I’ve been reading the newest QuickStart for John Harper’s Blades in the Dark, in preparation for a discussion on tonight’s podcast. I admit this is the first chance I have had to really dive into the rules of the game, and most of the conversation will revolve around Russell Benner’s experience running it. Nevertheless, I have some thoughts about what I have read so far, and I’m anxious to share them.
I’d like to get some hot-takes from other members of our Community. What are your thoughts on the game so far? Have you run the QuickStart yet? Is this a game you want to play? Do you feel like this game was made for you?
I backed the Kickstarter and have read the rules and followed the BitD G+ community. Sadly been too busy to play it.
Personally I’m excited for the game because of the setting as I have run John Harper’s other game Ghostlines multiple times, which is the same worldscape. Mechanically it does some really interesting things especially with how it streamlines heists/mission without all the baggage of planning. Just jump in and play with flashbacks mechanically supported as a means to add preplanned ideas. Also I like how integrated gang advancement is.
In many ways it’s different from my typical style of play since there is more rules manipulation in a board game sense. As such I may run it and hate it but I’m excited to get it to the table in any case.
I backed the Kickstarter and have read the rules and followed the BitD G+ community. Sadly been too busy to play it.
Personally I’m excited for the game because of the setting as I have run John Harper’s other game Ghostlines multiple times, which is the same worldscape. Mechanically it does some really interesting things especially with how it streamlines heists/mission without all the baggage of planning. Just jump in and play with flashbacks mechanically supported as a means to add preplanned ideas. Also I like how integrated gang advancement is.
In many ways it’s different from my typical style of play since there is more rules manipulation in a board game sense. As such I may run it and hate it but I’m excited to get it to the table in any case.
Ferrell Riley I know you shared some thoughts in a previous post. I’m going to share those on the podcast, if you don’t mind. Please feel free to amend/add-to as needed.
Ferrell Riley I know you shared some thoughts in a previous post. I’m going to share those on the podcast, if you don’t mind. Please feel free to amend/add-to as needed.
I’m A-OK with that, I’m hoping my write-ups of the game will help people be interested, as well as allow people to think about it. I havn’t done one for session 3, but so far, you need to really focus on that “use the flashbacks to handle the details” else you end up with the same issue as in Shadowrun or any other heist style game: overplanning and someone gets tired and says “I do this” just to get things moving, which makes it a trainwreck.
Which kinda sounds familar, as we had that same issue when we tried Call of Cthulhu.
I’m A-OK with that, I’m hoping my write-ups of the game will help people be interested, as well as allow people to think about it. I havn’t done one for session 3, but so far, you need to really focus on that “use the flashbacks to handle the details” else you end up with the same issue as in Shadowrun or any other heist style game: overplanning and someone gets tired and says “I do this” just to get things moving, which makes it a trainwreck.
Which kinda sounds familar, as we had that same issue when we tried Call of Cthulhu.
It was a very timely kickstarter because as a group we were looking for a fantasy city based game system which was fast and loose interacting with multiple factions within the city. We tried Dungeon World but we found it pretty…err… Dungeon focused. We love building settings and this system makes that come to life at the right level without the detachment you find with microscope.
I tried an early version of the quick start rules but found it hard to get my head round the setting although there are many books that help it come to life I gather. I decided to wait for a final version before trying it again however.
The basic premise is fantastic and so flexible you can make it your own as reflected in the number of hacks on offer. I’m looking forward to seeing many of them, but specifically Moon over Bourbon Street.
It was a very timely kickstarter because as a group we were looking for a fantasy city based game system which was fast and loose interacting with multiple factions within the city. We tried Dungeon World but we found it pretty…err… Dungeon focused. We love building settings and this system makes that come to life at the right level without the detachment you find with microscope.
I tried an early version of the quick start rules but found it hard to get my head round the setting although there are many books that help it come to life I gather. I decided to wait for a final version before trying it again however.
The basic premise is fantastic and so flexible you can make it your own as reflected in the number of hacks on offer. I’m looking forward to seeing many of them, but specifically Moon over Bourbon Street.
I am really excited about the progress clocks. The GM can set a number of clocks. This is a pie shape with four or more slices. These could be mission, faction, danger, long term project and so on. The clock is filled in by the GM and counts down to an event. This creates excitement short term and could make campaign play intriguing. Ferrell Riley is so right about the flashbacks. From the quick start…”the rules don’t distinguish between actions performed in the present and those in the past. When an operation is underway you can invoke a flashback in the past which impacts your current situation.”. We have flashed back to gain knowledge of a safe that we “knew” we would encounter and on another occasion to hire a driver for our escape.
I am really excited about the progress clocks. The GM can set a number of clocks. This is a pie shape with four or more slices. These could be mission, faction, danger, long term project and so on. The clock is filled in by the GM and counts down to an event. This creates excitement short term and could make campaign play intriguing. Ferrell Riley is so right about the flashbacks. From the quick start…”the rules don’t distinguish between actions performed in the present and those in the past. When an operation is underway you can invoke a flashback in the past which impacts your current situation.”. We have flashed back to gain knowledge of a safe that we “knew” we would encounter and on another occasion to hire a driver for our escape.
The progress clocks is a great mechanic that can really easily be using in nearly any game system. I ran a game of Star Force and we used a progress clock in that game to denote that my character was slowly getting psychically possessed if I didn’t do something about it.
The progress clocks is a great mechanic that can really easily be using in nearly any game system. I ran a game of Star Force and we used a progress clock in that game to denote that my character was slowly getting psychically possessed if I didn’t do something about it.
A huge draw for me is that this game positively oozes with theme. You know what you’re getting stylistically and tonally right off the bat, so if you’re into the kind of world presented in Blades it’s an absolute winner.
I’d be interested to hear the community’s thoughts on gangs – having their own character sheets, progression, positive and negative attitudes to other gangs etc.
A huge draw for me is that this game positively oozes with theme. You know what you’re getting stylistically and tonally right off the bat, so if you’re into the kind of world presented in Blades it’s an absolute winner.
I’d be interested to hear the community’s thoughts on gangs – having their own character sheets, progression, positive and negative attitudes to other gangs etc.
I did not want to blather on but yes! The emphasis on team work and a crew work sheet is awesome.
I did not want to blather on but yes! The emphasis on team work and a crew work sheet is awesome.
Just to clarify my point about setting. I get the feel for it very strongly but beyond a very basic understanding of the factions I found it hard to understand their motives as a group and as individuals. It might be just that it was the first quick starter. It might just need playing a bit.
Just to clarify my point about setting. I get the feel for it very strongly but beyond a very basic understanding of the factions I found it hard to understand their motives as a group and as individuals. It might be just that it was the first quick starter. It might just need playing a bit.
Eadwin Tomlinson from play I found that beyond the general friction between the factions the impact is largely with who you ally yourself with and who you do and don’t want to cross. Are you going to stay with the chosen factions, play both sides, follow the money? Basically I guess what you said…comes with play.
Eadwin Tomlinson from play I found that beyond the general friction between the factions the impact is largely with who you ally yourself with and who you do and don’t want to cross. Are you going to stay with the chosen factions, play both sides, follow the money? Basically I guess what you said…comes with play.
Well, recording is complete. I suspect no one here is going to be happy with what we had to say.
Well, recording is complete. I suspect no one here is going to be happy with what we had to say.
That sounds ominous Jason Cordova
That sounds ominous Jason Cordova
Isa Wills It’s not all bad. We landed on “This game may not have been written for players like us.” It’s a good conversation. We were clearly struggling with our general admiration for John Harper games versus our surprise with how this one is shaping up.
Isa Wills It’s not all bad. We landed on “This game may not have been written for players like us.” It’s a good conversation. We were clearly struggling with our general admiration for John Harper games versus our surprise with how this one is shaping up.
Interesting. I’m looking forward to the next podcast to hear all.
On a personal note, the guys and I here in the UK really enjoy listening to the Gauntlet, so thanks and keep it coming!
Interesting. I’m looking forward to the next podcast to hear all.
On a personal note, the guys and I here in the UK really enjoy listening to the Gauntlet, so thanks and keep it coming!
Arse kisser +Isa Wills
Arse kisser +Isa Wills
Touché 😉
Touché 😉
That’s kind of you to say, Isa Wills. Spread the word!
That’s kind of you to say, Isa Wills. Spread the word!
Jason Cordova Will do! I saw on another thread that you were moving to New Jersey. I hope you guys keep the Gauntlet alive and kicking.
Jason Cordova Will do! I saw on another thread that you were moving to New Jersey. I hope you guys keep the Gauntlet alive and kicking.
Isa Wills We’re going to do our best!
Isa Wills We’re going to do our best!
Jason Cordova Listener Isa is a he not a she 😉 I know, it’s a confusing name.
Jason Cordova Listener Isa is a he not a she 😉 I know, it’s a confusing name.
Isa Wills Ah! So you are. Apologies. I never look at profile pics.
Isa Wills Ah! So you are. Apologies. I never look at profile pics.
Jason Cordova No worries. Happens all the time.
Jason Cordova No worries. Happens all the time.