Okay, I’ve missed two posts over on the Free RPG Blog, so I want to post links to them now. Mr. Lang has been my inspiration since the start of this project, and I do like to give the credit where it’s due.

Fallout: The RPG. Designed with Interplay’s blessing, this game is the definitive Fallout RPG. For those of you that don’t know, the game was originally going to run on GURPS, but thanks to disagreements between Interplay and SJG, they had to implement their own system: SPECIAL. Jason Mical redesigned it yet again, and the game is now here. Remember. GURPS has who knows how many books out, but Fallout has three games and some download packs. Which is the well-known name?

Adventure Squad. A seven-page system revolving around die sizes – the larger the better. Seems easy enough.

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Alright, everyone. We’ve looked at reading like a GM in novels, and in Text-based roleplaying. So what could possibly be left behind?
Find out by clicking here!

Well, I just found something very fun on the Internet. On DriveThruRPG, there was a Pantheon Generator for free download. It was created by a group called Chaotic Shiny Studios. These generators include things like the aforementioned Pantheon Generator, a Crowd generator, even (humorously to my mind) a Zombie generator. I suggest you all go check them out!
But wait, there’s more!

So, for those that haven’t seen Instant Game yet, I’ve even had a comment from one of its two creators, the brothers in charge of Animalball Games. On their frontpage, they state:

“Many moons ago, Animalball dreamed of making really cool games and then selling them as pdfs. Then reality cracked us over the head and explained that you can’t make money selling pdfs. So now we just make really cool games and let people download them for free. Enjoy.”

I ask that everyone download it.

But, I was hoping to make something relatively “new”, at least for me. As often as I can, perhaps once a month or so, I want to put up an “Instant Challenge” – that is, develop a story using items rolled from Instant Game. The more you can create, the better. I don’t know what I’d award for stuff. Or if there would be a “winner” as such.

Instant Challenge, February 2010

Instant Setting:
Setting: Microworld
Tone: Parable/Moralistic
Things: Atomic Monster (Historic)
Things: Alien (Fortunate)

Instant Story:
Opposition: Traitor
Action + Thing: Hunt + Computers (Clear)
Action + Other Thing: Win + Religious Fanatics (Giant)

So tell me, what comes up in your mind?

UPDATE: Sorry, HTML and I got into an argument. It is fixed now.

Last week I quickly discussed how to read novels like a GM, i.e. what to pull from them. I will admit freely – this post is late, and will be far later than is comfortable for me. But I’m going to go over that which actually inspired this series.

Text-Based Roleplaying
Some of you may look down on those of us who supplement our tabletop gaming with online, freeform roleplaying. That in itself is something to be discussed, but I will accept that the two skillsets are complementary but distinct. But either way, each game has its own character sheet, just as with a tabletop game. Most of the time, these require histories – ranging from drastically short to overly long. So what can we take from this?

These players hand you backstories. Think about that, then look back at AD&D, and another topic I’ve discussed, Robin’s “Laws”. Most of what you will see there are the kind of player who are involved for the ‘kick’ of beating enemies. But to be able to transition from that to players with an emotional investment in their character as an individual is a great thing.

Look for ideas like:

• Relations (great for kidnappings and/or murders)
• Family Heirlooms (Awesome things to destroy or steal)
• Vanity (Consider having them outclassed, or caught in a fight and have their “beauty” destroyed)
• Past loved ones (They just handed you a villain on a silver platter)
• And lastly, Childhood Friends – these have great potential.

As with the last one, this is a short list of pointers. I’ll see you next week.

I admit it – I roleplay on various fora online, as well as around a table. I’ve got three different types of material that I have been reading, where I’ve been noticing that I truly do read like a GM. I wonder if you do too.
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Alright, this follows directly from a comment made on my 1/13 post, which was in response to rereading Robin’s Laws and This post on Misterecho’s “Blog of a New RPGer”.
That comment and a lot more under this link!

Alright, I finally got to play Warhammer Fantasy 3rd edition. The GM was awesome. The party is great (though I will admit, I came on a bit strong and they think I’m evil – but that’s cool). I can’t say anything negative about the people involved, or the way the story has evolved. But the mechanical system of the game, I don’t particularly like. I’ll elaborate on why under the more tag.
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Hey, any of you all out there like Cyberpunk? Well, over on new2rpg http://new2rpg.wordpress.com/ and the 1KM1KT forum, Misterecho is running a Cyberpunk revival contest. I suggest you all get involved, if you can.
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This is sort of a random post, I’ll admit it. But I am joining a game this weekend, and since I know I have some people out there who pay attention to me, I’d like to know other people’s opinions on a subject that’s drawn some interest.
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