I am all for destroying the Forge's would-be ownership of "independent."

Most games these days are "independent." They're one-man/woman shows.

@Pundit

So, Forge Games is the rebel "rpgsite" way of saying Indie games everywhere else?  I can live with that.  I jsut wish we had debated that elsewhere.  I know people around here like games, and I was (and still am) curious as to how mny people like 'em, and which ones.  Personally, I'd much rather have started separate threads on each of the ones I like, but that would have cluttered the page.

@Yamo

I am also all for destroying the term.  I hate the fact that "indie" is the term for something that really means Forge Created.  That's not a value judgement, I think the Forge has done quite a bit of decent community building, at least on the internet, and cranked out some pretty kick ass games.

Again @ Pundit

I know you don't dig most Forge Games, but check out The Shadow of Yesterday.  I didn't find it pretentious, and it's an RPG as you define them.

My only gripe with the small collection of Indie games that I've run across is that there seems to be a level of weirdness they're all trying to achieve with their mechanics.

Instead of looking for a mechanic that is easy to resolve conflict, it seems they want to figure out some off-the-wall way to resolve that may (or may not) have bearing on the game, the setting or the price of tea in China.  

"Okay, here's how the mechanic works for Post Apocalyptic Zombies on the Moon: First, you take this grapefruit and slice it into thirds along the rotary axis, then you separate out each segment to represent the number of colonists in your particular cell, get it?  Next, count - yes, I said "count!" - the numbers of seeds in each segment.  You won't actually use this number, but it gives you a sense and a feeling of the anguish the grapefruit feels upon your violation of its environment.  Now, squirt some juice a random players eyes and count the number of times he cusses you out.  If he smacks you, it's a critical!"

:confused: :eek: :rolleyes:

Conspiracy of Shadows rocks as well.

Quote from: YamoI am all for destroying the Forge's would-be ownership of "independent."

Most games these days are "independent."

There's the top 5 or 10 and then there's dozens of smaller games.

Quote from: Caesar Slaad

There's the top 5 or 10 and then there's dozens of smaller games.

"Dozens?"  

I would've said "myriad."  

Hmmm.

Does The Riddle of Steel count? I quite enjoy that. Dogs fills me with...apathy, really. I mean, it could be fun, but I'd put it in another context - Mormon paladins in 1890's Utah just isn't my thing. It does have the virtue of being 'about' (hopefully) enlightened autonomous enforcers of law and morality in a frontier and a mechanic that's about conflict more than anything. Most of them, however, are way too niche-y for my tastes. The Mountain Witch - it's a goddamn Choose Your Own Adventure book for 2-6 players (IMO), and many others suffer under that label no matter how clever their mechanics are. I admit to having seen very, very few of them myself, but the fact each of these games is about one story bores the hell out of me.

Or in its short form, I agree in this single specific instance with Abyssal Maw.

I do, however, recall discovering Sorcerer online well before Ron seized the Forge's reins. And I hated the way it was written about way back then, like Jesus had come down from the sky and squeezed out a steaming miracle onto the tables of us poor, downtrodden gamers.

Quote from: Christmas ApeDogs fills me with...apathy, really. I mean, it could be fun, but I'd put it in another context - Mormon paladins in 1890's Utah just isn't my thing.

*Cough*Jedi*Cough*

Quote from: Levi Kornelsen*Cough*Jedi*Cough*

That was my first thought, yes.

Alternately, a good friend from my gaming group really, really things with "Inquisitor" in the title. I'm not saying I'd never play Dogs In The Vineyard, just that I wouldn't use it to play Dogs.

Quote from: Christmas ApeHmmm.

Does The Riddle of Steel count? I quite enjoy that. Dogs fills me with...apathy, really. I mean, it could be fun, but I'd put it in another context - Mormon paladins in 1890's Utah just isn't my thing.

Random thought...

Would it be any different if it was translocated to (a universe like) the serenity (universe)?

Quote from: Caesar SlaadRandom thought...

Would it be any different if it was translocated to (a universe like) the serenity (universe)?

As my small conversation with Levi suggests, I think Dogs could be played with any character concept that

a) Operates under the authority of their own discretion.
b) Has their authority respected by the 'common citizen'.
c) Has a dangerous physical response available if the situation dictates.

Jedi, Imperium Inquisitors, Gene-Engineered Thought Police of a dystopian arcology, princes of a kingdom, Rokugani magistrates...it's all good.

Quote from: Christmas ApeAs my small conversation with Levi suggests, I think Dogs could be played with any character concept that

a) Operates under the authority of their own discretion.
b) Has their authority respected by the 'common citizen'.
c) Has a dangerous physical response available if the situation dictates.

Jedi, Imperium Inquisitors, Gene-Engineered Thought Police of a dystopian arcology, princes of a kingdom, Rokugani magistrates...it's all good.

d) Lives in a world where moral, social breakdown is important in a quantifiable way.

Fair enough, Levi; I'm willing to slip in a "does what we do even make a difference" sub-theme into the game, but as written that fourth point is required.

Personally, I've never heard as "Indie" referred to as "Forge-Created" anywhere except here. I assume possibly the Forge boards anything "Indie" is "Forge-Created?"

As to the true meaning, Independant Publisher: Someone who publishes a game based on another's system without working for that company...

I'm an Indie Publisher, and I like me.

At least, that's what I tell my drunken reflection right before I try to sucker punch him.

It never works, and I'm not sure why...

Oooooh, Tequila and titties!

For Forge games, I think PTA is brilliant and I also think My Life with Master is truly excellent.

For non-Forge games, I liked Mithras' games so much I host them for him at //www.balbinus.com.  Stuff like Zenobia or Warlords of Alexandria is just brilliant, Warlords is a full BRP based historical rpg and is among the best things published in recent years IMO.

In Harm's Way I think is flyingmice's best so far, and well worth some love.

There are tons of others, but if we're talking Forge games PTA and MLwM are I think the dog's bollocks.