tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post3139530578125363547..comments2023-10-30T09:58:01.179-04:00Comments on Tankards & Broadswords: A Writer Writes, Always - Part TwoJack Badelairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10932441028544500024noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-45061788932912091012010-03-27T16:57:16.315-04:002010-03-27T16:57:16.315-04:00Almost any fantasy I read or watch, I ponder how I...Almost any fantasy I read or watch, I ponder how I would do aspect of it mechanically in a game. Now, some things I recognize as writer's fiat and needed for plot, as games and fiction have very different demands. But I still think it is a useful exercise.<br /><br />And when I write fiction set in a game world, I try to have the fiction conform to the game rules as long as that still makes the story interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-26223260550084913782010-03-23T01:17:58.136-04:002010-03-23T01:17:58.136-04:00When it comes to "statting things out", ...When it comes to "statting things out", I think you've missed the point. If I give Cthulhu hit points, X attacks per round, Armor Class, etc. then the problem isn't that I chose to stat Cthulhu out; it's that I used the wrong *kind* of stats. You don't pound in nails using a screwdriver, and you don't quantify a Great Old One using mechanics that were designed to represent entities players could kill with axes and fireballs.<br /><br />Meanwhile, if I give Cthulhu stats such as "Health: Cannot be harmed except by GM fiat, in which case he reforms in 1 round if 'injured' or 5 rounds if 'destroyed'" and "Attacks: Can devour the nearest 1d4 PCs as a standard action", then I've managed to come up with a set of mechanics whose results will be true to the source material.<br /><br />Translating fiction into game mechanics <i>is how roleplaying games are made in the first place</i>. It produces terrible results because <i>you did a crappy job on the translation</i>. Trying to turn your favorite piece of fiction into an rpg setting is the BEST thing you can do- for your abilities as a GM and RPG designer. Because it'll help you see all those horrible ways in which your initial attempts fall short, and provide you with some extra motivation to try, try again.<br /><br />P.S: Naturally, telling the players about something's statistics can still be bad idea. Deciding what kind of metagame information to pass on is a separate matter- and a very interesting one. Ever play in a game where only the GM knew everyone's current hp?Dagda (Brooks Harrel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12719198062375441018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-51758958396745363272010-03-15T00:29:16.451-04:002010-03-15T00:29:16.451-04:00I don't necessarily "stat out" my fa...I don't necessarily "stat out" my favorite characters/movies but I do think that certain movies would make kick ass video games. Actually stating out a movie/book character involves math. And math is hard.kathulhuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07437721542009057211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-27272380541938953872010-03-11T21:05:28.684-05:002010-03-11T21:05:28.684-05:00I remember reading something by Ray Bradbury where...I remember reading something by Ray Bradbury where he was giving advice to budding writers. It went something like "Write. All the time. When you've written 1 million words worth of material, throw it all away, because it's crap. NOW you're ready to write for real."Dan Eldredgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028212796512806387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-81887582986522320632010-03-11T21:01:30.575-05:002010-03-11T21:01:30.575-05:00Awesome post. I think you've nailed it. While ...Awesome post. I think you've nailed it. While both are creative, they have different rules on what makes them work.<br /><br />And I'm ashamed to admit that as a teenager looking at Cthulhu's stats I thought "Mmm, I wonder how I could do that much damage." Mutants & Masterminds has a cool rule where certain villains don't have stats. They can do whatever the GM needs. It's perfect for Beyonder-type characters.Forgehttp://alchemists-forge.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-62368587266864177702010-03-11T17:00:47.571-05:002010-03-11T17:00:47.571-05:00Don't stop writing, Chgowiz. Badelaire's p...Don't stop writing, Chgowiz. Badelaire's point is that <em>certain</em> elements don't successfully carry over from RPGs to serious fiction and vice versa. Orson Scott Card points this out in a book I'm too lazy to dig out of a box: the <em>mechanics</em> of D&D are senseless when it comes to some elements that a publishable fiction story needs; but I would add that a particularly interesting campaign can generate some very good stories, but only if you're willing to do some highly creative and "kill your children"-style editing of how things went down.<br /><br />Me? I stick to poetry. Knowing my adventure-related verse will <a href="http://wayoffbass.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-math-of-poetry-and-other-lit-stuff.html" rel="nofollow">never see publication</a> outside of my blog makes the writing actually more fun, not less.<br /><br />(My apologies to Badelaire for some light link-whoring here.)Cameron Woodhttp://wayoffbasslinks.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-5899520601988290972010-03-11T14:02:25.760-05:002010-03-11T14:02:25.760-05:00I feel like my crap is junk anyway, so no worries ...I feel like my crap is junk anyway, so no worries that I'd submit it. <br /><br />The other hurdle of writing to one's beloved fiction is licensing and cost.<br /><br />The reality check is always good.Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-60537561928178597362010-03-11T14:00:33.768-05:002010-03-11T14:00:33.768-05:00Well first, see #3. We will work towards a soluti...Well first, see #3. We will work towards a solution, believe me.<br /><br />Otherwise, my primary point is that, just as it is not as easy as one might think to take a literary source and convert it <i>faithfully and successfully</i> into a role-playing game, it is far, far harder than a lot people think to go in the other direction, i.e., take their beloved campaign setting and "convert" it into a marketable fiction product.<br /><br />And notice that I say <i>marketable</i>. I'm not talking here about someone writing up what I call "recursive fan-fiction", I'm talking about someone saying to themselves "Man, my world is so awesome, my players love it, when I blog about it other people think it's cool...maybe I can write a novel set in my world and become a writer".<br /><br />So write all you want, but I caution that you should think twice before hitting "submit" to Del Rey or Baen.Jack Badelairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10932441028544500024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-28755177857022054142010-03-11T13:49:17.488-05:002010-03-11T13:49:17.488-05:00I really try hard not to snark in my comments and ...I really try hard not to snark in my comments and posts, unless it's at myself. This was dead serious... the points you make about trying to express RPG elements in one's writing or vice versa, I'm not a pro, I'm not a good writer and I shouldn't be trying to do something I'm not.Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-69822616544958849812010-03-11T13:45:42.680-05:002010-03-11T13:45:42.680-05:00@Chgowiz:
Assuming you're not just being snar...@Chgowiz:<br /><br />Assuming you're not just being snarky...<br /><br />1) I'm certainly not advocating that gamers "shouldn't write anymore". Far from it. I guess my key point is, "don't quit your day job".<br /><br />2) What I am doing is pointing out a pattern of behavior that I think can and should be changed, and I want to explore the whys and hows involved.<br /><br />3) At the end of this arc of pontification, there <i>will be</i> some light at the end of the tunnel. One hopes...Jack Badelairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10932441028544500024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-10682382772618374312010-03-11T12:33:34.179-05:002010-03-11T12:33:34.179-05:00I thought it was odd when GW came up with the LOTR...I thought it was odd when GW came up with the LOTR RPG. If the books/film are that good then you'll be a fan and want to play the game, but paradoxically, isn't playing the RPG like rewriting the story? does it really need 'improving'?<br /><br />Talking about the 'statting up' of film characters. I confess to have an equally tragic game in my head where I'll place each one into a character class. e.g the A team Murdock-wizard, BA-fighter, Face-rogue, Hannibal-fighter/rogue.Fran Terminiellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02506269178716477521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1646163054327608765.post-37071418434843701252010-03-11T12:12:51.690-05:002010-03-11T12:12:51.690-05:00The more I read this, the more I think I shouldn&#...The more I read this, the more I think I shouldn't write anymore. It probably is a fool's errand.Michael S/Chgowizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052820400496340137noreply@blogger.com