Role Playing Games

[cleggster]

So, everyone been busy? Been noticing that there has been a lackluster turnout to the Role Playing Game's lately. So let us know if there are any games people are interested in having run in the store. We will see what we can do.

[cleggster]

Oh, and on that note. I am personaly looking to do a call out for players for The One Ring. We need a few good players who are enjoy Middle Earth and who could commit to a full campaign. If we get a few people, we will determine where and when. So let me know.

Also, again, the above post as well. So there.

[adriangunn]

Hey all,

I'm a gamer who's been away from the hobby for awhile (life, work and such) and I'm looking to get back in.

I'm looking to either join an existing RPG or run one (Castle Falkenstien & CoC are my first 2 choices).

I've been a gamer since 6th grade and I've played and/or run just about everything it seems - from 1st ED AD&D (when it was new ) to Dark Heresy.

Anyone interested?

Thanks,

Adrian

[cleggster]

I hope you find your game. Here in the store we got Pathfinder on Saturday mornings and Eclipse Phased on Thursday night. That and there are two Play-by-forum games right here. Changling and Legend of the 5 rings. L5R is starting...right now.

[blantyr]

Pathfinder rotates among multiple game masters. At the moment, each day's run is complete and stand alone. You don't need to commit to every single week. The party... is not the most virtuous group I've ever encountered. The problem isn't a lack of players. Of late, we've had the occasional problem with more players than can be easily handled.

Eclipse Phase is dark science fiction, though perhaps not as dark as Dark Heresy. While there is no magic or occult, the science fiction elements are very high powered and strange. The Earth is devastated. The technology includes stuff similar to The Matrix, Dollhouse, Stargate, Startide Rising and much much more. Just creating a character is an adventure. There is lots of background to learn. The plot line is ongoing, and you'd likely have to make a commitment to being there regularly.

The Changeling and Five Rings games have been intermittent to stopped. With another player they might take off, but they haven't been played regularly.

[adriangunn]

Thanks for the info. Eclipse Phase sounds interesting (i just persued the games website) - reminds me a bit of Adam Warren's remake of the Dirty Pair manga (though persumably a little less silly).

Are you looking for more players? I should be able to commit to a regular Thursday night game. If not, thats cool - I know integrating new players/characters (especially ones unfamiliar with the system) into an ongoing campaign isn't always easy or convienient!

I'd also still like to run something myself at some point if I can scrounge up some semi-reliable players! ;D

Victorian-era steampunk swashbuckling anyone?

Adrian

[blantyr]

Cleggster is the game master for Eclipse Phase. Reply #3 above seems like an invitation to me. I think we could easily take at least one more player.

Eclipse Phase... Interesting, definitely. Silly, definitely not. We're playing it serious. The setting has sizable pockets of idealism, even more sizable chasms of dark horror, and everything in between from corrupt too powerful corporations, idealistic independent anarchists and mafia like underworld elements. The Game Master by emphasizing this element or that could change the flavor of the campaign considerably. I don't know that the current campaign has played long enough to say what the flavor will be, but silly it isn't.

We're currently playing through the introductory scenario that comes with the GM screen. Much of the preliminary investigation is done. As we appear to be outnumbered and outgunned, our criminal enforcer player character hired a few extra thugs. It seems to me that you might take one of the example characters from the book and play it for a session or two as one of the hired thugs, then create your own character for the start of the next scenario. You might confirm this is good with Cleggster.

Creating your own character from scratch takes a bit of time, but if you're a veteran player who grows fond of his character it is definitely worth the effort. The mechanics are reasonably streamlined in play, but for a new character deciding what political faction one follows (criminal, corporate, abolitionist, martian liberation front), what sort of body one has (robot? uplifted chimpanzee? mega glamor rock star?), what sort of enhanced implants have been added (shoot laser beams from fingertips? run three copies of one's personality at once?), selecting skills and equipment... You likely don't want to just show up on Thursday at 5, design a character, and jump in. It takes hours at minimum. I spent a month at it. You'll likely want to get together with Cleggster for a character creation session. I'm a character creation nut, and would be pleased to join in the exercise if you'd like.

Steampunk? I might be interested depending on a bunch of things. What time would you likely run? How often? What flavor and atmosphere are you after? If we are together for Eclipse, I'm sure we could talk.

Bob

[adriangunn]

Cleggster: If you're willing to add another player for Eclipse Phase, I'll swing by the store and pick up a copy of the core rules . I've run and played in several very dark and gritty Cyberpunk campaigns back in the day, so I'm all for dark, gritty and ruthless

Blantyr: Thanks for the info! If I can get the interest I'd probably run my game either weekely or every other week. Weekends or Friday nights would probably be best for me, but I can be flexible based on the player's schedules.

The campaign setting is an alternate 1870's Europe with magic and steampunkesque technology - Babbage Analytical Engines, Automatons, Steamtanks, Aiships, etc. The supernatural element is faerie based - PCs can be Human, Faeries (certain kinds at least) or Dwarves. Magic is powerful, but generally requires time, preparation and ritual and is not generally useful in combat (is usually just easier to shoot or stab someone). Other than the supernatural and weird technology element, the setting is recognizably Victorian Europe with familiar historical figures - Queen Victora, Napolean III, Otto Von Bismark, etc. The game can be run a number of different ways - I was leaning towards an investigative/supernatural style Campaign with players working for Her Majestie's Secret Service investiagting and combating...unconventional...threats to the Realm - cults, mad scientists, cabals, unseelie faeiries and other supernatural horrors. The game and my style lend to a rules light - roleplaying/storytelling heavy game. I believe that rules should only come into play when a success or failure REALLY matters to the plot, and the rules should never get in the way of a good story. I'd also really like to capture the feel of Victorian adventure literature (Jules Verne, HG Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, etc.) with Noble Heros, Dashing Hussars, Brave and Beautiful Adventuresses, Dastardly Villians, Mad Scientists, Schemeing Anarchists, etc. The tone will generally be light and heroic - far more Romantic than Cynical.

[cleggster]

Sure, if you are interested. I won't be able to introduce a new player right now. But when the party gets back to whatever passes for civilization, I could bring someone in.

If you want to make a character, swing by some Wed. night. I work then.

[adriangunn]

I am interested! I swung by the store this afternoon to grab a copy of the core rules but they were out (they're ordering a copy for me). I picked it up on PDF from drivethrurpg in the meanwhile so I can start familiarizing myself with the game. The gentleman working said that you'd likely be around tomorrow night - mind if I swing in to chat? I can stop in on Wed. to make a character, though it might not be until 6-7ish - I have to drop someone off in Boston around 5 so it'll depend on traffic.

Adrian

[cleggster]

Yup, I'm in the store tonight. So feel free.

[adriangunn]

Kicking some ideas around for my Eclipse Phase character. Does the party currently have an Aysnc?

[blantyr]

That would be a no. We have no Aysnc.

And I thought with an AGI pod character, I would be the social outcast.

[cleggster]

Yeah, no Asyncs. Keep in mind that while level 1 is fairly unobtrusive, level 2 can bring a host of other problems. But I won't forbid it.

Also, Favors. I have been reading up on them. While we have been using them correctly mechanically, I got how they work in story a little wrong. As written, people are willing to do these favors for you simply because of your Rep. That is why there is a rest time. Use it to much and people notice. In exchange, they get Rep from you for doing the favor. Apparently the system abstracts it a little. This seems to mostly be for goods. Services seem to be more the way we were interpreting it as. A favor for an equivalent favor. But giving them some rep wouldn't be bad. I need to keep looking into this. There is some debate on how it works online. Lot of house ruling. Something I am not doing untill I have played it more.

Just to though out there.

[blantyr]

I don't know that we should be figuring out how to interpret the rules so much as how to make something like the rules seem believable.

One of the first things Fawn did on the first run was to look for a list of repairs that needed to be done on Locus, and use her skills to pick up a little rep. I've also been half looking for a chance to exchange more social favors. Thing is, we seem to be too busy. I don't know that we should be taking time off from Firewall business to build up personal reputation and favor credit.

We're also spending personal favors and reputation to do Firewall business. Does this imply at some point Firewall will use its resources to do us personal favors, or to restore personal reputation?

In abstract Firewall's work ought to be done, and in theory if we complete the mission successfully we get 'paid' somehow. Should Firewall agents be left holding the financial bag if they can't complete a mission? If they haven't got the credit to complete a mission, should the mission be abandoned?

I don't feel strongly about it now, but I'll be curious to see how the balances shift at mission's end.

Fawn and I have just spent a bit too much time in the old economy.