Best posts made by Livia

@Livia said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Derp said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Livia said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Derp said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Admiral said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Livia Yeah. Maybe cap them at... completing one aspiration a week? That way you can get 1/5 of an XP once a week.

We went with 'cap overall xp from any source'. Personally, I think Aspirations are good. Nobody ever bothers with Conditions anyway so it's not like that's a huge drag. But Aspirations give you something to strive, and let you drive your own story forward without having to wait on staff to run shit for you.

You take those away, and you're just making more work for yourself in the long run, as players get bored that there is nothing for them to do and not enough plot but they're too busy to run PrPs…

That's a choice you want to make very carefully.

I hate short term aspirations. Every time I've done 2e character gen coming up with 'aspirations' in the system has always been my stumbling point. And then I get people telling me I should be completing 3-4 short term asps per WEEK and I'm wondering if I ever have time for anything else.

They don't really have to be a total slog. They don't even have to be incredibly detailed. You can put in generalizations and work them out just fine.

So if I had to come up with two short-term aspirations for a werewolf, I might go with:

1. Talk to a werewolf I haven't met.
2. Do a scene in non-human form.

For a vampire, this could be:

1. Resist the urge to feed at an inopportune time.
2. Get a feel for how the local Harpy operates.

Basically, think of what you would want to do with your character anyway, and make those an RP goal to strive for. Get rewarded. Always have something to look forward to, even if it's routine stuff.

I just don't find this fun.

To clarify, the problem isn't this. At first, those are fine aspirations. But now I'm two-three days into my new character and maybe I've managed one of those aspirations because they're short term. Now I have to come up with another. And another. And another. I just wanna play.

@Auspice said in Why don't we have a general board game thread anyway?:

Because SOME PEOPLE can't handle a TANGENT.

it's like we aren't a forum or something.

Anyway, board game discussion here. Where @Livia can go on about these 18xx games.

What has everyone played most recently?

@Ganymede said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Livia

Short-term aspirations are directions that you want to take your character down. In role play, it can be as simple as “my NPC daughter wants to go dress-shopping.” Why? Because if you are a paranoid changeling going out in public can be an awful experience.

I know what they are. I don't see how that adds any real value. And again, all these examples, on their own, are fine.

It's when staff is telling me I should be resolving 5+ of these a week I start to wonder how often you can come up with these throw away quick aspirations.

@Auspice said in Why don't we have a general board game thread anyway?:

I barely play board games anymore, sad to say. I have a stack of Kickstarter games I haven't played yet....with another on the way. I just don't have a group and when I go to the Lady Geeks nights, it has become largely 'hang out and do crafts plus maybe some casual light hearted card games' which I won't fault them for. It's what they all wanna do.

The board gamers meet on Wednesdays, but I just keep finding I am too tired to go. I need a Friday or Saturday night group.

Or online group. I've dabbled with some of the online ones....In solo modes. I'm so hermit I hermit online.

I still believe that one day we will find time for Tabletop Sim. Somehow. Someway.

@Arkandel said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Livia said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Pyrephox said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

Depends on how much RP I get. The only CoD game I'm on, getting any RP at all is pretty hard, and I've been faded myself with work stuff, so none in the last few weeks. But before that? 3-4 a week, assuming a scene a day. Fewer scenes, usually fewer Aspirations (although sometimes you get lucky!)

I get that it varies, based on activity and availability, sure. But that still feels like so much 'paperwork' to me.

YMMV.

My experience is that a significantly smaller number of people files for aspirations at all than those who do.

The ironic thing about that is, on games with a limited XP 'income' in general that alone creates disparities due to diminishing returns.

Of course. But with it tied to XP I feel like I'm hurting myself if I don't maximize it. I'm gamey/competitive enough to want to maximize things.

@Ganymede said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

@Auspice said in What game system would you prefer for a big-tent nWoD project?:

If you have only 1-2 days a week you can RP and you know Bob over there, RPing daily, is hitting the XP cap every week and people are making it really obvious ('yeah you'll need like, 20 dice to be able to manage this PRP') that you NEED MORE XP......

Why the hell are you worried about Bob?

I used to be a huge advocate of flat advancement, but it was because I didn't want to fall behind XP-wise. No one likes to feel that way. But when I came to the conclusion that the disparity in XP is largely unimportant on most games, I stopped worrying about it.

XP did not help Wes get the Seneschal spot in Las Vegas. XP did not help Maddy take over a chunk of Portland's night scene. XP did not help Cai become Hierophant on RfK.

I did that.

The funny thing is I'm not really worried about being behind on XP, or having less XP than other people.

Hell I came in fresh on F&L when your Wes and your Circle were in power as Jehanne and immediately started messing with what was going on, making alliances and making things difficult for the Circle, as my tiny little Jehanne (XP wise at the time at least).

The issue is I do feel bad when I'm not optimising my advancement. When not using the system hurts me.

As I said, I'm 'gamey' enough and 'competitive' enough to want to get the most I can when it comes to game systems.

But Aspirations have literally actually made me decide not to make a character when I got to the part in chargen about setting up some aspirations. I decided not to play instead.

@cobaltasaurus said in Kurst @HM?:

@aq AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

I echo this sentiment!

@Ghost Except that for me, personally, modern world of warcraft is not that interesting of a game. Leveling all the way to 120 is an intimidating of a number, until you learn that leveling is laughably easy. Classic WoW has the nostalgia going for it, as @Jaded mentioned and nostalgia is a powerful thing. Classic WoW is a challenging experience in ways modern WoW is not.

Not that I'm playing either of the games so what do I even know! But I'm far more likely to play Classic than the modern offering. It interests me more as a gameplay experience.

Still I can see why this flowchart is intimidating. I've never really gotten into Mage myself. Speaking of the ccg comparison, it's like dropping the MtG comp rules on a new player interested in learning the game. It's a lot of info they just don't need.

Oh hey Rourke and Holden. I was Lisa on Reno

@Ghost said in General Video Game Thread:

Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan?

I'm loving it. I wish a dozen games like this came out in a year. I LOVE what they're doing tying a central character like "The Curator" into the game series as a narrator and am excited as fuck for the next one, Little Hope.

If you can, play it co op, online. It is actually kind of amazing to play co op.

@surreality Oh heck yeah. I'm not complaining, and those little actions had some huge results down the line. Or if I am complaining, it's only about being overwhelmed at times. Which has already been addressed, and is not just the game. When that KILL SCENE notification suddenly came up I laughed and laughed and then had to get everyone to pause so I could drive home and login in glee.

Coward!

I'm Penitent

The games I played last weekend were Dark Souls The Board Game (now that all the stretch goals have arrived!) and Nemesis.

Nemesis is kind of amazing.

@auspice You're wrong it was the best.

Braaaavvooooo.

@Auspice said in Why don't we have a general board game thread anyway?:

@Livia prob when you're visiting and sitting in my house

THen there'll be no sim about it.

@Caryatid You should then!

Asklepios is a familiar name from the HM days but I can't really remember anything specific.

Anyway hi!

@Auspice I have overcooked