Flaming Monkey » Amber meets Nine Worlds
Michael prompts some linkage.
One of the comments threads addresses whether or not elements of 9 Worlds will work and why or why not. I'm here to tell you that that's not a relevant question. What kind of Amber game do you want to run? That's the real question. Once you have that settled, you can pick a system.
IDIC, as someone once said about the Infinity.
What most descriptions about Amber DRPG (even from Amber gamers) miss for me is the 'family' aspect. Yes, the powers and setting and attributes are really representative of what Zelazny wrote, but if you want something more than a battle and special effects, you need to know how the family dynamic is going to play.
And will you need a mechanic for it or not?
Most folks want their own spin on the family dynamic and don't miss the 'social' mechanic. Most folks don't see the 'game given' attributes as contributing directly to the family dynamic, even though the canon talks about the 'Family Game' of seeking secrets and small advantages.
While Ginger points out that the attributes as written are largely about 'Throne War' and figuring out how to beat the other PCs and become king.
The default response to the social mechanic is just like a real family:
-I'll tell dad.
-I'll make you look bad with your favorite girl.
-I'll see that you lose your best horse.
-I'll kick the shit out of you behind the woodpile.
In some ways, the game as written only addresses the failure of social, that is the last option: I'll hurt you if you screw with me.
So does 9 Worlds add something to that? I don't know.
It seems like the Narration Outcome of 9W would do that.
[Added: note these descriptions by long time Amber gamers here. There are only hints of family and social structure mentioned.]
Jim's points about mimesis are also dead-on here. Amber works for a lot of people because there are no mechanics to interfere with that.
Posted December 20, 2005 8:55 AMYeah, I thought that was a very important aspect of what many people want to get out of Amber. It really needs development further, but that discussion wasn't quite the place.
Posted December 20, 2005 9:05 PM