tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post7859393839573679105..comments2023-10-08T08:54:40.079-04:00Comments on LARP Ohio: Armor at NEROTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17437406306299325645noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-41233056847555104672010-08-18T16:34:27.884-04:002010-08-18T16:34:27.884-04:007 days late: Mickey, that's because it WAS a d...7 days late: Mickey, that's because it WAS a direct quote. I didn't want to quote the 9th edition draft because I was unsure whether it would change from what I'd seen and I wasn't sure what all /should/ be discussed. FWIW, I also appreciate the effort put into the 9th edition system; I particularly liked the way armor was handled in the draft, so props to you. Contrary to some other people's reactions, I didn't mind the pattern: yes, it's different than Armor Suite, but it's still straightforward: 6,7,8, 2,3,4, or 1,2,3, dependent on the location.Hedgehoghttp://www.neroindy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-67284006873722348702010-08-12T15:55:41.041-04:002010-08-12T15:55:41.041-04:00Oh, and summer armor is only virtual armor with th...Oh, and summer armor is only virtual armor with those out there that have the money to get the reps. It's literally trading cash/effort for IG effect, with no additional atmosphere.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979935681444364292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-50336813994774517542010-08-12T15:54:17.303-04:002010-08-12T15:54:17.303-04:00I can get behind that. I see no reason why a play...I can get behind that. I see no reason why a player should feel required to spend $200 on armor. <br /><br />I understand the need for summer armor rules, it's just difficult to roleplay with a dude in a t-shirt. At least virtual armor would let those people spend their money on a tabard or something.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979935681444364292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-62345231640378310772010-08-12T15:48:18.426-04:002010-08-12T15:48:18.426-04:00I don't think I would mind completely virtual ...I don't think I would mind completely virtual armor in Nero, to be honest. That's essentially what we had at the last NCN event, and any event with "summer armor rules." <br /><br />I fully support having rewards and recognition for the people that really look great. I just don't think it should be a *requirement,* nor should those rewards be a "must have" game effect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-37735059547349685832010-08-12T15:20:05.397-04:002010-08-12T15:20:05.397-04:00@Noah
I think your goal and mine are the same, ev...@Noah<br /><br />I think your goal and mine are the same, even though we got at them in different ways. I wanted armor to be more accessible by allowing alternate materials, as long as they look good. <br /><br />I think it should be both costume and mechanic driven. If armor didn't have a trade-off of any kind, we'd just be wearing arm-bands representing our level of armor and finding armor IG would be the only limitation. There are games that operate that way. <br /><br />Compared to most of the gear in NERO, armor is expensive. But there are plenty of guides out there that show you how to do it on a tight budget. If someone made their own armor, I would never ever eliminate it on account of the quality (unless it was unsafe).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979935681444364292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-79771752659223162202010-08-12T14:15:56.995-04:002010-08-12T14:15:56.995-04:00I view armor as much more of a game mechanic than ...I view armor as much more of a game mechanic than a costume element. To me, the mechanical benefit it grants and how cool it looks are completely separate. Granted, armor isn't as significant of an element in Nero as it is in many other games, but that is purely a function of our rules system.<br /><br />What I mean is, armor is a method that protects characters from damage. Costume is what makes you look cool. Cool looking armor *looks cooler.* That is its benefit - you look great. To me, asserting that better-looking (or more realistic materials) armor should provide more game value is roughly analogous to claiming that you should get larger portions at a restaurant if you wear a fancy suit instead of jeans and a t-shirt. You look better, that's why you paid more for your outfit.<br /><br />The other side of this argument is accessibility and fairness. Setting strict requirements on the aesthetics or materials of armor is essentially stating that if you lack the finances or talent required to buy/make armor of the appropriate quality, your character will never be as effective as those that do. Likewise, if you physically can not wear heavy armor, your character will not be as powerful as those that can. Inequality is already rampant throughout the game. More athletic players have an advantage over people that are out of shape. Those who happen to be friends with the staff/ownership/management tend to have an edge over others. People who consistently "email game" and interact with the plot between events tend to have more influence than people who only play during events. The financial difference is already present in terms of weapon quality, but nowadays the difference in price between a PVC and "ultralight" weapon isn't nearly as severe. Unlike ultralight weapons, the price on armor hasn't come down all that much over the years.<br /><br />If the 98-pound girl has a vision of her character as a proud swordmaiden, clad in armor and brandishing a terrible blade, she should be allowed to live out that fantasy whether or not she can afford or physically wear "real" armor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-55417035424596062912010-08-12T10:28:00.703-04:002010-08-12T10:28:00.703-04:00NerdNerdTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437406306299325645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-19701056729404252362010-08-12T09:52:49.230-04:002010-08-12T09:52:49.230-04:00I like alternate materials that look like real mat...I like alternate materials that look like real materials. Safer, easier to obtain, and less expensive armor that to the casual observer might as well be real.<br /><br />I agree, that poker chip shit has got to go. Fun fact - it is very very hard to get 3/4 coverage out of poker chips in a square quilted tabard.<br /><br />If a poker chip is 1.3" in diameter and is placed in a square whose dimensions are greater than 1.33", you have less than 75% coverage.<br /><br />Let me repeat, if your square is three-hundredths of an inch larger than the chip, you fail at three quarter coverage. GG.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979935681444364292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-84032186996342412522010-08-12T09:31:08.667-04:002010-08-12T09:31:08.667-04:00I am in agreement with the premise of what you are...I am in agreement with the premise of what you are saying Bill, but fear the reality thus I encourage real armor materials, not because they really do protect, but because they look better.<br /><br />The problem with rewarding alternate materials is you get things like poker chip tabards that really add nothing to the atmosphere, but because they are made of plastic they count. In most chapters they are being rated at plate mail!<br />So while I am in full agreement, I suggest a cautious approach to be sure the result is better looking armor not cheap cheats around the process.Mike Conleyhttp://www.northcoastnero.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-26017188186006880952010-08-11T10:04:24.687-04:002010-08-11T10:04:24.687-04:00I'm a big proponent of Look over Material when...I'm a big proponent of Look over Material when it comes to Armor. My hope is that in a hypothetical 10th we can finally move to obliterate most leather/chain/plate distinctions and just make it be about how covered you are and cool you look, but that's kind of a future pipe dream.<br /><br />I mostly commented because it was odd to see my words being quoted.Mickeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-64804238438101662702010-08-11T09:59:02.008-04:002010-08-11T09:59:02.008-04:00Yeah Mickey, as Tim said, there's a lot of goo...Yeah Mickey, as Tim said, there's a lot of good stuff in 9th ed and we're aware that you guys are fighting the good fight. As far as armor is concerned, we are leaps and bounds ahead of where we were when we used the armor rules from the 8th ed rulebook.<br /><br />This was intended to be a 'player perspective' article, in which I added hopes of giving leather more value. The rules are already in place giving alternate materials full value. Just some players frown upon it, where I feel we, as players, should embrace it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979935681444364292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-65635024279881845812010-08-11T09:48:25.888-04:002010-08-11T09:48:25.888-04:00Hey Tim, thank you, I really appreciate it. It'...Hey Tim, thank you, I really appreciate it. It's been a... challenge. ;)Mickeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-86542404433526910122010-08-11T08:39:26.082-04:002010-08-11T08:39:26.082-04:00Mickey you guys are awesome for working so hard on...Mickey you guys are awesome for working so hard on that rulebook, I just hope that we see it soon. I know that it is not your fault, and I just wanted to say that.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437406306299325645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-58428265803991012142010-08-11T07:59:20.605-04:002010-08-11T07:59:20.605-04:00"Armor does not have to be real to count for ..."Armor does not have to be real to count for armor points, so long as it looks reasonably realistic from a short distance away."<br /><br />That is a direct quote from my writing in the new rulebook.Mickeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-27226321362373765112010-08-10T16:17:34.601-04:002010-08-10T16:17:34.601-04:00Come on, you know how the old guard gets whenever ...Come on, you know how the old guard gets whenever you try to change something as fundamental as materials for armor. There have been a fair number of forum posts where people are calling for the exact opposite of what I'm saying.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979935681444364292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-49785433946587563712010-08-10T16:12:09.212-04:002010-08-10T16:12:09.212-04:00The 2 people? In the chapters that we play in? I t...The 2 people? In the chapters that we play in? I think we might overrule themTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437406306299325645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-35617598234351492392010-08-10T15:25:09.294-04:002010-08-10T15:25:09.294-04:00Those numbers look good to me, except perhaps for ...Those numbers look good to me, except perhaps for the chain max (maybe drop it a few points to 34). <br /><br />The trick would be convincing all the people with hardcore armor to adopt something like this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979935681444364292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7781060643507162251.post-52943763183316169802010-08-10T15:13:18.345-04:002010-08-10T15:13:18.345-04:00Would you support something like the following, th...Would you support something like the following, then? For the record, the system below is not my own invention.<br /><br />Leather is any material, natural or synthetic, that looks like leather. Chain Mail is made of material of interlocking links whose holes are small enough not to easily catch a finger. Plate Mail is made of rigid material that does not easily deform or of material that accurately recreates the look of plate, either medieval or fantasy. <br /><br />Armor does not have to be real to count for armor points, so long as it looks reasonably realistic from a short distance away.<br /><br />Leather plate / back is worth 6/6, Chain is worth 7/7, Plate is worth 8/8 (instead of 3/6/9 in armor suite)<br />A helm, upper arm or upper leg is worth 2/3/4 (instead of 1/2/3).<br />A forearm or lower leg is worth 1/2/3 (same)<br /><br />Max totals are 40 for plate, 37 for chain, and 26 for leather, assuming non-enhanced armor. (As opposed to 45, 30, and 15).Hedgehoghttp://www.neroindy.comnoreply@blogger.com