My LEGO Nexus Organization

OK, so while playing Truth's Rosewater RPG, I've run into a couple of situations involving my characters.  This project, which will be revealed when my Rosewater characters' identities are revealed, deals with those situations in a specific, entertaining way.  While this particular one only applies to Rosewater, this concept (when revealed) could easily extend to ANY RPG with the "no PC death without permission" rule, so stay tuned! >:D

EDIT: Yaaay, reveal time! :P

I've noticed that, in several RPGs, characters do stupid things.  Really stupid things.  Fatally stupid things.  Or at least, they would be, if it weren't for the "no PC death without permission" rule.  Now, while this is great for players, it can be difficult for GMs (Game Masters) to figure out ways to rescue the characters from their own actions, and it can also lead to player characters coming off as--well, invincible.  Worse, in RPGs where the characters are trying to unmask a murderer (like Rosewater), attempts to kill player characters must automatically fail due to the rule, which can (if players and GMs aren't careful) become anticlimactic.  So how to balance the safety of PCs with the dramatic tension of risk?  Presenting...the Second Chance!

I borrowed this concept from the Nancy Drew computer games; in the games, the player (as Nancy Drew) must solve mysteries, sometimes engaging in dangerous activities like climbing a cliff or rewiring electronic systems.  In these games, if a player fails an important challenge, or just makes a seriously foolish decision (i.e. clicking on the man-eating plant too many times or deliberately walking off a cliff), the player sees the result of their actions, and then are given a "Second Chance" to go back to the point just before the poor choice and make a better one.

So how does this work in the text-based RPGs here??  I'll give an example:


At this point, the player can accept the death, and continue play with a new character, or they can post a different action for their character in response to the fatal choice.  (The GM can include special instructions, such as how many posts back the player needs to go, etc. in an OOC or via PM.)  If the player chooses to alter their choice, the fatal choice and its consequences are moved to a [Second Chance] topic; i.e. the Second Chance topic for Rosewater could be titled "Rosewater: Second Chances [RPG][Second Chance]" or "Rosewater: The Rose's Thorn [RPG][Second Chance]".

Players, of course, have infinite second chances, as long as they wish to keep playing with that character.

NOTE: GMs may allow Second Chances in PvP situations at their discretion, however I personally would limit this power to the GM, leaving players to continue PvP the way they always have, to discourage potential godmode abuse. ;)  Also, keep in mind that this system subtly alters the tone of the RPG, so if you want to make tweaks for your own, go right ahead.  Have fun! ;)

Concept? Entertaining thing? This sounds intriguing. =)

OK, I edited the info into the first post!  What do you guys think?

That brings an interesting new idea to how TB RPGs are typically handled... I like it.

I don't know how soon I'd adapt it into my own RPGs; HOWEVER! You gave me an idea. >=D

Rosewater now uses this idea.  >:D
except, I don't really see the need for a topic listing incorrect choices...

It's basically so it doesn't clog up the true canon, but the alternate future is recorded. ;) I think; Flipz might have a better explanation.

Also, definitely expect something in the future that utilizes this idea to maximum potential.

No, that's pretty much it.  Plus, it allows players to remind each other of their past epic fails look back and learn from their characters' poor actions.

And yeah, I don't think I'd ever see this used in, say, DoaH or S.H.I.R.A. Squad, but maybe for Skies of Data or Rise of Heroes it would work, with tweaks. ;)

Making a second chance topic for Centurion, since Blade already died once...

=P Or the fact that an RPG is Nintendo Hard. =P

/EDIT: It's true. I was caught off guard. =p

Flipz: Skies it could definitely be used in, but in a way that wouldn't necessarily need a reboot. =P

But I can see an RPG totally planned around it. ;)

 *rotfl* *rotfl* *rotfl* *rotfl* *rotfl* *rotfl*

Hehehehe...this I must read. :P

Yes, you must. =P A blob of death killed me to death. =P

Killed you TWICE. :P

It's the fridge. Always the fridge. =P Should've known better with it's poison fangs. =P

Heh, this is gonna turn into King's Quest, isn't it?  >:D :P

xD Nice. xD

And what do I do? Go right back to do it again. I'm worse than a GoldenEye noob who gets owned by a sniper camper, and runs right back to get owned again!

Flipz: King's Quest? =P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfV_J_MktZU

Yep. Sounds about right.

Death count: 3.

S.H.I.R.A Squad will not be using the second chance system. However, Rosewater and Centurion do use it.

 I'll use parts of this for Rise of Heroes. However, suicide missions are going to be a common reoccurence, seeing as the point of this RPG is to rise to the fabled position of Hero. I think that the parts I'm using though are kinda already in there. =P

LoZ RPG will DEFINITELY use this; though whether I'll have a full out topic or just a 'Death Count' thing I haven't decided yet.

But to be honest; dying in an LoZ game? Common practice, anyone will do so. So; it makes sense to have the same type of mechanics for the RPG.