RPG rant

Some facts of life to begin with;
1) an average person with belly, wife, kids and mortgage would be scared to death in the middle of firefight. 
2) Hollywood logic ignores reality for the sake of giving viewer a false sense of superiority.
3) D&D is a curse, as it is designed to give player aforementioned cocky superiority.
4) Real life conflicts rarely solved by games logic. 

So what are you talking about, man? I'm talking about fun of role playing games, what kind of feeling they are designed or intended to give player and game master. It not a secret that over-educated, under-sexed and less than well adjusted to rules of life people need something (including me). 

They need a feeling of importance, of success, of belonging to a group with similar interest and ideal and most of all - achievement. RPG's have provided all of it long before arrival of computers and social networks, by pen, paper and bunch of friends sharing same vision. Chemically speaking our brain does not distinguish between fear of imagined monster and sudden fear of drunk driver coming at you. So naturally, when you apply you imagination with a help of friends and GM to the scene of defeating a horrible world-eating monster level of you bravado goes up on a chemical level. 

It works. RPG takes off the boredom of mundane life and makes it easier to muddle through job, ridiculous bosses, kids, winging women, irritating classmates, lack of cash, long ques, traffic jams and so on. You remember that you are a monster slayer, THE Savior of the Universe or whoever who is really cool. Painful realisation that its only an imagination is taken into account, but who cares? 

That is where Hollywood logic takes over. "If truth stands in a way of a good story - publish a lie", as someone famous and American said. And here we go:  one bloke standing in the spotlight under fire and giving a porcelain smile while fencing off bullets and ugly villains. But we spent our cash and lifetime on that. Then, as culture and business repeats and multiples both heroes and villains we getting use to the same fake image. On some point, going against this trend becomes even refreshing and new. (Yes, I am talking about Deadpool.)  

But where is D&D here? 

An average street fight or pub fight last from 6 seconds to 4 minutes according to police estimation. Modern platoon size firefight with similar sized opponent may last from 10 minutes to an hour depending on terrain and other factors. In order for party of D&D heroes to get from one room to another and exchange couple of blows with an enemy they have to make a bunch of rolls, identify and use skills and spend approximately 30 minutes. 

But when you finally managed to hit something the process is even more painful. There are people who are much more agile in calculating the amount of damage, soak, resistance, extra special rule than me, I openly admit. But they probably spend good chunk if life doing just that.However on the final result player's ego is overblown by the math. You just made a gazillion damage to million hit points enemy! Monster is roaring in anger and falls to your noble feet asking for forgiveness. The hit like that would take out a battle tank, and you did it with a sword or a fist. But player grins in the manner of the Universe Savior and crawl to the next boss fight. Cool? Awesome! 

But after a while it becomes a habit, as you casually chop, talk, sing and roll your way through just another "mystery" with grotesque idiot trying to conquer the world. What is more scary player lose the ability to see relevance to what they do and impact on the fantasy world they are saving. Their role is assigned as Savior's, but do they care for mukes? No. They are here to provide fun and hit points.

Psychologically speaking, this creates an "comfort zone", where you easily guess what to expect and well aware of what you are capable of. Something not so common in the real life. As you progress with a character this comfort zone gets bigger and more comfortable, even GM are forced to make an adventure where every role would have a time to shine. So adventure becomes a grid of talking, stealing, fighting and casting spells. But does it provide a challenge or achievement? In the terms of game, yes. There are always bigger bosses and more hit points. 

In terms of thinking out of the box? Doubt that. The "comfort zone" of Savior is sturdy. That's where GM's talent really shines, if he or she manages to overcome the rules which are bigger than Bible. 

How to make players care for the team? How to give motivation other than prescribed adventure for money? How to keep them unsure of what happens next? How to make a right balance between heroic action and story? How to keep players focused on the game rather than socialisation? How to reward or punish players who just managed to blow the whole plot into oblivion? And most important, how give a feeling of achievement not by lucky roll but by taking decisions and making them happen?   

I'm not giving the answers, but just asking the right questions is helpful.

Sincerely yours,       

Mark.
     



         

The Great and terrible Warhammer 40000

This post was intended to be a collections of criticism and general whinging about 40K and flaws, remorseless greed of Games Workshop and so on. I will probably get there, but if you have been affected by this hobby you probably know it yourself. 

However, during preparation I have made some interesting discoveries or observations if you like.
Rogue Trader, the initial first version of 40K was intended as mission-based small-scale skirmish game. Player would play narrative scenarios and Game Master would unfold coming events.That was the plan of course... :)

On the game mechanics side, 40K suffers and interesting combination of several layers of editions and visions of how game should be played. Born as small scale game, where Space Marines and other units were acting as individuals, it relies on the generally same mechanics as its fantasy brother Warhammer. Of coarse it had to drop big units movement, flanking and charging, but managed to retain bonuses for two close combat weapons or extra attacks for charging. Warhammer, ideologically looks up to D&D system, but  retains its core as a unit-based system, where individual models and heroes act as bonus to number of super cool hits and mega weapons of unit, an organized cell of army.  

40K on the other hand is trying to take Warhammer base and develop it into a fast-pacing hero-based blockbuster, where a single hero has a chance to land a war winning hit. Which is not only unrealistic, but quite slow and ridiculous when you roll hundred or so dice just to find out how many Orks managed to get close to a well defended bolter position before Guardsman woke up and started to fire. Until current 6th edition, 40K preferred close combat as main way of determining the victor.

Flames of War, despite its hugely complicated system of internal special rules, historic background ect. became popular thanks to its relatively elegant system: assault is rolled on one dice per unit, ranged is rolled in "to hit" and firepower test. That is an essence of huge, industrialized and massed warfare, where single life is irrelevant. That is what Apocalypse should have been, but none risked changing the system, and we still counting number of shots and punches in the face. All six thousands of them. Humble attempts to modify this in Epic and Warmaster games are worth mentioning, but they retain a dusty place of specialist games.     

Warhammer 40K in this matter, suffers another problem: this game is about Space Marines. All other races, where born and created as either bigger monsters to kill (Tyranids), or more clever and sneakier enemies to fight (Eldar). In its core this game is about victories of power armored, bad ass, bolter loaded and genetically engineered heroes. They need attention and war glamor.

The sales figures confirm that: so far Space Marines are bestsellers. But the threat of newcomers is looming on horison, and more and more people discover new drugs game and game systems. Some are even better than 40K. But most are definitely cheaper. 
  

-Hey Sarge, should we tell them that boat is almoust out of gas?- Nah, just smile and wave boys!

             

Research and table-top economics

Well things are moving, i came back to game system I'm working on and decided to dig deeper into economical system and how it should be present in the game. Sounds easy, huh? Easier said than done. First of all economics is subject almost not covered in table-top games, you are more likely to find Monopoly styled games in the world of board games and economic simulators among MMO's. Not to worry, i thought, lets minimize economy part to a supply line and bribery of opponents forces. In fact this is plausible in modern warfare. If latter was simple enough, the supply and market positions of the groups became a bit of the challenge. Not to worry, i said, i shall look at modern day market structure and development, draw some inspiration and then problem will be solved. Naive...

I found 2 distinct approaches and videos to supplement them. First is overview of New York stock exchange Market structure and trading systems.

Simple enough to represent in table-top game. Second is a video on market and indices manipulation. That is where my brain exploded.        

 

in short that goes against everything I've learned about markets and economics. Basically, imagine that you play chess in the club, naturally everyone is trying to win. However club owner changes the rules during the game, right when grab i figure to move. Not only that everyone else supports this action because they agreed that club owner must win no matter what. 

I think i need to rewrite original concept of planetary economics... :-( or may be get another education  

Sci-fi is dead.

I'm probably wrong by stating that, but I  have a serious reason. The reason is book of science fiction novel and short stories published back in 1954. I found it and bought it. It smells of old times, a truly old and forgotten era and this aroma brings me a memories I never could have. Memories of world were scientist became the preachers of the new ways of life, new products to consume, new tools to develop and bombs to drop on your enemies.

But most of all, scientist were writing! The stuff they were writing was so different from the established genres and the ways of building up the story that they actually gave birth to a science fiction. That is even despite the fact that similar motifs of progress, technology and incredible achievements were used before industrialization. Suddenly the old fairy tales got a chance of rebirth and what's more important they became believable! If a fairy tale is coming from someone who actually knows how world operates, the fairy tale becomes a prediction, and prediction has a chance to become reality.

But now more than 50 years after the peak of science-fiction this credibility is lost. The world described by previous generation of writers is already here and we are fed up happy with it. We may not fly around galaxy in reality, but there's enough TV show's to give us a clue how it's going to look. Real scientist are doing their day-to-day research and let professional writers to elaborate on "setting", characters and plots. If there is not enough explosions or pretty half-naked scientist we easily may change the channel to find something more like it.

Sci-fi is a mainstream entertainment. It is dead. 

Why? Originally science fiction was answering to the questions and needs of those who was trying to adjust to rapidly changing world and find their own path in the new world. It was half soul searching half explanation of how-to-use-the-world around you for generation whose parents still lived in pre-space age. Author's used it as test bed for ideas, visions and what would happen scenarios. (Of course the usual way of sci-fiing the metaphor wasn't lost.) As the popularity of genre grew, along with profits the need to print something similar to competitor's product attracted writers who used science as a background instead of meaning. This pro-pulsed the trend, which caught up and overtook the initial humble stories by those writing scientist. And now, anyone can write about hyper space jump over galaxy but few know how to fix the kettle.

        


  

Simple Soldier: Ollanius Persson

Anyone who has even remotely heard about Warhammer 40K universe has heard or read about epic duel between Emperor and his beloved (turned traitor) Horus. It was written by William King, and originally published in WHITE DWARF #131 dated November 1990. The description of this epic duel however has changed from edition to edition and as if its reflected in million broken mirror shards has been repeated and twisted in the lore. In it core it still retain pretty simple structure:

The Emperor is fighting Horus, who just managed to mortally wound Sanguinius and slaughter dozen or more marines. In a short conversation disrupted by sporadic fighting Horus is almost triumphant.  (As it it well known true evil is obliged to have a profound monologue before finishing off the good guy.) In this case the final monologue of evil incarnate is postponed by intervention loyal Emperor's soldier, who death finally forces Emperor to kill his beloved Warmaster Horus (finally). The more detailed description of this battle could be found http://www.inisfail.com/archives/emperor-vs-horus.html or in Horus Heresy books. 

I deliberately keep description of this epic event as short as possible in order to pay tribute to that unnamed soldier and how his role and description has changed. First of all he is almost never identified, he has no name, no belonging except his reckless bravery in the face of Horus. Or is it?

The Horus Heresy as pivotal point in Imperium's history was not conceived until 4th edition of the rules and i believe early 90's. According to interview of 40K "fathers" Alan Merret, Jervis Jonson and John Blanche in White Dwarf of February 2012, it was Rick Priestly who "wrote a throwaway passage of text about a civil war that had happened a ten thousand years ago. Rick has put it to simply make the background more mythic in tone, to add a texture to these great passages of time."  So the idea of what happened and who saved the sorry butt life of the Emperor have been made and remade quite often in last 12 years.  

I'm not going into great details of all the books on the subject, i'll simply name the incarnations of this heroic soldier: 

Adeptus Cutosdian, 

Marine in power armor, 

Legion Astartes Terminator, 

Marine in Terminator armor, 

unidentified bodyguard who served with Emperor for several hundreds years and saved his life on numerous occasions (Emperor cannot remember his name, oddly enough) 

and finally an Imperial Army (or Imperial Guardsman in older books) soldier - 

Ollanius Pius or Ollanius Persson. 

The name of Ollanius pops up in two version: Imperial Guard saint and Perpetual (apparently something or someone everlasting). First one is likely to be a iteration of latter, as Imperial Saints are known for their death resisting qualities. Ollanius may be a variation of the same silent soldier who gives Emperor a second of breathing space. 

During this unintended research i have decided to re-tell old story of Emperor's battle and ultimate sacrifice of his soldier. 

As the battle for Imperial palace grew desperate and bloody, as the casualties mounted on the both sides, as rage of assaulting Chaos spread on Terra the Emperor finally saw the opportunity to end the bloodshed before it was too late. As Horus clearly saw that with each passing day of Imperial Palace resistance rallied the loyalist and bought time for the reinforcements to get closer to Terra, he spread the wave of destruction upon every human soul, every piece of knowledge, on everything so dear to the heart of the Emperor.  Though in doing so he left void shields of his flagship Vengeful Spirit down. Willingly or not we may never know. What is known that the Emperor took this chance and gathered the forces he could muster to face the traitor. Primarch's Regal Dorn and Sanguinius, force of Terminators and combined force of Adeptus Custodes and loyal Army cadre followed him as they always did, to the death and beyond.

Amidst the whispering darkness of the ship Emperor and his men were scattered, fighting for the survival instead of delivering a killing blow to the enemy.    

Finally the Emperor and his few remaining men breached into the bridge of the vessel, firing and charging in. They were met by a sole, dark figure reeking with warp-twisted hatred and arrogance. Horus. He turned to face them and lazily stepped over body of an angel. Sanguinius lay dead on the floor, defeated but still defiant to the will of Chaos. I one silent gesture Emperor commanded his men to cease firing and wait for his orders.

- This fool of yours, made a wrong choice, - grunted Horus with power that shook the very reality, - he could have been my brother in the new world order. In my order! He could have been worshiped like god and truly become one.

- Horus! - replied Emperor, his voice heavy with sadness, - he was your Brother! The one who shared you victories and heritage...

- Be silent, - spat Horus, - your puny rule is over! I command the power which will lead humanity into a new era! I command the very Chaos itself! 

- You command only your delusion, my friend, - replied Emperor and single tear escaped from his eye as he finally realized how deeply fallen his son is, how hopelessly entangled in the puppet web of Chaos he is, - Stand down before it's too late, Horus, thou your are a pawn, not a master.

Horus laughed in return with echo filled with will-bending darkness.  

- This shall be your last threat, Lord of Humankind!,- roared Lupercal and attacked.                 

The battle of the Emperor and the Traitor became lighting exchange of blows in physical realm and titanic psychic storm in the Warp. Even gene-modified reactions and senses of Astartes were inadequate to capture the movements of those bitter enemies: the Lord of Humankind and Champion of Chaos, for mere conversation between them took a toll on surviving men of Emperor. Some were shattered to pieces by lashes of psychic hatred, some become disorientated and lost from Lupercal's voice domination, few were strong enough to withstand it but hesitated to break last order of the Emperor and enter the fray.

The battle was bending the reality as Lupercal lashed the bolts of daemonic powers and Emperor was throwing his might in swift lunges and parries of the sword. Traitor thruster his lighting claw with battle hardened expertise, Emperor dodged it and lunged a paralysis inflicting bolt into Horus. The room was shattering and crumbling as swing that missed target were carrying enough power to crush the columns and crack steel only by pointing at at.  Though for Emperor's men have passed a mere seconds, for fighters it was eternity as both were charging and fighting on level of gods.

As powerful Emperor was, he realized that he was losing. The unholy daemonic powers of Horus were constantly changing it nature, its resonance becoming more and more difficult to withstand and counter. What is hurting him most, is that he fighting his son, his best general and a close friend. Should he be swallowed by anger and hatred all will be lost, the darkness that possessed Horus will possess the Emperor of Mankind.

Lupercal had no such limitations, for he was consumed and empowered by the Dark Gods.  Their fury and magic gave Lupercal an upper hand, and eventually he managed to land a devastating blow crushing Emperor's armor and sending him flying to the ground.        

As Emperor fell on the shattered ground, Lupercal roared again: 

- So, who is deluded now? Who is a Master of Mankind?, - and he stepped down towards the fallen Emperor intending to prolong his torture before the final blow is struck. As he walked through devastation towards mortally wounded Emperor a single figure appears between them.  

 A figure of soldier carrying lasgun and badge of imperial Aquila on his uniform. 

- You shall not pass!, - at the top of his lungs screams soldier at approaching Traitor. Without even a glance Horus lashes a magical bolt at him as if he was annoying insect. Soldiers figure flashed with bright light and he struggles to stand on his feet, but he remains alive. 

- Strike me down Traitor and ten more will take my place! Kill them - hundreds will deny you! Then thousands and millions of us!, - shouted soldier on approaching monster and squeezed couple of shots from his lasgun.  

- We fight for the Emperor! We die for the Emperor!,- shouted soldier as Lupercal's lighting claw slashed him in half. 

- I am sure you do, - grinned Lupercal and turned to finish the Emperor.

As soldier's body fell the Emperor attacked with the power of billions souls behind him and his every move. The time he gave him enough to gather all his strength and might for one last blow. Horus must be destroyed even if it cost to Emperor his life.

In one single blow, in the one unstoppable attack, the soulwave of Emperor's might combined with billions of human lives relying on him struck Traitor.  Shocked by the unexpected power of this attack Horus fell. No armor, no trickery of Chaos, no hatred or skill would save the Traitor.

When Regal Dorn fought his way into the ships control room he found the Emperor, barely alive. Despite being mortally wounded, Emperor was holding in his arms his beloved Primarch Sanguinius and Ollanius Persson, a simple soldier.