I Hit It With My Axe: Episode Eight: Don't Tell Us, Right Now!
- Thread starter Zak Sabbath
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I've played quite a bit online and quite a bit in person. With the right tools, I actually tend to prefer playing online. ( apparently people just don't look at my six-and-a-half-foot frame and think 'petite little elfgirl' :-( ) There are a number of tools that help facilitate this, and my favorite tools are all free:richgfong said:
- A virtual tabletop software (I prefer MapTool) to emulate miniatures and provide a chat room with RP-specific features like virtual die rolling and GM-only text.
- Voice chat software if you prefer not to use text chatting. Mumble or Ventrillo are probably the most popular specialty clients but I'll bet Skype would do fine.
- Character sheet software. I'm fond of PCGen, which runs really slowly but can make damn near anything if you spend some time with it. I've got an Earth Mephit Mystic Theurge, an elven sorcerer/psion lich, and a character with a homebrew class and a homebrew race, all that I was able to make with PCGen.
I DO love the show and pretty much have no complaints about the latest episode (or even the last couple) but good editing is good editing. There's nothing silly about wanting a coherent (although I was never confused about what was going on, there was less emotional impact) narrative. Its easier and doesn't require a high production value to put something into Premiere/After Effects and leave it alone. For instance, ditching the guitar-riff cuts is a huge boon to the show, I think.frankieface said:
Anyways, most of those concerns were pieces of constructive criticism about earlier episodes in which I suspect people were still getting settled in on how to proceed with the show. Cheers and here's to many more episodes in the future.
I totally understand. I was exaggerating, and just meant it as a, "this show is not House, it will not be lit or edited like House, or have the same structured storyline as House." Maybe it can, I mean, what's it take to get the editor and writers of House to edit and write our episodes?? I'm kidding.
That post was mainly a response to try to get people to lighten up. Not everyone will like everything that happens and I understand it. I've just read some unrealistic expectations and I thought they were ridiculous and wanted to clear some things up.
I like the guitar-riffs, because I think we all (the players & DM) like metal, and we're typically usually listening to metal when we play. Doom metal, black metal, power violence. I mean for me at least, it really sets the mood. Like listening to Emperor before an epic battle.
Ah well, anyway I understand people have different opinions about what they like to see and hear. Thank you for watching the show, I'm glad you like it.
Also just to make Frankie's point about the music cut ins extra clear--it's there to provide added emotional impact to the condensed tense or important events of our game in the originally very short episodes. To help illustrate what we were all thinking or feeling--something epic is about to happen--the music playing in the backround suddenly becomes heavy and emotional for us as it syncs with our fears, hopes, expectations for what is about to happen to us. KK says "nice" or "metal" as a heavy guitar rift cues with her about to roll a 20 (for example). That's fun for us and wouldn't have come through in the edit without making a point of it.
KK is really good at rolling crits by the way. Which is appropriate for her barbarian class and personality.
KK is really good at rolling crits by the way. Which is appropriate for her barbarian class and personality.
And since some of you have asked for this, a quick summery of our characters:
Me: I'm a tiefling cleric of Vorn. I'm 4th level. I've been playing this character since mid August 2009. I was left as an infant on the steps of the Cathedral of Vorn and as such the recentness of my demon lineage is uncertain. It is suspected among the priestesses who raised me that it's fairly recent and so I had extra vigorous moral instruction. My name is Tizane Ildiko. In Hungarian it means "Gypsy Warrior" but I believe there are alternate spellings to the one I chose. I'm very bossy. I try to be cautious. I seem to be the "mom" of the party, which makes sense since I'm the one who has to heal everyone once they've gotten into trouble, so I tend to sometimes try to think of ways to get everyone else to avoid "excessive trouble". I grew up playing video games and so only played my first game of D&D at Christmas 2008.
Frankie: Frankie is a dark elf thief. She is now 3rd level. She's been playing with us since just before Christmas (2009). Her name is Varla. She really likes to sneak and hide and shoot stuff from far away and occasionally needs to be reminded that she can cause darkness and backstab everything. She saves the party a lot by doing that. She also very much likes to loot and steal.
Kimberly Kane (we call her KK): Is a 2ond level half elf barbarian named Rookia. She started playing with us in December. She is from the frozen north of the world we play in and so is half what we call "white elf". She likes to have guard dogs and has very good luck when rolling to hit things. She is brave and independent and likes her ale.
*aside* The world we play is all covered in ice and snow and in perpetual winter everywhere as far as we know.
Satine: Satine has been playing D&D since she was 15, so that's over ten years. She likes to play wood elves and is also a thief. Her name is Mirror. I think she's 2ond or 3rd level. She is very adventurous and inventive. She likes to pickpocket fancy things from nobles and think up crazy ways to get stuff done. She's very protective of her belongings when we do stuff she always retrieves her ropes and grappling hooks. We've been playing with her since fall 2009 I think.
Connie: Connie is playing a halfling thief. Her name is Jinx. She likes animals and likes doing nimble little tricks that the rest of us can't. She is reckless and bold and loyal. When she gets injured (she has bad luck with that) she likes to get revenge and when she is denied that she gets a bit impatient but she always seems calm and quiet. Jinx is quirky. Connie has also been playing with us since fall 2009.
As for the DM and guest stars you all can figure that out for yourself with minimal effort. You can also check out www.dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com and click "players" for play reports and additional insights into our characters and gaming anecdotes.
Me: I'm a tiefling cleric of Vorn. I'm 4th level. I've been playing this character since mid August 2009. I was left as an infant on the steps of the Cathedral of Vorn and as such the recentness of my demon lineage is uncertain. It is suspected among the priestesses who raised me that it's fairly recent and so I had extra vigorous moral instruction. My name is Tizane Ildiko. In Hungarian it means "Gypsy Warrior" but I believe there are alternate spellings to the one I chose. I'm very bossy. I try to be cautious. I seem to be the "mom" of the party, which makes sense since I'm the one who has to heal everyone once they've gotten into trouble, so I tend to sometimes try to think of ways to get everyone else to avoid "excessive trouble". I grew up playing video games and so only played my first game of D&D at Christmas 2008.
Frankie: Frankie is a dark elf thief. She is now 3rd level. She's been playing with us since just before Christmas (2009). Her name is Varla. She really likes to sneak and hide and shoot stuff from far away and occasionally needs to be reminded that she can cause darkness and backstab everything. She saves the party a lot by doing that. She also very much likes to loot and steal.
Kimberly Kane (we call her KK): Is a 2ond level half elf barbarian named Rookia. She started playing with us in December. She is from the frozen north of the world we play in and so is half what we call "white elf". She likes to have guard dogs and has very good luck when rolling to hit things. She is brave and independent and likes her ale.
*aside* The world we play is all covered in ice and snow and in perpetual winter everywhere as far as we know.
Satine: Satine has been playing D&D since she was 15, so that's over ten years. She likes to play wood elves and is also a thief. Her name is Mirror. I think she's 2ond or 3rd level. She is very adventurous and inventive. She likes to pickpocket fancy things from nobles and think up crazy ways to get stuff done. She's very protective of her belongings when we do stuff she always retrieves her ropes and grappling hooks. We've been playing with her since fall 2009 I think.
Connie: Connie is playing a halfling thief. Her name is Jinx. She likes animals and likes doing nimble little tricks that the rest of us can't. She is reckless and bold and loyal. When she gets injured (she has bad luck with that) she likes to get revenge and when she is denied that she gets a bit impatient but she always seems calm and quiet. Jinx is quirky. Connie has also been playing with us since fall 2009.
As for the DM and guest stars you all can figure that out for yourself with minimal effort. You can also check out www.dndwithpornstars.blogspot.com and click "players" for play reports and additional insights into our characters and gaming anecdotes.
I seldom comment, but I feel it's appropriate to voice my opinions here.
First of all, let me congratulate you on the best episode yet. There was an energy in the room that wasn't felt earlier, and it's always funnier to watch people enjoying themselves (then again, given your chosen profession, you probably knew that
). There's also better lighting, which helped. I like how there seems to be a story emerging, that will really help the dynamics of the show, which has felt a bit wishy-washy so far. Also, backwards goblins were awesome. I'm so stealing that.
On the show as a whole, I find it to be watchable. My favourite girl is Kimberly, because she comes across as the most imaginative. The blanket trick was a great idea, and it's a pity it didn't work (Tangent: I know she rolled a 1 on her attack roll, and that's why it failed, but a blanket does have a fixed size, that's not a variable of chance. Then again, it could be argued that the size determination decided how it twisted in the air, and therefore how big effective area it produced. Just a small, anal retentive comment.). She also seems to be really into it, which, again, makes her fun to watch.
Also, Frankie is cute :3
I wasn't too impressed by the first episodes, but I do agree with what Zak wrote on his blog (a blog I'll be following from now on, as an aside), that it gets better after episode 5. The documentary style isn't an instant sell for me, and I don't watch any "reality shows" (don't get me started on the hypocrisy in the genre name alone -.-), but you manages to make me stick, which is good on you. Naturally, very few reality shows have porn stars playing D&D, so y'know... that probably helps.
Which brings me to the discussion that has raged on the recent video comments. I think the fact that the show stresses the porn star bit in it's description is to make a contrast against the actual content. Porn actors and role-players are both very stereotyped populations, evoking very distinct images in most people's minds, and would probably be put as disjunct sets in any Venn diagram. Showing that there IS in fact an overlapping is a point that deserves to be made; porn actors are normal people, role-players are normal people, and sometimes, porn actors can even be role-players. Every contribution helps when it comes to dispelling prejudice.
I will raise my hand and admit to being guilty watching the first show by virtue of it being... well, porn stars doing nerdy stuff, which... was hot. Which it is. But I think there's more to it than that.
You go, girls (and boy)! Game on!
First of all, let me congratulate you on the best episode yet. There was an energy in the room that wasn't felt earlier, and it's always funnier to watch people enjoying themselves (then again, given your chosen profession, you probably knew that
). There's also better lighting, which helped. I like how there seems to be a story emerging, that will really help the dynamics of the show, which has felt a bit wishy-washy so far. Also, backwards goblins were awesome. I'm so stealing that.On the show as a whole, I find it to be watchable. My favourite girl is Kimberly, because she comes across as the most imaginative. The blanket trick was a great idea, and it's a pity it didn't work (Tangent: I know she rolled a 1 on her attack roll, and that's why it failed, but a blanket does have a fixed size, that's not a variable of chance. Then again, it could be argued that the size determination decided how it twisted in the air, and therefore how big effective area it produced. Just a small, anal retentive comment.). She also seems to be really into it, which, again, makes her fun to watch.
Also, Frankie is cute :3
I wasn't too impressed by the first episodes, but I do agree with what Zak wrote on his blog (a blog I'll be following from now on, as an aside), that it gets better after episode 5. The documentary style isn't an instant sell for me, and I don't watch any "reality shows" (don't get me started on the hypocrisy in the genre name alone -.-), but you manages to make me stick, which is good on you. Naturally, very few reality shows have porn stars playing D&D, so y'know... that probably helps.
Which brings me to the discussion that has raged on the recent video comments. I think the fact that the show stresses the porn star bit in it's description is to make a contrast against the actual content. Porn actors and role-players are both very stereotyped populations, evoking very distinct images in most people's minds, and would probably be put as disjunct sets in any Venn diagram. Showing that there IS in fact an overlapping is a point that deserves to be made; porn actors are normal people, role-players are normal people, and sometimes, porn actors can even be role-players. Every contribution helps when it comes to dispelling prejudice.
I will raise my hand and admit to being guilty watching the first show by virtue of it being... well, porn stars doing nerdy stuff, which... was hot. Which it is. But I think there's more to it than that.
You go, girls (and boy)! Game on!
?The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it? - Terry Pratchett.
Really loved the premise to this goblin palace and the backwards talking; the whole "I will not hit you" type style banter was awesome.
Dunno about the whole made for tv look but regardless a good show since the first one and it seems like I will be watching the rest too!
I have since had the chance to get chatting with my game group and it looks like D&D may well be back on the table this summer. So a big thanks girls & guys for giving me the inspiration to go and dust off a few minatures and maybe even look at going as far as dming a campaign myself.
Really loved the premise to this goblin palace and the backwards talking; the whole "I will not hit you" type style banter was awesome.
Dunno about the whole made for tv look but regardless a good show since the first one and it seems like I will be watching the rest too!
I have since had the chance to get chatting with my game group and it looks like D&D may well be back on the table this summer. So a big thanks girls & guys for giving me the inspiration to go and dust off a few minatures and maybe even look at going as far as dming a campaign myself.
Since some people on the forums seem to (mistakenly) think that a high comment count seems to indicate popularity of a show, I now feel compelled to post in every IHIWMA from now on just to show my support.
The show is great but I've said that before.
The Sword are awesome, completely appropriate music. I'm fine with it cutting in and out, why the hell not, beats silence and you can't exactly have it "in the background" and get the same effect.
Not that fussed about the rotating personnel, as long as Frankie is always in it. Justine seems a bit more into it than Sacha, which I guess is good, but then I didn't mind that Sacha wasn't that into it - the 'bored noob' perspective was actually a good thing to have and to me is just as valuable as someone who might be more enthusiastic or experienced.
Editing doesn't bother me, better to have too many edits than too few. Narrative cohesion, pfft. The minutae of what exactly is happening isn't something I'm that fussed about, the meat of the show is the dynamics between the DM/players and the general vibe of feeling like you are there with the players, in the room... something that no other show I've seen covering the same topic has ever captured...
I wish my girlfriend and her girfriends were into D&D.
The show is great but I've said that before.
The Sword are awesome, completely appropriate music. I'm fine with it cutting in and out, why the hell not, beats silence and you can't exactly have it "in the background" and get the same effect.
Not that fussed about the rotating personnel, as long as Frankie is always in it. Justine seems a bit more into it than Sacha, which I guess is good, but then I didn't mind that Sacha wasn't that into it - the 'bored noob' perspective was actually a good thing to have and to me is just as valuable as someone who might be more enthusiastic or experienced.
Editing doesn't bother me, better to have too many edits than too few. Narrative cohesion, pfft. The minutae of what exactly is happening isn't something I'm that fussed about, the meat of the show is the dynamics between the DM/players and the general vibe of feeling like you are there with the players, in the room... something that no other show I've seen covering the same topic has ever captured...
I wish my girlfriend and her girfriends were into D&D.
KK really comes off like some of the gung-ho gamer guys I've known in the past (only a lot prettier, and -- y'know -- female).
The others really come across as gamers. Some early in their career, others a bit more experienced. But RPG gamers -- the roll-the-dice, talk-crazy-tactics, go-off-on-tangents type of people I know and have known in my gaming career.
It's like going to a convention and listening in at an open gaming table.
Keep it up, y'all.
The others really come across as gamers. Some early in their career, others a bit more experienced. But RPG gamers -- the roll-the-dice, talk-crazy-tactics, go-off-on-tangents type of people I know and have known in my gaming career.
It's like going to a convention and listening in at an open gaming table.
Keep it up, y'all.
My wife couldn't be less interested, but I don't mind. I figure having separate hobbies keep us from becoming a gross "couple" connected by an umbilical cord. Think of it as being...healthy?BonsaiK said:
You know, the trolls coming here might have a positive unintended consequence, as The Escapist is able to ban a lot of the misogynists who might otherwise be "passing" in the general population. So on the upside, there is that.
I'm with you actually; I run my Weird Fantasy game with the WoD rules & it works. Then again, whatever works-- the story is the thing, etc.Panayjon said:
That's just great.VSimmons said:
That tone is uncalled for. There are other arguments brought up than those, on both sides. Myself, for example, lean towards the latter example, but there's definitely no denying the show is being marketed as "D&D with porn stars". I just don't see why this is a problem, and as explained in my post above, I think it is an idea with merit and benefits.VSimmons said:
Both of these are true.VSimmons said:
Why is that a mistake, though? You don't quite clarify that. Because people disagree about it? This is the internet, it's built on porn and arguments.VSimmons said:
But you're not asking anythingVSimmons said:
You talk about how you summarize your impression of the majority of the arguments, and then present your own view (while admitting to not having watched the show, which doesn't really help your case), which is... okay, but there's really not much to say about it.As long as you break no rules, they don't have the authority to ban you. I think it looks fine, you should be in the clearVSimmons said:
That post was a subtle troll. Try not to feed them in the future.Weimann said:That's just great.VSimmons said:
That tone is uncalled for. There are other arguments brought up than those, on both sides. Myself, for example, lean towards the latter example, but there's definitely no denying the show is being marketed as "D&D with porn stars". I just don't see why this is a problem, and as explained in my post above, I think it is an idea with merit and benefits.VSimmons said:
Both of these are true.VSimmons said:
Why is that a mistake, though? You don't quite clarify that. Because people disagree about it? This is the internet, it's built on porn and arguments.VSimmons said:
But you're not asking anythingVSimmons said:
As long as you break no rules, they don't have the authority to ban you. I think it looks fine, you should be in the clearVSimmons said:
Agree with assessment, but worth noting your choice of partner(s) is a point of privilege compared to porn industry at large. Smart enough to already know this, but stick to this kind of home production and try to avoid larger industry - ugly, ruthless business run by and for people you don't want to know.mandymorbid said: