[Dungeon Fantasy] Quickest Way To Start Playing?

[Mulsiphix]

One of the reasons I chose Dungeon Fantasy is because I was under the impression that it was very light roleplaying. Obviously there would be description and cinematic play abound, but I got the impression that was more along the lines of just having mindless hack n' slash fun. In the preview for DF1 it states;

Originally Posted by DF1 Introduction Page

Be warned that Dungeon Fantasy: Adventurers shamelessly cuts corners and makes assumptions. It’s a guide to making two-dimensional “heroes” from a non-culture, and pillages history and fantasy novels at random for powerful equipment and mythology. Use it in a serious fantasy campaign at your peril.

Is there more to it than this?

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by Mulsiphix

Is there more to it than this?

Only if you want there to be.

[Mulsiphix]

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

Only if you want there to be.

What I mean by "is there more" is that I thought the system was aimed at this sort of romp and stomp play. To the point that it won't mesh well with serious fantasy. If I were to go with creating a serious fantasy setting (Say like Ptolus, Exalted's Creation, or Talislanta) is this product line a great place to start with that design?

[Turhan's Bey Company]

Originally Posted by Mulsiphix

What I mean by "is there more" is that I thought the system was aimed at this sort of romp and stomp play.

The system underlying the GURPS Dungeon Fantasy line is GURPS. What the DF line does is to give you a bunch of pre-built character templates, simplified and specialized rules for common dungeon adventuring scenarios, and stuff like monsters and treasure. The rest is ignored, or at least de-emphasized. You can expand into other kinds of campaigns by starting to use the stuff DF doesn't tell you to use. I'd say it makes a pretty good basis if killing things and taking their stuff is an aspect of what you want to do, even if it's not the entirely of what you want to do.

[Jeffr0]

Originally Posted by Mulsiphix

What I mean by "is there more" is that I thought the system was aimed at this sort of romp and stomp play. To the point that it won't mesh well with serious fantasy. If I were to go with creating a serious fantasy setting (Say like Ptolus, Exalted's Creation, or Talislanta) is this product line a great place to start with that design?

This is really quite a strange question, but I'll try to answer it:

First off... people have taken the absolute worst systems with horribly imbalanced scenarios... and somehow run incredible campaigns with them that would have been totally different depending on what players had actually showed up.

Second... a setting may not do for you what you think it would. The consensus of game masterdom is probably that a setting is something that is best developed over the course of play. (Check out any good advice on developing your own Mega-Dungeon for instance.)

Third... GURPS has been developed to do anything... and even with the caveats that are included in the DF introduction, it is still an insanely complete/powerful/useful game. (I am one of those guys that is afraid to go beyond the 150 pt barrier, so DF seems insanely hyped up, but just reading the blog Dungeon Fantastic I can see that it can work really well both with classic D&D scenarios and with home brewed stuff.

My advice to you: You're overthinking this so much, your head is liable to explode. Play something. Shoot, playing Dominion or Munchkin Quest would be more useful to you than trying to figure out the perfect game. Even a stripped down solitaire adventure that is not in a system you'd want to use long term would be better because it would put you in touch with a better knowledge of the game design elements that are most important to you.

Go play some games, dangit! Synthesizing the opinions of the greatest minds in GURPSdom will only drive you mad. Quit trying to "do it right" or perfect... quit trying to find a product that will do everything for you-- you don't even know what you want yet!

[Mulsiphix]

That clears things up! Thank you very much! As for playing immediately? My obsession is not about running the perfect game but about wowing my wife so that she will continue to play with me. Other players would be nice but we have a small home and four children (3 month year old is the youngest) so traveling to somebody elses home would be highly unlikely to go over well. I'm trying to do the best I can with what I've got before me and my biggest concern and greatest goal is to really give my wife something to squeal over. If it were just me, I'd be happy playing almost anything as long as I was having a good time. My GURPS books haven't exactly inspired her with crazy excitement. She only sees the toolbox and has trouble seeing the possibilities. I hope to change that very soon <3.

[jacobmuller]

Originally Posted by Mulsiphix

I'm trying to do the best I can with what I've got before me<3.

Now there's a quote. Roosevelt? "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
Play it for fun. IMHO DF is about having fun slaying monsters and heaping treasure - like the old-school RPGs.
But you can also play it as seriously as LotR if that's what you want to do, like the old-school.
And the GURPS line has consistent rules to cover everything, if you decide you need them, but they aren't essential.
You already have the essential elements: you, your player, an idea & Lite <3

That said, there are so many great ideas in the rest of the GURPS line - you could end up playing space pirate amazon ninja cat-girl versus the cyborg zombie alien horde in mana-powered ether-sailing ships with magicians for canon cannon.

[Mulsiphix]

Originally Posted by jacobmuller

That said, there are so many great ideas in the rest of the GURPS line - you could end up playing space pirate amazon ninja cat-girl versus the cyborg zombie alien horde in mana-powered ether-sailing ships with magicians for canon cannon.

*mouth drops, body begins to twitch* Did anyone else find that romantic? Its the kind of thing you hope your spouse says to you one day. "Honey, I had an idea. It would mean the world to me if we could play a game with space pirate amazon ninja cat-girl versus the cyborg zombie alien horde in mana-powered ether-sailing ships with magicians for canon cannon." *bats eyes at you lovingly*

*Big Sigh* The stuff dreams are made of <3

[Jeffr0]

Originally Posted by Mulsiphix

If it were just me, I'd be happy playing almost anything as long as I was having a good time. My GURPS books haven't exactly inspired her with crazy excitement. She only sees the toolbox and has trouble seeing the possibilities. I hope to change that very soon <3.

Tread softly.

You need to make something that is fun for you. She won't have fun if you're not. Also... most players don't really know what they want-- they really look to the Game Master to set the tone and make it fun. If they don't like something, they may not be able or willing to explain it-- they'll just stop playing to save you from embarrassment-- so you have to develop your ability to read people.

Your wife sounds like she's at the stage where she's willing to give this a shot even if it's mostly just because she likes you. Do it, try to have fun... but after that:

• In a session, quickly give her six different options for an adventures she could pursue.... See what she picks and try to make it awesome.
• Try some other games-- Hive, Lost Cities, Dominion, Carcassonne, Settlers of Cataan-- and tell her upfront that you are looking for something that you two can enjoy together.
• While you're doing the above... find something else that she might want to do-- Snorkling, Ball Room Dancing, a concert of her favorite group. (Pro tip: you don't ever want her saying, "all you care about is your stupid games" and setting your books on fire.)

Warning: she may not be your gaming soul mate. You might have to learn to live with that. At the same time... there may be a perfectly good middle ground that you are set to spoil, so don't be a dumbass. If she's still in love with you, you have time to figure this out.... If it is still early in the marriage, she may be looking to follow you into whatever adventures life has to offer you two. Don't sit around dithering or fretting over whether she'd like it or not-- take her on some ^$#&*^#* adventures.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Mulsiphix

1. I have virtually no pnp playing experience, no gm'ing experience.
2. I will be playing with only 1 player who is happy to control multiple PC's
3. We have both read GURPS Lite but nothing else
4. We want to play Dungeon Fantasy as soon as possible but have been told this is unrealistic for our situation.

I am looking for suggestions on how to start playing Dungeon Fantasy as soon as possible. I know Dungeon Fantasy is not ideal for neophyte GURPS players or newbie pnp gamers in general. We don't care. This is our goal and we would like to start playing DF ASAP. What do we need to do? What do we need to read? We are willing to put in the time and work and purchase any needed books and supplies. Any feedback, suggestions, or general advice would be greatly appreciated.

Well for Dungeon Fantasy you need the Magic book, I suspect. It will also work better if you just let your player run one character while you run his character's buddy. That way he'll have someone to talk to. Even just with just GURPS Lite you can have a couple of fighters go down into a tunnel and kill a few goblins and giant rats to get your feet wet.