Pioneer Kickstarter Preview

[MasterGwydion]

Just seems like a vastly different game when described like that.

Yeah. I agree.

Looking at the Rescue from LEO scenario. There would be literally no need for the PCs at all. In fact, you'd be better off making the people in the FlyUp! the PCs. Roleplay their mental state over the comms and with each other, roll for them doing the very limited EVA, and then play out the press conference at the end.

Writing adventures is hard. Writing adventures that players can't poke a million holes in the plot is even harder. Writing fun adventures without railroading is even harder. It is why I am not an RPG adventure writer. I am not smart enough for that.

 

[lategamer]

Writing adventures is hard. Writing adventures that players can't poke a million holes in the plot is even harder. Writing fun adventures without railroading is even harder. It is why I am not an RPG adventure writer. I am not smart enough for that.

I guess this is why we have to set some constants in the world. Just as Jump Drive is a constant in Traveller, the desire for human intervention is likely to be a constant in Pioneer. It's not enough to just see it through a lens. Remote operations also becomes much more tricky when dealing with delays of seconds or even minutes.

But...that's not really the story I want to tell.

I think The Martian had a nice mix of programmed navigation and also the need for a pilot. That's what I'm aiming for.

 

[MasterGwydion]

I guess this is why we have to set some constants in the world. Just as Jump Drive is a constant in Traveller, the desire for human intervention is likely to be a constant in Pioneer. It's not enough to just see it through a lens. Remote operations also becomes much more tricky when dealing with delays of seconds or even minutes.

You could have humans in the ship to pilot the drones for all of the EVA-type stuff. It is 30 years in the future. Go full VR immersion. Simply state that humans have to be on the ship to cut down comm lag with the drones. Make that one of your constants.

But...that's not really the story I want to tell.

Agreed. You'd have to be creative on the approach to running a game like that to make it fun. Such as by full-immersion VR and such.

I think The Martian had a nice mix of programmed navigation and also the need for a pilot. That's what I'm aiming for.

I did enjoy that movie immensely!

 

[lategamer]

I did enjoy that movie immensely!

Yeah, nice balance.

The pilot wasn't there to Fly The Ship but to make the important decisions regarding the MAVs. And I don't think he could have even done the slingshot and return to Mars. You need someone with bigger eyeballs than that.

But close in - where the human drama is - involve the humans. Maybe not for docking the WITNESS to the FLYUP!, but certainly for enacting repairs and getting the people aboard. Rely too much on automation and the scenario lasts 20 minutes.

 

[MasterGwydion]

Yeah, nice balance.

The pilot wasn't there to Fly The Ship but to make the important decisions regarding the MAVs. And I don't think he could have even done the slingshot and return to Mars. You need someone with bigger eyeballs than that.

Seems like the pilot in that movie was more Mission Commander and less Pilot. Otherwise, why have your Pilot be in command when on the ground?

But close in - where the human drama is - involve the humans. Maybe not for docking the WITNESS to the FLYUP!, but certainly for enacting repairs and getting the people aboard. Rely too much on automation and the scenario lasts 20 minutes.

Human (sophont) drama is the key to good roleplaying. Agreed.