Pinball machine in Eberron: cool or dumb?

mcbobbo · September 03, 2014, 09:00:38 AM

Eberron is not Earth. So they should have some things that are like we have and should not have others. Should there be Eberron Elvis / Eberron rock-n-roll? What about Eberron Segway machines? Or even Eberron ten-speeds?

Catelf · September 03, 2014, 11:38:51 AM

Quote from: snooggums;784616The dungeon should be filled with bitter warforged eunuchs.

Why not have it run by a GamesMaster that hires his services to kill adventurers that has been snooping around too much, an his weapon of choice is a huge pinball- and theme-designed dungeoun?
With a lot of mechanical golems as the enemies, yes, even the skeleton-looking ones are mechanical golems.

And yes, i'm referring to the Marvel Comic villain Arcade.

With mechanical birds flying in a ... specific pattern, you could even copy a lethal version of ol' Space Invaders ...

Gold Roger · September 03, 2014, 12:31:29 PM

Quote from: Shipyard Locked;784644For those who object, would specifically describing it in-game a a "primitive" pinball machine and pointing out the fact that they historically rose to prominence in the 19th century make it easier to swallow?

That would make it even worse for me, because it underlines the connection to our modern world.

Calling it something else than pinball machine and letting the characters take a knowledge check to learn how the thing came to be made would ease it for me.

Just Another Snake Cult · September 03, 2014, 12:46:12 PM

Quote from: jadrax;784645TBH, rather than calling it a 'pinball machine' I would describe it to the players and then protest if they call it a 'pinball machine'.

Doomsphere?

Dragonroll?

Dragonsphere?

Dragoneye?

The metal balls are mass-produced halfling sling bullets left over from the war?

Shipyard Locked · September 03, 2014, 01:39:37 PM

Quote from: Gold Roger;784707That would make it even worse for me, because it underlines the connection to our modern world.

Calling it something else than pinball machine and letting the characters take a knowledge check to learn how the thing came to be made would ease it for me.

Ok, how about "very sophisticated bagatelle"?

LibraryLass · September 03, 2014, 08:25:02 PM

Riedran Billiards!

Mr. Kent · September 04, 2014, 02:12:15 AM

Cool--had no idea there was a pinball machine in Eberron. That's awesome.

Shipyard Locked · September 04, 2014, 06:22:34 AM

So far it's 15 for and 12 against (2 complex). I'm sure this highly divided response means something interesting, but what?

beejazz · September 04, 2014, 10:03:28 AM

Quote from: Shipyard Locked;784575Secondary question: What if the pinball machine was a gateway into a pinball-themed dungeon? :D

The pinball machine is eh for me.

The pinball dungeon could be cool on it's own, especially if you don't call it that. Just build a dungeon with traps/puzzles with ball launcher and paddle based mechanisms, plus gentle slopes and curved hallways. It doesn't even have to be totally typical pinball machine shaped. Go for multiple launchers, paddles in odd spots, multiple levels, etc.

Exploderwizard · September 04, 2014, 12:24:18 PM

I will go with my stock answer for D&D games.

Will including such a thing add potential fun to the game?

If the answer is YES bring it on.

Ladybird · September 04, 2014, 01:22:11 PM

Pinball is inherently cool. Thus COOL.

But you can't say "well they had pinball in the 19th century" to justify it, because they didn't have our 19th century. Come up with something that doesn't breach the fourth wall.

LibraryLass · September 04, 2014, 08:47:07 PM

Quote from: Shipyard Locked;784912So far it's 15 for and 12 against (2 complex). I'm sure this highly divided response means something interesting, but what?

That about half of people here are too goddamned serious.

Ravenswing · September 06, 2014, 08:09:17 AM

Quote from: Ladybird;785011But you can't say "well they had pinball in the 19th century" to justify it, because they didn't have our 19th century. Come up with something that doesn't breach the fourth wall.

And they didn't have any of our other centuries, either. There are only about half a zillion things in Eberron -- or in any other published setting -- that are analogs or direct copies of technological items produced on Earth. Should your average fantasy world have "swords" in it, for instance?

Honestly, I voted "neat" because Eberron is the most gonzo major fantasy setting out there, and it'd be tough to huff and puff and proclaim that much of any technological creation would shatter suspension of disbelief.

Ladybird · September 06, 2014, 08:45:03 AM

Quote from: Ravenswing;785364And they didn't have any of our other centuries, either. There are only about half a zillion things in Eberron -- or in any other published setting -- that are analogs or direct copies of technological items produced on Earth. Should your average fantasy world have "swords" in it, for instance?

Honestly, I voted "neat" because Eberron is the most gonzo major fantasy setting out there, and it'd be tough to huff and puff and proclaim that much of any technological creation would shatter suspension of disbelief.

It comes down to suspension of disbelief and keeping within the walls of the setting.

"Object to use to hurt other people with" is a pretty basic concept, most civilizations that we know of (And recognise as such) have them. If their word for the metal one used for stabbing and slicing is translated into "sword" for our benefit, that seems legit. It isn't really referencing something outside the setting.

"Guys, pinball tables were around in the 19th century, stop sniggering" is referencing something outside the setting, though; it's directly referencing our world to justify it's existence in another. And it's probably not even called pinball in their language, but translation etc again.

Gold Roger · September 06, 2014, 10:00:15 AM

Quote from: Ravenswing;785364And they didn't have any of our other centuries, either. There are only about half a zillion things in Eberron -- or in any other published setting -- that are analogs or direct copies of technological items produced on Earth. Should your average fantasy world have "swords" in it, for instance?

Honestly, I voted "neat" because Eberron is the most gonzo major fantasy setting out there, and it'd be tough to huff and puff and proclaim that much of any technological creation would shatter suspension of disbelief.

I honestly do not get the idea that Eberron is gonzo at all.

Low level magic and magic items are very common, but it is also a setting that puts a lot of effort into explaining and rationalising its magitech.

And apart from the magic level, the entire setting is decidedly non-fantastic. Most non human creatures display very human behavior, gods are an indefinite thing, politics and mentality mirror modern sensibilities.

In fact my biggest complaint with the settting would be a lack of gonzo elements compared to the likes of planescape.