An idea has buzzing about in my head for quite a while now, and I want to see it become a reality. I would like to host an online game for three Gnome Stew readers using ScreenMonkey and Skype. The game system will be Fudge with a few of my own variations to the rules. The setting is science fiction inspired by the film Blade Runner, and the PCs will be unique replicants on the run from their human creators.
Here are the rest of the details:
- The game will take place on April 9th, and will start at 1pm CST. I expect the session to last 3 to 4 hours.
- You must have a high speed Internet connection, an Internet browser, and a microphone and sound in order to play.
- You agree to write a short review of the game for me to use in a follow-up Gnome Stew article.
- You give Gnome Stew permission to forward me the email address that used for registration with the site. Your email address will be used solely for the purposes described in this article.
- Sorry fellow gnomes, but this offer is for readers only!
The three players will be chosen randomly from those readers who post a comment below. I will announce who the three players are on March 18th. Only the first comment submitted will be eligible for the drawing. If you wish not to participate in the drawing, but still wish to leave a comment just so say in the comment.
Why am I doing this? Because I want to say thank you to all of you readers, and because it just seems like a cool idea. If it works well I might do it again in the future.
Interested in playing a game with one of the gnomes? Just leave a comment below, and you’ll be eligible for the drawing. Any questions? Just ask them as part of your comment. I look forward to gaming with three of you soon!
Yes yes oh god yes.
Aw yeah this sounds like a ton of fun! Not tried online play of this variety before, would be great to see how it pans out. Sounds like a tasty ingredient to add to the Stew.
Hopefully being UK-based won’t effect my ability to join in, though I did just recently get a beefy net connection…
Good luck everybody :b
Don’t make me beg. I will not beg. Oh, screw it.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.
Sounds great! If I’ve computed my time zones correctly, I will only require a small amount of caffeine to be able to participate, and I know Skype works well enough between me and the USA. Never played Fudge, but it’s always good to get the experience of other things and other ways.
Now, what are the actual chances of this comment actually being one of the ones that gets picked? Anybody been to the future and knows how many comments eventually get posted?
For the record, I think this is an awesome idea, because we sit here reading about all your GMing prowess on a regular basis, and now some of us get the chance to experience it firsthand, which is awesome.
I’d love to play.
Also, I’m sure you’re already aware, but if ScreenMonkey isn’t fitting the bill, you might want to checkout MapTools. It’s free, and I’ve used it quite a lot with Skype to run games.
Game with a Gnome? In the setting of my favorite book?
Oh HECK YEAH!
I’ve been looking for online methods to test for my own games, so an added bonus is that I’ll get to see how ScreenMonkey works.
Count me in!
In! The chance to play a game using Fudge is icing on the cake.
Count me in. I have been wanting to watch Blade Runner again …
Fantastic idea! Does one require a knowledge of Fudge to play? I know 3-4 hours is a good session length, but I don’t know what the learning curve for Fudge is.
I do not want to be entered into the drawing to play.
I’m just writing to say that I am in the middle of designing a Con scenario for Savage Worlds based on the identical premise (almost word for word) that has just become derivative rather than original and cliche rather than exciting and therefore you suck. 8o)
Oh well, I can always do some Deadlands instead.
Good luck with the remote game experience, Patrick, and I hope the three winners have a suitably wonderful time. May your tech be up to the task, and may your game be all you wish for it.
Wow! More enthusiasm than I expected for the idea! Awesome! I’m just going to respond to a few comments here to make sure that all questions are answered.
@MaW – Currently your chances are 1-in-3. If you get picked you’ll find out that my GMing prowess is still firmly in the realm of mortals. 🙂
@recursive.faults – MapTool, and the RPTools suite in general, is good stuff. I am using ScreenMonkey though because the players only need an Internet browser. I like to avoid having others install software if possible.
@Wulfgar – I will try to blend in some elements from the book, but as you know the film and the book are two very different stories
@Rafe – No knowledge of Fudge is needed. It takes about five minutes to learn how to play.
@Roxysteve – Umm, sorry for being first? 😉
@Patrick Benson – since I’m a long way off the mortal maximum myself, I’d sit back and enjoy it anyway. My own serious GMing experience is limited to one Nobilis campaign last year, although the group do seem keen for me to do another one so it can’t have been all that bad!
I was reading about Fudge earlier, it looks like a great system that I may have to consider at some point when I’m not defaulting to running Nobilis.
Sounds great, I’m in the UK so 1pm CST is 7pm GMT right?
Cheers,
Lee
@leebrown1990 – Yes. I picked 1pm CST because it seemed the most accommodating across several times zones.
I’d like to gush forth with positive comments, but they been said… Yes, I’d like to give this experience a go.
I’ve never played Fudge but I’d be into it.
I have to say, if comments hit that magic number just over 20 (accounting for repeats and opt-outs), you had better be busting out the dice.
This is a great idea. Count me interested
Oh hell yeah. I’d love to get in on this!
The response so far to this idea is great and humbling. I might have to make this a recurring thing to see if I can get everyone a chance to play! 🙂
But this time only three will be chosen! Who will they be?
I propose a series of knife fights to the death in the parking lot to determine who the three worthy enough to play shall be.
@Rafe – Which is reason #1 why I don’t want you in charge of any form of arbitration ever. 😉