Vampire: the Masquerade - New York by Night OOC Thread

[reapersaurus]

you're waiting on me.
I've just gotten a case of writer's block here for awhile.

I just can't see how Nik doing more Investigation about the Red Poet tonight would be seen as a good thing.


Currently, I'm more interested (as a writer) in detailing Nikolai's Nightmares when he goes to sleep tonight...

 

[Catulle]

Cool (well, not 'cool', but I think you'll catch my drift).

I was going to throw out an idea to you folks that if characters start up the game significantly later than the current group, they come in with half the 'party average' experience as a bonus to keep things roughly on a parity while still not skewing things too heavily. Thoughts, people?

I mooted this one with Shali over MSN a little time back re giving Helen/Tess this boost (I'd like to avoid favouritism), but what would you think to this?

In other news, I seem able to access the site from work, but the home connection's being tempramental (again). After the Weekend From Hell, I was hoping to get back in the flow, difficulties or no. Just bear with me, please

Regards,

Barry

 

[Festy_Dog]

Originally posted by Catulle
Cool (well, not 'cool', but I think you'll catch my drift).

I know exactly what you mean, I use that word the same way.

I've got no problem with giving newcomers half the party average, kinda helps keep everything level.

 

[KitanaVorr]

Sure I have no problem with that.

Does that mean if a character dies and we have to remake a new one, that one comes in with half the current party experience points? This is experience points without the bonuses right? Or are you doing an average?

 

[Catulle]

I was thinking of taking the mean of the total net xp, thus incorporating bunuses. If that makes any sense.

Regards,

Barry

 

[KitanaVorr]

I was thinking of taking the mean of the total net xp, thus incorporating bunuses. If that makes any sense.

Regards,

Barry

Actually that might not be fair because not everyone got many bonuses. It could end up that the new player would end up being very close to the current player with lowest experience total. For example, if you have 3 people who have 5,8,11 (with 5 being a player who got no bonuses) and you take the average of that and then take half, you end up with 4 for the new player.

I'd suggest taking the lowest overall experience total (in this case the person who has the 5) and taking half of that.

 

[reapersaurus]

I think a couple questions might help lead us in the right direction:

1) Would any of us have less fun if any new player joining had the same number of points as us?

2) Would the new player have more fun if they had as many points to play with as us?

The answers to these questions will probably lead us to the right decision.

 

[Shalimar]

I think that if you post everyones overall experience point total it might help, because book-keeping is not my strong suit, we would be able to go from there.

I think thta coming into the game with a vastly less experienced PC is less fun, so I am definitely for giving out XP to new characters. I think however, that giving them the full xp of characters who have gotten bonuses for the rping, however, is wrong since they did not do that same character building, and they still have the chance to build up bonus xp as they delve into the character.

What I believe should be done is this, find the baseline for XP, as in what everyone would have had no one been givin bonuses, and award that amount. The bonuses will come when they rp the character, that bonus xp came from the work of the other players and it should therefore be givien only to those who have earned it.

ie. you determine at this point of the chronicle that without taking rp bonuses into account all players should have 10 xp, with the bonuses, some characters might have 14 or even 15 for exemplery rp, while others might have only 11 or 12 xp because of their lesser, but still substantial rping.

 

[Tory Adore]

Well made points by everyone I must say.

Personally though, as I never seem to remember how many xps and bonus points Cat's given me no matter how many times he's told me - and yes I even right it down and then can't find it , even if it were I who had the least total xps and bonus points (of which I have no clue if it is me or someone else), I would not and do not mind at all if any new player comes in with the same totals as me. I wouldn't have a problem if a new player came in with more than me either.

I don't know for fact what everyone's stats are after xps and bonus awards anyway, but I do have a pretty good conjecture going - some update as they get xps and some don't - so it really makes no difference in regard to the totals of everyone including that of new players coming in since for the most part I don't know or worry about what others have. I trust our ST, as I'm sure we all do, to be as fair as he can be when passing out xps and bonuses. It all works out pretty even anyway eventually.

Plus anyone coming in has a HECK of a lot of reading to do to catch up to the situations at hand. That alone should be worth some hefty awarding of xps and bonuses. That's a lot of work in itself I think.

Whatever works for the story and lets everyone have the most fun and enjoyment should be the ultimate goal in my opinion.

Anyway, I'm gonna go try to sleep now...too early for too much thinking. 4:38am - uggghhh...I wish it were Friday.

 

[KitanaVorr]

Shalimar's idea works for me.