Comments for Paul's Blog http://blog.binkystick.com Thoughts on gaming, pictures I took, and whatever else comes to mind Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:50:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Gaming Lit by BigFella http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/29/gaming-lit/comment-page-1/#comment-119 BigFella Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:50:08 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=267#comment-119 Word up, Paul. Baseball is a game, and yet people play it well into adulthood, and actually make careers of it. Same with football, basketball, and what have you. To me, being grown up means I can do whatever I want, not that I have to stop doing things. Word up, Paul.

Baseball is a game, and yet people play it well into adulthood, and actually make careers of it. Same with football, basketball, and what have you.

To me, being grown up means I can do whatever I want, not that I have to stop doing things.

]]> Comment on How Important is XP? by Paul http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/26/how-important-is-xp/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Paul Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:13:38 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=265#comment-118 I think my problem is though that I try to solve problems before they actually crop up. The fact is, I'm actually OK with the rate of advancement we have right now. True, we just had our first 0 XP session, but pragmatically that was countered by use of the carousing rules. (Fantastic rules BTW, not only does it let you double up the XP for treasure, it also drains the party of all that extra loot they tend to accumulate.) I think I'm going to just keep going as we are, and only think about new methods of giving XP if we actually find the advancement start to lag. I think my problem is though that I try to solve problems before they actually crop up. The fact is, I’m actually OK with the rate of advancement we have right now. True, we just had our first 0 XP session, but pragmatically that was countered by use of the carousing rules. (Fantastic rules BTW, not only does it let you double up the XP for treasure, it also drains the party of all that extra loot they tend to accumulate.)

I think I’m going to just keep going as we are, and only think about new methods of giving XP if we actually find the advancement start to lag.

]]> Comment on How Important is XP? by cyclopeatron http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/26/how-important-is-xp/comment-page-1/#comment-117 cyclopeatron Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:56:37 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=265#comment-117 XP / play style incompatibilities are as old as the game itself. I've always used btb OD&D XP rules, but my current crop of players isn't showing much interest in the killing, looting, leveling cycle. I made a post about this on my own blog a short while ago and got a lot of interesting comments back on alternate XP/leveling strategies. You might be curious to check out all the different ideas and approaches (apologies for linking to my own blog, I know it's kind of cheesy!): <a href="http://cyclopeatron.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-do-i-fix-slow-leveling.html" rel="nofollow">http://cyclopeatron.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-do-i-fix-slow-leveling.html</a> XP / play style incompatibilities are as old as the game itself. I’ve always used btb OD&D XP rules, but my current crop of players isn’t showing much interest in the killing, looting, leveling cycle. I made a post about this on my own blog a short while ago and got a lot of interesting comments back on alternate XP/leveling strategies. You might be curious to check out all the different ideas and approaches (apologies for linking to my own blog, I know it’s kind of cheesy!):

http://cyclopeatron.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-do-i-fix-slow-leveling.html

]]> Comment on Oldschool Outside the Box by Paul http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/23/oldschool-outside-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-114 Paul Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:56:57 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=261#comment-114 There's a compliment hidden somewhere in there, I can just barely see it. :) I guess I don't see the two (the personal failure and the system failure) as mutually exclusive. The system can set up the DM for success or failure. A really good DM can succeed despite the system, but he will succeed more often if the system encourages it. DMing can be extremely difficult. I believe any good DM pretty much constantly doubts himself and is looking for ways to improve. If the system does something to push me as a DM to excel more often, and as a result I see a higher rate of success at the table, then of course I'm going to favor using that system even if I could succeed with another. There’s a compliment hidden somewhere in there, I can just barely see it. :)

I guess I don’t see the two (the personal failure and the system failure) as mutually exclusive. The system can set up the DM for success or failure. A really good DM can succeed despite the system, but he will succeed more often if the system encourages it.

DMing can be extremely difficult. I believe any good DM pretty much constantly doubts himself and is looking for ways to improve. If the system does something to push me as a DM to excel more often, and as a result I see a higher rate of success at the table, then of course I’m going to favor using that system even if I could succeed with another.

]]> Comment on Oldschool Outside the Box by Jenn http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/23/oldschool-outside-the-box/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Jenn Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:39:40 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=261#comment-113 I'm not sure you'll ever convince me that it's not a personal failing instead of a system failing. <i>Out of site, out of mind, and soon it’s completely forgotten in favor of more time spent in complex tactical combat systems.</i> - and that's your failure, not the game's, IMO. Well, not YOU specifically, as I think GMs like you are the reason why I argue it's not the game, it's the person - you're the reason why I think it's obvious that you can have fantastic play in ANY damn system. Of course, being contrary, I am predisposed to hate whatever your latest obsession is, so there is that factor in my resistance. I’m not sure you’ll ever convince me that it’s not a personal failing instead of a system failing.

Out of site, out of mind, and soon it’s completely forgotten in favor of more time spent in complex tactical combat systems. – and that’s your failure, not the game’s, IMO. Well, not YOU specifically, as I think GMs like you are the reason why I argue it’s not the game, it’s the person – you’re the reason why I think it’s obvious that you can have fantastic play in ANY damn system.

Of course, being contrary, I am predisposed to hate whatever your latest obsession is, so there is that factor in my resistance.

]]> Comment on Miniature Madness by Jenn http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/18/miniature-madness/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Jenn Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:18:04 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=245#comment-112 <i>I’ve never attempted to paint anything that small, and I’m curious how it would go. </i> You can always paint the kender mini I've had for like 10 years - he's about that small ;) I’ve never attempted to paint anything that small, and I’m curious how it would go.

You can always paint the kender mini I’ve had for like 10 years – he’s about that small ;)

]]> Comment on GenCon: The Other Labyrinth Lord Game by Travis http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/11/gencon-the-other-labyrinth-lord-game/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Travis Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:07:44 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=228#comment-111 I also just looked on the TotalCon site and checked the info for GM's. They are taking event submissions starting Sept 1st. Events received before Nov. 15th get put in the pre-reg book. Everything received after that is a question mark. I also just looked on the TotalCon site and checked the info for GM’s. They are taking event submissions starting Sept 1st. Events received before Nov. 15th get put in the pre-reg book. Everything received after that is a question mark.

]]> Comment on GenCon: The Other Labyrinth Lord Game by Travis http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/11/gencon-the-other-labyrinth-lord-game/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Travis Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:00:34 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=228#comment-110 I went last year and played in both of Frank's Saturday games. They were a hoot. I'm planning on going to TotalCon this year and running a game. I've read on some Dragonsfoot forums that several others are planning to run some 1st Ed games. I went last year and played in both of Frank’s Saturday games. They were a hoot. I’m planning on going to TotalCon this year and running a game. I’ve read on some Dragonsfoot forums that several others are planning to run some 1st Ed games.

]]> Comment on GenCon: The Other Labyrinth Lord Game by Paul http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/11/gencon-the-other-labyrinth-lord-game/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Paul Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:26:33 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=228#comment-108 Funny, what a small world. The most notable one is Total Confusion: http://www.totalcon.com/ It's in Mansfield, MA, in late February. It's not nearly the scale of GenCon obviously, but it does run for four days believe it or not. I went just for a day last year and got to play in a couple games GMed by Frank Mentzer. I had a great time, and I'm thinking of running some stuff there myself next February. Funny, what a small world. The most notable one is Total Confusion:

http://www.totalcon.com/

It’s in Mansfield, MA, in late February. It’s not nearly the scale of GenCon obviously, but it does run for four days believe it or not. I went just for a day last year and got to play in a couple games GMed by Frank Mentzer. I had a great time, and I’m thinking of running some stuff there myself next February.

]]> Comment on GenCon: The Other Labyrinth Lord Game by kiltedyaksman http://blog.binkystick.com/2010/08/11/gencon-the-other-labyrinth-lord-game/comment-page-1/#comment-107 kiltedyaksman Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:51:19 +0000 http://blog.binkystick.com/?p=228#comment-107 I wasn't planning on Gencon next year, but I wouldn't rule it out either. Are there any cons of note in MA? Believe it or not I used to live in Bridgewater :) I wasn’t planning on Gencon next year, but I wouldn’t rule it out either.

Are there any cons of note in MA?

Believe it or not I used to live in Bridgewater :)

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