I realize that there is an overwhelming leaning toward fantasy genre games, but I actually prefer non-fantasy since it actually adds a "freshness" to the gaming sessions. If anyone playing/running non-fantasy games? What system are you using? Are you using Campaign Logger? Has it been easy to use? Any hurdles that you had to overcome, and if yes, how did you overcome them?
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Any non-Fantasy games going on?
- Thread starter RPMiller
- Start date
JochenL
CL Byte Sprite
Staff member
Adamantium WoA
Wizard of Story
Wizard of Combat
Gamer Lifestyle
Borderland Explorer
I am running Traveller with GURPS, Traveller, and Fate. Mindjammer (Fate Core based). I like CL for all my games as they tend to become sandbox games and CL allows me to easily access defined facts.
Do you find yourself using all the features of CL? I can definitely see using things like the calendar since there are a lot of "travel time" considerations with traveller. I realize that you're the developer so there is likely some bias
, but has CL really allowed you to integrate the mechanics of the various systems together?
jay_rab
New member
I run a Vampire: The Masquerade(VtM) campaign which is set in the modern day and use CL for it, alot of the generators dont help much due to them being largely fantasy based, but the logger itself is really good for me to be able to build interconnecting stories and connect all the links (which VtM is heavily about who knows who and what)
The biggest hurdle I have faced with CL (and its a DM issue not the app or system related) is just making sure I categorize everything with the right tags, everything else is like having a digital journal that I can search through which is wonderful.
JochenL
CL Byte Sprite
Staff member
Adamantium WoA
Wizard of Story
Wizard of Combat
Gamer Lifestyle
Borderland Explorer
During logging I normally make sure to have a prefix with date and session number.
When prepping with CL I review the last session notes and add tags that I missed. Then I pick up on that loose ends and try to find logical developments as hooks and GM moves for the next session.
When prepping with CL I review the last session notes and add tags that I missed. Then I pick up on that loose ends and try to find logical developments as hooks and GM moves for the next session.
JochenL
CL Byte Sprite
Staff member
Adamantium WoA
Wizard of Story
Wizard of Combat
Gamer Lifestyle
Borderland Explorer
Do you find yourself using all the features of CL? I can definitely see using things like the calendar since there are a lot of "travel time" considerations with traveller. I realize that you're the developer so there is likely some bias
I am mostly using plot and people tags. At least these I am revisiting often. Locations are helpful for binding plots and people together. Same for organizations.
Item tags are reserved for rare gadgets/artifacts for which I need to remember special properties and usages.
JochenL
CL Byte Sprite
Staff member
Adamantium WoA
Wizard of Story
Wizard of Combat
Gamer Lifestyle
Borderland Explorer
I realize that you're the developer so there is likely some bias
For me CL is a tool to keep my campaigns consistent. The system mechanics don't normally matter for that as I have most of them memorized or written down in CL with page references (the latter preventing me from hectic book browsing to find a rule or - if it needs to be fast - from making wonky ad-hoc decisions).
Before CL I used MyInfo, OneNote, and paper notebooks. The former two were nice for planning extensively but not for actual gaming. The latter one is inherently unordered, but good during gaming. All three left me forgetting decisions and distracted my focus towards game prep instead of actual gaming.
Nowadays I feel more biased towards improv GMing than towards extensive prepping. I like to create some pillars/hooks/questions/stats for my upcoming game so I can throw pieces at my players which they can pick up if they like. And then go with there decisions and develop the world from there.
This has been a fantastic thread to read!!! Thank you, everyone. I'm glad to see non-fantasy games being run and I especially like seeing the suggestions come in for making CL friendlier to non-fantasy genres.
I also use MyInfo, OneNote, and scribbled notes all over the place (the reason for wanting a better way to keep things together). This is a big reason for starting this discussion was to see what people are doing, discovering as hurdles that I can plan for and hopefully not have to deal with.
Currently, I have a post-apocalyptic campaign using the Hero System that has elements of both sci-fi and "magic" in it (think along the lines of Thundarr the Barbarian). So there are various factions, communities, and NPC that all need to stay tracked. Not to mention all the various rules that are needed for all sorts of things. I would love to see a more modern/non-fantasy generator for NPCs and settings. I've been "modernizing" fantasy settings to fit into a modern setting, which works okay, but can sometimes be a lot of work.
I also use MyInfo, OneNote, and scribbled notes all over the place (the reason for wanting a better way to keep things together). This is a big reason for starting this discussion was to see what people are doing, discovering as hurdles that I can plan for and hopefully not have to deal with.
Currently, I have a post-apocalyptic campaign using the Hero System that has elements of both sci-fi and "magic" in it (think along the lines of Thundarr the Barbarian). So there are various factions, communities, and NPC that all need to stay tracked. Not to mention all the various rules that are needed for all sorts of things. I would love to see a more modern/non-fantasy generator for NPCs and settings. I've been "modernizing" fantasy settings to fit into a modern setting, which works okay, but can sometimes be a lot of work.
I use it as a player log in a Star Wars: Edge Of The Empire campaign. Although I love CL as a DMing tool, I find it perfect for taking notes as a player also. As Jochen, I also use prefixes with date and session number. I also make entries for the party's loot (linked to the current session) and make it easier for the DM to keep track of what we found so far.
The log entries also make a great recap for the team since we play only once a month or so.
The log entries also make a great recap for the team since we play only once a month or so.
been listening to some podcasts lately and just got tuned into ken & robin talks about stuff and got very curious about Nights black agents too.
also on topic:
I use it for a sci-fi campaign set in warhammer40k
I use CL to keep track of all of my campaigns including my Achtung! Cthulhu and Deadlands Reloaded games (both are virtual using Fantasy Grounds). I don't look at CL as a tool, more like a really great log book that I find easy and quick to use and update. FG handles things like loot and such for my games so I tend to spend more time with CL with backstory and information stuff than 'meat and potatoes' stuff in the campaign.
FG?
Did I see you mention Rogue Trader? Are you using that ruleset or another one?
Ackinty
New member
Prepping Shadowrun small campaign, CL will certainly be my main tool for this campaign. Except (lot of) predefined generators, CL is pretty system and setting neutral, and that's great.
I'm not entirely easy when lots of entries (say, more than 20) are on page, switching between Ctrl-F and search form to find infos, using multiple tabs (but you have to refresh other tabs to get changes on one tab)... It sure is a matter of experience. I'm only using CL for my last two small campaings.
Anyway, I never find any other rpg tool so usefull and easy.
I'm not entirely easy when lots of entries (say, more than 20) are on page, switching between Ctrl-F and search form to find infos, using multiple tabs (but you have to refresh other tabs to get changes on one tab)... It sure is a matter of experience. I'm only using CL for my last two small campaings.
Anyway, I never find any other rpg tool so usefull and easy.
actually we started using WRM - warrior rogue mage by stargazer and by now we've house ruled the heck out of it to accomodate psychic powers, sci-fi weapons etc... came up with a big table of new feats and hacked the fate point system to be a sort of talent point system.. you can use it as fate but also to purchase skills/feats etc.. inspired alot by the strange for one. but yeah that setting .. in the employ of a rogue trader, none of the party are rogue trader or any of the classes in the FFG book, although the book has been browsed extensively and inspired a few hacks as well. Like the reputation thing.. i am trying to have a reputation internally in the dynasty for the party so they can gain ranks and become more reputable and this was inspired by the system of availability in the rogue trader book, alongside this one i also am trying to have a external reputation amongst the other scums out there in the Koronos Expanse. They are influenced by what happens but can also be increased by selling stuff to either dynasty or external fences depending on which reputation they want to feed. so .. while we are not using that system it has influenced alot also in terms of gear and various equipment like the poisons and drugs etc.... the beauty of using the WRM is that it is D6 much like the actual warhammer 40k game.. so we can adopt alot of the 3+, 2+, 4+ mentality from there.