For the last year and more, most of the high impact gaming I've done has involved personal stakes that don't have huge impact in the world around them. For example: if you tell the truth to a tribunal, or if you give HIV to your lover, or if you get away with the con.
In a very long 4e game, there are a couple moments that struck with me. I'm not sure how to replicate the feels from these moments in other games. Though, maybe I'll learn at Nerdly.
Those moments? A perfectly timed wizard daily that stopped an opponent in her tracks and won the day -- not because the spell was so powerful, but because it was used so well.
Or, taking out a dragon, and giving its heart and part of its loot to a friend of the party, who was able to build a better life due to the resultant fame and fortune.
The first is partially resource management, partially system mastery, partially just dumb luck. The second is having power and money, and being willing to use it to help others.
Indie games where you are rich and powerful -- and pure of heart -- seem fairly uncommon. Maybe Katanas and Trenchcoats, but that's hard to take seriously. I'd love to hear about games that can scratch those itches.
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I guess you could play Lady Blackbird where the characters were chasing ideals. The characters are quite powerful and could be seen as well off. I have seen characters try to be benevolent in Apocalypse World, though that is less common given the setting. I could definitely see Swords Without Masters easily fill those roles. When you succeed in that game you get to be as bad as as you want to and characters get to be charitable or bastardly without any mechanical effects.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's what I think of as a) power gaming and b) character gaming. Most games seem to be one or the other, with the character gaming systems being PvP.
ReplyDeleteMy personal preference is for a combination of power and co-op character based gaming, where the action is personal.
I guess this explains why I'm working on Steampunk World (based on the Apocalypse World and Dungeon World engines): the Victorian culture emphasizes duty, honor and nobility; the setting features people in need of help; and the gameplay (which is getting a lot of work atm) is about putting yourself personally at risk to keep people and the nation safe. Oh, yes, and you can play a rich and powerful character who gets personally involved.
David Rothfeder I really should try Lady Blackbird sometime, same with Swords. I completely agree this is uncommon in AW -- both having excess to give away, and having the heart to do so are at odds with the apocalypse.
ReplyDeleteMichael D I have a few different itches, and this is one I didn't realize wasn't being scratched until recently. I think I've heard of your Steampunk World, and it sounds like a cousin to my Heist of the Week, which is about criminals. We primarily started with Monster of the Week and AW. I'd be interesting in seeing your game; is it available for playtest?
Well, there's Dog Eat Dog where you can be rich and powerful...but I guess only if you're rich and powerful in real life. And the point isn't really to help people with it.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Nichols An alpha draft is up in the Steampunk World community https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/108439627279414945168
ReplyDeleteCurrently doing more work on the gameplay and flavor aspects.
Michael D This looks great. The flavor, basic moves, and stats are great. I might want there to be fewer, more concentrated, playbooks moves, but that is personal preference. I love the thank yous in the beginning -- and it makes me think my hack can be a real one, too.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Nichols Thanks for the kind feedback.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about concentrating the playbook moves - your comment has pushed that up the priority list.