Thread: Questioning chirine ba kal - part II

Originally Posted by estar

Oh for crying out loud, what a putz of a player in the group. If I learned that one of my players said that I would have serious issues and a chat with him or her.

Because my primary system was GURPS for so long and I live in a rural area in northwest PA, my attitude is that it incumbent on me as the referee to make sure the rules don't get in the way of playing. By either me coaching people on the mechanics or focusing on description first figuring which dice to roll second.

You have the same GM style that I do; it's a little more work for the GM, but you do retain players that way.

To his credit, the GM for this game did point out that I was still learning the rules, after the player made his observations regarding my inability to absorb the rules very quickly. I also pointed out that my RPG gaming had been with some pretty 'rules-lite' guys, which led to things getting quiet for a while.

I do think the rules are good, but just not for me; the group meets once every couple of months, and the investment in time and money for the rules is pretty steep for what's for me a very short-term campaign. So it goes. There will be other games in the future, I would think.

Originally Posted by Greentongue

I believe they have been successful in promoting this mindset. When you feel you have to be able to correctly pronounce Tsoly�ni to play.

I remember when I met that statement on a Tekumeli site, despite it happening some 10 years ago.
My reaction was "okay, and Trekkies claim you must memorize Clingon to play in Star Trek - same people, different outfits, but I'm not going to play that"...

I have to believe that, "I can play in a bazillion D&D worlds as a hairy-thewed barbarian" justifies presenting it as Different which can be attractive or off putting.

Well, if you play to get away from what you know, "different" is the name of the game, I would think.
(I don't, so I can't comment).

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Did the 5e game session today; got through the fight with the undead elves from one of the d20 adventure books and then got the party to a place of safety. I had been planning to stay with the party until they got back to Blackmoor proper, but after a discussion with one of the newer players about my not having memorized the 5e rules being a drag on the group - niche protection actually came up, as this version of dear old Chirine was the party's only cleric and thus a vitally important asset to the party - I ended my participation in the group.

This will, I suspect be the end of my formal participation in organized gaming groups for the foreseeable future. I've been finding, over the past couple of years, that my old-fashioned play style simply does not mesh well with players at the FLGS. I am likely to be called on to do special events, where I will be 'on display' running games in Ye Olden Style for people to see. So it goes; I'm not perturbed, myself. Times and people do change, and what I might like to do may not be what others might like or do.

I'll be around, and I'll announce any 'public appearances' as they get booked.

Too bad, Uncle, but I've seen such players.

Originally Posted by David Johansen

You know, at some point, someone just needs to man up and give someone other than the Cleric proper healing abilities. Primary healer being tied to religion just doesn't play for too many people.

I always wondered why there isn't a Witch class or something, myself. Admittedly, when I think "cleric", I don't think of a healer, but of someone who takes care of spiritual issues. And yes, I know of counterexamples, but that's what I would expect.

Originally Posted by estar

Oh for crying out loud, what a putz of a player in the group. If I learned that one of my players said that I would have serious issues and a chat with him or her.

Because my primary system was GURPS for so long and I live in a rural area in northwest PA, my attitude is that it incumbent on me as the referee to make sure the rules don't get in the way of playing. By either me coaching people on the mechanics or focusing on description first figuring which dice to roll second.

My primary system was also GURPS for a long time, and that's The Only Correct Way To Run GURPS!

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

Agreed; the player flat out refused to go into the woods with the rest of the party after I offered to stay with our horses and cart full of treasure as a rear-guard, stating that since I was the only cleric in the party is was too risky to proceed without me. I didn't know what to make of this during the game, and still don;t tonight; I thought that adventuring was all about calculated risk-taking, myself. I just don't know.

Well, if you're short of a cleric, the Encounter Level would be off...

Originally Posted by chirine ba kal

You have the same GM style that I do; it's a little more work for the GM, but you do retain players that way.

That's my experience as well.

To his credit, the GM for this game did point out that I was still learning the rules, after the player made his observations regarding my inability to absorb the rules very quickly. I also pointed out that my RPG gaming had been with some pretty 'rules-lite' guys, which led to things getting quiet for a while.

Was that before, or after you told them who those "rules-lite guys" were, Uncle?

I just remembered what Uncle and the Glorious General said about experimenting with weapons and tactics and fencing with Phil, in the first part of this thread. So I decided to post a Facebook video.

https://www.facebook.com/83337594673...4163614654320/

The tradition is alive, and recommendations by the more experienced would be more than welcome!

Originally Posted by AsenRG

I remember when I met that statement on a Tekumeli site, despite it happening some 10 years ago.
My reaction was "okay, and Trekkies claim you must memorize Clingon to play in Star Trek - same people, different outfits, but I'm not going to play that"...

Well, if you're short of a cleric, the Encounter Level would be off...

Was that before, or after you told them who those "rules-lite guys" were, Uncle?

Yep; I saw that go by, and figured we were in deep trouble.

I was going to ask what an "Encounter Level" was, but then I don't think I want to know.

The silence came after. It was an unhappy end to a wonderful weekend; I'd taken my daughter to her first comics show, and we had a great time. I'm not a comics fan, myself, but it was simply wonderful to enable her to enjoy something she loves. The end of the game session was a pretty sour note, I have to say.

Originally Posted by Greentongue

When you have been conditioned since pre-school to "color inside the lines", dealing with someone that doesn't know were the lines are and colors without regard for them, could be uncomfortable.
"Lines" / rules are comforting.

You being a follower of a God of Change wouldn't understand
=

Agreed. I don't think he had any idea of what I was talking about; very game-oriented, very game-centered person, from what I saw.

Perhaps. Or just too old and set in my ways.

Originally Posted by AsenRG

I just remembered what Uncle and the Glorious General said about experimenting with weapons and tactics and fencing with Phil, in the first part of this thread. So I decided to post a Facebook video.

https://www.facebook.com/83337594673...4163614654320/

The tradition is alive, and recommendations by the more experienced would be more than welcome!

I looked at this - very good, with none of the 'stage fight' look to it. It does show the limits of what you can do with a single broadsword, which I think may be why sword-and-shield lasted so long. Not bad; not bad at all, is my feeling.

Thank you!

Originally Posted by bconsidine

I think it's more a matter of a follower of change not caring about staying inside the lines. Or which color to use.

Blaise

Probably; I was brought up in the gaming tradition of "anything not specifically forbidden by the rules is permitted", and these days it seems that the philosophy is that "anything not specifically allowed by the rules is prohibited". Things seem to be very game-mechanic-oriented; the constant looking over the shoulder at something called "Adventurers' League" play rules was - to me - disconcerting.

To many rules, for my comfort. Give me something like "Arrows of Indra" or "Blade and Crown" any day. Much happier in that space...