Saturday, May 27, 2006
Taking A Break
I'm taking a bit of a break from the whole online gaming scene. I'm moving into a new apartment, trying to get my life together, and have multiple projects (including getting Carry press-ready) on my plare, and I just don't have the energy right now to keep up with the blogosphere. If for some bizarre reason you feel the need to get in touch, drop an email to n(dot)d(dot)paoletta(at)gmail.com. May all of your gaming be awesome!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Push/Pull....?
I don't find the push/pull conversation particularly interesting. This fact is starting to bug me, as it seems like a ton of the designers that I like & respect are getting very excited by it. So, either:
1. I don't get it, and haven't yet found an explanation that connects to my feeble brain.
2. I totally get it because it's part of how I play and think about RPGs anyway, so it's like reading discussions about how, say, plays and films are like TOTALLY DIFFERENT man, WHOA!
3. I think I get it, but I think that it's basically reformulating the basic process of roleplay, which is something I'm a little burned out on thinking about.
Number 1 just means that I'll eventually stumble across something that'll make it click. Number 2 means that hey, cool, now I have some new words to communicate with. Number 3, though - well, let me take a quick stab at #3.
To recap: the dynamic process of roleplay is that of collaborative creation mediated through the exploration of a fictional space. The players are audience/participants of this exploration, with each individual exploration "pendulum" swinging back and forth from audience to participant depending on the specific makeup of the fictional space.
Now, according to Mo,
Very simple play examples!
[Push A-->P] I am a wizard in D&D. I use my Charm spell on another players character, who now roleplays his characters attraction to mine.
[Push P-->A] I am a wizard in D&D. I use my Lightning Bolt spell on another players character, who fails his save and takes enough damage to take him out of the fight. He has to wait until he gets healed or the fight is over to get back into the game.
[Pull A-->P] I am a wizard in D&D. I raise my arms and threaten another players character with magical death unless he does what I want.
[Pull P-->A] I'm not sure about this one. Maybe something like spending plot points to put myself in someone else's scene, but I think thats more of a Push. Some help here?
So if I'm totally mangling Push/Pull (#1!), lemme know.
1. I don't get it, and haven't yet found an explanation that connects to my feeble brain.
2. I totally get it because it's part of how I play and think about RPGs anyway, so it's like reading discussions about how, say, plays and films are like TOTALLY DIFFERENT man, WHOA!
3. I think I get it, but I think that it's basically reformulating the basic process of roleplay, which is something I'm a little burned out on thinking about.
Number 1 just means that I'll eventually stumble across something that'll make it click. Number 2 means that hey, cool, now I have some new words to communicate with. Number 3, though - well, let me take a quick stab at #3.
To recap: the dynamic process of roleplay is that of collaborative creation mediated through the exploration of a fictional space. The players are audience/participants of this exploration, with each individual exploration "pendulum" swinging back and forth from audience to participant depending on the specific makeup of the fictional space.
Now, according to Mo,
Push is an assertion of individual authority.Push and Pull slot in really nicely, actually - its the different ways that a/p's move the pendulum of exploration! When you are on the participant end, you can Push the pendulum of others either way (audience <--> participant). You can also Pull the pendulum of others from audience to participant, but I'm not sure you can really Pull from participant to audience (audience --> participant).
Pull is a directed solicitation for collaborative buy-in and input.
Very simple play examples!
[Push A-->P] I am a wizard in D&D. I use my Charm spell on another players character, who now roleplays his characters attraction to mine.
[Push P-->A] I am a wizard in D&D. I use my Lightning Bolt spell on another players character, who fails his save and takes enough damage to take him out of the fight. He has to wait until he gets healed or the fight is over to get back into the game.
[Pull A-->P] I am a wizard in D&D. I raise my arms and threaten another players character with magical death unless he does what I want.
[Pull P-->A] I'm not sure about this one. Maybe something like spending plot points to put myself in someone else's scene, but I think thats more of a Push. Some help here?
So if I'm totally mangling Push/Pull (#1!), lemme know.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Games? What The Eff?
Look.
What I do, it's not a game. It's not a story. It's fucking roleplaying. It's its own thing, it has its own tradition, its own conventions, and its own processes. It's aesthetics are unique, and its product is irreproducable. It is not contained within the tradition of art, or of narrative, or of game theory. It has lessons to learn from those, but it is not bound by those lessons. It is something that is powerful, meaningful, and even stupid in its own right, and not because of its relationship with other forms of entertainment. It does what it does better than anything else. It's audience is legion; it's marketing is barely tapped; it's potential is endless. It is collaborative creation mediated via the exploration of shared fiction. It's facets are many, its proponents are vocal. And its fun as fucking hell.
Thats all.
What I do, it's not a game. It's not a story. It's fucking roleplaying. It's its own thing, it has its own tradition, its own conventions, and its own processes. It's aesthetics are unique, and its product is irreproducable. It is not contained within the tradition of art, or of narrative, or of game theory. It has lessons to learn from those, but it is not bound by those lessons. It is something that is powerful, meaningful, and even stupid in its own right, and not because of its relationship with other forms of entertainment. It does what it does better than anything else. It's audience is legion; it's marketing is barely tapped; it's potential is endless. It is collaborative creation mediated via the exploration of shared fiction. It's facets are many, its proponents are vocal. And its fun as fucking hell.
Thats all.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Updateyness
So I finally did a little cleaning up around here, updated all my side-bar links and added new ones. As always, if you wanna do a blog link exchange, leave a comment either on the "Add Your Voice" thread, or on this one.
So, Vincent is, as always, is full of wisdom. Carry is now subtitled "A role-playing game about War." I might even go down to "A game about War," but I dunno.
[EDIT] After some thought, I'm pretty sure the title is going to be:
carry. a game about war.
I'm going to work on a logo today - it'll be sweet. [/EDIT]
I hope to have my Timestream thing done by next week, but I need to change the title on that one, too.
I had a dream about Timestream last night. I think I subconsciously worked something out, and might actually start working on a second edition, or at least an updated set of Aspects and Techniques, because of it. Time (heh) will tell.
Oh - and if you don't follow the Forge, I'm officially on board for GenCon. Woooo!
[EDIT] Oh yeh! Make sure to check out Game A Day every so often. I have been posting stuff there, I promise![/EDIT]
So, Vincent is, as always, is full of wisdom. Carry is now subtitled "A role-playing game about War." I might even go down to "A game about War," but I dunno.
[EDIT] After some thought, I'm pretty sure the title is going to be:
carry. a game about war.
I'm going to work on a logo today - it'll be sweet. [/EDIT]
I hope to have my Timestream thing done by next week, but I need to change the title on that one, too.
I had a dream about Timestream last night. I think I subconsciously worked something out, and might actually start working on a second edition, or at least an updated set of Aspects and Techniques, because of it. Time (heh) will tell.
Oh - and if you don't follow the Forge, I'm officially on board for GenCon. Woooo!
[EDIT] Oh yeh! Make sure to check out Game A Day every so often. I have been posting stuff there, I promise![/EDIT]
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Dammit!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Manly? Moi?
Hehe....Judd called me manly on the latest episode of Sons Of Kryos.
You should listen to that podcast, if you don't already. It's fucking awesome, and I really look forward to (crossing fingers) playing with Judd again come GenCon, if not before.
I'm also going to take a personal moment here about the game he talks about there, Hare and Hound, mainly because listening to him talk about it made me relive it a bit. It was the most emotionally intense and totally fucking awesome session of roleplay I've ever had, and it was a whole of firsts for me - my first con, my first meeting with all of the people at the table, and my first time playing a female character. So, when we got to that scene, and Judd said that he was uncomfortable - well, yeh, so was I. But I wanted to go through with it, see what would happen with this character, and what that would say about her story. And it was awesome.
No moral here. Just wanted to say that.
You should listen to that podcast, if you don't already. It's fucking awesome, and I really look forward to (crossing fingers) playing with Judd again come GenCon, if not before.
I'm also going to take a personal moment here about the game he talks about there, Hare and Hound, mainly because listening to him talk about it made me relive it a bit. It was the most emotionally intense and totally fucking awesome session of roleplay I've ever had, and it was a whole of firsts for me - my first con, my first meeting with all of the people at the table, and my first time playing a female character. So, when we got to that scene, and Judd said that he was uncomfortable - well, yeh, so was I. But I wanted to go through with it, see what would happen with this character, and what that would say about her story. And it was awesome.
No moral here. Just wanted to say that.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Bryan Wins Death Stakes
(another cleaned up transcript from the Foundry)
JMendes says "Ok, cool. Christian, it's Death Stakes aboard a giant Battlestar-Galactica-like space opera thing. Join?"
Christian says "Hi Bryan. Nice to meet you."
Christian says "I'm in."
hamsterprophet tries to think of a good space opera name
JMendes says "'There's no way you were dealt that hand on chance alone,' the squadron commander growls as he sees the chips begin collected off the table. As he prepares to shuffle the deck again, the claxon goes off. 'We have multiple incoming Dalaks. Heavy bombers with fighter escort. This is not a drill. All pilots, man your craft.' You run to your space fighters and sit there, ready to be launched, tension mounting in the pit of your stomach, as it always does before a fight.
Damn Dalaks, why don't they leave us alone? The wind suddenly rushes out of your chest as acceleration from the slingshot hits you, and you are in space."
JMendes says "First one with a name gets first shot at narrating his own death. :)"
hamsterprophet is Jax Xaos, a freewheeling rebel type with a mean temper and a quick trigger finger.
JMendes says "Now, Jax, tell me how you died."
Bryan is S-Lander, a pilot that never gets any dirt on his uniform and who always has a glint in his eyes and a shine on his teeth.
Christian says "Alright, for one sentence of setting, here's my character out of my ass: His name's Rink Banastan, flyname Taurus. He's a large guy, and a sadistic asshole, but strongly supports authority and order. He does have feelings for some NPC that you can determine (of any gender, whatever), probably in the same flight squad."
hamsterprophet says "I immediately break away from the main body of ships. As I pull up the positions of the attacking forces on my screen I see that we'll need to even the odds quickly. I immediately key in a trajectory that will bring me in wide, and hopefully the rest of the squad will keep the fighters busy. As the commander yells at me to stay in formation, I swoop by one of the enemy fighters a little too close, and he breaks away to pursue me. I lead him away from the ships and out into space....but suddenly another ship decloaks right in front of me! Before I can warn the squad it triggers its pulse laser, and I'm just too close to avoid."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... the ship's laser hits the back of your ship, blowing out one of its engines and sending it into a spin. Thanks to swift intervention of the emergency repair systems, you are able to bring the ship into controlled flight again. Crippled but eager, you re-join the fight."
JMendes says "S-Lander, the action is thick in your part of space. One of your squadron mates has just blown one of the enemy fighters right off your tail, but now he is being tailed himself. Now. Tell me how S-Lander dies."
Bryan says "I quickly burn some extra fuel, pull an eight g turn and fire my lateral thruster. Flicking on the targeting computers, I notice an extra button on my control panel that the techs just installed, but before I can figure out what it does, two Dalak TK-12 Gunships fly up on my tail."
Bryan says "Luckily, my forward thrusters were repaired from the last battle, so I jerk the throttle and fly on backwards, blasting the two TK-12s out of the air. Then I yank my control stick to the left to avoid the shards of metal twisting in the air. My poor squadron mate cries over the com, "Quick, they're all around me.""
Bryan says "I turn my fighter around. She's shaking violently. I think I must have hit some of that debris. When I kick in afterburners, I feel a jerk in the ship, and my back starts to get warm, and then my back is burning. I the last second, I turn to see a fireball just before it consumes me."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... your ship jerks and the systems die, and for a split second, you are dead in space. But then, the backup circuitry kicks in and you are in control again. You swoop towards your squad mate Taurus, who is being pressured my two enemy fighters, but you are far away."
JMendes says "Taurus, you are asking for help, but none is forthcoming. So far, however, you have been able to outmaneuver your pursuers. Now, tell me how you died."
Bryan kicks back and relaxes fingers from all the typing and eagerly awaits Taurus's death.
Taurus curses under his breath as the ships on his tail unleash a firestorm of laserbeams on his ship. "I need assistance NOW! You fracking bastards are all going to be fracking court martialed for breaking formation!" He kicks down the pedal hard, savoring the sudden pressure, but his pursuers persist. A sudden turn left, a swipe to the right, and a maneuver that almost made his lung burst later, he lost one of them, but the second fighter remains. Taurus bites his teeth together and grips the controls so tightly that his knuckles turn as white as snow. "Alright, fracker. Let's see what you're made of." He hits the booster again and the ship zooms forward. The mothership is right in front of him, and he is on a collision course. Sweat runs down his forehead and burns in his eyes. He has to keep swerving left and right to avoid the bursts from behind, but his left wing takes a severe hit. "Frack!" Control lights flash and sirens sound as the mothership looms ever larger ahead of him. Closer. Closer. Just a little bit. In the last possible moment, he pushes hard to the right. His already damaged wing screeches against the mothership's side, but his pursuer slams right into it in a huge burst of flames and debris. But before Taurus can celebrate, his own wing finally gives way. The ship starts to turn and tumble. The mothership's back engine glows in front of him. He pulls hard at the controls, but it's too late. His ship crosses the mothership's engine exhaust and melts away.
Taurus says "Sorry, I'll make the next one shorter :)"
JMendes says "No way! Long and cool is good! :)"
Bryan says "This is all good."
hamsterprophet says "as long as its cool, dont matter how long it is!"
Taurus says "Alrighty then."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... An enemy torpedo had hit the mothership's engine just seconds before, causing it to blow up in a glorious fireball. Your ship hits the exhaust of a dead engine and bounces away, spinning on itself. Just then, Blue Squadron is finally launched. They dive into the frey with wild abandon, and little by little, the enemy fighter escort is whittled away, as the bombers turn and flee."
JMendes says "The salvage operation goes smoothly. Ejected pilots are retrieved, and those occupying dead ships are rescued. It's weeks later and the senior officers are in the command room. 'We have to strike back. Captains, assemble your squads. Launch Operation Deep Strike when ready!'"
JMendes says "You are flying in stealth formation, approaching the small moon where the enemy has their strike base. The squadron commander finally breaks radio silence. 'Red Squadron, engage!'"
JMendes says "Now. Jax, tell me how you died."
hamsterprophet says "Remembering the dire threats of my commanders that I would be courtmartialed to hell and back if I broke formation without orders, I grit my teeth and keep wing-to-wing with Red 4 and 6. We release our flak barrage over the main planetary defense battery on the hemisphere we're attacking, and pull back out while the bits of flack are consumed. On the commanders order, we dive in in a full attack pattern while the defense batteries recharge. I release my plasma torpedoes on cue - but suddenly a flash of light flies up from the moons surface, and I see the glittering tip of a missile zooming towards us. I kick straight up and almost black out from the mad G's. When my vision clears, I see clear skies - and then the severed wing of Red 7. It smashes through my windscreen edge-on, breaking my hermetic seal. I suffocate in the vacuum so fast that I don't even feel the wing burst through my face."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaaactually... The lose piece of fuselage rams right into your cockpit, but stops less than an inch short of your helmet, which seals itself automatically in response to the loss of cabin pressure. Your control systems are shot, however, and you begin creeping towards the ground, under the influence of the moon's tiny gravity. In the meantime, Red Leader's voice is heard again. 'Viper, this is Red Leader. You have window of opportunity.' As the assault landers come in on cue, a flight of enemy fighters appears over the horizon. 'Red Squadron, this is Red Leader. Take them out. Keep them away from the landers.'"
JMendes says "Now. S-Lander. Tell me how you died."
Bryan says "Not wanting to break formation for fear of Court Martial, I follow close behind Commander Taurus's fighter. As we close on the enemy fighters, I notice something strange out of the corner of my eye, but when I glance to my right, I don't actually see anything. I engage and follow closely Taurus orders. I say 'Let's get these fracking bastards.' And then blast the enemy."
Bryan says "We engage the enemy, and after we take most of them out, I notice out of the corner of my eye that what I saw earlier was a second fighter squad heading for our troop landers..."
Bryan says "I say, 'Sorry, Tarus, but you're going to have to court martial me. I'm breaking formation. There's a second fighter group.' I pull a high g turn and kick in my afterburners. And then I remember the button that I forgot to ask the techs about. I lean forward to push it, when I see one of our own on my tail blasting away. He hits my engines sending my fighter into a flat spin and I fall to the planet in a dizzying spin. When I hit the ground a pine tree spears up through the bottom of the ship and empales me. Legends will be sung about Lander the Empaled."
hamsterprophet says "haha, nice!"
Bryan says "should be impaled not emplaed."
JMendes rolls his eyes, "Aaaaaactually... the tree crushes under the weight of the ship, which explodes when it hits the ground. The autoeject mechanism sends you flying across the small grove and you land, bruised but in one piece, thanks to the low gravity."
JMendes says "Taurus, your squadron is spread all over the place, under the pressure of the two attacking enemy wings, but the landers are touching down under relative safety, thanks to your collective efforts. 'Red Leader, this is Viper. We're on the ground. Thanks.' You find yourself alone in low altitude, without cover."
JMendes says "Now. Taurus. Tell me how you died."
Taurus is fuming about his troops. Those fracking idiots, the bunch of them. Just as he was about to unleash his fury over the intercom, one of his wingmen resumes formation, and together they patrol the skies to make sure that there won't be any surprises. "Wolf, where the frack were you? I thought I made myself perfectly clear last time." She was one of the pilots he severely disciplined upon their return from the previous mission. She's a piece of work, and Taurus gave her a personal visit to make sure she wouldn't ever screw up like that ever again. At least her bruised arm from his visit didn't diminish her flight abilities enough to get her shot down. "Sorry sir," she says, but her voice sounds not quite as respectful as he would like it to be. He would have to pay her another visit, and this time really show her who's boss. Just as they're about to turn around and head back to the base, he checks her status and sees that her ship has drifted horizontally, to an angle behind his own. "Wolf, get back in formation. What the--" The sounds of her lasers tearing through his ship and burning holes through his body are the last thing Taurus ever hears.
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaaactually... the scene fades to flashback, back at the squadron briefing room. 'Is everyone clear?' you ask. 'The fracking Dalaks need to be completely convinced. Tiger, you blast Lander's ship as soon as the enemy shows his face. Wolf, you get mine at the first opportunity. Afterwards, join formation with their squadrons and blast away at the dummies from Blue Squadron. In the meantime, let's hope Viper Team can extract us after the strike.' The scene fades back to the fight as you crash-land your ship."
Taurus says "Niiiice."
Bryan nods head at the flashback. 'Sweet.'
JMendes says "Jax, your lifeless ship finally touches down, right in the thick of the ground fight. Hand blaster shots rage all around the battle field and the smoke of fused power armor cells fills the air."
JMendes says "Now. Tell me how you died."
JMendes :) "Yeah, I loved it when Nate pulled a flashback on me earlier, and I thought this was the time to use it."
"I flip down the blast guard on my helmet and grab my non-reg, and unnecessarily large, blaster rifle from behind the seat. I crawl out of my ruined craft and get a bearing on a pocket of enemy troops. Timing my shots precisely, I manage to pick off two or three without them noticing that my shots are coming from a different direction.
hamsterprophet says "I flip down the blast guard on my helmet and grab my non-reg, and unnecessarily large, blaster rifle from behind the seat. I crawl out of my ruined craft and get a bearing on a pocket of enemy troops. Timing my shots precisely, I manage to pick off two or three without them noticing that my shots are coming from a different direction."
hamsterprophet says "Suddenly, I feel a harsh impact across my shoulder blades. The smoke of my burning jacket assaults my nostrils as I roll over and face directly down the barrel of a Dalak elite stormtrooper. The sun glares off his visor as he kicks the rifle out of my hands. He smirks, and flips a setting on his gun - then shoots. I'm covered with sticky webbing that glues me to the ground - right in the center of the fire started by my burning jacket. I'm consumed in crackling flames as the battle rages on around me."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaactually... Just as the Dalak is lording over you as the fire spreads, a lone blaster shot pierces his helmet and he falls to the ground, lifeless. A three man strike team in power armor rushes to your side and puts the fire out. 'Johnson, Bierce, get the pilot out of here,' one of them says. 'I think they bought the bait. Sound retreat.' In concert, the other two pick you up by your armpits and head back to a nearby assault lander."
JMendes says "S-Lander, you stand around to take your bearings. According to the plan, you were supposed to wait for extraction near your crashed ship, but the explosion was unexpected. Between you and the ship, a small group of Dalak troopers are being pinned down by the long range fire of a Terran sniper."
JMendes says "Now. Tell me how you died."
Christian says "My connection is bad and getting worse, so I think I have to bow out of the game for tonight."
Christian says "Can you guys blog this or put the log up somewhere? I'd love to be able to read the stuff again, and I think I'll give up on my connection now, but I don't want to miss what's coming."
JMendes says "Sure thing."
hamsterprophet says "yeh, I should be logging it, i'll make sure i have a copy"
Christian says "Cool, and thanks for GMing! It's amazing how much fun and storytelling we can get out of something as strange as Death Stakes :)"
JMendes :)
Bryan says "Realizing that I'm ten clicks away from my extraction point, I quickly look through the ship to grab my survival gear. The button the techs installed that I didn't ask about is sitting loose on the seat so I grab it and stuff it in my pocket. I look myself over and notice, as always, my suit has no dirt on it. I smile my nice white smile and then run off into the woods towards the Terran sniper hoping to reach him before he is extracted...."
Christian says "Night guys."
Bryan says "about halfway to the sniper in the woods, I see a woman who is covered in dirt. 'Howdy,' I say. She answers, 'I need help...the fighting." I walk over to her and take the sleeve of my suit and wipe the dirt off of her face. She warms up to me, and soon we are off towards the sniper. We make record time and I find out that the sniper is the last Terran trooper on the ground in this section. He's waiting for me..."
Bryan says "and calls for a lift. As we're waiting, the woman I rescued eyes start to glow red. She a bomb. I grab the sniper and throw him as far as I can off the side of the hill. I run and jump to follow him, but the woman explodes vaporizing me into a red flash. The sniper survives."
hamsterprophet says, "dude, nice"
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... right before she explodes, out of some obscure instinct, you hand reaches for that fateful button and you press it..."
JMendes says "... and reality fades from your eyes..."
JMendes says "A split second and a bright flash of light later, you wake up... as you try to take your surroundings in, your back feels sore from sitting in that VR chair for so long. Slowly, you stand up and start disconnecting the elctrodes."
JMendes fights cheese with cheese... :)
Bryan says "Sweet. S-Lander leans back in the chair and smiles."
JMendes says "Jax wakes up as well, as a technician beside him brings the simulation to a halt. The commander is there as well, analyzing the results. 'Yes, I think it'll work. Very well, launch Operation Deep Strike when ready,' he says, then turns and heads out."
JMendes says "It's five months later and peace has been declared. Your squadron is on a routine border patrol, when an unidentified blip shows up on your radar screen. Now. Jax. Tell me how you died."
hamsterprophet lol's
JMendes fights cheese with cheese. :)
Bryan says, "I thought you were going to have us replay the battle."
Bryan wipes sweat off of brow.
JMendes :)
hamsterprophet says "the blip has a greater velocity than any recorded vehicle, Terran or Dalak. It's far too large to be a missile. As it approaches the Terran space it starts to slow to normal speeds. I signal to the squadron "Continue patrol pattern. I'm going to check it out." As I approach and bring it up on visual, I see a tubular craft in a totally unknown pattern, with no intelligible markings of any kind. "Patrol Alpha to base, unknown craft incoming. Am investigating.""
hamsterprophet says "as I approach, my instruments start wigging out, reading levels off the charts for gravity and atmosphere density. I try to back out, but even with my thrusters at full reverse I'm still inching towards the object. As I get closer, the power to my craft sputters and goes out, and I'm stuck in a dead ship, pulled into a massive gravity well."
hamsterprophet says "I see the sheet metal of my ship start to tremble and rupture, and resign myself to an ignomious death by crushing."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... Just before your ship collapses under its own weight, the gravity field subsides and the ship coasts limply towards the object. Right before you crash, a small window opens in the fuselage and lets you into a huge chamber, closing itself afterwards. Your ship bounces around the chamber walls for what seems like eternity, until it comes to rest amid a pile of debris."
JMendes says "S-Lander, as Jax's wingman, you followed him in and were captured by the same field. You exit your own craft, wondering what to do next. There is air here and the gravity is gentle. Suddenly, you hear a loud noise in the distance."
JMendes says "Now. S-Lander. Tell me how you died."
Bryan says "I call out to Jax, 'Are you okay?' And after I hear back an affirmative, I call out, 'Who's there?' Nothing answers, so I say to Jax, 'I'm going to check it out.'"
Bryan says "After walking for what seems like forever, I find a screen at the end of the building. The sound I heard is deeping from the speaker. I touch the screen and a strange looking green face appears. It say in Terran, 'We've come to test you.' I push back my hair, smile a white smile, and say, 'Shoot.' The green face says, 'Why would we want to kill you now.' I say back, 'You wouldn't.' It says, 'How would you know?' I say, 'I don't.' It says, 'This is not intelligent life.' I hear the airlock open behind me and am sucked out into the cold depth of space. My head explodes shortly before my body freezes."
hamsterprophet says, "lol" dude....awesome."
JMendes is laughing in his chair!
hamsterprophet says, "that may be a winning entry.....we'll see what Joao thinks....."
hamsterprophet is literally LOL as well
Bryan says, "Thanks."
JMendes says "Jax, you feel yourself being picked up by the air current and suddenly, you are out of air. The object fades from Terran space, scheduling a return in another ten thousand years. Your names are listed as Missing In Action."
JMendes drowns in a vat of molten cheese...
hamsterprophet says "haha! awesome"
hamsterprophet says "Death Stakes rules"
Bryan says "That was pretty fun."
JMendes says "Ok, cool. Christian, it's Death Stakes aboard a giant Battlestar-Galactica-like space opera thing. Join?"
Christian says "Hi Bryan. Nice to meet you."
Christian says "I'm in."
hamsterprophet tries to think of a good space opera name
JMendes says "'There's no way you were dealt that hand on chance alone,' the squadron commander growls as he sees the chips begin collected off the table. As he prepares to shuffle the deck again, the claxon goes off. 'We have multiple incoming Dalaks. Heavy bombers with fighter escort. This is not a drill. All pilots, man your craft.' You run to your space fighters and sit there, ready to be launched, tension mounting in the pit of your stomach, as it always does before a fight.
Damn Dalaks, why don't they leave us alone? The wind suddenly rushes out of your chest as acceleration from the slingshot hits you, and you are in space."
JMendes says "First one with a name gets first shot at narrating his own death. :)"
hamsterprophet is Jax Xaos, a freewheeling rebel type with a mean temper and a quick trigger finger.
JMendes says "Now, Jax, tell me how you died."
Bryan is S-Lander, a pilot that never gets any dirt on his uniform and who always has a glint in his eyes and a shine on his teeth.
Christian says "Alright, for one sentence of setting, here's my character out of my ass: His name's Rink Banastan, flyname Taurus. He's a large guy, and a sadistic asshole, but strongly supports authority and order. He does have feelings for some NPC that you can determine (of any gender, whatever), probably in the same flight squad."
hamsterprophet says "I immediately break away from the main body of ships. As I pull up the positions of the attacking forces on my screen I see that we'll need to even the odds quickly. I immediately key in a trajectory that will bring me in wide, and hopefully the rest of the squad will keep the fighters busy. As the commander yells at me to stay in formation, I swoop by one of the enemy fighters a little too close, and he breaks away to pursue me. I lead him away from the ships and out into space....but suddenly another ship decloaks right in front of me! Before I can warn the squad it triggers its pulse laser, and I'm just too close to avoid."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... the ship's laser hits the back of your ship, blowing out one of its engines and sending it into a spin. Thanks to swift intervention of the emergency repair systems, you are able to bring the ship into controlled flight again. Crippled but eager, you re-join the fight."
JMendes says "S-Lander, the action is thick in your part of space. One of your squadron mates has just blown one of the enemy fighters right off your tail, but now he is being tailed himself. Now. Tell me how S-Lander dies."
Bryan says "I quickly burn some extra fuel, pull an eight g turn and fire my lateral thruster. Flicking on the targeting computers, I notice an extra button on my control panel that the techs just installed, but before I can figure out what it does, two Dalak TK-12 Gunships fly up on my tail."
Bryan says "Luckily, my forward thrusters were repaired from the last battle, so I jerk the throttle and fly on backwards, blasting the two TK-12s out of the air. Then I yank my control stick to the left to avoid the shards of metal twisting in the air. My poor squadron mate cries over the com, "Quick, they're all around me.""
Bryan says "I turn my fighter around. She's shaking violently. I think I must have hit some of that debris. When I kick in afterburners, I feel a jerk in the ship, and my back starts to get warm, and then my back is burning. I the last second, I turn to see a fireball just before it consumes me."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... your ship jerks and the systems die, and for a split second, you are dead in space. But then, the backup circuitry kicks in and you are in control again. You swoop towards your squad mate Taurus, who is being pressured my two enemy fighters, but you are far away."
JMendes says "Taurus, you are asking for help, but none is forthcoming. So far, however, you have been able to outmaneuver your pursuers. Now, tell me how you died."
Bryan kicks back and relaxes fingers from all the typing and eagerly awaits Taurus's death.
Taurus curses under his breath as the ships on his tail unleash a firestorm of laserbeams on his ship. "I need assistance NOW! You fracking bastards are all going to be fracking court martialed for breaking formation!" He kicks down the pedal hard, savoring the sudden pressure, but his pursuers persist. A sudden turn left, a swipe to the right, and a maneuver that almost made his lung burst later, he lost one of them, but the second fighter remains. Taurus bites his teeth together and grips the controls so tightly that his knuckles turn as white as snow. "Alright, fracker. Let's see what you're made of." He hits the booster again and the ship zooms forward. The mothership is right in front of him, and he is on a collision course. Sweat runs down his forehead and burns in his eyes. He has to keep swerving left and right to avoid the bursts from behind, but his left wing takes a severe hit. "Frack!" Control lights flash and sirens sound as the mothership looms ever larger ahead of him. Closer. Closer. Just a little bit. In the last possible moment, he pushes hard to the right. His already damaged wing screeches against the mothership's side, but his pursuer slams right into it in a huge burst of flames and debris. But before Taurus can celebrate, his own wing finally gives way. The ship starts to turn and tumble. The mothership's back engine glows in front of him. He pulls hard at the controls, but it's too late. His ship crosses the mothership's engine exhaust and melts away.
Taurus says "Sorry, I'll make the next one shorter :)"
JMendes says "No way! Long and cool is good! :)"
Bryan says "This is all good."
hamsterprophet says "as long as its cool, dont matter how long it is!"
Taurus says "Alrighty then."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... An enemy torpedo had hit the mothership's engine just seconds before, causing it to blow up in a glorious fireball. Your ship hits the exhaust of a dead engine and bounces away, spinning on itself. Just then, Blue Squadron is finally launched. They dive into the frey with wild abandon, and little by little, the enemy fighter escort is whittled away, as the bombers turn and flee."
JMendes says "The salvage operation goes smoothly. Ejected pilots are retrieved, and those occupying dead ships are rescued. It's weeks later and the senior officers are in the command room. 'We have to strike back. Captains, assemble your squads. Launch Operation Deep Strike when ready!'"
JMendes says "You are flying in stealth formation, approaching the small moon where the enemy has their strike base. The squadron commander finally breaks radio silence. 'Red Squadron, engage!'"
JMendes says "Now. Jax, tell me how you died."
hamsterprophet says "Remembering the dire threats of my commanders that I would be courtmartialed to hell and back if I broke formation without orders, I grit my teeth and keep wing-to-wing with Red 4 and 6. We release our flak barrage over the main planetary defense battery on the hemisphere we're attacking, and pull back out while the bits of flack are consumed. On the commanders order, we dive in in a full attack pattern while the defense batteries recharge. I release my plasma torpedoes on cue - but suddenly a flash of light flies up from the moons surface, and I see the glittering tip of a missile zooming towards us. I kick straight up and almost black out from the mad G's. When my vision clears, I see clear skies - and then the severed wing of Red 7. It smashes through my windscreen edge-on, breaking my hermetic seal. I suffocate in the vacuum so fast that I don't even feel the wing burst through my face."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaaactually... The lose piece of fuselage rams right into your cockpit, but stops less than an inch short of your helmet, which seals itself automatically in response to the loss of cabin pressure. Your control systems are shot, however, and you begin creeping towards the ground, under the influence of the moon's tiny gravity. In the meantime, Red Leader's voice is heard again. 'Viper, this is Red Leader. You have window of opportunity.' As the assault landers come in on cue, a flight of enemy fighters appears over the horizon. 'Red Squadron, this is Red Leader. Take them out. Keep them away from the landers.'"
JMendes says "Now. S-Lander. Tell me how you died."
Bryan says "Not wanting to break formation for fear of Court Martial, I follow close behind Commander Taurus's fighter. As we close on the enemy fighters, I notice something strange out of the corner of my eye, but when I glance to my right, I don't actually see anything. I engage and follow closely Taurus orders. I say 'Let's get these fracking bastards.' And then blast the enemy."
Bryan says "We engage the enemy, and after we take most of them out, I notice out of the corner of my eye that what I saw earlier was a second fighter squad heading for our troop landers..."
Bryan says "I say, 'Sorry, Tarus, but you're going to have to court martial me. I'm breaking formation. There's a second fighter group.' I pull a high g turn and kick in my afterburners. And then I remember the button that I forgot to ask the techs about. I lean forward to push it, when I see one of our own on my tail blasting away. He hits my engines sending my fighter into a flat spin and I fall to the planet in a dizzying spin. When I hit the ground a pine tree spears up through the bottom of the ship and empales me. Legends will be sung about Lander the Empaled."
hamsterprophet says "haha, nice!"
Bryan says "should be impaled not emplaed."
JMendes rolls his eyes, "Aaaaaactually... the tree crushes under the weight of the ship, which explodes when it hits the ground. The autoeject mechanism sends you flying across the small grove and you land, bruised but in one piece, thanks to the low gravity."
JMendes says "Taurus, your squadron is spread all over the place, under the pressure of the two attacking enemy wings, but the landers are touching down under relative safety, thanks to your collective efforts. 'Red Leader, this is Viper. We're on the ground. Thanks.' You find yourself alone in low altitude, without cover."
JMendes says "Now. Taurus. Tell me how you died."
Taurus is fuming about his troops. Those fracking idiots, the bunch of them. Just as he was about to unleash his fury over the intercom, one of his wingmen resumes formation, and together they patrol the skies to make sure that there won't be any surprises. "Wolf, where the frack were you? I thought I made myself perfectly clear last time." She was one of the pilots he severely disciplined upon their return from the previous mission. She's a piece of work, and Taurus gave her a personal visit to make sure she wouldn't ever screw up like that ever again. At least her bruised arm from his visit didn't diminish her flight abilities enough to get her shot down. "Sorry sir," she says, but her voice sounds not quite as respectful as he would like it to be. He would have to pay her another visit, and this time really show her who's boss. Just as they're about to turn around and head back to the base, he checks her status and sees that her ship has drifted horizontally, to an angle behind his own. "Wolf, get back in formation. What the--" The sounds of her lasers tearing through his ship and burning holes through his body are the last thing Taurus ever hears.
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaaactually... the scene fades to flashback, back at the squadron briefing room. 'Is everyone clear?' you ask. 'The fracking Dalaks need to be completely convinced. Tiger, you blast Lander's ship as soon as the enemy shows his face. Wolf, you get mine at the first opportunity. Afterwards, join formation with their squadrons and blast away at the dummies from Blue Squadron. In the meantime, let's hope Viper Team can extract us after the strike.' The scene fades back to the fight as you crash-land your ship."
Taurus says "Niiiice."
Bryan nods head at the flashback. 'Sweet.'
JMendes says "Jax, your lifeless ship finally touches down, right in the thick of the ground fight. Hand blaster shots rage all around the battle field and the smoke of fused power armor cells fills the air."
JMendes says "Now. Tell me how you died."
JMendes :) "Yeah, I loved it when Nate pulled a flashback on me earlier, and I thought this was the time to use it."
"I flip down the blast guard on my helmet and grab my non-reg, and unnecessarily large, blaster rifle from behind the seat. I crawl out of my ruined craft and get a bearing on a pocket of enemy troops. Timing my shots precisely, I manage to pick off two or three without them noticing that my shots are coming from a different direction.
hamsterprophet says "I flip down the blast guard on my helmet and grab my non-reg, and unnecessarily large, blaster rifle from behind the seat. I crawl out of my ruined craft and get a bearing on a pocket of enemy troops. Timing my shots precisely, I manage to pick off two or three without them noticing that my shots are coming from a different direction."
hamsterprophet says "Suddenly, I feel a harsh impact across my shoulder blades. The smoke of my burning jacket assaults my nostrils as I roll over and face directly down the barrel of a Dalak elite stormtrooper. The sun glares off his visor as he kicks the rifle out of my hands. He smirks, and flips a setting on his gun - then shoots. I'm covered with sticky webbing that glues me to the ground - right in the center of the fire started by my burning jacket. I'm consumed in crackling flames as the battle rages on around me."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaactually... Just as the Dalak is lording over you as the fire spreads, a lone blaster shot pierces his helmet and he falls to the ground, lifeless. A three man strike team in power armor rushes to your side and puts the fire out. 'Johnson, Bierce, get the pilot out of here,' one of them says. 'I think they bought the bait. Sound retreat.' In concert, the other two pick you up by your armpits and head back to a nearby assault lander."
JMendes says "S-Lander, you stand around to take your bearings. According to the plan, you were supposed to wait for extraction near your crashed ship, but the explosion was unexpected. Between you and the ship, a small group of Dalak troopers are being pinned down by the long range fire of a Terran sniper."
JMendes says "Now. Tell me how you died."
Christian says "My connection is bad and getting worse, so I think I have to bow out of the game for tonight."
Christian says "Can you guys blog this or put the log up somewhere? I'd love to be able to read the stuff again, and I think I'll give up on my connection now, but I don't want to miss what's coming."
JMendes says "Sure thing."
hamsterprophet says "yeh, I should be logging it, i'll make sure i have a copy"
Christian says "Cool, and thanks for GMing! It's amazing how much fun and storytelling we can get out of something as strange as Death Stakes :)"
JMendes :)
Bryan says "Realizing that I'm ten clicks away from my extraction point, I quickly look through the ship to grab my survival gear. The button the techs installed that I didn't ask about is sitting loose on the seat so I grab it and stuff it in my pocket. I look myself over and notice, as always, my suit has no dirt on it. I smile my nice white smile and then run off into the woods towards the Terran sniper hoping to reach him before he is extracted...."
Christian says "Night guys."
Bryan says "about halfway to the sniper in the woods, I see a woman who is covered in dirt. 'Howdy,' I say. She answers, 'I need help...the fighting." I walk over to her and take the sleeve of my suit and wipe the dirt off of her face. She warms up to me, and soon we are off towards the sniper. We make record time and I find out that the sniper is the last Terran trooper on the ground in this section. He's waiting for me..."
Bryan says "and calls for a lift. As we're waiting, the woman I rescued eyes start to glow red. She a bomb. I grab the sniper and throw him as far as I can off the side of the hill. I run and jump to follow him, but the woman explodes vaporizing me into a red flash. The sniper survives."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... right before she explodes, out of some obscure instinct, you hand reaches for that fateful button and you press it..."
JMendes says "... and reality fades from your eyes..."
JMendes says "A split second and a bright flash of light later, you wake up... as you try to take your surroundings in, your back feels sore from sitting in that VR chair for so long. Slowly, you stand up and start disconnecting the elctrodes."
JMendes fights cheese with cheese... :)
Bryan says "Sweet. S-Lander leans back in the chair and smiles."
JMendes says "Jax wakes up as well, as a technician beside him brings the simulation to a halt. The commander is there as well, analyzing the results. 'Yes, I think it'll work. Very well, launch Operation Deep Strike when ready,' he says, then turns and heads out."
JMendes says "It's five months later and peace has been declared. Your squadron is on a routine border patrol, when an unidentified blip shows up on your radar screen. Now. Jax. Tell me how you died."
JMendes fights cheese with cheese. :)
JMendes :)
hamsterprophet says "the blip has a greater velocity than any recorded vehicle, Terran or Dalak. It's far too large to be a missile. As it approaches the Terran space it starts to slow to normal speeds. I signal to the squadron "Continue patrol pattern. I'm going to check it out." As I approach and bring it up on visual, I see a tubular craft in a totally unknown pattern, with no intelligible markings of any kind. "Patrol Alpha to base, unknown craft incoming. Am investigating.""
hamsterprophet says "as I approach, my instruments start wigging out, reading levels off the charts for gravity and atmosphere density. I try to back out, but even with my thrusters at full reverse I'm still inching towards the object. As I get closer, the power to my craft sputters and goes out, and I'm stuck in a dead ship, pulled into a massive gravity well."
hamsterprophet says "I see the sheet metal of my ship start to tremble and rupture, and resign myself to an ignomious death by crushing."
JMendes rolls his eyes. "Aaaactually... Just before your ship collapses under its own weight, the gravity field subsides and the ship coasts limply towards the object. Right before you crash, a small window opens in the fuselage and lets you into a huge chamber, closing itself afterwards. Your ship bounces around the chamber walls for what seems like eternity, until it comes to rest amid a pile of debris."
JMendes says "S-Lander, as Jax's wingman, you followed him in and were captured by the same field. You exit your own craft, wondering what to do next. There is air here and the gravity is gentle. Suddenly, you hear a loud noise in the distance."
JMendes says "Now. S-Lander. Tell me how you died."
Bryan says "I call out to Jax, 'Are you okay?' And after I hear back an affirmative, I call out, 'Who's there?' Nothing answers, so I say to Jax, 'I'm going to check it out.'"
Bryan says "After walking for what seems like forever, I find a screen at the end of the building. The sound I heard is deeping from the speaker. I touch the screen and a strange looking green face appears. It say in Terran, 'We've come to test you.' I push back my hair, smile a white smile, and say, 'Shoot.' The green face says, 'Why would we want to kill you now.' I say back, 'You wouldn't.' It says, 'How would you know?' I say, 'I don't.' It says, 'This is not intelligent life.' I hear the airlock open behind me and am sucked out into the cold depth of space. My head explodes shortly before my body freezes."
JMendes is laughing in his chair!
JMendes says "Jax, you feel yourself being picked up by the air current and suddenly, you are out of air. The object fades from Terran space, scheduling a return in another ten thousand years. Your names are listed as Missing In Action."
JMendes drowns in a vat of molten cheese...
hamsterprophet says "haha! awesome"
hamsterprophet says "Death Stakes rules"
Bryan says "That was pretty fun."
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Joao Wins Death Stakes
(cleaned up transcript from the Foundry)
hamsterprophet says "we could play Death Stakes"
JMendes says "!!! Oooh yeah"
hamsterprophet says "do you wanna GM or shall I?"
JMendes says "Beat me to it, I was gonna type exactly that! Go ahead and GM for me, then. :)"
hamsterprophet says "hehe. Ok. Whats a good setting?"
JMendes says "I'm up for pretty much anything... space opera of some kind, perhaps..."
hamsterprophet says "never mind....the Mortal Kombat soundtrack just came up on my iTunes"
hamsterprophet says "i think its a sign"
JMendes doesn't really know enough about the whole MK stylistic thingie, but yeah, I suppose it is. :)
hamsterprophet says "do you know any of the characters? Raiden, Subzero, Johnny Cage?"
JMendes ...
JMendes says "Wait you're talking about the van damme movie, aren't you? I thought you were talking about the game(s)..."
JMendes never saw that movie...
hamsterprophet says "same characters. ok. so Subzero and Scorpion are both undead ninjas, and they're bitter enemies. Subzero wears blue and can freeze things and shoot ice bolts. Scorpion wears tan and can shoot a spear out of his fist that pulls the person next to him and teleport a bit. So, you're Subzero. The two of you are facing each other in a circular death match arena, with giant spikes everywhere and dim lighting and blood stains on the floor. The announcer goes FIGHT! How does Subzero die?"
JMendes thinks for a bit... "This is gonna be tough
hamsterprophet says "(the basic stylistic thing for MK is lots of blood and special moves. and flipkicks)"
JMendes says "We circle each other for a bit, trying to get a glimpse of some weak point or trying to find the other's guard down, as we've done so many times in the past."
JMendes says "I tentatively shoot a few bolts at Scorpion, just to gauge his reaction. He steps aside with ease and jumps onto a spike, springboarding off it and landing all the way across the other side. I turn to face him, but when I look, he isn't where I was expecting him to land."
JMendes says "I do guess the next half-second, but I am already too late. The tip of Scorpion's spear makes an appearance on the front of my blue suit. I fall to my knees as it retracts again, then fall forward, immobile."
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaatually.....as your eyes fall on the empty space where Scorpion should be, you guess at his plan and leap straight up in the air. You see his spear shoot between your legs as you execute a graceful backflip and land directly behind -him-. Now, how does Subzero die?"
JMendes says "I touch my palm to his back and he starts to freeze, but he too was already expecting me to guess his move, so in a split second, he is no longer there. We sommersault around each other and the arena and meet each other at the center, each throwing as much punch and kick as the other can barely hold back."
JMendes says "Then, we break apart once again, and I send an array of bolts, covering a wide angle, which he only barely avoids. Then, out of the blue, he yells, NOW, and my head is hit from behind by (someone, don't know the characters)'s foot. I turn to face the new menace."
JMendes says "Taking advantage of my momentary stun, Scorpion does a triple sault and lands right at my side. A well placed flip kick sends me flying onto one of the spikes."
JMendes says "I stand up ready to face them, but there is a trail of blood..."
JMendes says "Everything turns red..."
JMendes says "I fall forward."
hamsterprophet says "lets go with...i dunno...Reptile, who's in green and has poison breath""
JMendes okies.
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaactually.....your vision clears, and you realize that you got slammed between two spikes, one just to either side of your chest. Your enemies have both turned to face the judge, and you catapult yourself from the floor, flying directely towards their unprotected backs."
JMendes says "Is there a key phrase coming soon, Nate? :)"
hamsterprophet says "Ice spikes grow from both of Subzeros hands as he flies through the air....now, how does Subzero die?""
hamsterprophet is totally on it at ALL TIMES
JMendes says "The judge takes in the whole of the events in the arena and stares back at Scorpion and Reptile. They continue to look at him for just a moment longer, as realization of why he isn't being forthcoming dawns on their minds."
JMendes says "A well-aimed bolt flies from my right hand and hits Repitle right in his neck. Scorpion, however, knew what was coming just soon enough to dodge it."
JMendes says "I land beside the stunned green man and touch him with my palm, all the while concentrating on Scorpion, who jumps away from me. He throws his spear in my direction, hoping to catch me as I freeze his ally, but he isn't fast enough."
JMendes says "I jump to the side, then sommersault towards him, as he slides towards me. Again, we trade blows with each other in the center of the arena, neither of us able to gain a definite advantage."
JMendes says "But then, when the time comes to break away and I jump back, he unexpectedly comes forward, pressing the attack. I am caught off balance and unable to keep him at bay."
JMendes says "Suddenly, I trip over Reptile's frozen body and fall backward. Scorpion does a double sault and lands on my chest, his right foot hitting my throat. He puts his spear fist against my forehead and smiles. 'Goodbye, brother,' he says, right before the spear comes out."
JMendes says "(are they brothers? i got that feeling from the way you described them earlier...)"
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaactually....as you gaze into the empty sockets where his eyes would be, you see the barest flicker of....hesistation?...as he says the word 'brother'. You freeze, eyes locked on one anothers, for a split second, then the judge shouts FINISH HIM! You jackknife up, knocking Scorpion offbalance, and his spear shoots out and across your forehead, tearing open a gash just below your hairline. You roll in opposite directions, and as you come to your feet you manage to grab the spears cord before it retracts. Now, how does Subzero die?"
hamsterprophet says "(eh, why not? I actually dont know)"
JMendes says "For the briefest of moments, we are locked in a tug of war, circling each other and pulling hard on the cord. Changing strategies, Scorpion tries to catch me off-balance by suddenly running towards me, but I see it coming. I extend my own free hand, palm wide open, and place it firmly upon his chest. 'Goodbye, indeed,' I say, with a smile of my own."
JMendes says "As Scorpion begins to freeze, he meets my stare with unexpected confidence. I feel movement behind me and a cloud of gas encircles me. Surprised, I try to hold my breath, but too late. I let go of a half-frozen Scorpion and turn to face a freshly thawed Reptile, grinning sinisterly at me. Again, the judge shouts, 'FINISH HIM'. Reptile does a tripple sommersault right above me and lands behind me."
JMendes says "Stunned by the poison, I am unable to react. He takes my head in his hands and twitches them. There's a loud snap."
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaactually.....as Reptile takes your head in his hands, everything fuzzes and we go to a flashback. You're standing in a dimly-lit room talking to a beautiful woman in a purple ninja outfit. She says "Remember....Scorpion and Reptile have made a pact to help each other win their matches, so that they may face either other for the tournament championship. I have a small amount of a little-known powder that will serve to completely counteract the effects of Reptiles toxic breathe. Take it before the match - and if you defeat both of them - well, we will have something to talk about if that happens. She puts a small pouch in your hand and gives a mysterious smile, and then the scene fuzzes back to realtime. (more)"
hamsterprophet says "your eyes glow blue, and Reptiles hands suddenly become encased in ice, connecting him to your head. He growls "Impossible!" and you reach behind and get him in a reverse-bear-hug, lifting his feet off the ground. You begin spinning towards Scorpion, using your feet as weapons and Reptiles body as a shield.""
hamsterprophet says "Now, how does Subzero die?!"
hamsterprophet says "this game makes the best fight scenes ever"
JMendes says "Still half frozen, Scorpion is unable to effectively respond to my attacks. He slowly backs up under my pressure until his back is against the wall. As I continue to hold Reptile's body in my bear hug, he freezes completely. I do a backward sommersault and throw the frozen body at Scorpion, hitting him right in the face. It bashes his head severely, shattering into a million pieces all the while."
hamsterprophet is literally LOL. "AWESOME"
JMendes says "He falls to his knees and I step forward, ready to end the fight. I place my palm on his head. He knows what's coming next. 'No mercy,' I mutter under my breath. After he is frozen, one swift round kick ends his plight. As I walk towards the center of the arena, a lone figure is standing there. A female figure."
JMendes says "A beautiful ninja in a purple outfit is standing there, smiling at me. 'I knew you could do it,' she says in a soft voice. 'And now, I'll be the one who beat the champion.' I look at her, sizing her up. She doesn't look so tough."
JMendes says "Then I begin to feel stiff. 'Oh, wait,' she says. 'I never did tell you about the side effects, did I?'"
JMendes says "I see everything in slow motion, yet I am unable to react. It's as if I'm watching the scene from above, shouting at myself, 'look out, you idiot, she has a sai!' And indeed she does. Drawing it from her belt, she walks slowly towards me. Smiling ever so sweetly, she plunges it into my belly. 'What's the matter, Subzero?', she asks, 'Lost your cool?'"
JMendes says "The world spins around itself as I fall to the ground, unable to respond..."
hamsterprophet says "The last words you hear are the judges ritual call. 'FINISH HIM!' Then it all goes black."
hamsterprophet says "dude. you totally just won Death Stakes."
JMendes !! :):)
hamsterprophet says "that was awesome"
JMendes says "This is way more fun than I expected it to be. I gotta save a log of this!"
hamsterprophet says "yeh, me too"
hamsterprophet says "we could play Death Stakes"
JMendes says "!!! Oooh yeah"
hamsterprophet says "do you wanna GM or shall I?"
JMendes says "Beat me to it, I was gonna type exactly that! Go ahead and GM for me, then. :)"
hamsterprophet says "hehe. Ok. Whats a good setting?"
JMendes says "I'm up for pretty much anything... space opera of some kind, perhaps..."
hamsterprophet says "never mind....the Mortal Kombat soundtrack just came up on my iTunes"
hamsterprophet says "i think its a sign"
JMendes doesn't really know enough about the whole MK stylistic thingie, but yeah, I suppose it is. :)
hamsterprophet says "do you know any of the characters? Raiden, Subzero, Johnny Cage?"
JMendes ...
JMendes says "Wait you're talking about the van damme movie, aren't you? I thought you were talking about the game(s)..."
JMendes never saw that movie...
hamsterprophet says "same characters. ok. so Subzero and Scorpion are both undead ninjas, and they're bitter enemies. Subzero wears blue and can freeze things and shoot ice bolts. Scorpion wears tan and can shoot a spear out of his fist that pulls the person next to him and teleport a bit. So, you're Subzero. The two of you are facing each other in a circular death match arena, with giant spikes everywhere and dim lighting and blood stains on the floor. The announcer goes FIGHT! How does Subzero die?"
JMendes thinks for a bit... "This is gonna be tough
hamsterprophet says "(the basic stylistic thing for MK is lots of blood and special moves. and flipkicks)"
JMendes says "We circle each other for a bit, trying to get a glimpse of some weak point or trying to find the other's guard down, as we've done so many times in the past."
JMendes says "I tentatively shoot a few bolts at Scorpion, just to gauge his reaction. He steps aside with ease and jumps onto a spike, springboarding off it and landing all the way across the other side. I turn to face him, but when I look, he isn't where I was expecting him to land."
JMendes says "I do guess the next half-second, but I am already too late. The tip of Scorpion's spear makes an appearance on the front of my blue suit. I fall to my knees as it retracts again, then fall forward, immobile."
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaatually.....as your eyes fall on the empty space where Scorpion should be, you guess at his plan and leap straight up in the air. You see his spear shoot between your legs as you execute a graceful backflip and land directly behind -him-. Now, how does Subzero die?"
JMendes says "I touch my palm to his back and he starts to freeze, but he too was already expecting me to guess his move, so in a split second, he is no longer there. We sommersault around each other and the arena and meet each other at the center, each throwing as much punch and kick as the other can barely hold back."
JMendes says "Then, we break apart once again, and I send an array of bolts, covering a wide angle, which he only barely avoids. Then, out of the blue, he yells, NOW, and my head is hit from behind by (someone, don't know the characters)'s foot. I turn to face the new menace."
JMendes says "Taking advantage of my momentary stun, Scorpion does a triple sault and lands right at my side. A well placed flip kick sends me flying onto one of the spikes."
JMendes says "I stand up ready to face them, but there is a trail of blood..."
JMendes says "Everything turns red..."
JMendes says "I fall forward."
hamsterprophet says "lets go with...i dunno...Reptile, who's in green and has poison breath""
JMendes okies.
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaactually.....your vision clears, and you realize that you got slammed between two spikes, one just to either side of your chest. Your enemies have both turned to face the judge, and you catapult yourself from the floor, flying directely towards their unprotected backs."
JMendes says "Is there a key phrase coming soon, Nate? :)"
hamsterprophet says "Ice spikes grow from both of Subzeros hands as he flies through the air....now, how does Subzero die?""
hamsterprophet is totally on it at ALL TIMES
JMendes says "The judge takes in the whole of the events in the arena and stares back at Scorpion and Reptile. They continue to look at him for just a moment longer, as realization of why he isn't being forthcoming dawns on their minds."
JMendes says "A well-aimed bolt flies from my right hand and hits Repitle right in his neck. Scorpion, however, knew what was coming just soon enough to dodge it."
JMendes says "I land beside the stunned green man and touch him with my palm, all the while concentrating on Scorpion, who jumps away from me. He throws his spear in my direction, hoping to catch me as I freeze his ally, but he isn't fast enough."
JMendes says "I jump to the side, then sommersault towards him, as he slides towards me. Again, we trade blows with each other in the center of the arena, neither of us able to gain a definite advantage."
JMendes says "But then, when the time comes to break away and I jump back, he unexpectedly comes forward, pressing the attack. I am caught off balance and unable to keep him at bay."
JMendes says "Suddenly, I trip over Reptile's frozen body and fall backward. Scorpion does a double sault and lands on my chest, his right foot hitting my throat. He puts his spear fist against my forehead and smiles. 'Goodbye, brother,' he says, right before the spear comes out."
JMendes says "(are they brothers? i got that feeling from the way you described them earlier...)"
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaactually....as you gaze into the empty sockets where his eyes would be, you see the barest flicker of....hesistation?...as he says the word 'brother'. You freeze, eyes locked on one anothers, for a split second, then the judge shouts FINISH HIM! You jackknife up, knocking Scorpion offbalance, and his spear shoots out and across your forehead, tearing open a gash just below your hairline. You roll in opposite directions, and as you come to your feet you manage to grab the spears cord before it retracts. Now, how does Subzero die?"
hamsterprophet says "(eh, why not? I actually dont know)"
JMendes says "For the briefest of moments, we are locked in a tug of war, circling each other and pulling hard on the cord. Changing strategies, Scorpion tries to catch me off-balance by suddenly running towards me, but I see it coming. I extend my own free hand, palm wide open, and place it firmly upon his chest. 'Goodbye, indeed,' I say, with a smile of my own."
JMendes says "As Scorpion begins to freeze, he meets my stare with unexpected confidence. I feel movement behind me and a cloud of gas encircles me. Surprised, I try to hold my breath, but too late. I let go of a half-frozen Scorpion and turn to face a freshly thawed Reptile, grinning sinisterly at me. Again, the judge shouts, 'FINISH HIM'. Reptile does a tripple sommersault right above me and lands behind me."
JMendes says "Stunned by the poison, I am unable to react. He takes my head in his hands and twitches them. There's a loud snap."
hamsterprophet rolls his eyes. "Aaaaaactually.....as Reptile takes your head in his hands, everything fuzzes and we go to a flashback. You're standing in a dimly-lit room talking to a beautiful woman in a purple ninja outfit. She says "Remember....Scorpion and Reptile have made a pact to help each other win their matches, so that they may face either other for the tournament championship. I have a small amount of a little-known powder that will serve to completely counteract the effects of Reptiles toxic breathe. Take it before the match - and if you defeat both of them - well, we will have something to talk about if that happens. She puts a small pouch in your hand and gives a mysterious smile, and then the scene fuzzes back to realtime. (more)"
hamsterprophet says "your eyes glow blue, and Reptiles hands suddenly become encased in ice, connecting him to your head. He growls "Impossible!" and you reach behind and get him in a reverse-bear-hug, lifting his feet off the ground. You begin spinning towards Scorpion, using your feet as weapons and Reptiles body as a shield.""
hamsterprophet says "Now, how does Subzero die?!"
hamsterprophet says "this game makes the best fight scenes ever"
JMendes says "Still half frozen, Scorpion is unable to effectively respond to my attacks. He slowly backs up under my pressure until his back is against the wall. As I continue to hold Reptile's body in my bear hug, he freezes completely. I do a backward sommersault and throw the frozen body at Scorpion, hitting him right in the face. It bashes his head severely, shattering into a million pieces all the while."
hamsterprophet is literally LOL. "AWESOME"
JMendes says "He falls to his knees and I step forward, ready to end the fight. I place my palm on his head. He knows what's coming next. 'No mercy,' I mutter under my breath. After he is frozen, one swift round kick ends his plight. As I walk towards the center of the arena, a lone figure is standing there. A female figure."
JMendes says "A beautiful ninja in a purple outfit is standing there, smiling at me. 'I knew you could do it,' she says in a soft voice. 'And now, I'll be the one who beat the champion.' I look at her, sizing her up. She doesn't look so tough."
JMendes says "Then I begin to feel stiff. 'Oh, wait,' she says. 'I never did tell you about the side effects, did I?'"
JMendes says "I see everything in slow motion, yet I am unable to react. It's as if I'm watching the scene from above, shouting at myself, 'look out, you idiot, she has a sai!' And indeed she does. Drawing it from her belt, she walks slowly towards me. Smiling ever so sweetly, she plunges it into my belly. 'What's the matter, Subzero?', she asks, 'Lost your cool?'"
JMendes says "The world spins around itself as I fall to the ground, unable to respond..."
hamsterprophet says "The last words you hear are the judges ritual call. 'FINISH HIM!' Then it all goes black."
hamsterprophet says "dude. you totally just won Death Stakes."
JMendes !! :):)
hamsterprophet says "that was awesome"
JMendes says "This is way more fun than I expected it to be. I gotta save a log of this!"
hamsterprophet says "yeh, me too"
Unsung On Sale
If anyone remembers, I bought and posted my thoughts about a game by the name of Unsung. Well, the author has put it up on sale. I would get it if I didn't already own it, and I think you should too. If Kirt is reading this, feel free to post a link to my blog post - I don't use LJ, so I can't do it myself on your original post.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Damn!
So regular readers of anyway. will remember that Vincent saw someone once that he thought was TonyLB, but wasn't, and he was mad. I can't be arsed to look up the actual post, but yeh.
I had a similar experience today - I was working a load-in with a guy who, I swear to god, looked and sounded exactly like Clinton R. Nixon. I kept on wanting to ask him how the Mouse Guard game was going, but I couldn't, and it was sad.
I had a similar experience today - I was working a load-in with a guy who, I swear to god, looked and sounded exactly like Clinton R. Nixon. I kept on wanting to ask him how the Mouse Guard game was going, but I couldn't, and it was sad.
Wanna buy a game? 