Before you set up your territory sheet, which I think is a fantastic idea, you may want to put to paper how you want to handle the territory system. That is, what do you want to see?
In our brief discussions on the site, I'm still not sure what you want to do. I've some ideas I think may be interesting.
To others: I'm working on bloodline write-ups. Two Clans down; three to go.
@skew said in Coming Soon: Chontio, a Star Wars Stand Alone MUSH:
Force powers are kinda neat, but for every force power there's likely a career talent that can do it better. Which is to say: The Force is low power and is more a story element than a game-changer.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
@Lotherio said in New MUSH 'Game' Mechanics:
I’ll use an example to maybe help a little. Lets say its Vampire Politics setting, nearly the same concept as WoD. Clan 1 and Clan 2 want a certain parcel of land for their private use. New zoning laws have increased herd potentials here, or some misty artifact lures in gnomes who have the bestest blood ever, has happened. Both Clans intend to compete for it. So there is a big faction conflict here, some time limit is chosen (4 weeks), at the end of that time, the side with the most points spent on the goal wins. Each side now has to figure out: 1) How to get the most points to their clan from other players so each member can contribute; 2) How to convince other allies and groups to contribute as well if possible; 3) How to harangue the opposition to get them to not have points to contribute; or 4) Just give up cause too much work and they don’t want to play.
I'm going to focus here for just a second.
In real life, yes, you would worry about the location of territory. This is important. But we're in a virtual world when we MU*, so we can think outside of that. Further, territory is kind of ephemeral: even if the administrative staff at a school doesn't have physical boundaries for it, there is no doubt that their "territory" is the school office, where they reign supreme. But their authority only extends as there is a need for what they provide.
Similarly, politics is only necessary because of resource scarcity -- or need. If everyone had the ability to take care of everything they wanted to with their resources, there would be no logical need for conflict (even if there might be some sort of metaphysical or emotional need for conflict). So, everything, systemically boils down to resources.
The same goes for vampire politics. In oWoD, the Nosferatu have power despite having few territorial holdings because they have secrets and information. In the politics of truth, they reign supreme. But they may not have the sort of territory that we commonly associated with turf wars; in those situations, the Nosferatu may be at a disadvantage, but they have a resource everyone wants.
Enough preamble. Your questions.
(1) How do you get make it so each member can contribute?
Easy: allow everyone to have territory. Feasibly, a vampire cannot hold anything but a single block or two alone, but they could do that, and, maybe, there's something on that block that everyone needs. Example, a city that relies on a single power plant sitting in Mary Malkavian's block; don't get on her bad side, or she'll drop your entire power grid long enough to ruin your annual fundraiser at your art museum, Tilly Toreador.
(2) How to convince other allies and groups to contribute as well if possible?
Because sometimes holding your little territory isn't good enough. Maybe Mikey Malkavian decides to join Mary, and help her patrol her block or expand it. By contributing time and effort towards it, maybe he can improve its defenses, its amenities, etc. Or maybe Mary needs Gary Gangrel to tend to the mortal population in her area, so that they have enough resources to live and expand, thus keeping the "herd" together for Mary and her minions to feed on.
There are roles in every territory to be delegated.
(3) How to harangue the opposition?
If you want to encourage PvP conflict, then this should be a simple process that isn't so deleterious so as to make someone lose a massive amount of investment. For example, let's say that Tilly Toreador's art museum throws off a point of Art Influence every week, but she pisses off Victor Ventrue. Victor might take an action to "tap" the art museum, and cut off that flow for a week. Tilly doesn't lose the art museum, which she probably took a long time to build up, but it is useless as long as Victor taking actions to keep it under thumb.
(4) Just give up cause too much work and they don’t want to play.
It's impossible to force people to play when they are stressed. But maybe people don't want to play the political game, or maybe they just want to be like Mikey Malkavian, supporting others. Make sure your "Action Points" can be devoted to other things.
Just some thoughts here, really. Yeah, I've been thinking about this.
@Misadventure said:
No, actually I was giving the posters a chance to you know, describe there game instead of spending how many posts failing to do so then being insulting.
As I often tell lawyers in depositions, try asking your questions better.
I believe that this is a description-trait-based game with no system. I could be wrong. This is not uncommon for superhero games. It's the primary reason I don't play them.
Thank you for the kudos.
Finished up the Mekhet Bloodlines tonight. Going to work on the Nosferatu shortly.
I think I'm ready to hit this when it's open.
I think.
@TNP said:
I just have to mention this oldie but a goodie that some of you have probably forgotten and others were lucky enough to not have heard of. Until today.
http://www.toplessrobot.com/2008/12/fan_ficition_friday_goku_and_anne_frank_in_until_t.php
Yes, you read that link address correctly. Dragon Ball Z and Anne Frank. Oh, yes. Hitler is in it too. Naturally.
My RL Anger stems from me being so incredibly stupid as to have opened that link, and read through the article.
@ThatGuyThere said in Descent Reboot:
At some point during this game a Gangrel has to make their home in Post Apoc Grant's Farm.
There will be Oberlochs.
@Too-Old-For-This said in Heroes & Villains MUX:
Also you can ask the people on the game if you're feeling stumped! People are super helpful with suggestions, and staff is usually around to help answer questions!
This is probably true, but the toxically masculine part of me won’t ask for directions. I looked at the examples, but it just didn’t click in my head.
Auspice has pointed me in the right direction.
I really liked Titans. All the casting choices were really good, the effects were pretty decent (for a TV show) and hopefully when the full roster is on the screen it won't feel crowded.
It looked so horrible in the trailer(s).
Plus, I mean, what's with Beast Boy showing up in my backyard? There are better places in the world than Covington, Ohio, man.
Here's the working document. These are in draft form and not final. The Ventrue will take some time, as I need to re-work the Dragolescu a bit, and have to really bear down on the Melissidae and the Sons of Cade. The former I want to convert into a more Borg-like bloodline, whereas I'm turning the Sons of Cade into American-noble soldiers that fight Horrors.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x1SJk_MEsd3bWtplsMla6w3UPNVJUnxeWzsc2G8R2Xc/edit?usp=sharing
Questions and comments are welcome by PM. Would prefer that, over this thread.
I hadn’t considered that, actually, but now I may.
@aria said in RL things I love:
NASA has apparently declared that the Curiosity rover is a girl.
I'm pretty sure it is a cat.
@tempest said in POLL: Super Hero MU Gut Check:
Just my 2c, but if you want OC heroes, make an OC hero game. FC games should be FCs. Mixing them is asinine.
Honestly, the pure audacity required for a player to think whatever harebrained thing they whipped up in 30 minutes deserves the same attention/etc as a comic book character that's been written for 10, 20, 30, however many years and is known by 80% of the players on the game, and has been in cartoons and movies and whatever else is just...
Seriously? It's dumb. Pure and simple.
First, if game designers want to allow both, I'll defer to their expertise and decision. I'm not here to argue whether one or the other varieties are superior. And, as I think someone else said, if you want a game that is purely one way or the other, make it yourself.
Second, I have the temerity to say that, yes, I can concoct an OC that is better thought-through than what other comic book writers can come up with. I mean, that's kind of how new superheroes get created. Sure, not every concept is going to be smashing, but OCs are how you create new stories. And, yes, I think I have the ability to write someone more compelling than 'The Condiment King' or 'Orca'.
Third, whether or not an OC gets any screen time or attention is up to staff and the players: (1) staff to provide opportunities; (2) the creator to engage the OC in the events; and (3) the other players to be inclusive. And I agree with you that OC players should not walk in and just expect that other players will want to include them in their FC RP (after all, we all just gotta get that Cyclops-Jean Grey-Wolverine threesome RP In there), but if FC players are just going to nose out OCs they are part of their own problem -- namely, being arbitrarily cliquish.
Finally, what I'm getting at is whoever ends up playing Legion or Magneto is going to need to be the sort of player that reins himself or herself in for the enjoyment of others because both FCs seem to have expansive power sets. And, from what it sounds like, that sort of player is rare on superhero (and WoD) games.
@Misadventure said:
It's not a democracy. Or a meritocracy. It's tyranny, in both it's positive and negative connotations. It's a brand you chose to purchase or not.
Every good game was and is run as a tyranny. Anyone who believes otherwise is foolish and/or naïve.
@arkandel said in FCs on Comic MUs:
Thanos + Cable
Fair.
Okay. So, you only get one Marvel character if that's the Marvel stuff controlled by Disney.
There. You happy?
@Derp said in Echoes in the Mists - CoD 2e MU:
Also can confirm lawbot is not staff. Which is probably lucky for you all, or the streets would run red(der).
Staff? Pff. I was doing bad things all on my own, thank you very much.
