Although I don't know if I'll be able to commit to playing/DMing at this time, I'm definitely going to be watching this thread because this is an awesome idea. I have DMed some largish campaigns (~20 people) and have been playing through all of these editions, feel free to IM me to bounce some ideas off of me. These could be logistical or campaign questions, if I get involved in the plot, I promise to not spoil anything .
Aye, let us know when you decide the scenario and such. I'm thinking of playing a completely non-conventional (i.e. non-maxed out, or crippled in some severe way) character to see how long I can keep his unskilled butt alive. Adds to the roleplaying flava'.
Got my hands on an old AD&D first ed PHB over the weekend and will begin pouring over it tonight. Aside from my personal preference for something more modern, my quick review of the old book brought two issues to my attention.
1: Older ed rules are a pain in the ass! I forgot how much I rely on being able to associate any action with a skill/ability check/attack/save and the player just rolls a d20 and adds the appropriate mod. Single unifying mechanic makes for happy DMs. Oh and a sub issue with this: 18/00 str. All ability scores having a unifyied (and linear!) scale makes me happy as well.
2: How are we going to get our hands on enough books to run this? Especially if we have people generating characters on their own ahead of time, there's no garuntee that every player will get luck and find a copy in the used game bin like I did.
OK, I end my complaints here. I'm sure no one wants to have me constantly complain about this, and I know it would get old fast, so I will bow the will of the people, and I'll work with whatever is their choice. I just want informed voters.
SlickShughes on
0
dyaballiklPAX Main Theatre House & Security Manager • PAX Community CartographerGold Coast QLD AustraliaRegistered Userregular
edited March 2008
never played before, but i'd love to play!
dyaballikl on
a.k.a. dya
"Riding a mongoose reminds me of having sex with a man, which is something I do frequently because I am gay!" -Gabe
I would suggest that once this reaches a certain point, a website would be a good thing to put up. You need to start getting a more official list of how many participants you're going to have, and then you need to figure out how many DMs you'll need to handle that many people.
I would suggest that once this reaches a certain point, a website would be a good thing to put up. You need to start getting a more official list of how many participants you're going to have, and then you need to figure out how many DMs you'll need to handle that many people.
Oh, and I'd love to play in this.
This is right now the plan, since as of right now I'm very sure there is going to be a big amount of people involved for this.
Right now though myself, Robert, Amber, and Mike are all going over the basic stuff in terms of location for the event, the event's storyline, the basic stuff.
I'm totally up for this. My cursed dice on the other hand. . .
Arghetlam on
"Music trancends time." - Dave Wakeley
"When pirates and ninjas fight, everyone wins." -Tycho The new, improved One Shots Website
Proud Wardriver from the Cross Country Super Trip '06!
Proud Iron Smogger for 2008
huh.. I think I have the AD&D 1st edition rules sitting around here somewhere.. and have my old D&D boxes to.. gods.. the fun I had playin / DMing D&D..
But yes, the things they did in 3.0 and higher did make the game flow a lot smoother.
Zankabo on
Better a witty fool than to have a foolish wit....
woot first person to vote 3.0. anyways the game quest should be something about finding the magical land or opening the magical gate to, dun dun dunnnnn arcadia
So in my talking with the PAX officials, turns out that the possibility of this event won't work on one basic principle. Simply that the convention center doesn't really have the right room or area that would work for something of this magnitude. So the idea of a world record breaking game is out.
Is isn't to say however, that PAX will go without a special tribute to Gary Gygax. It's just that with the way things are, this idea just wouldn't work.
So while I try to whip up some new ideas, feel free to pitch some ideas on here as well. Even if it couldn't work, a part of it can defiantly be used.
Well, if we can't have a "formal" game due to the space, should we do a LARP idea? Then everyone could just roleplay as they're walking around, no space limitation.
Well, if we can't have a "formal" game due to the space, should we do a LARP idea? Then everyone could just roleplay as they're walking around, no space limitation.
Being a purist, I've got to throw in that D&D =/= LARP, lest you want to be seen as SCA or NERO whackos running around with foam swords and throwing bean bags at each other. Even then it's not the same as D&D. I love LARPing, but the whole pen and paper, sitting around a table, cheetos and Mountain Dew vibe is really what I love about D&D.
I'd still love to run a pick-up D&D game, I've got some ideas that fit with what the will of the people was on the poll - the dreaded first ed - but it would take a long-ish amount of time and I don't know how much of my con time I want to devote to this. Not that I don't love D&D, but there's so much more to do at PAX - or so I'm lead to believe, this being my first year. Speaking of which, how does the tabletop area work? Can you just grab a table, start a game up and people will wander over? Or are there signup sheets, or are there prearranged games or whatnot?
SlickShughes on
0
Moe FwackyRight Here, Right NowDrives a BuickModeratormod
edited March 2008
Don't feel obliged to adhere to the poll when making your decision. If you're running this thing, don't feel bad about picking second or third most popular on the list if it's going to be four or five times easier for you.
Don't feel obliged to adhere to the poll when making your decision. If you're running this thing, don't feel bad about picking second or third most popular on the list if it's going to be four or five times easier for you.
*nod*
I felt bound by it when we were trying to get record numbers of participants. If people thought they were going to play 1st ed as a tribute/would only show up if it was 1st ed, I let that sway me. At this point, it just looks like a relativly small pickup game style thing, I'll do what I please.
Current idea: running combat for a few hours, near infinately spawning monsters, players allowed to respawn/grab a new pregen when they die, new comers welcome at any time by just picking up a pregen and rolling init. I'd track rounds survived, damage done, mobs killed, deaths, etc.; maybe even give out prizes. Opinions?
I like that idea SlickShughes, I'd definately play it. Not as much adventure as just high octane kill thrill.
Yeah, I can't really imagine a scenario where you could get any decent RP out of 4 hours of gaming with players you've never met before and who's play styles you're unfamiliar with. But guiltless mass killing is fun as hell sometimes.
I like that idea SlickShughes, I'd definately play it. Not as much adventure as just high octane kill thrill.
Yeah, I can't really imagine a scenario where you could get any decent RP out of 4 hours of gaming with players you've never met before and who's play styles you're unfamiliar with. But guiltless mass killing is fun as hell sometimes.
I really dig your idea for the very reasons you stated - pick up RPing can be awkward, but I can't name anyone who'd be too shy about chopping down bitches with their axe.
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I SURVIVED THE PAX 2009 CON-SARS BREAKOUT!
I voted for 2nd Ed because that is what I cut my teeth on. I would volunteer to DM but I'm sorry to say I suck.
But I will join your campaign!
"I don't know why people ever, ever try to stop nerds from doing things. It's really the most incredible waste of time." - Tycho
1: Older ed rules are a pain in the ass! I forgot how much I rely on being able to associate any action with a skill/ability check/attack/save and the player just rolls a d20 and adds the appropriate mod. Single unifying mechanic makes for happy DMs. Oh and a sub issue with this: 18/00 str. All ability scores having a unifyied (and linear!) scale makes me happy as well.
2: How are we going to get our hands on enough books to run this? Especially if we have people generating characters on their own ahead of time, there's no garuntee that every player will get luck and find a copy in the used game bin like I did.
OK, I end my complaints here. I'm sure no one wants to have me constantly complain about this, and I know it would get old fast, so I will bow the will of the people, and I'll work with whatever is their choice. I just want informed voters.
Oh, and I'd love to play in this.
This is right now the plan, since as of right now I'm very sure there is going to be a big amount of people involved for this.
Right now though myself, Robert, Amber, and Mike are all going over the basic stuff in terms of location for the event, the event's storyline, the basic stuff.
"When pirates and ninjas fight, everyone wins." -Tycho
The new, improved One Shots Website
Proud Wardriver from the Cross Country Super Trip '06!
Proud Iron Smogger for 2008
But yes, the things they did in 3.0 and higher did make the game flow a lot smoother.
So in my talking with the PAX officials, turns out that the possibility of this event won't work on one basic principle. Simply that the convention center doesn't really have the right room or area that would work for something of this magnitude. So the idea of a world record breaking game is out.
Is isn't to say however, that PAX will go without a special tribute to Gary Gygax. It's just that with the way things are, this idea just wouldn't work.
So while I try to whip up some new ideas, feel free to pitch some ideas on here as well. Even if it couldn't work, a part of it can defiantly be used.
Being a purist, I've got to throw in that D&D =/= LARP, lest you want to be seen as SCA or NERO whackos running around with foam swords and throwing bean bags at each other. Even then it's not the same as D&D. I love LARPing, but the whole pen and paper, sitting around a table, cheetos and Mountain Dew vibe is really what I love about D&D.
I'd still love to run a pick-up D&D game, I've got some ideas that fit with what the will of the people was on the poll - the dreaded first ed - but it would take a long-ish amount of time and I don't know how much of my con time I want to devote to this. Not that I don't love D&D, but there's so much more to do at PAX - or so I'm lead to believe, this being my first year. Speaking of which, how does the tabletop area work? Can you just grab a table, start a game up and people will wander over? Or are there signup sheets, or are there prearranged games or whatnot?
*nod*
I felt bound by it when we were trying to get record numbers of participants. If people thought they were going to play 1st ed as a tribute/would only show up if it was 1st ed, I let that sway me. At this point, it just looks like a relativly small pickup game style thing, I'll do what I please.
Current idea: running combat for a few hours, near infinately spawning monsters, players allowed to respawn/grab a new pregen when they die, new comers welcome at any time by just picking up a pregen and rolling init. I'd track rounds survived, damage done, mobs killed, deaths, etc.; maybe even give out prizes. Opinions?
Yeah, I can't really imagine a scenario where you could get any decent RP out of 4 hours of gaming with players you've never met before and who's play styles you're unfamiliar with. But guiltless mass killing is fun as hell sometimes.
I really dig your idea for the very reasons you stated - pick up RPing can be awkward, but I can't name anyone who'd be too shy about chopping down bitches with their axe.