Diaspora (Fate, hard science-fiction)

[VenomousFiligree]

Any interest in Diaspora (https://www.vsca.ca/Diaspora/)out there?

[bislab]

Oh yes. As a FATE/FUDGE variant with some interesting ways that system is applied, this game looks like it would be loads of fun.

[VenomousFiligree]

I'm new to Fate, having played my first game at the weekend and enjoyed the experience. I would be willing to run a session of Diaspora if folk are forgiving! :)

The SRD can be found here (https://www.vsca.ca/Diaspora/diaspora-srd.html).

[bislab]

The FATE system is my favorite these days. I've been running games for 20 years with a wide variety of player types. From newbies to old veterans and married couples. The first FATE game I ran (spirit of the century) was a wake up call to me. With other systems, invariable there was a player, sometimes more than one, that was disengaged or distracted when the action was occurring elsewhere or when the rules were a bit hard to digest. With the FATE system and the way aspects and tags and compels work, I suddenly found that the whole group was very engaged in the plot and action around them. The game became just plain FUN. We never laughed so hard or had such great memories of our adventures with other systems.

[VenomousFiligree]

I've been keen to try it for a while now, however I'm not that keen on the SotC setting. I got my first taste last weekend at a Con, playing Agents of Swing, a 50/60s Spy-Fi setting and had a blast.

I should be able to get another player, are you up for a GM training session? :)

[Valarian]

I wouldn't mind joining in, but time is a factor currently. Is Saturday 8pm okay? My current Saturday game has collapsed for now and I'm generally available then. I've played and GM'd SotC before. The aspects is the biggest area to get used to. Tagging and using them frequently.

[VenomousFiligree]

I'm likely to be otherwise engaged next Saturday, could possibly make the next (5th).

[Valarian]

I'd possibly be okay at the same sort of time during the week. Just not Friday or Sunday.

[VenomousFiligree]

Midweek is good for me

[bislab]

I'd be up for a Thurs/Friday game and potentially a saturday game when my skype group doesn't play.

[VenomousFiligree]

Maybe this thursday then? Or next week?

Would you like to include Cluster and Character generation, or jump straight in with a (pre generated mini-game) scenario?

[Valarian]

Thursday should be okay. Character Generation should be fun. The FATE character generation is usually a combined affair anyway. The cluster would be best to have an outline at least before we start. We can flesh it out with a few further aspects.

[VenomousFiligree]

Should we do cluster and character generation before hand on forums, or at the "table" on FG?

[boyoanachronism]

I'd be very interested in playing but I can't make Thursday night. Earlier in the day should be fine, though.

[bislab]

Duh! Thursday is Thanksgiving here in the U.S. so I wouldn't be able to make it that day.

[Badgers]

I'd like to play but can only make this Friday or Sunday night. Next week I can be more flexible about midweek nights.

[VenomousFiligree]

So it sounds like this week is off, what about next week?

[Valarian]

Same, okay after 8pm except Friday and Sunday

[Badgers]

Mon, Tues or Thurs next week...

[VenomousFiligree]

So 2 available for Mon, Tues or Thurs next week.

[Valarian]

Tuesday would be the best day for me

[boyoanachronism]

Tuesday sounds great for me too. As somebody said earlier, the only problem I think I'll have in the game is tagging aspects. I'm sure I'll get used to it with practice though.

[VenomousFiligree]

Tuesday 1 December works for me! Are we going to carry out Cluster generation or go staright into Character generation?

[Valarian]

How much do you want us, as characters, to know about the cluster? If we're colonists on the first trip off-world, then the cluster aspects could be unknown - except for our homeworld. If we're experienced spacers, then we'd probably know a bit more about the surrounding spaceways.

[VenomousFiligree]

How much do you want us...As Diaspora is very much a group experience, how much do you want to know!? :)

[VenomousFiligree]

OK, I'm not getting much feedback here! I initially thought I'd like to run a scenario I had in mind using Diaspora rules or maybe run a Diaspora pre generated session, but thought I'd ask how players wanted to approach the game.

The book says to start with generating the "cluster" ie background, and then generate the characters.

I can go with either, however, I'm not going to start prepping anything unless I know what folk want.

Soooo, unless I hear different I'll be there on Tuesday evening, with nothing prepared, ready to run through the cluster generation rules! :)

[Waldo Pepper]

I would be interested in getting together on Tuesday night for a cluster generation session: The real magic of FATE is the group creation process so simply throwing together some sort of pregenerated scenario is tough IMO unless you just want to run people through a couple of conflicts. The cluster generation rules/mini-game look pretty cool and would be an enjoyable session by itself (IMO more so than actually playing the game if it's just a one-shot), much like the character creation session of SotC is often a great single session activity.

[VenomousFiligree]

I'm good either way, just need to know what to prep! :) And as it looks like we're going to go for cluster generation on Tuesday, that would be zero prep. :D

[decfeeney]

I'd be interested, very interested, but I'd definitely prefer to start with cluster generation.

[VenomousFiligree]

Cluster generation it will be, and we can make a start on character generation too if we have time.

[VenomousFiligree]

If anyone wishes to download the ruleset prior to the session, the server is up now. I'll leave it on over night and I'll also have it up when I get home from work tomorrow prior to the start time of 2000.
zany keep dead vest

[decfeeney]

If anyone wishes to download the ruleset prior to the session, the server is up now.
Whats the host name or IP address?

[VenomousFiligree]

put

zany keep dead vest
in the host address.

At least I think that's where it goes, can't remember the last time I played :(

[decfeeney]

Phil, I don't know if you've seen it or not, but I suspect this page may prove invaluable:

https://sprucemoose.net/cgi-bin/cluster

Now all we need to do is come up with system names, and that web page will do the rolling bit and generate the cluster map for us.

Then we each generate two aspects, see what's around us, work out how the geography affects things and generate the third aspect.

[VenomousFiligree]

No I hadn't seen that, I'd got a link to a network graph drawing app, however yours is alot better! :)

[VenomousFiligree]

Server's up - zany keep dead vest

[Metalicat]

hmm got an error come up, let me see what I can dig up about it

"the host is running a proprietary ruleset that does not match a local installation"

[VenomousFiligree]

I saw you trying to connect and be disconnected straight away, are you at version 2.6.2?

[Metalicat]

ah i think i got it, looks like my firewall was pitching a fit over the updater

[VenomousFiligree]

Link to session report (wip will revisit later today) (https://www.rpgvirtualtabletop.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php?n=Main.DiasporaFG)

[VenomousFiligree]

Next session?
Next week I'm in shifts while we "check the warp drives", so I'll only be around on even days (for up to two weeks).

[Metalicat]

anytimes good for me at least up untill i know i have this job or not.

[boyoanachronism]

I'm pretty much up for anything besides weekends and Wednesdays.

[VenomousFiligree]

I've pulled out most of the discussion on the various systems (I think!), would people like to update their own systems?

[Badgers]

I'm good for any weekday this week.

[VenomousFiligree]

So is this on tomorrow?

[boyoanachronism]

Sounds good to me.

[VenomousFiligree]

With two players not responding, I'm not sure if they believe it's a Tuesday recurring game (which I hadn't specifically planned it too be)

[Valarian]

I'm okay tomorrow, Wednesday or Thursday

[VenomousFiligree]

OK, I'll be around today at 2000 GMT and I'll run with 3 or more.

Phil

[Metalicat]

edited for readability now i'm awake from my nap =D

yeah i'm good for tonight or failing that i'm good for wensday.

[Badgers]

That was really coming together!

Forgot to mention that I can't make next Tuesday but am ok for other weekdays that week.

[VenomousFiligree]

So Badgers and Valaraian can't make tomorrow, what day works?

I'm good anyday this week.

[Valarian]

Wednesday/Thursday for me

[Metalicat]

any days good for me still

[Badgers]

Wed/Thurs with a preference for Thurs.

[Badgers]

...er and Friday :)

[VenomousFiligree]

So shall we say Thursday?

[Valarian]

Sounds okay to me

[Metalicat]

jup thursdays good for me too

[VenomousFiligree]

with reference to this post (https://rpg.geekdo.com/thread/471662/shocks), would you like to add any shocks?

[Badgers]

Happy for any and all shocks - I think you can introduce these individually as part of the situation as we go.

Is everyone ok for the 29th? I think we will end up planetside as there'll probably be repair work to do on the ship!

[VenomousFiligree]

29th anyone?

[Metalicat]

yup sounds good to me, tho please excuse me if i can't make it - i have a feeling chaos is immiment around me

[Valarian]

I should be okay. I'll post if I find I can't make it.

[VenomousFiligree]

Are people still ok? I'm traveling this afternoon which shouldn't effect things, all going well!

[Valarian]

Should be, I'll be borrowing a network connection

[Badgers]

Phil's texted me to say he's got problems getting online, so unfortunately it looks like tonight may be cancelled - watch this space...

[VenomousFiligree]

Sorry about that guys, hiccup im my connection, appears OK now, can we reschedule?

[Valarian]

Reschedule for Thursday?

[Metalicat]

sorry about not being on guys, my network was down - as you can see back up now, i'll have to pass thursday though.

[VenomousFiligree]

Reschedule for Thursday?Was that yesterday or next week? :)

[Valarian]

Last Thursday, but I should be okay for this one (Tues/Wed/Thurs this week).

[Badgers]

This Thursday's good for me.

[VenomousFiligree]

Good for me too :)

[VenomousFiligree]

We going to run with just the 2 of you?

[Valarian]

Probably not worth it if it's just the two of us (half the party). There's a few more hours to 8pm though. People may just turn up. Shall we give them to 8:15pm to show?

Just looked up and Metallicat can't make tonight, so that's one less. The other player could still show up.

[VenomousFiligree]

Can see who turns up

[Metalicat]

sorry i've not been around guys, had a huge influx of business and various other projects coming into fruition of late.

But everythings calming down again so i don't see why i can't make it.

[Badgers]

Are we going to try again tonight?

[VenomousFiligree]

Who's available for tonight? I'd rather run the next session when we have a guaranteed turn out of at least 3.

Anyone else interested in joining?

[Pheonix-IV]

While this looks interesting, i am unfortunately unfamiliar with FATE.

[mrgrey]

It's based on Fudge, as I recall, which is a relatively simple system. It shouldn't take long to get the hang of.

[Valarian]

I should be okay for tonight.

There's an SRD on the web for Diaspora (https://www.vsca.ca/Diaspora/diaspora-srd.html). Other FATE mechanics can be found in the SotC SRD (https://crackmonkey.org/~nick/loyhargil/fate3/fate3.html). Using the aspects is the hardest thing to get used to.

[Pheonix-IV]

It's based on Fudge, as I recall, which is a relatively simple system. It shouldn't take long to get the hang of.

Mmm, i'm reading up on it now, is interesting.

--EDIT--

I have to say, this setting and ruleset looks very interesting indeed. Count me interested, if you're willing to take a newbi to the system.

[VenomousFiligree]

So who else is good for today at 2000 gmt?
Badgers
Valarian

Any others?

[Pheonix-IV]

Ooh, me! me! That's my normal gaming time. :D

[Valarian]

What? 7am on a Friday morning is your usual gaming time. That's dedication for you.

[Pheonix-IV]

Well i usually game with Americans, and as it turns out, 7am is the best time to do that.

And no, Friday morning isn't my usual time; it's usually Saturday or Sunday morning (Friday\Saturday night for Amerikarns), but i'm on holidays atm, so it's open season on days.


Also; as it's just hit 4AM, i can initiate my steam downloads and take a short nap before gaem, :)

[VenomousFiligree]

Server's up - soft monk ugly fang