This episode Justin and I talk about what weve learned from video games and how we can draw inspiration from them and learn from their pitfalls.
Hosts: Sean Nittner and Justin Evans
Length: 29:49
Show Notes
[00:28] Introduction to the show Inspiration from video games
[00:40] Some great discussion on our boards about conflict resolution here and here.
[01:05] Format of the show, inspiration, pitfalls and some personal stories.
[01:29] RPGPodcasts.com Promo
[01:37] Justins thrilling adventure.
[02:52] Seans protest. Video games dont have the story or role-playing that tabletop RPGs do.
[04:00] Seans use of images, lore, etc from World of Warcraft in his Burning Warcraft game.
[05:00] Erik Woodburys LARP: Peace at Arathi Basin. Video game setting, using the strengths of a LARP.
[06:15] Comparing the guessed budget of Feng Shui and Grand Theft Auto.
[07:34] Level design as an analog for quests.
[08:17] Set pieces in games, the main encounters.
[08:56] The boss fight. A spotlighted encounter that required fighting with different tactics.
[10:11] How this can backfire. Make sure the characters matter.
[12:53] Save points. Logical places to stop a session. Ending the story on a high point.
[14:30] Mouseguard session structures encapsulates the mission goals and makes sure they are resolved by the end of the session.
[15:15] A warning: avoid the grind. Examples of the grind in video games and then in popular role-playing game.
[18:30] Justins fresh can of hate. The Keep on Shadowfell.
[20:21] Some advice from Dungeons and Dragons insider: Every encounter should be meaningful to the story and have stakes the characters care about.
[22:04] A question of scaling. Does the opposition scale with you?
[22:57] Different systems scale in different ways. In some systems this isnt an issue. Examples of Burning Wheel, Dungeons and Dragons and Scion.
[25:19] Justins story playing Oblivion. A Minotaur in the inn?
[26:40] Fallout 3, how scaling has changed in video games.
[27:28] Seans analog in a D&D game where his character DID become more powerful than the status quo. Oh crap, its Sadric!
I agree with you on the pitfall of Mega Man. Brant and George (from trapcast) downloaded mega man on my wii and will come over and play it for hours trading the control back and forth. They know how to beat each of the bosses using the robot masters but they keep playing the game over and over again. Maybe I just don't get video games. I'd rather play an rpg or indie table top game. I was a deprived child. Maybe I should try to play more video games.....
When I play a campaign based game with sessions I like when the session ends at a logical point - after a fight or encounter. It lets me think about what I want to do next time and think about what happened.
I'd recommend giving oblivion (or Fallout 3) a try, if you want a video game that's a little bit closer to a tabletop RPG experience...but they aren't available on the Wii.
I loves me some Wii, but most of the games I play on it are more skill based rather than immersive. Although Wii Fit is pretty immersive. When I Wii-jog I actually sweat like I'm jogging :-O
I got an xbox too and a nintendo DS. i run out of time in the day though. i wish i could run off no sleep or like an hour nap.
I'm so there with you. I like the feeling of sleep... I just wish it didn't take so damn log. Couldn't and hour or two suffice? Oh well.Posted By: Trapcast_JennI got an xbox too and a nintendo DS. i run out of time in the day though. i wish i could run off no sleep or like an hour nap.
I am new to the forums I wanted to mention the 7th sea campaign mentioned @11:40, I think you were referring to the Dechaine beast from the GM Screen Adventure. At times they say I am too nice as a GM. When I ran that scene it was interesting the route my players took. I had two Ussuran's (Russian) Characters, whom had the magic of their country. Which allows them to take on the skin of many different animals; that they have convinced to bestow their skins upon them. During the scene that you spoke of one of my PC’s dived into the water and transformed into an otter and began speaking with the Beast. I as a GM was going to let the Dechaine Beast have a nice snack. She started role-playing the interaction and by the end between the combined negotiating of both characters and a horse or two thrown overboard for the Dechaine Beast to snack on, they not only convinced the Beast to leave them be but, also to bestow his skin to them both since he was so lonely in the River by himself.
As a side note we refer to them as Ussuran Ninja's in my campaign. They have been able to pull off some crazy things in my campaign together and since I now have 3 Ussuran’s in my campaign and they all have higher stealth than all of my other players can percieve them. They have been deemed ninja's in the rest of the party members eyes.
Guardiankrillin, yep that was the one. And while possibly over generous allowing a pack of Matushka's chosen to take the beast's form, I applaud you for opening up options on how to defeat it.
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