Been a while. Time to start up a game again. What I'm reading right now, And planing to run is palladium. I'm really digging palladium fantasy. I ran Rifts for a few years back in the day. Really liked the system. I really didn't run it for the right group back then. Instead of running it for my close friends I could trust I ran it open with any one and every one who showed up at the shop/club he hung out at.
A game like Rifts is not the most balanced of games. By that I mean not all the classes are equal in power. Now imagine the group you are running for is a large group made up of more than one group of friends. Who are not really friends with each other.At some point the group splits into two cliques and turn on each other.
Up to this point the game was a lot of fun. And I ran things very loose with very little restrictions. Allowing players to play anything they wanted. So after almost two years of running Rifts (as well as some TMNT, Robotech and Heroes unlimited.) we had all out PC vs PC war.
After a few weeks of the fighting and infighting out of game I had enough of it. I traded in all the books for shadowrun (which was my other game at the time.)
This lead me to two conclusions. One I thought every game needed to be balanced. Thinking characters being some how balanced in power would curb character on character violence.
Second I realized I didn't have time for dealing with people I didn't enjoy running games for. From that point on I didn't run games in clubs or shops for just any one but only for close friends and family.
Now I realize that all I really needed was number two. If I run for just people I can trust my games don't need character balance.
I'm really looking forward to giving Palladium system another shot. And giving my players a lot of freedom and seeing where they take it.
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Sunday, February 19, 2012
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Templar in the middle lands. (C&C)
Templar in the middle lands are both hated and admired just depending on who you are. After the battle with Arizun empire to the south the Templar returned from battle with great wealth and power. What most people did not know is that a lot of that wealth was funneled back to the masters of the order over the many years of the southern wars. Allowing the masters of the order to acquire great power in the central church. When the Templar returned from the wars they amassed great power in the land as well. Many of the Templar were the second and third sons of the nobility. gaining enough power to place their grand master at the head of the central church.
The moment Grandmaster Aurtorus Labastion became the Archbishop of the central church sweeping changes were put into effect. First an alliance was made with the Cathaen nobility, Buying a huge chunk of land from them to become the new home of the church. All of the elders of the Templar order were promoted and placed over the many other orders with in the central church. The Temple castle was built to house the new head of the church.
Depending on who you ask in the Cathaen nobility this close associations with the Templar is a curse or a boon. Twice the church has put down rebellions against the Cathaen crown. And once supported a rebellion against it.
The new Order of the temple knight are all over the middle lands. They server the temple first. And worshipers at the temple. And second the church. While all kingdoms of the middle lands have churches of the central church. The power of the church in those lands vary greatly from kingdom to kingdom.
The new Order of the temple knight are all over the middle lands. They server the temple first. And worshipers at the temple. And second the church. While all kingdoms of the middle lands have churches of the central church. The power of the church in those lands vary greatly from kingdom to kingdom.
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As player characters Templar are are most often knights by class. About one in one hundred are of the order of paladins. Paladins are the elite warrior monks of the Templar order. But a representative of the Order could be of any class. In the east there is Templar supported band of rangers who's leader is charged by the order to keep the wild lands from spilling into the middle lands.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Palladium system is old school part. 2
What are some of the things about Palladium system that I contribute to it being old school or even just old school flavor?
Palladium doesn't not have a rule for every possible action by a player. That is up to the GM to come up with.
Maybe this is not to your taste and you like more rules. But palladium is what it is.
Palladium uses alignment, Its not the good/evil, Law/chaos axis from AD&D. But its not so removed any D&D player cant find a parallel to D&D.
Palladium has hit point. Sure it also has structural points, no matter how you split it thought its hit points.
Palladium has saving throws. while all editions of D&D have saving throws. Palladium's saving throws are way closer to AD&D saves than 3E saves, that is old school flavor to me.
Palladium's system is not obsessed with balance is classes. While this is a turn off to some. I think its great. For a good group it just fine. For a bad group you can always restrict what you don't want. As a GM I would rather have the freedom to choose than have the design of the game choose what is acceptable for a player character. To me this is also old school.
I could go on and on. But the funny thing is I don't think any one else thinks of Palladium as an old school system. Because its still in print. Still the same old system. There is no new palladium system, so I cant go to the forums of the new game and post about how the new edition raped my child hood. There is no out of print edition for me to retro clone.
Can a game be old school if it has not weathered at least one edition war? do you think an in print game be old school?
Palladium doesn't not have a rule for every possible action by a player. That is up to the GM to come up with.
Maybe this is not to your taste and you like more rules. But palladium is what it is.
Palladium uses alignment, Its not the good/evil, Law/chaos axis from AD&D. But its not so removed any D&D player cant find a parallel to D&D.
Palladium has hit point. Sure it also has structural points, no matter how you split it thought its hit points.
Palladium has saving throws. while all editions of D&D have saving throws. Palladium's saving throws are way closer to AD&D saves than 3E saves, that is old school flavor to me.
Palladium's system is not obsessed with balance is classes. While this is a turn off to some. I think its great. For a good group it just fine. For a bad group you can always restrict what you don't want. As a GM I would rather have the freedom to choose than have the design of the game choose what is acceptable for a player character. To me this is also old school.
I could go on and on. But the funny thing is I don't think any one else thinks of Palladium as an old school system. Because its still in print. Still the same old system. There is no new palladium system, so I cant go to the forums of the new game and post about how the new edition raped my child hood. There is no out of print edition for me to retro clone.
Can a game be old school if it has not weathered at least one edition war? do you think an in print game be old school?
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Palladium system is old school
I was flipping through stars with out numbers and it got me thinking. With so many new nostalgia and retro clones games being written and played based on older edition of D&D and AD&D. This is an excellent time for palladium books to make a resurgence. After all it started as a set of house rules to expand and customize 1e AD&D.
Despite all the internet rumblings about Palladium books, they really have put out a lot of really fun products in the last few years. System failure, Chaos earth, and Splicers, just to name a few.
Despite being known for power gaming paradise the whole character creation processes really is story driven. With a lot of work going into characters background and info.
Palladium system has been in print in one form or another since '83. Very few old school games have gone so long and still using the same system. While some don't like that fact and feel it needs to be updated. Personally I think its great that I just picked up 11 palladium books and as I started flipping through them I'm looking at the exact game I used to run near 15 years ago. Does it get more nostalgia than that.
It also seems that Palladium books made a recovery from almost going under back in 2005 and was only saved because of its fans. Which is a testament in and of its self as to its fan base. Palladium was at Gen Con this year, first time in a long time. Palladium books is back on track reprinting a lot of its older books and bringing out not just new products but also its in house magazine "The Rifter". Seems Palladium is making its way back on to the gaming market. Maybe its not as big as it once was, But to its fans its a company worth sticking with and fighting for.
Despite all the internet rumblings about Palladium books, they really have put out a lot of really fun products in the last few years. System failure, Chaos earth, and Splicers, just to name a few.
Despite being known for power gaming paradise the whole character creation processes really is story driven. With a lot of work going into characters background and info.
Palladium system has been in print in one form or another since '83. Very few old school games have gone so long and still using the same system. While some don't like that fact and feel it needs to be updated. Personally I think its great that I just picked up 11 palladium books and as I started flipping through them I'm looking at the exact game I used to run near 15 years ago. Does it get more nostalgia than that.
It also seems that Palladium books made a recovery from almost going under back in 2005 and was only saved because of its fans. Which is a testament in and of its self as to its fan base. Palladium was at Gen Con this year, first time in a long time. Palladium books is back on track reprinting a lot of its older books and bringing out not just new products but also its in house magazine "The Rifter". Seems Palladium is making its way back on to the gaming market. Maybe its not as big as it once was, But to its fans its a company worth sticking with and fighting for.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Balence of classes in Rifts.
I think one of the big complaints in Rifts is that the OCCs/RCCs are not balanced to each other. While I don't see this as a huge problem myself I guess I can understand how some people look at it. As the GM I usually let the players know what kind of game I'm about to run. I don't feel bad one bit restricting an OOC or RCC if I feel its not with in the power level of the game I want to run. You dont have to allow it just because its in the book.
As a matter of a fact I've been thinking about running a street level game set in chi town. With all street level characters. Imagine a group of bounty hunters ducking coalition patrols. Taking on clandestine missions for one group or another.
I recently picked up chaos earth. Its basically the prequel to Rifts. Set at the beginning of the end of the world. While a lot of the same tech is available the power level of the whole game is a lot lower. Its really a great way to run lower powered games. A lot of OOCs from bionics source book and other books that are considered underpowered for Rifts would be great for Chaos earth. I think a fun game would be to start players as SDC only characters. Sure military gear is out there...but you don't get to just start with it.
As a matter of a fact I've been thinking about running a street level game set in chi town. With all street level characters. Imagine a group of bounty hunters ducking coalition patrols. Taking on clandestine missions for one group or another.
I recently picked up chaos earth. Its basically the prequel to Rifts. Set at the beginning of the end of the world. While a lot of the same tech is available the power level of the whole game is a lot lower. Its really a great way to run lower powered games. A lot of OOCs from bionics source book and other books that are considered underpowered for Rifts would be great for Chaos earth. I think a fun game would be to start players as SDC only characters. Sure military gear is out there...but you don't get to just start with it.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
ICONS: Agents of Eagle. Part 2.
In my last post here. I posted about this setting I was working on. I thought I would start with character creation. Since I don't want to pigeon hold anyone into playing a cookie cutter character I thought I would just spell out basic archetypes and gear used by agents. And let the players use it as a loose guide.
Eagle is clandestine government agency that deals with things that go bump in the night. The true men in black. The agency has no history, Since it does not exist on paper at all there is no history passed on to new agents. All that is know is that the agency has been around since the 30s. A lot of older cases have influence over work currently being done.
Types of agents.
Command: These agents are leaders. Often experienced (older) agents with well rounded arsenal of skills. Command agents need to have some charisma and social skills. Need to excel in leadership and have at some skills in combat, Tech, and athletics.
Techi: These agents are either computer wizards or grease monkeys. Some are a little of both. Usually young and a bit less experienced than other agents. While the socially awkward nerd is a terrible stereotype. Its also more often than not true.
Field Agents: These agents are the go to guys. They are the most common type of agent in any unit. Often excelling in one area or another, they are more often than not very versatile agents. From high charisma face man to experienced wheel-man. These agents are usually recruited from law enforcement, private investigation, and corporate security outfits.
Tactical: These agents are the hitters. Recruited from elite law enforcement and elite military forces like Swat and navy seals. These agents are always experienced with all kinds of weapons. From hand to hand combat,
firearms, and even melee weapons.
Weapons of the trade:
Agents of eagle are issued a 9mm pistol of their choosing. The most common is the Beretta 92. This weapon is an agents standard sidearm. It is for dealing with mundane threats.
All agents are also issued a small specialized revolver. This revolver resembles a .38 special. The ammo issued for it are very specialized. From silver bullets to rune ammo. After a lot of experimenting it was found that specialized ammo is way more reliable out of these modified revolvers than auto-loads. Also most agents like to mix types of ammo in speed loaders. This allows the agent to quickly spin the cylinder and choose his ammo in seconds.
Tactical Agents are often issued a The Steyr TMP (Tactical Machine Pistol) in the place of their side arm. This weapon has the same stats as any other 9mm pistol. But is capable of burst and full auto fire.
Command Agents are allowed to trade out their side arm for a custom sawn-off shotgun.
All agents are issued and encouraged to wear light body armor under their suits. This armor is designed to be as comfortable as possible. Its even fitted with packs of ICE cooling gel system that keep the agent cool. The right shoulder of the armor has a built in palm sized computer. The comp runs to a button cam on suit. This video feed is fed to command HQs and to the agents glasses giving the agents night vision and protection against blinding flashes. The mini comp also acts as a communicator between agents and a cell phone.
Agents of Eagle
Types of agents.
Command: These agents are leaders. Often experienced (older) agents with well rounded arsenal of skills. Command agents need to have some charisma and social skills. Need to excel in leadership and have at some skills in combat, Tech, and athletics.
Techi: These agents are either computer wizards or grease monkeys. Some are a little of both. Usually young and a bit less experienced than other agents. While the socially awkward nerd is a terrible stereotype. Its also more often than not true.
Field Agents: These agents are the go to guys. They are the most common type of agent in any unit. Often excelling in one area or another, they are more often than not very versatile agents. From high charisma face man to experienced wheel-man. These agents are usually recruited from law enforcement, private investigation, and corporate security outfits.
Tactical: These agents are the hitters. Recruited from elite law enforcement and elite military forces like Swat and navy seals. These agents are always experienced with all kinds of weapons. From hand to hand combat,
firearms, and even melee weapons.
Weapons of the trade:
Agents of eagle are issued a 9mm pistol of their choosing. The most common is the Beretta 92. This weapon is an agents standard sidearm. It is for dealing with mundane threats.
Beretta 92 Pistol (Blast 3)
Custom sawn-off shotgun (Blast 4, up close)
(Blast 3, Medium range, up to 3 close targets.)
(blast 2 for targets up to long range)
Combat Armor (Armor 3; Communicator; Night Vision, and Flash protection)
And of course all agents are issued a fitted black suit.
Post 3 coming soon.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
ICONS: Agents of Eagle.
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