DRAGON SUN : JAZZ NINJA

[ThreeGee]

Hey all,

I have finally typed my scrawled notes on DRAGON SUN : JAZZ NINJA into something vaguely resembling English, and I would appreciate impressions. This is only the rough draft, but I want to get the concepts worked out before I work on getting every little detail right.

So you all know, I intend to go back and add lots of tables providing examples so that players do not get stuck when making choices. These tables will be Chinese Menu style, much like the happy charts found in certain sim games. Maybe, if I am really ambitious, I will have separate tables for different genres.

I think the rules are an easy read, but in any case let me know both what works for you and what does not, including potential problems. Thanks.

http://www.angelfire.com/games/freerpg/dsjn.html

Later,
Grant

[ADGBoss]

Very cool, I had not checked Slayers out before so that is going to prompt me to do so.

One problem I have though is that idea that a role can belong to only one character. Let me clarify.

You have Wandering Monk and I think I understand why you might want only 1 wandering Monk, but why can I not learn from Wandering Monk and use Wandering Monk's Fighting style, say Monk Apprentice? It seems to narrow the range of possible characters by not having there be that kind of straight forward, Batman/Robin connection be possible.

Otherwise its very unapologetic in style and I like that in games.

Sean
ADGBoss

[ThreeGee]

Hey Sean,

Thanks for the feedback. As a gamemaster, I agree entirely with your logic and would certainly allow the master/student relationship. However, as a designer, I hate to make a rule telling people when it is okay to break the rules. I will consider different means of phrasing that particular Important Rule, however, so that the matter comes across as more gray than black & white.

I think the key in your example is that the characters have a defined character relationship in addition to the mechanical similarity. They are variations on a theme, which is interesting rather than seeming like a mistake. Food for thought, anyway.

Oh, just so that you know, Slayer, short for Slayer of Dragon, is singular. A silly stylistic thing, but I want to point it out to avoid confusion later.

Later,
Grant

[ADGBoss]

Yes I did write that incorrectly, my apologies.

Sean
ADGBoss

[Jeph]

I must ask . . . what's the story behind the name? IMC, ninja's are usually more appreciative of rock and roll. ;-)

[ThreeGee]

Hey Jeph,

Good question. The name started out as Ninja Jazz (as in Cowboy Bebop), to suggest both improvization and ninjas, but because the game is a variation on Slayer of Dragon, I added Son of Dragon to the name, as in Ninja Jazz: Son of Dragon. Somewhere along the line, the name was rearranged.

Rock 'n' Roll certainly has potential, as long as you do not mean the canned, pop stuff. Think five minute intros, ten-minute solos, the works.

Later,
Grant