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Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 6:23 pm
by Onix
Ok, that's fine, I'll agree that story has to be about people. I'm not sure what you're referring to though? Are you looking for more discussion of galactic politics? Are you looking for description of a space farer's lifestyle? Are you looking for NPC stats? What are you looking for?

People are people though. I don't need to explain what a human is obviously. The difference from people in the game and people now a days is mostly the technology that's available. If anything a setting is telling you what's different and the technology is a main part of the setting. Science Fiction is about the effect science and technology has on people.

Maybe there's something that seems obvious to me that isn't coming through in the text to you. For the most part, an average NPC is simple to stat out. 2d is all you need for a non-descript person. For a more specialized NPC, add traits that match their function in the story/game. Maybe a more detailed description of how to do that is what you're looking for?

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 2:13 am
by madunkieg
What do the characters usually do?

Are they interested in intrigue and politics (Mind's Eye Theatre/Vampire)? Do they fight a lot (D&D)? Are the characters religious (Empire of the Petal Throne/Tekumel)? Do they watch or play a lot of sports or games (a rpg version of Blood Bowl?)? Are they travelling merchants (Traveller)? Do the characters fight crime, or are they criminals (Gangbusters)? Interests like these usually tie into either professions or hobbies. Not everyone in the world needs to be involved; in fact, you'll want most of them to just be bystanders. Not every character has to be related either, nor is it necessary for PCs to follow the interest, but it helps focus play by providing a central theme about which everyone can form an opinion.

Alternatively, is there some big threat that everyone fears (think Chaos from the Warhammer universe)? OSR games don't usually go this route.

I recommend having a central interest. It helps focus the rules, too.

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 4:12 am
by Onix
Ah okay, I thought that would be clear from the introductory descriptions, but maybe that needs to be elaborated on. Again, I see a lot in the text that I may just be reading into it because I have a clear concept of what the starship operators lives are like. It's hard to balance brevity which is important to allowing the players to make their own decisions and giving a full description. It really could be the difference of a single paragraph.

I get what you're saying now though, I can't sum up the game in a sentence which is important. I'll have to work on that and post back here.

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 8:14 pm
by Onix
So this isn't my final try, but I do better if I get things out of my head and start over. It's not quite what I'm looking for but it's in the ballpark. Also I can't imagine that it hasn't been used somewhere already because it seems familiar.

Pirate, privateer, merchant or explorer? Depends on who you ask.

Could be a secondary tagline though.

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 2:18 pm
by Onix
Again, not the core idea, but zeroing in on it.

"Born Under A Wandering Star" Lyrics
Lee Marvin

https://youtu.be/NTymtAbaG08

Now for a more Jump Temp version

I was born under a wandrin' star
I was born under a wandrin' star
Drives are made for boiling, holds are made to pack
I've never seen a sight that didn't look better looking back
I was born under a wandrin' star

Grav can make you prisoner and the flares can bake you dry
Stars can burn your eyes, but only people make you cry
Home is made for coming from, for dreams of going to
Which with any luck will never come true
I was born under a wandrin' star
I was born under a wandrin' star

Do I know where hell is, hell is in hello
Heaven is goodbye forever, its time for me to go
I was born under a wandrin' star
A wandrin' wandrin' star

(Mud can make you prisoner and the plains can bake you dry)
(Snow can burn your eyes, but only people make you cry)
(Home is made for coming from, for dreams of going to)
(Which with any luck will never come true)
(I was born under a wandrin' star)
(I was born under a wandrin' star)

When I get to heaven, tie me to a tree
For I'll begin to roam and soon you'll know where I will be
I was born under a wandrin' star
A wandrin' wandrin' star

I left the chorus in the original lyrics because I like the contrast.

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:25 am
by Rob Lang
Superb! I should do more "working around the problem" when it comes to game writing.

There is an old idea that if you're trying to cement an idea then you should work on something perpendicular to the idea. I do this at work a lot. For example, if you're writing a story and you can't quite get a location description right then try and draw it. The drawing won't be released as part of the work but it will help move your mind on. When I get stuck at work (I'm a programmer), I like to drink a strong coffee and then scribble a cartoon about the problem I'm having. I like to personify the bits code and their interactions. It doesn't always work but it can be helpful.

For Icar I should do more of the "looking around the problem". I seem to target specific things as a way of getting things done but I think it has the side effect of being too narrow minded. I should try just creating more art for the hell of it rather than for a specific purpose. Or maybe a poem.

Food for thought!

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:24 am
by Onix
Thanks Rob! I have a feeling in my head that I'm trying to express. This song kept coming up as I thought about it and so I figured I'd switch around a few words.

I ask questions and my brain returns certain answers. If I keep asking the same question, my brain will respond with the same answer louder and louder. If I codify the answer in some way (writing it down somewhere usually works) it's like saying "Ok I hear you, what else do you have for me?"

So I like the song, but it's maybe too goofy? I am seriously considering doing something with it for the game but I'm not entirely sure what.

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 3:35 pm
by Onix

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 2:14 pm
by Onix

Re: A Free Game For You?

PostPosted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 3:44 am
by Rob Lang
So is that a mechanic where if the charcaters get too comfortable then they have to move on? If their energy reaches zero, does the game end?