I could ... but you already have. :)
Is there truly such a thing as too much gaming?
Can we say too much gaming?!?
No. No I can't. These words do not exist in this order. My mind cannot process the idea. There is no such thing. ;)
I would be very curious to hear of your experience with SotC. Please post an after action.
Is there truly such a thing as too much gaming?
According to my wife, yes.
Too much gameing? I dont think thats ever happened to me in the 20+ years I've been gameing. Mind you when I first started back in 87 just as second edition was being brought out we played from friday night starting at 6pm until sunday evening untill around 10pm. One campaign called the Curse of the Azure Bonds. We had 18 players 14 of whom were drow elf male rangers with two sword style. then me the wizard,the bard,the paladin,the rouge but no clerics at all. We would play, rest as you needed to and eat when you got hungry for two years straight.
So in my opinion there is no such thing as too much gameing as long as your having fun, the time is spent with friends and over 20 years later you still have great memorys of those people.
|
Too much gameing? I dont think thats ever happened to me in the 20+ years I've been gameing. Mind you when I first started back in 87 just as second edition was being brought out we played from friday night starting at 6pm until sunday evening untill around 10pm. One campaign called the Curse of the Azure Bonds. We had 18 players 14 of whom were drow elf male rangers with two sword style. then me the wizard,the bard,the paladin,the rouge but no clerics at all. We would play, rest as you needed to and eat when you got hungry for two years straight.
So in my opinion there is no such thing as too much gameing as long as your having fun, the time is spent with friends and over 20 years later you still have great memorys of those people.
Dang.
What would you like to know?
Were they Fantasy games? How was magic handled?
I have read criticisms that tagging feels meta-gamey. Did you find it meta-gamey?
Was combat more or less fluid than, say, D&D combat?
What mechanical problems did you encounter during the game?
Next week's schedule:
Thursday: Test-play of fantasy game based off Spirit of the Century
Friday: D&D home campaign
Saturday: D&D RPGA
Sunday: Vampire: the RequiemCan we say too much gaming?!?
What no TCGs?
no Minis?no MMO?
no scheduled PBP?
I think you have a way to go yet, but yes too much gaming has been mentioned in my home *grin* hopefully Friday includes the family for you.
|
|
What no TCGs?
Collectible card games? No role-playing game opportunities.
no Minis?
No role-playing game opportunities.
no MMO?
No role-playing game opportunities.
no scheduled PBP?
Have tried but they keep falling through.
I think you have a way to go yet, but yes too much gaming has been mentioned in my home *grin* hopefully Friday includes the family for you.
Nope. Spouse prefers reading to gaming. Go figure ;-)
|
|
Were they Fantasy games?
One. Legends of Anglerre was pseudo-Tolkien/Moorcock while Spirit of the Red Planet was "planetary romance" ala syfy pulp; e.g., John Carter, Warlord.
How was magic handled?
"Limited freeform". My PC in Legends, for example, would be the equivalent of a warmage. He could control air and beasts. My character sheet spelled generally what the PC could do and at what difficulty. I'd roll my skill and the effect would go off. I'd then make another roll to see how well I controlled the magic. If I failed, though, there was a side-effect. Example: while trying to create a wall of air and failed to control it. The wall of air suddenly became a mini-hurricane. Oops.
I have read criticisms that tagging feels meta-gamey. Did you find it meta-gamey?
Yes, but that can be said in many games. For example, in D&D when magic-users throw a fireball and know exactly how big it is so it doesn't singe allies. What was disconcerting for a more traditional player like myself is how much control -- the "meta-gamey" part -- I have on the scene. Example: In Spirit of the Red Planet, I declared that my PC heard the floor rumbling beneath us indicating a giant sandworm (ala Dune) heard our battle and was coming to investigate. I made my PC's listen check and now that "Aspect" was on the table for the players (AND GM) to "tag", or use as part of the scene. One player did so later, tagging the aspect and declaring the sandworm bursting up to attack the Big Bad.
Was combat more or less fluid than, say, D&D combat?
Far, far, far, more fluid. You'd think a freeform game would go faster than a more tactical game but no: describing the scene, the actions, and using our PC's Aspects, Skills, and Stunts made it nearly as complex. But it was so much more fun. Example: In Legends of Anglerre, the "barbarian" PC, seeing the hurricane aspect my PC created, declared he was going to "ride" it to attack the Big Bad from above. Yow! And he did it!
What mechanical problems did you encounter during the game?
Aspects, especially creating them in a scene. Oh, and the lack of hitpoints per se.
Thanks for your feedback. I have not had a chance to play SotC yet and I have been very anxious to try it.
With “Limited Freeform” magic, it seems that magic would be the skill of choice since it could easily substitute for any other skill. With the right group, you might avoid that. Did this cause any problems in the games you were in? Did anyone express concerns they had “wasted” their top slot for a substandard skill?
Agreed, any game can be meta-gamed. I guess the actual argument was that tagging aspects brought this particular person out of immersion. Again, any game mechanic presents opportunity for this. I suspect the criticism was due more to the paradigm shift than anything. I was curious to see if there were any real weight to it.
I expect combat to go more fluidly, once everyone becomes familiar enough with the mechanics. I am surprised the combats took just as long. It seems a lot of the minutia would be waved away to get to the “meat” of the conflict.
Did you find it difficult to create Aspects on a scene from a player’s perspective? It seems this would be fairly intuitive. Instead of asking the GM to elaborate on a particular detail of the scene, you can create it yielding to GM over-rule when appropriate.
If I remember correctly, there is a sort of Hit Point mechanic. Can you elaborate on what problems you encountered with it?
Your SotC game wouldn't happen to be in San Diego, would it?Nope. Irvine. Wanna join us?
...joela, your SotC game wouldn't happen to involve a guy named Eric, would it?
|
|
...joela, your SotC game wouldn't happen to involve a guy named Eric, would it?Your SotC game wouldn't happen to be in San Diego, would it?Nope. Irvine. Wanna join us?
not that i know of. only person i know so far is Mike, one of the GMs who ran the SotC game at the recent strategicon in lala land.
not that i know of. only person i know so far is Mike, one of the GMs who ran the SotC game at the recent strategicon in lala land....joela, your SotC game wouldn't happen to involve a guy named Eric, would it?Your SotC game wouldn't happen to be in San Diego, would it?Nope. Irvine. Wanna join us?
Ah, probably Mike Devlin's game, then?
If you're in Irvine you ought to stop by the UCI RPG Club one of these days. As if you need more games.
mike olsen. Yup, that's him. have you played in his games?[
If you're in Irvine you ought to stop by the UCI RPG Club one of these days. As if you need more games.
Ah, Olson. Nope, I've met him though, and I've handled his room reservations in the university's student center in the past.
Re: UCI RPG group. Actually, i've been meaning too but keep forgetting. what's the link again?
I'd hold off for now, though. Finals are next week and then we're on hiatus for the summer. We'll be back in September.
|
|
Re: UCI RPG group. Actually, i've been meaning too but keep forgetting. what's the link again?I'd hold off for now, though. Finals are next week and then we're on hiatus for the summer. We'll be back in September.
Coolio. Thanks. I'll check out the Yahoo! group, then see what's the latest at the campus. What seems to be the predominant game(s)?
Hooray! People are talking about me!
I feel like I just summoned a denizen of the Nine Hells by saying his name out loud. ;P
Coolio. Thanks. I'll check out the Yahoo! group, then see what's the latest at the campus. What seems to be the predominant game(s)?
Re: UCI RPG group. Actually, i've been meaning too but keep forgetting. what's the link again?I'd hold off for now, though. Finals are next week and then we're on hiatus for the summer. We'll be back in September.
4th Edition, largely, but we've got a little bit of everything.
The best indicator will be seeing what games people start up when Fall Quarter rolls around.
|
|
Coolio. Thanks. I'll check out the Yahoo! group, then see what's the latest at the campus. What seems to be the predominant game(s)?
Re: UCI RPG group. Actually, i've been meaning too but keep forgetting. what's the link again?I'd hold off for now, though. Finals are next week and then we're on hiatus for the summer. We'll be back in September.
4th Edition, largely, but we've got a little bit of everything.
The best indicator will be seeing what games people start up when Fall Quarter rolls around.
Thanks. I'll check it out.
Btw, I know the UCI RPGA used to meet on campus. Why didn't they play within the UCI RPG group? Y'all even have separate Yahoo! groups.
|
|
Thanks for your feedback. I have not had a chance to play SotC yet and I have been very anxious to try it.
With “Limited Freeform” magic, it seems that magic would be the skill of choice since it could easily substitute for any other skill. With the right group, you might avoid that. Did this cause any problems in the games you were in? Did anyone express concerns they had “wasted” their top slot for a substandard skill?
Agreed, any game can be meta-gamed. I guess the actual argument was that tagging aspects brought this particular person out of immersion. Again, any game mechanic presents opportunity for this. I suspect the criticism was due more to the paradigm shift than anything. I was curious to see if there were any real weight to it.
I expect combat to go more fluidly, once everyone becomes familiar enough with the mechanics. I am surprised the combats took just as long. It seems a lot of the minutia would be waved away to get to the “meat” of the conflict.
Did you find it difficult to create Aspects on a scene from a player’s perspective? It seems this would be fairly intuitive. Instead of asking the GM to elaborate on a particular detail of the scene, you can create it yielding to GM over-rule when appropriate.
If I remember correctly, there is a sort of Hit Point mechanic. Can you elaborate on what problems you encountered with it?
Courtfool, all excellent questions! Give me a bit of time and I'll drudge up responses from my caffeine-overloaded brain ;-)
Btw, I know the UCI RPGA used to meet on campus. Why didn't they play within the UCI RPG group? Y'all even have separate Yahoo! groups.
When Jake and I started that group a few years ago it was an offshoot of the UCI RPG group, but it quickly turned into a kind of centralized meeting place for a lot of RPGA people from around the Orange County area. The UCI students in the RPGA group gradually bled off into other games within the club itself, though I'd love to start getting some of the students into regular RPGA games. Maybe I'll start something like that up over the summer, since a lot of regular games won't be running for the next few months.
|
|
Btw, I know the UCI RPGA used to meet on campus. Why didn't they play within the UCI RPG group? Y'all even have separate Yahoo! groups.When Jake and I started that group a few years ago it was an offshoot of the UCI RPG group, but it quickly turned into a kind of centralized meeting place for a lot of RPGA people from around the Orange County area. The UCI students in the RPGA group gradually bled off into other games within the club itself, though I'd love to start getting some of the students into regular RPGA games. Maybe I'll start something like that up over the summer, since a lot of regular games won't be running for the next few months.
Just got approved to the group...wait. You're the Prez, Scott? And is that Jake Sprunk?
Just got approved to the group...wait. You're the Prez, Scott? And is that Jake Sprunk?Btw, I know the UCI RPGA used to meet on campus. Why didn't they play within the UCI RPG group? Y'all even have separate Yahoo! groups.When Jake and I started that group a few years ago it was an offshoot of the UCI RPG group, but it quickly turned into a kind of centralized meeting place for a lot of RPGA people from around the Orange County area. The UCI students in the RPGA group gradually bled off into other games within the club itself, though I'd love to start getting some of the students into regular RPGA games. Maybe I'll start something like that up over the summer, since a lot of regular games won't be running for the next few months.
I'm the president of the UCI RPG group. And yep, Jacob Sprunck. He can lay claim to a much larger chunk of the RPGA group than I can. I ended up working much more with the student club than the RPGA group, and he ran it very well while he was involved.
|
|
Hooray! People are talking about me!Typical GM. Always wants to be the center of attention ;-)I've never been this much of a GM in my life. I'm running our monthly fantasy FATE game in San Diego, a weekly (or bi-weekly) Fantasy Hero game in Huntington Beach, and this swashbuckling FATE playtest for however long it lasts. It's a little ridiculous.
Uh, huh. Just a tad ;-)
|
|
I'm the president of the UCI RPG group. And yep, Jacob Sprunck. He can lay claim to a much larger chunk of the RPGA group than I can. I ended up working much more with the student club than the RPGA group, and he ran it very well while he was involved.
Just got approved to the group...wait. You're the Prez, Scott? And is that Jake Sprunk?
Dang. Small world. Jake's in my homegame as well as a member of the UCI RPGA. I'll have to rib him on facebook.
Re: UCI RPG. I remember one of the biggest issues among the RPGA is lack of parking. Any suggestions where non-students can park their cars on game night without hiking several miles?
Dang. Small world. Jake's in my homegame as well as a member of the UCI RPGA. I'll have to rib him on facebook.
Re: UCI RPG. I remember one of the biggest issues among the RPGA is lack of parking. Any suggestions where non-students can park their cars on game night without hiking several miles?
Yeah, parking's a pain if you're not a student. While there are plenty of lots on campus, parking there requires either a permit or a day pass that costs $7. People have generally had success parking across the street (in the In-N-Out and KFC/Taco Bell parking lot of the University Town Center) but that's technically for customers only. I'd use caution parking there, and maybe buy dinner from one of the places there just to be on the safe side.
Can we say too much gaming?!?
I am sorry. I keep reading the words, but I can't parse out the meaning of the sentence. :/
Can we say too much gaming?!?I am sorry. I keep reading the words, but I can't parse out the meaning of the sentence. :/
I knew it wasn't just me. :)
In practice, I haven't seen spellcasters dominate non-spellcasters in any significant way.
As I have said, if you are blessed with players who will not abuse this, I am sure it works fine.
An air-and-beast mage could float on a cushion of air to move silently (Stealth) and summon a beast to fight for him (Fighting). This isn't even getting really creative or choosing a much broader type of mage. Most non-magic characters would have to burn a Stunt to be able to use one Skill for one other Skill.
Would not the penalties apply to anyone using…say…Fighting? Maybe the specific examples you used are poor. I just have a lot of concerns over possible abuses. Thanks for the response!
I knew it wasn't just me. :)Can we say too much gaming?!?I am sorry. I keep reading the words, but I can't parse out the meaning of the sentence. :/
B.T.W.: Lynora, you are proving something that I have said for a long time. :)
B.T.W.: Lynora, you are proving something that I have said for a long time. :)
** spoiler omitted **
^.^
At least you weren't accusing me of being a succubus.:)