My Saturday High Strung playtest #1 game ended in a win for the PCs.
Jazzy's BF Reggie told her she should write a gospel song to please her
dad, who is a nationally syndicated TV preacher. She decided she was
going to go one better and make it a love song as well. She poured in
Hope, and the band premiered it on the Reverend Johnson's TV service.
The premiere went very well, and the group decided to record it as a
Demo. They absolutely nailed their performances, and ended up scoring a
multi-album major label deal with creative freedom. This band was
created under the old rules, wherein you chose the age of the character.
High Strung playtest #2 - which we play only when James can
make it - is just starting out, really. This one should give me a much
better handle on how well the new rules work.
When James isn't
there, we'll be playing a kitbash of In Harm's Way: StarCluster and IHW:
Aces And Angels, where the PCs are airborne paratroopers in WWII. We'll
be starting in early 1942, and going through the whole war eventually.
Klax and I hammered out a new chargen which really suits the way they
did it in the war, rather than the way they do it now. It looks awesome
so far! We'll be starting in three weekends.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Economics and Interstellar Transport in StarCluster
In StarCluster, generally speaking, there are few things which are worth the cost of interstellar transport. Generally speaking, a system will be able to manufacture anything it needs internally, but there are exceptions:
Works of Art
Artists are not rare, but great works of art may be worth enough to transport from one system to another.
Luxury Goods
If people on Humbolt have a taste for Hammerklavier wine, then prices will rise high enough to justify importing it.
News
News is always salable, and takes up little space.
Intellectual Property
Licenses for designs need transportation. Low mass, high value.
Samples and Prototypes
Samples and prototypes may be sent from system to system for a potential licensee to judge applicability preparatory to signing the license.
Crafts
People on Ginger in their high tech world are not going to spend hundreds of hours hand-crafting a rug, but the poor people of Hatrack do, and handcrafted rugs are sooo in!
Fashion
Speaking of what is 'in', Fashion always is!
High Tech Devices
The companies and government of Shasta cannot make the tools that make Locust's robot, but they can pay for the robots themselves, in some cases! remember, each tech level difference is a factor of ten in cost.
Data
Another low-mass, high value cargo! Always, the Data Must Flow!
People
Pretty obvious, actually.
Works of Art
Artists are not rare, but great works of art may be worth enough to transport from one system to another.
Luxury Goods
If people on Humbolt have a taste for Hammerklavier wine, then prices will rise high enough to justify importing it.
News
News is always salable, and takes up little space.
Intellectual Property
Licenses for designs need transportation. Low mass, high value.
Samples and Prototypes
Samples and prototypes may be sent from system to system for a potential licensee to judge applicability preparatory to signing the license.
Crafts
People on Ginger in their high tech world are not going to spend hundreds of hours hand-crafting a rug, but the poor people of Hatrack do, and handcrafted rugs are sooo in!
Fashion
Speaking of what is 'in', Fashion always is!
High Tech Devices
The companies and government of Shasta cannot make the tools that make Locust's robot, but they can pay for the robots themselves, in some cases! remember, each tech level difference is a factor of ten in cost.
Data
Another low-mass, high value cargo! Always, the Data Must Flow!
People
Pretty obvious, actually.
The Necklace
My next product will be a
setting for StarCluster 3, with Klaxon and Albert Bailey. It will be The
Necklace - a natural/artificial construct gas torus a la Niven's
Integral Trees/Smoke Ring. The natural part is the torus itself - an
oxy/nitro ring around a neutron star, which is itself in a goldilocks
zone orbit around a normal star, with the gas tidally ripped from a gas
giant within the ring, and transformed by the abundant free-fall plant
life, orbiting the neutron star. It's a gravity free but livable
environment. It has been artificially enhanced with an asteroid belt,
and The River.
The River is a ribbon of water which loops around the torus perpetually, captured and propelled by artificial gravity, and designed to actively avoid the gas giant, Mister Doom. The River is navigable by ship and boat, and provides both transport and gravity to those sailing it. The gravity gradient of The River is shallow, and easily broken, so you can fly off from it.
The asteroid belt is green - covered by plant life - and there are cities and towns built on them, using artificial gravity. This makes mini-worlds like in the Little Prince, swimming through the gas torus. Each green asteroid would have its own society, Transport between asteroids would be by aircraft and/or by The River. There are also nomadic societies which ply The River forever, and people who live in the free fall areas, among the plants and animals adapted to that zone.
The Necklace was built by a disappeared alien species, and is currently inhabited by humans, human offshoots, uplifted animals, and a few aliens, in typical StarCluster fashion. There would be example asteroids and societies in the game book, but also there would be lots of setting creation tools to create your own. There would also be setting specific professions and backgrounds, and the full StarCluster ruleset, as that's not a lot of overhead, and you wouldn't need StarCluster to play it.
I am about to get real serious on this very soon, once I put High Strung out for beta testing. If you are interested and have some ideas, comment away!
The River is a ribbon of water which loops around the torus perpetually, captured and propelled by artificial gravity, and designed to actively avoid the gas giant, Mister Doom. The River is navigable by ship and boat, and provides both transport and gravity to those sailing it. The gravity gradient of The River is shallow, and easily broken, so you can fly off from it.
The asteroid belt is green - covered by plant life - and there are cities and towns built on them, using artificial gravity. This makes mini-worlds like in the Little Prince, swimming through the gas torus. Each green asteroid would have its own society, Transport between asteroids would be by aircraft and/or by The River. There are also nomadic societies which ply The River forever, and people who live in the free fall areas, among the plants and animals adapted to that zone.
The Necklace was built by a disappeared alien species, and is currently inhabited by humans, human offshoots, uplifted animals, and a few aliens, in typical StarCluster fashion. There would be example asteroids and societies in the game book, but also there would be lots of setting creation tools to create your own. There would also be setting specific professions and backgrounds, and the full StarCluster ruleset, as that's not a lot of overhead, and you wouldn't need StarCluster to play it.
I am about to get real serious on this very soon, once I put High Strung out for beta testing. If you are interested and have some ideas, comment away!
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Agents and Band Managers in High Strung
Agents
Agents can help you get gigs. Your agent is played by the GM. The GM rolls 3d20 vs a TN which varies by the quality of the Agent for each club. The number of successes rolled is the Agent’s “in” for that club, and is added to the TN for that club when rolling for gigs. The players do not know the Agent’s “in” and must take it on faith, though they should be able to see the results over time and judge accordingly. The players can drop their Agent at any time to get a new one. Agents can also have an “in” with a recording studio. Roll 1d20 vs their TN to see if the Agent has an in. If so, the band has a +1 to their TNs when recording a demo.
Agent Quality
Agents vary in quality - and bands can hire as good an Agent as they want to hire. The better the Agent, the higher the Agent’s TN, and the more they take for their services. Agents are paid in Hope by the band after every gig or Demo Recording - the Hope coming from the band mambers, however they want to apportion the cost.
Agent Quality Pay in Hope TN
Poor 1 7
Fair 2 9
Good 3 11
Excellent 4 13
Band Managers
The band can also hire a Band Manager, like the Agent, paid in Hope after each gig by the band. Band Managers run the roadies at a gig, and take care of the Draw - Promote, Graphics, and Organize. Band Managers have 4 dice in each of the three skills, and their TN - as well as the amount of Hope they demand - varies with their Quality.
Band Manager Quality Pay in Hope TN
Poor 1 7
Fair 2 9
Good 3 11
Excellent 4 13
Stiffing the Agent or Band Manager
If you end up not paying - stiffing - your Agent or Band Manager, that Agent or Band Manager will immediately drop your band and spread the word you can't be trusted - stiffed Agents to other Agents, and stiffed Band Managers to other Band Managers. After word gets out, hiring an Agent or Band Manager increases the cost by 1 for each time you stiff one - if you stiff two, cost goes up by two.
Agents can help you get gigs. Your agent is played by the GM. The GM rolls 3d20 vs a TN which varies by the quality of the Agent for each club. The number of successes rolled is the Agent’s “in” for that club, and is added to the TN for that club when rolling for gigs. The players do not know the Agent’s “in” and must take it on faith, though they should be able to see the results over time and judge accordingly. The players can drop their Agent at any time to get a new one. Agents can also have an “in” with a recording studio. Roll 1d20 vs their TN to see if the Agent has an in. If so, the band has a +1 to their TNs when recording a demo.
Agent Quality
Agents vary in quality - and bands can hire as good an Agent as they want to hire. The better the Agent, the higher the Agent’s TN, and the more they take for their services. Agents are paid in Hope by the band after every gig or Demo Recording - the Hope coming from the band mambers, however they want to apportion the cost.
Agent Quality Pay in Hope TN
Poor 1 7
Fair 2 9
Good 3 11
Excellent 4 13
Band Managers
The band can also hire a Band Manager, like the Agent, paid in Hope after each gig by the band. Band Managers run the roadies at a gig, and take care of the Draw - Promote, Graphics, and Organize. Band Managers have 4 dice in each of the three skills, and their TN - as well as the amount of Hope they demand - varies with their Quality.
Band Manager Quality Pay in Hope TN
Poor 1 7
Fair 2 9
Good 3 11
Excellent 4 13
Stiffing the Agent or Band Manager
If you end up not paying - stiffing - your Agent or Band Manager, that Agent or Band Manager will immediately drop your band and spread the word you can't be trusted - stiffed Agents to other Agents, and stiffed Band Managers to other Band Managers. After word gets out, hiring an Agent or Band Manager increases the cost by 1 for each time you stiff one - if you stiff two, cost goes up by two.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Current Games!
Saturday, we ran a playtest of High Strung, and included the various
things I have prepared for enhancing the PC's engagement with their jobs
and families. It all worked a treat! The characters' families and jobs
were front and center, and even some job days were played out. The Nasty
Cards came out again and were flying back and forth! It brought a
whole new dimension to the game. I am *really* happy!
My Sunday IRC game went splendidly, as always. I have a group of the most amazing roleplayers, who literally don't need me to play. Whenever I have to miss a session, they have a GMless session and run a game without me. Today we ran three scenes, none with any appreciable conflict, but it was all wonderful! They delved deeply into their characters and pursued lots of individual goals. This is not Space Opera, this is Space Soap Opera!
My Sunday IRC game went splendidly, as always. I have a group of the most amazing roleplayers, who literally don't need me to play. Whenever I have to miss a session, they have a GMless session and run a game without me. Today we ran three scenes, none with any appreciable conflict, but it was all wonderful! They delved deeply into their characters and pursued lots of individual goals. This is not Space Opera, this is Space Soap Opera!
Friday, September 19, 2014
Club Names for High Strung
I've just finished up a random nightclub name generator for High Strung. These are some example results:
Amber Lounge, Neon Rocket, Pearl Roadhouse, Rising Underground, Exploding Oasis, Burning Envy, Daring Midnight Paradise, Seeking Crimson Heaven, Howling Ginger Karma, Orgasmic Revolution, Leather Heaven, Passionate Monkey, The Uncanny, The Metropolitan, Lusty, My Brother's Lounge, Bleeker's, Jimmy's Garage, Our Daring Machine, My Dog's Rocking Roadhouse, Boston's Exploding Ballroom, The Palace, The Vault, The Garage
I'm liking these results!
Amber Lounge, Neon Rocket, Pearl Roadhouse, Rising Underground, Exploding Oasis, Burning Envy, Daring Midnight Paradise, Seeking Crimson Heaven, Howling Ginger Karma, Orgasmic Revolution, Leather Heaven, Passionate Monkey, The Uncanny, The Metropolitan, Lusty, My Brother's Lounge, Bleeker's, Jimmy's Garage, Our Daring Machine, My Dog's Rocking Roadhouse, Boston's Exploding Ballroom, The Palace, The Vault, The Garage
I'm liking these results!
Monday, September 15, 2014
Jobs and Family in High Strung
So I'm thinking now of how to
improve High Strung. One of the things my players noticed was that there
wasn't much in the rules about anything other than gigging and
recording. This is a consequence of my concentrating on getting the core
right. I think that's fixed now, so I've been working at honing in the
good stuff. There are two areas that I can deal with - Jobs and Family.
Jobs are categorized as either Crap Jobs, Dead End Jobs, or Decent Jobs, and are assigned by age. Crap Jobs are things that are soul crushing, demand no real skill, and are poorly recompensed - thngs like flipping burgers or convenience store clerk. Dead end jobs are a bit better, because the pay is better, but there in no viable path to the future in these jobs. Decent Jobs paw well enough to live on and carry a modicum of skill and recognition, and there are ways to move up and onward if you decide to quit music. Players will have to decide what their jobs are, and name friends and enemies. This will give GMs something to build on and make real to the characters.
For families and friends, I gave the GM a series of questions for the GMs to answer, like "What are your parents like? How do they feel about your rock n' roll lifestyle? Are they proud? Ashamed? Angry? Resigned?" and "Who is your best friend? Why?", and the important "What do you like to do that isn't music?". Again, this will give the GM a base to build on.
Jobs and family are not at the center of this game, but they needn't be desolate wastelands either. Bringing them into the game can only help make the game feel real and immediate to the players.
Jobs are categorized as either Crap Jobs, Dead End Jobs, or Decent Jobs, and are assigned by age. Crap Jobs are things that are soul crushing, demand no real skill, and are poorly recompensed - thngs like flipping burgers or convenience store clerk. Dead end jobs are a bit better, because the pay is better, but there in no viable path to the future in these jobs. Decent Jobs paw well enough to live on and carry a modicum of skill and recognition, and there are ways to move up and onward if you decide to quit music. Players will have to decide what their jobs are, and name friends and enemies. This will give GMs something to build on and make real to the characters.
For families and friends, I gave the GM a series of questions for the GMs to answer, like "What are your parents like? How do they feel about your rock n' roll lifestyle? Are they proud? Ashamed? Angry? Resigned?" and "Who is your best friend? Why?", and the important "What do you like to do that isn't music?". Again, this will give the GM a base to build on.
Jobs and family are not at the center of this game, but they needn't be desolate wastelands either. Bringing them into the game can only help make the game feel real and immediate to the players.
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