# Testing for interest in a jousting game **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 5, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-for-interest-in-a-jousting-game/479995 "2009-01-05T21:26:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-for-interest-in-a-jousting-game/479995/1 "2009-01-05T21:26:55Z")
I’ve brought this up before in a couple of other threads, but didn’t get a real sense of a level of interest. I’m thinking of running a jousting tournament. It will be based on the FRPG Harn, using the HarnMaster 3rd edition rules. Since few (if any) here know the rules, I’d make it very user-friendly for novices. You wouldn’t have to know more than a few basic stats. While there will be some role-playing, it will mostly just be combat. Here’s how it would work: You could either design your own character, or I will randomly generate one for you. Your name, social rank, birthplace, and wealth would be decided by me. There will be 128 contestants (most of which will be NPCs, of course), all mounted knights. On the first (gametime) day of competition, you will issue a challenge, accept or deny a challenge, or be randomly assigned an opponent. You will then tell me what combat tactics you will use, which might look like this: 1st pass: Lean in 2nd pass: Lean away 3rd pass: Lean in if I’m winning, else hunker down Melee: Broadsword and shield, aim high on attack, block on defense I’ll determine the results and type the combat up into a (hopefully exciting) narrative. Should you win the contest, you’ll move onto round two, then round three, etc. until there is one champion. Any interest in this? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-for-interest-in-a-jousting-game/479995/2 "2009-01-05T21:40:00Z")
Heh. Sounds cool. I’ll play. My character will be the same as the knight I’m playing in **What Exit?**'s LOTR game. I’ll PM you the details, if you like. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-for-interest-in-a-jousting-game/479995/3 "2009-01-05T21:42:01Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Heh. Sounds cool. I’ll play. My character will be the same as the knight I’m playing in **What Exit?**'s LOTR game. I’ll PM you the details, if you like. Sounds awesome. I can’t guarantee you’ll get the same character, though. The systems are not even remotely similar (OK, a little similar), and Harnic residents have pretty specific backgrounds. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-for-interest-in-a-jousting-game/479995/4 "2009-01-06T05:26:17Z")
Maybe he popped through some sort of subspace anomaly from an alternate universe. Or a wizard did it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-for-interest-in-a-jousting-game/479995/5 "2009-01-07T18:09:37Z")
Looks like you win by default. Too bad there’s not much interest in it. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/testing-for-interest-in-a-jousting-game/479995/6 "2009-01-08T17:45:52Z")
Aw, bummer. “A win by forfeit… the sweetest victory of all!” - Selma and Patty, _The Simpsons_