I like Mouse Guard, but I think something more in the lines of Red Wall would make a richer RPG as you have a greater diversity of races to choose from. If I did run it, I would  make it a rule that when anyone  role plays, they would have to talk in little squeaky voices.

I don't know if I would want to play The Burning Wheel on a regular basis, but the concept of running zero level/pre first adventure PC's is very interesting to me. Maybe there's some good ideas within the system that could be incorporated into one's campaign.

Playtesting Stone Horizons, and enjoying the heck out of it.

-clash

Just recently got done with an IHW:StarCluster play test that went down in flames like no play test in recent memory. Had nothing to do with the system (which is great) but with my choice of players. My bad entirely. Still, I think clash has a good niche he could fill here. Troupe play for sci-fi that works well with military sci-fi. Good stuff.

I like Mouse Guard. It's gritty. I still think the system--as lightened as it is--is a little heavy on the back end for what it does.

It still over-produces scenarios, even as it presumably breaks them down into smaller, snappier pieces. It spends a lot of time on meta-game issues, defining objectives, conflicts, goals, twists--all in the service of character development. Now--I have never really found this stuff to get in the way in BW. It's a fun game with roleplayers whose experience has taught them what kinds of things they enjoy concentrating on, and what they like to gloss over. On the other hand--I've also never found this stuff to be helpful putting together an engaging adventure for the players. I don't want to debate BW's relative merits as a "player's game" as opposed to a "gm's game" or anything like that. I simply want to point out that like or hate BW, even the lightened version for Mouse Guard is going to be difficult for inexperienced roleplayers to run.

That said, I like it. I love the comics, I like the gritty, small-scale world, and i'm experienced enough to spin a yarn within the game's framework that will be fun and satisfying for the players.

Quote from: stu2000;294028That said, I like it. I love the comics, I like the gritty, small-scale world, and i'm experienced enough to spin a yarn within the game's framework that will be fun and satisfying for the players.

So what exactly is the difference between Mouse Guard and the Redwall books? Just grittiness?

I've not read the comics but when I saw the website for the game I just thought, oh, Brian Jacques rip-off. Am I wrong?

Quote from: noisms;294037So what exactly is the difference between Mouse Guard and the Redwall books? Just grittiness?

I've not read the comics but when I saw the website for the game I just thought, oh, Brian Jacques rip-off. Am I wrong?

Well. It is medieval mice. So it can't help but bear some resemblance. But it's much more sparse. The story focuses on the muse patrol--guardsmen, outriders, mailmen, highway patrol--rather than building a comprehensive picture of life in the abbey. It's partly that the artist takes plenty of time to slowly build a serious, suspenseful story, so it doesn't cover as much ground as the Redwall novels. It's also the different tone. Mouse Guard is heavier than Redwall. Existence feels precarious.

I agree that Redwall is a more varied and colorful gaming milieu. But Mouse Guard is grittier and more down to business. I can see some gamers being more comfortable developing a persona to coexist with the characters in the Redwall books. But my group and I would find it easier to play characters specifically in the mouse patrol. It's a paradigm we enjoy. It would be easier to come to consensus on what kind of story we were doing and what our guys were about.

Group concept cohesion is good in BW.
I would play Redwall with Fudge or something else light, flexible, with easy rules for scale.

Man, I really didn't mean to make this thread about Mouse Guard. Life's so weird.

I'm another who is reading The Whispering Vault and it's supplements.
Kind of a revisitation because I've been a fan of the game for a while, but I'm noticing all sorts of interesting setting stuff I missed when I originally read it years ago.
Last night I stayed up late with the Wayback Machine looking for old web articles about it... mostly seeking the good stuff Julie Hoverson wrote for Serendipity's Circle.
I'm trying to wrap my brain around the more campaign-oriented aspects of the setting... what do Stalkers do when they aren't on a Hunt? There is some implication of intrigue regarding the Citadel... maybe interactions with other circles of Stalkers... some hierarchy of favor with the primal powers?
I'm even mining old episodes of Sapphire And Steel for inspiration.

Probably a waste of time since I don't think I'm gonna find anyone to play it with.

Since I'm currently running a Beatrix Potter game of for my GF Mouse Guard interests me too... though I wonder how the game goes about stressing that you are playing a mouse... rather than a regular human who looks like a mouse.

Sorry about the thread hijack Droog

I agree, Mouse Guard is much darker and not catered to young adults the way RedWall is. I'm just saying I would prefer a wider variety of races to be included in a similar PRG genre---I'm all about the gritty!  :biggrin:

I really do like this idea of forming a PC before they start going dungeon delving and all that fun stuff. Not so much as a full-on campaign, but as sort of a precursor or mini pre game when your creating a new character. For myself, I always write a little bio and backstory for my 1st leveler and encourage it with my players so being able to take it a bit farther and "game it out" a little could be quite fun and  maybe help with thinking up new story hooks then the conventional tired old ways such as an Inn or a old wizard in need of a magic item:rolleyes:. Maybe this week I'll pick up the core rules.

 


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Quote from: jswa;294007Oh, and I more or less ignored the Song of Ice and Fire RPG, despite how much I like the books. From the preview, there just isn't anything in it that says "SoIaF" to me.

Is the Song of Ice and Fire rpg already out? I've never read the novel, but the game looks interesting, and I wanna pick it up.

Quote from: flyingmice;294024Playtesting Stone Horizons, and enjoying the heck out of it.

-clash

Cool!

I haven't bought anything new for a little while 'cos the pennies don't be there, but i'm making my way through IHW:Starcluster with a view to a playtest.

I've also just downloaded Fate 2.0 and am working my way through that with a view to a job or two down the line.

The newest thing I'm reading is GURPS Thaumatology. It's interesting, well put together, but... so far, not at all what I was hoping it to be.

I've actually sold about half of my RPG collection this year and I'm trying my best not to add to it till things become a bit more stable for me.

I've bought Call of Cthulhu 6e and am looking forward to running it. Yeah, it's not new... but it's new to me

Also discovering Donjon, thanks to a friend of mine. Again, not new...

I guess I'm not keeping up with new stuff that comes out as much as I'd like to. There are already more games than I could play if I were given another lifetime...

Playing Champions and D&D 4E and just bought a bunch of Champions adventures (since I am now running a campaign of it). I plan on reading through my Exalted books just to make a bunch of random tables for my personal shits and giggles.

I've been re-reading Car Wars Deluxe Edition Compendium (5e?). I found it unexpectedly when unpacking some of my things after a move. I'm trying to figure out if I want to sell it on e-bay or keep it for nostalgia. I can't imagine ever playing it again.
 
I've been playing in a Star Wars SAGA game since December. It's set after canon and (I suspect) the galaxy far far away will be attacked by tyranids. It's fun because our characters age at set intervals. So far we've done kids (level 1-2) and teens (levels 5-8). I painted up a WH40k fig with a EP IV Luke Skywalker yellow vest, but have since repainted it Jedi brown. I might finish him with a lightsaber, matching starfighter and/or some alternate costumes (invisible, in space suit and turning to the darkside) if I can find the bits.
 
I've been lurking on D&D 4e threads, just in case there's something game changing in the PHB2. Actualy, what most got me interested in it again is a WotC ball of flame mini my friend showed me. His wizard rolls around the field. It would be fun to have another excuse to kitbash some more minis.
 
I've been painting up my LotR minis because my 2.5 yr old daughter is crazy about them. Honestly I don't care for the smaller LotR scale. I find it tremendously difficult to work on and I'm unsatisfied with the way the fellowship's faces are turning out.
 
She doesn't know it yet, but her Easter eggs will be filled with pre-painted Noah's ark themed animal miniatures. I'm looking forward to seeing if she allows the animal minis play with LotR minis. The other toys never get to.