I’ve been re-watching The Expanse while doing copious housework and, knowing that it began life as an RPG campaign, I’m trying to spot the moments that were likely artifacts of actual play.
Three episodes in, the only thing that leaps out at me is Holden’s “insurance policy” transmission from the Knight as the Donnager bears down on them. I can’t help but think that was one of those moments when, at first, the GM panicked because it was so unexpected, and then seconds later was jumping in joy, seeing the golden opportunity he’d just been handed. So much campaign fodder spirals off from this moment.
Stumbling into the Roci was my first big “this came straight out of an rpg” moment.
< ![CDATA[Stumbling into the Roci was my first big "this came straight out of an rpg" moment.]]>
And he keeps on doing it, because it worked. And it fits who he is. So many things make sense, knowing that.
< ![CDATA[And he keeps on doing it, because it worked. And it fits who he is. So many things make sense, knowing that.]]>
The series is based on a series of novels that had their origin in a RPG setting for someone’s game.
< ![CDATA[The series is based on a series of novels that had their origin in a RPG setting for someone's game.]]>
D20 Modern/Future campaign even.
< ![CDATA[D20 Modern/Future campaign even.]]>
Yeah, the Roci is “we pooled our points for a cool warship, now the GM needs to justify us having it.”
< ![CDATA[Yeah, the Roci is "we pooled our points for a cool warship, now the GM needs to justify us having it."]]>
Christian Griffen And even so it is marked by all the complications that come along with having it. Which is exactly what a good GM would do here.
< ![CDATA[Christian Griffen And even so it is marked by all the complications that come along with having it. Which is exactly what a good GM would do here.]]>
And the whole war coming out of his broadcast is very moves-snowball-ish. As I understand it, the game (very excellent) novels are based on is a heavily-home-hacked version of d20 Modern.
< ![CDATA[And the whole war coming out of his broadcast is very moves-snowball-ish. As I understand it, the game (very excellent) novels are based on is a heavily-home-hacked version of d20 Modern.]]>
I loved the show, and am reading the book sereies due to first watching the show. Loving the first book so far.
< ![CDATA[I loved the show, and am reading the book sereies due to first watching the show. Loving the first book so far.]]>
I see a lot of things that are RPG character behavior as opposed to novel character behavior
< ![CDATA[I see a lot of things that are RPG character behavior as opposed to novel character behavior]]>
Christian Griffen I posted before that the Roci seems to me like an award — “treasure” — from the GM, one of those, “Oh, shit we get to keep it!?!?” moments. It’s when the campaign shifts “tiers” and now the PCs can take prestige classes and whatnot. “So, now you have a ship. What are you going to do with it?”
< ![CDATA[Christian Griffen I posted before that the Roci seems to me like an award — "treasure" — from the GM, one of those, "Oh, shit we get to keep it!?!?" moments. It's when the campaign shifts "tiers" and now the PCs can take prestige classes and whatnot. "So, now you have a ship. What are you going to do with it?"]]>
Aaron Griffin I cab totally see Miller’s player being all, “Mao has 97% of her water ration left? I wash my hair!”
< ![CDATA[Aaron Griffin I cab totally see Miller's player being all, "Mao has 97% of her water ration left? I wash my hair!"]]>
Like spy-bro. When he enters the scene, all the characters hate him, but the players are like “Fuck, Carl, you had to bring your little brother? He’s an asshole. Fine, he can be in the party I guess”
< ![CDATA[Like spy-bro. When he enters the scene, all the characters hate him, but the players are like "Fuck, Carl, you had to bring your little brother? He's an asshole. Fine, he can be in the party I guess"]]>
I am always game to shoot the shit about this series. Subbing for good measure.
< ![CDATA[I am always game to shoot the shit about this series. Subbing for good measure.]]>
The Roci being a Martian warship that was officially destroyed (so nobody is looking for it) and disguised as a freighter, has PC ship written all over it.
Also the moment after the escape the destruction of the Donnager, when they need to decide whether to go to Mars as agreed and stop the war, or ignore the war and talk to a known war criminal who desperately wants to talk to them for some reason, the choice they made was a choice for agency and adventure, but it seems very out of character for Holden, who was grateful for the Martian sacrifice, and fully understood that they needed to tell the truth about the mysterious attackers.
< ![CDATA[The Roci being a Martian warship that was officially destroyed (so nobody is looking for it) and disguised as a freighter, has PC ship written all over it. Also the moment after the escape the destruction of the Donnager, when they need to decide whether to go to Mars as agreed and stop the war, or ignore the war and talk to a known war criminal who desperately wants to talk to them for some reason, the choice they made was a choice for agency and adventure, but it seems very out of character for Holden, who was grateful for the Martian sacrifice, and fully understood that they needed to tell the truth about the mysterious attackers.]]>
Aaron Griffin Spy-dude there isn’t in the books, though. He’s one of the changes in the adaptation, along with Bizi Betiku the ill-fated slingshotter, and Chrisjen Avasarala being an active character in the first season/book.
< ![CDATA[Aaron Griffin Spy-dude there isn't in the books, though. He's one of the changes in the adaptation, along with Bizi Betiku the ill-fated slingshotter, and Chrisjen Avasarala being an active character in the first season/book.]]>
John Love You a reader, too? I love comparing the two, and think the adaptation to the screen is a fine job.
< ![CDATA[John Love You a reader, too? I love comparing the two, and think the adaptation to the screen is a fine job.]]>
Martijn Vos I swear I read an interview with the authors in which they something like, “Holden is what it’s like having a paladin in the party.” I can see this being one of those times when the rest of the group just flat-out overruled him.
I watched “CQB” today, and I have to wonder if the escape from the Donnager was an encounter set piece. “Okay, all hell is breaking loose as the ship is boarded and the CO sets the self-destruct sequence. Let’s see if you can get off the ship alive. Roll initiative.”
< ![CDATA[Martijn Vos I swear I read an interview with the authors in which they something like, "Holden is what it's like having a paladin in the party." I can see this being one of those times when the rest of the group just flat-out overruled him. I watched "CQB" today, and I have to wonder if the escape from the Donnager was an encounter set piece. "Okay, all hell is breaking loose as the ship is boarded and the CO sets the self-destruct sequence. Let's see if you can get off the ship alive. Roll initiative."]]>
I feel bad for Shed’s player. It’s like getting killed by lightning. I bet the GM rolled a D100 for each character, and Shed got a 1.
< ![CDATA[I feel bad for Shed's player. It's like getting killed by lightning. I bet the GM rolled a D100 for each character, and Shed got a 1.]]>
“Tungsten rounds fall. You die.”
< ![CDATA["Tungsten rounds fall. You die."]]>
I think Shed’s player left the group are the first session and they had to figure out what to do with his character.
< ![CDATA[I think Shed's player left the group are the first session and they had to figure out what to do with his character.]]>
I loved Shed so much. He’s in so briefly but he made a real impact.
(Honestly, I still find him more interesting than Alex, and I’m in the midst of reading the most-recent novel.)
< ![CDATA[I loved Shed so much. He's in so briefly but he made a real impact. (Honestly, I still find him more interesting than Alex, and I'm in the midst of reading the most-recent novel.)]]>
Aw, I like Alex.
< ![CDATA[Aw, I like Alex.]]>
Christian Griffen you’re so right. He’s totally the guy that left. The fifth player! His character died and then in between sessions he probably emailed the GM to say that he couldn’t make next week and then just never showed up to the following sessions. Game obviously wasn’t his cup of tea.
< ![CDATA[Christian Griffen you're so right. He's totally the guy that left. The fifth player! His character died and then in between sessions he probably emailed the GM to say that he couldn't make next week and then just never showed up to the following sessions. Game obviously wasn't his cup of tea.]]>
I believe the game was on an online forum, not at a table. And Shed indeed dropped out.
Another very RPG moment is when they meet Miller and immediately trust and accept him, like you do when a new PC is introduced. Except I believe Miller was from a separate campaign and never met the original players.
< ![CDATA[I believe the game was on an online forum, not at a table. And Shed indeed dropped out. Another very RPG moment is when they meet Miller and immediately trust and accept him, like you do when a new PC is introduced. Except I believe Miller was from a separate campaign and never met the original players.]]>
Martijn Vos Where are you getting your info? I’d love to read more about their campaign.
< ![CDATA[Martijn Vos Where are you getting your info? I'd love to read more about their campaign.]]>
Gert Sønderby In an RPG campaign, I can’t see spy-dude lasting five minutes. Unless Holden’s player was going full paladin. 😄
< ![CDATA[Gert Sønderby In an RPG campaign, I can't see spy-dude lasting five minutes. Unless Holden's player was going full paladin. 😄]]>
Mark Delsing that’s why I think it was someone’s little brother 😉
< ![CDATA[Mark Delsing that's why I think it was someone's little brother ;)]]>
Mark Delsing There have been articles written about this. I read two of them a while back. I don’t have any links at hand, but you could try googling.
< ![CDATA[Mark Delsing There have been articles written about this. I read two of them a while back. I don't have any links at hand, but you could try googling.]]>
I watched “Salvage” today.
I love that there’s no music or anything during the gunfight. So tense! We’re focusing on every movement just like the players would have been if it were an encounter. “GM: A woman in a tight dress shows up and sits down in the lobby.” Rounds pass… “Now two guys in overcoats come in and start fidgeting by the drink machine.”
You can also see Amos totally nailing his Sense Motive check. (I love Amos.)
And when the spy bolts: “Roll initiative!”
And, yeah, it’s a total RPG moment when Miller shows up. “Ah, this must be the new PC.”
< ![CDATA[I watched "Salvage" today. I love that there's no music or anything during the gunfight. So tense! We're focusing on every movement just like the players would have been if it were an encounter. "GM: A woman in a tight dress shows up and sits down in the lobby." Rounds pass... "Now two guys in overcoats come in and start fidgeting by the drink machine." You can also see Amos totally nailing his Sense Motive check. (I love Amos.) And when the spy bolts: "Roll initiative!" And, yeah, it's a total RPG moment when Miller shows up. "Ah, this must be the new PC."]]>
“you made a fucking paladin?!”
< ![CDATA["you made a fucking paladin?!"]]>
Mark Delsing that scene was actually better in the television show than the book IMO. So good.
< ![CDATA[Mark Delsing that scene was actually better in the television show than the book IMO. So good.]]>
Aaron Griffin Miller is a ranger, surely. (Though it’s moot since it was d20M. Investigator advanced class, at least.)
< ![CDATA[Aaron Griffin Miller is a ranger, surely. (Though it's moot since it was d20M. Investigator advanced class, at least.)]]>