Saturday, March 28, 2020
Storium Basics: Creating A Character / Applying For Games
Today, we're taking a look at the first thing a player will need to do to get involved in a game: creating a character.
Once you've found a game that you'd like to join, whether through the Browse Games feature, the forums, or some other method, what should you expect to happen, and what should you do?
First, a bit about how narrators set things up:
The system a lot of narrators - myself included - will use for open invitation games is to take applications up until about the end of the default two week application period, then look over all the applications and choose the ones they feel will work best for their game. They'll certainly comment on applications before that point and will let you know if the character just outright doesn't work, but you often won't hear a definitive yes or no until the application period nears its end.
There are exceptions, of course - sometimes your character is just so clearly right for the game that they take it right away, or of course sometimes you're specifically invited to a game—but that's how that style works.
Note that some narrators also use the "Open Lobby" feature of Storium or forum topics to let players discuss character options and ask questions in a place specifically set aside for the game as well - I tend to just take applications, myself, but a lot of narrators love using that feature and if one does, you should certainly feel free to ask questions there! Even if they don't, you can usually ask questions via private messaging. Make sure that you understand the world and the game concepts if you're fuzzy on anything.
Remember, though - whether you are talking to the narrator in the Open Lobby, on the forums, through private messaging, or through any other method, do not construe the narrator saying that it is all right to apply with a particular character as the narrator saying that they will definitely approve a particular character. Narrators will often be willing to help you work through applying for a character or iron out a character idea, but until they actually hit "approve" on your character application, you do not have their approval.
Now...how do you actually apply?
I look at Storium applications as…kind of a job application, honestly. A fun one, but still, the idea as a narrator is to pick out people you're willing to be writing with for potentially several months to a year - these games can last a while, even if they sound short to begin with. You want to get a cast of characters that seems like it can work together, and do your best to pick a group of players that seems like it can gel pretty well.
It's in your interest as a player applying for games to look at things from that perspective too. You need to sell both your character and yourself - your character as an interesting element for the story, and yourself as a player who will be active, reliable, and easy to work with.
So, here are a few things I've found can help you be more likely to be accepted for a game:
- Provide a character picture.
- Narrators like to see those—it helps show that you've thought about the character more, and honestly just gives a good "at a glance" for the character's appearance and general mood or theme.
- Don't worry about getting this exact, necessarily - you don't need to go build your character in an art program or get it commissioned or anything.
- There was a good forum topic a while back where someone - I forget who - said that he looked at it as kind of "casting the part" as though this were a movie or some such - he looked less for an exact appearance match and more for a picture that fit the general mood and tone of the character.
- If you cannot provide a picture for your character - for instance, one player I play with is blind and therefore cannot - then just make sure to state that you could not in your comments along with the application. Narrators will generally be understanding, but it's important to let them know that there was a reason.
- Card art isn't as required, generally, but do pay attention if the narrator specifically asks for it. Narrators don't like having their instructions ignored.
- Take some time on the background - you don't have to (in fact, you shouldn't) spell out every detail of a character's life, but there should still be a perception that you know, in general, who the character is.
- Involve your character in the world.
- If the narrator calls out particular kingdoms or locations or tribes or what-have-you, consider having your character be from one of those places, or having run into people from those places.
- If he mentions events, particularly disastrous ones, consider having those events influence your character's background.
- Above all, try to fit your character into the game's world and the game's tone or mood, or be ready to explain why your character can still fit the game despite the differences. Characters that clash with the game's tone or world can sometimes work, but they will make narrators skittish - it is on you to explain how your character can still fit the game.
- A lot of players will submit characters they played elsewhere, and that's totally fine - I've done it myself with old MUX characters or tabletop characters - but make sure to make that character fit into the story's world all the same, likely with the above methods.
- You don't have to be perfect (though there are some sticklers for grammar rules on Storium that will say otherwise), but do take the time to do what you can to make your writing clear.
- In particular, split your background up into paragraphs (and when you do, hit enter twice to clearly separate them - believe me, it makes it so much clearer). It makes it easier to read, and narrators like to know that they're going to have an easy time reading your posts.
- Take a little extra time with your app - and with your writing on Storium in general. Again, you don't have to be perfect. Just make it clear that you do care about your writing.
- Put things into your background that the narrator can use. You don't have to spell them out as bullet points or anything, but characters that provide the narrator with possibilities are more exciting than those who just are what they are.
- Leave some mystery in there, or imply that a person that hurt you was involved with some evil force or another the narrator established in the game description.
- Narrators, by and large, love to have little cues that they can find in a character's description or background. It helps them involve the character more in the story, and make the story about the characters, rather than about events that the characters happen to be involved in.
- This is a good thing to use comments for as well - when you submit your character and that little box comes up with additional comments, take the time to just briefly talk about some ideas for how the character might tie in to the story, or call out bits in your application that you've intentionally left open for the narrator to use.
- Take a look at the other existing apps and try to make your character feel different.
- If other people are choosing a particular nature, strength, weakness, or subplot, it's a good idea to pick a different one. Storium may not have a tactical need to have different "classes" in your party, but narrators like to have characters that are different from each other.
- Work on differentiating Strengths, Weaknesses, and Subplots as well. A game with three people who all have Agile as their Strength card is simply not as fun to read as a game where those three people have different Strength cards. There are definitely story possibilities with overlap, but most narrators I've seen will prefer characters that differ over those that are similar.
- Write your character as someone who can and will get involved with the story and the other characters.
- Characters who feel like they'll want to be separate from the rest of the group a lot of the time (loners, "I work alone" types), or those who feel like they won't care about the story or will actively act against the story (for instance, a totally sensible character in a slasher flick game, who won't go to explore the creepy old house) will make the narrator nervous.
- Remember: You are writing a character for this story. Your character doesn't have to be fated to be a hero or something like that. He doesn't have to be thrilled about what he's going to be doing. But, deep down at the very least, he should be the sort of person that will pursue the activities the story demands.
- If your character appears to be the sort of person who would run screaming in the other direction from the events of the story or otherwise avoid participating in it, take the time in comments to tell the narrator how you'd like to tie the character to the story more firmly - or at least to give the narrator a few ideas for how it might happen. As above, it is on you to explain why a character that doesn't seem to fit can actually fit.
- Pick the starting cards for your character based on what you want to see come up in the story for that character - not just based on what sounds right for the character. You need to pick starting cards that feel like things that would be interesting to you - things you are going to want to play.
- This tends to matter most for Weakness cards, but can also be a factor in choosing a Strength or Subplot. Pick something that interests you and that you want to see as part of the story.
- I've seen players pick stuff because it "sounded right" or because it was who the character was before the tale, not thinking about where their character's story was quickly going to go and how they actually wanted to portray the character, and it always becomes something frustrating for the player then.
- Finally, for yourself, try to build a good reputation in general. Narrators can, and do, look at your play history. If they see interesting characters, story participation, group interaction, a good attitude, and completed games, they'll look forward to the possibilities presented by having you in their game.
If you would like to know more about character creation and applying for games in Storium, here are a few of my Storium Theory articles on that topic:
The World Is Safe... For Now
Today for the #2019gameaday challenge I decided to get an early game in because of our big move. I decided to play Elder Sign: Omens, basically Eldritch Horror mobile.
After getting reacquainted with the game I started to try and save the world from the ancient ones!
After a few rounds of success in closing gates the game started showing me it's TRUE colors and killing off my party!
(I failed to grab a screenshot of the first death but it was the guardian angel)
By the time all was said and done it was 3 dead and only Joe left. Surprisingly he pulled himself together and mustered up the courage to close the last gate himself and thus saving the world from ultimate doom and destruction!
I'm unsure if my score is any good to be honest as this is my first win. Let me know if you play this one and if my score is good or subpar at best.
As always, thank you for reading and don't forget to stop and smell the meeples! :)
-Tim
Monday, March 23, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020
11009, Crypts Of Chaos!
I am playing for Extra Life again this year, but I am going to split it between November 3rd and 10th. I am old and I can't stay up that long anymore, it's really the thought that counts. I will be playing once again for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Please donate at the link below, thank you for your support! And I thank you as always for listening.
Please donate to my Extra Life campaign!
Sean's Extra Life page
Andrew's Extra Life page
Crypts of Chaos on Random Terrain
Michael Rideout's CoC maps on Atari Age
John WS Marvin's Dread Unicorn Games site
Cyberroach interview with John WS Marvin
John WS Marvin on Iconic Podcast
John WS Marvin on Game Master's Journey Podcast
John WS Marvin on GM Intrusions Podcast
James Dowlen's web site
James Dowlen on The Computer Chronicles
Florian's Atari Age thread about Sun Science
Weird Levi's commercial
No Swear Gamer 198 - Crypts of Chaos
Thursday, March 19, 2020
The Analogue Mega Sg – A Preview Of The Next Chapter In The FPGA "Console Wars"
Analogue Mega Sg JPN Version |
Shadow Of The Comet – Development Hell
So, the last session finished with me recovering from last night's events and Dr COBBLE prescribing me some pills to stop a heart attack. As I get off bed and put on my clothes, I have two goals for the day: get these pills from the pharmacy; and develop the plates from last night, again at the pharmacy. So, without much delay, I gather the prescription from the desk and head out. Oh, I also have a look at the parchment from the ritual, but I cannot read it. Maybe JUGG will be able to help later. Just to be on the safe side, I try to use it very near the desk, but it doesn't work.
Maybe I won't come across Miss PICOTT this time |
So, I go to the back to collect the four chemicals. Only there are eight of them. Fortunately, I have a good chemistry education and have the internet at my disposal to find the solution. As you can imagine, neither was really helpful.
...develop those plates. Well, I definitely won't work for them. |
However, all this knowledge did not really help me much. My online research suggested that I need to use metol and / or hydroquinone first, then add something to raise the pH (benzene chlorate?) and finally sodium sulphite. This is the process for B&W photo development. I suppose I could add the 'chromogenous', whatever that is, in the end. Black and white works better with astrophotography, as there is not really much colour in space and requires less light on your plate / chip to produce an image. And it can be equally spectacular.
My first try failed, but I could try as many times as I wanted, fortunately. I was convinced that I had to use sodium sulphite at the end, so I tried various combinations, without success. Some more googling suggested that sometimes it helps to add a weak acid to control the development. I tried some combinations using the acids at my disposal (weak and strong). In vain.
In the end I resolved to brute force it. I was pretty sure that the Metol – Hydroquinone were correct, since I had tried several combinations with only one of them to zero success. After a few more tries, I found the correct combination. I will leave it here to spare others of this madness: metol – hydroquinone – benzene chlorate (which is actually sodium hyposulphite) – chromogenous (potassium metabisulphite).
I would disagree |
But I digress. After I successfully develop the plates, I am treated to a cutscene in which I slowly go through the developed plates, only to look at a horrid image in the third one, a set of eyes formed by stars looking at me with malice.
Game over. Or not |
Outside of the pharmacy I met some Mr COLDSTONE who warned me not to go to the forest, because "it doesn't agree with some people". I don't know where I've seen him, but PARKER apparently knew him. Oh well.
I want to head to JUGG's house, but I wander around town a bit first. At the tavern, I buy JED a beer and watch him complain to ZEKE, the bartender, about the quality of his beer. About time I say. Now JED owes me one. In the town square, I see miss PICOTT again, all alone, so I try some small talk. She seems concerned about my pallor but then goes on with her Bible reading.
Technically, I was up to voyeurism. |
- Miss PICOTT's niece, GLORIA, who is hiding from her aunt and pleads to me not to rat her out. Naturally, I promise her.
- CURTIS HAMBLETON says that I made a mess and that 'they' know everything. Who are 'they' and what is 'everything'? Fine mess indeed.
- Outside of the dilapidated mansion, I meet the HAMBLETON boys, who suggest I leave and then go away.
- I also notice a bug. When I entered the hardware store from the north, I could not move at all. All the other commands worked normally.
Anyway, I finally collect myself and head to JUGG's place. Outside it I meet WILBUR. Was he at JUGG's? The door was locked, so I don't really know. Maybe he killed JUGG? There is nobody at the Archives, so the murder scenario seems very likely. Maybe I need to find WILBUR and have a chat. He didn't respond to the Talk command when I confronted him in front of JUGG's house.
Staring contest |
As predicted, the key opens JUGG's front door, after an unnecessarily long cutscene of trying to turn the key in the lock. When inside, the first thing I notice is blood on the floor. I am a bit disappointed there is no mention of it when I Look around.
As I head to JUGG's bedroom, I feel that I am being set up for a puzzle, because I find and pick up a statue of a baby (on the desk), a statue of a young man (in a cabinet) and a statue of an old man (inside one of the butterfly displays).
There is more blood in JUGG's bedroom, but what is more important, I can now pick up a number of books from his shelf and bookcase. The books are called: Youth, Beyond Chaos, The Old Man and the Sea, The Invisible Man and the Mystery of the Pyramids.
This time the puzzle made sense. I put the statues in the place of the books most relevant to them: Baby for Youth, Young Man for Invisible Man and Old Man for Old Man and the Sea. Not that the game let me put them anywhere else. Once I replaced the other books in their places, I got the satisfaction of a secret passage being revealed.
Honestly, I thought I was trying to open the door hidden behind the curtain |
Oh! There is also a dying JUGG. I try to call for help, but he stops me, saying that he still has enough life in him to help me. I give him the parchment from the ritual and he translates it. It is the most common unpronounceable quote about Cthulhu.
Fortunately, there is a translation |
He also gives me some hints. I should read the NECRONOMICON, a book so horrible that drives people mad just by its words, so that I can find the formula to stop the guardian. I must read it here. On his desk there is also a note about someone who can help me. I must read it only in the safety of my room.
Finally, he speaks about the dead sorcerer NARACKAMOUS. This was the name that the Native American used.
This guy, in case you did not remember |
Another 20-30 minutes and 2 rage-quits later, I find out that it was a pixel-hunting solution again. The key was under the carpet in the next room. In retrospect it makes sense, but again I must remember to press L with every step I take.
I mean, why wouldn't I lift everything not nailed down. It's an adventure game |
I use the key on the Necronomicon and get some more knowledge. The book speaks about Yog Sothoth being the portal and the key and provides guidance on how I should stop him from coming to Earth. Then I try to get out and I burn to death, because I stupidly forgot to put the book back on the desk.
Before I go on, I must say something positive about the tools at my disposal, and that is the Notebook I carry. I have omitted it in previous posts, but it is very helpful for people like me who rarely take notes when playing. It keeps track of important goals or gives subtle warnings. For example, it warns me that, now that JUGG is dead, I will probably be the prime suspect for his death. More on that in a bit.
Having learned the secrets about how to stop Yog-Sothoth from returning, I now need to get back to my room and read the message from poor JUGG. Only one route seems to be open though. In the others, there are cultists waiting for me and the policeman takes me to JUGG's home and arrests me for murder. I suppose I am summarily led to the chair or the noose or whatever they used these days. Maybe the plank.
But first: the obligatory Miss PICOTT scolding |
She also gives me some of her personal views on the matter |
Considering that his lookalike was a big racist, this is a big awkward |
UNDERHOUSE gives me another task, and that is to bring him a diary from the Mayor's safe. The combination has to do with the Bible and Evil. I would assume 666 but that would be too easy, right? Or I can ask the Bible expert in the town: Miss PICOTT.
I conveniently meet her outside, but I receive a royal scolding about getting into fights (to save WEBSTER) and spending time drinking alcohol in pubs (ZEKE's watery beer barely qualifies as such). She is also unwilling to lend me her Bible to mend my delinquent ways.
I will stop this session here. Next time I will try to get into Miss PICOTT's good books and stop Yog-Sothoth. I feel that the second task is easier than the first.
Session time: 2:30
Total time: 6:00
Sanity lost: 5 from looking at the plate / 3 from reading the Necronomicon
Total sanity lost: 12 (there's definitely something hiding in that corner. MORE LIGHT)
PS. Bonus death scene: If I tried to visit the lighthouse before I develop the plates, I see WILBUR passing through the fence and the two gorillas warn me not to come closer. If I do, I get shot.
Not the fastest draw west of Pecos |
Monday, March 16, 2020
An Update By The Owner Of The Blog On Games Download Link Outdated Issue
An Update By The Owner Of The Blog On Games Download Link Outdated Issue
Few Day Before I Was Getting Comments Of Links Are OutdatedSo I Want To Just Apologize To All Of You Who Are Facing Link Outdated Issue Or The Download Links For The Game Are Not Working So Friend Just Need To Inform To You All ThatWe Are Working On This Issue And We Will Try To Fix All The Links By The End Of March And You All Will Be Able To Download Games Again So Fiend Just Need You Support And Stay Tuned And We Will Try to Fix All The Links As Soon As Possible .
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Lucius III Free Download
• Discover an In-depth and Carefully crafted story, which takes the Player through range of Emotional Experiences.
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♢ Use 7-Zip to extract RAR, ZIP and ISO files. Install PowerISO to mount ISO files.
(Your PC must at least have the equivalent or higher specs in order to run this game.)
• Processor: Intel Core i5 Processors GHz or higher for better gaming experience
• Memory: at least 8GB System RAM
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If you have any questions or encountered broken links, please do not hesitate to comment below. :D