In a week I'm going to run a one-shot of Metal Opera. My goals with the game is:
A) Have the game produce a very meaningful expiereince in the 2-3 hours it runs.
B) As "Coherent" as possible. It's understood why we're here and want we want to do.
C) Make the most out of every mechanic.
D) Ending on a very satisfactory note.
I don't think the game is played much, and I don't recall Zak being very active on the boards, so maybe people could give me advice about games in similar veins.
Some tweaks I'm planning:
-The lowest a score can be is 1. This takes away a certain element of the game, the strong sense of struggle at the beginning, but I'm guessing it's nessecary to have the game end in about 3 hours considering a 3 or so person group.
-The Power of Metal signified by kickin' riff. While I've been through several... poorly impleneted uses of music in an RPG, this seems like it would work great to me. I know some people*cough*aren't actually in to Heavy Metal, but I and two of my perspective players are so I think it should work really well.
-Suggesting balanced group-balanced, so for every score there's someone with a 5 in it, someone with a 3 in it, etc.
Quote from: sirogit
I don't think the game is played much, and I don't recall Zak being very active on the boards, so maybe people could give me advice about games in similar veins.
I just started checking back on the boards. Good timing!
My only measurement is play reports, so I know for a fact that it's been played at least two or three times. As far as advice, players are often very good at getting themselves in trouble. So just have a few events handy to throw at them if things slow down, and don't worry if you never need to use them.
Quote from: sirogit-The lowest a score can be is 1.
If you keep the lowest score at 0, start out with a concert, and have the players pull off all sorts of Style moves to get the sixes required. Remind the players that they can initiate a roll by using their Style; they don't have to wait for you to push them.
Quote from: sirogit-The Power of Metal signified by kickin' riff.
This is awesome.
Quote from: sirogit-Suggesting balanced group-balanced, so for every score there's someone with a 5 in it, someone with a 3 in it, etc.
I wouldn't bother with that. In fact, your post got me thinking. I'd encourage you to use the following Scores instead the original:
Rock 'n Roll - Your finesse in all things. Complex guitar solos, fancy dueling with your Axe, jury-rigging a Magdaleen ship to transmit your latest track.
Kicking Ass - Raw power. Pound out deafening chords, stomping Legionnare heads, ripping a steel door off its hinges to free your loyal fans.
Metal Soul - Conviction, heart and steadfastness in the face of oppression. Soulful lyrics to turn a Grigoran toward your cause, fighting ten-to-one against a Tyrant's goon squad powered only by your drive for Metal, shouldering off a piercing hail of gunfire to rescue a comrade.
As you can see, each Score now allows for both music and fighting, the two things a Rocker is best at. So don't worry about balancing out those scores between them.
Metal Opera is an RPG with the express purpose of balls-out epic heroism with a heavy metal soundtrack. The design is to provide a gradual but inevitable rise from constant trouble to an epic (and triumphant) finale. Here's the intro:
QuoteMetal Öpera is a game of blunt passion given an electric voice. You play an angry Rocker fighting against the oppression of the State with violence both musical and physical. A Rocker is typified by the leather-clad bad-ass weilding a smoking shotgun (with a broadsword bayonet), sparking guitar slung over his shoulder. He stands atop a pile of downed foes, a rumbling storm approaching from behind lit within by fierce lightning and without from the hellish fires below.
You can take a look at Metal Opera webpage (http://www.harlekin-maus.com/games/metalopera/metalopera.html)
Quote from: sirogitI know some people*cough*aren't actually in to Heavy Metal, but I and two of my perspective players are so I think it should work really well.
Everbody loves metal. They just won't admit it.
Mike "Sepultura-fan" Holmes