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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: iago on September 27, 2007, 05:30:47 AM

Title: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on September 27, 2007, 05:30:47 AM
http://www.dresdenfilesrpg.com/playtest-application.php

You never saw me -- I was never here.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Blaze on September 27, 2007, 06:31:12 AM
Hey, why is this room so dark.  Hmm, nothing here.  I guess I will look elsewhere.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Shecky on September 27, 2007, 11:05:01 AM
I'd love to do it, but my RPG group has trouble enough getting coordinated just to run our twice-monthly D&D session, and adding another RPG to the mix would just be impossible. :(
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: cephis on September 27, 2007, 01:11:50 PM
I would love to apply but I am not in a group.  I am an army of one.  Although I am good test for idoit proofing.   If any group in Northern Virginia wants to adopt a stray dog for beta testing, message me.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Priscellie on September 27, 2007, 01:39:50 PM
Ooh!  I wonder if my little group would be interested... *scurries off*
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: finarvyn on September 27, 2007, 07:02:47 PM
Suddenly, a big smile appears on my face.

My group has been waiting for this for a long time!
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Suilan on September 27, 2007, 07:23:25 PM
Filling out the form... ah, could someone tell me what "crunch" means, please?

As in: How much "crunch" do you like? and How much "crunch" do your players like? I thought it meant power until I came across the word in another thread here at the forum, where it seemed to mean: too many rules. Does it?
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on September 27, 2007, 07:28:01 PM
A "crunchy" system might be D&D: feats, stats, lots of detailed combat options, weapon stats, etc.

A "smooth" or "non-crunchy" system might be Risus, where your character sheet would look like:  Incendiary Wizard (5d), Not My Fault (2d), Talking Skull (3d) -- and that's the sum total of it.  Roll your dice against a target, try to succeed, you're done.

Lots of stuff sits somewhere along the continuum between (and beyond -- some stuff's crunchier than D&D) those two.

Crunch does mean "power", in the sense that systems with crunch tend to provide you lots of rules whereby you can escalate your character's power over time.  More power means more rules stuff you can bring to bear.  So the terms have gotten blended.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Shecky on September 27, 2007, 07:29:32 PM
"Crunchy" comes from "number crunching" = lots of numbers and calculations to do at some point or other.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Suilan on September 27, 2007, 07:31:41 PM
Thanks to both of you for saving me from confusion!
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: chris_moore on September 28, 2007, 07:26:52 PM
I'm there, like, yesterday!! 
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Corbin DeBec on September 28, 2007, 09:13:48 PM
uh oh, I got crunch wrong  can i change my answers
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Slife on September 29, 2007, 06:21:11 PM
Basically, crunch and fluff are the two things that make up RPG books.

Crunch is: Every time you have a clear line of sight to the target, you can roll 2d6 and apply that damage to it.

Fluff is: Melchoir the magnificent gathers his arcane energies, sending a searing bolt of pure fire at his foe.  Or, alternatively, Indiana Jones shoots the ninja.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: meg_evonne on September 29, 2007, 11:33:15 PM
I envy you all.  What an opportunity!

And to Iago and the RPG crew--congrats on reaching this stage!
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on September 30, 2007, 12:51:06 AM
And to Iago and the RPG crew--congrats on reaching this stage!

Miles to go before we sleep.

Miles.

:)
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: DDR on October 03, 2007, 03:48:17 PM
I submitted my group last week. 

To all of you who would like to play test but are not near a group, do what we do.  We play over the internet using Yahoo voice chat.  2 players are in NC and 3 players are spread out over the Phoenix AZ area.  But we hop on line, open up a voice chat room and we are all good.  Dice rolls have to be on the honor system.  But the up side is stuff like "my car broke, I can't get a ride" does not call off the game.  The only valid excuse is "They tore up my street and cut my internet cable."

Yahoo voice chat is free and works nearly all the time. 

Devin
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: ToddM326 on October 03, 2007, 03:59:19 PM
I'd love to help, but I've never played a RPG before.  I'm not sure what benefit my participation would provide.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: KeyMasterOfGozer on October 08, 2007, 06:13:59 PM
Yeah,  I started filling out the application the first day it was listed, but before I got finished I realized I was probably not really a good candidate,  so I just let it drop.  I really just wanted to be able to play the game as soon as possible.  Anyway, I don't I would be able to gather a group and play, but let us know if you need any other kind of help.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Harry1974 on October 08, 2007, 09:58:40 PM
My group is currently composed of me and one dedicated gamer friend. Would that provide a large enough sample for playtesting?
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on October 08, 2007, 10:08:08 PM
My group is currently composed of me and one dedicated gamer friend. Would that provide a large enough sample for playtesting?

It'd definitely provide a unique perspective; I don't think we're explicitly focusing on "sole protagonist style" play, but getting feedback from folks who are trying to do that could be pretty nifty.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: BlueStocking on October 08, 2007, 10:55:34 PM
I'd love to play!  Cept...I've never played a table top RPG before *stares at her, now dusty, Serenity core book on it's shelf* and I don't have any friends close enough who could participate.  *is made of sad*
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Lizard King on October 11, 2007, 06:48:05 PM
I wish they were still doing the illustrations for the game!

This is my version of Harry on a stormy night, exhausted as usual.

(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n3/Nobodies_Nuggets/Dresden.jpg)
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: BlueStocking on October 11, 2007, 11:56:11 PM
I wish they were still doing the illustrations for the game!

This is my version of Harry on a stormy night, exhausted as usual.

(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n3/Nobodies_Nuggets/Dresden.jpg)

That is awesomesauce
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Lizard King on October 12, 2007, 02:17:01 AM
Thanks, I appreciate that!  Two of my favorite characters to draw are Harry Dresden and John Constantine.  I'm working on another Dresden, now, of him making the trap for Toot-Toot.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: BlueStocking on October 12, 2007, 02:57:46 AM
Thanks, I appreciate that!  Two of my favorite characters to draw are Harry Dresden and John Constantine.  I'm working on another Dresden, now, of him making the trap for Toot-Toot.
OOO!  I want to see :D
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: MatthewD44 on October 12, 2007, 03:34:46 AM
Nice Work LK... I would love to see the Constantine illustration when you get it done...
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Lizard King on October 12, 2007, 04:07:59 AM
I hope that this isn't too off topic.  But yeah, here's one of my Constantine drawings.

(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n3/Nobodies_Nuggets/ConstantineSitting.jpg)
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Lizard King on October 12, 2007, 05:45:15 PM
Here's that drawing of Dresden baiting Toot Toot.  I just finished it.

(http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n3/Nobodies_Nuggets/DresdensBait.jpg)
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Torvaldr on October 18, 2007, 05:37:01 AM
Getting back on topic. I would love to be part of the testing but I have no group to play with. I just moved to Vermilion Ohio and really don't know any other gamers here. So any other players near Cleveland or Sandusky? I am right in the middle between those cities. I have been an RPG player since 1979 starting with the Original D&D box set. I have played and been game master using the following systems.

Arduin
Champions
D&D original
AD&D First edition, second edition
Star Wars
Gamma World
Harnmaster
Rune Quest
Battle Tech
Vampire the Masquerade
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Lord Nedd on October 18, 2007, 06:44:35 AM
Getting back on topic. I would love to be part of the testing but I have no group to play with. I just moved to Vermilion Ohio and really don't know any other gamers here. So any other players near Cleveland or Sandusky? I am right in the middle between those cities. I have been an RPG player since 1979 starting with the Original D&D box set. I have played and been game master using the following systems.

Arduin
Champions
D&D original
AD&D First edition, second edition
Star Wars
Gamma World
Harnmaster
Rune Quest
Battle Tech
Vampire the Masquerade

I miss Gamma World.  Sigh.

-LN
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Chuck Chuck Razool on October 20, 2007, 08:11:37 PM
I'm down on this like you don't even know. I'm currently part of two gaming groups, one is weekly, and one is significantly less often. I told them about the dresden RPG long ago and said that when it came out we'd be playing whether they like it or not. They said they were down too.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Ren on October 24, 2007, 12:40:08 PM
Ok, so any idea how soon we'll hear back on our applications? Nothing I hate more than waiting on word on an application.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Elf_NFB on October 25, 2007, 12:38:08 PM
I just wanted to say one quick thing. Once the play testers are chosen, please send an email to those not chosen thanking them for volunteering. I'm still more than a bit miffed at Wizards for their utter contempt for play testers.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on October 25, 2007, 07:22:43 PM
We've got somewhere between 250-300 playtesting applicants right now.  It's still going to be several weeks before we even start touching the early edge of our multi-stage Alpha playtest plan, and that's to be followed by beta whenever the Alpha's proven, etc... 

There's certainly no contempt intended, but it will be some time before we know who we won't need!
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: The Last Bean on October 25, 2007, 10:34:53 PM
Ah, good. I was starting to worry a little bit not hearing anything for a few weeks. Kinda glad it'll be a while, honestly. I tend to run games on a semester-ly basis, and I'm already booked for this semester with killing players off in Cthulhu setting. (Interesting fact: Water elementals are a LOT scarier when you don't assume that swords and guns would hurt water)
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Ren on October 26, 2007, 11:54:00 AM
Progress updates are good though!

And agreed on the water elementals...eww...and whats worse is making them out of local water, especially if it's sea-water full of garbage...ew....
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: The Last Bean on October 27, 2007, 05:49:03 PM
Yeah, Agreed. Just knowing that this thing is almost done is thrilling news. I've been waiting for this game ever since.... well... honestly, It's probably been what I was waiting for ever since my first game of WoD Mage, but I'll say since I read my first DF book four years ago.

And the elemental IS going to be made out of local water. Unfortunately it's lake water, from a large frozen lake... that I plan to have the players standing on when it strikes. I'm a mean, mean GM sometimes. :3 And no, it won't have the same volume as the lake. That'd be just a bit too ridiculous for me. I'd probably class it as "large" in DnD terms, but being able to crack the ice and appear from anywhere will suck, in addition to the fact that water at that temp can kill a person in about 3-4 minutes after exposure. I think they're also planning to park their car on the ice, which is where they keep a lot of their gear. Should suck quite a bit to be them this week. ~evil GM laugh~
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: harleshade on October 27, 2007, 11:26:43 PM
you have to love a group that puts all thier eggs in one basket, or car as this case may be.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: finarvyn on October 31, 2007, 08:41:03 PM
I'd love to play!  Cept...I've never played a table top RPG before *stares at her, now dusty, Serenity core book on it's shelf* and I don't have any friends close enough who could participate.  *is made of sad*
I would say that you should find a way to play a few times to see what the experience is all about.

You might look for a local hobby store or book store to see if they have a board where folks post when they are looking for players or for games to join. You might ask around here or on other gaming message boards to see if anyone near you also plays. (It's a lot easier to learn when someone shows you, rather than trying to read about it.)

I would suggest you find a RPG that is simple and fits a campaign setting which you find interesting. Maybe get into the mood by reading books or watching movies on a similar theme to the campaign. Get together and play a few games and don't stress over the exact rules, but instead try to experience the fun.

If you want to look at Dresden Files, maybe download a copy of FATE or the Spirit of the Century SRD. Maybe support Evil Hat games by buying a copy of SotC (I really love my hardback copy!) and reading about how this kind of game is played.

It'll give you a feel for what RPGs are all about. Give it a shot!
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: BlueStocking on October 31, 2007, 08:57:10 PM
I would say that you should find a way to play a few times to see what the experience is all about.

You might look for a local hobby store or book store to see if they have a board where folks post when they are looking for players or for games to join. You might ask around here or on other gaming message boards to see if anyone near you also plays. (It's a lot easier to learn when someone shows you, rather than trying to read about it.)

I would suggest you find a RPG that is simple and fits a campaign setting which you find interesting. Maybe get into the mood by reading books or watching movies on a similar theme to the campaign. Get together and play a few games and don't stress over the exact rules, but instead try to experience the fun.

If you want to look at Dresden Files, maybe download a copy of FATE or the Spirit of the Century SRD. Maybe support Evil Hat games by buying a copy of SotC (I really love my hardback copy!) and reading about how this kind of game is played.

It'll give you a feel for what RPGs are all about. Give it a shot!

I've sat in on games before, so I have some idea on how to play.  But finding locals is hard since I live in a town so small that we don't even have a stoplight.  I know there are groups in Asheville as there was a listing for the national day of DnD (I think that's what it was).  However, without a car, I won't be driving the hour to get there ^^;

Thanks for the tips, though :D
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Craz on November 08, 2007, 08:16:50 AM
Sadly, none of my "friends of higher intelligence and increasing eccentricity" play table-top games. There wouldn't happen to be any folks in the San Jose, California area who have a group looking for a new leg?  ;D
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: SoulCatcher78 on November 25, 2007, 04:04:00 AM
Hope you're still taking applications (finally stumbled onto this).
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: harleshade on November 25, 2007, 11:56:22 AM
How long are you all accepting apps for ?
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on November 25, 2007, 04:05:19 PM
I'll probably be closing the application form come January, if not before.  Several spammers have found it (though why they think it'll be useful to spam it, who knows?) and right now less than 50% of the apps we're getting through the link on a daily basis are legitimate.  It's definitely muddled the process a bit. :)

Regardless, we're hoping to embark on our alpha rounds "soon", whatever that happens to mean.  The alpha rounds will probably span a couple months at least once they kick off; the early alpha set will be people who've got deep knowledge of the Spirit of the Century "core" and some playtesting experience, which will expand a bit to some more casual SOTC-conversant folks as time goes on.  Once we're confident we've got all the alpha information back, there will be a pause where we incorporate the feedback into the design and try to get the game closer to a "text-complete" state.  Once the text is ready, we'll select possibly several rounds of beta testers from the applicants.

What I'm trying to say is don't expect it to be a blisteringly fast process. :)

We've gotten hundreds of applicants, which is a bit more than we were originally expecting.  Even if we don't end up using everyone (and it's unlikely we would), we're hoping to come up with something to "thank" all of the folks who took the time to fill out the apps, somewhere down the road...
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Erlking on November 25, 2007, 08:32:50 PM
If you need someone to sort out spam from an application I will do it, I don't have nothin else to do till Captain's Fury anyway  :D
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on November 26, 2007, 05:12:00 AM
If you need someone to sort out spam from an application I will do it, I don't have nothin else to do till Captain's Fury anyway  :D

Nah, that part's not that hard, it's just the volume. 

Pretty easy to identify a spam when someone gives a single word name and fills every field in the form with 'rgerger' over and over again.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: harleshade on November 27, 2007, 04:00:35 AM
I was just beginin to worry about the lack of info comin' in on how things were comin' along with the game. But it good to know there's still progress even if it is slow coming. ;D
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Elf_NFB on November 27, 2007, 01:21:45 PM
We've gotten hundreds of applicants, which is a bit more than we were originally expecting.  Even if we don't end up using everyone (and it's unlikely we would), we're hoping to come up with something to "thank" all of the folks who took the time to fill out the apps, somewhere down the road...

Fame has its down side. :)
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: MonaLS on December 07, 2007, 06:44:39 AM
Wish my friends still lived in town, it would be great to have a local group to play test with. Sigh. They've all moved out of state. (Traitors. ;) )
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: DrygonDM on December 20, 2007, 11:53:10 PM
Lizard King. Very awesome drawing!
I wonder, are you planing on doing the scene where Harry nukes Bianca's house? “Pyrofuego!”

I wish I had even a fraction of that kind of talent...but nope.
I can create Character Ideas, and descriptions of people and places, and can thread a decent Game Story, though. I have a lot of awesome characters that I will most likely never actually see.

Right now, I don't have a Gaming Group, and I need to find a Just Over Broke.
And anyone in the KC, Mo Area is wanting to adopt an Old (but not Ancient) Gamer/DM...
Please email me (See my Profile here) and let me know.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Lizard King on December 21, 2007, 05:26:21 PM
Lizard King. Very awesome drawing!
I wonder, are you planing on doing the scene where Harry nukes Bianca's house? “Pyrofuego!”

I wish I had even a fraction of that kind of talent...but nope.
I can create Character Ideas, and descriptions of people and places, and can thread a decent Game Story, though. I have a lot of awesome characters that I will most likely never actually see.


Thanks for the kind words!  I do have a lot of other ideas that I'd like to draw.  (I wish they still needed illustrators for the RPG)  One I'd like to draw is the showdown between Morgan and Harry where Morgan is attacking him with the earth magic.  In the meantime, I'm keeping busy doing some illos for Hero Game Digital, which, though it's small time, is still getting to do RPG illustrations!
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: finarvyn on December 21, 2007, 06:25:35 PM
Nah, that part's not that hard, it's just the volume. 

Pretty easy to identify a spam when someone gives a single word name and fills every field in the form with 'rgerger' over and over again.
Hope it's not me you're talking about. My last name is Rgerger and I live on Rgerger Street. I don't want my application to be rejected becasue of that!  :P
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: iago on December 21, 2007, 06:40:39 PM
Hope it's not me you're talking about. My last name is Rgerger and I live on Rgerger Street. I don't want my application to be rejected becasue of that!  :P

You so funny!
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: finarvyn on December 29, 2007, 04:03:15 PM
You so funny!
Yeah, but does it bump me to the top of the playtest list? Yeah, that's what I thought.  :P

My "Fellowship of Foragers" ... er, "Rgerger's Raiders" ... game group keeps bugging me about this...  ;D
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: DrygonDM on December 29, 2007, 05:33:29 PM
Thanks for the kind words!  I do have a lot of other ideas that I'd like to draw.  (I wish they still needed illustrators for the RPG)  One I'd like to draw is the showdown between Morgan and Harry where Morgan is attacking him with the earth magic.  In the meantime, I'm keeping busy doing some illos for Hero Game Digital, which, though it's small time, is still getting to do RPG illustrations!

Well, if you want to get your work out there, I know a few places that you can post your work.
Most of these sites are "Free RPG Posting Sites" and so they can't pay you, but it can get you more PR - where people want to contact you and get some for themselves. Wall Posters and Computer Backgrounds are very popular.
Just remember to put your Name in the picture, where it can't be easily edited out.

I dislike trying to ask for Artists, since I usually get rather rude responses.
If your interested (or know anyone that would be) Contact me for more information.
Title: Re: Pssst... Now Accepting Playtest Applications
Post by: Lizard King on December 29, 2007, 11:14:28 PM
Well, if you want to get your work out there, I know a few places that you can post your work.
Most of these sites are "Free RPG Posting Sites" and so they can't pay you, but it can get you more PR - where people want to contact you and get some for themselves. Wall Posters and Computer Backgrounds are very popular.
Just remember to put your Name in the picture, where it can't be easily edited out.

I dislike trying to ask for Artists, since I usually get rather rude responses.
If your interested (or know anyone that would be) Contact me for more information.

I appreciate the info.  I'm at the point right now where I am getting paid work from RPG companies and Indy creators, which is very cool.  I just want more of it!
But thanks!