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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Reviews => Topic started by: RPGPundit on May 18, 2011, 04:57:24 PM

Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: RPGPundit on May 18, 2011, 04:57:24 PM
RPGPundit Reviews: The Tools of Ignorance, A Baseball Roleplaying Game

This is a review of the print version of Tools of Ignorance, a baseball RPG.  It is written by Clash Bowley, and published by Flying Mice games.  The print edition is a softcover, about 50 pages long.  The front cover features a ball and a catcher's helmet.  I am informed that "tools of ignorance" is the term for a catcher's equipment in baseball.

I'm not yet certain if making an rpg about a sport (that isn't, say, gladiatorial dwarf-orc combat in a dark future ruled by brain-eating vampire illithids) is an act of lunacy or a work of genius.  It is definitely a labour of love, in this case.

The game is pretty much what it sounds like: you play a team of major league baseball players, with the goal being to get to and win the World Series. You start out by creating your team, which you can do by random rolls or optionally direct choice to determine the "type of team" you have, ranging from "hapless" or "struggling" to "top notch"; and varying by the size of market.  So a Top Notch team in a big market starts with 130 points, while a hapless team in a small market has only 70 points to work with.

You use these points to buy players, rated as rookies, veterans, prime, aging, declining, over-the-hill or "ancient"; and varying according to "standard", "star", or "superstar" qualities. These "star ratings" determine how much money the player is worth, and it is required in the game that the player accumulate enough "notice" (from successful games in a season) to maintain a player's rating (or increase it).  If the player doesn't earn sufficient notice, he will end up dropping to a lower rating. A player who can't maintain even a standard rating is kicked off the team at the end of the year.

Notice is given in small amounts for things like nice plays or good attitude, and in greater amounts for important actions, like hitting a home run in a game against a rival team, completing a game, a shutout, a game-winning catch, stealing home in the playoffs, a no-hitter, etc.  Negative Notice can also be given as a penalty if a player expresses improper behavior.  Toadying to the press or undercutting rivals might also gain notice, but there is a fine-line in that between doing it well and ending up getting a bad reputation for it.

Managers are also statted, with three varieties: "boy genius", veteran, or "crusty coot". There are different styles of management, like "the Tactician", "the Mastermind", "the Accountant", etc., who get different special edges they can use for managing.

The basic mechanic for resolving a regular game is a single-roll mechanic, where you compare team vs. team and roll to see who wins. That way you can get through an entire game with a single roll for any game that isn't actually important or worth playing in the longer version. Optionally, in the one-roll game, each player can try a roll to see if they had any special personal "highlight" in the game, giving them a little Notice.

To actually create a Baseball Player PC, you will choose a professional template (based on the kind of player we're talking about as mentioned above; ie. veteran, aging, etc.), and then a background template, like "moose", "gorilla", "monkey" (yes, all of these are named after animals).  The Background template gives the character his basic attributes, the Professional Template modifies these attributes.  Both give skills (of both the baseball variety, like "pitching", "hitting", etc; and the non-baseball variety, like "tactics", "endear", etc). Some of the templates provide edges (special abilities). You add together all the bonuses of both templates to get the basic character, and roll randomly to determine if you are a left or right handed hitter/pitcher.
The professional template is based on age.  Each season, your character ages a year; and when he hits the age of the next template up he would erase all his previous bonuses and add in the bonuses of his new template.  Thus, baseball skills can rise or fall in value over time; non-baseball skills only keep accumulating, however.

Non-baseball skills are used to create special effects either in or out of a game. The skill "deke", for example, lets you attempt to physically deceive another player; "endear" lets you win people over, "overdo" lets you push through pain or fatigue.

Characters also have certain "traits", like "hot-tempered", "greedy", "loyal", "upright", "practical", "nefarious", etc. Traits are refreshed each session, and allow a character to roll an extra die for each trait point used, as long as the descriptor of the trait is relevant to the task being attempted.  Characters get 7 points to put into their traits.

Now, on to task resolution; the first is hitting, and you have different mechanics to hit "for average" or to hit "for power". The difference is the former uses the Coordination stat and the latter the Strength stat.  In both cases the checks are opposed checks to the pitcher. A table is provided giving the possible results; the system is a dice pool, so the more successes a hitter gets versus the pitcher, the better his result.  If he gets four or more successes above the pitcher's successes, then he's hit a homer.

Pitchers can likewise pitch "for power" or as "crafty pitchers" (using STR and COOR respectively).  Pitchers also have a fatigue mechanic, based on their Endurance, that determines how many innings they can play before getting tired. After that, they begin to suffer cumulative penalties to their play.

Players can also issue "challenges", which are basically things like trying to steal 2nd or whatnot; the consequence of failure usually being getting "out".  In turn, managers can make "maneuvers", which require a tactics check, success giving certain bonuses to players in an ensuing play.
Players can get injured in-game if they botch an END check after using a trait.  There are random tables to determine where a hit or an out goes... the point here is that its all very thorough. I have no doubt that this system covers everything needed to actually play a drawn out baseball game in the actual RPG.

There are even rules for the use of performance enhancing drugs.  Which really is what makes it realistic in the context of modern professional baseball.

There are rules too, for troupe play, which I assume would really be the default here (and its "recommended" in the rules).  There is also a mechanic based on a pack of cards to create random events in "the media", "romance/family", "health" or "the team and teammates".

You also get a long list of suggested team names, random opponent stat chart, a sample lineup for the "portland tradewinds", and some reference and character sheets.

One thing this game DOESN'T have is any description of the rules of baseball itself.  I suppose this is OK, really, because who in their right mind would buy an RPG about baseball if they weren't already enough a baseball fan to know how the game is played? It is amusing to me, though, in its absence.

Ultimately, what can I say about Tools of Ignorance? From what I can see, it would do an absolutely EXCELLENT job at what it set out to do: let you simulate an RPG version of the game of baseball, including certain off-field details.  It is a hyper-focused game, which probably would not be very heavy on the role-playing. Almost to the point where I have to ask myself if what I'm reading really is a roleplaying game, or something that uses roleplaying mechanics in a totally different way?  Its definitely not a story game, though. So there's that at least.

Anyways, if you want an RPG baseball-simulator, this is THE game for you.  I'm fairly sure that there's no other game out there that would cover this topic as well, or in fact, at all.

RPGPundit

Currently Smoking: Ashton Old Church Rhodesian + Rattray's Old Gowrie
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Tommy Brownell on May 18, 2011, 07:51:05 PM
I agree...I wasn't 100% sure how to comment on it. I mean, he did GREAT work with it, but yeah...it's a baseball RPG. The best compliment I could offer is that I don't even LIKE baseball and the RPG made me want to actually play a "down on their luck, underfunded team trying to save their club one more year" type of game.

clash is good like that...=)
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: RPGPundit on May 18, 2011, 08:48:14 PM
Yes, he is good at that.

RPGPundit
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 18, 2011, 10:59:19 PM
Oh, it's an act of lunacy! Pure lunacy. What can I say but my love of the game took me by the throat and forced me to write it. I plead temporary insanity. Not only did I write it, which is weird but acceptable in a fan, I published it and am charging for it! This is the height of insanity!

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Silverlion on May 19, 2011, 12:46:54 AM
Quote from: flyingmice;459146Oh, it's an act of lunacy!
-clash

It isn't all your fault though...
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Bedrockbrendan on May 19, 2011, 11:05:02 AM
I am no baseball fan (which is pretty much a capital crime here in Boston) but I really liked this book (the PDF version in my case). Because I run a lot of modern games, most of the material came in handy for my normal campaign. While no one plays an athlete in my games, sports do figure into the background because it is mob-related. So having some easy rules to pull from was great. I didn't end up using the whole thing, because we weren't role playing baseball. The stuff I did use was mostly to set up a baseball season that the PCs could influence for gambling purposes. I think there are a lot of alternate uses for this product that go beyond its initial scope.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Nicephorus on May 19, 2011, 04:17:55 PM
I don't care for baseball but I might pick this up. It sounds like, aside from specific names of outcomes, it might be adaptable for other sports. If I ever got the chance, I'd like to run a campaign with a sports team, either a futuristic game akin to rollerball, or a fantasy game (I have the basic rules of a rugby/soccer game with magic and padded weapons). Alternate between the games and other actions. This would help abstract and stat many of the aspects.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 19, 2011, 09:05:34 PM
Thanks, Brendan! :D

I don't know as it could be adapted to any other sport, Nicephorus. It's got a very pronounced baseball rhythm in play, and no other sport has that rhythm.

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Lawbag on May 20, 2011, 01:33:31 AM
I remember clearly owning a RPG/Simulation of a Baseball game back in the 80s called Monday Night Manager. Anyone else remember this?
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 20, 2011, 01:52:37 AM
Quote from: Lawbag;459406I remember clearly owning a RPG/Simulation of a Baseball game back in the 80s called Monday Night Manager. Anyone else remember this?

Yay! Once more i escape doing something original by the skin of my teeth! :D

Never hard of it, Lawbag! Was it any good?

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Bedrockbrendan on May 20, 2011, 07:30:31 AM
Quote from: flyingmice;459352Thanks, Brendan! :D

I don't know as it could be adapted to any other sport, Nicephorus. It's got a very pronounced baseball rhythm in play, and no other sport has that rhythm.

-clash

I think you could use the approach to create something with another sport. But yeah, you'd probably have to customize it to get the feel. I'd love to see a product for boxing, but don't know how many people would be into it.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Ian Warner on May 20, 2011, 09:38:30 AM
Sports systems for existing games are dime a dozen but actually making a game focused entirely on Sport takes guts.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: RPGPundit on May 20, 2011, 04:46:03 PM
I did have someone down here say that if there was a game like this for soccer/"futbol", then it would probably do very well.

RPGPundit
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Ian Warner on May 20, 2011, 05:04:58 PM
I wrote some football rules for WoD Innocents once but they didn't work too well.

I may do something with B&C in the future if I'm not beaten to it.

Possible title "Your Goin' 'Ome in an Abulence"
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 21, 2011, 02:52:33 PM
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;459434I think you could use the approach to create something with another sport. But yeah, you'd probably have to customize it to get the feel. I'd love to see a product for boxing, but don't know how many people would be into it.

I have a half-formed thing in my mind, where I could twist it for Hockey, but it would take a lot of work. Boxing would be very cool! I love boxing. It's just hard to make it a team game.

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 21, 2011, 02:53:25 PM
Quote from: Ian Warner;459457Sports systems for existing games are dime a dozen but actually making a game focused entirely on Sport takes guts.

The operative word is insanity, not guts, Ian!

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Bedrockbrendan on May 21, 2011, 05:25:12 PM
Quote from: flyingmice;459793I have a half-formed thing in my mind, where I could twist it for Hockey, but it would take a lot of work. Boxing would be very cool! I love boxing. It's just hard to make it a team game.

-clash

With boxing the team would probably need to include the group behind the boxer (trainers, managers, sparring partners, etc).
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Ian Warner on May 21, 2011, 05:47:05 PM
Problem is if I write this football/soccer one I won't be able to resist making drug abuse, stupid wages and marrying airheads, cheating on them with prostitutes then divorcing them part of the mechanics.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 21, 2011, 06:03:10 PM
Quote from: Ian Warner;459814Problem is if I write this football/soccer one I won't be able to resist making drug abuse, stupid wages and marrying airheads, cheating on them with prostitutes then divorcing them part of the mechanics.

Those things are all in Tools of Ignorance - mostly in the cards - so why the hell not?

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 21, 2011, 06:03:58 PM
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;459809With boxing the team would probably need to include the group behind the boxer (trainers, managers, sparring partners, etc).

Yep! It could be done, but the players would have to agree to split it all up this way. One of them will be rich and famous - the manager - one will be famous - the boxer - and the rest will be lost in the shuffle. Might be very interesting with an internal betrayal/conflict thing going though! :D

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: boulet on May 21, 2011, 11:50:54 PM
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;459809With boxing the team would probably need to include the group behind the boxer (trainers, managers, sparring partners, etc).

I have no first hand knowledge of the Buffy the vampire slayer rpg so I'm probably talking out of my ass here but the imbalance between PCs might have commonalties.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 22, 2011, 10:55:09 AM
Quote from: boulet;459844I have no first hand knowledge of the Buffy the vampire slayer rpg so I'm probably talking out of my ass here but the imbalance between PCs might have commonalties.

Good idea, boulet! That could make it work!

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Age of Fable on May 23, 2011, 11:26:56 AM
The adventures of a 'barnstorming' team on the road might be more 'adventure-like' than a modern team.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 23, 2011, 07:10:13 PM
Quote from: Age of Fable;459996The adventures of a 'barnstorming' team on the road might be more 'adventure-like' than a modern team.

The game could actually run anything past the dead ball era. You just have to change the social situations in the cards - especially the doping. The dead ball era was fundamentally different from the post dead ball era, and it wouldn't play true.

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Ian Warner on May 25, 2011, 03:23:45 PM
Got my copy today.

Will probably read it after Maid!
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: One Horse Town on May 25, 2011, 09:21:39 PM
Now i want a cricket game.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Age of Fable on May 26, 2011, 05:18:18 AM
Quote from: One Horse Town;460527Now i want a cricket game.

How's that?
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Ian Warner on May 26, 2011, 07:58:29 AM
I'd do one but I'd probably make it all about throwing the match and not getting caught.

Yes I'm dead cynical.
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: Age of Fable on May 26, 2011, 09:44:17 AM
Maybe you could do a sport-themed version of En Garde!
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 27, 2011, 07:36:13 PM
Quote from: One Horse Town;460527Now i want a cricket game.

That would be cool! One game would be a whole campaign... :D

Yeah - this engine could do cricket too. Forgot about that! it would have to be done by someone who understands the game better than I though! :D

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 27, 2011, 07:37:38 PM
Quote from: Ian Warner;460611I'd do one but I'd probably make it all about throwing the match and not getting caught.

Yes I'm dead cynical.

Hehe! You probably would, Ian! And it would probably be a riot. :D

-clash
Title: Tools of Ignorance
Post by: flyingmice on May 27, 2011, 07:38:57 PM
Quote from: Age of Fable;460634Maybe you could do a sport-themed version of En Garde!

Hmmm. That could be done too. It could actually run pretty smoothly.

-clash