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Post by Darko on Jun 4, 2014 16:47:15 GMT
I can see your reasoning there, I was just giving my opinion of a method that I personally would find more fun (and arguably more focused). After all, RPGs based around groups trying to fulfil some kind of objective (in this case, just survive, although whether there's a greater goal here, like maybe reach the one place on the planet with a way to escape or something) is not apparent. It does appear that we're essentially going to face encounters over and over that don't really rely on tactics or how we decide to deal with them and rather all it comes down to is the tougher you are the harder the things you fight determined simply by whether we get lucky rolls. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of dice (in the right kind of game), it just feels a bit like there's not much reliance on how we act as players writing for our characters. Also, ultimately, I do feel like if anyone survived they'd probably take the opportunity to take out their erstwhile allies, AKA bitter enemies, because they all still hate each other and are only allied for the sake of convenience. Having characters of such vastly varying power levels means that that potential element of this can't really be implemented in any way.. which would be kinda fun and add another overall goal where choosing when and how to strike at your enemies, potentially making secret sub-alliances and picking off your foes is quite tactical and risky, not only because of actually fighting them, but because if you try making a move at the wrong time and suddenly a carnifex comes round the corner, you'll be too weak overall to fight it effective. Just a few more thoughts on it there.
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Post by Deadshot on Jun 4, 2014 21:06:25 GMT
Thanks very much for your advice I'll be sure to take it into account. For now, I have a week until my next and final exam, so I'm gonna take a little time to write up the planet and setting and list a number of the creatures you may face in this game. Don't worry, I'm not going to being the full force of the horde against you and unleashing bio-titans and whatever else willy nilly. I will limit it to a certain set of Tyranids to face.
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Post by Deadshot on Jun 6, 2014 1:55:09 GMT
Hi everyone! Just to let everyone know I have made (or rather, will in a second) a Game Companion for the thread. So far I have a setting/background to the game and a list of foes.
After much deliberation I have reviewed my game systems. However, for both my benefit as a first time GM and simplicity for you guys, I am mostly following the same sort of idea.
Each character will have a 40k style statline with Balistic Skill, Strength, Toughness, Fortitude (ability to shrug off wounds), Intiative, Leadership, willpower (only relevant when Psykers are using powers) and Armour level. The scale goes from 1-20, with the higher number being better. When certain events require tests, I will state a value needed, and then add D6 from the relevant stat. If the result is higher, you pass, if lower, you fail, and in suffer the consequences. In some cases this may even be death.
Example: Character is walking through a tunnel when the roof collapses. He may either try to brace for the impact of falling debris (Strength Test, needs 12+) or jump back out of the way (Initiative test, needs 12+). The nimble Dark Eldar Succubus rolls a 2 on her test and adds her Initiative of 11, nimbly leaping back out of danger. The sluggish Necron Immortal choose instead to brace himself but rolls poorly, scoring only 9 on his test, and is crushed by the debris. The lumbering Chaos Terminator, with his enormous strength on 14, simply strides through the falling debris, automatically passing his test.
At no point will I create a test where one character is guaranteed to fail.
Fortitude is a characteristic used only when a character "dies." Upon death, each character may take a Fort test, and if successful, shrug off the pain and continue. However, each time you use Fortitude it reduces by the amount you failed your test by, or by 1 if slain in combat. In the above example, if the Necron passed his Fortitude test, he would "revive" but his Fortitude would drop by 4.
I also have a couple of other things to implement; Secret Agendas and Personal Traits. Personal Traits will Faction specific bonuses to certain characteristics and tests. For example, Necrons get a bonus to Fortitude tests and have high fortitude, whereas a Sister of Battle will have a high willpower stat. There is also bonuses based on class. For example, a Space Marine Strenguard veteran would have a higher ballistic skill than a Vanguard Veteran, who holds a high Initiative. A Terminator on the other hand, would be very slow and have lower WS and BS, but have enormous S, T and Armour values.
There will also be consideration for the character themselves. As such, all statlines are subject to change based on the character itself.
Secret Agendas are personalized secondary objectives. These are customized for each character and then PMed to the player. Only by completing the Secret Agenda and escaping alive (or not, should the Agenda say otherwise) can one win the game.
I have also devised a simple location guide. There are 5 main parts to the game map, which I will photoshop later. The central section, where you all begin in some shape, is relatively clear of Tyranids and open, with plenty of streets to hide and flee. To the North is the former Govenor's palace. Heavily fortified, with huge armouries and defense systems galore, but overun with Tyranids. To the east, a space port with numerous vessels for possible escape, but likewise heavily infested but not to the same degree. To the south, winding caverns where its unlikely the larger creatures will be, or a number of smaller ones, but possibly lurking with Genestealers or other creatures. To the east, a great relay station, with many different ways to communicate out of system, assuming one can breach the Shadow in the warp or send a vox-recording. The number and type of enemies you will face will heavily depend on which path each player or group of players take.
Combat
Combat works very similar to characteristic tests. I roll a D6, I use your strength but also subtract the enemy toughness. The same in reverse. Then I roll and subtract your strength plus the roll from your opponent's armour value. The loser dies. Each weapon also has an Armour piercing stat, which adds a bonus to your score. Some weapons even bypass all armour altogether.
Ranged combat works similarly, except there is also a To Hit test made. I roll 3D6 and if your BS is higher, you hit.
Psykers
Psykers can try to use powers as the following, using any power from their own 40k codex and the 6th Edition rulebook. You roll 3D6 and if you have a higher score than Willpower, you fail. If near a Tyranid Warrior or Prime, you roll 4D6. discard the lowest. If near a Hive Tyrant, you roll a straight 4D6. Other PC characters can try to resist others' powers- in this case, add half their Willpower to the D6 roll for the psychic test.
I will soon be updating the site with a Game Companion to explain the mechanics and add enemies, the location and backstory and updating the OP will additional character types along with base stat lines. I plan to do this by 3pm GMT tomorrow, so can I ask that by next Thursday (12th June) that everyone interested has PMed me a final draft of their character so I may put them in the Companion? Thanks for reading everyone, and look forward to (hopefully) a lot of players and a good game.
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Post by silence on Jun 6, 2014 2:14:32 GMT
I like how things look, I think I`ll grab a spot as a Imperial Assassin.
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Post by Deadshot on Jun 6, 2014 2:17:12 GMT
Great to hear! Can I just ask that you hold off for a little bit as I am adding more character roles as we speak, so something else might take your fancy. That said, if you are set on your character, go ahead and write up a sheet and I'll give you his statline and your agenda.
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Post by silence on Jun 6, 2014 2:33:58 GMT
I`ll wait , I don't want to jump the gun and miss out on something new.
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Post by Deadshot on Jun 6, 2014 9:04:31 GMT
Ok guys, I have updated the OP with some new classes, namely the Battle Sister Dominion, Necron Triarch Praetorian, and a few others but I have taken away a couple Space Marine options, as I realised I gave them more than I intended. Each faction now has one of each of the following classes A Leader (Chaplain, Commissar, Canoness, Inquisitor, Warp Smith, Battlesuit Commander, Exarch, Archon/Succubus, Nob/Meganob or Necron Lord) A Heavy Trooper (Terminator, Orgryn, Dominion, Grey Knight in Terminator Armour, Chaos Terminator, Broadside, Loota, Lychguard, Wraithguard/blade, Incubi) An elite/veteran-ish unit (Sternguard, Stormtrooper, Battle Sister, Imperial Assassin, Chaos Chosen, Tau Stealth Suit, Freeboota, Aspect Warrior, Harlequin (DE only), Triarch Praetorian) A Foot Soldier (Tactical Marine, Penal Legionaire, Ecclesiarchy Priest, Inquisitorial Henchman, Chaos Marine, Khorne Berserker, Thousand Son, Plague Marines, Noise Marine, Fire Warrior, Ork Boy, Immortal, Kabalite Warrior, Guardian) A Light Trooper (Scout, Conscript, Acro-Flagellent, Banisher, Chaos Cultist, Pathfinder, Ork Kommando, Wych, Ranger, Deathmark) I have also given those races that can have them a Psyker, as follows (Librarian, Primaris Psyker, Grey Knight Justicar or Psyker Inquisitors, Farseer) Those races which can't have Psykers (or for the Orks, where their Psykers have little intelligence or control) I have given a secondary Leader unit, some of which include various abilities instead of Psychic Power. (Repentia, Cadre Fireblade, Big Mek, Haemonculus, Cryptek) With that out of the way, can I ask everyone to have a look, pick a unit and get a character written up if they are interested? Thanks
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