Early Interest Check - Fabula Ultima

I'll open this post with a disclaimer: this is an early interest check for a game that I fully intend on running in the future. I am looking to get settled with, or fully conclude, my Star Wars game first, but figured it was worth gauging interest early on.

I am a massive fan of JRPGs, particular the Final Fantasy games, and adore how Fabula Ultima has managed to successfully emulate the feeling of them.

I'd love to try my hand at running a RP heavy Fabula Ultima game inspired by the Final Fantasy series - in particular, FFVII (original and remakes) and XIV (Reborn and expansions). These games tell excellent stories, including giving focus to darker themes, and would be great influence sources for a new world, with new heroes, and new tales.

Would this be the kind of game people would be interested in joining one day?

I'm a big fan of Fabula Ultima! The streamlined mechanics really work well via PbP and, having run a modified version on GP, I can definitely recommend it.

There's at least one FabU gave running currently on GP so I think you'd have plenty of interest for a game, especially a RP heavy game.

I'll never turn down a FU game. XD

I'm interested, as always. Although, last time I tried playing FU on GP it didn't go as well as I expected.

It didn't? Why's that? The system seems pretty PbP friendly.

Not to stalk you or anything lol, but I'd definitely be interested in this as well. Huge JRPG fan and have been wanting to try FU.

Values dissonance mostly.

Collective worldbuilding isn't as foolproof in smaller communities, because those 30% with different values have to either abandon their aspirations or abandon the game. Or argue and alienate everyone, which is a silly strategy. And since there are less than ten people on the platform actually playing the system, there's never a party that is entirely of those 30%.

Plus collective worldbuilding itself, as much as I love it, tends to slow down the start too much. Often to the point when people forget why they wanted to play in the first place.

Could always join a Fabula Ultima where the world building is skipped, and the GM makes the world like in all other RPGs.

Glad to hear it! Positive vibes are always welcome.

True. Will your game be of that variety?

Probably. My key world influences are, as mentioned, drawn from FFVII/R and FFXIV, so people can decide whether they'd be interested based on that, I imagine.

I'd definitely recommend this step. It does work much better in IRL games than PbP. It gives the players a much better grip on the sort of characters that 'fit' the setting without building the world around the characters.

Yeah, I agree. While I think it works very well IRL, and can still work well online, it's probably better suited to groups who are more familiar with one another and can accommodate the kinds of things everyone might find interesting.

For the purpose of a game here, I'd probably just make the world myself, put up the Details page with info, and then let people apply if it's of interest. If it isn't, they can look elsewhere. 😊

Best way I think to handle this is for the GM to lay out a solid foundation of the world and then let players fill in small scale details that don't really affect the world at large too much while still giving them the opportunity to shape the background around their characters.

Perhaps being able to come up with towns/events that are tied to their characters, but on a smaller scale that doesn't widescale impact the world and overal chronicle theme. I'd have to have a think. 🤔

Also, define from the start who the party are. Because that part seems to be the most problematic. Some want to be an idol band, some want to be a solo idol, and then there's a cyborg guy who doesn't know how he fits in. It's probably best to just tell them "You are all SeeD, I decided".

I'll keep your advice in mind.

I like the mechanics,could certainly be down for it in a future time you so choose.

I'd be game for another fabula ultima game, and I've been in a FF mood lately (read always). :3

I am testing the system with a few friends here in the platform, currently doing the "press start" adventure, and I am really interested to play it! Hopping to join your game, or another, in the future.