A little while ago, Brent offered to post my character sheet if I sent him the information he needed. I said "Sure." but I haven't really felt the need since I've only heard snippits of what others characters'll be. Personally, I've liked everything I've heard and I don't think there's any need to post them here for me, or anything, but I thought I'd wait around before I really busted my ass on anything further.
Besides, I don't have the text easily accessible from work. So, instead, let me explain why I signed on for the game.
When Brent came to me with the idea, he was obviously stoked but I wasn't sure I was sold on the setting. It seemed limited and possessing an 'objective' morality/metaphysical underpinning that seemed incohesive to me. That's right. If you come to me with a game and say, "Wanna play this?" one of the things I will eventually do is break down the metaphysical assumptions of the game world, mechanics, and setting. I know. I'm an humanities nerd.
Under a Serpent Sun (UaSS) is interesting in just how narrow it is. I'm used to seeing narrow games, but coming from the designer of Burning Wheel where you can be a god-like elf or... a limner (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=382547&page=0 &highlight=LIMNER) . I mean, that's cool, but I had to get used to the new idea. What eventually sold me were a couple of concepts. First, that Brent would let me do just about whatever I wanted as long as it rocked and there wasn't a good reason not to. For ex, Burning Wheel has rules about buying shoes, but even though the only picture we're painted of the world of UaSS is a bleak wasteland of collapsing buildings and dry dirt, I couldn't find anything that said I wasn't able to smoke all the natty grasses I could find or distill delicous, soul-numbing vodka out of... probably bricks flavored with juniper. God only knows.
The other thing is that it's basically someone's therepy with rules for getting eaten by mutant soul bugs. (And eating them. The rules say they're delicious. Mmm.) As such, there's really no need for a cohesive world economy. I assume we're in Neo-Britain or whatever, but trying to determine the academic answer for where spinach comes from is basically a moot point. Given those narrow sort of conditions, I think it would be totally interesting to play this game. However, I must admit to being inspired by various sorts of art-cum-propaganda.
My Vision of the Wasteland: Fallout, Fallout 2
My Vision of the Ruins: Digital Devil Saga 1
My Vision of the Illusion: 1984, Baroque
Only one of these, as far as I know, goes into depth in any way about a realistic world economy. I'm pretty sure that 1984 just assumes that, however you get your produce, it's miserable and in DDS, well, you eat people. Before that, I think it just shows up out of nowhere.
2 comments:
The reason I want to post your character is because that first paragraph is basically what I'm getting from everyone. Somebody's got to be first, and if Paul's not biting you're my next best bet. Also, you've got an extra http:// there, chief.
Anyway, maybe this will pique your interest: The Jenna has decided her character will be an adrenaline junkie. I'm hoping she can convince all of you to pool enough for her to get a car.
Sure. I call shotgun. Or, trunk,
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