Tabletop Style RPG, Anyone?

[Xepher]

So I'm bored, and I'm bored of most video games. The current RPG games are so limiting in what you can do that they don't appeal to me, yet the single player games are pretty dull, as you're not interacting with other people. What I'm here to find out is if anyone has some interesting in trying to do an online (chat-based) RPG games. This is NOT a video game. I mean, we would meet in the chatroom here (or maybe use voice chat or something) and play a table-top style RPG, such as D&D, GURPS, Changling or something.

I want to note that I'm pretty much a total n00b at this. I've played maybe 2 D&D sessions in my life (neither of which I found very fun and why I'd like to do something besides D&D.) But I'm in it for the fun, not for precise rule evaluations or anything. To me, Roleplaying games should be about roleplaying. Battles are part of it, but stats really shouldn't be the focus, it should be about the story, about having fun. As such, I don't want any rule-nazis, but otherwise, everyone/anyone is welcome. I'll probably be the GM, but that's not decided for sure, nor is the time(s) or really any other plans.

Right now, I'd just like to find out who might be interested, then we can figure out details. I plan to distribute basic rules/ideas for whatever system we end up using to everyone, so don't worry if you haven't played it before, or don't know the rules. The main thing is that you WANT to be involved, and want to actually roleplay/storytell with your character. Also that you'll be okay with whatever medium we end up using, be it voice chat, or a text chat system, etc. If we go with text, it'll be important that you're not extremely slow at typing. Likewise, if we go with voice, that you have a microphone to use. Also, that you'll be able to game somewhat regularly. No schedule will be set in stone or anything... it should actually be quite flexble... we just don't want people that play one week and then don't show up for 2 months or something.


Alright, all this is up for debate, additional ideas, etc. Anyone who's interested, lemme know. If you have ideas, questions, thoughts... let's hear those too.

[Gwyn]

yes.

[fesworks]

World of Darkness fans?

granted I'm an uber noob on table-tops.. but WoD was awesome

[phantasus]

im a WoD fan , and changeling storyteller.
i have something like 5-6 years playing tabletop roleplaying games.
have never played online

[Xepher]

I've not played a WoD game before, though a couple of friends (locally) are trying to get a game together, and I'm pushing for Changling, since they always play D&D and I'm just sick of Elves, Dwarves and Halflings... really, can't we be more creative with races than "like a human, but with big ears" or "just like a human, but really short." So yeah, at the moment, WoD (I'd go with probably anything but "Vampire") or GURPS are my top choices. Changeling is what I've been looking into most lately, as it sounds like the most interesting setting to me, but GURPS has the advantage of being highly portable to nearly any setting, as well has having an easy beginners/basic rulebook online.

Phantasus: So far you're the only one with experience, so any advice on what's more fun, or advantages/disadvantages of play options would be helpful. If we end up with changeling it might be better for you to be storyteller/GM if you're interested. Also, when I look online, I see "Changeling: The Lost" being what white wolf is offering? Does that replace "The Dreaming" (3rd edition or some such?) or is it just a supplement/extra?


Oh, for those that don't grok this... "Changeling: The Dreaming" is a setting/game from White Wolf... it's part of a larger world/set of RPGs from them called "World of Darkness" All of which follow the (starting to become ridiculous) naming scheme "Noun: The Gerund" such as "Werewolf: The Apocalypse" or "Vampire: The Masquerade." In the WoD games "Storyteller" is the same thing as what other systems call GM/DM (Game/Dungeon Master.)

[phantasus]

white wolf was buyed by wizards of the coast , and they decided, to end the world of darkness ( make the apocalipse ) and start a new WoD from the begining as part of WotC. this i was realy sad whit.
so part of the new Wod are : vampire the requiem ( inspired on vampire the masquarade, like a re-make of the game) , and also changeling: the lost . a new werewolf, mage, were made again to fit this new set of games.
i , personaly , dont like them. i like the old WoD and continue to play on it as if the end of the world has never happened.

the best advice i can give is to keep in mind this is just a game, it is for having fun. what ever happens in the game, dont take it personaly, its just a game.
Rules are made as guide lines, they are not the point on the game, so they can be ( and must be ) modified to fit the game, the players , etc. after all this is a game based on creativity and imagination.
Role playing games are about role playing , this means getting into a character and playing it. its not all about battles, yes, battles are interesting and fun to role play, but the point of the game IS NOT to win battles.
about stats and system, yes, they are important, but the game is not about them. they should help the game, not be the game.

if you want to play changeling ( the dreaming ) then, yes, i can be the storyteller, and would like to stick to a simplified ( to make things a bit more confortable on internet and for people whos new to the game) version of the game system and rules. and would also like it to be in a text chat, since this is not my first lenguage and my pronunciations is not correct, so im not sure if everyone can understand a word i say.

[Tsunemori]

Table top D&D will require a looooooot of knowledge about how the system works. Most dungeon masters will still have rulebooks handy to check for spell statistics, or how to calculate combat rolls when mounted, or whatnot etc etc. It's massive and yes, I do agree with you, if I ever play an RPG I'd like to play for the story more than with numbers.

About video games... despite you being sick of elves/dwarves/midgets etc, I'd recommend games like Baldur's Gate II, Icewind Dale II, and possibly Neverwinter Nights II (never played the last so I can't comment on it).

Baldur's Gate saga is about roleplaying a "Bhaalspawn", one of the children of Bhaal, the god of Murder, as a mere mortal. The most wonderful thing about BG2 isn't the story; it's the interaction. You can have up to five other party members with you (so six total), and while you control these characters' actions, you can not control their personalities. For example, you may choose to roleplay an evil character, and when you do something nasty, a good-aligned party member might feel disgusted and perhaps leave or even turn against you. Likewise, doing good things will annoy evil-aligned party members.

There's a lot of depth in this game; you're able to weave a relationship with one of your party members, and sometimes they can even have one without you being involved. That's what I find is the most interesting aspect about the game; the fact that your party members seem more alive, as they continuously chip in their opinion about your actions, and occassionally refuse to follow you. I'm recommending BG2 not BG1 because BG1 is very outdated, and you'll require third party mods if you want to play BG1 with BG2's engine, and even then, it's not really that fun since you start at level 1. You'd feel so weak and limpy.

Icewind Dale II is also a great game, it allows more customisation with your characters (e.g. new races, class kits, etc), and it has a good, long story line as well. However, I find the game a little less entertaining as you'll have to create and control every single party member, so the only interaction you get is between you and NPCs. And it's not that fun. However, the engine is more updated than BG2, and would play better.

NWN1 was absolute rubbish. NWN2 though, I've been hearing good things about, and I'd love to try it some day.

Anyway, that aside, my experience with D&D is very minimal unfortunately. I know the rules and things, but I haven't really played any real table-top games. The last time I tried, we pissed off the dungeon master so much 'cause we were just having fun. Friend of mine made a soap-on-a-rope for a weapon and we spent a while arguing whether it should be calculated as a flail or whip weapon. Or something like that.

I've always wanted to play a D&D game where all you have to worry about is roleplaying. That's it, just plain roleplaying, exploring worlds and making decisions, interacting with other players and NPCs. And that's why I play PC games so I can just do that, and not worry about numbers.

But yes, as for your question, I'd be interested to partake in a little bit of roleplaying. I don't know if I'd be comfortable with talking, I'd rather just plain text. And I have no experience outside yon classic olde medieval fantasy setting, elves and dwarves and dragons and what-not. I'd feel a little weirded out if we decide to play on some vampire/tentacle monster/pokemon setting or something, but as long as there's enough backstory behind it then I can try to fit in.

But yeh. I dwaddle.

[Databits]

Warhammer FTW, others are just too damn complicated.

You need 2 D10's, that's pretty much it.

[Tsunemori]

Oh yeh, just in case this interests anyone... LotR done as a table-top RPG.

http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?cat=14

[fesworks]

Well, I had an awesome story teller for the WoD game I played. there were 7 of us and his story included Mages, Werewolves and Vampires. I was the only Mage

But the story rocked and I, possibly was the only survivor in the end, asside from a Vampire that was in torpor (sp?) in an underground sewer, but would have been found for dead and burried eventually.

[Xepher]

Tsununemori: The group of friends I hung out with played D&D all through highschool, pretty much every lunch. I didn't really participate often, because playing for 35 minute chunks while trying to eat just seemed... stupid. But I did pay enough attention to get some idea for how the system functions. As far as I can tell, you don't need all that much knowledge of the system. I mean, you need to understand it a bit of course, know what stats and stuff mean, but you don't have to use 95% of what you CAN use. Monster manuals, additions, etc... all those aren't necessary. I will have a copy of a rulebook handy for whatever we use of course though, and probably some basic monster guides (many can be found online) so I don't have to make up ALL the npc stats. Also, the new (3.x) versions of D&D use a D20 (20-sided die) system, which is a LOT simpler than the old system too. GURPS uses a similar, fairly simple system. WoD... haven't quite got that one figured out yet, but I know at least their skill system is rather easy/simple as well... doesn't even use numbers, just dots. Of course a lot of people are used to playing full/complex games in these systems, so I'm trying to make it clear this is more of a newbie game, and we're gonna be trying this a bit perhaps. That is, simplified as much as possible with focus on roleplaying, not the numbers/dice. Besides, if it doesn't work out, we're all in it for fun anyway. But I really think it can work and be fun, even with minimal knowledge... as long as people have patience if we need to take a couple minutes here and there to muddle through some particular process or understanding how a certain rule applies.

Data: Warhammer... heheh. Sure, only d10s, but there's the boards, and rulers, and figurines. Not sure that works so well in pure text. :-P

Fes: Sounds like fun. Though I think trying to combine WoD games for what is a "first experience" for a lot of us would over-complicate things, at least for now. It's easier to get into the swing of things when you're sticking closer to the ideas/setting of a particular book. Also, I intend to pretty much read the whole (base) rulebook for whatever game we pick... don't really fancy trying to memorize half a dozen of them. :-)

[fesworks]

It was my first experience. And it really all depends on how good of a Story teller you got.

Also, I was only 1 of TWO people that were completely new to table tops.

Also, I have a bit of Dyslexia, so I never was able to read the Mage book as well as I should to be a better player..

[Databits]

Warhammer fantasy roleplaying.... not the 40k shit.

They are two completely separate games man. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying is a total 100% roleplaying game, half the time we don't even use figures.

This:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_Fantasy_Roleplay

[phantasus]

i like WoD system, it is simple, and it can be made simplier still. i find it quick and easy, dont takes time off the game.  Dyd has many sistems, depending on the edition and such, dont realy understand them, im not a DyD fan, but i have played a lot before and never ever got troubles because there is something i dont get.
When i started playing ( i was just entering secundaria (i think it is the equivalent level for americans Jr high) ) i didnt knew anything about rpgs or systems and was like, kind of fasinated whit the fact there were 10 or 20 sided dice. i learned to play playing, when i didnt understand something, someone else would explain.

as for the dices, there are many programs on the internet to do dice rolls, so we dont realy need dice fisicaly. ( dice some how are funny and help preparing a cool enviroment for the game, so i like to have a lot of them on the table when i play, but these are not nessesary.)

[phantasus]

a quick explanation of the WoD system, just in case anyone is interested:

your character is defined by traits, these represent your characters strengths and weakness. they are rated from 1 to 5 ( those are the little circles and dots). one is not to good , 5 is inhumanly perfect.
most of the time you combine the traits of an atributte ( something like how strong or inteligent or such, these are like capacities) whit one ability (these are things you can learn or get trought practice like driving or computers or to dodge or figth ). and get your dice pool (the number of dots is the number of dice (10 sided dice) you get). the more dice you get the more probabilities there are that you will succed. against the dificultie the storyteller decides is apropiate for the action you are trying to preform ( usualy something like 5-6) every dice avobe the dificultie number is a succes. the more of those you get the better. now, every 1 you get takes away one success, if you got more 1s than successes something bad happens ( not just you werent able to do it, you did it wrong ).  questions?

hope it helps