I advocate for something new. Something that builds upon a fan-favorite of awesomeness, and you have a LOT of openness to play with it.
There's also merit to the bid system. There's a game i was thinking about Kickstarting (wish I had) called Undying, which is a sort of love letter to WoD. It's got a neat bidding system to escalate conflict, so you have to determine how much resources you're willing ot put into any given conflict.
@Bobotron
... as a person that frekaing loves Jagged Alliance and old X-Com I love this idea.
Any time where I have to look at the resources I have available and admit to myself "I am going to lose 20% of the resources I commit to this strike, no way around it. Will that leave me with enough to still be able to survive the counter attack, or should I instead try to draw them to me?" I think the game is doing something right.
I'm on two consent-based MU*s, and I honestly would love to be on a system-based one. An original setting- or at least a non-DC/Marvel setting would be refreshing as well, populated entirely by OCs.
I know that Empire Bay tried to do this, but the fact that they only have one active staffer, the headwiz being around only on Saturdays or so, kind of kills the place for me. I @mailed the headwiz concerning an issue with the system (a missing extra I needed for proper statting) that I had +requested about four weeks ago... but was never contacted about it, nor was I ever @mailed nor the job was ever commented on. The headwiz never got back to me, even after I sent a second @mail to point out that the job was no longer listed, but there were no @mails nor contacts explaining -what- actually happened to it... and since he's the only one with the power to approve sheets...
Yeah, I stopped logging there after that, it kind of showed me what sort of wasteland I'd be investing my time in. So...
System-based OC superhero RP... with a staff that's actually responsive.
I'm inclined to agree with populating it with OC's as much as possible.
It will be some time before I could join another game but I still yearn for the day I could have the power to shoot fire FROM my enemies.
Didn't read all this, but something that grinds my gears about Superhero/comic games....
Do not let one person app multiple A+++++ list characters. The guy who plays Wolverine does not need to also play Batman. He DEFINITELY doesn't need to also play Spider-Man on top of those two.
This is something I see happen on like all the comic games too. Captain America/Superman/Spider-Man? All one player.
@Tempest Part of that problem is it's also a staffer often doing it. Just look at Elsa/Onyx over on BNW/DoJ.
Compound that with people stretching themselves too thin and not really doing more with those characters than playing them once or twice a month, and it sets a bad example. Minor characters being marginally active is one thing, but major characters doing it is especially bad for any place.
I tried to get into a superhero MUSH and just..couldn't. Despite getting my favorite comic character. I love superhero settings but I think I'd only be interested in playing one that doesn't use established properties like Superman, Spiderman, etc etc. All OC!
I was serious, the One Punch Man - type setting is perfect for the game of my dreams. A reason to be associated, a reason to have a central location, and then just nutty hero characters.
Not that I have the time for other games.
I'll throw my two cents into the kitty, its staff and, also, its the campers. Those ones that have two or three favorite FCs and just have to play them everywhere they go.
Like the Rogue camper. Not to say good folks haven't played Rogue from time to time. But sometimes you go to that place, someone has her claimed and they have no interest in playing with anyone except maybe a Gambit or something.
I'm just a surge protector doing my job, sir.
The very first TinyMUSH I coded for was an ElfQuest game, where about a third of the characters were feature (we called them "book") characters. I got tired of it because there is no consistency when you have player turnover.
I understand the desire to play your favorite character, Tumpty-Tum Doodles, but as a player of the game the inconsistency is not something I would go for.
If FCs won't be taken off the table, all is good and ignore the comment.
@Lotherio I can be guilty of that at times. There are a couple favorites I have that I've played on different places, but I've tried to mix it up a little bit in other cases. Part of the reason behind that is I've always been poor at OC concepts of my own so I go with comic book characters instead. There can also be settings that are different enough that it lets me try putting a different spin on someone than I might do on another place.
I lean toward some less popular characters anyway, ones that aren't usually taken up and played by others. No Wolverines, Supermen, Wonder Women, etc. for me.
@Wolfs said in What would a superhero game need to be/do to bring in a new player base?:
@Lotherio I can be guilty of that at times. There are a couple favorites I have that I've played on different places, but I've tried to mix it up a little bit in other cases. Part of the reason behind that is I've always been poor at OC concepts of my own so I go with comic book characters instead. There can also be settings that are different enough that it lets me try putting a different spin on someone than I might do on another place.
I lean toward some less popular characters anyway, ones that aren't usually taken up and played by others. No Wolverines, Supermen, Wonder Women, etc. for me.
I'm good if people claim favorites ... and play them. Its the ones that don't answer pages when folks inquire about RP while they stay off the channels and only play with one or two other features exclusively.
I'm just a surge protector doing my job, sir.
@Lotherio Makes sense.
I usually avoid OOC Lounges and Public channels because they often get spammy as fuck with a bunch of stuff I really don't care about. That probably means I miss out on some things but if someone takes the time to page me, I will answer even if it's to say I can't play at that moment because I've got other stuff going on.
@Duntada
The resources thing in that game is more like a bid/raise/fold setup, almost like playing cards but with the resource.
Example: Jane wants to find Tommy's secret thing. Jane bids 1 and poses following Tommy to the bad part of town. Tommy counters and raises to 2 that he ducks around the corner, having caught Jane's scent; Jane can then raise, or if she wants to fold, she can. If she raises, the raising continues until someone folds; when someone folds, the person who has the highest 'wins' and gets their outcome. That's a simplification, but it works pretty well.
@Tempest Who is on your list of A++++++++++ characters? I could be wrong, but I was on under the impression you played a lot of those characters, and if not at the same time, in quick succession without actually playing the characters in a scene.
Sincerely,
Same Player
So, it seems to be pretty loud and clear that (1) OC-focused games are the way to go (I know some said OC-emphasized, but let's go all in on that regard, for now) and (2) there should be a clear and consistent theme/tone for the game.
So, if you don't mind me asking another question: is there a preferable type of comic environment/atmosphere? That is...
@fatefan Why not offer all four? I'd be thrilled to see a game cater to so many playstyles, as long as there's not like "You have to talk to Superman/Wolverine for this because this is their thing, bub".
@Kanye-Qwest That's a good question. I'm not necessarily opposed to it, but I'm interested in hearing more from those who suggested keeping that sort of "cross-sphere" activity out of the picture (in part, I think, to keep Superman-like beings from overwhelming/taking the spotlight from those with lower power levels/abilities/etc.).
@tangent said in What would a superhero game need to be/do to bring in a new player base?:
@Tempest Who is on your list of A++++++++++ characters? I could be wrong, but I was on under the impression you played a lot of those characters, and if not at the same time, in quick succession without actually playing the characters in a scene.
Sincerely,
Same Player
????
I'm sorry, but I believe you have me confused for someone else. I don't superhero much (haven't been active on one in almost a year now), and when I do I tend to stick to Domino, Spider-Woman, Moonstone, Surge. Mostly those first two.
Played Wolverine on Comux for a couple months when it first, first opened.
@Tempest My bad. thought you were someone else. I take it back! I take it back!
Which characters would you put on that list? Back when I staffed on HeroMux, I believe we went with Cap, Iron Man, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Nightwing, Wolverine. The criteria for us was fluid and confusing, and somewhere in between importance to the sphere and popularity.
Maybe the lexicon has changed, but Four Color is the inclusion of multiple theme/genre FC. Four Color was an old comic that changed title every issue. One Issue could be Hercules the next could be pulp detective, then the next could be Chilly Willy or Mickey Mouse.
There are places that allow all levels of play like this. Multiverse sticks out as the most inclusive @Kanye-Qwest . But the other big ones that spring to mind are inclusive of all levels right now.
As for which of those four are preferable. All have merit, if balanced, just stick to theme, do not go four color ... Where one day it is pulp noir detective, but then a paragon is approved in cg that completely changes the meta of chargen, and makes the current players feel under classed. Or vice versa, if everyone on grid is paragon, make sure new players don't set themselves up in cg to fail by going street level and not be accepted in the paragon groups because their rp stories are just too dangerous for street level.
I'm just a surge protector doing my job, sir.
@Tempest Who is on your list of A++++++++++ characters? I could be wrong, but I was on under the impression you played a lot of those characters, and if not at the same time, in quick succession without actually playing the characters in a scene.
Sincerely,
Same Player
