Re: [BNW] First impressions

[Charles Little <infinite@infinite-visions.com>]

> Correct - nor would it be hard to create a simple list of powers and have
> the players pick three to build a new power package.
I think that this approach would change what they are trying to do.  If
you could pick powers and minmax them, it would take away some of the feel
of the game.  I was utterly surpirsed to learn about the packages, then
utterly surprised to learn that they actually worked!  I do think that the
bargainer is horribly out of place though...

> 
> But if you've got to write the mechanics of the game, it thins out the
> reasons to buy the product in the first place.
> 
No.  This is missing the point.  There is a rich background with a
different type of superhero in between those pages.  Mechanics have never
meant that much tom... how many times have you played a game without using
house rules anyway?  Two of the most rules intensive games.. GURPS and
RoleMaster... I play them, but we even have house rules for those!

> I understand - I think of BNW as more of a pulp game then a superhero game.
>  But even considering "power levels" - certain templates get rooked
> compared to others.  Medic being the lowest, and Bargainer and Gadgeeter
> being the highest.   (Bargainer and Gadgeeter have access to either/or a
> wide range of powers, or a multiple group of powers at once)
> 
They get a wide variety, but at a cost and with drawbacks...  though I
don't really like the idea of the bargainer or the covenant agents...
They just don't seem to fit to me...

> And my point about the collectible RPG is more then just the limited number
> of archetypes available, it also takes into account the imcomplete aspects
> of the game: Bargainer, Gadgeteer and Alphas - which will all be explained
> in a book to be purchased later.
> 
All of the rules you need to play are there.  Most games come out with
expansions to the rules later to expand upon complicated aspects... and I
view the Bargainer and the Gadgeteer as complicated.  and Alphas?  Mat has
already said that they will not be coming back full force, so that is sort
of moot.

> Of course - few are the game stores that let you read a book from cover to
> cover before you buy something, and even fewer still are those that will
> let you return a book you've purchased if the sole reason for the return is
> that "you didn't like it."
> 
If your store wont let you look at an open book long enough to see if you
want it, then you are shopping at the wrong store!  You might as well shop
over the internet and save money if that is the case!  Sorry, a peeve of
mine since I work in a game store part time...

Charles Little
The Black Hand
Ever Defiant