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Post by seanfsmith on Jun 26, 2016 16:30:00 GMT
For all my lack of attendance here, I tend to design various games in my absence. Far, far too many of them use playing cards, so I've been toying around with dice systems that are dissimilar from those already on the shelves of various gaming stores. I've chanced upon this, which plays out more consistently than I'd expected: roll & combine d4 + d12, compare to the doubled value of a d8; beat the number = success; match the number = critical success; can spend resource on a failed roll to achieve success with cost. (AnyDice odds calculations here.) If you're skilled at a task, instead you roll against the easier doubled d6; if you'd struggle at a task, you roll against the harder doubled d10. The problem is, I've no idea exactly what type of story I want to tell with this and I've already stolen from too many of my fictional worlds for other games. This mechanic is more reliable than its swinginess feels, isn't punishing on the players and enables success through graft / sacrifice. What kind of story should I try to tell with this game?
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Post by Alex Newall on Jun 26, 2016 17:58:35 GMT
Hmm. Hard to say as it's not too specific.
Maybe something more frontier based where even if you are good you can still fail catastrophically due to luck?
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Post by seanfsmith on Jun 26, 2016 18:45:12 GMT
Yeah, it's potentially as open-ended as something like Savage Worlds. Much less explosive, but similarly excitement-fuelled. What's particularly nice is that rolling the three dice feels very swingy, but is actually quite comfortable odds.
Frontier-based feels like it could work quite well.
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Post by theoverlord on Jun 27, 2016 7:16:23 GMT
I would agree with Alex, something set in the frontier sounds good for this type of idea (mainly due to the deliberate application of materials of failing and the large idea of luck.) I also think that this will work in a war setting, where a similar stuff would happen (sort of commando / desert rat style raids) Hope this also helps
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Post by Oneiros on Jun 27, 2016 8:20:35 GMT
I concur with the survivalist setting, though you could also spin it in a Macgyver-esque/A-Team kind of way if you wished.
Similarly, it may also work for a science/engineering problem-solving kind of game - take a group of skilled folk, set them to work on a task, see what kind of solution results and apply consequences.
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Jonny
Member of the Order of the Quill
Host of The Magnus Archives
Turns out I was a ghost all along.
Posts: 114
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Post by Jonny on Jun 27, 2016 10:24:22 GMT
It definitely has a player vs. environment feel to it, since if skill adjusts difficulty, not your roll, then how would opposed rolls work?
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Post by seanfsmith on Jun 27, 2016 15:21:17 GMT
It definitely has a player vs. environment feel to it, since if skill adjusts difficulty, not your roll, then how would opposed rolls work? I imagine it somewhat similar to GUMSHOE'S sequential opposed checks: defender tries to stay in the game, then attacker, ad nauseam. First to drop out loses. Thanks for all the ideas, folks. A survivalist setting feels just right. I might sketch up a few: (weird?) western, fae (where "interest" is the key resource), and Starship Troopers Minus The Copyright Infringement.
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Post by seanfsmith on Jul 10, 2016 17:15:40 GMT
SO
I've settled on Western as a theme (at least for its first iteration, with possible alternative suggestions) and it's reaching a point where it's essentially ready to playtest.
As it stands, everything in life is hard to do (roll vs doubled d10) except each player has one skill they are expert at (roll vs doubled d6) and three they are skilled in (roll vs doubled d8). I have yet to decide if players should have one pool of resources (grit) or two (body vs spirit); either way, players can take complications (which disenable rolling certain dice) to refresh their pools.
The skills are currently as such:
BODY - lay on hurt - avoid pain - ride true - endure elements - stomach starvation -
SPIRIT - shoot straight - stare down the barrel - talk pretty - sight as vulture - -
Actions cover the time it would take to pour a slug of whiskey. Contested actions alternate between players: either scoring a critical success or having your opponent fail means you win the contest.
First up: any thoughts? Secondly: anyone in London want to playtest this next weekend?
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Post by theoverlord on Jul 10, 2016 17:41:41 GMT
Firstly, I will be happy to attempt to play test this if there are enough people. I would suggest 2 pools only due to the different ways that skills could be seen, i.e. Reading a book wouldn't really be a 'body' skill but more of a spirit skill Other than that I would have to see the game myself in order to give more advice
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Post by Alex Newall on Jul 11, 2016 9:15:16 GMT
Way too busy to play test but would live updates on how it's going.
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Post by seanfsmith on Jul 18, 2016 20:50:22 GMT
I tested it on Saturday with a single player and a simple scenario I plan on doing much of the playtesting with -- the rules play out smoothly and there's a nice level of freedom of activity and tension on the rolls. At one point, Johnny Crow was facing down a cattle thief who was holding a knife against him: Johnny with no weapon other than a gun he was reluctant to pull, somehow managed to talk his way out of the situation and flee town under cover of darkness.
I plan on testing again quite some times.
I'm going to be on summer holidays from this week, which means if anyone is free during weekdaytimes and wanting to spend a few hours trying to break a system, hit me up.
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Post by theoverlord on Jul 19, 2016 8:02:31 GMT
Would love to have a go, should be in London for the next while, and am free on weekdays or weekends if you need me.
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Post by seanfsmith on Jul 22, 2016 16:34:43 GMT
Would love to have a go, should be in London for the next while, and am free on weekdays or weekends if you need me. I'm trying to arrange a session for either next Wednesday afternoon or Thursday afternoon: do either of those suit? ... Likewise this is an open invite to all! At this stage, it's all manner of different tests I want to run. Save
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Post by theoverlord on Jul 22, 2016 17:06:53 GMT
Would love to have a go, should be in London for the next while, and am free on weekdays or weekends if you need me. I'm trying to arrange a session for either next Wednesday afternoon or Thursday afternoon: do either of those suit? ... Likewise this is an open invite to all! At this stage, it's all manner of different tests I want to run. SaveWon't be able to do Wednesday, but may be able to Thursday afternoon, mainly depending on what time I get back. If you had a rough time on when you wanted to start that would help.
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Post by seanfsmith on Jul 22, 2016 17:12:40 GMT
I'm trying to arrange a session for either next Wednesday afternoon or Thursday afternoon: do either of those suit? ... Likewise this is an open invite to all! At this stage, it's all manner of different tests I want to run. SaveWon't be able to do Wednesday, but may be able to Thursday afternoon, mainly depending on what time I get back. If you had a rough time on when you wanted to start that would help. How about the Friday? We would be looking to start around 2pm. Save
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