The Pub: Off-topic chat for forum gamers

[Ramsus]

Pretty sure that's where I first threw it out there as I think that's the first game I ran.

Penguinator, pretty sure the fool thing was how I had it work too. *shrug*

[Penguinator]

Penguinator, pretty sure the fool thing was how I had it work too. *shrug*

We didn't have any explicitly Fool-ish characters in that game. I don't honestly know for your other games, but as far as I'm aware, that's something I added to mine after Center.

Not that it really matters.

[Legato Endless]

Unnnhh...
(besides that nutty 2+2 place where even the quietest players need to post a billion times per day or they're lurking, apparently)

No kidding. Reaverb, Internet Flea and I had an ongoing commentary for their recent championship game. After 700 pages, and 11,000 posts I felt burnt out just watching the whole sordid affair.

Well, if you enjoyed having some of the folks I brought over here play games with ya, I was thinking of getting more of us together to plan some more ambitious projects.

Sounds like a plan. We really do need players.

Oh, and hello!

Hey-o. Good to see you're still among the living.

Hello Pizza. So, does anyone have advice on how to fix up the game I tried to run, the sailor moon one? I was clearly having something wrong.

I don't think it was really you Phantom. I think you tried to start a game during a drought, coupled with a theme that isn't well loved. (I don't really give one wit either way in terms of themes, but it seems to matter to some people)

[Askthepizzaguy]

I don't think it was really you Phantom. I think you tried to start a game during a drought, coupled with a theme that isn't well loved. (I don't really give one wit either way in terms of themes, but it seems to matter to some people)

A thousand times this, Phantom.

There is a drought across 7 forums or so right now.

That is why, much as I'd like for every forum's culture to survive, we might consider sharing bodies.

The issue mainly is that what ends up happening is a bad reaction: Activity picks up briefly and there are players, BUT, then every host crawls out of the woodwork across all the forums and tries to host games everywhere. Then the players feel obligated to join a bunch of games on several fora.

And then burnout.

And then a worse drought.

We must be cautious. Games should be special events, not obligations.

[Penguinator]

@ThePhantom: I didn't join personally because I think that was the point where I was busy being inactive. Also, I know nothing about Sailor Moon.

I think the biggest things about your games are that the Phantom series has too many power roles - games usually end up being a "how fast can the village network?" deal, and that's not any fun if you're a villager. Which looks like it had nothing to do with the Sailor Moon game, so that's an improvement.

The other thing is, I know you're a roleplayer, but your narrations don't reflect it as much as I would like. I recall a game where bladescape and I had a pair of rhyming characters who went on and on and on, and even had a scene where I planned to leave the theatre to go get a bite to eat. But when the narration in which I was killed came up, it was something like "and Penguinator was hit with a sword." No mention of my character, no mention of his name, no rhyming, no mention of anything that was relevant to the character and the roleplay at all. Which is really disappointing when you've spent that much time building up a character. The biggest thing is, I know you can write, so I'd like to see you challenge yourself more with the narrations. Maybe even come up with an original setting, that might make it easier. I know it's not easy, at least for me, to write new situations for (someone else's) pre-existing character.

[ThePhantom]

I was really busy at the time. I had to sneak that in between all the homework I had, so I didn't have the time to write something longer, and because there was the theme which was a mistake, as I'm not good at writing horror. That is not a good example of my narration.

As for making up something new, well, its not easy to hammer up new roles or fun rules. Plus, it seems that about three fourths of the time with the current group of players the setting doesn't matter as they focus on the logic and arguments instead of going with the narrative theme the game has. If it seems like the work is going to be ignored, why bother doing it?

[Ramsus]

The challenge then is to try and make a game where the thematic elements have some influence over the mechanical elements, without of course making a totally broken game.

[Ramsus]

Blargh, hate double posting. Anyhow, interestingly I've already come up with an idea for such a game. But I'm probably not going to try and run it any time soon as AvatarVecna's game is still in recruiting and needs more players and I know C'nor and Penguinator want to run games too.

Edit: Pizza should hurry it up with getting us more people. (Clearly the entire burden falls on him since he brought the idea up.)

[Penguinator]

Well, how about this: What do you personally consider to have been the best game you've run? Maybe not even one you've run, but one that you had a great character, or played really well. What made it fun?

[Ramsus]

Phantom, pretty sure Penguinator was asking you there.

Pizza, your inbox is full.

[Askthepizzaguy]

inbox empty.

[ThePhantom]

Well, how about this: What do you personally consider to have been the best game you've run? Maybe not even one you've run, but one that you had a great character, or played really well. What made it fun?

Best game I ran was the second of the phantom games, because I had the time to write and a good group of players. The game I had the most fun with was Fears I, because that game had the most roleplaying of all the games I was in. So, it comes down to having good players, ones willing to not just use logic but explore the world presented in character.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Edit: Pizza should hurry it up with getting us more people. (Clearly the entire burden falls on him since he brought the idea up.)

I created a quicktopic which will link together the hosts and players of several different sites.

http://www.quicktopic.com/51/H/8scWuXjFu79u

I think a link to this qt will be a great idea for a sticky, but only if the idea takes off.

[Vwulf DeMarcus]

I want to join more games, but school is starting soon and I'm afraid that I won't be able to commit enough time to even one game. Would it be a faux pas to post in the thread to get that little check mark, but not actually join the game?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Hmm?

If you mean the quicktopic I posted, you can post there- it's not a game signup sheet, it's more of a place for players from many sites to congregate in one spot.

One neutral.... zone, if you will.

A portal to the rest of the mafia universes, as it were.

[Vwulf DeMarcus]

Sorry, I guess what I just posted was kind of a non sequitur. I meant a game on this forum, specifically WW Classic XVIII. I want to watch it, but I don't necessarily want to play because school etc. Except I really *do* want to play, I'm just worried about school eating up my time. EDIT: And making me miss entire day/night cycles.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Sorry, I guess what I just posted was kind of a non sequitur. I meant a game on this forum, specifically WW Classic XVIII. I want to watch it, but I don't necessarily want to play because school etc. Except I really *do* want to play, I'm just worried about school eating up my time. EDIT: And making me miss entire day/night cycles.

Suggestion: Be a reserve player. You'd replace someone who goes inactive. You can't do any worse than total inactivity, so this will be a step up for everyone, regardless of how well you do or how much you can participate.

And if that doesn't work....

Spoiler

Show

Force Suggestion: You will sign up as a reserve player now. *waves hand*

[EmeraldRose]

Sorry, I guess what I just posted was kind of a non sequitur. I meant a game on this forum, specifically WW Classic XVIII. I want to watch it, but I don't necessarily want to play because school etc. Except I really *do* want to play, I'm just worried about school eating up my time. EDIT: And making me miss entire day/night cycles.

You can also just subscribe to the game thread without posting, so you can follow it whenever there is a new post. I believe the link is under the thread tools tab.

[Lady Serpentine]

Popping over to here to continue a discussion due to being politely told to move...

Anyway, WinterLilium, after this exchange, process of elimination would have me say that you're Alarra, though I know her very little. That said, it's very possible that you're C'nor (mannerisms match a bit better, from what I recall, though it's been a while), and I've misremembered your gender (I can find two separate posts by C'nor claiming opposite genders, so pardon any confusion in that regard...). Aside from that, I cannot place any currently active female players, unless you are new. Well, and firedaemon, but I don't think you're she? ...and if you are, I apologize, but I believe I know her well enough to say that the mannerisms don't match. If you are not recently active, I may not know you, and if you are new, I may not know you either. I now have absolutely no clue who you are and keep getting thrown off every time you debunk me.

...well, such is the internet. >.<

((I see that Ego Slayer is a girl, and I cannot remember the gender of Deathslayer (male, though, if I recall correctly). I have now put aside any chance at mystery and professed my genuine confusion here. That said, I certainly know you less well than I thought at first. >.>))

It seems that you've managed to guess! But yes, sorry for the confusion; I thought that might be what was throwing you.

And nah, though I know Firedaemon a bit as well. Deathslayer I recall is male, but yes, I couldn't say for sure. Ego Slayer... The name is vaguely familiar? Who is she?

[Count Dingdong]

The active female members here (with you listed as male; I will find the post if you give me a bit) are: EmeraldRose, Lex-Kat, firedaemon33, Alarra. Alarra is less active, and firedaemon33 and Lex-Kat didn't really match the mannerisms. I had you as EmeraldRose and was rather thrown off when you said you weren't. Then I remembered that there had been two specific instances that I recalled, one where you said you were male, and one where you said you were female, so I added you to the list as the more likely, assuming you were female. ...the lack of gender identification has been rather confusing in your area; I apologize.

Ego Slayer is a new player (but old user of the forum) who recently joined the new Classic. It was possible, though much more unlikely, since she was rather new to the scene...

To be fair, you didn't have to tell me that you weren't ER. Your lack of response to the color and mannerisms that I used was answer enough. XD

[Lady Serpentine]

The active female members here (with you listed as male; I will find the post if you give me a bit) are: EmeraldRose, Lex-Kat, firedaemon33, Alarra. Alarra is less active, and firedaemon33 and Lex-Kat didn't really match the mannerisms. I had you as EmeraldRose and was rather thrown off when you said you weren't. Then I remembered that there had been two specific instances that I recalled, one where you said you were male, and one where you said you were female, so I added you to the list as the more likely, assuming you were female. ...the lack of gender identification has been rather confusing in your area; I apologize.

Ego Slayer is a new player (but old user of the forum) who recently joined the new Classic. It was possible, though much more unlikely, since she was rather new to the scene...

To be fair, you didn't have to tell me that you weren't ER. Your lack of response to the color and mannerisms that I used was answer enough. XD

Aye, often is, apologies; the latter is correct.

...Hahaha, I think I remember that now, is this where - no, wait that was - hm, maybe it wasn't, thinking about it... The one you were working for her, she was some kind of goddess or somesuch?

[Internet Flea]

You left out Castaras, Count.

[Count Dingdong]

@C'nor, does the name Peddler ring a bell? Also, the post I was looking for was here. In one of my games, even, which makes it easier for me to find!

@Internet Flea: ...and yep, whoops. I figured I left someone out. My apologies. Still, she hasn't been too active lately? What with her new mod duties and whatnot, she (and Haruki-kun) has been here less and less...

[Lady Serpentine]

Peddler?

And heh, yeah, 'tis a relic, sorry. Always inconvenient when that happens.

[Count Dingdong]

The game in question was Penguinator's Typical Werewolf. It was a very roleplay-heavy game, so I borrowed a character that I've RP'd as elsewhere, and she RP'd The Lady, per usual. We happened to both be wolves, so we ended up having a lot of chats, and we later followed that into my game running alongside it (and still running): Careless Investigation. The Peddler was supposed to arrive when I died in Typical, but... that happened much later than I expected, due to people listening to a scried wolf. If you'd like to start reading when the Peddler enters, you can do so here. The game around that time turned more RP-heavy as well.

I do really like that game, and I'm sure it's a good read. That said... I realize looking back that I never posted the wolf QT. I suppose I should get confirmation from blade and Duck, first, though...

[Lady Serpentine]

Heh. Typical was neat, yeah.

...Also, question for the thread at large - is it a terrible idea to have a role repeated on both teams that's actually one neutral role?

[Askthepizzaguy]

Heh. Typical was neat, yeah.

...Also, question for the thread at large - is it a terrible idea to have a role repeated on both teams that's actually one neutral role?

That sounds like a very specific balance-related question. I might be able to help. Can you PM me the specifics?

[Internet Flea]

Heh. Typical was neat, yeah.

...Also, question for the thread at large - is it a terrible idea to have a role repeated on both teams that's actually one neutral role?

I would say yes, as it's deliberately misinforming the teams about who they can trust.

[Askthepizzaguy]

Balance is a combination of the role, and the setup.

Some roles are uber powerful- but if they are placed against other uber powerful roles, balance happens.

So, to answer a question like that, we have to look at the specifics- what power does the role have, what information does the role have, what power and information do other roles have, what's the overall picture?

Balance is an equation. A role is a number. Just knowing what number it is, isn't enough data.

- - - Updated - - -

Give you an example- there was a game where the godfather of both mafia families was chosen specifically by one neutral role.

That neutral role wanted to survive and have the game be won by one of the mafia teams. But, couldn't communicate with either team.

That role, knows the heads of both mafia families, but under those circumstances, versus a large village, was a balanced role.

[Saposhiente]

...Also, question for the thread at large - is it a terrible idea to have a role repeated on both teams that's actually one neutral role?

Players need to be informed of what is reliable and what isn't. This can vary from everything is reliable to nothing is reliable. If players on each team are aware of this possibility, and you carefully craft the rules, it could be fair and balanced. But be extremely careful about the quantity of secrets this role might obtain; if players have too much reason to trust them, they could break the game with their knowledge. This role would be easier to balance in a no-PM game.