As part of a little project I'm working on, I'm trying to identify the different types of magic systems on RPGs that I've used or encountered. Not the specifics of how they work (yet), but just at a high level what types of mechanics are around.
For example, consider the "four by five" system that appears throughout the Compendium. To me, this is a combination of Skill-Based (the words that are learned through advancement) and Composition-Based (action plus realm). Meanwhile The Original Game is of course Preparation-Based, while as I understand it Whitehack uses a great Resource Usage-Based system.
Please let me know if there are any other basic mechanics I'm missing! I'm sure there are some!! Please!!!
Statistics: Posted by quaffeine — Sat Nov 25, 2023 8:29 pm — Replies 1 — Views 21150
I was having this same problem with some of my older WordPress websites, and it required me to go into settings and make sure the link for the entire website was the https:// one and not the http:// that I initially started out with.
Statistics: Posted by squirewaldo — Mon Oct 23, 2023 10:43 am — Replies 0 — Views 29121
So I suggested we do something else. One player had been working on converting a old D&D adventure to Barbarians of Lemuria and I wanted to do something, anything, with Risus. I started preparing an adventure using Risus, but I was totally tapped out. So I went to Bing Chat (the ChatGPT for Microsoft) and WOW! It was better than ChatGPT IMHO. First of all it is up to date vs being 3 or 4 years behind. It has a bigger and better database as well. It is also not nearly as politically correct and censorious as ChatGPT.
But most of all it is great to create adventures and the art to go with it. I entered something vague about a modern adventure setting for Risus. It came up with 4 brief descriptions. I picked the one about a Heist at the Museum, and asked for it to flesh it out more, and voila. A complete adventure that required only modest editing. I then asked for NPCs and Pre-Gen player characters with Risus stats. Done. Then I asked for images of all the characters (which I had to do in phases because it cannot generate more than 3 or 4 such images at a time. Then I asked for other images for the museum entrance and a floor plan of the museum which required me to provide an example of what I wanted plus a few additional prompts. The only thing left is how to end it. I have no earthly idea, and usually my ideas end up getting torpedoed by the players anyway.
here is a link to the result of what I was provided:
https://www.bozbat.com/wp-content/uploa ... 231022.pdf
Statistics: Posted by squirewaldo — Mon Oct 23, 2023 10:38 am — Replies 3 — Views 25174
How much does a given adventure being statted/written for another system factor into your decision to buy?
Is it a case of "if I like the premise 100% I'll buy and convert as needed?"
The flip side being "converting sounds like a lot of work no matter how the story looks, pass!"
The context for this question is I really want to publish my first product by the end of the year, and I'd really prefer to do so listing it as a "Microlite 20" product to kind of rep the system a little bit. But I'm also worried that people won't buy it if it's not published as compatible with certain systems of choice.
I could always use the more general "OSR compatible" sticker, but again, I'd really like to rep m20 if I can.
Thoughts?
Statistics: Posted by quaffeine — Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:31 pm — Replies 1 — Views 38946
I don't have a particularly slick or complete document regarding my version of Microlite, which is sort of a greatest hits, using the highlights of each edition of Microlite and trying to balance them all in a way that stays true to the rules light ethos. I wanted the slightly broader statistical spread, and keep to that classical b/x scale. But I also wanted the singular saving throw, affected by whatever stat is relevant to the attempt and also adjusted by class abilities. Like Dwarf being naturally resistant to magic. (I do like race as class, but am trying to make a good variety of options, with very evocative names. Like the Bounder, a Halfling Ranger. Or the Lizardman, who is a Barbarian that can't wear armor, but is physically superior (d12 and heals at 2x normal)
I also liked the very abbreviated skill system, and simply added a class specific skill, allowing a d20 check for each class that functions like a turn undead or spell check or Thievery.
Movement as a simple way of handling initiative and luck as a currency for bartering for your characters life (DCC inspired, obviously)
I also really liked the virtues and vices in ML81, it gives you a great deal of fundamental character to build personality from. I liked the idea of perception functioning like b/x detect. Being a function of your race/class rather than a stat bonus.
I used sort of a middle-ground for AC between early and contemporary editions. +3 for light, 5 for medium and 7 for heavy. I like the gradated intermediate options between light/medium/heavy as well. CB giving first level bonuses made it impossible to run those classic AC charts, but it's not quite as powerful as in 3+ where 20 ac is achievable without magical equipment. Then allowing for light and heavy shields, all of which affecting movement checks, naturally.
This a bit of a mess, but I hope it's somewhat comprehensible in communicating my goal.
Statistics: Posted by Claviger — Tue Aug 15, 2023 9:20 pm — Replies 1 — Views 24851
I wanna get the discussion started back up around here...
What's everyone playing these days?
m20? Other rules lite? OSR? Full mainstream?
Shadowdark seems to be the darling at the moment, but Knave v2.0 is coming soon...
Statistics: Posted by quaffeine — Tue Jul 25, 2023 10:15 pm — Replies 4 — Views 102978
Statistics: Posted by squirewaldo — Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:59 am — Replies 0 — Views 57722
Statistics: Posted by gjbkk — Wed Apr 26, 2023 11:46 am — Replies 1 — Views 41576
If you are interested, pm me to let me know and give me your email. I will add you to the mailing list and send you a calendar invitation which will contain the instructions for the meeting.
Statistics: Posted by squirewaldo — Wed Mar 15, 2023 9:36 am — Replies 0 — Views 46256
Hats off to @randalls for keeping that lights on here. I do wish we could entice some of the 400+ members of the FB group to participate here as well, I'd much rather see the community grow here than just feed Meta's ad revenue.
Statistics: Posted by quaffeine — Wed Mar 08, 2023 2:59 pm — Replies 0 — Views 13277