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| gameinfo:definitions [2019/06/28 00:30] – restless | gameinfo:definitions [2019/10/11 17:11] (current) – [Orc and Pie] restless |
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| [[http://basicfantasy.org|Basic Fantasy Roleplaying Game]] (or BFRPG, for short), is a fantasy roleplaying game that is reminiscent of the weird mishmash games we used to play back in the '80s, taking our [[dict>red_box_d_d|B/X]] rules and mixing in bits from AD&D liberally. It's the ruleset that we'll be using for this game. | [[http://basicfantasy.org|Basic Fantasy Roleplaying Game]] (or BFRPG, for short), is a fantasy roleplaying game that is reminiscent of the weird mishmash games we used to play back in the '80s, taking our [[dict>red_box_d_d|B/X]] rules and mixing in bits from AD&D liberally. It's the ruleset that we'll be using for this game. |
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| I like it because it feels like old-school D&D, it's easy to run and houserule, it works pretty much seamlessly with old-school material and it doesn't hurt that it's free. | I like it because it feels like old-school D&D, it's easy to run and houserule, it works pretty much seamlessly with old-school material and it doesn't hurt that it's free. It doesn't have [[dict>race-as-class]], which some people like; also, it has ascending armor class, which is easier for some people to wrap their heads around. |
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| ===== C ===== | ===== C ===== |
| [[dict>image_credits|{{:meta:catpissman.png?nolink&120 |Cat Piss Man, and his attendant bugs}}]] | [[dict>image_credits|{{:meta:catpissman.png?nolink&120 |Cat Piss Man, and his attendant bugs}}]] |
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| Cat Piss Man is a [[dict>stereotypes|gamer stereotype]] that is the worst specimen among gamers (or anime fans, Trekkies or any other category of fandom). Named for the odor that surrounds him, the only thing worse than Cat Piss Man's smell is his social skills.((Lifted more or less wholesale from [[ud>Cat Piss Man|Urban Dictionary]].)) | Cat Piss Man is a [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that is the worst specimen among gamers (or anime fans, Trekkies or any other category of fandom). Named for the odor that surrounds him, the only thing worse than Cat Piss Man's smell is his social skills.((Lifted more or less wholesale from [[ud>Cat Piss Man|Urban Dictionary]].)) |
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| Unfortunately, a lot of people picture this guy when RPGs are mentioned. | Unfortunately, a lot of people picture this guy when RPGs are mentioned. |
| Depending on who you talk to, it may also include the first edition of //Advanced Dungeons & Dragons// (since, in many ways, it was basically OD&D with the original supplements and then some, and was published starting in the mid-to-late 1970s), and also could go so far as to include BECMI or //Rules Companion// D&D. Essentially, apart from small details, they are interchangeable and are often mashed up together into a frankengame that is still recognizable D&D. | Depending on who you talk to, it may also include the first edition of //Advanced Dungeons & Dragons// (since, in many ways, it was basically OD&D with the original supplements and then some, and was published starting in the mid-to-late 1970s), and also could go so far as to include BECMI or //Rules Companion// D&D. Essentially, apart from small details, they are interchangeable and are often mashed up together into a frankengame that is still recognizable D&D. |
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| | This also tends to include some [[#retro-clone|retro-clone]] games that such as //OSRIC//, //Basic Fantasy RPG//, //Labyrinth Lord//, //Old School Essentials// that use most of the mechanics and capture the feel of Classic D&D. |
| ==== Crunch ==== | ==== Crunch ==== |
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| ==== Killer DM ==== | ==== Killer DM ==== |
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| The kind of DM that makes players understand the character generations rules exceeding well through the sheer repetition of rolling up replacement characters. Success is never found or fleeting at best, and death is often and arbitrary((Note that this is different than death //seeming// arbitrary)). This is likely the result of a [[dict>munchkin|munchkin]] or [[dict>stereotypes|other bad player]] becoming a DM. | The kind of DM that makes players understand the character generations rules exceeding well through the sheer repetition of rolling up replacement characters. Success is never found or fleeting at best, and death is often and arbitrary((Note that this is different than death //seeming// arbitrary)). This is likely the result of a [[dict>munchkin|munchkin]] or [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|other bad player]] becoming a DM. |
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| ==== Know-It-All ==== | ==== Know-It-All ==== |
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| {{:meta:knowitall.gif?nolink&225 |Yeah, they're kind of like that.}}A [[dict>stereotypes|gamer stereotype]] that, well, knows everything... or claims he does. He's a member of the SCA so he knows you can sleep comfortably in plate armor during the height of summer and do handstands in it as well; is a demolitions expert so that he can speak to the sort of effects that a **Fireball** spell would really have; is a co-founder of Locksport International so he knows exactly what his chances of picking that chest's lock should be and would always find the poisoned needle trap; he has played (or implies he secretly helped design) every game in existence so he knows how these things should work better than you do; and has baked Dwarven waybread (from a recipe that he got from real Dwarves!). | {{:meta:knowitall.gif?nolink&225 |Yeah, they're kind of like that.}}A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that, well, knows everything... or claims he does. He's a member of the SCA so he knows you can sleep comfortably in plate armor during the height of summer and do handstands in it as well; is a demolitions expert so that he can speak to the sort of effects that a **Fireball** spell would really have; is a co-founder of Locksport International so he knows exactly what his chances of picking that chest's lock should be and would always find the poisoned needle trap; he has played (or implies he secretly helped design) every game in existence so he knows how these things should work better than you do; and has baked Dwarven waybread (from a recipe that he got from real Dwarves!). |
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| While the [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]] sees the letter of the rules being some sort of laws of physics for the game, the know-it-all will be discontent if one thing goes against his sense of how it should be from his perfect, all-encompassing experience. He makes others who just want to play the game want to gouge their eyes out. | While the [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]] sees the letter of the rules being some sort of laws of physics for the game, the know-it-all will be discontent if one thing goes against his sense of how it should be from his perfect, all-encompassing experience. He makes others who just want to play the game want to gouge their eyes out. |
| ==== Munchkin ==== | ==== Munchkin ==== |
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| A [[dict>stereotypes|gamer stereotype]] that is akin to the [[dict>min-maxer|min-maxer]] or [[dict>powergamer|powergamer]] in exploiting loopholes to their advantage, but goes so far as to throw a fit if the DM tries to [[dict>nerf|nerf]] the loophole or has the audacity to tell them no (they typically have a real problem with [[dict>rule_zero|rule zero]]). They can make a game miserable for everyone. | A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that is akin to the [[dict>min-maxer|min-maxer]] or [[dict>powergamer|powergamer]] in exploiting loopholes to their advantage, but goes so far as to throw a fit if the DM tries to [[dict>nerf|nerf]] the loophole or has the audacity to tell them no (they typically have a real problem with [[dict>rule_zero|rule zero]]). They can make a game miserable for everyone. |
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| Munchkins are often the same players who will do things with the express intention to annoy other players or the DM. They typically have a maturity problem. | Munchkins are often the same players who will do things with the express intention to annoy other players or the DM. They typically have a maturity problem. |
| ==== Nerf ==== | ==== Nerf ==== |
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| The act of adjusting the rules, particularly those that can be (or are actively being) abused. The term comes from the padded Nerf-brand toys, since they are considered safer due to said padding. Nerfing things is one way to add flavor or change tone by de-emphasizing them in play, but it's also a way to deal with some [[dict>stereotypes|stereotypical gamers]] without just bouncing them out of the game altogether. | The act of adjusting the rules, particularly those that can be (or are actively being) abused. The term comes from the padded Nerf-brand toys, since they are considered safer due to said padding. Nerfing things is one way to add flavor or change tone by de-emphasizing them in play, but it's also a way to deal with some [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|stereotypical gamers]] without just bouncing them out of the game altogether. |
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| Usually, people who point to something like this drag out the tired complaint about [[dict>verisimilitude|verisimilitude]]. Instead, I look at it as an opportunity to do some ad-libbing or riffing on the setting and dungeon factions, making up new NPCs, story ideas, etc., on the fly. Old-school games don't typically use reams of description and define everything possible to make the story so it becomes a co-creation with the DM and players. | Usually, people who point to something like this drag out the tired complaint about [[dict>verisimilitude|verisimilitude]]. Instead, I look at it as an opportunity to do some ad-libbing or riffing on the setting and dungeon factions, making up new NPCs, story ideas, etc., on the fly. Old-school games don't typically use reams of description and define everything possible to make the story so it becomes a co-creation with the DM and players. |
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| | (As an homage to this, I named [[gaz:orc_and_pie|the inn]] at [[gaz:tent_garrison|the encampment]] after this.) |
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| ===== P ===== | ===== P ===== |
| ==== Powergamer ==== | ==== Powergamer ==== |
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| A [[dict>stereotypes|gamer stereotype]] that will often play about any game and may actually be a decent role player, but he will go for whatever the mechanical advantage is. He generally has a favorite game system that he knows all the ins and outs of so that he can exploit them to the fullest. You can identify them easily; for example, consider in first edition AD&D someone who manages to build a fourth level fighter that can kill a very old or ancient dragon in a single blow thanks to rejiggered stats, multiple specializations, class and racial choices, //etcetera//, //ad nauseum//. Akin to the [[dict>min-maxer|min-maxer]], but at least more willing to play [[dict>old-school_gaming|old-school]] games. | A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that will often play about any game and may actually be a decent role player, but he will go for whatever the mechanical advantage is. He generally has a favorite game system that he knows all the ins and outs of so that he can exploit them to the fullest. You can identify them easily; for example, consider in first edition AD&D someone who manages to build a fourth level fighter that can kill a very old or ancient dragon in a single blow thanks to rejiggered stats, multiple specializations, class and racial choices, //etcetera//, //ad nauseum//. Akin to the [[dict>min-maxer|min-maxer]], but at least more willing to play [[dict>old-school_gaming|old-school]] games. |
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| ==== Rules lawyer ==== | ==== Rules lawyer ==== |
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| [[dict>image_credits|{{:meta:ruleslawyer.png?nolink&120 |I'm not entirely sure if all rules lawyers have horse teeth or not.}}]]A [[dict>stereotypes|gamer stereotype]] that sees the rules as an absolute and a tool to mercilessly beat the DM or other players to the rules lawyer's advantage. The rules lawyer can only accept what's written, word-for-word, as the absolute truth of the game; spirit means nothing... unless it is in his favor. He loves to argue about the rules instead of just playing the game, and as such they usually don't want to hear anything about [[dict>rule_zero|rule zero]] and should be reminded that Shakespeare wrote, "kill all the lawyers." Apparently, Shakespeare was a gamer! | [[dict>image_credits|{{:meta:ruleslawyer.png?nolink&120 |I'm not entirely sure if all rules lawyers have horse teeth or not.}}]]A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that sees the rules as an absolute and a tool to mercilessly beat the DM or other players to the rules lawyer's advantage. The rules lawyer can only accept what's written, word-for-word, as the absolute truth of the game; spirit means nothing... unless it is in his favor. He loves to argue about the rules instead of just playing the game, and as such they usually don't want to hear anything about [[dict>rule_zero|rule zero]] and should be reminded that Shakespeare wrote, "kill all the lawyers." Apparently, Shakespeare was a gamer! |
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| A couple points of irony about the rules lawyer:{{ :meta:fb_img_1447337413658.jpg?nolink&200|Once the blood starts, it's the nicest crimson glow...}} | A couple points of irony about the rules lawyer:{{ :meta:fb_img_1447337413658.jpg?nolink&200|Once the blood starts, it's the nicest crimson glow...}} |
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| ==== Stereotypes ==== | ==== Stereotypes (Gamer) ==== |
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| There are a lot of gamer stereotypes. Unfortunately, they're largely true, and we've all been at least one of these at one point or another. (Have I mentioned that you can certainly be more than one of these at a time?) | There are a lot of gamer stereotypes. Unfortunately, they're largely true, and we've all been at least one of these at one point or another. (Have I mentioned that you can certainly be more than one of these at a time?) |
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| | {{tag>gameinfo reference}} |
