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    Posts made by Ghost

    • RE: What is the 'ideal' power range?

      Maybe I'm a dinosaur here, but this conversation has been going on for years.

      Does anyone else remember mIRC or AOL RPG gaming? This got talked about a LOT because you'd have games that expected you to know the rules, have some convoluted notepad character sheet with a lot of "STRENGTH: 0000", and a lot of die rolling.

      The end result was a number of side games called "Free Form RPG" where they did away with sheets altogether and turned everything into opposed d100 rolls.

      It's pretty simple to me:

      MU TTRPG=Uses the system.

      MU Story RPG=Free form. Statless super hero games. Universal dice systems like FS3.

      Back in the day the freeform people didnt mesh well with the WoD players, either.

      posted in Mildly Constructive
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: What is the 'ideal' power range?

      @faraday Right.

      I LOVE the effort you've put in and your attitude. I think you are 100% on-point as to how a game focusing on story over game-elements is run. FS3 is great for it. Focusing on getting players involved and everything? 100% on point.

      My opinion is that implementing TTRPG systems into the hobby (WoD, SWRPG, etc) should ONLY be done if the game is being treated like an online TTRPG, which is not the same as a baseline MU. My opinion is that in providing the facade of using the system as a means of importance you're going to create a split playerbase of "story rpers" and "ttrpg players" that never mixes well.

      In short, the crunchier the sheet/system, the more importance those elements need to distinguish players and their capabilities from each other.

      posted in Mildly Constructive
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: What is the 'ideal' power range?

      @faraday said in What is the 'ideal' power range?:

      I don't see why this needs to be a global decision.

      Here's why:

      Because for these games to function properly all players need a clear vision of what the game is and how it is to be played. This also requires an understanding of what the game is not. Generally speaking, a game of players approaching horror like it's Hellraiser is fine, but the 5 players approaching it like it's Buffy the Vampire slayer (while this may be fun for them!) is distracting. Theme is important for cohesion, as is an expected playstyle.

      You also mentioned about whether or not it's NOT FUN for newPlayer to be left out of the Hellraiser scene. Here is why that matters:

      Because if GAIN matters (xp, level, stats, skills, equipment) and the MU designs rewards related to those, then those rewards are meaningless if a new PC can come in and ball at the same level as a character who has 3 years invested. Allowing this lessens the work players put into getting to that level. If the 3 year player is supposed to be reacting to a scene as if it's dangerous and some 1 day out of cgen player can join in and operate at the same level, then the importance of those rewards is drastically lessened.

      Of course, if FUN and WRITING are the goal, then by all means let the 1 day old character get in there, but if it's a GAME, then those rewards determine capability and ultimately the 1day character should be in mortal danger fighting with the dragon with their scrawny arms next to the elder.

      This is where cohesion and vision often fails in MUs. BSG games made sense because xp level didnt affect the outcome because those stories were more about survival. In the show even Starbuck died. The setting begins with literally billions of high level NPCs dying due to wrong place, wrong time.

      But the classic game experience where xp/skill level matters introduces Luke Skywalker as a bratty teen in part one, not "able to fight Vader alongside Obi-Wan because standing by the Falcon watching isnt fun"

      posted in Mildly Constructive
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: What is the 'ideal' power range?

      @Arkandel My opinion is that MU altogether has a vision problem when it comes to "power range".

      MU can't seem to decide if these are RPG games where the systems matter, or if they're just writing with systems used for dispute resolution. (RPGs with writing or writing with some RPG systems thing). To make matters worse, there are the following problematic factors:

      1. All players want to be included regardless of power level. It is not common to see events gated to players of specific levels/xp ranges.
      2. PVP/PK/IC Death is largely non-existent. This creates an environment with extremely low risk to the point of risk altogether being a matter of choice. This upsets the natural "life cycle" type balance in terms of PCs getting clipped trying to get to higher levels due to PC death through failure. It's not "I hope my PC gets to this level" but instead "Here is what I'm going to do with my inevitable xp reward". The major PC killers are IC relationships and game closure.
      1. Does power level matter due to #2? If a brand new PC is allowed to join a 3 year old dinosaur PC in going into Leviathan to fight Pinhead himself and death is only on the table for the new PC if they choose it to be, then does power level TRUUUULY matter?

      Been saying this for a while, but games need to stop being vague about their approach. My own personal feeling is that risk-only-by-consent creates some really bad habits and some really ridiculous no-selling. If the game owners want it to be an Online RPG, then they need to state in the wiki that they will be using hit points, dice, and will be following the system's mortality rules. If not, I suggest the games that just want to be "writing places" get the fuck out of using these systems and use low-maintenance dice systems like FS3. Using systems like WoD/StarWars/etc and then not fully utilizing these systems is confusing to half of the playerbase.

      tl;dr: If you're a writing game power levels dont matter and the entire concept of level/xp/etc needs to be done away with altogether. If you're an online RPG, then scenes/events should be explicitly gated for xp/power level and the constraints on PC death should be released. The major difference between a story and a game is that in a game you do not have control over the results of the risks; you can only choose whether or not the risk is worth the reward.

      (Weird: point #3 is listed as 3 in my edit but shows as 1 again. Oh well.)

      posted in Mildly Constructive
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: Modiphius/2d20

      @Darren said in Modiphius/2d20:

      @Ghost If you're looking for a generic system suitable for a wide range of settings/games, why not consider TinyD6, MiniD6 or even-- my personal favorite-- QuestCore?

      I'm familiar with Tiny. I've done some gaming with the creators. Was just more wondering if someone tried stabbing at 2d20 that's all

      posted in Game Development
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • Modiphius/2d20

      Anyone taken a stab at trying to code Modiphius' 2d20 system? (Conan, John Carter, Star Trek, Infinity (Corvus Bell), Mutant Chronicles, etc). Seems like it could be an untapped resource for a system that could be used across multiple games.

      posted in Game Development
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: Original Arx Isabeau

      @Derp Why you bringing me into this, dawg? I been away quite a bit, now.

      posted in A Shout in the Dark
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      @Pandora said in RL things I love:

      @Ghost said in RL things I love:

      @Pandora said in RL things I love:

      @Ghost 1. You're a terrible person.

      1. I'm literally watching this with my bestie right this second.

      Yeah we're about 9 episodes in. It's not bad, although I wish it were more grim dark. I think Somerhalder might be underrated.

      I think his eyebrows need to win an award for best supporting character, they are so expressive.

      Finished it. No spoilers, but the finale has me more excited for season 2 than I was excited for season 1.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      @Pandora said in RL things I love:

      @Ghost 1. You're a terrible person.

      1. I'm literally watching this with my bestie right this second.

      Yeah we're about 9 episodes in. It's not bad, although I wish it were more grim dark. I think Somerhalder might be underrated.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      In other news, I failed to convince my SO that the netflix show "V Wars" is the sequel to "The L Word".

      Eyooo.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      Good memory #2.

      New house. First time hosting Xmas for family.

      SO's dad comes out of our guest bathroom scratching his head and looking very confused.

      "So...did you know you have a picture of Jean-Claude Van Damme in your restroom?"

      My mom and dad bust up laughing.

      JCVD 4ever

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: Good or New Movies Review

      @Ganymede said in Good or New Movies Review:

      @Lemon-Fox said in Good or New Movies Review:

      A+. See me after class.

      smiling rachel mcadams

      Omg. Rachel McAdams is the best.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      @Ganymede Ooooooooooooooooo this is some solid tippage. I wasn't adjusting the ai offenses/defenses either, so I definitely should have.

      Did you get nhl20? Any good? Should i wait?

      I tend to skip a year unless I see something revolutionary in the gameplay between years.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      @Ganymede Let's talk.

      In this instance I was cycling a lot but hadn't played the game in a few years. It was nhl18. Here's why I lost.

      1. He had Lundquist on AI goalie. Fuckin Lundquist.
      2. I made a lot of bad pass choices, but also it was kind of weird how the players weren't picking up passes. Was either passing too hard or trying to move before the pass connected.
      3. He was spamming poke check and I wasn't utilizing "protect the puck"
      4. He played smart but cheesy D. Every time I'd set up the point and cycle hed stop playing positional hockey and just double up a human wall in front of the net like he was Sean Avery. Then when I tried to go for rebounds off the clappers he'd have an extra guy there.

      Really, the best scoring opportunities I had were in breakaways, but fuckin AI Lundquist grabbed some 4 would be goals out of thin air like he was some demanded Nordic Green Lantern.

      Shame it was 2018 Lundquist.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: Good or New Movies Review

      @Auspice said in Good or New Movies Review:

      The video implied force heal as a super brand new 'just for the movie' thing... except it's been in Star Wars for a long time!

      COUGH inTheEU COUGH

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      So every year my SO's kid and I play ONE match of NHL on PS4. We call it the House Cup. With it comes shit-talking rights for the whole year.

      The first year I kinda let him win. The 2nd time he legitimately beat me. This time, my parents and my SOs dad were in attendance and oh boy did I grandstand. I gave a speech on the importance of who gets to take the Cup, how I was going to beat this kid so bad it was gonna he a crime, how having a captive audience was like a Christmas gift.

      We did a practice match. I won that 2-1. Oh, I was convinced this was my year.

      he fucked me up

      Not only did he legitimately beat me, but he wrecked me. 7-0. In front of everyone. I must have hit the post 12 times with wide open net. Kid took on like 18 minutes if penalties. I had at least three 5-3 power plays and still didnt score.

      Now everyone wants to be there for it next year.

      Good memory.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      @Auspice omg I just got a better idea

      Bluetooth speaker.
      Party.
      Leave the room.
      Earplugs.
      Press play.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      @Macha said in RL things I love:

      @Ghost Actually, you didn't. Whamaggedon stops at 12am of Christmas. They're already safe until next year. Sorry, it's in the rules.
      Rules

      ....damn it.

      Next year I'm gonna be ruthless.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: RL things I love

      I am at my most diabolical.

      Sending a doctored URL link into my Facebook feed stating that Modiphius has just announced on Xmas morning that they've unveiled a new RPG set in the "Big Trouble in Little China" universe...

      ...but it will redirect them to the middle of "Last Christmas" by Wham!

      On Xmas morning.

      I'm gonna turn the Whammageddon into the fucking Hunger Games.

      posted in Tastes Less Game'y
      Ghost
      Ghost
    • RE: Legends of the Old Republic - In Progress Star Wars Game

      @TiredEwok said in Legends of the Old Republic - In Progress Star Wars Game:

      @Tinuviel

      I think that reference is lost on me... halp!

      Karen Traviss is the author who was hired to write the novels that detailed the Mandalorians, but then at the last second GEORGE pulled the plug and added them to Clone Wars.

      posted in Game Development
      Ghost
      Ghost
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