[DarK_RaideR]

You've probably read Steve's related blog post or at least picked up on that "What will your level 50 look like?" quote. And while it's supposed to be about a long-term projection when one is starting their fitness journey, here I am with 50 challenges completed, not counting the few ones that fizzled out. I'm certainly not where I envisioned myself when I first joined NF, but how could I be with so many changes in my life, whether I had a say on them or not. It's not like anyone expected a global pandemic either. Still, I may not be as physically fit or living the awesome life I'd envisioned, but progress has definitely been made. I have the experience, knowledge and tools to move on, plus my "average" fitness levels even when not systematically training are better than what they used to be 50 challenges ago.

 

I'm going to continue the minimalist, zen style no goals setup from last challenge, perhaps simply aiming to not gain a ton of weight through the holidays.

 

Also, has it been a year already? Feels like just yesterday when I was doing that challenge about creating a character for a different RPG back in January. Although I don't think I'll be able to do it in January of 2022, there's still a ton of games I've been wanting to explore. One thing has led to the other and I ended up grabbing a ton of free Quickstart packs on DriveThruRPG. It's a nice way to get the gist of a game and many come with an intro scenario, so I've been debating whether I'd like to set up a low commitment series of weekly one-shot games with some NF peeps who want to go down this path. It's still brewing in my head and if it materializes, it won't be within 2021, so for now I just trimmed that list down to 50 games to match my Level 50, which I will briefly present on this thread along with my various other ramblings.

[DarK_RaideR]

Game 1

Pitch: Paws & Claws is an RPG set in a world inspired by the Redwall novel series. Players control antrhopomorphic woodland beings who engage in sword & shield adventures in a medieval fantasy world.

 

Under the hood: The game seems to use a variation of the PbtA (Powered by the Apocalypse) system, in which the most common actions are categorized into Moves (with various classes allowing a player to perform special Moves) and to resolve what happens, 2d6 are rolled, modifiers are added and the results land on a spectrum of Failure, Success at a cost or Success. What Paws & Claws adds to the formula is a third d6, which isn't rolled but rather acts as a static, albeit variable, modifier of a character's status. Thus, you'll want to be well fed, rested and motivated to keep it high and as things go bad or the more you push on, the less that die contributes.

 

Thoughts: It's certainly a nice game to play with kids or for people who want to play something cute and take a break from hard rules and gritty worlds. The PbtA game engine means it's a lot about narrative and co-narrating what happens, which is fine for those who'd like to chip in often (and lazier GMs) but might give trouble to players who are more used to getting a description and just reacting to things with a dice roll.

 

Would I consider running it: Maybe, but unfortunately the Quickstart comes without an introductory scenario so I'm not keeping it if the one-shot series does materialize.

 

Get it at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/278565/Paws--Claws-Quickstart-Guide

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

Congrats on level 50 Commander.

[Heidi]

Welcome to Level 50, Dear Ranger.

Definitely here for more minimal non-goals, and absolutely interested in the weekly game.

[starpuck]

Level 50 woot woot!  Congrats!

So glad to have been here through your journey thus far.

You're a great person DR!   Here's to 50 more challenges!!

 

[deftona]

Congrats on level 50 woooooooooooooo!

[RES]

Level 50, congrats my friend!

[Mr_Willes]

13 hours ago, Starpuck said:

Level 50 woot woot!  Congrats!

Really? You know what i mean  

 

19 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

better than what they used to be 50 challenges ago

 

In my book that's all that matters. Glad to see you still going, even at 50.

 

 

 

 

And thanx for letting me remember something!

[Jarric]

Congrats on level 50 man - that's some serious commitment. Looking forward to hearing about some more RPGs too.

[DarK_RaideR]

I forgot to bring it up earlier, but it really doesn't feel like that big of a deal: I deleted my Facebook account like a couple of weeks ago. If nothing else, there was too much tension on display and running into crappy comments while scrolling was enough to give me bad vibes; whether you engage or internalize the negativity and move on, it's a lose-lose game and I don't need that in my life. I never had a Twitter account and it's not like I'm filling the void via Instagram either. It's amazing how often I'd waste time mindlessly scrolling and how it doesn't even pop up as a thought anymore. It's not about missing it, I barely remember its existence anymore and the few times that happens, it's because someone messages me to ask why they can't tag me or find my profile. 10/10 would delete again.

[Mr_Willes]

I'm glad you wrote this down.

 

I'm toying with the idea, thanx for your insights!

[DarK_RaideR]

Game 2

Pitch: Fight! is one of the many RPGs seeking to emulate the feel and flow of fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. There's also an option to emulate side scrolling beat em up games, with simplified rules for the waves of basic opponents and going full-on for boss fights.

 

Under the hood: The game uses its own system, which is complicated enough to provide variety in the different characters one can create, the in-combat tactics to be used and even the tone desired, from realistic grittiness to over the top anime stuff. Not easy for someone to get into and certainly takes some time to get comfortable with. If you've ever been a non-harcore fan of fighting games who watched a video on YouTube breaking down fighting game stuff and got swarmed with complicated terms and tricks like cancels, anti-air, zoning etc, then getting into this game, even through the simplified quickstart rules, feels a lot like that.

 

Thoughts: For starters, I feel like this game is limited by design, since it's mostly made for one on one fights. Can't play a ton of those, especially with the same characters over and over. You could create a bunch of them to mix things up, but creation is no small feat either. Then there's story and non combat segments, which is usually pretty bare bones in fighting games so beyond the classic tournament trope there's not much to work with. The beat em up co-op sounds like a good alternative, until you realize it's a simple skill check to beat random thugs or break a container for a powerup. But where I think the game most fails is flow and replicating the fast paced, exciting nature of fighting games. There's a ton of calculations, dice rolls and potential counters/reverals each round, so the game cycle sounds like a lot of discussion and math leading to an agreed final outcome, then a short description of a big move or 4-5 hit combo, rinse, repeat. I understand the ambition to trasnfer the complexity of fighting games (for those that want to do more than button mashing) but the format isn't doing this any favors, it feels like you're trying to emulate an arcade game using mechanics from some grand strategy game that Paradox would release.

 

Would I consider running it: Can't say I'm thrilled given all of the above, but maybe I'd run a test fight to check it out. Strictly 1 on 1 though, as the quickstart includes 2 pregenerated fighters and not enough rules to make your own. That leaves it as a last solution when only a single other player is available and given the complexity of the rules, I'm not sure it's worth the trouble for a one shot.

 

Get it at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/273889/Fight-2nd-Edition-Quickstart

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

4 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

Would I consider running it: Can't say I'm thrilled given all of the above, but maybe I'd run a test fight to check it out. Strictly 1 on 1 though, as the quickstart includes 2 pregenerated fighters and not enough rules to make your own. That leaves it as a last solution when only a single other player is available and given the complexity of the rules, I'm not sure it's worth the trouble for a one shot.

Sounds like it's simpler to punch a friend in the face and see what happens 😛

[Mr_Willes]

Making note: "Be careful when pissing off the Pally when playing D&D with Tank!"

 

Got it! Thanx! Carry on!

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

4 minutes ago, Mr_Willes said:

Making note: "Be careful when pissing off the Pally when playing D&D with Tank!"

 

Got it! Thanx! Carry on!

Beware the nice ones.

[RES]

8 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

I deleted my Facebook account like a couple of weeks ago.

At least you're active enough on here we don't have to hunt you down, unlike some others (@Buff Brogan I'm 👀 at you)

[DarK_RaideR]

Today was one of those #BigNope days. I mustered whatever willpower I could to at least get out of the house and get some groceries, as well as get other minor tasks done so it wouldn't feel like an absolute waste.

 

On to the next one.

[DarK_RaideR]

Game 3

Pitch: Less of a full-on original game and more of a hack on 5e D&d, Five Torches Deep is the missing link between the modern D&d approach and the "old school" OSR way of thinking.

 

Under the hood: 5 Torches Deep retains the core 5e D&d engine but simplifies it a lot to achieve the "oldschool" feel; No more crazy class paths and abilities or flashy spells, just gritty dungeon/wilderness exploration and a somewhat increased lethality due to the lack of the more cartoonish D&d powers. There's also an increased emphasis on exploration gear and logistics (hence the name) with a system that's a little weird to grasp but nicely manages to keep that part of the game running without spending too much time on detailed equipment lists.

 

Thoughts: I think 5 Torches Deep is a great way to introduce 5e D&d players to the "oldschool" way of thinking/playing without all the "your race is your class" anachronistic grognardisms and gatekeeping. The game takes a streamlined and simplified system with which most people will already be familiar and strips down the over the top cartoonishness to achieve its goal. Whether that's up your alley or not, I think it does a good job of rewiring people's brains when it comes to certain expectations and paradigms; instead of the GM preparing some narrative the players will navigate, the latter are simply presented with a challenging (and often randomly generated) location to tackle and then the story emerges from the experience of that interaction. Likewise, instead of relying on character skills and using the game's mechanics to face obstacles ("I roll to detect traps and if I find any, I'll roll again to disarm them") the players are expected to be the skilled ones and let their characters execute their choices to the best of their ability ("I tap the broken tiles with my spear. Does anything happen? Any tripwires or suspicious holes in the wall I can see around?").

 

Would I consider running it: Of course, I set up a game and made characters not too long ago but it never came to fruition, so I'm throwing it back here in hopes it'll be one of the games we'll end up trying. By the way, for anyone interested to join, I'd be happy to have your feedback after each presentation and see which games are the more popular ones likely to be played.

 

Get it at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/264584/Five-Torches-Deep

[WhiteGhost]

Oooh, I am so excited to see another breakdown of various games.  I got way behind last time but will try to keep up this time around.  

 

10 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

By the way, for anyone interested to join, I'd be happy to have your feedback after each presentation and see which games are the more popular ones likely to be played.

I would be up for some gaming (assuming scheduling is not a barrier).  5TD sounds like something I would enjoy, as would maybe Paws & Claws.  Fight would be a pass.

[DarK_RaideR]

1 hour ago, WhiteGhost said:

I would be up for some gaming (assuming scheduling is not a barrier).

My early thought is the most inclusive time slot would be "morning in the US, evening in Europe, night in China". Which means it probably should be on a weekend. With @Jarric's Ranger D&d taking place on Sundays 12-3 UK time, the question is whether I can run a back to back game after that or if it should be on Saturdays.

 

I'm also debating whether I should ban myself from using the computer in the mornings. It's easy to slide and have hours pass without noticing, practically wasting the morning, but I'm not that good with restrictions either (plus kinda low on willpower atm).

 

Haven't done any yoga in a while, should get back on that habit. A random pain on my right hip joint sure is a sharp reminder at times.

[DarK_RaideR]

Ahem... First of all, have this playing in the background as you read. Yes, it is suggested background music mentioned by name in the book. DO IT!

 

Game 4

Pitch: You play the characters in a Telenovela a.k.a. a (usually Mexican) soap opera.

 

Under the hood: Pasion de las Pasiones uses the PbtA (Powered by the Apocalypse) game engine, which means that each player picks a character archetype that comes with their own playbook. The action of a scene is co-narrated and every time something important or with a questionable outcome occurs, dice are rolled for a "Move". Again, it's the 2d6+modifiers formula that yields either failure, a mixed success with a complication or a cost, or a clear success.

 

Thoughts: From my experience, all the PbtA games are rather easy to pick up, rules light and fun to play while fooling around with friends, ideally featuring snacks and drinks ( @Mr_Willes and @jonfirestar might remember a similar case, where we did a one-shot with a PbtA game that had them portray action movie heroes). So that said, I'm pretty sure the game experience involves a ton of laughs [in Spanish] due to its simplicity and its over the top premise.

[throws tantrum in Spanish]

 

Would I consider running it: 

 I remember @Xena watching some Telenovelas to practice her Spanish and for some reason I think this game would be right up @DJtrippyT's alley.  Pretty sure though there's more who'd want a bite tho.

#icon

 

Get it at https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/303784/Pasion-de-las-Pasiones-Quickstart

[Mr_Willes]

2 hours ago, WhiteGhost said:

Oooh, I am so excited to see another breakdown of various games.  I got way behind last time but will try to keep up this time around.  

 

I would be up for some gaming (assuming scheduling is not a barrier).  5TD sounds like something I would enjoy, as would maybe Paws & Claws.  Fight would be a pass.

 

59 minutes ago, DarK_RaideR said:

My early thought is the most inclusive time slot would be "morning in the US, evening in Europe, night in China". Which means it probably should be on a weekend. With @Jarric's Ranger D&d taking place on Sundays 12-3 UK time, the question is whether I can run a back to back game after that or if it should be on Saturdays.

 

Let me know, always up for something different. And really just getting more playtime in is always a good thing. Things in my personal top 3 list are this 5TD, the one where you defend your treasure as a monster from heroes, and another one of those meatgrinders!  I really need to get back to having a pet rock. And yes preferably one of those with a nice beer!

[DarK_RaideR]

1 hour ago, Mr_Willes said:

the one where you defend your treasure as a monster from heroes

Seriously hyped to play this one, plus the full book is available for free on DriveThruRPG (the premium edition has some negligible stuff, like advanced monster roles if you wanna play a beholder, mind flayer or dragon). Thing is, it's pretty heavy in terms of rules and mechanics, plus it evolves through several sessions (one to claim/clear the dungeon, one to establish it, one to raid out for resources etc) so it's not exactly fit for a one shot game. I'd love to get a group together and play it long term, but I'm not sure we can get the commitment and scheduling down unless everyone's like super hyped to play it.

 

1 hour ago, Mr_Willes said:

another one of those meatgrinders! I really need to get back to having a pet rock.

A great game indeed, very much close to the original D&d editions (since I talked about OSR way to playing/thinking in the 5 Torches Deep post). For those not in the know, the "meatgrinder" is part of the game's character creation process: each player starts with 3-5 useless level 0 peasant characters, attributes rolled as 3d6 in a row, carrying a basic tool of their profession and a random mundane item (as was the pet rock mentioned). Surviving their first level 0 adventure takes wits, creativity and luck (i.e. when one of @Jarric's dwarf characters got a door off its hinges and used it as an improvised shield) so players are encouraged to send their lamest characters up first and save those with the better rolls so they can graduate to level 1. Survival of the fittest, natural selection and all that.

 

That said...

1 hour ago, Mr_Willes said:

preferably one of those with a nice beer!

I did indeed run some NF peeps through a 0 level game, during a one shot session that we'd agreed would involve significant amounts of alcohol, hence slapstick gonzo dungeoncrawling ensued. I've recently found someone on the play-by-post forums I frequent who was willing to run a game of Dungeon Crawl Classics and the forums are public for anyone curious enough to take a deeper look. We just completed the 0 level adventure and agreed to keep the game going. I've been told that levelled characters are a completely different experience from a 0 level funnel (and the game rules sure seem to support that claim) so I'm excited to check it out.

 

 

P.S. Curious to see in the end what genre most people are into: alternatives to medieval fantasy, off the wall wacky game concepts, sci fi, horror or something else

[Tanktimus the Encourager]

5TD (anyone else's brain want to go somewhere else with that acronnym?) Seems interesting, but I'm unlikely to have time to play.

[starpuck]

7 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said:

I'm also debating whether I should ban myself from using the computer in the mornings. It's easy to slide and have hours pass without noticing, practically wasting the morning, but I'm not that good with restrictions either (plus kinda low on willpower atm).

Haven't done any yoga in a while, should get back on that habit.

Not sure if something like this would work for you.  (Im not even sure it'd work for me these days.)   But waaaay back when I was first playing MMOs and FFXI was my jam.   I just set up a rule that once I got home from work, I had to do 30 minutes of DDR before I could log in.      Maybe you could combine two yoga poses = 10 minutes on screen, and sort of xp your way up to getting to the computer after doing something else you also want to be doing?