Heroica RPG General Discussion

[Rider Raider]

What we really need is some new blood in the QMing department, the veterans: Endgame, Sandy, Kintober, and Zepher could probably use a break. CMP and I are getting back into it after a brief respite and it's been nice to see KingoftheZempk jumping on board but we're going to need some new QM's if we want to keep it going. If anyone is ever interested in hosting there's quite a knowlege base of what makes a good quest in the QM Lounge.

I would love to QM once I am more experienced. Also, you forgot Pala.

[Waterbrick Down]

I would love to QM once I am more experienced. Also, you forgot Pala.

Pala's actually still on his first quest. The numbers as they currently stand:

Sandy - 29

Zepher - 17

Endgame - 16

Kintober - 12

WBD - 10

CMP - 8

CJP - 8

Overall 2/3 of the quests have been hosted by these 7 people.

[Asphalt]

If anyone is having trouble using physical bricks, remember LDD is a thing.

A hard thing

[Rider Raider]

A hard thing

A very hard thing.

[Endgame]

Also, 147ers, I have been disgustingly busy lately, and still need to edit a few photos. Expect an update tonight!

[Asphalt]

A voice echos throughout the chamber seemingly coming from all directions.

"Who goesssss there?"

Nobody, the answer is always nobody.

[JimBee]

Absolutely agree. It was not my original intention - I was going to allow for as many as the player wanted, but the more I thought about it the more I thought that just wouldn't be fair to my fellow QMs.

I don't see how they're much different than the scroll forge from #130.

What am I supposed to do now? I would've done differently if I would have known you could only imbue one. I already imbued two into SOAH.

As a chronic QM, 1 is plenty. Imagine if someone got Blindness and Sealed on one weapon? It'd be a nightmare.

Like Iustitia is right now? Even with the new rule proposition it's fair game. Look out.

[Zepher]

Exactly - they still have a chance to make weapons pretty damn powerful, even with only one - if you add them to a weapon with an effect already, you're going to still be able to cripple well. Besides, the gems were pretty cheap over all - it's not like they've been devalued drastically - you have enough weapons to spread them out over and still up your arsenal significantly, and if not you can sell them! And you have Zeus right there if you'd like to spend a bit of extra cash to get another gem.

Like I said, I'm open to debate! I know it's a little unfair at this point, but hearing word from other QMs has sort of affirmed the choice to nip it in the bud now. The difference with the scrolls is of course the 50/50 chance.

[JimBee]

You're right that it's the fair solution, I'm just bitching and moaning because I wanted to be OP. I forgot about the 50/50 chance for scroll weapons.

I'm going to switch the Aquamarine to the Hollow Dagger and retcon my marketplace post. I think it's fair that I should have to pay to disimbue it after the ruling changed.

[Chromeknight]

I'm planning on taking a swing at QMing. But I'm not keen on running battles. Doing if from an iPad (my main screen) seems to be a little complex. Are there others who'd just do the battles bits and co-QM?

Perhaps this belongs in the QM lounge but I'm wondering what the list of tasks for QMing is.

-generate plot idea

-generate battle points / enemy ideas

-build sets (at least for intro, first encounter)

-edit photos (optional)

-get quest approval

-recruit heroes

Then

-specify enemies/battles (at least for first encounter)

-converse using NPCs, QM exposition

-run battles, correct errors, describe and converse

-describe encounters, converse and prompt decision making

-photograph and specify encounters as needed

Anything else?

[Asphalt]

I would put a little more emphasis on sets and encounters, but yeah seems about right, and a whole heap load of storytelling.

[CMP]

-Come up with quest idea

-Sit on quest idea

-Detail quest idea

-Postpone quest idea

-Come up with a completely different quest idea

-Quest

-Use original quest idea a year or two later

[samurai-turtle]

-Come up with quest idea

-Sit on quest idea

-Detail quest idea

-Postpone quest idea

-Come up with a completely different quest idea

-Quest

-Use original quest idea a year or two later

That sounds like my plan.

I was wondering if using a smart phone would be a pain to host a quest with, I thinking it would be.

Plus, using LLD gets a little easier with some practice.

[Endgame]

Doing anything on Heroica on a phone is a nightmare. I couldn't run a single round of the Forge from 139 on my phone.

I should do a stream of me building stuff in LDD, just to show y'all how easy it can be.

[Asphalt]

And lots of tutorials and starter aets for us.

[Lind Whisperer]

...and starter sets for us.

This any help?

[Asphalt]

hmmm, now how exactly do we use those?

[Rider Raider]

Does anyone want to read Timothy's story? It's in my profile.

[Asphalt]

Love to. Thanks for the heads up.

[UsernameMDM]

And as someone pointed out, you can literally host a quest without building anything: just borrow pics from other quests. I'd ask you builder/QM first though.

[Flipz]

I'm planning on taking a swing at QMing. But I'm not keen on running battles. Doing if from an iPad (my main screen) seems to be a little complex. Are there others who'd just do the battles bits and co-QM?

Perhaps this belongs in the QM lounge but I'm wondering what the list of tasks for QMing is.

-generate plot idea

-generate battle points / enemy ideas

-build sets (at least for intro, first encounter)

-edit photos (optional)

-get quest approval

-recruit heroes

Then

-specify enemies/battles (at least for first encounter)

-converse using NPCs, QM exposition

-run battles, correct errors, describe and converse

-describe encounters, converse and prompt decision making

-photograph and specify encounters as needed

Anything else?

-Come up with quest idea

-Sit on quest idea

-Detail quest idea

-Postpone quest idea

-Come up with a completely different quest idea

-Quest

-Use original quest idea a year or two later

Pie's idea seems like how it actually happens, to be honest. That said, I do have my own process:

1. Come up with an idea. Sometimes it's a character, sometimes a plot, sometimes a moment or story beat, but whatever it is, it needs to be specific.

2. Come up with more ideas. While some QMs are more than capable of spinning a single idea into an entire Quest, I personally learned on 118 that one or two core concepts were not enough material on their own for me to weave together a satisfying narrative, especially when said concept(s) are somewhat vague.

3. Research. Of the time I've spent on my next two Quests, a good third of it or more has been spent researching what has and hasn't been established about the characters and locations I'm planning to use. This research will usually generate at least a few ideas that can supplement the ones you're already using, which is important for the next step. This is an ongoing process, one that can end up altering things later down the line as game elements are introduced and altered.

4. Assemble. Basically, I plonk down all my ideas, sit down, and figure out where and how they'll connect. "Okay, I want Character X in Location Y. How do I accomplish that...maybe I can put Motivation Z there? Yeah, that makes sense, since Quest AB said that Character C was last seen in Location D, and I already have plans to emphasize the connection between Group E there and Organization F in Location Y. Perfect, let's write that down."

...okay, usually I use WAY more unreadable shorthand than that. But yeah, usually it consists of me connecting two or three ideas in little chunks, and then tying those chunks together in turn until everything fits.

5. Initial Approval. This is usually when I PM Sandy and ask if my idea will work or if I'm stepping on his toes/creating an idea that just completely won't work. Better to do this now than later after doing all the work on the outline.

6. Outline. I have a specific format that I use that helps me a LOT in keeping my thought process intact even weeks and months later:

Segment Title (major notes):

• Story Beat Name (Encounter type [usually RP or Battle])
  
  • Brief explanation of situation
    
  • Enemies: -or- Puzzle: -or- Obstacles:
    
  • Function 1 within Quest design
    
  • Function 2 within Quest design
    

  [*]Segment Title (Encounter type)

  • Brief explanation of situationn
    
  • Enemies: -or- Puzzle: -or- Obstacles:
    
  • Function 1 within Quest design
    
  • Function 2 within Quest design
    
  • NOTE: Special notes (i.e. whether the beat is core or optional, if it can get locked out by another beat, etc.)
    

I find that this format helps me remember not only what I'm planning, but why I made that specific choice. Once I finish, I'll usually go through it with a player's eye and try to find moments where I'd feel controlled or cheated, or otherwise unhappy with the Quest.

7. Setbuilding. Or in my case, begging people to help me with sets (). This is an ongoing process that can change other, previously-established things; if I'm figbarfing an NPC and a better design with a different character than intended pops up, I may alter other elements to use this new design and attitude instead.

8. Alteration. Once I have some idea of what I want, I'll start making the rounds of asking other QMs for permission and/or advice on using their characters, especially if I've heard their own Quests will be operating in the same area. Having learned from the insanity of the late-stage rewrites of 104, I now tend to do this before launching the Quest. This is also another good opportunity for a "would I as a player like this?" pass.

9. Population. I've usually figured out where my battles will be in the Quest as early as the initial outline, as well as a general idea of what enemies will show up and the general sort of loot I want them to drop; now is when I start assigning specifics. I don't do specific stats, though, that's saved for post-launch.

10. Pitch & Post. This is self-explanatory; I send Sandy my final pitch, then wait for a post and the sign-ups.

11. Customization. Once I see who's signing up, I do another pass to try and sprinkle in elements that will resonate strongly with the characters I'm planning to pick; I'll also start assigning specific stats for some of the earlier battles.

12. Launch. This is probably the least fun parts; gathering everyone's stat blocks and then fixing/reformatting them into usability. Ick. Once that's done, I'll write up the opening, post, and start running the Quest.

13. First Battle. The first battle in any of my Quests is a very important one; it's my opportunity to watch the players and see how this party works together both mechanically and socially. It's very easy to see in most first battles who's going to hit hardest, who's going to go down, who's going to be overshadowed, what the holes are in party composition, what the holes are in individual PC loadouts, how hard the party normally hits, how they prioritize enemies, etc. etc. etc. I alter a LOT of details based on how the first battle goes, as 141 showed pretty clearly.

14. Adjustment. As stated, once the first battle's done, I'll go through and make a bunch more alterations to account for the specific situation in the party, and from there continue to tweak as necessary.

15. Run. And hopefully survive, but usually not.

Anyway, that's just how I do it, not everyone's going to have success doing it my way, obviously.

Doing anything on Heroica on a phone is a nightmare. I couldn't run a single round of the Forge from 139 on my phone.

I should do a stream of me building stuff in LDD, just to show y'all how easy it can be.

Please do! I would be all for that.

I'm planning on taking a swing at QMing. But I'm not keen on running battles. Doing if from an iPad (my main screen) seems to be a little complex. Are there others who'd just do the battles bits and co-QM?

I'm always happy to look over others' planned battles and offer advice/suggestions if you want it.

[Rider Raider]

If the heroes of quest 149 need a replacement for Wolfwind now that Kappy is banned, Timothy would be happy to be it.

[dum]

If the heroes of quest 149 need a replacement for Wolfwind now that Kappy is banned, Timothy would be happy to be it.

Wait what exactly happened to kappy?

[Rider Raider]

Wait what exactly happened to kappy?

Well, he got more time off by posting a post that only said "LOL", and then he was banned for reasons I don't know. I cant access his profile page.

[samurai-turtle]

@ride raider - It might be best to contact the quest master in a PM if you are willing to be a replacement.

@dum - It looks like they got banned. For what it is not really any of our business. (Personally, I would only like to know just to avoid doing something similar.)