tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post2563542847426589766..comments2024-03-27T19:02:58.368-04:00Comments on BARKING ALIEN: Y is for Yes, Say It and Feel FineAdam Dicksteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-44449175425857792032011-05-01T15:05:36.422-04:002011-05-01T15:05:36.422-04:00Well, take a look at this picture. The sword is as...Well, take a look at <a href="http://paizo.com/image/content/CrimsonThrone/PZO9010-Barbarian_180.jpeg" rel="nofollow">this picture.</a> The sword is as tall as she is, and as thick as her thigh. From a strictly realistic point of view, that's ridiculous: even if monstrously strong, she simply doesn't have the leverage necessary to wield that thing in any manner which would do damage, unless it is made out exceptionally light metal (in which case its ability to do damage is suspect.)<br /><br />Now you may rightly say, "Why are you invoking realism in a game with magic and dragons and shapeshifters," and I would agree with you 100% because, let's not forget, I invented Pellatarum and my current Pathfinder PC is a gnome who rides an owlbear.<br /><br />But the thing is, a lot of people DO get hung on realism, or at least the appearance of such a thing, and anything which breaks this narrowly-defined verisimilitude is silly or strange or wrong. <br /><br />Some people strongly feel that their fantasy adventure needs to appear to be gritty and realistic, and that limits what they feel is apropos. Consider it the difference between a traditional Hollywood film and some of the weird, wacky stuff that comes out of Hong Kong or India. <br /><br />Some people just think grossly oversize things are silly (myself included) and I think that was your friend's reasoning. I personally think that the "chainmail bikini" is ridiculous, although if you said "it's magical" (god, wouldn't it HAVE to be?) then I could accept it as armor. <br /><br />So in the end, it's not that un-serious is comedic, is that it breaks that person's sense of immersion and verisimilitude. Which means that it's a matter of taste, and no amount of arguing about it will produce a right or wrong answer.Erin Palettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984632637166408245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-41744661097336333382011-05-01T02:14:51.243-04:002011-05-01T02:14:51.243-04:00Heh. Well it is interesting that, even just the id...Heh. Well it is interesting that, even just the idea of a large-ish item is not considered artistic license but that the player creating it is not being 'serious'. Why is that? In my view many over-the-top anime/manga and video games are quite serious. Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, Suikoden, etc. are certainly not comedies.Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-25415857100581773552011-05-01T00:42:55.780-04:002011-05-01T00:42:55.780-04:00Beats me, I never saw the illustration. I was just...Beats me, I never saw the illustration. I was just imagining the musical version of the "sword larger than the person with a little tiny hilt" as you see in anime and JRPGs. <br /><br />If it didn't look like that, then I have no clue. Perhaps your friend is just a douche?Erin Palettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984632637166408245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-13380762212501748752011-04-30T23:53:33.318-04:002011-04-30T23:53:33.318-04:00Silliness? What is silly about a cool looking item...Silliness? What is silly about a cool looking item? I can totally agree with your other two examples but I don't see how they relate to the harp in the least.<br /><br />It gave no bonuses, had no special abilities or unusual powers and looked like it was designed by the guy who designed all the cool weapons and gear for Final Fantasy and other similar Japanese RPGs. Which element is silly?Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-56936097106908435922011-04-30T13:55:55.880-04:002011-04-30T13:55:55.880-04:00In partial defense of the guy who said no to the U...In partial defense of the guy who said no to the Uberhaarp, perhaps he wanted to avoid silliness in his campaign? There are some people who just can't play seriously, and while that's fine if you're running Toon or Paranoia, it's less so if you want something less silly. <br /><br />Example one: the player in a Changeling: the Dreaming game who insisted that his Eshu look, act, and sound like Johnny Bravo. <br /><br />Example two: the player in a Star Trek game who made all of his characters, even the Vulcans, act like Capt. Stubing from Love Boat. <br /><br />So maybe he said no because he found the concept silly but didn't want to hurt his friend's feelings?Erin Palettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09984632637166408245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-55921938743351700512011-04-30T09:23:24.104-04:002011-04-30T09:23:24.104-04:00I am totally down with the idea that a given perso...I am totally down with the idea that a given person likes doing things a certain way and doesn't like other things. Of course. It's this over all feeling I get sometimes that makes it seem like running a game isn't a team effort. That it's the GM who does all the work, takes all the credit and therefore the players ideas and opinions are denied offhand.<br /><br />Again, I am not saying that was the intention of ChicagoWiz's post but reading it stirred up that feeling in me.<br /><br />Players are going to ask for some crazy, game breaking things, if you have those kinds of players. Just like I feel I'm not that typical GM, I know I don't have typical players. If you do and you know what they're asking for will wreck your game you should definitely say no. Wait...OR...<br /><br />You could ask them why they want it. Maybe an altered, less god-like version will satisfy their creativity and make both of you happy.<br /><br />Maybe you can give it to them and then remind them, "Y'know, having an item/ability like that is going to attract attention from other powerful entities. You can have the item/ability but others are going to want to waste you and take it."<br /><br />You could give it a weakness or limitation. Want to be Superman? No sweat. Beware of Red Sun, Magic, attacks on your powerless girlfriend, Mom and buddies and a half dozen types of Kryptonite.<br /><br />Lots of ways to go and more options are always better. No is the end of options.Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-699899159330251062011-04-30T08:37:01.937-04:002011-04-30T08:37:01.937-04:00I struggled with his post as well. There was somet...I struggled with his post as well. There was something in the tone that I found very off-putting.christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09650456794111980661noreply@blogger.com