While play testing continues, I as GM am finding the book keeping needed for extended melees to be cumbersome. This not really specific to PUCS, although is some sense PUCs damage by zones does add to the complexity of data management more then I had expected.
Play testing has been performed lately in PBeM (actually PBMB - Play by Message Board), because we have some new parents, many holidays, much travel etc. Since I am GM, our established procedure for game play has made me responsible for everything in the game. Not only do I track the NPCs and build maps, but I also track the PCs and make all the dice rolls. This has been going on for some months now and I have settled into certain patterns that make it a little easier.
I make heavy use of a spreadsheet. You could use Excel or Google Docs, because I do not do anything fancy. I have tab for each PC with all their details. I have a tab for a mission log, where I keep track of each round and events. This has been useful because in visiting the game only a few minutes a day, I can not remember all that has gone on, but in a few seconds I can refresh myself. Also elements of this log end up as posts on the Message board.
I also do all the dice rolling in the spreadsheet. Some may not prefer that, that is fine, but it works really well for me as the dice are not always handy when I need a roll or three. The dice rolling has become more elaborate over the last two months. I do not use a script /r 3d6+. Rather I have a dozen or so common PUCS rolls written in simple formulas, that I can recalculate with a keystroke. It has become so fast that I can process the dice rolling part of melee in a few seconds.
For the map, I still use MapTool. This tool works really well for me and is indispensable for PBeM/PBMB. I take a screen shot (from the tool) and upload the image to http://flickr.com/ If this were PBeM I could just attach the images in each email, but on the message board, its easier (for me at least) to link to an image. Although our board also supports attachments, I prefer the Flickr links. The Flickr links are scalable, players can really zoom and examine the map if they choose too. Furthermore since I keep the images in set for the campaign, players can easily review all the images directly in flickr (for example: http://flickr.com/photos/8832225@N08/sets/72157604384209063/ ). Naturally they can review them on the message board also. In the end this give GMs and Players more options. More options with no additional effort, can not be a bad thing. If you are not familiar with flickr, I use a free account which is limited to 100MB of uploads per month. I have never even come close to that limit yet. You can also have a paid account but I have yet to need one.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Playtesting Continues!
It has been a quiet month at least with regard to blog posting. However play testing has been proceeding at a furious pace. This is a lot of fun, because so far at least, there has been very little debate about the rules. The game is just flowing along and isn't that point anyway?
What is surprising to me is that the players for the most part remain in a D20 psychology about melee. This is creating additional risk for each character and is giving their opponents (run by GM) an advantage. However it has been a lot of fun and no characters have died and early on at least there was a good deal of maneuvering going on. Some missile weapons and some spell casting all to limited effect.
I would like to think that the good flow and lack of debate implies that rules are gaining some polish. It may be that testers are holding there tongues until the test is complete and they can comment on the total result rather some specific nuance here or there.
Below are some screen shots of melee. 3 PCs assaulting a hill against a force of unknown strength. The PCs played it pretty smart. Split the defenders fire, made good use of spells, and then heavy melee ensued. If they made one mistake, it would be that they let themselves get split up. They are out numbered and would be stronger if the party remained together.
What I have found most interesting is that the PCs, should already have been defeated. There has been some lucky rolling here and there, but on balance they are doing well. The melee is not yet complete, so I can't say they will be victorious, they do at least at this moment have equal odds.
Screen Shots:
Here the party came under missile fire from the rocks at the top of the map. One PC took cover and intended to return fire with a bow. The other 2 PCS charged up the hill side at angle. The effect was to divide the missile fire. As it turned out there was only 1 bow firing on them, that bowmen kept at the PC who took cover. As it turns out, that is because the bowmen never had a field of view of the other 2 PCS.
The PC taking cover, has a few more close calls with incoming arrow, but is never able to spot the shooter. He figures the general area of the shooter, inside deep shadow on the rock face and casts a sleep spell on that location. He has no idea if he got the shooter or not. The other 2 PCs continue on up the hill, but realize as they draw closer that the rock is rimmed by a dense brier. They see no way to approach the rock where the shooter likely is.
The charging PCs fall into prone positions with some cover and scan the brier for a path. While doing so they spot a defender laying prone on the rocks. They also spot a group of 4 defenders approaching from the West and heading towards their lone companion. They shout warnings.
The defenders charge continues, some spells are exchanged and one defender drops. At the same time, a cut in the brier is found and a PC blitz into it. With 3 warriors coming fast, the lone PC decides to make a break for his companions.
The break is well timed, and he stays out ahead of them. Meanwhile one PC melee's in the brier cut while the 3rd moves towards to help against the defenders from the West.
Here the action has effectively devolved into melee. The party has done well against an opponent with greater number and more skill. I am a little disappointed that party has not made better use of their capacity for movement as a defense. Still they have done well and its a been a fun so far!
BTW all screen shots done with Maptool
What is surprising to me is that the players for the most part remain in a D20 psychology about melee. This is creating additional risk for each character and is giving their opponents (run by GM) an advantage. However it has been a lot of fun and no characters have died and early on at least there was a good deal of maneuvering going on. Some missile weapons and some spell casting all to limited effect.
I would like to think that the good flow and lack of debate implies that rules are gaining some polish. It may be that testers are holding there tongues until the test is complete and they can comment on the total result rather some specific nuance here or there.
Below are some screen shots of melee. 3 PCs assaulting a hill against a force of unknown strength. The PCs played it pretty smart. Split the defenders fire, made good use of spells, and then heavy melee ensued. If they made one mistake, it would be that they let themselves get split up. They are out numbered and would be stronger if the party remained together.
What I have found most interesting is that the PCs, should already have been defeated. There has been some lucky rolling here and there, but on balance they are doing well. The melee is not yet complete, so I can't say they will be victorious, they do at least at this moment have equal odds.
Screen Shots:
Here the party came under missile fire from the rocks at the top of the map. One PC took cover and intended to return fire with a bow. The other 2 PCS charged up the hill side at angle. The effect was to divide the missile fire. As it turned out there was only 1 bow firing on them, that bowmen kept at the PC who took cover. As it turns out, that is because the bowmen never had a field of view of the other 2 PCS.
The PC taking cover, has a few more close calls with incoming arrow, but is never able to spot the shooter. He figures the general area of the shooter, inside deep shadow on the rock face and casts a sleep spell on that location. He has no idea if he got the shooter or not. The other 2 PCs continue on up the hill, but realize as they draw closer that the rock is rimmed by a dense brier. They see no way to approach the rock where the shooter likely is.
The charging PCs fall into prone positions with some cover and scan the brier for a path. While doing so they spot a defender laying prone on the rocks. They also spot a group of 4 defenders approaching from the West and heading towards their lone companion. They shout warnings.
The defenders charge continues, some spells are exchanged and one defender drops. At the same time, a cut in the brier is found and a PC blitz into it. With 3 warriors coming fast, the lone PC decides to make a break for his companions.
The break is well timed, and he stays out ahead of them. Meanwhile one PC melee's in the brier cut while the 3rd moves towards to help against the defenders from the West.
Here the action has effectively devolved into melee. The party has done well against an opponent with greater number and more skill. I am a little disappointed that party has not made better use of their capacity for movement as a defense. Still they have done well and its a been a fun so far!
BTW all screen shots done with Maptool
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