[Blog Carnival] Still the worst gamer city in the world?

Since this month’s RPG Blog Carnival topic happens to be about community, it seems appropriate that I report back on the most recent developments in the Durban, South Africa, gaming scene.

In June, I wrote a post entitled “The Worst Gamer City in the World“. In the post, I discussed the dismal state of the Durban gaming community, my intention to do something about it and a list of potential problems and barriers. Today, I aim to discuss what’s happened since that post and what’s in the pipeline for early 2010.

• Firstly, I’ve managed to organise and run several small-scale game days at Destiny Bookstore, Windermere Centre. These game days have proven more successful than I originally anticipated, averaging about 10 players per event. Recently, however, we’ve been having trouble with numbers (too many people!) and an emergent group of Yu-Gi-Oh players taking up space in the store. So, we’ve resorted to low-effort, low-committment games like the shorter board/card games to compensate for the lack of space. However, I think we may be losing the RPG crowd because of this. First challenge for 2010 – managing space and the growing number of attendees:
  • Destiny doesn’t charge us anything for using their venue (good, because I don’t want to charge anything), but the gamers I’ve been attracting tend not to spend as much cash as the Yu-Gi-Oh players do. So, if the venue is double-booked, the YGO group gets preference. Second challenge for 2010 – Growing support for our local retailer so that they offer more support to us.
• Secondly, PB and I have managed to join a small private group. Though the group tends to be very kick-in-the-door-and-smite-everything, it’s good to have a regular group again.
• Thirdly, I tend to give out a few business cards at every game day (especially to the curious walk-in traffic), with my non-work contact details hastily scrawled on the card. Perhaps I should take the jump away from wordpress.com to .com and make little 10letter business cards. At the very least, I need to clean up this site (like add all the promised links, proper navigation and so on). One person at an event complained that they thoroughly trawled the net looking for some sort of gaming activity in Durban and came up empty. Third challenge for 2010 – fortifying net presence.
• Fourthly, don’t ask about a con yet. I know you were thinking about asking.

- jatori

[Durban] State of the Game

Some of you may know that I was planning on running another game day on the 5th of December. Unfortunately, things have changed slightly. Right now, I am (can’t think of suitable English phrase) vriendlik verplig to stay on my current Johannesburg project till April. That means, all the errands I planned to run in January can’t wait that long. So, I’ll have to spend my last Saturday in Durban making sure my life doesn’t fall apart in January (sad face).

Do not worry though. I still intend to run game days in the new year, so stay tuned for more information. Also, if you want to run something, let me know and I’ll help you out as best I can.

- jatori

[Pathfinder Oracle] Curse of the Southpaw

As with all feats, skills, class abilities and farm animals, some oracle curses are more equal than others:

Left-Handed: You favour your left hand. You take a -4 penalty on disguise checks. You take a -2 penalty on attack rolls and skills checks with weapons and implements designed for right-handed people. Weapons and implements customised for left-handed use cost 10% more than the base item’s cost (this does not increase the cost to magically enhance an item). To modify a right-handed item so that it can be easily used by a left-handed person costs 10% of base item’s value.

You gain a +1 southpaw bonus to all melee attack rolls and a +1 southpaw bonus to your AC against melee attacks. This bonus even applies against other left-handed characters, since they are not accustomed to fighting left-handed characters. At 5th level you gain Improved Feint as a bonus feat, even if you do not meet the normal prerequisites. At 10th level your southpaw bonus to all melee attack rolls and to your AC against melee attacks increases to +2. At 15th level your southpaw bonus to all melee attack rolls and to your AC against melee attacks increases to +3 and you gain Greater Feint as a bonus feat, even if you do not meet the normal prerequisites.

In your backpack, you may find:

• An ornamented, silvered, left-handed fish knife (25 gp)
• 37 failed attempts at creating a left-handed pen and a horribly smudged journal
• A portable hole – an unfortunate result of turning a glove of storing inside-out in an attempt to make it fit a left hand.

- jatori

[Pathfinder Cavalier] Prescriptive Classes Restrict a Character’s, um, Character

It’s been awhile since I last wrote about RPGs from a non-mechanics point of view, so I might be a bit rusty (please bear with me).  Paizo has recently started an open playtest for their upcoming Advanced Player’s Guide. Over the next few weeks, they will be releasing playtest versions of their six new base classes. Last week, the Cavalier and Oracle were made available for download.

While waiting around at Durban International Airport, I downloaded the playtest classes, hoping to continue my series of posts about odd or quirky character builds. When it came to the Cavalier, however, I initially found it quite difficult to come up with a character concept for the class that wasn’t spoonfed to me by the flavour and mechanics presented in the playtest. Even though I like the class, and could see myself playing one, I couldn’t help but think that very little would differentiate one Cavalier from another. Does this mean that the class design is flawed or, at best, sufficiently narrow that it wouldn’t see much play?

Actually, I don’t think that’s the case. Prescriptive classes (or classes that easily lend themselves to genre or system stereotypes) are more accessible to new players (good thing). On the other hand, when you manage to discover a new way to play with a previously thought-to-be prescriptive class in a new and exciting way (either mechanically or flavour-wise), you can’t help but share the idea with others:

Foxtrot Therdelon

Female NE Gnome Cavalier 5
Init: +1 Perception: +2 (Low-light Vision)

Defense
AC: 20; Touch 12; Flat 19
CMD: 17
HP: 54
Fort: 7 Ref: 2 Will: 1 (3 vs Illusion)

Offense
Speed: 20
Melee: Lance +7 1d6+6; Longsword +7 1d6+6 (19-20)
Ranged: Javelin +7 1d4+2

Statistics
Str 14 Dex 13 Con 16 Int 10 Wis 10 Cha 12
Base Attack: 5
CMB: 7

Feats: Mounted Combat; Power Attack; Ride-By Attack; Spirited Charge
Skills: Handle Animal 8; Intimidate 9; Perform (Organ Grinding) * 11; Ride 6; Sense Motive 1

Gear: Masterwork Darkwood Lance; Masterwork Breastplate; Masterwork Heavy Steel Shield; Javelins (5); Masterwork Longsword; Adventuring Gear; Military Saddle; Potion of Bear’s Endurance (2); Disguise Kit; Elixir of Swimming; 25gp

Special Abilities
Gnome Traits; Banner; Cavalier’s Charge; Challenge 2d6; Expert Trainer; Mount; Oath (Greed; Vengeance – Paladins); Order of the Dancing Bear (as Dragon) – Braggard

Templeton the Bear

Medium Animal

Defense
AC: 18 Touch: 13 Flat: 15
CMD: 19
HP: 48 (5HD)
Fort: 7 Ref: 6 Will: 2

Offense
Speed 40 ft
Attacks: Bite +9 1d6+7, 2 Claws +4 1d4+2

Statistics
Str 20 Dex 14 Con 16 Int 2 Wis 12 Cha 6
Base Attack: 3
CMB: 8

Feats: Armour Proficiency (Light); Dodge; Toughness
Skills: Acrobatics 9; Survival 5
Tricks: Combat Training; Perform; Work

Gear: Ridiculous Pink Parasol; Masterwork Studded Leather Barding

Special Abilities
Evasion, Link, Low-light Vision, Scent

* It’s not just for monkeys.

Yes, this is an evil Gnome carnie and her dancing bear. Did you see the bear in the first sentence. Wow, sometimes I can be incredibly funny. </groan>

- jatori

P.S. [Insert Bear Cavalry reference here]

[Durban] Penultimate 2009 Game Day

Once again, I’ll be hosting another game day in Durban.

Venue: Destiny Bookstore, Windermere Centre, Durban

Time: 10:30 am for 11:00 am

Date: Saturday, the 21st of November 2009

Price: Free!

It looks like the ever-present threat of Yu-Gi-Oh players is, well, still present. That means we’re stuck with only one table again. So, like last week, I’ll be running a series of short board game sessions – allowing for more players per table (and the option of moving one or two games to the coffee shop next door). Sorry, no RP session this time.

The attendance numbers having been increasing steadily lately, which is good, but also comes with its own drawbacks (venue space). Hopefully we can sort something out for next year.

In other news, I intend to put in an order with the store. Sure, it might cost a little bit more than trawling the net for the best prices, but I think that supporting the local store can only help the gaming community (and makes sure that the owner continues to tolerate us).

I’m considering the following games for this week:

• Arkham Horror (base) or Runebound (plus 1 or 2 small box expansions) – In case we have a smaller turnout and/or people are looking for a longer game experience.
• Dominion (base)
• Betrayal at the House on the Hill (cos it’s awesome)

Also, if you have your own game that you’d like to play, feel free to bring it around.

- jatori

[Bardic Performance] Con te Partirò

Well, it’s already been a few days since the final, so I’m a bit late in posting this. As some of you may know, I’ve been following Louis and Willem through their SA’s Got Talent Adventure. PB and I were fortunate enough to get seats for the final (Thanks, Louis!) and watch the brothers sing Con te Partirò. It was a truly awesome performance, so for those who missed it, may I present Louis and Willem:

The brothers didn’t end up winning, but if their Twitter feed is anything to go by, there seems to be a good chance that’s something great lies in wait for them.

- jatori

P.S. For those wondering why I categorised this post as ‘RPG’, Louis was part of me ol’  university Dee En Dee group. Hmm, I wonder if I can now start up a famous person RPG group podcast now?

Gaming specials

Sometimes the intra-tubes offer up something that needs to be shared. Behold! I bring you… CAKE!

Delicious cake! You must eat it!

[Bardic Performance] ‘O Sole Mio

Tonight, I had the pleasure of being a member of the live studio audience of the 3rd semi-final of SA’s Got Talent… and the whole time I kept on thinking how could a semi-final come in 3 parts? Anyway, I have some good news: Louis (fellow roleplayer) and Willem made it to the finals! The pair of brothers wowed the audience with their Soul Eater cosplay and rendition of ‘O Sole Mio.

Suiting up, just like Soul

As soon as I get hold of some video/photo evidence of the event, I’ll be sure to share it. Otherwise, be sure to watch tomorrow night, SABC 2 at 19:30 and vote!

Edit (13/11/2009) – Here’s the pics and videos promised (I’ll have to write about the final a bit later):

Louis and Willem

- jatori

P.S. For the most latesterest news, check out the Louis and Willem fansite.

[Pathfinder] Two Fighters Are Better Than One

I can’t think of any real good intro text for today’s character build. So, let’s get straight to it instead:

Ping and Pong   Twin* Female Human Fighters 8 Init: +2 Perception: -2

Defense   AC: 24; Touch 12; Flat 22 CMD: 24 (26 vs Bull Rush) HP: 76 Fort: 8 Ref: 5 Will: 1 (Bravery)

Offense   Speed: 30 Melee: (Standard) Shield Bash +15 1d3+6 plus Bull Rush; (Full) Scimitar +11 1d6+2 (18-20), Shield Bash +13/+8 1d3+6 plus Bull Rush Ranged: Dagger +11 1d4+4 (10ft)

Statistics   Str 18 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 10 Wis 7 Cha 14 Base Attack: 8 CMB: 12 (Bull Rush 16) Feats: Combat Reflexes; Greater Bull Rush; Improved Bull Rush; Improved Shield Bash; Lunge; Power Attack; Shield Slam; Toughness; Two-Weapon Fighting; Weapon Focus (Shield) Skills: Acrobatics 7, Climb 5; Intimidate 13; Linguistics 2; Profession (Bodyguard) 5; Swim 2 Gear: Light Darkwood Shield +1; Cold Iron Scimitar; Full Plate Bikini +1**; Potion of Cure Light Wounds; Potion of Bear’s Endurance; Engraved Silver Armband (Jewelry – 250gp); Salve of Slipperiness***; Rehearsed Bodyguard Services Sales Pitch; Unmentionables of Resistance +1; Masterwork Daggers (2); Standard Adventuring Gear; 98gp Languages: Common, Eastern Common****; Goblin

Special Abilities Armour Training 2; Bravery +2; Weapon Training (Close 1)

* Twins, Basil! Twins!

** Thanks to Armour Training, full plate is the new chainmail.

*** Stop thinking the filthy, perverted thoughts I thought when equipping the twins.

**** Only if your game allows for different variants of common. Don’t you just love how the revised skill system allows any character a tonne of language options?

Perhaps I need to take some time to explain how this build works. Before using it in your game, though, you’ll need to check how your group/GM would interpret the interaction between the Shield Slam and Greater Bull Rush feats. Anyway, even if your group wouldn’t allow shield-bashed-triggered bull rush triggered attacks of opportunity, these two fighters could still be used as part of an interesting, and perhaps comical, combat encounter – by making clever use of Combat Reflexes, Lunge, shield bashes, bull rushes and readied actions, Ping and Pong can turn their opponents into tennis balls.

Twins, Basil! Twins!

To man this pair up, you could always consider a dwarf and halfling called Hammer and Anvil.

I chose to give them light shields and scimitars purely for look and feel reasons. To make them a bit more combat efficient, you might consider a heavy spiked shield and light slashing or bludgeoning weapon. At higher levels, take a look at a bashing enhancement for the shields (if not spiked).

You could also think about giving up the Power Attack feat tree for Weapon Finesse, Agile Maneuvers and more Two-Weapon Fighting goodness.

Be thankful that I didn’t give them any of these feats.

- jatori

Feat Discussion: Aspect of the Rock (and a hard place)

I think it is high time that I present a monk feat. The monk is one of my most favorite classes and I simply haven’t given it the feat-discussion justice that the class deserves

Aspect of the Rock [General]
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist, Power Attack
Benefit: When using the power attack feat the DC of your successful Stunning Fist attacks increases by the penalty you take due to the power attack feat.

Note this is designed with the Pathfinder version of the Power Attack feat in mind, other editions should tailor the progression of the feat presented above in a similar way.