Out of This World

Great Geks of the Galaxy! It's already the 15th of September!

So much for being inspired to blog more.

No, that's not right, I am inspired to blog. I've just let the time get away from me. 

While Indie Adam considers what kind of deep meaning, hippie-trippy RPG campaign will work best in the coming year, Mainstream Adam* is thinking about Space Opera Science Fiction once more.

I've been playing a lot of No Man's Sky...

I've talked about it before but for those of you who may not be familiar with it, No Man's Sky is a Space Opera Science Fiction, Action-Adventure computer and video game created by the independent studio Hello Games.

In the game you are an explorer traveling through a procedurally generated open universe of literally hundreds of millions of planets. The game can be played by different people in different ways by choosing to focus on one or more of the games key themes:

Combat

You can dedicate your time to battling space pirates, kill monstrous creatures, or destroy the robotic sentinels that appear on worlds throughout No Man's Sky's galaxies (yes, plural). Mine, craft, buy, sell, and trade to upgrade your personal and shipboard weapons, defenses, speed, etc. 

Of the four intelligent alien species in the game, the Vy'Keen are the warrior culture who most value fighting as a means of getting what they want.

Exploration

You can earn Units and Nanite Clusters (two of the game universe's three currencies) by discovering new star systems, new worlds, scanning the creatures and plants that live on them as well as other elements. In addition, there are secrets to the various species and the nature of the Sentinels and the mysterious Atlas that can only be found by looking around and interacting with the artifacts and ruins you find scattered across the cosmos.

The Korvax, an intelligent species of cybernetic, or perhaps robotic lifeforms are the pioneers of Science and Discover in the game.

Trade

Nothing can be accomplished without money and resources. The game enables you to mine for minerals, plant material, and even chemicals and gases. These are used to keep you alive, powering your exosuit, multi-tool, and starship. They can also be used to build devices, bases, and vehicles to aid in the other aforementioned aspects of the game. 

The diminutive Gek, a reptilian alien species and my favorite of the four starfaring sentients are all about trade. 

Survival

The universe of No Man's Sky is dangerous. Toxic, freezing, and scorching atmospheres, deadly poison spores, quick striking pirate starfighters, and other hazards lurk across the stars. No matter how else you play you must also survive to Fight, Explore, and Trade another day.

The fourth species, the Travellers, are the ultimate survivors, or at least their memories and works will live on for eons...

No Man's Sky Next (see below) adds a fifth intelligent lifeform, The Anomaly, who appear for all intents and purposes to be Humans, but that has not been officially confirmed. Little information about them is available at this time. 

My Science Frigate, the GDV-101s Inquiring Mind

coming through an asteroid field and into orbit around

Yuki-Onna, in the Ame-No-Koyane Antares System

The game has had a few updates since its original release two years ago, with the latest a major content release known as No Man's Sky Next. I played the game when it first came out and again somewhere around the second update. Now, with Next, I have returned once again and I am loving it like never before. 

I am also getting very inspired. I want to get back to Science Fiction.

Not just any type of Science Fiction but Space Opera style SF similar to that of No Man's Sky. The adventures of brave but lonely space explorers roaming the cosmos in search of wealth, glory, and knowledge. The next planet you land on may hold a score big enough to retire on or the answer to questions about the very nature of the universe.

Now I just need a game that can handle that. Easy peasy, right?

Certainly I could do it with any number of games, with Traveller and Star Frontiers coming to mind immediately. When playing No Man's Sky I often find myself thinking about my old games of Star Frontiers. The look of things, the types of missions you take and 'quests' you get all feel very Star Frontiers to me. If Star Frontiers had better sentient species it would be No Man's Sky. 

It just so happens however that there is a game on Kickstarter right now (only a few days left to go!) called Free Spacer that seems right on the money (unless of course your advanced society no longer uses it).

What makes Free Spacer so well suited for a No Man's Sky type setting?

A big part of the No Man's Sky is the resource management and crafting aspects that work so well in computer and video games but rarely show up in American tabletop RPGs.

Free Spacer makes this a key part of the game play. There is a very interesting (and more than slightly complex) relationship between the in-game management of the PC crew, their starship, the items, materials, and information they buy, sell, and exchange, and the rule mechanics for bonuses to skills and various actions. 

I love a little resource management in my Science Fiction. It is something I found overwhelming in Traveller if you play it by the book but of course I never did that. Instead I simplified things and created a smoother, quicker, and much easier way of handling funds, resources, and the like that my players really get a kick out of. 

Other aspects of Free Spacer that sound intriguing include the options for 'world-building' the universe, which involves player and the Gamemaster collaboration, the way you can reward good Role Playing to power-up your character and the ship, and a host of other nifty ideas.

Here's a First Look at Free Spacer by Adam Koebel, co-designer of Dungeon World. Check it out but be ready to sit through some very youtube-content-poster moments. Still and all, quite informative and definitely made me want to see more of Free Spacer.

I am a little under the weather, so I am going to call it a day here on Space Station Samulayo Sigma. The Kickstarter is linked further up in the post.

Take care and safe travels,

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Barking Alien

The Universe Awaits

Oh boy. I'm already falling behind.

I've got a few posts ready, and waiting in the pipe, and I'm going to try to get a couple out today. Frankly I've been a bit off this week (not sleeping enough), and I'm trying hard to catch up. I hope to use the weekend to reboot myself, and be back to normal (for me) by Sunday.

I had this cool idea though, and I was wondering what you all thought of it...

When I begin playing No Man's Sky (which comes out next week - SQUEE!), I'm thinking of doing a series of posts in form of journal entries by my character in the game.

Essentially, each time I land on a new planet, or perhaps at the end after I leave it, I will write up my experience in the massive virtual environment of the computer game as if I were a future space explorer keeping a 'travel log' style record.

What do you think? I think it will be fun, but will it be interesting to read?

Let me know in the comments.

Thanks, see you round the galaxy!

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Barking Alien

Voyage of The Space Beagle

August is only three days away, and as many of you know, it's a big month for me.

On August 25th, I celebrate my gaming anniversary, which this year denotes 39 years of playing RPGs! 

Wow, right? 

"Eyes on the Stars"

Snoopy Astronaut Decal/Sticker

USA, 1968

I intend to devote much of my posting in August to Science Fiction related subjects including Campaigns I Have Known, Thorough Thursdays (with any luck), and general ideas and advice about Space Adventure gaming. 

I am also looking to follow up on some projects I've let slide, but would really like to get back to such as Aliens Dread, Star Wars Traveller, and perhaps a few surprises. No promises, but I'm going to try.

Sci-Fi/Space Gaming remains a subject I love intensely, but one which seems to baffle a lot of GMs, and players alike. From my own experiences to comments and posts on blogs, Facebook, and Google+, it seems to be an arena many people are either afraid to enter, or don't know what to do once they're there. I am hoping I can help with that a little bit.

August is also the month of Gen Con, and I am hoping that as a result of their attendance at the convention more information about Modiphius Entertainment's Star Trek Adventures RPG will become available (oh please, oh please, oh please). 

Finally, the highly anticipated computer game No Man's Sky is (with any luck) going to be released on August 9th. All I ask is one free Saturday to explore that universe.

Anyway, that's the plan.

If anyone has a Science Fiction related subject they'd like me to address, please feel free to message me on Google+ (Adam Dickstein), or mention it in the comments below. 


Prepping for the jump to hyperspace,

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Barking Alien

Back In Action

Why hello there stranger!

Yeah, I know what you're thinking.

"Didn't you used to be Barking Alien?" Heh. Good one.

Yes, I'm Adam 'Barking Alien' Dickstein, and I'm here to tell you that while things might be a little crazy next month, you're definitely going to see more posts from me. Hopefully, by late July/early August I'll be in full swing, and back to my [occasionally] prolific self.

I had originally planned on dedicating a good portion of June's posts to Science Fiction gaming, a subject I love that doesn't get enough attention in my opinion. The catalyst for this plan was the release of the computer game No Man's Sky, originally scheduled to hit stores on June 21st. Unfortunately, it seems that game has been delayed until August. I may just have to do the same for my Sci-Fi RPG discussions.

As for June, expect posts to be more frequent, but less structured.

I've been working on my real life business a lot lately, as well as getting ready to move again soon. After a year of living at my current address, I'm really looking forward to not living at my current address. I've tried really hard to like it here, but I don't. If the next place is even a little better than this one, that will be enough to make it fantastic.

As for my business, I am starting a second blog named for my service, Friend of Dogs, that will focus on my company, and my love of dogs. OK, mostly it will focus on dogs, but there will be some business stuff too. I already have a Facebook page, and I'd be ever so grateful if any of you could pop on over to it, give it a follow, or just a like. Thanks. I truly appreciate it.


OK, got to go to bed.

See you all soon,

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Barking Alien

On Beyond Traveller

My group* and I have finally come to a decision as to what campaign will follow our current one once it concludes, very likely in December of this year.

The decision has been a long time coming, as those who follow this blog surely know. While our present, ongoing game is fantastic (though it has been a bumpy road at times), any attempt at a second campaign has fallen flat. Likewise, we were not able to agree on a follow up for when our current one ends.

Thankfully, that latter issue has changed, and we are almost as excited about beginning pre-production on the one as we are coming to the grand finale of this one.

Now, before I announce what we're doing next, let me update you on what we're doing now, and share some notes, and insight with you.

***

 

Science Fiction Concept Art by Sparth 

 

***

On Saturday, July 11th, my group had its 30th session of our [slightly modified] classic Traveller campaign, Traveller - OPERATION: PALADIN.

It is absolutely astounding to me that we've met thirty times, for 6-10 hours at a time, over the last three years, to play these same characters, and this campaign. I feel the non-religious/non-spiritual equivalent of blessed.

It has been a honor, a privilege, and an absolute blast Gamemastering this campaign. I owe that largely to the players who've participated in it, including those who are no longer regularly part of the game. If it weren't for the contributions of each, and everyone of them (of you - if you're reading this), this crazy ride would not have been as good as it is.

A heart felt thanks to Andy, Dave, Ed, Hans, Jeff, Marcus (yes, even Marcus), Ray, Steve, and Will.**

The campaign's overall plot was formed from the supplied background information each player contributed about their character at the start of the game. That main story has long since come to a head. The PCs know who the big bad is, what he's up to, and (to a lesser extent) who his allies are. Our problem has been finding definitive proof of the enemy's plans, details of his operations, who all the participants are, and avoiding having him know too much about the PC group.

Much of that has changed with sessions 29, and 30.

While it has become obvious that the enemy is aware of the PCs, and their endeavors to thwart him, he doesn't yet know how much they know. He will soon, as the PCs managed to hit the mother lode regarding evidence that can sink their adversary. While much of it is encrypted, and hidden behind code words, and falsified documentation, the PC group managed to get a hold of a computer server with tons of incriminating files on it. Additionally, flaws in both the enemy's secret weapon, and allied forces, may be forthcoming very soon.

One of the great things about this campaign has been the way the mysteries, and the investigation of them, have grown, and changed over the course of the game.

I was initially very frustrated with my group, as they simply did not investigate things. Anything strange, or out of place was taken at face value, and no one seemed the least bit interested in finding out if there was more to anything. It was freaky.

Eventually, they started to check into things here, and there, so I decided to change my approach. I made the information on what was going on, why and who was behind it, extraordinarily easy to find out...but hard to prove. Harder still became what to do about it now that they knew a thing, or two (or more). Very effective in creating, and maintaining tension when faced with players who just don't have that Sherlock Holmes mindset.

The various situations in the game, from the major meta-plot (hate calling it that) to the numerous subplots (though perhaps not all) are rapidly reaching a boiling point. With the year's end only five months away, I am assuming we have but five sessions left.

I see a very exciting, very messy finish on the horizon.

And then...

Concept Art Wallpaper from No Man's Sky

As the new year begins, so will our next campaign.

TRAVELLER: BEYOND

It finally came down to realizing that the game we're playing...works. It works when other things don't. It still interests us, and we haven't nearly exhausted the possibilities this universe has to offer us.

So why not keep going? Why not indeed.

Of course, we are looking to experience a different aspect of our Traveller milieu. If we were just going to continue playing the same exact type of game we wouldn't be ending our current campaign in December.

While the current one has a very heavy Political Espionage/Cyberpunk vibe,the new campaign will be focused much more on exploration, discovery, and will be, hopefully, more 'Science Fiction-y'.

Influences on the new, upcoming campaign for next year include classic Science Fiction stories such as Voyage of the Space Beagle, Rendezvous with Rama, and the upcoming computer game No Man's Sky. The themes I intend to focus on will mainly revolve around dealing with the unknown, the benefits, and price, of knowledge, survival, and teamwork.

I look forward to working on this new campaign, and to updating all of you on how it goes. In addition, come December, expect an extra-large, final episode/session recap of OPERATION: PALADIN's grand finale.

To infinity and BEYOND!

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Barking Alien

*For the purposes of this post, and the next, it may be best to identify my two, face-to-face gaming groups in a clearer, and more definitive way then perhaps I have in the past.

Group 1 is 'The Barking Alien Gaming Group', so named because I am the primary GM for this particular configuration of this particular group of my RPG gamer friends.  Our longest ongoing campaign is a classic Traveller campaign that is still active. We ran our 30th session on Saturday, July 18th, 2015. We meet (roughly) monthly.

We have made several attempts to get a second campaign going of something else, but to (frustratingly) no avail.

Group 2 I'll refer to as 'Dan's Group'. While I have run for this group in the past, and will again in the future, my good friend Dan is the primary GM for this particular entourage. We also tend to play at Dan's house.

With that said, this post refers to my Barking Alien Gaming Group.

**The bolded names are the regulars who are still active in the campaign.

This is Barking Alien's 900th Post

Space Madness

I've been apartment hunting for the last few weeks, and it has put a serious damper on my ability to post, my time for thinking about much else, and my mood.

I love my city. New York, NY remains the greatest place on Earth in my opinion, but it is a hard place to live if you aren't making a lot of money. It's not just expensive, it demands you have more than adequate funds for practically every facet of life.

I will endure. Just over the horizon is my home sweet home, my next big pay check, and my happily ever after. I am sure of it.

***

I know, I need to get back to Superheroes. I know. Just bare with me for a bit longer.

My last post on Science Fiction gaming received more views, and responses than I've gotten in a while. That's interesting to me, and fuels my desire to talk a little more about Science Fiction RPGs.

What I think is really wonderful about gaming in the Science Fiction genre, what I'd really love to run, is...

Have any of you seen the trailers, and related footage for the upcoming video, and computer game No Man's Sky?

No Man's Sky is an action/adventure Science Fiction game designed for both the PC, and Sony's PlayStation 4. The game consists of an open universe, sand box of procedurally generated planets complete with extraterrestrials animals, terrain, starships, space battles, and more.

The procedurally generated nature of the game, based on recently revealed information from game creator Sean Murray, means that players will be able to explore as many as 18,446,744,073,709,551,616 planets. Yeah, that's not a typo. That's A LOT of frickin worlds.

During his demonstration of No Man's Sky for the E3 Game Convention this year (2015), Sean Murray played through taking off from a planet's surface, and going into space. From a space view map, he was able to pull back the camera, and show the audience the local stellar group. It looked something like this:

Which then became pulled back a little further to reveal this:

The image above was then followed by this ridiculously fast cascade of stars, nebulas, and void, rushing past like a raging river, a deluge of light and color too vast, and moving too rapidly to fully comprehend.

THAT is what I want my next Science Fiction RPG to be like, because THAT is what Science Fiction RPGs are all about.

As noted in my previous post on Science Fiction RPG podcasts, one thing they never seem to do is go into why those who like Sci-Fi games think they're fun. Another thing they don't tend to cover is why you (the player, and Player Character) actually do in a SF RPG.

Questions about the second issue came up a few times during the Play On Target podcast, with Lowell Francis specifically noting that he didn't grok* what PCs do in a Sci-Fi setting.

Let's see if I can't address both of these points simultaneously.

What's So Great About Science Fiction?

 

Underwater on the planet of New Eridu

From No Man's Sky

Well, to begin with, at the very core of a Science Fiction RPG for me is a universe of nearly endless possibilities, that must still make relative sense. In truth, it is more an exercise in pushing the boundaries of what constitutes sense based on what we know now.

For example, could life form in a place with no water? Can anything ever really move faster than the speed of light? If genetic engineering eventually enables us to live for hundreds of years, what will it mean to our cultures, and industries from medicine, to cosmetics?

Well...Carl Sagan was among the many scientists who theorized that life could exist in ammonia, or use hydrogen fluoride. Four years ago, an experiment by CERN seemed to indicate the neutrinos may potentially move faster than light. Sadly, the data was discovered to be incorrect, but it resulted in a much greater understanding of particle physics. Who knows what the future might hold in that area? The Transhumanism movement believes we can fundamentally alter the very nature of the Human condition by improving, and enhancing our physical, and mental capabilities through science.

It is this kind of speculation that fuels plots, and Player Character goals in an SF game. What do you want to do? Who do you want to be? How can we do the impossible? What will we become?

Can you explore these ideas in Fantasy? Yes, I guess so, but in what way? Seems to me the answer to all of these questions in Fantasy is 'Magic'. Everything interesting is answered through the word Magic. Much easier, and (IMHO) much less satisfying.

What else is cool about Science Fiction?

Certainly exploring and expanding the limits of our knowledge and imagination are fascinating but sometimes you just want to zap a robot with a ray gun, right? Science Fiction has cool stuff like spaceships, laser guns, anti-gravity vehicles, and thinking machines.

Fantasy Player: "I went on an adventure and found a +2 Sword!"

Science Fiction Player: "Cool. I went on an adventure, found a component that enabled me to design and build a remote drone that could survive a hazardous atmosphere."

Fantasy Player: "I used my +2 Sword to kill a Goblin."

Science Fiction Player: "Wow. I used my drone to make first contact with a sentient species of methane breathing, gas giant dwelling starfish/squid creatures. They informed me about this unusual hydrocarbon material in their lower atmosphere that we are now trading with them for materials that are easy to find on Earth but don't form naturally in their environment. I'm rich, famous, and I've developed a group of allies and enemies who have expanded the campaign setting."

Fantasy Player: "The...the Goblin had 12 copper pieces on it."

Science Fiction Player: "Uh-huh. Congrats."

OK, personal bias against D&D Fantasy aside, the awesome tech is pretty awesome in a lot of Sci-Fi.

Is it about the tech, or the science?

No, it's not really. Good Science Fiction has all that cool stuff, but it isn't about the cool stuff. Not unless the wild concept, or the fancy gizmo is going to be a major plot element.

Science Fiction is about people, and how people deal with the science, the technology, and the big ideas they find themselves confronting. Star Trek is a perfect example. Star Trek at its best is not a story about warp field anomalies, phaser fights, and transporter accidents. It's the episodes that ask "What does it mean to be Human?", "Should an artificial life form have rights if it proves to be sentient, and self aware?", "If the death of one  innocent person would save the life of millions, do they deserve to die?".

What do I do in a Science Fiction game?

I've listened to a number of podcasts, watched a slew of videos, and read a bunch of articles on Sean Murray, creator of No Man's Sky, and his least favorite question.

"What am I supposed to do in this game?"

If you had a universe, and the means and gear necessary to explore it, what would you do? How can I possibly tell you how to have fun? Do you like exploring, and discovering alien life forms? Yeah? Do that. Don't like that? Well, if you think that's boring, go do something else. Want to get into epic space battles, with starfighters dogfighting between massive capital ships as they hurl blasts back, and forth? Go for it.

Science Fiction, especially open universe, sandbox Science Fiction, isn't about holding the PCs' hands while you guide them from Point A to Point B. More than any other genre, I like to see pro-active players, and PCs, in my SF games.

Where do YOU want to go? What do YOU want to do? Find a way to go there, and a way to do that. This is basically how most of my Traveller games begin. It's how my current one began. It's a challenge, but very rewarding, and creates a much deeper connection between the players, and the game setting, and story.

Something I am no relearning for the first time. ;)

Onward...

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Barking Alien


* I found it especially interesting and humorous that he used the phrase 'grok' to imply that he didn't quite 'get it' when it comes to Science Fiction gaming, since grok comes from a Science Fiction novel. The term originates in Robert Heinlein's 1961 book, Stranger in a Strange Land.