Nostalgia isn't what it used to be
Nov. 2nd, 2006 11:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kingandyHurm. Skimming the ALL NEW ALL DIFFERENT SoS rules, because I'm thinking about going this month, and I've already spotted stuff I'm wary of in just the basics section. Being a LARPer, I shall bitch about this in my personal journal rather than mentioning it to the relevant people.
The One Second Rule: Doesn't that make the Off Hand Use skills next to pointless? It's a great idea in Maelstrom, where skills are few and combat is greatly streamlined, but there you don't pay for basic use and all the modifier skills apply to all your hands. You can be holding as many weapons as you like and still only attack once a second, so making people pay to be able to hold extra weapons seems obtuse. Since the main point of the changes was to reduce the number of skills, it would seem to me that dropping the Off Hand Use skills would be a logical companion to the One Second Rule.
Spell Vocals are now apparently four lines no matter what level of spell you're casting ("Normal casting is where the character recites the appropriate vocals for the spell (typically about 4 lines, each line containing 4/5 Syllables)"), where before it varied with level of spell. I'm not sure if this is an accidental omission or intentional, or even if people will remember (LRPers being notorious for playing the rules as they remember them rather than as they actually are or have ever been). If it's a keeper, I'll miss rattling off those long vocals for the high level spells.
I'm not initially impressed with the layout of the rules themselves, as that "basics" page is overly long and imposing and the skill costs really should be displayed next to the names (having to click into each one to check costs is aggravating), and the tone varies between overly technical and overly simplistic. Also the lack of text style and/or formatting is slightly off-putting, but that could just be my web design sensibilities.
Other gripes:
So, slightly apprehensive, but I'll probably give it a go, sure why not.
The One Second Rule: Doesn't that make the Off Hand Use skills next to pointless? It's a great idea in Maelstrom, where skills are few and combat is greatly streamlined, but there you don't pay for basic use and all the modifier skills apply to all your hands. You can be holding as many weapons as you like and still only attack once a second, so making people pay to be able to hold extra weapons seems obtuse. Since the main point of the changes was to reduce the number of skills, it would seem to me that dropping the Off Hand Use skills would be a logical companion to the One Second Rule.
Spell Vocals are now apparently four lines no matter what level of spell you're casting ("Normal casting is where the character recites the appropriate vocals for the spell (typically about 4 lines, each line containing 4/5 Syllables)"), where before it varied with level of spell. I'm not sure if this is an accidental omission or intentional, or even if people will remember (LRPers being notorious for playing the rules as they remember them rather than as they actually are or have ever been). If it's a keeper, I'll miss rattling off those long vocals for the high level spells.
I'm not initially impressed with the layout of the rules themselves, as that "basics" page is overly long and imposing and the skill costs really should be displayed next to the names (having to click into each one to check costs is aggravating), and the tone varies between overly technical and overly simplistic. Also the lack of text style and/or formatting is slightly off-putting, but that could just be my web design sensibilities.
Other gripes:
- There's far too much detail on the reproductive cycle of the new cow people, especially as compared to the other races, which mention it not at all.
- Spell descriptions still contain reference to spells that no longer exist.
- There don't appear to be appreciably fewer spell tables, and WTF, Elemental Summoning, no.
- Things aren't as good as they were in my day
- "Glossary is confusing and incomplete
- These kids today, with their "For Shizzle McFizzley Ding Dong Dizzle" Snoopy Dog language and their general disrespect towards their elders
So, slightly apprehensive, but I'll probably give it a go, sure why not.
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-02 12:17 pm (UTC)Looks like the main aim of resetting the system was to remove the humungous gap between high and low level characters. Since that was happening anyway, there was an opportunity to sort out some of the more contradictory and just plain stupid bits of the rules (like getting rid of angelic curing from magic), and to sweep the massive pile of unresolved old plot threads under the carpet.
The main big change I can see is the no skill: no effect thing. You can't just buy a big wodge of healing potions and magic items any more.
I haven't even read the cow people background, coz they sounded daft. Now I might have to, just to see. I blame you.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-02 12:27 pm (UTC)Reducing the high/low gap was usually the last reason mentioned, if at all ... though, now I think about it, "getting rid of all those snacky items" often came up.
Interesting point about magic items. I guess that's because potions now only last 5 minutes and there's no permanence spell ... Scrolls and 3-hour enchantments are still a danger, but much less open to abuse via huge bags of cash ;)