Debunking rumors, fun stuff, and further Anti Journal wholesomeness!
Well time for another update!
I have to say since the last update here things have been lively. On the game front we have the faulty Giovanni Genre pack (OwbN for those not in the know) going up for vote.
Granted it's probably going to pass (which for the good stuff in the pack, thats a plus. Like the Dis Pater shrine, GLEE!) but the glaring oversights in the pack are staggering.
The addition and reworking of "doubleblooded" in the pack is profound, just not in a good way. By the book, Giovanni are single bloods. They are the pure ones, they are the shit in the clan (by their standards). The double blooded are all of the other secondary families.
So not only are we completely retooling this, we're making a merit to make Giovanni even more 'spechul' than others. Double bloods will not be the lesser families as the clan book dictates, they are going to be those extra extra special Giovanni that are better than the 'normal' Giovanni.
Thats what Prestigious Sire is for, not a misworded merit that goes against what the book states.
Then we have the lack of any listed punishment for wanton diablerie. People are citing some obscure listings in the rules (such as the misworded double blood merit) but totally want to pass over any sort of punishment when it comes to the dreaded D word.
Per Clan Book Giovanni the elders are wary to even allow this because they do not want their children growing powerful too fast. Now they DO allow for diablerie (thats how some of the minor families were formed, not to mention the main branch)which is PERFECTLY COOL! Thats by the book.
But I'm sorry, cord wood kindred (staked bodies of former players and/or NPCs) and nectar parties have been problems for the Giovanni for awhile now. And contrary to Josh Mannings post, not limited to just Phoenix (see more below).
And then there is the "The Giovanni have their own genre" but when definative listings and opinions are given in the packet, I'm finding that those players or types of players were not consulted.
And yes, there is such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen. And a massive undertaking such as this genre pack was bound to leave some folks out. But "we have our own genre" isn't a defense if you do not consult those who make that genre (supposely).
I'm looking forward to the good stuff, but definately irked that the Coord is making no effort to fix the problems as they have been pointed out. In fact I was told that people trust he'll do a good job. Some even voted on this premisce. More power to them. But unfortunately I've lost a little respect for some who did this, knowing the problems and issues that have been addressed.
It's a bummer, it happens, and hopefully something will come along to change my mind. But as it stands right now I wont support the genre pack in any game I run or play in. Even if that means giving up the stuff I really like to do so.
It should be done right. Not rushed through voting and half ass Microsoft styled patching later. Or (and I love this excuse)"Your STs can fix that in their own games" is about a lame excuse as I've heard. So we're supposed to just arbitrarily ignore what we like and use what we don't like in these genre packs?
That is lame. And it doesn't do any justice to the people who put the effort into making them in the first place.
But thats life in a ORG! Gotta love it :)
----------------------------------------------------------
The name is Manning, Josh Manning.
I love this guy. Honestly I do. I got a chuckle out of a line from his latest email that I missed before coming to work today. I'm going to repost the parts I liked here for brevity's sake.
"The Giovanni are business oriented from back since we were Jovian merchants,"
Umm no, they were romans, then italians. Jovian was a Roman emperor as per this definition
http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/J/Jovian.html
"The easiest place to FIX genre is to do it at home. This genre packet gives the Giovanni a lot more to work with."
See the aforementioned statement above about STs and ignoring genre packets above.
"Most of the Giovanni players that I've spoken to LOVE the packet.
Now are you guys all here to run the game for you? Or for your players?"
So if a Giovanni player disagrees with the 'love' and go against the flow, they want to just run the entire game? Heaven forbid someone wants to just see the packet done right.
However...this is the grand high poomba of posts (err snippets actually. None of these are in any sort of order). This is the one that made me laugh and I'm happier for it.
"Don't measure the entirety of the Giovanni by certain ones. I mean,
I'm Paris Giovanni's childe. People will automatically ASSUME that I'm a
cheezy wonky cracky character. Nope actually, I'm pretty damn genre. In
fact, PATH-wise I went the opposite direction of Paris and said "FUCK YOU."
to Lilith. This paragraph is just for Jerome cause I know how much he
despised the Phoenix game. It was a Giovanni dominated game and I'm sure
that burned his balls seeing some Giovanni that were part of a genre that he
wasn't used to.."
Could care less who's childe is character is. Didn't know he was Paris' and the fact that he said no to Lillith is ok in my book.
However Josh hasn't been to VbN and doesn't live out here. He might have been to an event or two with some of their players. Heck maybe he even came to their April 4th shindig. But events once and a great while are like diet coke. Just one callore, not nearly enough :)
So yeah I despised VbN...Heh I'm still laughing that someone would think I'd have to place that much effort into that game. Because quite frankly I just don't care. Been over this a dozen or more so times. Heck I don't even mind most of their players. They have a different creative direction than people found at Secundus, good for them!
Thats a dynamic. Because without it, things become stale and no fun for anyone. However, even a dynamic needs wisdom to temper it. Wisdom indicates that you abide and conform to OwbN standards (since thats the org you claim to be apart of). That type of wisdom either wasn't displayed or they just wanted to go a different route. The game and Org parted ways.
Now as for genre? See the aforementioned statements of cord wood kindred, nectar parties, and more zombies, war ghouls, and zods than you can shake a stick at (think Resident Evil numbers and you're close) just for starters. That isn't genre, that isn't genre I'm not used to, that is genre breaking.
It's ok to tell a story, and it's definately ok to tell a good one! But woe be unto you if your stories get out of hand and effect the org. That is -not- good chron interaction. Did it burn my balls? I don't tend to stand in flames so no, actually it didn't in the least. The latter statement about the zombies actually gave me a couple of quick game jokes.
But back to Josh: He might post more than I think he does but for some reason I just don't see much come from him. On any list he and I are on. But when he does? It's like Taz from Tazmania making up for lost time! :) Complete with variance speech, big bold caps (for those loud monster sounds Taz makes), and lots of !!!!!!! for the thpthptphtphtpht sound Taz makes.
I don't really have a problem with him, I'm finding it hard to actually. I can tell by his emotional posts he means well (I know quite a few like him in this regard) but he just doesn't seem to focus on the topic or issue being discussed. Kind of like Taz now that I think of it!
Taz: *insert buzzsaw sounds of death as he twirls through the forest hunting his prey whilst Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck argue over something*
Bugs: Duck season....
Daffy: wabbit season....
Bugs: Duck season...
Taz: Duck-yaaahghtiuyghtyhtuyuehghgjtyhegfgt-wabbit-ghtneothgnd-thtphthpthpthpt!
*Bugs and Daffy with odds looks on their faces and shurg*
Bugs: Here eat this!
Taz: mmmm.......ROAST BEEF! ttphtphtphpth!!!!
*And Taz spins away again*
Thats kinda how I see the situation and why It's humorus to me. Yeah I know he's got his friends and some might not like me saying this. But you know what? It's better than the self styled moniker he's given to himself of "bad Giovanni player" :)
Eh, just me making light of a heated moment. And I'd rather do that than actually take offense to someone (him or anyone else). I guess the bottom line to it is people like that generally mean well. And I do acknowledge this. But their focus is soooooo off sometimes, just sometimes, I try and find humor instead of offense.
More fun fun stuff later on when I have time. Anyone has any questions about my journal, I'll be glad to field questions via mail.
-the Anti Journal
I have to say since the last update here things have been lively. On the game front we have the faulty Giovanni Genre pack (OwbN for those not in the know) going up for vote.
Granted it's probably going to pass (which for the good stuff in the pack, thats a plus. Like the Dis Pater shrine, GLEE!) but the glaring oversights in the pack are staggering.
The addition and reworking of "doubleblooded" in the pack is profound, just not in a good way. By the book, Giovanni are single bloods. They are the pure ones, they are the shit in the clan (by their standards). The double blooded are all of the other secondary families.
So not only are we completely retooling this, we're making a merit to make Giovanni even more 'spechul' than others. Double bloods will not be the lesser families as the clan book dictates, they are going to be those extra extra special Giovanni that are better than the 'normal' Giovanni.
Thats what Prestigious Sire is for, not a misworded merit that goes against what the book states.
Then we have the lack of any listed punishment for wanton diablerie. People are citing some obscure listings in the rules (such as the misworded double blood merit) but totally want to pass over any sort of punishment when it comes to the dreaded D word.
Per Clan Book Giovanni the elders are wary to even allow this because they do not want their children growing powerful too fast. Now they DO allow for diablerie (thats how some of the minor families were formed, not to mention the main branch)which is PERFECTLY COOL! Thats by the book.
But I'm sorry, cord wood kindred (staked bodies of former players and/or NPCs) and nectar parties have been problems for the Giovanni for awhile now. And contrary to Josh Mannings post, not limited to just Phoenix (see more below).
And then there is the "The Giovanni have their own genre" but when definative listings and opinions are given in the packet, I'm finding that those players or types of players were not consulted.
And yes, there is such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen. And a massive undertaking such as this genre pack was bound to leave some folks out. But "we have our own genre" isn't a defense if you do not consult those who make that genre (supposely).
I'm looking forward to the good stuff, but definately irked that the Coord is making no effort to fix the problems as they have been pointed out. In fact I was told that people trust he'll do a good job. Some even voted on this premisce. More power to them. But unfortunately I've lost a little respect for some who did this, knowing the problems and issues that have been addressed.
It's a bummer, it happens, and hopefully something will come along to change my mind. But as it stands right now I wont support the genre pack in any game I run or play in. Even if that means giving up the stuff I really like to do so.
It should be done right. Not rushed through voting and half ass Microsoft styled patching later. Or (and I love this excuse)"Your STs can fix that in their own games" is about a lame excuse as I've heard. So we're supposed to just arbitrarily ignore what we like and use what we don't like in these genre packs?
That is lame. And it doesn't do any justice to the people who put the effort into making them in the first place.
But thats life in a ORG! Gotta love it :)
----------------------------------------------------------
The name is Manning, Josh Manning.
I love this guy. Honestly I do. I got a chuckle out of a line from his latest email that I missed before coming to work today. I'm going to repost the parts I liked here for brevity's sake.
"The Giovanni are business oriented from back since we were Jovian merchants,"
Umm no, they were romans, then italians. Jovian was a Roman emperor as per this definition
http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/J/Jovian.html
"The easiest place to FIX genre is to do it at home. This genre packet gives the Giovanni a lot more to work with."
See the aforementioned statement above about STs and ignoring genre packets above.
"Most of the Giovanni players that I've spoken to LOVE the packet.
Now are you guys all here to run the game for you? Or for your players?"
So if a Giovanni player disagrees with the 'love' and go against the flow, they want to just run the entire game? Heaven forbid someone wants to just see the packet done right.
However...this is the grand high poomba of posts (err snippets actually. None of these are in any sort of order). This is the one that made me laugh and I'm happier for it.
"Don't measure the entirety of the Giovanni by certain ones. I mean,
I'm Paris Giovanni's childe. People will automatically ASSUME that I'm a
cheezy wonky cracky character. Nope actually, I'm pretty damn genre. In
fact, PATH-wise I went the opposite direction of Paris and said "FUCK YOU."
to Lilith. This paragraph is just for Jerome cause I know how much he
despised the Phoenix game. It was a Giovanni dominated game and I'm sure
that burned his balls seeing some Giovanni that were part of a genre that he
wasn't used to.."
Could care less who's childe is character is. Didn't know he was Paris' and the fact that he said no to Lillith is ok in my book.
However Josh hasn't been to VbN and doesn't live out here. He might have been to an event or two with some of their players. Heck maybe he even came to their April 4th shindig. But events once and a great while are like diet coke. Just one callore, not nearly enough :)
So yeah I despised VbN...Heh I'm still laughing that someone would think I'd have to place that much effort into that game. Because quite frankly I just don't care. Been over this a dozen or more so times. Heck I don't even mind most of their players. They have a different creative direction than people found at Secundus, good for them!
Thats a dynamic. Because without it, things become stale and no fun for anyone. However, even a dynamic needs wisdom to temper it. Wisdom indicates that you abide and conform to OwbN standards (since thats the org you claim to be apart of). That type of wisdom either wasn't displayed or they just wanted to go a different route. The game and Org parted ways.
Now as for genre? See the aforementioned statements of cord wood kindred, nectar parties, and more zombies, war ghouls, and zods than you can shake a stick at (think Resident Evil numbers and you're close) just for starters. That isn't genre, that isn't genre I'm not used to, that is genre breaking.
It's ok to tell a story, and it's definately ok to tell a good one! But woe be unto you if your stories get out of hand and effect the org. That is -not- good chron interaction. Did it burn my balls? I don't tend to stand in flames so no, actually it didn't in the least. The latter statement about the zombies actually gave me a couple of quick game jokes.
But back to Josh: He might post more than I think he does but for some reason I just don't see much come from him. On any list he and I are on. But when he does? It's like Taz from Tazmania making up for lost time! :) Complete with variance speech, big bold caps (for those loud monster sounds Taz makes), and lots of !!!!!!! for the thpthptphtphtpht sound Taz makes.
I don't really have a problem with him, I'm finding it hard to actually. I can tell by his emotional posts he means well (I know quite a few like him in this regard) but he just doesn't seem to focus on the topic or issue being discussed. Kind of like Taz now that I think of it!
Taz: *insert buzzsaw sounds of death as he twirls through the forest hunting his prey whilst Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck argue over something*
Bugs: Duck season....
Daffy: wabbit season....
Bugs: Duck season...
Taz: Duck-yaaahghtiuyghtyhtuyuehghgjtyhegfgt-wabbit-ghtneothgnd-thtphthpthpthpt!
*Bugs and Daffy with odds looks on their faces and shurg*
Bugs: Here eat this!
Taz: mmmm.......ROAST BEEF! ttphtphtphpth!!!!
*And Taz spins away again*
Thats kinda how I see the situation and why It's humorus to me. Yeah I know he's got his friends and some might not like me saying this. But you know what? It's better than the self styled moniker he's given to himself of "bad Giovanni player" :)
Eh, just me making light of a heated moment. And I'd rather do that than actually take offense to someone (him or anyone else). I guess the bottom line to it is people like that generally mean well. And I do acknowledge this. But their focus is soooooo off sometimes, just sometimes, I try and find humor instead of offense.
More fun fun stuff later on when I have time. Anyone has any questions about my journal, I'll be glad to field questions via mail.
-the Anti Journal