Farcast "review"
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Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
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Phlebotinum : fleh-bot-ih-nuhm • A glossary of RPG/Dennizen terminology • Favorite replies: [1]
nockermensch wrote:Advantage will lead to dicepools in D&D. Remember, you read this here first!
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I am rearmed with one of my personal favorite cocktails: scotch.
There's not much of it, so we'll see how long this set lasts.
55: Call Me Ishmael! (or some other, lesser title involving the name ishmael)
Baiting the character sketch hook.
Biggest gripe is this throwaway: "In the anarchist habitat of Chat Noir, on the threshold of the Fissure Gate, there is a very special game. Losers submit a fork of themselves, pruned for obedience, for a period of indentured service." Okay, but the game is completely ignored from then on.
Neat that he has a Jewish name construction.
Apparently he doesn't talk about himself though, and there's little info otherwise available. Rich inner life is great and all, but it doesn't work well in Ar Pee Geeees.
Hook is uninspiring. Overall: C. Could be a good short story though.
There's not much of it, so we'll see how long this set lasts.
55: Call Me Ishmael! (or some other, lesser title involving the name ishmael)
Baiting the character sketch hook.
Biggest gripe is this throwaway: "In the anarchist habitat of Chat Noir, on the threshold of the Fissure Gate, there is a very special game. Losers submit a fork of themselves, pruned for obedience, for a period of indentured service." Okay, but the game is completely ignored from then on.
Neat that he has a Jewish name construction.
Apparently he doesn't talk about himself though, and there's little info otherwise available. Rich inner life is great and all, but it doesn't work well in Ar Pee Geeees.
Hook is uninspiring. Overall: C. Could be a good short story though.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
056 Seedless
It's neat bodyhorror-esque giant singing cabbages. Needs more pulp though (Fleshplants in the Canyons of Mars! I Was a Teenage Cabbage-Beast! The Sirens of Mars! Etc!)
First hook is okay; second is good.
Overall, A-. These are startlingly evocative, and sketched out well enough to be easy to use. They wont drive a game alone, but I could very easily see using them.
It's neat bodyhorror-esque giant singing cabbages. Needs more pulp though (Fleshplants in the Canyons of Mars! I Was a Teenage Cabbage-Beast! The Sirens of Mars! Etc!)
First hook is okay; second is good.
Overall, A-. These are startlingly evocative, and sketched out well enough to be easy to use. They wont drive a game alone, but I could very easily see using them.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
057 After Eden
I really like the tagline: "Transhumanity learns from its mistakes. It helps that so many of them are in the same place."
...Okay, wow: it's a sex zoo for genetic defects. Think Tuskegee Syphilis, writ large, as a TransMet-style reservation. Bobby glosses over it, but this is pretty dark.
The "using" section is fairly explicit about the morality though (researchers = evil), so it's not accidental.
Overall: A-. Would be higher, but it's really hard to imagine playing with this setting being fun instead of just depressing.
I really like the tagline: "Transhumanity learns from its mistakes. It helps that so many of them are in the same place."
...Okay, wow: it's a sex zoo for genetic defects. Think Tuskegee Syphilis, writ large, as a TransMet-style reservation. Bobby glosses over it, but this is pretty dark.
The "using" section is fairly explicit about the morality though (researchers = evil), so it's not accidental.
Overall: A-. Would be higher, but it's really hard to imagine playing with this setting being fun instead of just depressing.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
058 Eingerost
It's V (of "for Vendetta" fame), presented a philosophy/group. These would make fantastic villains: they have a sufficiently-coherent worldview, and they might do anything. Seriously, they might blow stuff right up, or they might kidnap someone, or they might do some crazy public performance art.
Overall A+
It's V (of "for Vendetta" fame), presented a philosophy/group. These would make fantastic villains: they have a sufficiently-coherent worldview, and they might do anything. Seriously, they might blow stuff right up, or they might kidnap someone, or they might do some crazy public performance art.
Overall A+
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
059 Donathan
Generic character, with generically tragic backstory. Has heroin tits.
Overall: B, with a bonus for heroin tits.
Generic character, with generically tragic backstory. Has heroin tits.
Overall: B, with a bonus for heroin tits.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
060 Death-of-Self
Decent in-game justification for reworking a character.
overall: B+.
Decent in-game justification for reworking a character.
overall: B+.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
061 Wormfeed
Toxoplasmosis (sp?), if it incubated in nanofabs instead of cats. And then ate your body to make worms.
Overall, B-. I am probably undervaluing this one due to lack of familiarity with other exsurgent virii.
Toxoplasmosis (sp?), if it incubated in nanofabs instead of cats. And then ate your body to make worms.
Overall, B-. I am probably undervaluing this one due to lack of familiarity with other exsurgent virii.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
062 Gailteach
Character with exotic brain damage that show up like senility. Great for stories; not great for games. Sounds like a Babel-17 expy.
Overall C (because bad for games).
Character with exotic brain damage that show up like senility. Great for stories; not great for games. Sounds like a Babel-17 expy.
Overall C (because bad for games).
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
063 Transbovine
It's cow chimerae! In the genetic sense, apparently? (Does not mean what FMA would have you believe.) Hmm, apparently these only have " 25% to 50% of classical bovine genetic material". That's pretty shady.
Hooks: A very nicely set up Macguffin fetching (Durrell, anyone?); a transport one without a clear hook; and a Kobe beef bank job.
Overall: B+, because I finished my scotch to completely ignore the genetics bits.
It's cow chimerae! In the genetic sense, apparently? (Does not mean what FMA would have you believe.) Hmm, apparently these only have " 25% to 50% of classical bovine genetic material". That's pretty shady.
Hooks: A very nicely set up Macguffin fetching (Durrell, anyone?); a transport one without a clear hook; and a Kobe beef bank job.
Overall: B+, because I finished my scotch to completely ignore the genetics bits.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
Should I try to decipher whether a design change will cause hideously expensive things to run into other, even more expensive things, or drink a martini and pretend to pass judgement on more of Ancient's brain-babies?
Pfft. As though that's even a question. Tonight is Bluecoat+Dolin, garnished with olives re-stuffed with Roaring Forties.
Pfft. As though that's even a question. Tonight is Bluecoat+Dolin, garnished with olives re-stuffed with Roaring Forties.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
064: 60% Plumbing
This is a description of a specific habitat's plumbing (which apparently comprises 60% of the mass of that habitat). As a Habitat description, it's fairly uninspiring.
However, as a general description of habitats in general, it's fantastic.
Overall: A. Would have been an A+ with a slightly more generalized focus.
This is a description of a specific habitat's plumbing (which apparently comprises 60% of the mass of that habitat). As a Habitat description, it's fairly uninspiring.
However, as a general description of habitats in general, it's fantastic.
Overall: A. Would have been an A+ with a slightly more generalized focus.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
065: Mme. Bleu
Madame Bleu is a series of identical, rent-able puppets for anonymous communications. Apparently they're discrete and uncommon enough for that not to be general knowledge. No hooks, which seems more like a missed opportunity than usual. Using section is good.
This badly needs some description of these generically identical women. Since their physical appearance is their major common trait, that really ought to be described. (or maybe it is - she's described as the "pod version of a sylph", plus a page cite which I will not be following).
Overall, B- . Not really confident of this grade though, as it blends great potential and atmosphere with making the MC do all the legwork.
Madame Bleu is a series of identical, rent-able puppets for anonymous communications. Apparently they're discrete and uncommon enough for that not to be general knowledge. No hooks, which seems more like a missed opportunity than usual. Using section is good.
This badly needs some description of these generically identical women. Since their physical appearance is their major common trait, that really ought to be described. (or maybe it is - she's described as the "pod version of a sylph", plus a page cite which I will not be following).
Overall, B- . Not really confident of this grade though, as it blends great potential and atmosphere with making the MC do all the legwork.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
066: Dewitt Y.
A self-taught spy. Not to deep, but an easy drop-in.
Presented as optionally comic relief, a victim, or a competent hireling. I would actually rather see those roles broken out into separate posts, because while they're each potentially good, I'd rather see a well-defined character who doesn't need additional work.
Overall: B. Selecting any one of the suggested options would have been B+.
A self-taught spy. Not to deep, but an easy drop-in.
Presented as optionally comic relief, a victim, or a competent hireling. I would actually rather see those roles broken out into separate posts, because while they're each potentially good, I'd rather see a well-defined character who doesn't need additional work.
Overall: B. Selecting any one of the suggested options would have been B+.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
067: K-FLASK
It's a canteen that turns water+stuff into crazy mongol milkshakes. Neat ambiance. The hooks are generic, but good.
Overall A-. Nothing fancy, but absolutely rock-solid.
It's a canteen that turns water+stuff into crazy mongol milkshakes. Neat ambiance. The hooks are generic, but good.
Overall A-. Nothing fancy, but absolutely rock-solid.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
068: Spetälsksbok Oh No! Obama stole all of Bobby's vowels! It's okay, I'll just call this thing Steve.
Crazy alien artifact is a skin-eating book! Steve was apparently discovered somewhere-or-other, then ate the skin off the crew bringing him back. He's now a two-foot-tall spiderweb pinecone, with fractal fingernails sticking out (BECAUSE BOBBY SAID SO, THAT'S WHY). Except, Steve is also badly damaged and missing a quarter of his cone and fingernails, so he needs to eat skin, fingernails and other keratin sources to regenerate. Which he does.
Now, if you were sane, you might wonder why this is any kind of issue: just dump a big ol' pile of fish scales in the same room, come back in a week, and see what crazy aliens thought was worth writing about. My eyes were busy rolling at this too, but there's an answer right in the first hook: someone tried that, and Steve got Akira-style turbocancer. Long story short, now someone else (you) needs to go cut some scientists free of the keratin fingernail turbo-tumors, without actually doing any destructive cutting. Good luck!
After that, someone read a little of the crazy book - it says there are more crazy alien settlements on somewhere-or-other that previously advertised! Who's up for a tomb robbing?
Overall: Fan-fucking-tastic. A+. Brilliant bit of atmosphere, brilliant excuse to intro any setting elements you want, extremely clean handoff to later adventures.
Crazy alien artifact is a skin-eating book! Steve was apparently discovered somewhere-or-other, then ate the skin off the crew bringing him back. He's now a two-foot-tall spiderweb pinecone, with fractal fingernails sticking out (BECAUSE BOBBY SAID SO, THAT'S WHY). Except, Steve is also badly damaged and missing a quarter of his cone and fingernails, so he needs to eat skin, fingernails and other keratin sources to regenerate. Which he does.
Now, if you were sane, you might wonder why this is any kind of issue: just dump a big ol' pile of fish scales in the same room, come back in a week, and see what crazy aliens thought was worth writing about. My eyes were busy rolling at this too, but there's an answer right in the first hook: someone tried that, and Steve got Akira-style turbocancer. Long story short, now someone else (you) needs to go cut some scientists free of the keratin fingernail turbo-tumors, without actually doing any destructive cutting. Good luck!
After that, someone read a little of the crazy book - it says there are more crazy alien settlements on somewhere-or-other that previously advertised! Who's up for a tomb robbing?
Overall: Fan-fucking-tastic. A+. Brilliant bit of atmosphere, brilliant excuse to intro any setting elements you want, extremely clean handoff to later adventures.
069: Elder Argentgrodd
Giant silverback gorilla (think about it).
This guy is apparently in all the media, all the time. Sounds like the Howard Stern of gorillas. Nice ambiance AND nice drop in.
Overall: B+
Giant silverback gorilla (think about it).
This guy is apparently in all the media, all the time. Sounds like the Howard Stern of gorillas. Nice ambiance AND nice drop in.
Overall: B+
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
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Ancient History
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- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:57 pm
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Ancient History
- Serious Badass
- Posts: 12708
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:57 pm
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Ancient History
- Serious Badass
- Posts: 12708
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:57 pm
Yeah, pretty much. Recently, I've been taking work home, which makes it hard to justify spending a lot of time on TGD. That will ends soon though, and after that, this.
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.
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Ancient History
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070: Kidmoths.
Moths that sing, at a pitch only children can hear. Great hooks, but somewhat uninspiring subject
Moths that sing, at a pitch only children can hear. Great hooks, but somewhat uninspiring subject
Vebyast wrote:Here's a fun target for Major Creation: hydrazine. One casting every six seconds at CL9 gives you a bit more than 40 liters per second, which is comparable to the flow rates of some small, but serious, rocket engines. Six items running at full blast through a well-engineered engine will put you, and something like 50 tons of cargo, into space. Alternatively, if you thrust sideways, you will briefly be a fireball screaming across the sky at mach 14 before you melt from atmospheric friction.