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| gameinfo:faq_prospective_players [2025/06/07 21:50] – [Player pool] restless | gameinfo:faq_prospective_players [2025/06/20 01:27] (current) – [Okay, can I bring my character from this other game?] restless |
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| This page needs a complete rewrite. Part of it is for content, but also I’d like to split some of the info up into their own pages and just assemble them here with include markup. | |
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| ====== Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Players ====== | ====== Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Players ====== |
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| {{page>:gameinfo:elevator_pitch&noheader&nofooter}} | {{page>:gameinfo:elevator_pitch&noheader&nofooter}} |
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| | ===== “But I don’t know that much about Vikings...” ===== |
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| | It’s okay, //neither do I!// :grin: Did you watch [[https://www.history.com/shows/vikings|“Vikings”]] on History Channel? Then you’re good to go. |
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| | We’re doing this at around the level of TV- and movie-level knowledge, we’re not going to be extremely historically accurate. (Well, except for helmets with horns on them. They don’t wear those (unless you just want to look silly).) |
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| ===== Organizational overview ===== | ===== Organizational overview ===== |
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| The game is intended to be similar to the famed [[http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/78/grand-experiments-west-marches/|West Marches]] campaign that all the cool kids like to emulate these days, albeit with a more narrow initial focus. There’s (initially) no regularly scheduled game day, no regular adventure party and no overarching plot for the game driven by the DM. | The game is intended to be similar to the oft-vaunted [[west_marches|West Marches]] campaign that all the cool kids like to emulate these days, albeit with a more narrow focus. There’s (initially) no regularly scheduled game day, no regular adventure party and no overarching plot for the game driven by the DM. |
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| The players are in charge of scheduling gaming sessions, recruiting others to go on expeditions and setting their own goals. | The players are in charge of scheduling gaming sessions, recruiting others to go on expeditions and setting their own goals. |
| While initially the campaign is meant to be for face-to-face play, there may also be online play. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but if that becomes the case then players who play face-to-face may play their characters in the online sessions, and vice versa (if online players can make it to a face-to-face session). | While initially the campaign is meant to be for face-to-face play, there may also be online play. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but if that becomes the case then players who play face-to-face may play their characters in the online sessions, and vice versa (if online players can make it to a face-to-face session). |
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| To facilitate the use of a pool of players and supporting unbroken continuity, characters //must// start and end every session in the feast hall of [[:gaz:norsemens_rest|The Norsemen’s Rest]]. Characters that do not return by the end of the session cannot be played until //the same// group gets of players together to finish getting //the same// group of characters back to civilization. (For players who must leave the game before the session is ended, another player can run your character //only// in that instance, and //only// until returning to the safety of town. Players who leave prematurely forfeit experience points from the session, and it’s up to whoever is left if you get any loot or not, so pick your friends wisely...) | To facilitate the use of a pool of players and supporting unbroken continuity, characters //must// start and end every session in the feast hall of [[:gaz:norsemens_rest|Norsemen’s Rest]]. Characters that do not return by the end of the session cannot be played until //the same// group gets of players together to finish getting //the same// group of characters back to civilization. (For players who must leave the game before the session is ended, another player can run your character //only// in that instance, and //only// until returning to the safety of town. Players who leave prematurely forfeit experience points from the session, and it’s up to whoever is left if you get any loot or not, so pick your friends wisely...) |
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| ===== Where can I find out about the setting? ===== | ===== Where can I find out about the setting? ===== |
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| The best way is probably to ask an existing player, but you can read a quick [[gameinfo:twenty_quick_questions_setting|overview]] about some pertinent and gameable information, or read in more depth about the setting in the [[gaz:|gazetteer]]. | The best way is probably to ask an existing player, but you can read a quick [[gameinfo:twenty_quick_questions_setting|overview]] about some pertinent and gameable information, or read in more depth about certain things in the [[gaz:|gazetteer]]. |
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| Here, fill this form out in triplicate using black pen only and submit it to... | Here, fill this form out in triplicate using black pen only and submit it to... |
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| In all seriousness, [[dict>rule_zero|I addressed that already.]] If you have been playing a while and are having trouble with this aspect of old-school gaming, perhaps you should step back and consider the context of the game. Are you approaching this from the mindset of a [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]]? Are you trying to twist everything to get an unfair advantage? Could this simply be a very difficult task, opponent or area you are up against (in old-school gaming there is no encounter balance)? I guess if you still have problems, maybe rules-light gaming or this campaign isn’t for you? | In all seriousness, [[dict>rule_zero|I addressed that already.]] If you have been playing a while and are having trouble with this aspect of old-school gaming, perhaps you should step back and consider the context of the game. Are you approaching this from the mindset of a [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]]? Are you trying to twist everything to get an unfair advantage? Could this simply be a very difficult task, opponent or area you are up against (in old-school gaming there is no encounter balance)? I guess if you still have problems, [[gameinfo:not_all_games_are_for_everyone|maybe rules-light gaming or this campaign isn’t for you?]] |
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| ==== Should we... ==== | ==== Should we... ==== |
| A caller is a bit different. Back in the day we didn’t use one, and if the group is small enough I’m cool with just letting everyone declare their own actions. | A caller is a bit different. Back in the day we didn’t use one, and if the group is small enough I’m cool with just letting everyone declare their own actions. |
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| If things get too chaotic or disorganized I may tell the group to elect a caller for me to interact with. The caller will communicate the party’s actions to me. If a player doesn’t like the action a caller gives me for their character they should say so at that time. | If things get too chaotic or disorganized I may tell the group to elect a caller (typically the leader who organized this expedition/game session) for me to interact with. The caller will communicate the party’s actions to me. If a player doesn’t like the action a caller gives me for their character they should say so at that time. |
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| == ...map as we adventure? I know that’s old school! == | == ...map as we adventure? I know that’s old school! == |
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| That’s up to you. It’s no skin off my nose if you get lost. 8-) | That’s up to you. It’s no skin off my nose if you get lost. :laughing: |
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| There’s a lot of advantages to mapping. A well-done map helps you find what has changed since previous visits to the area, or plan new expeditions. It also tends to help experienced players find hidden areas or work out better routes through dangerous territory that may be riddled with enemies, traps or monsters. It may help you have a strategic advantage as well. A map doesn’t have to be an exact representation of the DM’s map. It can be anything from boxes for rooms connected with lines to a rough drawing and still be useful. Don’t look at mapping as a chore, but an opportunity. | There’s a lot of advantages to mapping. A well-done map helps you find what has changed since previous visits to the area, or plan new expeditions. It also tends to help experienced players find hidden areas or work out better routes through dangerous territory that may be riddled with enemies, traps or monsters. It may help you have a strategic advantage as well. A map doesn’t have to be an exact representation of the DM’s map. It can be anything from boxes for rooms connected with lines to a rough drawing and still be useful. Don’t look at mapping as a chore, but an opportunity. |
| Yes, sorta. | Yes, sorta. |
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| One of the challenges of old-school games is the resource management aspect. To mount a successful expedition into the wild or underworld the party brings men and materiel to bear to survive and overcome obstacles. We need to keep track of the consumables to make that meaningful. Normally, as characters gain power (typically in spells and magic items) this becomes less of an issue, but that’s because the focus of the game shifts somewhat from the management of mundane resources to magical ones (which for some reason players have less of an issue with). | One of the challenges of old-school games is the resource management aspect. To mount a successful expedition into the wild or underworld the party brings men and materiel to bear to survive and overcome obstacles. We need to keep track of the consumables to make that meaningful. Normally, as characters gain power this becomes less of an issue, but that’s because the focus of the game shifts somewhat from the management of mundane resources to magical ones (which for some reason players have less of an issue with). |
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| Also, it brings a fun aspect to the game when you realize, "hey, when we left the packbearer in that room to be eaten by the owlbear he was carrying all our extra torches!" | Also, it brings a fun aspect to the game when you realize, "hey, when we left the packbearer in that room to be eaten by the owlbear he was carrying all our extra torches!" |
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| Nonetheless... it’s a real pain to keep track of every. Little. Thing. Thus, common expendable items will be represented by a [[:dm:notes:usage_die|usage die]] check. | Nonetheless... it’s a real pain to keep track of every. Little. Thing. Thus, common expendable items will be represented by a [[rules:part_4_the_adventure:home#usage_die|usage die]] check. |
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| == ...track our encumbrance? == | == ...track our encumbrance? == |
| == What happens if we split the party? == | == What happens if we split the party? == |
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| Somebody gets eaten. LOL | Somebody gets eaten after they fall in a snow crevasse. LOL |
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| Seriously, though, splitting the party is dangerous at best, foolish at worst. Depending on the action, I may ask people not present to leave the game table, or take those who are currently acting aside. | Seriously, though, splitting the party is dangerous at best, foolish at worst. Depending on the action, I may ask people not present to leave the game table, or take those who are currently acting aside. |
| ===== Backstories, dramastics, natural LARPers and barfing on the table ===== | ===== Backstories, dramastics, natural LARPers and barfing on the table ===== |
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| ==== “Let me tell you about my character,” or... elaborate backstories ==== | ==== “Let me tell you about my character,” — or — elaborate backstories ==== |
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| {{ :meta:notthefuckingbackstory.jpg?direct&200|}} | {{ :meta:notthefuckingbackstory.jpg?direct&200|}} |
| Some players aren’t happy if their characters don’t have big, elaborate backstories. If you’re one of those, feel free, but none of it means anything for gameplay purposes. In fact, it can end up being used against you. If you insist that you are truly a member of the royal court of Zelbar then you may get arrested for impersonating royalty, or people may keep asking you where this mythical land of "Zelbar" is because it doesn’t even exist! NPCs may just think you’re a bit off and have bad reactions to you because you are obviously insane. | Some players aren’t happy if their characters don’t have big, elaborate backstories. If you’re one of those, feel free, but none of it means anything for gameplay purposes. In fact, it can end up being used against you. If you insist that you are truly a member of the royal court of Zelbar then you may get arrested for impersonating royalty, or people may keep asking you where this mythical land of "Zelbar" is because it doesn’t even exist! NPCs may just think you’re a bit off and have bad reactions to you because you are obviously insane. |
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| In short... //not interested.// | In short... if you want to write something up and enjoy that sort of thing, feel free, but for me? //Not interested.// |
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| This isn’t improv drama class but funny voices are okay. Asking "what’s my motivation" or "why should my character go along with this" will probably be met with, "fine, stay in town, the rest of us are going to the dungeon for loot." | This isn’t improv drama class but funny voices are okay. Asking "what’s my motivation" or "why should my character go along with this" will probably be met with, "fine, stay in town, the rest of us are going to the dungeon for loot." |
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| What else is there besides gold and glory, anyway? | What else is there besides glory and silver, anyway? |
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| ==== Okay, can I bring my character from this other in-person game? ==== | ==== Okay, can I bring my character from this other game? ==== |
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| No. | No. |
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| I like the idea of [[dict>open_table_game|open table gaming]], but not taking characters from one DM’s table to another [[dict>flailsnails_conventions|FLAILSNAILS]]-style. DMs give out differing amount of treasure, magic items, spells, etc. Someone might be looking to run a lower-powered game, or simply don’t want to have to nerf or buff a bunch of stuff that you’re packing around. It’s not worth the mental load. | You’re welcome to make a similar character ([[rules:part_2_player_characters:home#new_characters_start_at_first_level|starting from first level, of course]]). |
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| You’re welcome to make a similar character (starting from first level, of course). | |
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| ==== Online games that aren’t FLAILSNAILS suck! — or — ==== | |
| ==== I won’t play your crappy game if I can’t bring my character! ==== | |
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| [[:wiki:further_thoughts|See here for more information.]] | |
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| ==== Sounds fun, and I’d love to play if you ran <some other game> instead. — or — ==== | ==== Can’t we play <something else>? — or — Can't we make it more like <something else>? ==== |
| ==== Can’t we just make it more like <some other game>? ==== | |
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| At this table we’re playing [[dict>classic_d_d|Classic D&D]] powered by //[[dict>bfrpg|Basic Fantasy RPG]]// and some house rules. | At this table we’re playing [[dict>classic_d_d|Classic D&D]] powered by //[[dict>bfrpg|Basic Fantasy RPG]]// and some house rules. |
| [[gameinfo:table_ettiquette#not_all_games_are_for_everyone|That’s not negotiable.]] There’s lots of folks who want to play other games. I want to run this. | [[gameinfo:not_all_games_are_for_everyone|That’s not negotiable; not all games are for everyone.]] There’s lots of folks who want to play other games. I want to run this. |
| ==== Races and classes ==== | ==== Races and classes ==== |
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| == Where’s the paladin? The bard? My favoritest character class EVAR?? == | == Where’s my favorite character class? == |
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| If you look at the quasi-classing option you can probably build what you want. A paladin is essentially a combination of fighter and cleric; a bard is likely an expert, potentially mixed with just about whatever other class you want to specialize as. (Rough-and-tumble? Go with a side of fighter. Student of arcane lore and legend? Mix in some magic-user.) | Maybe we can build a class for it with the quasi-classing options. |
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| I am running a game with an old-school vibe and these don’t make the cut. | I am running a game with an old-school vibe and these don’t make the cut. |
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| Also, if I wanted to run a game centered on a party of monsters I would do so. | Also, if I wanted to run a game centered on a party of monsters I would do so. I decided to run a game centered on Vikings instead. |
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| Okay. :shrug_tone1: If your definition of "inclusive" requires including furries and monsters as playable races or being some tortured snowflake edgelord then we’re going to have to agree to disagree. | Okay. :shrug_tone1: If your definition of "inclusive" requires including furries and monsters as playable races or being some tortured snowflake edgelord then we’re going to have to agree to disagree. |
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| Also, remember, [[gameinfo:table_ettiquette#not_all_games_are_for_everyone|not all games are for everyone]]. | Also, remember, [[gameinfo:not_all_games_are_for_everyone|not all games are for everyone]]. |
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