From news.uwa.edu.au!yarrina.connect.com.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.cs.su.oz.au!inferno.mpx.com.au!goliath.apana.org.au!triode.apana.org.au!triode!sly Fri Aug 25 13:14:26 1995 Path: news.uwa.edu.au!yarrina.connect.com.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.cs.su.oz.au!inferno.mpx.com.au!goliath.apana.org.au!triode.apana.org.au!triode!sly From: sly@triode.apana.org.au (Stephen 'Sly' Lyne) Newsgroups: aus.games.roleplay Subject: FAQ v1.00 FAQ Date: 22 Aug 1995 15:13:44 GMT Organization: APANA - Australian Public Access Network Association Lines: 540 Message-ID: <41cs78$9ss@triode.apana.org.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: triode.apana.org.au Keywords: FAQ X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] /* a-g-rpg.faq */ aus.games.roleplay FAQ p1 General Frequently Asked Questions for the news group aus.games.roleplay ver 1.00 (1995-08-22) maintained by Sly (sly@triode.apana.org.au) ============================================================ Contents -------- ** part 1, General FAQ 1 About this FAQ 1.1 Credits 2 What is Roleplaying? 2.1 Roleplaying 2.2 Dungeons and Dragons 2.3 Campaigns 2.4 Conventions 2.5 Live Roleplaying 2.6 Freeforms 2.7 Multiform / Cinematic 3 'Net Resources 3.1 Newsgroups 3.2 FAQs 3.3 Web Sites 3.4 Bulletin Boards 4 Commercial 4.1 Games and Supplements 4.2 Magazines 4.3 Retail Outlets 5 Other 5.1 Wargames and miniatures 5.2 Trading Card games 5.3 Board games 5.4 Computer games 5.5 Historical Reenactment 5.6 Play By Mail (PBM) part 2, Clubs part 3, Conventions =========================================================== 1 About this FAQ ---------------- ver 1.00 This FAQ is the Frequently Asked Questions file for the news group aus.games.roleplay. It is maintained by Sly (sly@triode.apana.org.au) and posted semi-regularly (whenever I get a-round-tuit) to the aus.games.roleplay newsgroup. The FAQ has now been broken up into 3 files - part 1 is the main FAQ, part 2 is a club listing and part 3 is a convention listing. Still need some information on retail shops outside of Sydney (these may also go in another separate file, or I may drop them alltogether, as gaming shops can easily be found in the telephone directory). Originally the basis of this FAQ came from three documents - the aus.rpg.club listing, the convention listing, and a list of Sydney gaming shops. These have been combined, reformatted, updated, and new material added. The FAQ is currently only in a development stage, and any suggestions are welcome. I would like feedback on the sort of things to include and the direction this FAQ should take. In particular, please notify me of any clubs and conventions I do not have listed, point out any errors (and the correct information if it is available), and feel free to expand any thing contained herin. This FAQ shall also be available via the World Wide Web as a HTML document, including links to many of the items mentioned herein. [it will be available soon, once I have done the work to convert it to HTML] Yours, etc... Sly smail: PO Box 1615, Macquarie Centre NSW 2113 phone: (04) 1454 2562 mobile email: sly@triode.apana.org.au 1.1 Credits Thankyou to the following people for contributing to this FAQ: akin1@mfs01.cc.monash.edu.au (Adrian King) alistair@zeta.org.au (Alistair Gillies) c9036973@cc.newcastle.edu.au (Adam Williams) engjs@cc.newcastle.edu.au (James Smith) mmjmc@cc.flinders.edu.au (Julian Cooling) paul@redgum.ucnv.edu.au (Paul Smith) pborland@hardy.ocs.mq.edu.au (Philippa Borland) ryanc@mhoisdwww1.mh.dpi.qld.gov.au (Chris Ryan) tstirlin@hardy.ocs.mq.edu.au (Tiffany Stirling) u9035281@wraith.cs.uow.edu.au (Paul 'Renegade' Davis) vernon@dstos3.dsto.gov.au (Rene Vernon) wes@dale.canberra.edu.au (Wes Nicholson) ============================================================ 2 What is Roleplaying? ---------------------- Roleplaying covers a wide arena. A few of the more common terms have been discussed and explanations given. 2.1 Roleplaying What is Roleplaying? Difficult question, here a few answers: "To understand roleplaying, you only have to go back to your childhood and those wonderful afternoons spent playing Cops 'n' Robbers, Cowboys and Indians, and Dress-up. What you were doing was roleplaying, a sort of spontaneous and natural acting that completely occupied your imagination. This play-acting helped you learn about life and what it meant to be a grown-up. It was an essential part of childhood, but just because you have grown up doesn't mean you have to stop." "...unlike pretend, there are a few rules to help you roleplay. They are used mainly to avoid arguments - 'Bang! Bang! You're dead!' 'No I'm not!' - and to add a deeper sense of realism to the story. Rules direct and guide the progress of the story, and help define the capacities and weaknesses of the characters." - Vampire: the Masquerade, published by White Wolf, p.22 "...but it has the essential element that makes a role-playing game: The player is placed in the midst of an unknown or dangerous situation created by the referee and must work his way through it." "This is the heart of role-playing. The player adopts the role of a character and then guides that character through an adventure. The player makes decisions, interacts with other characters and players, and, essentially, 'pretends' to be his character during the course of the game. That doesn't mean that the player must jump up and down, dash around, and act like his character. It means that whenever the character is called upon to do something or make a decision, the player pretends that he is in the situation and chooses an appropriate course of action." "Physically, the players and referee (the DM) should be seated comfortably around a table with the referee at the head. Players need plenty of room for papers, pencils, dice, rule books, drinks, and snacks. The referee needs extra space for his maps, dice, rule books, and assorted notes." - Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, 2nd Edition, Player's Handbook, published by TSR, p.9 "I imagine I am someone or something else. So do all of the other players in the game. I describe or act out what my `character' does. The other players decide how their characters will react to this and describe or act out their responses accordingly. During the game, we all react to a basic situation (or plot) that is laid out by a moderator or moderators (who may play the roles of one or more lesser characters). Unlike in a play, all outcomes are not known beforehand and are subject to our imagined actions. All acting is done for personal and mutual satisfaction and (generally) not for an audience." - Adam Williams, via email 2.2 Dungeons and Dragons (and Sixty Minutes) Undoubtably the most widely known roleplaying game is Dungeons and Dragons, popularised by Sixty Minutes and the Christian Church. DnD (as it is known) does exist and is a roleplaying game with a fantasy setting. DnD is not a religion, cult, secret club, sect, coven or any other type of organisation - it is a game (roleplaying game) and can be purchased in most large book and games stores. DnD was written by Gary Gygax and Dave ARneson, and a bunch of other minor contributors. It was first publised in 1974 by the company which grew to be TSR. Early editions are collectors items and can be worth quite a lot. Since then the game has been revised several times, spawned a more complex Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, and been the inspiration for countless other roleplaying games. 2.3 Campaigns Most roleplaying games are run as campaigns, where a group of players regularly get together and play. They usually each have set, permanent characters and play develops an ongoing history as it moves from storyline to storyline. To get involved in a campaing group either encourage your friends to play, join a roleplaying club (who usually have organised campaigns), ask around people you may meet at a roleplaying convention or even put a notice up in your local games shop that you wish to start a group. Most campaign games are run as 'tabletop' games, where players portray their characters action through verbal description with a rules system to determine the outcome of random and unpredictable events. 2.4 Conventions A roleplaying convention is an organised tournament where teams (or individuals) play from a choice of set games. There are usually awards (trophies and prizes) for each game, judged by the writers (of each game). Conventions are usually run over a long weekend and include social activies as well as a variety of games. Conventions are a good place to gain experience at a variety of different games which may not have played and sample different styles of play, as well as being a source of new material for your campaigns. Finally a convention is a good place to meet other roleplayers and socialise, possibly to form a new roleplaying group or gain additional players for an existing campaign. The standard campaign game is run as a tabletop (campaign) game, although there is a much wider scope for characters to have secret agendas, conflicting goals and complex past relationships. 2.5 Live Roleplaying Live roleplaying (LRP) is a variation where the players dress up as their characters and physically move around the gaming area. Games are usually run in bushland areas (for an outdoor setting) or in large buildings or complexes (for more modern settings). These games are still run as a small group of adventurers with relatively coherent goals. For instance, you may be a group of half a dozen fantasy adventurers and follow a preset path through bushland to a final objective. 'Live' puzzles and monsters will be encountered along the way. LRP still use a system, particularly for determining combat and special effects (magic, superpowers) and have carefully designed rules to ensure the safety of all participants. LRP can be exciting, but physically exhausting. 2.6 Freeforms A freeform is another form of roleplaying which combines elements of acting and live roleplaying. A good example of small, regulated freeforms are the 'How to Host a Murder' series of products. Freeforms usually consist of 20-30 players (although 10-100 is possible) each playing a character with individual goals. Often characters may form groups with common goals. A freeform is usually goal driven, with all participants negotiating to solve individual goals, resulting in a pandemonium of activity. Freeforms have become popular at conventions mostly because characters and story lines are 'one offs', not a good basis for an ongoing campaign. Recently there has been some experimentation with freeform style campaigns. 2.7 Multiforms / Cinematic A multiform or cinematic game combines elements of a regular (tabletop) game, LRP, freeforming and acting. Mostly an extension of tabletop gaming where certain dramatic scenes are acted out using (often improvised) props. Multiforming is best used for interactive character development scenes rather than action orient scenes. Often multiforming will be used for specific sections of a game. ============================================================ 3 'Net Resources ---------------- Not quite sure what to put in here, maybe a list of email addresses, ftp sites, web sites... (I know MURPS should have there Club/MacquarieCon web site up and running soon). Also included is contact details of computer bulletin boards with roleplaying content - I will update this as soon as I get a current BBS directory listing (ie. soon). 3.1 Newsgroups aus.games.roleplay, unmoderated rec.games.frp.* 3.2 FAQs a-g-roleplay.FAQ, by Sly (sly@triode.apana.org.au) 3.3 Web sites Sydney University Roleplaying Club (SUTekh) http://bizo.biz.usyd.edu.au/~daniel/sutekh.html Mostly these are under development.. aus.games.roleplay FAQ web site, aus.roleplay.clubs web site, aus.roleplay.conventions web site, yseda's aus.conventions web site, Macquarie University Roleplaying Society home page, MacquarieCon entry form web site, Necronomicon entry form web site ? 3.4 Bulletin Boards Australian Roleplaying and Comics Network (RPCN BBS) BBS: (02) 488 9556 (sysop Robert Fairlie-Cuninghame) 6d6 Systems BBS phone: (02) 361 4106 bh (Phil Wallach) (call for more details or to register) Other Head BBS BBS: (02) 897 3939 phone: (02) 897 2091 (Brian Murphy) Fido: 3:713/612 (Science Fiction and Fantasy Bulletin Board) ============================================================ 4 Commercial ------------ This may seem like free advertising, and it probably is, but it seems like a good idea to have a list of these resources as well. In particular the list of Australian roleplaying games and magazines may be useful; the list of retail shops less so. 4.1 Games and Supplements This section is specifically for Australian contributions to the roleplaying hobby. It is designed to give recognition and provide an index of locally produced content. Albedo published by TAGG Supplement for Lace & Steel ??? Hunter Planet published by TAGG Alien hunters take a trip around the wildlife of Earth (similar to the Predator movies). Lace and Steel by Paul Kidd publised by TAGG High adventure in the 'flashing blades' style of the three musketeers. Rage Across Australia Regional sourcebook for Werewolf, the Apocalypse by Richard Watts, Marc Rudgley and Ben Chessell published by White Wolf Inc. Regional sourcebook and chronicle setting for the Storyteller Werewolf game. It includes the history of the Garou in Australia, the wild and weird creatures of the Outback, and the secrets of the lost Bunyip tribe. Rogues of Lankhmar designed by "Uncle" Wes Nicholson published by TSR, Inc. First in a series of supplements that expand the information on the city of Lankhmar in the world Nehwon where the famous Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser adventure. RUS, published by ???, written by ??? Roleplaying game set in the frozen wastelands of the north. Written by some Australian I believe.. does anyone own a copy and want to do a review, please? Terror Australis Call of Cthulhu background supplement by Penelope Love, Mark Morrison, Lynn Willis,Larry DiTillio and Sandy Petersen published by Chaosium Inc. This supplement includes three adventures as well as extensive information about the Aboriginal inhabitants, their mystical concept of Dreamtime, inhabitants of the Dreamtime, Australian history, transportation in the 1920s, contemporary Australian slang, famous hauntings, and a special chapter analysing the Dreamtime (Alcheringa) in roleplaying terms. 4.2 Magazines Australian Realms published by N. Leaning & M. Page smail: PO Box 220 Morley WA 6943 email: nicklean@perth.dialix.oz.au (Nick Leaning) Published bimonthly with glossy cover and packed with articles. Maintains fantasy realms campaign world of Unae with lots of supporting articles. Also contains the ongoing A-Team comic adventure. Cover price $4.95, with subscription $27 per year (6 issues). 4.3 Retail Outlets .. I can get most of the Sydney shops, would someone like to send me lists for everywhere else :-) ... Comic Kingdom Frontline Hobbies shop: Hunter St Newcastle Galaxy Bookshop Games House shop: 231 Chatswood Chase, Chatswood phone: (02) 411 8833 Games Paradise phone: (02) 267 2069 Games Plus shop: 428 Victoria Ave, Chatswood phone: (02) 413 4700 Games Shop shop: Garden City Shopping Centre Kotara, Newcastle Games World shop: T20 Westpac Plaza, Sydney phone: (02) 241 3006 Kings Comics phone: (02) 267 5615 Military Simulations smail: 134 Cochranes Road, Moorabbin, VIC phone: (03) 555 8886 (mail order) Tin Soldier, Blacktown shop: Shop 24, 24 Main St, Blacktown phone: (02) 621 6779 Tin Soldier, City shop: Dymocks Building, 424 George Street, Sydney phone: (02) 247 7421 Tin Soldier, Hornsby shop: 1 Station Street, Hornsby phone: (02) 482 7276 Tin Soldier, Liverpool shop: 204 George St, Liverpool phone: (02) 601 8702 Tin Soldier, Parramatta shop: Level 1, 97-99 Argyle Street, Parramatta phone: (02) 689 3522 Unlimited Games shop: 117 Macquarie Center, North Ryde phone: (02) 887 1331 Ventura Games shop: Unit 5, 32 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville phone: (02) 517 2288 ============================================================ 5 Other ------- This section is mostly under construction. Please send me any Australian content you think would fit here. 5.1 Wargames and miniatures 5.2 Trading Card games 5.3 Board games 5.4 Computer games 5.5 Historical Reenactment SCA, Metal Weapons groups... 5.6 Play By Mail (PBM) -- sly@triode.apana.org.au /\ GU d----(++) H-- s++:++ !g !au>* a- US+ PO Box 1615, Macquarie 2113 /<>\ w+ C++++ E N++ !W -po+ R+++ G'''' e+ AUSTRALIA ph 04-1454-2562 /____\ !tv b+++ u*(---)(++) f* n-(+++) y* TheRules 1.Style over Substance 2.Attitude is Everything 3.Live on the Edge