Sunday, February 21, 2016

[Castle Falkenstein] Like Clockwork

In this, our inaugural Story, the Dramatic Characters first meet in the coffee houses of Vienna, attend a Grand Ball, and ponder the nature of Love and Free Will.



Featuring:

Des
Jen
Renae
Jade

10 comments:

  1. I have to say that your delivery schedule is perfect. Nothing saves a Monday like some fresh new Esoteric Order. Was having a post exam headache (back to college, municipal law course) and nothing was helping. Laid on the couch with a new episode on and was chuckling at your exploits in no time. Fell asleep about an hour in and woke up fresh. Now just chilling and finishing the episode. I may need to restart the Pendragon campaign so I can have your soothing voices in my ears every day for the next few weeks.

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    1. Good luck with that law course! Glad we can help out in our own vicarious way...

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-qJFnTkKF0

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  2. You've got the Pendragon crossover thing sort of going on here, but listening to this, I realize that what I really want is a crossover between this and the Ryuutama game. They just seem like they would fit together.

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    1. Yeah, the Pendragon crossover isn't really meant to be any great feature of the game. Just a sort of funny realization that the two settings exist in basically the same continuity.

      I'd have to ask Schimpff about how Ryuutama could fit in--I know nothing about that game's implied or explicit setting. Falkenstein definitely seems to share a similar sort of energy though, doesn't it?

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    2. I just about punched the air when Jen said "I'm playing Wulfram!"

      my favorite character from GPC

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  3. I think I agree with Des that the card method, though interesting, seems a little weird because since it takes the random card draw out of the equation you can be left knowing you can't do anything to a situation until you find a way to reframe what you're trying to do into a card/suit you do have. I think sometimes it's good that players can't interfere in scenes all the time (Damn it people I'm trying to monologue here!) but I can understand their frustration.

    On the other hand this is the best RPG that has caused the GM to look up the rules for emergent sentience over the course of a game I've ever heard.

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    1. I wasn't too happy with the system either, to be honest. It's an alternate, streamlined variation from the Comme Il Faut supplement. I might go back to the original rules for future sessions. The problem there is that they're much more beholden to crunchier system mechanics, which sounds a sour note with the looser, more narrative feel the game's trying to evoke. Falkenstein is very much a transitional, "proto-indie" game, so it's not totally there in terms of mechanical coherence and innovation.

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    2. Edit: "I wasn't too happy with the system either..." as it played at the table.

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    3. lets say you had all four twos. In theory, you couldn't do anything at all in any moderately dangerous/skillful situation.

      That said, I do like the dueling. I think that can be its own game altogether.

      I also don't get why physique and athletics are two separate skills. You can be strong but not a lifter or runner? Thats kinda weird.

      Also, Jen should've put 'great' for her wealth skill, being a dragon and all ;)

      Lastly, you described the cape and black hat, and the way he led off the lady, and I thought. "OMG, the villian is a mesmerist! That's PERFECT for this time frame." It wasn't quite the case, but I suggest you consider a good manipulative mesmerist for a future villain

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    4. That's my theory as well. It seems like a partial success should be matching/beating value or matching suit, whereas a full success is matching value and suit. That or your rank in a skill means you can draw that number of cards when you face a challenge, and also if you want use a card from your hand instead (and add the one you just drew to your hand).

      Most systems separate physique and athletics explaining it as the difference between a weight lifter and a sprinter, which I honestly have no trouble with. You get to fight the monster or run. Not both.

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