Gothic Earth

Scott Hardie | July 29, 2009
For those of you unfamiliar with tabletop role-playing games, think Dungeons & Dragons: They're played by friends around a table, with pencils and dice and Mountain Dew. (more info) I've enjoyed them for many years now and played them with a number of people on this site, but since my last game fizzled out prematurely in 2005, I've been taking a break from the hobby. Two years off and two years quietly planning a new campaign is apparently a pretty solid foundation for starting a new game, because the newly-launched Gothic Earth is off to a great start.

By now you've probably noticed the link at the top of the page, wondering what it is. I have long used the web to support my tabletop games, because it allows for superior data management and data sharing than just plain paper. Rather than build an entire user login system and site intrastructure all over again, I decided to piggyback Gothic Earth on the existing goo.tc site code, especially once I confirmed that Kelly and Aaron would play too.

But the problem is that the Gothic Earth website is not really of use to anyone outside of the group of seven players, since you'd have to get on a plane and fly to Bradenton to play it with us every Monday night. It's possible that you might enjoy reading about the fictional adventures of characters you have no stake in, but I doubt it. So, I launched that part of the site quietly, hoping it would explain itself for anyone who ventured a click on it.

What happened next surprised me: Not just a lot of positive feedback from people who found it interesting, and who liked hearing that I ran an RPG – nerd is chic these days, after all – but also a number of people asking how they could create a character and start playing. Where you all when I ran FIN on this site a few years ago? :-)   I was prepared to tell one or two people that sorry, the game is for locals only, but so many people have asked that I'm considering creating some kind of online component to it, for goo.tc users unable to attend the game in person.

This would not take the form of playing an equal character in the adventures, since that's not really feasible, but I'd like to find some kind of way for goo.tc users to get involved in the game somehow. Maybe you vote on what should happen next in the plot. Maybe you design villains or traps or situations for the group to encounter. Maybe you create your own heroes and do something with them, like combat simulation, or some kind of online in-character banter like a virtual pub. Clearly, I'm just tossing out ideas, because I'm still just beginning to consider this. Depending on the nature of this online component, active players in the game might or might not be able to participate with you, but either way, I would intend for what you contributed online to have an actual influence in the live game somehow, small or large.

If you're interested, I'd like to hear suggestions. Thanks for your input and support!

Scott Hardie | July 29, 2009
And for anybody wondering: Yes, Gothic Earth players get userrank, and no, it's not fair. If you're really concerned about those players having a huge advantage that you don't have, then with all due respect, you're probably taking userrank too seriously. It doesn't mean anything. (And if justice for all is your concern, how about some tiny violins for me, since I can't earn userrank in the goo game?)

After only one night, Aaron has already shot into #2 on goo.tc overall, but that's because of the weird numerical chemistry of userrank. By autumn, the scores will even out into something realistic. If Aaron dominates Gothic Earth and earns more points than everybody else and remains in the #2 slot on goo.tc indefinitely, then hasn't he earned it? For the record, Aaron protested getting this unfair boost, but it's my call.

Lori Lancaster | July 29, 2009
[hidden by request]

Aaron Shurtleff | July 29, 2009
If I dominate Gothic Earth, I suspect it will be very bad for Scott, since I am the "outsider" brought into the group he already had established in Bradenton. I hope I don't end up messing up the chemistry they already have. I will be a very happy team player, and I have no intention of (or real ability to, honestly) take over the group.

I don't know where this will end up going, as far as goo.tc participation, but if I need to stay out of a topic to avoid finding out what is being planned for us in the game, let me know! :) I promise not to peek! :P

Apparently we ruin a lot of statues in this game! I think I smashed one, and one of the other groups broke a window out with one... We have a gallery with some statues in it that we haven't broken yet, so I've got a good feeling the trend will soon continue! :)

The real question is how long can we continue to keep the party all split up in three separate groups (not counting the tiny NPC party in the ballroom). I think the Holy Roller group is moving vaguely towards the Foreigner group (that's my group!), but both of those groups are relatively far from the group that knows what's going on (no fancy nickname for them yet!). I think we'll all meet up in the as yet unseen room with the piano in it. That is still on my character's list of priorities, Scott!

Scott Hardie | August 8, 2009
Nice... There's no better way to kill off private discussions than to try to go public with them. Oh well. I'll still keep this project in mind.

You were right about the music room, Aaron. It's not worth another point, but you were right. :-)