From: Trajan@frontiernet.net Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:37 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Character quirks At 01:20 PM 8/18/99 +0200, Sonja wrote: >The Blue Planet "background" does not really define >anything at all. Hey there gang... I have to humbly disagree with Sonja here. Not because the core rules is 3/4 "stuff" vs. rules, but rather it allows the characters or (more likely) the GM the freedom to provide the characters the neccessary background info. I believe that is one of the hidden strengths of Blue Planet. The game designers have put so much effort into the history and detail of a totally new world, yet there is so much creative room left for the GM to exploit. As I mentioned earlier the characters have a chance to create any backgound details relevant to their character. At the same time though, forcing a background on the characters may (or may not) be restrictive. To roleplay a fictional character in a fictional setting is like acting in a way - and the actors must deal with what is given to them. Creativity from the players POV would be like improve - and the GM is the ultimate improvisationalist/actor. I did like Jens Alm ideas too! JIM *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: Sonja Pieper [unnh@rz.uni-karlsruhe.de] Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 6:20 AM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: Re: [BLUE PLANET] - Character quirks, not about game-balance, promise :) [long] Jens Alm wrote: > > Hi list! > > I've been a bit gruffly lately, releasing all my frustration over the > character creation system without commenting on it's good parts. Because > there are good parts. I like the origin-background-profession write-up, > especially the professions are well written (although, ahem, not balanced > :)). Having said that, I'll try to be a bit more productive than I use to. I found this list of quirks very interesting and it brought me to realize what I am missing with Blue Planet: As GM I "storytell" Vampire: The Masquerade a lot and it has something called "Backgrounds" which define how much money the character has, how many friends, contacts, influence, if he is famous etc. I think there is nothing comparable in Blue Planet? The Blue Planet "background" does not really define anything at all. I realize that BP is meant for mature roleplayers but I would really appreciate a kind of system for those "things" has anyone ever done something like that for BP? Sonja -- Sonja Pieper, Tel.: 9664910, http://www.uni-karlsruhe.de/~unnh/ "a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose she is my rose" (Getrude Stein) *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message. From: mcraig@talk21.com Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 1999 5:30 PM To: blue_planet@lists.imagiconline.com Subject: [BLUE PLANET] - In Defense of Native Sell-outs Freedom of choice ofr Sell-outs! Well, the characters in my current campaign are as follows: Marco Limbert (opportunist, newcomer, smartarse) Billy Black (eco-terrorist, newcomer-lunar) Alfred Harper (sell-out, native, young and keen) Kapalis (warden, native, stern and sensible) Out of the four characters, the sell-out is the one with the strongest character. In creation, we used the sell-out template to represent the fact that Harper was shanghaied at a young age by the NIS and forced to work as a labourer. He escaped a couple of years ago and has since become a campaigner for native rights. While his skills are not great, he realises this and constantly strives to become better. The group is currently in Westcape and through good roleplaying and judicious use of CHIPS, the sell-out has become a rounded character, both in terms of skills and as a person. In reference to the ideas that have gone before about character background, i ask my players to fill in a sheet with the following questions on it, leaving it entirely up to them: CHARACTER REFERENCE SHEET ATTITUDE TOWARDS: THE GEO: NATIVES: NEWCOMERS: THE INCORPORATE STATES: POSEIDON: EARTH: MAIN LOYALTY TO?: RELIGION: POLITICS: 4 THINGS YOU LIKE: 4 THINGS YOU DISLIKE: I feel this gives a good outline (which can be expanded as the game progresses) of the characters background (which can explain many of the attitudes) and view of the world. Cheers Malcolm Craig *************************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com with the line 'unsubscribe blue_planet' as the body of the message.