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Author Topic: RPGs No One Is Playing  (Read 21622 times)

Trond

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #210 on: August 14, 2022, 02:36:56 PM »

The ARIA downfall is that they try to construct their own RPG, and try too hard to "Not Be Some Other Game" in which they scrupulously avoid standard terminology for dozens of concepts and ideas, and instead slot in far more obscure terms. Then, they create weird subsystems with crazy names, and much of it gets lost in wordy, arcane jargon.

I guess the irony is that even Gygax fell into that trap of swapping terminology and using unnecessary jargon with some of his later stuff, like Lejendary Adventures if I'm not mistaken.

Eirikrautha

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #211 on: August 14, 2022, 04:20:19 PM »

The ARIA downfall is that they try to construct their own RPG, and try too hard to "Not Be Some Other Game" in which they scrupulously avoid standard terminology for dozens of concepts and ideas, and instead slot in far more obscure terms. Then, they create weird subsystems with crazy names, and much of it gets lost in wordy, arcane jargon.

I guess the irony is that even Gygax fell into that trap of swapping terminology and using unnecessary jargon with some of his later stuff, like Lejendary Adventures if I'm not mistaken.

Considering TSR sued him and buried Dangerous Journeys for being "too much like D&D," he had a serious incentive to rename stuff...

Trond

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #212 on: August 14, 2022, 06:47:49 PM »

Considering TSR sued him and buried Dangerous Journeys for being "too much like D&D," he had a serious incentive to rename stuff...

Ah, did not know that.

dungeon crawler

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #213 on: August 20, 2022, 05:52:44 PM »
FTL:2448. I know of know one playing this old game at all.

Brooding Paladin

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #214 on: August 20, 2022, 06:23:18 PM »
Polaris? 
We bought into the hype but didn't find it playable.  Maybe they're still playing it in France...

zircher

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #215 on: August 20, 2022, 11:59:31 PM »
FTL:2448. I know of know one playing this old game at all.
John R. and I thought about reviving this one, but then Richard T. died and that killed the momentum.
You can find my solo Tarot based rules for Amber on my home page.
http://www.tangent-zero.com

Effete

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #216 on: August 21, 2022, 04:00:18 AM »
Polaris? 
We bought into the hype but didn't find it playable.  Maybe they're still playing it in France...

I have the pdf tucked away on a thumb drive. I remember reading it about three years ago or so and just having my eyes glaze over. Same with Coriolis. The lore was very interesting, but the rules are dense af.

I don't know of anyone playing either game.

HappyDaze

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #217 on: August 21, 2022, 09:17:45 AM »
Polaris? 
We bought into the hype but didn't find it playable.  Maybe they're still playing it in France...

I have the pdf tucked away on a thumb drive. I remember reading it about three years ago or so and just having my eyes glaze over. Same with Coriolis. The lore was very interesting, but the rules are dense af.

I don't know of anyone playing either game.
I considered using the Polaris setting with another (generic) rule system, possibly Savage Worlds, Genesys, Traveller, or (my least favorite) GURPS, but I just didn't want to put in the work to convert it.

Then there was Alpha*Omega, a beautiful book with nearly unplayable rules. I've never known anyone to play it.

Trond

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #218 on: August 21, 2022, 10:04:40 AM »
Polaris? 
We bought into the hype but didn't find it playable.  Maybe they're still playing it in France...

This reminds me of that fantasy RPG that was incredibly hyped a number of years ago, almost solely due to the art, which the authors were sure to show off as much as possible during preorders etc. I think options included playing bears with gills or some such weirdness. The moment people actually started reading the thing much of the enthusiasm evaporated. Does this ring a bell anyone?

Effete

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #219 on: August 21, 2022, 02:15:02 PM »
I considered using the Polaris setting with another (generic) rule system, possibly Savage Worlds, Genesys, Traveller, or (my least favorite) GURPS, but I just didn't want to put in the work to convert it.

There was someone on the PEG forum a couple years ago asking about a Polaris --> SW conversion. I did some rudimentary work toward that, but soon gave up. The attribute conversion was easy since it mirrored 3e DnD (and I did a shit-ton of 3e --> SW conversions), but Polaris's weird weapon stats just broke my brain.

Trond

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #220 on: August 21, 2022, 02:26:40 PM »
Polaris? 
We bought into the hype but didn't find it playable.  Maybe they're still playing it in France...

This reminds me of that fantasy RPG that was incredibly hyped a number of years ago, almost solely due to the art, which the authors were sure to show off as much as possible during preorders etc. I think options included playing bears with gills or some such weirdness. The moment people actually started reading the thing much of the enthusiasm evaporated. Does this ring a bell anyone?

To answer my own question: the game I was thinking of is Eoris.

ffilz

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #221 on: August 24, 2022, 10:55:48 PM »
Quote from: ggroy;348304
Perhaps:

- Aftermath!
- original SPI version of DragonQuest
- Chivalry & Sorcery
- Immortals box set of BECMI D&D
- Gangbusters
- older editions of Bushido
- Twilight 2000
- Cyberspace (by I.C.E.)
- 1st edition of Ars Magica

I know that of those, at least Chivalry and Sorcery was still being avidly played by a small group up to about 10 years ago. One of the authors of C&S was based in Edmonton, and the game had a small but loyal following there.

RPGPundit

Brittannia Game Designs Ltd did a KS for the C&C 5th edition rules in 2019. They are an Electrum Best Seller on DTRPG and have additional source books and adventures. Based on that I would guess that there is someone out there playing it.
I have threatened to run C&S 1e...

I am playing in two FGU Bushido games (one of which I started but then handed off to another GM - I WOULD have run the Tyr Games edition if there was any legal way to get a PDF or reasonable cost way to get a physical copy).

Wayne of Wayne's books was blogging about a Twilight 2000 campaign.

zincmoat

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #222 on: August 25, 2022, 09:23:19 AM »
Quote from: ggroy;348304
Perhaps:

- Aftermath!
- original SPI version of DragonQuest
- Chivalry & Sorcery
- Immortals box set of BECMI D&D
- Gangbusters
- older editions of Bushido
- Twilight 2000
- Cyberspace (by I.C.E.)
- 1st edition of Ars Magica

I know that of those, at least Chivalry and Sorcery was still being avidly played by a small group up to about 10 years ago. One of the authors of C&S was based in Edmonton, and the game had a small but loyal following there.

RPGPundit

Brittannia Game Designs Ltd did a KS for the C&C 5th edition rules in 2019. They are an Electrum Best Seller on DTRPG and have additional source books and adventures. Based on that I would guess that there is someone out there playing it.
I am playing in two FGU Bushido games (one of which I started but then handed off to another GM - I WOULD have run the Tyr Games edition if there was any legal way to get a PDF or reasonable cost way to get a physical copy).

We also play Bushido at least once per year and it is my favorite system to run. I have a copy of the 1st edition and it is nice to see the progression  of the system from that version to the version FGU released. But I am not sure it is more playable.

Batjon

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #223 on: August 25, 2022, 12:52:49 PM »
I have 2 copies of the Hercules and Xena RPG and it is actually really good.  Rules lite and lots of fun.  I've checked online to see if there is any interest in playing and there are still people that want to play.

If any of you are interested in possibly getting something going for it online, PM me.

Batjon

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Re: RPGs No One Is Playing
« Reply #224 on: August 25, 2022, 12:58:53 PM »
The main author for Chivalry & Sorcery, Steve Turner, hangs out all the time in the Discord server for Mr. Mean Speaks, the YouTube game reviewer.  Some in that channel occasionally play the game and streamed some of their stuff to YouTube a while back.  There was also a recent Land of the Rising Sun Kickstarter that fulfilled months back that expanded the game to Japan.
« Last Edit: August 25, 2022, 04:29:20 PM by Batjon »