[OOC] Mount Olympus: The Meeting Place of Gods

[TheMystic]

I like the Hex, graphical and combat upgrades in Civ V. But I severely dislike the UI, and the AI and a lot of the new mechanics, like how they deal with happiness.

[Ser Lumiere]

Gosh, I come back from work-related absence to find we have pretty shiny new maps! That is super cool.

[DaMavster]

Anything I can do to move my game thread ahead? It's been over a week. I just don't want to be holding you back.

[Eviltedzies]

I think he is just busy IRL. He will update soon.

[TheMystic]

I can't say I'm entirely sorry to say that there is nothing wrong with your posts.

I'll make a concerted effort to get two posts in a week from here.

[DaMavster]

Off Topic Warning:
Has anyone here tried using the FATE system? I've been looking at it for a little bit now and it intrigues me.

[Statutory Plum]

I don't even know what the fate system is. You should enlighten me

[DaMavster]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FATE_(r...ng_game_system)

The 2.0 rules are available as a free PDF, which is where most of my knowledge of the system comes from. After 2.0, they released several games that use the FATE system, but add to/tweak it (Spirit of the Century, Dresden Files, etc). They recently had a Kickstarter (why do I always miss out on Kickstarters?!) for a FATE Core, which is the next iteration of the core rules. So, my knowledge of 2.0 won't be as relevant once that comes out (should be in a month or two, I hope).

Nerd Rant, Ho! So, my 2.0 understanding is thus: Characters consist mainly of Aspects and Skills. Aspects are descriptors that define parts of your character and are totally up to the player to create and define (examples: Bookworm, Strong, Veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, I'm here to chew bubblegum and kick butt and I'm all outta bubblegum). Skills are more what we're used to in that there will probably be a defined list for the setting (Swim, Acrobatics, Computer Hacking, etc) and have levels indicating their level of ability. Aspects in and of themselves normally don't do things directly (they can, but not normally). However, if I were to attack you with my Brawling skill, but I don't roll high enough, I can check off my Strong [3] Aspect to reroll the dice (or modify 1 die's result). Aspects define your character, and have a certain number of uses in a session showing when they are important to the story. For instance, Luke Skywalker is an ]This is his aspectAce Pilot [2. He's always an ace pilot by definition, but the max number of times it will be important enough to warrant a mechanical benefit in a session is 2. Players also start with a certain number of Fate points, and can earn more in play. A Fate point can be spent to increase the result of a roll over and beyond the limit (possibly). They can also be used to take minor narrative control (I spend a fate point to say that the trunk of my car has a crowbar, since I need one. It doesn't magically appear: it always existed but I spend a fate point to say so because it's important to the story or what I'm doing). Now the cool part for me in Fate 2, is how you earn Fate points. You earn them by having your Aspects work against you. And the GM gets in on this action too. So for instance, the Bookworm Aspect. Let's say your bookworm character is in a burning library, chasing after a fleeing vampire. The GM, for instance might offer you a Fate point "Look at all of these precious books being burnt up. I think you stop to save as many as you can". The bookworm character can accept and earn a Fate point (but the vampire will probably get away), or spend a fate point to reject the GM's offer (you end up with either +1 or -1 Fate points). If you're out of Fate points, well, then you can't resist and you earn a Fate point by default. But that shouldn't happen often.

And, now I've been long winded, but that's the gist of the system. I've left out specific dice mechanics and some other things (like Stunts and Extras), but to me, that's the core of the system.

I'm probably going to buy the Fate Core book when it's released. I was hoping to get some input from someone who's seen the new rules, but meh.

[DaMavster]

This game is so cool! And only 3 spells cast so far!

How's everyone else doing? Horace is turning out to be a little more multi-leveled than I originally suspected. He's still squarely Neutral Evil, but it's a "I'm better than normal people, so it's okay to step on others but that doesn't mean I have to be a total jerk though" kind of evil.

Should be even cooler if/when we start interacting with one another. Or even hear rumors about each other.

[Statutory Plum]

I am good, picking out a victim in a tavern. Dare I say, it shall be bloody...

[TheMystic]

First of all it warms my heart to hear how much you are enjoying this. I'm also really enjoying how Horace has fleshed out.

Or even hear rumors about each other.

This will probably start soon, only a few in game days have to pass before that sort of thing starts happening.

[Raunchel]

So far I'm behaving perfectly, no innocents have been harmed, and of course there has been no magic, Drusilla really disapproves of such unnatural powers.

[Eviltedzies]

At the moment I'm at a feast being held in Victor's honor for helping heal people in town after a bandit raid. Also got me my first apprentice.

[Statutory Plum]

Just checking in with Mystic, haven't posted in a while as I have been busy. Will post some time today.

[TheMystic]

That's fine.