I also use Fae/Faer alongside She/Her. Transfemme Genderfae and proud!
This really comes off as a knee-jerk reaction by RWS. I get they’ve been burned in the past by shit like Postal 3, and Postal is about all they have, but this should have been handled much better.
Delay things, verify there is no generative AI used, at worst replace assets that are deemed questionable.
Arr.
I just enjoy feeling like a pirate at any opportunity.
I have more heavily played with fellow theatre kids and LARPers, people who generally thrive when really getting into character.
To that end, I have a lot more experience with letting my players guide the plot through tools like “Yes, and?” and other improv work. I wouldn’t call it “balanced”, but it has taught me to more build a highly flexible skeleton for a story, with large gaps to allow for downtime or sudden diversions.
There is also the experience factor, though. When people better understand the game, and their DM/GM, some find that outlet, that flow of creativity, that allows for the more “extra” sides to come out.
To that point, I also heavily reward roleplay and creative problem-solving. I prefer to run Milestone levels over EXP gain, but being generous with things like gear, trinkets, Inspiration points, all can work as a carrot to help guide people to express and engage in that side more.
In the end, though, it comes down to your table. I have had players who cut their teeth on AD&D who wanted dungeon crawling grinders, newbies who have wanted to spend months in some little fishing village feeling immersed in the world, or people who just wanted to enjoy a nice, basic module for awhile.
Finding what works really takes engaging with your table, asking them what they’re looking for out of the game, and working with them to achieve that. Be encouraging, both in and out of game. If someone does want to go that extra mile, help them do so, and they’re more likely to continue with it. That goes for every facet of the game, every type of player.
On one hand, the inevitable urge to hit them with the 1d100 Psychic damage.
On the other hand, the respect and dedication to the craft that deserves a reward.
To balance it out, you make them keep the accent up. Let them go answer the door for the pizza delivery. Listen as they have to declare “This be fine booty, me crew eats well this night. No mutiny be had. Take your coin, kingsdog, and may the brine not take ye!”
Just give the man a budget and leave him be to create. He has his own cult at this point. Yes, it’s going to be weird, and full of pretty women, but that’s what Taro makes, and we’re here for it.
2 is okay, but nowhere near as good as the first. 3 is absolutely forgettable outside of “Neo Does A Superman” for his flight.
Animatrix, an animated anthology released between 1 and 2, holds up pretty well, in my opinion, but isn’t heavily connected to the main movies outside of one particular story. Kinda wish they went more down that route, it was neat seeing other stories in the universe outside of The Second Coming of Neo arc.
If only we had a Generic Universal RolePlaying System. You could even give it a clever name, like G.U.R.P.S.
“You also never asked why my arrows all have a Poison effect.”
“NEVER. MIND.”
This comes down to the niche they serve in the party.
To a Barbarian, another Barb is someone else beating things down. They can do their job more effectively together, and still have fun doing it.
To a Rogue, a second Rogue is just someone who’s going to steal all the good shit from the first, who stole all their good shit from the rest of the party while everyone else slept. If you had to dedicate a full night to just quietly stripping the armor off the Paladin, do you really want some prick who’s going to turn around to steal the armor you just rightfully stole‽
“You remind me of Buddy. He gets that same look in his eye, right when he finds the right spot to take a dump. You’re gonna go far, kid, we’re taking you to the park after this!”
Star Citizen is going to be the next game with a generational legacy.
After fans will their copies to their children, still waiting for the official release.
You can still catch people with the old “You didn’t find any traps”.
There’s a terrifying amount of people who don’t pay attention to the You part.
“No, on second thought, let’s not go to Mordor. It is a silly place.”
Isn’t that the one where Joey ends up sent into a kind of purgatory and chased by the manifestation of death?
That was probably originally Hell, wasn’t it? They loved sending people straight to Hell in that series. Yami has no chill. You jaywalked? Children’s card game, going to Hell.
“So, when did you first notice this feeling, this emptiness?”
“Well, I was on my first adventure, had the party all together. We’d been on the road for a year when it happened…”
“It?”
“Well, the Paladin and the Warlock were arguing again… I stepped away because I don’t like conflicts like that. The Cleric was standing up with the Paladin, the Rogue was getting ready to just slit all their throats, and then this… This voice from the sky said ‘Rocks fall, everyone arguing dies’. I was the only one left…”
“Ah, yes, well, the basic Adventurers Guild insurance package doesn’t cover Acts of the Elder God, Gee-Em. They get really angry when we try to fix things they did…”
Even in that case, they were quick to cut ties and not mention it to the public in the announcement, which doesn’t make them look any better.
I say this as a long time Postal fan girl, I can ever get a slight kick out of 3 as terrible as it is. Either way, RWS doesn’t look good right now. They were either aware of generative AI being used and refused to declare it, or they decided a bit of public backlash was worth tanking a studio over without verification.