jchurchill
September 12th, 2003, 12:55 PM
What is the most abused cliche that you have seen or even [sad to admit] used in Traveller? Have you ever [as I must admit I have done] loaded an adventure with a comic number of cliches deliberately to provoke reactions from players?
Swordsage
September 12th, 2003, 02:03 PM
How about this one:
The Butler did it.
The Butler did it.
Ganidirsii O'Flynn
September 12th, 2003, 02:11 PM
"Your all sitting at a Startown Bar because your ship is broke for (insert time) weeks when all the sudden:
(pick one)
a: a mysterious stranger-in-need comes in;
b: in infamous-former-antagonist and/or local enforcers come in;
c: "Mr. Johnson" (a patron encounter) comes in;
or
d: locally-stationed members of (insert rival service) begin talking trash about (insert ship/unit the party currently/used to serve on/with)."
:rolleyes: :eek: :( :D graemlins/file_22.gif graemlins/file_28.gif graemlins/file_23.gif graemlins/file_21.gif
(pick one)
a: a mysterious stranger-in-need comes in;
b: in infamous-former-antagonist and/or local enforcers come in;
c: "Mr. Johnson" (a patron encounter) comes in;
or
d: locally-stationed members of (insert rival service) begin talking trash about (insert ship/unit the party currently/used to serve on/with)."
:rolleyes: :eek: :( :D graemlins/file_22.gif graemlins/file_28.gif graemlins/file_23.gif graemlins/file_21.gif
vutpakdi
September 12th, 2003, 03:56 PM
A group of misc. people of different service backgrounds, different ages, different races, and from different planets/subsectors/sectors happen to meet at the muster out station and decide that they want to hang out together. One has a ship and suddenly decides that she trusts these complete strangers with her life and ship.
smile.gif
Ron
smile.gif
Ron
kaladorn
September 12th, 2003, 05:13 PM
Ron, that sounds dangerously like high-treason against the OTU! graemlins/file_21.gif
Seriously, in my current campaign, I linked the characters together by forcing them to be from the same homeworld and assume they were from the same neighborhood (roughly) and thus knew each other before they went off to the service and were only getting back together again after the post 5FW demobilization cost them all their jobs....
It's nice to have a bit more binding people together than "I just met you... let's sail off into the cosmos together....".
Seriously, in my current campaign, I linked the characters together by forcing them to be from the same homeworld and assume they were from the same neighborhood (roughly) and thus knew each other before they went off to the service and were only getting back together again after the post 5FW demobilization cost them all their jobs....
It's nice to have a bit more binding people together than "I just met you... let's sail off into the cosmos together....".
Forged
September 12th, 2003, 05:15 PM
Ha Ha,
Ron, that sounds like something I'm involved in now....
Oh wait, you're running that one....
Oops......
Ron, that sounds like something I'm involved in now....
Oh wait, you're running that one....
Oops......
vutpakdi
September 12th, 2003, 05:22 PM
Originally posted by Forged:
Ha Ha,
Ron, that sounds like something I'm involved in now....
Oh wait, you're running that one....
Oops...... Hey now! Careful what you say, lest a certain Vilani merchant meet a beautiful femme fatale out to get him. Oh wait. That already happened. ;)
Anyway, I didn't throw the characters together, and at least they didn't meet at the muster station. In the original game setup, Darishun and Martha were supposed to have been serving together for some time before the start of the game, but Paul changed the scenario and start a little.
I'm innocent in this case! Really! :D
Ron
Ha Ha,
Ron, that sounds like something I'm involved in now....
Oh wait, you're running that one....
Oops...... Hey now! Careful what you say, lest a certain Vilani merchant meet a beautiful femme fatale out to get him. Oh wait. That already happened. ;)
Anyway, I didn't throw the characters together, and at least they didn't meet at the muster station. In the original game setup, Darishun and Martha were supposed to have been serving together for some time before the start of the game, but Paul changed the scenario and start a little.
I'm innocent in this case! Really! :D
Ron
vutpakdi
September 12th, 2003, 05:40 PM
More cliches:
</font> The big ugly guy is the most dangerous one.</font> The old grizzled guy is competent and crusty.</font> Only important NPCs have well thought out names.</font> Most cargo runs suffer from pirates, drive failures, or stowaways.</font> The characters are the only ones who can save the planet, system, subsector, sector, or Imperium.</font> Openly carrying around weapons available by the law level is socially acceptable.</font> Ancient artifacts are incredibly powerful, useful things that also are extremely dangerous to those trying to figure out how to use them.</font>
</font> The big ugly guy is the most dangerous one.</font> The old grizzled guy is competent and crusty.</font> Only important NPCs have well thought out names.</font> Most cargo runs suffer from pirates, drive failures, or stowaways.</font> The characters are the only ones who can save the planet, system, subsector, sector, or Imperium.</font> Openly carrying around weapons available by the law level is socially acceptable.</font> Ancient artifacts are incredibly powerful, useful things that also are extremely dangerous to those trying to figure out how to use them.</font>
Whipsnade
September 12th, 2003, 07:46 PM
Ron Vutpakdi wrote:
"More cliches: ..."
Mr. Vutpakdi,
Guilty as charged, but only in the opposite sense! During my years as a GM I was so averse to the list you wrote that my PCs got skittish over things exactly reverse of the normal cliches!
They feared little men who smiled, knew that the Old Timer was a waste of time, paid attention to Eneri and not Henry Cabot Henhouse III, twitched when cargo runs went well, never really saved a planet (Chamax didn't count), didn't pack around guns like a bad Hollyweird epic, and never knowingly saw an Ancient artifact.
Cliches are crutches and everyone has a different selection.
Sincerely,
Larsen
"More cliches: ..."
Mr. Vutpakdi,
Guilty as charged, but only in the opposite sense! During my years as a GM I was so averse to the list you wrote that my PCs got skittish over things exactly reverse of the normal cliches!
They feared little men who smiled, knew that the Old Timer was a waste of time, paid attention to Eneri and not Henry Cabot Henhouse III, twitched when cargo runs went well, never really saved a planet (Chamax didn't count), didn't pack around guns like a bad Hollyweird epic, and never knowingly saw an Ancient artifact.
Cliches are crutches and everyone has a different selection.
Sincerely,
Larsen
far-trader
September 12th, 2003, 08:03 PM
Fun topic, nothing to add except don't knock them too much. Like an archetype or stereotype they exist because of an underlying truth and as a shorthand to set a mood. For example just start an introduction with "The hooded figure..." and the player's imaginations should be in the right frame of mind. Cliche's are good, and overused the comical absurdity can be a lot of fun too. And of course a couple of cliche's can be great to set up that one exception that'll really ruin the complacent player's day graemlins/file_23.gif
Nurd_boy
September 13th, 2003, 03:27 AM
"It was a dark and stormy night..."
graemlins/file_28.gif
graemlins/file_28.gif
Baron Saarthuran
September 13th, 2003, 06:32 AM
What about the omnipresent:
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif
Andrew Boulton
September 13th, 2003, 08:30 AM
"It was a dark and stormy night..."
I once played a dark and stormy knight...
I once played a dark and stormy knight...
Tanuki
September 13th, 2003, 02:03 PM
Originally posted by Andrew Boulton:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> "It was a dark and stormy night..."
I once played a dark and stormy knight... </font>[/QUOTE]Nope. That's a dark and stormy kuuuh-niggit. :D
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> "It was a dark and stormy night..."
I once played a dark and stormy knight... </font>[/QUOTE]Nope. That's a dark and stormy kuuuh-niggit. :D
Ganidirsii O'Flynn
September 13th, 2003, 02:12 PM
Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran:
What about the omnipresent:
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif By the by, this one always kills me. In Real Life, it's "Load and Lock"...
Anybody care to guess how efficient it would be to try and load a piece while the bolt is locked down?
OOPSIE! graemlins/file_21.gif
What about the omnipresent:
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif By the by, this one always kills me. In Real Life, it's "Load and Lock"...
Anybody care to guess how efficient it would be to try and load a piece while the bolt is locked down?
OOPSIE! graemlins/file_21.gif
Nurd_boy
September 13th, 2003, 02:29 PM
Originally posted by Ganidiirsi O'Flynn:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran:
What about the omnipresent:
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif By the by, this one always kills me. In Real Life, it's "Load and Lock"...
Anybody care to guess how efficient it would be to try and load a piece while the bolt is locked down?
OOPSIE! graemlins/file_21.gif </font>[/QUOTE]I shoot muzzleloaders...does that apply to me?
for us it 'stuff it !!'
graemlins/file_21.gif
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran:
What about the omnipresent:
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif By the by, this one always kills me. In Real Life, it's "Load and Lock"...
Anybody care to guess how efficient it would be to try and load a piece while the bolt is locked down?
OOPSIE! graemlins/file_21.gif </font>[/QUOTE]I shoot muzzleloaders...does that apply to me?
for us it 'stuff it !!'
graemlins/file_21.gif
far-trader
September 13th, 2003, 02:36 PM
Originally posted by Ganidiirsi O'Flynn:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran:
What about the omnipresent:
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif By the by, this one always kills me. In Real Life, it's "Load and Lock"...
Anybody care to guess how efficient it would be to try and load a piece while the bolt is locked down?
OOPSIE! graemlins/file_21.gif </font>[/QUOTE]smile.gif yeah, unless you accept the theory of a second possible (earlier) origin of the phrase...
"One explanation of the phrase comes from the actions needed to prepare a flint lock rifle for firing. In order to safely load a rifle of this type it was necessary to position the firing mechanism in a locked position, after which the gun powder and ball could be safely loaded into the rifle barrel without any chance of the rifle misfiring."
I'm not sure myself but at least this one fits with the more widely used version of the phrase.
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Baron Saarthuran:
What about the omnipresent:
"Lock and Load!!!" shouted by someone?
Even Data said this one... and Doctor McCoy...
graemlins/omega.gif By the by, this one always kills me. In Real Life, it's "Load and Lock"...
Anybody care to guess how efficient it would be to try and load a piece while the bolt is locked down?
OOPSIE! graemlins/file_21.gif </font>[/QUOTE]smile.gif yeah, unless you accept the theory of a second possible (earlier) origin of the phrase...
"One explanation of the phrase comes from the actions needed to prepare a flint lock rifle for firing. In order to safely load a rifle of this type it was necessary to position the firing mechanism in a locked position, after which the gun powder and ball could be safely loaded into the rifle barrel without any chance of the rifle misfiring."
I'm not sure myself but at least this one fits with the more widely used version of the phrase.
vegascat
September 13th, 2003, 03:44 PM
Actually "Lock and Load" is accurate.
ON the M-16, you release the bolt forward "Lock", then insert magazine "Load". It is done in this order to prevent acidental discharges. You only chamber a round when ready to fire and you are not surrounded by buddies that would not appreciate a friendly bullet hole.
ON the M-16, you release the bolt forward "Lock", then insert magazine "Load". It is done in this order to prevent acidental discharges. You only chamber a round when ready to fire and you are not surrounded by buddies that would not appreciate a friendly bullet hole.
siefertma2
September 13th, 2003, 05:38 PM
Back to the cliches:
The extremely powerful Ancient's artificat that can cure all illness, feed the poor, raise the dead, and solve all the universe's problem's that must be abandoned at the end of the adventure so the PCs can save themselves from impending doom.
The extremely powerful Ancient's artificat that can cure all illness, feed the poor, raise the dead, and solve all the universe's problem's that must be abandoned at the end of the adventure so the PCs can save themselves from impending doom.
Liam Devlin
September 13th, 2003, 07:56 PM
Ahh well, might as well try this out too..<Nice topic, btw..</me likes it=in irc-geek-speak>.
a) ski masks on thugs who attack your party. even if its not winter.
b) friendly travellers in distress who then attempt to hijack your ship once you've answered the distress call...(the archetype wolf in sheeps clothing).
c) the great "deal" you got on your starship..[ a used one, of course-details vary with each GM]..
d) the good looking/ charismatic ones are usually up to no good, and the plug-uglys, aka fugly ones, are the virtuous ones. [either gender]...(archetype of evil disguised/ cloaked in beauty).
e) Oh,lets not forget!!!-- the NPC who never makes a mistake! graemlins/file_23.gif
..that'll do me fer now..more as I have spare time..
;)
a) ski masks on thugs who attack your party. even if its not winter.
b) friendly travellers in distress who then attempt to hijack your ship once you've answered the distress call...(the archetype wolf in sheeps clothing).
c) the great "deal" you got on your starship..[ a used one, of course-details vary with each GM]..
d) the good looking/ charismatic ones are usually up to no good, and the plug-uglys, aka fugly ones, are the virtuous ones. [either gender]...(archetype of evil disguised/ cloaked in beauty).
e) Oh,lets not forget!!!-- the NPC who never makes a mistake! graemlins/file_23.gif
..that'll do me fer now..more as I have spare time..
;)
vegascat
September 13th, 2003, 09:44 PM
Who can forget the grandfather of all Sci Fi cliches, The "RED SHIRT"
If you put some poor NPC in a red shirt, the guys survival can be measured in nanoseconds once any action happens. this goes back to the origional Star Trek that put the walking Security targets in red shirts. These were the guys that showed that the situation really was dangerous, or how the monster of the week worked. :eek:
If you put some poor NPC in a red shirt, the guys survival can be measured in nanoseconds once any action happens. this goes back to the origional Star Trek that put the walking Security targets in red shirts. These were the guys that showed that the situation really was dangerous, or how the monster of the week worked. :eek:
vegascat
September 13th, 2003, 09:54 PM
Movie cliches used in my games for NPCs
1. The guy that gets on the ship with books to read in his spare time graemlins/toast.gif
2. The guy with pictures of his <family, girlfriend, kids, cute pet. graemlins/toast.gif
3. The hot chick that finds the guy in the party with the lowest social standing the guy she wants to be with. :D ;)
4. The kid with a grav board hanging around the ship before take off. soon to be a stowaway. graemlins/file_22.gif
The good thing about these cliches is when you break them.
1. Is a guy who will have the clue needed to solve the current enigma
2. Is the son of the planetary ruler where you are going
3. Is pregnant and looking for a husband, fast
4. Has a map to a ancients treasure trove
1. The guy that gets on the ship with books to read in his spare time graemlins/toast.gif
2. The guy with pictures of his <family, girlfriend, kids, cute pet. graemlins/toast.gif
3. The hot chick that finds the guy in the party with the lowest social standing the guy she wants to be with. :D ;)
4. The kid with a grav board hanging around the ship before take off. soon to be a stowaway. graemlins/file_22.gif
The good thing about these cliches is when you break them.
1. Is a guy who will have the clue needed to solve the current enigma
2. Is the son of the planetary ruler where you are going
3. Is pregnant and looking for a husband, fast
4. Has a map to a ancients treasure trove
MichaelL65
September 13th, 2003, 11:53 PM
In a recent campaign, we had one player regularly join us by phone. As things from time to time caused a disconnection, the usual quip in the rest of the group was...
"Boring conversation anyway..."
graemlins/file_21.gif Still cracks me up.
"Boring conversation anyway..."
graemlins/file_21.gif Still cracks me up.
plop101
September 17th, 2003, 01:36 PM
Vegascat writes:
Who can forget the grandfather of all Sci Fi cliches, The "RED SHIRT" How about the thing that usually offs the Red Shirt Guy, the creature composed of PURE ENERGY. The generic Energy Creature, from Forbiden Planet to Star Trek, a staple of Sci Fi.
Who can forget the grandfather of all Sci Fi cliches, The "RED SHIRT" How about the thing that usually offs the Red Shirt Guy, the creature composed of PURE ENERGY. The generic Energy Creature, from Forbiden Planet to Star Trek, a staple of Sci Fi.
vegascat
September 18th, 2003, 12:26 AM
Plop101, have you never used a NPC in a red shirt to demonstrate the monster of the day?
In my games, I often use a red shirt as short hand to the players of someone not to be too close to when checking out the new planet.
Then again, I have used a classic redshirt guy showing off his girlfriends holo to everyone as the guy that has to live because he is the only one who has the skill with Gravatics, Robot ops, Admin and J-O-T to complete the adventure.
In my games, I often use a red shirt as short hand to the players of someone not to be too close to when checking out the new planet.
Then again, I have used a classic redshirt guy showing off his girlfriends holo to everyone as the guy that has to live because he is the only one who has the skill with Gravatics, Robot ops, Admin and J-O-T to complete the adventure.
plop101
September 18th, 2003, 06:31 PM
Vegas Cat responds:
Plop101, have you never used a NPC in a red shirt to demonstrate the monster of the day?
In my games, I often use a red shirt as short hand to the players of someone not to be too close to when checking out the new planet.Well, since I play solo most of the time, I've never really used red shirts for monster demo's. I've used them to bulk up my pc in case he runs into a large quantity of bad guys/things.
Then again, I have used a classic redshirt guy showing off his girlfriends holo to everyone as the guy that has to live because he is the only one who has the skill with Gravatics, Robot ops, Admin and J-O-T to complete the adventure. Wouldn't that be a blue shirt guy ;)
Plop101, have you never used a NPC in a red shirt to demonstrate the monster of the day?
In my games, I often use a red shirt as short hand to the players of someone not to be too close to when checking out the new planet.Well, since I play solo most of the time, I've never really used red shirts for monster demo's. I've used them to bulk up my pc in case he runs into a large quantity of bad guys/things.
Then again, I have used a classic redshirt guy showing off his girlfriends holo to everyone as the guy that has to live because he is the only one who has the skill with Gravatics, Robot ops, Admin and J-O-T to complete the adventure. Wouldn't that be a blue shirt guy ;)
vegascat
September 18th, 2003, 08:29 PM
Having the useful monkey in a blue shirt is another cliche from Str Trek. It can be just too much fun to flip a cliche around on the players.
Baron Saarthuran
September 18th, 2003, 08:59 PM
Since were on Star Trek, how about the Crazy/unstable/troublesome Starfleet official?
graemlins/omega.gif
graemlins/omega.gif
vegascat
September 18th, 2003, 10:09 PM
For them, I just use one of the old Senior NCOs from work.
Jame
September 19th, 2003, 08:37 AM
How 'bout the "always 'on'" PC/NPC who always goes after the most attractive character in the scene? :D graemlins/file_23.gif
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