Wichita Gamers

So, what are you playing recently?

I haven't played in a few months, but I'm getting ready to start up a new D&D 4E campaign with some new-found friends… group of four players, hoping to add a fifth when his schedule lets up.

Played D&D a lot in high school, but abandoned it shortly after for "generic" point-build systems. For a long time, D&D epitomized the type of gaming I didn't want to do. 4E has really surprised me on a few levels. I briefly tried 2E and 3E, and discarded them as still being that hack-and-slash game mired in 1980's game mechanics. So I find myself rather surprised to be playing 4E, and even more surprised to find 4E innovating in the field. It's never going to be my go-to game (I like having a system I can mold to whatever setting I want to run), but it is an amazing piece of work that does what it was designed to do better than any previous edition.

On one hand, it is focused like a laser on doing one thing really well: killing monsters and taking their stuff. Practically all nascent roleplay-oriented mechanics were quashed, on the theory that you don't need mechanics to facilitate roleplay… "flavor" skills like armorer were just a waste of time because the skill never came up in play, and you can just as easily say, "My character used to be an armorer." (This was stated in a recent Dragon article.) And to a certain extent, they're quite right.

But on the other hand, a game is about what it rewards the player for doing… and the player is clearly rewarded for killing monsters and taking their stuff in the most efficient manner possible. The player isn't specifically rewarded for roleplay. The detailed combat system, and virtual requirement to have a battle map and minis (the system is highly tactical, with many powers based on precise movement), means players can get sucked into "playing the board game" instead of imagining the battle from inside their character's head. Throw in lengthy combats, and there is little time left at the table for roleplay. And while we may say that roleplay is its own reward, the ephemeral self-reward of roleplay is in competition for the concrete reward of XP that lead to new kewl powerz! Roleplay gets cut short when we've only got an hour left and everyone wants to get one more encounter in before the end of the day.

So I'm looking forward to this group… a couple of new players are coming from a group full of strong roleplayers, and I'm hoping they can help move our whole group toward focusing on characters as people and what their future holds, and less on the mechanics of battle and concerns of needing a full rest so they can regain their daily powers before moving on to deal with the Big Bad.

Don't get me wrong… I like the combat. I wouldn't be playing D&D if I didn't. But I want the combat wrapped up in a good story with characters that feel "real".

Let's see…
On Wednesdays I run a mortals game in the Exalted 2nd Edition system.

Every 2nd Friday of the month I run ShadowRun.

Sundays I play in an Old World of Darkness game.

And right now I'm playing in another Old World of Darkness game on Saturdays.

As for wanting a game with 'feel' to it, rather than Hack-and-Slash, have you ever tried the Exalted game?

My game tends to have very few fights in it. Usually about one fight every game/ every other game. And I've been told that's a high combat factor for Exalted.

Very interesting 4E comments, Carl. That's what I'm playing/running - or lately, with folks' school scheds, etc. TRYING to play/run.
Funny - I was looking at starting a new campaign too. I'd started with a group, run through Keep on the Shadowfell, and unfortunately for the pc's, final encounter was a TPK. I did provide some options, but only one original pc came back, the others making new ones. They were just starting H2 Thunderspire Labyrinth (pc's were like, L4), and one player got booted from my "circle" (ala, Meet the Parents). Ended up getting the commitments of two new players (wondering if you got the same ones, by chance!) =] , and given that circumstance, opted for a "fresh start" for all involved.

Now, if I can just get that "fresh start" actually STARTED!!!!!!!!

Again though - interesting thoughts. I fully, COMPLETELY agree on the rp'ing aspects and as a would-be, aspiring freelancer for 4E stuff, find your concept for more tangible rp rewards to be a "spot on" line of thought.

Seems like we have a gazillion start/stop campaigns over here all the time….
Games i've actually played in more than once in the last 6 months are D&D 4th Ed. and Pathfinder, and i've run Hackmaster and WOD a few times myself.
Shadowrun keeps cropping up more and more often though i've noticed.

Well currently I am playing a Star Trek rpg. I also was playing D&D 3.5 I cannot stand 4th edition the potential for roleplay is just not there and it reminds me too much of WOW. I also have been buying up alot of the old world of darkness books I really enjoy the system other then that I am up to almost anything if anyone is willing to run.

Playing 4E and thinking of running a 4E campaign. I think that the RPG comes from the players and should be encouraged by the DM.
I could not enjoy 3.5 too many stats, skills, blah, and blah.

enjoyed Shadowrun back in 2nd edition i think.

Gamma world (woot old school baby!)

and anything fun!!

I am currently playing in a D&D 3.5 game but I have also played Exatled, Star Trek,The Old World of Darkness,Pathfinder, among many others. I will play any game system well except for Rolemaster, I am sorry I am not a big fan of charts and that is all that is there.