I’ve been pondering another major arc game to run at this Fall’s Convergence. I’ve begun to think the best setup for the get-together is a couple of major games punctuated by one-offs. Since Mark has already chosen the first major game to be played, namely his GangBusters Prohibition, and I’m not sure if the other attendees are going to run anything other than a short session or two, the task of coming  up with another multi-session game befalls your’s truely.

I started to think about what I really want to run. My choices are numerous since I have books and material and ideas for the following games:

• Dungeons and Dragons – Arguably the best known and easiest to do. I have tons of material and know the system quite well. Unfortunately most of the players know the material I might want to run at least as well asn I. That’s a significant hurdle to overcome.
• Top Secret – I don’t think I should run this until maybe next Spring’s Convergence when the (hopeful) return of the three core members of The Greatest TS Game the Universe has ever witnessed will be in attendance.
• Boot Hill – To be honest, I’ve never been drawn to Boot Hill. I enjoy playing it, but running it leaves me with the taste of dirt and dust.
• Call of Cthulhu – I’d do this were it not for a couple of factors.
  1. “You’re all going to die”
  2. Keeping players involved in a story arc is an inherent  challenge to the game already.
• Superhero game (DC Heroes or Marvel) – Ideas I’ve got, player buy-in? I think not.
• KORE – I could do any of the above in KORE, but I think this Convergence should be a return to known quantities, nostalgic era games.
• I could siphon off the aforementioned GangBusters game. – But I think maybe a change of pace may be in order at some point.
• I could run something very gritty, a la Battlestar Galactica, but I’m not sure that BSG pressure-cooker is what is needed in a long term story arc game. Maybe as another punctuation this would make a nice addition.

With all that in mind, I realized I had always been leaning back on the classics… it was time to admit that a good ol’ fashioned old school game of D&D was what I wanted to run. Nostalgia once again rears it’s head and I think this time I’m going to embrace it whole-heartedly. But how to do so?

I could use any of the vast abundance of modules I have for the game. But I risk preparing to run a module only to pull it out to be confronted with the classic, “Yea, I’ve run Temple of Elemental Evil a few times. But I promise to keep my knowledge from interferring” response. And I’m not willing to swap modules and try to run one without preparing first. That just leads to long periods of player-idleness while I peruse the material… not a good scene.

Sorry CT, but it really wasn’t going to work out well. In retrospect, you probably should have done something different. – KO

I don’t have the time to build something new. At least nothing with some depth that isn’t going to be a complete rip-off of something I’ve either run earlier or has been experienced by the players. What’s more, I always hate the methods to generate new high level characters for players. Characters always feel so cardboard when they don’t have history to go with their stats, gear, and abilities.

So we’re back to the question of how do I run something that has some depth, hasn’t been experienced by the players before, and yet can be quickly recalled and molded by me?

To be honest, I was stumped; baffled by this conundrum that didn’t seem to have a solution. And then this morning brilliance (or something I’ll call brilliance) struck. As it turned out, I already had a module prepared. One in which I already knew the material to a depth that I could easily run it off the top of my head with a few notes. In fact, large portions of the game had even already been played by a number of people including myself. Everything I needed to run a number of sessions was done. And as far as I know, none of my players have run through it themselves.

The more I pondered the simple solution, the more I was in GM heaven. – KO

Where you ask, did I suddenly come up with this wealth of session material? Neverwinter Nights.

That’s right. It looks like I’m about to eat some serious crow. Crpgs are about to help me ease the return to the classic pen and paper game. Fitting isn’t it?

I have 3 modules in a 5 part series already built for NwN. In fact, they’re available for download on the Neverwinter Vault here. These 3 modules should be fairly easy to convert back to pen and paper rules while the other 2 modules are already penned out in notes that should be easy to backstep into some good tabletop material. The very layout of the modular setup should help to pace the game so it can be stopped and returned to with ease at the breaking points. Of course, I’ll have to do a bit of alteration to eliminate some of the more “computer game” necessary parts, but that’s not a big deal. The bulk of the work is already done. I just need to convert it back.

In order to keep a sense of nostalgia, I considered going all the way back to the beginning and running the game from the Basic/Expert ruleset. In fact I’m still keeping that option open for now. If not, I’ll run the game in the next best option; namely the AD&D Edition rules. So everybody brush up on those THAC0 rules, we’re going back to the mid-eighties for some serious old school gaming.

Tags: Battlestar Galactica, BSG, Call of Cthulhu, Convergence, Crpg, D&D, DC Heroes, Dungeons and Dragons, GangBusters, KORE rpg, Marvel Superheroes, Neverwinter Nights, NwN, rpg, Setting, Top Secret

So a few months back, I did a little statistical analysis of the KORE attributes. Some of you may recall that one of my players is a bit of a exploit-junkie. You know the type; if there’s a way to make the numbers do something unexpectedly good for him, he’ll find it. It’s almost second nature to him. He can pick up a ruleset and within a few hours know how to break it legally.

Heck at times I’ve been the exploit guy… Anyone remember Pillar from that failed Werewolf game? He was the classic MIN/MAX exploit doubly facillitated and allowed by a GM who failed to see that my taking the worst possible disadvantages that I knew he’d have no way to get into the game. That’s how most exploits are displayed: First the character is MIN/MAXed, then if the system allows disadvantage for extra points, the exploit guy will take those that will fail to be part of the game but will allow additional MAXing. In RPG terms, that’s the classic definition of munchkinism, and it’s incumbent on the GM to curtail this type of activity… or punish the player by forcing them to live with the consequences of their choices. But alas, that doesn’t happen often. - KO

Usually when I’m running the show, we agree to some middle-ground interpretation of the rules which allows him to acheive his desired vision and I’m allowed to maintain the illusion of control. It’s a good compromise, but I’ve always been, in some small way, somewhat disappointed that his exploitational discoveries were never uncovered and addressed by the game designers during playtesting - especially since the exploits usually are not that hard to find.

And just so we don’t get off track here, from a design persepecive, that’s not necessarialy a bad thing. In fact, knowing this is what actually led to my desire to test the system at it’s basic core for exploits – KO

Most games allow for some variation of exploitable systems. For games like Werewolf and the Storyteller systems, DC Heroes, Top Secret and the ilk with advantages and their counter, the nature of the disadvantage and the point allocations that they provide can create an easy exploit entry. And any disadvantage written on a character sheet that isn’t exploited as fully by the GM as the corollary advantage is exploited by the player is allowing an unfair advantage.

A special note on the disadvantages as used by DC Heroes and Top Secret should be at least mentioned here. These systems even allow for player advancement to eventually “buy off” these disadvantages… but the player is still left with the initial boost to their character – KO

Other systems, such as old school D&D have a historical predicate that actually encourages ability stat MIN/MAXing by granting the player a bonus if they can boost their prime attribute to it’s numerical extreme.

This was probably fine when the method to generate characters was randomly done via the outcome of rolls of dice, but when point buying becoame the more popular method, exploit-city could now be easily seen looming on the horizon by almost all but the most novice of players – KO

Later versions of D&D, as well as virtually any other point buy system with more than one statistic, are notorious for what’s become known as a “Dump Stat.” A dump stat is any statistic that is basically ignored, or depleated, in order to maximize another (more important) statistic. The real nature of the dump stat is that it generally becomes common knowledge among players that in most cases, the advantages of any given statistic is not necessarialy equal to the benefits of all other statistics.

For example, Charisma (CHA) is in most cases, the dump stat of choice for most D&D players. Barring cases of Paladins, Sorcerers and Bards the benefits of a high CHA stat are so incredibly lacking when compared to the benefits of almost any other stat. Couple that with the knowledge that most CHA based interactions are oftentimes roleplayed out wihtout dice, and you’ve got the double whammy - KO

Thus the true nature of the dump stat is revealed. So, as a fun little exercise, I decided to objectively determine if the KORE system as currently designed contained a dump stat. My analysis was a simple one, but it revealed an interesting trend.

I won’t go through a discussion on the whole mathematical analysis I did on the statistics. However, ff you’re interested, it’s in the downloads section and can be studied here: KORE Statistical Analysis

Suffice it to say that the first analysis demonstrated that STR and CON were complete and total dump stats. In fact, before making changes to the math behind the Derived Statistics, STR wasn’t generally worth putting any points into. Not at all what I expected or wanted.

After some tweaking of the Derived calculations, STR is still the most logical dump stat in the group, but I can now at least live with the deltas between the statistical differences resulting from point allocations.

If all this has made your brain turn to mush and given you that glazed ham look in your eyes… then Roll for Initiative! You’re being attacked!

Tags: Annoyances, D&D, DC Heroes, Game Design, KORE rpg, playtesting, rpg, rules, statistics, Storyteller, system, Testing, Top Secret, Werewolf

I’m a huge fan of drama in a game. Not the drama that comes from the standard setup of obstacle vs. players but the drama that comes from any coolness that can be described by the player. Take for instance the drama that comes when a player is allowed to change some facet of the shared reality of the game system. That’s a good recipe for drama.

Some of the game systems I’ve played in that either had a detailed mechanic or by group consensus allowed for the use of this “shared authorship” of reality include; Top Secret (which had luck or hero or fate points – I don’t really recall), Marvel Superheroes (which had karma), DC Heroes (which had hero points), Earthdawn (can’t remember if it was hero or luck points), and D&D (which only had luck points because I imported them in from other systems.)

Now all the systems listed (as well as others I can’t really recall right now) had some great moments when luck/fate/dramatis/hero/whatever points were used to alter the game in some fashion.

I can recall one memorable moment when Shackle (my Earthdawn character in one campaign) and his companions were trapped in a burning tavern. Escape out the usual means of egress was hindered by the fact that the arsonists had locked all the doors and barred all the windows. So while the other characters fled into the cellar and then subsequently into the safety of the sewers, I chose instead to spend my whole amassed collection of points to re-write the scene. As the flames licked into the skies, Shackle waited for the fires to loosen the structural integrity of the door enough to allow him to kick the front door open in one move. The amazed looks on the citizenry as well as the arsonists was pricelessly described as the hero stepped out of a burning tavern just as it fell into rubble behind him. Knowing that the purportrator(s) of the fire was present, but indistinguishable from the innocent citizenry, Shackle just dusted the soot and embers off his clothing and then glared at the assembled crowd.

That’s drama that can’t be easily described by simple dice mechanics.

So how do we allow for players in KORE to harness some mechanic to control the game system? Here was my first email to spur the discussions:

Okay, I know we’ve all played in those games that allow for Hero / Luck / Dramatis / etc. Points.
Thoughts on whether we want to use them here or how we might incorporate them?
My first idea (probably needs some serious work):
Each player will be given 1 hero/luck/whatever point to use per session.
These points are use-it or loose-it style points that cannot be hoarded (Yea M, I recall the TS “hero point” battle you and my main villain got into.)
The points can only be used in the following ways including, but not limited to:

1. Perform a dramatic event successfully (without the need for dice) – the player has to describe the event in sufficient detail. Everyone playing has to agree that the event would/could/does work.
2. Stay alive. Spending a point allows your character to thwart death in some fashion.
3. Try again. Spending a point allows you to re-roll one failure as if you haven’t rolled yet.

Though I’m such fan of these mechanics, as you can see even from this initial email, I’ve had at least one negative experience with luck points that I’ll describe here.

In the longest runing Top Secret campaign in the history of the World (a challenge to you all to just try to prove that one wrong) M got into a heated exchange of gunfire with one of the secondary villians of the story. While in most cases that wouldn’t be an issue, previous to the interaction, all the possible means of escape for said villian were thwarted by the other spy-guys. Leaving him no other choice, the villian decided to shoot it out with M’s character. Since M’s character was a crack-shot, this might seem like a stupid idea, but the villian was no slouch in firearm skill, the villian knew nothing of the skill of M’s character, and M’s character was the only single obstacle to an escape route; whereas all other escape routes were guarded by multiple spys.

Now, as a GM, I have certain rules that I try to adhere to at all times:

1. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. In this discussion it means that namely if the players have access to luck points, then so does the other side. Usually I don’t give such points to nameless mooks, but if the villian is a regular, then I assign a small pool to even up the odds.
2. The enemies usually do the most logical thing. Unfortunately for the villian, the most logical seeming thing was also the worst possible path.

To make matters worse, M had ammassed a rather sizeable collection of hero points. What ensued was an exchange where neither side could be killed no matter the odds until the combined collection of points was expended. At the end of the “hero point” battle, the dice were merciless to the villian and he was easily killed with what was in reality the fith or sixth head shot (but by a stroke of luck the only one that reached the mark.) All in all it was dramatic, but basically boiled down to a “cross-out hero point battle.” That’s an annoyance. Namely when a mechanic becomes nothing more than a mathematical demonstration of “whose is bigger…”

L found the idea quite palletable (I should point out that he did seem to enjoy me importing luck points in D&D.)

I like the idea of these points, played with them before and I think they add an extra flare that all fantasy related items should have. I also think that use it or lose it is a great idea.

-L

M had some trepadition as well as some good insight on the use of luck points in general.

As Kevin likely knows, I have a love/hate relationship with luck points. On the love side, they certainly can make for near epic situations when used in the context of the game as he mention I had with one of his lead villains. That conflict could be included in a Bond film due to the dramatic and heroic activity that ensued but it pushed the limits of believability. I also like luck to avoid having a well developed character safe from the aspects of just a bad string of dice rolling that leads to premature death. I suspect the dice rolling will be limited so that issue is probably moot.  

I also hate the artificial nature of luck. Using luck points to do something that is outside the scope of your character just to accomplish something doesn’t make any sense and detracts from the game overall. It tends to remove good RP when it should be present.  

I like Kevin’s limitations for them.
#1 addresses my artificial capabilities statement — if it isn’t within the character capabilities, anyone can and should call BS.
#2 should place the character at the edge of death — without help in the near future the person will still die.
#3 should allow you to re-roll even if you’d rolled once already. Sometimes you want a particular event to count to develop the character and going for success if critical. Stating that you are using luck prior to the roll doesn’t make much sense unless you know you failed what you wanted to do.  

I also would like to see a character have the capability to accrue luck up to some limit. Perhaps an arbitrary 3. Rather than giving every character one per session. Luck points can be granted by the GM at will and perhaps given to the character by a majority vote at the conclusion of a major plot arc (possibly covering multiple sessions) with the GM having the final arbitration. The voting scheme rewards individuals for playing their character well but is easily biased by having your character saved by another.

-M

In response I disected M’s email to clarify my positions on what he brought to the table. I won’t directly paste the disertation here, rather this should suffice:

IMO, stretching the limits of believability is ok so long as luck points don’t become a “get out of death free card.” I never again want to see another player keep one luck point in reserve “just in case…”
With regards to how they should be used: Luck points should never, ever, ever replace RP. If it does, then let me be the first to propose (okay, perhaps I’ll second – M) eliminating their use altogether.
I really like the idea of placing the character at death’s door. It’s just a good idea. More of a “Cheat Instantaneous Death” rule (death is averted for now, but looms ever present…) as opposed to a “Avoid Death Altogether” rule.
Perhaps I wasn’t clear on the whole “as if they never rolled” part of my point. I’d like to further propose that only 1 re-roll is allowed to try again. No multiple luck points can be expended on the same attempt.

And with that Luck points were added to KORE. They evolved in time to create some other subrules like “Burning Your Bridges”, “Blaze of Glory” actions, and “Pushing Your Luck”. But those discussions are for a later post.

Here’s how luck points were initially written into the rules:

Players start with an initial pool of 1 luck point.

Players can accumulate up to 3 points that are awarded by GM or majority of player approval for good RP at any time; usually the end of a major story arc.

Points can be used in the following fashion:

1. Perform a reasonable action without dice.
2. Staying Death’s hand.
3. Do over.

Repeated use of luck points for the same purpose (using 2 points to roll over twice) is not allowed.

Example of Luck Point usage:

Woz, the gun-totin’ hell-stormin’ veteran of the demonic wars sighs deeply and eschews his alter ego of the mild mannered professional poker player long enough to deal with the hell spawn that has interrupted his game. Pissed that this minor entity would consider facing him here in a public location where the fight is likely to involve innocent bystanders, as well as annoyed at the fact that he just drew to an inside straight, Woz makes a break for the stairwell door hoping to lure the demon to a more private locale to send it back to the brimstone belly of Hell.

The GM determines that the entity isn’t interested in Woz and ignores his attempt to lure it away; there are plenty of delicious souls here that are much easier targets than the abyss-touched warrior for heaven. Woz realizes he’s misinterpreted the demon’s presence as the hell spawn ignores his presence and remains in the room to eat the souls of the other gamblers.

Woz’s player declares that he wishes to use a luck point to flash an Arcane Sigil of Drawing at the spawn of evil. Woz’s knows the spell and could roll for success, but he wishes to insure the infallibility of the spell and that the outcome of the action is to his liking. Woz currently has 3 luck points. The GM decides that this is an appropriate use of the luck point and agrees. Woz deducts 1 luck point from his luck point pool leaving him with 2 points available.

The demon feels its essence tugged at by the Arcane Sigil and recognizes the nature of the threat. Covering itself in a billowy darkness, it rushes into the stairwell and speeds after Woz.
Woz reaches into the pocket dimension that holds his personal armory and draws out a vicious looking curved blade. The old warrior awaits the presence of the demon with a grin, “Hell’s gonna know the wrath of the Woz once again” he thinks.

But this demon is no novice. It realizes that any mortal capable of an Arcane Sigil of Drawing is likely a competent foe. Instead of facing the warrior of heaven directly, the spawn of evil allows its essence to coalesce into the darkness of the stairwell shadows; re-materializing directly behind it’s quarry.

The GM determines that the spawn of evil gets a free attack against Woz. Rolling for an attack, the demon succeeds. Cloth, flesh, skin and sinew are ripped from Woz’s back as the claws of the demon cut deeply into the surprised hero. Damage is rolled and it exceeds Woz’s current hit points.

Woz’s player declares the he wishes to use an additional luck point to cheat death. The GM agrees and modifies the damage to allow Woz to have 1 hit point left. Woz’s player again subtracts a luck point from his pool, leaving him with 1 point.

However, in order to allow the use of luck to save the character, the GM decides that the agony of the attack is so great that Woz has dropped his weapon and fallen down the stairs hitting his head on the concrete.

Woz is now unconscious with a hell spawn flowing down the stairs, grinning at the thought of feasting on the soul of a warrior of heaven…

Tags: Annoyances, D&D, DC Heroes, Dungeons and Dragons, Earthdawn, Game Design, KORE rpg, luck, Marvel Superheroes, mechanics, rpg, rules, system, Top Secret