Masks: A New Generation
I’m a total newbie when it comes to Powered by the Apocalypse game. Being a back to the Kickstarter, I was able to download the pre-release, art free version of the core book for the game.
I’m on page 36 of the PDF and I just wanted to say that I love everything I’m seeing so far. The description about how to play this roleplaying as it being a conversation is perfect. My six-year-old daughter described her first experience with The Secrets of Cats in a similar way: We sit at the table and share our thoughts.
I totally love the backstory of Halcyon City. A megalopolis that is the “center of the world” when it comes to super powered shenanigans for some unknown reason. As a result, the city sports advanced sciences and magic, alien enclaves and architecture, and every type of living condition and person found in any part of the world.
The breakdown of the three generations of super heroes in Halcyon City is a great analog to comic book history. It even made me think of the books Generations and The Fourth Turning by demographers Neil Howe and William Strauss. I think that if this sort of discussion interests you and could inform your game, definitely read one of those books. The latter is extremely apt to the PCs of Masks: A New Generation.
Anyway, I’m off to read more and I’ll keep posting what I think as inspiration strikes me. Thanks for your time!
Welcome to the PbtA Collective, new friend! (grin)
Concepts in good RPGs are generally applicable to many systems. My experiences with Fate have affected my d20 play style for instance.
Note I’m not sure whether I encountered Masks’ cursory description of the generations before or after I decided to do a similar rundown of the attitudes of supernaturals at various ages from the 200+ ancients that remember stating well away from normals and even killing for security to the 20- who have lived in such safety that they generally only pay lip service to the idea of keeping things secret.
I really enjoy the in depth look at all the Basic Moves in the game. For every one of them, I related to a scene from the Young Justice tv series or some other super hero property.
I’m having a bit of trouble deciding if Hawkeye’s speech to the Scarlet Witch in Avengers is Provoking Someone or Offering Comfort and Support. I’m thinking it’s Provoking Someone with some pep-talking words or encouragement. He’s not trying to get her to open up after all, he’s trying to get her to fight.
What do you guys think?
For reference:
“Hey, look at me. It’s your fault, it’s everyone’s fault, who cares? Are you up for this? Are you? Look I just need to know because the city, i-i-it’s flying. Ok, look, the city is flying, we’re fighting an army of robots, and I have a bow and arrow. None of this makes sense. But I’m going out there because it’s my job, okay, and I can’t do my job and babysit. Doesn’t matter what you did or what you were, if you go out there you fight, and you fight to kill. Staying here you’re good, I’ll send your brother to come find you, but if you step out that door – You are an Avenger.“
Troy Ray Hawkeye, being an ‘adult’ hero, gets to use the ‘adult hero’ moves. That reads like more of a “Persuade With Best Interests” sort of situation to me. 🙂 He’s not hitting buttons so much as offering the Scarlet Witch a path to achieve the assumed goal of acting like a big damn hero. (see page 133)
There is no ‘give a rousing and inspiring speech’ move in these rules. I’d be more inclined to treat it as Support because the intent here is to buck up a team-mate rather than needle her into action. But that’s just me.