Numenera?

joriandrake · December 09, 2017, 05:34:22 PM

What do people here think of Numenera (Monte Cook Games)? Did you have campaigns with it yet?

Shawn Driscoll · December 09, 2017, 09:01:13 PM

Quote from: joriandrake;1012492What do people here think of Numenera (Monte Cook Games)? Did you have campaigns with it yet?

Nice coffee table art book.

Caesar Slaad · December 09, 2017, 10:02:32 PM

Nice setting; I've been into "far future fantasy" since Dying Earth and Zothique.

The system does nothing for me. Don't see the appeal.

Willie the Duck · December 09, 2017, 11:56:15 PM

Only ever played a pick-up game of it. Seem to recall the world was fine, but there was something about the system I didn't like... but I can't remember what.

joriandrake · December 10, 2017, 05:44:00 AM

Quote from: Caesar Slaad;1012557Nice setting; I've been into "far future fantasy" since Dying Earth and Zothique.

The system does nothing for me. Don't see the appeal.

I also like the setting, what I don't know anything about is the system. Why are you disliking that?

Caesar Slaad · December 10, 2017, 04:28:44 PM

Quote from: joriandrake;1012621I also like the setting, what I don't know anything about is the system. Why are you disliking that?

Mostly, the attribute/resolution system. I'm not too keen on systems that have you spend points from you attributes to be good at the attribute, not am I keen on having damage and other resource pools being the same.

It also conflates short term boosts (bennies/fate points) with long term XP, but that's easier to house rule.

Nexus · December 10, 2017, 04:34:01 PM

Quote from: Caesar Slaad;1012557Nice setting; I've been into "far future fantasy" since Dying Earth and Zothique.

The system does nothing for me. Don't see the appeal.

Seconded.

PencilBoy99 · December 10, 2017, 04:41:54 PM

I ran a campaign of it for a while. We really enjoyed it and it was very easy to run. Everyone enjoyed the system / mechanics. The only complaint I have is that I had trouble grasping what the world was really like. While you're eating at a tavern (are there taverns, do taverns exist), does your chair turn into an intelligent robot? Why not? It's gonzo and anything can happen!

joriandrake · December 10, 2017, 04:49:55 PM

Quote from: PencilBoy99;1012747I ran a campaign of it for a while. We really enjoyed it and it was very easy to run. Everyone enjoyed the system / mechanics. The only complaint I have is that I had trouble grasping what the world was really like. While you're eating at a tavern (are there taverns, do taverns exist), does your chair turn into an intelligent robot? Why not? It's gonzo and anything can happen!

Interesting. Well depending on era and location really everything could happen

As for the system, I have no idea about it as I don't have the books yet, that's exactly why I asked about opinions, I don't know much about the mechanics except for some demo stuff I read earlier. I was invited to an online beta campaign but nothing came out of it (cancelled). My character would've been pretty basic, something like an awoken (from cryo) soldier/knight in the current time, with his full armor being an artifact (something like a power armor). In any case, I missed out on the playtest and decided to not purchase after that.

That's why I hope forumites here could give more details.

Voros · December 10, 2017, 06:29:22 PM

I think the rule set is fine, light to maybe mid-crunch depending on your preference, and played a few start-up games but prefer The Strange omniverse setting more.

finarvyn · December 10, 2017, 07:59:27 PM

Saw the Numenera "starter set" at my local game store today and passed on it, hoping that I could get a better feel for the game here before I spent any money on the game. For those who are familiar with the setting and/or system, can you give a few more details about it/them? What's good? What's bad?

Willie the Duck · December 11, 2017, 08:42:23 AM

Quote from: Caesar Slaad;1012742Mostly, the attribute/resolution system. I'm not too keen on systems that have you spend points from you attributes to be good at the attribute, not am I keen on having damage and other resource pools being the same.

That was it! Doing something you are good at means you are no longer good at doing it. On one hand, that's not unlike primordial D&D (where hp are the base mechanism of being good at combat, and unnecessary fighting means you use up your hp, so the best way to always be the best fighter is to never fight), but this system just called that out a little too much. So it was a matter-of-degree type thing.

tenbones · December 11, 2017, 10:02:57 AM

Setting is interesting, the system kills it for me.

I also think Monte Cook's original game-designs generally are overrated. Nothing against him personally, I liken him to Brian Sanderson in fiction. I don't get the hoopla. (Though I liked Ptolus - but it's more of a well developed setting piece than some super-original game-design).

Edit: I think Monte does awesome fluff. Bad crunch.

Ulairi · December 11, 2017, 10:21:59 AM

Quote from: tenbones;1012922Setting is interesting, the system kills it for me.

I also think Monte Cook's original game-designs generally are overrated. Nothing against him personally, I liken him to Brian Sanderson in fiction. I don't get the hoopla. (Though I liked Ptolus - but it's more of a well developed setting piece than some super-original game-design).

Edit: I think Monte does awesome fluff. Bad crunch.

I agree with both points. And I did like Sanderson's WoT books far more than his original stuff.

Madprofessor · December 11, 2017, 11:12:32 AM

Owned it and sold it.

The setting is kinda cool, but it is both gonzo and serious, and that is a tough buy in. Also, there is a lot for players to learn about the setting, it's very creative but there's nothing familiar. Again, it's a tough buy in.

System is mediocre to poor, IMO.

It's kind of a ballsy game, and not many try to tackle science fantasy, so kudos to Monte for that.