What are y'all up to these days?

[Giganotosaurus]

I was once told that Danish sounds like someones speaking Norwegian with marbles in their mouth. Having watched the above video, I feel like this is the truth.

 

[3rik]

Sounds more like marbles in their throat to me.

 

[Brock Savage]

I was once told that Danish sounds like someones speaking Norwegian with marbles in their mouth.

A British guy in New York told me that learning Norwegian was like learning to whistle with a fish in your mouth.

 

[Séadna]

A British guy in New York told me that learning Norwegian was like learning to whistle with a fish in your mouth.

Of all languages with a significant number of speakers, Norwegian emerges as the simplest for English speakers in formal studies.

I read a little book two years ago called "The Secret of Nils" that's sort of a kids mystery that teaches you Norwegian. It was shocking to me how much I learned in such little time compared to other languages.

 

[Baulderstone]

A British guy in New York told me that learning Norwegian was like learning to whistle with a fish in your mouth.

Someone once told me that Swedish is similar to Danish, but you sing everything.

 

[Bunch]

I watched a swedish chefs show for years and didn't learn a thing.

 

[Giganotosaurus]

I watched a swedish chefs show for years and didn't learn a thing.

Look I tried to speak Swedish, but I didn't have a big enough Smörgåsbord, so it all came out garbled.

 

[Bill Reich]

That's even true for complete natives. Relations of mine who moved to England when they were 16 can't understand Irish anymore after living there for over two decades.


Dude, like what if we're all just the dream of the Giganotosaurus butterfly...

For this is all a dream we dreamed
One afternoon long ago ​

 

[Bill Reich]

I was once told that Danish sounds like someones speaking Norwegian with marbles in their mouth. Having watched the above video, I feel like this is the truth.

I was told that it sounded like Norwegian spoken by someone with a hot potato in her mouth. On the other tentacle, I was also told that Norwegians understand spoken Swedish but that Swedish spelling is indecipherable.

 

[Bill Reich]

Back to recent gaming.
In the game I run, in my Silk Road setting, the party still flees west from the wrath of the Wu Emperor. They recently witnessed an Imperial emissary and their escort killed by a dragon and then they killed the dragon. This week they entered the city of the Duke for whom the emissary was sent. They were mistaken for the emissary and wound up having to attend a cocktail party. The only action they got was their little Saka scout leaving the party with a big Norse dude, par for the course for Roxanne.

 

[Teyrnon]

Lately, I've been running WEG Star Wars 1st Edition through Zoom and by phone. We're not following canon at all.

 

[E-Rocker]

Lately, I've been running WEG Star Wars 1st Edition through Zoom and by phone. We're not following canon at all.

What type of characters are your players playing?

 

[E-Rocker]

It is a good RPG week for me!

Sunday night, we resumed Red Ted's Curse of Strahd game that had been on hold for several weeks. We are currently exploring Strahd's castle, meeting its interesting denizens and finding magic items. Plus the occasional monster fight, of course.

Beatrix's 5e D&D game in a world of her own creation continues to chug along. We collected one of the macguffins we've been chasing for a year of real-life time. It required an epic battle, of course . And Rocky is about to level up to 17!

Pretty excited for my Savage Worlds game on Thursday! I think I've got a very fun concept that my players will enjoy. It'll probably be a few more sessions before the psychic combat event comes up, but I think the whole tournament will be fun.

 

[Nobby-W]

Lately, I've been running WEG Star Wars 1st Edition through Zoom and by phone. We're not following canon at all.

Glad to hear that.

 

[E-Rocker]

September 6th will be the one-year anniversary of my current Savage Worlds campaign. That's real-life time; in-game time is a little under 3 months. I'd like to do something special for my players for the anniversary, but I don't know what. In the Before Times, I would probably have cooked them a nice meal, but we're not meeting in-person until further notice.

 

[Baulderstone]

September 6th will be the one-year anniversary of my current Savage Worlds campaign. That's real-life time; in-game time is a little under 3 months. I'd like to do something special for my players for the anniversary, but I don't know what. In the Before Times, I would probably have cooked them a nice meal, but we're not meeting in-person until further notice.

I'm always surprise when people dismiss Savage Worlds as a game that only works for one shots. I mean, it IS great at one shots, but I've never had an issue with the system falling apart over the course of a long campaign.

 

[E-Rocker]

I'm always surprise when people dismiss Savage Worlds as a game that only works for one shots. I mean, it IS great at one shots, but I've never had an issue with the system falling apart over the course of a long campaign.

Indeed! My previous Savage Worlds campaign lasted for 2.5 years of real-life time.

I think the current campaign has already passed that one in terms of hours spent playing, though. Current group's sessions are a lot shorter than the old group's, but also a lot more frequent.

 

[Bunch]

I'm always surprise when people dismiss Savage Worlds as a game that only works for one shots. I mean, it IS great at one shots, but I've never had an issue with the system falling apart over the course of a long campaign.

I can attempt to answer that. I played in a year plus campaign with SW using the rippers setting and what I now believe was an adaptation of Mask of Nycowhatever. Anyway the other players felt like advancement wasn't that meaningful. Now this is coming from folks who mostly play D&D/PF type games.

 

[E-Rocker]

Anyway the other players felt like advancement wasn't that meaningful. Now this is coming from folks who mostly play D&D/PF type games.

IME, the power curve in SW is definitely smaller than D&D, so if they considered "meaningful advancement" to mean "becoming more powerful by orders of magnitude," then yeah, SW probably wasn't the ideal game for them.

 

[E-Rocker]

People were posting fast-food related RPG memes in the Discord channel for Beatrix's game, so I said, if Rocky dies, my new character will be a rogue based on The Hamburglar.

 

[Dumarest]

People were posting fast-food related RPG memes in the Discord channel for Beatrix's game, so I said, if Rocky dies, my new character will be a rogue based on The Hamburglar.

Makes at least as much sense as your current character based on a Sylvester Stallone character.

 

[Baulderstone]

I can attempt to answer that. I played in a year plus campaign with SW using the rippers setting and what I now believe was an adaptation of Mask of Nycowhatever. Anyway the other players felt like advancement wasn't that meaningful. Now this is coming from folks who mostly play D&D/PF type games.

Okay, I understand. Yeah, there is smaller power curve in SW than D&D. I just feel like the power range it keeps you in is the sweet spot.

My advice for D&D GMs coming to Savage Worlds who want increasing epicness is to take advantage of how easily the game handles big fights. In D&D, you fight bigger and bigger monsters. In a fantasy SW game, you can have the players getting into bigger and bigger fights, and don't just increase the number of opponents. Let the PCs have more people on their side as well. Followers make great treasure in Savage Worlds. If they defeat a bandit chief, maybe his band decides to follow the PCs. If they do a great service for the king, he knights them and assigns them men-at-arms. In addition to allowing for bigger battles, I find this also makes players more invested in the world getting actual aid in fights from NPCs makes players value them more.

 

[Bunch]

Okay, I understand. Yeah, there is smaller power curve in SW than D&D. I just feel like the power range it keeps you in is the sweet spot.

My advice for D&D GMs coming to Savage Worlds who want increasing epicness is to take advantage of how easily the game handles big fights. In D&D, you fight bigger and bigger monsters. In a fantasy SW game, you can have the players getting into bigger and bigger fights, and don't just increase the number of opponents. Let the PCs have more people on their side as well. Followers make great treasure in Savage Worlds. If they defeat a bandit chief, maybe his band decides to follow the PCs. If they do a great service for the king, he knights them and assigns them men-at-arms. In addition to allowing for bigger battles, I find this also makes players more invested in the world getting actual aid in fights from NPCs makes players value them more.

Yeah it was a learning experience for the group. I didn't mind so much but others really liked the growth curve of other games. They may also have not enjoyed the shaken mechanic. It's been a while.

 

[under_score]

If they defeat a bandit chief, maybe his band decides to follow the PCs. If they do a great service for the king, he knights them and assigns them men-at-arms. In addition to allowing for bigger battles, I find this also makes players more invested in the world getting actual aid in fights from NPCs makes players value them more.

I think this applies equally to D&D. Followers add a lot to the game.

 

[Baulderstone]

I think this applies equally to D&D. Followers add a lot to the game.

I agree it's a good thing in D&D as well. It's just that the Extras mechanics in Savage Worlds allow you to be even more generous with followers. You can give your PCs 6 followers each in SW without things bogging down, but that could get cumbersome in D&D.

 

[E-Rocker]

More Strahd-y goodness last night. We

Spoiler: minor Curse of Strahd spoilers

fought and defeated Strahd's assistant, rescued and/or captured Piddlewick II depending on your perspective, finally found the dragon skull that was our impetus for going to Strahd's castle in the first place, and returned it to its rightful place.

 

[Dumarest]

​

For our first Toon session we rolled up character and played through the Cartoon Olympics scenario to make sure the kids understood the rules. For the second session my daughter didn't want to play as she was doing something else, so it was solo featuring only Cy Pup, the cyborg dog truck driver.

Things started off fairly routine as Cy Pup, who hates work, believes the world needs confetti, and has a natural enemy in "cougars that doof," was driving his tractor-trailer rig into the city to deliver a trailer full of confetti to Party Town. Unfortunately there was sinkhole in both freeway lanes leading into the city, so Cy Pup swerved into oncoming traffic lanes and collided with another truck, which was being driven by a "cougar that doofs." Both trucks were rendered undriveable with smoke spewing from their engines and random parts scattered across the blacktop. Naturally the cougar was upset and so a melee ensued. Cy Pup attempted to gain the upper hand by throwing sticks of dynamite at his opponent, but the cougar managed to jam one into Cy Pup's mouth, where it exploded like a novelty cigar and charred Cy Pup's entire head. The cougar then gave Cy Pup a black eye and Cy Pup fell down.

Cy Pup awoke strapped to a bomb in a nearly featureless basement. Fortunately he was able to break free before the bomb went off and ran up the steps to a locked door. Cy Pup failed in is attempt to knock down the door, instead causing the entire building to collapse around him while the door and stairs stayed intact. Going around the door, Cy Pup encountered a group of "cougars that doof" playing cards. Another fight ensued and Cy Pup fell down again.

He awoke underwater, this time tied to an anvil. Unable to free himself, he instead threw the anvil straight up, which naturally carried him with it. Cy Pup landed on the riverbank and was then able to break the rope. However, pig policemen then arrested him for littering when he left the rope and anvil behind.

Cy Pup was transported to jail to be booked and then to the courthouse for a speedy trial. He tried to escape by pulling something (I forget what) out of his back pocket, but accidentally pulled out a newspaper from the future. The owl judge saw the headline stating Cy Pup was found guilty and decided there was no need to waste time on a trial since the defendant was obviously predetermined to be found guilty anyway, so Cy Pup was sentenced to death in the electric chair.

Strapped to the electric chair, the executioner asked Cy Pup if he had any final requests. Cy Pup requested to be set free, therefore he was let go. Unfortunately a group of "cougars that doof" was outside protesting Cy Pup's release and another fight ensued where the protesters' signs and placards were destroyed and Cy Pup tried to flee on a pogo stick he pulled out of his back pocket.

Cy Pup bounced so high on his pogo stick that he went through an office window, causing a commotion with a boss and his secretary. I can't remember the details of what happened then, but it resulted in Cy Pup disguising himself as a chicken and jumping out the window to escape.

Cy Pup landed in the back of a truck transporting numerous cages of chickens. His feet broke right through the top cage so he ended up in with the real chickens. Unfortunately their destination was a fried chicken restaurant, and Cy Pup, being by far the largest of the chickens, was immediately chosen to be cooked. The cook dumped Cy Pup and a few other chickens in a very large pot on a stovetop, where the cook delighted in slowly turning up the heat. Cy Pup attempted to talk his way out it and claimed to be a dog, not a chicken, but the cook wasn't having it and just kept turning up the heat. After several failed attempts to escape by breaking the pot or pushing the lid off, Cy Pup managed to rock the pot enough that it spilled over and off the stovetop. In the confusion of half-cooked chickens, Cy Pup took the head off his chicken disguise and ran through the restaurant crowded with hungry chickens eating their lunch.

Some details are lost to memory now, but Cy Pup was then wanted by the police again and disguised himself as a policeman. Contrary to wisdom, he headed to the neighborhood where the police thought they had spotted him and broke into a house. The homeowner heard the intruder and locked herself in a bathroom for safety. The real police arrived and Cy Pup told them the intruder was locked in the bathroom. The real police administered a nightstick beatdown on the homeowner while Cy Pup stole their police car and fled to the beach.

Cy Pup saw on the beach a rowboat with a rat in it. He also saw a pirate ship in the water. Cy Pup asked the rat to row him to the pirate ship, which the rat started to do before complaining of sciatica and being tired, so Cy Pup ended up rowing while the rat relaxed in the back of the boat. When they got to the pirate ship, Cy Pup clambered up a rope ladder and fast-talked the dog pirate captain. I forget what was said exactly, but it was then determined they would hoist anchor and set sail for the Bermuda Triangle in search of buried treasure.

And that's where the session ended up. I suppose we'll pick up again either en route to the Bermuda Triangle or upon arrival there.

​

 

[Giganotosaurus]

I think we need a drawing of what a "Cougar that doof" is.

Some details are lost to memory now, but Cy Pup was then wanted by the police again and disguised himself as a policeman. Contrary to wisdom, he headed to the neighborhood where the police thought they had spotted him and broke into a house. The homeowner heard the intruder and locked herself in a bathroom for safety. The real police arrived and Cy Pup told them the intruder was locked in the bathroom. The real police administered a nightstick beatdown on the homeowner while Cy Pup stole their police car and fled to the beach.

This actually got me to laugh, you've got a dangerously clever child on your hands.

 

[Teyrnon]

What type of characters are your players playing?

We have a gambler, a smuggler, a pirate, and a brash pilot as per the templates. One player wanted to play a companion ala Firefly so we reskinned the Old Senatorial template and added a Courtesan skill under Perception. So far, neither she nor anyone else has made me regret allowing that.

 

[Baulderstone]

We have a gambler, a smuggler, a pirate, and a brash pilot as per the templates. One player wanted to play a companion ala Firefly so we reskinned the Old Senatorial template and added a Courtesan skill under Perception. So far she or anyone else has made me regret allowing that.

The closest thing to prostitute in the system is a senator? Yeah, that checks out.

 

[E-Rocker]

Another fun session of Savage Worlds with the HEPCATS last night. Full write-up coming later. Focusing on being excited that the campaign is still going strong nearly a year into it, rather than being sad that it will be into September before we get to play again.

 

[Gabriel]

He awoke underwater, this time tied to an anvil. Unable to free himself, he instead threw the anvil straight up, which naturally carried him with it. Cy Pup landed on the riverbank and was then able to break the rope. However, pig policemen then arrested him for littering when he left the rope and anvil behind.

Cy Pup was transported to jail to be booked and then to the courthouse for a speedy trial. He tried to escape by pulling something (I forget what) out of his back pocket, but accidentally pulled out a newspaper from the future. The owl judge saw the headline stating Cy Pup was found guilty and decided there was no need to waste time on a trial since the defendant was obviously predetermined to be found guilty anyway, so Cy Pup was sentenced to death in the electric chair.

Strapped to the electric chair, the executioner asked Cy Pup if he had any final requests. Cy Pup requested to be set free, therefore he was let go. Unfortunately a group of "cougars that doof" was outside protesting Cy Pup's release and another fight ensued where the protesters' signs and placards were destroyed and Cy Pup tried to flee on a pogo stick he pulled out of his back pocket.

Brilliant!

Cy Pup landed in the back of a truck transporting numerous cages of chickens. His feet broke right through the top cage so he ended up in with the real chickens. Unfortunately their destination was a fried chicken restaurant, and Cy Pup, being by far the largest of the chickens, was immediately chosen to be cooked. The cook dumped Cy Pup and a few other chickens in a very large pot on a stovetop, where the cook delighted in slowly turning up the heat. Cy Pup attempted to talk his way out it and claimed to be a dog, not a chicken, but the cook wasn't having it and just kept turning up the heat. After several failed attempts to escape by breaking the pot or pushing the lid off, Cy Pup managed to rock the pot enough that it spilled over and off the stovetop. In the confusion of half-cooked chickens, Cy Pup took the head off his chicken disguise and ran through the restaurant crowded with hungry chickens eating their lunch.

I imagine that played out pretty funny, but reading it is super dark. So, I highly approve!

I also wonder what a "cougar that doofs" is. I'm imagining a Cougar dressed up in a zoot suit.

 

[E-Rocker]

Brilliant!
I also wonder what a "cougar that doofs" is.

You're not the only one.

 

[Giganotosaurus]

Alright, so tonight's D&D session saw my party journeying through the desert. We were pushing hard to exit the sand dunes of said desert, due mostly to a bunch of big sand-worms stalking us. After a day and a half of nonstop travel and exhaustion, we eventually reach a Savannah, and for the first time in months see a tree. My wizard, suffering from exhaustion, believes the tree is an illusion and does the only thing a wizard that sees an illusion should do. Cast a fireball at it.
Well not only was it not an illusion, it was a Treant, who was very unhappy about being set on fire. The Druid in our party rushes to the Treant's aid an puts it out with some water magic, before helping it ruthlessly beat my wizard. Through some excellent persuasion rolls, my wizard manages to convince the Treant not to kill him. As recompense for setting him on fire, the Treant implanted a seedling into my wizards now broken arm and said that he had to plant 1000 trees as payment. The seedling now sprouts seeds out of my wizards flesh, and the parties druid is now mad at my wizard.
This was also the first session with combat where my wizard wasn't KOed by the baddies, so there were good times and there were bad times.

 

[soltakss]

Sorry did you say December? Do you have kids? Because if not the idea of having three whole months to get things done without a honeydew list sounds amazing!

Yep, December and nope, no kids.

So, I am free to do whatever I want!

Unfortunately, what that means is working later, writing RPG Supplements and watching Netflix, so it isn't Party Time around here.

 

[Bunch]

Yep, December and nope, no kids.

So, I am free to do whatever I want!

Unfortunately, what that means is working later, writing RPG Supplements and watching Netflix, so it isn't Party Time around here.

My definition of party time has dropped so low that yes that actually sounds like party time.

 

[Picaroon Jack]

Yep, December and nope, no kids.

So, I am free to do whatever I want!

Unfortunately, what that means is working later, writing RPG Supplements and watching Netflix, so it isn't Party Time around here.

Did someone say party?


I too like to party.

 

[Dumarest]

Three-player game of Risk Europe as my daughter wasn't interested:

​

I took advantage of my wife (blue) and son (orange) pointlessly fighting over territory right from the beginning even though most of the board was mostly unoccupied.

 

[Endless Flight]

My daughter, wife and I played Back to the Future: Back in Time by Funco tonight. We made a few mistakes and didn't go back in time when the lightning hit the tower at 10:04 pm, but I think we all had fun. Hope to play it again soon. I got it at Wal-Mart for $30. 2-4 players, ages 10+, takes about an hour to play. You have to get the DeLorean to a certain spot on the board and get George and Lorraine in love by a countdown mechanism or you lose. Good stuff. I recommend it. You have to really work together to win the game. Well-made components and the artwork is great!

 

[Picaroon Jack]

My daughter, wife and I played Back to the Future: Back in Time by Funco tonight. We made a few mistakes and didn't go back in time when the lightning hit the tower at 10:04 pm, but I think we all had fun. Hope to play it again soon. I got it at Wal-Mart for $30. 2-4 players, ages 10+, takes about an hour to play. You have to get the DeLorean to a certain spot on the board and get George and Lorraine in love by a countdown mechanism or you lose. Good stuff. I recommend it. You have to really work together to win the game. Well-made components and the artwork is great!

View attachment 21271

Looks incredible!