The Campaign Builder's Guild

For me it depends on what I run.  If it's something "techy" (RIFTs, Star Wars) I tend to go techno.  If it's something Mideval (D&D)  I prefer other types of music, usually based either on animes or games I've played.  Below is a very general list of stuff I tend to run, based on music I can locate:

 Star Wars

Whatever SW music I have (duh), including Knights of the Old Republic I & II, Rogue Squadron,  Shadows of the Empire, & occasionally the Animatrix music & some stuff from Ace Combat.  

 RIFTs
Animatrix
Heavy Metal 2000
Stigmata
Batman Beyond
Mortal Kombat
Robotech
Irresponsible Capt Tylor
Various game music including KoF 95, 98, Castlevania...
.. & whatever else strikes my fancy or I have on hand.  

 Mideval/Fantasy  
The D&D OST  (has a couple of tracks which're good for mood)
Various Castlevania
Mideval Baebes
Icewind Dale
Baulders Gate
Planescape
God of Wars 1 & 2
Stigmata
Various Fighting game music including KoF, Samurai Showdown
Final Fantasy Symphonic
TES Oblivion...
... as above, whatever I have on hand & strikes my fancy.   :band:

The older Battletech stuff was more RPG-esk, as time went on it became the mini-tactical skirmish thing it is now.  You should see the Manga-based RPGs, particularly the mech-based ones, they're deadlier then RIFTs if that's possible.  

Salutations Melbranche.  Don't worry about it, as you gain experience you'll find your "niche".  As far as the tabletop roleplaying aspect goes, it's always tough to find people, partly due to a stigma that us "traditional" RPGers have (We sacrifice chickens, have no lives of our own, have some wierd fetish fantasies, & others to numerous to mention)  Find people that you're comfortable with & things will be alright so long as things are equal on both sides of the spectrum.  

As for one of your other questions: Gurps is another RPG system, never tried it myself though.  

The other RPG systems I can think of from the top of my head are:
The Palladium system
White Wolf
West End Games (D6)
Paizos D20 3e continuation (the Pathfinder system)  
Mutants & Masterminds (Superhero)  
Marvel & DCs RPGs (I think WoTC has the rights to one of them now).
Battletech  

Quote from: Higgs BosonI have Vista, and honestly, its not that bad.

I'm afraid to get Vista.  Firstly stabalization is a big thing for me & I've heard that it's even less stable the XP pro; second I've got some old programs on my PC which I still use & adore (Quark Xpress 4 as the prime example & the old D&D 2e Core Rules program as the other).  One thing I've heard pretty consistently about Vista is that it's not all that friendly to older programs like the ones I mentioned.   I don't wanna get a new OS & suddenly see that a program that I'm use to & like I can no longer use due to compatability issues like this.  

On the Mac side I'm seriously considering getting a notebook.  I've tried a friends & you can open up an unlimited number of windows with no slowdowns.  If you've got Virtual PC games tend to run pretty smoothly (I've seen MAME32 run pretty well).

I am more use to the PC since that's what I've grown up with,  but I'm starting to get sick of the lack of quality & stability of M$ & M$-related products.  

Quote from: Randzz

Quote from: Luminous CrayonWelcome to the clubhouse, Randzz. Sodas are in the fridge, and pull up the rope ladder once you're inside.

Please tell us a bit about your homebrew, since you mention it.

I put a small explanation about it in the Salutations thread.  If I can find the PDFs I'll link 'em there.  

The PDFs are now linked in the Salutations thread.  Enjoy the reads & lemme know what you think. One more thing, (more for Spirit Hawkfellow if he reads this) I had started on a 3rd PDF when my PC decided to drop dead & considering what my focus is atm it may be quite awhile before I get back to it.  

BTW, I echo what the other guy wrote: welcome Mock26

Hey all, as mentioned once before I'd link the PDFs if I could find 'em.  So here they are Deruvia.  If the link don't work let me know.  Incidentally the second PDF I made for my friends (couldn't find the later more public version).  For both you need Acrobat 06 or better to view.  

Anyway, enjoy the reads & lemme know what you think.  I'm also in the process of finishing an adventure based on the one-shot I ran using the Pathfinder system (also a PDF) that I'll post in a few days... with any luck.  

OK, I'll try it out.  I'm supposed to be doing a playtest of the Pathfinder system at the end of the month anyway.  So I'll use your suggestions for spells DCs, thanx.  

So take out the Spell level entirely then?  

I posted the following on the Paizo site.  

Magic under the 3e system is pretty stagnent since it relies so heavily on the STAT modifier as opposed to the caster level. This really only leaves the option of having the spellcaster use damage-dealing spells. What if a spell caster wants to be more subtle then this, defeating opponents through spells such as Charm or Hold Person or Ray of Enfeeblement as opposed to defeating them with Magic Missile or Fireball?

Under 3e spells DCs are: 10 + Spell level + Appropriate modifier + Misc Modifiers.

In my game spell DCs are: 10 + half caster level (round down on odd numbered levels) + spell level + appropriate modifier + misc modifiers.

Notice that under the second system even low-level spells will gain in strength more regularly & spellcasters will have more tactical options open to them other then just "blowing the opponent to smitherines". Also they'll keep in pace with the opponent as far as having to overcome their saving throws. Under the first system a mid level "victim" has no real fear of a Spellcasters Charm spell, under the second the Charm spell has a far better chance of affecting the same victim.

I encourage people to try my second system & let me know their experiences with it, positive & negative.

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Admittedly I've not used this system in higher levels yet except as one-shots.  Once was for D&D day where I ran an SL adventure & the characters were 8th level.  The other was an AE adventure where the characters were 10th.  I can only get so much info via one-shots.  

I got a couple of responses from a couple of people who've tried it on the Paizo boards.  Apparently it was better at low-levels but became unbalanced as levels went on & monsters got an unforseen power creep. I thought rounding it down at odd caster levels was a step in the right direction, but apparently there's still many quirks to be dealt with.  

Any ideas on how I can keep it balanced & still make spellcasting more reliant on caster level (& keep it simple)?  The system as it is just don't work with me no more, it's simply too reliant on the casters modifiers.  

Pretty much what he wrote, it depends on the game.   But assuming that it's good ol' fantasy-esk D&D you're talking about.  

Various Castlevania for mood &/or battles
The D&D Soundtrack (it actually has a couple of tracks that're decent), again for setting mood/ background.  
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust OST
Kameo: Elements of Power OST
Fighting game music for battles.  
Panzer Dragoon Orta
The Baulders gate & Planescape music
The Music from God of Wars 1 & 2
Chaos Legion has a perfect track for Charduns Realm (Scarred Lands)

Sometimes I prepare, but others I play by ear.  

Quote from: Luminous CrayonWelcome to the clubhouse, Randzz. Sodas are in the fridge, and pull up the rope ladder once you're inside.

Please tell us a bit about your homebrew, since you mention it.

I put a small explanation about it in the Salutations thread.  If I can find the PDFs I'll link 'em there.  

Quote from: Xathan WorldsmithOh, hush, all of you. Don't unleash our full frontal nudit-er-wierdness until he gets settled in.

Welcome to the boards, Randzz! Good to see a new face (which we will NOT be eating) and I look forward to seeing your setting.

BTW, how well does Arcana Evolved past level 20 work? I've always wanted to try it but never have...

For AE I've really only tended to do one-shots.  In the 2 "campaigns" that I've run both groups aren't anywhere past level 04.  Don't be fooled when it sez that you can play an "epic" character in AE, it goes only to level 25; level 28 if you take the full racial levels.  More if you wanna count the PrCs for AE.  

The thing on AE is, at it's core is it's magic system.  Many of the Mertamagic feats that you're use to in Standard 3e/3.$ aren't in there due to it (the the Expand & Extend metamagics as examples).  The other thing about that system is that if you play a non-gamic character you're pretty screwed imo;  Mr Cook put a lot of effort in the Magic System, but the feats are, at best, a secondary concern.  Whether he was only allowed to use the feats in the SRD or didn't really wanna bother with adding new ones I don't know.  

I do like the racial levels (something that $th edition is apparently getting).  

As for my small home brew, I based it off a PC game that I adored from way back (C64 way back to give you an idea).   Anyway, here's the link:  http://jasons.wumple.com/Interests/Gaming/Computer/MagicCandle/Welcome.html  In the original, it mentioned that the southern part of the world was inaccessible due to equalatoral storms, my home-brew basically takes place there.  I used the old 2e mapmaker for it originally, but I think ProFantasies mapmaker may make it look more like the original(s).  If I can find my PDFs I'll link 'em.  

In terms of running it though, I've used 2e & 3e/3.$.  So far the 3e mold using Mr Cooks AE spells seems to work best as far as getting the "flavor" of the series as I remember it.  Trying to mix the two has been problematic.  

Accidentally posted my salutations on another thread, anyway... Hey all. I was referred here by Spirit Hawkfellow. Interesting site & certainly seems more open then Wizards appears to be nowadays. Anyway I've played: Star Wars (D6 & D20 versions; I prefer the former), D&D since 2e, RIFTs, Mage, Palladium RPG

I've run: RIFTs, Star Wars (WEG version), Scarred lands & my own home brew 3e, Monte Cooks Arcana Unearthed/Evolved.

I'll check whomever, whenever.

Hey all.  I was referred here by Spirit Hawkfellow.  Interesting site & certainly seems more open then Wizards appears to be nowadays.  Anyway I've played:  Star Wars (D6 & D20 versions),  D&D since 2e, RIFTs, Mage, Palladium RPG

I've run: RIFTs, Star Wars (WEG version),  Scarred lands & my own home brew 3e, Monte Cooks Arcana Unearthed/Evolved.  

I'll check whomever, whenever.