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Podcasts: Narrative Control - Episode 5 - Hacking Systems

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  1. Administrator
     

    Hi, and welcome to Narrative Control. This week Justin is back and as usual we're giving our own spin on a much beloved topic. We're talking with me about hacking systems. Everything from porting games into different settings to combining our favorite mechanics.

    Liner Notes

    [0:28] Introduction to the show. Hacking systems.
    [0:50] The show is a bit long. Let me know if it is too long. Email us: narrativecontrol@gmail.com
    [1:42] RPGPodcasts.com bumper
    [1:58] What we mean by hacking systems.
    [2:36] Justin's current game. A hodgepodge of games:
    [2:52] Cadwallon - Setting and Dice pools
    [3:28] Wushu mechanics - Detailed bad ass combats on the fly.
    [3:52] Fate - Stunts
    [4:04] Shadows of Yesterday - Experience Keys for experience and character flags.
    [5:00] How has this been accepted by the players? Pros and Cons
    [6:17] Is this play testing a new game?
    [7:08] Sean's accidental hack of Prime Time Adventures with Exalted.
    [7:39] Removing screen presence to allow equal importance for con games
    [7:53] Allowing every player narration rights.
    [8:30] Changes made specifically for the con environment.
    [9:07] Change fan mail to allow the producer to grant fan mail.
    [9:40] Other reasons to hack games? Games that don't have strong social conflict mechanics.
    [10:38] Hacking Duel of Wits from Burning Wheel
    [10:55] Why? Players want to do actions in a game that involve a complex and fun mechanic.
    [11:38] Brining it together. Molding mechanics to fit in the core game so players aren't learning completely separate systems.
    [12:33] Systems that are very easy to borrow from: Wilderness of Mirrors, Fate
    [15:17] Games with great mechanics and situations screaming to be ported into other settings: Dogs in the Vineyard
    [15:34] Using In a Wicked Age by swapping out Oracles
    [17:03] A Battlestar Galactica oracle on www.sinistergame.com
    [17:25] Don't get Sean started on shnotes
    [17:36] My Life with Master has a very thin setting, easy to move. Sean ported it to My Life with Joker.
    [18:47] Some games that are tightly coupled with their settings. Value in playing the game as intended?
    [19:08] Dozens of setting hacks for Dogs in the Vineyard but the original setting has so much character, don't discount the value of playing a straight dogs game.
    [22:10] Settings that have benefited from different systems: Exalted using Prime Time Adventures and Wushu/Wuxalted
    [23:30] Exalted Unplugged
    [24:12]Shadowrun alternative systems: Prime Time Adventures, Burning Wheel and Don't Rest Your Head
    [29:46] Our parting worlds on hacking systems. Try it!

    Links

    RPGPodcats.com
    Cadwallon
    Wushu
    Fate
    Shadows of Yesterday
    Prime Time Adventures
    Burning Wheel
    Wilderness of Mirrors
    Dogs in the Vineyard
    Sinister Game
    My Life with Master
    Exalted
    Wuxalted
    Shadowrun
    Don't Rest Your Head

    Download:NC_Episode_005.mp3

  2. Member
    • CommentAuthorRich
    • CommentTimeOct 5th 2008
     
    Another great cast, guys! This one was very informational and inspirational. I found myself opening up pages for some of the games you mentioned that I wasn't aware of and checking them out. (By the way, the sinistergame link wasn't workin' for me.)

    The length of the podcast was fine. Your deisre to keep them to 20-25 minutes is good, but having an occasional one hit 30 minutes is fine too. No problems there for me!

    As for my own experiences, I've used the 7th Sea system to play out Star Wars. That worked pretty well. 7th Sea promotes a lot of dramatic mood and over-the-top maneuvering which works great with a space opera-y setting like Star Wars.

    Sometimes hacking doesn't work so well. You really have to find which bits from some systems work well with the idea or settings of other systems. For instance, I tried importing the wounding system from Deadlands into 7th Sea. I wanted duels and combats in 7th Sea to be more gritty and a little more crunchy. But I found that it went against the theme of 7th Sea, and it didn't work out for me. So hacking can be a trial-and-error deal as often as it can be a that's-pefect! thing.
  3. Administrator
     
    Hey Rich,

    Cool, glad you like the show and that the length worked. Just as you said, hacking is a lot of trial and error and sometimes two things just don't fit well together, but I totally support trying it out. I can see how the 7th sea Drama system would work very well with Star Wars. Call those extra bits "Force dice" instead of "Drama dice" and you're rocking!
  4. Member
    • CommentAuthorDMK
    • CommentTimeJan 7th 2009
     
    Great podcast. Been a life-long game hacker and this was great to hear what others have done.

    Also, Shadowrun was one of the favorite games because of the setting. It's been years since I've GM'ed it but am thinking of doing so at a local convention. However, since my hiatus from the game it's gone through 3rd and 4th edition changes and I've changed as well. I'm more into narrative/dramatic scenes with less dice and mechanics in general though I'm anticipating the Dresden Files. Specifically, I'm curious to know if anyone's ever tried the Wushu system for Shadowrun, or if not, do you have suggestions for its use since it seems like a great simple system for a one-shot con game?

    I don't know if that's theme you've dealt with before either--games for conventions versus campaign games?!?

    Thanks in advance,
    -David-
  5. Administrator
     
    Hey David,

    Cool, I'm glad you liked the show and happy to hear about other fellow hackers out there. I think Wushu would be perfect for Shadowrun, the characters are made of bad-assery.

    My recommendation would be that each character have a elite skill that represents what they bring to a run in a descriptive manner: Mad ICE Hacker, 600lbs of Troll, Wired Ninja Reflexes, etc. These are intentionally descriptive rather than skill related so they can be used in many different situations. This primary descriptors should be aimed at filling a niche in the group.

    Then they should probably have a secondary skill which links them to the group and or the outside, these could be reputations, knowing a Mr. Johnson, being rich, etc. These secondary traits will give you and idea of where they "fit" in the social structure.

    Lastly I'd give them some very brutal weakness, addicted to synth drugs, hunted by Lonestar, etc. These weaknesses should be chose specifically as things the players WANT to see. Things that should get them into trouble and advance their character. Situations where their primary stat does no good and they need to either get help from their fellow runners, change and grow, or eat some serious turf. In the Dresden Files RPG that we've been yacking so much about, this is their "Issue" aspect.

    Hope that helps.

    Also, I thought (and talked) A LOT about the differences between what makes a good con game vs. a good campaign game. We discuss conventions games in the upcoming episodes but that particular topic probably deserves a show of its own. Thanks for the idea!

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