Nothing major, so don’t get too tight in the pants there slickery.
Added a new bodyshot card for Khara Doone (which I’ve been meaning to do for like, months-sorry honey!), and consolidated the Kalron Narute/Vanas Drooxf stat pages into one and added a new pic of those guys .
So, basically I’m just clearing up some files and getting things up that have been sitting around collecting dust. The good news is that this is because the update is coming soon and I need to make room for stuff.
Yay!
You can find the new pics in our sourcebook section via the main manu on the RS front page.
Or, you know, follow this link:
http://www.raptorsquad.net/sourcebook/index.html
You know, whatever you dig.
Enjoy!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I've got a Deano, now I just need a Sammy and a Vegas show....
Well, I’m back from vacay and kicking it raw yo!
In layman’s terms, that means I’m back to working on the upcoming update. Lots of good stuff, but, like most of you, I grow tired of promises. I want results dammit!
Well, no worries kids. It’s coming. Fact is, I don’t like to rush things and throw together updates just for the sake of saying that I update my site on a regular basis. Raptor Squad has always been about quality, pure and simple. From the artwork which I’ve tried to improve over the years- from crude pencil sketches that, looking back now make me wince- to the fiction that started out as lifeless gamelogs with as much entertainment value as a brochure for a deck cleaning service that has morphed into full-fledged fiction that numbers in the hundreds, if not thousands of pages.
Yeah, I don’t skimp when it comes to Raptor Squad.net. And for good reason too! We are one of the last remaining Star Wars RPG campaign-oriented sites still left out there. For some that may not mean a hill of beans, but to those who played the game, who created characters that lived and breathed (and yeah, died) it still means something. At least I know it does to me and Elfgirl, and I’d like to hope to others as well.
Heck, it must. I’ve come across SWRPG sites that have outright STOLEN Raptor Squad characters for their own use, sites that legitimately ask to use features and artwork (good on ya!), sites that have chosen to not ask for permission and use material and artwork we’ve created anyway (Boo Hiss!) and people that give me great feedback throughout the community that really seem to dig what we are doing and look forward to what we roll out next.
And let’s be honest, it marries things I love! Star Wars, roleplaying, artwork, writing, creating…heck, why wouldn’t I want to produce quality material and entertainment for the masses? And more importantly, I get to do it MY way.
It’s funny, looking back, when I was younger I would have thought designing games and producing art and all that for some game company would have been the end-all be-all of jobs. But as I get older, and I see how the business is really run, with folks looking over your shoulder, changing things, altering what you love because they have a different vision, canning folks at a moment's notice and things like that…well, to be honest I’d have to pass if the opportunity ever presented itself (and it has, and I did). I guess that’s why I never seriously pursued any work in those fields (plus I make a butt load of cash at my current job, so taking a MASSIVE pay cut just to see my name on some book that will eventually be tossed in a dollar bin at my local gaming store doesn’t really appeal to me the way it used to.)
Plus, as I said, the most important thing is…I get to do it MY way (thanks Frank!) and have fun doing it! No running ideas past people to see if they approve, no rewriting or reworking fiction because someone doesn’t like how I describe something…nope…Raptorsquad.Net is 100% pure Me. I make no apologies for it and I can take all the blame, (though when it comes to the credit…well, that has to be shared among a few people, most notable Elfgirl).
So, what have we learned here? Not much, other than I’m still working on the upcoming update and hope to roll it out soon (and of course hope that it’s worth the wait!). Any feedback or questions you can of course leave it here or e-mail me.
In layman’s terms, that means I’m back to working on the upcoming update. Lots of good stuff, but, like most of you, I grow tired of promises. I want results dammit!
Well, no worries kids. It’s coming. Fact is, I don’t like to rush things and throw together updates just for the sake of saying that I update my site on a regular basis. Raptor Squad has always been about quality, pure and simple. From the artwork which I’ve tried to improve over the years- from crude pencil sketches that, looking back now make me wince- to the fiction that started out as lifeless gamelogs with as much entertainment value as a brochure for a deck cleaning service that has morphed into full-fledged fiction that numbers in the hundreds, if not thousands of pages.
Yeah, I don’t skimp when it comes to Raptor Squad.net. And for good reason too! We are one of the last remaining Star Wars RPG campaign-oriented sites still left out there. For some that may not mean a hill of beans, but to those who played the game, who created characters that lived and breathed (and yeah, died) it still means something. At least I know it does to me and Elfgirl, and I’d like to hope to others as well.
Heck, it must. I’ve come across SWRPG sites that have outright STOLEN Raptor Squad characters for their own use, sites that legitimately ask to use features and artwork (good on ya!), sites that have chosen to not ask for permission and use material and artwork we’ve created anyway (Boo Hiss!) and people that give me great feedback throughout the community that really seem to dig what we are doing and look forward to what we roll out next.
And let’s be honest, it marries things I love! Star Wars, roleplaying, artwork, writing, creating…heck, why wouldn’t I want to produce quality material and entertainment for the masses? And more importantly, I get to do it MY way.
It’s funny, looking back, when I was younger I would have thought designing games and producing art and all that for some game company would have been the end-all be-all of jobs. But as I get older, and I see how the business is really run, with folks looking over your shoulder, changing things, altering what you love because they have a different vision, canning folks at a moment's notice and things like that…well, to be honest I’d have to pass if the opportunity ever presented itself (and it has, and I did). I guess that’s why I never seriously pursued any work in those fields (plus I make a butt load of cash at my current job, so taking a MASSIVE pay cut just to see my name on some book that will eventually be tossed in a dollar bin at my local gaming store doesn’t really appeal to me the way it used to.)
Plus, as I said, the most important thing is…I get to do it MY way (thanks Frank!) and have fun doing it! No running ideas past people to see if they approve, no rewriting or reworking fiction because someone doesn’t like how I describe something…nope…Raptorsquad.Net is 100% pure Me. I make no apologies for it and I can take all the blame, (though when it comes to the credit…well, that has to be shared among a few people, most notable Elfgirl).
So, what have we learned here? Not much, other than I’m still working on the upcoming update and hope to roll it out soon (and of course hope that it’s worth the wait!). Any feedback or questions you can of course leave it here or e-mail me.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Lazy Days of Summer
If you've noticed a lack of entries lately it's because I'm on vacation this week.
The good news is that I've been working my tail off on the upcoming update and something very cool for your enjoyment.
So, you know, keep an eye out!
The good news is that I've been working my tail off on the upcoming update and something very cool for your enjoyment.
So, you know, keep an eye out!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Honey, why the gloom?
You know what’s funny?
How every little community has its own brand of drama.
I learned this when I helped jump-start SWAG (The Star Wars Artists Guild) oh so many years back. What started as a project in bringing together a bunch of artists interested in doing something they loved really turned in to a lot of work...a lot of work that came with its share of headaches and drama.
Now granted, a lot of that came from the position I was in, “Baron Administrator” a fancy way of saying “figurehead”, but still, you wouldn’t believe the amount of bullsh*t I had to wade through just because at one point I thought it would be fun for a bunch of folks to have one place to showcase some pics of Wookiees and stuff.
But behind the scenes? In the cogs and inner workings of the site? It was nuts.
It seemed like for every normal person who was content to go with the flow and help out you had two or three freakshows who had nothing better to do than stir up trouble. And don’t even get me started on my tenure as the Art Director for the now-defunct “Online Journal.” I've seen fewer Divas on a Milan runway.
Anyway, point being is that when you have a community revolving around a hobby (re: something you do for fun and to relax), it’s amazing the kind of people who will shout it down and bring their own anger and jealousy to the party.
I’ve seen it first hand in the Star Wars RPG community, and to be honest it’s one of the reasons why I’m not really that prolific anymore. The constant arguing over which system is better, why someone is stupid for liking a certain system and all of the various minutia and rules-bickering just really sapped a lot of the fun out of visiting the community forums and participating in the community for me.
I find this to be the same atmosphere in the webcomic community.
People put hard work into what they create and there are others just sitting in the wings to rip it down and criticize. Be it because they lack creativity, originality, or are just unhappy angry-as-piss losers who have nothing better to do, they’re out there, waiting to pounce on any webcomic they don’t like or take issue with.
Oh, and the creators don’t get off that lightly either. Some of them are producing questionable content and comics I would be embarrassed to show to ex-cons and former Marines.
Still, again, we’re talking about freaking COMICS. Yet the anger rages and persists. As if they have nothing better or more important to get wound up and upset over in the world. Wow, I really wish I had their free time.
I guess that’s why I never bothered creating a forum or anything for the Raptor Squad site like other websites have. What’s the point? Most forums turn into a battlefield of pointless flame-wars and arguments, and those that don’t require an around-the-clock guard detail.
I’ve seen it first hand on the Holonet (a SWRPG forum) and back in my days at SWAG, and it was a daily chore to monitor, edit and step in to make sure folks played nice. Because, for whatever reason (I blame the anonymity of the interweb), people found it impossible to talk about freaking Star Wars art without sniping, arguing and just being asshats in general. Hell, from what I've seen lately its only gotten worse as time goes on, so a while back I decided to take my leave and not look back. It's easier that way and I get to keep my sanity.
So, you might wonder (or maybe not, and that’s cool too) what this has to do with webcomics and Raptor Squad?
Well just keep those eyes peeled true believers! I’m currently working on something that will allow you to waste even more time at work!
Why? Because I care! That's why!
How every little community has its own brand of drama.
I learned this when I helped jump-start SWAG (The Star Wars Artists Guild) oh so many years back. What started as a project in bringing together a bunch of artists interested in doing something they loved really turned in to a lot of work...a lot of work that came with its share of headaches and drama.
Now granted, a lot of that came from the position I was in, “Baron Administrator” a fancy way of saying “figurehead”, but still, you wouldn’t believe the amount of bullsh*t I had to wade through just because at one point I thought it would be fun for a bunch of folks to have one place to showcase some pics of Wookiees and stuff.
But behind the scenes? In the cogs and inner workings of the site? It was nuts.
It seemed like for every normal person who was content to go with the flow and help out you had two or three freakshows who had nothing better to do than stir up trouble. And don’t even get me started on my tenure as the Art Director for the now-defunct “Online Journal.” I've seen fewer Divas on a Milan runway.
Anyway, point being is that when you have a community revolving around a hobby (re: something you do for fun and to relax), it’s amazing the kind of people who will shout it down and bring their own anger and jealousy to the party.
I’ve seen it first hand in the Star Wars RPG community, and to be honest it’s one of the reasons why I’m not really that prolific anymore. The constant arguing over which system is better, why someone is stupid for liking a certain system and all of the various minutia and rules-bickering just really sapped a lot of the fun out of visiting the community forums and participating in the community for me.
I find this to be the same atmosphere in the webcomic community.
People put hard work into what they create and there are others just sitting in the wings to rip it down and criticize. Be it because they lack creativity, originality, or are just unhappy angry-as-piss losers who have nothing better to do, they’re out there, waiting to pounce on any webcomic they don’t like or take issue with.
Oh, and the creators don’t get off that lightly either. Some of them are producing questionable content and comics I would be embarrassed to show to ex-cons and former Marines.
Still, again, we’re talking about freaking COMICS. Yet the anger rages and persists. As if they have nothing better or more important to get wound up and upset over in the world. Wow, I really wish I had their free time.
I guess that’s why I never bothered creating a forum or anything for the Raptor Squad site like other websites have. What’s the point? Most forums turn into a battlefield of pointless flame-wars and arguments, and those that don’t require an around-the-clock guard detail.
I’ve seen it first hand on the Holonet (a SWRPG forum) and back in my days at SWAG, and it was a daily chore to monitor, edit and step in to make sure folks played nice. Because, for whatever reason (I blame the anonymity of the interweb), people found it impossible to talk about freaking Star Wars art without sniping, arguing and just being asshats in general. Hell, from what I've seen lately its only gotten worse as time goes on, so a while back I decided to take my leave and not look back. It's easier that way and I get to keep my sanity.
So, you might wonder (or maybe not, and that’s cool too) what this has to do with webcomics and Raptor Squad?
Well just keep those eyes peeled true believers! I’m currently working on something that will allow you to waste even more time at work!
Why? Because I care! That's why!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Hell's Fury at 170 mph
Man I love me some Burnout Revenge.
For those of you not up on Xbox 360 games, Burnout Revenge is a video game that came out about 2 years ago.
I just got it because I’m one of those people who don’t live and die by being the first to own a video game, new iphone, cd, etc….
It’s called patience and I got loads of it when it comes to stuff like this.
Anyways, it’s basically a racing game focusing on how many cars you can wreck and how much damage you can do.
It’s sick, twisted fun and I can’t get enough of it.
I owned the old Burnout for the original Xbox and it was a blast. So, when the chance came up to own this one for like, fifteen bucks I jumped at the chance. And damn was it worth it. Hell, even Elfgirl is addicted to it…and for it being a racing game that is really saying something.
Now, there is a more recent Burnout that came out a few months ago called “Burnout:Paradise”, but after reading the reviews I found out they took out “Crash Mode”…
WTF man?
Crash Mode is the ONLY reason to own this game! It’s what separates it from your Grant Turismo’s and Project Gotham Racings! If I wanted a pure drive simulator I would go for one of those titles…but man, Burnout is all about Crash Mode!
Basically you pick a car, put the metal down and race headlong into traffic, crashing and burning at just the right time to do the most amount of damage.
Hell yeah!
Anyone ever stuck in a traffic jam can relate to this game. Is it fun, mindless sick entertainment?
Yeah, it is. But it’s safe, causes no harm to anyone else and lets me release some adrenaline without causing REAL property damage or bodily harm, so it’s all good.
But apparently the geniuses who designed “Paradise” decided to drop Crash Mode, so I decided to skip it and go with the older, more attractive model that lets me do some damage.
So…when it showed up this weekend while I was taking a break from my D6 Fantasy gaming marathon I’d been on for the last month, it was a matter of perfect timing.
No real thought required here…just acute hand-eye coordination and a thirst for blood was all that was required…and I drank heartily my friends.
Gulp…gulp…..SCREEEECHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Hellz yeah.
I’ll get back to working on updates and fiction and all of that other stuff…but tonight! Tonight we ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For those of you not up on Xbox 360 games, Burnout Revenge is a video game that came out about 2 years ago.
I just got it because I’m one of those people who don’t live and die by being the first to own a video game, new iphone, cd, etc….
It’s called patience and I got loads of it when it comes to stuff like this.
Anyways, it’s basically a racing game focusing on how many cars you can wreck and how much damage you can do.
It’s sick, twisted fun and I can’t get enough of it.
I owned the old Burnout for the original Xbox and it was a blast. So, when the chance came up to own this one for like, fifteen bucks I jumped at the chance. And damn was it worth it. Hell, even Elfgirl is addicted to it…and for it being a racing game that is really saying something.
Now, there is a more recent Burnout that came out a few months ago called “Burnout:Paradise”, but after reading the reviews I found out they took out “Crash Mode”…
WTF man?
Crash Mode is the ONLY reason to own this game! It’s what separates it from your Grant Turismo’s and Project Gotham Racings! If I wanted a pure drive simulator I would go for one of those titles…but man, Burnout is all about Crash Mode!
Basically you pick a car, put the metal down and race headlong into traffic, crashing and burning at just the right time to do the most amount of damage.
Hell yeah!
Anyone ever stuck in a traffic jam can relate to this game. Is it fun, mindless sick entertainment?
Yeah, it is. But it’s safe, causes no harm to anyone else and lets me release some adrenaline without causing REAL property damage or bodily harm, so it’s all good.
But apparently the geniuses who designed “Paradise” decided to drop Crash Mode, so I decided to skip it and go with the older, more attractive model that lets me do some damage.
So…when it showed up this weekend while I was taking a break from my D6 Fantasy gaming marathon I’d been on for the last month, it was a matter of perfect timing.
No real thought required here…just acute hand-eye coordination and a thirst for blood was all that was required…and I drank heartily my friends.
Gulp…gulp…..SCREEEECHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Hellz yeah.
I’ll get back to working on updates and fiction and all of that other stuff…but tonight! Tonight we ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Hand me that can of space filler, wouldja?
What better way to kill space than to post completely unrelated quiz answers about myself?
yeah, it's not Raptor Squad or even game related, so I grant you permission to withold my next paycheck.
Wow! And I can't think of a better way to end this little trip through pointless nonsense, can you?
Hope this tells you a little bit more about me, cause we all know these tests are sooooooooooooooooo freaking accurate.
(Wow...well maybe the sarcastic one was anyway....)
yeah, it's not Raptor Squad or even game related, so I grant you permission to withold my next paycheck.
Your Famous Movie Kiss is from Spiderman |
 "I have always been standing in your doorway. Isn't it about time somebody saved your life?" |
Your Pimp Name Is... |
 |
You Are 84% Happy |
 It's unlikely that you know anyone happier than you. You know how to be happy, no matter what life throws at you. |
You're Totally Sarcastic |
 You sarcastic? Never! You're as sweet as a baby bunny. Seriously, though, you have a sharp tongue - and you aren't afraid to use it. And if people are too wimpy to deal with your attitutde, then too bad. So sad. |
You Passed 8th Grade Science |
 Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct! |
Your Rockstar Name Is... |
 |
You Are From Saturn |
 You're steady, organizes, and determined to achieve your dreams. You tend to play it conservative, going by the rules (at least the practical ones). You'll likely reach the top. And when you do, you'll be honorable and responsible. Focus on happiness. Don't let your goals distract you from fun! Don't be too set in your ways, and you'll be more of a success than you ever dreamed of. |
You Are 20% Nerdy |
 You are definitely not nerdy - in fact, you probably don't know any nerds. You probably care a little too much about your image. No one will know if you secretly watch Star Trek reruns! |
Your Love Life is Like Casablanca |
 "Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time." For you, love is never finished. If you've loved someone once, you'll always love them. You're an old fashioned romantic... even if your relationships don't end up as romantic as you'd like. Your love style: Traditional and understated Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Complicated and ambiguous |
Wow! And I can't think of a better way to end this little trip through pointless nonsense, can you?
Hope this tells you a little bit more about me, cause we all know these tests are sooooooooooooooooo freaking accurate.
(Wow...well maybe the sarcastic one was anyway....)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Wow!
Wow!
I just typed, like a HUGE post relating to comics and how they used to serve a purpose but now are basically crap and well....
Well I feel a lot better now.
So better, in fact that I don't really feel like posting something so negative. Not now anyways, maybe later when I need space to fill and feel like unloading on "Teh Fanboiz".
See? I look out for you, dear readers.
So, in place of all that negativity, and because it's a beautiful day here in the River City, I give you....
Puppies.
Enjoy.
I just typed, like a HUGE post relating to comics and how they used to serve a purpose but now are basically crap and well....
Well I feel a lot better now.
So better, in fact that I don't really feel like posting something so negative. Not now anyways, maybe later when I need space to fill and feel like unloading on "Teh Fanboiz".
See? I look out for you, dear readers.
So, in place of all that negativity, and because it's a beautiful day here in the River City, I give you....
Puppies.
Enjoy.
Monday, July 7, 2008
R.I.P Arol Flynn Sweet-Tongue
Well, it finally happened.
After GM’ing for almost four years on and off through several games, the inevitable finally occurred:
I killed a Player Character.
Now, before I get into the hows and whys, let me first explain my position on PC deaths: I’m not a fan of killing off PC’s. See, I’m from the school of thought that, if a player spends the time and effort in rolling up a character and making up an interesting and cool back story then for them to die in the game requires one of two things to happen:
One, they do something despite me advising strongly against it.
Example:
Me: “You find what looks to be a temple. It appears to be holy ground and the resting place of heroes. There are several sarcophagus in the room with carvings along the side depicting the heroic exploits of these soldiers. It appears no other evil has touched this place.
PC: Screw it! I’m going to rip off one of those coffin lids and find me some treasure!
Me: Uh…these were good soldiers who died defending the realm against evil. Don’t you think they deserve some peace?
PC: Not as much as my ass deserves a sweet magical item! BOYAH!
Two, they just do something outright stupid.
Example:
PC: So, I think this guy is the villain.
GM: Why? He’s give you no reason to think this. He’s done nothing but help the team, and is even standing watch in the infirmary over your fallen comrade.
PC: Whatever. He’s evil and I’m not going to stand around until it’s too late to stop his evil ass.
GM: So what are you going to do?
PC: Strap ten grenades to my body, run in the infirmary and bear hug him. Then pull the pin.
GM: IN THE INFIRMARY!?!? LIKELY KILLING ALL OF THE INNOCENTS INSIDE!?!?
PC: I’m not worried…I’ll use the Force to shield myself from the blast.
So…you get the picture. I WON’T let a good PC die because of a crappy roll of the dice. The name of the game is FUN…and losing your PC (unless you have it coming to you) simply isn’t fun, not for me, certainly not for the players.
But damn it can be dramatic.
So, this last weekend I was running my group’s D6 Fantasy campaign “Champions of the North” and things had taken a downward turn for the group.
Two thirds of them were in prison for killing a couple of orc thugs a month earlier while in town before they went on a dungeon crawl. Upon returning to town they were arrested, put on trial and sentenced to death. Turns out the local crime syndicate decided to use them in the main event of the newly built arena, so they could line their pockets with gold at the minor expense of two of their orc footsoldiers.
So, we’ve got two PC’s stripped down , fitted with raiment’s and shoved into the arena to fight for their lives in front of this bloodthirsty crowd. I decided to throw two massive Wood Trolls at them (and in D6 Fantasy, trolls are mean, nasty, TOUGH sumsbitches, and with my own modifications NOT some panty-waists that run at the first glimmer of sunlight)… but there were weapons to be had and even a way to escape…the PC’s merely had to find the correct loose sewer grate that led to the underground tunnels. The game plan they came up with was to split up…forcing the trolls to divide their efforts…not a bad plan.
The two PC’s were a Battlemage Moonelf named Cirith Moonshadow and the other, a half-elf Bard named Arol Flynn Sweet-Tongue (quit your snickering out there, I can hear you!).
When the Trolls were released the PC’s did a good job initially of holding their ground, with Arol dodging and weaving, trying sewer grates and just barely staying out of his Wood Troll’s reach. Cirith was lucky enough to find her magic sword on her first attempt (see, weapons were arrayed in covered alcoves along the arena walls…they were completely random and the local mages guild, who needed Cirith alive, had planted her weapon “The Troll Slaying Bastard Sword of Aundair” among the available weapons-and I’ll be damned if the player, Elfgirl, didn’t draw the freaking sword on her first try…a 1 in 23 chance…go figure)…
So, seeing that this battle was likely to end pretty quickly (barring some catastrophe), I moved my guys in for the kill, just to make things remotely interesting and challenging ….Cirith’s troll of course became sushi thanks to her magical weapon….Arol (who was being played by Country Girl)…well…Arol had some bad luck.
See, Arol was doing fine dancing around, trying the sewer grates for an early exit, and so on…but upon dodging out of the way of his adversary a second too late, the Troll managed to catch Arol just right and land a hit…
Here’s where it gets interesting.
See…when we played Star Wars D6 it used the “Wound Level” system…which to me was a very archaic and abstract way of determining how bad off your character was injured. Instead of hit points or body points, you had “wound levels”…and I hated it. I think it failed to really capture the visceral reaction necessary to convey how bad you just got f***ed up. So, instead of seeing your hit points drop by half you get a lame “Well, you’re Wounded x2”.
Woooo! I really felt THAT!
See, like I said, it just seems to lack the appropriate “zing” that a body point system does.
So, when the newer D6 products rolled out a body points-based damage system, I did backflips.
Now, when you take damage, you actually have a solid idea of how bad your ass just got kicked. It’s great, I dig it and more importantly, it lets players know just how bad off they really are, rather than telling them… “oooh…you really hurt…wow, boy do you hurt…”
So…back to the action…..
Arol has 35 body points.
The Troll connects on his hit, using claws as big as daggers….
And does 34 points of damage.
The players freak as Arol’s midsection gets ripped from his body and flies unceremoniously through the air to splat against the arena wall.
So, as a GM here’s my dilemma.
Arol has a healing potion (don’t ask how he smuggled it in, his name is “Sweet-Tongue” so do the math)….anyway, do I let Cirith make her way over to him, fight off the slaughtering troll and save Arols life?
Or do I do something memorable, something dramatic, something that the group will remember for years to come?
Yeah, I went ahead and killed his ass.
With Arol having only one body point left, Cirith, having taken her troll out of the fight, scrambles, sword in hand, to get to her fallen comrade, who has dropped to his knees, his intestines spilling into his hands as rain pours from above into the arena and as lightning crashes and thunder fights for supremacy over the roar of the crowd…and as Ciriths stumbles and scampers along the wet ground, the troll, an evil grin on his face, draws back, and as Arol looks up, disbelieving, razor sharp claws slice through the air-and his neck- sending his head spinning off into the darkness.
DRAMA!
So that’s how it happened at the table.
Country Girl sat there stunned as I asked her to hand over her character folder and gave her the rulebook to decide what kind of character she wanted to play next. To her credit she accepted it with dignity…didn’t argue or protest and got on with planning her future PC.
The other players moved on as well, with Cirith returning the favor and beheading the killer troll and escaping the arena and Borrax (the teams Dwarven tank) infiltrating the prison and retrieving the teams gear…still, for the next several hours I tried to make Country Girl feel better abut the situation, telling her the new PC might be more fun to play, that it wasn’t her fault, that the troll just got a great roll…you could even tell the other players were still coming to grips with it.
It was an emotional time.
So…the remaining two heroes, Cirith and Borrax finally rendezvous, Cirith reveals Arol’s demise and as both board a ship to escape the town, they go about the grim business of dividing up their fallen comrades goods…
And come across the Mirror of Resurrection Arol found in the dungeon they’d recently visited.
HA HA!!!!!!!!
Stunned and surprised, Cirith uses her arcane knowledge, figures out how it works and smashes it against the floor…the mirror shatters and a flash and puff of smoke later, and a naked shivering Arol Flynn is resurrected right there in the middle of the cabin.
See, what makes this ALL the more sweet is that NONE of the players remembered the mirror! They actually sat there for several hours thinking I had just killed a PC (which technically, I had)…but I remembered the mirror, and knew that barring anything unforeseen they would come across it after the rendezvous and that Arol would rise again.
It’s times like these that makes all of the work and effort worthwhile.
Snacks for the game: $10
Miniatures and props: $10
Convincing a player you just killed off their character for good: Priceless.
Oh, and as a treat for you all, here are two pictures of the Champions of the North. The first is their starting “look” for the game…bright colors, very heroic…Arol Flynn Sweet-Tongue, Borrax Ironhouse and Cirith Moonshadow…. feel free to click for a higher resolution image!
And the second pic is of the heroes on the run from the law and heading into darker, more sinister territories….
Oh, and some of you may be wondering why Borrax is sporting a thick black beard and shaggy mane of hair in one pic and not in the other.
Well dear readers, that is another story all together.....
After GM’ing for almost four years on and off through several games, the inevitable finally occurred:
I killed a Player Character.
Now, before I get into the hows and whys, let me first explain my position on PC deaths: I’m not a fan of killing off PC’s. See, I’m from the school of thought that, if a player spends the time and effort in rolling up a character and making up an interesting and cool back story then for them to die in the game requires one of two things to happen:
One, they do something despite me advising strongly against it.
Example:
Me: “You find what looks to be a temple. It appears to be holy ground and the resting place of heroes. There are several sarcophagus in the room with carvings along the side depicting the heroic exploits of these soldiers. It appears no other evil has touched this place.
PC: Screw it! I’m going to rip off one of those coffin lids and find me some treasure!
Me: Uh…these were good soldiers who died defending the realm against evil. Don’t you think they deserve some peace?
PC: Not as much as my ass deserves a sweet magical item! BOYAH!
Two, they just do something outright stupid.
Example:
PC: So, I think this guy is the villain.
GM: Why? He’s give you no reason to think this. He’s done nothing but help the team, and is even standing watch in the infirmary over your fallen comrade.
PC: Whatever. He’s evil and I’m not going to stand around until it’s too late to stop his evil ass.
GM: So what are you going to do?
PC: Strap ten grenades to my body, run in the infirmary and bear hug him. Then pull the pin.
GM: IN THE INFIRMARY!?!? LIKELY KILLING ALL OF THE INNOCENTS INSIDE!?!?
PC: I’m not worried…I’ll use the Force to shield myself from the blast.
So…you get the picture. I WON’T let a good PC die because of a crappy roll of the dice. The name of the game is FUN…and losing your PC (unless you have it coming to you) simply isn’t fun, not for me, certainly not for the players.
But damn it can be dramatic.
So, this last weekend I was running my group’s D6 Fantasy campaign “Champions of the North” and things had taken a downward turn for the group.
Two thirds of them were in prison for killing a couple of orc thugs a month earlier while in town before they went on a dungeon crawl. Upon returning to town they were arrested, put on trial and sentenced to death. Turns out the local crime syndicate decided to use them in the main event of the newly built arena, so they could line their pockets with gold at the minor expense of two of their orc footsoldiers.
So, we’ve got two PC’s stripped down , fitted with raiment’s and shoved into the arena to fight for their lives in front of this bloodthirsty crowd. I decided to throw two massive Wood Trolls at them (and in D6 Fantasy, trolls are mean, nasty, TOUGH sumsbitches, and with my own modifications NOT some panty-waists that run at the first glimmer of sunlight)… but there were weapons to be had and even a way to escape…the PC’s merely had to find the correct loose sewer grate that led to the underground tunnels. The game plan they came up with was to split up…forcing the trolls to divide their efforts…not a bad plan.
The two PC’s were a Battlemage Moonelf named Cirith Moonshadow and the other, a half-elf Bard named Arol Flynn Sweet-Tongue (quit your snickering out there, I can hear you!).
When the Trolls were released the PC’s did a good job initially of holding their ground, with Arol dodging and weaving, trying sewer grates and just barely staying out of his Wood Troll’s reach. Cirith was lucky enough to find her magic sword on her first attempt (see, weapons were arrayed in covered alcoves along the arena walls…they were completely random and the local mages guild, who needed Cirith alive, had planted her weapon “The Troll Slaying Bastard Sword of Aundair” among the available weapons-and I’ll be damned if the player, Elfgirl, didn’t draw the freaking sword on her first try…a 1 in 23 chance…go figure)…
So, seeing that this battle was likely to end pretty quickly (barring some catastrophe), I moved my guys in for the kill, just to make things remotely interesting and challenging ….Cirith’s troll of course became sushi thanks to her magical weapon….Arol (who was being played by Country Girl)…well…Arol had some bad luck.
See, Arol was doing fine dancing around, trying the sewer grates for an early exit, and so on…but upon dodging out of the way of his adversary a second too late, the Troll managed to catch Arol just right and land a hit…
Here’s where it gets interesting.
See…when we played Star Wars D6 it used the “Wound Level” system…which to me was a very archaic and abstract way of determining how bad off your character was injured. Instead of hit points or body points, you had “wound levels”…and I hated it. I think it failed to really capture the visceral reaction necessary to convey how bad you just got f***ed up. So, instead of seeing your hit points drop by half you get a lame “Well, you’re Wounded x2”.
Woooo! I really felt THAT!
See, like I said, it just seems to lack the appropriate “zing” that a body point system does.
So, when the newer D6 products rolled out a body points-based damage system, I did backflips.
Now, when you take damage, you actually have a solid idea of how bad your ass just got kicked. It’s great, I dig it and more importantly, it lets players know just how bad off they really are, rather than telling them… “oooh…you really hurt…wow, boy do you hurt…”
So…back to the action…..
Arol has 35 body points.
The Troll connects on his hit, using claws as big as daggers….
And does 34 points of damage.
The players freak as Arol’s midsection gets ripped from his body and flies unceremoniously through the air to splat against the arena wall.
So, as a GM here’s my dilemma.
Arol has a healing potion (don’t ask how he smuggled it in, his name is “Sweet-Tongue” so do the math)….anyway, do I let Cirith make her way over to him, fight off the slaughtering troll and save Arols life?
Or do I do something memorable, something dramatic, something that the group will remember for years to come?
Yeah, I went ahead and killed his ass.
With Arol having only one body point left, Cirith, having taken her troll out of the fight, scrambles, sword in hand, to get to her fallen comrade, who has dropped to his knees, his intestines spilling into his hands as rain pours from above into the arena and as lightning crashes and thunder fights for supremacy over the roar of the crowd…and as Ciriths stumbles and scampers along the wet ground, the troll, an evil grin on his face, draws back, and as Arol looks up, disbelieving, razor sharp claws slice through the air-and his neck- sending his head spinning off into the darkness.
DRAMA!
So that’s how it happened at the table.
Country Girl sat there stunned as I asked her to hand over her character folder and gave her the rulebook to decide what kind of character she wanted to play next. To her credit she accepted it with dignity…didn’t argue or protest and got on with planning her future PC.
The other players moved on as well, with Cirith returning the favor and beheading the killer troll and escaping the arena and Borrax (the teams Dwarven tank) infiltrating the prison and retrieving the teams gear…still, for the next several hours I tried to make Country Girl feel better abut the situation, telling her the new PC might be more fun to play, that it wasn’t her fault, that the troll just got a great roll…you could even tell the other players were still coming to grips with it.
It was an emotional time.
So…the remaining two heroes, Cirith and Borrax finally rendezvous, Cirith reveals Arol’s demise and as both board a ship to escape the town, they go about the grim business of dividing up their fallen comrades goods…
And come across the Mirror of Resurrection Arol found in the dungeon they’d recently visited.
HA HA!!!!!!!!
Stunned and surprised, Cirith uses her arcane knowledge, figures out how it works and smashes it against the floor…the mirror shatters and a flash and puff of smoke later, and a naked shivering Arol Flynn is resurrected right there in the middle of the cabin.
See, what makes this ALL the more sweet is that NONE of the players remembered the mirror! They actually sat there for several hours thinking I had just killed a PC (which technically, I had)…but I remembered the mirror, and knew that barring anything unforeseen they would come across it after the rendezvous and that Arol would rise again.
It’s times like these that makes all of the work and effort worthwhile.
Snacks for the game: $10
Miniatures and props: $10
Convincing a player you just killed off their character for good: Priceless.
Oh, and as a treat for you all, here are two pictures of the Champions of the North. The first is their starting “look” for the game…bright colors, very heroic…Arol Flynn Sweet-Tongue, Borrax Ironhouse and Cirith Moonshadow…. feel free to click for a higher resolution image!
And the second pic is of the heroes on the run from the law and heading into darker, more sinister territories….
Oh, and some of you may be wondering why Borrax is sporting a thick black beard and shaggy mane of hair in one pic and not in the other.
Well dear readers, that is another story all together.....
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I'll take "Where the hell is my update?" for $500 Alex!
Yeah, the much promised Raptor Squad update is coming…it’s just that-and I have NO regrets in saying this-it’s been delayed due to some actual gaming!
See, Country Girl, one of my players comes in to town for a 2-4 week hiatus each year to “find herself” or “get her groove back” or whatthehellever chicks are calling it these days. Fortunately, being the cool and versatile guy I am, I was able to take advantage of this by running three back-to-back weekly games this time around.
Yeah, I do rule. You’re welcome.
The sad fact is that the site update got pushed back while I whipped up my magic.
But don’t worry, when it does roll out you will pee yourself with all of the cool new stuff. Really. Get the Depends ready and a moist towel because it’s going to totally Roxxorz.
Seriously. Sincerely seriously.
Or maybe it’s all hype! Perhaps it won’t live up to the hooplah and expectations and leave you wondering why you wasted the time and energy to even bother with it!
Then I’ll just call it “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
ZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
See, Country Girl, one of my players comes in to town for a 2-4 week hiatus each year to “find herself” or “get her groove back” or whatthehellever chicks are calling it these days. Fortunately, being the cool and versatile guy I am, I was able to take advantage of this by running three back-to-back weekly games this time around.
Yeah, I do rule. You’re welcome.
The sad fact is that the site update got pushed back while I whipped up my magic.
But don’t worry, when it does roll out you will pee yourself with all of the cool new stuff. Really. Get the Depends ready and a moist towel because it’s going to totally Roxxorz.
Seriously. Sincerely seriously.
Or maybe it’s all hype! Perhaps it won’t live up to the hooplah and expectations and leave you wondering why you wasted the time and energy to even bother with it!
Then I’ll just call it “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”
ZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
