New Face 4 New Games
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@Ganymede Suggested that this might be the place to put this up, so let me know if it might be suited in a different part of the board.
Basically, the short of it is that I'm relatively new to MU*. On, like, all levels. The only reference I have for it so far is sites like mudstats and MSB here as to what games are out there and the options they provide. A player count and gripe threads can only provide so much, though, and what I'm looking for here is basically references to games that might be worth joining into for a good first shot in the community and hobby.
All that I've played so far is City of Hope and Star Wars: Age of Alliances, so that's the only experience I've really got, and basically speak to my sorts of setting preferences. Space opera and small-scale urban fantasy or paranormal mundane. I'm totally open to anything, though, so long as the setting isn't something impenetrable or rooted in a huge property/IP that has to be read into to make a character fitting into it.
A little side-note, but something I've always had a bit of fun doing in the past with tabletop games in the like, is joining in with a joint concept! If anyone would want to do that with a relative stranger, I just think going into a new place with a defined relationship to another character is always a boon for sparking RP and easing into things.
Thanks to you all in advance!
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You are, of course, more than welcome to join StargateMUSH (http://stargate.aresmush.com). I know that one is a huge IP, but we're set in an AU-type timeline after the first movie. If you've seen the movie (it's on Hulu right now!), you have the general concept of what you need.
And our players, thus far, have been stellar about helping people with the other aspects of the game. I sometimes come back from AFK and people have already answered a Guest's questions.
Saying the quiet parts out loud since 1996.
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@Auspice I'll sit down and give the movie a shot once I'm free from work! I've heard of Stargate a lot, but it never really made its way in front of me.
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@Joyeuse said in New Face 4 New Games:
All that I've played so far is City of Hope and Star Wars: Age of Alliances, so that's the only experience I've really got, and basically speak to my sorts of setting preferences. Space opera and small-scale urban fantasy or paranormal mundane. I'm totally open to anything, though, so long as the setting isn't something impenetrable or rooted in a huge property/IP that has to be read into to make a character fitting into it.
Arx is NONE of your preferences -- it's medieval/renaissance fantasy, big game ranging from small-scale to big, an original property but with a lot of lore to discover -- but if you do ever check it out, I'm very active on the channels for help/questions as Aleksei and would be happy to help you out! (It's the only game I'm currently playing on and thus the only one I can speak to, SORRY.)
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@Roz Arx is one I've been looking at a lot, it's just kind of incredibly intimidating to try and hop into, haha. Especially as someone who doesn't really want to play a roster character, but also is scared to try to add something that might be unwelcome to the lore.
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@Joyeuse Yeah, I definitely get that. They'll likely open up OC applications again once the current freeze on stuff is finished, but right now it's only roster apps. I'll say that the game very purposefully cultivates an OOCly forgiving culture in terms of flubs and slip-ups in regards to theme so that people aren't punished for OOC ignorance, and that people are really responsive regarding game questions and such. But I definitely understand whenever someone goes "Nope, this game is just Too Much for me to jump into."
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Gundam UC100 is an anime-oriented space opera game. You should find more information on it in the Advertisements Section.
Echoes in the Mists is a World of Darkness Second Edition game that currently has Vampires, Werewolves, and Mortal+, along with Mortals, available. It may open up Mage in the near future, but I don't think there's a specific timeline for that. I'm pretty certain that this is the only Second Edition game out there, but I could be wrong.
Fate's Harvest is a World of Darkness hybrid First/Second Edition game set in a pair of small towns off the beaten track. It's been around for a while, and has Changelings, Mortal+, and Mortals around. The storyline focuses around powerful changelings with some grand problems.
I can help you into any of the three games with character hooks. You can PM me for more information on that.
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@Joyeuse said in New Face 4 New Games:
@Roz Arx is one I've been looking at a lot, it's just kind of incredibly intimidating to try and hop into, haha. Especially as someone who doesn't really want to play a roster character, but also is scared to try to add something that might be unwelcome to the lore.
I was very, very against roster characters, but I have to say I think taking one on Arx as your first PC is a big plus because it comes with built in hooks and family. And there's no requirement to like, stick with it if you don't like it. So, it's a great, pre-made starting point to get used to the game and see what theme is like and what interests you. Then making an OC will be that much better because you'll know where you want to fit and what you want out of it. But from my experience, making an OC without knowing the theme very well can be very isolating.
But seriously, there's no pressure or stigma to stick with a PC, roster or OC, if you just aren't clicking.
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You might find something of interest on the Ares directory of games. Several are still in development, but a fair few are publicly open now.
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I recommend the Gundam/Stargate games, @Joyeuse. Both are settings that are easier to grasp with systems that the learning curve is less treacherous. The "get up and go" factor should be high. Smaller, less broadly-scoped games tend to result in more relevance per character to the plot of the game.
As for Arx? I have nothing personally against it, but it's a LOT of code, a very large population that is very faction-focused, and a lot of entrenched leadership and preexisting designs for how those factions work. It could be rewarding! but the learning curve is higher and it may take time to not feel like a tiny little mouse in Times Square.
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@Joyeuse Age of Alliances was my first MU ever. I went in on it HARD, to the point that I earned a Force User on it, like. 3 different times (and each time losing access to them when I left for DCI for the summer - something I told them would be happening each time I was offered space wizard, and was told it wouldn't be an issue. TURNS OUT IT WAS. AHEM)
I mean. I still like it. In theory. But in practice, I hate a bunch of the little things going on with it. At the moment, the SOLE REASON I might go back and play is that they have a space trucker simulator that I can fiddle with in my downtime.
Space Trucker Simulator is a BIG FACTOR for me, and I should have mentioned it in the other thread (will ETA it if I remember).
City of Hope is.... City of Hope. Join my crusade to play a snek!
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@Quinn said in New Face 4 New Games:
@Joyeuse said in New Face 4 New Games:
@Roz Arx is one I've been looking at a lot, it's just kind of incredibly intimidating to try and hop into, haha. Especially as someone who doesn't really want to play a roster character, but also is scared to try to add something that might be unwelcome to the lore.
I was very, very against roster characters, but I have to say I think taking one on Arx as your first PC is a big plus because it comes with built in hooks and family. And there's no requirement to like, stick with it if you don't like it. So, it's a great, pre-made starting point to get used to the game and see what theme is like and what interests you. Then making an OC will be that much better because you'll know where you want to fit and what you want out of it. But from my experience, making an OC without knowing the theme very well can be very isolating.
But seriously, there's no pressure or stigma to stick with a PC, roster or OC, if you just aren't clicking.
Agreed on all points. Both of my Arx PCs are roster ones, and I've looked at them as basically being handed a Lego set and told "the castle broadly looks like this, you can build it however you like as long as it's still the castle." But I was also born without whatever lobe of the human brain causes "ah, jeez, am I staying true to Previous-Player's vision?" anxiety.
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@reversed said in New Face 4 New Games:
" But I was also born without whatever lobe of the human brain causes "ah, jeez, am I staying true to Previous-Player's vision?" anxiety.
That's basically what's keeping me away from playing Roster Characters. I get hella anxiety when it comes to things like managing other people's NPCs or playing roster characters that have been played before.
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@Joyeuse said in New Face 4 New Games:
@reversed said in New Face 4 New Games:
" But I was also born without whatever lobe of the human brain causes "ah, jeez, am I staying true to Previous-Player's vision?" anxiety.
That's basically what's keeping me away from playing Roster Characters. I get hella anxiety when it comes to things like managing other people's NPCs or playing roster characters that have been played before.
I will say that Arx has rules against people trying to make you play a certain way. If you do pick up a roster and someone tries paging you all 'omg the last player wasn't like that' you can kindly tell them to fuck off.
Saying the quiet parts out loud since 1996.
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@Joyeuse We can help you find a roster that has never before been played if that is a worry you have. There are a great many who are fresh or who have only been played for a hot second.
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@Auspice said in New Face 4 New Games:
@Joyeuse said in New Face 4 New Games:
@reversed said in New Face 4 New Games:
" But I was also born without whatever lobe of the human brain causes "ah, jeez, am I staying true to Previous-Player's vision?" anxiety.
That's basically what's keeping me away from playing Roster Characters. I get hella anxiety when it comes to things like managing other people's NPCs or playing roster characters that have been played before.
I will say that Arx has rules against people trying to make you play a certain way. If you do pick up a roster and someone tries paging you all 'omg the last player wasn't like that' you can kindly tell them to fuck off.
More than having rules against it, I've also never had the experience of anyone even trying. My first PC, Ronja, had a small family (parents, basically) and they were both overjoyed to have someone step into the role, even a total stranger, and were incredibly welcoming and supportive. My second PC, Ember, is the head of a house and the experience was much the same, as both people who were under her and people who are above her were like "hey, can we help you get situated, do you need any IC history info," and so on.
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@reversed said in New Face 4 New Games:
@Auspice said in New Face 4 New Games:
@Joyeuse said in New Face 4 New Games:
@reversed said in New Face 4 New Games:
" But I was also born without whatever lobe of the human brain causes "ah, jeez, am I staying true to Previous-Player's vision?" anxiety.
That's basically what's keeping me away from playing Roster Characters. I get hella anxiety when it comes to things like managing other people's NPCs or playing roster characters that have been played before.
I will say that Arx has rules against people trying to make you play a certain way. If you do pick up a roster and someone tries paging you all 'omg the last player wasn't like that' you can kindly tell them to fuck off.
More than having rules against it, I've also never had the experience of anyone even trying. My first PC, Ronja, had a small family (parents, basically) and they were both overjoyed to have someone step into the role, even a total stranger, and were incredibly welcoming and supportive. My second PC, Ember, is the head of a house and the experience was much the same, as both people who were under her and people who are above her were like "hey, can we help you get situated, do you need any IC history info," and so on.
It definitely happens on occasion, but I think that the fact that it's baked into policy -- and that staff is very responsive to getting word of it happening -- keeps it to a manageable minimum.
