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Author
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Topic: nerd challenge
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Mr. K
Racist
Member # 2
Member Rated:
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posted 01-08-2004 07:29 PM
cfalcon: Look, if you don't do a little bit in character, you aren't really gaming, you're just rolling dice.
You still have to choose what to do. That's the fun part. Saying "Greetings, I am Gondor the Mystical Elf from the Land of Fagtopia and Wizard of Menstrual Magik" is not the fun part for me.
I mean, I've played the game before, and you do naturally fall into a first-person mindset after doing it for while...but it's still lame when you can't name your character whatever you want because it's not magikally gay enough. Seriously, who cares?
Anyway, being excessively in character just annoys me. Look, you're a dork with dice, you probably couldn't even move if you were really wearing +9 Iron Plate Mail of Mage-Slaying, and though I realize that pretending can be fun, I just can't handle that level of geektitude.
It's also why I directed and didn't act. Let the actors feel silly, that's not my problem. I just need to get good performances out of them, not worry about how stupid they feel.
When your cousin was getting all wound up about talking to the villagers, I could hear my neurons firing in rapid bursts, trying to short out my brain so I wouldn't have to suffer such embarrassment.
I didn't hound you...
I'm not complaining about your behavior...you did what you're supposed to do and played the way you're supposed to play. It's just that playing that game gives me hives.
I wouldn't be quite so averse to it if it weren't all wizards and elves and shit, but it comes with the territory. I've played games that were more realistic and they suck, basically because reality sucks.
Getting shot once and dying is krap.
[ 01-08-2004, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Mr. K ]
From: Cinnabar Island | Registered: Feb 2000
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cfalcon
OLDNBLD
Member # 19
Member Rated:
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posted 01-08-2004 10:58 PM
You still have to choose what to do. That's the fun part.
Well, ok, I agree with that. But part of the game is the imagination part, which maybe you get for free, but everyone doesn't. My experience is that a long term campaign *needs* people to have mental images of the people and places, no matter how vague, and an expectation of how things act, beyond simple "elves like trees, dwarves like mountains" kind of things. A long term campaign needs it, and a short term campaign benefits from it. I don't want to draw up a world that looks and acts exactly like a thousand other ones, so I usually try to make up some history and crap like that. I don't expect players to care as much as me- I don't want them to, because if they want to know 7 levels of depth when I've only got 5, I have to go generate 3 more or something. But I want the place to have a different flavor, so your character's actions can matter.
Like, in the place where you guys where, the elves have nobles, and the nobles are aloof and don't care what happens outside of a small region, even though they have the power to help, they just don't care. There are "historical" reasons for that that never came up, and I am totally fine with that not coming up, and no one caring.
but it's still lame when you can't name your character whatever you want because it's not magikally gay enough. Seriously, who cares?
Look, you wanted to name your elf "Carlos".
I don't have a rigorous naming scheme, but doesn't "Carlos" kind of break theme utterly? I didn't need you all to go crazy or anything, and I realize there's no logical reason to disallow stuff, but the DM allowing a totally out of theme name shows that the DM doesn't respect the world- and the DM *IS* the world.
Remember, I'm a libertarian. When I started gaming, people where named everything you could imagine, assuming you were are a nerd in high school- which means, come up with a bunch of names, then throw out the genuinely good ones. I allowed it, because, you know, your character, your name. My experience is that it is one of several things that cheapens the gaming experience.
Do remember that you did get away with "Carlolas", which is just in theme enough to pass. Plus, it's pretty damn funny. Hell, I don't *want* to reject names, in general.
Anyway, being excessively in character just annoys me.
Right, because you are detached and logical. The only person there who would qualify as "excessive" is my cousin, who even LARPs sometimes. By in character, I don't mean talking different or anything, I just mostly mean the first person stuff, trying to come up with ideas your character would, etc.
And you did just fine at being in character after like, the very beginning. I'm not looking for immersion here, you either like that stuff or you don't, and it isn't necessary at all.
When your cousin was getting all wound up about talking to the villagers
Right, she's a girl. The game for her is talking, resolving problems with words. She doesn't like strategy or tactics, and she thinks combat is boring. So the game for her is the roleplaying. You are very much in the majority in not thinking like her- you would have gotten along well with everybody in the main room except maybe the lawyer- and *maybe* even him.
trying to short out my brain so I wouldn't have to suffer such embarrassment.
Well, yea, it's not your everyday thing. But what would you have done differently, if you had to be in that place? You would have been more detached, I bet, but overall the exchange would have been similar.
I used to be embarrassed at in character stuff as well, but you get used to it. I mean, where does that potential embarassment come from? The assumption that someone will observe and think that you are really identifying with the character? Nonsense! It's an intellectual game, nothing more.
It's just that playing that game gives me hives.
We'll do it again next time I'm in town. When it was just you and Joseph, I think the game went about as you desired it to, no?
"I wouldn't be quite so averse to it if it weren't all wizards and elves and shit, but it comes with the territory. "
Well, I'll grant that it is terribly nerdy- but the big deal is, your character and your game is what you make of it. Elves can be dark, brooding and gothic, they can be foresty and flighty, they can be alien in their outlook, or they can basically be logical beings with slightly different priorities than a normal guy- and that last one is about how I see them played normally. I've heard of the gothic thing, and I've never met anyone that plays them like the more fruity things you read about in novels.
But yea, I agree that the theme carries some serious baggage that disagrees with many people.
Getting shot once and dying is krap.
We've done sci-fi before, but I've never been interested in running a modern day setup. In sci-fi you get shields and suits and things and you can take multiple shots.
Anyway, as DM I try to bend the style of the gameplay to what the players are happiest with. In the case of Eddie- he wants combat, and he wants to be good at it. Same with Cabbage. Alan wants to strategize, Lauren wants to be in a world where she can solve problems cleverly. Not that these people take no joy from other spheres, but if I'm running a game with three Laurens, I would make it political in nature, with a bunch of Alans it would be a large, long scale struggle- and all of these things could be in the world to begin with, but the players will go where they will have the most fun, in the long term.
As DM you describe a world and let the players choose what to do. In the beginning you offer guidance (and in the short time I had, I had to basically collapse the options into just a few), but ultimately the players choose what to do with their time.
You know you had a good time, even if all you did was kill a few orcs and hill giants.
From: 39°45' N, 104°52' W | Registered: Feb 2000
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ceoalex316
Time for the flaming leprosy party
Member # 338
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posted 01-09-2004 01:28 AM
Stop using too many words. People won't read through your arguments. Especially with today’s attention sp... Oh look a butterfly... no no don't fly away... nooooooooo... come back! come Back!!! Damn it!
[ 01-09-2004, 01:29 AM: Message edited by: ceoalex316 ]
From: NYC | Registered: Apr 2000
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Wizzymoto
Farting Nudist
Member # 60
Member Rated:
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posted 01-09-2004 01:46 AM
It seems to me that the last couple big posts satisfy the nerdier than D&D requirement.
The thing about naming your guy Carlos was pretty funny though.
From: Irvine, CA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Charmeleon42
Date Rapist
Member # 1066
Member Rated:
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posted 01-09-2004 01:57 AM
I played DND once. My bard was named Timmy McFood.
From: Mountain Dew Land | Registered: Oct 2000
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Rolken
Vulcan
Member # 7
Member Rated:
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posted 01-09-2004 04:07 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Mr. K:
Magic is way geeky, but it's just a card game. Poker is also a card game, and it's not geeky at all.
But there's no RPG that isn't geeky.
The Sims.
- - - - -
[insert sig here]
From: Provo, UT | Registered: Feb 2000
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Wintermute
My custom title sucks.
Member # 5
Member Rated:
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posted 01-09-2004 10:39 AM
This is how your posts look to other people. I'm just trying to give you an idea.
Originally posted by cfalcon:
You still have to choose what to do. That's the fun part.
Well, ok, I agree with that. But part of the game is the imagination part, which maybe you get for free, but everyone doesn't. My experience is that a long term campaign *needs* people to have mental images of the people and places, no matter how vague, and an expectation of how things act, beyond simple "elves like trees, dwarves like mountains" kind of things. A long term campaign needs it, and a short term campaign benefits from it. I don't want to draw up a world that looks and acts exactly like a thousand other ones, so I usually try to make up some history and crap like that. I don't expect players to care as much as me- I don't want them to, because if they want to know 7 levels of depth when I've only got 5, I have to go generate 3 more or something. But I want the place to have a different flavor, so your character's actions can matter.
Like, in the place where you guys where, the elves have nobles, and the nobles are aloof and don't care what happens outside of a small region, even though they have the power to help, they just don't care. There are "historical" reasons for that that never came up, and I am totally fine with that not coming up, and no one caring.
but it's still lame when you can't name your character whatever you want because it's not magikally gay enough. Seriously, who cares?
Look, you wanted to name your elf "Carlos".
I don't have a rigorous naming scheme, but doesn't "Carlos" kind of break theme utterly? I didn't need you all to go crazy or anything, and I realize there's no logical reason to disallow stuff, but the DM allowing a totally out of theme name shows that the DM doesn't respect the world- and the DM *IS* the world.
Remember, I'm a libertarian. When I started gaming, people where named everything you could imagine, assuming you were are a nerd in high school- which means, come up with a bunch of names, then throw out the genuinely good ones. I allowed it, because, you know, your character, your name. My experience is that it is one of several things that cheapens the gaming experience.
Do remember that you did get away with "Carlolas", which is just in theme enough to pass. Plus, it's pretty damn funny. Hell, I don't *want* to reject names, in general.
Anyway, being excessively in character just annoys me.
Right, because you are detached and logical. The only person there who would qualify as "excessive" is my cousin, who even LARPs sometimes. By in character, I don't mean talking different or anything, I just mostly mean the first person stuff, trying to come up with ideas your character would, etc.
And you did just fine at being in character after like, the very beginning. I'm not looking for immersion here, you either like that stuff or you don't, and it isn't necessary at all.
When your cousin was getting all wound up about talking to the villagers
Right, she's a girl. The game for her is talking, resolving problems with words. She doesn't like strategy or tactics, and she thinks combat is boring. So the game for her is the roleplaying. You are very much in the majority in not thinking like her- you would have gotten along well with everybody in the main room except maybe the lawyer- and *maybe* even him.
trying to short out my brain so I wouldn't have to suffer such embarrassment.
Well, yea, it's not your everyday thing. But what would you have done differently, if you had to be in that place? You would have been more detached, I bet, but overall the exchange would have been similar.
I used to be embarrassed at in character stuff as well, but you get used to it. I mean, where does that potential embarassment come from? The assumption that someone will observe and think that you are really identifying with the character? Nonsense! It's an intellectual game, nothing more.
It's just that playing that game gives me hives.
We'll do it again next time I'm in town. When it was just you and Joseph, I think the game went about as you desired it to, no?
"I wouldn't be quite so averse to it if it weren't all wizards and elves and shit, but it comes with the territory. "
Well, I'll grant that it is terribly nerdy- but the big deal is, your character and your game is what you make of it. Elves can be dark, brooding and gothic, they can be foresty and flighty, they can be alien in their outlook, or they can basically be logical beings with slightly different priorities than a normal guy- and that last one is about how I see them played normally. I've heard of the gothic thing, and I've never met anyone that plays them like the more fruity things you read about in novels.
But yea, I agree that the theme carries some serious baggage that disagrees with many people.
Getting shot once and dying is krap.
We've done sci-fi before, but I've never been interested in running a modern day setup. In sci-fi you get shields and suits and things and you can take multiple shots.
Anyway, as DM I try to bend the style of the gameplay to what the players are happiest with. In the case of Eddie- he wants combat, and he wants to be good at it. Same with Cabbage. Alan wants to strategize, Lauren wants to be in a world where she can solve problems cleverly. Not that these people take no joy from other spheres, but if I'm running a game with three Laurens, I would make it political in nature, with a bunch of Alans it would be a large, long scale struggle- and all of these things could be in the world to begin with, but the players will go where they will have the most fun, in the long term.
As DM you describe a world and let the players choose what to do. In the beginning you offer guidance (and in the short time I had, I had to basically collapse the options into just a few), but ultimately the players choose what to do with their time.
You know you had a good time, even if all you did was kill a few orcs and hill giants.
You still have to choose what to do. That's the fun part.
Well, ok, I agree with that. But part of the game is the imagination part, which maybe you get for free, but everyone doesn't. My experience is that a long term campaign *needs* people to have mental images of the people and places, no matter how vague, and an expectation of how things act, beyond simple "elves like trees, dwarves like mountains" kind of things. A long term campaign needs it, and a short term campaign benefits from it. I don't want to draw up a world that looks and acts exactly like a thousand other ones, so I usually try to make up some history and crap like that. I don't expect players to care as much as me- I don't want them to, because if they want to know 7 levels of depth when I've only got 5, I have to go generate 3 more or something. But I want the place to have a different flavor, so your character's actions can matter.
Like, in the place where you guys where, the elves have nobles, and the nobles are aloof and don't care what happens outside of a small region, even though they have the power to help, they just don't care. There are "historical" reasons for that that never came up, and I am totally fine with that not coming up, and no one caring.
but it's still lame when you can't name your character whatever you want because it's not magikally gay enough. Seriously, who cares?
Look, you wanted to name your elf "Carlos".
I don't have a rigorous naming scheme, but doesn't "Carlos" kind of break theme utterly? I didn't need you all to go crazy or anything, and I realize there's no logical reason to disallow stuff, but the DM allowing a totally out of theme name shows that the DM doesn't respect the world- and the DM *IS* the world.
Remember, I'm a libertarian. When I started gaming, people where named everything you could imagine, assuming you were are a nerd in high school- which means, come up with a bunch of names, then throw out the genuinely good ones. I allowed it, because, you know, your character, your name. My experience is that it is one of several things that cheapens the gaming experience.
Do remember that you did get away with "Carlolas", which is just in theme enough to pass. Plus, it's pretty damn funny. Hell, I don't *want* to reject names, in general.
Anyway, being excessively in character just annoys me.
Right, because you are detached and logical. The only person there who would qualify as "excessive" is my cousin, who even LARPs sometimes. By in character, I don't mean talking different or anything, I just mostly mean the first person stuff, trying to come up with ideas your character would, etc.
And you did just fine at being in character after like, the very beginning. I'm not looking for immersion here, you either like that stuff or you don't, and it isn't necessary at all.
When your cousin was getting all wound up about talking to the villagers
Right, she's a girl. The game for her is talking, resolving problems with words. She doesn't like strategy or tactics, and she thinks combat is boring. So the game for her is the roleplaying. You are very much in the majority in not thinking like her- you would have gotten along well with everybody in the main room except maybe the lawyer- and *maybe* even him.
trying to short out my brain so I wouldn't have to suffer such embarrassment.
Well, yea, it's not your everyday thing. But what would you have done differently, if you had to be in that place? You would have been more detached, I bet, but overall the exchange would have been similar.
I used to be embarrassed at in character stuff as well, but you get used to it. I mean, where does that potential embarassment come from? The assumption that someone will observe and think that you are really identifying with the character? Nonsense! It's an intellectual game, nothing more.
It's just that playing that game gives me hives.
We'll do it again next time I'm in town. When it was just you and Joseph, I think the game went about as you desired it to, no?
"I wouldn't be quite so averse to it if it weren't all wizards and elves and shit, but it comes with the territory. "
Well, I'll grant that it is terribly nerdy- but the big deal is, your character and your game is what you make of it. Elves can be dark, brooding and gothic, they can be foresty and flighty, they can be alien in their outlook, or they can basically be logical beings with slightly different priorities than a normal guy- and that last one is about how I see them played normally. I've heard of the gothic thing, and I've never met anyone that plays them like the more fruity things you read about in novels.
But yea, I agree that the theme carries some serious baggage that disagrees with many people.
Getting shot once and dying is krap.
We've done sci-fi before, but I've never been interested in running a modern day setup. In sci-fi you get shields and suits and things and you can take multiple shots.
Anyway, as DM I try to bend the style of the gameplay to what the players are happiest with. In the case of Eddie- he wants combat, and he wants to be good at it. Same with Cabbage. Alan wants to strategize, Lauren wants to be in a world where she can solve problems cleverly. Not that these people take no joy from other spheres, but if I'm running a game with three Laurens, I would make it political in nature, with a bunch of Alans it would be a large, long scale struggle- and all of these things could be in the world to begin with, but the players will go where they will have the most fun, in the long term.
As DM you describe a world and let the players choose what to do. In the beginning you offer guidance (and in the short time I had, I had to basically collapse the options into just a few), but ultimately the players choose what to do with their time.
You know you had a good time, even if all you did was kill a few orcs and hill giants.
You still have to choose what to do. That's the fun part.
Well, ok, I agree with that. But part of the game is the imagination part, which maybe you get for free, but everyone doesn't. My experience is that a long term campaign *needs* people to have mental images of the people and places, no matter how vague, and an expectation of how things act, beyond simple "elves like trees, dwarves like mountains" kind of things. A long term campaign needs it, and a short term campaign benefits from it. I don't want to draw up a world that looks and acts exactly like a thousand other ones, so I usually try to make up some history and crap like that. I don't expect players to care as much as me- I don't want them to, because if they want to know 7 levels of depth when I've only got 5, I have to go generate 3 more or something. But I want the place to have a different flavor, so your character's actions can matter.
Like, in the place where you guys where, the elves have nobles, and the nobles are aloof and don't care what happens outside of a small region, even though they have the power to help, they just don't care. There are "historical" reasons for that that never came up, and I am totally fine with that not coming up, and no one caring.
but it's still lame when you can't name your character whatever you want because it's not magikally gay enough. Seriously, who cares?
Look, you wanted to name your elf "Carlos".
I don't have a rigorous naming scheme, but doesn't "Carlos" kind of break theme utterly? I didn't need you all to go crazy or anything, and I realize there's no logical reason to disallow stuff, but the DM allowing a totally out of theme name shows that the DM doesn't respect the world- and the DM *IS* the world.
Remember, I'm a libertarian. When I started gaming, people where named everything you could imagine, assuming you were are a nerd in high school- which means, come up with a bunch of names, then throw out the genuinely good ones. I allowed it, because, you know, your character, your name. My experience is that it is one of several things that cheapens the gaming experience.
Do remember that you did get away with "Carlolas", which is just in theme enough to pass. Plus, it's pretty damn funny. Hell, I don't *want* to reject names, in general.
Anyway, being excessively in character just annoys me.
Right, because you are detached and logical. The only person there who would qualify as "excessive" is my cousin, who even LARPs sometimes. By in character, I don't mean talking different or anything, I just mostly mean the first person stuff, trying to come up with ideas your character would, etc.
And you did just fine at being in character after like, the very beginning. I'm not looking for immersion here, you either like that stuff or you don't, and it isn't necessary at all.
When your cousin was getting all wound up about talking to the villagers
Right, she's a girl. The game for her is talking, resolving problems with words. She doesn't like strategy or tactics, and she thinks combat is boring. So the game for her is the roleplaying. You are very much in the majority in not thinking like her- you would have gotten along well with everybody in the main room except maybe the lawyer- and *maybe* even him.
trying to short out my brain so I wouldn't have to suffer such embarrassment.
Well, yea, it's not your everyday thing. But what would you have done differently, if you had to be in that place? You would have been more detached, I bet, but overall the exchange would have been similar.
I used to be embarrassed at in character stuff as well, but you get used to it. I mean, where does that potential embarassment come from? The assumption that someone will observe and think that you are really identifying with the character? Nonsense! It's an intellectual game, nothing more.
It's just that playing that game gives me hives.
We'll do it again next time I'm in town. When it was just you and Joseph, I think the game went about as you desired it to, no?
"I wouldn't be quite so averse to it if it weren't all wizards and elves and shit, but it comes with the territory. "
Well, I'll grant that it is terribly nerdy- but the big deal is, your character and your game is what you make of it. Elves can be dark, brooding and gothic, they can be foresty and flighty, they can be alien in their outlook, or they can basically be logical beings with slightly different priorities than a normal guy- and that last one is about how I see them played normally. I've heard of the gothic thing, and I've never met anyone that plays them like the more fruity things you read about in novels.
But yea, I agree that the theme carries some serious baggage that disagrees with many people.
Getting shot once and dying is krap.
We've done sci-fi before, but I've never been interested in running a modern day setup. In sci-fi you get shields and suits and things and you can take multiple shots.
Anyway, as DM I try to bend the style of the gameplay to what the players are happiest with. In the case of Eddie- he wants combat, and he wants to be good at it. Same with Cabbage. Alan wants to strategize, Lauren wants to be in a world where she can solve problems cleverly. Not that these people take no joy from other spheres, but if I'm running a game with three Laurens, I would make it political in nature, with a bunch of Alans it would be a large, long scale struggle- and all of these things could be in the world to begin with, but the players will go where they will have the most fun, in the long term.
As DM you describe a world and let the players choose what to do. In the beginning you offer guidance (and in the short time I had, I had to basically collapse the options into just a few), but ultimately the players choose what to do with their time.
You know you had a good time, even if all you did was kill a few orcs and hill giants.
You still have to choose what to do. That's the fun part.
Well, ok, I agree with that. But part of the game is the imagination part, which maybe you get for free, but everyone doesn't. My experience is that a long term campaign *needs* people to have mental images of the people and places, no matter how vague, and an expectation of how things act, beyond simple "elves like trees, dwarves like mountains" kind of things. A long term campaign needs it, and a short term campaign benefits from it. I don't want to draw up a world that looks and acts exactly like a thousand other ones, so I usually try to make up some history and crap like that. I don't expect players to care as much as me- I don't want them to, because if they want to know 7 levels of depth when I've only got 5, I have to go generate 3 more or something. But I want the place to have a different flavor, so your character's actions can matter.
Like, in the place where you guys where, the elves have nobles, and the nobles are aloof and don't care what happens outside of a small region, even though they have the power to help, they just don't care. There are "historical" reasons for that that never came up, and I am totally fine with that not coming up, and no one caring.
but it's still lame when you can't name your character whatever you want because it's not magikally gay enough. Seriously, who cares?
Look, you wanted to name your elf "Carlos".
I don't have a rigorous naming scheme, but doesn't "Carlos" kind of break theme utterly? I didn't need you all to go crazy or anything, and I realize there's no logical reason to disallow stuff, but the DM allowing a totally out of theme name shows that the DM doesn't respect the world- and the DM *IS* the world.
Remember, I'm a libertarian. When I started gaming, people where named everything you could imagine, assuming you were are a nerd in high school- which means, come up with a bunch of names, then throw out the genuinely good ones. I allowed it, because, you know, your character, your name. My experience is that it is one of several things that cheapens the gaming experience.
Do remember that you did get away with "Carlolas", which is just in theme enough to pass. Plus, it's pretty damn funny. Hell, I don't *want* to reject names, in general.
Anyway, being excessively in character just annoys me.
Right, because you are detached and logical. The only person there who would qualify as "excessive" is my cousin, who even LARPs sometimes. By in character, I don't mean talking different or anything, I just mostly mean the first person stuff, trying to come up with ideas your character would, etc.
And you did just fine at being in character after like, the very beginning. I'm not looking for immersion here, you either like that stuff or you don't, and it isn't necessary at all.
When your cousin was getting all wound up about talking to the villagers
Right, she's a girl. The game for her is talking, resolving problems with words. She doesn't like strategy or tactics, and she thinks combat is boring. So the game for her is the roleplaying. You are very much in the majority in not thinking like her- you would have gotten along well with everybody in the main room except maybe the lawyer- and *maybe* even him.
trying to short out my brain so I wouldn't have to suffer such embarrassment.
Well, yea, it's not your everyday thing. But what would you have done differently, if you had to be in that place? You would have been more detached, I bet, but overall the exchange would have been similar.
I used to be embarrassed at in character stuff as well, but you get used to it. I mean, where does that potential embarassment come from? The assumption that someone will observe and think that you are really identifying with the character? Nonsense! It's an intellectual game, nothing more.
It's just that playing that game gives me hives.
We'll do it again next time I'm in town. When it was just you and Joseph, I think the game went about as you desired it to, no?
"I wouldn't be quite so averse to it if it weren't all wizards and elves and shit, but it comes with the territory. "
Well, I'll grant that it is terribly nerdy- but the big deal is, your character and your game is what you make of it. Elves can be dark, brooding and gothic, they can be foresty and flighty, they can be alien in their outlook, or they can basically be logical beings with slightly different priorities than a normal guy- and that last one is about how I see them played normally. I've heard of the gothic thing, and I've never met anyone that plays them like the more fruity things you read about in novels.
But yea, I agree that the theme carries some serious baggage that disagrees with many people.
Getting shot once and dying is krap.
We've done sci-fi before, but I've never been interested in running a modern day setup. In sci-fi you get shields and suits and things and you can take multiple shots.
Anyway, as DM I try to bend the style of the gameplay to what the players are happiest with. In the case of Eddie- he wants combat, and he wants to be good at it. Same with Cabbage. Alan wants to strategize, Lauren wants to be in a world where she can solve problems cleverly. Not that these people take no joy from other spheres, but if I'm running a game with three Laurens, I would make it political in nature, with a bunch of Alans it would be a large, long scale struggle- and all of these things could be in the world to begin with, but the players will go where they will have the most fun, in the long term.
As DM you describe a world and let the players choose what to do. In the beginning you offer guidance (and in the short time I had, I had to basically collapse the options into just a few), but ultimately the players choose what to do with their time.
You know you had a good time, even if all you did was kill a few orcs and hill giants.
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba | Registered: Feb 2000
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Mr. K
Racist
Member # 2
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posted 01-09-2004 12:54 PM
The Sims isn't really an RPG, is it? Most of the things video games call RPGs don't involve role-playing at all. Altho, I dunno...is The Sims different?
If you really are pretending to be someone else, though, that's pretty damn nerdy, and doing it over the Internet doesn't butch it up any.
cfalcon: My experience is that a long term campaign *needs* people to have mental images of the people and places...
I think that happens anyway. You don't need to get even more nerdly about it to understand it.
You just lay down the fundamental rules and tone of something and as long as there's internal consistency within the game itself, I don't see any need for actually acting like total freaks while playing a total freak.
Look, you wanted to name your elf "Carlos".
Who fucking cares? Does it have any effect at all on anything?
Anyway, I understand why you wouldn't allow it. I mean, I can't rightly go to a D&D game and then bitch when the game is super-nerdy. I'm not complaining about the job you did at all, because you did what you're supposed to do: You were anal and geeky because that's what the game is all about. If you weren't, it wouldn't be D&D.
...LARPs..
I am very happy that I do not know what that stands for. Please do not change this state.
You would have been more detached, I bet, but overall the exchange would have been similar.
The detachment is the thing. As long as I know I'm doing something nerdy and taking part in a guilty pleasure, then that's fine. I just don't ever want to lose that perspective and turn into one of those people I hate.
It's like the difference between enjoying Bon Jovi songs because they are goofy, stupid, and all-around bad, but also not too harsh on the ears and kinda catchy, and thinking Bon Jovi is a genius.
The assumption that someone will observe and think that you are really identifying with the character?
That "someone" is me. If I catch myself being that much of a fucking dork, I know I need to go kill myself.
You know you had a good time...
Well, yeah, I admit that. I know if I play D&D there is going to be some stuff I like (combat and problem solving within character constraints) and a lot of dorky stuff that comes with the territory ("omgwtf u dont haf a gud smell sk0r u suk so bad how r u goin 2 be abel 2 sniff stankbugz now ahahaha!").
EDIT:
Also whooooooooooooooa! We're halfway the-ere! Whooooooooooooa-OW! Livin' on a pray-er!
[ 01-09-2004, 12:59 PM: Message edited by: Mr. K ]
From: Cinnabar Island | Registered: Feb 2000
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cfalcon
OLDNBLD
Member # 19
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posted 01-09-2004 01:45 PM
You know, I really like Bon Jovi songs.
At least the good ones.
...LARPs..
I am very happy that I do not know what that stands for. Please do not change this state.
For now, assume that LARPing is wearing a wizard's hat while playing D&D.
[ 01-09-2004, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: cfalcon ]
From: 39°45' N, 104°52' W | Registered: Feb 2000
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cfalcon
OLDNBLD
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posted 01-09-2004 02:03 PM
Look, you wanted to name your elf "Carlos".
Who fucking cares? Does it have any effect at all on anything?
Well, it would have made "Stormgren" and "Alleria", your travelling companions, look hopelessly nerdy in comparison, something that might bother their players, even though they wouldn't say it. By giving your character a comical name, you are basically sending a "I don't care because this isn't real" message into a very fragile make-believe setup- and in my experience, that hurts the experience.
Anyway, I understand why you wouldn't allow it. I mean, I can't rightly go to a D&D game and then bitch when the game is super-nerdy. I'm not complaining about the job you did at all, because you did what you're supposed to do: You were anal and geeky because that's what the game is all about. If you weren't, it wouldn't be D&D.
Well, ok, yea. I'm just explaining why: it isn't like I'm enforcing nerdliness because it's some kind of goal.
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Subject: Ninja and Opensource
From: 39°45' N, 104°52' W | Registered: Feb 2000
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10,000Lb.Snorlax
loves long time.
Member # 13
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posted 01-09-2004 05:15 PM
nerd porn
From: Denver | Registered: Feb 2000
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Anthrax
Ultimate Authoritative Power in the Universe
Member # 335
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posted 01-09-2004 05:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cfalcon:
By giving your character a comical name, you are basically sending a "I don't care because this isn't real" message into a very fragile make-believe setup- and in my experience, that hurts the experience.
hey my name is carlos ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
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She told The Associated Press she first realized her son was mentally ill in 1996 when he killed her oldest child, a 25-year-old woman who suffered from cerebral palsy, by beating her with a dumbbell.
From: Somebody put shit in my pants! | Registered: Apr 2000
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Mr. K
Racist
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posted 01-09-2004 09:09 PM
cfalcon: ...you are basically sending a "I don't care because this isn't real" message...
But I don't care, because it isn't real.
From: Cinnabar Island | Registered: Feb 2000
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ceoalex316
Time for the flaming leprosy party
Member # 338
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posted 01-10-2004 12:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Anthrax:
quote:
Originally posted by cfalcon:
By giving your character a comical name, you are basically sending a "I don't care because this isn't real" message into a very fragile make-believe setup- and in my experience, that hurts the experience.
hey my name is carlos
K's getting mods at the border? Figures.
From: NYC | Registered: Apr 2000
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New Guy
Farting Nudist
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posted 01-10-2004 03:31 PM
Mr. K The detachment is the thing. As long as I know I'm doing something nerdy and taking part in a guilty pleasure, then that's fine. I just don't ever want to lose that perspective and turn into one of those people I hate.
Whats makes escapist nerds (is there any other kind?) so bad?
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@!!**... I forgot my chain saw!-Satan
From: Georgia | Registered: Jul 2000
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Mr. K
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posted 01-10-2004 05:53 PM
I think the danger is turning into one of those nerds who is incapable of dealing with regular humans. I have friends who look all GQ, drive expensive cars, got themselves hot little wives, etc., but they are still the same geeks I always knew. But the trick is that they've learnt to go undercover as a normal human.
I'd never go that far (if you see me driving an SUV, you have my permission to shoot on sight), but I try to at least retain the capability to talk to normal people. You know, if I'm in the waiting room at a Jiffy Lube or something and some dude wants to talk about sports or cars or something, I can probably make it through about 3 or 4 minutes of small talk before the urge to kill the person and/or flee sets in.
When I run into a cute girl at a party, I have the ability to string together enough conversational elements to be almost charming for an evening.
Inside, of course, I'm the same anti-social nerd I've always been (who'd probably be happier at home playing Smash TV with his friends), but sometimes you just need to be able to function in a Normal Person setting. It takes a lot out of me, but I can do it.
My friend's wedding nearly kilt me, though...I had to spend days with frat/sorority types, wear a goddam tux, and generally be nice to strangers (and jerks I'd purposely cut out of my life) for hours at a time. I think I slept for a week straight after that.
Anyway...think I'm getting a little off-message here, but the point is that doing super-nerdy things is fine, but letting it affect your personality to the point that you're actually a full-on dork all the time is something to watch out for.
I guess it goes back to those things I'm always going on about...perspective and self-awareness.
Oh well...whatever...just my opinion. And keep in mind that I am, in fact, a total dork when placing value on my opinion...
[ 01-11-2004, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: Mr. K ]
From: Cinnabar Island | Registered: Feb 2000
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cfalcon
OLDNBLD
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posted 01-11-2004 01:46 AM
Yea, I see your point. But I'm pretty sure you are confusing cause with effect- people don't become anti-social and unable to function in regular society *because* of nerdy activities- it's the other way around. Of the people you saw gaming, only two would come close to your qualifications of an ubernerd. Both of them still manage, however, and *none* of that group plays D&D regularly. I know the people you are talking about, I've seen them at comic book stores (when I would play Magic every Saturday morning), and no amount of D&D will turn you into one of them- not even any amount of *in character* D&D.
I bet that there really are people who think of their characters as themselves, and get all depressed if they lose a character (I wouldn't know, because the only time we've ever lost characters is when the whole party bites it, and that's rare- normally, you die, everyone pitches in to get you raised, because that's what D&D is all about), and really identify with them.
I'm just saying these people had problems before D&D.
On a side note, today has been a delightful day for John. The mini-lake at my apartment complex froze over while I was in sunny Miami, and I saw some kids on the ice. So, I joined them. Thankfully, the ice didn't break, and I got to slide around on it. Real thick ice, and the night was warm enough to not need a jacket. Then an adult came out and spoiled everything.
What is wrong with those people?
From: 39°45' N, 104°52' W | Registered: Feb 2000
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cfalcon
OLDNBLD
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posted 01-11-2004 01:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Wintermute:
This is how your posts look to other people. I'm just trying to give you an idea.
Originally posted by cfalcon:
You still have to choose what to do. That's the fun part.
...
You know you had a good time, even if all you did was kill a few orcs and hill giants.
You know, you are really mean.
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Subject: Ninja and Opensource
From: 39°45' N, 104°52' W | Registered: Feb 2000
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ceoalex316
Time for the flaming leprosy party
Member # 338
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posted 01-11-2004 02:11 AM
This is the nerd test.
Pretend your friend is playing DnD and he imitates a character. Now pretend he is doing this in front of "normal kids", people who you do not consider nerdy. People you don't consider to be nerdy socially, not in principle ( "cuz deep down inside we are not nerds" bullshit don't count.) The level of embarrassment you feel for them is the level of nerdyness.
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Maximum Penetration Industries.
From: NYC | Registered: Apr 2000
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Mr. K
Racist
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posted 01-11-2004 03:55 PM
cfalcon: ...people don't become anti-social and unable to function in regular society *because* of nerdy activities...
I don't think that's true about D&D. It encourages hypernerdosity and repeatedly taking part in any behavior makes it seem more normal. Like an online community of pedophiles or a church or something, hanging out with a group of people doing and saying things they shouldn't makes a person feel like what they're up to is "normal".
...I bet that there really are people who think of their characters as themselves, and get all depressed if they lose a character...
Well, that's just like losing a game. It's not a big deal if you're upset that you lost a game (unless you're obsessing over it or something).
By the way, chowlix, interesting nerd test. In general I say let your Freak Flag fly, but there is just something sad about people sitting around talking about past experiences in D&D.
This is all subjective, I guess, since I don't have any problem sitting around for hours talking about what happened in various movies, books, or even video games...maybe it's also that I've noticed something about the sort of people who play D&D (myself included), but now I'm getting all circular...
From: Cinnabar Island | Registered: Feb 2000
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IceHawk78
NOBODY IMPORTANT
Member # 1699
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posted 01-12-2004 01:19 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Mr. K:
I think the danger is turning into one of those nerds who is incapable of dealing with regular humans. I have friends who look all GQ, drive expensive cars, got themselves hot little wives, etc., but they are still the same geeks I always knew. But the trick is that they've learnt to go undercover as a normal human.
I'd never go that far (if you see me driving an SUV, you have my permission to shoot on sight), but I try to at least retain the capability to talk to normal people. You know, if I'm in the waiting room at a Jiffy Lube or something and some dude wants to talk about sports or cars or something, I can probably make it through about 3 or 4 minutes of small talk before the urge to kill the person and/or flee sets in.
When I run into a cute girl at a party, I have the ability to string together enough conversational elements to be almost charming for an evening.
Inside, of course, I'm the same anti-social nerd I've always been (who'd probably be happier at home playing Smash TV with his friends), but sometimes you just need to be able to function in a Normal Person setting. It takes a lot out of me, but I can do it.
My friend's wedding nearly kilt me, though...I had to spend days with frat/sorority types, wear a goddam tux, and generally be nice to strangers (and jerks I'd purposely cut out of my life) for hours at a time. I think I slept for a week straight after that.
Anyway...think I'm getting a little off-message here, but the point is that doing super-nerdy things is fine, but letting it affect your personality to the point that you're actually a full-on dork all the time is something to watch out for.
I guess it goes back to those things I'm always going on about...perspective and self-awareness.
Oh well...whatever...just my opinion. And keep in mind that I am, in fact, a total dork when placing value on my opinion...
This sounded like something you should have posted in your "Top 10 Life Lessons" thread, from about 2-3 years ago.
From: Ohio | Registered: Apr 2001
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Biffster
Farting Nudist
Member # 269
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posted 01-12-2004 02:08 PM
Teejay pretends to be a woman in final fantasy 11 so greasy retards will give him stuff. I win.
From: Viridian City (On the road at least) | Registered: Apr 2000
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starCaliber
is evil and also MewtwoSama
Member # 268
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posted 01-13-2004 07:58 AM
no you don't, robbie. d&d is motherfucking queer.
final fantasy is played on a playstation and i know people who get laid that own playstations.
From: San Francisco, CA | Registered: Apr 2000
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cfalcon
OLDNBLD
Member # 19
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posted 01-13-2004 12:16 PM
Also you know people that get laid who play D&D.
From: 39°45' N, 104°52' W | Registered: Feb 2000
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Biffster
Farting Nudist
Member # 269
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posted 01-13-2004 04:22 PM
oh snap...
why do you guys type so much? it doesnt take like 10 pages to describe something nerdy.
From: Viridian City (On the road at least) | Registered: Apr 2000
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10,000Lb.Snorlax
loves long time.
Member # 13
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posted 01-13-2004 07:33 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Biffster:
[QB]oh snap...
why do you guys type so much?[QB]
cause they are being nerdy
From: Denver | Registered: Feb 2000
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starCaliber
is evil and also MewtwoSama
Member # 268
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posted 01-14-2004 03:07 AM
agreed.
i am going to go wallow in my posse of bitches now.
From: San Francisco, CA | Registered: Apr 2000
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Uiru
Sketch Molester
Member # 437
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posted 01-18-2004 02:50 AM
Someone rate 'playing D&D while making out with your girlfriend (who is also playing and who is better than you) while the other players set fire to things' on the scale.
This was my first ever game, and it was ridiculous. Nobody cared. One of our guys solved all problems by setting things on fire, and almost lay torch to a forest while we were still in it. We almost got a mission from a guy who hated gnomes, but his head exploded (low Listen roll, or something). Our last quest was finding the Golden Adam's Apple... of DOOM. The guy who lit things on fire killed literally everyone we came across, if not immediately than eventually. Often gruesomely. He deathblowed a mimic, then killed a rust monster thing by sticking his arm down its throat and tearing its heart out. And then there was the whole piss roll discussion, which I don't want to get into.
So.
~Uiru
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TIDUDSOFIEIHUGHEXXXC: "maybe he will let you touch his blow up do"
AFRO NOOOOOOO!!!
From: the floating castle of Newfoundland | Registered: May 2000
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Charmeleon42
Date Rapist
Member # 1066
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posted 01-18-2004 02:51 AM
That's the way it's supposed to be played!
ACCEPT NO IMITATION
From: Mountain Dew Land | Registered: Oct 2000
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Tghost
Farting Nudist
Member # 1418
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posted 01-18-2004 03:21 AM
did he bash a gazebo?
From: Auckland, New Zealand | Registered: Jan 2001
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Mentar the Malady Monkey
worst username ever
Member # 1182
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posted 01-19-2004 03:52 AM
^ Yeah, but he wasted his good arrows on it first.
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WHAT.
From: Pandemonium, HL, Hades | Registered: Nov 2000
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Twinkle
I'm feeling fat and sassy~!
Member # 1690
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posted 01-20-2004 08:17 PM
Were they silver arrows?
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Hich loch faauto noxlattoyen.
From: Brinstar | Registered: Apr 2001
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Uiru
Sketch Molester
Member # 437
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posted 01-20-2004 10:42 PM
I save my silver arrows for after the game.
~Uiru
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TIDUDSOFIEIHUGHEXXXC: "maybe he will let you touch his blow up do"
AFRO NOOOOOOO!!!
From: the floating castle of Newfoundland | Registered: May 2000
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Jman
Farting Nudist
Member # 618
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posted 01-21-2004 09:52 PM
I was made by Dweedle's silver arrows.
From: da burgh | Registered: Jul 2000
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