I threw up another post on the DCUO forums. This time instead of being upbeat I wanted to discuss something I didn’t like, the Holiday Content and it’s Blowage. We’ll see where this goes.
Mar
14
Posted by : | On : March 14, 2011
Since this post still gets some traction, here’s a bit of a disclaimer. I wrote this on March 14th, 2011. At that point, DCUO was a mere Three Months old. This was before Sony was hacked numerous times. The platform was stable and growing, but the server populations weren’t at WoW-esc levels so people complained.
I stopped playing around April 2011. The game was growing and the content was getting better, but it wasn’t worth the price per month to me anymore. I figured I’d check back later in the year and see where the game was at.
As it turns out, they merged the servers in August and in October they went Free to Play. These were required moves at the point the game was reaching. I fully support these decisions and am now looking at getting back into the game myself. It turns out, these choices brought back at least one former player.
As you read my post, remember that this was a commentary for a game in it infancy. I stand by them at the time they were written, it’s too bad it’s a different story this many months later.
Today I continue my crusade to improve the DCUO forums. My first thread, Positive Feedback, was almost immediately torn down by the growing DCUO Negative Nancy community.
Today I try to explain why, in my mind, a server merge isn’t the solution we want. First reply told me that I was wrong, so it’s nice to see things haven’t changed. Still, doing my part!
Mar
10
Posted by : | On : March 10, 2011
I was bitching about the negative feedback on the DCUO forums. Seems like everyone and their mother just wants to complain about the things that don’t work.
I decided instead of bitching about the bitches, I’d post a positive thread. We’ll see how this goes. After the break is a transcript of my first post. Enjoy.
Mar
08
Posted by : | On : March 8, 2011
Chuck Wendig recently posted an article titled Lies Writers Tell. I don’t consider myself a writer, but I want to be one and I find myself telling these same lies. At the end of the article Chuck asks why I tell them. I never really thought about it until now. So, I’m going to answer them. Right now. Un-edited. Un-scripted. Question by question. Even the lies I don’t tell.
Jan
06
Posted by : | On : January 6, 2011
Danger CloseVersion 3.5
I took a few months off from Danger Close and started writing a dozen other games. Everytime I had this feeling like I was leaving Danger Close unfinished. It wasn’t until a friend expressed interest in playing Danger Close at an upcoming convention that I decided to take another look at Version 3. I wanted to brush up on the rules and I barely started reading when I noticed typos, grammatical errors, and a few rules I wasn’t happy with.
I still don’t think Danger Close is finished. I need to find time for more playtesting but until then I’ve compiled a new edition. Version 3.5 clears up a few rules, makes some slight adjustments, and brings the game one step closer to completion.
You can download Danger Close here and the Character Sheet here. If you play it, let me know how it works.
Dec
27
Posted by : | On : December 27, 2010
Back in March I wrote a small article on Vampire: The Requiem Clan Weaknesses. The campaign I was working on at the time was stillbirth and I never playtested those changes. Cut to now, I’m prepping for a new campaign and I was trying to dig up my old World of Darkness house rules. While it seems I’m going to have to re-write the majority of my house rules (expect to see them posted here) I did find the aforementioned article.
It’s been over six months and I looked at those adjustments with fresh eyes. I saw problems. While I still felt good about the Gangrel, Mekhet, and Nosferatu weaknesses, I have issues with Daeva and Ventrue. Daeva seems a bit too narrowly defined and Ventrue is even more so. After considering those two I grew more unhappy with what I wrote for the other clans. So, in an attempt to come up with better universal weaknesses I present to you; Alternate Clan Weaknesses: Take Two.
Nov
08
Posted by : | On : November 8, 2010
I’ve been silent on this blog for a while now. I just haven’t had much that I felt like writing about. Before I move on to my topic I want to assure you that I am still working on a few projects. I’m just keeping my mouth shut until I have something worth showing. Now, on with my topic.
I’ve started prepping for a Vampire: The Requiem game. As I normally do I like to give all my NPCs theme music. Something to listen to and queue up while writing. I’ve decided to give thematic ties through the characters by using the same band for large groups. For example, all the Elder Kindred and their Childer have She Wants Revenge for theme music. I’ve started introducing Pure Uratha that use Lynyrd Skynyrd for theme music. I even have a plot to introduce two Dampyrs that use Dana Immanuel for theme music.
This brings me to my big question. What are some bands you think would make good theme music for groups of World of Darkness factions? If you had to pick one band to theme a Mage Cabal around, who would it be? What about one artist for a Hunter Cell? Who captures the vibe of a Geist Krewe? I’m really curious to hear your ideas.
Sep
20
Posted by : | On : September 20, 2010
This is the long-awaited (ok, not really) Version 3 of Danger Close. There is even a little preview of Version 4 in there, or maybe it was just a chapter I’ve yet to find the motivation to finish writing. The First Mission is all highlighted in yellow and should stand out like a sore thumb. I left it in to give you an idea of what I was aiming for but you can safely assume it’s not part of the final Version 3 product.
We’re at 86 downloads for Version 2 of Danger Close. That is about eighty more downloads than I ever expected. This has been a great process and I’m so glad that people are enjoying it so far. I’ve made some decisions as to what the final product will look like and I talk a bit about it in Version 3. Still, I’ll make the formal announcement here.
Danger Close will always be a free game. I will never charge a dime for it.
Hopefully after seeing and playing Danger Close you’ll become more interested in my game design and be more inclined to purchase future products. That’s right, Danger Close is only the beginning of my serious game design work. I really want to go re-visit my ideas for Eidolon and some day tackle my Lovecraft System seriously. I have a few other thoughts brewing too but I’ll keep my fat mouth shut for now.
All that said, I’d love to hear what you think of Danger Close now. It looks pretty different then the original version I started posting on this site and I think it still has a long way to go. If any of you actually play the game I’d love to hear how it turned out.
Don’t forget about the Character Sheet too!
Sep
20
Posted by : | On : September 20, 2010
In addition to drumming up more responses to this poll I’d also like to give a space for voters to explain their choice. I’m curious why you prefer what you prefer.