Why Do You Play RPGs?

As the history of this here geek blog shows, I’m not generally big on theories, or musings, or other existential nerditude when it comes to RPGs. I’m much more about the content. But lately I’ve found myself in something not dissimilar to a rut and I just thought I’d ask the folks out there a little question (yeah, I kinda gave that away with the title of this post)…

Why do you play RPGs?

What do you get out of this hobby that you don’t get from some other activity? What does it do for you that reading, writing, listening to (or making) music, painting, watching baseball, drinking a nice adult beverage and shooting the breeze with your friends, cooking, or spending good time with your spouse/partner/kids/other family members doesn’t?

What makes rolling dice and pretending to be someone else (or many someone elses, if you’re the GM) compelling? Why have you kept at it for all these years even when so many other folks walk away from it? What (if anything) would make you walk away from it now?

Are there even answers to these questions? Or are we few, we happy few, we band of brothers just effing wired to play pretend in this manner? I know I don’t have any answers right now. That’s why I’m asking 🙂

So sound off if you want to sound off. Be silent if you want to be silent. Shake your head solemnly at my confusion if you want to shake your head solemnly. Dowhutchalike.

And, just so you know, I’m not exactly pondering giving it all up and taking up knitting or anything. I don’t think I could if I wanted to. I’m just curious about why I keep doing this stuff.

Bushi(D6)o

So, combining my recent interest in Mini Six/Open D6 and my never-ending desire to make a samurai game out of whatever I’m poking at at the moment (I’ve been down this road before, haven’t I?) here’s a couple of Mini Six characters who wouldn’t be out of place in a game of Bushido.

Kuroda Heizo
A very serious samurai
Might 4D Agility 3D
Wit 3D+1 Charm 1D+2
Skills: Stamina 5D, Daisho 4D, Tanto 3D+1, Han-kyu 3D+1, Naginata 3D+1, Riding 4D, Tactics 4D+2, Calligraphy 4D+2, Tea Ceremony 2D+2
Perks: None
Complications: Samurai Code
Gear: Katana (4D+2/5D), Wakizashi (3D+2), Tanto (3D)
Static: Dodge 9, Block 9, Parry 15
Body Points: 36
Armor: Heavy Samurai Armor (9)

Takahama Miiko
A charming yakuza
Might 1D+2 Agility 3D+1
Wit 3D+1 Charm 3D+2
Skills: Kiseru 3D+2, Unarmed Combat 3D+2, Dodge 4D+1, Trading 4D+1, Gambling 4D+1, Bluff 4D, Charm 4D, Intimidation 4D, Persuasion 4D
Perks: Attractive, Favors
Complications: Yakuza Code
Gear: Kiseru (2D+1)
Static: Dodge 13, Block 11, Parry 11
Body Points: 26
Armor: Heavy Silks (2)

I’m using the skills straight out of D6 Fantasy at this point, rather than the slimmed down lists found in Mini Six. I think I’m falling into the “use core D6 for most things, use the static defenses and simplified wild die from Mini Six though” camp the more I poke at this stuff. Which is, of course, my prerogative 🙂 Goodness, I love toolkit games.

Mini Six Works Like A Charm

I ran Mini Six for the first time last weekend and it was good. Everyone – even the “not really RPG dorks” in the group – grokked the task/combat resolution mechanics within minutes.

The speed and simplicity of character creation was greatly appreciated by a couple of folks who like to play, but don’t get off on more involved character creation (like the way BRP can feel, when you’re divvying up 300-odd points across a large selection of skills).

Everything flowed smoothly, and though one character died, a replacement was easily created (and subsequently slotted in) while the rest of us completed the combat that killed said unlucky bastard. A Hero Point was spent to do a little dramatic/environmental editing, the new character was introduced, and the adventure kept on rolling.

Oh, and during the combat we had a super explosion of the Wild Die, ultimately yielding a result of 55 on an attack roll. I had that hit bypass the poor target’s armor because, well, it just felt right to give *some* kind of bonus for that insane a roll.

After we were done, the players all remarked on how much the appreciated the ease of the game system and – this probably can’t be stressed enough – the simplicity of character creation. One of the players is a fairly hardcore RPG guy (he’s the one who’s running the CoC game I’m in now), while the other two players game in varying degrees, neither is a “serious” RPG player. That their characters triumphed mightily in combat while the more regular player’s bit the dust is probably illuminating.

So, ultimately, a whole lot of fun was had with just a handful of d6, a very few rules (six pages’ worth at most), and a lot of imagination. That was awfully, awfully nice.

There’s a chance we’ll be continuing this game tonight. Or we might play something else entirely. Either way, while I was generally interested in Mini Six (and, by extension, Open D6) before, I’m officially sold on it now. It’s got just enough crunch possibility to keep my rules-focused players happy while being light enough to be enjoyable for my less geeky friends. BRP still rules my “serious” table, and BoL still has ahold of my heart. But this groovy game has found its place with me for sure.

The Sword: Night City

I meant to post this a while back, but somehow I forgot. Silly ol’ pao.

Call of Cthulhu

Playing CoC for the first time ever (oddly). Miles Vanderwyck, composer and unintentional banisher of evil at your service.

Dungeon Crawl Classics: The First Character Funnel

Here are four quick characters I rolled up using the Beta rules for Dungeon Crawl Classics. It seems likely that not a one of these would actually make it out of their first dungeon alive, but hey, that’s supposed to be part of the fun this game, right?

I think my only initial complaint with the random 0-level character generation is that the poor trapper gets stuck with a sling and only one damned stone to hurl. Everyone else has weapons that they can use more than one time, while Linara is even less useful than a 1st level magic-user with a dagger, some darts, and a Light spell. Worse, with the paltry, paltry starting funds these mooks get, there’s no way she can hope to afford more (or even a dagger as a supplemental weapon) at this stage. That seems just a bit too harsh for an enjoyable game. Otherwise, though, it seems like solid enough random, low-level character generation.

Actually, I’ve got a bit of a gripe with the Luck attribute and how it is applied to rolls for good or ill. The idea – and I hate to keep using the trapper as the example, but it’s the most illustrative – that Linara “survived famine” but is now hit with a negative to fortitude rolls messes with my head a bit. I mean, I can wrap my head around it if the phrase were changed to “Endured famine.” But “Survived famine” carries a different connotation for me. Of course, I’m also really just being nitpicky here. But still. Nits. They itch.

Anyway, here’s the quartet of scrubs for your amusement:

Ghelb / Level 0 Human / Neutral
Occupation Caravan Guard
Str 11 Agi 9 Sta 13 Per 12 Int 10 Luk 11
HP 5 AC 10
XP -100
Saves +0
Money 37 cp
Items Shortsword (1d6), 1 yd linen
Notes Survived a spider bite (Luck bonus to poison saves)

Dirak’aan / Level 0 Elf / Neutral
Occupation Elven Artisan
Str 8 Agi 14 Sta 18 Per 14 Int 12 Luk 10
HP 5 AC 11
XP -100
Saves +0
Money 38 cp
Items Staff (1d4), 1 lb. clay
Notes Pack hunter (Luck bonus to 0-level trained weapon attack & damage)

Forbush / Level 0 Human / Lawful
Occupation Locksmith
Str 12 Agi 4 Sta 12 Per 8 Int 10 Luk 11
HP 3 AC 8
XP -100
Saves +0
Money 32 cp
Items Dagger (1d4), Fine tools
Notes Resisted temptation (Luck bonus to Willpower saves)

Linara / Level 0 Human / Chaotic
Occupation Trapper
Str 11 Agi 10 Sta 8 Per 6 Int 9 Luk 8
HP 3 AC 10
XP -100
Saves +0
Money 33 cp
Items Sling & 1 stone (1d4), Badger pelt
Notes Lived through famine (Luck bonus to Fortitude saves)

I reckon when they make it to first level they’ll earn the right to wear a funny hat.

BoL Character: Captain Axl Gunnarson

Wherein your humble scribe presents a Barbarians of Lemuria system character he put together as a test of the system for use in that highly-amorphous psychedelic scifi setting that still won’t gel in his head. Barbarians of the Aftermath informs this concept as well, as will be obvious in short order.

Axl Gunnarson, captain of the Hazj-class merchant vessel Alfadis, was truly born to the life of a spacer. His mother, Teja Khadim Gunnarson, was pregnant with Axl when she entered the stasis chamber aboard the colony ship that would take her and her husband Ivar to their new home on Djaribhk IV. The journey lasted some 12 years, and during that time something unusual occurred with the development of the child within her womb. Somehow, against all known medical wisdom, the child’s consciousness continued to develop even as its body remained frozen in time. Now, as an old man of the spacelanes, Axl is one of the few documented psychics within the Galanas Federation. Axl is not fond of his unique abilities and seldom uses them, leaving him more of a raw talent than a honed instrument. He prefers to make his way between the systems and starports, buying and selling goods when he can and ferrying passengers when he must.

Captain Axl Gunnarson / Lifeblood 12 / Hero Points 5 / Psychic Power 10
Attributes: Strength 2, Agility 0, Mind 1, Appeal 1
Combat Abilities: Brawl 1, Melee 0, Ranged 2, Defense 1
Careers: Spacer 2, Merchant 1, Scholar 1, Psychic 0
Boons: Born To The Stars (bonus die on piloting, etc.)
Flaws: None
Languages: Galanash, TradeSpeak, Draybledhi, Vaarntic
Equipment: Laser Pistol (d6), Personal Shield (d6-2)

Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG Open Playtest

Just in case you missed this elsewhere, word on the street is that the open playtest version of Goodman Games’ Dungeon Crawl Classics is slated to be made available on Wednesday this week. I’m mostly certain I’m not all that interested in DCC as a ruleset, but I’m also positive I’ll download it and give it a read.

I’ll also probably try to make it out to Dragon’s Lair here in Austin on Saturday, June 18th for Free RPG Day with an eye towards picking up the DCC RPG Quickstart that’s expected to be part of the available goodies.

So there you have it. I’m a complete pushover for geeky things. Or at least geeky things that dovetail with my own geekview, which the DCC game appears to do conceptually. I just don’t think yet another class-based game is going to resonate with me.

Mini Six: Contra Los Monstruos Neptunicos!

Los Monstruos Neptúnicos (the MonsterMen from Neptune) have landed in Mexico City and they will stop at nothing in their conquest of the Earth. These beings are tall (well over 9 feet) and quite strong. They are also clumsy and are terrible dancers, which is a shame. Because what each MonsterMan wants most in life – above conquest, mayhem, and destruction even – is to dance gracefully to the salsa rhythms they pick up from the radio broadcasts from XEPH. Their rampage through the city can only be stopped by brave luchadors and, perhaps, the clever application of some serious ritmo.

Los Monstruos Neptúnicos
Might 4D+1 Agility 1D
Wit 4D Charm 1D
Skills: IceRay Gun 3D, Dodge 2D, Computer 5D, Intimidate 3D
Perks: Rock Hard Skin (doubles Soak)
Complications: none
Gear: Neptunian IceRay Gun (see notes below)
Static: Dodge 6, Block 13, Parry 13, Soak 26 (13 when dancing)

Because of some strange trick of their alien neurophysiology, the MonsterMen from Neptune must dance – often quite badly – when they hear salsa music. If there’s such music playing within earshot, the creatures will not attack and are unable to defend themselves actively. Perhaps even more amazing is that when dancing, these creatures’ normally rock-hard skin becomes supple, reducing their ability to withstand damage.

Neptunian IceRay Gun
These weapons do no damage initially. When they first hit they incase the target in a sheath of ice that has a strength of 3D. Each subsequent round the ice grows in strength as it freezes more water out of the atmosphere. Roll an additional die each round and add it to the total strength of the ice.

A person trapped in the ice is completely immobilized unless he can make a successful Might check against the strength of the ice (this counts as an action for the round in which he attempts to break free). Once the ice reaches a strength greater than the victim could roll on a Might check (not counting the possible exploding of the wild die) begin applying the ice’s strength as damage against the victim’s Soak.

Mini Six: Contra El Zombi Atómico!

El Zombi Atómico, the scourge of Veracruz, is at it again. Now – with his Zombi Queen by his side and his Zombi henchmen dutifully following his every order – he holds the city in his cold, dead hands. The call goes out all across all of Mexico for brave luchadors to send Eza (he hates it when people call him that) and his gang back to hell and save Verecruz from a fate worse than death!

El Zombi Atómico
Might 4D+2 Agility 2D+2
Wit 3D Charm 3D+2
Skills: Brawling 5D+2, Athletics 3D+2, Toughness 5D+2, Dodge 3D+2, Diplomacy 4D, Persuasion 4D, Leadership 4D, Streetwise 4D+2
Perks: Signature Move: Zombi SLAM! (once per combat may double the result of one Brawling roll)
Complications: Not really alive… or is he?
Gear: none of significance
Static: Dodge 11, Block 17, Parry 14, Soak 17
Armor: none

La Reina De Los Zombis
Might 2D+1 Agility 3D+2
Wit 3D Charm 4D
Skills: Dodge 4D+2, Magic 4D, Seduction 6D
Perks: Sorcerer
Spells: Paralysis, Slumber
Complications: Not really alive… or is she?
Gear: none of significance
Static: Dodge 15, Block 9, Parry 6, Soak 7
Armor: none

Zombi Henchmen
Might 3D+1 Agility 2D+2
Wit 1D+1 Charm 1D+2
Skills: Brawl 4D+1, Melee 4D+1, Muscle 4D+1, Stamina 4D+1, Throw 3D+2, Intimidation 3D+2
Perks: none
Complications: none
Gear: Pistol (4D), Clubs/Chains/Etc. (4D+2)
Static: Dodge 8, Block 13, Parry 13, Soak 10
Armor: none

New Perk: Signature Move
What’s a luchador without his (or her) signature move? Nothing! That’s what. This perk, which costs two skill dice, gives your character the ability to declare that he is performing his signature move once per combat encounter. When doing so you get to double your Brawling roll for that particular attack roll. You must, of course, name your signature move and declare it with the appropriate lucha spirit when you decide to perform it in combat.

Strange Stones

a nerdy rpg blog