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Post by weaselcreature on Jul 13, 2015 14:58:36 GMT -8
My guess is almost all of them are. This is my only one, so... I know one of my nephews was, I can't recall about the other one.
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D.T. Pints
Instigator
JACKERCON 2018: WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY June 22-July 1st
Posts: 2,857
Currently Playing: D&D 5e, Pathfinder, DUNGEONWORLD, Star Wars Edge of the Empire
Currently Running: DUNGEONWORLD, PATHFINDER
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Post by D.T. Pints on Jul 14, 2015 7:49:41 GMT -8
I would have forgone clothes for a very lengthy time if I had the jedi mind trick power to convince my parents. My nephew who is now five is rather fond of his Jungle Book LARP he engages in just about every night...
The Board Game Descent is a great one to get the jawas into fiddling with dice and minis. All of the storylines quickly got melded into the Jungle Book so now Baloo is a paladin and Sher Khan is a Lich. (that he pronounces Lick)
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Post by Forresst on Jul 14, 2015 11:09:55 GMT -8
Good to know. Kids are kinda cool. They're like drunk, naked midgets who won't leave the house.
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Post by weaselcreature on Jul 24, 2015 14:46:42 GMT -8
I was listening to my game to hear it in hindsight (and hear the party talking while I was doing sidebars with other folks) and I was reminded of something: one of the players rolled snake-eyes (trying to hack the console to extend the bridge) and I asked him to tell me what happened. Thanks to stork (whether it was your idea or not, you're the one I recall first mentioning it on the podcast)! It went over well and I'm looking forward to the party crit-failing more often! In this particular instance, the player said the bridge extended, but malfunctioned and fell into the chasm. Good thing they all had utility belts with grapples!
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Post by stork on Jul 24, 2015 15:58:51 GMT -8
That is indeed my tactic. And I am always surprised how bad players make it on themselves. It also removes the DM vs Player dynamic, now they have control over bad stuff too.
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Post by Bill Roper on Jul 27, 2015 9:56:37 GMT -8
I also want to thank Stork for being the one to introduce me to the concept of asking a player "What happens?" when they roll a critical failure. My guess is that the idea stemmed from Stork wanting to be able to do something fun when he rolls them . Seriously, the crit fails that have then been described in the Star Wars Traveller game have been entertaining, imaginative, punitive, and in a couple of cases, scenario altering.
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redcy
Initiate Douchebag
Posts: 12
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Post by redcy on Aug 1, 2015 0:26:11 GMT -8
Yeah I love the idea of asking players to critical fail themselves, as you say they often result in a much more interesting storyline.
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Post by weaselcreature on Aug 25, 2015 15:43:27 GMT -8
After too long a delay, we had our 2nd session this past weekend. The party landed in the capital Lerreta on Derra IV. Upon leaving the ship, I gave Dentar (the starport-savvy hitchhiker) a couple pieces of bait (some beggars that don't look like they're doing much begging, and a young Twi'lek who looks a little lost, but picks up a backpack and leaves) as well as some chaff (not much Imperial presence; there's a large group of children who look like they're going on a field trip). Dentar passes the Twi'Lek off to Striker, the groups thug, and he tails her. The rest of the party headed to a nearby pub that is out of the starport. A good streetwise roll revealed an MCF (Mysteriously Cloaked Figure) who looked and behaved like someone who knows what's going on around town. Enkar (the Agent and leader) approached looking for "work" and connections, but botched his roll and was immediately shooed away. Dentar sent Aethir (the Sith, but dressed as a pilot/mechanic) up to the bar where a man-whore was hitting on a lady there and told the Sith to find out some info (seedy motel where seedy people may hang out, etc...), while Dentar used that distraction to meander over to the MCF. Aethir isn't one for social interaction, but a whore just wants a mark, and led the Sith to his nearby motel (The Motel 3...not nearly is nice as the 6). After finding the building, Aethir asked the whore how much for the time so far (he asked for 50 creds, got 10) and left...without killing him or anything! Dentar (rolling & RPing well (high Soc)), was able to strike up a conversation with the MCF, and placed a bet that the Sith couldn't even get a whore to show interest in her, and lost his creds to the MCF. But that established some rapport, and after some more talking (the MCF recognized Dentar as Boosh, the once-popular dancer), Dentar hinted he's up for any type of job because he needs the creds. With driving as one of his skills, the MCF tells Dentar to get a room a the nearby Motel 3 and wait for word. During all this, Striker was able to follow the Twi'Lek without being spotted. But after that, poor Striker was storking his rolls left and right. He followed her to a job application, then to a bar afterward where she was flitting about and talking to almost everyone. He even TRIED to put himself in a spot and mood that would get her to come to him and snake eyes on his Carouse meant he fell over, drunk (he'd been sitting at bars and drinking while keeping his eye on her). She was gone, so he decided he'd head to a seedy part of town to learn something/make a connection. His streetwise roll was a mighty 3. I was going to have him get mugged, but then I asked him exactly what he was looking to do down there. His response? "I want to get rolled to meet a criminal." Well, he failed his roll, so he DIDN'T get mugged. He went to the seedy part of town, drunk, and NOTHING happened! The party (minus Striker) met at Dentar's room to talk about what's going on; Enkar and Aethir headed back to the ship (Dentar's Luck...which is funny that they agreed on that name, because Dentar doesn't own any ship shares) and Dentar was greeted by an Aqualish who told him to bring a car to the W-W (a technology retail store) at 2:30am the next day and be ready to drive. Dentar met the party at the ship, and told them the plan. Enkar headed to the Imperial garrison (more or less sneaking in, as they were warned it was being watched), got a fake ID (but didn't bother asking any other questions), rented a car for Dentar and headed back. Dentar has made a hangover cure for Striker (failing), and he was passed out on the floor of the ship. Dentar went and did the job, rolling well on his driving and wasn't even spotted by the cops. The thieves led him to a warehouse where the MCF was waiting. The goods were unloaded, and the potential for future jobs was made. Upon returning to the ship, Dentar researched the W-W store as well as the warehouse, learning who owned the warehouse he parked in front of. Enkar received a message on his personal comm: just to drop some more altered setting feel as well as future plot hooks. He then received another comm (from the Imperial garrison) about an explosion, and the team rolled out to check it out. Someone had set off a bomb at an Imperial supply building, killing a few and wounding many. Dentar (with history as an Imperial medic) talked his way (with help from his ID) into the perimeter to help the wounded, but also looking for clues. Aethir and Striker both noticed a Zabrak male assessing the area (as opposed to being a looky-lou), and rolled horribly trying to get to him. However, Dentar noticed one wounded male trying to shrug off his wounds and help from medics as he made his way out. Dentar and Enkar got to him; he tried to refuse aid, and was raising a ruckus, but Dentar was having none of it, physically stopping him when he collapsed. Dentar stabilized him with a good Medicine roll, and he and Enkar did some questioning, getting a single name: Krari. No other info was to be had from the bomber who just was trying to make some creds. That's pretty much where we left it. Hopefully the next session won't have the gap like we had between the 1st 2 sessions.
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maxinstuff
Supporter
Posts: 1,939
Preferred Game Systems: DCC RPG, Shadowrun 5e, Savage Worlds, GURPS 4e, HERO 6e, Mongoose Traveller
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Post by maxinstuff on Aug 25, 2015 17:03:10 GMT -8
Slightly off-topic, but as a non-parent I am actually really curious: are all little kids nudists, or just 75% of the ones age 2-6 that I've met? Kids are nudists until you work up the nerve to do your parenting duty, which is to instil them with sufficient shame that they leave their clothes on.
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Post by weaselcreature on Sept 21, 2015 7:54:37 GMT -8
Session 3 happened last Friday. It was a relatively short session. There's been no combat (other than a couple shots being exchanged in the prelude when they captured Luke and Leia), and knowing where the left off last and what they'd need to do next, I was pretty sure that it would take very little on my part to get them into low-scale fight with some thugs. Silly me. The party did everything right and as expected. They investigated their 3 leads (Klisker shipping, the name Krari, and the Zabrak who was watching the aftermath of the bomb. The Agent (Enkhar) and the Sith (Aethir) went to the Imperial garrison; Enkhar searched for records on Krari and Klisker shipping while Aethir watched video footage of the bomb sight. The footage revealed a Zabrak (possibly the same one that was watching; bad angle, though) go into an alley with a satchel. Later, the bomber (that they questioned from last session) went into the alley and came out with the satchel, then went into the warehouse, and came out running just before the explosion. The Zabrak ducked behind the corner of the building he was watching from just before the blast, then went back to his post after the shockwave went by. Aethir got a decent still of his face and made a copy. Enkhar discovered that Krari is wanted, but neither the Imperials nor the locals have any info on him. He also sent the Agency to work on digging into Klisker Shipping. Meanwhile, The Stormtrooper (Jor), the Thug (Striker), and the Hitchhiker (Dentar), went to a gambling establishment to work the room and gather information. Jor (who is good at gambling but also has a problem with it) failed his roll and went into game mode instead of casually chatting up the other players, which was probably for the best, as he exudes an strong ex-military with a stick up the butt vibe. Striker rolled well and saw a little guy (I still can't remember/find the name of the race; little fish guys; one of them was in Clone Wars trying to take out Padme) working the room, passing info between other shady looking guys and followed him into the restroom, locking the door behind him. Strike is an imposing figure and rolled well some more, questioning the fish about who he can take out to take over a criminal startup ring, preferably weapons of spice. He got 4 names, one of them being Krari (a weapons supplier for attacks on Imperials), and has the fish nervous and scared, but has promised him he will bring the fish success and into his new growing crime syndicate. I figure the fish won't cross Striker, but he voiced his doubt that there will be much success. Boosh also rolled well, and found someone who knows Krari and would talk to him about setting up a meeting. He met the contact several hours later and sure enough, Krari would meet Boosh at a restaurant the next day. (When needing a name for an inn or bar in a bad part of town, we'll commonly call it the Stab in the Back. I named the restaurant The Hatbatamadas; Hungarian for Stab in the Back. No one has looked it up yet, though). Getting ready for the meeting, Boosh talks to Enkhar and says "I need you to shadow me to a meeting I'm having with someone, then shadow that person where they go." Boosh didn't tell Enkhar who he was meeting, and off they go. Enkhar rolls well for shadowing and for entering the Hatbat nonchalantly and seemingly unimportant. More importantly, Enkhar spots Krari sitting in a corner as well as a few other "patrons" who are backing Krari up. Krari saw Enkhar but dismissed him and went back to watching Boosh. Upon seeing it's Krari, Enkhar immediately comms the team and tells them to get out front, ready to rush in when the shit hits the fan. Krari walks up to Boosh, sits down and says "You wanted to talk to me?" And this is where I figured the shit would hit. And then Boosh leans in and says "I'm being paid by the Imperials as an agent. You're being watched and followed, I suggest you get out of here and lay low for awhile." Uh...What!? Another short exchange between them (basically reinforcing what was said and rolling well on Persuasion) and Krari and 2 of his thugs head out the back door. Enkhar waits a moment, looks at Boosh and Boosh gestures for him to follow. Enkhar follows (and sees a "Remember Alderaan" poster on a dumpster back there) and Krari leads him to the spaceport and he boards a ship that is warming up. Enkhar does some quick comms to the party ("Do I order an Imperial blockade to stop the ship, or let him go?" A quick Imperial check into the ships listed destination as Tatooine, they decide to let him go. Boosh figures he'll lead them to a rebel hideout. "What's the name of the ship?" is the question asked. So I tell my brain "I need the name of a ship, it needs to sound good but I need it fast so the players think it was part of the background all along. My brain snaps to it, gets an answer quickly and tells my mouth. Without thinking about it or realizing it, my mouth replies "It's the Idiot's Array." So apparently Kir Starfall (from Bill Roper's game, for anyone not listening (you should!)) is going to make an appearance in my game, too. That's pretty much where we left off. There orders are to stop the rebel cell here on the planet, and they've just chased off their main lead (who is part of the cell, but by no means is he operating alone). They've got some more clues coming that could keep them on planet, but if they go chasing after the Idiot's Array, I'm pretty sure something will happen on Derra IV while they're gone.
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Post by Bill Roper on Sept 21, 2015 9:58:17 GMT -8
Sounds like a fun investigation session, and it's HILARIOUS that Kir Starfall is going to make a cameo (at least in name) in your game. I'll put his info (and The Idiots Array) up in the NO PLAYERS ALLOWED section of SWT Actual Play forum in case they ever run into him.
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Post by weaselcreature on Nov 16, 2015 8:57:19 GMT -8
Had another session last Friday.
I wasn't sure if the party was going to chase after Krari (the Zabrak that Boosh scared away) or stay where they were and root out more of the insurgents, so I didn't plan anything.
The Agent had already had the Imperials looking into Klisker Shipping and the name Krari; when Krari was running, he sent a message to his coordinator (who works at Klisker; the company warehouse is used by them for planning and smuggling arms); the message had a simple code (he was having a problem with his order, so he was going off-planet and asking Man-Li (his contact) to see if the problem was on their end). It turns out the Sith was kind of thrown by the message (you'll see later), but it gave another point of investigation on-planet, so the group decided to stay.
Striker and Boosh went to poke around the criminal side of things and see if they could contact Lady Hastra who is the crime boss for the warehouse/shipping region, but rolled poorly...and they kept rolling poorly. Finally Striker overheard some guys talking about things being "locked down, and just sit tight," but he took off to go find a spice dealer instead of more eavesdropping (which would have given more clues)...and rolled poorly and didn't find the spicer! He did come back and noticed a group of 3 uneasy looking guys who kept glancing at their comlinks and datapads in anticipation, so he decided to sit tight and observe.
Meanwhile the Agent and the Sith were doing a stakeout at Klisker and watching for Man-Li. They say her leave the office and head to the warehouse. After a little bit, the warehouse closed down with employees leaving, but they never saw her. Some good stealth and security rolls and they got the back door unlocked and snuck in. The Agent activated his Stealth-suit and melted into the shadows, and the Sith did some OK sneaking. They got closer to the front of the warehouse and saw Man-Li talking to 2 others at a small table, and there was a 4th guy standing guard near the door. They decided to sneak close to listen in and then (if needed) get the jump on the group. The Agent rolled extremely well again.
The Sith rolled snake-eyes! "What happens," I asked. "I accidentally kick a mouse droid." The 3 at the table look up and the guard starts heading towards the Sith's area. They get 1 more action...the Sith tries to melt into the shadows, hoping it will just be seen as a fluke of the droid, and proceeds to stumble into a stack of crates (ANOTHER snake-eyes!). The Agent tossed a stun grenade at the table, rolling 11, landing it right on the table and almost maxing damage. The 3 drop unconscious and the guard is dazed; he gets a shot off, but missed. The agent pulls his heavy blaster pistol, rolls high again, and takes out the guard with a stun blast.
So much for THAT combat!
They round up the insurgents and take them to the garrison in one of the insurgents vehicles. The garrison is being watched, though, and the 3 at the table in the bar get a message and Striker overhears them talking about how the guys transport was just seen entering the garrison and they get up to head out and see what's going on. Striker follows. The Agent contacts the group, they chat a bit to coordinate and it turns out the 3 are heading towards the warehouse, not the garrison, so they come up with a plan. Striker keeps shadowing, Boosh takes a cab to the warehouse, and the Aethir and Enkhar take the guys transport back to the warehouse.
Everyone but Striker beats the 3 there, but Striker also didn't overhear them coordinating with 2 more guys to meet at the warehouse. The trap is sprung. The 3 get in a firefight with Enkhar and Striker (Boosh has no weapons) while the Sith sneaks up on them and dispatches them fairly quickly. However, the 2 reinforcements were behind Boosh and Enkhar and start firing on them. Boosh says "I roll to disbelieve!" jokingly, and rolls Box-Cars! Boosh, being the hitchiker who rolled 42 on Life Events, has Jedi Mind Trick as his only power, and rolled 11! Well, the 2 behind him just ignore him and turn to Enkhar; the Sith, however, senses the use of the Force in the area, but doesn't know from whom.
Not much of combat here, either. I hit Enkhar and Aethir once each for little to no damage (dice rolls were horrible all around). They gathered up the survivors and corpses and head to the garrison for some interrogation.
Things got a little darker than I had intended with the Sith killing one of the captives right away and leaving the body for when the next captive was brought in. That one lived, but he wasn't very good at his questioning and got little info.
Then they brought in Man-Li and her boyfriend (they had him brought in, although he knew nothing of the insurgency) and more questioning. This is where Aethir asked Man-Li about the Order the Krari belongs to. "He said he's having problems with his Order...what Order is this?" Man-Li (who is a feisty cell leader) got to laugh in the Siths face and call her stupid and an idiot. It was just code talk that something was up, and he was referring to his order with Klisker as code.
I threw in some moral jabs as well, how they Imperials are animals, and killing captives and threatening innocents (Man-Li's boyfriend was nervous as hell, as the Sith said she wants to cut off his fingers until Man-Li talks) only strengthens their cause. Man-Li was giving answers, though, but nothing major and the Sith didn't bring in a droid or drugs (which they had talked about earlier). Instead she just killed the boyfriend and ended the interrogation.
I ended it there. It got a little darker than I wanted. I probably should have had an officer of the garrison try to stop them, but the Sith and Agent are in a position of some authority. I immediately knew that their superiors were going to have words with them, but I'm also going to have a grown-up chat with the players. Yes, they're playing Imperials, but I'm not looking at running an all-out evil campaign where the slaughter of captives and innocents is the norm. I've been planning on throwing in more moral dilemmas and seeing if it affects anyone and turns them Rebel.
Some ruthlessness is to be expected, that's for sure, but the Sith is only a Knight (2 ranks under Darth), and will face some flak.
Also...they KNOW there's a mole in the garrison. They talked about it 2 or 3 times that night, and they knew the interrogations were being recorded. Well, when the holo-vid gets leaked, there's going to be a public uprising and protests.
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Post by Bill Roper on Dec 9, 2015 10:06:07 GMT -8
This sound like a great game. I definitely sympathize with the questions of what to do when your players go dark. It happens with my group and I love it because it lets me play into the morality of the situation. Every villain is the hero of their own story - that's very apparent in SOME of the actions my players have taken. If you look at how they go after certain NPCs, what the party is doing SEEMS villainous, but from the view of the Empire, they are thwarting terrorist plots and keeping the Empire safe.
Having consequence for their actions is always a good thing. Reminders (subtle or not) of their mission or organizational parameters are good. And if someone higher up in the Sith Order chastises the player's character and REALLY smacks him down, it could lead to a very interesting power struggle along the line. Those Sith are always looking to rise up in the ranks...
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