Comments on: Mining Tropes for RPG nuggets: Running on the Edge http://chattydm.net/2007/09/20/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-running-on-the-edge/ Like Hanging at the Cash Register of your Favorite Game Store Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:26:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2007/09/20/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-running-on-the-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-130 ChattyDM Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:49:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=59#comment-130 You're right in that no amount of cool will make the players actually dumber. That,s called Genre Blindness and will probably be my next Trope to tackle.<br/><br/>I realize that I while making this encounter, being the crunch junky that I am, I overplanned the mechanics of climbing the thing (and the sword) instead of just letting the players deal with it how they see fit and do it on the fly... throwing challenging and cool challenges as they come up with strategies.<br/><br/>Points well taken Mythus. That's why I firmly believe I need level up on my Improv skills more. You’re right in that no amount of cool will make the players actually dumber. That,s called Genre Blindness and will probably be my next Trope to tackle.

I realize that I while making this encounter, being the crunch junky that I am, I overplanned the mechanics of climbing the thing (and the sword) instead of just letting the players deal with it how they see fit and do it on the fly… throwing challenging and cool challenges as they come up with strategies.

Points well taken Mythus. That’s why I firmly believe I need level up on my Improv skills more.

]]> By: mythusmage http://chattydm.net/2007/09/20/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-running-on-the-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-129 mythusmage Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:41:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=59#comment-129 Most people are going to be thinking of one thing, how heavy is that beast? If at least one person doesn't ask you, "How deep is it sinking into the ground?" you need new players.<br/><br/>I find it best to not plan on an encounter lasting for a certain amount of time. An encounter lasts as long as the encounter lasts. Unlike a story the Big Bad™ in an RPG cannot rely on the heroes taking just so long on each project.<br/><br/>In short, if the PCs take less time then you thought they would, then the villain will have to make do with what he could prepare in the time he did have. With the right state of mind improvising can be a lot of fun. :) Most people are going to be thinking of one thing, how heavy is that beast? If at least one person doesn’t ask you, “How deep is it sinking into the ground?” you need new players.

I find it best to not plan on an encounter lasting for a certain amount of time. An encounter lasts as long as the encounter lasts. Unlike a story the Big Bad™ in an RPG cannot rely on the heroes taking just so long on each project.

In short, if the PCs take less time then you thought they would, then the villain will have to make do with what he could prepare in the time he did have. With the right state of mind improvising can be a lot of fun. :)

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2007/09/20/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-running-on-the-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-126 ChattyDM Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:59:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=59#comment-126 If a player thinks about the first 2 sentences you wrote, the DM failed with applying the Rule of Cool.<br/><br/>However, thinking to sink the Colossus in a muddy river or a mucky Swamp is a great idea. I would give brownie points and let the thing fall or get stuck and move on from there.<br/><br/>I would then have to either go to the next scene (sigh) or Improv something to keep the scene challenging... oh boy...<br/><br/>Good points. Although I have no ambitions of being a RPG playetester... :) (However, having been a small boy once, I pretty much did all those things, many times over) If a player thinks about the first 2 sentences you wrote, the DM failed with applying the Rule of Cool.

However, thinking to sink the Colossus in a muddy river or a mucky Swamp is a great idea. I would give brownie points and let the thing fall or get stuck and move on from there.

I would then have to either go to the next scene (sigh) or Improv something to keep the scene challenging… oh boy…

Good points. Although I have no ambitions of being a RPG playetester… :) (However, having been a small boy once, I pretty much did all those things, many times over)

]]> By: mythusmage http://chattydm.net/2007/09/20/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-running-on-the-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-125 mythusmage Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:49:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=59#comment-125 What's the thing's ground pressure? How many pounds per square inch (PSI)? Now, where's the nearest patch of soft ground? What about a patch of soft, wet, mucky ground?<br/><br/>(If you've never climbed a tree, gotten your knees scrapped, burned your fingers, eaten a charcoal coated marshmallow, jammed your toes, jammed your fingers, hammered a nail, or sawn wood you have no reason to be playtesting an RPG.)<br/><br/>In D&D one nasty thing you could do is cast a <i>Grease</i> on one of the thing's ankles. No friction co-efficient, so it won't be able to stand on that leg. :evil grin: What’s the thing’s ground pressure? How many pounds per square inch (PSI)? Now, where’s the nearest patch of soft ground? What about a patch of soft, wet, mucky ground?

(If you’ve never climbed a tree, gotten your knees scrapped, burned your fingers, eaten a charcoal coated marshmallow, jammed your toes, jammed your fingers, hammered a nail, or sawn wood you have no reason to be playtesting an RPG.)

In D&D one nasty thing you could do is cast a Grease on one of the thing’s ankles. No friction co-efficient, so it won’t be able to stand on that leg. :evil grin:

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2007/09/20/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-running-on-the-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-124 ChattyDM Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:15:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=59#comment-124 Let's kill the extra attack and use the Star Wars rule of +1/2 level damage to a standard attacks! I too hate the iterative attacks now that I've tasted the goodness of Book of 9 Swords.<br/><br/>The idea of running on the sword is that you would save a ton of time getting to the 'kill the monster button'<br/><br/>But hey sliding on the sword is so You that I would go with it also! Let’s kill the extra attack and use the Star Wars rule of +1/2 level damage to a standard attacks! I too hate the iterative attacks now that I’ve tasted the goodness of Book of 9 Swords.

The idea of running on the sword is that you would save a ton of time getting to the ‘kill the monster button’

But hey sliding on the sword is so You that I would go with it also!

]]> By: Yan http://chattydm.net/2007/09/20/mining-tropes-for-rpg-nuggets-running-on-the-edge/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Yan Fri, 21 Sep 2007 02:08:00 +0000 http://chattydm.net/?p=59#comment-123 This reminds me of God of war 2... Men did I liked the boss fights in this game. ;)<br/><br/>Back to the topic. Sadly, D&D tend to invite you to stay static. I mean if you don't move you have a full action round and all those nice extra attack that goes with it. This can lead to the 5 foot step full attack pattern which i can't stand...<br/><br/>I'd rather climb to the top of the nearest building. Nag him to strike the said building, then slide down the length of his weapon to jump on his face...<br/><br/>Basic hero tactic... Really! ;) This reminds me of God of war 2… Men did I liked the boss fights in this game. ;)

Back to the topic. Sadly, D&D tend to invite you to stay static. I mean if you don’t move you have a full action round and all those nice extra attack that goes with it. This can lead to the 5 foot step full attack pattern which i can’t stand…

I’d rather climb to the top of the nearest building. Nag him to strike the said building, then slide down the length of his weapon to jump on his face…

Basic hero tactic… Really! ;)

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