Looking For A Group

[Mike]

Hello All,

I found your forums through a post on penandpapergames.com. I'd like to know if there are still openings available for any of the four games listed.

Gaming Experience:
I played a fair bit of 2e, 3e & 3.5e D&D while in the Navy, but once finishing my tour and coming out here I haven't been in a tabletop game for several years. I did get the chance to gain some experience with 4e D&D online through FantasyGrounds II though since every group I joined tended to fall apart within a month or two so I gave up on it. I just started looking again to find a local (relatively speaking since I'm in Essex) group and haven't had a lot of luck yet. The games you have listed, SWSE & MSH, I have no experience with, but I'm always open to learning.

Group Preferences:
The gaming system and rules (core or home) aren't really as important to me as the group's atmosphere. I view gaming as a fun way to relieve stress and give me an excuse to meet new people on a day off. So home rules aren't an issue with me and it is even easier since I am not familiar with the core rules anyway. If it is fun, then I'm willing to give it a shot.

Availability:
Here's the catch for me. Presently I work on a rotating schedule (not one I can trade days around on easily) in 12 hour shifts. So generally I'll work 3-4 days (night or day shifts) a week and those days move about. That means that if the group always plays on the same day at the same time I'm guaranteed to miss at least one game per 4-5 weeks. It also means that I am fairly flexible on which days of any given week can be played though if the group tends to move the day of playing from time to time.

Why I stopped here:
Aside from being closer than going all of the way to the suburbs, the group appears fairly organized and friendly. I like the forum setup and am interested in the forum play between games that you described (I have fairly limited experience here). Reading through your DM style I think I'd be a good fit as a player.

That about covers it. If you are interested in filling another chair let me know.

Thanks,
Mike

[Paul]

The only system that is relatively different is the Marvel Super Heroes one.

Star Wars Sage edition is your run of the mill d20 game. It runs closer to D&D 3.5 then 4e.

I prefer Star Wars simply because D&D is played to death.

I was planning on a game the 11th, but as it stands that probably won't happen.

This does give us time to plan out your character creation.

I am going to keep this simple and mainly focus on Star Wars.

To summarize the current story is that it takes place after Return of the Jedi. After that I’ve thrown canon out the window. Darth Vader (Anakin) survived and returned completely to the light side. He still has the armor but it is white. There is a new Jedi council but it is only called that for the name. A more accurate name would be the force council. The point of that council is to understand the force, not the light side or the dark. All the members are listed here:
jolietgaming.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=swch&action=display&thread=223

The current PCs we have and the GMPC are all on the council.

I have not decided on starting levels but the only thing I can suggest is you better have a very good story reason why you are playing a Jedi. In our current story the idea was there was a large amount of Jedi popping up so the Emperor trained a bunch of people to go after them while the Emperor focused on Luke. It was called the second great purge.

I have no problem with Jedi, but I encourage creativity and originality. Everyone always plays a Jedi.

The best way to make this easy is just tell me what you want your character to be like and I will make build suggestions. There is a downloadable excel sheet on the forums. It is best to start here:

jolietgaming.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=rbbs

I think I’m done rambling.


P.S
What are your likes and dislikes for gaming, playing style etc?

[Bob]

Dont make paul force you to be original if you dont want to be. I offered to be original when i joined and somehow ended up being a jedi anyways and not by my selection either...lol. Well actually it was because all the non-jedi charecters in my ship were played by other people who cant play at the moment.

[Paul]

You took the Jedi - I didn't make you

lol

Even now you have one of the most unusual Jedi builds - or originial however you want to look at it.

[Paul]

Jul 8, 2010 20:10:36 GMT -6 Bob said:

Dont make paul force you to be original if you dint want to be. I offered to be original when i joined and somehow ended up being a jedi anyways and not by my selection either...lol. Well actually it was because all the non-jedi characters in my ship were played by other people who cant play at the moment.

I also didn't expect you to keep playing. Your introductory adventure was just going to be a one shot for you and your friends. For that one shot I just made a bunch of characters and let everyone choose. I figured the Jedi would have gone first but it went last and you went with it.

You continued to play so I came up with the idea that Sabby killed your original master. Months later you are still kicking ass and doing great.

Your RPing style has grown exponentially in the last few months.

[Mike]

I've been taking a look at the Star Wars Saga books since coming off work last night. It actually looks like a hybrid between 3.5e & 4e. The skills and saves are definitely more 4e styled. It doesn't look like it would take much of a learning curve, but I'll keep looking to familiarize myself with what is available and then I'll get back to you on what to run.

Regarding the originality comment, is the rest of the group full of jedi? More importantly is there a role the party really needs? Does this mean I can't play a dual lightsaber-wielding jedi with a really dark tan and a pet companion? No? Shucks.

As for my gaming preferences, it really depends on the group. I've been in some groups with great role-players that could run very little combat and be very entertaining. Largely because the banter between characters made up for any lack of action. That and the group was a bunch of thieves trying to avoid combat & attention whenever possible. I've also been in groups where the bunch are mostly roll-players and without some kind of combat to keep them entertained the game would stagnate. Either can be fun as long as the DM style fits the group. As a baseline I'll go with 40% story, 40% action (not always specifically combat), 20% puzzle/problem-solving type encounters.

Other factors:

• Level Range - Definitely in the < 10th level range (for me) since in this range you're not incapable of being heroic, but you haven't gotten to the point that you can take on crazy odds (of normal people/enemies). That doesn't mean I don't enjoy playing high levels, but to me this is the most fun range since more mundane challenges are still something to overcome.
  
• Favorite Class - I don't really have one. If I mesh well with a character then the class isn't as important. Conversely, if I can't find comfort with the character then even a class I enjoy the mechanics of falls into just being the mechanics of rolling.
  
• Home Rules/Setting - I'm generally fine with these as long as they are not unbalancing, everyone is ok with them and they are made with the intent to smooth out gameplay or increase enjoyment. Such as critical hits that leave lasting wounds (broken limbs etc) can be done in a way that is not fun or really challenging in an untraditional way depending on how a DM handles them.
  
• Session Length - In the past I'd play with a group all day on a day off, but nowadays I'm generally ok as long as I don't have to work too early in the morning or I'm not needed at home.
  

That is all I can think of for now.

[Bob]

Rage Firestaker:

Rage Firestalker is my character. He started at level 3. He started with 1 jedi and 2 scout levels. The story behind that is Rage's original master was killed so he ended up only getting some very brief jedi training. After his masters death rage enlisted as a deck security officer and first mate to a trade vessel where he picked up his two scout levels...

Now I am level 7. I have 4 jedi levels, 2 scout levels and 1 soldier level.

My guy is the most diverse in the party as of right now.

The other players are:

Derek kahn: he is not a jedi. he is pure soldier. he is a master of weapons and guns. He is also at level 7 but do to work doesnt play anymore hence the reason the party is now all jedi.

The other two jedi are at level 9 or 10 I think. They are a higher level for story reasons. One of them is my new Jedi master the other is just another jedi friend of my master.

We have no one that has any scoundrel or noble levels atm.

[Paul]

If you wanted to play that type of Jedi I really don't mind.

The group lacks anything big outside of basic combat.

We don't have a medic (even though a Jedi with vital transfer would be the best for that), smooth talker (noble), a true pilot (scoundrel), we had a gun slinging soldier but work got in the way, thief type char (scout), technician, or hacker.

Our guys can do this stuff, just not very well.

I tend to avoid puzzles. I’ve tried them but I mostly feel that in game puzzles only seem to measure out of game knowledge.

As you can tell from the examples I always have situations where there is no set way to get out of them.

A great example is my explanation of the forums RP we had a few days ago:
jolietgaming.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gmb&action=display&thread=323



I got hella delayed on a damn call.

GEEZ

[dan]

My guy isn't just a Jedi, hes almost a Sith Lord. He usually doesn't do things that are too evil, he tries to keep himself in check. Though at times he has wanted to kill Rage for not listening.

[Bob]

Jul 9, 2010 18:20:34 GMT -6 dan said:

My guy isn't just a Jedi, hes almost a Sith Lord. He usually doesn't do things that are too evil, he tries to keep himself in check. Though at times he has wanted to kill Rage for not listening.

Not only is Dan's charecter my current master but he also killed my former master before joining the "good" side.

The character of sabby has evolved overtime and i think has become quiet the hero.

Dan and paul like to classify Dan's "sabby" as a non-jedi and kind of evil but the character is probably the most noble off all recently. Due to the demand of the world around him Sabby is actually probably one of the more mature figures in the new republic and is often a force of reason for the entire Jedi consul.

He is more then worthy of the title of "jedi" no matter how often you deny it.

However I think he might just be overcompensating because of the sometimes ill advised actions by his padawan Rage and without the burden of responsibility for rage he would be a much darker man.

[Paul]

wow we sound like a bunch of dorks

I always viewed sabby as a guy that uses evil for deeds, most of them good.

[Mike]

The dual-wielding crack was entirely meant as a joke. I promise not to make anything terribly stereotyped though I have to admit that I likely am not familiar with Star Wars beyond the movies as the rest of you.

[Paul]

I know, but bob was making it sound like I was trying to pursuade you to play the jedi.

BTW I wouldn't take this forum banter too seriously. We are always teasing each other.


You don't need to know a lot about star wars. I'm sure whatever concept you can come up with we can find something that can translate into star wars.

On a side note, now is a good time to get the minuatures. Target is selling them half price. (Shameless plug over)

Minis are not needed but I can't seem to stop buying them. Between us we have a lot of minis.

Back to char gen.

It is almost better to start backwards.

Making a pilot, engineer, or jedi and go backwards. Find the right class / race / stats / etc.

There are way too many races to choose from, it is overwhelming. Once we figure out what you are looking for we can mold the rest.

Also keep in mind cross classing and stuff, so if you wanted to do pilot/smooth talker I'd say scout / noble etc etc.

Damn I'm rambling again.

[dan]

Basicly what Paul is saying is: Come up with an idea for a character and let us know. We can help come up with ideas for how to start the char, with class levels and all of that.

[Paul]

Not getting enough sleep does that

that reminds me nap time