Counterforce
player, 124 posts
Svetlana Kragova, 16
The Brain
Fri 23 Jul 2021
at 19:26 | Using the ol' noggin...Ah, good point. Hopefully that was enough. Anyway, I'd like to know since it may influence my planning... a bit.
EDIT: On second thought, I might as well go for it soon if I don't get sidetracked. It's not that important a clarification and I don't want to hold things up.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:43, Sat 24 July 2021.
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The Watcher
GM, 289 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Sun 25 Jul 2021
at 04:40 | Using the ol' noggin...Sigh. Delayed by real-life, will reply likely Monday night. Might have some real time to post from Monday onwards. I will be generous in rules interpretation as I realize you are waiting on me. :-)
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The Watcher
GM, 290 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Wed 28 Jul 2021
at 01:11 | Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)OK, maybe it was Tuesday before I could respond... ;-)
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The Watcher
GM, 294 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Wed 28 Jul 2021
at 02:05 | Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)Ricochet, I hear ya. And I should have been more clear. The fourth thread is an actual adventure. But it will start seeming very ordinary from your character's point of view. But there will be an actual plot which is something I admit has been too long in coming.
Counterforce, you essentially got it right in your posts. There are four groups of Phalanx, each of which has to be stopped individually, no one Move will do it (unless a penalty is taken for each extra Phalanx cluster tried for). Your questions about why the Infinite Mansion can't simply stop or redirect the Phalanx are very good but will have to be investigated in character. You are right that Jocasta and the Mansion should never have been this compromised in the first place. But as to why, well...? Of course, at the rate you are mopping up the Phalanx, you should get your answers soon.
"One more thing, Watcher: Can you please go into the Dice Roller and set its default to 2d6 rather than 1d20? It'd be really convenient." You can do that??? ;-) Um, let me see if I can figure out to do that by next time unless a co-GM will save my luddite bacon before then.
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Counterforce
player, 127 posts
Svetlana Kragova, 16
The Brain
Wed 28 Jul 2021
at 02:09 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)| The Watcher: | | "One more thing, Watcher: Can you please go into the Dice Roller and set its default to 2d6 rather than 1d20? It'd be really convenient." You can do that??? ;-) Um, let me see if I can figure out to do that by next time unless a co-GM will save my luddite bacon before then. |
I'd quite like to know how myself!
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Meta
GM, 75 posts
"We look...at the things
which are not seen..."
Wed 28 Jul 2021
at 02:11 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)Done! :)
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Ricochet
player, 167 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Wed 28 Jul 2021
at 02:21 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)Yep! The way you do it is (with GM access) to enter the Dice Roller page, then click "Configure the Roller" in the bottom left of the controls. It'll take you to a nearly identical page where you can set the roller's defaults to whatever you like, which can be super handy anytime you're not using a D20-based system. Running Edge of the Empire can get mind-melting without that feature, lemme tell ya.
As for the adventure, I just meant that each team should get their own adventure thread rather than another massive group ordeal. It'll let us interact with our own teams more instead of having just a few people willing to post, plus expand more on our Relationships and such. Having the adventure all be run with everyone in it would be the same chaos we've been having.
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Mania
player, 35 posts
Andi Benton, Age 16
The Protege
Wed 28 Jul 2021
at 06:27 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)I know Ghost Spider was hesitant about a symbiote character because of their inherent dark story qualities, but I also don't want to bother anyone else. Are there lines I should avoid crossing? I have my own comfort level, of course, but everyone has their own idea of what "too far" means, and I don't want to push that for anyone. I also know Resonance isn't keen on anti-social teammates, so I don't plan on making Mania outright terrible, either.
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Resonance
player, 67 posts
Xin1 Xie2 Zhen4: Age 13
Sheng4 Xin1: The Beacon
Wed 28 Jul 2021
at 06:35 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)PC vs. PC hostility would definitely be suboptimal for Resonance.
However, when discussing relationships and influence, we had some ideas for ties that could bind us together... :)
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The Watcher
GM, 295 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Fri 30 Jul 2021
at 01:16 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)Meta, thank you for fixing the Die Roller. Things were so much easier when I used to do PBeM games by just email. :-)
Ricochet, I thought EotE's dice torment was the point. We GMs are masochists after all. ;-)
I get your point about separated teams mean more story development within a team. But, to be honest, I think team membership might be 'fluid' (frankly, I may lose some more players) and some enduring team members might find themselves alone. What I hope to try for is that teams can separate and stay together with an ease (due to deliberate design) unseen in other threads. But I will try and adapt. I want to keep who is left.
Regarding Mania and games in general; every game has level of darkness and 'grit' that is right for that party. But how do you find out where that level is? I used to work with a guy whose father was a renowned police detective. And his dad had always said that you started out nice. Because you can go from nice to mean but you can't (easily) go from mean to nice.
In short, start easy with Mania 'lapses' and lead with offenses that can be undone. There is no hurry and the general comfort level of the game and its players will find itself.
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Counterforce
player, 129 posts
Svetlana Kragova, 16
The Brain
Fri 30 Jul 2021
at 02:56 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)I think it could be good to have team-based threads for those players who are still around in each team. That may be a good way to ensure that those who are otherwise available are still interested. Also, it's just too hard for anyone in particular to stand out when everyone is in one thread. In team threads, each character would have more of a chance for the spotlight.
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The Watcher
GM, 297 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Sun 1 Aug 2021
at 03:11 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)I will see what I can do. :-)
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The Watcher
GM, 300 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Thu 5 Aug 2021
at 02:37 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)Sorry I have been away for so long. But 'The Mother of Invention' thread is pretty much done.
And now there is a new thread, IC Scene #4: Idle Hands...
This is now the only truly active thread and it will stay that way for a long time, no more flashback or dream sequences. All PCs are together and may all work together or separate into their own teams (as might make sense, each team is trained to be separate and efficient units as needed) as the players wish.
The opening scene seems quite mundane and the kids are 'off the chain' for the weekend. But hidden forces will act soon enough...
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Ricochet
player, 168 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Thu 5 Aug 2021
at 04:03 | Re: Maybe it was Tuesday after all. :-)Hm. I see what you mean about maybe losing more players, in regards to team composition. I only count ten definitely active players right now, with the rest not having logged in for at least two weeks, or else having already left the game. Makes it difficult to split us into those separate team threads we were talking about.
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Max
player, 96 posts
Age: 16
The Delinquent
Thu 5 Aug 2021
at 13:32 | Using the ol' noggin...I understand the issue with player attrition, but honestly this is my concern/issue.
I signed up for the game because I wanted to play Masks, not "generic superhero game" because I really wanted a chance to play with the game mechanics. By throwing everyone into a single thread/group, I feel like it really waters down a lot of what makes Masks (and PBtA games in general) special. Things like influence, relationships, team pool, team moves, and even the uniqueness of playbooks.
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Ricochet
player, 171 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Thu 5 Aug 2021
at 23:09 | Using the ol' noggin...Glad to see you're still with us! And yes, that's been my stance as well. Still kind of waiting for the Masks game itself to start, while getting through all the Teens With Superpowers Hanging Out bits.
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The Watcher
GM, 303 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Sat 7 Aug 2021
at 05:41 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyMax, you are right. I did neglect the more crunchy bits that make Masks Masks. I'm hoping to make up for that now. Y'all are free to use all of the game effects from this point on; Moves, Team, Influence, etc. The first few posts in this thread are really setting the scene and don't yet call for full rules. But call my bluff, make a Move if you wish.
If you are still a little gunshy, I get it. Go ahead and just watch for a bit. I think the game will be more like you were hoping for with every post.
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Exemplar
player, 9 posts
E'Llar, 17
The Delinquent
Sat 7 Aug 2021
at 07:39 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyI randomly stumbled upon this while doing some unrelated research: https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Purple_Hayes_(Earth-616) It reminded me of that one option you suggested for making an expy character at the start. :P
Haven't decided what to do in the new thread yet, but we can use it to interact among team members anyway, if we so wish. Not everyone has to pile on the NPCs after all. :) I do hope we will get proper team threads later, though.
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Ricochet
player, 172 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Sat 7 Aug 2021
at 08:24 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyBoss, you've gotta get a handle on your character voice colors. Vanessa and Sally's conversation is so hard to keep track of because of how often they swap voices. XD
But ye, I still think the team threads we agreed on would be ideal for getting the quieter players to participate, since it won't be everyone in one spot anymore.
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Ricochet
player, 173 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Tue 10 Aug 2021
at 21:15 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyUntil now I was unaware that high schools had football games as early as, and sometimes earlier than, the first day of school. ... What is a super school's sports curriculum like?
Also, I'm gonna let a few more voices jump IC before replying to the thread again.
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The Watcher
GM, 306 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Wed 11 Aug 2021
at 02:15 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyI like Purple Hayes. She might have been a better choice than Bluebird for my botched Beacon of the Junior Team (I needed a failed ordinary sidekick for certain plot threads).
My apologies for the confusing color coding of the two girls. I chose blue for Bluebird and Vanessa's natural skin color is blue so it seemed right. I didn't think the two colors would be that similar. I will change the colors to make them contrast more next post.
When the crisis happens (and I believe that will be soon), the student can unite or divide (as teams or otherwise) as the players wish. I think this will work. :-)
Sorry I have been away for a few days...
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Ricochet
player, 174 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Wed 11 Aug 2021
at 04:00 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyIt's not that they're too similar, it's that you're using two slightly different blues but occasionally confusing which blue you're using for which character. Here's what I mean:
| Sally: | | <Blue><b>"So I'm sorry my ether egg went off prematurely."</b></Blue> Sally said to Vanessa. |
Sally is Blue.
| Vanessa: | | <Periwinkle><b>"Powers are overrated, believe me."</b></Periwinkle> Vanessa said. |
Vanessa is Periwinkle, same as Ricochet.
| Sally?: | | <DarkBlue><b>"At least you are somebody."</b></DarkBlue> she said. |
Now Sally is DarkBlue for the rest of the conversation, except...
| Both: | | Vanessa nodded and then smiled slyly. <Periwinkle><b>"I'll show you. I'll be your dad and you can be my teenage daughter." </b></Periwinkle> <Periwinkle><b>"Whoa! Wait, why my dad and not my mom?"</b></Periwinkle> <Periwinkle><b>"Life's easier for men."</b></Periwinkle> Vanessa said with assurance. |
Sally is Periwinkle between Vanessa's two Periwinkle lines.
| Ricochet: | | <Purple><b>"Knock knock. I hope you're both okay with a visitor."</b></Purple> |
And then I switched from Periwinkle to Purple. :P
I think Bluebird is fantastic, I'm super into having her on campus. I don't think you need to introduce each member of the new kids team with a horrific crisis or anything, though, just slide 'em on in as people who happen to be superheroes, y'know?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Sat 14 Aug 2021.
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Stone Cold
player, 47 posts
Paul (Publo) Tuvalok
The Transformed Age 16
Sat 14 Aug 2021
at 23:08 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyCan any of us post in IC Scene 4 thread or is it just for a specific group?
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Ricochet
player, 175 posts
Sasha Struck, age 16
The Bull
Sat 14 Aug 2021
at 23:14 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyIdle Hands is for the whole playerbase, hop on in!
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The Watcher
GM, 308 posts
Knows All, Sees All
Sun 15 Aug 2021
at 01:24 | Changing Masks from Creamy to ChunkyAll good on the colors. If I ever get to too close colors too close together again (sometimes can't be helped), maybe I will even change the typeface.
Actually, on my sleepy Windows 10 laptop, the Cursive text comes across in Comic Sans MS, about as comic balloon as RPoL can get.
I'm glad Bluebird has some love. I need slightly fallible friends to move some plots.
Yes, everyone is allowed into this thread. I'm so sorry if I didn't make that clear. Get together and mingle, folks, it's what all of the young people are doing these days. :-)
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