The Role Playing Public Radio Forums
General Category => Role Playing Public Radio Podcast => : Richard August 18, 2009, 05:08:01 PM
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We're on session 2 now, and, frankly, I'm surprised no one has posted any praise for it!
Other than the first session, where Ross seemed his head was still stuck in CoC mode, it's great! I just kind of wish we had an idea what each PC looked like- I keep picturing The Revenent has having a white hood mask (kind of like Knockoff from the META4 setting), and when i picture The Recluse, I think of 'The Shadow'.
Ross seems to be having a little bit of trouble with the system, but I don't rightly blame him- I'm about to run an M&M game myself, and I also find myself going 'Wtf' at some rules (like 'dodge bonus'- I'm not sure if it GIVES them an extra half rounded-down bonus to their Defense, or if it's just their Defense half rounded down)
I do, however, like the story and how it's proceeding. It's a shame that there's (from what I heard) only 3 APs.
Good job, through and through, boys!
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I like the games well enough. I love the Mutants and Masterminds system and listening to the play kind of throws me. I mean, I have no idea why they where rolling their defenses.
It was difficult to figure out what the proper theme of the game with all the characters trying their own thing. Aaron bouncing around, Jason's oddities, and Tom being fairly self contained. It felt like it dragged alot to me.
I guess it wasn't as awesome as I'd hoped. It was good and not as good as I thought it could be.
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Mechanics aside, I am absolutely loving this series of APs. I am really into the story and the characters.
In fact, when Ross clarified that the Recluse was not like the spider, I immediately thought of a tough-as-nails mask called "The Brown Recluse"!
He main weapon is a gas-powered needle gun that shoots Brown Recluse venom. It is a silent weapon with a short range. It only makes a ~pfft~ sound as it fires a needle.
His other weapon is a gas-powered gun that shoots a bolas at someone. This entangling weapon is his "web".
His costume is black and brown with a small red stylized spider symbol on the upper-right chest of his uniform.
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I like the games well enough. I love the Mutants and Masterminds system and listening to the play kind of throws me. I mean, I have no idea why they where rolling their defenses.
It was difficult to figure out what the proper theme of the game with all the characters trying their own thing. Aaron bouncing around, Jason's oddities, and Tom being fairly self contained. It felt like it dragged alot to me.
I guess it wasn't as awesome as I'd hoped. It was good and not as good as I thought it could be.
You're suppose to roll defense- You roll attack against defense and then damage against toughness. That's how *I* read it at least.
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You're suppose to roll defense- You roll attack against defense and then damage against toughness. That's how *I* read it at least.
I can't find that anywhere in the core book, which is why the AP got me so confused. Page 150 of the Mutants and Masterminds Core Book lists Defense as: "... the Difficulty Class of an opponent's attack roll."
It's 10 + Defense Bonus + Size Mod. + Misc. Mods.
It sounds stupid, rules are what I focus on and deviation from them without specific mention of house ruling throws and annoys.
And now I'm starting a war in a thread meant to discusse the game, not the system.
I'm going to try running a game of this myself, hopefully convince some of my players to try Mutants and Masterminds.
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I liked session 3 the best, but Ross hasn't posted it yet. Then again, I played in session 3 and that might be why I liked it.
I wish we could do more M&M as well.
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Yay cody as a Mask! haha!
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The 3rd game is easily the best game. Great ending.
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You're suppose to roll defense- You roll attack against defense and then damage against toughness. That's how *I* read it at least.
I can't find that anywhere in the core book, which is why the AP got me so confused. Page 150 of the Mutants and Masterminds Core Book lists Defense as: "... the Difficulty Class of an opponent's attack roll."
It's 10 + Defense Bonus + Size Mod. + Misc. Mods.
It sounds stupid, rules are what I focus on and deviation from them without specific mention of house ruling throws and annoys.
And now I'm starting a war in a thread meant to discusse the game, not the system.
I'm going to try running a game of this myself, hopefully convince some of my players to try Mutants and Masterminds.
I kinda saw the rolling as Risk-esque with D20s- Attack VS Defense, Damage VS Toughness. But, being an avid WhifeWolf gamer, I have that whole 'rules are there to bend, break use or discard freely' mindset.
But, back to the actual play: I can't believe those guys are power level 10. I've found power level 10 characters to be, in their own right, overpowered, then to hear this group getting beat up by a bunch of PL 2 goons is really...well, makes me go O_O
Since this is a neat little setting Ross has cooked up, I decided that, someday, I will run an Age of Masks game as well. Maybe someday after me and my group are down our current M&M game, which is more of the standard Superhero-fighting-Supervillains style.
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Most of the players were new to making M&M characters and I highly restricted access to what kind of powers they could take.
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I have been enjoying this actual play so much that I went out and bought the Pocket Handbook for Mutants and Masterminds entirely based on how much fun it sounded here. I am typically not a fan of most actual plays, but RPPR is certainly the exception. Age of Masks in particular has me on the edge of my seat. It is a strong story with a solid setting and interesting characters. Keep up the good work and I can't wait for the next episode to drop.
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I have been enjoying this actual play so much that I went out and bought the Pocket Handbook for Mutants and Masterminds entirely based on how much fun it sounded here. I am typically not a fan of most actual plays, but RPPR is certainly the exception. Age of Masks in particular has me on the edge of my seat. It is a strong story with a solid setting and interesting characters. Keep up the good work and I can't wait for the next episode to drop.
yeah im enjoying it. but my fave if you havent gotten to it is the dig to victory. you should check it out. and from the sounds of it the new u-boat one is even better, its written/keepered by the same guy scott glancy.
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just got back from dragoncon - recorded a bunch of other games including a new age of masks game - in wild talents. Don't want to spoil anything but when I get some time, I'll upload PDFs of the pregen characters I made for the game
Atomica - atompunk gadgeteer (with nuclear powered gauss cannon)
Gray Fire - Occult detective
Raven Mocker - Shaman and executioner of the wicked
Sir Blackstone - Gentleman adventurer (complete with fully automatic elephant gun that fires DU rounds)
Dark Strike - Martial artist adrenaline junkie
Nocturne - mystery detective and vigilante
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Fully automatic elephant gun? That is awesome.
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Most of the players were new to making M&M characters and I highly restricted access to what kind of powers they could take.
I've got to say, I can't blame you for restricting the powers. At least from a listeners perspective, it's much easier to appreciate the game when Mind-reading, time-traveling, aliens aren't involved. This is not an attack on other M&M Actual Play podcasts, I promise. (wink)
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I enjoyed the end. You did not go where I expected you to with the story.
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I enjoyed the end. You did not go where I expected you to with the story.
eeehhhh...
I'm so-so in regards to that. I wanted to hear brutal antiheroes choking the bad guy to death/lighting him on fire/(insert Punisher execution here), and, while I won't say it was bad or unimaginative, it...kind of makes Ross look like a one-trick-pony in the sense that it had Cthulian Horror at the end. I enjoy and respect Ross' ability as a GM, but it almost seems as if he can't fully separate himself from horror.
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I would argue that the mixture of genre was great, it was unexpected but worked well in my opinion. If you want to hear Ross DM non horror stuff, try listening to his New World stuff, it's great and doesn't involve any horror elements.
If I'm not mistaken Ross achieved what he was going for, in that the end was unexpected, and wasn't really horror in my opinion, it was more of a Watchmen ending, with an unexpected twist. Horror would have faced the heroes off against something they had little hope of defeating, the reality layers ending wasn't really horror in my opinion, and has deep roots in comic books. I once read a comic by DC where Superman squared off against aliens... not Cthulian horror, just comic idealogy. Multiple realities seem to me to be a strong comic, super hero theme. Shrug, just my thoughts.
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My whole conceit was to explain how a single guy in tights could defeat so many criminals with hand to hand combat and gadgets. The ritualistic angle of superheroes (donning the costume, alter ego, code of conduct, etc) also appealed to me. To me, it's post modern magic and thus works with horror. Also, Watchmen is pretty horrific too. Dr. Manhattan is a newborn Great Old One - there's little difference between him and Yog-Sothoth except personality. Furthermore, the 'good guys' commit genocide.
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If I'm not mistaken Ross achieved what he was going for, in that the end was unexpected, and wasn't really horror in my opinion, it was more of a Watchmen ending, with an unexpected twist. Horror would have faced the heroes off against something they had little hope of defeating, the reality layers ending wasn't really horror in my opinion, and has deep roots in comic books. I once read a comic by DC where Superman squared off against aliens... not Cthulian horror, just comic idealogy. Multiple realities seem to me to be a strong comic, super hero theme. Shrug, just my thoughts.
Actually, in that case, I'd agree with you: it is a comicbook/superhero niche (doesn't Superman usually fight aliens anyway? You know, next to nothing on Earth can mess with him). In retrospect it wasn't very horror. My fault on that, I kind of just thought to myself 'omfg Cthulhu Mythos means Horror!!!!' without thinking about it.(Can you really blame me? :P)
My whole conceit was to explain how a single guy in tights could defeat so many criminals with hand to hand combat and gadgets. The ritualistic angle of superheroes (donning the costume, alter ego, code of conduct, etc) also appealed to me. To me, it's post modern magic and thus works with horror. Also, Watchmen is pretty horrific too. Dr. Manhattan is a newborn Great Old One - there's little difference between him and Yog-Sothoth except personality. Furthermore, the 'good guys' commit genocide.
I guess for me it just seems to clash: with Cthulian horror, the theme is usually "you're doomed", even before you start, even before you were born, you're fucked. With superheroes, even the dark and grim ones, there's always the theme that they will save the world/make it a better place: that their actions will ensure peace. With Cthulian horror, even though you saved the day, you're still going to fail to save the world.
Anyway, I liked what you were attempting to do, Ross. I think I just thought it was hokey that you felt compelled to bring in something from the Cthulhu Mythos to explain it.
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Actually, now that I think about it, Cthulian horror and superheroes can actually coexist without it screwing up the theme too bad: Conan the Barbarian fought all sorts Star-spawned, Eldritch things before using only cunning and brawn, and won! (In one comic he actually took on a Great Old One and beat it!)
Lovecraft and Howard were buddies, apparently (or, more like penpals), so every now and then you'd find them referencing each others works in their own respective stories. The big difference just comes from how Lovecraft and Howard responded to the whole concept of the Universe being cold and uncaring: Lovecraft accepts it and wallows in despair and Howard rages against it, maybe even attempting to make the universe notice us.
It's this realization that makes me take back what i said about Cthulian horror and superhero themes being unable to stand by each other in a game.
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Another thing to keep in mind is that I was specifically looking to Robert W. Chambers and the Hastur mythos - the King in Yellow, Repairer of Reputations etc. Chambers preceded Lovecraft and his work is thematically distinct from HPL.
There's a great essay in Delta Green Countdown that talks about the Hastur Mythos and how to use it in gaming as a theme. It was more or less my manifesto for this game. It focuses on artistic decadence, creativity, and the surreal. Hastur is entropy made manifest. Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.