#RPGaDay 21: Funniest misinterpretation of a rule in your group

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 21, what is the funniest misinterpretation of a rule in your group?
Aser – We used to think you could fire two full auto bursts in one round while playing Warhammer: no wonder combats were so short… 😛
John D. – I can’t think of a recent one; I did initially misunderstand the likelihood of overheat and proper utilization of a plasma rifle to my detriment.
Jonn P. – In one of my gaming groups, the DM told a player to roll a “survival” check to see if they would “survive” after being poisoned.
Megan – My favorite was when we let a shotgun impale in our first Call of Cthulhu game. It really worked out in my favor.
Mike G. – Using Time Stop within a Time Stop. I mean, really?
Patrick – Not really a rule slip up but we had a GM who mistook the words ‘Granite’ for ‘Garnet’ and ‘Sconces’ for ‘Scones’. We crawled through the Tomb of the Flamboyantly Gay Baker, decorated with garnet scone lined walls and garnet doors. We joked about just taking the doors off their hinges and retiring without completing the adventure.

#RPGaDay 20: Most challenging but rewarding system have you learned

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 20, what is the most challenging but rewarding system have you learned?
Aser – I think the most challenging but rewarding system I’ve ever learned has to be Eclipse Phase. That game has so many moving parts and combat is so involved, but at the same time, it’s so dynamic and can be so incredibly devastating. There’s a lot of math but sometimes you just have these moments where everything clicks and you take out the bad guy with a perfect kill shot.
John D. – I haven’t really learned any new systems this year; first time playing Warhammer 40K and Only War is a good intro to more complex systems like Dark Heresy.
Jonn P. – I have never played a challenging system that I found rewarding. That said, I’m about to play GURPS for the first time so my opinion could change shortly.
Landan – I will say Cypher System for now.
Megan – Better Angels. There are so many things to track it can get a bit overwhelming.
Mike G. – Burning Wheel. It is very crunch, but I like a lot of the different system components, like character advancement, and how it helps move the story along.
Patrick – It is a toss up between Better Angels and Silver Age Sentinels.
Phil – Firefly RPG.

#RPGaDay 19: Best way to learn a new game

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 19, what is the best way to learn a new game?
Aser – I think the easiest way is to play it with someone who knows what they’re doing and can explain any ambiguities in the rules that you encounter along the way. It might be a bit self-centered, but actual play podcasts like The Redacted FIles would be a good way to go too.
John D. – A free QuickStart with pregens and scenarios, best if the GM is at least passing familiar with the basic premise and a few good actual play podcasts to listen to (plug plug.)
Jonn P. – First, have the desire to play the game, Second, read the game book.
Landan – Just play it with someone that is familiar with the system and willing to teach. If you want to play any of the systems you have heard on TRF and are not sure how feel free to chat with Aser, Megan, or pretty much any of us and we will try and help you out in some way.
Megan – I like listening to AP podcasts to get an idea for the rules. But for me the easiest way to learn is to play!
Mike G. – Play it! The rules come together into something that makes sense only with their application.
Patrick – Dive in headfirst and just play. If it has a complex character generation, get together with another player or ask the DM to run a character building session beforehand.
Phil – RTFM then play. But the play is more important.

#RPGaDay 18: What innovation could RPG groups benefit most from

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 18, what innovation could RPG groups benefit most from?
Aser – I think RPG groups could definitely benefit from improvements to telepresence technologies, to bridge the gap between online and tabletop gaming. I love gaming with the TRF crew, but I’m sure many wish they had a more interactive or immersive way of communicating with their friends while they play.
John D. – I think the advent of technology like Roll20 and app- or tablet- driven play is amazing even though I am old school. It really aids online play which itself is a major innovation that has helped the rpg boom… I think immersion in AR/VR to include all five senses is the next leap forward (especially if it’s designed to be accessible to disabled gamers or emulate their experiences for abled players.)
Jonn P. – This is an interesting question, at this point the things I believe would benefit groups have been around for too long to be called innovation. A social contract, verbal or written, is really important for forming new groups or recruiting for established groups.
Megan – I’m not the most innovative, but I’d love for online play to get a lot easier to manage. Roll20 is amazing, but it can be a little cumbersome.
Mike G. – Anything that makes the GM’s life easier and provides quicker interactions with players. Maybe a shared virtual tabletop/library/character depository that is affordable? Although I think those are out there now.
Patrick – I’d REALLY love to see some full immersion VR system where the DM has complete control over the landscape and such. For a great example, read the book Killobyte by Piers Anthony. think of a massive MMO world but only the players are the only active people.
Phil – Tablet (iPad) character sheets built for the specific game that handle everything, including rolling, and communicate with a GM app to make their tasks easier.

#RPGaDay 17: What fictional character would best fit in your group?

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 17, what fictional character would best fit in your group?
Aser – I think Homer Simpson would work well. We’re a well meaning bunch, but our track record has at times been somewhat shaky.
John D. – Randolph Carter, Peter Parker and Evie Carnahan (from ‘The Mummy’) – smart but with a sense of humor.
Jonn P. – I couldn’t narrow it down to one. Indiana Jones, Scheherazade, One Thousand and One Nights, Sophie Devereaux from the TV show Leverage, and any character Morgan Freeman has played—ever.
Landan – Doctor Strange no reason other than I am hyped about that movie and he is my favorite Marvel Hero.
Megan – Everyone has better answers then me! I bet we can get Ben from Parks and Rec to play with us. He has the funny nerd thing we go for here down. He has to be dressed as Batman though.
Mike G. – I worry about this sometimes. Because I think most of them would have titles like “Destroyer of Worlds”, “Dark Lord”, or “Devourer of Souls”.
Patrick – Waldo Butters (The Dresden Files). I think that with the exception of myself that all the folks in my group are highly educated with only the slightest amount of mental quirks. Yeah, He’d fit right in.
Phil – Shaun (of the Dead).

#RPGaDay 16: Historical person you’d like in your group? What game?

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 16, who is a historical person you’d like in your group? What game?
Aser – As a character, I’ve always wanted to have something with Nicola Tesla in it: think of all the destruction that would ensue… As a player, I’d want Machiavelli, for the same reasons as the preceding.
John D. – I think H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard would be a lot of fun; probably Call of Cthulhu and Conan respectively but it would be neat to see them play Numenera or The Strange.
If they are busy, a Fiasco or Fear Itself with Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Vincent Price.
Landan – Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Leonardo DaVinci, Marie and Pierre Curie. As far as the System I would love to listen to them play something in Numenera setting.
Megan – Maybe CS Lewis? Or Madeleine L’Engle? They were the greatest influence on my love of fantasy as a child. I’d like to play Numenera or the Strange with L’Engle and probably Numenera with Lewis as well.
Mike G. – Mark Twain. Literally anything he’ll GM.
Patrick – Robin Williams, Vampire the Masquerade. I’d love to see him play some elder vampire or other spook.
Phil – Groucho Marx, Paranoia.

#RPGaDay 15: Your best source of inspiration for RPGs

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 15, what is your best source of inspiration for RPGs?
Aser – I think my favorite source of inspiration is history, not so much duplicating a specific event but giving expression to that unpredictable fluidity of real life events that could elevate a single, otherwise insignificant act into the pivot around which all bends or breaks.
John D. – The rulebooks and scenarios themselves, horror and science fiction and movies, shows like ‘Mysteries of the Museum’ and ‘Forbidden History’ and music especially the worlds and images of Black Metal.
Jonn P. – I’m weird about my sources of inspiration, like using mind maps of two or more completely different concepts to look for ways to fit them together into something interesting.
Landan – Movies, Music, Taxonomical Nomenclature, Old Myths, etc.
Megan – A lot of my games have a particular piece of media as inspiration. Some are blatant, like when I ran a game based on The Wickerman. Some less so, like the Delta Green scenario Aser and I wrote based on “Hotel California”. Usually I lock on a single idea, like fear of plants or a monster, to come up with a scenario for a one shot.
Mike G. – Random thoughts that got jotted down at weird moments.
Patrick – My dreams, they are pretty graphic but the plots are solid and it helps to channel my chronic nightmares into creative things. Oh and the up-teen hundred movies and books I’ve read/watched.
Phil – The real world? Fiction? The Internet?

#RPGaDay 14: Your dream team of people you used to game with?

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 14, what is your dream team of people you used to game with?
Aser – I think that would be Michael Lane from those first PX Poker Night a adventures, Ashleigh Shadowbrook And Shaunna from Mysteries of the Ninth World, and Brian Wille from Beyond the Threshold, good people all.
John D. – I can’t imagine a better crew than the @Trfpodcast cast; in person around a table with physical dice would be the only way to better the experience.
I can’t imagine a better crew than the @Trfpodcast cast; in person around a table with physical dice would be the only way to better the experience.
Jonn P. – I don’t really have a dream team. I have had a lot of fun gaming with a lot of different people.
Landan – I still game with them and any other I just haven’t had the schedule flexibility to do so.
Megan – I think I still play with everyone I’ve gamed with, except my original group, half of which don’t play anymore, and the other half turned out to be assholes I don’t speak to. So I just have to keep everyone on TRF playing with us!
Mike G. – I had a group in college, all either part of our associated with my fraternity. They were a great group, all with preferred character types that fit well together, and interesting ways of compelling story. We played a lot (at least every week if not more frequently), but real life has made most of us move apart.
Patrick – Chase, John, Chevon, Ben and Nick. All up in the Skagit Valley from the early 2000’s.
Phil – I’d just add David Moore my best friend from around high school era – he’s a fiction editor or agent in the UK now but has a great creative mind and excellent acting skills.

#RPGaDay 13: What makes a successful campaign?

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 13, what makes a successful campaign?
Aser – A successful campaign comes from a good story that works for the players and the characters they’ve created. The simple things are always simple: the simple things, hard. 😛
John D. – The right game system, a good hook, a solid start with a strong plan for adventures down the road yet ability to follow the path the players take, and a committed yet flexible group. For us shorter campaigns or story arcs work best, with the possibility of returning to some of our characters again.
Jonn P.  – Probably my work life bleeding in here, but running a successful campaign has quite a few similarities with managing a successful project. The initiation phase or session zero, can make or breaks the campaign. These days, I dedicate few minute to the discussion of the issue during session zero that I would have spent multiple sessions trying to resolve back when I made my first attempts at to GM.
Landan – Cooperation amongst players and GM.
Megan – Buy in from everyone. When players or the GM stop being invested it becomes hard for everyone to stay motivated and involved.
Mike G. – A cohesive group and GM who are willing to focus on challenges and fun rather than rules.
Patrick – When everyone is invested in the characters and the adventure. It may not always be sunshine and roses but there is genuine care about the campaign.
Phil – Willingness to endure – it is hard to meet week after week for a long campaign that lasts months. I guess it comes down to the GM who has to work around players being there or not, making dumb choices, building useless characters, etc. Tough job!

#RPGaDay 12: What game is your group most likely to play next? Why?

RPG a Day 2016 image

Each year we celebrate Autocratik’s #RPGaDay, where we spend a month celebrating RPGs, discussing what we love and what we love about them. Here are the responses of the TRF crew. Be sure to tweet, blog, or post your own with the #RPGaDay!

For August 12, what game is your group most likely to play next? Why?

Aser – We’re going to play Delta Green, because we need to pay homage to the thing that brought TRF to life in the first place. Plus, it’s freaking cool.
John D. – (More) Delta Green as it is the reason TRF began actual play; I think Esoterrorists soon; we love horror, Lovecraftian themes, and the GUMSHOE engine.
I will be running some Eclipse Phase since I got Aser and Megan to try the system and they actually enjoyed it plus a few other members want in – the possibilities for settings and roleplay are almost unlimited!
I hope to start a Conan game soon, too.
Landan – Unless something changes at least with the TRF group I play with I think we are doing 7th Sea. The reason why is Patrick loves the system a lot and it will give Megan a break from GMing and a chance to play.
Megan – We have a lot of campaigns wrapping up. We’re looking at starting Delta Green, Numenera, Esoterrorists, Eclipse Phase, 13th Age, and 7th Sea over the next few months. Some of them because they’re systems we know and love, the others because we want to try something new!
Mike G. – Apocalypse World 2.0. This is a favorite of several players and we played 1st edition with delight.
Patrick – I’d say either The Dresden Files or 7th Sea.
Phil – Delta Green or Eclipse Phase. Because I want them both? 😀