Game Geeks #117 Houses of the Blooded

[Iluminatiflex]

I've loved houses of the blooded, I've been running a Campaing of it for over two years now and I absolutely agree with this guy. it's a very interesting game, you have to pick the right players for it tough. people who likes politics and tragedy (people very hooked up with a song of ice and fire would like this game very much), not a game for everybody but I dont belive there ARE games for everybody. buy it and enjoy it.

[ChuckHenebry]

A crucial aspect of the game is the way that its subsystems play into one another. To maximize your take of resources from your landholdings, you're encouraged to take a spouse; but the romance system gives you an incentive to strike up a torrid affair along the lines of Medieval courtly love. And all that gives players cause for revenge and duels of honor.

[ShubertCVGC]

I actually found Houses very easy to get into. You can make characters in half an hour and start playing without any kind of prep whatsoever. It might be a tiny bit more work for the players since they'll want to come up with interesting aspects and story ideas, but it's a hell of a lot less work for the GM who can literally show up to the table with nothing and create an excellent story.

[LordSathar]

For some reason whenever people mention HotB, I think of Blackadder.

[azirk83]

I honestly thought HotB was nothing to write home about. I make that quite clear in my responses to Wick's video diary for the design of the game, many of his ideals I don't really cotton to.

The Ven themselves are quite silly and pretentious. I couldn't bring myself to like the race enough to play the game.

Check out all the Greek tragedies sometime, characters don't need crippling flaws to be tragic. Most of the good tragedy is self-inflicted and due to circumstance, not prowess related

[markol44]

hey Polish handbook cover 7th sea why?

[aderier]

Tonight on freaks and geeks they played D&D. the show is ofcoruse 10 years old and based in the early 80s but still its niceto see it somelove of gaming.

[rebirthangel]

A game that requires a lot of thought? ...oh, so I take it that's why Werewolf the apocalypse wasn't very good in Kurt's eyes? I like Werewolf...now I feel alone.

Seriously though, I'll listen to allluckyseven, and consider looking into the creators Youtube page.

[KitFoxtrot]

In comparison? I liked W:tA, and wanted to play a good, solid game of it, but most players see 'Kill The Wyrm' and turn their brains off. If you ran W:tA like you'd run HotB, you'd have the different Septs, Tribes, and Packs slowly undermining and backstabbing each other, and the Wyrm threat would be a footnote in the game, used only once in a blue moon. I'd love to have been in a W:tA game like that. Don't know anyone who would run it that way though.

[allluckyseven]

John Wick has a series of videos on which he describes various aspects of the game and the reasons behind them on his Youtube channel, LordStrange

Also, the tag, compel and invoke icons shown near the end of the video are upside down!

[pugknowspro]

I goofed on the Icons, must have scanned them upside down... Apologies around.

Rob

[bazorkin]

Wow, Kurt. It takes some serious stones to admit that your group may not ever be ready to play a game you like. I think every GM has a game like that. Last weekend at a Con I played Spirit of the Century. I have to admit that that one might be beyond my players too.

[sureshot73A]

Personally I think Kurt imo needs to find a new gamiong group. Morethen once he has admiited his current gaming group with not be interested in game xyz and only Savafe worlds Basic roleplaying and Eden Studios stuff. Which is okay but must be very frustrating for someone like Kurt who wants to try new stuff and has to review rpgs on top of that.

[nozzer2002]

good review Kurt pity the game would be over the heads of the average group !

[Tsanuri]

You say the system runs: State your goal, gather a dice pool then add Risk Dice, add Style points to the result and try to beat a 10. The more you beat the 10 the better off you are. That isn't the system.

You state your goal, gather dice and roll against 10. Roll under and the narrator says what happens. Roll over 10 and you say if you succeed or fail and for each die held back before rolling you get to add a fact about how you succeed or failed. Style is spent to add more facts at any time.

[beatboxpeej]

this is officialy not for my players, but I would like to play it!

[sureshot73A]

Seems like an interesting game. Sadly not for every gaming group and certainly not mine. I may pick it up. I have to see what it offers that differs from the rest that I have.

[Webhead123]

This game sounds interesting. Sadly, most of my players probably wouldn't be able to make it work right. Does anyone know if the game focuses on/allows for more "personal" character development (development of your individual character) or is it primarily about the development of your House and lineage? I tend to like games more about personal growth than socio-political intrigue. Just curious what the game's intent is. What is your character striving for and what are the obstacles in their way?

[Tsanuri]

While the game is much what your group makes of it, I have found it to be hugely focused upon personal character development.

The intent of the game (IMO) is to create a story of Tragedy, in the Shakespearian/operatic sense. Making the wrong decisions for the right reasons.

More Elric meets Amber than Conan ;-)

[DanielSolis81]

Nice review, but the aspect icons were upside down! :P

[pugknowspro]

I wish I could say I was testing you. :)

Rob

[beatboxpeej]

listening to you this game looks awesome. If you could give us some details on the setting plz! The book looks like a novel.

[KitFoxtrot]

You're part of a race called the Ven - slaves to an older race which has since vanished. A civilization has been built, with anything and anyone not part of your culture being considered 'outside'. The civilization is slowly beginning to decay, and you're involved in high politics and intrigue. The game's specifically designed that the GM/Players can add to the game any elements they wish. Some people have converted Legend of the Five Rings, others have done their own thing.

[walt776]

Crikey... I touched some nerves suggesting changing it to another system. I should say, from Kurt's description, I like the basic concept of the dice pool system (played around with a similar concept myself.) I don't like the sound of it being "rules heavy," which to me kills a lot of the pace of games and doesn't do anything that could be accomplished through good roleplaying. In fact, listening to it, it sounds to me this would make a good Basic Roleplaying conversion, which is very flexible.

[Tsanuri]

@ walt776: The system is rules light. It has one core mechanic and then a "toolbox" of specialist ways you can adapt it to different situation (Romances, Dueling, Insults, Debating, etc). The main difference in the system from the bulk of games is that you are not rolling to win/lose. You are rolling to find out who says if you win/lose and how. Failing can be soooo cool in Houses.

[OriginalNeomoon]

I noticed I may not have been clear. I'm talking about the game not Kurt or his opinion of it.

[unquietsoul]

Another great game that requires just the right group of people to play it and make it work (sigh).

[Kapelannew]

when its not? =/

[XboxAchievementz]

Ive never played this, might try it though.

[vernsi]

I would love to play that... to bad my group is so freaking stupid at times.

[pridday88]

Great review Kurt, thanks! This concept sounds like it might be good to adapt for very high-level D&D (or other rule set) campaigns where the characters have become major political figures running large entities.

[KitFoxtrot]

I don't know if it would work for that. A lot of what is expected in the game can't work with D&D. A lot of the D&D attributes, skills, and powers would completely undermine the flavour of the game and what would be expected.

[nutherefurlong]

You hear that, old group? Your days are numbered! :)

[HighHammerNoob]

This was a very good review.

[jfridy]

Wick has created some really great and creative stuff. The writing is top notch.

[Lordofexcess]

I've played the game (strategicon .. just last week) and own the book. It is as stated in the review, John Wick's answer to "what would be the opposite of D&D." As stated in the review, this isn't a one off, it is not beer and pretzels, its a pretty heavy duty RPG. The average group is going to struggle. Its high concept, with romance, political intrigue, etc. I loved it but I don't know if my game group could handle it, I'm guessing most groups couldn't.

[walt776]

Looks like a game that would be fun once converted to another system.

[KitFoxtrot]

I don't know that any other system would do it justice. My wife and I were involved in doing the editing for the game, and the system was constructed specifically for the style of the game and the type of themes that are expected to play out.

If you used another system... you'd lose all of that. Invoking your opponent's weaknesses, forcing them to succumb to their fatal flaws. Calling upon servants, building and controlling your domain and using the resources against your foes.

[theBeorn]

was waiting for your review kurt!

please review Geist! and ANY SPACE OPERA SCI FI GAME, i'm in serious need of that and can't find anything good (and i don't like talking dogs so Traveller doesn't work for me)

[KitFoxtrot]

Geist is weird. I've the PDF for it, I'll be getting the hardcover, but yeah, it is a really, really weird game.

[knwiegel]

Try Savage Worlds and either Slipstream or Daring Tales of the SpaceLanes: both will scratch your space Opera itch....

[zorlak21]

This looks cool all give it a go :)

[MorrowTHEjedi]

Very interesting review. I picked up this RPG as well. I still need to read it to grasp the concepts.

[KitFoxtrot]

Very much worth it. :) I've been a fan of Mr. Wick's for quite some time.