So, I've started (for serious) a new gaming endeavor. I'm running Dungeon World campaign for two of my friends. The game is set in Krynn, the world of Dragonlance, at roughly the same time the War of the Lance happened in the actual novels.
The play thus far has revolved around the city of Solace, where our heroes grew up. The main characters are Via Letta, Jake's cleric of Gilean, and Marc, Kyle's ranger. both are human, and (if plans go according to plan) I hope they can introduce them themselves.
I'm also playing a side-game with Jake, revolving around Via's long-lost father, an explorer, adventurer, and ruin-delver who's "come out of retirement", so to speak, in hopes of finding his daughter.
We're playing in a dungeon crawl style, which is a new, rare thing for us. It seems to be going pretty well! I've got a few cool dungeons sketched out, and my hope is to bring in the advancing armies, dragons, evil cultists, and so on, leading up to some sort of conflict against the dark queen. We'll see, though!
More later, maybe! I'm excited!
Showing posts with label Actual Play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Actual Play. Show all posts
8/23/09
Magic, Game-Games, Story-Games, Jacob, and Me
I've posted a massive rant over on SG. It's actually kind of interesting. I did this instead of reading "Only Revolutions", so I hope someone gets some use out of it!
(I may expand this, either here or there. Any ideas, folks? Tell me stuff!)
Two personal thoughts.
Some time ago, I created an RPG ("Struggle") with very competitive elements. It was designed for two players, very quickly, and it wasn't perfect. But it had some good bits. My friend and I tried it, and had an interesting story. We both enjoyed ourselves; but it was clear that I enjoyed it more than he did. He seemed kind of... let down, after. But he decided to play it again.
So we did, much to the same result. He said to me after, "I think you've got some good ideas here, and this could be a good game. But it's not a game for me.". He stated the competitive elements (and the fact that they overwhelmed the story at times), as one reason. I think Rob had a similar moment here ("I'm sure this is great, but it's just not for me"), and it's actually got me thinking about a few things.
The other thought involves Magic. I've played that for longer than I've played RPGs, but probably less often - at least 7 or 8 years, though. And every time I play in a "serious" environment, like a tournament or at a card store (with strangers), I feel kind of "meh". Not bad, but not great.
But when I'm with friends, playing, I enjoy myself much more. And it's not just who I'm playing with. We still play to win, always, to the best of our ability. But A) We try to do it in fun ways, and B) We don't really care all that much.
But, primarily, the "fun" I get when playing Magic is the same "fun" I get when playing many RPGs (Beast Hunters comes to mind, as does Baron Munchausen) - throwing each other into tricky situations and watching them escape. It's racing to find the right solution. It's doing something clever or tricky. It is, on occasion, drawing the right card at the right time.
I'm rambling here, but the main point is this: Both RPGs and board/card games have spectrum of playing styles, both within types of games and within a particular game. This isn't really news, but it affects people all the time - and I daresay there's interesting, not-fully-explored design lessons in that fact.
(I may expand this, either here or there. Any ideas, folks? Tell me stuff!)
Two personal thoughts.
Some time ago, I created an RPG ("Struggle") with very competitive elements. It was designed for two players, very quickly, and it wasn't perfect. But it had some good bits. My friend and I tried it, and had an interesting story. We both enjoyed ourselves; but it was clear that I enjoyed it more than he did. He seemed kind of... let down, after. But he decided to play it again.
So we did, much to the same result. He said to me after, "I think you've got some good ideas here, and this could be a good game. But it's not a game for me.". He stated the competitive elements (and the fact that they overwhelmed the story at times), as one reason. I think Rob had a similar moment here ("I'm sure this is great, but it's just not for me"), and it's actually got me thinking about a few things.
The other thought involves Magic. I've played that for longer than I've played RPGs, but probably less often - at least 7 or 8 years, though. And every time I play in a "serious" environment, like a tournament or at a card store (with strangers), I feel kind of "meh". Not bad, but not great.
But when I'm with friends, playing, I enjoy myself much more. And it's not just who I'm playing with. We still play to win, always, to the best of our ability. But A) We try to do it in fun ways, and B) We don't really care all that much.
But, primarily, the "fun" I get when playing Magic is the same "fun" I get when playing many RPGs (Beast Hunters comes to mind, as does Baron Munchausen) - throwing each other into tricky situations and watching them escape. It's racing to find the right solution. It's doing something clever or tricky. It is, on occasion, drawing the right card at the right time.
I'm rambling here, but the main point is this: Both RPGs and board/card games have spectrum of playing styles, both within types of games and within a particular game. This isn't really news, but it affects people all the time - and I daresay there's interesting, not-fully-explored design lessons in that fact.
3/29/09
Union City Chronicles: Issue 0
Union City Chronicles
Issue 0: No Laughing Matter
Part 1
A young (though not as young as his appearance implies) prodigy begins investigating a series of robberies on behalf of The Organization. The robberies are being perpetrated by a small time member of the Clown Mafia, Bozo the Pogo.The detective, one Dex Scott, captures Bozo and interrogates him, discovering a link to John Freight, JR, the son of a rich businessman. Both Scott and Bozo are found dead soon after. Part 2Two Orginization members, Dr. Benjamin Scott and the Phoenix Avenger are briefed regarding Dex's murder and are asked to look into it. They first talk with a man who's name changes every time they hear it. This man is a Clown Mafia member turned double agent, and he points the finger at Frieght and another, shadowy partner. He warns the heroes and off they go to confront Freight.After being asked to wait for a time, our heroes meet Freight. At first he denies any involvement, but after he sees the heroes are immune to his fearsome presence, he takes a more direct route - slugging the good doctor out a 39th floor window. Luckily the Phoenix Avenger has his fair share of tricks up his sleeve.He transforms into a blazing phoenix, torching Freight's office, and swoops out to catch Scott. Our heroes return to the window for a moment, trading threats with Freight, and a vendetta is born.
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