tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post5981812861473941787..comments2024-03-14T10:32:29.233-05:00Comments on Blood of Prokopius: I'm Back and Playing (and Ranting About) 5eFrDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-73026177824296986652016-10-29T16:21:34.929-05:002016-10-29T16:21:34.929-05:00Glad to see you're back!Glad to see you're back!Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10231423670489116607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-53166703032397762972016-10-26T21:19:56.970-05:002016-10-26T21:19:56.970-05:00Good to see you back!
Not trying to troll but...
...Good to see you back!<br /><br />Not trying to troll but...<br /><br />"In my recent campaign for example players negotiated with stone giants building of city walls for their base town. There was no money involved and the action changed the game world."<br /><br />"Isn't it too materialistic?"<br /><br />Just because it was not purchased with money, does not mean it's not materialistic. Money is not evil, the love of things is.<br />Thiles Targonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02928790313150694394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-12479092532478785302016-10-19T13:13:24.142-05:002016-10-19T13:13:24.142-05:00From my perspective, that question can only be ans...From my perspective, that question can only be answered by the players themselves. The beauty of 1 gp treasure spent = 1 xp is that it allows the players the freedom to do exactly that.<br /><br />In my personal experience, younger players tend to answer that question "yes." Which brings us to another reason I really like this rule: as time goes on and more treasure is amassed and more xp is needed to get to higher levels, someone eventually comes to the conclusion that not only is helping other people an easier way to spend that gold for xp, but it is more fun and rewarding.<br /><br />In other words, I have found that the very freedom this system allows also allows (and even encourages) players to find out that the answer actually isn't "yes" but something else entirely. And when they come to that conclusion themselves, it actually has more meaning than if I systemically required it of them in the first place.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-29363775762414388472016-10-19T11:43:23.981-05:002016-10-19T11:43:23.981-05:00When player characters already have gold, then of ...When player characters already have gold, then of course what they do with it shows their values. But the question remains if they should seek treasure above all else (for example, instead of trying to help other people).Ifrythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568876894350411986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-91211606364619189422016-10-19T10:01:36.862-05:002016-10-19T10:01:36.862-05:00I think the wall example fits pretty well into the...I think the wall example fits pretty well into the 1g = 1xp system. The GM figures out how much it would have cost them to pay for the wall, and then awards them xp based on that; possibly reducing it if they aren't supplying their own materials or are only helping to build the wall. Basically, award them xp as if they were being paid for the job; or don't if they are being paid for the job.<br /><br />I think the gold for experience system works well even if you don't place value on material wealth yourself, because it's asking the players to determine what their characters value. If their characters don't value material wealth either, it still works, because they can still "spend" gold on donations, aiding the poor and oppressed, tithes, etc.Svafahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12237691554328991393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-82403754113978622522016-10-17T10:36:01.553-05:002016-10-17T10:36:01.553-05:00I'm also a Christian (Catholic specifically) a...I'm also a Christian (Catholic specifically) and also believe that freedom is included in God’s essential idea of human. And role-playing games represent this human freedom very well. It’s one of the reasons I like them so much. For sure I wouldn’t like to lessen freedom of my players. The achievement (milestones) system of XP that I use, respects this freedom, I think.<br /><br />The investments in the game world you gave as an argument is a good reason to try ‘XP=gp spent’ system. I simply think I would use ‘treasure’ very liberally and for example, gaining city walls (the situation I described in one of my previous comments) would also count as a ‘treasure spent’ and players would get experience for it.Ifrythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568876894350411986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-65278362700016230662016-10-16T08:08:20.586-05:002016-10-16T08:08:20.586-05:00Okay, then let's talk about values and worldvi...Okay, then let's talk about values and worldviews. In context of RPGs, one of the most important features of a game system for me is <i>freedom.</i> This all stems from the fact that from 2e on, paganism is hardwired into D&D and I, as a Christian, am no longer implicitly free to play the game as a Christian. Im my own journey post Gygax's death, I found it wonderfully freeing to find that older versions of the game used Christian ideas and symbols in context of clerics and their trappings. Suddenly, I was free again to play the game <i>as a Christian.</i><br /><br />My love of 1gp treasure spent = 1xp stems from the <i>freedom</i> it gives players. Treasure isn't just a means of measure economic/material wealth, it is a game mechanic that <i>empowers</i> players to mold the game system itself to reflect how they want their character to advance in levels. They are free to have the system be entirely materialistic and economic. They are free to have the system express their own Christian faith. They are free to have the system be whatever they want it to be.<br /><br />In other words, the 1gp treasure spent = 1xp is to character advancement what older systems of D&D are to my ability to freely play the game as a Christian. That ability isn't forced on me or anybody else, but the system is open enough to allow me to play the game I want to play. <br /><br />If I go around imposing my values upon the game and upon my players I follow in the footsteps of 2e+ hardwiring paganism into the game. I would much rather see my players see the value of freedom and be empowered by that freedom.<br /><br />Freedom is hardwired into Christianity. It is a fundamental part of its anthropology. 1gp treasure spent = 1xp lets me empower my players with that value. As a consequence, my gaming experience and the gaming experience of my players has been enriched in a way that no other advancement system has ever come close to.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-89733830161135657612016-10-15T14:36:25.958-05:002016-10-15T14:36:25.958-05:00I understand it is a game mechanic. This discussio...I understand it is a game mechanic. This discussion even encouraged me to try it in my next campaign. :)<br /><br />But what here is a problem for me is one thing you also wrote about yourself - I try in my games to be faithful to my real life worldview (for example, you wrote about all people starting equal, without any special "hero powers"). I think the money isn't the most important thing in the world. This is the reason why I have my doubts about the game mechanic of XP=gp.Ifrythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568876894350411986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-44120042827500389842016-10-15T08:50:19.898-05:002016-10-15T08:50:19.898-05:00I think where we are getting crossed up is that I ...I think where we are getting crossed up is that I don't see <i>treasure</i> in a purely economic/materialistic way. Rather, I see it as a <i>game mechanic</i> that represents a means for characters to gain experience. The reason I like it so much is that <i>as a game mechanic</i> I have found that it does an outstanding job of placing agency into the hands of players rather than being dependent on either my own whims or the whims of the system. There are other mechanics that can accomplish the same thing; however, experience as shown me that 1 gp of treasure spent = 1 xp does this better than any other mechanic I have ever played with.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-21700201952618311002016-10-15T08:04:21.684-05:002016-10-15T08:04:21.684-05:00I am very pleased to see you back, Fr. Dave. I'...I am very pleased to see you back, Fr. Dave. I'd prayed for your eventual return, so it's good to see you posting again. We'll still keep the prayers flowing and hope that you'll do the same with the virtual ink!mactavishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17863937666133661581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-17067291181600175912016-10-15T04:11:42.368-05:002016-10-15T04:11:42.368-05:00Great to have you back,Father! God bless you and y...Great to have you back,Father! God bless you and your family. Hardradahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16839717341847947417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-36012776787472782972016-10-14T14:01:40.559-05:002016-10-14T14:01:40.559-05:00But is it true that only money investments are imp...But is it true that only money investments are important? Do characters have to pay for something, cannot they for example build something themselves? Or use some social (or political) influence?<br /><br />In my recent campaign for example players negotiated with stone giants building of city walls for their base town. There was no money involved and the action changed the game world.Ifrythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568876894350411986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-38365939777110152772016-10-14T10:12:40.281-05:002016-10-14T10:12:40.281-05:00It can be materialistic, if that is what the playe...It <i>can</i> be materialistic, if that is what the player wants it to be. <br /><br />In my campaign, a perfectly acceptable way for a character to gain a bunch of xp is to use their treasure to repair and improve all of the damaged property destroyed by that ankheg attack. In point of fact, that use of treasure not only says a lot more about a character than awarding xp for accomplishments, but it also impacts the game world in a far more organic and long-lasting manner. Since the character invested (literally) in the livelihood of this farmer, further threats to that livelihood are going to mean more.<br /><br />Such investments have not only enriched my campaign world beyond my own imagination, they have been the seeds of further conflict and adventure.<br /><br />Indeed, the events surrounding my current campaign are a direct result of an investment made by a player in a previous campaign.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-33603159202474848642016-10-14T10:01:45.808-05:002016-10-14T10:01:45.808-05:00Thank you, everyone, for all your thoughts and you...Thank you, everyone, for all your thoughts and your prayers. They are still needed.FrDavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00459281821319914530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-20339198610784348002016-10-14T09:59:22.190-05:002016-10-14T09:59:22.190-05:00I'm also glad to see you back to blogging, and...I'm also glad to see you back to blogging, and gaming, even if it isn't with a rules set you like.WQRobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436898737750581192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-18027074458919481332016-10-14T09:20:27.259-05:002016-10-14T09:20:27.259-05:00It's really a great joy to see you blogging ag...It's really a great joy to see you blogging again. I pray for you and your family.<br /><br />And to give you something to write about, I'll ask about this XP=gp spent thing. :)<br />Isn't it too materialistic? For example, shouldn't players gain XP for helping some poor farmer rid his field of an ankheg? They won't gain any gold for this, but it is good and challenging act.<br /><br />In my games (D&D5 recently) characters gain XP for accomplishments and players themselves establish what was an accomplishment during particular session. I only say (after the fact) how much XP is it worth.Ifrythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08568876894350411986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-8927291054631561362016-10-14T05:34:25.166-05:002016-10-14T05:34:25.166-05:00you have defined such facts that I am totally agre...you have defined such facts that I am totally agreed to this thing,thanks for sharing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mcxsureshotcall.com/gold-jackpot-plan.html" rel="nofollow"><b>Gold Calls Updates</b></a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15868755537707354679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-12052704688151579512016-10-13T23:36:54.188-05:002016-10-13T23:36:54.188-05:00I am glad that she is better now. I have always en...I am glad that she is better now. I have always enjoyed reading your thoughts on Role playing. God Bless you.Grizaptimushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889014138948372669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-42101942397435811982016-10-13T22:28:42.914-05:002016-10-13T22:28:42.914-05:00Huzzah!Huzzah!Dr. Obscurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14915912787477812255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-82990485537252102312016-10-13T17:53:37.103-05:002016-10-13T17:53:37.103-05:00Glad to hear that she's better. Good to have y...Glad to hear that she's better. Good to have you back padre.Conrad Kinchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683395740934527502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-65127468029260337042016-10-13T15:49:42.711-05:002016-10-13T15:49:42.711-05:00I'm glad it's better with your kid, now. T...I'm glad it's better with your kid, now. Tough.<br />Blessings to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-65332868401535490252016-10-13T12:19:36.727-05:002016-10-13T12:19:36.727-05:00Good to hear you're gaming again. Looking forw...Good to hear you're gaming again. Looking forward to hearing how the campaign progresses with 5E. I've got a buddy who is (or was...haven't talked to him recently) running a campaign with the latest edition, but he said he'd probably be returning to B/X after it concluded.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-6733182387133307462016-10-13T11:56:23.417-05:002016-10-13T11:56:23.417-05:00Welcome back, Dave.
I hope it has sorted itself ...Welcome back, Dave. <br /><br />I hope it has sorted itself out for your child, and that the travails you have had to endure is over.<br /><br />I've yet to experience 5th ed. but am curious about your impressions and ideas. I know you are totally on the same page as me regarding Dave Arneson's brilliant XP rule.AndreasDavourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17170806742393291962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290828421410624791.post-48451610974697008972016-10-13T10:15:58.300-05:002016-10-13T10:15:58.300-05:00Glad to see you're back! And glad to hear that...Glad to see you're back! And glad to hear that your youngest is better.<br /><br />I've only experienced 5E from the player side, other than two sessions back during the play test, so I've only needed the PHB. <br /><br />For the races, at least, they divided them into "common" (Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling), and "uncommon" (everything else). That's why they're not all alphabetical. It's to allow DMs to declare no (or only some) uncommon races in a campaign more easily, or something like that, apparently. Unnecessary, but that was their logic for that one. <br /><br />I'll be looking forward to reading what else you have to say about 5E.Dennis Laffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03053699552003336733noreply@blogger.com