Sote - User contributions [en]

Gameplay Concepts

2011-12-21T04:46:05Z

24.74.31.149: /* Stats */

==General==
===Note: Death and Taxes===
Probably the most controversial gameplay element I'm going to include: Death currently is permanent.

However, death is probably going to be mostly optional in the first run of stories. Failure instead involves physical or emotional torture, either on a personal level or failing to stop a catastrophe.

The reason for this is clear: It's a lot better material for the character than dying. They have to deal with the results of their failure as well as any earlier burdens, and let's face it, it's fun.

Of course, death is most obviously not devoid in the story. But it will most likely be melodramatic, and as such the player who is about to lose a character will probably be embracing the experience. Indeed, characters who are on their path to death probably get some heavy bonuses, to go out in a blaze of glory. Near death experiences would probably work similarly but weaker, but a player probably knows which is which (and a DM definitely does). Characters who die should probably have a significant portion of their character arc complete, to avoid regrets. Note that characters don't NEED to die in a game of any length. At the same time, how many of your favorite longer stories have all of the major protagonists live to the end? If your answer isn't 'none,' get better taste.

Players who lose a character are encouraged to observe a session or two (depending on the length and frequency) without playing after the loss. This gives the other members and characters some time to react in-game, the player some time to focus on their new character, and the DM some downtime to figure out how to smoothly handle adding the new character. Often times, games under BLUE have a Stock Character go on a mission with them during this time while they try to figure out a new party member.
===Note: Ill Equips to Act===
Armors and weapons are going to be a bit different than some stuff you've seen before.

'''Let's go over armor first.''' As a form of censorship, most civilized races have underwear made of 'soul cloth.' It's a material that stretches and loosens on the form around it, meaning shapeshifters don't go entirely nude in front of everyone. Seeing how it connects to a person so well, I'd say it might mean one less damage in general. However, so many races use it might be easier to just say races like [[Undine]], [[Raijuu]], and [[Salamander]]s just take one more damage (and also recover slightly quicker).

From there, pretty much armors might grant a slight bonus (+1) while probably affecting agility a bit, but there won't be levels of it like iron to mythril or anything. Technorganic armor is common amongst the nekos (and might trickle to some other races): its sleek and lightweight design has no effect on agility, is by default better than anything before it (+2 if armor is +1), but at the same time slows recovery speed to it in part being organic (it's like an extra layer of soul cloth). Dryads have unique access to purely organic armor which is very hard to break through (+3 if armor is +1), though they recover incredibly slowly, among other adverse affects (this is not a big deterrent to them, though). Fields!

'''Weapons, meanwhile,''' will probably be broken up into various sizes rather than shapes. A small axe and a shortsword do the same damage in theory. There will be, of course, a million exceptions: Unique weapons may exist outside of the sizes and just get their damage defined on creation, there might be various spells and whatnot to increase base damage, and of course proficiency plays a role. Like the armor 'classes,' metals might be slightly better than like dead wood and represented as such, Dryads probably get a bonus for their organic weapons, but technorganic weapons haven't reallly been explored much (both in my thoughts and in the writing), as technorganic stuff is expensive and the technorganic races tend to favor disposable ammunition.
==Character Creation==
Character ideas start at the personality: What combination of Defining Traits is the most interesting to you? Chances are it won't be the same for everyone, and even then there's room for two characters with the same Defining Traits to be played differently, especially depending on their level. What their motivation is affects their actions just as much their Defining Traits, after all.

Motivations are very ranged in the default setting, some might want to change the world, some might be curious about particular subcultures (or culture in general), and some might just be doing it as a traditional rite of passage. Generally, though, all major (and as such player) characters are very driven, as the default setting's focus is on three organizations that want to change the world and being entirely neutral in it isn't easy to make interesting. Still, any organization can attractive for most motivations, it's the means to the ends.

The system is classless, the character is dictated by the player but there are often some suggestions for each race on their individual pages. More concrete stuff later? Probably not.

Concrete Stuff: Starting characters are assumed to be completely normal, so they come with five fields of abilities: Intelligence, Chakra, Magic, Agility, and Conviction. Each has two sub-fields. Ideally, a character is going to be average in everything and decently good at a few. Characters start with 24 points to put into their fields. Every field must have at least two points in it, no exceptions. Then spread your allocated points from your Intelligence/Chakra/Etc. fields into the further sub-fields. To increase a sub-field to five costs two points from your field pool and should generally be discouraged for Tier 2 characters anyway.

From there, defining traits should be selected, with a total of 5 points to spend here. No trait can be pushed past three at Tier 2, so they don’t become slaves to their desires. (See the Gods and everyone at Tier 5!) And should be chosen for an interesting character and story-telling.

Finally, for your physical/mental/attack traits, you have thirty points. This pool may also be allowed for you to purchase perks from. In general this is also for a human, so some races may have a much smaller pool, since they come with much more innate abilities. Flaws may also add into this pool!

===Character Relations===
In general, the default setting encourage the characters NOT to know the whole group (ideally six PCs). The idea behind the default campaigns is the party is a group of new BLUE recruits that just happen to eventually have to save the world. Furthermore, in many cases, some of these new recruits are spies planted by the Agents and HAZE, and while not trying to sabotage things definitely trying to keep tabs on BLUE and prioritizing their organization first. Those organizations are so huge and secretive that several can be sent from the same organization with different goals and not even know the others are also spies.

At the same time, first impressions are key. A character can start with a Rivalry or Kinship with another character that doesn't become known until their first encounter, at which point it becomes active. Or maybe the other character is covered under a defining Hatred or Loyalty. There's still tons of ways to cover characters relations even if they've just met for the first time, or haven't met in years.

Outside of the party, characters are currently allowed to play around with their families and friends a bit, but be aware that the DM will be more in control of them than the PC, and they might twist the characters from what you expected, especially with characters with a large number of them.

==Stats==
===Intelligence===
Standard int stat, Measure of one's ability to solve problems mentally. Has two substats, Cunning and Knowledge. Requires at least 2 points invested, one for each substat. This might not be used to determine anything specifically, but it will allow characters to understand to the physical world more quickly.
*'''Cunning''' is sort of one's instinctual intelligence. It represents the ability to figure out a short-term solution with no thought.
*'''Knowledge''' is largely learned intelligence. It's largely used for more large scale things that take time to deduce or design.
=====Note: The More You Know=====
The difference of the two should be fairly obvious, cunning is on the fly while knowledge requires thought. For instance, a character with high cunning might be able to notice the insignia on the ring an enemy is wearing, while it would take high knowledge to identify it.

Ideally characters won't try to check knowledge against anything outside their past or what they've encountered in the game, and much like magic (discussed later) the difficulty will probably vary at the DM's discretion. DMs are encouraged to keep highly technical or magical knowledge strictly off-limits for anyone who doesn't have knowledge in the fields, among others that will be determined later.
===Agility===
How well a unit can move. Has two substats, Speed and Flexibility. Requires at least 2 points invested, one for each substat. This number is used to determine the chance of dodging. At certain numbers a character might gain an extra action per turn.
*'''Speed''' is how fast a unit can go. This affects how far a character can move in and out of combat, be it running, flying, or swimming.
*'''Flexibility''' is how well a character can maneuver, acts similarly to dexterity. How easily a character is move or function physically in less than ideal situations, such as rough terrain or tight spaces.
=====Note: Go Speed Go=====
Speed is physical quickness whereas Cunning is mental. Even if a character is quicker mentally, they can often still be outperformed by a physically quick person in combat.
===Magic===
A defining trait of most people as they all have the natural power for it and know smatterings of how it works (unless they’re just stupid). It is divided into two traits, Usable and Reserve. Total magic is used to determine a character's mana pool.
*'''Dynamic''' is how much mana a person can use at once. This is the maximum mana they can use at one time for quick reactions and spells.
*'''Static''' is how much mana a person has access to. This is the full mana they have for rituals and protection.
=====Note: Mana Obscura=====
Right now the magic is largely freeform, in the sense of any school of magic you know you're able to manipulate in any form. However, different uses have different costs and difficulties at the discretion of DMs. Total Magic and level of skill add bonuses to the rolls. This whole system is in the works, I'm still a bit hesitant to have Latent/Learned as stats due to the possible confusion of overlap with Knowledge on the latter.
===Chakra===
How healthy a body is physically. It is divided into Passive and Aggressive traits. Total chakra is used to determine a character's health.
*'''Active''' is how strong a person is; how much damage they can dish out with their fists or weapons is decided by this trait. Each aggressive chakra point currently adds one damage to outgoing physical attacks.
*'''Passive''' is how healthy and robust a person is. With a higher passive chakra you're able to within stands blow easier. Each passive chakra point currently subtracts one damage from incoming physical attacks.
=====Note: Hulk SMASH=====
Standard objects require a certain total chakra to break through. I'll look over strength checks and whatnot in other systems at some point maybe?

Some rough numbers (out of the current 12 system):
*Glass - 2
*Wood (Dead) - 4
*Stone - 5
*Metals - 7
*Technorganic - 9
*Wood (Alive) - 10

Note that this doesn't really affect weapons or armors (as noted above), due to the fact they take on part of the field of the person wielding them. It IS easier to break a weapon (or anything) a person is holding than to actually cut through them, but it's still far harder than if the object is without them. Fields: Making everything more confusing since too long ago!

===Conviction===
How a character communicates themselves socially and in some cases psychically. It is divided in two substats, Charm and Will. This might not be used to determine anything in particular, but helps character charm or manipulate those around them (or resist the same).

*'''Charm''' is how much power your personality holds. A person with high Charm could waltz into a room and turn heads and maybe convince everyone they owned the place.
*'''Will''' is how much grasp a person has on themselves, how resilient they are to being swayed.
===Note: Impediments===
Some races have notable weaknesses as compared to the others, and although I've always flirted with representing them, I think it's probably time to incorporate it. Here's some out there. The idea might be that their weak stats cost some more to increase, whereas they either get a stat that's cheaper or just an advantage outside of stats. We'll talk about it six months from now.

Some ones that are notable:
*Android - worse Magic, better something?
*Asura - worse Magic, better something?
*Giant - worse Magic, better something?
*Troll (MAYBE (maybe only some)) - worse Intelligence, better something?
*Undine - worse Intelligence, better Magic?

==Class Templates==
Because you're tools.
===Assassin===
Assassins tend to focus on their Agility/Speed, Chakra/Active, and Intelligence/Cunning. They're built to hide in the shadows, strike, and disappear at the earliest convenience.

Sample Traits
*Weapon Mastery: Katana/Dagger - Weapons that facilitate stealth are useful to this class
*Support: Kunai/Smoke Bomb - Support attacks that rely on confusion help keep this class concealed
*Magic: Darkness - Even a slight control of shadows gives those who rely on stealth a great advantage.
===Berserker===
Berserkers tend to focus mostly on their Chakra/Active, Chakra/Passive, and Conviction/Will. They're built to be unstoppable physical forces.

Sample Traits
*Weapon Mastery: Sword/Heavy Weapons - If the character relies on a weapon, heavy weapons are a great choice for their increased power.
*Stance: Feral (if allowed) - This stance allows you trade evasion for wild sweeps, hitting clusters of opponents harder and more easily.
===Cleric===
Clerics tend to focus mostly on Mana/Static, Mana/Dynamic, and Conviction/Will. They're built to use the energy around them to support themselves and their allies.

Sample Traits
*Magic: Healing - The essential ability for clerics, of course.
*Magic: Binding - An expensive, late tier magic for the most part, but greatly powerful in helping friends and hindering foes.

===Diplomat===
Diplomats tend to focus mostly on Conviction/Charm, Conviction/Will, and Intelligence/Cunning. They're built to talk through any problem and avoid conflict.

Sample Traits
*Knowledge: Psychology - Characters in negotiation need to be able to predict how others react.

===Mage===
Mages tend to focus mostly on Mana/Dynamic, Mana/Static, and Conviction/Will. They're built to use the energy around them as destructive powers to reshape the world and devastate enemies.

Sample Traits
*Knowledge: Mana Theory - Heavy use of magic is augmented by underlying knowledge.

===Monk===
Monks tend to focus mostly on Charka/Passive, Chakra/Active, and Conviction/Will. They're built to understand battle and end it quickly and competently with physical attacks.

Sample Traits
*Knowledge: Anatomy - Knowing the strengths on one's own body and the weaknesses of enemies' is essential for efficiency.

===Psychic===
Psychics tend to focus on Conviction/Will, Conviction/Charm, and Intelligence/Cunning. They're built to use incredible mental powers to manipulate the world around them to their advantage.

Sample Traits
*Psychic - Necessary to use psychic abilities.
*Telepathy - Allows one to get a grasp on others' thoughts.
*Telekinesis - Allows one to move objects or manipulate energy with their mind.
*Greater Psychic - Allows psychic abilities to be harnessed to their full power.

===Rogue===
Rogues tend to focus on Agility/Flexibility, Agility/Speed, and Intelligence/Cunning. They're built to strike continuously and relentlessly, avoiding damage as they do so.

Sample Traits
*

===Scholar===
Scholars tend to focus on Intelligence/Knowledge, Intelligence/Cunning, and Conviction/Charm. They're built to understand the world around them with absolute certainty as much as they can and move beyond that as much as possible.

Sample Traits
*

==Tiers==
===Tier 0===
This is where we as normal humans sit. However, the only characters in the storyverse that fit into this tier are the inhabitants created by Metro City.

Tier 0 characters get 125% of experience, but they have such heavy penalties there is no reason for this to be used for any character. Additionally, they can only have one defining trait.

'''Traits Available at Tier 0'''
*Physical
** Size
* Weight
*Mental
** NONE
*Combat
** NONE

===Tier 1===
This is where the average person sits within the storyverse. This is used largely for noncombat NPCs. In some games where the PC start as simple villagers, the game might start at this level, but due to the restrictions it is a poor idea to be used beyond a 'prologue' idea.

Tier 1 characters get 115% of experience, but they cap very early and have none of the advantages Tier 2 characters have. In addition, Tier 1 characters are restricted to a max of three Defining Traits, only one of which can reach Mid.

'''Traits Available at Tier 1'''
*Physical
**
*Mental
**
*Combat
** NONE

===Tier 2===
This is where the average adventurer sits within the storyverse. In most games PCs will start here, and most of the NPCs that are involved are here or higher.

Tier 2 characters get 100% of experience, but have an experience cap. Tier 2 characters can have anywhere between two to five Defining Traits. Depending on the DM, Very High might be banned and/or a High might be required at this Tier.

'''Traits Available at Tier 2'''
*Physical
**
*Mental
**
*Combat
**

===Tier 3===
This is where an experienced adventurer sits within the storyverse. Some traits, such as Psychic, require a character to start in this tier, and as such might be banned from games.

Tier 3 characters get 80% of experience, but have an experience cap. Tier 3 characters work the same as Tier 2 characters in Defining Traits, but have experienced an event which has made one trait particularly high for them, requiring one Very High.

'''Traits Available at Tier 3'''
*Physical
**
*Mental
** Psychic (Starting Only)
*Combat
** Telekinesis (Starting Only)

===Tier 4===
This is where the average veteran adventurer sits with the storyverse. Most longer games will have the party end in this. Unless explicitly permitted, characters are generally banned from starting here and any traits that require the tier are offlimits during creation.

Tier 4 characters get 55% of experience, and have such a high experience cap that they should never reach it in the campaign. Additionally, the events they've been through have made them very resolute, requiring three Very High in Defining Traits.

'''Traits Available at Tier 4'''
*Physical
**
*Mental
**
*Combat
**

===Tier 5===
This is where only the most powerful characters sit in the storyverse. In general this is only achieved through special means, and it is discouraged to have multiple characters in this Tier in the story. One Tier 5 antagonist can be threatening, more loses the effect. One Tier 5 ally or PC can be compelling, more tends to be boring. As always, there are exceptions, of course.

Tier 5 characters get 20% of experience, but have no experience cap. Though they have great power, it has come from either years of dedication to something and/or tampering with more questionable forces, and these experiences have made they excessively resolute, requiring five Very Highs in Defining Traits.

'''Traits Available at Tier 5'''
*Physical
**
*Mental
**
*Combat
**
====Note: Role and Playing Favorites====
If a DM does decide to let a character (especially PC) make this transition, make sure the transition objectively it makes sense. Tier 5 characters are usually there because they want ultimate power; a character who just wants to settle down and live on a farm when this is over rarely would have any justification for doing it (although let's face it, it would be interesting in the cases it does). In general, if a PC is going to make this transition, it will probably be obvious from their personality in the beginning, even if the character (or even the player) isn't aware of it.
====Note: Great Power Standard, Great Responsibility Optional====
This should be super-obvious, but Tier has nothing to do with importance to the story. Any character who is Tier 5 is not automatically the focus no matter what side they're on; in fact, they usually become less important.

For a comparison, think of the role Dr. Manhattan ultimately played in Watchmen, when compared to Rorschach (as a protagonist) or Ozymandias (as an antagonist). Also, spoiler alert.

===Note: Tiering Up===
In general, going up a tier is more than just a change in stats, it's a dramatic event that touches and changes the character's very being. DMs are encouraged to work with their PCs to figure out when they want to move up a tier, and setting up a small arc revolving around the character for the transition.

* '''Tier 1 to Tier 2''' is not that big of an affair, as Tier 2 is largely 'knows how to fight.' DMs can set up a battle or small dramatic scene for this transition, but anything long term is discouraged due to the disadvantages of Tier 1 in a party and how unimportant the step is, if it is even incorporated.

* '''Tier 2 to Tier 3''', however, is generally a defining moment in a character's growth. A character who starts in Tier 3 generally has more backstory than a standard character, and a character who is leveling up usually gets a small event planned largely around them. The event should probably be heavier than anything the characters have faced before, and specifically taxing on the transitioning character, in general on both a physical and emotional level.

* '''Tier 3 to Tier 4''' is usually equally defining. However, an important thing to note is Tier 3 has the highest mortality rate. This transition should be legitimately life-threatening if taken, and in general is only the result of a deeply traumatizing event, such as witnessing a massacre firsthand. Ultimately, these events are usually part of the planned plot rather than specifically character driven, because let's face it, DMs are asses.

* '''Tier 4 to Tier 5''' is defining in a different way. In most cases, the jump only comes from hundreds of years of dedication to bettering themselves. They've sacrificed and experienced much during this time, and are in general detached from humanity. In some cases, this transition is done via dabbling in various fields to gain power quickly, and these characters are generally equally detached from the experience. As noted above, it's not really recommended for characters to go through this, especially multiple ones.

Races

2011-12-21T04:21:41Z

24.74.31.149: /* The Races */

==The Races==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:left; margin: 5px;"
|-{{Unicode|}}
!style="background:#ddddee;" width=120 | Race
!style="background:#ddddee;" | Play Category
!style="background:#ddddee;" | Recovery Element
!style="background:#ddddee;" | Size Class
!style="background:#ddddee;" | Weight Class
!style="background:#ddddee;" | Age of Expansion
|-
| [[Android]]
| Restricted
| None
| 3. Mid
| 4. Heavy
| Third
|-
| [[Angel]]
| Limited
| Ground, Air (3/4)
| 4. Large (Wide)
| 3. Mid
| First
|-
| [[Asura]]
| Limited
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| First?
|-
| [[Centaur]]
| General
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second
|-
| [[Cubus]]
| Limited
| Ground, Air (1/4), Emotion (1/4)
| 4. Large (Wide)
| 3. Mid
| First
|-
| [[Dragon]]
| Limited
| Ground, One Other (1/2)
| 5. Very Large/Large (Wide)
| 5. Very Heavy/Mid
| First
|-
| [[Drow]]
| Limited
| Ground
| 4. Large (Long)
| 4. Heavy
| Third
|-
| [[Dryad]]
| Restricted
| Plantlife, Ground (1/2)
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| First
|-
| [[Dwarf]]
| General
| Ground, Earth (1/4)
| 2. Small
| 2. Light
| Second
|-
| [[Elf]]
| Limited
| Ground, Plantlife (1/4), Air (1/4)
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| First
|-
| [[Fae]]
| General
| Air, Ground (1/2), One to Three Others (1/8 to 3/4)
| 1. Very Small
| 1. Very Light
| Second?
|-
| [[Formid]]
| General
| Air, Ground (1/2)
| 2. Small
| 2. Light
| Second?
|-
| [[Giant]]
| Limited
| Shell
| 4. Large (Long)
| 3. Mid
| First
|-
| [[Gnome]]
| General
| Earth, Ground (1/2)
| 2. Small
| 2. Light
| First
|-
| [[Goblin]]
| General
| Ground
| 2. Small
| 2. Light
| Third
|-
| [[Harpie]]
| Limited
| Ground, Air (1/8)
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second?
|-
| [[Human]]
| General
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second
|-
| [[Inu]]
| General
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second?
|-
| [[Kappa]]
| Limited
| Water, Ground (1/4)
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Third
|-
| [[Karkin]]
| Restricted
| Convertor
| 4. Large
| 5. Very Heavy
| Second?
|-
| [[Kitsune]]
| Limited
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| First
|-
| [[Mandragora]]
| Limited
| Ground, Plantlife (1/2), Earth (1/2)
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second?
|-
| [[Merfolk]]
| Restricted
| Water
| 4. Large (Long)
| 4. Heavy
| First?
|-
| [[Minotaur]]
| General
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 4. Heavy
| Second?
|-
| [[Naga]]
| Limited
| Ground, Water
| 4. Large (Long)
| 3. Mid
| Second?
|-
| [[Neko]]
| General
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second
|-
| [[Orc]]
| Limited
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 4. Heavy
| Third
|-
| [[Raijuu]]
| Limited
| Ground, Sound (1/4)
| 3. Mid
| 2. Light
| Third?
|-
| [[Salamander]]
| Limited
| Ground, Fire, Air (1/2)
| 4. Large (Wide)
| 4. Heavy
| First?
|-
| [[Tengu]]
| General
| Ground, Air
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second
|-
| [[Troll]]
| Limited
| Ground, Water (1/2)
| 3. Mid
| 5. Very Heavy
| Third
|-
| [[Uligo]]
| Restricted
| Any
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second?
|-
| [[Undine]]
| Limited
| Ground, Water
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Third
|-
| [[Usagi]]
| General
| Ground
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| Second
|-
| [[Yuki]]
| Limited
| Ground, Ice
| 3. Mid
| 3. Mid
| First?
|-
|}

===Not Sure Where To Put These Quite Yet!===
* [[Gargoyle]]
* [[Nymph]]
* [[Sponge]]
* [[Servant]]
* [[Voidspawn]]

===Note: Muttin' But Trouble===
Halfbreeds are just common enough in culture that it could make sense for PCs to want to try to play them. Here's some prototype rules on formulating:

* General + General = Limited
* General + Limited = Limited
* General + Restricted = Restricted
* Limited + Limited = Restricted
* Limited + Restricted = Restricted
* Restricted + Restricted = Probably Not Happening

In general, a DM doesn't want more than one of ANY SPECIFIC halfbreed. Note that certain hybrids might end up a Play Category above or below the general rules.

When creating a halfbreed, there are unique rules. Halfbreeds get all abilities that have levels from both races, but one level lower than their parents. If they both have the ability, you count only the highest down a level.

Halfbreeds also start out with whatever trait we make people regard one as a misfit, as well as probably one other negative trait. They get no creation bonuses for these.

In cases of conflicting abilities, it is generally the choice of the PC, although certain DMs may suggest/enforce rulings they should provide beforehand.

Some more as we go along.
===Note: Niches Ain't Shit===
In general, every race seems to feel a niche, but sometimes it seems some of them share one. Even then, their approach to the niche is often very different. Below are some examples I can think of, if anyone else has questions I'm sure I'll hit them:

*Centaurs and Dwarves both fit the niche being dedicated to work. But Centaurs focus on efficiency for their farms, whereas dwarves enjoy work solely to keep busy.
*Kappa and Usagi both work as dedicated to a specific subculture. But Kappa focus on the spirit of the subculture, whereas Usagi tend to embrace the physical side more, being a bit more of poseurs.
*Inu and Minotaur are both written as the muscle for hire originally, but Inu are hunters and Minotaurs are protectors.

Really, I suspect in most cases these races would get along the least well in many cases. While other races just don't care about the issues, these races have entirely different beliefs they feel strongly about, and if someone else feels strongly but different it's not a good thing.

==Key==
===Play Category===
They are three basic play categories for races:
* '''General''' - In general, this race is allowed for use for all. In most stories, any or all PCs may use it. There might occasionally be restrictions against everyone using a single race, but at least two should generally be allowed.
* '''Limited''' - In general, this race should only be represented by one PC, and may not be allowed in all stories. Ideally, PCs will have different enough tastes to decide on different races, and any conflicts can hopefully be fixed with compromise. DMs may allow two in certain cases, but outside of that it is recommended to stick hard to one.
* '''Restricted''' - In general, this race is forbidden from PC play, and rarely should ever be allowed even one unless the player can justify it in some way. Be very careful in breaking this at any point.
====Note: Rated R for Restricted====
Some people might wonder why the restricted races are mentioned at all if they're not for PC use. Well, firstly, the races ARE still a part of the setting, and the GM may occasionally use restricted races as NPCs (keep in mind, though, most of these races are restricted due to their lack of numbers). Secondly, restrictions are based on setting, and certain games may take place in a time where they restrictions are different, or even a different universe with the same races. It's okay, you can do it, I'll allow it.
====Note: What to Choose====
Though play category often hints at this, it's a weak correlation to say how easy they are to play. Some races play close to fantasy defaults, while others may end up playing like nothing you've seen before. This is just estimates, it might move around with more consideration.

*Easy, Play Like Most Races In Most Games - Angel, Asura, Centaur, Cubus, Dwarf, Dryad, Elf, Formid Goblin, Human, Inu, Kappa, Kitsune, Minotaur, Naga, Neko, Orc, Tengu, Troll
*Difficult, Have Some Distinct Features - Android, Dragon, Drow, Fae, Gnome, Harpie, Mandragora, Merfolk, Salamander, Usagi, Yuki
*Very Difficult, Races Are Essentially Unique - Giant, Karkin, Raijuu, Uligo, Undine

===Recovery Element===
Characters recover naturally in certain elements. These are all the elements listed in the category. However, even though they recover in the other elements, they cannot survive in any denoted with fractions. After a few hours, they stop any recovery and slowly start to die. This stops when they return to any normal element.

There are special 'elements' that have no physical equivalent, such as emotion. These aid recovery in other elements, but are obviously not sustainable on their own.
====Note: Sky Above, Ground Below====
'Ground' might be confusing terminology, but you know, oh well. It refers to be exposed to both air and earth at the same time. It doesn't really matter how, but being only in the air or the earth does not work equivalently, as noted above.
===Eye, Hair, and Skin Color===
As stated. 'Standard' refers to normal human range, ignoring things like albinism.
===Size Class===
The general size of the race. In certain cases, they might be one larger or smaller, but those are outliers and usually unnatural cases. Currently this affects how easy they are to hit, adding a penalty for large/very large and a bonus for small/very small. DMs may choose to count Large (Wide) as a penalty only for attacks head-on (or back-on), and Large (Long) for attacks from the side.

I'm thinking this is something purely like -1 to dodge for Large and +1 to dodge for Small, linear with positive and negative aspect.
===Weight Class===
The general weight of the race. In certain cases, they might be one lighter or heavier, but those are outliers and usually unnatural cases. Currently this affects how effective push/pull attacks are, more-so for light/very light and less-so for heavy/very heavy.

This, meanwhile, I think is done by the DIFFERENCE of the two. With 1 being Very Small and 5 being Very Large. Something like

Difference between Attacking/Defending (may change):
*-3 or lower - The attacker does not push/pull, may automatically suffer or have to roll to avoid a slight push/pull themselves.
*-2 - The power of the push/pull is weakened by 2 (maybe 3?).
*-1 - The power of the push/pull is weakened by 1.
* 0 - The power of the push/pull is normal.
*+1 - The power of the push/pull is strengthened by 1.
*+2 - The power of the push/pull is strengthened by 2 (maybe 3?).
*+3 or higher - The power of the push/pull is increased by the target's Agility, they may automatically suffer or have to avoid being knocked prone.

The Workspace

2011-12-03T16:39:44Z

24.74.31.149: /* Attack Templates */

==Attack Templates==
So something I was thinking of was something like for every level someone takes in a weapon proficiency, they gain a sort of 'trademark technique' or something for that. Also a possibility of gaining more through some in-game progression, or possibly buying them with experience.

Because let's face it, five attacks aren't going to be enough. It's possible to have some levels unlock more, perhaps something like Level 3 unlocking another 1 and 2, and 5 unlocking another 3 and 4. Or just have each Level unlock ONE of the level below it (which is equitable to the last at Level 5). I don't think I want each level to unlock one of each level below, because fifteen attacks seems like a lot to gain that way, and gaining five attacks all at once seems like the player won't think enough.

Each technique can add effects to it, with certain ones having requirements. Ideally, each effect has a scalability to it, so that attacks don't end up entirely useless over time or overpowered when first acquired.

With this, I was thinking that each level has a sort of cap so you can't add too many features to it for your level. Something like 5 chakra (so one effect) for Proficiency 1, which would be sort of a 'special technique' with one effect when first gotten (ideally). But as you level, it becomes more just a variation of a 'regular' attack and the higher levels replace it as 'special.' Get it?

Pretty much the idea is to sorta make these like Powers in DnD, where the players create their own to fit their desires. Instead of explicitly making 'Dailies'/'Encounters'/'At-Will,' I think instead each effect adds to the chakra cost, making powerful attacks with many effects cost a lot and be saved for special occasions while more general attacks with a single effect be relatively cheap and more easy to throw in whenever.

The problem this runs into is someone who adds a proficiency late in the game, though I don't really know if this is a problem per se. As I said, ideally things scale, so the only problem will be they'll just have a low-level decent attack which makes sense because they just picked up the weapon.
===Example Effects===
*Devastating Strike - The attack gains an amount of damage proportional to the proficiency.
*Driveback - The enemy is pushed back a number of squares
*Magic Strike - Adds an effect from a specific school of magic to the attack.
** Requires Level 1 of the magic
*Multitarget - Splits the damage among a maximum number of targets equal to the proficiency. In some range, I imagine. Each target has to be rolled against, I imagine, before or after the split? Spitballin'!

At higher proficiencies, the ability to link into another attack (one's own or another player's) would probably be possible, too, but these would be more expensive (and thus not available for low levels due to their caps). Other possibilities are causing status effects, or possibly short buffs after an attack or something.

Pulling back a bit to the big picture again, I think the idea here is to sort of try to envision a sort of Rube Goldberg device of violence: When exposed to a battle, a character should be able to take these techniques and think of ways to set up situations that benefit not only themselves (or perhaps not themselves at all) but their comrades as well. Obviously these would rarely work out exactly as planned because each piece has its own agenda, but the idea is to really make the player think of how much more control they can have with these. This is especially true because obviously I don't want these to be unique to PCs, significant enemies should have these to force the PCs to think as well.

I'm still trying to think of a way to make these outright appealing on their own rather than 'Powers you can customize!' but I think of another part of the motivation is the whole 'enemies getting used to attacks' thing I proposed. You'd have to throw these in there to mix it up, but still, I'm not sure if that's rewarding enough on its own? Making a system is hard!

==Items, Money, the whole material side of the game==
Another thing that's been bugging me is this whole area. Due to the way the physics are handled, there's not much in the way of upgrades, especially explicitly in dungeoncrawling. You're not going to find a better armor down there, no way. The best I can think of is finding various resources that can be brought back up and refined to improve stuff. Even then, I certainly don't have a table, but spitballs!

That's actually an aside from my true point: As I had in the sample battles, a spitball is characters recovering chakra and mana within battle. So where do recovery items fit in? I want them to be kinda limited, because otherwise combined with the above a character could use a powerful attack, snarf one down, and then use it again, ad infinitum. I get the feeling that's a concern in any setting, right? How do others handle it? Also in this vein: I feel at the rate of recovery in the game, everyone would fully recover chakra/mana during established rests probably, right? Is that a problem? I feel like it might be, but I don't know.

Really, I'm tripping on items to use in general, and a lot of items I'd kinda like the characters to be able to make themselves with the right resources, especially in later sections where they don't really have time to stop in town. But then this leads to another overarching problem: Money. The root of all evil.

What IS money good for here? Following the standard plot, I imagine rent and at least part of food would be taken out by BLUE before the paycheck even reached the character, which means they probably wouldn't get a lot early on anyway so that's good. But what would they want to spend it on? I could say like classes early on, but it seems kinda dickish to charge for those? Obviously decorating one's living space (which could provide bonuses in its own way), but I have a feeling most players wouldn't care about that even if their characters would.

Best thing I can think of is getting resources at a discount from BLUE, but then to me the whole system feels kinda bare. It probably doesn't help I never got to a point in a game where buying things was really an option, so I really have no clue how this works.
==And...==
More to come, I'm sure.

The Workspace

2011-12-03T16:32:55Z

24.74.31.149: /* Attack Templates */

==Attack Templates==
So something I was thinking of was something like for every level someone takes in a weapon proficiency, they gain a sort of 'trademark technique' or something for that. Also a possibility of gaining more through some in-game progression, or possibly buying them with experience.

Because let's face it, five attacks aren't going to be enough. It's possible to have some levels unlock more, perhaps something like Level 3 unlocking another 1 and 2, and 5 unlocking another 3 and 4. Or just have each Level unlock ONE of the level below it (which is equitable to the last at Level 5). I don't think I want each level to unlock one of each level below, because fifteen attacks seems like a lot to gain that way, and gaining five attacks all at once seems like the player won't think enough.

Each technique has to add an effect to it, with certain ones having requirements. Ideally, each effect has a scalability to it, so that attacks don't end up entirely useless over time or overpowered when first acquired.

With this, I was thinking that each level has a sort of cap so you can't add too many features to it for your level. Something like 5 chakra (so one effect) for Proficiency 1, which would be sort of a 'special technique' with one effect when first gotten (ideally). But as you level, it becomes more just a variation of a 'regular' attack and the higher levels replace it as 'special.' Get it?

Pretty much the idea is to sorta make these like Powers in DnD, where the players create their own to fit their desires. Instead of explicitly making 'Dailies'/'Encounters'/'At-Will,' I think instead each effect adds to the chakra cost, making powerful attacks with many effects cost a lot and be saved for special occasions while more general attacks with a single effect be relatively cheap and more easy to throw in whenever.

The problem this runs into is someone who adds a proficiency late in the game, though I don't really know if this is a problem per se. As I said, ideally things scale, so the only problem will be they'll just have a low-level decent attack which makes sense because they just picked up the weapon.
===Example Effects===
*Devastating Strike - The attack gains an amount of damage proportional to the proficiency.
*Driveback - The enemy is pushed back a number of squares
*Magic Strike - Adds an effect from a specific school of magic to the attack.
** Requires Level 1 of the magic
*Multitarget - Splits the damage among a maximum number of targets equal to the proficiency. In some range, I imagine. Each target has to be rolled against, I imagine, before or after the split? Spitballin'!

At higher proficiencies, the ability to link into another attack (one's own or another player's) would probably be possible, too, but these would be more expensive (and thus not available for low levels due to their caps). Other possibilities are causing status effects, or possibly short buffs after an attack or something.

Pulling back a bit to the big picture again, I think the idea here is to sort of try to envision a sort of Rube Goldberg device of violence: When exposed to a battle, a character should be able to take these techniques and think of ways to set up situations that benefit not only themselves (or perhaps not themselves at all) but their comrades as well. Obviously these would rarely work out exactly as planned because each piece has its own agenda, but the idea is to really make the player think of how much more control they can have with these. This is especially true because obviously I don't want these to be unique to PCs, significant enemies should have these to force the PCs to think as well.

I'm still trying to think of a way to make these outright appealing on their own rather than 'Powers you can customize!' but I think of another part of the motivation is the whole 'enemies getting used to attacks' thing I proposed. You'd have to throw these in there to mix it up, but still, I'm not sure if that's rewarding enough on its own? Making a system is hard!

==Items, Money, the whole material side of the game==
Another thing that's been bugging me is this whole area. Due to the way the physics are handled, there's not much in the way of upgrades, especially explicitly in dungeoncrawling. You're not going to find a better armor down there, no way. The best I can think of is finding various resources that can be brought back up and refined to improve stuff. Even then, I certainly don't have a table, but spitballs!

That's actually an aside from my true point: As I had in the sample battles, a spitball is characters recovering chakra and mana within battle. So where do recovery items fit in? I want them to be kinda limited, because otherwise combined with the above a character could use a powerful attack, snarf one down, and then use it again, ad infinitum. I get the feeling that's a concern in any setting, right? How do others handle it? Also in this vein: I feel at the rate of recovery in the game, everyone would fully recover chakra/mana during established rests probably, right? Is that a problem? I feel like it might be, but I don't know.

Really, I'm tripping on items to use in general, and a lot of items I'd kinda like the characters to be able to make themselves with the right resources, especially in later sections where they don't really have time to stop in town. But then this leads to another overarching problem: Money. The root of all evil.

What IS money good for here? Following the standard plot, I imagine rent and at least part of food would be taken out by BLUE before the paycheck even reached the character, which means they probably wouldn't get a lot early on anyway so that's good. But what would they want to spend it on? I could say like classes early on, but it seems kinda dickish to charge for those? Obviously decorating one's living space (which could provide bonuses in its own way), but I have a feeling most players wouldn't care about that even if their characters would.

Best thing I can think of is getting resources at a discount from BLUE, but then to me the whole system feels kinda bare. It probably doesn't help I never got to a point in a game where buying things was really an option, so I really have no clue how this works.
==And...==
More to come, I'm sure.

The Workspace

2011-12-01T18:04:32Z

24.74.31.149: Created page with "==Attack Templates== So something I was thinking of was something like for every level someone takes in a weapon proficiency, they gain a sort of 'trademark technique' or somethi..."

==Attack Templates==
So something I was thinking of was something like for every level someone takes in a weapon proficiency, they gain a sort of 'trademark technique' or something for that. Also a possibility of gaining more through some in-game progression, or possibly buying them with experience.

Because let's face it, five attacks aren't going to be enough. It's possible to have some levels unlock more, perhaps something like Level 3 unlocking another 1 and 2, and 5 unlocking another 3 and 4. Or just have each Level unlock ONE of the level below it. I don't think I want each level to unlock one of each level below, because fifteen attacks seems like a lot to gain that way, and gaining five attacks all at once seems like the player won't think enough.

Each technique has to add an effect to it, with certain ones having requirements. Ideally, each effect has a scalability to it, so that attacks don't end up entirely useless over time or overpowered when first acquired.

With this, I was thinking that each level has a sort of cap so you can't add too many features to it for your level. Something like 5 chakra (so one effect) for Proficiency 1, which would be sort of a 'special technique' with one effect when first gotten (ideally). But as you level, it becomes more just a variation of a 'regular' attack and the higher levels replace it as 'special.' Get it?

Pretty much the idea is to sorta make these like Powers in DnD, where the players create their own to fit their desires. Instead of explicitly making 'Dailies'/'Encounters'/'At-Will,' I think instead each effect adds to the chakra cost, making powerful attacks with many effects cost a lot and be saved for special occasions while more general attacks with a single effect be relatively cheap and more easy to throw in whenever.

The problem this runs into is someone who adds a proficiency late in the game, though I don't really know if this is a problem per se. As I said, ideally things scale, so the only problem will be they'll just have a low-level decent attack which makes sense because they just picked up the weapon.
===Example Effects===
*Devastating Strike - The attack gains an amount of damage proportional to the proficiency.
*Driveback - The enemy is pushed back a number of squares
*Magic Strike - Adds an effect from a specific school of magic to the attack.
** Requires Level 1 of the magic
*Multitarget - Splits the damage among a maximum number of targets equal to the proficiency. In some range, I imagine. Each target has to be rolled against, I imagine, before or after the split? Spitballin'!

At higher proficiencies, the ability to link into another attack (one's own or another player's) would probably be possible, too, but these would be more expensive (and thus not available for low levels due to their caps). Other possibilities are causing status effects, or possibly short buffs after an attack or something.

Pulling back a bit to the big picture again, I think the idea here is to sort of try to envision a sort of Rube Goldberg device of violence: When exposed to a battle, a character should be able to take these techniques and think of ways to set up situations that benefit not only themselves (or perhaps not themselves at all) but their comrades as well. Obviously these would rarely work out exactly as planned because each piece has its own agenda, but the idea is to really make the player think of how much more control they can have with these. This is especially true because obviously I don't want these to be unique to PCs, significant enemies should have these to force the PCs to think as well.

I'm still trying to think of a way to make these outright appealing on their own rather than 'Powers you can customize!' but I think of another part of the motivation is the whole 'enemies getting used to attacks' thing I proposed. You'd have to throw these in there to mix it up, but still, I'm not sure if that's rewarding enough on its own? Making a system is hard!

==Items, Money, the whole material side of the game==
Another thing that's been bugging me is this whole area. Due to the way the physics are handled, there's not much in the way of upgrades, especially explicitly in dungeoncrawling. You're not going to find a better armor down there, no way. The best I can think of is finding various resources that can be brought back up and refined to improve stuff. Even then, I certainly don't have a table, but spitballs!

That's actually an aside from my true point: As I had in the sample battles, a spitball is characters recovering chakra and mana within battle. So where do recovery items fit in? I want them to be kinda limited, because otherwise combined with the above a character could use a powerful attack, snarf one down, and then use it again, ad infinitum. I get the feeling that's a concern in any setting, right? How do others handle it? Also in this vein: I feel at the rate of recovery in the game, everyone would fully recover chakra/mana during established rests probably, right? Is that a problem? I feel like it might be, but I don't know.

Really, I'm tripping on items to use in general, and a lot of items I'd kinda like the characters to be able to make themselves with the right resources, especially in later sections where they don't really have time to stop in town. But then this leads to another overarching problem: Money. The root of all evil.

What IS money good for here? Following the standard plot, I imagine rent and at least part of food would be taken out by BLUE before the paycheck even reached the character, which means they probably wouldn't get a lot early on anyway so that's good. But what would they want to spend it on? I could say like classes early on, but it seems kinda dickish to charge for those? Obviously decorating one's living space (which could provide bonuses in its own way), but I have a feeling most players wouldn't care about that even if their characters would.

Best thing I can think of is getting resources at a discount from BLUE, but then to me the whole system feels kinda bare. It probably doesn't help I never got to a point in a game where buying things was really an option, so I really have no clue how this works.
==And...==
More to come, I'm sure.