I’m bit late posting this, so let’s dive right in.
Here's what we'll cover today:
I change things up a bit by starting (rather than ending) with progress regarding the “make a game with me” series.
Schlau of Light in Darkness Gaming made another free map for you to enjoy. He’s also been busy preparing for the launch of his Patreon. Readers here will get exclusive coverage about this.
Starting now, a special series known as Accounts of Adventure will appear occasionally, featuring the highlights from various adventures that I (and possibly guest GMs) have recently ran for players. If you’re a GM or just enjoy reading about how game sessions go for other groups, this series should be an enjoyable addition.These will contain spoilers like actual plays or live plays of RPGs.
And now, my intro:
*I’m K.J. - hobbyist writer, creator, long-time GM, and player. I also playtest & proofread scenarios. I enjoy playing bass guitar and eating dark chocolate but not at the same time.
I started Watch Well Games at the end of 2023 to build a community around the hobby we have in common - RPGs. Join me as I share what I learn along the way.
“Make a game with me” - Week 5
A short series where I make a game in front of you the audience.
I feel a bit more inspired than last week.
Status Update for Week 5:
Name for the game: Self Aware
Character sheets: I like the idea of something short and sweet for the rules-lite RPG, so an index card or piece of paper cut to the size of 3 x 5 inches may be the medium for character sheets.
Character creation:
Start with 30 points. Spend these on your Hardware (attributes that make you more robot) and Software (attributes that make you more human).
I will keep the stats simple for playtesting purposes: CPU (Smarts), GPU (Strength), RAM (Speed), Firmware (HP), etc. This will determine if I need to add more or if I can keep it light-weight like I originally intended.
Select a Higher Purpose (from a roll table) to achieve by the end of the game. Once you reach this, you fulfill the final goal of Self-Actualization.
Ultimate goal (aka how to win): Starting at The Main Frame, player-characters work their way up to reach Self-Actualization.
Before reaching Self-Actualization, player-characters have to reach smaller goals in any order:
Esteem: You achieve something. You feel great about it.
I‘m keen on the idea of players being able to lose their progress and having to accomplish a goal again - much like IRL. I think I may add age as a stat as well as type. These can offer variety as well as buffs or penalties to the robots’ Hardware and Software.
The aim is for players to enjoy seeing their robot characters become more human - and hopefully be reminded how amazing, weird, and wild being human is.
WIP: A character sheet that’s short and sweet
The most challenging issues I face going into playtesting are:
Which dice to use - Initially, I was favoring my Start With Six game mechanics (a pool of 6D6) created last summer during Pocket Quest 2023, but now I’m wondering if step dice (D4, D6, D8, etc.) would work. I think playtesting both versions is required. Either way, anytime a roll is required, players will need to roll at or under to overcome obstacles and challenges.
How PCs will reach the goals (all the smaller ones then the larger ones). I think characters securing certain items or accomplishing certain tasks will be a good way to to do this.
Goals for Week 6:
This is where the game seems to be right now:
Create basic artwork or find some stock art for a few key elements.
Finish writing out the necessary roll tables.
Playtest using both dice options.
Report the playtest results and prepare for changes.
Comments? Thoughts? Ideas?
Leave a comment below if you think I’m on the right track or need to consider anything else at this point.
Here's this week's free maps from Schlau of Light in Darkness Gaming:
Cartographer Schlau has yet another free map set for readers of the newsletter.
The Altar of War
This large battle map features a raised fighting structure approached from the east by 3 large stones. In the center of the fighting arena is a large central stone supporting a blazing fire. Escape is almost impossible except through the east entrance due to the spikes at the edge of the trees. Day and night maps in both gridded and gridless versions are presented.
If you have trouble accessing these or missed any free maps:
Use this Dropbox link. (Note: Dropbox does not require an account or sharing your personal data. Simply select the option to go directly to the download.)
Accounts of Adventure: Part 1 -“An Ale to Kill For”
I ran “An Ale to Kill For” - the adventure written by Thomas Ulfström found in the newly released Karkion #2 - a Dragonbane fanzine and supplement created by Nicklas Brandin, Tomas Brattström, and Thomas Ulfström.
**********SPOILERS AHEAD**********
Scroll down past the buttons to read.
These Dragonbane supplements are available on DriveThruRPG and are in Swedish and English, so select whichever you prefer. You can also enjoy my interview with the creators by clicking on the last button on the list below:
Opening scene: Schlau and Feather, two magic users, have been traveling from a recent magic conference and as the evening grows darker, they decide it’s best to find a place to stay for the night. They come upon The Blue Lute Inn. Greeted by Behilda, they refresh themselves with delicious food and decent enough ale. As they’re lightly conversing with the hostess, an older adventurer named Gastar introduces himself and tells them (once Behilda goes to the pantry so she’s out of ear shot) of an even more excellent ale. He offers to take them to the location in exchange for paying his tab.*
*I should note here that using the hook about the ale was challenging, as neither character was particularly keen on Gastar’s offer. Out of game, I as the GM told my players, “Well, someone needs to develop a liking for ale so we can get progress in the adventure!” One player volunteered his character to take a fancy to drinking.
Gastar agrees to take them to the location of this fantastic ale after all of them have a solid night’s sleep.
At dawn, the gray adventurer meets the PCs outside The Blue Lute Inn, and the party begins to travel to Skyndale. On the way, they noticed a wagon turned over on its side. Upon inspecting the scene, one party member discovers someone seriously injured. A basilisk lizard, the new monster created for Karkion #2, swiftly approaches this PC, and he runs up a tree*.
*This PC was playtesting a new kin that the player and I are making for Moments of Mirth: Vol. 2 which I hope to release in June 2024. This kin has an ability known as “sticky grip” that allows them to climb up surfaces with ease.
In a series of fantastic rolls (good ones for the PCs and terrible ones for the monster), the players easily defeat the beast (your mileage may vary, so don’t anticipate the same results). Let’s just say the basilisk lizard’s climbing skills were no match for the tree, as the creature suffered 26 points of fall damage* (I told you it had terrible rolls!). The PC not in the tree finishes off the beast with (again) fantastic rolls for damage dealt.
*How did the monster take 26 points of fall damage, you may ask? It rolled a demon (20 on a D20) for the Acrobatics roll that I called for to determine if it would be successful in catching Feather, who was now at the very top of the tall tree with the beast quickly closing in on him. In Dragonbane, a demon is a complete failure, so the roll fails despite skill level or any other considerations. Also, a demon roll result cannot be pushed. The tree was twice as tall (12 meters) as the length of the basilisk lizard (6 meters). When creatures fall on a hard surface (like the ground below this tall tree), they take the same number of D6s of bludgeoning damage equal to half of the height of the fall. In this case, that would be 6 meters for 6D6 worth of bludgeoning damage. A successful Acrobatics roll can reduce the number of D6s by half, but my ruling as GM was that the demon roll shouldn’t allow for the possibility of any reduction in damage taken - critical failures have to have consequences! Therefore, the 26 points of bludgeoning damage came from the 6D6 roll (leaving it with 14 HP which were swiftly wiped out by a powerful combo of iron fist and power fist).
With no time to waste, the party helps the injured stranger named Ugo, learning that he and his friend Joar (the unsightly remains in the overturned wagon) were fishing at a nearby lake when the basilisk lizard suddenly attacked. The adventurers travel to the lake to investigate, discovering a box filled with vials of blue liquid dug up behind a nearby shed.
The party decides it’s best to take the box and new, injured acquaintance with them, and they continue traveling towards Skyndale. As they approach the outskirts of the small village, they detect a yellow pollen blowing about in the air. Walking down the main road that leads further in, they see homes boarded shut. They continue to the inn that Gastar has insisted brews the best-tasting ale and in no time meet the ale-maker Ulrik. He appears to be the only resident outside, and he welcomes them inside the inn after Gastar praises the young man’s ale.
Schalu’s haughty personality clashes with Ulrik’s own pompous attitude, some strong remarks are made*, and it’s at this point that I’m not sure what direction the party’s future will take.
*This is all in good fun, as Schlau (yes, the same cartographer Schlau from Light in Darkness Gaming) purposefully plays a conceited magic-user for humor’s sake. Despite his arrogance, he is actually quite generous, albeit for selfish reasons.
Eventually the party does get a sampling of Ulrik’s ale and learns a lot about the village, including details about a wizard and the unusually high-level of yellow pollen swirling above Skyndale.
What kind of liquid is in these vials? Who buried the box? Will the injured stranger survive? Was Ulrik’s ale worth all the trouble the adventurers may soon find themselves in?
Join me next time to find out how our play-through of “An Ale to Kill For” from Karkion #2 ended.
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