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Mearls takes a big gulp of the Kool-Aid

Started by droog, March 22, 2008, 08:50:34 PM

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droog

March 22, 2008, 08:50:34 PM
http://mearls.livejournal.com/146778.html
QuoteYour Job is to Chase Characters Up Trees
So, years ago Ron Edwards (I think) introduced the idea of kickers and bangs in Sorcerer. I own Sorcerer, read it, and thought I understood them.
.........
OK, so a lot of this stuff is basic RPG theory and covers some now fundamental methods to put characters into motion. The big reveal for me is that, for the past few campaigns, I've been unhappy with how the story has progressed. My last Eberron campaign in Boston was a lot of fun, but since then the games have felt a little flat.

So, yesterday, to kick off my Greyhawk Temple of Elemental Evil campaign, I trotted out a set of Traveller-style rules I built with an eye toward kickers and bangs. The rules lack significant mechanical impact on a PC. Instead, they build kickers right into the character's background. We ended up with some really interesting characters with lots of reasons to push the story ahead. The kickers it produced also suggest a number of bangs that can come up in play.
The past lives on in your front room
The poor still weak the rich still rule
History lives in the books at home
The books at home

Gang of Four
[/size]

madunkieg

#1
March 22, 2008, 09:21:29 PM
I'm not sure what you're wanting to discuss.

Are you wanting advice on how to do this with your game or your players? Are you wondering if story hooks are necessary, or even a good idea? Are you wondering if this sort of thing should be codified into the rules or left to participants to describe?
Humans should have been assigned a wisdom penalty.

David R

#2
March 22, 2008, 09:21:46 PM
Does this mean all is lost ?

Regards,
David R

Aos

#3
March 22, 2008, 09:24:03 PM
Commence the jackassery!
You are posting in a troll thread.

Metal Earth

Cosmic Tales- Webcomic

Blackleaf

#4
March 22, 2008, 10:28:50 PM
That's really too bad. Poor Mike.

flyingmice

#5
March 22, 2008, 10:50:35 PM
Kickers and bangs are standard GM tricks given neat, catchy names by Mr. Edwards. They are so old they were both around when I started GMing 30 years ago. This is silly, Droog! Or was that your point? :P

Actually I think it's a scream that Mearls is treating them like cool new ideas when they're just cool old ideas... :D

-clash
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT

KrakaJak

#6
March 22, 2008, 11:20:23 PM
What are Kickers and Bangs? Sounds like how I should categorise my women :D
-Jak
 
 "Be the person you want to be, at the expense of everything."
Spreading Un-Common Sense since 1983

blakkie

#7
March 22, 2008, 11:23:47 PM
Quote from: David RDoes this mean all is lost ?
No, we still have each other!

:ponder:


:bawling:


:suicide:
"Because honestly? I have no idea what you do. None." - Pierce Inverarity

blakkie

#8
March 22, 2008, 11:25:37 PM
Quote from: flyingmiceKickers and bangs are standard GM tricks given neat, catchy names by Mr. Edwards.
I disagree. Those names are lame. Whenever I hear them I get the urge to grab the speaker by the ears and go start building a fence by using their face to pound pickets into the ground.


EDIT: But maybe that's just me?  Perhaps I'll ask my anger management coach next week when he gets out of the hospital.
"Because honestly? I have no idea what you do. None." - Pierce Inverarity

flyingmice

#9
March 22, 2008, 11:38:18 PM
Quote from: blakkieI disagree. Those names are lame. Whenever I hear them I get the urge to grab the speaker by the ears and go start building a fence by using their face to pound pickets into the ground.


EDIT: But maybe that's just me?  Perhaps I'll ask my anger management coach next week when he gets out of the hospital.

:p
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT

brettmb2

#10
March 22, 2008, 11:39:14 PM
Quote from: blakkieBut maybe that's just me?  Perhaps I'll ask my anger management coach next week when he gets out of the hospital.
No, it's not just you. I'm a firm believer than names should be meaningful, not just sound cool to a select few.
Brett Bernstein
Precis Intermedia

Two-Fisted Tales Pulp RPG, HardNova, EarthAD 2, Coyote Trail, Ghostories, Mean Streets, Iron Gauntlets, Story Engine, Disposable Heroes Paper Minis, New World Disorder Miniatures Skirmish Rules
Two-Fisted Tales, the definitive Pulp RPG of the day, because RPGPundit said so!

droog

#11
March 22, 2008, 11:40:27 PM
Quote from: flyingmiceOr was that your point? :P
I have multiple points!
The past lives on in your front room
The poor still weak the rich still rule
History lives in the books at home
The books at home

Gang of Four
[/size]

Blackleaf

#12
March 22, 2008, 11:58:46 PM
Quote from: Mike MearlsThe big reveal for me is that, for the past few campaigns, I've been unhappy with how the story has progressed.
Yeah... isn't Mike playing all 4e right now?

That's rough.

madunkieg

#13
March 23, 2008, 12:06:24 AM
Quote from: droogI have multiple points!
Then make them.

For example, kickers and bangs have three flaws that I can see:

1. They are tied to particular characters, but don't necessarily encourage the group to get involved with one another (and can even discourage it, if they are badly done).

2. They are a means of classifying plot hooks based on the gamemaster's perspective, but they seem to be designed by players, which is clumsy (though I could be misreading this).

3. They only seem to set up the start of the story. Many other games include things like enemies, dependents, patrons and driving goals (to steal some examples from GURPS) to help create plot hooks. These are superior because they can reoccur throughout the story much more easily.
Humans should have been assigned a wisdom penalty.

Brantai

#14
March 23, 2008, 12:44:56 AM
Whenever I hear "Kicker and Bangs" I think of bangers and mash.



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