Wednesday, July 27, 2011
We are our Fantasies
Looking back over the hobby started in the 70s is difficult in many ways. So much loss of potential. So much decay. Not that it ever was ideal, but foolishly we thought it could be- at least for us.
I (like so many others) snorted at the overblown worries of BADD, claims of satanism in D&D, and worries about kids dying in tunnels. And with good reason. They were overblown, founded on basically no facts, and they ignore the simple truth that games (like so much else) are tools. Games don't corrupt people, people corrupt people.
We didn't consider that corrupt people would produce corrupted games. And if those were accepted, the very nature of what defined corruption would be lost. In time, nothing would be off limits.
Archimedes said, "If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world". Games are excellent levers. Still, the world is a big place. Games are small things, and only one of many influences. It's impossible to say how large or how small their influence is, and I claim no outstanding significance for my little hobby.
But I do think it's something of a mirror. Where we stood. Where we now stand.
As recently as the turn of the 21st century, games such as Lamentations of the Flame Princess, or Courtesans would have been viewed as the filth they are with but the rare trollish defender. Now they are effectively accepted (online at least) as just another RPG. Slowly, things get worse year by year. And the moral corruption predicted by 70s turns out to be in too many ways correct, wrong only in the details.
Assisting in this was a major change in RPG design itself. Originally RPGs were an outgrowth of wargaming. And simulation of reality was a major goal of wargaming itself. For a while, RPGs continued in that path with many designs seeking a more complete and accurate simulation.
This changed with the move towards story focused games. With the move, games no longer worried about being a simulation of reality- but instead a vehicle to unleash the imagination of the player. To give them free reign, and the ability to wander where they will. As unconstrained as possible.
Freedom from even moderately complex games is freedom from learning. Freedom to create whatever story is desired is a surrender to hedonism. These games were meant to give the player more power. And power corrupts.
Lines have moved. And once moved, they become the new line to cross. Decay seeks ever more decay. I have a simple test for any doubtful reader. Come back in ten years and see if you can tell me that things are better, or if items like LotFP now look rather old fashion and innocent in comparison.
I greatly doubt games caused any of this. But they reflect it, and they certainly didn't stand in the way of it.
We are our Fantasies. They are what we seek to become.
Look in the mirror, are you proud of where you are going? Is that where you want your children to end up as well?
And sadly, I expect many of you will answer 'yes' for the simple reason you know not what you do.
I (like so many others) snorted at the overblown worries of BADD, claims of satanism in D&D, and worries about kids dying in tunnels. And with good reason. They were overblown, founded on basically no facts, and they ignore the simple truth that games (like so much else) are tools. Games don't corrupt people, people corrupt people.
We didn't consider that corrupt people would produce corrupted games. And if those were accepted, the very nature of what defined corruption would be lost. In time, nothing would be off limits.
Archimedes said, "If you give me a lever and a place to stand, I can move the world". Games are excellent levers. Still, the world is a big place. Games are small things, and only one of many influences. It's impossible to say how large or how small their influence is, and I claim no outstanding significance for my little hobby.
But I do think it's something of a mirror. Where we stood. Where we now stand.
As recently as the turn of the 21st century, games such as Lamentations of the Flame Princess, or Courtesans would have been viewed as the filth they are with but the rare trollish defender. Now they are effectively accepted (online at least) as just another RPG. Slowly, things get worse year by year. And the moral corruption predicted by 70s turns out to be in too many ways correct, wrong only in the details.
Assisting in this was a major change in RPG design itself. Originally RPGs were an outgrowth of wargaming. And simulation of reality was a major goal of wargaming itself. For a while, RPGs continued in that path with many designs seeking a more complete and accurate simulation.
This changed with the move towards story focused games. With the move, games no longer worried about being a simulation of reality- but instead a vehicle to unleash the imagination of the player. To give them free reign, and the ability to wander where they will. As unconstrained as possible.
Freedom from even moderately complex games is freedom from learning. Freedom to create whatever story is desired is a surrender to hedonism. These games were meant to give the player more power. And power corrupts.
Lines have moved. And once moved, they become the new line to cross. Decay seeks ever more decay. I have a simple test for any doubtful reader. Come back in ten years and see if you can tell me that things are better, or if items like LotFP now look rather old fashion and innocent in comparison.
I greatly doubt games caused any of this. But they reflect it, and they certainly didn't stand in the way of it.
We are our Fantasies. They are what we seek to become.
Look in the mirror, are you proud of where you are going? Is that where you want your children to end up as well?
And sadly, I expect many of you will answer 'yes' for the simple reason you know not what you do.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Captain America was a Solid Movie
Went with friend over the weekend to see the latest Marvel movie. Completely enjoyed it.
Despite some waffling on the part of the people behind the movie (who for some perverse reason refused to openly embraced the American values of their title character), things still turned out very well indeed.
Indeed in a bit of irony, their attempt to downplay patriotism really only highlighted it. Having been raised by a member of the Greatest Generation, I'm familar with some of their traits. Understatement, deeds instead of words, and doing the right thing flowed naturally while lofty speeches were left to generals and Politicians.
At times they claimed that they were making a movie not about an American, but about a good man. They forgot to mention that he was a good man because of his American values. This may have been intentional, so as to not damage their future in the very left wing Hollywood. If so, good job. If that wasn't the case and they really were attempting to remove America from Captain America, one can only be amused at their failure.
On other matters, they used the World War III German 'future weapons' look very effectively. Chris Evans was perfect in the role, and I never once saw the human torch. Hayley Atwell was amazing as Peggy Carter, and was one of the few superhero romances I've believed in while watching a film.
I give it a strong thumbs up.
Despite some waffling on the part of the people behind the movie (who for some perverse reason refused to openly embraced the American values of their title character), things still turned out very well indeed.
Indeed in a bit of irony, their attempt to downplay patriotism really only highlighted it. Having been raised by a member of the Greatest Generation, I'm familar with some of their traits. Understatement, deeds instead of words, and doing the right thing flowed naturally while lofty speeches were left to generals and Politicians.
At times they claimed that they were making a movie not about an American, but about a good man. They forgot to mention that he was a good man because of his American values. This may have been intentional, so as to not damage their future in the very left wing Hollywood. If so, good job. If that wasn't the case and they really were attempting to remove America from Captain America, one can only be amused at their failure.
On other matters, they used the World War III German 'future weapons' look very effectively. Chris Evans was perfect in the role, and I never once saw the human torch. Hayley Atwell was amazing as Peggy Carter, and was one of the few superhero romances I've believed in while watching a film.
I give it a strong thumbs up.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Too Little Time, Too Much Work
Been very busy of late, and what free time I have has been going into finishing up Age of Heroes for printing and working on the Claymore Campaign Supplement.
On the core rules front- my wonderful editors (my wife and an old friend) are just about caught up with me on their proof reading. Massive pain that and I doubt it will ever be 100%. But it should be good enough for us to use without it being instantly too painful to continue.
Lots of work, and I'm really not very good at this. It's why it's taken so long to do it. But if I don't do it now, it may never get done. So it's time for doing.
Currently at 142 pages in the proof-reading. About another 30 already written pages to go. Need to finish up two more sections.
Currently on the magic item creation part. This should be short as I don't intend this to be a major part of the game. For one thing, it really won't allow the creation of permanent items. Few things can more quicky ruin a setting than unrestricted creation of magic items. Cost and rarity of materials are no real control of this problem.
On the Claymore front, all the key rules are in place, and we play-tested it a little this last weekend. Went quite well with mid-level characters. This weekend we'll see how it does with high level ones.
Quite happy with the write ups of the primary monster from the series and one of the series characters. I'd post them but since no one has the rules it's rather pointless to.
On the core rules front- my wonderful editors (my wife and an old friend) are just about caught up with me on their proof reading. Massive pain that and I doubt it will ever be 100%. But it should be good enough for us to use without it being instantly too painful to continue.
Lots of work, and I'm really not very good at this. It's why it's taken so long to do it. But if I don't do it now, it may never get done. So it's time for doing.
Currently at 142 pages in the proof-reading. About another 30 already written pages to go. Need to finish up two more sections.
Currently on the magic item creation part. This should be short as I don't intend this to be a major part of the game. For one thing, it really won't allow the creation of permanent items. Few things can more quicky ruin a setting than unrestricted creation of magic items. Cost and rarity of materials are no real control of this problem.
On the Claymore front, all the key rules are in place, and we play-tested it a little this last weekend. Went quite well with mid-level characters. This weekend we'll see how it does with high level ones.
Quite happy with the write ups of the primary monster from the series and one of the series characters. I'd post them but since no one has the rules it's rather pointless to.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Talking about the weather...
Currently typing up the rules for weather. Something that most games never concern themselves with although there was a time that they did (some favor of Rolemaster was the last time I think I encountered it myself- maybe their Middle Earth supplements).
It's a impossible subject. Way too many influences to make a short *and* good simulation of the subject. So like most of this section of the rules I'm going for an example and favor. It should work fine. Robust enough that it can easily be expanded if needed, and solid enough that it can work for a whole region of the world.
Based it all on Kansas City, because it is the center of the universe and all.
It's a impossible subject. Way too many influences to make a short *and* good simulation of the subject. So like most of this section of the rules I'm going for an example and favor. It should work fine. Robust enough that it can easily be expanded if needed, and solid enough that it can work for a whole region of the world.
Based it all on Kansas City, because it is the center of the universe and all.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Age of Heroes: and on to the boring stuff....
With only a couple of minor details, I've finished the layout and updates for the main rules for Age of Heroes. That is character generation, combat and the magic section. Those must make up 99% of typical rule use.
The remainder is what I've always thought of as the boring stuff. Travel time, determining when characters naturally die, herbal lists, travel times, sample bestiary, doing the layout for the character generation example, etc.
It will be a bit of hump to get over, but it's going well so far.
The remainder is what I've always thought of as the boring stuff. Travel time, determining when characters naturally die, herbal lists, travel times, sample bestiary, doing the layout for the character generation example, etc.
It will be a bit of hump to get over, but it's going well so far.
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