tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post1200602700127537243..comments2024-03-27T19:02:58.368-04:00Comments on BARKING ALIEN: No HeroicsAdam Dicksteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04840144928096089178noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-28520437749547355172014-08-14T10:15:23.586-04:002014-08-14T10:15:23.586-04:00For my current M&M game, I actually made a que...For my current M&M game, I actually made a questionnaire for my players to set the tone they would like. The results were atypical, but it is working. For what I read in the post, however, the problem BA has is his preferences and those of his players aren't very compatible.<br /><br />I have been recomended to use known comic characters as PCs, as it hugely speeds character generation. But it now occurs to me that they also come with their own interpretation guidelines, since people know how the famous heros act, so it can serve to set the tone and, to a point, channel problematic players. That may be exactly what you need, and both DC Adventures an Marvel Heroic Roleplaying are great for that.Miguel de Rojashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15762364029464337239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-42463479834868292892014-08-14T09:32:56.346-04:002014-08-14T09:32:56.346-04:00My usual prescription is "everybody go watch ...My usual prescription is "everybody go watch Justice League" but that assumes that's the kind of game you want to run. <br /><br />A related issue to power level is Tone - Superhero material has so many different tones. Do your villains kill people? Rarely? Indiscriminately? Are heroes looked up to as protectors or viewed as dangerous lunatics? Do they kill people? Aside from player power choices making certain assumptions about the tone of the game can create a lot of dissonance just walking in to Session #1. <br /><br />Even if you can come to a general consensus there's always that one guy who wants to be the Wolverine/Punisher type vengeful bloodlust berserker "hero". Getting that guy turned around and pointed in a workable direction can take a lot of effort too.<br /><br />Supers seems like such an easy, play anything you want type of game but it rarely works out that easily.Blacksteelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289298640828309072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-10376999036499828482014-08-13T11:57:16.865-04:002014-08-13T11:57:16.865-04:00I think that "superheroes" in a genre ab...I think that "superheroes" in a genre about as much as "fantasy" or "science fiction." There's a huge difference between Superfriends and the Authority. When I ran my supers campaign last year I had one player who was heavily influenced by 80's era Claremont X-Men and one guy who had just seen the Iron Man movies. The difference is power scale alone could cause problems.<br /><br />If you're not "all there on the same page" about a campaign, then you have a pretty serious fracture right off the bat that will eventually give as the campaign goes on. Either that or you run this potpourri campaign where one session you're doing one kind of story, and the next session another. And as long as everyone understands THAT, then you might be okay.<br /><br />Sounds like you're on top of things, however.WQRobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436898737750581192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2465863144787683153.post-31881116898150864622014-08-13T11:48:19.012-04:002014-08-13T11:48:19.012-04:00Well said, Adam. I think you are on to something. ...Well said, Adam. I think you are on to something. In my opinion, what makes Traveller so successful are three factors: 1. Player investment in the world and in their characters through an introductory process (character creation in this case) which makes the characters and world matter to the players. 2. A genre which we all "get" and can run with; 3. A plot devised by the GM which ties all the characters' backgrounds together and to the wider world, thereby generating interest and momentum which propels the game forward. This is, of course, just my opinion, and I put it forward with the knowledge that I am the least experienced of the group when it comes to RPGs, so take it as you will. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03936736200808940587noreply@blogger.com