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The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > TG Design Thread: Elegance in Elf Simulation
 
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Speleothing
May 6, 2008

Spare batteries are pretty key.
One way to do that would be to have each special weapon move move (or spell!) be a buy-in skill. You take one of your eight starting skill points, and buy Polearm Disarm, another for Polearm Reaching, and a third for Heavy Thrown Weapon. Something like Impale might cost 2 skill points. Have each weapon/category have a list of four or so abilities, and maybe another 8 or 9 general, but weaker, abilities.

--

What I've been thinking about for a while, and would like advice on, is a way to do semi-random dungeon & challenge generation without needing a specific DM - the team of adventurers keeps going into the cavern until their HP/morale/resources run out (or they find an impassible obstacle and need to get a longer rope).

* # ¿ Feb 15, 2013 08:24
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# ¿ May 18, 2024 05:45
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Speleothing
May 6, 2008

Spare batteries are pretty key.

Bob Quixote posted:


That's pretty do-able and sounds a bit like a board-game that I did during the summer except that yours would be co-operative instead of competitive. Having them go through a randomly pre-generated dungeon (or does it generate as they move through?) and only turning back when they feel they can't go further works, but how do you do things like determining enemy targeting, is it also random?

Would you have something like a monster action chart, or do the different enemies come "programmed" to only perform specific actions/attacks at specific times in combat?


It would have to generate as you move through - the players can't know what's around the corner until they map it. Enemy action would mostly be skill challenges - the opponent or obstacle needs a certain combined skill from the players and they roll overcome it or pay non-renewable resources to add to their skill so they can. Big fights would have sequential skill challenges or multiple required skills (can't overcome the 200 foot pit without rope skill & climbing skill).

Edit: This is primarily going to be a cave-exploration game, maybe adding Fight the Mole-Men or Stop the Cultists modules later.

* # ¿ Feb 15, 2013 20:12
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Speleothing
May 6, 2008

Spare batteries are pretty key.

Lichtenstein posted:

:h: Mettle (Resolve, Constitution)
Captain - a character focused on leadership and command. While not an Influence archetype mostly due to wishing for an even split, gently caress this, he doesn't have to be prince charming, but rather a determined leader that won't fold under pressure.
Grognard Veteran - bitter old soldier that came up through the ranks and has seen some poo poo, man. Your classic grizzled tough sergeant with a heart of gold*.

:d: Cunning (Intelligence, Wisdom)
Witch - creepy Protestant spellcaster, knowledgeable in all sorts of arcane matters decent people shouldn't think about.
Condottieri - okay, it's an archetype I really don't have the name for yet. The idea is to have an officer of a very methodic, warfare-as-military-science outlook. Inspired both by the militaries moving away from chivalry model of soldiering and the well paid, well educated artillery/engineering experts that for common soldiers were pretty much a mysterious cabal.

:s: Influence (Charisma)
Chronicler - character making sure no past deeds and sacrifices of the company become forgotten, for both reputation and morale reasons. Not being a murderhobo makes him useful as an emissary to boot. A sort of tribute to game's major literary inspiration.
Chaplain - your friendly neighborhood (Catholic) cleric. Less of an arcanist than the Witch, but more of a charismatic/support dude.

:c: Prowess (physique, loving poo poo up)
Cavalier - sad middle-aged dude bemoaning there's no place for chivalry anymore. Expert on all things equine.
??? - ... And I'm missing one more martial archetype to round things out and not having any strong ideas. Who would you guys like to play as?


I'm getting a strong pike-and-shot feeling from the game, so your last archetype could be the sort of pistol-carrying sword-and-buckler man who would try to get under and between the pikes. Bold and youthful and confident, as opposed to the grizzled veteran who carries a halberd/zwiehander or the Quixote-type (presumably the PCs aren't just faceless pikemen & arquebusiers).

Another option would be the Scout or Messenger, who has to traverse dangerous territory and deal with enemies stealthily. The modern pentathalon: run, swim, ride, fire a pistol and win a swordfight to deliver vital news. Edit: the more I think about it, the more this seems like the better choice for a PC with an out-of battle role and character.



Also, liking the idea of the 'Academic' as the military scientist's name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMEnBHef96c

Speleothing fucked around with this message at 00:42 on Apr 3, 2015

* # ¿ Apr 3, 2015 00:06
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The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Traditional Games > TG Design Thread: Elegance in Elf Simulation