LC:
> > OK. This I am curious about. Why do you think it doesn't handle
> ensemble play
> > very well?
> >
Ian:
> *I* see problems in that if the entire HeroBand is working to resolve a
> single conflict, you get one protagonist making the roll, and everyone
> else is, at best, augmenting his roll. Which really emulates a novel,
> but isn't great for RPGs, where everyone wants to be The Hero.
It is pretty much the Multilegged Party Monster problem. DnD and early RQ (shan't comment on MRQ as I've not seen it) were pretty much geared up for the MPM. In DnD it appears to be a whole art form ("MPM seeks cleric").
HQ was not designed for Multilegged Party Monsters (I love that phrase). It wasn't necessarily designed NOT to be for MPM's either, I wouldn't know.
But, a LOT of play does focus around MPM's, for good or ill. Even if that could be considered BadWrongFun, it does often suit the game; sometimes everybody is aboard a ship; sometimes everybody is travelling together; sometimes you just want to assault a Dungeon for the hell of it; some people just play that way, period.
In DnD or RQ your multiclassed halfling wimp/coward or your Ulerian STR 3 type can still lob a slingshot - you never know. In HQ it just requires a lot more attention to work out how to give everyone something to do, that is all. The answer is of course rolled augments but they are rather out of fashion.
Sam.
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