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| gameinfo:faq_prospective_players [2025/06/12 19:04] – [“But I don’t know that much about Vikings...”] 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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| ===== “But I don’t know that much about Vikings...” ===== | ===== “But I don’t know that much about Vikings...” ===== |
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| It’s okay, neither do I! Did you watch [[https://www.history.com/shows/vikings|"Vikings"]] on History Channel? Then you’re good to go. | 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.) | 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. |
| ===== 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... ==== |
| == ...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. |
| 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 [[rules:part_6_house_rules:home#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? == |
| ===== 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|}} |
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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 system 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 my favorite game system? ==== | |
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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; not all games are for everyone.]] 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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