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Always glad to cover listener feedback - hope we did it justice

I didn't want to cover every detail of the packet specifically, as it would probably be a little dry. But, I think it inspired some excellent points and sub-topics.

I was pleased with the treatment. I wouldnt expect every detail to be covered, I think it just serves as a useful example of the high-end of informing players.

Hateful review submitted. Enjoy.

Odd note: iTunes censors the word "genitalia" apparently.

hehe genitalia.

ryoken sent us a pretty packet with pictures and color and all sorts of fun stuff. it was cool to read.

So to the meat of the show:

* I prefer games where the disadvantages benefit you not at character generation, but when they come up in play. In Burning Wheel, when you let one of the dozen or so things that could be deemed disadvantages fuck with you, you get artha (power points) at the end of the session. In Spirit of the Century, if you let your Aspects fuck you over, you get a FATE point right away. In new World of Darkness, you get experience points whenever you allow yourself to be hindered by your disadvantages.

* I'll be fucked if I am going to play in a non-con game where one person gets to tell me what skills are or are not allowed. If we all agree to play a game together, we can all agree on what we want to see in that game. And if we can't agree, we shouldn't be playing together.

But, but Rob... how's a DM supposed to properly allow his story be revealed if he doesn't impose absolute authority over his world? We all know players are wily beasts who will run roughshod over any GM who's not keeping everyone on a short lease. It's the only way to play!

/sarcasm.

So you think you should be able to take Computer Programming in a Medieval Fantasy setting? Because otherwise someone is hassling you?

Nope. But note the phrase, "one person." I don't want to play in a game where one person gets to decide what's ok or appropriate. As an adult, I'm capable of cooperatively coming up with a list of theme-appropriate, power-appropriate character creation options (skills, traits, advantages, etc.).

That's a good point, Rob - I've never really thought about it that way.

Who could imagine that someone whose mark on the world is "Misspent Youth" and "The Independent Insurgency" would have trouble with authority? Sometimes you need someone to make decisions because people disagree on what should be the rule.

Maybe the appropriate person to be making decisions is the one who has invested the most time in the game, designed a world, developed a plot, and prepared statistics? Sometimes Democracy is appropriate. Sometimes it isnt. Sometimes, the people who need to be making the decisions dont have the proper information to do so.

Also, we dont live in a world of infinite time. Some people dont have a few hours to debate whether we should or should not allow party members to be vampires. Sometimes you just need to make a decision, stick to it, and move on.