tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post289034067707824006..comments2024-02-16T22:05:32.773+02:00Comments on LotFP: RPG: Some Information About the LotFP RPGJimLotFPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02992397707040836366noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-45521979083574316152010-06-27T18:37:28.968+03:002010-06-27T18:37:28.968+03:00>>Then be prepared that your non standard mo...>>Then be prepared that your non standard monsters and locations will become the implied default setting of LotFP, especially to new gamers who need or will use any hand holding they get.<br /><br />You're probably right, but there are worse fates. :)JimLotFPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02992397707040836366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-63677152599881228462010-06-27T18:22:49.726+03:002010-06-27T18:22:49.726+03:00If these things are made "official" I fe...<i>If these things are made "official" I feel they are being implicitly imposed on a campaign, especially if a new player is running it. (...)<br />But the two adventures included in the box have a lot of monsters and magic in them, so there the set isn't completely devoid of examples. </i><br /><br />Then be prepared that your non standard monsters and locations <i>will</i> become the implied default setting of LotFP, especially to new gamers who need or will use any hand holding they get.<br /><br />In 1990 or 1991 there was a convention in Germany, Fan-Con, where Greg Stafford was a guest of honor. There he hosted a long seminar/Q&A like event in which he gave a tour de force through Chaosium's history, and he used the following account as an illustration of Chaosium as a young, inexperienced company, not capable of foreseeing long-term effects of their belly-decisions:<br /><br />Stafford's vision of Glorantha was different than what it turned out to become. He wanted another part of Glorantha to be the main adventuring region (something or place more relevant to his hero wars theme?). But he also knew that he wasn't experienced with writing adventure sourcebooks, so for the very first supplement he chose a region that was not important to him (in case he screwed up): Dragon Pass. <br /><br />He didn't think of that whatever he would present to his players as their playground would be <i>the setting</i> for them.<br />So to this day Dragon Pass remains a special place in the game.<br /><br />It's case of "no second chance for a first impression".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-49262231385478067062010-06-27T06:18:35.642+03:002010-06-27T06:18:35.642+03:00>>A product that presents rules but not any ...>>A product that presents rules but not any of the genre background supporting it sounds sterile, somehow...<br /><br />To me, a game that codifies "official" monsters and items isn't being very true to the genres of fantasy or horror or any related thing.<br /><br />Every author treats ghosts or zombies differently, for example. What exactly an enchanted weapon does and what it means to wield one varies wildly in all literature before RPGs came around.<br /><br />If these things are made "official" I feel they are being implicitly imposed on a campaign, especially if a new player is running it. If you have a listing for orcs, why then of course orcs must exist in the game world! "Hmm, Plate +1 is on the charts, that's a viable, finished magic item to place in my world then!"<br /><br />These things should be unique. Even taking from myth, the minotaur wasn't a race, it was unique. Same with the gorgon/medusa. In old literature such things are not often standardized either. What are all those things in Abominations of Yondo? Species of creatures or unique entities? <br /><br />Certain compatibility issues dictate certain commonalities in campaign worlds (spell lists, demi-human PCs), but I really tried to make the suggested Weird Fantasy Role-Playing campaign setup look different than the standard D&D campaign setup.<br /><br />But the two adventures included in the box have a lot of monsters and magic in them, so there the set isn't completely devoid of examples.JimLotFPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02992397707040836366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-73452772961016210592010-06-27T05:56:55.286+03:002010-06-27T05:56:55.286+03:00In my game there are: No standard monster lists. N...<i>In my game there are: No standard monster lists. No standard magic items. No setting. Those are all things that I think should not be standardized. There is extensive advice for making your own setting, magic items, and monsters, but anyone picking up my game is going to be instructed to have a DIY attitude to use it to its fullest. I think modules are an important part of the hobby for both shared experiences and for variety in an individual campaign, but I don't believe for a second that pre-published material should be the entirety of anybody's campaign.<br /></i><br /><br />As an old-school someone who is (really) not sure whether he's interested in purchasing this product, I don't know if this fits my needs. I'm okay with no setting. But no standard monsters or magic items? I'm not so sanguine. I really want to be enticed enough to buy, but I'm just not feeling it yet. It seems to me like you're presupposing a familiarity with "Old School" style fantasy (read "Sword and Sorcery"), and that's likely not the case with many new gamers. I became aware of many of the monsters and objects of power of myth and legend, not to mention fantasy literature, from the pages of the MM and Deities and Demigods, and only latterly expanded that knowledge. A product that presents rules but not any of the genre background supporting it sounds sterile, somehow...metamorphosissigmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18163514061779555557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-28825637843516279012010-06-25T18:53:03.083+03:002010-06-25T18:53:03.083+03:00You are taking a big risk old friend, on a number ...You are taking a big risk old friend, on a number of paths - I can't tell you how many.<br /><br />I hope it works out, and I will of course be a supporter, and expect fully eyes to pop like Ronnie Cox at the end of Total Recall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-34626716111774363782010-06-25T17:13:28.711+03:002010-06-25T17:13:28.711+03:00I'm one of the people who will buy this the fi...I'm one of the people who will buy this the first chance I get. Don't think I'll help with reviews and such but I'll have a group of 5 college kids playing it immediately. <br /><br />"I think anyone reading the material in this box will get it so much better than I or many other people who got into gaming with a random purchase rather than a mentor ever could."<br /><br />That's a bold statement and I like it! Is the tutorial book going to be something that will be available outside of the box set?Jeff Tillotsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993376155805345210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-87823662676096732932010-06-25T06:45:29.794+03:002010-06-25T06:45:29.794+03:00"There will be little details to be found eve..."There will be little details to be found even when everything in the box is removed."<br /><br />So the box itself serves a game function? Wow, that's awesome and efficient!<br /><br />On a box related side note, the cover image haunts me in my sleep. I don't know if I should thank you or curse you for that, but it haunts me in my sleep. :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12637848347994154979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6670029344758253148.post-55989557138492333312010-06-25T01:06:51.260+03:002010-06-25T01:06:51.260+03:00Good stuff, mate.Good stuff, mate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com