Search found 42 matches

by Magnus
Sat Aug 27, 2011 12:01 am
Forum: Philosophy & Theology
Topic: Messing with Mormon Missionaries
Replies: 0
Views: 1354

Messing with Mormon Missionaries

A couple years back, I bought myself a copy of The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster with the goal of using it to mess with door to door missionaries. After moving into a detached home I finally got my chance when I overheard my wife about to send away some missionaries. “Wait, I’ll talk to...
by Magnus
Tue Aug 09, 2011 11:58 am
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Law and Chaos, D&D discussion.
Replies: 6
Views: 2245

I'm...not entirely sure what your objection is. Allow me to clarify further. A warlord's word is final. Only a lawful warlord's word is final. All warlords make threats; but only a lawful warlord can be counted on to follow through. Similarly, all warlords make promises; but what value is a promise...
by Magnus
Sat Aug 06, 2011 10:26 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Law and Chaos, D&D discussion.
Replies: 6
Views: 2245

... A chaotic leader, however, can very well put constraints on their followers. "Do what I say or die" is one hell of a constraint, and pretty common for most warlords, and they pretty much tend to epitomize a chaotic leader. I distinguish between a genuine constraint and intimidation (i.e. charis...
by Magnus
Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:12 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Law and Chaos, D&D discussion.
Replies: 6
Views: 2245

What is lawfulness?

IMO, Lawfulness is voluntary obedience to predetermined hierarchy of constraining authorities. The hierarchy of authorities must be predetermined so that when authorities conflict, the choice of authorities cannot be left to whimsy. The authorities may include a god, a pointiff, a king, a set of law...
by Magnus
Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:39 am
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: What Makes a Good Gamer?
Replies: 6
Views: 2007

3. Watches for and follows plot hooks. Oof, this one is tough. On the one hand, yes, paying attention to plot hooks can be a good thing, but it can also be a really, really bad thing. A tabletop RPG is a game of give and take between the players and the GM. It's not just the GM coming up with missi...
by Magnus
Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:47 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: What Makes a Good Gamer?
Replies: 6
Views: 2007

As with people, there are several qualities that gamers can have, all of which, when taken to one extreme or the other, can result in bad gamers. Agreed, there are many ways to be a bad gamer. But the question asked was what makes a good gamer. A good gamer: 1. Creates a character concept that is a...
by Magnus
Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:28 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: My Experience of Warhammer Third Edition
Replies: 1
Views: 1191

System did grow on me some. I liked the critical wound system, which can affect your player, even on the first hit. One of the other players had some bad luck with that... i.e. he wasn't close to dying, but keeps getting critical hits to the leg that slow him down. It seems a more realistic touch; o...
by Magnus
Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:38 pm
Forum: Gaming & Technology
Topic: EVE Online (51 days of free play)
Replies: 0
Views: 786

EVE Online (51 days of free play)

I've been playing EVE online since it first came out eight years ago. They've recently added planetary interaction and made it accessible to new players. If anyone is interested in giving it a try, send me an email to brahminator (at) gmail dot com and I'll send you a trial with an extra 7 days (tot...
by Magnus
Mon May 17, 2010 1:32 am
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Working on an RPG Rules Set
Replies: 21
Views: 5971

Re: Working on an RPG Rules Set

You're the one asking for comments on your RPG Rules set ideas. I suggested you scrap social game mechanics and run things purely off of role playing since that's what you do anyways. I do think a better approach would combine some element of chance and role playing, and I've made the argument based...
by Magnus
Sun May 16, 2010 6:33 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Working on an RPG Rules Set
Replies: 21
Views: 5971

Re: Working on an RPG Rules Set

Cynical Cat wrote: No, you can't prove mine wrong because I don't even remember them.
Being forgetful doesn't protect you from being proven wrong. If you could remember being wrong, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
by Magnus
Sat May 15, 2010 7:01 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Working on an RPG Rules Set
Replies: 21
Views: 5971

Re: Working on an RPG Rules Set

I can't prove that my calculations were correct, but I can prove that your calculations were wrong: 1. The smith first offered to repair your items for 1/2 base price. 2. When this upset you, he offered to buy the broken items for 1/4 of base price. 3. If your calculations had been correct and mine ...
by Magnus
Sat May 15, 2010 12:16 am
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Working on an RPG Rules Set
Replies: 21
Views: 5971

Re: Working on an RPG Rules Set

That's not what happened. We argued price first. You charged a price that was by my calculations, totally ridiculous and way off the appropriate price. When the situation was revisited more than a year later you claim that I was using the wrong formula, which is quite possible. It's also quite poss...
by Magnus
Fri May 14, 2010 9:10 am
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Working on an RPG Rules Set
Replies: 21
Views: 5971

Re: Working on an RPG Rules Set

You also do the same in your campaigns, you never once asked for checks that could have affected social situations and my character has a good diplomacy score. The situation with the blacksmith and especially the Dragon could have gone way better if you had me make those checks. You've forgotten th...
by Magnus
Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:07 am
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: My Experience of Warhammer Third Edition
Replies: 1
Views: 1191

My Experience of Warhammer Third Edition

I played third edition Warhammer for the first time this Saturday. I'll write my thoughts here: First thing I noticed is that the game looks more like a boardgame than a traditional RPG book. There are cards for classes, actions, talents all packed in a box about the size of Descent board game. Char...
by Magnus
Thu Jan 28, 2010 8:37 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Working on an RPG Rules Set
Replies: 21
Views: 5971

Re: Working on an RPG Rules Set

Charisma Intrigue Leadership Negotiation Don't include social stats simply because every other game system includes them. Make a game system that reflects your style. As a GM, you almost never call for skill checks in social situations, with the occasional exception of gather information and intimi...
by Magnus
Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:47 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Anyone played official version of Pathfinder?
Replies: 25
Views: 8958

Cynical Cat wrote: Since your DM is me, let me come out and say Pathfinder isn't going to do it. Black Company and Arcana Evolved are about as close to 3.5 as I care to go.
Well I guess that settles that!
by Magnus
Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:54 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Anyone played official version of Pathfinder?
Replies: 25
Views: 8958

But why keep 3.5 alive? If you liked it you like it, rock out to Saga or D&D or generic D20. Why get pretentious as Pathfinder has, and try and hock house rules and some homebrewed things into a new business? Oh right. Money money money. 3.5's issues(Which, every one of them unresolved in Pathfinde...
by Magnus
Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:43 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Anyone played official version of Pathfinder?
Replies: 25
Views: 8958

Stofsk wrote:What problems do you think are key or major in 3.5 hotfoot?

I'd like to keep this thread focused on Pathfinder.

We're all well aware of D&D 3.5 flaws.
by Magnus
Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:45 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Anyone played official version of Pathfinder?
Replies: 25
Views: 8958

Hotfoot, All of your complaints relate to the original D&D system generally. Anything specific to Pathfinder? Oh, and I think Pathfinder did fix combat manuevers like grapple, by giving them a single mechanic for all combat maneuvers. Every character has a Combat Manuever Bonus (CMB) and a Combat Ma...
by Magnus
Wed Dec 30, 2009 12:27 am
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Anyone played official version of Pathfinder?
Replies: 25
Views: 8958

Anyone played official version of Pathfinder?

I noticed that Pathfinder has come out with an official hardcopy version. Generally, I liked what I read; keeps 3.5 alive for people who didn't enjoy 4.0, but as always the proof is in the pudding. Has anyone played the official version? Here the 10 things I saw that I liked (in no particular order)...
by Magnus
Fri Dec 25, 2009 1:35 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Wrath of the Fallen (D&D or Arcana Evolved Campaign)
Replies: 56
Views: 15039

Cynical Cat wrote:Both work.
lets do Sunday night then.

Tannock is in Florida, O'dor has family visiting all week. Dana has not yet replied to my text.
by Magnus
Thu Dec 24, 2009 10:22 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Wrath of the Fallen (D&D or Arcana Evolved Campaign)
Replies: 56
Views: 15039

Boxing Day Gaming

Julian, I hear that one Steve is a NO for Boxing Day gaming; the other Steve and myself are both unlikely to show. Monday is a stat. holiday so I suggest gaming on Sunday evening or Monday daytime. Chris says he can do either if you can. Do either work and if so, what's your preference? I'll call Da...
by Magnus
Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:41 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Black Company
Replies: 3
Views: 1193

I hope you're not already losing interest in running the orc campaign. We've barely gotten into it.
by Magnus
Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:21 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Wrath of the Fallen (D&D or Arcana Evolved Campaign)
Replies: 56
Views: 15039

If Orc females die before their last few litters mature, what happens to the orphaned litters? Fuel for the pyre? Don't be silly. The kids are valuable, even if only as slaves. There's also blood ties. If your badass warrior brother croaks it, raising his sons (and selling off his daughters) is wor...
by Magnus
Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:40 pm
Forum: Out of Character
Topic: Wrath of the Fallen (D&D or Arcana Evolved Campaign)
Replies: 56
Views: 15039

Orcs marry? What happens to widows?

If Orc females die before their last few litters mature, what happens to the orphaned litters? Fuel for the pyre?