tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post4073280423349612081..comments2024-02-29T16:43:55.241-05:00Comments on Lurking Rhythmically: More Unknown Ponies playtest reportsErin Palettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09984632637166408245noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-32496802295282306322012-07-20T11:47:09.111-04:002012-07-20T11:47:09.111-04:00They gave non-arcanes mage hand? But how will the...They gave non-arcanes mage hand? But how will the arcane casters let everyone know how terrible and mighty they are if they're not the only ones who can pick things up with their minds?ravenshrikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-50116392258026468272012-07-14T23:28:25.039-04:002012-07-14T23:28:25.039-04:00 If the GM is stringent enough about it, they'... If the GM is stringent enough about it, they'll have players saying "everypony" or "hoof me another slice of pizza" even when they're not in character. >:)B.J. Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-33024676966353789882012-07-14T20:04:25.228-04:002012-07-14T20:04:25.228-04:00 Unfortunately, I wrote that PDF about ten minutes... Unfortunately, I wrote that PDF about ten minutes before the game, and never got the chance to proof it. I'll fix it ASAP.mikepondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-76731691521714819632012-07-14T14:47:36.783-04:002012-07-14T14:47:36.783-04:00GURPS does OK with it, but stats are far more expe...GURPS does OK with it, but stats are far more expensive.McThagnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-16256304981363499492012-07-14T02:50:19.027-04:002012-07-14T02:50:19.027-04:00It's absolutely true, and it worked really, re...It's absolutely true, and it worked really, really well. Not sure if I still have the notes for it or not, but it was pretty easy to convert.Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-44518845144540968132012-07-14T02:48:42.796-04:002012-07-14T02:48:42.796-04:00Oh, good catch. Yes, that section is rife with err...Oh, good catch. Yes, that section is rife with errors (you've just found #3) and I imagine it should read "equal or less than". <br /><br />Fortunately, I didn't write that PDF, so it's not my fault! :DErin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-26079207669249940652012-07-14T02:43:26.416-04:002012-07-14T02:43:26.416-04:00^^^ THIS. ^^^ THIS. Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-3277784100543724342012-07-14T01:40:47.291-04:002012-07-14T01:40:47.291-04:00 Plus, we've seen pegasus wings being used lik... Plus, we've seen pegasus wings being used like weird hands sometimes. <br />I'd generally agree with the use of the MST3K principle here, but I think as a GM I'd encourage players to think of a pony's structure when describing their actions, and smile upon them when they come up with ways to do things with hooves, tails, and mouths. (Although that might not be fair to unicorns, who can manipulate stuff with their telekinesis, but then again, they can do magic spells, they don't need any favors.)B.J. Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-3366247193670148522012-07-13T09:30:32.616-04:002012-07-13T09:30:32.616-04:00I hate to nitpick, but isn't this backwards:
...I hate to nitpick, but isn't this backwards:<br /><br /><i>A success is any number equal or greater than your Attribute+Skill. </i><br /><br />If you get better as numbers go up then don't you want to roll under? Otherwise someone with no attribute or skill has a 100% chance of success while someone with Godlike abilities always fails.<br /><br />Plus, the 1 is replaced by the pony so you get +2 success for a failing roll?Herb Nowellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-90225445996187115622012-07-12T13:27:43.123-04:002012-07-12T13:27:43.123-04:00As far as object manipulation goes, I don't th...As far as object manipulation goes, I don't think skills would really be necessary for it.<br />There has been a pony magiphysics theory pointing out that hooves and horns are made of the same stuff (keratin, I believe), and as such hooves can be used as a focus for magic (or in this case, touch range telekinesis).Ken Petersennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-62669151577441856162012-07-12T02:36:06.994-04:002012-07-12T02:36:06.994-04:00 Why not make stat improvements friendship trackbo... Why not make stat improvements friendship trackboost exclusive?BigDemonicBunnynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-74303616634988581782012-07-12T01:02:39.639-04:002012-07-12T01:02:39.639-04:00 Oh. My. God. Say it's not true.
I guess Rein... Oh. My. God. Say it's not true.<br /><br />I guess Rein-Hagen will never let me hear the end of it now.mikepondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-89156503170798374082012-07-12T01:01:06.444-04:002012-07-12T01:01:06.444-04:00 Advice from an Old Game Designer. Never, EVER app... Advice from an Old Game Designer. Never, EVER apply improvement to Stats. A single stat can be applied to several skills--improving that stat then automatically improves ALL associated skills.mikepondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-66559184513506287042012-07-12T00:59:07.115-04:002012-07-12T00:59:07.115-04:00 Why bother? It's much simpler to just let the... Why bother? It's much simpler to just let the player add up the points gained and then apply them to whatever skills are desired. Remember who was saying that micromanaging was against the MST2K ethos? <br /><br />Erin, petard. Petard, Erin. Commence hoisting (LOL)mikepondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-91127698727756914472012-07-11T23:31:10.953-04:002012-07-11T23:31:10.953-04:00*coughs* Er yes. I shoulda seen that.
The book...*coughs* Er yes. I shoulda seen that.<br /><br />The book keeping question could be solved by designing the character sheets so that there's a tick box next to your stats so you can count the failures.<br /><br />One question is how do you apply your failures. To stats or to skills? Given failures are measured against the combined stat and skill count.<br /><br />I can see it just going to skills. Which means that leveling on stats is another issue.<br /><br />And such a system does have the way of learning through failing.The Jackhttp://fivetensfourtens.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-61084989519260402992012-07-11T22:35:54.027-04:002012-07-11T22:35:54.027-04:00Oh derp. I should have seen that.
But at least I...Oh derp. I should have seen that. <br /><br />But at least I have the benefit of being a math tard. Mathbrony The Jack doesn't have such an excuse!<br /><br />The next questions are, Is this fun? Is this too much bookkeeping for a player? And does it still provide enough of an immediate gratification that players will keep playing and enjoy failure as improvement?Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-20355155215702554112012-07-11T22:28:19.444-04:002012-07-11T22:28:19.444-04:00Easy enough with a 1-10 spread--it's 1/10th th...Easy enough with a 1-10 spread--it's 1/10th the percentage base. So 1 failure= .1 points. Think of it this way: 10 failures used to raise a skill by 10%. Now 10 failures raises a skill by 1 point (which in a 1-10 spread is still 10%)mikepondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-36664838820388197582012-07-11T22:24:57.748-04:002012-07-11T22:24:57.748-04:00Speaking of house rules, would you be pleased or h...Speaking of house rules, would you be pleased or horrified to know that in the mid-90s I converted Cyberpunk to use the World of Darkness rules?Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-37744878905931625282012-07-11T22:23:23.999-04:002012-07-11T22:23:23.999-04:00 I also have a wicked group of players, several of... I also have a wicked group of players, several of whom are game designers themselves. At this point, I just start off with, "The sun rises over Ponyville..." and they take it from there. You think I could dream up stuff this weird?mikepondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-24905280667034083322012-07-11T22:21:07.945-04:002012-07-11T22:21:07.945-04:00LOL. It's not that I've been GMing forever...LOL. It's not that I've been GMing forever. It's that I've actually taught game design, so I'm kind of used to destroying the hopes and dreams of aspiring young designers (insert evil laugh here). Truth is, Erin's done pretty well so far for someone who thinks she can't do systems--and there isn't a game design on earth that doesn't get clobbered in playtest (mine included). I also pointed out to Erin that my suggestions are just that--especially if they're going to raise her blood pressure! Every designer has to deal with house rules, and she should consider the skill system to be my group's equivalent of just that (do you wanna even guess how many house rule variants for Cyberpunk there are?!) That's why you playtest. Over and over and over and over and over...mikepondnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-29703206763312111902012-07-11T19:14:07.801-04:002012-07-11T19:14:07.801-04:00Maybe a "fate point" mechanic, where eve...Maybe a "fate point" mechanic, where every failure adds a point, and these points can be spent to add bonus dice to the 3dP pool? And the pool cab be capped by one of the stats (older ponies can carry more points around).<br /><br />Just a thought...Robert Slaughternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-60271568546889100272012-07-11T18:56:11.266-04:002012-07-11T18:56:11.266-04:00Oooh yeah ick.
Well simplest is to use two "X...Oooh yeah ick.<br />Well simplest is to use two "XP" buckets. One for skills and one for stats. And when the bucket is full the player can add half a level to a skill/stat of their choice.<br /><br />Though that ignores the question of increased difficulty. Going from a 1.5 to a 2 in Lockpicking should be easier than going from 3.5 to 4 for example.The Jackhttp://fivetensfourtens.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-80081751502509267972012-07-11T18:00:35.389-04:002012-07-11T18:00:35.389-04:00The problem with that is it would require a skill ...The problem with that is it would require a skill counter for EVERY SINGLE SKILL your pony uses. That's an awful lot of bookkeeping for not a lot of fun. <br /><br />Unfortunately, I don't have anything better to suggest.Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-9204340890837707692012-07-11T17:53:38.940-04:002012-07-11T17:53:38.940-04:00Could have some sort of skill counter based on XP ...Could have some sort of skill counter based on XP or failed skill checks. Sort of like filling up a gauge. And when it's full the skill can be boosted by half a point.<br /><br /><br />Good point, the older ponies do have an advantage in strength and mental points.The Jackhttp://fivetensfourtens.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6649591714373684167.post-71695260366416909172012-07-11T17:33:29.162-04:002012-07-11T17:33:29.162-04:00 There's a typo on the dropbox link. The Thre... <i>There's a typo on the dropbox link. The Three failures column still has the legacy of 6 being the top value.</i><br /><br />Well, that goes nicely with the typo in the line above, where Princess Success is still considered a failure... ;)<br /><br />I dunno, JUST a strength advantage seems insufficient. Just look at how the Cutie Mark Crusaders compare to the adults and you will see there is a definite immaturity of both mind and body. <br /><br />The "Failure is Awesome" mechanic stated that any time a pony failed a skill check, that skill improved by 1%. Since there are no percentages any more, I don't know what the closest approximation would be.Erin Palettehttp://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com