65 new of 295 responses total.
Vampire:The Masquerade.
I play the entire line of White Wolf RPGs <Vampire, Werewolf, Mage, Wraith, and Changeling> as well as AD&D, Shadowrun, Cyberpunk 2020 and Cybergeneration.
Cool! :)
SHADOWRUN!!!!!!!!!! err, umm RIFTS! NECROMUNDA! umm.... hmmm... UGHADA!!!!!!!!
what exactly is a "live actoin sesion"
Kain- Live Action is where you actually act out the Game, instead of just sitting in a group and saying what you're doing... I don't know all the specifics because I haven't actually participated in one, but I do know some of the basics....
I prefer the Tabletpop "Books & dice" version...you can see & do weirder shit, and you don't have to stop when it rains.
Actually, there aer several flavors of Live Action (LARP), with the one
prefer having limits on neither what you can see and do, nor the weather
conditions, since we play in a hotel, using a very simple mechanic system
(or rather, very simple mechanic systems, since there is no common system) to
determine conflict, with description and clever signage/props covering for
things that can't easily be shown.
Why do it, when we don't get to run around the woods and hit each
other with boffers?
Because it's the only type of RPG that allows 30-200 people to play a
that you get in a 10 player face-to-face, with all important characters,
playerprotagonists and antagonists, played by players, not GMs.
And on top of that, it's great theatre.
.s
Problem: I don't know 30-200 people that I'd want to game with!
Generally, you pays your money and takes your chances, tough changes are that if the system/style they use is compatible to yours, the players wll be too. The ones I prefer aren't like a normal tabletop, where everyone brings his or her favorite character and plays; the GMs write all the characters. then run a one-shot having assigned characters to players based on interest. This allows a much more tightly sturctured plot than would otherwise be possible, and allows you to play ANYTHING without working on "advancing" your character for a year and a day.
funky mon
With some games and styles of running I've been in the line between LARP and non-LARP can sometimes blur, especially as the game streamlines the mechanics. Moving away from dice and charts and letting the flow of the game and GM fiat determine the outcome of events. (Though I did observe one LARP where the moderator did use dice to determine some outcomes.) One shots (non-LARP or LARP) are probably the best way to determine if the 'field' of gaming is something you may wnat to get into, or trying something in gaming that you don't normally do (genre, system etc).
Hmm; have to agree with that; artistically, one shots also have an edge, since much more control and preparation is possible, even if the best gams still consistently supprise their GMs.
<This item linked to amalgam>
Okay... Hello Daniel, Nice to hear from you again.
Hi plork, didn't know you still grexed! Come, join amalgam...
Already have. What's good over there?
<set shameless plug = on> Well, we've got items for roleplaying, wargaming, theatre, MUDs, world-building, and general weirdness; we've got a game or two running online, which could use more players; and we've got an irritable fairwitness who'll be forced to use his twisted sorcerous powers on you if you don't get over here and start responding.
Only One? As, I for no appearant reason, have realized that sans the addition of my CCGs, that 81 items or 91% of my gaming stuff are TSR products.
The horror...the horror...<g>
i used to have just TSR/FASA stuff..then i discovered rifts 'n then all the other wonderfull games out there and never looked back.
Granted some of my TSR products are novels. :) Munchkin!!
You know your soul is truly tainted when you own TSR novels.
Dark Sun novels are decent, Dragonlance tolerable, Forgotten Realms - well, exist, Ravenloft make you feel bad for evil people, and well, I have yet to read any of the PlaneScape novels (although I do own one).
All I've read are the Dragonlances, which I thought were fairly horrendous.
<giggle> man, the only other person in town who hates dragonlance with me;) isn't it like a cheap rip on anne mcafrey sometimes?
yes!
Well, I just finished _Darkness & Light_ (although I'd concluded about 1/12th of the way through this fact), Sturm Brightblade is a moron. I dunno though, _The Legend of Huma_ and _Kaz the Minotaur_ were good, but I have several Dragonlance novels left unread - though I attempted _Weasel's Luck_ once, I think I quit 'cause it was one of the most boring novels I'd read. _The Magic of Krynn_ witch I used to own had some decent stories, while most of them were less than shit.
They're unoriginal fantasy...how many more swords/dragons/magic/damsels/epic conflict books do we need?
Yes, but what can you do to be original except add your own twist to pre-existing ideas? It's not like we could write a 100% original fantasy. It's been said that there are only 10 stories in the world, just with something different about it. Sorry about the literary drift, but if you want originality you'll have to go back in time quite a time. However, few, if any, books I've seen have evil win in the "final" confrontation between good and evil . . .
Well, granted, but - in my eyes at least - much of the point of Fantasy is the creation of a good fantasy world; Krynn is hardly an original setting, and it pales in comparison to worlds like Arrakis or Middle Earth.
I have to agree about the Dragonlance books, but not really for the same reasons. Specifically, while I rather like an original setting (and the Dragonlance books did have some originalities to their setting when they first game out, even if they certainly were derivitave) as well as anyone, what really gets my is an original story, and they just weren't there. Now, take Jhereg (about a mortal assassin trying to navigate the politics of a vaguely oriental, incredibly deadly society largely peopled by, for the lack of a better term, Elves (AKA Dragereans)), or even Jack the Giant Killer (modern teenager stumbles into the plots of Faerie) or the Riddlemaster of Hed (young king must discover the mystery of the three stars across his forehead, not to mention discover the meanings of several ages old "riddles.") trilogy, and you've got me hooked, original world (as Jhereg's Dragerea is), one build on the foundations of our myths, but original from them (as the world of the Riddlemaster series draws from the Celtic myth cycle, not to mention the Lloyd Alexander books doing basically the same thing), or solidly and explicitly set within the frame of known tales (as Jack is).
On a side node, Ive just cataloged 263 seperate weapons (and their neccessities) for AD&D including firearms, and all Dark Sun weapons. Next I'm going to do Dragonlance weapons, starting with everbody's favorite :) KENDER!!
Gotta love 'em. <dan thinks bjorn needs something new to occupy his time>
Like going back to college just so I can still get kicked out at the end of the year? ;)
re:258 Sturm Brightblade is of the alignment "Lawful Stupid" (a concept created by my friends at college, but incredibly apt, esp. in a case like this).
Ah, fireball still exists. Neat.
('Lawful Stupid'? Sounds familiar - do tell.)
Most PC Paladins tend to turn out that way. Well, most PC Standard Paladins, and the Solamnic Knights attempt (quite poorly, I might add) to be Paladins. Lawful Stupid - Kill every evil thing you see without a second thought. Lawful Good - I work in the name of good, and under the law, with order. I fight against evil, but not when I don't have to.
Hey Josh- guess where I'm checking mail from? My brother's house in the Bronx. Wish I'd thought to get your number. Oh well. I agree with your preference for stuff with an original take on ancient mythologies or themes, but then you knew that...
actually, that isn't exactly the defenition of lawful stupid that my friends tend to use... it goes something like this (or, at least, here are a fewexamples) I'm honorable, therefore sneaking and skulking is bad, therefore I will anonounce myself and charge at this castle full of 300 anti-paladins 20 dark wizards and 12 or so dark priests...what do you mean I die? or, alternately, \: no! stealing is bad! we must give the dark adept his evil weapon of mass destruction back! it is HIS, after all I think you get the idea :)
Thoroughly silly, I agree, but in a way it makes _some_ sense. I mean, one of the big ideas in fantasy is that of heroic combat. So, I'm not suggesting your paladin go charge into a suicidal mission, but I'd argue that sneaking around in the shadows can be a bit anti-heroic.
now, the question is weather or not the palidin can justify sneaking around as being acceptable. as i understand paladins, they're supposed to be very similar to malikim the warrior angels, with a multitude of oaths, but the main one's being 'suffer no evil to live' 'n stuff like that. so, the question is, does it violate his/her personall ethics? and if it does is it reasonable to assume that he's got enough brains to get over a significantly universe/reality threataning threat? or especially if he follows a god, a patron deity threataning thingymabober the other point is that, instead of STEALING the evil wizard's spell book or whatever, you just smash it... or better yet, have one of your freinds make it backfire in a spectacular, and hopefully fatal way
the biggest question come when dealing with honor... what actions are, or are not honorable... depends, to a great extent, on the player, and how well he/she roleplays can make for some very INTERESTING lawful stupid characters or boring ones <shrugs> you should see some of the campaigns we get going up at school... oh, boy...
Ah, but the Paladin is also an example of his church/temple/whatever. How are people going to be able to respect your faith if you kill everyone evil you meet and your only justification is "he/she/it was evil"? Paladins are supposed to oppose evil, but "suffer no evil to live" gets you in the dead-book pretty fast. Despite a beings personal aspirations regarding alignment, sometimes people of opposite alignment actually want to help you. Just because he's Chaotic Evil and you're Lawful Good doesn't mean he isn't useful, he may even be your friend - after all, changing alignment is ALWAYS a possibility. It also just doesn't do to have a kill everything evil attitude when Planewalking, especially on Evilly aligned planes. Planar Paladins have been known to kill Prime Paladins and those of their own ranks for that attitude and it isn't quick or plesant either.
Actually, I've seen some interesting adventures run off that premise - the basic idea is that the party must choose between accepting the assistance of a 'good' group and an 'evil' group. The 'good' group proves to be misguided at best and backstabbing at worst, while the 'evil' group will be incredibly useful if they party can force themselves to trust it.
My memory is rather vague on the details but I think the series was the Rose of the Prophets. THere was an organization in it that (in the terms of D&D based alignments) would probably be claled lawful evil. THey were a clan of assasins, feared throughout the land (etc) but among themselves they were decent honorable and pleasant. The book presented a very good picture from a point of view that is not often seen in most fantasy literature.
Hmm . . . anyone know where I can get a copy of Dungeons & Dragons Gazetter 13: The Shadow Elves or find information on them with a Mystara campaign product? (As a GM of PlaneScape, it would be worth while to at least have the main box of all other campaign settings) ;)
ANY ONE PLAY DESCENT II?
Descent - the computer game, I take it? Never played it myself... May I suggest checking out item 9 here in the amalgam conference? It's for video game hints and such like, and you might find someone who knows about the game.
Matthew - it occurs to me that I actually _have_ read Rose of the Prophet ages ago, but I've pretty much forgotten about it. I still have my copy someplace.
it had some interesting things happening in it, but overall I wasn't highly impressed. Still, it was good for potential source material.
Actually, I found the idea of the 20 gods in different 'positions' much more interesting than the mortal plot.
Yes, the 'divine' side of the struggle was actually rather interesting.
Wow. Not only has it been 2 years since anyone posted here, I was the last one to do so. Anyways, I was looking through my boxes of old gaming stuff and came across my copy of The Fantasy Trip (Advanced Melee & Wizard and Into the Labrynth). Does anyone recall running across any copies of this system anywhere recently ?
I vaguely recall hearing about that system. <sigh>
Whoa.. now for something totally different, I guess.. so much to respond to.. eep.. Well, I got my start on D&D, and it was okay at the time-- but I did note that the alignment system was limiting (most everyone I talked to seemed to think LG was a joke, and most everyone I played with chose to be CG), and that the dice system was a little too complicated. A friend of mine told me about Earthdawn, and then I wondered why D&D PCs didn't have to know the legend of an artifact before it would work too. With Earthdawn, an artifact will function as its non-magical counterpart until the character learns it is an artifact, i.e., knows who it belonged to and what that person did, etc. Marvel Super Heroes was next. Not the best system either, but the group I was with began to learn the art of role-playing MUCH better, both in GM'ing and regular play. I got introduced to C.H.E.A.P. and SLA Industries (WoC's little merc rp game they acquired from a little company) a while afterward. C.H.E.A.P. was nice-- it allowed for a lot of imagination in character creation-- we could be anything, and we could pick any powers we wanted-- the system regulated things nicely-- we could have a few potent powers, or many rather wimpy ones. It didn't matter much, though. The game was all about humor. SLA Industries was typical merc in an environment similar to the cyberpunk games. (Anyone remember it? Ebons, Brain Wasters, Shaktars..?) Then I went to a con and just played a few different games. Over the Edge was enjoyable, and a friend from the SLA meetings ran a 2nd ed. Star Wars game I was really impressed with. I was also introduced to my hometown Camarilla/Werewolf group in the con. I wasn't terribly impressed at the time-- too many flamy guys and their fag hags, to put it bluntly. I was a Garou for that short session because I didn't fancy playing a vampire and my girlfriend at the time was taking the game and the vampire concept a little too.. seriously (in mind only-- she didn't dress gothy or anything like that). Interestingly enough, I was introduced to Vampire when I started courting my wife. (Our Storyteller, Rebecca, became our maid of honor.) I found the table top experience pleasant enough to forget my LARP experience, and I started playing a few Toreador seriously. The size of our sessions varied-- sometimes it was just my wife and I playing, or some or all of a group including our Storyteller's friends (and a sister) played. Rebecca's older sister introduced us to NERO, but we are a little reluctant, seeing she is tied up in nasty politics regarding a local rival area, whose leader is trying to wipe her out. At most, we said we *might* be NPCs sometime, since we were more interested in role-playing, even if it was just making the best of whatever we were handed. We didn't want to tangle with the power mongers. I rolled my eyes when I found out one of my sisters joined the Camarilla group. One of its members is someone I know from high school who has gained an odious reputation. Her boyfriend is a member, too. I talked to her today and she assured me for the third time the group has largely changed. She and her SO referred us to some locals (Ellensburg residents) who are in the group. I still have my doubts, but we had a falling out with Rebecca and it looks like we have no where else to play. I think I'm going to remain a Vampire fan-- but by no means an obsessive one. I carefully studied the subtle nuances of the game that I thought I could roleplay well. I never had the chance, but I considered playing Nosferatu and Salubri characters despite the difficulties they pose in group (especially a LARGE group) play. I had an unfinished project left behind. The first Toreador I created, Lazaro was introverted, pacifistic, and happiest playing the heritage of his homeland, Andulucia, on his guitar, or playing smooth/swing jazz at the Rose in Chicago. (The Rose was our Storyteller's creation-- a jazz nightclub, mostly swing.) Then she decided to take the large group into Montreal, and I had to create another Toreador. That whole story resulted in a huge mess that virtually stripped my poor 600 yr old vampire of anything he had; the Storyteller had managed to assume princedom of Montreal with one of her old characters. Of course, the Sabbat overran Chicago. She hastily wrapped it up by spinning time backwards to the moment before Montreal. It happened due to paradox created by a magical item known as Daedalus, brought to the area by an evil mage arriving by airplane. I wasn't satisfied, though. I had never considered Golconda, but Lazaro seemed so earmarked for it. I carefully researched it in the Vampire books. It grew more intense as I realized I wouldn't get to roleplay it. Rebecca recommended I try my hand at Storytelling, so I started an ambitious plan for a Golconda campaign, thinking somehow I would fit Lazaro in. Now I had to figure out how he would clean up his internal conflict, while planning to guide the players to a similar quest for inner peace. I am rather busy with my school studies, so pursuing the Golconda quest is just about the only real priority on my roleplaying list (when I'm not mudding to get a substitute). Strangely enough, it's the only thing that seems to express what I'm experiencing in real life. Of course role-playing is just meant to be entertainment-- but I can't help making it meaningful. I suppose that's just the philosopher in me.
Welp.. bout time to revive this... again... so... started rp'ing with AD&D (like so many others) eventually branched out into Marvel, TORG, Shadowrun and others... Finally hitting upon the Vampire the Masquerade books years ago. About a year and a half ago I started playing Vampire online. My main char was a mortal for a long time eventually being sired Brujah Anarch. From there eventually added a Toreador-Anti, Peccatuscian (a bloodline some friends came up with) and another Torrie. Lil over a month ago I went for a walk and met up with this woman walking her dog. We started talking and eventually she brought up role- playing and I was invited to join her table-top Vampire game. My char is a neonate Torie (cause I can play them quite well. <Grins>) who is just a heck of a lot of fun. Somehow she managed to get 'elected' leader of the group. This group of people is a LOT of fun to rp with. Deb, the story-teller does a great job. And I met myself a Wolf there... and got reconnected with a Cat... sometimes the world is a little too small...
You should be over here, Anne, so you can try out the LARP version, the Camarilla. The highest concentrations of elders are in the Seattle area and the organization is biggest between there and Portland. Since my table top involvement died, I decided to join the local chapter in Ellensburg-- our Chapter Coordinator moved here from Salem with her husband a while back. I had misgivings before, since I knew of the group back in my hometown (the Tri-Cities had a chapter quite a while ago), as I said earlier, but I liked the folks I met locally, and plus, one of my sisters was now involved, so it has been a nice way to keep in touch. The Tri-Cities group had changed a bit, but they do tend to have politics in and out of the game. In some ways, I've learned the overall game better in a role-playing setting, especially in how boons work. I decided to climb out of my comfort zone as a Toreador and made a Nosferatu-- Karl Mueller, embraced in the dawn of WWII in Nazi Germany. In the table top campaign I had been in, the Sewer Rats seemed a *difficult* clan to play, but in a live-action setting, I find life as a Nos quite easy, since it's in my best interest to be aware of what's going on. Meeting Wolves and Cats, Anne? That's a rare occurence, since the Kindred are regarded as Wyrm-tainted.. Khan and Simba especially have nasty gifts that can be used against Kindred.
Nothing as nasty as the Bubastis... <smirks> I really need to play one of those... And... these would be real people- nicknames- not role- playing chars... <grins> Heh... we have LARPs around here, I've been invited to several. I avoid them. Just personal preference. I like the group I'm gaming with, size varies by week (minimum of four players) and the people are just wonderful. When you say Camarilla- are you talking about an organized group of role-players or the Vampire organization? I could probably play just about any of the clans, and have fun with it. This group already had two Gangrels, two Ventrue, a Malk, a Nos, an Assamite (claiming to be Caitiff)a Tremere and two Brujah (not to mention all the STs NPCs). They needed an artsy-fartsy Torrie. Her theory- let the boys go in with guns, get themselves hurt, find herself a few mortals, awe them into being her puppy dogs and then offer them up to wounded teammates (make friends and end up with them owing her). Reminds me... the head gangrel owes her.... <snickers> Heh, and the wealthiest Ventrue in town (setting- Boston) has a crush of sorts on my lil Torrie. So it's all fun. LARPS seemed to be populated by people who take the game *way* too seriously... yanno, the kind that can't seperate game from reality? I don't want to get messed up with that.
Yes, Bubastis are nasty, properly played, and probably the only ones that might be involved in any degree with Kindred, such as Anya Z. Vampire organization? The Camarilla is what the national organization calls its LARP division. Actually, it is produced jointly with White Wolf and Mind's Eye Theatre, which I am assuming started in Seattle since the head honchos are there-- and yes, they play equivalents of 4th and 3rd generation characters. LARP does have the unfortunate disadvantage of attracting players that take the game way too seriously. However, our chapter coordinator is quick to dismiss anyone who can't separate fantasy from reality. Her motto is if you're into drinking blood or weird shit like that, don't bother joining, and hie thee unto some serious counseling. We're *really* fortunate not to have anything like unto that in E-burg. The Tri-Cities had some folks that got into the weird blood drinking early on, but they are gone, and they are mostly forgotten. I love the table top version when I can get it-- there is the advantage of much more complex and subtle story lines, but there is the limitation of how much the Storyteller can handle at once, and how adeptly he or she runs the game. My last Storyteller at the table fudged a lot of things, and she's-- as I said-- into Mage, running it or playing it full-tilt cheese. (I'll admit, Mage is *hard* to understand in detail.) Right now, since I can't play table top, I play it LARP, which gives me the pleasure of a bit more dramatics. It's also my theory that you will have people with issues at the table or on live-action overall, and although it may be easier to avoid it at the table, you'll still get some of it (power gamers, cheezers, cheaters, the clueless). hmmm.. I'll e-mail you later. Is Vanessa still playing? (If she's in your group, I would imagine she's the Tremere.)
Vanessa as in font? And no, she's not the Tremere. The ST's husband is playing the Tremere (and one of the Brujahs). Deb is an excellent ST, heh, she just got her doctorate in psychology. As she says- the players in her group are mostly A's and B's (<beams> She says I'm an A player. :) ) with a few exceptions. The exceptions are people that actually don't tend to show up much, so it's easy to work around them. They don't do the blood-sucking thing... or wander around in all black / gothy stuff with fakes fangs... they're just fun, and Deb is creative. The Ventrue Prim char is hated by all the other characters- but out of character we love him cause he's played so well. Hmm... hadn't heard of the Camarilla group, but then again, I haven't tried to learn much about LARPing. Heh, I like sitting comfy-like on a couch and just say what's going on... rather than having to act it out. ;) More later and I'll answer that e-mail.
<giggle> yha but with live action some of us shine i tel lyha, i didn't like live action till i got back into retail work now my lying and bs skills are so through the roof that it's great to have othe rplayers to go against, you can get them all fighting each other whilst you stand around raking in the cash, cattle and credentials. <drool> especially if you go in with two or three freinds and pull a sanctuary. the Cammirilla is the "OFFICAL" white goth,,,errrrr wolf group with games accross the country, 20$ a year gets you playing as many as you want, and from what i understand, the same character everywhere. soudns intrugiuing, but yha, a nice table top game sprawled out on my comfy chair is nice too.
Vanessa (as in font) runs our Vampire/Werewolf game. We have a Tremere, Toreador, Gangrel, human sorcerer, and a Garou (can't remember what kind) as our principal players. I've played up to 5 characters at once, including my Children of Gaia Ahroun (secondary Werewolf character). The campaign is very well run, IMO.
yha, vanessa's spiffy like that. oddly enough i've recently discovred that i've freinds who have either dated or played in a game of just about everyone i know who games in aa...it's scary. 6 degrees of gres is pretty freaky. speaking of, does anyone who doesn't live in ann arbor, but used to, can you tell me how the action compares in other parts of where you are?
resp:251 Well, you haven't seen our Ellensburg games.. since we don't
have a lot of room to move, we do sit around a lot and just talk-- and
well, no, the detail of table top can't be there, but it's not like
we're that much more active.
Most of the Cam members I've met aren't terribly gothy, really,
especially in my hometown. It's just not the focus. Folks usually try
to costume for an aspect of their character (and maybe their clan).
There is only a few I've met that are gothy on those weekends, and my
sister is one of them, hehe, and I know she's safe. Anyway, some folks
really get into the costume aspect, and some really don't do much-- but
that's what I find fun. One of the Tri-City players is a costuming
goddess-- she manages to do some amazing things.
I do miss table top at times and the group Anne's with sounds exciting,
especially noting that the ST has a PhD in psych.. btw, I would likely
be rated a 'B' personality-type player, or at least most of the time--
last time I played, it was with a group of teen girls that pretty much
ruled the game aggressive-like.. I got nowhere with my philosophical
loner-dude Tory until I started a new char on the Speed Metal Guitarist
template in the clan book.
What I find especially hilarious about Cam vs. VTM table-top is that
people really do get into the power and politics more. Curiously
enough, very few are interested in Golconda at all. Oh well. Maybe
that will create room for an exception, but I'm not sure how admin
really handles that-- the one char my sister met was properly silent
about it ("I don't know how it happened.")
resp:293 Ah, so that's where she is. Keen.
resp:292 Yes, that's right-- but $20, I believe, is the single rate.
It's like $35 for two people, like couples, I think. I'm not sure if
it's an annual thing. Yes, you can play your character *anywhere*, and
where I am, that makes for a lot of opportunities, since, as I said,
the Cam is strongest in and between Seattle and Portland.
You have several choices: