Table-Top RPGs - How to make a complex and interesting game without complex rules

      As it has been seen in the past 5 or so years a rise of the geek culture has been prevalent across the globe. One of the easiest points of entry for those who wish to get into and understand the culture is through games. If you have been playing some of the more recent game releases you have noticed one very common theme, the rules have gotten really complex!

      Their are games out there that you really won’t enjoy until you 3rd, 4th, or 5th time playing it, and for a lot of people they just don’t play games all that often. I think that one particular genre of game however allows people entry into a game that is really interesting and will draw them into our culture just as well. Table Top RPGs are great in that they can be as simple or as complicated as you (Or the GM/DM) wants them to be.

      What is also great about TTRPGs is that they allow each individual player to bring something of themselves to the game. I think that if we introduced more people to this type of game it could create some really interesting results. The setting, style, characters, and gameplay become second place to the main story and concepts that are being created. Not only this but it allows new perspectives that the veteran gamers will never expect. 

      I have seen games such as Fiasco where the character creation is quite simple and the style of role-play is somewhat controlled, but also allows for a lot of customization. It can be somewhat quick, and is great introduction to the world of role playing. 

      The links below are from Wil Wheaton's Online show "Table-Top" where he and other geeky celebrities get together and play games. It's a great way to see how Fiasco works.

Fiasco Setup 

Fiasco Play Pt. 1

Fiasco Play Pt. 2

      All the major known RP games have pre made characters, but can also be tweaked and simplified by the DM/GM in order to accommodate those new to the genre.

       Ultimately the success of this genre as it appeals to new players rests mainly with the DM/GM and the people they are playing. I have only been playing Table Top Games now for roughly 6-7 years, and I love every chance I get. 

      Speaking of, I have a Monk/Avenger Hybrid with a schizophrenia issue character to attend to.  

Prepare For Titanfall - Beta First Impressions

      So I was really excited to see that EA/Respawn were going to launch a Beta to test out the servers for their new FPS/Mecha Game Titanfall. I was even more excited on Saturday when I got my code. So I thought I would talk about my thoughts on the beta. 

      Titanfall for those who have not seen any of the trailers or are unfamiliar with the game is a FPS at heart, but the game gets really exciting when the you summon your mech (known as a Titan). You can then pilot the mech and wreak untold distraction on your foes. 

      The Beta kicks off with a thorough tutorial that reminded me of portal-esque moments in the near sterilized environments they put you in. This is a really solid tutorial and really gives you a feel for movement both as a pilot and in your Titan. My one hope is that this tutorial (which is required in the beta before play) will not be required in the final release, as it is a bit lengthy. 

      The three modes the Beta came with are attrition (A team death match mode), a domination-type mode, and last titan standing where each person only has one life. This seems to generalize the diversity of match types that Titanfall will have, and is standard FPS fare as far as types go. 

      The movement in this game is one of the areas this game really shines, you have elements of parkour where you can run off walls, the double jumping and other elements really allow you to use all aspects of the environment to your advantage. Also this eliminates a lot of the standard choke points seen in typical FPS games, as any open window or hole is now a potential entrance spot for enemies. 

      The balance between Titan and Pilot was also very good as I felt I was contributing to the match in both elements. Also it was necessary to have both pilots and mechs in order to be successful in the game. 

      The Beta is running really smoothly and has had minimal issues (from what I’ve seen) with lag or disconnects. I think the time between matches right now (75 seconds) is a bit long, and I’m sure this will be tweaked. 

      I’m curious to see how the visualization options, and load out options will really diversify the type of gameplay. The beta seems to have some of this (especially for pilots) but it seems for the titans it is mostly just different methods of destruction (chain gun vs. rockets and the like). I also want to see if there will be a single player mode, and how they will bring us into this world. 

      If the Beta is any indication, this game is living up to the hype and I am looking forward to picking up my copy on March 11th.

The Beatles - The Unified Musical Experience

      So for this week I knew I was going to write an article about music and music performance. This was inspired due to recent performances on television (The SuperBowl, SNL and the like). I was going to take the spin about how musicians are still able to receive popularity and not be good live. This is something I’m quite floored by, but I think I want to talk about something else tonight. 

      Today was the 50th anniversary of The Beatles performance on the Ed Sullivan show, and the beginning of their incredible rise of popularity. The Beatles and their span of performances is one of the few unified experiences that most of America and the UK (Not to mention most of the rest of the world) have shared. 

     To watch the performances tonight only shows what a dominant impact this one band has had on our culture and in the half-century since they began. After seeing all the performances tonight it was a magical experience for those watching and those who were live. This would shave been a great show to see. 

      The question I wish to pose is where is this unified experience now? Do we share common music and experiences? 

      There are moments that we can all recall in more recent music history, however this is only relegated to the age you are or the music genre you like. It does not have the same universal impact that The Beatles had. 

      Case and point was made by Dave Grohl tonight when he mentioned that the Beatles was his mother’s favorite band, his favorite band, and now his daughter’s favorite band (Who was like 6-7). 

      When music can transcend generations, that is inspiring. From a historical perspective the only genre that has done that with out massive changes in classical music, which is like comparing apples to oranges. 

      Its not for lack of talent either, a look at the current music scene and there is plenty of talent to go around. Tonights series of performances from the Salute to the Beatles included many modern artists who are really talented, however with the exception of Stevie Wonder, it’s likely most of them will not have the mass popularity of their music. 

      My thought is that the biggest cause to this lack of shared experience comes from two causes: music’s decline as a form of entertainment, and the diversity of music that permeates our culture. 

      For your average person, music is no longer considered a form of entertainment in it’s own right, it is mainly used a noise or something to help pass the time. It is usually being listened to in combination with something else. This already lowers the immediate value of the art, and is not something that is truly appreciated as much as visual arts. 

      The other culprit being the diversity of the music we have now. Their is a genre for everyone, and access is easier than it has ever been. This is not a bad thing! Their is something that everyone can enjoy out there, and most of us find that one genre that we really like. This however makes it harder to have a shared cultural musical experience.

      I would love to see an artist or band have an impact now like The Beatles did then, however with the obvious two roadblocks listed and the lack of focus our culture has on music, it seems unlikely. 

      However at least we are fortunate to experience those moments in hindsight, and see these phenomenal artists still - 50 years later. 

      And…Paul and Ringo still got it, no question

Where is the Major Geek Cultural Event?

     

      Today is Super Bowl Sunday, the biggest single sports event of the year. It is amazing to see how nearly everyone, sports fan or not, is somehow engaged by this yearly event. However I notice as each year passes more and more people avoid the Super Bowl, or state that they are watching it “only for the commercials”. I suppose that is reason enough, but in many ways this is a great opportunity to build community. Something I think our society sees less of each and every day. 

      So I thought about the many facets of geek culture and whether or not we had a similar event. I think the most difficult thing about bringing new people into any aspect of the geek culture is the lack of accessibility. If you think about it, watching sports is about as accessible as it comes. You may need to explain how the sport works, but generally anyone who has taken physical education will have some grasp on how the sports work. 

      With Geek culture, this is the opposite, sure people are aware of the shows, movies, games, etc. that make up the culture. However they do not know what makes our community, why we celebrate our love of these things on a regular basis, and how excited we are when we meet people who have similar interests. 

      Major geek events could be things like PAX East/Prime, Comicon, or perhaps E-sport events as well (as they gain in popularity). They could also be gaming tournaments as these have started to gain more popularity and notoriety. In all of these examples however we hit the same problem: accessibility. Unless you are actually at these events, you fail to see and experience that sense of community. 

      If you consider events like movie premieres and television series premieres/finales events, these have more accessibility as far as people all over can experience them. However these tend to be niche experiences to those who like the show or movie genre, and do not encapsulate the entire community. 

      I have heard of days like Tabletop day where gamers are encouraged to get out and play a game with people. I would like to see these types of experiences get more exposure, as I think this is an excellent way to build that sense of community. This also provides that essential accessibility where anyone regardless of the level of commitment can experience a part of the geek culture. 

      Did I miss any examples? Can you think of major geek events that have mass appeal and accessibility? Is their another way where we can share the love of the culture en masse? I would love to hear your thoughts. 

Oh and GO BRONCOS!