How to Fix Gurps

Marleycat · April 18, 2012, 11:45:53 PM

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;531513That's what Skype is for.

True, working on getting a laptop anyway given my best friend (lives in Washington) wants me to join his Dnd game via Skype.

Shawn Driscoll · April 18, 2012, 11:47:24 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;531517True, working on getting a laptop anyway given my best friend (lives in Washington) wants me to join his Dnd game via Skype.

Ok, good.

J Arcane · April 18, 2012, 11:55:01 PM

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;531512The keywords "starting game". Tell a wargaming now to play Ogre. Other worse things to do is tell a Pathfinder player to play 1979 Traveller. AMC Pacers are not driven anymore.

I was a 3.5e player, and I took to original Traveller just fine.

You're treading dangerously close to the "games as technology" fallacy.

Shawn Driscoll · April 18, 2012, 11:58:34 PM

Quote from: J Arcane;531520I was a 3.5e player, and I took to original Traveller just fine.

You're treading dangerously close to the "games as technology" fallacy.

A group of role-players will not have a problem. The min-max roll-players will be wanting your first born.

Rincewind1 · April 19, 2012, 12:00:24 AM

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;531521A group of role-players will not have a problem. The min-max roll-players will be wanting your first born.

Let them eat cake.

Although I think you might be dancing around a quite important factor - our first game (I'd say first two - three systems), especially in genre of RPGs, often are very important to our expectations - first system because it's first, and the second and third because we were a) looking for something new and b) looking for something better then the first one.

Shawn Driscoll · April 19, 2012, 12:08:54 AM

Quote from: Rincewind1;531522our first game (I'd say first two - three systems), especially in genre of RPGs, often are very important to our expectations - first system because it's first, and the second and third because we were a) looking for something new and b) looking for something better then the first one.

Of course there are players that use a variety of systems. Back in the day, a group would leave a certain RPG system simply because the publisher folded (SPI) and find a new system to get into. Or they wanted to do a genre that wasn't fit for the system they were using.

I can't remember which system it was, but years ago I remember seeing advanced injury rules that showed cross sections of arms and torsos, etc so you could trace the path of a bullet and at what angle a sword had entered. I want to say it was FTL: 2448 for some reason.

ggroy · April 19, 2012, 12:14:23 AM

Quote from: Rincewind1;531522Although I think you might be dancing around a quite important factor - our first game (I'd say first two - three systems), especially in genre of RPGs, often are very important to our expectations - first system because it's first, and the second and third because we were a) looking for something new and b) looking for something better then the first one.

Definitely.

My first two rpg systems were D&D and Runequest.

My third system was less certain. I got DragonQuest, but only played it a few times. (We lost patience with how complicated it was at the time). Around the same time I also picked up Marvel Super Heroes (FASERIP), which we played numerous times. (Don't remember which one I purchased first).

In those days, I suppose I was looking for something that was less rigid than the D&D system (ie. classes, XP, etc ...), with simultaneously more complexity.

Marleycat · April 19, 2012, 12:21:44 AM

Quote from: Rincewind1;531522Let them eat cake.

Although I think you might be dancing around a quite important factor - our first game (I'd say first two - three systems), especially in genre of RPGs, often are very important to our expectations - first system because it's first, and the second and third because we were a) looking for something new and b) looking for something better then the first one.

You're definitely on to something I started with Dnd then got introduced to Warhammer, then GURPS, then White Wolf those 4 systems and expectations therein still form the basis of what I like and dislike or if I will even look at a new game.

ggroy · April 19, 2012, 12:37:54 AM

If I was 20 years younger, I think my gaming preferences may very well be very different.

Instead of being into more complex rule systems, I think I would have became a minmax-er and rules lawyer.

Marleycat · April 19, 2012, 12:48:18 AM

Quote from: ggroy;531535If I was 20 years younger, I think my gaming preferences may very well be very different.

Instead of being into more complex rule systems, I think I would have became a minmax-er and rules lawyer.

That attitude is prevalent only because of videogames be happy you're not that kind of player. It's based on selfishness and instant gratification, neither are good qualities for a roleplayer or a rpg game.

ggroy · April 19, 2012, 12:59:41 AM

Quote from: Marleycat;531538That attitude is prevalent only because of videogames

Hmmm ....

I was hardcore into video games in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Though back then, many video games kept on going forever at faster speeds, until all your men were killed.

Back then the only way to really gain an unfair advantage, was if there were tricks or loopholes in the game to exploit. (Basically programming errors). Though one had to know about such tricks, frequently via word of mouth and/or video game magazines.

Marleycat · April 19, 2012, 01:08:36 AM

Quote from: ggroy;531542Hmmm ....

I was hardcore into video games in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Though back then, many video games kept on going forever at faster speeds, until all your men were killed.

Back then the only way to really gain an unfair advantage, was if there were tricks or loopholes in the game to exploit. (Basically programming errors). Though one had to know about such tricks, frequently via word of mouth and/or video game magazines.

Exactly. They engendered "I need to win" thinking. Or "how do I game the system " thinking. It hasn't changed one bit in the modern generation of videogames, cheat codes included. Same attitude and mindset dominates MMORGS.

Shawn Driscoll · April 19, 2012, 01:14:18 AM

Quote from: ggroy;531535If I was 20 years younger, I think my gaming preferences may very well be very different.

Instead of being into more complex rule systems, I think I would have became a minmax-er and rules lawyer.

When I was young and playing early RPGs like Runequest, I was like the replicant Leo in Blade Runner. I didn't know anything about medieval settings. I didn't know what a paladin was or what chaotic meant, etc. The DM would tell me to role-play my character and I had no idea what that meant really.

Shawn Driscoll · April 19, 2012, 01:15:25 AM

Quote from: Marleycat;531538That attitude is prevalent only because of videogames be happy you're not that kind of player. It's based on selfishness and instant gratification, neither are good qualities for a roleplayer or a rpg game.

You are wise.

ggroy · April 19, 2012, 01:22:15 AM

Quote from: Marleycat;531543Exactly. They engendered "I need to win" thinking. Or "how do I game the system " thinking. It hasn't changed one bit in the modern generation of videogames, cheat codes included. Same attitude and mindset dominates MMORGS.

One could go back further in time, such as blackjack card counters back in the 1960's.