|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 14, 2008 14:01:19 GMT -6
I've been contemplating this for a while now and am seriously considering working on a Star Wars game and wanted to get some feedback. I'm just ... fantasied out right now and can't seem to get super focused on my D&D game...
Said SWars game would be set in the Knights of the Old Republic era (as in centuries before Episode I) but would be an alternate universe of that setting. Elements that show up in the game might be taken from KOTOR or KOTOR 2 or other games that might fit (like Mass Effect, for example.)
The plan would be for most of the characters to be Jedi and it would be set against the backdrop of the Sith War (so that means a crapload of Dark Jedi & Sithly types would be around for the Heroes to beat up on.
I'd probably make the characters myself at first and then we randomize who plays what. As in Daniel's game, though, I'd probably need to establish a "Main Character" or two (as in players who are 90% likely to always be there). Along with each character sheet, I'd probably include a rudimentary background, complete with any Secrets that the character possesses.
Since Daniel downloaded the latest d20 version of Star Wars for me (the Saga edition), I've looked over it and really like it and would probably use it. Since they incorporated some of the 4E elements into it, this might be a good way for us to play around with those rules.
Since I'm in school, though, work on this game will not take precedence over homework and the like, but I think that if I "borrow" elements from various games (like KOTOR, KOTOR 2, & Mass Effect), I can get a bit of work done for fairly quickly.
So, a couple of questions to the CG. Does this sound like something I should pursue?
|
|
|
Post by zenwolf on Mar 14, 2008 15:17:37 GMT -6
Definitely. I'm in. ;D
|
|
|
Post by malevoiy on Mar 14, 2008 17:57:37 GMT -6
Yeah sounds good. I'm not familiar with this time frame but it sounds fun. Im also glad everyone will be Jedi. That way there wont be power issues
|
|
|
Post by Gigermann on Mar 15, 2008 0:18:45 GMT -6
I'm in. 'Nuff said. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Magman on Mar 15, 2008 21:49:06 GMT -6
There
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 16, 2008 11:55:58 GMT -6
Apart from SQ's reaction (which I suspect will be pro), everyone has chimed in about wanting to do this so I'll presume that it's a GO. Therefore, I've renamed this Board to "Knights of the Old Republic", which is serve as the campaign name. Feel free to chime in here on neat stuff you want to see or do, types of campaign themes you'd like to address, kinds of characters that would be fun, etc. My plan is to initially create the characters myself. The players will then determine who plays what randomly - likely decided by a roll off; the player who rolls the highest chooses the character he wants to play first and so on. Once characters have been determined, the players will pick a Special Ability from a group of special abilities in the exact opposite order (thus, allowing the player who really didn't get to have a choice about PCs to pick the coolest ability first.) Any complaints with this? There will be one character in this group who is not a Jedi and is not Force-sensitive. In fact, that character will possess the Force Immunity trait which is defined below: My general plan is that the non-sensitive character will be a Spectre, who is empowered by the Senate to go anywhere and do anything in the needs of his objectives. As such, he has diplomatic immunity on all Republic planets, something that even the Jedi don't have. He will also be the commanding officer of the Hammerhead-class ship that the characters will be tooling around the galaxy in (pictured below). As such, he will be one of the Main Characters and is most definitely the character to play if one wants to be the Jack Bauer of the Galaxy Far, Far Away (GFFA).
|
|
|
Post by Gigermann on Mar 16, 2008 17:29:06 GMT -6
Anybody have a problem with the apprentice/master thing, that is, on person plays a master, the other his apprentice? I'm cool with it.
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 16, 2008 21:14:20 GMT -6
I wouldn't have a problem with it either.
A query: Is there a problem with the plan as I've laid it out (i.e., one PC isn't Force-sensitive?) Because if the entire group wants to play Jedi types, I can roll with it and readjust my "plan"...
|
|
|
Post by Mike E. on Mar 16, 2008 22:05:16 GMT -6
1st...welcome back to me... 2nd...Sure I'd play a SW game 3rd...Not a big fan of the Master/Apprentice role. It usually leads one character feeling like he has no real say in his destiny. So I'd vote no on that one.
|
|
|
Post by Gigermann on Mar 17, 2008 14:12:33 GMT -6
Ultimately, if the master/apprentice thing has a downside, it's on the part of the apprentice. Then it comes down to whether or not enough Players (such as myself) are willing to play apprentices—those playing masters would be unaffected.
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 17, 2008 16:57:31 GMT -6
The Questionnaire (‘cause you knew it was comin’…) Right, so to further make this coming campaign centered around the players, I’ve got some questions for the lot of you. I would appreciate it if each of you responded to each question individually. If you want to PM me the results, that’s cool, but please don’t presume that since I know your general playing style, I’m going to know your answers to the questions. Off to the races we go… 1. Is everyone wanting to play Jedi characters? Or is there one of you that is more interested in playing a non-Force Sensitive character? 2. I am toying with two separate methods of character creation and want your preference. Which do you prefer? - The first option entails me creating the characters and the players picking them from a pile according to random die rolls. The advantage to this is that it will require a bit of muscle stretching in your roleplaying talents as you pick up a character that you’ve not seen before and then play him accordingly.
- The second option is that I optimize the character according to each player’s preference (as indicated by various questions I’ll pose to the individual players.)
3. If you chose the second option, list the archetype that you’d like to play. Some examples are: - The Warrior. Optimized for lightsaber ass whooping. Trained skills would include Acrobatics, Initiative, & Jump.
- The Ace Pilot. Flying death behind the controls of a fighter/speeder/swoop/transport. Would be trained in Pilot (or at least have the Force Pilot talent) & Mechanics.
- The Investigator. Also known as the sneaky bastard. Trained skills would include Deception, Gather Information, & Stealth. You’re the guy that people turn to when they desperately need to find out something (ala Kenobi in Episode II).
- The Diplomat. Shut up and talk. Trained skills would include Deception & Persuasion.
- The Knight. As balanced as possible. Not great in any one area, but doesn’t suck anywhere either.
4. What sort of thematic elements do you want to participate in? Should this be an Epic Clash of Good versus Evil, wherein Good is GOOD! and Evil cackles maniacally while twirling its mustache? Or do you prefer shades of grey, where the characters will be tempted (and possibly Tainted) by the Dark Side as they are forced to make morally ambiguous decisions? What are your thoughts on playing flawed characters who find themselves struggling against a Fall to the Dark Side? Do you want to experiment with that? More questions will be posed once I have a better grasp of the party interests…
|
|
|
Post by Gigermann on Mar 17, 2008 17:46:55 GMT -6
I could go either way. #2 Jedi (or optionally, Specter) Jack Bauer. I want to be internally conflicted about having to choose between what's Good™ or what's efficient (optionally, I want the other Jedi to marvel at my "ends-justifies-the-means" methods). Moral ambiguity, hard choices, etc. "You don't get to walk away…"
|
|
|
Post by zenwolf on Mar 17, 2008 20:12:18 GMT -6
I woudn't mind playing either a force sensitive or a non force sensitive. Either method of character creation is fine with me. The Investigator, the Knight, and the Diplomat sound the most intriguing to me in more or less that order. Definitely shades of grey. I prefer playing flawed characters so I would really like to experiment with that.
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 18, 2008 8:33:54 GMT -6
So, - We've got two "Either/Or" responses in regards to the non-Force user character
- 1 Option 2 for character and 1 "Either/Or"
- 2 Shades of Gray campaign options.
Who else?
|
|
|
Post by malevoiy on Mar 19, 2008 12:05:08 GMT -6
1. I think i would prefer playing a jedi sensitive, i never have.
2. I like your idea of pregenerating characters and then having us role to see which one we get. but i would like it to be even more random. have a number designated as a character. so what the role is what we get. If two people role the same, one would reroll. and after everyone has a number. reveal which number coincides with what character.
3. I like all the archtypes so any would be fun to play
4. haha you already know my answer to this. I like epic clashes of good and evil, where good is really good and evil is really evil.
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 19, 2008 12:25:36 GMT -6
So, - We've got 2 "Either/Or" responses in regards to the non-Force user character and 1 for a Force-user.
- 1 for Option one, 1 for Option two for character, 1 "Either/Or"
- 2 Shades of Gray campaign and 1 GvE options.
|
|
|
Post by Mike E. on Mar 19, 2008 17:42:48 GMT -6
arc types are fine. it at least tells the player what his roll is.
I agree with aaron. I'd like a very good v. very evil campaign. screw shades of grey...well, sorta...han solo is still cool, even though he hasn't been born yet...and obi wan did a few shady things in his time, which is still in the future...oh well...maybe I should play someone who sees the future...but then again, always cloudy is the future...always in motion...............maybe not.
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 19, 2008 17:57:54 GMT -6
Based on that, I'm presuming that your responses are Force-User, Option 2, and GvE, leaving me with: - We've got 2 "Either/Or" responses in regards to the non-Force user character and 2 for a Force-user.
- 1 for Option one, 2 for Option two for character, 1 "Either/Or"
- 2 Shades of Gray campaign and 2 GvE options.
I suspect that the thematic elements of the campaign will end up being a combination of the two, with the Evil guys being unredeemably Evil (with a Capital E and a maniacal cackle), but with the players faced with many shades of gray.
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 20, 2008 22:07:27 GMT -6
I like your idea of pregenerating characters and then having us role to see which one we get. but i would like it to be even more random. have a number designated as a character. so what the role is what we get. If two people role the same, one would reroll. and after everyone has a number. reveal which number coincides with what character. That sounds ... interesting, I suppose. Ultimately, it will be up to the players as to how we determine the randomness of character assignment. Once "Magman" posts his comments/thoughts/whatever, I'm contemplating posting some additional remarks & concepts about the intended characters (specifically some elements of their history or something) and the decision of how the characters are assigned will then be turned over to the players. If, for example, Daniel really wants to play the Spectre PC and you really want to play the Knight, and SQ really wants the Pilot, and Josh really wants the Investigator, and McN just wants to bash people with a lightsaber and kick ass with the Force, I'd have no problem with everyone deciding to take over those characters without even "randomly" determining that. On the flip side, if everyone wants to literally roll off for the characters one day, I'm okay with that too. Currently, I'm presuming 5 players, with the following Archetypes involved: - Atton Rand, the "Investigator"
- Tyris Quinn, the "Pilot"
- Ulric Mordana, the "Knight"
- Warden Hsieh, the "Warrior"
- Raelin Fett, the "Spectre" (non-Force user)
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 21, 2008 13:19:02 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Gigermann on Mar 21, 2008 13:32:39 GMT -6
Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon…the test isn't particularly conclusive, I think.
|
|
|
Post by malevoiy on Mar 21, 2008 15:08:19 GMT -6
Im 38% Anakin 23% obi wan Kenobi 23%Qui-Gon Jin 15% Yoda
Haha im really all over the place
|
|
|
Post by Magman on Mar 22, 2008 22:11:56 GMT -6
GvE Any but spectre
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 22, 2008 22:32:56 GMT -6
Thanks, Monkey Boy. (I am still digging that avatar, by the way.) Based on the way the votes are tallied, most players seem interested in a GvE type of game so I'm going to focus on that. There will likely still be some moral ambiguity in there, but that doesn't mean I'm likely to focus on it too much (except, perhaps, for G-mann and Zenwolf). Since Malevoiy and Magman have expressed a disinterest in playing the Spectre, that leads me to my next question. How would the party like to go about assigning the characters? I would hate for it to be random and either of them get "stuck" with the one character they're uninterested in playing... Still, I'd like it to be random in some fashion. I was thinking that we could do that online, with the players rolling a d20 at home (or wherever) and stating what they rolled in a post. I think we can all agree to be honest. Then, whomever rolled the highest gets first pick from the characters, with the next highest picking second, and so on. Which leads me to the next question. I've pretty much done the characters (barring any optimization of them at a player's request), so should I post them initially or would you prefer to just select the Archetype and I PM you the initial character? I actually prefer the latter option, as the player & I can discreetly work out any perceived bugs in the character or the character's history without everyone knowing what the others are capable of. Anyway, once the characters are assigned, the Jedi characters will select (in reverse order from the previous random role for character assignment) a Special Ability from a group of four. (The Spectre PC already has a Special Ability incorporated into his character). So ... thoughts?
|
|
|
Post by zenwolf on Mar 25, 2008 20:36:50 GMT -6
I rolled a 15 if we are doing the assign by random roll.
I also prefer just getting pm'ed the initial character.
|
|
|
Post by Mike E. on Mar 28, 2008 14:56:48 GMT -6
hey, I'm up for random, but anythingwill really work.
and I would like to see the character before we start to play.
|
|
|
Post by Gigermann on Mar 28, 2008 23:44:55 GMT -6
I would like to play either the Spectre or the Investigator. I don't need to see the stats first. Of course, if the majority would rather determine entirely randomly, I'll play along without complaint.
|
|
|
Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 29, 2008 15:44:29 GMT -6
So, it's basically two and a half randoms (since G-mann's amounts to a half vote) and three for Use Archetypes & GM PM stats to players. Now, I just need the other two slackers to chime in with their half-assed opinions.
|
|
|
Post by malevoiy on Mar 29, 2008 21:44:39 GMT -6
I still like the random rolls for characters. I like if you would pm the character after we pick the arch type
|
|
|
Post by Magman on Mar 29, 2008 22:43:51 GMT -6
hey, I'm up for random, but anything will really work. and I would like to see the character before we start to play. G-man counts as only a half vote
|
|