tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.comments2010-02-19T07:09:43.883-08:00Games of the MindHisGirthinesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09790283244997046700noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-67171294140130680132010-02-19T07:09:43.883-08:002010-02-19T07:09:43.883-08:00What I was trying to say here is that I couldn'...What I was trying to say here is that I couldn't get myself oriented in Northwind, to decide what goals my characters would have. <br /><br />I was experimenting with different things and will eventually find a direction.HisGirthinesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09790283244997046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-33391034277957310202010-02-18T11:35:10.939-08:002010-02-18T11:35:10.939-08:00I don't think you are a hard to please player,...I don't think you are a hard to please player, old friend. I do think your perspectives on the matter is skewed, though.<br /><br />As a referee/DM/GM/LL/whatever, it is not my place to create characters for any player, nor fully develop concepts for those characters being played; whether in Northwind/Labyrinth Lord, D&D, or any rpg.<br /><br />Neither is it my intent to develop any kind of narrative or story beyond explaining and describing your environment and it's denizens. While NPCs may have motives of their own, any greater 'story' (or grandiose campaign) is brought about in play by the Players, by way of their interaction with those NPCs and each other, and the decisions they make in game.<br /><br />As you should know well, I have always been open to collaboration on unique/interesting character ideas; multi-page backgrounds weaving unearned advantages in the campaign setting notwithstanding. In all truth and fairness, there is simply no way any starting PC is going to be woven into the setting as intimately as you might be suggesting. One could, of course, work toward such a goal, but no starting PC is going to be the lynch pin or corner stone to the setting. If I permitted such a thing, at that point I'm forced to ask, what would BE the point? You've already achieved what you sought and have little incentive to participate with the other characters.<br /><br />If you didn't have any long range goals in the game, then, frankly, it was up to you to perceive and achieve them -- I can't and won't spoon feed you, nor will I railroad any of my players. <br /><br />Achieving such a goal, by the way, IS the point of accumulating experience points and treasure. See it as a means to and ends, if you must, but one must make something of himself to garner respect in either of the political arenas of Church or State in Northwind, unless you wish to play a zero level parishioner or clerk with unusually remarkable charisma. Most long range plans will also require some means of financial gain, and being that merchants aren't character classes/professions in the Northwind setting, adventuring is pretty much your only option. It's by no coincidence that many movers and shakers across a plethora of rpg worlds/campaign settings are former adventurers and Northwind was no exception.<br /><br />I might revive Northwind, but no time soon. The momentum is gone and I think, at this point, things would feel forced after such a strain for you. There are other games to explore and we shall do that.JMiskimenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09647067355729300998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-11408052018641574342009-01-25T16:53:00.000-08:002009-01-25T16:53:00.000-08:00Now this one sucks!More so than your usual suckine...Now this one sucks!<BR/><BR/>More so than your usual suckiness!<BR/><BR/>Just trying to keep it real dude.<BR/><BR/>No offense!<BR/><BR/>Anti-HumanDungeonmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332533619750466218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-75556353919182144662008-11-19T18:49:00.000-08:002008-11-19T18:49:00.000-08:00Sucks.Sucks.Dungeonmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332533619750466218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-57647471581015077132008-11-09T13:00:00.000-08:002008-11-09T13:00:00.000-08:00GEEKS<A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottjohnson/2086153791/sizes/o/" REL="nofollow"><B>GEEKS</B></A>John Miskimenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903992788094485597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-91951799428139076442008-11-04T23:58:00.000-08:002008-11-04T23:58:00.000-08:00Strange ... they all seem to have a firm grasp on ...Strange ... they all seem to have a firm grasp on their weapons ...<BR/><BR/>;)<BR/><BR/>JM.John Miskimenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903992788094485597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-60583375283634387282008-10-29T02:35:00.000-07:002008-10-29T02:35:00.000-07:00It is very tough to make a cool villain and then n...It is very tough to make a cool villain and then not want people to play them or use them way to often. Cool is a factor that trumps all. An people want to use and have cool things.LMPjr007https://www.blogger.com/profile/08789902828046077032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-83747938367285479052008-10-28T11:44:00.000-07:002008-10-28T11:44:00.000-07:00I am not a big Drizzt fan either. I did like the "...I am not a big Drizzt fan either. I did like the "War of the Spider Queen" books, in which the drow were still evil (mostly) - some were just far more evil than others.<BR/><BR/>The one exception that comes to mind where I like the good version of the evil character is (bear with me here) Elric. Elric is not a nice guy, and the Melnibonéans are pretty drow-like. I never really liked Elric until the end of the original series.<BR/><BR/>Not sure what it is about the drow that does that to people. Maybe because drow can be sexy, where orcs and goblins cannot (tastes vary, of course :-). Drow are also smart and powerful, where ogres and hobgoblins are simple brutes. Beholders are smart, powerful, dangerous, evil... All the things drow are, except beholders cannot be sexy, so no one is interested in a good beholder.<BR/><BR/>Put a mind flayer in a bikini, and see what happens!Darius Whiteplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17950956139088139753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-72046507344111971162008-10-28T07:47:00.000-07:002008-10-28T07:47:00.000-07:00Interesting point, and the more so for not being l...Interesting point, and the more so for not being limited to Drow. Odd how other fantasy staples (Orcs, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Ogres, Trolls) have remained villains and not also gone the way of the ill named Drizzt. (sorry my own hang up regarding naming) Is the same true for Dragons? Did dragonlance novels or Anne McCaffery novels have the same effect on the old Wyrm? <BR/><BR/>I read somewhere that the most evil villains are the ones who believe their vile actions are actually good or for the benefits of people. I think it would be interesting to take the Emo-Elf and have what would be considered malevolent undertones done for the betterment of others. The Drow go out to aid/Defend villages in a time of need when no one else can aid them...but they are converting the folks to worshipers of Loth in order to get their aid bring a darkness to the land. So while people/ villages are becoming safe and profitable the long term cost of giving power to Loth is unseen. The villagers and people are supporting the Drow and are against the heroes for trying to upset their safety...Fenway5https://www.blogger.com/profile/14870312188585916750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-45223763288699524462008-10-21T20:02:00.000-07:002008-10-21T20:02:00.000-07:00Alignments.Love'em, hate'em.I still use'em.I dumpe...Alignments.<BR/><BR/>Love'em, hate'em.<BR/><BR/>I still use'em.<BR/><BR/>I dumped the whole thing with the alignment language long ago. In fact, they are briefly mentioned in the Forgotten Realms Grey Box and it's pretty much agreed that speaking publicly in your alignment tongue is rude at best.<BR/><BR/>Now I have met me some pretty diverse people in my life.<BR/><BR/>A few very bad people, mostly middle of the road people and some really, truly, very good people.<BR/><BR/>All of them spoke English.<BR/><BR/>(I have met some people that spoke other languages and I guess the jury is still out on them.)<BR/><BR/>But seriously. Dealing with just because someone was diametricaly opposed to me, didn;t mean they spoke a different language.<BR/><BR/>I have to say that I really believe that Gygax was a genius. So much so that there are quite a few times when I have no idea what the hell he is thinking.<BR/><BR/>Algnment languages would be one of them.<BR/><BR/>Here's the thing though....<BR/><BR/>People that work successfully together will GENERALLY all have the same goals in mind. Maybe they don't agree on how to get there, but there you have it.<BR/><BR/>And the other thing is this.<BR/><BR/>Look at this from the world we live in.<BR/><BR/>People generally fall into those three categories. Many are good, most are in the middle and a few are just plain bad. This isn't a discussion about environment, upbringing or other social factors, this is just the way things are.<BR/><BR/>So by having an algnment system, the player and the DM can get a general idea of what the player has in mind for his character.<BR/><BR/>If I roll a fighter and I make him Chaotic/Evil, you can bet the women and children ain't safe.<BR/><BR/>If I make him Chaotic/Neutral then everyday is a surprise.<BR/><BR/>if i make him Chaotic/Good then he's probably going to be a bit of a rebel but he won't be raping and pillaging anytime soon.<BR/><BR/>That helps the DM structure the campaign.<BR/><BR/>I agree that after a group plays together with the same characters for a period of time, you can basically dump alignments.<BR/><BR/>But tell me what you do when your character, who's BASICALLY a good guy, crosses a barrier protected by a glyph of warding cast by a priest that is essentially evil?<BR/><BR/>Does it affect him?<BR/><BR/>Or because he's only "basically good" does that mean we dump the idea of glphys of warding that work on alignment?<BR/><BR/>A lot of thsi depends on the players and the DM.<BR/><BR/>You use what's good, no need to hack it apart with a broadsword. Just carefully excise the bits you don't like and choose to ignore them.<BR/><BR/>I'll keep alignments for now since I can't recall a single game that was stopped by the issue.<BR/><BR/>Because I like Glyphs of Warding.<BR/><BR/>Anti-HumanDungeonmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332533619750466218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-10397068234792358112008-10-15T07:26:00.000-07:002008-10-15T07:26:00.000-07:00The Palladium alignments are even more useless. I ...The Palladium alignments are even more useless. I ran Rifts game for years and the few times that they came up during play, they were nothing but a monumental pain in the ass.HisGirthinesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09790283244997046700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-7731116700633284682008-10-15T07:12:00.000-07:002008-10-15T07:12:00.000-07:00I couldn't agree more, it was one of the first thi...I couldn't agree more, it was one of the first things we dropped (ignored) from the game. <BR/><BR/>What was the deal with alignment languages? WTF was that? It seems like its crutch or a hook for players to conceptualize how their character should play or act rather than coming up with it themselves. <BR/><BR/>Then you got Palladium with more alignments than you can shake a broadsword at. Alignments are rubbish.Fenway5https://www.blogger.com/profile/14870312188585916750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-90180887570410043032008-10-14T20:53:00.000-07:002008-10-14T20:53:00.000-07:00Can I get - I SAID!CAN ...I get -ah ...Can I GET a...Can I get - <BR/>I SAID!<BR/><BR/>CAN ...<BR/>I get -ah ...<BR/><BR/>Can I GET <BR/>an AMEN!<BR/><BR/>( ...and the choir sang ...)<BR/><BR/>JM.John Miskimenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903992788094485597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2356398715418619809.post-84332385966875233462008-10-02T14:07:00.000-07:002008-10-02T14:07:00.000-07:00Hail Mighty Girth!As you already know, I heartily ...Hail Mighty Girth!<BR/><BR/>As you already know, I heartily agree with you! Honestly, I never really took the time to study the system or try it out, but the few pages I have flipped through left me feeling nauseous. It's politically correct D&D.<BR/>I played the third edition with some people in Canton and the only saving grace that I saw was the DM used the Dwarven Forge scenery and some miniatures to represent PCs and monsters.<BR/>It was beautiful to look upon, but the substance, plot and story line of the DMs adventures was average at best.<BR/>I weep for the future of what was once D&D and I have sadly come to the conclusion that we are quite possibly, the last of the greatest generation of gamers.<BR/><BR/>Anti-HumanDungeonmasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332533619750466218noreply@blogger.com