4 minutes ago, KungFuFerret said:Which is fine, I'm not criticizing any nerd their nerdiness, I've definitely got mine.
Oh, I totally get people who don't like Tolkien. There are people out there who don't like Star Wars, or sci-fi even!
I just was trying to offer Rabobankrider my insights into the various Tolkeinesque games, because they are a favourite of mine . Basically, how important is the lore and tone to him? Because different games will scratch that itch.
13 minutes ago, Maelora said:Interestingly, 5th edition actually tried to address that issue with 'bounded accuracy'. Even Aragorn can get hit by low level foes.
True, 5th is better than its predecessors that way, much flatter power curve.
22 minutes ago, KungFuFerret said:Chapter after chapter of the idyllic hobbit life, how quaint it is, "Oh look, their 'scandal' is that Merpy Flapbottom took someone's onions without permission! Oooh those scamps with their ideal life! Did I mention their life is ideal? And not tainted with modernity? It's IDEAL DANGIT!!"
Well, yes, the Professor heavily romanticised the pastoral life and the joys of simple living. He hated industrialisation and had a great affection for simple, humble rural folks, stemming from his time in the trenches during WW1. So yes, he sort of overdosed on it.
But (at the risk of sounding like someone who has shares in Cubicle Seven!) 'One Ring' takes that and makes it a plot point. You're not a normal hobbit (or human or whatever) who worries about the local cricket scores or stealing Fatty Bolger's apples. You discovered that eldritch abominations and terrifying horrors exist, and they are much, much closer to your comfy world than you could have guessed. In fact, if you don't get out of bed, right now, pick up that old sword your uncle once gave you, and do something about it... then everything you know and love will be horribly destroyed.
It's used in a similar way to how the 1920's are a stark contrast to HP Lovecraft's cosmic horrors. Your comfortable world is a lie, and unless you do something against the odds, you and everything you care about is doomed.
Edited by Maelora12 minutes ago, Maelora said:Well, yes, the Professor heavily romanticised the pastoral life and the joys of simple living. He hated industrialisation and had a great affection for simple, humble rural folks, stemming from his time in the trenches during WW1. So yes, he sort of overdosed on it.
Emphasis is mine. I have no problem with the "Hero From Humble Origins" trope, if I did, it would basically be impossible to like ANY fantasy story (and Star Wars for that matter). My issue was he just kept writing long past the point where any reader wasn't aware of his feelings about the lifestyle.
As Patrick Rothfuss said once in a panel about magical systems in writing, though he was quoting another author who's name I forget "When the author suddenly seems to be pleasuring themselves in their descriptive text, you know you've got to edit some stuff"
As Patrick put it "This isn't about me anymore is it?"
9 minutes ago, KungFuFerret said:Emphasis is mine. I have no problem with the "Hero From Humble Origins" trope, if I did, it would basically be impossible to like ANY fantasy story (and Star Wars for that matter). My issue was he just kept writing long past the point where any reader wasn't aware of his feelings about the lifestyle.
Oh, I totally get that. And the Prof isn't anywhere near as bad as many writers.
In my twenties I
really
tried to read the 'Gor' books because a friend adored them. The first couple were passable homages to Barsoom. And then the author insisted on pouring out his misogynistic sado-masochistic fantasies
on every flippin' page
...
http://www.rdrop.com/~wyvern/data/houseplants.html (warning: cactus porn!)
Edited by Maelora1 minute ago, Maelora said:Oh, I totally get that. And the Prof isn't anywhere near as bad as many writers.
In my twenties I really tried to read the 'Gor' books because a friend adored them. The first couple were passable homages to Barsoom. And then the author insisted on pouring out his sado-masochistic fantasies on every flippin' page ...
....Gor? As in...Outlaw of Gor? As in...my absolute FAVORITE and most WONDERFUL episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000?!?! THAT GOOOOOOR?!?!
1 minute ago, KungFuFerret said:....Gor? As in...Outlaw of Gor? As in...my absolute FAVORITE and most WONDERFUL episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000?!?! THAT GOOOOOOR?!?!
That movie's a masterpiece compared to the source material...
3 minutes ago, Maelora said:That movie's a masterpiece compared to the source material...
Yes so I've heard
The movie is absolutely terrible, but Jack Palance and the bots + Mike make that film just an absolute treasure to riff apart
I think I will answer my emails and go to bed now!
I just wanted to help the topic creator, and as god is my judge, I did not enter this thread intending to write the words 'cactus porn' at any point.
'Night, ladies and gents
Too long didn't read. You can use fog star wars talents in genesys, it's crazy easy to port them in because genesys has a talent pyramid rather than talent trees