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View Full Version : Something Awful takes on The Siege



StacyChaos
24th July 2006, 01:29 AM
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1972708

If you have a Something Awful forums account, check out the thread discussing the upcoming play-by-post Siege.

If not, here are some of the things being said, both positive and negative (yay for objectiveness.) Ghost, I talked to Steven and he said that any feedback would be appreciated. So, I'll give you what I can from everyone's opinions.

"As talked about in this thread, I am going to run the introductory campaign for Cycle of Existence, the new game from Broken Dolls Studios in Denton, Texas. Why? Because despite the strange use of a percentile system and a somewhat generic meta-plot, the game has interesting ideas and feels like what GURPS would be if it was trimmed down for a specific setting. Plus, I like the magic system."

"Ugh. What a confusing, disorganized, poorly formatted manual. I hope that document isn't representative of the actual book.

The points system isn't reassuring, though. 100 Points, when the most expensive thing on there costs 5, and most cost 2 or 3? That's a mid-powered character in GURPS, where stats and advantages run in the tens, most around 15. I could max out half of the sheet, including all of the prime aspects. I had to stretch what I'd consider a realistic character to spend all 100 points, let alone taking any negative points. This seems to create extremely broadly focused characters.

Also, that character sheet (which I had to download because the other PDF doesn't have the stats each skill is attached to for some reason) has something horribly wrong with its construction. Is it all unique vector art, even though most of the images are repeated? When it takes 20 seconds to draw the page -- and scrolling requires a complete redraw -- you have an issue.

I made a character anyway though!"


So, I'll keep yall posted. :-)

Christopher Ashe
24th July 2006, 11:41 PM
Well in point of fact I think that part of the reason for this is the fact that I really need to revise the Siege PDF...there are some typos and design problems with it based on the fact that I hammered it out in a matter of hours for the folks on the site a while back. It's on my list of things to do after I can get the web site up and running.

And in point of fact, I could write the best book in the world, seemingly without flaws and the folks on the 'net would bash it anyways. I don't sweat it really too much, it's bound to happen. But yeah, I really do need to revise and update the Siege, as I havent really looked at it since before the book was even done.

I tried to check out the forum link on that, but they were asking me for like 10 bucks or something to register a account, which granted isn't really all that much but I'm not willing to pay it just to check out what a few internet folks have to say about the book. They can always talk to me about it here. It's generally the same reason I know longer really market on or follow the Forge or RPG.net - too many disgruntled over-opinionated ex-designers and whatnot bitching about whatever new comes out ;). Now, granted, not everyone on there is like that, I've met some excellent folks on the forums over there, but I grew very tired of seeing people really hammer into new designers for even attempting, especially when most of those doing the bitching were either defunct or producing truly half-assed products. Folks are welcome to flame me here if they like.

Haha well this post sounds slightly annoyed I suppose but I'm really just chilling out here with Church working on the new design for the site. Therein I suppose proves my point. I could totally look arrogant, annoyed or whatever here on the forums and no one would ever know that I was in a fine mood - you just can't convey much in type.

But at least I can convey that I'm long winded. ;)

- Ashe

simon_church
24th July 2006, 11:43 PM
Do you think you say, "point in fact" enough? :D

Christopher Ashe
24th July 2006, 11:46 PM
awww

i got pwned.

StacyChaos
25th July 2006, 12:43 PM
Well, as far as I can see, that guy's the only one who's had anything negative to say. There's been much love for the artwork and the magic system.

I asked that all comments, criticisms, etc. be forwarded to you guys, through the comments section of the website.

Some more from the thread(s)

"It looks quite interesting, but i must admit i'm a bit confused.
Does the game take place in a real world setting where kids are gaining these powers, or does it take place in another setting altogether?"


" BlackTerror posted:

The points system isn't reassuring, though. 100 Points, when the most expensive thing on there costs 5, and most cost 2 or 3? That's a mid-powered character in GURPS, where stats and advantages run in the tens, most around 15. I could max out half of the sheet, including all of the prime aspects. I had to stretch what I'd consider a realistic character to spend all 100 points, let alone taking any negative points. This seems to create extremely broadly focused characters."

"Well, you've got to remember that in a default situation, where you aren't taking your time and using all your specialized tools, you're taking a -3 penalty to your actions. That means for your unarmed fighting and firefighting, when you're actually fighting, you're rolling at 2+2-3, or a 13% chance of actually hitting the other guy. Just so you know."

"Oops, right, edited to fix. Increased my dex by 2 to compensate, for a cost of 3 Also, my calculations were a little off before."



If you guys want to interact with any of the people on SA without paying for the account, I think Jonked, the guy who's going to be running the play-by-post, is on #Partyhard, on irc.zirc.org
I'm on there too sometimes... I'll say hi. :wink:

PS

Ghost, I think you only said "point of fact" like twice. I don't think that counts as phrase abuse.

-Stacy

Christopher Ashe
25th July 2006, 06:36 PM
Ghost, I think you only said "point of fact" like twice. I don't think that counts as phrase abuse.

Haha that may be true but Church has a real point, I say it all the time.

Oh and while I'm here thanks Stacy for letting me know about the Something Awful thing, I probably wouldn't have known otherwise

StacyChaos
26th July 2006, 10:06 AM
8-) hey, it's all good. I say "indeed" at least 70 times a day I'm sure... so I feel your pain. As far as the Something Awful thing goes, I was so excited about the release that I went and posted a thread in Traditional Games saying "Hey guys, go check this out!!!" So they did, and decided to run the play-by-post. :-D

I do love the guys on Trad. Games. For the most part, they don't bitch too much.