When I saw this I had a good laugh and really reminded of Red Vs Blue. I mean really do we ever really see or even notice if a stormtrooper is wounded or what. We just assume that they die when you shoot them.
This really isn’t about evangelizing Savage Worlds. This is about some key philosophies of the game. Mainly, don’t sweat the little stuff.
Here’s one of the things that just bug about d20 in all it’s iterations, the amazing number of conditions. You’ve got things like Dazed, Dazzled, Fascinated, Frightened, Fatigued, Shaken, Staggered and the list goes on. To put it bluntly, there isn’t really that much difference between most of them. Most of the time these conditions only manage to eat up time (Someone just has to look the exact wording of the condition.) and it ends up limiting the GM’s ability to describe a scent. It’s happened more than once in our games that the GM describes the scene and someone dives for the rulebook because the GM used a one of the key words in his description. In Savage Worlds, there’s basically just Shaken for just about any disadvantageous condition. Simple, quick and easy. It’s just not worth the effort delve through all this minutiae for a minor and temporary modifier.
The other thing is Powers. These provide the crunchy bits for spells and the like for Savage Worlds. So many games have a long list of spells or similar abilities that when really start comparing them aren’t that much different other than some flavor text. While a rigid definition of what a spell can and can’t do as well how it may be avoided add some mechanical fluff and add a tactical aspect to an encounter. But when the dice meet the table, you’re still doing X amount of damage. Depending on the setting and style of game, these things can be important. But common sense and simple system to adjudicate game balance should take care of the little stuff. You know just like Powers in Savage Worlds.
And while I’m on this rant, I am so sick of games feeling they have to clarify that dead characters can take no actions and the like. If a player really wants to debate the point, I think it might time for that person to look for another group.
Maybe it’s just my good old grognard sensibilites but I just want games where the action and story keep moving without worrying about the little shit.
Sep 012010
I know I usually post a humorous clip for Wednesday but not this time. While Firefly was a mish mash of SciFi and Western, Slingers is SciFi meets Oceans 11. We’re talking smoked filled casinos and ingenious heists. It sounds like a really cool idea for a series. But you know what, it might make a damned good RPG campaign too. Just a thought, folks. Run with it.
Let’s hope that this one gets the green light.
Aug 302010
So the two big things rattling the cages of the D&D blogosphere are D&D Essentials and the new Favor Cards.
I admit that I am not a 4th Edition fanboy. I bought my Core Books, ran an adventure and pretty much shelved the whole thing. There just too many things that made me scream, “WTF!” But from what I’ve seen so far, I just may give Essentials a chance. But I still feel like the guy who burned his hand on a hot stove and then immediately tried again just to make sure it was still hot. So, I approach the Essentials line with some trepidation.
Some folks are saying/complaining that the new builds are too much like previous editions. That’s a good thing, IMHO. The Monster Vault and Rules Compendium right now I’m luke warm on. Much of it is rehashing/updates of old material so I’m in a wait and see pattern. The two Heroes of . . books just should have been one book for players.
The Starter Set sounds good and I’ll probably pick it up. But being a creative grognard, I just might pick up the Start Set and house rule/reverse engineer everything else from the core books.
Now what can I say about The Fortune Cards? You’ve probably heard the old saying, “It’s good and original but that part that’s good ain’t original and the part that’s original ain’t good.”
A deck of cards to give players a little control over scene. You know like the Savage Worlds Adventure Deck or the Paizo Plot Twist Deck. It’s a really cool idea and can add a ton of fun to a game.
It’s collectible. What? Wait. $4 for a boost pack. Really? C’mon, guys. I know you need to pay the bills but don’t you think that this pushing it? Since I already have the Paizo and Savage Worlds deck, an imagination and a printer, I’m pretty sure that brew this up on my own.
Of course, some might say, “Hey dude, you don’t play 4th Edition. What do you care?” Because I still want to like 4th Edition. There many mechanics that I think are great but too many that just don’t suit me. I still hold out hope.
Aug 292010
Last year, I missed my favorite local convention but this year I went despite the pounding my my bank account has taken over the last few months.
The great thing about this convention is that gives me a jolt to the creative centers of my brain. Being around so many creative people and hearing their horror stories, their success stories and just plain amusing anecdotes is my equivalent to a spa weekend. I come out of it feeling refreshed, re-energized and ready to get back on track with my own projects.
It was a great weekend and hope to see many more great people next year. Now, I need to shut up and write.
Aug 262010
Off to Armadillocon 32. Unfortunately, I missed it last year but this year I’ll going and recharge my geek mojo
While it’s primarily a literary science fiction convention, there will be open gaming and a Munchkin Tournament. There’s plenty of great guests and the panels are pretty good. A great time shall be had by all. So if you happen to in the area stop by the con. Or if you’re there maybe give me a shout out.
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