tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post6253899831236696499..comments2023-05-27T11:14:02.426-04:00Comments on Some Space to Think: My Father's SwordAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-23928488421793444892010-12-16T19:34:03.261-05:002010-12-16T19:34:03.261-05:00For some reason, I was bothered by your initial ex...For some reason, I was bothered by your initial example of 'my father's sword'. It took me a while to realize that this was entirely because of personal aesthetics - if I'm playing a character with his father's sword, I'd prefer him to be treated more like D'artagnan than Luke Skywalker. This, of course, has little to do with people who DO want The Sword to matter in some way (other than as a reminder of the fact that player expectations are a very fluid thing).Chaos Clockworkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04122472296580033166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-55064526901658053392010-12-16T16:28:29.528-05:002010-12-16T16:28:29.528-05:00<grin> In my old D&D game I allowed thin...<i><grin></i> In my old D&D game I allowed things like swords and warhorses to become henchmen, and earn experience thereby. The one condition is that they had to be named though, and treated well. Prized even. And given that the campaign was essentially multi-generational rather than continuous, it made "my father's sword" a potent device. It lead to the more powerful swords* of the game becoming artifacts with a history. None of this was intentional and the results were accidental, since it all grew out of a spur of the moment decision, but it fitted the campaign so well.<br /><br />[* "Munition" level "magic" swords were actually fairly common since any talented swordsmith could make them; it didn't require a magic user. Most eras had a high level sword smith somewhere in the game world turning out +5 swords; whilst powerful, it was actually the increased potential of these weapons to acquire abilities and "awaken" to a purpose that made them highly envied.]<br /><br />[Not quite to the point of your article, but your experience reminded me of my own.]Reverance Pavanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217657347160811310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-44252365611467387292010-12-16T13:27:17.854-05:002010-12-16T13:27:17.854-05:00Very true - I was about to use counterpoint of buy...Very true - I was about to use counterpoint of buying different effects ala Mutants and Masterminds or Hero - but if they are built the same in effects based system, then there no real change.<br /><br />Yeah - only real way to make them different would be to have some system that objects have more power/weight/ability the more/better relationships you have tied into them.Arashihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536961829640913987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-63680115928499448912010-12-16T13:20:06.658-05:002010-12-16T13:20:06.658-05:00@Arashi The thing is that I can eventually get fru...@Arashi The thing is that I can eventually get frustrated with the fact that My Father's Sword doesn't actually carry any more weight than your Board With A Nail In It (though in fairness, it's something that can also frustrate me with aspects as well). Sadly, no easy fix for it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-36141435304053504732010-12-16T13:02:53.851-05:002010-12-16T13:02:53.851-05:00For me, the statement I've always used is &quo...For me, the statement I've always used is "What does this system actively encourage?"<br /><br />I've always said, a high functioning group, i.e., that all wants the same things out of the game, understands each other, and gets along, can make any system sing and have a marvelous time with it.<br /><br />However, games encourage different behaviors. Heroquest encourages things like My Father's Sword, because it is the rating that matters - My Father's Sword 17 has the same narrative weight as Death Dealing Vision 17 - dependent on the social contract/assumptions at the table, of course.<br /><br />Some day I'll find my perfect unicorn that is differently tactical in both physical and social contests as well providing a useful role to the thinky skills.Arashihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536961829640913987noreply@blogger.com