Random notes.
After having ran and played in multiple games with player-facing dice rolls, I gotta say I strongly prefer them. Having players roll all the dice frees the GM up to focus more on what's happening and what happens next and it keeps players being active contributors.
Player-facing rolls have moved up the ranks in my gaming preferences right up there with luck points and death choices.
Speaking of gaming... shit I'm behind. I playtested ZSF and I'm in a spot where I could hone it, focus in, and get the game done. But right now in this instant I do not have that fire. I'll get back to it later.
Meanwhile I've dashed out a few other game ideas. I wrote one the other day based an older idea called Dirty Dozen Death Squad. You make a unit of 4 or 5 characters, then all the players bring all their characters and you just go through a violent mission. I guess it's more of a skirmish game and RPG.
Made another one this week. No name yet, but it's got a neat little core where you roll a d20 if you've got a skill and a d12 if you don't. Each hit you take knocks you down a die step. But it's not a combat game... it's more of an explore and interact kind of thing.
Sketching is always on the table. Tons and tons of drawing and doodling and coming up with ideas. I've written many comic book scripts lately. I just can't seem to find the oomph to focus on one thing long enough to get it done.
But I'll get there.
"After having ran and played in multiple games with player-facing dice rolls, I gotta say I strongly prefer them. Having players roll all the dice frees the GM up to focus more on what's happening and what happens next and it keeps players being active contributors."
ReplyDelete?
You mean that you as the DM never get to roll the dice? The players get to do all of that? But don't you want to get in on the action?
It's like The Black Hack, Mörk Borg, etc. I've been leaning this way for a long time. GOZR is set up this way too.
DeleteThe idea is the GM isn't making attack rolls, for example. If you're being attacked, you make a defense roll.
Who rolls other dice is kind of up in the air. The GM still makes random rolls as needed (is there an encounter? what direction is it? etc.). And the GM can roll damage dice, if there are any. That sort of thing.
You've definitely been creating a lot lately. It's cool if it's not all focused in one spot all at once. I'm not sure there's any reason to even try to force it to work that way.
ReplyDeleteI saw someone awhile explaining how their relationship with chores and such is impacted by ADD and how sometimes they have energy, but it's "clean the bathroom" energy, not "do the dishes" energy, and they can choose to either have a clean bathroom and dirty dishes or to have dirty bathroom and dirty dishes, because the energy doesn't "convert" well. As an adult I recognize I gotta do the chore anyway no matter how bad it sucks, but I think for hobbies and passions, there's no reason to fight against that energy conversion. As long as you're interested in and enjoying what you're working on, the result will always be better than if you try to force it.
I enjoy your comics and your games and your "homeless" doodles all the same.
That's the perfect description of how I do chores as well! Exactly that. I come home from work and I often have some energy... but it's like I have to just do whatever the thing is that I need to do in that moment. Not "need" in a practical sense. There are things I need to do but can't muster the will to do them. Then there are other things less needy that I suddenly focus on furiously.
ReplyDeleteYeah that's me. Huh.
I have a daily requirement for sweep and mop the floor energy, walk the dogs energy, wash the dishes energy, and make everyone's dinner energy, whether I like it or not, and especially after getting home from a 10 hour shift.
ReplyDeleteAside from that, I play a scifi shooter rpg called Dirtbags! The GM doesn't roll any dice, the players roll everything. I found that really weird to start with. It took me some time to adjust, especially through the playtest phase. But now? It's great. I really enjoy it and I think it gives the players more agency. At the same time, if some bad shit happens to their character you can just point the finger and say, "Well, you rolled the dice."
I've not played any other player-facing games so far. I might get around to that in 2029 or so, when the two campaigns I play in and the one I run come to a natural close.
Nice. Great title, too.
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