Pantsless Gamers

[Adonis Rai'Lok]

I would like to know who on this forum is a memeber of Pantsless Gamers, I am new to PnP RPG's and i have been listening to your podcasts to get some ideas, and I have to say even if I wasnt into RPG's just listenening to your group is awsome. Danny F'ing cracks me up too. and you all have helped me incredibly in my own game, now if only I had some players. (3 of 6 of my players quit)

Also, it sounds like you all are using a map system , and a dice program, is that so? If so do you save your maps, and if you do, would you upload them so that I can use them for my game???

Sorry for all the questions and what not, I just get excited about DARPG and learning new tricks.

Ok thanks

[Illiani]

Hi there Adonis, currently only myself (Danny) and Balgin haunt this particular dungeon. Although we're all happy that you are enjoying our show.

Now before I go into the shite we use I just want to comment that having just 3 players is not a problem. In fact when the Pantsless Gamers first formed there was myself, Ruben (Sir Not Appearing In This Podcast) and Alex (Blaen). So don't lose heart, the 'typical' party is just 4 players strong, chuck in an NPC and wayhay, you're fixed.

Back in the day, before the Pantsless Gamers, my parties always used to have an NPC follower: as long as said NPC doesn't steal the thunder from the players he'll be fine. I also recommend letting one of the players control the NPC in combat as it speeds things up a lot.

Moving on, you would be 100% correct that we are using a Map System (although not as of episode 4). In our other campaign, The World of Tropis (available at rpgmp3.com), I put a lot of work into the maps and stuff. Dalish Curse is meant to allow me to relax a little, so the maps are pretty much either yanked from the handbook, or crude-scrawls.

As I mentioned above, we're not using the Map System any more as it really isn't needed (and isn't suited) to DA. Unlike, say, D&D where miniatures are essential, DA is much more old school (which makes old farts like me feel young) so the use of miniatures is actually hindering--or at least that's what we've found.

My recommendation is to just photocopy some of the maps found within the manual, cut away the DM's material and show them it whenever needed. That way they can still get an idea what everything looks like.

The Map program we use is MapTools which I highly recommend--although it can get some getting used to.

Illiani the Grumpy Dragon.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Hello there Adonis. As far as I'm aware, none of the other players have accounts here on the Green Ronin forums. I've been lurking since they lost the WFRP contract myself.

In my experience the typical group size is three players and a GM. Now it often ranges up to six or seven players (And a GM) but generaly some folk can't make a session or, for whatever reason, you're running a smaller group (like people have holidays, exams etc).

For teenagers you can expect an average group size of 4-7 (or even but with only 4 or 5 turning up at a time, and generaly that won't always be the same few but there'll be a good 2 or 3 core members who always turn up (1 or 2 of whom will GM).

The tabletop group I've been playing with these last 18 years currently stands at seven regular members and two or three irregular ones. Of those seven one or two can't make it regularly so we're usualy playing with 6 or 7 of us (and 2 or three of us take it in turns to GM depending on which system we're playing, or swapping gm's for adventures). It also helps to keep things fresh.

I had not played with the Pantsless gamers prior to these recordings but had listened to other recordings of them playing.

Balgin
the Dwarf.

[Saisei]

Completely off topic but I don't know if you've played DA Awakenings Illiani but the mage Anders sounds bizarrely like you.

Anything you want to tell us?

[Illiani]

Completely off topic but I don't know if you've played DA Awakenings Illiani but the mage Anders sounds bizarrely like you.

Anything you want to tell us?

Anders Voice: It wasn't me.

Naw, wasn't me although such makes a change from people saying I sound like Alistair.

[Adonis Rai'Lok]

Well I'm glad to hear that I dont need a group of 6 people to have a good session.

I also have maptools which I have been messing with, but I too felt like just a drawing or dry erase board would work. Since it does take a while to make the maps with that program. It just sounded like you had the program down so well everyone knew where everyone was in relation to each other. saves on a lot of explaining, (ok now you are 4 yards away from so and so, and 12 yards away from blight wolf 1 , and 7 yards away from blight wolf 2) know what i'm saying.

so yeah, i'm glad to put some forum names with the voices. You all keep doing what you are doing, and I will keep listening, btw is episode 4 up already?

[Illiani]

It just sounded like you had the program down so well everyone knew where everyone was in relation to each other.

I've been using MapTools for more than a year now, so it just comes with experience. Once episode 4 is released you'll see that actually it works much better just describing where everybody is.

btw is episode 4 up already?

Its' due for release next week.

[Boze]

As I mentioned above, we're not using the Map System any more as it really isn't needed (and isn't suited) to DA. Unlike, say, D&D where miniatures are essential, DA is much more old school (which makes old farts like me feel young) so the use of miniatures is actually hindering--or at least that's what we've found.

Hey there! Just wanted to say I'm also a big fan of the pod cast! Gets me through the work day and can't wait for ep 4!

Regarding maptool, I was about to be starting my own DA campaign using it, did you happen to use the Dragon Age Framework available through the forums? I find it is absolutely fantastic and helps a lot with tracking at least!

[Illiani]

Regarding maptool, I was about to be starting my own DA campaign using it, did you happen to use the Dragon Age Framework available through the forums? I find it is absolutely fantastic and helps a lot with tracking at least!

I didn't actually. I figured with a generally rules light system like this I'd only really need a couple of macros.

Additionally, the more automation we had, the less calculations we would have to make (our other campaign is fully automated) which would mean the less knowledge of the mechanics we'd all get: something which is really counter-intuitive when running a review game.

Furthermore, I'm a lazy bastard and learning somebody else's junk is far too much work for a game where I've never once fully read the rulebook. I've included the macros we use below.

Illiani the Grumpy Dragon

Code: Select all

<!-- Damage = positive number to harm self, negative number to heal.  -->

[h: CH=CH-Damage] I Damage/Heal myself

Code: Select all

<!-- Rolls all dice and highlights Dragon Die -->

<b>D6:</b> <span style='color:red'>[a=d6]</span>
<b>D6:</b> <span style='color:red'>[b=d6]</span>
<hr>
<b>Dragon:</b> <span style='color:red'>[c=d6]</span>
<hr>
<b>Modifier:</b> <span style='color:red'>[mod=Modifier]</span><br>
<b>Total:</b> <span style='color:red'>[a+b+c+mod]</span>

Player Properties.

Code: Select all

*Speed
*Health:{CH}/{MH}
CH:0
MH:0
*Def
*AR
*@Penalty
*Mana
*Com
*Con
*Cun
*Dex
*Mag
*Per
*Str
*Will
*@Attack 1
*@Attack 2
*@Attack 3
*@Attack 4
*@Attack 5
*@Power 1
*@Power 2
*@Power 3
*@Power 4
*@Power 5

NPC Properties

Code: Select all

*Speed
*Health:{CH}/{MH}
CH:0
MH:0
*Def
*AR
*Penalty
*Mana
*#Com
*#Con
*#Cun
*#Dex
*#Mag
*#Per
*#Str
*#Will
*#Attack 1
*#Attack 2
*#Attack 3
*#Attack 4
*#Attack 5
*#Fav Stunts
*#Power 1
*#Power 2
*#Power 3
*#Power 4
*#Power 5
*#Page

[Boze]

Regarding maptool, I was about to be starting my own DA campaign using it, did you happen to use the Dragon Age Framework available through the forums? I find it is absolutely fantastic and helps a lot with tracking at least!

I didn't actually. I figured with a generally rules light system like this I'd only really need a couple of macros.

Also Boze, you are a very handsome man

Well thank you Illiani for the compliment. I am both flattered and uplifted.

Nice code, I am just getting my feet wet with MapTool.

Though, I do have to admit, Daelkyrs (spelling) Dragon Age Version 1.1 framework on the maptool forum are very good. Stable, simple and not overly automated at all. Nice dice roll buttons and even dragon dice implemented into maptool.

Don't just take my word for it!

http://forums.rptools.net/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12651&hilit=dragon+age

[Balgin Stondraeg]

Completely off topic but I don't know if you've played DA Awakenings Illiani but the mage Anders sounds bizarrely like you.

Anything you want to tell us?

Anders Voice: It wasn't me.

Naw, wasn't me although such makes a change from people saying I sound like Alistair.

Especialy since you sound nothing like Alistair but with Anders there actualy is a noticable similarity .

[Saisei]

It freaked me right the hell out. Especially since you had said there was some big secret (Which turned out to be the Pramas interview) and it says on the profile on Grey Wardens that you're a voice actor.

[rschweik]

FileCabinet!!
Shut up, Danny.

Awesome-o.


Question: It is understood your group (panty-less) uses maptools. And you guys/gals use Skype for real-time?

Ever deal with OpenRPG?

[Illiani]

Ever deal with OpenRPG?

Yeah I tried it out, but prefer MapTools.

[The Glen]

I've listened to you guys over at RPGMP3. Waiting for Hal to start up another game, though I don't think they have any room for me anymore. Pity, Rjagnjar was one of my favorite characters and that party had chemistry.

[Illiani]

Waiting for Hal to start up another game, though I don't think they have any room for me anymore.

Ask him, the worst he'll say is no.

[The Glen]

He's on hiatus. Rjagnjar was grotesquely over the top, Charles Dubunya was pretty tame for his campaign.

[jdthur]

Just listening to Episode 0 ....

great stuff guys .... sounds like a great group to be a part of.

Speaking of soundalikes .... theres someone that sounds like Hugh Dennis too (not the GM)

[jdthur]

I think the Hugh Dennis soundalike may be FileCabinet ....

Being a big fan of of Mr Dennis makes the whole thing even funnier .... picturing him doing RP is great.

[Balgin Stondraeg]

I think the Hugh Dennis soundalike may be FileCabinet ....

Being a big fan of of Mr Dennis makes the whole thing even funnier .... picturing him doing RP is great.

In all honesty I must admit that I am not Hugh Dennis. I'm somewhat younger than him too. I take it you're referring to me or Alex (who plays Blaen).

[Illiani]

Just finished recording the first episode of 'A Bann Too Many'. Went really well, should be out in a few weeks.

[jdthur]

I think the Hugh Dennis soundalike may be FileCabinet ....

Being a big fan of of Mr Dennis makes the whole thing even funnier .... picturing him doing RP is great.

In all honesty I must admit that I am not Hugh Dennis. I'm somewhat younger than him too. I take it you're referring to me or Alex (who plays Blaen).

Yup ... thats the one .... you sound like your all having a good laugh, hope I get to try out beings a player at some point as well as running my own game.

[Illiani]

hope I get to try out beings a player at some point as well as running my own game.

Boo! Hiss! Don't do it, Luke, turn away from the Dark Side!

[jdthur]

Heh ... well I've only got the one gaming group ... so I doubt it'll happen anyway ... I'll live vicariously through your exploits.

[rschweik]

hey balgon,

Ask Jess? if, since she lives in Japan, she chose the nickname "Kiki" for her character b/c it is close to the Japanese word (slang) "chichi" , especially since her character likes to fold her arms a lot.