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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 26, 2008 0:26:23 GMT -7
I'd like some feedback. I was re-reading my Risus Companion, looking for solutions to issues that I've struggled with, when I came across his section "Halfway to perfect"... S. John cracks me up... he pointed out that when you show someone a horse's butt, they may see a unicorn. Basically, the simple clean slate of Risus ignites a sense of possibility, so we start sticking horns on it.
My unicorn horns have been with spells and monsters. We've had a purist or two in the game, preferring the Zen state of Risus but I've not reached that level of consciousness yet...
I'm craving a bit more structure. Does anyone object to me tinkering with the engine under the hood as we go forward with the same characters?
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 26, 2008 1:11:45 GMT -7
Here's my 1am line of thinking. Some participants are mainly interested in the story aspect of our endeavor (Ya'qub comes to mind). Others enjoy the mechanics of play as well (Waleed comes to mind).
Perhaps, I can have my cake and eat it too as they say. Those who don't want to bother with the "how" can charge forth, paying no never mind to the how's and whys. Other's who enjoy watching the gears turn can have intimate, even carnal knowledge of their character's workings.
What say you?
It would be thusly handled: the turn would be written such that player A knows she's a heartbeat from death and casting another spell would take her last remaining strength. Cause I'd say so! Player B would have a similar IC explanation, but know OOC that he's down to one remaining spell and 2 points of life.
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on Apr 27, 2008 18:59:27 GMT -7
I like playing a game with rules, definite structure like Risus which does allow for "customization". I do not like Freeform.
Magic in Risus is almost too powerful, but then it's very limiting too, cause you really can't have a death spell, just something that does 1pt of damage, so that is somewhat of a balance.
I however would incorporate the need of a spellbook, memorizing, learning a spell, etc... cause whipping something up on the spur of the moment goes against what we've all read in popular novels and it brings some control to the possible abuse of the magic system in Risus.
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 28, 2008 8:25:12 GMT -7
I like playing a game with rules, definite structure like Risus which does allow for "customization". I do not like Freeform. Magic in Risus is almost too powerful, but then it's very limiting too, cause you really can't have a death spell, just something that does 1pt of damage, so that is somewhat of a balance. I however would incorporate the need of a spellbook, memorizing, learning a spell, etc... cause whipping something up on the spur of the moment goes against what we've all read in popular novels and it brings some control to the possible abuse of the magic system in Risus. I'm against freeform, 100%. I need an arbiter (dice + rules) to adjudicate things like the battle between Lum and Amir. No way I could have freeformed a impartial result. What I was thinking (blasphemy!) was more rules/structure on my end with the option for players to not know the details. I was reviewing the module we're running and all the stats are laid out. 11th level wizard this, 10HD monster that, and I have to come up with Risus equivalents... its not impossible, just challenging. For example, a simple Barkskin spell requires analysis rather than a quick reference, same thing with Aid, Cause Fear, Command, and Protection from Good. The hand to hand combat is glorious! Snip, Snap, we're done. (As long as we don't add magic weapons)
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 28, 2008 8:52:50 GMT -7
A simple thing that's bugging me is initiative. In a standard Risus conflict, its irrelevant. Its a roll off until there's a winner who then decides the result of her victory.
If you look at our current situation, Waleed is attempting to silence Mabruk. If that was the be-all end-all it would come down to a cliche vs cliche and a victorious Waleed could declare her silenced. Or dead from asphyxiation.
If its a spell effect, with a target number for Waleed to meet, a spell that puts Mabruk in a condition of 'silenced', she should have the a shot at avoiding it.
Furthermore, without initiative I can't adjudicate an unbiased result... Is she able to say: "Kill the wizard first!" And then activate a ring of invisibility before Waleed's spell occurs?
Just venting. ~michael
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Post by Waleed Ibn Alurah on Apr 28, 2008 9:39:39 GMT -7
If its a spell effect, with a target number for Waleed to meet, a spell that puts Mabruk in a condition of 'silenced', she should have the a shot at avoiding it. Furthermore, without initiative I can't adjudicate an unbiased result... Is she able to say: "Kill the wizard first!" And then activate a ring of invisibility before Waleed's spell occurs? Just venting. ~michael I think it's all rolled into one for Risus... example: Waleed needs a 5 to cast his spell and effect whatshername. She wants to avoid that of course and use her invisibility ring. Does she need verbal commands for this? Unknown, but for the first example lets say she does. Waleed rolls a 10 and she rolls a 9. Spell goes off and she is effected. Waleed rolls a 9, she a 10. Spell goes off, but she dodges it. Waleed rolls a 4, she a 3. Spell fails and she succeeds cause nothing happens to her. Lets say she doesn't need a verbal command. Waleed rolls a 20, she a 10. Spell goes off, she takes a 1pt of damage (not being able to speak is a side effect, like catching on fire from a fireball). She goes invisible since the spell does not effect her chance to do so. the only need for initiative I see is group versus group, cause of overlapping actions in the group.
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 28, 2008 10:33:11 GMT -7
(browser crashed, erasing my 15 minute reply. I'll summarize) Well done! You've restored my confidence. If you could assist me by modelling some of the spells from other sources, say D&D, it would help me. Also some beasts. Maybe we could come up with a rough equivalent by modelling a few. Some 6HD creatures and some 8HD creatures. Take a stab at creating a Risus djinni (dao). They're a 8+3 HD creature who casts spells as a 18th level wizard.
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Post by Gamemaster on Apr 28, 2008 12:54:49 GMT -7
Any having problems seeing the images on this page? I see them at home, but not at work.
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Post by Ya'qub on Apr 28, 2008 14:45:44 GMT -7
I like playing a game with rules, definite structure like Risus which does allow for "customization". I do not like Freeform. Ditto. I do like the story aspect of rpgs, but I recognize that there must be some mechanics to provide the behind the scenes structure. I like Risus because it provides the structure, but doesn't get in the way (much). Magic in Risus is almost too powerful, but then it's very limiting too, cause you really can't have a death spell, just something that does 1pt of damage, so that is somewhat of a balance. I think the cliche dice and target numbers in Risus help to keep abuse low. I know that many times Ya'qub casts a spell and the results are not *exactly* what he intended, but they certainly make the story more interesting... I however would incorporate the need of a spellbook, memorizing, learning a spell, etc... cause whipping something up on the spur of the moment goes against what we've all read in popular novels and it brings some control to the possible abuse of the magic system in Risus. Again, I like the idea that Ya'qub 'creates' the spell he casts as a 'Dabbler in Fire Magic.' Perhaps if he were more serious in his esoteric studies he would have need of a spell book and more formalized ritual. Then again, maybe the character himself is limiting the potential for abuse. Certainly something to think about...
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