Forum > Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion
Supernatural powers that could be used in multiple genres
Cyberzombie:
All right, this board needs some more threads that acutally deal with *roleplaying games*, instead of people's need to fight on the internet! :p
I have been tinkering with a vapourware game system for at least half a year now. I'm attempting to make a fairly wide-ranging system that can handle a large number of genres, from grim-and-gritty fantasy to superheroes.
My biggest stumbling block is supernatural powers. In my mind, pyrokinesis, a wizard casting a fireball, a dragon breathing fire, or a Street Fighter II character launching a fireball as a martial arts power could all be specific implementations of a general Fire Control power. The general power would spell out how fire can be controlled supernaturally. At the beginning of the powers section, there would be rules on how to make the powers fit each genre.
So I have, I think, a good grasp of what I want. What I don't have is any idea of how to get from A to C. (I feel like the underpants gnomes. Profit!) If anyone has any ideas, or games to point me at, I would greatly appreciate it. This is currently my biggest stumbling block. :)
gleichman:
In concept what you're descibing sounds like HERO System's approach to power building which is effect based at its core (energy blast does damage) with special effects (fire) and limits/advantages applied to make a specific power.
But from your posts I'm think HERO is too complex for your tastes. It may still be of worth as a idea farm however.
Also take a look at JAGS and Fuzion (scaled down HERO).
Cyberzombie:
--- Quote from: gleichman ---In concept what you're descibing sounds like HERO System's approach to power building which is effect based at its core (energy blast does damage) with special effects (fire) and limits/advantages applied to make a specific power.
But from your posts I'm think HERO is too complex for your tastes. It may still be of worth as a idea farm however.
--- End quote ---
I will admit that all I have actually read is 1e Champions, but it was not to my liking at all. I have no idea how much things have changed since then, though. And Lisa Nadazdy is always trying to get me to try it. :)
I like the general sound of the idea -- especially since it goes even one step further back than I was (to the energy blast). Definitely sounds like an idea farm, though. :)
--- Quote from: gleichman ---Also take a look at JAGS and Fuzion (scaled down HERO).
--- End quote ---
I'm not familiar with JAGS and have only heard of Fuzion, but thanks for those suggestions, too. I'll have to look into them.
gleichman:
--- Quote from: Cyberzombie ---I'm not familiar with JAGS and have only heard of Fuzion, but thanks for those suggestions, too. I'll have to look into them.
--- End quote ---
Fuzion was an sad attempt to make HERO appeal to those who couldn't handle it's mass of rules and or it's detail. It was a cross-breed with the same system used in another game line who's name escapes me at the moment. It does however what it does, a simple version of a cool concept.
JAGS is an attempt to do HERO/GURPS 'right'. Given that it started (and may still be) a freebie on the Internet, it's a remarkable work. The best game of the 'indie' movement IMO.
But I don't play it (sorry Marco) as I didn't fault HERO for the failings it had in Marco's eyes. I may revisit that with the next edition because Steve Long is an idiot. Or I may be lazy and hang with 5th edition forever.
I'll let Marco (who visits here) say if it kept effect based as a design vision- it's been too long for me to comment.
Cyberzombie:
--- Quote from: gleichman ---Fuzion was an sad attempt to make HERO appeal to those who couldn't handle it's mass of rules and or it's detail. It was a cross-breed with the same system used in another game line who's name escapes me at the moment. It does however what it does, a simple version of a cool concept.
--- End quote ---
Interesting. It was never the mass of rules that got me on Champions -- it was the specific rules. :) That and I had minimal interest in playing superheroes at the time.
--- Quote from: gleichman ---JAGS is an attempt to do HERO/GURPS 'right'. Given that it started (and may still be) a freebie on the Internet, it's a remarkable work. The best game of the 'indie' movement IMO.
But I don't play it (sorry Marco) as I didn't fault HERO for the failings it had in Marco's eyes. I may revisit that with the next edition because Steve Long is an idiot. Or I may be lazy and hang with 5th edition forever.
I'll let Marco (who visits here) say if it kept effect based as a design vision- it's been too long for me to comment.
--- End quote ---
Also very interesting. Amazing what you can find out when you stop just paying attention to d20. That's the best thing about this new incarnation of NKL -- we're escaping our D&D-centered past.
If it's still free, I'll have it printed out by tomorrow. If not, I'll search more and see if I want to get it.
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