Get a "GRIP"?

[Scarlett]

Ok ... I've recently downloaded the player interface version of "GRIP" (it's free) so I could check it out and see how it works. The proggie apparently features all the stuff I'd like to see for online roleplaying (a dice roll generator that can simulate and kind of dice and combination of dice, uplaoding and sharing maps, character icons on the maps, etc.).

I'm enjoying the adventure in live chat immensely (it's working out quite well) but I'd like to pitch this proggie as a possibility (to enhance the game).

As I mentioned, the PLAYER proggie is free ... but ... the ref proggie isn't. The good news is that it can be downloaded for a 60 day free trial period. If we decided to give it a try then whoever's refing could download the trial software and ... if need be, pass off to someone else who downloads it for an additional trial period if need be. The cost to register is $35 bucks (ulp - I know ... but by then we should all know if it's worth it or not). btw - registration simply entails a code.

Thoughts?

http://www.rpgrealms.com/GRIP/

 

[Liam Devlin]

Frank--Lonestar room, can ya make it,Now?

 

[Scarlett]

omw

 

[Scarlett]

Whoops - the "Traveller" specialized version is $55 ... it includes stuff we may aleady have though, so I'm not sure going that route is worth the extra 20 buck (except maybe for me since I really need the materials anyhoo):

GRIP: The Traveller Edition

"TRAVELLER chronicles the universe of the far future... of the golden age of the Third Imperium. This is an age of prosperity and danger: traders and soldiers roam the worlds of the interstellar Imperium in search of profit and power, and risk their lives along the way!

GRIP (Generic Role-playing for Internet Players) allows Game Masters to run their campaigns over the Internet, or personal/local networks for up to 8 players using a specialized personal game server. GRIP is tailored made, and designed for online role-playing. Built from the ground up with Game Masters and Players in mind.

GRIP: The TRAVELLER Edition combines these two fantastic systems into one product, letting you get started with Traveller and get started gaming online! Even if you don't want to game online, the GRIP: Traveller Edition is a great tool for any Traveller Game Master! You get a number of handy Traveller Tools, such as a Character Generator, Ship Designer, and our multi-fuction InfoScreen system, along with everything you need to play, around the kitchen table OR online including:

Program Screenshots

56 page User's Manual
32 page Character Sheet Design Tutorial
Character Sheet Markup Language Quik-Reference Card
GRIP iGM (Game Master) Module
GRIP iPC (Player) Module
Grimshot's Gauntlet Fantasy Adventure for user with GRIP
A Simple Twist of Fate Science Fiction Adventure for use with GRIP
The Kinunir - The original, Traveller Adventure #1 for use with GRIP
Research Station Gamma - The original, Traveller Adventure #2 for use with GRIP

SPECIAL BONUS!!! (probably the extra cost)
Also included exclusively in GRIP: The Traveller Edition is a 160 page, perfect bound, 5.5" x 8.5" edition reprint of the basic Classic Traveller core rule books 1-3 (Characters and Combat, Starships, Worlds and Adventures), plus a new introduction by Marc Miller, and a short Traveller fiction piece by Martin J. Dougherty!

QLI 2000 - Heavy duty, 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" box, ISBN ??, $55.00

 

[Scarlett]

 

[Scarlett]

 

[Scarlett]

 

[Scarlett]

 

[dean]

Hey FLS..

I have it and use it to ref a non standard Traveller (CT) campaign. I like it, works well enough for a smaller group.

I don't know if the extra money for the Traveller module was worth it, as it is buggy and is basically books 1-3 programmed. Most of the stuff, like the starship tile set for the maps and the CT character sheet can be downloaded from RPG realms.

I guess Hunter is responsible for that, too, and with T20 being published his attention has been away from GRIP, but all of us GRIP users are hoping he starts upgrading and tweaking GRIP again.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Okay Frank, I had a GM-gasm just lookin at it...This looks peachy, one slight question...
Is this T-20 compatible?
If so...I know what I'm spendin $55 on fer Christmas...

#2, it limits the game to eight. What if we have a guest who wants to play? and one of the regulars is Out that day? What if we have those who want to just sit and watch, (like in a movie)?

yer evil GM at large,

 

[Scarlett]

What Dean said. I went back to the site and indeed the basic game is all that need be purchased. There's free downloads that upgrade it to Traveller. I want this puppy too. If I get a bonus this year I'm buying a new pair of shoes ... ;0) ... and if enough's left over GRIP as well.

I talked with the guys on the GRIP yahoo group and found out that although the game is compatible with Roger Wilco, the only thing they use RW for is to ooc chitchat and to keep in contact with the group if, for some reason, their connect through the game is lost.

Personally, I'd think voicechat would be another enhancement to the game, speeding things up and allowing the Ref and characters to give inflection and other hints that provide a more complete picture when interacting. However, GRIP groups tend to like to save transcripts the way we already are, so that may be the main reason.

Oh, forgot .... I'm not sure about the T20 thing. I noticed it seems to allow any form of dice to be generated. The "Traveller package" is CT but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they end up offereing a T20 upgrade as well (especially since the parent company makes both). Maybe even a T20 deluxe package which includes the books for T20 as well. May be worthwhile.

Whoops - forgot#2 ... the 8 player limit looks to me like it'll be something that can't be gotten around. Not without a complete rewrite of code (guessin' here) ... so guests would be outa the question (in a full house). I'm also guessin' that one of the player slots is actually the ref - I suppose Dean could fill us in on that.

Maybe two installations of it could be run simultaneously with the two groups linked via a 3rd party chat? (ShruG - I'm really shootin' in the dark on this).

Oh ... ppp.s.! Dean?

Did you upgrade with the latest?

"Traveller Core Rules
Last Updated: 9 November, 2000
Requires: Original Core Rules Installation, Lastest version of GRIP
File Size: 237Kb
Web Download: here
FTP Download: here
This update fixes compatibility problems encounter when you updated your GRIP components. Extract the contents of the downloaded zip file into the folder on your computer where you originally installed the Traveller Core Rules. The default location is usually Program Files\QuikLink Software\Traveller. "

ok - I think I'm done editing this post. Off to bed before the wife thinks I'm up surfing pRon sites.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Oh, forgot .... I'm not sure about the T20 thing. I noticed it seems to allow any form of dice to be generated. The "Traveller package" is CT but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they end up offereing a T20 upgrade as well (especially since the parent company makes both). Maybe even a T20 deluxe package which includes the books for T20 as well. May be worthwhile.

Lets see about that shall we...?

Whoops - forgot#2 ... the 8 player limit looks to me like it'll be something that can't be gotten around. Not without a complete rewrite of code (guessin' here) ... so guests would be outa the question (in a full house). I'm also guessin' that one of the player slots is actually the ref - I suppose Dean could fill us in on that.

Well Dean? spill it, lad...

Maybe two installations of it could be run simultaneously with the two groups linked via a 3rd party chat? (ShruG - I'm really shootin' in the dark on this).

Hmmm, I'm as out of "the dark" of this as the next man.

 

[Ben W Bell]

GRIP is compatable with T20. All you need to do is design a new character sheet and program in what you want. Easy.

I rewrote the character sheet for Traveller as I found the one that came with it was woefully inadequate for the job. Need to make a few more changes to it but it works so much better. Can be a pain to do a character sheet though. A copy and paste function would be a sure lifesaver for this.

 

[dean]

OK,
Eight Players Plus GM.

They don't recommend having more than one session of iGM open at a time on one computer. In addition, I have GM'd using iGM and iPC open on the same PC and it just was not too stable; my iPC session locked up a lot and I had to kill it in Task Manager. I have a pretty darn good computer (Athlon 1800+, 512Mb PC2100 DDR, with a Cable connection), so it is the application and not my system

iGM is a memory/resource hog, although I understand that is one of the things they plan on addressing.

If you fellas want, I can open a session some time and you can download iPC and we can do a test run so you can see it in action.

I second the opinion BenBell; the character sheet that is provided is not as good as it could be. I made my own CT sheet I'd be happy to share if you'd like to see it (although I am working on a revision of that).

 

[Liam Devlin]

Kewl Dean, Ben. Those are answers we're looking fer. A T-20 char sheet, and die changing fer the new system.
Answers me question on Linked games too. Thanx again!

Liam Devlin,
evil Gm at large

 

[RandyT0001]

Dean
I downloaded iPC a while back. Let me know when you want to try out GRIP.

 

[Scarlett]

I'd like to give it a go meself. I'm just an old CT player/ref, though. If T20 rules are being used I'll hafta rely on other's expertise. I was tickled to see GRIP has given me all the virtual dice (types and number) I'll need. The character sheet looked fine to me but then again, like I said, I'm an old CTer. Good to see the player character pic can be customized. Now I just need to get one.

Cool proggie.

 

[dean]

FLS, Randy, and any other interested parties...
I can open a GRIP session with my iGM tomorrow evening or anytime Friday, no problem.

I am MST (GMT -7).

Respond back here and we'll arrange a convenient time for all interested and then we can set it up.

I can even provide my revised CT sheet if you want to see it.

 

[Scarlett]

Sounds good. I wanna see this product in action.

 

[Liam Devlin]

Originally posted by Frank Lee Scarlett:
Sounds good. I wanna see this product in action.

------------------------------------------------
Frank, lemme know how it runs, I'll be on me way to "other parts", Army-wise fer two weeks, and might be able to pop in.
Send to the hotmail addy, pleez, any notes, till 20th DEC.
Thanx,
Liam, evil GM at large