Anyone Have Ghosts of Dathomir Yet?

[Seguleh 77]

hmmm.... i am not sure if i like new powers and stuff in adventures... but i am sure i don't like adventures in rulebooks

 

besides of that, how is the quality of the GoD so far?

[SEApocalypse 4,443]

On 14.10.2017 at 1:11 AM, Absol197 said:

This actually is a point of view that I strongly disagree with.  This essentially posits that animals (non-sentients, in the Star Wars galaxy), as well as plants, and even other forms of life, are inherently lesser than humans, and that actions taken against them are less "wrong" because they're not sapient.

Just a philosophical point, nothing to get too deep into, but it's a big thing for me  .  I can see how those who disagree with me might run it as you've said.  I certainly won't, though.  Regular Influence used to create a feeling of calm and comraderie could stand down a ravenous beast just as well, without forcing it to fear for its life irrationally.

You are making a good point why it should not award conflict when used against sentients either. You can only use the force powers you have and inducing fear as non-lethal way to make some fierce animal to stand down should a legit way to not spill blood instead. And the best part? It is so convenient and tempting to use, to use it even when it would be not necessary, but instead being just convenient. A very fitting force ability. 

Edited October 17, 2017 by SEApocalypse

[Absol197 5,296]

18 minutes ago, SEApocalypse said:

You are making a good point why it should not award conflict when used against sentients either. You can only use the force powers you have and inducing fear as non-lethal way to make some fierce animal to stand down should a legit way to not spill blood instead. And the best part? It is so convenient and tempting to use, to use it even when it would be not necessary, but instead being just convenient. A very fitting force ability. 

Outside of the context of Star Wars, I agree with you.  Within Star Wars canon, it's been established that certain things are inherently Dark, and therefore should warrant Conflict, regardless of the reasoning behind their use.  An abridged list is:

1)  Making active use of Dark emotions or inflicting such emotions on other beings;

2)  Causing unnecessary suffering;

3)  Killing without cause.

Since fear has been established as being a Dark emotion, imposing it on another being should warrant Conflict.  However, the circumstances being what they are (using it defensively to stave off an attack), it would be a minimal amount.  Yes, this means that killing the beast in self-defense after it attacks you would technically be less Conflict than using Jerserra's Influence to scare it away under this framework.

Now, I completely disagree with the conclusion of this framework, as I hinted at before.  In fact, I think your interpretation is quite valid.  However, using intense fear to avoid the attack, while effective, is not the optimal strategy if using more "positive" emotions is at all possible.  But it would still be better than killing the creature.

[Seguleh 77]

Hmmmm I am not sure Absol, killing another predator is kind of natural, making a rancor pooping his pants is kind of twisted. Maybe the predator will be kind of confused because of the fear, leading to banishment from the pack, driving him crazy, so he has to kill all the younglings to prove his dominance.

[Daeglan 5,950]

35 minutes ago, Seguleh said:

Hmmmm I am not sure Absol, killing another predator is kind of natural, making a rancor pooping his pants is kind of twisted. Maybe the predator will be kind of confused because of the fear, leading to banishment from the pack, driving him crazy, so he has to kill all the younglings to prove his dominance.

Predators know fear. Injury can be fatal by starvation to them. 

[Luahk 161]

1 hour ago, Absol197 said:

Outside of the context of Star Wars, I agree with you.  Within Star Wars canon, it's been established that certain things are inherently Dark, and therefore should warrant Conflict, regardless of the reasoning behind their use.  An abridged list is:

1)  Making active use of Dark emotions or inflicting such emotions on other beings;

2)  Causing unnecessary suffering;

3)  Killing without cause.

Since fear has been established as being a Dark emotion, imposing it on another being should warrant Conflict.  However, the circumstances being what they are (using it defensively to stave off an attack), it would be a minimal amount.  Yes, this means that killing the beast in self-defense after it attacks you would technically be less Conflict than using Jerserra's Influence to scare it away under this framework.

Now, I completely disagree with the conclusion of this framework, as I hinted at before.  In fact, I think your interpretation is quite valid.  However, using intense fear to avoid the attack, while effective, is not the optimal strategy if using more "positive" emotions is at all possible.  But it would still be better than killing the creature.

YEp. 

[Nytwyng 5,759]

8 hours ago, Underachiever599 said:

My copy of Ghosts of Dathomir finally arrived today! Funny enough, it showed up in a four foot long box, and at first I thought it was the new longsword I ordered getting here two days early. Instead, it turned out to be Ghosts of Dathomir, still two days early. 

Unfortunately, due likely to a rather small book being in a comically oversized box, my book is pretty beat up.

Mine was in a similarly sized box.

Fortunately, the book was none the worse for wear.

[Maelora 5,807]

My copy arrived in darkest Wales today. 

It feels a tad uneven - I know all SW adventures have to contain different locations and screen-wipes, but I'd have sooner tossed the first two chapters and had more stuff on Dathomir itself.  The book feels oddly disinclined to tell us much (might be something to do with the cartoons or whatever) so I might have to add in a lot more information.  (Dathomir is hugely important to the MarcyVerse and it's the source of the Jedi/Alliance conflict.)

Not sure who I will run it for yet - I'm strongly tempted to write out Harley Quinn Jerserra entirely and run it for Red and her more psychotic friends.  I did like the idea of the Nardithi Cluster as she really needs this kind of plot device, one that makes you more powerful while slowly killing you, a la Elric's Stormbringer.  Both the NPC Jedi and the PC who leads the Alliance have an interest in building up Kandy's power and using her as a wild-card against their enemies, subtly pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

The first two chapters are going to end up one long murder-spree (which might be amusing in itself!), but if I can pad out the last one, that has a lot of potential as she has to navigate the visions and the Force stuff.

Enough interesting concepts for me to play with, in any event, and the new Force power looks yummy :)

Edited October 18, 2017 by Maelora

[Absol197 5,296]

I'm impressed that you got it before the official release date, Marcy!  Not that I think it's right, but it has been a trend that the UKers have been getting their books well after the official release date. 

Although I guess you DO have Special Modifications, so...

 

I still don't have it, I have to wait until Friday .  This book has been my true bane ever since it was announced...

Edited October 18, 2017 by Absol197

[Maelora 5,807]

22 minutes ago, Absol197 said:

Although I guess you DO have Special Modifications, so...

Ahahaha! I do help out my local store in arranging games nights and teaching new players (I like to think my stunning good looks and magnetic personal charm bring them in more business!)

So they're keen to give me some free stuff like the aforementioned Special Mods, ahead of when it hits the store.

It's both a  burden and an honour to join the exalted ranks of those who get to spoil FFG books for the eager masses. 

But I couldn't even begin to wonder what someone would have to do to be an actual playtester...!

Edited October 18, 2017 by Maelora

[Absol197 5,296]

Just now, Maelora said:

Ahahaha! I do help out my local store in arranging games nights and teaching new players (I like to think my stunning good looks and magnetic personal charm bring them in more business!)

So they're keen to give me some free stuff like the aforementioned Special Mods.

It's both a  burden and an honour to join the exalted ranks of those who get to spoil FFG books for the eager masses. 

But I couldn't even begin to wonder what someone would have to do to be an actual playtester...!

Eh, mostly be an obsessive-compulsive number-cruncher with a strong mastery of both mechanical and narrative roles for differing character types.  I mean, I bet 30%+ of the people here could do it, probably even do it well, I just happened to ask for the opportunity at a good time  .

It does definitely help with my ability to judge mechanics, though!  Since I've started, I've been able to (finally!) get a decent system going for my unique personal setting, as well as make some progress on my Avatar RPG system.  So that's good!

[Underachiever599 870]

2 minutes ago, Absol197 said:

Eh, mostly be an obsessive-compulsive number-cruncher with a strong mastery of both mechanical and narrative roles for differing character types.  I mean, I bet 30%+ of the people here could do it, probably even do it well, I just happened to ask for the opportunity at a good time  .

It does definitely help with my ability to judge mechanics, though!  Since I've started, I've been able to (finally!) get a decent system going for my unique personal setting, as well as make some progress on my Avatar RPG system.  So that's good!

Okay, I have to butt in here. Avatar RPG system? Are we talking tall blue aliens, or Fire Nation attacking?

Edited October 18, 2017 by Underachiever599

[Maelora 5,807]

Giant blue catgirls for the win!

(Actually no, it's the other kind )

Edited October 18, 2017 by Maelora

[Absol197 5,296]

Well, there's only one True Avatar, and that's the one who is the only one who can master all FOUR elements, so...

Blue people?

[Underachiever599 870]

Just now, Absol197 said:

Well, there's only one True Avatar, and that's the one who is the only one who can master all FOUR elements, so...

Blue people?

Okay, I'm now super excited! The Last Airbender, to this day, has been my favorite animated series to come out of the US. Legend of Korra was pretty fun too. I'd love to hear more about your system some time!

[Absol197 5,296]

It undergoing major reconstructive surgery at the moment, sorry to say.  I had about 200 pages done using Pathfinder as a base, but putting in a bunch of custom systems (like the Techniques system I created for Bending and then extrapolated to general combat as well), including the thing I think that ALL Avatar systems need, which is for Bending to not be its own class, but something available to all classes.  So a Ranger could be both a bender or a non-bender, for example.

But now, since d20 no longer really interests me and the GeneSys system fits the cinematic style of Avatar so much better, it's being converted to a GeneSys base, along with variations on the systems I created.

Long story short, it's very ugly right now, not ready for public consumption  !

Edited October 18, 2017 by Absol197

[Absol197 5,296]

5 minutes ago, Maelora said:

Giant blue catgirls for the win!

(Actually no, it's the other kind )

Giant blue catgirls are most definitely awesome, Marcy!  But yeah, that poster is pretty much the truth.  Whenever I say Avatar, I mean AVATAR.

[Maelora 5,807]

1 minute ago, Absol197 said:

Giant blue catgirls are most definitely awesome, Marcy!  But yeah, that poster is pretty much the truth.  Whenever I say Avatar, I mean AVATAR.

Funnily enough, this is what I mean when I say it

(and if you know what I'm on about, you're really old like me )

Edited October 18, 2017 by Maelora

[Absol197 5,296]

I have no idea what that is, but I must have it...

[Mindless Philosopher 154]

ULTIMA SHOUTOUT!  YES!

Jaana the Druid FOREVER!

[Maelora 5,807]

13 minutes ago, Absol197 said:

I have no idea what that is, but I must have it...

A prehistoric role-playing game, in the Ultima series.  

I pretty much cut my teeth on all these.  They were kind of like a vestigial version of Baldur's Gate or Dragon Age.   What's interesting is that the games (Ultima IV especially) had a very strong moral character - Ultima IV was a quest for the self, not to accumulate gold and power, but to excel in the Eight Virtues and be an exemplar and role-model for the world.  It was surprisingly well written for the time and had a sweeping story. 

There were plenty of spin-offs, of which Ultima V, Savage Empire and Martian Dreams were the best - they are some of the finest CRPGs I have ever played in my life.  The Ultima Underworld games are worth a look too, long before that kind of first-person perspective was a regular thing.  The early games had very primitive graphics,. but somehow still managed to be awesome:

Plus, you could choose the gender of your character at a time when most RPG protagonists were male.

Edited October 18, 2017 by Maelora

[Mindless Philosopher 154]

Ultima: Quest of the Avatar was the video game I wanted more than anything else for years as a child.  It, along with The Hobbit, sparked a lifelong interest in medieval Europe and fantasy literature.

Edited October 18, 2017 by Mindless Philosopher

[Maelora 5,807]

And sorry once more for derailing the thread!

(But I do note that there's a poster on here named @LordBritish, who was the self-insert for the game's creator, Richard Garriot...)

And oh, one last fangirl thing about how amazing the Ultima games were:

They came in fairly large boxes that contained goodies like real cloth maps, metal medallions, real polished stones and the like, to represent important artefacts in the game itself.  The game manuals were stuffed with lore and background details, as good as any table-top role-playing game around at the time.  The sheer care that went into these games was just beautiful.

You kids today really don't know what you missed

Edited October 18, 2017 by Maelora

[Absol197 5,296]

30 minutes ago, Maelora said:

Plus, you could choose the gender of your character at a time when most RPG protagonists were male.

I remember when Pokémon Crystal first came out and I could play Pokémon as a girl.  That was, like, mind blowing.  It's awesome to know that concept existed even earlier!  Go game designers, you guys (and gals) rock! 

It seems I really don't know what I was missing .

 

EDIT:  Okay, I too pledge not to continue the thread-derail any further.  So, how about them ghosts?  I hear they're from Dathomir? 

Edited October 18, 2017 by Absol197

[Underachiever599 870]

1 hour ago, Absol197 said:

I remember when Pokémon Crystal first came out and I could play Pokémon as a girl.  That was, like, mind blowing.  It's awesome to know that concept existed even earlier!  Go game designers, you guys (and gals) rock! 

It seems I really don't know what I was missing .

 

EDIT:  Okay, I too pledge not to continue the thread-derail any further.  So, how about them ghosts?  I hear they're from Dathomir? 

Sadly, the actual ghosts on Dathomir aren't quite what I was hoping for.