@ J B Bell, I was arguing against a GM character at all in a competitive race game (instead of them being a GM at all). Now I would be all for trying to figure out how to make this a cooperative game (there aren't nearly enough out there). Perhaps as you complete challenges you turn the card sideways, and each adjacent sideways card gives a +1d bonus to the challenge you're on (including yourself) and you need to get all players to the end by some point (Perhaps every x rounds, the last row falls off and if anyone falls with it all players loose)... (I don't really like the complete game in x turns kind of co-op... but the creeping doom feeling would be neat). On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 12:07 PM, Nick Lamicela <nupanick@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > The example that springs to my mind is Silent Football. The game has a > competitive aspect to it (in some groups) but a good Mr. Dictator (the > game's equivalent of a GM) does not play favorites unless necessary (like if > one player is being a jerk in the game). > > Personally, I like the idea of a system with roleplaying optional but > encouraged, especially if there are in-game rewards for good roleplaying > (the bonus dice for descriptions of how your character tackles a challenge). > > ~nupanick (or other appropriate name) > > =================== > Guvf VF zl jvggl fvtangher. > > > On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 11:53 AM, J B Bell <tquidca@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >> >> I think the concern about the impartiality of the GM is somewhat >> misplaced. "Distributor of bonuses and describer of challenges" pretty well >> describes the role of GM in any challenge-based role-playing game. Arguably >> this is very much the case in most incarnations of D&D. For more concise >> examples, check out e.g. Agon or Beast Hunters. >> >> --JB >> >> On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 6:37 AM, Sam Zitin <sammyz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>> >>> The GM doesn't have much of a point if you are playing strictly for the >>> boardgame aspect, however IF you have a good GM who wants to emphasize >>> roleplaying and forgo the importance of the boardgame then you can have a >>> totally different experience. I do agree, if you are playing purely as a >>> race to the finish, the GM lacks importance and needs to be REALLY impartial >>> for it to work. Perhaps some sort of standardized challenges are decided >>> upon by the players as a group ahead of time and voted on for adjudication >>> during the game? I.E. players decide Spades = physical fight, Hearts = >>> puzzle or trap, Green = test of faith, yellow = luck challenge and players >>> must argue their abilities to the other players? >>> >>> On Sat, Dec 6, 2008 at 12:57 AM, TheLoneGoldfish >>> <thelonegoldfish@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>>> >>>> I read over the rules... and the game looks interesting, but I don't >>>> really see the point of the GM. >>>> >>>> It seems he's a distributor of bonuses, and describer of challenges. >>>> Which would be fine in a cooperative game, but the other players may >>>> think it's an unfair and arbitrary advantage in a competitive game. >>>> >>>> -Evan >>>> >>>> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 11:09 PM, <jdunaway@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >>>> > Hi, Sam, >>>> > >>>> > I'll be happy to check out your new game. I have full stashes of all >>>> > 12 >>>> > colors (at least I will once the pink treehouse set I pre-ordered >>>> > arrives). >>>> > >>>> > ----- Original Message ----- >>>> > From: icehouse-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> > Date: Friday, December 5, 2008 4:46 pm >>>> > Subject: Icehouse Digest, Vol 43, Issue 1 >>>> > To: icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> > >>>> >> Send Icehouse mailing list submissions to >>>> >> icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> >>>> >> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >>>> >> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >>>> >> icehouse-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> >>>> >> You can reach the person managing the list at >>>> >> icehouse-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> >>>> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >>>> >> than "Re: Contents of Icehouse digest..." >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> Today's Topics: >>>> >> >>>> >> 1. New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters >>>> >> (Sam Zitin) >>>> >> 2. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters >>>> >> (Christopher Hickman) >>>> >> 3. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters >>>> >> (nic asman) >>>> >> 4. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters >>>> >> (Nick Lamicela) >>>> >> 5. Re: New game design looking for initial comments/playtesters >>>> >> (Sam Zitin) >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> ----------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >> ----- >>>> >> >>>> >> Message: 1 >>>> >> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 15:01:57 -0500 >>>> >> From: "Sam Zitin" >>>> >> Subject: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial >>>> >> comments/playtesters >>>> >> To: icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> Message-ID: >>>> >> <6b0d93400812051201y1d3635f6g4339b8e7d3430dbc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >>>> >> >>>> >> Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually >>>> >> designed an >>>> >> Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to the >>>> >> community? I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept at >>>> >> Wiki editing. >>>> >> In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a >>>> >> boardgame/flavorlessrpg system using Icehouse pieces and a >>>> >> standard deck of playing cards. If >>>> >> anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or >>>> >> playtest please >>>> >> let me know. >>>> >> >>>> >> -- >>>> >> Sam Zitin >>>> >> Director of Information Management >>>> >> Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity >>>> >> -------------- next part -------------- >>>> >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>> >> URL: >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> ------------------------------ >>>> >> >>>> >> Message: 2 >>>> >> Date: Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:26:05 -0500 >>>> >> From: Christopher Hickman >>>> >> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial >>>> >> comments/playtesters >>>> >> To: Icehouse Discussion List >>>> >> Message-ID: <2592069943981879506405643111258104052-Webmail@xxxxxx> >>>> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 >>>> >> >>>> >> On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin" >>>> >> wrote: >>>> >> >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually >>>> >> designed an >>>> >> >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to the >>>> >> community?> I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept >>>> >> at Wiki editing. >>>> >> >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a >>>> >> boardgame/flavorless>rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a >>>> >> standard deck of playing cards. If >>>> >> >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or >>>> >> playtest please >>>> >> >let me know. >>>> >> >>>> >> You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki, and >>>> >> those who *are* adept will clean it up. :) >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> ------------------------------ >>>> >> >>>> >> Message: 3 >>>> >> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 15:12:52 -0600 >>>> >> From: "nic asman" >>>> >> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial >>>> >> comments/playtesters >>>> >> To: "Icehouse Discussion List" >>>> >> Message-ID: >>>> >> <2d317cfd0812051312t3f367863q2e8f8f39deb0681a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >>>> >> >>>> >> i would love to play test your game i have a complete set of >>>> >> xeno pieces, so >>>> >> if i need more i wont be able help but if 5 colors are enough >>>> >> then send me a >>>> >> copy and i would love to give you feed back. >>>> >> >>>> >> nic >>>> >> >>>> >> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Christopher Hickman >>>> >> wrote: >>>> >> >>>> >> > On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin" >>>> >> > wrote: >>>> >> > >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually >>>> >> designed an >>>> >> > >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to the >>>> >> community?> > I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept >>>> >> at Wiki editing. >>>> >> > >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a >>>> >> boardgame/flavorless> >rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a >>>> >> standard deck of playing cards. If >>>> >> > >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or >>>> >> playtest> please >>>> >> > >let me know. >>>> >> > >>>> >> > You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki, and >>>> >> those who >>>> >> > *are* adept will clean it up. :) >>>> >> > _______________________________________________ >>>> >> > Icehouse mailing list >>>> >> > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> > >>>> >> -------------- next part -------------- >>>> >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>> >> URL: >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> ------------------------------ >>>> >> >>>> >> Message: 4 >>>> >> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 16:41:05 -0500 >>>> >> From: "Nick Lamicela" >>>> >> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial >>>> >> comments/playtesters >>>> >> To: "Icehouse Discussion List" >>>> >> Message-ID: >>>> >> >>>> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >>>> >> >>>> >> I'll try, maybe I can bring it to the next gaming group I go to. >>>> >> How long is >>>> >> it supposed to be? >>>> >> >>>> >> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 4:12 PM, nic asman >>>> >> wrote: >>>> >> > i would love to play test your game i have a complete set of >>>> >> xeno pieces, >>>> >> > so if i need more i wont be able help but if 5 colors are >>>> >> enough then send >>>> >> > me a copy and i would love to give you feed back. >>>> >> > >>>> >> > nic >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Christopher Hickman >>>> >> wrote: >>>> >> > >>>> >> >> On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin" >>>> >> >> wrote: >>>> >> >> >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually >>>> >> designed an >>>> >> >> >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to >>>> >> the community? >>>> >> >> > I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept at Wiki >>>> >> editing.>> >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a >>>> >> boardgame/flavorless>> >rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a >>>> >> standard deck of playing cards. >>>> >> >> If >>>> >> >> >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback or >>>> >> playtest>> please >>>> >> >> >let me know. >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki, >>>> >> and those who >>>> >> >> *are* adept will clean it up. :) >>>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >>>> >> >> Icehouse mailing list >>>> >> >> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> >> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> >> >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > _______________________________________________ >>>> >> > Icehouse mailing list >>>> >> > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> -- >>>> >> ~nupanick (or other appropriate name) >>>> >> >>>> >> =================== >>>> >> Guvf VF zl jvggl fvtangher. >>>> >> -------------- next part -------------- >>>> >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>> >> URL: >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> ------------------------------ >>>> >> >>>> >> Message: 5 >>>> >> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 16:46:21 -0500 >>>> >> From: "Sam Zitin" >>>> >> Subject: Re: [Icehouse] New game design looking for initial >>>> >> comments/playtesters >>>> >> To: "Icehouse Discussion List" >>>> >> Message-ID: >>>> >> <6b0d93400812051346r759e30feh51d1fb10c08844d7@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >>>> >> >>>> >> Don't know exactly how long it will play out to be yet. It's >>>> >> designed as a >>>> >> boardgame that can be expanded into a fast and light RPG system, >>>> >> so some of >>>> >> that will depend on the players. The intent though is that if >>>> >> desired, an >>>> >> entire rpg scenario could be played out in less than 30 minutes, >>>> >> and the >>>> >> "winner" could GM the next round, presenting an entirely >>>> >> different scenario >>>> >> if desired. The game is ready to be perused but probably not >>>> >> ready for play >>>> >> yet as I'm still working out some probabilities to decide upon >>>> >> difficultylevels. >>>> >> >>>> >> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 4:41 PM, Nick Lamicela >>>> >> wrote: >>>> >> >>>> >> > I'll try, maybe I can bring it to the next gaming group I go >>>> >> to. How long >>>> >> > is it supposed to be? >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 4:12 PM, nic asman >>>> >> wrote: >>>> >> > >>>> >> >> i would love to play test your game i have a complete set of >>>> >> xeno pieces, >>>> >> >> so if i need more i wont be able help but if 5 colors are >>>> >> enough then send >>>> >> >> me a copy and i would love to give you feed back. >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> nic >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> On Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM, Christopher Hickman >>>> >> wrote:>> >>>> >> >>> On Friday, December 05, 2008, at 03:01PM, "Sam Zitin" >>>> >> >>> wrote: >>>> >> >>> >Not quite sure what the protocol is as I've never actually >>>> >> designed an >>>> >> >>> >Icehouse game before. How do I go about presenting it to >>>> >> the community? >>>> >> >>> > I'd submit it to the Wiki but I am less than adept at Wiki >>>> >> editing.>>> >In any case...I'm developing an initial design for a >>>> >> >>> boardgame/flavorless >>>> >> >>> >rpg system using Icehouse pieces and a standard deck of >>>> >> playing cards. >>>> >> >>> If >>>> >> >>> >anyone is interested in taking a look to provide feedback >>>> >> or playtest >>>> >> >>> please >>>> >> >>> >let me know. >>>> >> >>> >>>> >> >>> You don't have to be Adept. Put what you have on the wiki, >>>> >> and those who >>>> >> >>> *are* adept will clean it up. :) >>>> >> >>> _______________________________________________ >>>> >> >>> Icehouse mailing list >>>> >> >>> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> >>> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> >>> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >>>> >> >> Icehouse mailing list >>>> >> >> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> >> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> > -- >>>> >> > ~nupanick (or other appropriate name) >>>> >> > >>>> >> > =================== >>>> >> > Guvf VF zl jvggl fvtangher. >>>> >> > >>>> >> > _______________________________________________ >>>> >> > Icehouse mailing list >>>> >> > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> > >>>> >> > >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> -- >>>> >> Sam Zitin >>>> >> Director of Information Management >>>> >> Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity >>>> >> Office:317-876-1913 >>>> >> Cell: 317-710-0925 >>>> >> -------------- next part -------------- >>>> >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >>>> >> URL: >>>> >> >>>> >> ------------------------------ >>>> >> >>>> >> _______________________________________________ >>>> >> Icehouse mailing list >>>> >> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> >> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> >> End of Icehouse Digest, Vol 43, Issue 1 >>>> >> *************************************** >>>> >> >>>> > _______________________________________________ >>>> > Icehouse mailing list >>>> > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>>> > >>>> > >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Icehouse mailing list >>>> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Sam Zitin >>> Director of Information Management >>> Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity >>> Office:317-876-1913 >>> Cell: 317-710-0925 >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Icehouse mailing list >>> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Icehouse mailing list >> Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >> http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Icehouse mailing list > Icehouse@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > http://lists.looneylabs.com/mailman/listinfo/icehouse > >