tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post4833492625755574981..comments2024-03-27T19:02:58.368-04:00Comments on BARKING ALIEN: Monsters Versus AliensAdam Dicksteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-32428183676907205142011-04-17T23:13:22.329-04:002011-04-17T23:13:22.329-04:00A very interesting article. In fact, I've cite...A very interesting article. In fact, I've cited you as a source in a blog post of my own, if you're interested: http://realmcrafting.blogspot.com/2011/04/monsters-vs-aliens.htmlGremlin1384https://www.blogger.com/profile/00062614422718891716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-70200714705432152352011-01-21T18:12:33.667-05:002011-01-21T18:12:33.667-05:00[pulling out his pump-action shotgun]
Hicks: I li...[pulling out his pump-action shotgun] <br />Hicks: I like to keep this handy... for close encounters. <br />Frost: I heard *that.* <br /><br /><br /><br />Interesting article. Star Wars falls into that trap of confusing aliens with monsters.Bartenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16391585974813638098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-68077610596995424482011-01-20T23:01:04.805-05:002011-01-20T23:01:04.805-05:001) Really? Interesting. I am serious when I say th...1) Really? Interesting. I am serious when I say this is the first time I've heard it from you. Whether that's just because it never came up or I'm obtuse I'm not sure. Let me think on this a bit.<br /><br />2) Well whose fault is that now really? Who told you to game without me? ^_^Adam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-32351989992547493052011-01-20T20:40:02.324-05:002011-01-20T20:40:02.324-05:00@BA - 1)"Why than have we never played Gamma ...@BA - 1)"Why than have we never played Gamma World? Curious." Why? I tried, but no one was ever interested, so I stopped. Pretty simple, really.<br /><br />2) "pretty much anything" Yes, you run that way, but I was gaming for, what 20 years before we ever met? ;)RavenFeasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07791211071071391560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-80044046365758240572011-01-20T19:11:01.883-05:002011-01-20T19:11:01.883-05:00Wow. I'm surprised (and happily so) that this ...Wow. I'm surprised (and happily so) that this post garnered so much attention. Here's a few responses and additional thoughts...<br /><br />Another major difference between Monsters and Aliens and one that really illustrates what I am talking about is the reaction to them and what PCs are often supposed to do about them.<br /><br />When a Monster is discovered to be in an area, the locale villagers will hire PC adventurers to get rid of it. Usually this means kill it. Why? Well, usually its dangerous. However, how do we know its dangerous? Did it eat someone? Has it consumed a herd of cattle or run off with some sheep? Or, is it just foregin to the environment and therefore unnatural and frightening. Usually, however else you answer the above questions, you will normally concur that the Monster is a foreign organism that is believed deadly to the organisms native to that region.<br /><br />Aliens are native to their environment and very often we are not. Regardless of what the definition of the word 'Alien' really is, we (Humans or allied PC species like Rodians, Vulcans or whathaveyou) are often entering their environments to learn about them. While we may fight them, often the goal is opposite to that of a Monster encounter. We want to learn about the Alien. We want to encounter new and interesting Aliens. We want to be rid of the Monster.<br /><br />@Blacksteel and Greg Christopher - Indeed I am referring to the non-starfaring, government running, civilization building extraterrestrials when I say Alien in this context. On a related note...<br /><br />@Porky - There are definitely Fantasy Aliens and Sci-Fi monsters. The latter is easy to identify but the former is harder. Faeries I think would be the closest thing that comes to mind, though Djinn, Elementals and similar spirit creatures could qualify.<br /><br />@RavenFeast - I learn something new about you all the time Allen. I never knew you were a big Post-Apocalypse fan. Why than have we never played Gamma World? Curious.<br /><br />At the same time some of what your saying has little or no bearing on my version of Fantasy and Sci-Fi gaming where players can be pretty much anything on the planet(s). lolAdam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-90499349293258006352011-01-20T12:45:35.443-05:002011-01-20T12:45:35.443-05:00In the old days, a "monster" was whateve...In the old days, a "monster" was whatever race your DM wouldn't let you play or anything you had to kill/spy on/bribe in that night's adventure; often "randomly" encountered.<br /><br />An "alien" was whatever race your GM wouldn't let you play or anything you had to neutralize/catalog/negotiate with in that night's adventure; often "randomly" encountered.<br /><br />A "mutant" was a special situation, as usually half the party were mutants, anyway. You had to oppose/explore/do business with damn near everything around you. As long as it was sapient, you treated it very differently from known threats possessing lesser faculties. Ya can't negotiate with a radhound. Maybe that's why I've always enjoyed Post Apocalyptic settings the most: you could be anything, you could encounter anything, but your lack of resources always made it a challenge just to make it through to the next day of a very hostile environment.RavenFeasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07791211071071391560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-26460263416221483832011-01-20T10:43:24.082-05:002011-01-20T10:43:24.082-05:00I like that thinking on what a monster is especial...I like that thinking on what a monster is especially, the idea that human nature is part of its nature.<br /><br />Perhaps the issue is simply our classification: monsters belong to 'fantasy' and are therefore fantastical, even inscrutable, while aliens belong to 'science' fiction and so must be comprehensible at some immediate level.<br /><br />That said, I do think both monsters and aliens as a fictional element share a great deal, and of course not only the possibility they can be destroyed.Porkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-13339802873431261942011-01-20T10:30:58.483-05:002011-01-20T10:30:58.483-05:00I think we call agree that both monsters AND alien...I think we call agree that both monsters AND aliens need to be destroyed, yes? Preferably with phasers set to disintegrate. <br /><br /><br /><br />/excellent observation BTW, I concur!Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997164906328234122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-86914672235379555852011-01-20T10:20:47.614-05:002011-01-20T10:20:47.614-05:00Assuming by alien, you are talking about Rancors a...Assuming by alien, you are talking about Rancors and Tauntauns more than Rodians and Twileks; then yes I think this is a useful dichotomy.<br /><br />However, intelligent species may very well venture into the bizarre because they can have radically different mentalism.Pontifexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01761338487255048337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-35916267455898133212011-01-20T10:07:09.785-05:002011-01-20T10:07:09.785-05:00I think your distinction makes sense and for me it...I think your distinction makes sense and for me it begins with purpose - "Monsters" are mainly there to be fought or overcome in some way. "Aliens" are intended to be a part of the landscape - they might be an opponent, or a complication, or an ally, or a provider of services. In D&D terms it's like the difference between monster and NPC - one implies an opponent and one implies much more. <br /><br />Plus there are still "Monsters" in a Science Fiction game - In Trek it could be anything from the Space Amoeba to the Mugato. <br /><br />I suppose screen time is a factor too - Monsters in my games need to make sense for a session. Aliens are usually intended to be a permanent part of the campaign, for good or ill.Blacksteelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289298640828309072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-78731873842001432732011-01-20T10:01:22.466-05:002011-01-20T10:01:22.466-05:00Thanks Wisk, same to you and I look forward to doi...Thanks Wisk, same to you and I look forward to doing both. lolAdam Dicksteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-29247544571626191422011-01-20T04:36:41.897-05:002011-01-20T04:36:41.897-05:00Hey Barking Alien: I came by to say hello and also...Hey Barking Alien: I came by to say hello and also, thank you for coming by my blog and joining. Interesting post you just did, read it through. That's what I love about these blogs, we can talk about anything. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Until next time, Happy Gaming and of course, Happy Eating.The Happy Whiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13438469476168485775noreply@blogger.com