The 3rd in my series of threads about artifact hunters in the modern day.

I'm going to be using BRP as the base system for the game and those following along know that rare artifacts, objects d'art and ancient relics give power to those able to harness them. Famous buildings, likewise.

2 questions for those inclined to answer.

1) What would interest you in playing in this type of set-up? Do artifacts give boosts to stats, increases to skills, access to new skills, access to spells or a combination of all of them? Would you find it cool to be driving around in the prototype Model T Ford, wearing an original Guchi earring, with the 12th century original manuscript of 'The Hammer of Witches' concealed within the pocket of Oliver Cromwell's coat?

2) Other than collecting objects and unearthing their powers, what threats would interest you? Secret societies, members of other groups like yours, menaces from the ancient world, a new, unkown threat or threats?  More fantastical threats?

hmm...since it's using the BRP system, then I would prefer items that boost skill first, and then attributes secondly.  Items that allow access to new skills and spells would also very cool and interesting.

Say for example, your character doesn't have the Martial Arts skill and finds Bruce Lee's sash.  He now has the Martial Arts skill at base of 15% (random number, don't get your panties in a bunch, LOL).

As far as possible threats, the ones you named would be cool.  In addition, I would add religious organizations such as the Vatican, the Russian Orthodox church, etc.  I would also add covert and open government organizations as well.

Some items might also warp their user's personality to something similar  to the original users.  And not all of the changes would be helpful, so you might have to take the good with the bad.  So, you're using all your cool stuff to track down the owner of Jack the Ripper's blade.  And do you really want to wear that artifact if it drops your dodge 20%?

Good thoughts folks.

Yeah, some faustian bargains would seem to be in order.

c1163 – The Bobrinskoy Bucket (in the hermitage museum, St. Petersburg). ‘The most important piece of inlaid metalwork from the Seljuq period in Persia'. Made at Herat by Muhammad ibn-al-Wahid, caster, and Ma’sud ibn-Ahmad, inlayer.

Guide price: Priceless.

Taken from the papers of Dr. Jonathon Denton, University of Durban, South Africa.

Having seen it at last in the rather austere hermitage musuem, i can see why this piece has consumed the thoughts of various collectors through the centuries. It isn't hard to see the curved lines of the dragon Tiamat curled protectively around the vase (bucket, indeed!). You can imagine, that under just the right light conditions, that sinuous bulk will start to squirm and shudder. Robert of Chester (that renowned translator) reported just before his death in 1175, that he had held possession of this piece and that his dreams were troubled by scenes from days long since past. In the diaries i uncovered buried in a cave near Evesham, England, Robert hinted that if one could gain possession of the 'bucket' and track down Al-Razi's Kitab al-Asrar (The Book of Secrets, on alchemy) it would help to unlock whatever power this wonderful piece holds. I remain hopeful that the bazaars of Marakesh will set my feet apon the right track.

Edit: Game information - 1 successful Relics test means that the owner of this piece gains the skill Ancient Visions 15%. Should the owner then gain The Book of Secrets, this skill improves to 25%. Furthermore, successfully carrying out the ritual held in the book (a ritual test applies) and placing the bucket in the western corner of a room gives the owner a 10% bonus to resisting ancient magic dream attacks, often employed by returned ancients or ancient immortals. This protection lasts until the waning of the moon.




That's the sort of stuff i'm after. It will result in making up skills, enemies and a few magic traditions, but i'm ok with that.

Edit 2: I should also point out that the 'bucket' is a real object, as are the people and books mentioned in the flavour text (though not the author of said text). Hopefully, the idea is to weave real stuff in with the fantastical.

Moved by original poster's request.

RPGPundit

Thanks.

Quote from: One Horse Town;253953c1163 – The Bobrinskoy Bucket (in the hermitage museum, St. Petersburg). 'The most important piece of inlaid metalwork from the Seljuq period in Persia'. Made at Herat by Muhammad ibn-al-Wahid, caster, and Ma'sud ibn-Ahmad, inlayer.

Guide price: Priceless.

Taken from the papers of Dr. Jonathon Denton, University of Durban, South Africa.

Having seen it at last in the rather austere hermitage musuem, i can see why this piece has consumed the thoughts of various collectors through the centuries. It isn't hard to see the curved lines of the dragon Tiamat curled protectively around the vase (bucket, indeed!). You can imagine, that under just the right light conditions, that sinuous bulk will start to squirm and shudder. Robert of Chester (that renowned translator) reported just before his death in 1175, that he had held possession of this piece and that his dreams were troubled by scenes from days long since past. In the diaries i uncovered buried in a cave near Evesham, England, Robert hinted that if one could gain possession of the 'bucket' and track down Al-Razi's Kitab al-Asrar (The Book of Secrets, on alchemy) it would help to unlock whatever power this wonderful piece holds. I remain hopeful that the bazaars of Marakesh will set my feet apon the right track.

Edit: Game information - 1 successful Relics test means that the owner of this piece gains the skill Ancient Visions 15%. Should the owner then gain The Book of Secrets, this skill improves to 25%. Furthermore, successfully carrying out the ritual held in the book (a ritual test applies) and placing the bucket in the western corner of a room gives the owner a 10% bonus to resisting ancient magic dream attacks, often employed by returned ancients or ancient immortals. This protection lasts until the waning of the moon.




That's the sort of stuff i'm after. It will result in making up skills, enemies and a few magic traditions, but i'm ok with that.

Edit 2: I should also point out that the 'bucket' is a real object, as are the people and books mentioned in the flavour text (though not the author of said text). Hopefully, the idea is to weave real stuff in with the fantastical.

As an armchair historian and gamer, this kind of gaming detail would interest and intrigue me greatly.  Good stuff!

Quote from: Drohem;253984As an armchair historian and gamer, this kind of gaming detail would interest and intrigue me greatly.  Good stuff!

Cheers! I've always wanted to use the info contained in the Chronicles of World History books i have (3 tomes running to about 2000 pages). They run from 800ad to the present day and each year has entries on literature, art, architecture, philosophy, science, religion etc. They are a veritable goldmine of easily referenced information.

Sounds like a game that would interest historians. So why not take nemisises..ees...Whatever...From history, as well? You've got a good history angle going; play it up.