The Pool/Puddle with different genres

[timczar]

I haven't read through all the posts concerning the Pool and it's variants, but I'm curious what genres it's been used in successfully, and if it's really tanked when using it with other genres.

I realize that genre may not have anything to do with the success or failure of a specific system, but I've been thinking about using the Puddle to run a supers game, and it seems like it might be perfect.

When the realization that the number of dice has nothing to do with the actual trait FINALLY got through my think, GURPS-laden skull, I figured you can make and play the kind of diverse cast you see in most comic books without the need for stupid math tricks.

Please let me know if this has been covered elsewhere and I'll just check out the posts, but I'd love to hear if anyone else has done this before.

[Bob McNamee]

I haven't read through all the posts concerning the Pool and it's variants, but I'm curious what genres it's been used in successfully, and if it's really tanked when using it with other genres.

I realize that genre may not have anything to do with the success or failure of a specific system, but I've been thinking about using the Puddle to run a supers game, and it seems like it might be perfect.

When the realization that the number of dice has nothing to do with the actual trait FINALLY got through my think, GURPS-laden skull, I figured you can make and play the kind of diverse cast you see in most comic books without the need for stupid math tricks.

Please let me know if this has been covered elsewhere and I'll just check out the posts, but I'd love to hear if anyone else has done this before.

I've used the Pool iin a 4 Color Super playtest session, it went really well. There's a thread in Actual Play about it here... http://www.indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=3103&highlight=

The Pool, and its variants, can be used very well in almost any genre/setting/situation. The important thing is for everyone participating in the game to have a good handle on the 'genre' used.

Talk this over, what's expected, what's taboo etc.

Thats a big step toward getting play like you expect. Especially with the amount of control passed around. It can be very hard when you win a MOV, if you can narrate 'anything'.  'Anything appropriate to the genre' is much easier to deal with.

On MOVs
Do big things, action things, plot twists...visit the opposing side...don't limit MOVs to task resolution entirely (but do use the dice result to inform the task performed)...go beyond the tasks though.

edited in the link, and a spelling error or too

[Cassidy]

The Pool, and its variants, can be used very well in almost any genre/setting/situation. The important thing is for everyone participating in the game to have a good handle on the 'genre' used.

Ditto. With no nitty gritty system for handling in-game effects it is absolutely crucial for everyone to be on the same page with regard to what's possible and what's not in the game. Creating that level of understanding amongst the players before you even play is essential for the Pool to work.

If you can achieve that then I think there is tremendous scope for a system like the Pool to be used in many genres. I'm toying with the idea of running a Vampiresque game using the Pool at some point.

[Bob McNamee]

One thing you see in The Questing Beast (also a game by James West, using modified Pool rules ) is having Motifs / Traits (i forget the pool term for it) like.
Tragic +2
Romantic +1
Obsession +2
etc

The cool thing about  traits like these is that it could allow you to influence scenes where your personal character isn't present  (subject to Social Contract etc)...by using the Trait to inject 'tone' into whats happening.

[timczar]

Yes...all good points. And thanks for the Actual Play link, Bob. I'm planning a little more serious treatment of the comics genre, but it was a great read just the same.

In my experience, the more quantitative games like Champions can have the same problems of "what's possible and what's not"...or the tone of the genre, as Bob mentioned. I'm working my way through Ron's article on Simulationism right now, which I think addresses some of those issues.

I think the nice thing about the Pool is that the description of the trait (strong enough to punch through concrete walls, for instance) defines what the trait is capable of, and the "score" of the trait is how it influences the game. That to me is the most attractive thing about the Pool, at least if I'm reading the rules, such as they are, correctly. And since you're NOT comparing the results to a difficulty number or a different die roll, the fact that the ability "worked" or not becomes irrelevant...just how that use influences the story.

Anyway, I'm going to make an attempt at running through this over the weekend with a small group. If the results are even remotely interesting, I'll post something.

[/quote]

[James V. West]

timczar:

The Pool is a story-telling game so it is certainly appropriate for any genre. I think supers would work well for the same reasons you do. Monologues can let players to over-the-top-crazy action like knock down buildings and fly into the sun. The Trait used would be the control switch. Obviously you couldn't use "Plasma breath +3" to turn a villain into obsidian.

The others have all nailed it too. Everyone else seems to have a better grasp of The Pool than I do!

Let us know how it goes.