Your destiny will keep you on

[ayascythe]

Me:
I have this week off, been getting up at 7 or 8 o'clock each morning, feel like I'm not doing enough with the free time that I'm given and it feels like time is running out of my hands. On top of that, I feel bad for taking vacation at a time when work is being crazy, but then it's always crazy and it never gets better, so when else am I supposed to take off? Or in short: I cannot relax, because all I can think about is ticking off the days I have left until I have to work again. *facepalms*

Fandom:
I watch too many TV shows. Like, dear god, when did I start watching all of this? And why do they all have to get back from spring break now? I'm 3 eps behind in TVD, I keep forgetting to catch up with The Borgias and I still need to check out Game of Thrones. Doctor Who is being awesome (creepy mindfucking aliens, wtf!!!), Supernatural not so much, but I'll forgive them for it for moments like this one (spoiler for 6x17). And then there is Glee, which is a mess - as usual -, but I really did enjoy the last episode. Santana is so much love.

RPG:
- Star Wars turned out to be quite the fun game. It's an easy enough system, my character is a nice change (a loudmouthed Zabrak mechanic) and we have two new players who brought in a badly needed breath of fresh air. One of us has already gone darkside and it was duh-rrrama! Heeh. :D

- I have written about 8 pages of catharsis-fic about my dead RPG character that I'll probably never finish (or post) because it's a clusterfuck of wannabe-mindfuck. But it's kind of helping me to overcome that inner rage of "But it's not faaaaaaaaaaaaaair" that I still feel when I think of the end of the campaign. (In case, anyone hasn't noticed yet, yeah, I can't let things that bug me go that easily.) At least it made me rewatch "Stay" for inspiration, which made me realise how great its soundtrack is. <3

- I'm also preparing the Dragon Age RPG, which I think is going to be fun. *is excited as well as a little nervous*

Comments

[sweetestremedy.livejournal.com]

OMG yes creepy mindfucking aliens! Scaaary, those. And I can't wait for the next episode, and damn you, Moffat, for that opening!
Also, eek, new Glee episodes? Damn, more to catch up with.

And would you mind telling me more about the Star Wars RPG? *is very intrigued*

Edited because I can't grammar.

[ayascythe.livejournal.com]

I can't wait either! I really loved the start into the new Dr. Who season. So much creepiness! And River being awesome! (Her monologue was so sad.)

Heh, I knew you'd be intrigued! XD Is there anything you'd like to know in particular? Else I'll just ramble on with what my mind comes up with:

There are 3 RPG systems for Star Wars (I think). We are playing the oldest one which is a D6-system and said to be the one the best thought-out. You can play pretty much every race in the SW-universe, even droids.

Our group has one Han Solo kind of guy (smuggler with a ship called the "Millenium Weasel" XD), his sister (a Jedi in the making), another Jedi in the making, a soldier for hire and a mechanic (that would be me).

The plot takes place between Episode 3 and 4. We had a fight in the Cantina with two Wookies, were on a smuggling mission, met a Sith lord, our Captain sacrificed himself and went darkside so we could get the construction plans for the Death Star. Right now we're on our way to deliver the plans to the Alliance.

[sweetestremedy.livejournal.com]

Yep. There will be much wibbling done until this season is over. And yay River! (I swear I don't just adore her because she was an archaeologist in her first episode. And yes, the monologue. It kind of mirrored what the Doctor said in School Reunion, about how he has to leave his companions behind because they age and he never will...)

Of course! Uhm, well... I just kind of noticed that I still don't really know how an RPG works - how much of the plot is determined by DM, the players, or by the game itself. So, in this case, are there missions? How closely is it tied in with the movies? (Well, you kind of answered that - bringing the plans to the Alliance, how cool!) How does one fall to the dark side - err, is Force sensitivity determined by genetics? How could the captain fall to the dark side without being trained in the force? And how can there be Jedi between the trilogies, what with the purge and so on? (I'm vaguely aware that the EU tells of some Jedi who survived the purges, do any of them continue training force sensitives?)
...oh dear I sound like SUCH a nerd. ^^

[ayascythe.livejournal.com]

Wow, those are a lot of questions! XD I'll try to answer as best as I can (and you have reminded me that I really need to continue my RPG 101). If anything's unclear, ask away again! ;)

how much of the plot is determined by DM, the players, or by the game itself. So, in this case, are there missions?
Generally, the plot of an RPG is never determined by the game. The game is there to give you rules and a setting. The gamemaster can make up his own adventures or use published ones, but it's always him who gives you the plot and the players try to drive it forward with their actions. Are there missions? Yes and no. It depends on the game (Shadowrun is a mission-based RPG). Unless you or your gamemaster say you're a group of soldiers/whatever who need to solve missions each session, it's more like a TV show or a book: you play through a chapter/episode up until a smaller climax and after several episodes, the plot comes to a conclusion.

How closely is it tied in with the movies?
We try not to break continuity and stay true to the settting of the movies. Is that what you mean? Apart from that, it's up to the GM if he wants to bring in any "guest stars" (aka known characters).

How does one fall to the dark side
You choose it. I know it sounds a little weird, but you give in to the fear and anger in yourself and that's kind of how it worked with our fellow player? *scratches head*

err, is Force sensitivity determined by genetics?
Yes, as far as I get that. When you generate your character, you can choose whether you have a sensivity for the force or not. You cannot learn it over time, but you can have a sensivity without ever actively using it.

How could the captain fall to the dark side without being trained in the force?
See above: he had a sensivity. The potential was there, but he only sensed, uh, imbalance (?) in the force. I guess the actual training will now be covered by the Sith lord. ^^

And how can there be Jedi between the trilogies, what with the purge and so on?
Pretty much this:
(I'm vaguely aware that the EU tells of some Jedi who survived the purges, do any of them continue training force sensitives?)
Of course, you have to keep it somehow believable - there can't be running around lots of Jedis, but some are okay. Ours don't even have laserswords and are still discovering their powers without real mentors.

[sweetestremedy.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I hope it weren't too many! ;-)
It's just that now that I have an example, with a universe I'm familar with, it's much easier to imagine all the various aspects of RPG and how they influence each other.

The gamemaster can make up his own adventures or use published ones, but it's always him who gives you the plot and the players try to drive it forward with their actions.
Ok, so in your case, who came up with the "steal the Death Star plans and get them to the Rebels" idea? (Which, btw, sounds awesome!)

We try not to break continuity and stay true to the settting of the movies. Is that what you mean?
Yes, that's what I wondered about. Hee, and meeting characters from the movies, how cool! So you could, say, meet pilots from the X-Wing squadron.

See above: he had a sensivity.
I see. What with his sister being a Jedi-in-training. Of course in the Republic probably they'd both have received training, but since the Jedi have to stay hidden... And the Sith in question is played by the GM?
Interesting idea, too, to use the surviving Jedi as a chance to give the characters training in the ways of the Force. Although that's one of the points where I raise an eyebrow at the EU (Yoda said "last of the Jedi will you be" not "oh, and there may be a dozen more around), I realize that for the purpose of the plot that's very convenient. *sits in the corner and is a nerd*

Edit: oh, and since your captain went Dark Side, it's possible that two (or more) parties of players have to act against each other?

[ayascythe.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't mind the questions at all! After all, I'm also a nerd who loves to geek over her hobby. ;)

Ok, so in your case, who came up with the "steal the Death Star plans and get them to the Rebels" idea?
Hmm, I guess that was a bit the result of both our GM's work and the player of the captain. The GM put us into a situation where we had the Sith lord at our heels (maybe with something like that already on his mind) and the player decided that his character would be so intent on saving his sister that he would go darkside. So the character went to the Sith lord, began his negotiations ("Give me the plans and I'll join you!") and that was it.

So you could, say, meet pilots from the X-Wing squadron.
Yupp. Or Mon Mothma, one of the founders of the Alliance, whom we met in the last session. :)

And the Sith in question is played by the GM?
Yes. The GM plays every NPC that we meet.

oh, and since your captain went Dark Side, it's possible that two (or more) parties of players have to act against each other?
Generally, yes, that is always possible. However: most roleplays are meant to be played as a group working together. So scheming and animosities are possible, but if your character turns into a direct enemy, he is usually completely out of the game and you have to make a new character. Exceptions are games like Vampires The Masquerade where it's kind of your purpose to scheme, look out for yourself and fuck the others over. XD

[sweetestremedy.livejournal.com]

Or Mon Mothma, one of the founders of the Alliance, whom we met in the last session. :)
You say that like you don't expect me to know who Mon Mothma is. XD
No, but awesome!

*nods* I always understood RPG as a group effort, so that's why I asked about PCs playing against each other - because obviously in your case that happened. I also keep comparing it to Darths & Droids, and the same thing appears to be happening there (although I long gave up any attempts to understand what Annie's plans are and how closely she's working with the GM and now read it mostly for the one-off jokes and to see how they handle the Han shot first sequence when they get to A New Hope).

[ayascythe.livejournal.com]

I didn't know it at first! ;P And I don't know how well known she is in the verse, so I thought ... well. XD

Hmm, I haven't gotten that far in D&D, but it is always possible that the plot intends for someone to go bad or follow a different plan, if the GM says so.

[sweetestremedy.livejournal.com]

No, I get your point, I don't think her name is ever mentioned in the movies. But I read the novelisations, and there are a bunch more details - like that the Emperor's name was/is Palpatine. That was one surprise ruined for the prequels! There's also a bunch of deleted scenes with Mon Mothma, Padmé and Senator Organa from Revenge of the Sith, where they make the first plans for the rebellion. I've never gotten around to looking them up, shame they were cut out in the first place.

May be. It's kind of difficult to follow because there actually are three parallel plot lines - the one from the movie, which is more or less ignored, the plan the GM originally had (but the players never do what he expects) and then Annie's plans, not to mention each other the other players is trying to make sense of it, too. Maybe towards the end it'll come to a conclusion.

Also, did you see Day of the Moon? EEEEEEEEEE! I never thought I'd find Amy and Rory so adorable! (Ewww, het-shipping! XD)

[ayascythe.livejournal.com]

Also, did you see Day of the Moon?

Yes, I diiiiiiiiiiiiiid! And damn, that episode was brilliantly done and so, so creepy (that scene in the orphanage with Amy ... EEK). Amy and Rory are always adorable. <3