Heroica RPG General Discussion

[Flipz]

Your fault for refusing to give us stats.

Seriously, though, I'm not going to down a bunch consumables that cost a considerable amount of Gold unless I'm sure the battle's not just going to be rebalanced around them. I don't remember your stance on that issue, otherwise I'd be more decisive about making preparations or not.

For the record, the three of us have consulted amongst ourselves regarding the preparations we'd like to take, but we all agreed it was a bad idea to take those preparations without stats. Nothing against you, personally, it just reflects something about the current state of the game.

[Endgame]

I'm writing up his stats now, actually - I just needed to prep the photos, I should've mentioned that. Just a warning: That comment is gonna carry some consequences. Retcon it if you will, while I type this up... Otherwise, you're gonna be at a pretty severe disadvantage.

(Some stuff will be blanked out - like, for example, how to harm the invincible Monolith. )

Edited June 16, 2014 by Endgame

[Flipz]

What, the "monument to stupidity" or "just spit it out or go away"?

[Endgame]

Whatever you think will cause him not to force choke you so hard your inky jugular pops out your spine. (DISCLAIMER: Not actually what will happen.)

If you have to choose one, I'd recommend the monument one.

Edited June 16, 2014 by Endgame

[Flipz]

EDIT: taken to PM for now.

[CMP]

For the record, the three of us have consulted amongst ourselves regarding the preparations we'd like to take, but we all agreed it was a bad idea to take those preparations without stats. Nothing against you, personally, it just reflects something about the current state of the game.

That players are too reliant on consumables?

[Zepher]

This is like playing mafia outside of the thread. It's a strange thing I've noticed. Endgame and Flipz, why do you do these outside commentary on your own actions? Can't your actions just stand on their own? Whenever your quest moves forward, you always comment on it, Endgame. It's very strange to me, it's a a critique so much as curiosity (though it does sometimes get a little bit on my nerves ). Just play the game! No need to comment on your own choices!

And any idea on my new title? I imagine it's from here (I sadly don't post too much in other places on the site) but I can't tell what from? Perhaps people have finally noticed I use too many exclamation points? It's true in my other social media presences and texting. I don't know why I do it, I think I'm just excitable.

[Flipz]

That players are too reliant on consumables?

SOME players are, and it's adversely affected the rest of us. (I admit it, I was wrong about the "helpful Rogues" thing way back.) In case no one's noticed, I've tried not to use them unless I've needed to. I also try not to overdose on them like I used to, just so it's not "I'ma crush everything now"--I have good strategy to do that. Mostly these days, I end up using them to buff other players.

And really, what's the point of consumables if they're either a.) required (in which case it's just the same as having an enemy passive that steals Gold from the Heroes every Round) or b.) automatically balanced for (in which case the whole party suffers for one player buffing themselves, and the consumable being exactly useless to the Hero who used it). I don't know, I'm very seriously considering just pretending consumables don't exist and never using them.

[Endgame]

This is like playing mafia outside of the thread. It's a strange thing I've noticed. Endgame and Flipz, why do you do these outside commentary on your own actions?

...To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. I almost never use OOC though, so perhaps this is where all of that stuff ends up.

SOME players are, and it's adversely affected the rest of us. (I admit it, I was wrong about the "helpful Rogues" thing way back.) In case no one's noticed, I've tried not to use them unless I've needed to. I also try not to overdose on them like I used to, just so it's not "I'ma crush everything now"--I have good strategy to do that. Mostly these days, I end up using them to buff other players.

And really, what's the point of consumables if they're either a.) required (in which case it's just the same as having an enemy passive that steals Gold from the Heroes every Round) or b.) automatically balanced for (in which case the whole party suffers for one player buffing themselves, and the consumable being exactly useless to the Hero who used it). I don't know, I'm very seriously considering just pretending consumables don't exist and never using them.

I haven't rebalanced for any positive effects on 99, other than bumping up enemy HP a bit due to the whole Encouraged thing. (The highest buff was Dodekka, who get an extra 100 HP from what I intended originally.)

[JimBee]

Perhaps people have finally noticed I use too many exclamation points?

*cough*

[Zepher]

Well I figured that was it, I just don't know why now all of a sudden we're making a commentary on it.

[Flipz]

I haven't rebalanced for any positive effects on 99, other than bumping up enemy HP a bit due to the whole Encouraged thing. (The highest buff was Dodekka, who get an extra 100 HP from what I intended originally.)

Don't worry too much about it, it's a problem I've been mulling over for quite a long time without ever finding a satisfactory solution. As I mentioned in PM, I mostly got worried due to some of the comments you were making, and you've already allayed my concerns.

[JimBee]

Yeah, just poking fun at you. I do it in my texts as well, and I don't think it's at all a bad thing to sound excited and friendly. That's what titles are for, all in good fun!

[Actaeon]

Actually, you don't even notice the months fly by like this when you are on a quest. Atleast for me...

Yeah, I can see that happening. So long as I'm engaged in it with an active role, I think that will be the case. It's the waiting that's killer

Quick question for the QMs. Do you guys typically take the pictures as the quest goes on, so that you don't have to take pictures of things that might not happen, or do you guys take all the pictures ahead of time so that you can build other things and so that the quest doesn't stray too far off course? Or do you guys sometimes do one and other times do the other.

I thought about asking about this in the FAQs, but it isn't really about game-play, so I kept it here.

[Masked Builder]

Quick question for the QMs. Do you guys typically take the pictures as the quest goes on, so that you don't have to take pictures of things that might not happen, or do you guys take all the pictures ahead of time so that you can build other things and so that the quest doesn't stray too far off course? Or do you guys sometimes do one and other times do the other.

I thought about asking about this in the FAQs, but it isn't really about game-play, so I kept it here.

Both, it really depends on the quest. I've done both myself.

[Kintobor]

Quick question for the QMs. Do you guys typically take the pictures as the quest goes on, so that you don't have to take pictures of things that might not happen, or do you guys take all the pictures ahead of time so that you can build other things and so that the quest doesn't stray too far off course? Or do you guys sometimes do one and other times do the other.

I thought about asking about this in the FAQs, but it isn't really about game-play, so I kept it here.

Generally it depends on the quest. Sometimes I'll build the sets in advance and photograph them when the time in the story comes to see that location. Some QMs enjoy throwing the heroes into the images, but it's only a few that do it. I've done it once, but only because I luckily had most of the parts to build decent replicas of the characters.

With Flipz's quest, I'm doing all the photography and set building, so it's all done in advanced. There's a lot to photograph, mind you, but there's some really neat sets built for it that I can't wait to show off!

Something more relaxed like Into the Woods I generally build the sets and photograph it as the story progresses. The only set built in advanced is Kianu's house, which is coming up soon and is not 100% finished, but enough is there to photograph and add to the quest.

[Actaeon]

Sweet! Looking forward to how they look! I think if I ever host a quest, I'll probably photograph it as it goes, just so the heroes have more freedom to try other things.

[Waterbrick Down]

Yeah, I can see that happening. So long as I'm engaged in it with an active role, I think that will be the case. It's the waiting that's killer

Quick question for the QMs. Do you guys typically take the pictures as the quest goes on, so that you don't have to take pictures of things that might not happen, or do you guys take all the pictures ahead of time so that you can build other things and so that the quest doesn't stray too far off course? Or do you guys sometimes do one and other times do the other.

I thought about asking about this in the FAQs, but it isn't really about game-play, so I kept it here.

It's more of a question for the QM lounge and it really relates to QMing philosophy and style. If you have all the pictures taken you're a little more limited on where and what your party can do, however it allows the quest to go at a quicker pace (generally) because you have everything prepared. This is generally more typical of a railroading quest style. If you want to provide your players with more freedom by building as you go, then you'll tend more towards an open world quest style, however unless you have a ton of free time on your hands, you may take a lot longer to update your quest because it is dependent on you building and photographing scenes. Personally I aim at more of a happy medium, build the main sets that I think the quest will necessitate and then build some stuff on the fly if the party wants to try something that I haven't planned on. Railroaded quests tend to go smoother, but can get on PC's nerves because people like options. Open world quests give options, but generally PC's have to really be able to take the initiative and try stuff out otherwise people just sit around asking "what do you want to do?".

[StickFig]

I'm turning 30 tomorrow. Party time!

Happy birthday Sandy!!!

The Skirmisher's words dripped so much sarcasm that, had it somehow been converted into poison, The Regret would be taking six thousand damage per Round from it. "But what do I know, the cold never bothered me anyway."

1) This is an Endgame _{boss we're talking about, right? What makes you think it would blink at 6000 poison damage?}

_{2) You can't marry someone you just met!}

[Myrddyn]

And really, what's the point of consumables if they're either a.) required (in which case it's just the same as having an enemy passive that steals Gold from the Heroes every Round) or b.) automatically balanced for (in which case the whole party suffers for one player buffing themselves, and the consumable being exactly useless to the Hero who used it). I don't know, I'm very seriously considering just pretending consumables don't exist and never using them.

Yeah, I try and avoid using consumables as well. I'd much rather spend gold on something I can use in multiple battles, rather than just once.

#93 is reeeeally close to finishing, at long last. I'm proud of my players since they chose to take the long route and try to save everyone inside, even though it took half-a-year.

Yeah CallMePie said something similar, after #69, about the party doing all the optional stuff, but in my opinion it seems like a waste to just skip all the sidequests.

Happy Birthday, Sandy!

Edited June 17, 2014 by Myrddyn

[Pyrovisionary]

Consumable free since Sarge was 53

I can just never be bothered really. I only use potions and phoenix essences.

[Flare]

Sarge is always hastened, so thats not really fair...

[Pyrovisionary]

Cynthetic bio augmentations and performance enhancing drugs are different.

[Palathadric]

Yeah CallMePie said something similar, after #69, about the party doing all the optional stuff, but in my opinion it seems like a waste to just skip all the sidequests.

Exactly! And #69 was just so awesome!!!

[Bricksandparts]

The Enemies

Snake!

Level 6 Vermin

Health: 41/41

Special: Poisonous Bite - Causes the poisoned by 1 effect.

Drops: Venom

This is why I felt we needed an experience system in heroica rather than the current system... Since it has been the same for a while, I don't know if there is much that could be done, but I feel that the current level system just discourages QMs from hosting smaller battles.