Amazingly ernough I have yet to find a SFRPG webcomic like OOTS, and I really wanted one for traveller or some other SFRPG.
Well, I've found one. Here's the link: http://www.icar.co.uk/cartoons.php?toon=toon001.gif
Go to it, read thru it and be sure to give th guy a hand and encouragement in keeping this going.
Thanks for the plug! The comic has had a quiet hiatus while I finished off the latest version of the free Icar Rules (http://www.icar.co.uk). However, I am back creating more for it and will try my best to get into a rhythm.
If anyone has any comments about the comic, please do let me know. I'm still new to the whole comic creation thing so am happy to take on advice.
Dominus Nox has kindly given the first toon in the series. If you want to just keep up with the latest, you can use this link:
http://www.icar.co.uk/cartoons.php
Does anyone remember "The Travellers"? I particularly liked the issue where they printed the character sheets, showing that it was possible for a character to serve 4 terms of Medic without picking up any medical skills whatsoever (though she was very good at Blade Combat and Gambling IIRC)
Good stuff!! I'm looking forward to more. :)
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonDoes anyone remember "The Travellers"? I particularly liked the issue where they printed the character sheets, showing that it was possible for a character to serve 4 terms of Medic without picking up any medical skills whatsoever (though she was very good at Blade Combat and Gambling IIRC)
You can read the Travellers strips online here (http://www.2000ad.org/markus/travellers/), if you'd like.
Quote from: Rob LangThanks for the plug! The comic has had a quiet hiatus while I finished off the latest version of the free Icar Rules (http://www.icar.co.uk). However, I am back creating more for it and will try my best to get into a rhythm.
If anyone has any comments about the comic, please do let me know. I'm still new to the whole comic creation thing so am happy to take on advice.
Dominus Nox has kindly given the first toon in the series. If you want to just keep up with the latest, you can use this link:
http://www.icar.co.uk/cartoons.php
Hey dude, I downed the icar system and have to say there's a major problem. it's with those number wheels and the symbols. I mean it's a real pain to memorize all those symbols and they take up a lot more space than just a number would.
Also, what if the same digit is used twice in a number, like 666? You'd have to have 3 symbols on one number, wouldn't that be a mess?
The system has some good writing and ideas, and I like the CGI. (BTW, I do a little CGI SF art, want some?) but the number wheel is just a major turnoff.
Sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm just giving honest feedback. The toon still rocks!
Dominus, thanks for the feedback. It was a conscious decision to move the character sheet away from the spreadsheet character sheets of old where the whole thing is awash with numbers. I wanted a more visual way of showing statistics, as if the player was looking down onto a biological readout.
The discs are tricky to start with but you'll soon get used to them. Those players who dislike using them revert to writing numbers in them. For the equipments (weapon, vehicles, space craft) numbers are stored on the discs and so I might have to add the numeric representation of the statistics to make it easier for players to work with.
Numbers within the game are normally set to two significant figures, so you're unlikely to get 666, it would be 660. After 7 years, we've not had much of a problem (except when one particularly mathematical fellow needed 1000s on the disc).
Thanks for the honest and open feedback. I may have to bite the bullet and give an optional character sheet for those who hate the discs. I can see that they're not to everyone's tastes and so might create a more standard sheet for those not wanting to use the discs.
Thanks for the offer of the CGI but I'm keeping it in house. By the time I've explained what graphic I need, I could have already completed it! Many thanks for the offer.
Quote from: Rob LangDominus, thanks for the feedback. It was a conscious decision to move the character sheet away from the spreadsheet character sheets of old where the whole thing is awash with numbers. I wanted a more visual way of showing statistics, as if the player was looking down onto a biological readout.
The discs are tricky to start with but you'll soon get used to them. Those players who dislike using them revert to writing numbers in them. For the equipments (weapon, vehicles, space craft) numbers are stored on the discs and so I might have to add the numeric representation of the statistics to make it easier for players to work with.
Numbers within the game are normally set to two significant figures, so you're unlikely to get 666, it would be 660. After 7 years, we've not had much of a problem (except when one particularly mathematical fellow needed 1000s on the disc).
Thanks for the honest and open feedback. I may have to bite the bullet and give an optional character sheet for those who hate the discs. I can see that they're not to everyone's tastes and so might create a more standard sheet for those not wanting to use the discs.
Thanks for the offer of the CGI but I'm keeping it in house. By the time I've explained what graphic I need, I could have already completed it! Many thanks for the offer.
Please, please create a sheet without the disks. They are hard to learn and totally unecessary, they serve no purpose and waste ink to print.
If you have to have a gimmick, put the numbers in a little box that looks like a monitor or a readout, but lose the disks, they really are useless and serve no purpose but to try to be different for no useful gain, and waste time learning.
Plus with numbers numbers like 323, 499, etc, can be done.
BTW, I hope I haven't pissed you into dropping the comic, that's cool.
Please don't feel bad - Icar has been in a constant state of Evolution since its inception so I am happy to hear any well argued points - which is certainly what you've provided!
I've opened it up to the regular players but I think they will probably vote to keep them - having used them for years. Accessibility is certainly one of my goals with Icar, so I am likely to bend to popular pressure on this one.
I will still be producing the toon, of course! :)
Quote from: KnightskyYou can read the Travellers strips online here (http://www.2000ad.org/markus/travellers/), if you'd like.
You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar
(unless you're a lady of course - then you're still a scholar)
Quote from: Hastur T. FannonYou sir, are a gentleman and a scholar
Heh. Usually what I get is closer to "Knightsky? He's a rogue and a lackwit."
And yes, I adore Travellers... perhaps because it was entirely too close to some of the Traveller games I ran in college...
Next strip is up.
http://www.icar.co.uk/cartoons.php