today, on Mez Gives Her Opinions…
Apr. 1st, 2021 01:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eleanorjane asked me to blather on about RPG systems and game design. Here goes.( dice rolling, stats, and magic )
eleanorjane asked me to blather on about RPG systems and game design. Here goes.( dice rolling, stats, and magic )
I really want to ring up my friends and family and complain to them about Worlds Without Number using Vancian Magic – but none of them would have the faintest clue what I was talking about, so I'm posting a rant here in the hopes that it will reach someone who understands.
Some Definitions
Vancian Magic: A magic system used in roleplaying systems, particularly of the D&D variety. Uses spell slots.
Stars Without Number: An awesome RPG, published by a guy who's far too enthusiastic about tables (of data; not the furniture), set in space.
Worlds Without Number: The new fantasy-setting RPG, published by the Stars Without Number guy. Still tonnes of tables.
A Brief Rant
Granted, Vancian Magic was an excellent system for using magic in wargaming, back when D&D was just beginning. Yep, as a wargaming tool it totally makes sense. And is even well designed.
Granted, the Worlds Without Number guy has actually done a reasonable job of justifying why Vancian Magic might make some sort of sense in-universe, which is more than Gary Gygax ever did.
BUT.
It only NEEDS justifying because Vancian Magic is an innately nonsensical system that no reasonable practitioner of magic would ever use. EVER.
Also? The stat+skill system along with using up a finite supply of mana was right there. It works perfectly well for RPGs, and makes sense in pretty much every universe you put it into. It's even customisable!
It's a good thing I like your books, Worlds Without Number guy. Because you're on thin ice with me right now.
Some Definitions
Vancian Magic: A magic system used in roleplaying systems, particularly of the D&D variety. Uses spell slots.
Stars Without Number: An awesome RPG, published by a guy who's far too enthusiastic about tables (of data; not the furniture), set in space.
Worlds Without Number: The new fantasy-setting RPG, published by the Stars Without Number guy. Still tonnes of tables.
A Brief Rant
Granted, Vancian Magic was an excellent system for using magic in wargaming, back when D&D was just beginning. Yep, as a wargaming tool it totally makes sense. And is even well designed.
Granted, the Worlds Without Number guy has actually done a reasonable job of justifying why Vancian Magic might make some sort of sense in-universe, which is more than Gary Gygax ever did.
BUT.
It only NEEDS justifying because Vancian Magic is an innately nonsensical system that no reasonable practitioner of magic would ever use. EVER.
Also? The stat+skill system along with using up a finite supply of mana was right there. It works perfectly well for RPGs, and makes sense in pretty much every universe you put it into. It's even customisable!
It's a good thing I like your books, Worlds Without Number guy. Because you're on thin ice with me right now.
Been watching a lot of Stargate recently. I finally got curious and googled to see whether there was currently a Stargate RPG available. And I found out: there is about to be a new Stargate RPG. Also, it's going to suck.
Sure, technically it's hard to determine the suckiness level of an RPG until it's actually published. But it's going to be done using 5th ed, so chances are high.
Granted, there's nothing wrong with 5th ed, in and of itself. But when RPG creators say "We used 5th ed because we're familiar with it, and the players will be familiar with it", it doesn't fill me with confidence. It sounds like they:
a) don't know much about the variety of RPGs out there
b) don't know enough about RPG design to understand why you'd choose different things for different games
c) don't know enough about Stargate to understand why it wouldn't really mesh well with 5th ed.
It reminds me of people posting to RPG discussion forums, saying "I've got a great new idea for an RPG! It's totally unique: it doesn't even have classes!" To which the only correct response is "...oh, honey."
The thing with Stargate is:
- it relies on conversation - lots of conversation
- they avoid combat whenever possible
Both of these things make D&D a bad fit. Instead, I'd go with something like Cortex Prime, to be backed up with a lot of planet design from Stars Without Number.
(Of course, because I am a crazy person, I am now designing my own Stargate RPG, just to prove to myself that it's possible. This is the sort of thing that happens when you can't leave the house for several months.)
Sure, technically it's hard to determine the suckiness level of an RPG until it's actually published. But it's going to be done using 5th ed, so chances are high.
Granted, there's nothing wrong with 5th ed, in and of itself. But when RPG creators say "We used 5th ed because we're familiar with it, and the players will be familiar with it", it doesn't fill me with confidence. It sounds like they:
a) don't know much about the variety of RPGs out there
b) don't know enough about RPG design to understand why you'd choose different things for different games
c) don't know enough about Stargate to understand why it wouldn't really mesh well with 5th ed.
It reminds me of people posting to RPG discussion forums, saying "I've got a great new idea for an RPG! It's totally unique: it doesn't even have classes!" To which the only correct response is "...oh, honey."
The thing with Stargate is:
- it relies on conversation - lots of conversation
- they avoid combat whenever possible
Both of these things make D&D a bad fit. Instead, I'd go with something like Cortex Prime, to be backed up with a lot of planet design from Stars Without Number.
(Of course, because I am a crazy person, I am now designing my own Stargate RPG, just to prove to myself that it's possible. This is the sort of thing that happens when you can't leave the house for several months.)
incorrigible geek
Apr. 29th, 2019 12:52 pmI am playing a new D&D character that makes everyone in my group double-take and say "Wait – she isn't a rogue?"
My character is a cleric, who worships the Iron God from Ptolus (Google is your friend). So, she is fascinated by technology, traps, locks, and all things mechanical.
Our group is rogueless; they are relying on me to rogue for them. (And heal them, because, yes, I am the cleric.)
What my brain does at 2 am:
"Ooh! There could be a superhero who can shift her own gravity, so that she can walk up the side of skyscrapers! Cool! I could call her... SKYWALKER."
What my brain does at 3 am:
"Wait. Skywalker. Star Wars. Damn."
What my brain does at 4 am:
"So, should I change her name? Or should I have her repeatedly introduce herself as Skywalker so that she can be really pissed off when everyone thinks she's referencing Star Wars? Yeah, that would be hilarious..."
My character is a cleric, who worships the Iron God from Ptolus (Google is your friend). So, she is fascinated by technology, traps, locks, and all things mechanical.
Our group is rogueless; they are relying on me to rogue for them. (And heal them, because, yes, I am the cleric.)
What my brain does at 2 am:
"Ooh! There could be a superhero who can shift her own gravity, so that she can walk up the side of skyscrapers! Cool! I could call her... SKYWALKER."
What my brain does at 3 am:
"Wait. Skywalker. Star Wars. Damn."
What my brain does at 4 am:
"So, should I change her name? Or should I have her repeatedly introduce herself as Skywalker so that she can be really pissed off when everyone thinks she's referencing Star Wars? Yeah, that would be hilarious..."
want it, can't create it
Mar. 19th, 2016 12:17 pmHere's what I want:
I open up my tablet app, and select "make a new map". It gives me a blank grid of squares.
I decide whether the map is inside, in the street, or in the countryside. The app gives me the appropriate terrain types (such as "floor, table, stairs", "building, pavement, wagon", or "rocks, river, grass") based on my choice. Then I select a terrain type, apply it to some grid squares, select another, apply it to some more grid squares, etc.
Finally, I can select any grid square, and give it a label.
Voila! Map!
(Then, at a later date...)
I open up my tablet app, and select "use existing map". It loads the map I made earlier.
I add characters: Rohan the Ranger, Elthreli the Cleric, Snigwat the Fighter, Nora the Rogue, Orc 1, Orc 2, Captive 1, etc.
I can then position the characters on any grid squares I choose, and, at any point, move them from one location to another.
Thus allowing me to run awesome RPGs without constantly having to use a pencil and eraser on the back of an old character sheet.
That's the dream...
I open up my tablet app, and select "make a new map". It gives me a blank grid of squares.
I decide whether the map is inside, in the street, or in the countryside. The app gives me the appropriate terrain types (such as "floor, table, stairs", "building, pavement, wagon", or "rocks, river, grass") based on my choice. Then I select a terrain type, apply it to some grid squares, select another, apply it to some more grid squares, etc.
Finally, I can select any grid square, and give it a label.
Voila! Map!
(Then, at a later date...)
I open up my tablet app, and select "use existing map". It loads the map I made earlier.
I add characters: Rohan the Ranger, Elthreli the Cleric, Snigwat the Fighter, Nora the Rogue, Orc 1, Orc 2, Captive 1, etc.
I can then position the characters on any grid squares I choose, and, at any point, move them from one location to another.
Thus allowing me to run awesome RPGs without constantly having to use a pencil and eraser on the back of an old character sheet.
That's the dream...
so I was bored...
Aug. 30th, 2015 02:04 pmBeing in a rather silly mood, I thought I'd classify each of the Farscape characters by their alignment and class.
...so. That happened.
Crichton - Chaotic Good Bard
Crichton breathes chaos - so the alignment was pretty obvious. As for the character class: he's very into persuasion, negotiation, and trickery. He'll fight if he has to, but he'd rather look for a clever way around a problem.
( and the rest )
...so. That happened.
Crichton - Chaotic Good Bard
Crichton breathes chaos - so the alignment was pretty obvious. As for the character class: he's very into persuasion, negotiation, and trickery. He'll fight if he has to, but he'd rather look for a clever way around a problem.
( and the rest )
There's one thing I really miss about uni. I used to be able to walk into the caf, grab a chair, and instantly join in on a game of some sort. Cards, or board games, or RPGs... you name it, we played it. All day long.
It was wonderful. I'd get to play games with people whenever I want. Whereas, these days, I have to ring all my friends, check when we're all free, set up a time, find some good games, organise snacks, and hope we all want to play the same thing and can hang around long enough to play everything...
I had people over today, for exactly that purpose. It was very fun - and made me miss uni so much.
(Someday I'm going to make some robotic friends, to live in my cupboards and come out to play Citadels with me any time I want.)
It was wonderful. I'd get to play games with people whenever I want. Whereas, these days, I have to ring all my friends, check when we're all free, set up a time, find some good games, organise snacks, and hope we all want to play the same thing and can hang around long enough to play everything...
I had people over today, for exactly that purpose. It was very fun - and made me miss uni so much.
(Someday I'm going to make some robotic friends, to live in my cupboards and come out to play Citadels with me any time I want.)
AtLA RPGs and other acronyms
Dec. 2nd, 2011 10:49 amThis will probably be of very little interest to anyone who isn't into tabletop roleplaying...
I've been trying to figure out how the heck to turn AtLA into an RPG. The big thing getting in my way is the element-bending.
So, here's what I've come up with.
( long discussion of stats and skills )
That's what I've come up with so far.
Questions? Comments?
I've been trying to figure out how the heck to turn AtLA into an RPG. The big thing getting in my way is the element-bending.
So, here's what I've come up with.
( long discussion of stats and skills )
That's what I've come up with so far.
Questions? Comments?
how does this not exist already?
Apr. 13th, 2011 08:21 amThere should be an AtLA RPG. (A tabletop RPG, I mean. I don't care about the other kind.)
Seriously - it would be so interesting! And fun!
You could have pre-series campaigns with a couple of Air Nomad refugees fleeing the Fire Nation and meeting up with an earthbender.
Or a post-series campaign with border clashes between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation colonies, with the party having to work out the solution.
Or a pre-war campaign with some firebenders teaming up with some airbenders to explore some exciting archaeological caverns.
Or try to get around the Dai Li.
Or do a dungeon crawl through King Bumi's exciting maze of wonders, in which every single wonder wants to kill you.
Or almost anything.
Wouldn't it be fun?
Seriously - it would be so interesting! And fun!
You could have pre-series campaigns with a couple of Air Nomad refugees fleeing the Fire Nation and meeting up with an earthbender.
Or a post-series campaign with border clashes between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation colonies, with the party having to work out the solution.
Or a pre-war campaign with some firebenders teaming up with some airbenders to explore some exciting archaeological caverns.
Or try to get around the Dai Li.
Or do a dungeon crawl through King Bumi's exciting maze of wonders, in which every single wonder wants to kill you.
Or almost anything.
Wouldn't it be fun?
