Heroica RPG General Discussion

[Duvors]

I'm surprised it isn't something like, 40, Flipz.

Actually, from what I can tell, it probably is. Edited May 20, 2014 by Lord Duvors

[Flipz]

Wow, is your quest really such a monstrosity?

It sort of is, but mostly because I haven't organized my files and notes well, which makes it hard to know what I need to work on and would definitely make it impossible to run.

The real killer is the sheer number of characters I have to keep track of. I need to stat out a good thirty or more unique NPCs, and a fair chunk of those need to have both "enemy" and "ally" versions (though if I can do enough testing, I may just use a tweaked version of the PvP from Baltarok instead)--and that's not counting mooks and minibosses. I also have to track individual plotlines for each of these characters and factions, because that's the real meat of the Quest--yes, there's one plot/mystery I consider to be the "main" one, but it's a bit of a misnomer to refer to it as a "plot", it's more along the lines of "Quest-long puzzle". It's a lot of material, but once I've got it into this organization scheme, it should be a LOT easier to work with.

(Let's also not forget the massive amount of info I have lost amongst my PMs, some of which is current and some of which is not... )

[Pyrovisionary]

I have a whole folders worth of unused sets and 100x100 icons from all of the quests I have planned and not gotten round to actually building the sets for......

[Myrddyn]

Lord Duvors, Throlar can wear both his Crow Helmet and his Armour of the Draugr, and I think he's only wearing his helmet at the moment.

Comrade Commander, Darksten may wish to lend his Safety Blanket to Deus. He won't be able to wear both it and his Sand Worm Hide for 6 more levels anyway.

[Sandy]

It sort of is, but mostly because I haven't organized my files and notes well, which makes it hard to know what I need to work on and would definitely make it impossible to run.

I've said this to you and many others, but I apparently cannot emphasize it enough: START SMALL. Even though you've been playing this game since almost the beginning, hosting a quest is an entirely another beast to tackle. You are of course free to plan ahead and weave entire story archs - that will only make them that much better when they are put into action - but your first quest should be very simple and very short. Think of where I started with the Test Quest - it had five very short battles, a few forking paths and not much beyond that.

The absolutely worst thing you could do to both yourself and your players is to cram too much stuff into one quest and end up getting overwhelmed and lost along with your players. This is the reason I am very picky when people send me the pitches for their first quests - I want them to get at least one successful hosting experience under their belt before giving them more freedom.

I am speaking this in a general sense, mind you, not only meaning you, Flipz. But yeah, you've been planning for your quest(s) for years now, and as much fun as planning is, isn't it about time you got some actual experience doing it?

[Khorne]

I've used several papers for a single battle.

Oh oh, I want to post pictures of fancy Heroica papers, too! Here's a picture of stuff I've written pertaining to Eric's background and some foundations of Nordic mythology and politics. I don't use much of this explicitly, rather it's a handy back-up for myself to keep the Viking culture kind of consistent in how I portray it. I feel Eric's Northern background is as interesting to me as the character itself. It shaped him and guides his actions and way of thought in many ways.

EDIT: For some reason, it doesn't post the image here, but if you click it, you'll get to see the image in a new window.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Khorne

[Duvors]

Think of where I started with the Test Quest - it had five very short battles, a few forking paths and not much beyond that.

By the way Sandy, where is the Test Quest?

[Flipz]

I've said this to you and many others, but I apparently cannot emphasize it enough: START SMALL. Even though you've been playing this game since almost the beginning, hosting a quest is an entirely another beast to tackle. You are of course free to plan ahead and weave entire story archs - that will only make them that much better when they are put into action - but your first quest should be very simple and very short. Think of where I started with the Test Quest - it had five very short battles, a few forking paths and not much beyond that.

The absolutely worst thing you could do to both yourself and your players is to cram too much stuff into one quest and end up getting overwhelmed and lost along with your players. This is the reason I am very picky when people send me the pitches for their first quests - I want them to get at least one successful hosting experience under their belt before giving them more freedom.

I am speaking this in a general sense, mind you, not only meaning you, Flipz. But yeah, you've been planning for your quest(s) for years now, and as much fun as planning is, isn't it about time you got some actual experience doing it?

I do have something like that ready (aimed at low-Level Heroes), I'm just waiting on sets. That said, I know a lot of people are looking forward to my Cathedral Quest, and I don't want to let them down (especially Brickdoctor and his incredible set-building) by never getting around to finishing and hosting it.

[Pyrovisionary]

Oh oh, I want to post pictures of fancy Heroica papers, too! Here's a picture of stuff I've written pertaining to Eric's background and some foundations of Nordic mythology and politics. I don't use much of this explicitly, rather it's a handy back-up for myself to keep the Viking culture kind of consistent in how I portray it. I feel Eric's Northern background is as interesting to me as the character itself. It shaped him and guides his actions and way of thought in many ways.

EDIT: For some reason, it doesn't post the image here, but if you click it, you'll get to see the image in a new window.

All I have for Sarge is a playlist of Pirate songs

Does anyone else plan their hero or record previous actions? I just go by the rule that If I can't remember it that neither can Sarge.

[Waterbrick Down]

By the way Sandy, where is the Test Quest?

It's never been published publicly, there were quite a few changes to the rules between the Test Quest and the first public quest.

[Flare]

Unlimited questers - how much longer are you guys planning on being in there? Or have you just begun?

[Brickdoctor]

Unlimited questers - how much longer are you guys planning on being in there? Or have you just begun?

Just begun.

[Palathadric]

We've got a box Noel Shadeaux has been using to teleport people out of here with

What does Erik know that we don't?

[Flipz]

What does Erik know that we don't?

That all the smart Zeigfrieds are siding with the Shadeaux.

Or at least the sons of Valentine...

Edited May 21, 2014 by Flipz

[Myrddyn]

What does Erik know that we don't?

Oops.

I just got him muddled up with Nuitan, I think.

Beyond them both being ether-using students in #93 they aren't that similar, though.

[Flipz]

Oops.

I just got him muddled up with Nuitan, I think.

Beyond them both being ether-using students in #93 they aren't that similar, though.

You do realize that the shippers will just take that as a challenge, don't you?

[Zepher]

I have never had to read more past quests than while preparing for 102. I'm featuring quite a few old characters of other people's, and I want to get them right. I wish I had more parts.

[StickFig]

I wish I had more parts.

Story of my LEGO life....

[Myrddyn]

You do realize that the shippers will just take that as a challenge, don't you?

Yeah no man, Nuitan is 18, but Noel is only 15. That isn't even half-oldest-age-plus-7. They'll have to wait a few years.

To be honest I was wondering about Sorsha and Arges on the side-quest, though. Sorsha seemed rather concerned about Arges' possible demise, but that could just have been down to her ignorance of the fact that he is merely an NPC in a greater game.

And an NPC without a class, at that. Well, a proper class. University ones don't count. She'd be dating beneath her status (effects).

[CMP]

Sorsha seemed rather concerned about Arges' possible demise, but that could just have been down to her ignorance of the fact that he is merely an NPC in a greater game.

It's a fascinating phenomenon. NPCs seem to place value on their own lives (and eachother's). They really need to learn their place as meatshields and MacGuffins.

[Vash the Stampede]

It's a fascinating phenomenon. NPCs seem to place value on their own lives (and eachother's). They really need to learn their place as meatshields and MacGuffins.

Wait, so they aren't aware of their true purpose? How sad.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Vash the Stampede

[Endgame]

I honestly haven't noticed the affection, unless it was in the sidequest.

[Myrddyn]

It's a fascinating phenomenon. NPCs seem to place value on their own lives (and eachother's). They really need to learn their place as meatshields and MacGuffins.

I can just imagine Gibbin and Gollum dressed in white labcoats and enormous hats, standing in some lab somewhere tossing bombs into a cage full of humans and talking like that.

I honestly haven't noticed the affection, unless it was in the sidequest.

Yeah, well, Arges first appeared in the side-quest, then ran off as soon as he could, then when we found him again we almost immediately packed him off in the box.

[CMP]

I can just imagine Gibbin and Gollum dressed in white labcoats and enormous hats, standing in some lab somewhere tossing bombs into a cage full of humans and talking like that.

It's like Dastan all over again.

[Endgame]

Am I running Hexed right? It's confusing when row passives come into play, but I always rolled Hexed people as attacking from the front.

Edited May 21, 2014 by Endgame