Tabletop RPG Catch All

Gremlin wrote:

Last time we used Fight, that was the entire session. Admittedly, it was a pretty big fight.
Duel of Wits, on the other hand, is the right length and depth to be a really good setpiece and act as a pivot or a capstone of a session.

Yeah, I think that may be the way to do it. The rest of the game really isn't that tough really. I think there may be some sort of nerd machismo about using all the rules, all the time. Seems like I try to do that all the time, anyway.

fogrob wrote:
Gremlin wrote:

Last time we used Fight, that was the entire session. Admittedly, it was a pretty big fight.
Duel of Wits, on the other hand, is the right length and depth to be a really good setpiece and act as a pivot or a capstone of a session.

Yeah, I think that may be the way to do it. The rest of the game really isn't that tough really. I think there may be some sort of nerd machismo about using all the rules, all the time. Seems like I try to do that all the time, anyway.

I think of Burning Wheel as a fractal. There's the core system of resolving your intended actions with the dice, but beyond that you can delve into the particular systems as much or as little as you want or need.

fogrob wrote:

Just got my copy of Dungeon World after realizing the Red Box version I had was now the old rules. Good for me because now I have the print copy on the way. Also picked up the Quiet Year after hearing some good things.

Speaking of Dungeon World, I keep having one question come up in my head as I read it. It seems from my reading, and is probably obvious I just missed it being spelled out somewhere, that monsters don't make rolls to do damage, correct? Just if the players roll a 6- or 7-10 on their dice when hack and slashing the monster hits back for their damage?

thejustinbot wrote:
fogrob wrote:

Just got my copy of Dungeon World after realizing the Red Box version I had was now the old rules. Good for me because now I have the print copy on the way. Also picked up the Quiet Year after hearing some good things.

Speaking of Dungeon World, I keep having one question come up in my head as I read it. It seems from my reading, and is probably obvious I just missed it being spelled out somewhere, that monsters don't make rolls to do damage, correct? Just if the players roll a 6- or 7-10 on their dice when hack and slashing the monster hits back for their damage?

Have you read the Dungeon World Beginners Guide? It spells things out a lot better than the actual book.

Generally, only the players should be rolling. Thus far, in my regular game, I have yet to touch a dice, and we just hit 20 sessions.

For example: Say they miss completely on a Hack and Slash against an Orc. I'll say: "The Orc cuts under your overextended arm" followed with "roll a d6 - the total is the damage you take".

Or, if said Orc is using a Cleaver (Messy, Forceful) - I'll tell them "Your arm gets lopped off - roll a d10 for the total damage. Anything in that hand, on that arm, is on the floor."

If you like rolling dice, there's nothing stopping you from rolling the damage yourself.

thejustinbot wrote:

Speaking of Dungeon World, I keep having one question come up in my head as I read it. It seems from my reading, and is probably obvious I just missed it being spelled out somewhere, that monsters don't make rolls to do damage, correct? Just if the players roll a 6- or 7-10 on their dice when hack and slashing the monster hits back for their damage?

Yep, it's the same thing with Apocalypse World as well. I don't know many times I read the rules without even noticing that.

Thanks, I hadn't seen that. That is pretty much what I had assumed to be the case, but wasn't 100%.

thejustinbot wrote:
fogrob wrote:

Just got my copy of Dungeon World after realizing the Red Box version I had was now the old rules. Good for me because now I have the print copy on the way. Also picked up the Quiet Year after hearing some good things.

Speaking of Dungeon World, I keep having one question come up in my head as I read it. It seems from my reading, and is probably obvious I just missed it being spelled out somewhere, that monsters don't make rolls to do damage, correct? Just if the players roll a 6- or 7-10 on their dice when hack and slashing the monster hits back for their damage?

Page 21: "Monsters roll damage as listed in their description."
(I think an earlier version didn't have this.)

Though, the GM technically doesn't need to make any rolls at all. I make the players roll for the damage to themselves too. Can't remember if that's in the book or not. I keep my dice around as a randomizing fetish anyway, but that's something entirely different.

Also, my read is that the GM always has the option of directly doing the damage...which may be a rules drift and either way is a very hard move, so I haven't actually used that in practice.

Edit: And I second the recommendation to read the Dungeon World Beginner's Guide

That Beginner's Guide looks great! I bought the game last week, but haven't yet figured out when I can play, so that should come in pretty handy.

Poppinfresh wrote:

That Beginner's Guide looks great! I bought the game last week, but haven't yet figured out when I can play, so that should come in pretty handy.

If you decide to do some online Dungeon World goodness...let me know!

fogrob wrote:
Poppinfresh wrote:

That Beginner's Guide looks great! I bought the game last week, but haven't yet figured out when I can play, so that should come in pretty handy.

If you decide to do some online Dungeon World goodness...let me know!

Online how? Curious as to what medium is generally used around here.

Google + Hangouts are what I use exclusively, although I believe Fantasy Grounds is also popular. I just had a Dungeon World game Friday night over Hangouts and it went very well. The Dungeon World community is pretty active over there as well. If I put in the link properly...you should be able to get there from here.

As the discussion has gone all Dungeon World, people might be interested in this kickstarter: Inverse World. It's a (third party) setting book for Dungeon World, with flying islands and sky ships and stuff. Looks pretty cool!

MikeSands wrote:

As the discussion has gone all Dungeon World, people might be interested in this kickstarter: Inverse World. It's a (third party) setting book for Dungeon World, with flying islands and sky ships and stuff. Looks pretty cool!

And if it hasn't been mentioned yet...Grim Portents:The Dungeon World Magazine

If anyone's interested there is a noob friendly Dungeon World game going on over Google Hangouts this Friday at 5:30 CDT. If I'm not working I'll be there with Durga my Dwarven Cleric.

fogrob wrote:

If anyone's interested there is a noob friendly Dungeon World game going on over Google Hangouts this Friday at 5:30 CDT. If I'm not working I'll be there with Durga my Dwarven Cleric.

I'm game but that is about an hour before I normally get home.

manta173 wrote:

I'm game but that is about an hour before I normally get home.

I think it's too early for quite a few people. I think he'll be doing another next week at 7:00 CDT. Are you on G+? If so, friend me up and I'll get you the info so you can decide.

On a side note...Burning Wheel HQ is launching their Torchbearer RPG Kickstarter today at 1:00 PM New York time. It was described as game wise "Advanced Mouse Guard or in simpler terms...Basic D&D on hard mode". I'm such a fan boy for these guys that I have my alarm set so I don't forget.

fogrob wrote:

On a side note...Burning Wheel HQ is launching their Torchbearer RPG Kickstarter today at 1:00 PM New York time. It was described as game wise "Advanced Mouse Guard or in simpler terms...Basic D&D on hard mode". I'm such a fan boy for these guys that I have my alarm set so I don't forget.

It's live now: http://kck.st/ZVr5q9.

I'm not sure about this one myself - I do like Mouse Guard a lot, but I think my dungeon crawling needs are covered by Dungeon World and Lamentations of the Flame Princess.

MikeSands wrote:

It's live now: http://kck.st/ZVr5q9.
I'm not sure about this one myself - I do like Mouse Guard a lot, but I think my dungeon crawling needs are covered by Dungeon World and Lamentations of the Flame Princess.

I think I just have some weird thing about buying everything they release. I don't even like Mouse Guard Setting-Wise, but I still picked up a copy.

fogrob wrote:

I think I just have some weird thing about buying everything they release. I don't even like Mouse Guard Setting-Wise, but I still picked up a copy.

That's fair - they are great game designers!

Burning Wheel literally changed my view of role-playing games. If Luke Crane sells something I'll buy it.

thejustinbot wrote:

Burning Wheel literally changed my view of role-playing games. If Luke Crane sells something I'll buy it.

For me, it was the combination of Burning Wheel and the GM advice in Apocalypse World. It changed everything.

And of this morning, I'm down for a signed and stamped copy of Torchbearer!
#NerdSwag

Burning Wheel (and Luke Crane, et al) changed how I see TTRPGs. But my group(s) are still stuck in the stone age and have no interest in being enlightened

McIrishJihad wrote:

Burning Wheel (and Luke Crane, et al) changed how I see TTRPGs. But my group(s) are still stuck in the stone age and have no interest in being enlightened :(

Find a group online maybe? Far better chance of finding like minded folks. But missing the "At the table" experience sucks.

fogrob wrote:
thejustinbot wrote:

Burning Wheel literally changed my view of role-playing games. If Luke Crane sells something I'll buy it.

For me, it was the combination of Burning Wheel and the GM advice in Apocalypse World. It changed everything.

And of this morning, I'm down for a signed and stamped copy of Torchbearer!
#NerdSwag

Burning Wheel opened up that world to me, and then Spirit of the Century smashed it wide open.

As far as groups go, I've managed to make a more narrative game group by introducing non-roleplayers to the genre with Fiasco.

fogrob wrote:
McIrishJihad wrote:

Burning Wheel (and Luke Crane, et al) changed how I see TTRPGs. But my group(s) are still stuck in the stone age and have no interest in being enlightened :(

Find a group online maybe? Far better chance of finding like minded folks. But missing the "At the table" experience sucks.

Yeah, low-dice games, like Fiasco, work great in a Google + environment. RubbEd's run a couple of Fiasco games now that have been awesome

McIrishJihad wrote:

Burning Wheel (and Luke Crane, et al) changed how I see TTRPGs. But my group(s) are still stuck in the stone age and have no interest in being enlightened :(

I quite like the games we do get to play (World of Darkness at the moment) however I do want to give Burning Wheel a go but the book is so dense and not very inviting, plus I know my group won't really dig it. Seems like a game that would be easier to understand if I got to play in a game instead of just reading the book.

Also Fiasco, I have had that for ages but also no dice (pardon the pun)

onewild wrote:

I quite like the games we do get to play (World of Darkness at the moment) however I do want to give Burning Wheel a go but the book is so dense and not very inviting, plus I know my group won't really dig it. Seems like a game that would be easier to understand if I got to play in a game instead of just reading the book.

Also Fiasco, I have had that for ages but also no dice (pardon the pun) :(

If you ever decide to try it out on your own, be sure to follow the advice given on the Burning Wheel forums. Stick with Standard and VS tests until you get the hang of the system. Add in the subsystems once you've gotten your feet wet. And you're right, it would be far easier with an experienced GM to walk you through it.

I have used http://roll20.net/ as a virtual tabletop and it is fantastic. I have considered d20pro which is a paid piece of software. Anyone else have experience with virtual tabletops. Eventually, I'd like to have a regular game with a small group. I'd like to explore Pathfinder and some Warhammer 40K RPG. Thoughts?

SpyNavy wrote:

I have used http://roll20.net/ as a virtual tabletop and it is fantastic. I have considered d20pro which is a paid piece of software. Anyone else have experience with virtual tabletops. Eventually, I'd like to have a regular game with a small group. I'd like to explore Pathfinder and some Warhammer 40K RPG. Thoughts?

I've wanted to build a touchscreen table for a while now but, unemployment put a hold on those dreams. I even have a 42" lcd tv I'm not currently using.

TigerBill wrote:
SpyNavy wrote:

I have used http://roll20.net/ as a virtual tabletop and it is fantastic. I have considered d20pro which is a paid piece of software. Anyone else have experience with virtual tabletops. Eventually, I'd like to have a regular game with a small group. I'd like to explore Pathfinder and some Warhammer 40K RPG. Thoughts?

I've wanted to build a touchscreen table for a while now but, unemployment put a hold on those dreams. I even have a 42" lcd tv I'm not currently using.

I don't use it as a touchscreen - just a standard mouse and keyboard - although a big screen like that would be nice if you had everyone in the same room. Looking for a way to play with people across the country. We did it for a little while then it fell apart as people moved on etc...