Sterling Leonine Glory Unleashed

[Hearts & Souls] Stress, Stress, and More Stress

2012-02-09T04:32:00.000-08:00

I've been covering Stress, in Hearts & Souls. Primarily, its a counter-resource. Something you earn that is primarily negative to the hero, but creates interesting fallout for the player. I've started writing the guidelines for what levels do what in rough relation to another, how thresholds work, and more.

One place where Stress differs from 1E is the ability to use Monologues to burn it in a more positive way. You can ignore it and keep going so long as you push towards a goal tied to one of you Stress Triggers that relates to people or your Drive. I think it will work quite well, but I need to find an elegant way to describe it and make it simple enough without adding more "system." Not, that a little more system to the game is bad, just trying to maintain the rough complexity I had before but teach others to run it the way it runs when I do it. Explaining rules is always the harder part of game writing.

My novel has been flowing a bit as well. Not as quickly as I'd like, but I'm trying to watch for problems I ran into before. Yet this blog is more about game stuff so I won't bring the novel up a lot. I think its developing a tighter and more complex tapestry of events than before, less "rushing towards the end," in this case.

I've almost got all of the heroes and villains for the two core teams done. (The Lone Star Sentinels, vs the Irregulars.) I've got a tiny bit more for them to have done and can then move on to the important super villains.

I've been hunting for a cover artist, but affording one is the big deal. Not sure I can afford the artist of the quality I want and style I like. I will keep working on it.

[Hearts & Souls] Banter, Blather, and Monologues

2012-01-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

More things are changing in second edition than I intended. You ever start to write something and realize what you are writing is just missing something? You are almost there with what you want to have in a game but not quite yet? Pretty much that's where I was with Hearts & Souls1E. It is the game I wanted. It is not the game I can write now.

The ideas are there, but now I'm expounding and explaining them. Showing, how they work, and why they work.

Banter in this case becomes what used to be monologues. It is still fundamentally the same. Adding in of course mocking/taunting of ones enemies. Self pep talks and thought bubbles. You can re-roll the dice to get a result using Banter, it still needs to tie back to the character's drive, but it is subtler, less staid way of using it. More open.

Monologues, become the long, detailed pep-talks and self-pushing you see when a hero is really straining. Pushing themselves as hard and as much as possible. This now works a bit differently now. While Banter gives the old re-rolls, new Monologues give the hero the ability to stall stress becoming fallout. Oh the fallout still comes, but NOT until their current action is finished. They may fall after the fact, but they can hold it off just a little longer. Of course this works like original villain monologues. Of course they still get this as usual. Banter for them, will need to be worked out, but I suspect it lets them simply apply another "roll" for their side. Even though they are not rolling per-se.

In addition to these things, I'm adding details on how "attributes" aka capabilities work. Not limiting them, but giving more details on how they CAN be used. Strength can absorb physical (melee) attacks. Thus Wonder Woman can take a hit pretty well, so long as its physical punch, kick, etc. If its a high energy effect (arrows and bullets kinetic energy counts) she relies on blocking this with her bracelets. Spider-Man can take a single punch, but repeated punches overwhelm him, and he is going to try and get out of the way from everything. For he doesn't have armor. These things are important considerations for a superhero game and I left them to just be open and unclear. I'm not making new rules, simply defining ways the old ones can be used, better, more efficiently, and making options clear.

[Derelict Delvers] Hyper-Rockets.

2011-09-20T20:53:00.000-07:00

Spaceships in Derelict Delvers are things I've circled for a while. I've done so in the hopes I would fall upon something brilliant that isn't too crunchy, or too simplistic.

I think I've come up with something. Every ship is built up of a number of "pods."
An actual cargo hold, cockpit, or engine room may be bigger than a single "pod," but they count simply as multiple "pods." Since, "pods" are just essentially a measurement they've decided to use to represent a space and the necessary additional support equipment for that space. Although additional support equipment is necessary the more pods there are in a ship.

A basic ship layout consists of a cockpit, a crew deck, an engineering deck/hyperspace engine, and reaction mass, and a support systems pod (this simply that for every 4 pods, you need a fifth one to help keep the systems balanced.) This means your smallest hyper-rocket will always have five pods.

Every team member in an ARCHIVE Exploration team will have one additional pod per person. These can be split between having a personal crew room for every three people, adding a specialty pod: Laboratory, Microfacturing, Weapons Pod, Vehicle Pod, Medical Pod, and Additional Cargo Pods among other things.

The primary pilot can give the craft a tag for every level of the Pilot skill. Other characters can add tags by expending the merits they earn towards them. Basically using their allies, prestige, knowledge, and the like to get upgrades for the ship.

How good are the pods? Well that's what I must figure out..

[Derelict Delvers] Trappings and Kit

2011-09-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

I've solved the equipment problem for the most part in Derelict Delvers. It may need some fine tuning, but I've found a solution that makes me happy and fits the genre well.

Trappings

Trappings are iconic gear, things the hero always tends to have. Items they carry that is so important as to be a part of "them." Such items as a specialized space suit, a favorite weapon, and so on. These items make a large difference in play and will come up often. Indiana Jones' Whip, Bond's Walther PPK/P99, and so on.

Kit

Kit items are things that gamers often worry about but the game does not. Things which can usually be found in the environment but if someone wants a list it is possible. These are things few characters will make important, other than their basic nature. Kit includes things like flashlights, sealant, rope, and food. These things are usually not prominent in play. In fact if the hero spends an Action Science Die they can find or fashion a temporary replacement for the scene. Or they may return to their ship and use its resources to replace the items in question. Derelict Delvers doesn't have matter transmutation though--at least not in ARCHIVE's hands. Instead this takes the micro-manufacturing tools, time and SCIENCE! They couldn't feed a whole city, but a small group of people would be possible--but it drains their resources.

Gear systems and point of view.

2011-06-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

Gear is an interesting thing in role-playing games. Many games follow the old path of "spend money, buy gear," which on the surface if familiar to all of us--except most of us acquire gear in steps. Food and clothing as needed, but things like rope? How many of us have actual rope. Candles? First Aid Kits?

Usually we pick these things up over time, a piece here a bit there. Some games have differing systems for owning stuff--resources in general, assumed gear, and so on.

MSH, that is Marvel Super Heroes assumes you have an a rank that represent how much you have in general terms and it can be pushed for bigger purchases. High Valor assumes you can eat, drink, and have clothes, ordinary things you'd have for your profession. Shadowrun you spend points which gives you cash, which you spend on gear.

The issue comes down to what do I want to do in Derelict Delvers, being a D&D "retrofuture" clone, it was clear it work on credits and be typical, spend money on gear. Yet now that it is just space opera, and not a clone at all, it changes what we need to do. I began testing a point based system. Since gear impacts play.

You spend 15 points to have 15 points of gear. Gear of course varies from handlights and rope, to weapons and armor. Yet an interesting thing arose that I like. You can spend different points on your gear and decide on its quality and functionality.

Ghyren the Pilot might have a really good handlight for doing those repairs. While Dr. Hend might not, instead putting more points into diagnostic gear.

The problem? Playtesters want consistent items. That is they want a handlight to always be +1, unless of course its got a specific adjective added to it like "High Quality" handlight. Which of course doesn't bother me, but just goes to show how framing an element in a game can change its perception. Since zero is an average in the game (that is it provides no enhanced benefit to ones roll.) A +1 item is therefor a "Good" item, but where do we stop? Since virtually magical technology of the agents could exist, that goes beyond any arbitrary stopping point? I'm thinking of 1-3 for ordinary use, and only higher for really special gear.

That means players will need to tweak what they have now, in the playtest. Le sigh.

Quality Value
Good +1
Excellent +2
Amazing +3

Information Overload.

2011-04-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

I'm working on so many different things. What that means is a lot of research, a significant amount of research. It also means a lot of play. I'm not a fan of writing things without trying to examine the genre or style of material it belongs to, and doing that well.

Derelict Delvers has me reading Space Opera, various molds of Sci Fi (Military, "vanilla", and others.) It's interesting because I wouldn't have discovered so many interesting things to read, and in my case been able to re-read anytime soon, without the need to research. I love the characters I've discovered.

I will probably keep up my reading and return to reading some of the science magazines I used to devour. What? You used to read science magazines? Yes. When I was young (child to teenager) I was driven by science fiction to become a scientist. Sadly, my math studies were not up to being a good scientist, or so I thought. Turns out the education system failed me.

It turns out I can do more of the mathematics/algebra etc, than I thought. It just has to be properly motivated. I won't be a scientist as a profession at this point, but I can focus on reading up on wondrous things and enjoying ideas. Maybe if I get some money together I can go back to tinkering on old personal projects. I was on the right track with some of them--as teams of scientist have done what I tried to do as a teenager. It is awesome. Sure I wish it had been me, but I'm happy I was mostly on target. (Most of my interest was in directed energy weapons and projected energy of various sorts.)

I know Derelict Delvers will make far less sense in terms of hard science fiction than most people would want in a Sci Fi game, but that's why its intentionally pulp space opera. Loose and fast with the rules, and lots of old school SCIENCE! As opposed to real science. I'm alright with that.

In other news I've had to pause in reading Wuxia, for the moment. I love the stuff, but it is very dense depending on what I'm reading and I've got to pause now, or burn out. I'll be going back in a few weeks. My space opera wuxia game may be hampered due to needing native Chinese speakers to assist me. I was being assisted by one but he fell ill, and I've not heard from him in a while. The last message I had was disturbing and made me worried about his health more than about finishing my game. I hope he recovers, even if his assistance is done on the RPG.

I'm still trying to figure out what "Pure" or Open Science means in E.o.N, mostly because the desire to seek knowledge is often turned into fodder for leaving one open in horror games.

I want true scientists to be strong, just as faith is against the evil of the stigmatim. Mostly because the desire to seek answers, real answers should be encouraged. Faith is resistance because of its nature (and the fact stigmatim are really demons, so faith repels them.) Science--the desire to continue seeking answers, and not resting on the laurels of past discoveries, should also repel or make one resistant to their powers.

I want a balance, rather than a denial of either aspect of humanities nature denies value. Yet I still want stigmatim to have power over those that simply accept what is, without curiosity or conviction.

Lastly, I've been writing short, of course, blurbs about various supervillains in H&S2E on Twitter

All two of you who read this should be aware if you weren't already...

-Tim

Confounding Spirit...

2011-04-20T23:56:00.000-07:00

I've not had a lot of game writing spirit lately. Or novel writing. Just seem bereft of the focus. Hopefully, as I catch up on sleep I can get things done.

I came up with the worst alternative name for Derelict Delvers I think possible. The Archive Science Service. Yep. Worst name. Ever.

In the mean time I'm running multiple games and threading the needle on which way to direct other game writing.

I wonder if I should leave the three-pool design in tact for my wuxia game. Letting it be Kung Fu, Yin, and Yang. Allowing you to use Kung-Fu with either is an interesting concept, and of course vice versa. On the other hand Kung-fu seems deeply tied to chi of the other two pools.

Archive Space/Derelict Delvers

2011-04-04T00:42:00.000-07:00

Science Action Dice!
I've added to the extra dice one can roll to do pulpy-space opera action things in play. They also allow a better chance of success at anything if a reasonable "SCIENCE!" explanation can be given. Allowing for the sudden brilliant moments, interesting explorations of ideas given in early space opera fiction.

Health
I'm considering ditching Health again and resorting to weapons hitting attributes. I like the idea of hitting Brawn and that being a sudden weak spell, hitting Mind and causing the person to have a foggy, unclear head they need to shake clear. I'm not sure if they would be tested against, or if I'd keep it similar to the current 10 box health system.

Initiative
Initiative will henceforth be setup so that certain types of attacks/actions simply go first. Heroes will tend to have the first go, but there are exceptions.

1) Fists go first if in melee range. Attacks using the but of a weapon is included in this category.

2) Melee weapons go next.

3) Ranged Weapons (Light) go after Melee weapons

and finally

4) Heavy Weapons go last.

In case of a tie Heroes go first.

If the distance is too great for someone to reasonably engage in melee attacks, they'll be allowed to make a test (Speed) to cross the distance, and go the same action sequence.

It should make the game feel pulpy and make for interesting tactics.

One can always talk, of course during any action, so essentially they can go at O, but that's not likely to matter once the conflict has begun.

I'm taking suggestions for a potential name change on www.rpg.net here.

Although so far ARCHIVE SPACE, sticks better for me than anything else.

Of course ARCHIVE may be changed a bit too: Artifact Recovery Control and Historical Investigation Venture Enclave. (Rather than -Enterprise)

We'll see how it goes.

Derelict Delvers and more.

2011-02-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

Derelict Delvers is really clicking now. Just means I need to sit down and set down the exact methods of play, the tools, and the rules.

So its not a matter of I have the concept, the basic mechanics, the rest is all tweaking and explaining as I playtest it. Unfortunately this is usually the slowest aspect of development. I hope I can do it quickly enough and get art, and other materials to put it out at the end of this year.

Starting next week, I'll be tweeting short descriptions of my villains. The "Cover" copy you might say used in longer comic descriptors.

If you don't follow me, that's fine, if you want to: @SilverlionPrime

[Derelict Delvers] The Dilemma

2011-01-03T04:41:00.000-08:00

I'm having another dilemma with Derelict Delvers mechanics. I've got two ideas that are oppositional.

The first idea is a fairly simple and elegant mechanic that is tested through a number of games I am familiar with; using it and few tweaks would make a simple but powerful game that I'd love and enjoy. The catch is it doesn't wow me. The basic mechanic is 2d10+Stat+Skill with a build in success scale.

Roll less than or equal to 0: Critical failure
Above 0 but less than 5 is Failure.
6 to X is a partial success.
X+1 to Y is a Full success
and Y+1 to Z is a critical success.

The numbers can be juggled depending on the final Stat+Skill range of course.

The other idea is a lot more complex on its surface, but can be used to create a more dynamic system, the biggest problem is the removing of the "instant" results which is elegant enough to keep the focus on the characters actions, and the mental state of the player being "in the setting" rather than "in the mechanics"

The mechanic for this design is Stat+Skill+floating dice valued in a number of d6-es. Each die is searched for a value, and any dice meeting that value becomes a number of "merits" towards success. In order to keep the scaling of the previous mechanic one needs multiple dice to match the Difficulty assigned by the GM or the default rules. In this mechanic there are two roll types.

Task rolls which are your generic roll when you are checking for success.
The other roll is a Threat roll which comes up when the outcome involves danger and threat.

Threat rolls add another mechanic element, Threat. Threat has three elements. The Threat Rating (or Risk), the Threshold level, and the Trigger Event.

The threat rating is how dangerous something is in severity, and also its difficulty number for how many merits it must get for the hero to "pass" and not trigger the threat. Threshold is how many dice that fall out of the "pass/fail" test that fail the roll and build towards triggering the effect. If the game gets the "fail" dice of the Threshold before it gets the success merits, it activates the trigger event.

It is a bit rough at the moment and needs some balancing (so that failure is not exactly equal to success, thus making the roll simply 50/50 at all times.) The idea is to generate a reason for exploration and investigation: Hero dice are earned by doing the base Task rolls during non-threat instances and gaining information on some threats so it makes it easier to deal with them. Perhaps hero dice can only increase towards the "pass" side of things, and cannot themselves count towards the trigger event. In general I'm aiming for a mechanic that makes the threats tenser, and the tasks important (since the game is "dungeon-crawl" like, I want the entire process to be entertaining.

Devious Devices of Delvers

2010-12-08T16:50:00.000-08:00

One thing I've always been at odds with in role-playing games are weapons which stun and capture characters.

In some games--like superhero ones. The idea is reasonable, and commonly a side effect of combat actions of any kind.

In other other genres, they're usually badly done, making disabling effects pointless. As it is often just easier to kill someone mechanically. If it isn't pointless then its a simple test, which steals the struggle, and challenge from a combat encounter.

With Derelict Delvers, I've got a few devious devices. I'll have to go into them in detail in the game but right now I'll simply give a brief rundown.

Tanglers
From a lowly Tangler to the wide area Web Gun, tanglers project basically synthetic webbing designed to immobilize a foe. A troublesome weapon that fits in perfectly with the game mechanics as written.

See Heroism points are lost first, indicating that the person or character made a narrow escape from being hit with the weapon. A Tangler hit drops HP just like a killing attack, but when it zeroes out HP, the person is entangled, and must struggle to free themselves. They're never damage--just trapped. They're out of luck/fortune and their skill has failed. (Agility or Brawn is tested.)

Needlers
Needlers are small armor piercing weapons that fire tiny high velocity projectiles. (Despite my desire for the lethal Energy Needlers from some of H. Beam Pipers Works.)

In this case the shots work similar to tanglers,but instead of a test to break free when HP is zeroed. The character tests to resist the drug, rather than escaping it. (Using Brawn to resist.)

Sonostunners
Sonic weapons have a similar effect to the other two, they stun when HP is zeroed and the target must resist going unconscious. (Perception Test to escape.)

Now this seems fairly traditional, but using these weapons can create environmental impact to the PC's. Even a near miss (which HP accounts for) still has a minor side effect.

The side effects offer a way to combine tricks and maneuvers with non-lethal weapons to create more tactical choices than just killing someone.

Side Effects:

A Tangler hinders movement. Agility is penalized if even one HP is lost! As you've hindered the person by restricting the area they are inside. A failed roll may mean they've snagged themselves on remaining webbing.

A Needler has a chance to puncture armor, even if the small darts do miss hurting the person inside. In Space this is a dangerous condition. They may need to take a turn to repair any damage to armor, spacesuits or the like with sealspray or tape.

A Sonostunner creates a focused cone of sound. Even dodging it and getting out of the way can set ones ears ringing, hammering the Perception of the character, making multiple shots even more likely to drop a foe.

Normal weapons will have some tricks as well, Suppressive fire, Burn effects, and the like.

The battlefield of a Derelict is a dangerous place even if you are a lucky and skilled person.

Derelict Delvers: Simple Templates

2010-12-02T21:27:00.000-08:00

I've gone with templates that can be snapped together to allow a player to create a character in a few minutes, with a bit of tailoring.

The system I've decided upon for character creation doesn't remove a player getting something completely unique, in fact each template is built so they can be recreated, changed, or new ones introduced with a little more work.

The templates come in two forms: Racial Templates and Professional Templates, Add to that gear packages to speed play instead of nitpicking gear lists, and I've got the game speed I want for just throwing together a Delver team, and going into space at a moments notice.

Sure, I think the game will have a bit of lethality, but shouldn't be too terrible with the way Heroism points work.

A few more bits and it should be ready for play testing.

Derelict Delvers.

2010-10-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

I've finally decided what direction to take with DD. It's nature will be slightly different, but that's the nature of creation. Follow the creations nature, don't force it.

Now, I've just got to sit down and write it. I tried hammering at it a bit yesterday, but kept getting stuck on the same bit of text. I know its where it should go, I just have to have the direction clear enough to give it a shove.

The fundamental aspect of the game is to create a playable template from two elements: Race and Profession. When combined they give you a set of numbers that makes a playable character in brief. Yet that "playable" aspect is just the start of character creation. Each of those numbers has to come from somewhere within the Delver's past. It doesn't spring from nothing. Each number generates an equal number of aspect-like traits. Things which describe the why elements of the number.

A Body of 3, would mean 3 background traits that describe that value. It could be High gravity chitinous arthropod species from Exogeus, Winner of the Three Moons Hurling Competition, and Awarded Archive Games Biathlon Gold Medal Three Years running. The nature of the Body 3 explained in detail. Where it comes from even if it is "free" at character generation from race and profession.

The issue right now is coming up with some samples that are complete enough to work for the game, without being too complete.

Derelict Delvers: Changing Gears.

2010-09-16T00:33:00.000-07:00

I've thought about it a long time, there are two directions I can go with DD. One is to continue to do the D&D with numbers filed off thing. I don't think that benefits anyone--why not play D&D and rename things?

The other is to go a bit sideways. Keeping it old school, but by way of MSH, Talislanta, and Tunnels & Trolls. Twisting these ideas together gets this character sheet. It needs some work, some vetting, and some hammering.

I'd like to simplify it more. The goal is to combine Race/Species stat profiles (Body/Mind/Senses) with Profession Stats (Fisticuffs, Arms, Knowledge, etc.) That creates a basic profile--two insectoid soldiers will look the same at that point. Plus be easy to put together. A few tweaks (aspects that describe the species variations in short) and a bit of personal tailoring, and tada! Complete character sans gear in a matter of minutes.

However, my goal is to make the game as basic pulp SF/space opera as possible. With a retro 50's feel, bubble space helmets, and rayguns--but still keep a solid grounding of science within a certain framework. After all really advanced science goes into those suits with their bubble helmets, and beam guns with their fins.

The mechanic will be 2d10+Stat+Misc Mods+Gear vs D# (Possibly modified by opposing Stat+Mods+Gear) The average difficulty is 10 with the D# modified to determine difficulty. The "misc mods" are never things like weather or positioning, just stuff like that guy is a super fast reptiloid so he has "Speed +2 aspect" as above in creating race stat lines. Inherant items to a monster or npc.

Example roll: Insectoid Soldier shoots reptiloid enemy who is as above fast.

The soldier takes Arms (2) + Laser Rifle (+2)+2d10 vs D#10+Reptiloids Dodge (2) +Speedy (+2) and he has a shield (+1) he whips that shield up and move to deflect the shot. Soldier buzzing angrily shoots get 13 vs his 15. It is with five of the D# required so she clips him (partial success) the edge of the shield catches the beam but the rifle still slashes past and singes him for half damage.

If she had got an 16 she'd have a Solid Success and do full damage for that rifle. If she'd had Arms (3) and rolled a 20 (total 25) she'd perform a critical on him (10 over the TN) She'd kill him (or maim him, her choice. ) Outright.

Mechanic Contemplation

2010-09-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

I was trying essentially to get the MSH 3 shades of success handled in a ch artless manner. It is worth noting that this is quite similar to Talislanta (which also uses a chart.)

I'm wondering if I should just break the game down at this point:

Roll 2d10, 10+ Minor Success, 15+ Major Sucess, 20+ Critical Success.

That's a simple chart, and easy to remember, so to run the game chart-free. Of course mechanically speaking the rolls are modified by Stat+Skill+Gear and is opposed by Stat+Skill+Gear

Example: I'm playing a 3rd Level Soldier with an Heavy Weapons Skill of 2. He has a Dexterity of +1 and is using a wonderful and accurate Beam Rifle, that has a +1 due to its elegant and accurate design. He roll 2d10+2+1+1, or 2d10+4. He gets a total of 16. Ordinarily a Major Success. However he's shooting a foe with a +2 Dex, and a Defense Skill of +1. This +3 is subtracted from the total to get a mere 13 or Minor Success. (This does half damage.)

This gives me the same functionality as MSH, and Talislanta. Sans charts. Plus its simple enough to work.

How does that sound?

As well as that. I've been thinking of making the Derelict Delvers Heroism Points work on a sort of swinging scale. I'm not sure how to do it yet. The idea is perhaps that the more danger they face. The more heroism points they earn to do wild and crazy things. Perhaps making the Denizens of a derelict scale. A 1 Scale is equal to the PC's, meaning they earn 1 HP when they confront them, and 1 when they take damage. Every failed die roll also earns them 1 HP (or perhaps heroism dice?) A Threat 3 Enemy scales significantly higher than the PC's and puts the entire group in danger of being TPK. SO confronting it gets them 3 HP per action against it/failed roll/etc.

Bonus points if someone can help me make this work on 2d6 (Admittedly I like percentile for Sci Fi games. I don't know why.)

Odd Mechanic

2010-09-02T10:37:00.001-07:00

So I was trying to come up with a table free version of the old TSR Marvel Superheroes RPG, the one which used the color coded universal table.
I didn't come up with one but while I was playing around with ideas I did come up with a strange mechanic, I'd like to hear some feedback on.

The basic idea is 1d100+stat vs vs difficulty number (50 is standard) and one must meet or exceed it. On its face it seems simple. However stats can be -30 to +30 with 0 as average and in increments of 10, and this only determines success or failure.
The ones die determines success magnitude/grades of success. So if you roll 72 vs 50 you succeed and get 2 grades of success. If you get 79 that's 9 grades. Skill push grades of success up. So
if someone has a stat of 20 and a skill of 5, they only have to roll a 30 for an average test, and get at least 5 grades on every successful roll.

[High Valor and Mourngyre]

2010-08-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

Mourngyre is a setting I've had for play for a great number of years, a few adventures here or there, and a longer campaign all written out, but with no play group entirely suitable. Part of it is that the setting is more modern than classical fantasy--it is set in a gothic fantasy/horror world. I've been thinking of it as an alternate setting for High Valor's "Feat" system, despite the fact I didn't really intend to name the system it just happened accidentally.

I've gathered a few trusted people together who know my aims, and I think could work out as suggesting directions for the game to go. I am trying not to walk onto the same stage as Ravenloft (since there is a nodding similarity thanks to Dracula, Frankenstein, and other similar literature.)

Instead I want to create a world that is dark, but not stark, one wrapped in shadows and fog, where even good intentions can turn foul, and trap someone into monstrous acts. (Like in some ways the original and actual Vlad Tepes.) Who is a hero to his nation--yet walked a very dark path to get there. (I don't want to step into the place where I'm condoning or condemning him. What he did was probably appropriate for his time, and his losses.) I do want to make sure that part of the stories Mourngyre explores is the path to hell being paved with good intentions.

Yet at the same time, I want to make heroism as something that can still fight back in the dark.

High Valor is still not in print. Thanks to the the fixes I need and the person needing to do them going of to Gen Con.

I'm working on a deal to get softcovers as well once I get the fixes and have them carried somewhere so gaming stores can get them.

Other than that, I'm still working on Tribes of Mother Night, and working on other things to get done. Just kind of writer's blocked at the moment. I think its the fact I've not got to game much lately. Unlike some my game writing is reduced when I'm not playing as much.

[High Valor] Coming (Really) Soon.

2010-07-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

After a very long wait, I've recieved the print file layout of my FRPG High Valor. It's being sent off to be printed, and soon enough I'll have a protoype book in my grubby little hands.

I'm still waiting on the e-file for download as currently the for print file is huge, and not printer friendly for at home printing, wish me luck on seeing it soon enough! The print book will retil for 35.00USD, and the PDF for 12.95. I Hate charging to much for things, so I'm hoping those will be solid price points for them, without being too high for poor game writer's like myself

The game itself doesn't do anything wild and crazy--but it does do dark age versions of vanilla tropes quite well, in my opinion. The setting is on the cusp of crossing from the dark ages to the middle ages, spears and mail defend the land from terrors that still haunt the forests between small villages. Even greater evils gather beyond the Free Kingdoms to wage war against mankind. It gives a lot of stuff to do, and thats something important to fantasy games--not just "go kill things and take their stuff.." but to fight, show your courage, and maybe even die in glory for your people and your world.

Hearts & Souls 2E: Presenting The Flea!

2010-06-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

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Click on the thumbnail for larger picture.

A rough prototype of the the Hearts & Souls 2E PC Sheet, set up for one of our smallest, but not least, iconic heroes.

I appreciate any feedback and suggestions. I've tried moving some elements around but it results in to much crowding and complexity back to back.

Why do I like superheroes?

2010-06-21T19:12:00.000-07:00

Why do I like superheroes? It what about them moves me to enjoy reading about them, or in the case of games, playing and writing about them?

It's not an easy thing to narrow down. I guess at heart its the simplicity of a person who properly motivated can go forth and punch evil in the face. Sure its not always that simple. Complexity adds spice and flavor. Yet at its heart, its this "The desire and will to go out and make a difference, in the world."

We have real heroes too--though we forget them I think because they lack the capes, cowls, and other costume accouterments. Some of them are police officers, some are emergency workers, others teachers, lawyers, and just plain folks. They choose to make a difference in the world, they choose to step forward, especially when it isn't easy.

Now no one of any job or profession is guaranteed to be a hero. Many are in the profession but abuse it, others simply don't go beyond the absolute minimum they must do like any day to day job. It is grueling, terrible work, they face. No matter which profession we speak of in the above lists. Yet heroes are not the same as superheroes, and of course masked crimefighters are a relative but not exactly the same.

Masked Crimefighters began farther back--Scarlet Pimpernel, Zorro, and the Reverend Dr. Christopher Syn, the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. They're heroes in their own way, they fight crime, they do so with skills and abilities a real world person can learn. Maybe they're better at them because they're protected by the fiction they dwell in of course. Yet at the core they are heroes, not superheroes. One could argue Batman is in this vein, but its questionable if he doesn't push narrative protection into the realm of even that being a superpower.

Superheroes are a bit more recent, or eons older depending on where you put culture heroes. Yet superheroes have created an existence all their own in popular media. Costumes, cowls, and all.

Yet when you get down to it--the desire to make a difference, and the will to go out and implement it, is why I like superheroes and their kindred spirits.

Why do you like superheroes?

The Wonders of an Unfocused Mind

2010-06-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

Lately I've not been getting much writing done. It has more to do with health issues than other concerns. Though hopefully with one of them handled things will move forward.

Sadly High Valor has had to be moved to another layout person. No response from the previous layout person for over a month, and regardless of it being 99% through, I simply have no choice but to find someone else and start again. It's not something I wanted to do, and I held off far longer than I should have, but the person is good at what they do, and a friend. That made the whole need to move on, all the more despairing.

In the meantime Derelict Delvers is coming along. I now need to get some names for the sub powers for the Medic class. I need a side bar on "Engineer vs Scientist" in the book. I mean the Engineer is both, but he's a practical scientist. The go build something that works and kick it when it doesn't sort. Not the stay in a lab and create hypothesis type.

E.o.N's setting and work is getting more and more solid. I've really got a hold of the new direction both visually in my head, and more solidly in my rules. While I'd love to make custom rules for everything, that doesn't always work out so it will be similar to high Valor but with tweaks. Other games in the works will often have their own system, though some will use my fallback one. (High Valor's system.)

Now onto contemplating Tribes of Mother Night :D

Chinese Translation...

2010-05-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

I am still looking for someone able to do English to Chinese translation, accurately enough for a game. I don't know when I'll find em--and at the same time the writing isn't done, but I figured a word here or there is better than waiting until the whole thing is almost done.

I need to wrap up Derelict Delvers, its an RPG I'm working on and its so close to completion, but one thing after enough has kept me busy. Mostly health concerns.

I got to play--actually play, the start of a campaign recently--of Talislanta. Was very fun. I hope it continues. One of my favorite games.

In the mean time I'm still pondering Tribes of Mother Night, E.o.N elements. Visually, I've very strong cues in my head. Game mechanics though need some examination.

Tribes of Mother Night

2010-05-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

Believe or not, I've been dwelling on one of my first published works. The setting "Tribes of Mother Night," because of the ease of use of the system used in High Valor, and its flexibility. I've been considering using a variation of it for the setting for a 2E version.

The problem is--what Feat pools will it have? I'm pretty sure we need Fate (connection to Mother Night, or Haelot, Magic use.) Yet what do we do for fighting and thinking? The game can focus on duels and the dueling circle, as well as traditional conflict. I've been thinking on that quiet a bit. So "Warfare" and perhaps "Wits?"

Although I might go with Fate, Wits, and Warfare?

It flows well, but I'd be glad to see and think upon other ideas.

Hearts & Souls 2E

2010-04-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

I've been having a heck of a time working on H&S2E, mostly I've not started the heavy lifting of mechanics. Primarily because other than a few minor changes the overt differences will be pretty small. The changes will be noticeable, but the effects will be to maintain the same play as before, just with some improvements brought on by the game design elements I've learned in the mean time.

The setting however is what is bothering me. I want this wonderful vast setting that is as wild as Marvel or DC, but without their depth of history or racism. I loathe racism. Even when I notice it in myself. (I fight it, seriously. Yet even then some slips in from my upbringing without thinking about it.)

It was something that was rampant and accepted in earlier eras of comic books. I could be true to them and allow it to slip in in the past and say "that was accurate for the time..."

Yet at the same time, I've the advantage of being able to look at that era with disgust at how we could have ever been so blind towards others (though we often still are...)

The setting is the big issue though. I want it to be filled with heroes and villains who are interesting, but unlike some settings I don't want to overlook that some were truly terrible ideas--even if they stuck around. (Example: Turner D. Century)

Yet still I want a few of.."hey that's mad, crazy, silly, and makes little sense, but what the heck..."

I'm a bit too serious at times to truly think of these though, and sometimes they come on me easily.

The joys of having an over-active brain.

Humor.

2010-04-01T01:01:00.001-07:00

I don't do humor games. That isn't to say I don't put humor in the games I play, run, etc. I just don't do them explicitly. I played Paranoia 1E, I played Ghostbusters 1E, I wouldn't choose them today.

I prefer my humor more natural, more an aspect of situations that come out of things in games, than things "forced" into them. Same thing goes for April's Fools day. It is forced humor. Mostly unfunny. It is at best tiresome, at worst a way to really head down the path to ruining your reputation. I've seen so called "April Fool's" behaviors that if anyone had chosen to approach them could have put a few game designers years back into a real problem. Actual fraudulent statements, ones they used to make money.

Don't do that. Just don't be that person. Enjoy humor, make it subtle, but don't abuse the rights of others with it.

My April Fools post isn't a joke. It's not a laughing matter. I'm not going to say I sold out to some big company, or bought another one.

No. I'm writing games, I'm having fun with that. After all, its delightful to have a reptiloid Esper flare her frill at the other PC's because she doesn't want them to buy the "cursed" asteroid crawler at the local outposts rental place. It's fun and giggle worthy when she uses that as a "threat" to make them do what she wants. Especially when she interrupted the conversation, everyone paused, and then went right on. Maybe nudged by her antics, maybe not.

I giggle everytime my wife puts her hands up to her ears and flutters them and goes "flttrrrr" to mimic the action. She's a hoot to game with, soon it will be time for a Dwarf wedding that may resurrect a lost clan, and give them heirs. If of course the bride and groom actually go through with it. I can't wait to cause chaos, that has nothing to do with big dangers. Just small nutsy NPC's..

Chaos is fun.

Game Writing.

2010-03-04T07:22:00.000-08:00

I'm currently at work on Derelict Delvers. I've hit a few snags with its old school flavor, because even when I played old school games I ignored things light weight carried unless it was an absurd amount. I in short "eyeballed" it because I don't care for the nickel-and-dime complications applied to a character with specific pounds/kilograms of weight.

On the other hand a simple encumbrance system makes a big difference in being able to manage resources and have fun with that aspect of play. I think I've managed it, now the hard part of explaining it, and making sure it balances well enough to avoid Murphy Rule's type situations where one can carry an infinite number of hand weapons because of the way they stack.

E.o.N (Empire of Night) is coming together in my head. SF weapons, monsters, and the like all swirl in my imagination. Dark ships lurking dead in space, waiting for newcomers to come claim them and filled with stigmatim, waiting to feast on human suffering.

Places long thought safe now slowly becoming dangerous as old monsters creep back into their ancient homes.

Necrosculpted creatures born of the dead and reshaped into new forms by surgery and dark science.

So many images of blood and terror, and the few humans standing against it all.

[Derelict Delvers] Playtesters Needed...

2010-02-01T15:23:00.000-08:00

I'm in dire need of some playtesters to take Derelict Delvers and run some games and see how the rules play out in this iteration of them.

I've done quite a bit of expanding and cleaning to develop the character creation aspects and improve the special abilities of the characters. I suspect more work is needed but I need testing to be sure.

If interested please Email me at silverlion@gmail.com or tim@silverlionstudios.com so I can get the files to you.

The price of this business

2009-12-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth the work I put into game design.

It isn't the fact that I desire to get rich, its the shear amount of effort I put into getting things together. I know more than one designer who makes this look effortless. Yet for every hurdle I overcome, a new one is put in place. Yet it isn't the changing hurdles that is the most significant one. It is the problem of layout which continues to plague my games.

Hearts & Souls suffered from the failure of several layout people to do their job. (I cannot fault the assistance I got early on from Clash Bowley of Flyingmice, LLC.) Or the help of Jerry Grayson in the end. They were very willing to help and do their thing. It's a bigger problem that several freelancers flaked in between as I tried to improve the layout from Clash's workmanlike style.

Now High Valor is mired in the same place. Only this time I arranged to pay someone who I know can do incredible things. I just haven't seen them finish it in the time they have it.

I've been exceedingly patient, but I'm getting a bit past the point where I can afford to be patient, I need to get it finished so I can get print books on the way.

I wonder if it would be easier to learn layout myself than suffer through this frustration. It is a skill I lack, and have not managed to teach myself.

I love the design, the writing, even looking for art at times can be full of fun as I search for good styles that fit the imagery in my head. Yet the waiting aspect of those things I can't do myself? Those are a real killer at times.

Miscellaneous Things

2009-10-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

High Valor continues to be in layout. It's coming along, but I'm not sure when it will be done. It isn't anyone's fault really, just life getting in the way of the layout mistress. I complete understand those circumstances and they happen to all of us. Patience is my mantra at the moment because of that.

I've decided to do a little redirect on E.O.N, and I'm not sure if it will work. Rereading Mutant Chronicles source books, and more recent horror novels and shorts. I'm wanting to evoke terror and horror in the future, not just a more moral fight against a terrible Empire. The Empire itself will be a bit more inspired by that real world one, and its horrors, and it will only be the tip of the iceberg for the greater evils that prevail. I'm not sure entirely how to do that, as the original game wasn't much about horror, and more about horror monsters in an action setting.

Now I'm aiming to go a more horror driven path, still a bit action heavy, but I want to make everything truly darker. Evoke horror at the things the Empire does. but push some darker things underneath the bed, waiting to reach out. I'm not sure how plausible it will be, and I'm trying to avoid "Cthulhu in space." So we'll see where it goes for a bit.

Derelict Delvers is going in for a rewrite, I've got the ideas down but I'm going to do the full 10 levels of the basic set, and all the powers, special abilities, etc. It needs more robust writing behind it. The cover art from Jeremy McHugh is awesome. Very pulp with a touch of old school, yet its own thing at the same time, it neatly fits what I want for the game.

Great News

2009-10-02T17:53:00.001-07:00

I've had a strange and convoluted life. One of struggling to deal with many things, bipolar depression is but one. However, this post is not about the struggles, but one momentous triumph.

At 330Pm CST, I marred a wonderful woman named Amanda. It was a small affair at the justice of the peace's office with two close friends. I shook like a leaf and forgot what hand was which. (I put out the wrong hand for my ring, *facepalm*)

I never thought I'd get to this point. Not for any specific reason but for past broken hearts.

Anyway, thanks for letting me tell you about it.

Still Waiting....

2009-08-25T13:32:00.001-07:00

I'm still waiting on layout for High Valor, I know it isn't an easy process to make it look write and fit the feel of the rules.

I'm just impatient.

I've otherwise been slowly hammering on Vast Frontiers and Derelict Delvers, I need to focus on the latter more but haven't mostly do to my impending wedding. So I'm slacking and for good reason. I'll just have to make it up in the mean time. I do note that I really dislike the inconsistency of old school approaches, so I'm doing my best to make something feel old school with DD, and still be solidly build and un-shakeable in terms of design. This means I suspect I need to re-invest time in the games Esper system, as well as build a common core for monster building. (It is mostly there, just need to hoen special abilities to keep them reasonable, and still horrific.)

Derelict Delvers

2009-08-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

Progress on Derelict Delvers is slower than I'd like. I'm still hammering on the design for the simple fact that I want "old school", yet with decidedly modern forethought going into the game.

Monsters are also a bit more difficult to research. Menacing robots are easy, mutant freaks created by mad scientist or side effects of science, also easy. Yet there are far less unifying constructs in a SF setting than their are in vanilla fantasy. Part of that goes with the kitchen sink approach to mythology that D&D took. Ignoring culture, history, and belief to throw together monsters that were as much fiction as myth. Looking at D&D's gorgon reveals no connection to the classic sisters of which Medusa was but one. D&D even turns the mostly solitary creature into a species of its own, and then divorces it from the term gorgon as well.

Derelict Delvers though has more thought going into it than "What would be a cool thing to fight next.." which is of course my problem. I may be over-thinking my designs.

Long time in coming...

2009-06-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

High Valor is done, at least from my end, now I await the final layout magic of the talented person whose hands I've placed it in to do their work.

I'm also trying to get things rolling a bit further on Derelict Delvers. It's coming together quickly but I need more playtesting.

Aeia, first look

2007-04-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!
Map done by Butch Curry (with much skill and panache)

(Thumbnail, click for larger view)

Art and such

2007-04-19T16:35:00.001-07:00

I need to start getting art for High Valor, albeit I still have so much writing to do--its set in my head, but not on paper. Mostly getting together some sample/example traits (especially since I feel that many of them will need explanation) like
"Luminal" or "Umbral" for Sidda, or Thane's Scion for Dvegr, or Animal Brother/Sister for everyone.
Just a slow process of making them up, making them make sense with explanations and also leaving room for player (and by that I mean all members of the playgroup) added content.

High Valor...

2007-01-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

I've gone back to working on High Valor. I think the system is done, besides a few tweaks and deciding if I want automatic setbacks/failures linked to the various uses of the three main scores: Valor, Faith, and Will.

At the moment most the rest of the work is doing research for names (Anglo Saxon LIKE, Celtic LIKE, and so on--since the cultures are superficially similar the naming conventions will be as well)

but mostly I'm worried about the naming of things--places, trying to get rid of my mad made up names that just at one time sounded good and replace them with a consistent pattern based on the cultures.

Creatures Rough Draft

2006-12-27T15:32:00.001-08:00

Creatures

A fantasy role-playing of the other things.

Creatures takes place in the primeval world before humankind, when one continent graced the world and the rest

was water. Here those things long thought myth still rule, hunt, and play. Creatures is an RPG of the other things

in fantasy, of dragons, chimeras, unicorns, and gryphons--as heroes themselves.

Creatures are measured by two traits and its subdivisions: Instinct, and Intellect.

Under Instinct there are Two attributes: Vigor, and Cunning

Under Intellect there are two traits: Enchantment, and Will

(Perhaps add Ferocity and Reason?)

These sub-traits (attributes) are rated from pools of 1-5 d6es where the more dice in a trait the more

effective it is.

However dice are not "fixed" solely to be used by a single attribute. A heroic creature can borrow

dice from the opposite pool--borrowing Intellect to support Instinct, and Instinct to support intellect.

Each time they do this a check mark is made in the boxes/ovals under Instinct or Intellect. There are a set of two (one red, one black)

under each trait--when all the red boxes are filled under a trait you move a die from one attribute under that trait to one attribute under

the other trait. Black boxes indicate experience earned to improve the traits in that area--whenever an adventure is completed without borrowing a die from the opposing trait a hero receives a mark in a black box, when it is filled they may add 1 die to one of the two traits above them.

As dice are lost to one side the character slowly moves towards one of two extremes: Bestial Creatures which are pure might and animal cunning--with no wonder or magic or imagination.

Dragons become dinosaurs, Unicorns become horses, Chimeras become a version of their dominant (body) animal, and so on.

As points are shifted to Intellect the creature becomes more magical, more fanciful, slowly becoming less and less real until it is simply imaginary, and invisible to everyone but their closest

friends. Once a creature moves to either extreme it is up to their friends to re-spark the magic in them, or reground them in the world so they can be played as heroic creatures again.

In addition to the traits each Creature has a health box and a Mood box, these are used when the creature faces serious risks to either and can lead to injury or even death from which there is no recovery, or to torpor--mood death, where the creature hibernates until it recovers.

Playable creatures cover the vast menagerie of non-humanoid fantasy creatures the primary examples being Dragons, Chimeras, Unicorns

and talking "Great Beasts' (animals: Wolves, Bears, Eagles, etc)

6 Dice are split between the Vigor, Cunning, Enchantment, and Will attributes.

Unicorns have +1 Vigor and +1 Will

Dragons have +1 Cunning and +1 Enchantment

Chimera have +1 Vigor and +1 Enchantment

Great Beasts have +1 Cunning and +1 Will

Chimera include: Manticores, Gryphons, Basilisks, questing beasts and other animal mixes.

Difficulties: Easy 5

Challenging 10

Hard 15

Simply roll all trait dice that are appropriate and add them together to beat the challenge.

Tasks should be assigned to the most relevant trait: Sneaking falls under Cunning, Fighting falls under

Vigor, Magic falls under Enchantment, and Arguing falls under Will.

Dragons

The largest creature granted magics gift and given sentience, dragons vary greatly in size beginning as wyrmling hatched from eggs no larger than a mortal Earth beach ball. In a few weeks they grow from wyrmling to wyrm about twice the length of a horse from snout to tail. These are the dragon ages we most hear from when they're young enough to be foolish, and their appetites do not yet drive them to scourge the land.

Dragons are also the most tied to elemental forces. While other Creatures might pursue interestsin various elemental magics, Dragons are tied to such forces by their birth.

Fire

Fire Dragons begin as voracious, energetic sprites of spirit, consuming vast quantities of food and moving from topic of curiosity to topic with a mad abandon like a fire seeking to burn some new tinder. They spend early life mostly hunting Obsidian fields near volcanoes, or dwelling in lava pools or sulfur laden hot springs (the little water they find comfortable).

As they age fire dragons become more fiery, their eyes burn, their nostrils smoke. The primarymagic of Fire dragons is flame and its byproducts, smoke, ash, fire, light, all are a fire dragon's province. Fire dragons coloration varies from black as charred wood or coal to reds, yellows, orange, golds, and some flame blue. Most fire dragons have typical beast builds with four legs and two wings a long neck and tail with reptilian head.

Water

Water dragons begin as serpentine, legless amphibians who spend most of their time in the water chasing brightly colored bits from the bottom of seas, lakes and streams. As they grow a bit slower than most other dragon breeds they use the water (and its lack of threats to anything their size) quite often as their home and hearth. Water dragons are often collectors with a bit of a mischief spirit, they canrun deep and thoughtful, but are often a bit more cold and distant than other dragons. Water dragons of Wyrm age or older are equally happy in air or under water, and as they age they develop more aquatic traits--fins and beards of catfish, the ability to sense life by its inner spark in the dark depths, bioluminescent spots as patterns across their scales. Their magic is water in all its forms, from rain, to ice, to steam. Water dragons grow to be the second largest kindred of dragons.

Water dragon coloration varies as much as the fish of the oceans, often silver or opalescent white with greens, blues and others common. Most water dragons have serpentine builds with at least two legs, but often four. Wings are not common and tend to be more fin like. Water dragons also tend to have over sized heads with tendril-beards and fin crests.

Air Dragons

Air, or Sky dragons begin as wyrmlings with massive over sized wings that don't fit their vastly smaller bodies. The smallest of dragon-kind
throughout all ages they still have impressive wingspans. Air dragons unlike Fire dragons are night "flighty" instead they tend to go with the flow, accepting things more readily and lightly without the desperate abandon fire dragons possess. As they age air dragons often become more air adapted, streamlined features like narrow faces, and wings designed for soaring or diving. They do tend to have strong legs throw themselves into the sky and to pounce prey both ground based as well as flying animals to eat.

Air Dragon magic tends to manipulate air and weather, they can conjure storms, or toss out gusts or deadly to flying creatures windshear, as well as manipulate gases. Air dragons are often light green, or light blue, some come in white or gray and few number get deep blue of the night sky. They have more birdlike builds with thin forearms and heavy back limbs and massive wings often with narrow head and fins or ridges that aid them in flight.

Earth Dragons

The Earth Dragons are born wingless, many are serpentine and legless but not all. They have a mix of behaviors at the wyrm age from ponderous and calm to sneaky and snakelike. This may have to do with their hunting methods and need for patience in waiting for prey, they are not flicker fast like fire, or sleek swimmers, or agile aerial acrobats. Instead they stick as close to the ground as possible. The few who grow wings and can fly often do so only in short leaps and do so low to the ground (these sorts are fond of Mountain terrain). Most of those that remain wingless prefer sand, or forested landscapes where they use caution in hunting and adapt to there environment somewhat more broadly than the other dragons. Many earth dragons develop spines, or furred animal like traits, or even shells or armor like various other animals.

Earth dragon magic is slow to act, but terrible when it is unleashed, it can command plants, or rocks, shape stone or mud, and crack open the very crust of the earth. It can burrow or call up a sandstorm. Earth dragons coloration often begins as brown, but may darken into black of peat soil or lighten and shift to greens and browns of trees, or red-gold of fallen leaves, or sandy metallic hues of bronze or brass for desert dwellers. Earth Dragons builds are often beast like but quite a few are serpentine as well, those types have either no legs or stubby legs clinging close to the earth element.

Do all dragons breath fire?

No, only fire dragons breath fire, and even then it is an aspect of their magic a focused and powerful effect to be sure. Other dragons if they wish to exhale powerful elemental forces may adapt their magic to fire blasts of stone scouring sand, lightning or hurricane force wind gusts, or even scalding steam. Any dragon can expel magical energy this way, but it is likely to fit their elemental connection.

Do all Dragons Fly?

No, some do some don't. It depends on the player's choice and the type of breed they choose.

Do all Dragons eat meat?

Yes, they are predators, and they eat a LOT of meat as they get bigger and bigger. Only nasty corrupted dragons (not the focus of this game) would eat sentient animals.

Chimera

Chimera are creatures born of the first chaotic spark of magic, unlike dragons they are less elemental and more primal, they are as if magic is trying to find the best combination of other things to thrive in the Mythic Land. Chimera made up of what may often seem a mis-matched collection of other animal parts. Bodies of horses, insects , bears, lions, with heads of goats, birds,dragons, lions, deer usually not matching the original body, and then legs and tails from other animals. Some Chimera may seem mostly normal but with extra heads or extra limbs but they are something often unique to behold. Most Chimera's begin as a live born creature that slowly grows to full size in a time period based mostly on the largest species that makes up its parts. Chimera's magic seems to be based on chaos in principle, but often is individually adapted.

Some for example with dragon parts tend to "breath fire" albeit their mastery of magic tends to be limited.Some species of Chimera breed true creating numerous subtypes: Gryphons for example are a chimera with a feline predators body, head and forelimbs of a predatory bird, and the birds wings. Since the parts are matched --being only two species that seem merged into a single new one. Gryphons for example have been noted that include the classic Eagle/Lion mix, as well as Cheetah or Leopard and Hawk, and Owls and Tigers among other numerous variants. All Gryphon can fly and have magic related to protection or defense.

Basilisks are another known species that breeds true that appears like a reptilian hen or rooster, they have magics specializing in poisons/toxins and other lethal effects, being one of the smaller chimera they seem to take umbrage with the other sentients, although more fall to corruption than Gryphons, most remain on the side of good.

When creating chimera player's should pick their favorite animals, or favorite ones they want to be mixed, and create something fun.
Chimeras personalities are shaped entirely by the choice of the players and can be as similar or dissimilar to the basic animals as possible. Attributes for Chimeras should represent what form the player chooses--a pygmy owl/house cat gryphon may need to have high cunning and will to represent its behaviors, but low vigor to represent its small size.

Great Beasts

Great Beasts are magically enhanced normal animals, they grow to giant size, and much improved wisdom and intellect. They are like all creatures capable of speech. Though normal animals do not tend to produce Great Beasts, rather they seem to be a large group enhanced in the past that continue to reproduce. Great Beast magic tends to be thoughtful, often tied to the animals nature, a Great Eagle's magic will differ from a Great Wolf, which will differ from a Great Tortoise. They tend to take twice as long to grow from newborns or newly hatched to the young adult stage. Many great beasts have pelts, skins, or other markedly beautiful, luxurious, or unique features. Such as a Great White Tortoise or a Great Wolf with fur like the midnight sky, or the Great Lion with a mane of gold. Unlike Chimera these creatures other than their
unique feature and exalted size (at least twice normal size) they appear very much like their mundane kin.

Unicorns

The last of the truly remarkable and widespread creatures of the Mythic Land, Unicorns appear as horses but with cloven hooves and with
a single spiral horn that rises from their brows. Despite what may seem like a relation to Chimeras, Unicorns are far more consistent and reliable. They are born like other mammals and raise their young together in the herd. Young Adult Unicorns often separate from the heard to investigate the world for a time. Unicorns magic varies with the herd, many herds focus on protection, some on knowledge gathering magics, and others still on whatever may be seen as best for the herds survival. Healing is particularly common as well as purification of corruption.

Do Creatures of the Mythic Land get along?

Mostly. Though rivalries and conflict exist there is a social truce of sorts between the sentient. The players assume the role of those on the side of light striving to work together in spite of those rivalries to hold back the dark and its corrupting power.

What Do Creatures of the Mythic Land, Do?

Play with each other as children and young adults, explore the Mythic Land, Fight things corrupted by or spawned from the Dark, as well
as make choices about the future of the Mythic Land by examining their own nature and striving to maintain a balance between Intellect and Instinct.

The Mythic Land

The Mythic Land began as all such places, in the mists of the dim unremembered past beyond the fog of the most ancient
and lasting memories. What the Creatures of the Mythic Land know is that once the world was water and as land
rose and the first things legged and finned moved ashore a spark of power flushed across the land. The magical rush of power
exploded out from the heavens and washed the land in eldritch waves that warped the land, and the sea, it changed and aged and became different than it might have been without that spark, and in that flush the first things upon the land and the endless things below were touched by its power and a few, a precious few became more, became alien, became aware.

They were the first Creatures of the Mythic Land.

Whatever began the spark, whatever forces gave magic to the Mythic Land, also gave the means to some of the Creatures to dabble in its power to tap there primal natures, and its power to make things happen. This is what separes the Mythic Land from other worlds where small brained massive lizard like creatures hunt for prey, where small mammals squeak and squirm beneath there feet, and the first feathered things take flight

No, the world of creatures is young, born anew of the spark, and blessed with the age of imagination born of the magics of the land.

Yet in magic as all things there is a dark side, those who reach beyond the spark for power into the long night of the void and who are warped by the Dark, outside the world. The Dark is the enemy of all things touched by the spark, of all life itself that can create, it is the essence of corrupt entropy.

Hearts & Souls Print

2006-11-26T15:31:00.000-08:00

Someone else did this I saw on RPG.net so I thought it a good idea to share, pardon the blurriness, I am not familiar with the digital camera I used.

Front of Book:

Back of book:

Interior of book:

Lulu and Print

2006-11-14T16:10:00.000-08:00

Lulu seems to have worked things out finally for H&S Print, I'm hoping no more hiccups occur.

In other news I've run H&S for a friend and he keeps demanding more--he even had me over to game and his wife joined us along with another member of our regular group. She seemed to enjoy it as much as him. Which makes me glad to GM for people who appreciate, only bad thing is I've used up my ideas for two adventures in running them one "long" session. However I planted the seeds for a future one and hopefully will have my full crew back and can introduce a recurring villain to oppose them.

Hearts & Souls Review

2006-10-14T03:13:00.000-07:00

A Review of my superhero RPG: Hearts & Souls

A New Blog.

2006-10-14T02:38:00.000-07:00

I've used a Livejournal for some time to talk about gaming. I plan on using this as a mirror to that (so others may comment) on my design rambles.

-First Up: Ace Playtest.
ACE, stands for Action Card Engine, its a card driven RPG I've been working on aimed at allowing fast, easy mecha role-playing. Whether the mecha IS the character (Braireous from Appleseed, Optimus Prime from the Transformers), or the mecha is an addition to the character, I want them to be handled identically in terms of mechanical resolution, stats, etc. Now there are some slight differences I've found a nead to account for, but for the most part the playtest is working smoothly.

The setting I'm using for ACE is Vast Frontiers, a space western setting where mecha are called "slingers", and the rough and tumble frontier has its share of "gunslingers" eking out a living on the edge through violence.

The current group is two players one a young, thoughtfully played yet hyperkinetic go-getter who after helping out got deputized by the sherriff. The other is an older man with daughter who was hired because of his "history of violence" as the sherriff, there are reasons they hired the most violent man they could find who wasn't psychotic, the catch of course being that due to his wife's death, and his daughter's existence, he's way less violent than they "wanted".

They being the Mayor and his corporate masters for "Hangman's Gulch" an asteroid field with miners, bandits, and others lurking in the rocks, as well as the planetary colony below filled with 'dirt' farmers.
Mecha in the game are used for a variety of purposes, cargo handlers, repair walkers for vacuum, mining, farming (replacing tractor/ox and so on. The catch of course is virtually no-one owns "new" mecha--the slingers are all cast offs from The Line.

The Line is a hyperspace transit system which uses a tuglike "Line Engine" to haul cargo and passenger pods between explored locations--utilizing fixed jump points to ease transition to and from hyperspace. For a fee anyone can buy a berth on a "passenger" pod (often barely pressurized cargo pods) for a massive fee one can attach a whole pod. Individuals may own spaceships, but the cost is exorbant, and usually only found in very succussful groups (criminals may have a jumpship for outlaw banditry, and Line-robbing.)

Because most slingers are modified from Repair units off the line, none of integral weapons, most are heavily rekitted to new purposes, including violence by local engineers or gunsmiths.

So far the new system of handling "straights" (cards played that give a bonus beyond the initial value because they closely match the task at hand) is smooth if a bit fiddly. But no more so than the trumps from Saga which inspired them.

Right now I'm using a custom deck, but I may try and go back to using a slightly modified standard card deck. The main issue is that I've got is the 'Glitch' suite used like a bit of a wild card for triggering setbacks. I've got five suits, a standard deck only 4 (and a standard deck has too few cards for play if you have 5+ players with multiple card hands.)