GingerSnap

New to RPGs but an old hat to geekery. I have lots of red hair, not enough time and too many hobbies! A real live librarian my interests span music, food, books, video games, sewing, tv/movies and lots more.

The Dice Are Trying to Kill Me! Dealing with Character Death

 Role Playing Games  1 Response »
Apr 272012
 

Brained by Ashe Rhyder

It happens to the very best of us. From first level Bard to 18th level wizard, sometimes that monster just rolls a crit and you’re doomed. It’s not fair: you get a DM who just gets off on killing PCs, there is nothing you can do and the dice rolls are against you, or sometimes you’re just an idiot and don’t check for traps. Now you wouldn’t think that having a pretend person die in a pretend way would be difficult, but it can be. I recently had my first brush with character death and it scared the pants off of me. It was my absolute favorite PC and I would’ve honestly been sad had she died. Now, chances are we’re all grown ups here and the death of a fictional character shouldn’t cause us to hide under the covers for days on end; but just in case you’re a little heart sore, here are some ideas on how to ease the suffering.

Laugh It Off: The first time I witnessed a PC death the player just laughed. Now it /was/ a rather hilarious death, being dragged away by giant spiders while my character failed a shooting roll and killed him with an arrow. But the nonchalance and acceptance I saw inspired me to do the same. Most of the time people laugh hysterically at their poor character dying. This is a good reminder that it’s a game and should be treated as such. It’s not the end of the world.

It’s Okay to Cry: Had my poor Penelope died I probably would’ve put on a stiff upper lip, not made a fuss, and had a good cry in a bubble bath afterwards. You get into these characters, and the longer you spend time with them  chances are the more attached you’ll be. You’re not a sissy for actually being upset, you’re human.

 

Don’t Be a Jerk: All that said it’s not okay to pout, get angry, throw things, blame other PCs, storm off and generally be a grump. Death happens. Be a good sport about it and make other players admire you for your fortitude.

 

Save Them: Some DMs will try and help you. My Penelope got a direct Crit 20 hit by the monster they were fighting and had her skulls smashed in. She was -14 hit points. My DM knew how much I loved her and he was upset that the dice had rolled such a way. He allows for other characters to try and save dying PCs (Via potion, a healer, or something else), or he’ll allow us to sacrifice something (such as an NPC, a really special piece of equipment, or a limb). In Penelope’s case we took a chance and another player made her drink a random potion we had picked up. Our DM pulled out the random potion table, the player trying to save me rolled…and lo and behold it was a potion of restoration. She gained back all her HP and gained +2 to her INT. HALLELUIAH!!!! I nearly started crying of relief right then and there. Her bright violet, Jack Kirby inspired Helmet-of-Reading-all-Languages was destroyed (see the “smashed into skull” above). But I (being a resourceful player) turned the lenses it came with into a pair of bright purple glasses that still gave her the same abilities.

Run With It: Deliberately kill your character. Slayer/Death dungeons are a blast as long as you go into it expecting death; that way it’s a treat if they do survive! I know one player who killed his character in order to murder the groups most hated NPC villain. Rumor has it was spectacular, over the top, and grand. If you’re going to die, make it fantastic!

Acceptance: Chances are you’re PC didn’t get as lucky as mine and you’re in mourning. Best piece of advice I can give is KEEP PLAYING! Roll up a new character that will join the party. Take over a NPC and make him/her/it your own! It’s a game and should be treated as such. The goal is to have fun.

In Memorandum: Keep track of your dead characters. I know of a guy who runs games that only dead characters are allowed into. Someone suggested to a local game store that they have a wall where customers can pin their dead characters sheets and how they died. Years later you’ll find this sheet, remember how they died, and hopefully have a good laugh.Yeah it’s silly to cause such a fuss over a dead character, but some people would argue it’s silly to cause a fuss over table top games. It’s only as serious as you make it. We’re all human and all have emotions. No one will fault you if you are honestly upset. Just keep it mature and in good sportsmanlike conduct. Enjoy playing the game and growing as a person while you mow down PC after PC. KEEP PLAYING!!!

Popularity: 8%

 Posted by GingerSnap on April 27, 2012 at 10:23 am  Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Full Frontal Gaming

 Role Playing Games  2 Responses »
Apr 012012
 

Boobies

Before you start rolling your eyes, this isn’t a post about sexuality in games or how women should or shouldn’t be portrayed. This is simply about the plain old fact that most women have boobs. And, any size, shape or flavor, there are things to consider in game regarding these modifiers. They are actually very mobile, sensitive and malleable organs that will affect how your female acts or reacts in any given situation. And, being a female who owns a pair, I have considered the repercussions of having a character that also sports girls.

Now I’ll be brief and to the point with the sticking point. Breasts have weight. They swing, the bounce, when you lie down they take a little nap in your armpits. Running actually physically hurts if they aren’t supported.  Sitting a trot on a horse has the same result. Ouch.

Armor.  Now I could go long and hard into practical vs awesome looking armor but we’re all hoping to get on with the day at some time. So just a few things to consider: To protect properly, they have to be big enough to cover dem boobies. If they don’t, that’s cool. Just something extra to consider just like you have to consider fighting in a 4 foot high corridor is gonna be hard. While not quite as bad as a kick to the nuts, getting a direct blunt blow to the nipple causes the same doubled over, moaning pain.

Consider your weapon. If your character’s chest is large, swinging an ax is going to be tricky. Swords are great, but two handed weapons may limit your range/strength. If a female archer who rolls a NAT 1 should be required to have the bow string hits her in the boob. While not quite on the same level as a nutshot, a direct hit to the chest results in a similar doubled over, moaning position. It hurts. A LOT!

Consider other stats. If they’re tiny, chances are your CHA checks may be affected. A female with small breasts pads them to look bigger. She can survive one direct hit to the chest due to all the padding but loses one charisma point due to her secret being found out. A character with ridiculously large girls may not be taken seriously either by sexiest men or women who are self-conscious about themselves.

The alignment of the female character can almost always be exclusively advertised by her cup size. A
Lawful Good misses will have modest, unobtrusive AAs. True Neutrals usually sport a classic B. Chaotic Evils throw all common sense into the wind and can swing some DDs and up with the best of them. When dreaming up the design of your PC to think hard about how this factors into the moral fiber of your character.

Consider modifiers for neckwear. Consider cleavage and the repercussions of showing it. Please remember cleavage is not a natural phenomenon and actually requires support to happen. If you flaunt it, be prepared to face the consequences.

They are a fact of female life and should be enjoyed as a fascinating aspect of the game. With these (hopefully) helpful suggestions you should be well on your way to facing a brave new world of female enlightenment.

 

Popularity: 1%

 Posted by GingerSnap on April 1, 2012 at 10:00 am  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

The Necessity of Dice

 Role Playing Games  1 Response »
Mar 092012
 

My modest little collection

Let’s face it. We love funny sides dice. We love regular dice. We love fancy dice. We love dice so cool looking they are difficult to read. And let’s face it: We need dice. Often the more the merrier and considering there could be much more expensive things to collect,  we can’t feel too guilty about it. They’re easy to store, last a long time, and are so much fun!

Now whether you’re a newbie, like myself, or just need to refresh your current ensemble, there are several things you’ve got to consider before plopping down monies for them. While it entirely possible to buy dice willy-nilly here are a few things to ask yourself before purchasing.

Holy crap so many dice: A dice named by the number of sides it owns. A D6 has 6 sides, a D20 has 20 (see how easy this is!). They have either pips (little dots) or numbers on the side. Sometime for specific games they have special symbols on the side. A basic set of D&D dice consists of a D4, D6, D8,  two D10 (0-9 and 0-90), D12 and a D20.

What will you be playing: Will you need a D20? Lots of D6 for dice pools? D4 for hit points? Fudge dice? Get to know the mechanics of the game you’ll be playing to figure out what you need. Think of it as an RPG grocery list. You shop by ingredients, so shop by mechanics.

If you have one, what is your theme: Some players are strict on their dice by only purchasing according to a theme. I know one player who buys only pink dice and another who buys a new set for every new character. There is a set of black and white steampunk dice on Amazon I’ve been drooling over for months now. Some people just buy as many dice as they possibly can. Some have their tried and true set they’ve had since third grade.

Type: Consider size, shape, color, pips, and any other factor. There are clear dice, sparkly dice, metal dice, marbled dice, glowing dice, dice inside dice, big dice, little dice, sharp sided precision dice, metal dice, bone dice, plastic dice, precious metal dice, and so many many many types of dice. Think about what you’ll be playing and what suits your personality and tastes.

Where to get Them: Before sinking into a panicked depression here is a comforting fact: dice are relatively easy to get. Check your local comic book/game shop. If you need a mess of D6 head down to the dollar store. Sometime your best bet is to buy a Pound of Dice from chessex.com. This will give you smorgasbord of pieces to choose from. Simply Googling dice sets will give you a a multitude of choices. Also ask around. People are sometimes willing to give up extra dice if you’re not too picky. If you’re absolutely desperate or just don’t feel like owning physical dice there are several online random generators that do the job for you!

My first set given to me for my first anniversary. They are pink and purple swirled and such fun. I own two giant dice with hearts for pips, a tiny D6 with a rose, 10 Mouse Guard dice, and a blue D20.  I’ve grown to adore these funny little items and often sigh over new pretty ones. No matter how you get yours chance are you’ll have them for years of enjoyment.

 

Popularity: 1%

 Posted by GingerSnap on March 9, 2012 at 11:51 am

Relationships and RPGs: Gaming as a Couple

 Dungeons & Dragons, Role Playing Games, Table Top  No Responses »
Mar 022012
 

I have the unique position of being both the significant other who both didn’t play and now does. This provides an interesting point of view on

Seducing the Dungeon Master: The Easy Way to Level 20

the touchy business of mixing two passions without neglecting the other. Please don’t take this as tried and true relationship advice but the following tips may help improve or enhance what you have.

The One-Gamer Couple

Being the one left behind, left out, ignored or confused by the acronyms and jargon is never something one wishes on one’s self. Your love is obsessed with mythical creatures, funny sided dice and having his/her friends over late into the night disrupting your sleep and/or those of the children. Books left everywhere and notes scribbled on napkins litter the place. While these people invade your space they ignore your pleas for attention and leave you frustrated and lonesome. Here are some ideas on how to cope.

1)      It’s not about you: Think of a hobby you adore. Gamers have the same passion and often spend a lot of time thinking, doodling, planning and scheduling their games. When they don’t answer your every word during a game it’s because they’ve immersed themselves into a world of fun and adventure. Having to stop a game is abrupt and disruptive to the action. You wouldn’t want someone walking in front of a television while you were watching a favorite show. It’s very similar. If I have questions, a comment, or problem I’ll politely tap my sweetie on the shoulder, apologize for the interruption, and explain why I did. This is preferred to loudly announcing that they are ignoring you and are more into their silly game than you. Planning a game takes a lot of effort, time and scheduling. Don’t ruin it.

2)      The mess: Face it. Tabletop RPGs involve lots of space. Table to play on; room to spread dice, books, notes, figures, maps, and snacks. Places to put everyone’s coats and bags. Clean the bathroom and kitchen. Make sure you agree on a designated spot for gaming and gaming supplies. It’s the gamer’s responsibility to keep materials contained within this spot or its fair game for cleanup. It’s easier to keep material out while working on it instead of having to put away every time, so allow this small bit of leeway.

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Popularity: 6%

 Posted by GingerSnap on March 2, 2012 at 9:00 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

Katsucon 2012

 Comics, Conventions, Movies and TV  No Responses »
Feb 272012
 

My White Mage Cosplay

This month I had the great pleasure to attend Katuscon 2012 in Washington D.C. It was my first time there and I was pleasantly delighted with it. Not as huge as some of the more popular conventions it had comfortably sized crowds.

Venue

Held at the GayLord National Resort and Convention Center right in the National Harbor, Maryland. This giant hotel and convention center sported plush interiors just ripe for amazing cosplay photography. The rooms are expensive but large and comfortable. Lots of elevators and escalators for exhausted con-goer’s tired tootsies. There was plenty of parking at a very reasonable price and the National Harbor food options ranging from quick and cheap to expensive elegance.

Cosplay

Like most anime conventions this one boasted of some amazing outfits. From last minutes home-brewed concoctions (like mine) to competitors for the World Cosplay Summit. The lovely venue and perfect sunny weather provided excellent opportunities for photographs and cinematography. For a good time just Google Katuson 2012 for some  beautiful videos and photos.

Artist Alley

My favorite room was filled with upstart artists selling paintings, jewelry, clothing, and more. Several artist were available for commissions. My favorite item was a D1: A simple clay Mobius strip with a one painted on it. No matter how you flipped it you always knew what you’d get!

Merchant Room

So many awesome things! Mostly Anime and Japanese products but several booths had dice and game books. Rare DVDs and video games were to be found alongside mini figures and plushies. Clothing styles spanned the range of Gothic Lolita, cyberpunk and steampunk. And so many giant robot toys!

Game Room

This large space was host to several large tables set up with different consoles and games. Atari, Sega, Playstation 3, Wii, Kinect and more. Several large arcade games were set up in the back for good old nostalgia gaming. Several competitions were held throughout the con and gaming went far into the night. One featured retro video games which, when I was a kid, were just called video games. The Magic the Gathering tables were always filled with players.Sadly there were no empty tables for tabletop gaming. I had carried my dice around all weekend hoping for a quickie but alas it didn’t happen.

Conclusion

                Like most conventions you get out of it what you put in. The higher profile panels had long lines, you had to walk a ways to get fed or pay for an expensive one. Chasing down someone to take their picture can get old. But being surrounded by lovely people having fun is always a delightful experience. I try to enter conventions with little expectation of how they’ll be and I’m always delightfully surprised by what I find. That way I’m never disappointed by panels I miss or friends I won’t meet up with. Most important rule: Enjoy yourself!

 

Pirate Deadpool

Sailor Venus Courtesy of Caitlyn Jones

Popularity: 2%

 Posted by GingerSnap on February 27, 2012 at 10:40 am  Tagged with: , , , ,

Where I Learned to Stop Doubting Myself and Just Hit Things.

 Role Playing Games, Table Top  4 Responses »
Feb 162012
 
By http://asherhyder.deviantart.com/

Penelope

I’m shy. Was home-schooled all the way from kindergarten through high school, quiet, meek, good little Christian girl. Having spent most of my life being told Dungeons and Dragons was demonic and a gateway to hell, I simply avoided it. One day while on a first date I asked how one actually played it. Instead of black magic, robes and ritual candles I learned about coke zero, dirty jokes and goofy fun. I decided to take a crack at it with the mind set of “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

I was launched into a game of Homicidal Transients. The other players were brilliant. It was a mixture of dice rolling; improve theater, and lots of laughter. I struggled to fight against my shyness and breathe life into Godfrey. I doubted myself on whether it was ok, cool, weird, or awkward. My first few games of Maid and Burning Wheel were like this.

In Maid my character, Charlotte, had a trait of “Easy Going.” Not much fazed her. She wasn’t the most cunning or imaginative of the maids but she was athletic and determined. Until she grew a third eyeball in the middle of her forehead. She suddenly wigged out a bit and declared additional body parts were not part of her contract.

This reaction bugged me afterwards. She was supposed to be unflappable and, while understandingly upset, I was mad at myself for breaking character. I was reacting at the time like myself (or any normal person) but not like Charlotte.

Again it happened our first session of Burning Wheel. Penelope is a farrier who came from a small village and has a vast hunger for knowledge and the world. One of her beliefs is “never be apathetic.” But when we found ourselves facing combat and delicate negotiations, she just stood there. She has no combat training at all and I could see nothing she could contribute to the scene. So Penelope, the tallest and strongest of the group, waited patiently and gave little tidbits of advice. Very boring to play.

I thought about it and realized it was so boring for me because I was playing like myself, mostly my old self. I had to learn to assert myself, speak up and stop being such a pushover. Penelope and my current me were nothing like this and it galled me. I decided right then and there to hell with it and regardless of how silly the outcome to let Penelope have at it.

The next sessions brought us up against a dark elf. And we walloped him! Completely untrained Penelope saw her friends in danger and snagged her farrier hammer. Throwing herself at him she managed to score a direct hit to his shoulder. He dropped his spear which we then snatched up and ran for the hills! Penelope received a small scratch on her midsection for this action but was introduced to the world of combat. From here she started practicing with a hammer and learning how to defend herself. She was given a gift of a small war hammer to battle with.

Starting to learn from my mistakes I kept playing other games. In Dungeons and Dragons after mentally flailing and getting frustrated with my lack of gusto I decided to hell with it. In for a penny in for a pound! I started letting my character just start hitting things, interrupting conversations, getting into scrapes, and running like a coward. Suddenly this was awesome! It turns out Penelope is falling for the dark elf we battled. He was captured and held for trial but Penelope managed to convince the king to give him to our party as a guild. Imagine quiet Penelope from that first session standing up to a king!

In a solo game of Old School Hack my cleric, Miles, was as plain and ignorant as they come. He went up against a dream weaver spider. After the DM described a sinister, evil creature Miles simply took off his shoe and smooshed it. He found a magic stone that he could only communicate with via humming. It let him from the dungeon through a bizarre game of hot and cold.

Probably my most infamous act of “in for a penny…” was Gisette in a session of D&D. We turned a corner and there was a large frog in the middle of the corridor. Without pausing she shot him with a bow and arrow. Perfect kill. Well, it turns out it was a wisdom frog and was supposed to tell us everything we needed to know about the world we had been dropped into. But since I killed him, no wisdom for us. My party member wore his intact skin as a hat and gained amphibian powers.

I’m impatient. I tend to bolt down hallways, shoot first, and get wiggly during diplomatic talks. I just want to hit things. My shyness has started disappearing as I become more comfortable playing with new people. I use it less as an escape and more as a way to explore different lifestyles and ideals. Regardless of what I’ve playing I remember it’s a game and to have fun.  And that’s exactly what I’m doing!

 

Popularity: 2%

 Posted by GingerSnap on February 16, 2012 at 10:15 am  Tagged with: , , , ,
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