Why is Pulp Alley so Special

[Amalric]

I had a friend recently ask me this and thought I would share this with the usual suspects. We unfortunately don't live close enough to game together, thus this Q&A. My answer below is my own poorly expressed opinion.

"I finally played a face to face game of Pulp Alley... Overall, I have to say I found it a bit silly.  I don't mind an RPG element, but neither of us could really get our heads around the plot points.  According to Dave, you are basically forced to move to and attempt all of the Plot Points.  What I found hardest to grasp was the ground scale, or maybe the lack of one.  Everything seems too close together.  So my question to you, is what do you like about the game, and what makes folks think it is so special?"

First of all, you don't have to attempt all Plot Points [hereinafter abbreviated as PP]. But the PPs are basically victory points, which side holds the most wins. So by not attempting one you're basically giving the other side free points.

What makes this game special for me is that the PPs add a nice flavor to the game [ie why we fight] so it is not just side A fights side B to the finish. While you could use Pulp Alley for stand alone fights, the PPs force you to do more than just kill the other team. The PPs and the the cards, do two things for us; 1) keeps all players involved and; 2) makes the game feel like a Pulp Movie/Serial/Comic. Indiana didn't fight Nazis for the fun of it, but came into conflict as they both raced for the Grail from one scene to the next.

As to ground scale, I game 28mm and so my chosen ground scale is 1" = 5' and the rules work for me in that regard. Yes there is not a whole lot of maneuver room, but that doesn't bother me. As to 'too close together', that's why I play solo WW2 using NUTs by THW  in 20mm and don't change the scale from the giving 28mm measurements, that opens up room and gun ranges a bit.

Bottom line, I like the elegance of the rules by not being bogged down in minutia yet giving a very satisfying game.

[Prof. Dinglebat. Phd.]

These days the only way I'd ever be able to play face to face is if I put a mirror on the other side of the table.   So in saying that I have to maintain a God's view (and attitude towards) all aspects of the proceedings. I don't care if the hero loses or wins. That way I never have to try the impossible and out think myself. My secret is the amount of randomness I can incorporate into every situation. This means that I have no preconceived idea of how a character is going to interact with another until the dice roll determines it. I have a basic plot but that's about it. I make the rest up as I go along.  Works for me.

Very few main character deaths in my games. Good, bad or evil, they always live to fight another day.  

[Mad Lord Snapcase]

 

[Katsuhiko JiNNai]

I'm a veteran wargamer. I played to Warzone, Warhammer 40.000, Lord of the Rings, Warmachine, Impetus and Bloodbowl, actually I play to Mordheim and Warzone Resurrection and now Pulp Alley, of course. How I meet PA? Just casually, after I painted my first pulp miniature (Laura Baker). I surfed on the web for some "pulp" informations and found the LAF forum where it was mentioned PA. I immediatelly decided to order it when I understand that was available Solo play too. As usual I follow my instinct when chosing a new wargame or hobby
But PA is not a simple wargame, is much more. Probably veteran wargamers don't like it because it have less complex rules for each action, aiming, weapon, race, faction etc etc... hundred of page of rules and about from 25 to 100+ miniatures for each side massacring one another. Sure I also like those wargames, but I appreciate different miniature games too. Probably I was yet a little prepared after playing to mordheim or bloodbowl.

Here in Italy the wargamers consider themselves nonconformists simple because they play wargames (or RPG and other nerd games). But often they simple play the most famous and common wargames, as Warhammer or WH40k, despising all the rest. So you can imagine how hard could be to find some players for different games I like PA because: first I can play when I want with the Solo option, in addition the rules seem fine for Solo play (I'm sure that play in solo play with other wargames is not the same). I was not expecting to enjoy myself so much in solo play. But it's funny. The fortune cards give an interesting source of fun and the plots points and perils are intriguing... I like to include some background to my miniatures and games, because I'm a RPG Master too. I'm free to create all the leagues I want, without limits and choice of miniatures.
I hope I will find some other players for PA, but for now I'm fine with myself... no more waiting for players to come here, if I need and want to play I could do it