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I got to the office like 2 hours early so I wanna talk about why I used cards in GUN&SLINGER instead of dice, and also how it's ended up working well with its themes so HERE WE GO #ttrpg #kickstarter #hashtag
First off if you end up liking this thread, go check out G&S on Kickstarter! We're very close to unlocking an SRD and announcing our last stretch goal! https://bytes.rip/gnskickstarter
So in all honesty, G&S's core design of "Playing with Go Fish" started out as a shitposty little idea- I was making a VS RPG about a Gunslinger fighting their Gun, then partway through design I realized I had something very interesting and decided to make it a bit bigger
The GUN&SLINGER of today involves 2 or 3 people at a table doing RPG stuff and using either Go Fish or Co-Op Blackjack when they need to see if they're able to make something happen
You say "Hey, Gun, you got any 5s?" and they either give you their 5s or you draw a card
You say "Hey, Gun, you got any 5s?" and they either give you their 5s or you draw a card
When you have a Pair of any Value cards, you set it face-down in front of you in your Cache. Cards cannot be taken from it and are used to pay.
Resolution isn't random in G&S- you decide for yourself if you pay with what you have, if its value + your stat is enough to succeed.
Resolution isn't random in G&S- you decide for yourself if you pay with what you have, if its value + your stat is enough to succeed.
So if you have a pair of 5s in your Cache (with a value of 5, not 10), the stat you're using is a +2, and the check you're trying to do is a 6 difficulty, then you can choose to pay with that pair and succeed!
Otherwise, it becomes a bargain, but that's another thread
Otherwise, it becomes a bargain, but that's another thread
The game honestly doesn't use Checks all that much- but the way things resolve between declaring a check, playing go fish, and deciding what to pay with is always very interesting.
It's kinda become this weirdly intimate experience?
It's kinda become this weirdly intimate experience?
You're cooperating with someone, but always giving and taking cards from them. If you're playing with a Maestro, they're involved in the process as well- fishing and getting fished the whole time.
It works surprisingly well!
It works surprisingly well!
I decided to keep this system for a few reasons:
1. I love experimental resolution systems
2. The use of cards creates a very different feel at the table
3. This weird intimacy and partnership through play leans into some narrative themes (friendship, trust, give&take, etc.)
1. I love experimental resolution systems
2. The use of cards creates a very different feel at the table
3. This weird intimacy and partnership through play leans into some narrative themes (friendship, trust, give&take, etc.)
Could I make this game using dice?
Yeah, totally- it'd be super easy to say "roll 2d6+stat" and be done with it.
Would doing so be in service of the themes?
I don't think so. There's something really great about being able to give, take, and choose through the entire process.
Yeah, totally- it'd be super easy to say "roll 2d6+stat" and be done with it.
Would doing so be in service of the themes?
I don't think so. There's something really great about being able to give, take, and choose through the entire process.
You learn what the difficulty/cost is after you've gone fishin', so there's no guesswork in whether or not you succeed. You always know, "Ok, I can do this" but then you choose whether or not you WANT to. You never HAVE to pay for a check, and it directs the narrative differently
I know there are some out there, but I want more games that shape their mechanics more directly around their narrative. That's kinda what I mean when I talk about Balance, but again that's another thread.
Give me weird systems! Give me new mechanics! Make it fit your feel!
Give me weird systems! Give me new mechanics! Make it fit your feel!
If you enjoyed this thread, GUN&SLINGER is on #kickstarter right now with about 18 days to go! Share this thread, and check it out! https://bytes.rip/gnskickstarter
What are some of your favorite resolution systems? What's something you'd like to see?
