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Topics - ristarr

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1
RPGs / Gencon 2011
« on: January 19, 2011, 09:20:35 PM »
The date has kind of slipped up on me, but preregistration is this weekend.  That is not that important, but the host hotel reservations go online Tuesday the 25th at noon ( eastern ).  I believe you have to be registered to book the rooms through the gencon system.

Here are some of the dates.  You have to wait until May 1st to register for the RPPR games.

Key Dates

2
RPGs / Gamma World
« on: November 23, 2010, 10:06:32 PM »
We played our first session of Gamma World this weekend and it was a blast.  Character creation was one of the highlights.  It looks like this will be in the rotation for short term campaigns.  It gets real crazy and the players loved it.  I should have killed a character in the first fight, but I felt bad and he came back to consciousness  at the end of the encounter.  I have seen a lot of comments on how to handle death and healing as the default rule set is particularly deadly.  Luckily you can roll up a new character pretty quick and it should be pretty easy to insert them into the party.  How can you not trust a 8 foot tall being made up of a swarm of cockroaches?  Looks trustworthy to me.
I put up the AP to the game on the community site if you want to give it a listen.

3
RPGs / Inception - Dread
« on: August 17, 2010, 11:26:05 AM »
There is a thread over on rpg.net where people are talking about the best games they played at gencon. One of these was a dread game based on Inception.
[spoiler]
They were talking during this game about playing with a different Jenga tower for each level of the dream state.
I am trying to work out how that would work best gameplay wise. Maybe instead of pulling just one block for each task, you could pull one block per level of dream state. So on the ice station level, you are pulling 3 blocks at a time. This could represent the increase in the power of the subconscious at the deeper levels.
[/spoiler]

4
General Chaos / DragonCon anyone???
« on: August 11, 2010, 09:15:02 PM »
Is anyone coming to Atlanta for Dragoncon?  I know Ross is running a bunch of games, but don't know of any others heading this way.

5
RPGs / DragonCon gaming registration open
« on: July 13, 2010, 07:18:13 AM »
I assume in an effort not to crash their registration servers, Dragoncon has opened their online gaming registration with no fanfare and in the dead of night ( I got the email at 3:44 AM ).  There do not appear to be many games available yet, only 45 now.  There are 4 Dresden Files games with tickets available.

I did not see any RPPR or ArcDream games, so I am assuming that no games have been scheduled yet.

Ross, can you let us know before you schedule the games so we can get first shot? 

6


Thaddeus "Lucky" Barlow

High Concept: Lucky Rogue with a Heart of Gold ... Silver.

Template: Minor Talent

Aspects:
"No Balls, No Blue Chips".
Graveyards are Filled with my Dead.
Stories Should Have Happy Endings
You best start believing in ghost stories, you're in one.
Champion of the Underdog.


Trouble:
Live long enough and you will owe everyone something
Sucker for a Sob Story


Phases:
Where did you come from? - "No Balls, No Blue Chips"
Born in 1832 in Vicksburg Mississippi, the son of a gambler ( Garland Barlow ) and saloon owner ( Flora Wells ).  My father was lynched in 1835 by a vigilante group in Vicksburg and my mother ( and me ) run out of town on rails.  We settled with her running a riverboat saloon and me learning the ways of the river.
By 1858, I had been living the life of a riverboat gambler since my mid teens, first as an assistant/straight man for some of the established sharps and then on my own.  I was a natural, but a little to inclined to "force" the issue.  This ended up with me caught cheating at poker.  I was beaten almost to death and thrown overboard.  I awoke on the shore badly damaged but surprisingly still alive.  I healed up nicely without any scars from the terrible beating.  I continued in my chosen profession, but at this point I started getting strong feelings about the way a contest/decision could turn out.  It was almost like visualizing scales with both choices being weighed against each other.  The most likeliest would seem heavier.  These feelings turned out to be pretty accurate, but with lady luck always getting her say.  As I grew older, I noticed I never seemed to look or feel older from this point in my life.

What Shaped You? - Graveyards Are Filled With My Dead
Abby was a strong woman, able to handle life on the ship and with me.  Smart, quick-witted and a biting sense of humor, she was my true love.  When she was needed for a con, she could handle her part with the best.  She always seemed to deal with any situation.  Failing her was the great tragedy of my life.  I was in process of reeling in a big mark, worth a lot of money, when the boiler exploded.  I kept with the mark getting him to safety, knowing Abby could take care of herself and not wanting to lose the money even during such a disaster.  Turned out I had taken the wrong bet and Abby perished.  Devastated, I started traveling ... and aging. 

What was your first adventure? - Stories Should Have Happy Endings
After about 10 years abroad and much internal reflection, I decided to return to the River and I stopped aging again.  I returned to my lifestyle, but not with the vigor I had previously experienced.  Something was missing.  The thrill was gone.  It was just a job, a living.
Then I met Christina.  The first beautiful soul I met since Abby.  Her husband was also on the Riverboat "circuit" and was an ass. I started seeing her whenever I was able to pass through Natchez or when I could catch her riding a boat with her husband.  We became very close friends and I learned some of her history.  I am still not sure how she got hooked in by such a despicable man.  I learned of the abuse she suffered at his hands and decided to do something.  Not for any potential gain for me, but because it was the right thing to do.  She deserved better. 
I was able to lure him into what looked like a very profitable situation with me as a partner, of course if I did not play my part correctly then things could go very badly.  But why would I double cross him, we barely knew each other and would make out like bandits afterwards.  Needless to say he did not live past this mistake.  You don't con some people and get away with it.  I am not sure if Christina ever suspected my handiwork in her husband's death or if she was just too pleased to ask any questions.  But, after her mourning ( quickly ), we were married and I settled down.  I had to use some disguise abilities to make it look like I was aging at least a little, but we had a very happy life together.

Whose path have you crossed? - You best start believing in ghost stories, you're in one.
Met a man named Mordred, his car was broken down just outside the city limits. I was going to walk on by, but I noticed some wounds on his flesh, they looked like claw marks. I asked him what had happened, and he was reluctant to tell me at first, but after I brought him to a bar, he began to open up and tell me about his story. That's when the shit really started hitting the fan. Seems Mordred's got a few enemies, human and.... other. There were these things he called Shen, not quite sure what exactly they were, but they looked like weird demon monkeys. At about 3 in the morning, most of the patrons in the bar just vanished, and there was this strange sound coming from outside. It disappeared after a few minutes, but then one of these things went flying through the window. Mordred took up a spear that he was carrying (strangely I didn't notice it until then) and just stabbed it. I looked outside and was able to see a whole host of them, probably 15 or more. Mordred pushed me outside, and that was the last I heard of him, until lately that is. I just thought he'd died, but I've been hearing stories, about a tall Norwegian fellow patrolling the alleys. Might be him.

Who else's path have you crossed? - Champion of the underdog


10 refresh, 35 skill

Supernatural Power:
( -1 ) supernatural sense -  sense the odds

Mortal Stunts:
( -1 ) acrobat
( -1 ) catburglar
( -1 ) I know just the guy
( -1 ) read the surface

Skills: 1 Superb, 2 Great, 3 Good, 4 Fair, 5 Average (15 total skills)

***** Burglary

**** Empathy
**** Contacts

*** Athletics
*** Fists
*** Deceit

** Rapport
** Stealth
** Presence
** Endurance

* Resources
* Alertness
* Investigation
* Discipline
* Conviction



Family events:

born 1832
1st marriage 1865  ( Abigail "Abby" Robinson d. 1868 ( boiler explosion ) )- St Louis
2nd marriage 1880  ( Christina Reeves d.1907 ) 3 kids - Natchez
3rd marriage 1917  ( Nora Greer d. 1919 ( influenza )) - Memphis
4th marriage 1924  ( Hope Dalton d. 1932 ) -- New Orleans

Character Concept:
Born in 1832 in Vicksburg Miss., he made a living as a riverboat gambler ( and when out of stake money, whatever he had to do.  cat burglary, confidence scams ... ).  He was caught cheating in a poker game, got the shit kicked out of him and thrown overboard to die.  He washed up on the shore and healed normally, but with no scarring.  From this point on he did not age.  He also slowly discovered the ability to "sense the odds" in situations.  This is a great skill for a gambler.  Unfortunately, he will go sometimes against this sense, even though he know the odds are bad, and bet the longshot or the good story or his favorite.  By following his heart instead of his mind, he usually loses.  And when he loses, he loses big.

Over the years, he has found his ability to not age is tied to being close to the Mississippi River.  He left for New York after the War ( that one in the 1860's ), and found after a couple of years that he was aging normally.  When he returned to the Delta, he stopped aging again.  Since that he has not left for any extended periods.

Lucky's troubles stem from both his gambling habits and his weakness for longshots.  Many years of bad bets have left his markers in the hands of many in St. Louis and, for those with longer memories, in cities up and down the Mississippi.  When faced with a sob story from those oppressed by the more powerful, he is always willing to lend his "expertise" to level the playing field.  This actually provides a greater adrenaline rush than the gambling.

7
Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Convergence Request
« on: April 28, 2010, 08:35:54 PM »
If you are wondering which actual play to post next, may I suggest Convergence?  I am going to be running this in a couple of weeks for a new Delta Green group.  I think I heard a mention that you recorded it sometime.

8
Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Prototype AP
« on: April 12, 2010, 09:58:30 PM »
I just finished the first 2 episodes of this AP.  A lot of fun ( I haven't played the video game ).   I really liked the opening scene.  I think it worked well ( I am trying to be vague since a lot of people don't have it yet ).   I am going to steal the basic idea of having the characters being members of a paranormal investigative TV team for a new Delta Green campaign.  Kinda the Night Stalker meets the Mythos. 

I was thinking of starting with Convergence and then into the Enolis adventures.  This should work well with a little modification.  It will need to be more investigative and bribery oriented instead of badge flashing.  I was reading the PhenomenX info in Countdown and it should help.

9
General Chaos / MC Frontalot
« on: April 10, 2010, 01:10:45 AM »
Just saw MC Frontalot here in Atlanta.  The show was outstanding.  Pretty sure it was my first hip hop show.  If he comes to your area, try to get out to see him.  We saw him in a bar across the street after the show and he is a very nice guy.

10
RPGs / Apocalypse Now Adventure
« on: March 17, 2010, 09:42:37 PM »
Has anyone used Apocalypse Now as the source for an adventure?
My DnD group is on the outskirts of a war basically guarding supply lines, etc.  I am thinking about a huge reversal in the war effort, betrayal both at the front and back.  Not so much an overt assault like the Tet Offensive, but more along the lines of assassination, terroristic attacks and a lot of damage to the headquarters at the front.
I think the Apocalypse Now part can come from the party trying to reestablish communication with an outpost that has been unheard from since before the setback.  Their teleportation circle is no longer active and no messengers have returned.  I am not sure if I want any of the last communications to show the weakening grip on reality by the commander or not.  I don't think they need any "help" in the traveling to the area ( as in the companions in the movie ), but they would hear increasingly disturbing rumors as they get closer. 
Since the enemy in my campaign are undead, maybe the commander has been turned but is still "allied" with the good guys?  Of course, his undeadness makes for lots of problems with his living soldiers, unless they are somehow changed also ...

I just started thinking about this and not sure how feasible it is.

Any thoughts?

11
RPGs / Gumshoe games
« on: March 12, 2010, 09:00:21 PM »
I got an email from RPGNow and they have the GUMSHOE games ( Esoterrorists, Fear Itself, Trail Of Cthulhu and Mutant City Blues ) on sale for 15% off.  I don't own any of these ( but will in a couple of minutes ) and have only heard them played on RPPR, so I can't recommend them or anything.  Just passing on the news of the sale prices.

I really need to stop buying games I never get a chance to play though ...

12
General Chaos / What if the zombie apocalypse never comes?
« on: February 24, 2010, 10:40:15 PM »
I have spent all this time preparing for these types of earthshaking events and what if they never happen? 

I know what actions to take against slow zombies, fast zombies and even those rabid fuckers from Quarantine ( actually, against them I would just give up ).
I have studied and can recognize the signs of a pod people invasion. 
I know to sneeze on the things with the prehensile eye stalks from Mars and to throw nukes behind my ship to destroy the elephant aliens. 
I can infect motherships with viruses from my Macbook.
I know Frankenstein doesn't like fire.
I have spent many years learning esoteric lore about vampires and werewolves that will render them vulnerable to my assaults.  ( no, they only fucking sparkle in hollywood ).
And don't get me started on all the fantasy creatures I have studied, never thinking of encountering them, but just in case!

What if it never happens?  Have all these skills been learned in vain?

13
Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / Tides of Doom
« on: January 31, 2010, 02:06:21 AM »
We just finished playing Tides of Doom and had a great time.  It was very difficult on the players and the NPC cleric ended up dying during the Sebastian fight.  That fight could easily have been a TPK with only 2 characters standing at the end ( and they were very bloodied and only had standard actions left ).  The other 2 characters were down with 1 and 2 failed death saves.  I had to let the icon escape and not try to dominate anyone.  They would not have made it through that.

In the anglerfish section, I got 1 PC in the water and attacked twice, then I had 2 more in the water once each.  Other than the mesmerizing gaze, they went in by rolling a "1" on an athletics check while navigating the bridges.  The drow rogue failed TWICE!  It was hilarious seeing their faces when the "1"s came up and fish started chomping on them.  The drow rogue also found both tripwires on the 2nd level.  The hard way...

The garbage monster hurt them pretty bad too.  After they got the red brigands warning, the got a little paranoid about it returning.

I didn't get too much into the extra info, except as background.  I did have the Red Brigand arrow the message at them and also I poisoned them at dinner.  One fun thing I did is to let them find out about Sebastian during one of the extended rests.  They went to the fishing village section and found his abandoned house.  He had built a crude altar in his bedroom and made some sort of bloody sacrifice.  I went a little overboard with some of the extra descriptions and the PCs wanted to steal a boat and look for the "secret caves" that Sebastian had been overheard talking about.  Not a boater among them!

The only problem I had was getting them to make enough corruption rolls.   I got 2 characters with the minor effects, but nothing else.

They had a lot of fun though.  Thanks for the adventure Ross!

14
General Chaos / Scuba Diving Gaming Trip?
« on: January 24, 2010, 12:09:31 PM »
I was wondering if anyone tried to organize a Scuba trip for gamers.  One where the surface intervals would be used gaming.  I think a good GM ( Ross??? ) would be able to get a nice discounted trip if they organized such an outing.  I am envisioning a week trip to Bonaire for 6 people, renting a house and 2 trucks.  Trips like these can be done for a decent price.

Personally, I think the gaming should be CoC or Delta Green with an emphasis on the Deep Ones or other aquatic encounters ( a quick side trip to R'yleh?? ).

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