Heretic Burger

'No! My steaks!' Barnaby calms himself and continues 'I assure you that these stakes were not an attempt at bribery, merely an attempt to organise one's luggage!' he packs his items away, eyeing the concierge in case he attempted to take the delicious, prime steaks. 'Gentlemen, perhaps we should head to our room and ensure this, uh, fellow? experiences the wonder of an elevator?'

'How much would that be my good man?' Barnaby rumbles as he starts to unload his posessions looking for his money bag, placing a large bundle of steaks on the concierges desk, followed by an iron. 'Be a good fellow and make sure it's discounted, there will be...' he counts, pointing at those involved as he does 'four? of us in there...' Turning to face Manfred he looks aghast 'You've never seen an elevator? Wonderfull contraptions, breath taking boxes that save you from having to use the stairs! That being said stairs are an excellent way to keep a good fitness regime...do you have a regime?' Barnaby finishes this last part almost sheepishly as he takes in Manfred's physique.

Sorry for the delayed response everyone, holidays and all that!

Barnaby strolls through the entrance, his jaw slack as he gazes upwards and around at the scintilating colours and accoutrements. It seems entirely likely he had taken his time in reaching the hotel due to similar reactions on the street throughout the city. Making his way to the desk he takes healthy strides, his burly chest puffed out and his maul slung across his shoulders arm draped over it. 'Hullo one room please' he booms, oblivious to conversation taking place around him as he absent mindedly smiles and waves at the monkey bouncing around, the various lights reflecting on his bald pate almost mirroring his waistcoat, which could only be described as 'prismatic'.

Cram us all in there unexpectedly. What's better than monkeys? Surprise monkeys!

Rolling also works for me, mostly as it avoids decision paralysis!

Maximum Monkeys!

I'd argue it really varies with the group - everyone responding to this thread seems to be on the same page as each other about having a PC Captain - so it'd totally work. With my usual group? There's be silence as everyone tried to avoid (or pretend to avoid) the responsibility only for one of the usual suspects to take the role 'because someone has to' and then ride roughshod over everyone elses feelings/intentions/plans/whatever....

You're all having much different gaming experiences than me...which is equal parts depressing and uplifting!

Name: Barnaby the Hammer Skill: 5 Stamina: 21 Luck: 9 Background: Fellow of The Sublime Society of Beef Steaks Advanced Skills: Mauls 2 Wrestling 2 Swim 2 Climb 2 Run 2 Fist Fighting 2 Grilling 1 Possessions: Maul A Knife Lantern and Flask of Oil 6 Provisions Small Gridiron 2Kg of Premium Meat Cuts Bottle of Strong but Fancy Wine 7 Silver Pence Rucksack Waistcoat Bald head, sculpted mustache and prismatic waistcoat. Mum and Dad were part of the fellowship and life didn't present too many oportunities to do anything else, although Barnaby does subscribe to the philosophy he just wishes he had a chance to try something else, like being a barber or builder Kind and generous towards children and animals, secretly upset that everyone calls him 'The Hammer' because a) it suggests he only breaks things and b) it's a maul! Skill

I've read the core book once or twice but nothing other than that.

Given that I'm yet to run/play STA (or fully assimilate the rules mentally) take my answers with a grain of salt as you choose. I would very much say NPC captain, having a PC being able to pull rank to that extent is a recipie for disaster. My immediate thought for the ship that vaguely matches the needs listed is an intrepid class. Although that might be a bit on the nose!

If you're playing a game that has (in my experience) an aggressively mechanically minded player base and the need for a GM to to balance the repeated combat encounters then point buy just seems...pragmatic? That way people who aren't obsessed with squeezing optimisation out of a character build are given a portion of the playing field that is level and GM's then aren't having to consider whether to alter an encounter by 0.25 of a threat level or something because Sandra has rolled duff stats. If you're not playing that then random is (in my experience) much more fun, and takes more skill. If you're coming to a table with a character build before session zero you're doing it wrong anyway. Nothing wrong with having an idea you'd like to play and revelling in how you've made it fit with some random elements though. I think WFRP 4e has it about right, random character generation is very much in the spirit of the game and setting (it doesn't just suck to be a beggar in the setting, it sucks to be...well most people really...) but doesn't hold players to it. Yes if you want to play an optimised Dwarf Slayer you can, but Sandra's beggar who is so weak it hurts has a load of extra XP from the get go as they've played within the spirit of the game and setting.

I've only seen the 'first come first serve' happen at a gaming convention, for the other two there's at least some discussion. As pointed out PBP is at the least a medium term format are (in my experience) games at gaming groups and shops. First come first serve works and is totally legitimate for convention gaming as one shots are a different beast in regards to expectations and longevity and the effort and investment put in by players (GM's might have a different opinion). There should be some rough guide to criteria and there are unspoken ones - believe it or not I've seen people not follow the character creation guidlines and be surprised at not getting accepted. If you said a GM not giving you some guidance on their acceptence criteria was a red flag I would fully support you with that. However it is nothing like 'being picked last at dodgeball' and that assertion speaks volumes. This is not enforced physical exercise at school, this is people likely with responsibilities outside of the game who have sunk time, effort and in most instance a chunk of money into running a game. This is their leisure time, they are not compelled to pick anyone they don't want to and at the very end of it all don't owe anyone an explanation as to why they don't want to spend their hard earned leisure time with them - although it would polite and generous of them to say why not in many instances. As an adult navigating the real world I don't need MORE of the "people feeling entitled to my time and effort" experience.

Writing as someone who hasn't yet run a game here.... I don't let the first four people who show up at my house play what I'm running, why would it be any different here? I wouldn't want to waste my or the other players time,energy and comfort by playing with someone who was a giant red flag but had turned up first.