obvious, i really think you two should both take up this awesome hobby again! Do it...you know you want to  8) ;D ;)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Meyna on September 23, 2013, 12:23:46 pm
Some day I'll find myself at a DnD table, but it is not this day.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on October 03, 2013, 05:45:07 pm
People might want to check out Eclipse Phase, especially Bakker fans who I suspect make up a large majority of this forum. ;-P

http://unpossiblelabs.com/index.html

From what I understand the books are all free under the Creative Commons license. You play in a transhuman setting where the solar system has been colonized. With a dystopian spin you could reenact the glory days of humanity before we killed our women and turned into the Inchoroi. ;-)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on October 07, 2013, 09:04:10 pm
Another new setting called Accursed:

www.accursedrpg.com/

"This tale begins with  a world of dark fantasy and perilous adventure, where the forces of evil have triumphed.

In such a world, those who remain uncorrupted by wickedness must rely upon monsters to fight against the darkness. Witches have ruled the land since the last battles of conquest, but their Grand Coven has been sundered, leaving behind remnants of a once-mighty army. The remnants of the horde include captured citizens of the conquered nations that fought as the Witches’ shock troops.

These are the Accursed—the Witchmarks burned into their flesh and souls transformed these men and women into monstrous forms. Now, unable to return to their former lives, the Accursed   wander the land, giving aid to those in need in an attempt to atone for past sins. Some have joined the Order of the Penitent, an organization devoted to ridding the world of the Witches and their evil influence. Others offer their skills as warriors, alchemists, and spies to the highest bidder. Yet others have succumbed to corruption, greed, or insanity.

Light has failed, darkness is ascendant—only those bearing the forms of monsters can stand against the tide of the Witches’ evil. The Accursed are this world’s only hope—they must learn to embrace their curse or to fight against it, and find some way to free themselves forever of their Witchmark.

This is the world of Accursed."
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on October 18, 2013, 06:00:29 pm
The Strange, a Tabletop RPG by Bruce Cordell & Monte Cook

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1433901524/the-strange-a-tabletop-rpg-by-bruce-cordell-and-mo

"Monte Cook Games is thrilled to announce its next big tabletop roleplaying game: The Strange! Written and designed by Bruce Cordell and Monte Cook, The Strange is a game that crosses multiple worlds, called recursions, which player characters can explore and defend. In The Strange, your characters change with each world they travel to, taking on new aspects suited to help them function in that recursion's unique laws and structures. But dangers found in these recursions threaten not only characters, but also our very own Earth. If characters persevere, however, they can not only save themselves and Earth, they may even gain the ability to create a recursion of their own!"
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 21, 2013, 05:56:02 pm
Hey fellow RPG-ers,

Anyone interested in putting together a p&p RPG for our beloved The Second Apocalypse world?

Again and again i come back to this thought. Scott himself played in his creation (as he tells it, it was a game setting long before it became a setting for novels) and i do think it'd be a glorious roleplaying world.

So, any takers? We could make an own thread for brainstorming if enough people are interested.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 21, 2013, 06:33:00 pm
Are we talking a complete rules/world adaptation, or world adaptation within an existing ruleset?  I tingle at the prospect...
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 22, 2013, 02:44:52 am
What rule set are you considering?

I'd try to go for something simpler that the D&D or Pathfinder rules, that has some publicly accessible rules document.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 22, 2013, 04:33:14 am
I agree re d&d/pathfinder.  Even though I personally like pathfinder, I find the arbitrary class-based systems too confining for my tastes.  I admire the way Skyrim handles advancement, but the trick would be to port that to p&p style.   A system where you're free to develop a character any way you choose would be ideal, Imo.  Anyone aware of a 'universal' system like that?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 22, 2013, 04:49:52 am
FATE?

Haven't tried it myself but might be worth a look.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on November 22, 2013, 09:52:08 am
Some day I'll find myself at a DnD table, but it is not this day.
Come play Rifts instead! Be a magic user riding a sky cycle, fighting demons and giant mecha along with your buddies, a full conversion cyborg and a hobo!

Well, that's how my campaigns going at the moment!
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 22, 2013, 04:35:34 pm
Some day I'll find myself at a DnD table, but it is not this day.
Come play Rifts instead! Be a magic user riding a sky cycle, fighting demons and giant mecha along with your buddies, a full conversion cyborg and a hobo!

Well, that's how my campaigns going at the moment!

I think Matt Stover used Rifts? He had a campaign where people could turn into the superhero they most admired or somesuch, so he decided packs of teens turned into feral Wolverines plagued his post apocalyptic world. :-)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 23, 2013, 03:50:57 am
In terms of a ruleset, pretty much anything out there could be used for skills/combat/character development.  The heavy lifting comes in with the magic system.   Developing the metaphysics of Earwan sorcery is crucial.  Also, we'd want to use something that does justice to the gravitas inherent in the setting.  Castes and tribes are relatively easy to define.  Jnan skill likewise.  All the flavor can be easily built in.  D20 is open source, but the class structure and magic system would need to be built from scratch I think.  Thoughts?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 23, 2013, 05:01:51 pm
Huh, i wasn't expecting that many posts in so short a time  ;D

Very good.

Ok, so here goes:

Possibility a : We even create an own rulessystem for it (besides all the collecting of world entries for the setting guide). Not sure if anyone is interested in working out an own system. What we have to be clear on is that it is a LOT of work to make a system from scratch (that also does what it should, probabilities-side).

Possibility b : We take a system that is out there. I wholeheartedly agree that the d20 family (including PF) is waaaaaaaaaay out  ;D I could live with FATE although i am not sure it is gritty enough (but it would support the storytelling part quite well).

If we go with b) I was thinking about the new Runequest 6 rulesset. It is an old game but it was dusted off quite nicely by the new company and it has nice rules for cults and magic and stuff which we could use for a PoN RPG...like, a lot ;)
If you want to use a class-based game, i think i am out. 1) I hate those  :-X and 2) i don't think it matches Earwa that well and therefore is no real "way to go".
RQ6 has a class and level less system that nonetheless can simulate those aspects via culture and occupation/careers... a lot more elegant imo.

Another system that is more on the side of the narration/storytelling style is Cortex +, another interesting little system that even went open source.

Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 23, 2013, 07:31:22 pm
I agree:  no class system is essential.  I also don't like those and have been tinkering for years on a classless alternative (i.e., skill-based).  Not that I've got very far, mind, but there you go.

I'm not familiar with RQ6, but I'll see what I can learn.

If you hadn't guessed, I'm in   ;D
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Madness on November 23, 2013, 09:25:48 pm
Do you all need/want a subforum for sorting out the different aspects of this, rather than being constrained by one thread?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 23, 2013, 11:03:02 pm
This would be superb, Madness, thanks a lot!  :)

@ Somnambulist - Check for the srd of Mongoose Runequest 1 or Openquest srd. Those games are very similar.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on November 24, 2013, 01:08:48 am
Please, figure out and narrow down what the game would focus on. I've basically studied RPG's for too long and if you're going to try and put all the load on the GM to make play interesting, don't even bother looking up a ruleset. If you are going to use a ruleset, realise that it shapes what the game focuses on. If no one decides that, then the ruleset is just a blind shotgun blast in the dark - it might support just stupid, abstract things. You have to guide it to some degree. Just trying to have rolling to hit and armour classes 'n' shit is not guidance, it's just random blasts in the dark. Being real particular on the magic system wont help, unless you figure out what the group will actually be doing and, preferably, enjoying. Figuring out the fiction in minutae does not automatically work out the latter.

It strikes me as tragedy, when I see an RPG go down that route. Particularly one based on these books. This is my protest against repeating thirty years of RPG 'design theory', which is to say going in blind, shooting wildly.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 24, 2013, 04:21:19 am
I think Callan makes great points regarding focus.

There are a ton of rule sets out there, and something that could help is figuring out what kind of Earwa experience you want to simulate.

I think a classless system can work, though I'd recommend finding an extant system as trying to play test any new ruleset will likely be insanely difficult. I think Kult RPG was classless, as was Call of Cthullu? (Maybe horror rpgs in general offer classless systems to use? This might make PCs very vulnerable though.)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 24, 2013, 12:33:52 pm
Wow, Callan, a bit bitter, are we? (and i can understand that, to a degree...so that statement is not meant as a provocation, just so we are clear  ;) )

I'm a roleplayer of many years myself, and am also reading up on game design, at least a bit. I'm no big fan of all the Game-Theories like GNS and that stuff because in the end, i think it is just babble. Every game group has a different vibe and enjoys different parts of the game. So it will be impossible to generate The One True RPG anyway.

Therefore i don't think we need to narrowly focus our game. What i want to try is 1) to put together the most important world-bits and 2) finding and moderatly adapting a rulesset to the flavour of Earwa (or at least what our consensus will be on what the flavour is). That last part might lead us to focus, in the wider sense of the word. But i think it would be a shame to say "Ok, let us make a game that only tries to let players play Mandate Schoolmen". Eventhough for some that might be what they are after in a PoN RPG, i think it is a way too narrow focus because you can be sure that if you have a group of 5 people (and we will even assume here that all of them read the whole of PoN), not all of them like the same things about the books.

What the rules should provide in my opinion:

- A way to simulate reality (to whatever degree seems appropriate)
- how the cultures and upbringing (caste, career etc) factors into the characters capabilities
- how all the supernatural stuff "works"

In every other aspect, the rules should take a backseat to whatever is happening at the game table. Rules are guidelines, not laws. And they should never dictate the game/story flow (which a lot of the new indie-games try to do, which can lead to interesting results, but is most often a imagination-stifling corset *).

* at least for my taste/way of gameing
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 24, 2013, 02:13:05 pm
Kellais, couldn't have said it bettter.  We seem to be of a similar mindset to the approach of even considering this kind of endeavor.  The focus of any adaptation should be true to the source material, first and foremost.  If it doesn't feel like Earwa (or whatever setting for that matter), what's the point?  Any ruleset should be to support the framework, not inhibit it.

Big +1 for thoughts.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 24, 2013, 03:37:28 pm
Glad that i found someone who shares my view, Somna (I hope you allow me to nickname you that way ;) ) :) And thanks for my first Karma  ;D

That said, i'd still be interested in the vision of Callan. I hope i didn't kill the conversation with my first line. Because i think it is interesting to see different approaches. There is always the chance that we can create synergy...and that can lead to stuff better than the sum of its parts.

If Madness gives us an own subforum, we can have a thread dedicated to that discussion if you guys are interested in getting into more detail about design and the different philosophies of game-styles. I know i would be.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 24, 2013, 04:07:56 pm
In defense of Callan, I didn't read his post as having a bitter tone so much as a cautionary one.

It's easy to throw in some ideas about fighters and mages but then realize the whole thing is a mess. [Especially given the huge power differentials between warriors, mages, and warriors with chorare.]

I'm still thinking the rulesets of a horror rpg where even well trained humans are vulnerable might work out well. The problem is any human engaged in a war is likely to be snuffed out.

Perhaps some kind of "destiny" mechanic that offers bonuses for PCs? An acknowledgement of divine favor or the world conspiring would be the in-game explanation...
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 24, 2013, 06:28:32 pm
Perhaps some kind of "destiny" mechanic that offers bonuses for PCs? An acknowledgement of divine favor or the world conspiring would be the in-game explanation...

Have thought about this as an extension of the kahiht (sp?), the world-souls.  Maybe PCs would be pulled from this idea.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sologdin on November 24, 2013, 09:36:22 pm
i always liked white wolf's mechanics best. its merits & flaws might be a way to handle upjumped classes: to be mandati, you have to take enough flaws to purchase gnosis. otherwise, sorcerer is default anagogic.  buying gnosis might come automatically with flaws like Loathed by All, Ancient Enemy, Horrible Nightmares, and Crazy.  so, yaknow, balanced!

how does one handle an RSB game when everyone shows up with inchies and erratics and gnostics? 

everyone really starts with a chump:


okay, inrau. roll initiative--wait, nevermind. the birdthing killed you pre-initiative.

next, geshrunni. take a free action now because you get your face flayed before you have time for anything else.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on November 25, 2013, 04:13:04 am
Wow, Callan, a bit bitter, are we? (and i can understand that, to a degree...so that statement is not meant as a provocation, just so we are clear  ;) )

I'm a roleplayer of many years myself, and am also reading up on game design, at least a bit. I'm no big fan of all the Game-Theories like GNS and that stuff because in the end, i think it is just babble. Every game group has a different vibe and enjoys different parts of the game. So it will be impossible to generate The One True RPG anyway.
GNS theory doesn't say any different. No one true RPG.
Quote
Therefore i don't think we need to narrowly focus our game. What i want to try is 1) to put together the most important world-bits and 2) finding and moderatly adapting a rulesset to the flavour of Earwa (or at least what our consensus will be on what the flavour is). That last part might lead us to focus, in the wider sense of the word. But i think it would be a shame to say "Ok, let us make a game that only tries to let players play Mandate Schoolmen". Eventhough for some that might be what they are after in a PoN RPG, i think it is a way too narrow focus because you can be sure that if you have a group of 5 people (and we will even assume here that all of them read the whole of PoN), not all of them like the same things about the books.
What I mean by focusing is not at all at the scale of whether you focus just on schoolmen or cover a whole range of castes. That's the smaller circle - the larger circle, the much larger one which encompases all that you are talking about that, that's the one I'm talking about, in regard to focusing. I'm not at all talking about your decision on how many castes are covered. I'm not asking for focus on that. I'm not talking about classes or class-less. I'm not asking for focus on that.

When some dude has written up an angst filled background will broken relationships all over the place, another dude is out to pwn the world and another is really keen to be a recreationist of every little Earwa detail, none of that stuff will actually say which one we are going to game about. I know, I know, the very old responce is 'we can do all of them *dilated pupils*!!1!'.

I think usually that comes from folk who are in game groups most of whom's members all do the same one of these as the others. And they just think they do them all at once.

Because trying to do them all ends up doing them all badly. And it sucks. Not to say that as provocation.

Quote
In every other aspect, the rules should take a backseat to whatever is happening at the game table. Rules are guidelines, not laws.
I've heard this so many times - it religious mantra. Because frankly you've never had rules that take a font seat and did not suck - because all the front seat rules you had were firing shots into the dark. And they hit nothing. And they sucked. And so over thirty years, instead of improving front seat rules, people have arrived at the mantra of, while not getting rid of rules entirely (because they need to buy books with the text 'D&D' on the front or they feel naked), they have to push them to the back.

Quote
And they should never dictate the game/story flow (which a lot of the new indie-games try to do, which can lead to interesting results, but is most often a imagination-stifling corset *).
Which ones have you played? Some are just shitly designed - it's not like someone regulates all indie games to be designed in the one single dogmatic way. Quite the opposite - they go in all sorts of directions. And some of them are shit.

I'd recommend looking up The Riddle of Steel RPG (sadly out of print now). It handles Sciborg's mention of a destiny mechanic very well, while still being able to have NPC's or PC's heads decapitated.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 25, 2013, 05:26:45 pm
Just a quick note - I think we have to acknowledge "classes" will not be balanced. Being a non-Dunyain warrior without a chorae means you are a nothing when compared to a sorcerer of rank.

A sorcerer without a lot of indirect damage opportunities is also very vulnerable against chorae. And everyone human is probably fucked if a fighter/mage nonman shows up.

This isn't a bad thing IMO, as it gets away from balancing obsessions that can break attempts at simulation. Though adventuring in the wastes sort of loses its appeal...

Perhaps PCs who aren't mages are granted one chorae and 1-3 lesser cohorts?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 25, 2013, 06:12:43 pm
Just a quick note - I think we have to acknowledge "classes" will not be balanced. Being a non-Dunyain warrior without a chorae means you are a nothing when compared to a sorcerer of rank.

A sorcerer without a lot of indirect damage opportunities is also very vulnerable against chorae. And everyone human is probably fucked if a fighter/mage nonman shows up.

This isn't a bad thing IMO, as it gets away from balancing obsessions that can break attempts at simulation. Though adventuring in the wastes sort of loses its appeal...

Perhaps PCs who aren't mages are granted one chorae and 1-3 lesser cohorts?

I agree.  A major factor in the series is how unequal the world is.  'Balancing' the game would fly straight in the face of that, thus negating the Earwan-ness of the whole idea.  As you mentioned before, perhaps perks can be granted to players to increase their survivability and make it more playable.  But maybe that should be the disclaimer for those unfamiliar with the setting (and to steal a line from Madness' signature):  Earwa - A Thousand Thousand Ways to Die.  Die Better!  :)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 25, 2013, 11:21:17 pm
@ Somnambulist - Check for the srd of Mongoose Runequest 1 or Openquest srd. Those games are very similar.

I've downloaded the Mongoose SRD and am going through it now.  Looks promising so far.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 26, 2013, 02:03:51 pm
Absolutely agree on the balance issue. There is just no way you can do that and still call it true to the source.

@ Somna - Just know that RQ 1 is similar but not as good and refined as RQ 6. They did a lot of work on this engine via Mongoose Runequest 2 and then RQ 6.

@ Callan - I really think it could be interesting to talk about this stuff, Callan. But as it stands now, i have not much to go on. You remain very vague about what you want to see in a game that it's not "a shot in the dark" etc. . Maybe open up an own thread in this subforum for discussion of design and focus in RPGs? I'd be interested to see your ideas on what a RPG needs but, to be honest, i am not that keen on reading more rants (i could start a rant-marathon as well, believe me! :D ). A more constructive bend to the topic is needed, imo.
And just to throw some names of Indie-Games at you (that i have tried) : FATE, Cortex + (both quite traditional in the end), My life with Master, Burning Wheel, The Riddle of Steel, Fiasco, Apocalypse World, Lady Blackbird, How we came to live here, In a wicked Age ... there are more but some names elude me atm . And maybe i should have said Forge-Games in my last post on the topic instead of the very broad Indie-Games term.
Anyway...
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sologdin on November 26, 2013, 07:03:03 pm
balance is an odd obsession in these games. but: the point of it is to make all the options at least plausibly attractive. why would anyone roll up something other than an inchie dunyain mandati, yaknow?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 26, 2013, 07:46:52 pm
balance is an odd obsession in these games. but: the point of it is to make all the options at least plausibly attractive. why would anyone roll up something other than an inchie dunyain mandati, yaknow?

Well that is a problem if the point of an Earwa game is D&D style adventuring with a combat focus.

Though even with Cleric in tow, the scalpers were useful despite only the Captain possessing a Chorae.


Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 26, 2013, 08:19:15 pm
I find these things to be self-regulating.  Usually, a group of gamers is made up of like-minded people (or they wouldn't likely game together).  If they all want to draw up Inchies and try to bring about the Second Apocalypse, why not?  Likewise, if they want to portray 'good guys' to try to stop said Apocalypse, the goal then becomes overcoming the big, bad, nasty super-powered lich and his hordes of sranc and pet Inchie.  Pretty epic either way.  GMs and players tend to equalize these things themselves in ways that suit their play-style.  But I agree in a way, making it attractive to be a caste-menial foot-soldier might be a hard sell.  Goes back to what you said earlier, sci, about having some mechanic in place to benefit the PCs (white luck, artifacts, nonman blood, whatever), make them a little more hardy than the typical schlub on the streets of Momemn.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 26, 2013, 08:52:05 pm
There is some self regulation, though there are groups that meet up at hobby stores or via online 'personals' that have to contend with disparate interest.

Though I do think the World Conspiring idea offers a chance to make all characters interesting. Not to mention allowing people to play in scenarios that go beyond the dungeon crawling ideas that D&D is rooted in.

eta:

For example being involved in political power plays can allow for a witch practicing under the eyes of the Scarlet Spires to be as interesting a PC as a Mandate Schoolman.

There's also shifting the timeline, so that Nonmen and humans are interacting far more.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on November 26, 2013, 10:41:19 pm
Kellais, like I said
Quote
figure out what the group will actually be doing and, preferably, enjoying.
What do the players do at the table? Do they sit and listen to the GM's awesome, prewritten story, occasionally rolling dice though the GM will make sure those dice rolls wont do anything to detract from the awesome story? From personal experience, this seems to be somehow the default that traditional games fall into. If it's groovy for folks, then whatever - I'd just prefer that people decide if they will be doing that, instead of just fall into it without actually deciding to do so.

Frankly for myself I'm gamist inclined, also with an inclination towards moral problematism play with no pre-written plot (players don't have their characters act so as to support 'the plot' - how the PC's act IS the plot). Sometime known as narrativism.

Did you play the riddle of steel using the spiritual attribute system in it? Riddle of steel is uncanny in how sharply it seperates play, in whether they go just the combat rules and kinda ignore or actively decide not to use the spiritual attributes, Vs groups who full on embrace the spiritual attributes.

If we were to look at moral problematism as the point of playing (not a thing we do in play, but THE reason we play), I'd look at rewards systems for players both giving their characters moral issues ('I sold my child into slavery!') and getting points for engaging in them during play.

For gamism, I'd be looking towards what anyone is prepared to say is winning the world (close the gates to the gods?)

Nar or gamism, I'm fine with a movement toward either.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on November 26, 2013, 11:15:03 pm
What do the players do at the table? Do they sit and listen to the GM's awesome, prewritten story, occasionally rolling dice though the GM will make sure those dice rolls wont do anything to detract from the awesome story? From personal experience, this seems to be somehow the default that traditional games fall into. If it's groovy for folks, then whatever - I'd just prefer that people decide if they will be doing that, instead of just fall into it without actually deciding to do so.

This all comes down to preference, and to a great extent the abilities of players and GMs alike.  Some people like to have the GM do all the work and take them on an adventure, whereas others like to do whatever they want and let the GM arbitrate.  Most of my game experience in the last decade has been as a GM.  My personal preference is to provide setting and opportunity and let the players do as they wish.  Not all GMs are like that.  One I played with recently just couldn't think on his feet, every time one of us players did something outside the scope of his 'planned' adventure, everything came to a grinding halt.  Players should never be able to tell what's planned and what's improvised.  But that's all down to the GM, I'm afraid.  I would also add that good players will know the difference, and be able to adapt.

So, all things being (un)equal, my approach to this whole shebang is to provide a solid framework in which to allow the depth of the setting to show through.  How it's used is completely another issue.  My 2 cents spent.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 27, 2013, 03:56:32 pm
Callan,

I agree with your last line of the first paragraph.
The problem with the rest of the first paragraph is that you cannot build rules around something that is that vague. You can't write rules that provide everything for everyone...just flat out impossible. Therefore i prefer if the rules are as lean as possible as to enable you to play what you want without forcing any one playstyle, even if only indirectly...and this is where many Forge/Indie games fall flat. They have one agenda, most of the time...and they do it well (again most of the time) but if you do not want to play along to that agenda, the game sucks big time. And maybe that is ok. I just don't think the artifical splitting of GNS in totally seperate categories that some of the strongest Forge proponents wanted is a good idea...because most often, at the game-ing table, you have all three of them in constantly changing percentages.
Oh and as an addendum: I don't think that this
Quote
this seems to be somehow the default that traditional games fall into
is true. This is a problem of "use at the table" or "playstyle" ... that is not something inherent to traditional rulesset!

Anyway, as you, i most often enjoy it more if i know that i have perfect freedom as to what my character can do. Problem is, as Somna said, some GMs can not handle that. And, to name another possibility, there are GMs that are so good in "writing" a story, that you will enjoy the ride and most often not even perceive it that you are following a prewritten script (or at least you will not mind, because his way is the way you would have taken anyway).
I also enjoy moral dilemmas and the last couple of years of my gameing were very geared toward playing "a realistic setting with shades of grey...and not happy-go-lucky cheesy happy end fantasy wishfullfilment". On the other hand, there are people who want to game for happy wishfullfillment...and that is NOT bad-wrong fun. It's just that they want something totally different from me.

Anyway, my problem with the GNS is that if you go on the internet and start throwing those names around, there are so many different definitions of it as there are posters. Because lets face it, internet-folks are not the most rigorous when it comes to the discussions of hobbies.
So if we want to discuss Design and throw around special words, i think we should define them in the thread. What do you think narrativism means? Or gamism? Just so we are on the same page.

And i would urge you, if you are interested in discussing that, to make a new thread for it. I think this thread is already too mixed up with other themes to have a usefull discussion.

As a last comment, i dig systems that give mechanical incentive for motivations and their use in play. So yes, spiritual attributes in TRoS were really something. FATE has its Aspects that fill a similar role, Cortex + has Distinctions etc. . And that is something i can see having in a TSA rpg. It makes your character more than just a simulation of physical and mental capabilities and i dig that.

@ Somna - I wholeheartedly agree with your post. So time to "repay" you with a +1 ;)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on November 28, 2013, 12:51:54 am
Quote
You can't write rules that provide everything for everyone...just flat out impossible.
I don't mention this as a goal. This isn't something I'm bringing to the discussion!

Quote
Therefore i prefer if the rules are as lean as possible as to enable you to play what you want without forcing any one playstyle, even if only indirectly
Okay, here it is - your design goal, which is an optional design goal. Okay, you could have a design goal of lean rules (so as to not force any one playstyle). But you don't have to.

I think you're coming from the long lost desire to make a game that provides everything for everyone, then failing that, opting to try and make it lean so people aren't forced to a playstyle and somehow everyones playstyle is supported (by the means of no ones playstyle is supported). The next best thing, when the 'for everyone' goal proved impossible.

I'd just like to highlight the choice for folk, instead of thinking this is the only option. It is possible, for example, to have three prince of nothing RPGs (and even more than that), all of which take on the material in a different way (supporting different playstyles, like GNS broadly outlines different styles). There is no need to make one PON RPG that supports every playstyle (by not supporting any). You can make multiple games which support your own groups playstyle really well.

Or folk could opt for lean rules that do not force a particular playstyles - but at the same time they do not support a particular playstyle either.

Just wanted folk to know there IS a B choice, even if they still choose A in the end. There isn't just A and only A. There's really no need to argue on this - if folk are choosing A, it's just a matter of choosing that and that's cool (and I've had my chance to pitch B, which is my contribution to the design process)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Cüréthañ on November 28, 2013, 07:41:18 am
From my experience:
The more rules the better! 
You just ignore the ones you don't want to use.  We used to drag 12 hardback rulebooks around and only used like 10-20%.
Alter or steal mechanics from other games if they work for your group.  We incorporated Fate points from the old Bond RPG into D&D and used a modified system for elemental sorcery that we devised ourselves.  GM has fiat but anyone can suggest stuff out.
As long as the GM is consistent with the players and can engage them, everyone is happy.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Madness on November 28, 2013, 12:52:49 pm
 
You just ignore the ones you don't want to use.  We used to drag 12 hardback rulebooks around and only used like 10-20%.

Dragging around a bunch of books everyday when I only reference a 5th of their content is, like, my favorite pastime ;).

Quote
You can't write rules that provide everything for everyone...just flat out impossible.
I don't mention this as a goal. This isn't something I'm bringing to the discussion!

Probably time for him to make a more specific thread and move past generalities but Kellais did start this thread in the hopes of actually designing TSA Edition of P&P RPG versus endlessly debating why whichever version of rolling dice doesn't work for TSA.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 28, 2013, 09:03:02 pm
I'm willing to try and learn about a new system, though ideally this means whatever system is picked is not overly rules heavy.  ;D

(I'm assuming we're not trying to make a rules system from scratch, but feel free to correct me.)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: sologdin on November 29, 2013, 01:00:54 pm
a rules system for an RSB RPG has to change such that particular configuration of the material content transforms its formal axiomatics, like benjuka.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on November 29, 2013, 10:42:20 pm
a rules system for an RSB RPG has to change such that particular configuration of the material content transforms its formal axiomatics, like benjuka.
I think there have been games like that, where you can change the rules with the rules.

Also see the RPG 'Universalis' for a game of shared group world and situation creation (it has actual rules for it)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Cüréthañ on November 30, 2013, 12:45:27 am
Adapt Nomic perhaps?
You could play as one of the hundred, and alter reality to aquire souls.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomic).
There's an example of base rules from a game in progress here (http://www.reddit.com/r/nommit/wiki/ruleset)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on November 30, 2013, 01:50:40 pm
Just as a heads up for the ones interested: today there is a discount on the mentioned Runequest 6 on Drivethru RPG...you get the pdf for 4.99$, which is a steal.

http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/featured.php?affiliate_id=269157 (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/featured.php?affiliate_id=269157)

And for my taste, i need a rulesset that does not change. The rules are supposed to be there to simulate everything you can think of (in sane proportions, naturally ;) ) ... i'd hate it if the rules look totally different just because i am playing a caste noble game now instead of the recent Schoolman game.
Sure, you need a rules-part for the magic in the Schoolman game, which the caste-noble game does not nead, but all the rest (skills, attributes or similar stuff) should stay the same.
If you meant that, sologdin, then sure. If you meant "taylored mechanics to every different set-up", then i disagree.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on January 30, 2014, 09:00:56 pm
Anyone ever done something like this: http://roll20.net/ ? I didn't look very far into it, but its marketed as a 'virtual tabletop'. I wonder if something like that would allow us forumers to play our own game?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Madness on January 30, 2014, 09:25:03 pm
That one dude in the picture might actually be halfway through a finger snap ;).
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on January 30, 2014, 09:27:20 pm
That is awesome! Thank you for pointing that out lol.

From the looks of it, thats going to be a big one. Thats a full-arm windup, rather than just the standard wrist-flick, or the mid-level elbow throw.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on January 30, 2014, 10:03:46 pm
Followed by a 'Booyah!'

Roll20 looks pretty cool, if by cool I mean super needy.  I'm gonna go check it out.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on January 30, 2014, 11:19:15 pm
Followed by a 'Booyah!'

Roll20 looks pretty cool, if by cool I mean super needy.  I'm gonna go check it out.

Nerdy, cool... who's counting? I've no experience playing these games so I'd appreciate  your review of the system if you ever do end up exploring it.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Somnambulist on January 31, 2014, 12:08:40 am
crappy auto-correct again.  meant nerdy, but will do, Wilshire
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Madness on January 31, 2014, 12:58:43 am
Lol - Wilshire, isn't it "nerdy," not "neardy?"

That is awesome! Thank you for pointing that out lol.

From the looks of it, thats going to be a big one. Thats a full-arm windup, rather than just the standard wrist-flick, or the mid-level elbow throw.

Followed by a 'Booyah!'

Roll20 looks pretty cool, if by cool I mean super needy.  I'm gonna go check it out.

Lmao.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on January 31, 2014, 01:56:53 pm
psh spelling. Who cares about spelling? (quickly goes back to correct error)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Srancy on February 14, 2014, 06:20:28 am
I'm much more of a grognard
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Raizen on March 26, 2014, 02:34:41 pm
A few friends of mine had very good results with this site: http://www.rptools.net/.  So far I haven't played on it myself, but they said it was really very good for our favorite D & D versions: 3.5/Pathfinder

I took a look at their maps and you can make some very detailed areas and campaigns in it.  Obviously it won't be as good as actual pen and paper, but hey maybe facebook will use their new Oculus purchase for a virtual version so we can actually feel like we're looking at paper!  ;)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: klarakos on August 01, 2014, 07:40:37 am
Please, figure out and narrow down what the game would focus on. I've basically studied RPG's for too long and if you're going to try and put all the load on the GM to make play interesting, don't even bother looking up a ruleset. If you are going to use a ruleset, realise that it shapes what the game focuses on. If no one decides that, then the ruleset is just a blind shotgun blast in the dark - it might support just stupid, abstract things. You have to guide it to some degree. Just trying to have rolling to hit and armour classes 'n' shit is not guidance, it's just random blasts in the dark. Being real particular on the magic system wont help, unless you figure out what the group will actually be doing and, preferably, enjoying. Figuring out the fiction in minutae does not automatically work out the latter.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Srancy on August 10, 2014, 03:23:09 am
Will Kellhus be romancable? I'll only join if I can be seduced by him
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Madness on August 27, 2014, 12:13:22 pm
Please, figure out and narrow down what the game would focus on. I've basically studied RPG's for too long and if you're going to try and put all the load on the GM to make play interesting, don't even bother looking up a ruleset. If you are going to use a ruleset, realise that it shapes what the game focuses on. If no one decides that, then the ruleset is just a blind shotgun blast in the dark - it might support just stupid, abstract things. You have to guide it to some degree. Just trying to have rolling to hit and armour classes 'n' shit is not guidance, it's just random blasts in the dark. Being real particular on the magic system wont help, unless you figure out what the group will actually be doing and, preferably, enjoying. Figuring out the fiction in minutae does not automatically work out the latter.

Welcome to the Second Apocalypse, klarakos (to be honest, you've been here, I just haven't been answering posts for awhile).

You have a lot to offer these threads. If you have some time, I'd really enjoy reading some more thoughts on how this gaming can be accomplished.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on August 28, 2014, 04:03:23 pm
Kellais needs to respond to klarakos. Its been several month... But this is a slow burning project. Give it time.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Kellais on August 30, 2014, 12:37:01 pm
klarakos input sounds very similar to what Callan had to say. I'm not sure i agree. It reminds me a lot of the very focused indie gamedesing...and while that can be fun if you like the niche on which such games focus, i think they are too narrowly focused.
My idea for the TSA rpg is a rulesset that lets you play in the world of Earwa without being a too restricting corset. I am aware that this approach also has it's disadvantages but i am not seeing it as a "shotgun blast in the dark".

If klarakos wants to give his input in a more detailed fashion, i am sure we are all glad to take a look at it. I mean it's not as if i have the rpg already all worked out ;)
But for now his (her?) post is more of a general vote for a rules-map-to-game-focus...which i do not disagree with per se but i'd need more specifics to be able to properly answer...or to be able to tell if he (she?) and i have the same vision for a TSA game.

What i definitely want: the game should be able to work for a wide variaty of game-set ups. Sure you need to tailor it a bit to your group...but i am of the opinion that you can not design the whole game to one group. I want the rules to be able to simulate all aspects of Earwa...and not just, for example, a Ainoni Noble-Caste political game (aka too narrow focus in my opinion).
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on September 01, 2014, 12:05:06 pm
Thanks Kellais. I was trying to establish a dialogue again between those that are participating on this topic.

I'm not sure it needs to be more or less focused, but we are potentially past the point of vague suggestions. You are right that you/we would need more information to better respond.
Klarakos?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: SilentRoamer on September 01, 2014, 12:09:52 pm
Will Kellhus be romancable? I'll only join if I can be seduced by him

Caveats, caveats! Only if the romancer is an Inchoroi possessed/compulsed Sumna street whore wielding level 10 Glamours.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on September 01, 2014, 12:22:24 pm
Ah, the Inchoroi's own twisted tree of magic.  Kind of forgot about them as a potential player character.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: dragharrow on September 02, 2015, 09:38:53 am
Not about the theoretical TSA rpg, just responding to the thread topic: I've recently started playing D&D 5e with some friends and I've been enjoying it.

This recent game is the first time I've ever played a formal rpg properly but when I was pretty young someone must have explained the concept to me because I got really into the idea of it. I remember I went and got a copy of the dungeons master guide from the school library and convinced my friends to try and play with me. We can't have been older than 12 and none of us had any previous experience with pen and paper games whatsoever so we were totally unable to figure the rules out. In the end we defaulted to having me as the DM just decide everything. It worked out pretty well. Players would describe their actions, I would tell them how it played out. I definitely enjoyed the power lol
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Garet Jax on September 02, 2015, 02:15:59 pm
We need to get Bakker to be our DM...
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on September 08, 2015, 06:46:10 pm
I'd buy a seat at that table.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Bolivar on September 08, 2015, 07:24:45 pm
Not about the theoretical TSA rpg, just responding to the thread topic: I've recently started playing D&D 5e with some friends and I've been enjoying it.

This recent game is the first time I've ever played a formal rpg properly but when I was pretty young someone must have explained the concept to me because I got really into the idea of it. I remember I went and got a copy of the dungeons master guide from the school library and convinced my friends to try and play with me. We can't have been older than 12 and none of us had any previous experience with pen and paper games whatsoever so we were totally unable to figure the rules out. In the end we defaulted to having me as the DM just decide everything. It worked out pretty well. Players would describe their actions, I would tell them how it played out. I definitely enjoyed the power lol
I ran a 5e game shortly after launch, it was a lot of fun. I like how they streamlined a lot of things into the advantage system.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on November 18, 2015, 05:43:43 pm
Thinking about joining in with a friend's group on Pathfinder campaign starting early next year. Never done one before, hopefully its interesting.

Anyone have any general suggestions for a beginner?

[Edit] Note: thinking about being a magic user. Wizard seems super complex though...
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on June 20, 2016, 11:02:58 am
Did you end up playing Pathfinder, Wilshire?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on June 20, 2016, 01:36:50 pm
Did you end up playing Pathfinder, Wilshire?
Unfortunately, no. The group was disinclined to have another new member, etc. etc. I never went looking for others to play with.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Callan S. on June 21, 2016, 11:15:31 am
Were they at four players? Pathfinder, a few levels in, has trouble adapting to higher or lower player numbers, from what I can remember.

Perhaps we'll have to start a forum play by post game (warning: Incredibly slow - I've run them before).
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Madness on June 21, 2016, 01:13:11 pm
FB was thinking something similar - though, I think his thought was closer to viramsata than actual rolls.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Cynical Cat on August 09, 2016, 11:10:21 pm
I've had a lot of experience with Roll 20.  My current RPG playing crew is international and we play over Roll 20 after switching from Screen Monkey.  It's pretty good and there's even scripts out there that allow you to simulate the funky nonstandard dice used in Star Wars or Warhammer Fantasy.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: TaoHorror on June 28, 2017, 07:51:57 pm
okaaaaaaaaay ... Wilshire sent me here and the last post was almost a year ago and appears there was interest in this group designing an RPG from Earwa 3 years ago, but appears the idea sputtered out. Well, that would take some elbow grease to pull off, so no judgement on the fate of that effort coming from me.

In another post, I came across what appears to be a really cool game this group might dig. Kingdom Death: Monsters. It appears to be a board/rpg style game steeped in mad horror with super cool figures ( me thinks the chap who came up with this is a PON fan ). Anyways, won't duplicate everything I posted in other thread ( http://www.second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=2186.msg33967#msg33967 ), just seeing if any of you know of this game and have an opinion. Cool or not cool? It's pricey stuff, so hoping to get first hand account recommendation on it before I take the plunge.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Vegetables on July 07, 2017, 05:08:53 am
, just seeing if any of you know of this game and have an opinion. Cool or not cool? It's pricey stuff, so hoping to get first hand account recommendation on it before I take the plunge.

I havn't played but aquintances at my FLG have complained about the rules for it. They tend to have good opinions on games. They make lovely models though.


Would anyone in this group have any interest in playing a biweekly game on roll20? I'd enjoy playing but wouldn't mind gming an l5r game (Samurai system with a really great setting and rules system) or a zombie-apocalypse themed World of darkness game.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on July 07, 2017, 12:27:16 pm
biweekly = twice a week?

Maybe, depends on the time I suppose, and experience required, as I have none - for any game.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: TaoHorror on July 07, 2017, 11:41:32 pm
What were their complaints? Too difficult ( seems to be common feedback on the game, steep learning curve ).

I've heard of Roll20, but never played. Can you give us an upshot on what it's like? All I've ever played is D&D, Traveler and Top Secret ( and a few others for very short period of time like Gurps ). Top Secret has the greatest rule of any RPG ever ... so when you create your character, you pick one of 3 fields, for which Assassination is one of them ( the most popular selected, for obvious reasons ... there's Confiscation and Administration as well ). For the Assassination field, you get experience points no matter who you kill ... that means innocent civilians as well, bwaa ha ha ha haaa! Man, oh man, did I have fun playing that back in the day. I created my character and randomly went to the first house I came to in a random neighborhood, knocked on the door and started firing away with my shotgun, LOL! I never had so much fun! The cops typically took me out fairly quick, but just rolled up another one and kept going! It inspired me to think of a RPG where you're a serial killer ... but never did anything with it.

Anyhoo - let us know more about what you have in mind with Roll20, how you want to go about it, generally how it's played, etc.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Vegetables on July 09, 2017, 05:39:14 pm
biweekly = twice a week?

Maybe, depends on the time I suppose, and experience required, as I have none - for any game.
No sorry, I meant every other week.

Anyhoo - let us know more about what you have in mind with Roll20, how you want to go about it, generally how it's played, etc.

Roll20 is a website that facilitates rpg play online. Acts as a lobby/hub for playing and communicating.

I would want to see what players would be interested in. I'd lean towards WoD and a zombie survival game as WoD is an incredibly easy system to play especially for new players without access to print copies of the book. The game has a leaning towards "role play" (focusing on the characters, interactions, and choices) over "roll play" (focusing on the stats, rolls, and crunch). Thematically I would be running the game as a somewhat depressing story of continuing survival. Managing food, resources and survivors while dealing with zombies, the elements and other people in a post-zombie apocalypse world. Realistic modern characters interacting and surviving.

What were their complaints? Too difficult ( seems to be common feedback on the game, steep learning curve ).
I didn't play it myself so I can't get into to much detail but their complaints were that the ruleset was sub-par (unintuitive, congested, poorly-optimised) in comparison  to other games of the type. The models they considered top quality among miniature gaming sculpts.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on July 10, 2017, 07:35:44 pm
Sounds cool, Vegetables. I think we're both in the same EST timezone - which makes a difference when you're on a forum with people from a dozen different timezones ;) .

Lets say, count me in, and we'll see where this goes.

Name a Time, day of the week, place, whatever. Get it going. (If you build it they will come - ie, people are lazy shits but if you do it all for them they'll happily partake in the finished product)
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: TaoHorror on July 10, 2017, 10:11:35 pm
Yeah, sounds cool - let's see how many we can rope in. So roll20 - do we interact with each other beyond typing? Audio/video involved at all?
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Vegetables on July 11, 2017, 07:40:22 pm
I'm going to look into all the applications of Roll20 as iv never used it myself. I will post a topic here when I'm ready for player applications.
I will note that my games tend to deal heavy in realism. I.e. Unless you were a soldier, hunter or, professional shooter you cannot really have above 3 (professional level) in firearms. A score of 5 (highest value a stat cana go in WoD) in a skill means you are one of the absolute best in the world. You wouldn't have this unless it reflected your character concept.
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Wilshire on July 11, 2017, 07:43:04 pm
Yeah, sounds cool - let's see how many we can rope in. So roll20 - do we interact with each other beyond typing? Audio/video involved at all?
I believe those capability are baked into roll 20.

If not, I prefer voice, and there's tons of applications for that. Curse/twitch being one of them - free, simple enough to use just make a username and everyone joins a chatroom. Skype - without the video - works fine as well.

I'm going to look into all the applications of Roll20 as iv never used it myself. I will post a topic here when I'm ready for player applications.
I will note that my games tend to deal heavy in realism. I.e. Unless you were a soldier, hunter or, professional shooter you cannot really have above 3 (professional level) in firearms. A score of 5 (highest value a stat cana go in WoD) in a skill means you are one of the absolute best in the world. You wouldn't have this unless it reflected your character concept.

Sweet. Let me know if you need help. I have 0 experience with pen&paper rpgs, but gotta start somewhere. I'm not much of a creative type either - you won't find me DMing - but I'm sure I could provide something (or at least extract something out of google ;) ).
Title: Re: Any pen&paper roleplayers here?
Post by: Cynical Cat on July 31, 2017, 01:23:12 pm
I have experience with Roll20 and highly recommend it.  Combined with Skype or Discord and you can have really good gaming experiences with it.