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Sounds like I want to buy the V20 book alone for mechanics and then the bundle because I just like the setting and clanbooks.
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Jul 29, 2016 21:53
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I think the Humble RPG Book Bundle has me hook, line, and sinker on pure nostalgia alone. Which, come to think of it, seems to be the reason I buy any RPG stuff these days (read: for the last eight years or so)... I think Revised is newer than what I remember of Vampire (Assamites still had the curse, IIRC...), but man, Book of Nod, etc. brings back some game playing memories.
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Jul 29, 2016 22:35
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And as if in response to me recommending it elsethread, Hillfolk is on the Bundle of Holding.
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Jul 29, 2016 23:21
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Alien Rope Burn posted:And as if in response to me recommending it elsethread, Hillfolk is on the Bundle of Holding. I know nothing about it and was about to ask here; can anyone enlighten me?
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Jul 29, 2016 23:23
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minidracula posted:Yeah, funny you mention it, since after looking at the Humble bundle, I checked out what was new on BoH and saw Hillfolk there. HIllfolk and Blood on the Snow are the two core Dramasystem books, which give you the Dramasystem rules and a shitload of settings to use those rules in. Dramasystem is a ruleset that focuses on dramatic storytelling and doesn't involve a ton of dice rolling. This sums it up pretty well. quote:A majority of the scenes in DramaSystem are expected to be, well, dramatic, with characters pushing and pulling on each others’ motivations. Each scene is set by a player in turn, with their character trying to get something from another. If the petition is granted, the player whose character yielded gets a Drama token; if the petition is refused, the one who was turned down gets the Drama token. In other words, you either get what you want or get a Drama token as consolation prize. Drama tokens can be used to force concessions later, to crash a scene where your character was not invited or, on the contrary, to avoid a scene you are called to, and so forth.
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Jul 29, 2016 23:41
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I backed Hillfolk for the sole purpose of helping to encourage Laws that a FS2 Kickstarter would be viable. I absolutely hate the system and the concept, but I am a diehard grog so that's probably expected. The book is very lovely and is well organized. There are plenty of clearly written examples and the the supplement has tons of alternative settings and 'dramatic' groups. All in all a good choice if you like creating interpersonal scenes rather than engaging in external conflict.
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Jul 30, 2016 04:13
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I ran Hillfolk demos for Pelgrane, and honestly it's a blast... but if you're haven't seen it in action, it's hard to describe. Basically players take turns setting scenes in which they engage another player for something they want. If they give up what the initial player wants, they get a token. Tokens can be later used to force the narrative, forcing somebody else to give you what you want, busting in on other people's scenes, etc. Basically one of the issues with running dramatic scenes in RPGs is that most people have no reason to concede anything they don't want to or make decisions that aren't immediately in their best interest. Dramasystem is mainly designed to reward you for letting people push you into questionable decisions, like what happens in drama or in real life. A lot of the game deals with the competitive back-and-forth between players and unlike a conventional RPG, the GM is there to provide crises and dilemmas but doesn't really dictate the game. In many ways, the GM is like a fill-in player for anything the normal players can't just decide between themselves, running bit parts, adjudicating dramatic tasks, providing hooks, but often as a GM you're just watching the interplay and acting as an impartial judge for a good chunk of the session. It may not seem exciting but every game I've run, people get passionate about their roles and it's really something to see. Explaining it doesn't really do justice to how well it works and how quickly people can slip into antagonistic or cooperative relationships. While the actual resolution system isn't much to speak of, the structure of the game works very well at pulling players away from the traditional RPG mindset and into the interpersonal conflict so common in fiction and TV but exceedingly rare in RPGs.
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Jul 30, 2016 05:10
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Humbug Scoolbus posted:I backed Hillfolk for the sole purpose of helping to encourage Laws that a FS2 Kickstarter would be viable. I absolutely hate the system and the concept, but I am a diehard grog so that's probably expected. The book is very lovely and is well organized. There are plenty of clearly written examples and the the supplement has tons of alternative settings and 'dramatic' groups. All in all a good choice if you like creating interpersonal scenes rather than engaging in external conflict. I don't think a diehard grog would like Feng Shui 
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Jul 30, 2016 05:11
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I really liked Feng Shui 1, the streamlining they did to 2 annoyed me. I tried playing Hillfolk. I normally won't say I hate something unless I actually try it (Monsterhearts is one of the few exceptions to that. The whole concept is repellent to me). I like playing in games with a GM/DM/Ref running the show and setting the plot and controlling the NPCs. Games like Hillfolk are the antithesis of that style. Humbug Scoolbus fucked around with this message at 06:37 on Jul 30, 2016 |
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Jul 30, 2016 06:33
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Alien Rope Burn posted:I ran Hillfolk demos for Pelgrane, and honestly it's a blast... but if you're haven't seen it in action, it's hard to describe. Basically players take turns setting scenes in which they engage another player for something they want. If they give up what the initial player wants, they get a token. Tokens can be later used to force the narrative, forcing somebody else to give you what you want, busting in on other people's scenes, etc. One way to describe Hillfolk for those that have played Fiasco is that it's kind of like a more long-term game of Fiasco so you can play a season of TV instead of a Coen brothers film. I really love Hillfolk and have had a great time running it with my players. I took one of Robin Laws' suggestions from a web column and used DramaSystem for my players to create the Imperial council of the far-away Empire that was antagonizing their primary characters. So basically, they made the villains' small council. The results were amazing; they came up with flawed but ambitious characters and became nearly as invested in the villains as their primary heroes. It's a system that works extremely well to give you some Game of Thrones politicking and is pretty quick to get your head around. I think it's very cool to see a system focus on dramatic interpersonal tensions rather than the more procedural mystery and combat of most RPGs. My only other caveat is I haven't found it super great for one-shots - like most cable dramas, it takes a little time to really establish and flesh out the relationships that make the game sing. I'd totally recommend it for the Bundle of Holding price unless you really dislike storygame framing.
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Jul 31, 2016 14:29
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The Hillfolk Bundle also gets you dozens of four to six page settings, which are totally mechanics-independent -- if you're on the fence I'd recommend it for that reason.
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Jul 31, 2016 15:40
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Oh absolutely. If that style of game is your bag the Bundle is completely worth it.
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Jul 31, 2016 19:08
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I hope a little self-promotion is OK because it's a) a free RPG and b) DramaSystem, so it's relevant. I wrote "The First Hundred" a couple of years ago for DramaSystem as a portfolio piece. It's Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy with the serial numbers filed off as a DramaSystem Series Pitch. If that's your bag, please enjoy!
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Aug 1, 2016 17:59
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That is extremely my thing and I am downloading it now. Thanks!
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Aug 1, 2016 20:41
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Self promotion is always welcome in this thread. There is only one stipulation: it must be free or a deal (i.e. Discounted from regular retail price).
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Aug 2, 2016 01:44
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moths posted:Those Ankh pins are pretty hard to come by, too. I picked it up mainly for that, but also because I never got any of the clan books. Oh dear - the first addition to the V:TM Humble Bundle is Eternal Hearts...
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Aug 3, 2016 20:23
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Haha, gently caress. They've also taken down the "More to come" blurb, so I guess that's it.
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Aug 3, 2016 20:30
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Oh, that's hilarious, I hadn't noticed that. Seriously, of all the V:TM fiction they could have included in the bundle they pick that...
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Aug 3, 2016 21:06
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How about that Osprey Bundle of Holding? https://bundleofholding.com/presents/OspreyWargames Don't know anything about them, but some of the genres covered make it sound really interesting.
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Aug 9, 2016 06:46
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Hollow Earth Expedition turns 10 today, so the publisher is giving it away for free for 24 hours via this DriveThru discount link: http://tiny.cc/hex10th Also, the current Bundle of Holding is Shadowrun 3e.
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Aug 17, 2016 20:26
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So the free demo pack for a new Australian RPG, Bloody Quest, went live for download today. The game bills itself as follows: Bloody Quest is a furious and entertaining tabletop roleplay game. Combat is gruesome; there is every chance your character will come out of a fight with horrific physical wounds. Couple this with a sense of epic adventure, exploration and decision making, and you have a powerful experience which appeals to beginner and veteran players alike. The mechanics behind the game are focused on providing a fun and easy-to-use system. A head for math isn’t required; once players have experienced the rules quick and brutal encounters will follow. The onus is on sitting around a table and having fun with your friends. It's basically a minis heavy tactical RPG with an emphasis on combat rules, and a fairly light system out of combat. The demo pack comes with a map, tokens and a bunch of reference cards. Full disclosure: I helped out with some graphic design (mainly the basic design for the reference cards, I didn't put in the actual content) and some minor rules development stuff.
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Aug 19, 2016 09:24
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Probably worth noting that the current Bundle of Holding is a bit over half the books for Tribe 8, a 90s game from Dream Pod 9 set in post-apocalyptic Montreal with a weird fantasy spin - humanity has been enslaved by demons and the resistance is made up of tribes led by avatars of the Earth Goddess known as Fatimas...except the PCs have been kicked out of the tribes and are trying to build an eighth tribe beholden to neither Fatima nor demon. The Bundle has all of the key setting material but doesn't have all the adventures that made up the metaplot (though they added a couple since launch and are scheduled to add one more book before the offer ends). It's apparently pretty well regarded, more for the setting and (some say) unusually well-handled metaplot than for the mechanics. Children of Lilith, which is included in the offer, has been cited as one of the best published RPG campaigns in more than one discussion I've seen. https://bundleofholding.com/presents/Tribe8
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Aug 27, 2016 00:50
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This week's Bundle (well, two bundles) is Mutants & Masterminds 3e. One is the core books, the other is a collection of power and setting expansions. I haven't really touched M&M since the original version in my d20 days, so I don't know how much has changed with this new edition. I do know it's still (technically) OGL-based.
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Aug 30, 2016 20:07
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Quote is not edit
8one6 fucked around with this message at 23:52 on Aug 30, 2016 |
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Aug 30, 2016 21:19
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Evil Mastermind posted:This week's Bundle (well, two bundles) is Mutants & Masterminds 3e. One is the core books, the other is a collection of power and setting expansions. I got it during their big giveaway a year or so back, and the crunch level is significantly higher than I'm looking for, right now. The feats, in particular, bothered me - they're classic d20-style feats, with smallish effects that some characters get a ton of and which you need to look up in the book.
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Aug 30, 2016 21:24
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3e basically strips the decals off. 2e had a dozen and one powers that were mechanically identical, but had different names, and they admitted that was stupid in the core books. Im not a fan of the 3e attribute array, but the power system is functional. 2e is still decent, and both are miles beyond the mess that 1e was. I don't suggest trying to play Batman or Bruce Lee using any of them, though.
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Aug 30, 2016 22:26
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LuLu.com has another 30% off deal. Code THEBIG30 I just bought Dark Dungeons hardback for $25.01 shipped. 
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Sep 16, 2016 19:15
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St0rmD posted:LuLu.com has another 30% off deal. Code THEBIG30 Anyone know any other good games on LuLu? I already own Dark Dungeons.
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Sep 16, 2016 19:26
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Here's a bigass list: http://dieheart.net/useful-stuff/lulu/ Edit: Oh dang Hollowpoint's there! And Stalker's pretty cool too, despite the Comic Sans in it.
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Sep 16, 2016 19:28
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That list is missing Microscope, the best game about creating a backstory I've ever played. Buy Microscope.
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Sep 16, 2016 22:23
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Also pretty much everything by Johnstone Metzger. Especially if you play Dungeon World.
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Sep 16, 2016 22:28
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Don't forget the Storygame Name Project. Really drat useful resource.
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Sep 16, 2016 22:58
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Greg Stolze's Reign books are also available from Lulu.
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Sep 17, 2016 01:03
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Covok posted:Anyone know any other good games on LuLu? I already own Dark Dungeons. If you play DCC the Gongfarmer's Almanacs and Jeremy Deram's reference sheets are both essential and available at-cost. Mythic Russia is pretty good, medieval Russian adventures with a focus on myth and folklore, powered by Heroquest. Stalker RPG is a well-done rules light narrative-focused system based on the Strugatsky Brothers novel, the Tarkovsky movie and the video games. However, fair warning, the book is entirely in Comic Sans and the author seems convinced this is a wonderful idea and everyone else in the entire world is just being silly about the font. Usagi Yojimbo: Based on a streamlined version of Ironclaw I think it captures the feel of the comic and chanbara in general quite well. The combat is incredibly lethal but this is mitigated by techniques and abilities characters can have, so you can easily get that feeling of a shitload of crappy ninjas or thugs mowed down by a samurai who is then challenged by a worthy opponent. Simon Washbourne's games: Barbarians of Lemuria, (Some people say the Legendary Edition on Lulu is better than the more recent Mythic Edition) Crimson Blades, (avoid d20 version) Woodland Warriors. Make sure you get Complete for Woodland Warriors. Dungeon Dozen A compilation of a blog that has tables of goofy stuff, like 1d12 Dungeon Stinks or 1d12 Reasons That Wizard is Eyeballing You. Cool to use and funny to read. Petty Gods a giant book of gods of stuff like literacy and hygiene, with art and descriptions. Based on a combo of Deities & Demigods and the Judges Guild book Unknown Gods. Another "cool to use and fun to read" thing. The price is really reasonable. Rob Conley's Majestic Wilderlands, if you like City State of the Invincible Overlord and all that. Stonehell Dungeon and Anomalous Subsurface Environment are just really solid and interesting dungeons. Dyson Logos's map books are well crafted. A little expensive I think, but the content is great. Richard LeBlanc's stuff, especially Valley of the Five Fires, a Mongolian themed sandbox. Psionics Handbook is cool if you need psychics for Basic D&D games, and his other non-adventure stuff includes a decent monster manual and sandbox books that have things like a heraldry generator, magical place generator, etc. Evil Mastermind posted:Also pretty much everything by Johnstone Metzger. Especially if you play Dungeon World. I have the Metamorphica and it's good and useful for any kind of game. Sionak posted:Greg Stolze's Reign books are also available from Lulu. I thought that was just one of the cut-down versions. EDIT: Nope, you just can't get a print copy of the corebook through Lulu. Lightning Lord fucked around with this message at 12:17 on Sep 18, 2016 |
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Sep 18, 2016 11:46
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Covok posted:Anyone know any other good games on LuLu? I already own Dark Dungeons. it doesn't really help with your problem but Retro phaze Is free on lulu and is a neat classic final fantasy inspired hexcrawl game
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Sep 18, 2016 15:18
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Lightning Lord posted:
Yeah, sorry, I misremembered. So to make it more clear: you can get the corebook pdf on lulu, and the supplements (First Year of Our Reign, Second Year of Our Reign, and Third Year of Our Reign) in print. The corebook is available at ttp://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16591 or in Enchiridion (rules without much setting stuff) on Amazon. Also available from Stolze on lulu is the sleek, one-book A Dirty World which is amazing for noir games: http://www.lulu.com/shop/greg-stolze/a-dirty-world/paperback/product-3220272.html
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Sep 18, 2016 16:21
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DriveThru is having a sale on PbtA games and supplements.
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Sep 19, 2016 19:32
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I got excited for a bit, but then I saw that most of the sales (15%) are literally a couple of dollars because the games are so cheap to begin with.  Tempted to get Fellowship and/or World Wide Wrestling, tho. Siivola fucked around with this message at 19:46 on Sep 19, 2016 |
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Sep 19, 2016 19:40
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Siivola posted:I got excited for a bit, but then I saw that most of the sales (15%) are literally a couple of dollars because the games are so cheap to begin with. Both are worth it.
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Sep 19, 2016 20:01
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Siivola posted:Tempted to get Fellowship and/or World Wide Wrestling, tho. I'm a little bummed that The Sprawl isn't on sale; I've been kinda interested in that owe.
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Sep 19, 2016 20:10
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