1
RPGs / Re: THE QUEUE: Whacha got in YOUR gaming pipeline
« on: March 30, 2014, 05:58:11 AM »
Hey Pauly, thanks for the recommendation. I actually have the Sense of Sleight of Hand Man. Great campaign book, really hoping to run it.
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2
RPGs / Re: THE QUEUE: Whacha got in YOUR gaming pipeline
« on: March 29, 2014, 03:07:08 AM »
I'm liking this discussion a heck of a lot. Also not the best GM, and there are so many games I'd like to run or play, that I fear I never will. In no particular order of preference:
CoC Dreamlands: Most overlooked campaign setting imho, and one with so much potential. Would like a game where either the PCs are visitors or natives of the dreamlands.
Edge of Empire: Like the idea of the PCs being the criminals of the SW universe, maybe pulling of a huge heist that screws over both the Empire and the Alliance.
Unkown Armies: Just one of my favorite games in my RPG library. Love its take on the occult.
CoC Miskatonic game: The PCs are students. All that drama. Then they get eaten. But there are always new students. Every year.
Over the Edge: Best setting ever. It's set in the 80's. Everything's wierd and bizarre. This game deserves to come back.
Kuro: because Asian horror + cyberpunk.
Eclipse Phase: Needless to say. Just the setting is intimidating as hell for a mediocore gm at best, such as I.
Hunter the Vigil: By far my favorite WW game.
BRP dark ages horror game: My favorite generic system with my favorite historical setting and genre.
Esoterrorists and/or Night's Black Agents: Really would like to try gumshoe.
Summerland: Unique idea for an apocalypse. A primeval forest overgrowing cities.
Witchcraft/AFMBE/Armageddon: Really wanna try unisystem also.
Accursed: Really liked the cool parts of Van Helsing and Hansel & Gretel Witchhunters (not so much the not cool parts) PCs are monsters. Monsters are awesome. I've heard good things about Savage Worlds, seems like it would be a good system for the setting.
And these are just a few.
CoC Dreamlands: Most overlooked campaign setting imho, and one with so much potential. Would like a game where either the PCs are visitors or natives of the dreamlands.
Edge of Empire: Like the idea of the PCs being the criminals of the SW universe, maybe pulling of a huge heist that screws over both the Empire and the Alliance.
Unkown Armies: Just one of my favorite games in my RPG library. Love its take on the occult.
CoC Miskatonic game: The PCs are students. All that drama. Then they get eaten. But there are always new students. Every year.
Over the Edge: Best setting ever. It's set in the 80's. Everything's wierd and bizarre. This game deserves to come back.
Kuro: because Asian horror + cyberpunk.
Eclipse Phase: Needless to say. Just the setting is intimidating as hell for a mediocore gm at best, such as I.
Hunter the Vigil: By far my favorite WW game.
BRP dark ages horror game: My favorite generic system with my favorite historical setting and genre.
Esoterrorists and/or Night's Black Agents: Really would like to try gumshoe.
Summerland: Unique idea for an apocalypse. A primeval forest overgrowing cities.
Witchcraft/AFMBE/Armageddon: Really wanna try unisystem also.
Accursed: Really liked the cool parts of Van Helsing and Hansel & Gretel Witchhunters (not so much the not cool parts) PCs are monsters. Monsters are awesome. I've heard good things about Savage Worlds, seems like it would be a good system for the setting.
And these are just a few.
3
RPGs / The Sense of the Sleight-of-Hand Man
« on: March 12, 2014, 11:52:33 AM »
I'm seriously considering using it as the next campaign for my Skype group. Always thought the Dreamlands tends to be overlooked as a rpg setting, despite some great source material out there. It definitely has a much more "fantasy" feel than typical CoC stuff. I suppose that might present some new challenges in keeping the horrific tone of CoC(though from what I've read so far, Dennis Detwiiler does a very admirable job). Was wondering if anyone here might have run this and how you thought it went. Any tips or thoughts on a Dreamlands-centric game?
4
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: October 31, 2013, 03:23:31 PM »
Okay, so it being Halloween and all, I picked up some horror-themed games on Steam.
One I've tried is called Paranormal, and I gotta say, it's pretty freaky. Playing it at night with headphones on, I found it rather unnerving.
More atmosphere than actual gameplay, but if you're like that sort of thing it's worth a look IMHO.
One I've tried is called Paranormal, and I gotta say, it's pretty freaky. Playing it at night with headphones on, I found it rather unnerving.
More atmosphere than actual gameplay, but if you're like that sort of thing it's worth a look IMHO.
5
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: October 12, 2013, 10:42:42 AM »
Okay, so I mentioned in another post a short while back that while I really, really like the idea of a heist game, I didn't think I could play Payday 2 because I was uncomfortable with the idea of playing a criminal in a game where you have to mow down waves of police officers. It was a line I couldn't cross.
Um, well...I crossed that line.
I couldn't resist. Cooperative shooters that involve teamwork are my favorite type, next to rpgs. I heard so many good things about Payday 2 in that regard. So I gave in and tried it.
Holy shit, it's fun. It gets very, very intense. And teamwork is crucial. It's pretty much the computer game version of the movie Heat. Also has some rpg elements with levels and perks, etc.
I feel guilty as hell playing it. Shooting cops trying to rescue civillians I'm holding hostage makes me feel like a shitty person. Seriously.
But goddamn if it isn't a good time.
Needs more heists. It does have a scant few where you're also fighting other criminals, I feel not as bad about those, wish there were more. Or maybe a way to play on the side of law enforcement, but I suppose that would call for a very different type of game.
Damn it, I'm a bad person for enjoying this.
But the customizable masks...they're just...so cool...
Anyway, I'm metalwhisper on steam also. If anyone's ever good for a game, and needs another player in their crew, feel free to hit me up.
Just know I'll feel guilty.
Want to get GTA V as well, but am also wanting to hold out for a PC version. Not sure if I'll be able to resist that either. I'm weak. So very, very weak.
Um, well...I crossed that line.
I couldn't resist. Cooperative shooters that involve teamwork are my favorite type, next to rpgs. I heard so many good things about Payday 2 in that regard. So I gave in and tried it.
Holy shit, it's fun. It gets very, very intense. And teamwork is crucial. It's pretty much the computer game version of the movie Heat. Also has some rpg elements with levels and perks, etc.
I feel guilty as hell playing it. Shooting cops trying to rescue civillians I'm holding hostage makes me feel like a shitty person. Seriously.
But goddamn if it isn't a good time.
Needs more heists. It does have a scant few where you're also fighting other criminals, I feel not as bad about those, wish there were more. Or maybe a way to play on the side of law enforcement, but I suppose that would call for a very different type of game.
Damn it, I'm a bad person for enjoying this.
But the customizable masks...they're just...so cool...
Anyway, I'm metalwhisper on steam also. If anyone's ever good for a game, and needs another player in their crew, feel free to hit me up.
Just know I'll feel guilty.
Want to get GTA V as well, but am also wanting to hold out for a PC version. Not sure if I'll be able to resist that either. I'm weak. So very, very weak.
6
RPGs / Re: The Void
« on: September 04, 2013, 06:55:01 PM »
Agree that there's not much here you couldn't do with another system, especially Cthulhu and/or EP. In that sense, it does seem to be a bit of a "sci-fi/horror heartbreaker."
That being said, I don't think it's history is necessarily that bad. Of course, when compared to something as unique as Eclipse Phase, sure. But on it's own it does its job, though it's nothing too groundbreaking. I do like the idea of the Cthonian Star approaching. In EP, the horror has already been released. Here it seems to be approaching or awakening.
Really though, my interest in it is just inspiration. Again, I probably won't ever run it, but I like collecting games that give me ideas and settings, not really so much for rules. I already have the rule sets I like (primarily EP and BRP). Most settings can be run in whatever system you really want to, anyway.
Anyway, it does bring up something I'm a big fan of: scavenging setting material and ideas from different games and supplements, and using them in my systems of choice.
Some examples:
I like the transhuman idea of switching bodies that is so prevalent in EP. I like it alot. Some of my players, though, are not as keen on the idea at all, but like other aspects of the setting. Meshing aspects of The Void with EP, or with CoC, might be a way to make a setting everyone wants to play in.
Recently, I found a print copy of Exquisite Replicas for very cheap. Will I ever run it as written, mechanics and all? No. But it is giving me some great ideas. I could give a long list of other games and supplements that I love, and will probably never run, at least not without converting them somehow (Kuro, Unkown Armies, Night's Black Agents, Summerland, Hunter: The Vigil come to mind, there are many more). As idea material, though, priceless.
Which is why I like raiding the bargain bins at gaming stores so much:)
That being said, I don't think it's history is necessarily that bad. Of course, when compared to something as unique as Eclipse Phase, sure. But on it's own it does its job, though it's nothing too groundbreaking. I do like the idea of the Cthonian Star approaching. In EP, the horror has already been released. Here it seems to be approaching or awakening.
Really though, my interest in it is just inspiration. Again, I probably won't ever run it, but I like collecting games that give me ideas and settings, not really so much for rules. I already have the rule sets I like (primarily EP and BRP). Most settings can be run in whatever system you really want to, anyway.
Anyway, it does bring up something I'm a big fan of: scavenging setting material and ideas from different games and supplements, and using them in my systems of choice.
Some examples:
I like the transhuman idea of switching bodies that is so prevalent in EP. I like it alot. Some of my players, though, are not as keen on the idea at all, but like other aspects of the setting. Meshing aspects of The Void with EP, or with CoC, might be a way to make a setting everyone wants to play in.
Recently, I found a print copy of Exquisite Replicas for very cheap. Will I ever run it as written, mechanics and all? No. But it is giving me some great ideas. I could give a long list of other games and supplements that I love, and will probably never run, at least not without converting them somehow (Kuro, Unkown Armies, Night's Black Agents, Summerland, Hunter: The Vigil come to mind, there are many more). As idea material, though, priceless.
Which is why I like raiding the bargain bins at gaming stores so much:)
7
RPGs / Re: Horror: How Far is Too Far?
« on: August 30, 2013, 11:51:04 AM »
Jadzia and bidoof,
First, I also want to thank you both for having the courage to share your thoughts and personal experiences with the rest of us. It must definitely not have been easy, but it's added depth to an already important conversation, one that I feel we should keep having. Violence in gaming is something I think a lot about. While I rabidly enjoy gaming and horror, I do feel that Caleb asks a very important question in "How far is too far?"
Around the gaming table, I think it's as you point out Jadzia: each group of players operates with their own social contract. I agree with Gorkamorka, that topic should be discussed among all player before the game begins, so that the lines of what can and can't be crossed are well established.
With publishing adventures, games, etc. it must become trickier though, since the material can potentially be read by anyone, and there's not really a time when the author is discussing with that individual person which of those lines are okay to cross for him or her. True, you can have a rating for the material, or a warning on the cover, something along those lines. And also, if it's a horror scenario, one purchases and reads it knowing it's probably not going to be pretty. People go into a R rated horror movie knowing that they're going to be made uncomfortable. They go into a R rated action movie knowing they're going to see violence. If they don't want to, they just don't buy the ticket.
But, if they do buy the ticket, or purchase the scenario, they can be relatively okay with a lot of the content that's presented, but something might be too much. Something might take them by surprise, and they can be severely offended, or it can call up very painful memories if they had themselves been through a similar circumstance.
How to handle content like that in a game becomes a delicate issue, then. And a difficult one. Horror is horror because it makes us uncomfortable to one degree or another. I'd guess we're fans of the genre because of this, to an extent. And part of what makes us uncomfortable in our culture is sex and violence. Really, how often does Lovecraft refer to "blasphemous" and "unnameable" rites, etc? Clearly, it's impossible to not offend anyone all the time with such content, but especially when dealing with more touchy subjects, such as sexual violence, I think the difficulty increases exponentially.
What's the solution? I don't think there really is a specific one. The easiest would be not to broach these subjects at all. I hesitate to say that, since I don't want to advocate any form of censorship. If the goal is to avoid offending anyone, however, that is simply the route to go.
Another way is to address these subjects, but to do so in a careful way that is respectful, but also addresses the seriousness of the subject, and hopefully causes the gaming group, or audience, to think about it and relate it with their own and others humanity. That takes a high degree of maturity from both the audience, and also the author. I do believe that Caleb in his scenarios, addresses these issues well, and I think the fact that he is questioning himself in the first place is very reflective of that.
Ultimately, I don't know that there is an answer. I guess that's not very helpful, but really it comes down to what the author is willing to risk, and what the audience is able to tolerate.
For my own part, I've played a lot, a whole lot, of violent video games. I've also watched a whole lot of violent movies, and read a whole lot of horror. In my rl job, I've seen the results of violence relatively often. There is a world of separation between rl violence and fictional violence usually. So I like to think I high have a high tolerance for the portrayal of violence in media. Even so, I know on a few occasions where it was a little too much even for me. As a recent example, let me point out a line that I can't cross.
I really like heist movies. They're cool. There is something about them that, as a gamer, translates very well to rpgs and video games. You have a group of specialists after a certain goal. Each has their own skill set. They are trying to break into a bank, corporate building, whatever(essentially modern day "dungeons"). There are cool gadgets and weaponry. So on. I could go on.
Recently, Payday 2 was released. Part of me really wants to play this game. It's a heist game. It's a cooperative game, my favorite kind of shooter. But I can't get myself to get it. Why? Well, the fact that it involves shooting down waves upon waves of police officers.
Not zombies. Not robots. Not aliens. Not even sociopathic criminals, or even oppressive guards of some dystopian fascist state. They're just cops. For whatever reason, playing a game where I'm killing them indiscriminately makes me very uncomfortable. I can't do it.
It's just a game. I don't believe for a second anyone(or at least the vast majority) playing it has anything against law enforcement, or wants to rob a bank, and so on. I'm sure it's a very fun game. But I just can't cross that line. I can in other games, but not that one. Not sure what that says about me, but there's an example of my own particular limit.
Anyway, I went off into a ramble there. I do tend to do that sometimes. Again, very interesting, and important discussion.
First, I also want to thank you both for having the courage to share your thoughts and personal experiences with the rest of us. It must definitely not have been easy, but it's added depth to an already important conversation, one that I feel we should keep having. Violence in gaming is something I think a lot about. While I rabidly enjoy gaming and horror, I do feel that Caleb asks a very important question in "How far is too far?"
Around the gaming table, I think it's as you point out Jadzia: each group of players operates with their own social contract. I agree with Gorkamorka, that topic should be discussed among all player before the game begins, so that the lines of what can and can't be crossed are well established.
With publishing adventures, games, etc. it must become trickier though, since the material can potentially be read by anyone, and there's not really a time when the author is discussing with that individual person which of those lines are okay to cross for him or her. True, you can have a rating for the material, or a warning on the cover, something along those lines. And also, if it's a horror scenario, one purchases and reads it knowing it's probably not going to be pretty. People go into a R rated horror movie knowing that they're going to be made uncomfortable. They go into a R rated action movie knowing they're going to see violence. If they don't want to, they just don't buy the ticket.
But, if they do buy the ticket, or purchase the scenario, they can be relatively okay with a lot of the content that's presented, but something might be too much. Something might take them by surprise, and they can be severely offended, or it can call up very painful memories if they had themselves been through a similar circumstance.
How to handle content like that in a game becomes a delicate issue, then. And a difficult one. Horror is horror because it makes us uncomfortable to one degree or another. I'd guess we're fans of the genre because of this, to an extent. And part of what makes us uncomfortable in our culture is sex and violence. Really, how often does Lovecraft refer to "blasphemous" and "unnameable" rites, etc? Clearly, it's impossible to not offend anyone all the time with such content, but especially when dealing with more touchy subjects, such as sexual violence, I think the difficulty increases exponentially.
What's the solution? I don't think there really is a specific one. The easiest would be not to broach these subjects at all. I hesitate to say that, since I don't want to advocate any form of censorship. If the goal is to avoid offending anyone, however, that is simply the route to go.
Another way is to address these subjects, but to do so in a careful way that is respectful, but also addresses the seriousness of the subject, and hopefully causes the gaming group, or audience, to think about it and relate it with their own and others humanity. That takes a high degree of maturity from both the audience, and also the author. I do believe that Caleb in his scenarios, addresses these issues well, and I think the fact that he is questioning himself in the first place is very reflective of that.
Ultimately, I don't know that there is an answer. I guess that's not very helpful, but really it comes down to what the author is willing to risk, and what the audience is able to tolerate.
For my own part, I've played a lot, a whole lot, of violent video games. I've also watched a whole lot of violent movies, and read a whole lot of horror. In my rl job, I've seen the results of violence relatively often. There is a world of separation between rl violence and fictional violence usually. So I like to think I high have a high tolerance for the portrayal of violence in media. Even so, I know on a few occasions where it was a little too much even for me. As a recent example, let me point out a line that I can't cross.
I really like heist movies. They're cool. There is something about them that, as a gamer, translates very well to rpgs and video games. You have a group of specialists after a certain goal. Each has their own skill set. They are trying to break into a bank, corporate building, whatever(essentially modern day "dungeons"). There are cool gadgets and weaponry. So on. I could go on.
Recently, Payday 2 was released. Part of me really wants to play this game. It's a heist game. It's a cooperative game, my favorite kind of shooter. But I can't get myself to get it. Why? Well, the fact that it involves shooting down waves upon waves of police officers.
Not zombies. Not robots. Not aliens. Not even sociopathic criminals, or even oppressive guards of some dystopian fascist state. They're just cops. For whatever reason, playing a game where I'm killing them indiscriminately makes me very uncomfortable. I can't do it.
It's just a game. I don't believe for a second anyone(or at least the vast majority) playing it has anything against law enforcement, or wants to rob a bank, and so on. I'm sure it's a very fun game. But I just can't cross that line. I can in other games, but not that one. Not sure what that says about me, but there's an example of my own particular limit.
Anyway, I went off into a ramble there. I do tend to do that sometimes. Again, very interesting, and important discussion.
8
RPGs / Re: Stuck writing a good dungeon crawl? Not anymore!
« on: August 15, 2013, 05:28:14 AM »
Hey Kiriel,
Thanks for posting this! It will definitely be useful.
I'm always looking for tools, references, etc, online or otherwise, that help with creativity and inspiration in rpgs. I frequently run into writer's block when trying to come up with ideas, plots, characters, maps, images, and so on which can be immensely frustrating and discouraging. Having short-cuts like this is a big help.
Thanks for posting this! It will definitely be useful.
I'm always looking for tools, references, etc, online or otherwise, that help with creativity and inspiration in rpgs. I frequently run into writer's block when trying to come up with ideas, plots, characters, maps, images, and so on which can be immensely frustrating and discouraging. Having short-cuts like this is a big help.
9
Received the print on demand copy of The Void from Wildfire yesterday. Pretty cool futuristic horror setting about the Mythos. Comparisons with Eclipse Phase are obvious, but The Void seems to deal much less with transhumanism, and more with straight forward scifi/horror a la Alien and Event Horizon(those influenced EP too of course, but amongst many other things), and directly with the Cthulhu Mythos. The art is pretty evocative too. I love the cover.
Don't know that I'll ever run it, but it I think it has some great material and ideas that I can use in my EP game.
Don't know that I'll ever run it, but it I think it has some great material and ideas that I can use in my EP game.
10
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: July 27, 2013, 04:23:08 PM »
I agree with you there, Dom. A con of the game is that the save system is a bit of a drag. A lot of people are complaining about it. For me, it was more an annoyance in the beginning. Now it's not bothering me so much. Maybe I just got used to it. Regardless, it does need fixing. I hope they patch it at some point also.
Another game I've been playing is Solium Infernum. It's developed by Cryptic Comet, they make turn based strategy games, basically computer board games, like Armageddon Empires. If you like that type of thing, SI is definitely worth checking out. The idea is that you play a Lord of Hell(you can create your own, which is very cool), vying for power with other lords. Great art also. I believe they have a demo available:
http://www.crypticcomet.com/games/SI/Solium_Infernum.html
Another game I've been playing is Solium Infernum. It's developed by Cryptic Comet, they make turn based strategy games, basically computer board games, like Armageddon Empires. If you like that type of thing, SI is definitely worth checking out. The idea is that you play a Lord of Hell(you can create your own, which is very cool), vying for power with other lords. Great art also. I believe they have a demo available:
http://www.crypticcomet.com/games/SI/Solium_Infernum.html
11
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: July 27, 2013, 02:43:49 AM »
Shadowrun Returns! Finally! I'm really liking it so far, and I'm well into the included campaign. A little rough around the edges, and it is very linear, though I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, many old school rpgs were. Everyone takes the "open sandbox world thing" for granted these days, and seem to think rpg's need to be only and exclusively sandboxes. The game almost seems to be just the engine and ruleset, if that makes any sense. Also not a bad thing, IMHO. Hopefully official DLC and community content will really expand the world in the future. Sort of like the old school adventure modules from back in the day. For now, I think the story and characters in the first adventure are very good. A very noir story, actually. The art is also beautiful. Captures Shadowrun perfectly.
12
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: July 18, 2013, 07:46:22 PM »
Ah Steam...I love you...yet I hate you...
I'm getting a bunch of games I've been wanting, waiting for their price to drop.
Got Fallout New Vegas for like $5. It's pretty great. The geckos crack me up for some reason.
Though it's nice getting games for like $5-10, it's also easy to spend $500 in a blink of an eye on there.
Ah Steam...I love you...yet I hate you...
I'm getting a bunch of games I've been wanting, waiting for their price to drop.
Got Fallout New Vegas for like $5. It's pretty great. The geckos crack me up for some reason.
Though it's nice getting games for like $5-10, it's also easy to spend $500 in a blink of an eye on there.
Ah Steam...I love you...yet I hate you...
13
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: July 06, 2013, 12:56:18 PM »
I have to get into Killing Floor again. It's been a while since I've played. Cooperative games are the best. I'm not so much into competitive multiplayer.
I've been checking out some roguelikes recently, since I've been missing old school crpgs. One I've found that seems pretty cool is Infra Arcana:
http://infraarcana.wikispaces.com/
It's very Call of Cthulhu. Just started playing it, but liking it so far. Especially since it's horror, Lovecraft inspired. Nice change of pace from all the fantasy rpgs out there.
I've been checking out some roguelikes recently, since I've been missing old school crpgs. One I've found that seems pretty cool is Infra Arcana:
http://infraarcana.wikispaces.com/
It's very Call of Cthulhu. Just started playing it, but liking it so far. Especially since it's horror, Lovecraft inspired. Nice change of pace from all the fantasy rpgs out there.
14
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: June 03, 2013, 05:45:05 PM »Looks interesting. Might have to give it a try.its free to play if you ever liked diablo 2 this is your game. The merchants are like a harodic cube. You trade olin diffrent items and get back other thinkgs. Like 3 flasks of the same size give you one of the size bigger. It gets more fun once you relise how crazy the talents are set up.
Cool, I'll definitely have to play it then. The skill trees look insane.
Also, I've played crusader kings II and really like it. It does have a learning curve though, so Dom thanks for the video link. Got a lot of DLC for it recently, including The Old Gods, so looking forward to it. The soundtrack of the game is also pretty impressive.
15
General Chaos / Re: What Vidja games are you playing?
« on: May 31, 2013, 03:49:02 PM »
Looks interesting. Might have to give it a try.