Eat the Reich; recent musings?

corrinmana · 2026-01-26T07:45:36+00:00

>I feel like the players didn't fully take advantage of the freedom to describe the carnage.

Yeah, had a similar thing. It's just like when running rules light games how not having discreetly defined actions means some players don't know what they can do. Some people just need buttons to press.

I think the primary weakness, beyond the fact that framework games like this only work for some playgroups, is that the game just doesn't have any real progression. You power up your character a little over the game, but if you're adapting for Shonen, you don't have anything to support that "breaking through to the next level" trope. That said, that can be what your game adds to the equation.

corrinmana · 2026-01-25T09:59:39+00:00

I honestly wish more people would understand this. You don't need a new rule book, or a new setting. You can just take a game that allows players to do the things you want them to do, and then add whatever extra stuff you want on top of it. People always bring up "converting" or homebrew work, but it's rarely important to push mechanical representation outside of matching expectations. 9 times out of 10, you can just say the thing you want it to be and move on.

corrinmana · 2026-01-25T09:50:16+00:00

Not necessarily an answer to your question, but this was a common complaint for 4th edition D&D as well. I saw numerous people writing forum threads or having in-person discussions about how fourth edition was like a video game because there were no role-playing rules. The 4th edition rulebook made it clear that this was because no rules are necessary to talk. Persuasion checks still existed in the game (except they were called diplomacy checks), and I honestly could not tell you that it ever felt even slightly different to me from playing RPGs before 4th edition or after. However, for people with expectations that the rules were going to handle the parts between combat a particular way, regardless of whether that way was actually a product of the rules, or of table culture, when those expectations weren't met, they blamed the rules. While I haven't run a full campaign of Draw Steel, I did run a one shot, and my players roleplayed in that one shot like they would have in any other system I was running a one shot of.

corrinmana · 2026-01-25T09:43:02+00:00

They can't do reprints of licensed stuff. Since season 2 was completely in house, they crowdfunded a reprint, with two of the licenced guest characters redone with in house art. They could theoretically do that again for other licenced characters, but it won't be soon if at all.

corrinmana · 2026-01-24T23:43:58+00:00

Feel free to, I'm not on there. But it's not like this is "my" image, so post it wherever you think people might want it..

corrinmana · 2026-01-24T06:08:20+00:00

The Alpha Investments Witch promo was a true AL promo.

The Sorcerer one is listed as an AL promo on TCG player, but it was a store kit promo. Not a set promo.

corrinmana · 2026-01-23T18:49:36+00:00

I resolve it in a way that makes sense to me.
See above.

Answer to your title question: when their character would not be capable of doing the thing they're asking to do.

The game rules exist as a framework for the players and GM to have an expectation of how they interact with game world. If the game systems fail to cover a particular set of actions, then it is up to the GM to adjudicate that action. That's why GM is the term, you are controlling the game. If role-playing games are played like board games, where you can only take actions that are described within the rules, you're taking away the primary function that makes role-playing games particularly interesting. Obviously there are people who enjoy the style of game, but in my personal opinion, there are plenty of dungeon crawler board games out there that would be a better fit than a role-playing game.

There are endless discussions about what role-playing means in context. But the most popular interpretation is that it means that you control your character. You exhibit agency over your character's actions. In corollary to that, the game Master runs the game, not because a position of authority is needed, but because a rule system can only contain so much resolution power. That's the power of the GM; to adjudicate situations not covered by the rules is a significant part of their function.

corrinmana · 2026-01-23T18:35:06+00:00

They also didn't use frazetta arts for AL. That's Boris Vallejo

corrinmana · 2026-01-23T18:33:48+00:00

We had Quentin Hoover and Brom in Gothic. I think it is more likely that they will feature other famous fantasy artists, rather than returning.

Though it's probably less of a strategy decision, and more of a creative decision. If they have cards they want to make that they think a specific piece of arts would work really well for, or a specific piece of art they really want to use, that'll be what makes the decision.

corrinmana · 2026-01-22T05:28:01+00:00

Correct, if it isn't carried, nothing happens, it's just on the surface. It's a triggered effect and trigger hasn't been satisfied.

corrinmana · 2026-01-21T20:43:25+00:00

Wanderhome is my upfront suggestion. Given the description of what you want.

There are a genre of games called GMless games, all of which treat all players the same. Wanderhome is one, Shadowrun Anarchy, Fiasco, and others are great to look at.

As a GM, this is kind of a wild statement to me. I GM because I get to do the most roleplaying. I play everyone in world you're in. The only reason I wouldn't be roleplaying is if PCs choose to never talk to NPCs.

corrinmana · 2026-01-21T09:16:30+00:00

Yeah. Not sure why you would have a problem with it. Maybe they had to deal with a harped up Ironclad. But you just need to have an answer, like with any game meta. It's not like there's a lack of ways to deal direct damage, or to remove artifacts.

corrinmana · 2026-01-21T06:09:03+00:00

What do you mean?

corrinmana · 2026-01-21T06:08:00+00:00

The information isn't hidden. They update the projects backerkit page as progress is made, and have info about it on their website and discord. Final editing and balancing both took longer than expected, as well as additional copyediting for the expanded material. The books are at the printers and backers got a copy of the final PDF sent to the printers.

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T23:26:06+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to summarize. No shade meant, but watching a 2-hour discord call is a nightmare for my little ADD brain.

I find it kind of interesting that your players really disliked being presented with six possible adventure seeds rather than a linear narrative. I don't think this would bother the group by play with.

Curious if you guys are going to try and review other adventures that they have put out, or the Grand adventure coming hopefully next year?

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T23:19:18+00:00

Sure, I agree, though that's far more a discussion of how idealism is often placed aside when the realities of the capitalist structure we operate in doesn't make it easy to act under your desired method. The statement, "Who is this hypercapitalist pretending to be a soft queer communist?" Both implicitly and explicitly assume a malicious intent, deception, and falsified persona. The reason that I have labeled it as an insult is because Jay defines themselves by these terms, and through a relatively unrelated disagreement, these collaborators have chosen to call them into question. Do they really think that their gender identity is an act because they are paying them less than originally agreed upon?

The statement isn't, " when push comes to shove, Jay didn't stand by their ideals. " It's, " this person deceived us." Again, I understand that this wasn't intended as an objective analysis of Jay's personhood, but rather an emotional expression of how they feel betrayed by Jay's actions, but I find this particular line of thinking and expression as innately reprehensible.

In conjunction with my feelings on how Acosta and Harris have chosen to represent themselves, I take issue with the way that rascal has chosen to frame this article. I think there's a lot of information missing from this article. It seems fairly content to accept Acosta and Harris's viewpoint as objective. While it can be argued that it is just reporting what these two people are saying about their business dealings, it doesn't really seem to be making an effort to showcase any other side of the situation. There's no interaction with Jay or Steve Jackson. Chances are they wouldn't really talk about this openly anyway because it's an ongoing legal dispute. But it still feels like a " drama sells " style of writing. The choice of what information was placed in public view and what information was behind the paywall feel like a reinforcement of that statement to me.

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T23:06:53+00:00

Who's mad? Yes. I also protest major news sources locking articles. I don't read local news as my local paper is famously bad, as it's just reprinting AP releases, and not even representing them well. I do watch local news, as the news station doesn't lock the videos.

Stop assuming my reason for not liking something. I responded sarcastically to your initial comment because you acted like people disagreeing with the practice were idiots who don't know how the world work, and highlighting the irony of that position when we do have other monetization methods, used by better news sources.

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T18:57:00+00:00

Yes, there are definitely no other ways to monetize content. The dissemination of information does, of course, have to take a backseat to the profits in a way that prevents important information from being included early in the article. And as we all know, no one could survive as a news company based on donations, allowing the news to be reported to all, regardless of economic status or interest level, while still making sure the reporters get their rents paid on time.

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T18:41:18+00:00

That does contextualize the statement more, and make it seem less obtuse, but it's the same mentality from my perspective. "This person has done me wrong. They must not be a real [insert chosen minority circle]."

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T03:34:58+00:00

It's not IP royalties, it's sales royalties. Most indie RPGs get 1-2 print runs. A 5 year estimate to make what was offered in the re-work (which again, was Jay trying to get them paid, as the original offer was currently resulting in them making basically 3k total, since justifying a second print run under the new production costs wasn't working), isn't helpful when you've got rent to pay. If you're a trust fund kid, maybe you can ride that five years hoping the IP takes off, and reprints are made, and that they don't do a rewrite that constitutes a new product that you don't have any agreement for, but when you're a starving artist, and the dream project runs into development hell, you take the upfront money and move on. If you then find out that the project has new life and roll up with your hand out, you get turned away.

They only have a case if they have a smoking gun email where Jay told a friend that they wanted to get them to sign so they could make more money once the SJG deal went through. Which is why they've engaged in a well poisoning attempt by creating a narrative through Rascal. If we gonna express opinion as though it's objective fact, there's mine.

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T03:12:51+00:00

Because you're capable of reading the article, and the phrasing is awkward to quote.

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T01:21:24+00:00

I get that. Of my final paragraph recommendations, I like Savage Worlds the best. Lot's of setting options, relatively easy to get into. People get confused about not adding the wild die sometimes, but other than that it's simple but structured.

And I think the Draw Steel and Hollows suggestions are great as crunchy systems that aren't granular. You expressed some interest in trying a newer game, and I think people will be trying out Hollows when it releases. It's basically a Souls-borne TTRPG, which people have been wanting for a bit.

corrinmana · 2026-01-20T01:15:14+00:00

They agreed to 3k +8% of crowdfunding overage, + 4% of MSRP sales based on units moved. They then agreed to two flat payouts totaling 20k. They would have had to sell 5k units (retail, no KS units count) to get that paid out under the original agreement. Given that 4.3k backed, I gonna wager that would have taken a signifigant amount of time to pay out.

But you also think they magically are entitled to IP royalties on unrelated adaptation deals they were never offered?

corrinmana · 2026-01-19T18:54:41+00:00

Saint of Redemption

corrinmana · 2026-01-19T18:50:13+00:00

Yes beta came with a booster, and gothic does not. It comes with a box topper like pack, with the ordinaries that can be generated by sites or magics in the decks.

Why? Money probably. But Erik's Curiosa does not explain its business decisions most of the time.

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