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| gameinfo:faq_prospective_players [2019/06/28 00:21] – [Race as class? Really?] restless | gameinfo:faq_prospective_players [2019/07/22 20:15] (current) – [Being edgy, __or__, where's the tiefling/dragonborn/drow elf? __or__, can I play an evil character?] restless |
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| You might also be interested in checking out my [[user:restless#dming_style|DMing style]]. | You might also be interested in checking out my [[user:restless#dming_style|DMing style]]. |
| ==== More detail ==== | ==== More detail ==== |
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| | {{ :meta:kickdoorslootrooms.jpg?direct&240|...the way Gary intended.}} |
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| Foremost, this is a **[[wp>Beer and pretzels game|"beer-and-pretzels"]]** game. We're here to have fun and don't take things too seriously. Let's have a few laughs, kill monsters and take their stuff! | Foremost, this is a **[[wp>Beer and pretzels game|"beer-and-pretzels"]]** game. We're here to have fun and don't take things too seriously. Let's have a few laughs, kill monsters and take their stuff! |
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| In that vein, this is an **[[dict>old-school_gaming|old-school]]** style game; we're going to part... er, game like it's 1979!... or '82... or //something// like that. It's a rules-light, rulings-not-rules, DM-fiat, damn-the-splatbooks sort of experience. If your meat and potatoes consists entirely of complex character builds, [[dict>min-maxer|min-maxing]], [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyering]] and perfect character balance then this probably isn't your ideal game; that doesn't mean you can't have fun, though! | In that vein, this is an **[[dict>old-school_gaming|old-school]]** style game; we're going to part... er, game like it's 1979!... or '82... or //something// like that. It's a rules-light, rulings-not-rules, DM-fiat, damn-the-splatbooks sort of experience. If your meat and potatoes consists entirely of complex character builds, [[dict>min-maxer|min-maxing]], [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyering]] and perfect character balance while simultaneously taking advantage of power creep then this probably isn't your ideal game; that doesn't mean you can't have fun, though! |
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| The game is a **[[dict>sandbox|sandbox]]** (albeit a shallow one at first). Players are in charge of setting their goals and balance of risk versus reward. Also, there are events happening in the world, but there's no overarching plot they are expected or required to take part in. Instead, there's just an overarching environment. This isn't //story// time, it's //game// time. | The game is a **[[dict>sandbox|sandbox]]** (albeit a shallow one at first). Players are in charge of setting their goals and balance of risk versus reward. Also, there are events happening in the world, but there's no overarching plot they are expected or required to take part in. Instead, there's just an overarching environment. This isn't //story// time, it's //game// time. |
| - The players have to secure a place to play. | - The players have to secure a place to play. |
| - The players have to tell the DM where they plan on going well in advance (at least five calendar days, but more is always better) so he has a chance to prepare anything that needs to be completed. | - The players have to tell the DM where they plan on going well in advance (at least five calendar days, but more is always better) so he has a chance to prepare anything that needs to be completed. |
| - There must be at least three players in attendance, but no more than six. | - There must be at least two players in attendance, but no more than six. |
| - The DM can veto an idea that sounds completely boring and not worth a game session. | - The DM can veto an idea that sounds completely boring and not worth a game session. |
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| ===== Where can I find out about the setting? ===== | ===== Where can I find out about the setting? ===== |
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| The best way is probably to ask an existing player, but you can read a quick [[:gameinfo:twenty_questions_settings|overview]] about some pertinent and gameable information, or read in more depth about the setting in the [[gaz:|gazetteer]]. | The best way is probably to ask an existing player, but you can read a quick [[:gameinfo:twenty_questions_setting|overview]] about some pertinent and gameable information, or read in more depth about the setting in the [[gaz:|gazetteer]]. |
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| Here, fill this form out in triplicate, using black pen... | Here, fill this form out in triplicate, using black pen... |
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| In all seriousness, [[dict>rule_zero|I addressed that already.]] If you have been playing a while and are having trouble with this aspect of old-school gaming, perhaps you should step back and consider the context of the game. Am I being a [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]]? Maybe rules-light isn't for me? Am I trying to twist things to get unfair advantages? Could this simply be a very difficult task, opponent or area I am against? | In all seriousness, [[dict>rule_zero|I addressed that already.]] If you have been playing a while and are having trouble with this aspect of old-school gaming, perhaps you should step back and consider the context of the game. Are you being a [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]]? Maybe rules-light isn't for you? Are you trying to twist things to get unfair advantages? Could this simply be a very difficult task, opponent or area you are up against? |
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| ==== I'd rather play <insert your favorite new-school game> instead. / Can't we just make it like <insert some houserule here>? ==== | ==== I'd rather play <insert your favorite new-school game> instead. / Can't we just make it like <insert some houserule here>? ==== |
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| No. We're playing [[dict>classic_d_d|classic D&D]]. | No. We're playing [[dict>classic_d_d|classic D&D]] with Basic Fantasy RPG rules. |
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| You can also put them facing, to show who's watching what flank, who's watching behind, etc. It doesn't actually mean you're walking backwards or sideways (unless... you are, I guess?), it just means you're responsible for watching that direction. | You can also put them facing, to show who's watching what flank, who's watching behind, etc. It doesn't actually mean you're walking backwards or sideways (unless... you are, I guess?), it just means you're responsible for watching that direction. |
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| === ...have a caller? === | === ...have a caller? === |
| For example, a quiver of arrows may be represented by a d6; roll a 1 on a d6 after firing arrows during a combat and your quiver may be exhausted. This way, there's a bit of randomness to the amount of arrows, which can be accounted for in recovery of arrows, etc. It's an abstraction, but it works. | For example, a quiver of arrows may be represented by a d6; roll a 1 on a d6 after firing arrows during a combat and your quiver may be exhausted. This way, there's a bit of randomness to the amount of arrows, which can be accounted for in recovery of arrows, etc. It's an abstraction, but it works. |
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| TODO Adjust for new rules for exhausting ammo | TODO //Adjust for new rules for exhausting ammo// |
| === ...track our encumbrance? === | === ...track our encumbrance? === |
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| ==== Old-school / D&D / DM fiat sucks! I won't play your crappy game! ==== | ==== Old-school / D&D / DM fiat sucks! I won't play your crappy game! ==== |
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| Suit yourself. | [[wiki:further_thoughts|See here for further thoughts on this.]] |
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| ==== “Let me tell you about my character,” or... elaborate backstories ==== | ==== “Let me tell you about my character,” or... elaborate backstories ==== |
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| | {{ :meta:notthefuckingbackstory.jpg?direct&200|}} |
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| To me, a character's story begins when he's rolled up. A backstory should be a one-line description and a one-line background ("Conan is a long-haired, swarthy barbarian with oiled muscles. He seeks revenge on the sorcerer that destroyed his village and killed his parents"). Everything that happens after that is your character's life. | To me, a character's story begins when he's rolled up. A backstory should be a one-line description and a one-line background ("Conan is a long-haired, swarthy barbarian with oiled muscles. He seeks revenge on the sorcerer that destroyed his village and killed his parents"). Everything that happens after that is your character's life. |
| Even classes for nonhuman races could be defined; if we had ratmen, they'd be their own class, but a rat man cultist would likely be a rat man with a secondary class of cleric or magic-user, say. However, not all nonhuman races can be mixed with all classes. | Even classes for nonhuman races could be defined; if we had ratmen, they'd be their own class, but a rat man cultist would likely be a rat man with a secondary class of cleric or magic-user, say. However, not all nonhuman races can be mixed with all classes. |
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| | TODO |
| | ==== Being edgy, or, where's the tiefling/dragonborn/drow elf? or, can I play an evil character? ==== |
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| ==== Being edgy, __or,__ where's the tiefling/dragonborn/drow elf? __or,__ can I play an evil character? ==== | {{:gameinfo:angtft.jpg?direct&80 |Ain't *nobody* got time for that.}}We're all here to have fun and play a game, but for some reason we all know //D&D// can attract people who take it to be their way to explore their more... antisocial tendencies (whether or not they explore them in their own life). For some, it's not fun to have someone else in the party who is edgy and brooding //just// to be edgy and brooding, or going around stealing from party members, attacking them or causing trouble because "they're acting in character." |
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| {{:gameinfo:angtft.jpg?direct&80 |Ain't *nobody* got time for that.}}We're all here to have fun and play a game, but for some reason //D&D// seems to attract people who take it to be their way to explore their more... antisocial tendencies (whether or not they explore them in their own life). For some, it's not fun to have someone else in the party who is edgy and brooding //just// to be edgy and brooding, or going around stealing from party members, attacking them or causing trouble because "they're acting in character." | I know you're supposed to roleplay, but having to watch your back against the world and also your compatriots or suffer the consequences of someone who is random for no purpose but their own edification is just... exhausting. [[gameinfo:table_etiquette#the_keyword_is_respect|It's also not fun.]] At the table, let's agree that the party are all allies and we hunt the monsters, not //be// the monsters. |
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| I know you're supposed to roleplay, but having to watch your back against the world and also your compatriots or suffer the consequences of someone who is random for no purpose but their own edification is just... exhausting. [[:gameinfo:table_rules#the_keyword_is_respect|It's also not fun.]] At the table, let's agree that the party are all allies and we hunt the monsters, we don't //be// the monsters. | |
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| === Well, if I can't be one of those... then I don't want to play! === | === Well, if I can't be one of those... then I don't want to play! === |
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| [[#old-schoold_ddm_fiat_sucks_i_won_t_play_your_crappy_game|We have that covered already.]] | [[wiki:further_thoughts|I have that covered already here.]] |
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| | {{tag>gameinfo table rules}} |
