On a lighter note (and we could probably use one) today's Penny Arcade discusses the Firefly MMORPG. [link]

The picture of Mal giving the stink-eye to a troll cracks me up. But alas, I don't know what "roll shaman" means. Kalshane? Someone? Explain to the RPG-impaired?

It's a reference to World of Warcraft. Shaman is one of the character types in that game, and it's referring to the tendency among online RPG players to latch onto the most-powerful character-type instead of making cool and interesting characters.

Basically, they're saying even though playing a WoW-style Shaman in the Firefly-verse would make absolutely no sense, the vast majority of MMORPG players would play one anyway if they could, just because it's stronger than the other options.

hee. Thanks, Kalshane. I love PA, even though I hardly ever understand it.

Yeah. The Multiverse thing is going to be character driven (rather than spaceships, I think). Therefore, there's a real thing with everybody wanting to be Browncoats (rather than Alliance), and then everybody wanting to be females with River's powers.

From a game design point of view there's a nightmare here - you want something that could feel authentic to the Firefly universe, but at the same time you also want something to be actually enjoyable as a game.

My personal opinion, right now, is it should be kept simple: start the game. Choose a man, or a woman. Make the character develop depending on the way the player chooses to play the game. For example: make it an easier, but more limited path, to be based on Alliance worlds. Make being an outsider tougher.

Yep, we play the fleshy RPG. Have had a great time with it until last month when our game master moved away. She ruuuuled. The new guy is sweet but, um, can I take my living room and go home now?

Never having played an rpg, I had not idea how good I had it.

tendency among online RPG players to latch onto the most-powerful character-type instead of making cool and interesting characters.

This apparently happens in the wetware version too. One player, who we ultimately invited to join another ship, insisted on writing herself as a psychic companion...pretty much capable of outdoing every other character in the room without even trying.

Instead, we ended up with a very cool group with fun foibles and limited skill sets. My favorite parts were when the GM would say, "Whoa. That was unexpected...um...go with that!" And the way we almost always thought our way out of fights. Very, very clever people.

This apparently happens in the wetware version too. One player, who we ultimately invited to join another ship, insisted on writing herself as a psychic companion...pretty much capable of outdoing every other character in the room without even trying.

Yeah, powergamers are everywhere. I've run into them in table top games, in MMOs, LARPs and even chatroom-based games (where it's particularly silly because there's no real dice rolls and everything depends on player consent). The PA-guys were just refering to the MMO-contingent.

Some folks just always want to "win" no matter what, or be the "main character" or whatever, or somehow think the kewlness of their character will impress people. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy hewing through orcs by the dozen or whatever from time to time too, but if that's all there is it gets old really quick and it's been over a decade since numbers on a character sheet (or a list of special abilities) actually impressed me.

Some folks just always want to "win" no matter what, or be the "main character" or whatever, or somehow think the kewlness of their character will impress people.

So much this. Now, there ARE some really interesting characters in this group, but none so far have been cut throat. In fact, the 'other' ship loosely associated with us has moles, killers and the GM routinely knocks characters off for effect. Sooo not my game.

Some news was posted in the Minearverse that might be of some small interest to Firefly fans: Kristen "The Minearverse 5: Closer to the Earth, Further from the Ax" Dec 15, 2006 12:41:04 am PST

So much this. Now, there ARE some really interesting characters in this group, but none so far have been cut throat. In fact, the 'other' ship loosely associated with us has moles, killers and the GM routinely knocks characters off for effect. Sooo not my game.

I'm not even necessarily talking about cut-throat characters, though those are a problem too, but more of people who want their character to be the RPG-equivalent of a Mary Sue. They can never fail, they're always right, their character is the unique and powerful protagonist and everyone else is merely playing their side-kicks. If the campaign were a novel, the story would be about them. Those are the sort of players I'm talking about, though cut-throaters are an extension of that, in a way, as their fun involves screwing over the other players.

This comment at the Booster Forums, made by an AdmiralJedi, wins [link]

This just in. Steps on how to receive your refund:

1) Send E-mail to Denise at orbistra@yahoo.com with your:
- name
- forum handle
- ticket type
- date of birth
- astrological sign
- favorite color
- favorite BDH
- favorite BDH's favorite color
- the meal you ordered
- your badge number
- the meals ordered by people represented by badges within a +/- 5 badge range of yours (please see the seating chart for guidance (please use a magnifying glass for guidance with the seating chart) )
- a haiku picturing the woe that was caused to you by the last minute cancellation of Flan [remember to use nature-oriented imagery or it's not a true haiku]

2) Denise will then respond to you with a post office box that you must then send a S.A.S.E. (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) to containing a handwritten (and notarized) letter requesting your refund. Please include the following:
- photocopy of your driver's license
- photocopy of your birth certificate
- photocopy of your last 3 electric bills as proof of residency
- photocopy of your right hand (for fingerprinting purposes)

3) Your SASE will be returned to you with form: BE220768-c "Request For Return Of Funds Held For Sold-out Conference Which Was Then Cancelled [Despite Being Sold-out] Due To Lack of Funds"

Please fill out this form in triplicate, get it signed, notarized, signed by the notary, witnessed, notarized by the witnessed, signed by the witness, witness by the signee, notarized by the signee, and triplicated by the notary's signer.

4) Re-email Denise with all of the information in step #1 (please be accurate or it will slow down your refund) to request the Post Office box for mailing the BE220678-c to. A small convenience fee of $15 will be added for the handling of your refund request.

Your refund should be issed within 180 to 240 days of receiving the form. Thank you very much, and please see the online store for Booster Bash II tickets!

[this has been a highly sarcastic post and in no way represents the opinions or statements of BE]