Of Magic and Metal R2D

anailater wrote: I don't Like the look of that face
Someones going to die i can feel it in my bones

Ordal is going to die i bet
I'm starting to hate Ordal even though he saved Natania...

I've hated Ordal since the beginning. Requesting blind faith from us, and acting hostile toward all attempts to enlighten ourselves in regards to the objectives he's expecting us to lay our lives down for. If you recall, the first time we met him it was with unstated-yet-very-obvious threat of death if we didn't come along with his plan. His leadership is laughable, he doesn't instil loyalty in his followers, he's a bully, and it's very obvious we're nothing more than pawns to him...pawns to be discarded or sacrificed the moment our usefulness has come to a close.

To that...I say screw 'im. (OOCly, that is)

...As soon as I can...

You guys(and Shinobody) have probably noticed that this game seems to have lost a bit of steam.

As it seems a few other GM's have done in the past (Eh... can really only name Bigkahuna off the top of my head...), I'm seriously questioning the idea of closing this game in favor of a new one with improved features learned from rolling for this game. A game with more realized functions. Among these would be:

-Improved combat: This games' combat is, as you've undoubtedly noticed, is a bit cluttered. The way it is set up to determine who wins is rather lacking, and NPC's either attack, defend, do nothing, or do both, a result of me mainly just wanting to start the game back in the beginning. I did not have a true combat system worked out. If I go on to the next game, I would move on to a system where environmental effects, penalties, bonuses, skills and others would be added into the combat roll in a better fashion, of which I have a few ideas for. I'd likely use a system used before that I found made fights more engaging, where multiple rolls are done throughout the combat instance.

-Streamlined rolling: Of Magic and Metal has a cluttered roll progression. It is done one at a time, and in such a way that if two players attack an opponent at the same time, one would strike first, then the other after the first was finished, even if the plan was to strike together. While some elements of this system may carry over into this other game, I have a good idea of how to pace the rolls in an engaging fashion that doesn't make it seem like everyone is taking turns in a line.

-An actual idea of the story: While you players may not have noticed this (infact, you probably haven't), this game, as mentioned before, was a bit rushed... what can I say, I wanted to start rolling! Sadly, this means that I have no long-term idea of how this would end. I have an idea for this other game that would make an interesting, engaging story... one with intrigue, subterfuge, a hint of politics... whereas this game, in the way I have set it up, doesn't offer much more than combat, punctuated with dialogue in between. (If you look back at all the rolls, that is the pattern)
This other game would be more plot-based (Though this game seems very plot-based now, once in the valley it would open up and be a bit more freeform.), having a number of ACTUAL skill checks... any done in this game were rather half-assed, since I had no intention of doing them in the beginning. I merely had thought of adding them to give the game more "functions".
This game in planning (I like the sound of "A Plot of Shadows", but it will most likely change.) would have numerous skills actually accessible from the beginning that would actually be thought-out beforehand, and have actual legit skill checks.

-Skills: The way I have this game's "experience" system set up, not one of you, over 40 pages in and approximately a like number of rolls have leveled up any skillother than 8680. On top of this, the leveling is lackluster, not much bonuses being given, as you can see from 8680's "Learned Terralius" compared with his other, and the players have no concept of how far along they are. My plan is to have a better system, still having experience, but not so horribly slated, and with interesting and useful level-ups.


I have numerous other ideas, but I'll keep them to the actual game post... which I'm thinking, after writing this, would be way more interesting than this game.
It's almost assured that this game will happen, as the more I think about it, the more pumped I get for it. Would any of you be interested?

Regardless of interest or not, I would like to know what you all have enjoyed about this game that kept you interested in it thus far. Things that would help me with this next game I'm planning.

If there's any interest in this, I could post a bit of how I'm thinking to play out these rolls.

I'm sorry to hear that you're shutting this down.

its_crunchtime wrote:Would any of you be interested?

I would.

its_crunchtime wrote:Eh... can really only name Bigkahuna off the top of my head...

Well, there was also Flamelasher. Oh, and then there was Flamelasher. And, yes, Flamelasher.

lol 8680 xD
and I dont mind you starting a new game so that you, as game master and host, are inspired.

the only regret is that now we'll never know if we actually got out of that slave place or we decided to kill off ordal and run off by ourselves.

8680 wrote:Well, there was also Flamelasher. Oh, and then there was Flamelasher. And, yes, Flamelasher.

its_crunchtime wrote:I'm seriously questioning the idea of closing this game in favor of a new one with improved features learned from rolling for this game.

If you are truly bored of this game and/or think it will stagnate because of its faults, by all means make a new game if that's what you want. But I'd think carefully about it... coming up with a completely new IP (Intellectual Property) is a lot of work. I mean, you've done it once already but doing it again seems even harder to me.

And there will always be faults with any game. I wouldn't trash a game just because it isn't "perfect", because the likelihood is that there will be flaws in the new one as well.

Could these faults be fixed and integrated into the existing game? Just a thing to think about. My (slightly less than) two cents.

I would be intrested in your new game.
But can we get a little ending for this one like maybe having this roll and then a 2-3 paragraph ending about what happend after.

I'm fine with whatever choice you make. I would like to echo Mr. Kahuna's comments, though. My game has many flaws that I've found while rolling: the power ramp scales too quickly, to the point where I'm going to have to throw a party of 5 Krakens at them pretty soon, and the story isn't exactly working out. However, the game is still going pretty well, and I won't be stopping it anytime soon. I haven't had any significant problems with this game, and I think it would be a shame to scrap it.

Go with your gut.

Saima

Full honesty here...I'd rather you tweak the game before starting a new one. If it works, yay! If not...well you learned more, trial by error kinda deal.

That said...if you decide to scrap this game and start a new one, I'd be interested!

AerynPierre wrote:Full honesty here...I'd rather you tweak the game before starting a new one. If it works, yay! If not...well you learned more, trial by error kinda deal. That said...if you decide to scrap this game and start a new one, I'd be interested!

I concur.

Saima wrote:... the story [of my game] isn't exactly working out.

With the general theme and past events of your game, I'd think you could easily and believably (or at least non-suspension-of-disbelief-breakingly) teleport us anywhere and turn the plot into anything (assuming you have another plot you'd like to switch to).

Technically, this would be perfect moment for some kind of ending - Ordal seems to be pretty much only thing linking party to storyline, and if we'd escape without him, we'd be pretty much free.
OTOH, I'd like to point out this seems to be one of better games currently running, especially when it comes to storyline and climate.
Your game, your decision.
And yup, I'd be interested in that another game. (Subterfuge? Intrigue? Sounds cool. Although "Plot of Shadows" sounds a bit over the top, maybe?)

Could these faults be fixed and integrated into the existing game? Just a thing to think about. My (slightly less than) two cents.

This seems quite feasible - we're about to leave* mines with what appears to be some kind of spy/conspirator/whatever. Getting mixed up in some political affair doesn't seem too hard. Going out of mine would feel quite naturally as start of "new" adventure, with more visible storyline, some intrigues in it, and with more freedom.
^{* - well, closer than further, I guess...}

Although "Plot of Shadows" sounds a bit over the top, maybe?

Yeah, I kinda thought the same... not planning for that to be the official name, but it did do a rather concise job of giving two elements of the plot. Not the only two, but still.

Full honesty here...I'd rather you tweak the game before starting a new one. If it works, yay! If not...well you learned more, trial by error kinda deal.

I rather that as well... but quite honestly, the name would change, the mechanics would change... honestly, I think it would be less work for me to create a new one than to change this Roll to Dodge so that I was actually satisfied with it...

I'm still thinking this over, but I think that this new one would be more enjoyable both for any players and for me to write.

COULD I adapt this? Yes, I'd say so. It might be a wee bit... abrupt though.

Shinobody wrote:OTOH, I'd like to point out this seems to be one of better games currently running, especially when it comes to storyline and climate.

I concur with this point.




Dealers choice!

Oh wait...Gamemasters choice!

AerynPierre wrote:

Shinobody wrote:OTOH, I'd like to point out this seems to be one of better games currently running, especially when it comes to storyline and climate.

I concur with this point.

As do I.

I appreciate that! I'll let you guys know what I decide soon enough, but know that if I choose the new game, this one will get an ending. It won't be entirely conclusive, because I'd like to keep my options open after the other game finishes, as this R2D has a bit of a history built up already.

8680 wrote:

AerynPierre wrote:

Shinobody wrote:OTOH, I'd like to point out this seems to be one of better games currently running, especially when it comes to storyline and climate.

I concur with this point.

As do I.

...and Rulyon makes four. All the other games are enjoyable, but I have found myself enjoying yours more (even though my primary and only complaint about any of the games is the infrequency of the rolls).

You are a phenomenal GM, Crunchtime. I've enjoyed your game from the first roll. Your willingness to go with your player's interests and ideas (such as the pick-in-kidney causality in the aforementioned first roll) is one thing that makes people enjoy your game. [Side-note to other GMs: many of you exhibit this willingness, I don't intend to imply that you do not!]

All that aside, your role as a GM is to provide your players with a fun, clear, and challenging (but not impossible) adventure while enjoying the game yourself. If you feel there is something missing from your game or something that needs to be reworked in it, it's your perogative to do so. Indeed, it's ALMOST your responsibility, lest these issues weigh on your mind so long that your enthusiasm for the game grows stagnant and you just stop running it (that is, of course, your perogative as well).

In short: if you feel you want to modify your game, do it!

As an objective view from a player, I understand where you can desire change. Inconsistencies, while well hidden, are apparent to practiced GMs (or DMs as my case). Such as your magic system. The appeal of Terralius or Metal Casting magic makes a great premise for the game... but when almost a full year has passed (ten months) since starting the game without the players having a legitimate opportunity to learn such magic outside of, as you stated, INCREDIBLY risky attempts to learn it out of thin air, it detracts somewhat from the very setting that built up your players' enthusiasm in the first place.

PCs instead learn magic powers from desire, manifesting them in a seemingly "at whim" fashion while writing your rolls. Do note, despite this particular example, the powers given were very enjoyable, and none of us have voiced expressions of feeling cheated. Even with these inconsistencies the game was highly enjoyable to most of us, as evidenced by the fact that most of the original player group are still participating. Only one actually quit, the rest were removed due to inactivity... and were inactive over the entire forum during lull periods.

As for the game currently running... I too would like to see a conclusion should you start something new. But how about this: you put a lot of time and effort into designing your campaign setting. It would be a shame to lose all that. Add to that the time all of us, yourself and your players, have committed to it in playing, getting interested in the plot, and so forth (not to mention the characters) and you have quite a story to lose.

If you'd still be interested in using this setting after reworking your game then have us make new characters for the Feol empire, set in a time a number of months or years after the escape from the Reyna Mine. As a nod to the affections som may have for them, our old characters could be NPCs we encounter along the way. Perhaps they advanced in rank through the military with their special Mind powers, or became specialists or consultants. We could take orders from them, fight alongside them in a manner similar to the current game NPCs (Ordal, Talvik, etc).

Or you could banish them to the history books. Or wipe the whole setting clean and come up with something new. All your choice.

But those are my thoughts from two decades of role play experience.

...and Rulyon makes four. All the other games are enjoyable, but I have found myself enjoying yours more (even though my primary and only complaint about any of the games is the infrequency of the rolls).

You are a phenomenal GM, Crunchtime. I've enjoyed your game from the first roll. Your willingness to go with your player's interests and ideas (such as the pick-in-kidney causality in the aforementioned first roll) is one thing that makes people enjoy your game. [Side-note to other GMs: many of you exhibit this willingness, I don't intend to imply that you do not!]

That means alot to me, thank you, Rulyon, as well as everyone else who has voiced their opinion.

All that aside, your role as a GM is to provide your players with a fun, clear, and challenging (but not impossible) adventure while enjoying the game yourself. If you feel there is something missing from your game or something that needs to be reworked in it, it's your perogative to do so. Indeed, it's ALMOST your responsibility, lest these issues weigh on your mind so long that your enthusiasm for the game grows stagnant and you just stop running it (that is, of course, your perogative as well).

In short: if you feel you want to modify your game, do it!

More or less what I've been thinking, and what's led me to think seriously about this. I feel that a new game would not only provide a better setting for what I want to do (even considering a rather-awkward "escape-from-the-mine-oh-look-now-we're-enwrapped-in-a-planar-shredding-war") but it would also allow me to preserve this world I have created here for another game. Infact:

...set in a time a number of months or years after the escape from the Reyna Mine. As a nod to the affections some may have for them, our old characters could be NPCs we encounter along the way. Perhaps they advanced in rank through the military with their special Mind powers, or became specialists or consultants. We could take orders from them, fight alongside them in a manner similar to the current game NPCs (Ordal, Talvik, etc).

You pretty much read my mind, as that was exactly what I was thinking of doing. You,sir, are magic.

---

By now, it's probably pretty obvious that I am going to go with the "new game" route. This poses a problem in that rolling for seven people got a bit long. While I am happy to have you back in the game, Saima, truly I should have added you to the waiting list... it took ages to roll for seven people PLUS NPC's... ugh...

So in this new game, I am planning to have five people, which means that if all seven of you wish to join this newest game, piloted by yours truly, then two will be on the waiting list.
Not much I can do about that, sadly, other than make deaths more of an actual occurrence, which is something I plan to do. Truly, Aeryn, I think your character should have died twice now... once way back in the beginning where you chopped off your leg, and another when your hand exploded... both had (I believe) multiple one's in a row, which in my planned game will likely spell death.
What can I say... I didn't want to kill you off

Expect the conclusive "roll" soon, but know that I will return to this world in a later R2D, albeit with improved mechanics.

Actually...the leg lose was Rulyon. So technically...Rulyon and I should have died, lol.

I'll take a slot on the waiting list.

Got any info on the new game you are willing to share?

And if no one else volunteers...I'll go on the waiting list too. Tho my 1st choice is to play.



Guess I get to play! Well...GMs choice still. Lol

I might play but as im making my own game don't hold me on it so put me on the waiting list.

its_crunchtime wrote:
So in this new game, I am planning to have five people, which means that if all seven of you wish to join this newest game, piloted by yours truly, then two will be on the waiting list.
Not much I can do about that, sadly, other than make deaths more of an actual occurrence, which is something I plan to do. Truly, Aeryn, I think your character should have died twice now... once way back in the beginning where you chopped off your leg, and another when your hand exploded... both had (I believe) multiple one's in a row, which in my planned game will likely spell death.
What can I say... I didn't want to kill you off

Expect the conclusive "roll" soon, but know that I will return to this world in a later R2D, albeit with improved mechanics.

Wishes to join your new game

I'll play.

So I have 8680 and Anailater on the waiting list, and starting out playing are:

1)Aeryn
2)Malregima
3)Saima
4)-
5)-

Two more open slots, if anyone wishes to get a jump-start on anyone else... though since we don't have that many newcomers (what happened to that advertising thread/rotation game idea?) it's not exactly like a jump-start is needed!

Got any info on the new game you are willing to share?

Info plot-wise? You'll have to wait.

Info gameplay wise? I would appreciate some opinions on how a few mechanics will work. Anyone care to help? I could either post them here, or PM them to anyone interested.
Posting would probably be easier.