Post by Gravedust on Jan 4, 2023 11:40:51 GMT -8
----- [ MAIN GAME PHASES - ADVENTURING, DOWNTIME, AND COMBAT ] -----
The game mainly takes place in three phases: Downtime, Adventuring and Combat.
Downtime is an abstracted period of time where your character is 'on hold', awaiting their next adventure.
This manual will cover each of these phases in turn, beginning with Downtime.
----- [ DOWNTIME ] -----
Downtime is an abstracted period of time where your character is resting, upgrading their gear, socializing, or otherwise awaiting their next adventure.Downtime always occurs within the bounds of Barrican, the region's largest city and the 'hub' for this setting.
There are a number of actions your character can do during Downtime, mostly focusing on upgrading their gear and abilities, as well as taking part in simple events that may effect their relationships or even offer small rewards.
Most of the information is important during Downtime is recorded on the Character Dock.
----- [ THE CHARACTER DOCK ] -----
The character Dock is is 1 of 2 separate info blocks that record information about your character; the Character Dock and the Character Sheet.
+ Character name and Player name
The name of the character, and that character's current player. As you might expect.
+ Character Portrait
This area can contain a portrait of full-body image of a character submitted by the player.
This will only be visible when a character is out adventuring, and so is mostly for flavor.
+ Wealth
The amount of hard currency your character has available.
+ Renown
A measure of how well your character is known. Renown is gained from completing some missions, especially important or high-profile ones.
High renown may be a prerequisite for some mission beings offered to your character.
+ Faction Favor and Reputation
Factions are groups in the region with power and influence. Your character can ingratiate themselves to these groups in exchange for special services, lowered costs on items, and access to additional quests. Faction Reputation and Favor are measures of how a particular faction feels about your character. Both can be gained by doing missions for or otherwise helping a faction, and lost by working against them or doing things they disapprove of.
Favor and Reputation are displayed as 'faction name' ('Favor amount' / 'Reputation amount').
PROFICIENCIES -------------------------------------------
Proficiencies are non-combat skills that are used for checks during either Downtime or Adventures. These cover things such as noticing out-of-place objects, knowing useful information about the setting, traveling safely, climbing, entertaining, detecting falsehood, and so on.
All proficiency checks are 1d10+[Proficiency bonus] against a difficulty set by the GM. Usually the group will be presented with opportunities to make a proficiency check as well as a rough estimate of the difficulty. (The major exception to this are Detection rolls, which the GM can sometimes make behind the scenes.)
When proficiency rolls occur, ONE roll is made on behalf of the entire group using the bonus of the character with the highest proficiency score. Rolling a 1 on a proficiency roll will automatically fail that roll. However if another party member has the same proficiency, that character will perform a make-up roll using their bonus.
Note that >> any proficiency check can be attempted, even if no character has points in it << It just means there won't be a bonus to the roll.
Characters begin with 1 proficiency point to allocate, and gain an additional proficiency point each time they gain a level.
Proficiency points can only be allocated during character creation or Downtime.
(See the Proficiencies section in the Archive for a list and explanation of Proficiencies)
ACCOMMODATIONS -------------------------------------------
Accommodations are places where your character is staying during Downtime. This effects your character's starting Morale level on their next adventure. (Morale will be covered later) Many factions offer free Accommodations based on your Reputation with them, but you can also purchase temporary and higher-quality accommodations with gold.
STORAGE ------------------------------------------------------
Storage are extra slots that can hold Gear and Items for your character. Items left in storage will normally not be available while on an adventure.
The amount of Storage available can be permanently expanded by spending gold.
TITLES --------------------------------------------------------
Titles are earned through participating in certain quests or events, and are mostly for flavor. (though they also help the GM remember know who's been a part of what.)
----- [ ITEMS ] -----
Items are objects that can be worn or used by Characters while Adventuring. Some may be consumable, while others aren't.
Items in this game are represented by boxes which can be attached to slots on the Character docks, and the Characters Character Sheet.
Items that are consumed when used will have a tan name bar, non-consumable items will have a gray name bar.
Special items with unusual effects will have a Gold bar, or a Purple bar if they are related to a Divine Patron (covered later).
Many kinds of Items can 'stack', meaning more than one of that Item will fit in a single Item slot.
An item's current count and max stack count are noted on the lower right. If "-" the item does not stack.
Note that any prices given for stackable items represent the value of 1 of those items, not the full stack.
Only identical items may stack. Note that some kinds of Items may have randomized stats, so two Items of the same type may not be truly identical.
----- [ DOWNTIME UPDATES ] -----
+ Downtime Updates
A Downtime Update will occur approximately once a week, detailing any changes around Barrican and including a listing of faction shops and their wares. Downtime Updates and may also include quest hooks or other opportunities that can start an Adventure. Characters can perform Downtime Actions after each Downtime Update (more on those below). Downtime actions will be processed -at some point- before the next update.
Each Downtime Update will include the Character Docks of all player characters currently in the game.
+ Actions and Events during Downtime
+ ADVENTURE HOOKS AND INVITATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------
Assuming a group has returned from an Adventure (or the GM thinks they can handle more adventuring groups) A number of prospective adventures will be listed as job board postings or narrative introductions. These will usually include the number of characters that can take part (usually 2-4) and the probable rewards for successfully completing the adventure (Gold, faction Rep & Favor, Renown, etc.)
Note that gold rewards will sometimes be referred to as a 'pot'. This means that the gold reward listed will be Divided evenly among all player characters.
(ex. If 4 characters go on a mission with a '$100 pot' as a reward, each character will get $25)
Favor, Reputation and Renown are never split; each character will get the full listed amount.
To join an Adventure, make a post indicating that your character wants to. If more characters want to join than there are slots for, attendance will be determined by Priority, with higher priority being awarded to characters who have gone the longest without having been on an adventure.
Some adventures may only be available to specific characters as a continuation of an existing storyline they are on. This will only occur when those characters are at or near the top of the priority list and are therefore nearly guaranteed a slot.
Ideally an adventure will run at about 1 post per weekday, for around two to three weeks. To keep things running smoothly, please makes sure you are ready to post on a daily basis for the expected duration of the adventure.
---- [ ADVENTURING ] ----
In the Narrative phase, the GM will describe the surroundings and what is currently happening. You may be presented with choices for your characters' actions (or if you are creative, you can make up your own). You can / are encouraged to also narrate your chapters responses to what is going on. Proficiency rolls of various types are often made.
In order to keep things flowing quickly, party decisions will usually be presented as a vote.
Majority rules, and ties will be broken by a diceroll by the GM. (You can also ask for a little extra time to discuss decisions if it seems necessary)
When combat occurs, it will be presented on a map as described in the Combat section.
The game mainly takes place in three phases: Downtime, Adventuring and Combat.
Downtime is an abstracted period of time where your character is 'on hold', awaiting their next adventure.
The Adventuring phase is a largely narrative portion where characters are actively pursuing some task or goal in the world, traveling, investigating, talking with characters, etcetera.
The Combat phase occurs when characters get into a fight. This takes the form of a tactical map, and the results are dictated by the rules noted in the Combat section.
This manual will cover each of these phases in turn, beginning with Downtime.
----- [ DOWNTIME ] -----
Downtime is an abstracted period of time where your character is resting, upgrading their gear, socializing, or otherwise awaiting their next adventure.Downtime always occurs within the bounds of Barrican, the region's largest city and the 'hub' for this setting.
There are a number of actions your character can do during Downtime, mostly focusing on upgrading their gear and abilities, as well as taking part in simple events that may effect their relationships or even offer small rewards.
Most of the information is important during Downtime is recorded on the Character Dock.
----- [ THE CHARACTER DOCK ] -----
The character Dock is is 1 of 2 separate info blocks that record information about your character; the Character Dock and the Character Sheet.
The character Dock records your character's noncombat information while the Character Sheet covers combat stats. (The Character Sheet is covered later in the Combat section.)
+ Character name and Player name
The name of the character, and that character's current player. As you might expect.
+ Character Portrait
This area can contain a portrait of full-body image of a character submitted by the player.
This will only be visible when a character is out adventuring, and so is mostly for flavor.
+ Wealth
The amount of hard currency your character has available.
+ Renown
A measure of how well your character is known. Renown is gained from completing some missions, especially important or high-profile ones.
High renown may be a prerequisite for some mission beings offered to your character.
+ Faction Favor and Reputation
Factions are groups in the region with power and influence. Your character can ingratiate themselves to these groups in exchange for special services, lowered costs on items, and access to additional quests. Faction Reputation and Favor are measures of how a particular faction feels about your character. Both can be gained by doing missions for or otherwise helping a faction, and lost by working against them or doing things they disapprove of.
Favor and Reputation are displayed as 'faction name' ('Favor amount' / 'Reputation amount').
+ Reputation
Reputation is a measure of your overall commitment and worth to the faction, and unlocks access to special Items, Services and Accommodations from within that faction. (See the Accommodations section below for more about Accommodations.)
If Reputation with a faction becomes negative, you may be excluded from their services altogether.
+ Favor
Faction Favor tracks how much the faction currently feels indebted to you. It is capped by the amount of Reputation you have with that faction. (Ex: If your Reputation with a faction is 40, your Favor with that faction can't go any higher than 40.)
>> Favor can be spent instead of gold for goods and services offered by that faction. <<
Each point of Favor spent is equal to $2 when spending favor in this way. (Ex: You can buy a $40 item offered by that faction by spending 20 Favor)
+ Gaining Reputation and Favor
In most cases, the Reputation and Favor that will be earned for completing a mission will be stated. [Ex: +20 Boroughs Favor / +10 Boroughs Reputation (Max:30)] Some missions will not increase Reputation above a certain cap. (In the example above, the mission will not increase Reputation past 30.)
+ Donations
Your character can improve their Reputation with most factions by donating gold or items to them.
Reputation will increase by 1 point per $5 of value donated. Reputation cannot be increased higher than 50 by this method.
Donations can be used to make amends for negative reputations if the aggrieved faction won't offer you other ways to restore reputation with them.
+ Converting Favor Directly To Reputation
You can also spend Favor with a faction to increase Reputation with that same faction. Reputation will increase by 1 port for every 5 Favor spent in this way.
Reputation cannot be increased higher than 50 by this method.
+ Converting Favor directly into Gold
Favor can also be converted directly into gold, with 1 favor equaling 1 gold.
Reputation is a measure of your overall commitment and worth to the faction, and unlocks access to special Items, Services and Accommodations from within that faction. (See the Accommodations section below for more about Accommodations.)
If Reputation with a faction becomes negative, you may be excluded from their services altogether.
+ Favor
Faction Favor tracks how much the faction currently feels indebted to you. It is capped by the amount of Reputation you have with that faction. (Ex: If your Reputation with a faction is 40, your Favor with that faction can't go any higher than 40.)
>> Favor can be spent instead of gold for goods and services offered by that faction. <<
Each point of Favor spent is equal to $2 when spending favor in this way. (Ex: You can buy a $40 item offered by that faction by spending 20 Favor)
+ Gaining Reputation and Favor
In most cases, the Reputation and Favor that will be earned for completing a mission will be stated. [Ex: +20 Boroughs Favor / +10 Boroughs Reputation (Max:30)] Some missions will not increase Reputation above a certain cap. (In the example above, the mission will not increase Reputation past 30.)
+ Donations
Your character can improve their Reputation with most factions by donating gold or items to them.
Reputation will increase by 1 point per $5 of value donated. Reputation cannot be increased higher than 50 by this method.
Donations can be used to make amends for negative reputations if the aggrieved faction won't offer you other ways to restore reputation with them.
+ Converting Favor Directly To Reputation
You can also spend Favor with a faction to increase Reputation with that same faction. Reputation will increase by 1 port for every 5 Favor spent in this way.
Reputation cannot be increased higher than 50 by this method.
+ Converting Favor directly into Gold
Favor can also be converted directly into gold, with 1 favor equaling 1 gold.
PROFICIENCIES -------------------------------------------
Proficiencies are non-combat skills that are used for checks during either Downtime or Adventures. These cover things such as noticing out-of-place objects, knowing useful information about the setting, traveling safely, climbing, entertaining, detecting falsehood, and so on.
All proficiency checks are 1d10+[Proficiency bonus] against a difficulty set by the GM. Usually the group will be presented with opportunities to make a proficiency check as well as a rough estimate of the difficulty. (The major exception to this are Detection rolls, which the GM can sometimes make behind the scenes.)
When proficiency rolls occur, ONE roll is made on behalf of the entire group using the bonus of the character with the highest proficiency score. Rolling a 1 on a proficiency roll will automatically fail that roll. However if another party member has the same proficiency, that character will perform a make-up roll using their bonus.
Note that >> any proficiency check can be attempted, even if no character has points in it << It just means there won't be a bonus to the roll.
Characters begin with 1 proficiency point to allocate, and gain an additional proficiency point each time they gain a level.
Proficiency points can only be allocated during character creation or Downtime.
(See the Proficiencies section in the Archive for a list and explanation of Proficiencies)
ACCOMMODATIONS -------------------------------------------
Accommodations are places where your character is staying during Downtime. This effects your character's starting Morale level on their next adventure. (Morale will be covered later) Many factions offer free Accommodations based on your Reputation with them, but you can also purchase temporary and higher-quality accommodations with gold.
STORAGE ------------------------------------------------------
Storage are extra slots that can hold Gear and Items for your character. Items left in storage will normally not be available while on an adventure.
The amount of Storage available can be permanently expanded by spending gold.
TITLES --------------------------------------------------------
Titles are earned through participating in certain quests or events, and are mostly for flavor. (though they also help the GM remember know who's been a part of what.)
----- [ ITEMS ] -----
Items are objects that can be worn or used by Characters while Adventuring. Some may be consumable, while others aren't.
Items in this game are represented by boxes which can be attached to slots on the Character docks, and the Characters Character Sheet.
Items that are consumed when used will have a tan name bar, non-consumable items will have a gray name bar.
Special items with unusual effects will have a Gold bar, or a Purple bar if they are related to a Divine Patron (covered later).
Many kinds of Items can 'stack', meaning more than one of that Item will fit in a single Item slot.
An item's current count and max stack count are noted on the lower right. If "-" the item does not stack.
Note that any prices given for stackable items represent the value of 1 of those items, not the full stack.
Only identical items may stack. Note that some kinds of Items may have randomized stats, so two Items of the same type may not be truly identical.
+ Gear
Gear are items that can be worn or equipped by a character, that changes their stats when equipped.
Gear Items take up 2 slots, and have some additional properties which will be covered in the Combat section
+ Item Tiers
Many items (especially Gear Items) have a Tier rating. (Shown as 'Tier:#' or 'T:#'). This denotes the Gear's general quality and effects it's base stats as well as the potency of an item's Enhancements. In general, higher is better.
+ Enhancement Slots
Enhancement slots are usually present on weapons, armor and other kinds of Gear. These represent ways your gear can be customized to your character's taste.
The effect of an Enhancement is determined by the Tier of gear it is applied to. (i.e., Enhancement effects increase in potency as gear Tier Increases.)
Once an enhancement has been applied to a piece of gear, that gear has been customized for that character, and can no longer be used by other characters.
(They may still be sold or upgraded. The value of an applied Enhancement does not affect the overall value of the item.)
Enhancements cannot be recovered from an item, but can be removed or replaced by another enhancement.
(See the Enhancements section in the archive for a list of Enhancements and their effects.)
Gear are items that can be worn or equipped by a character, that changes their stats when equipped.
Gear Items take up 2 slots, and have some additional properties which will be covered in the Combat section
+ Item Tiers
Many items (especially Gear Items) have a Tier rating. (Shown as 'Tier:#' or 'T:#'). This denotes the Gear's general quality and effects it's base stats as well as the potency of an item's Enhancements. In general, higher is better.
+ Enhancement Slots
Enhancement slots are usually present on weapons, armor and other kinds of Gear. These represent ways your gear can be customized to your character's taste.
The effect of an Enhancement is determined by the Tier of gear it is applied to. (i.e., Enhancement effects increase in potency as gear Tier Increases.)
Once an enhancement has been applied to a piece of gear, that gear has been customized for that character, and can no longer be used by other characters.
(They may still be sold or upgraded. The value of an applied Enhancement does not affect the overall value of the item.)
Enhancements cannot be recovered from an item, but can be removed or replaced by another enhancement.
(See the Enhancements section in the archive for a list of Enhancements and their effects.)
----- [ DOWNTIME UPDATES ] -----
+ Downtime Updates
A Downtime Update will occur approximately once a week, detailing any changes around Barrican and including a listing of faction shops and their wares. Downtime Updates and may also include quest hooks or other opportunities that can start an Adventure. Characters can perform Downtime Actions after each Downtime Update (more on those below). Downtime actions will be processed -at some point- before the next update.
Each Downtime Update will include the Character Docks of all player characters currently in the game.
+ Actions and Events during Downtime
After a Downtime Update, characters in Downtime can perform a number of standard actions in response.
There is no limit to the number of downtime actions a character can perform.
+ Purchasing or Selling Items
Your character can purchase wares from the faction shops listed in the Update. Items can be paid for using gold or faction Favor. (See the Favor section above for details) or a combination of both. (Note that Favor can only be used to pay for items if the item is sold in that faction's store.)
Items can be sold for 1/2 their listed value in gold. (If the value doesn't divide evenly, round down.)
You do not need to specify a particular faction to sell to, it can be assumed that somebody buys it.
Players can also sell items directly to one another and set their own prices.
+ Adding Enhancements to Gear, and Upgrading Items.
Faction stores will list Enhancements that faction is willing to add to your Gear, and the cost for it. (there may be a reputation Requirement.
Likewise, Some factions will offer to Upgrade certain specific Items or Gear, which will usually increase their Tier and base stats.
+ Learning Special Talents.
Standard talents can be learned at any time, however Some factions offer Special Talents (usually with a reputation requirement) that your character can learn.
(Talents are covered in the Combat Section)
+ Downtime Events
Downtime Updates will eventually include invitations or hooks for Events that are occurring around Barrican. These will almost never involve combat and will usually take place in the hub city. Downtime Events are generally narrative in nature but there will often be choices your character can make, and they may involve proficiency checks. You can usually decline an event by simply not joining it. If you wish to join an event, make a post indicating your character wants to. Some events may be limited in the number of players that can take part, or may only be available to certain players.
Your character can purchase wares from the faction shops listed in the Update. Items can be paid for using gold or faction Favor. (See the Favor section above for details) or a combination of both. (Note that Favor can only be used to pay for items if the item is sold in that faction's store.)
Items can be sold for 1/2 their listed value in gold. (If the value doesn't divide evenly, round down.)
You do not need to specify a particular faction to sell to, it can be assumed that somebody buys it.
Players can also sell items directly to one another and set their own prices.
+ Adding Enhancements to Gear, and Upgrading Items.
Faction stores will list Enhancements that faction is willing to add to your Gear, and the cost for it. (there may be a reputation Requirement.
Likewise, Some factions will offer to Upgrade certain specific Items or Gear, which will usually increase their Tier and base stats.
+ Learning Special Talents.
Standard talents can be learned at any time, however Some factions offer Special Talents (usually with a reputation requirement) that your character can learn.
(Talents are covered in the Combat Section)
+ Downtime Events
Downtime Updates will eventually include invitations or hooks for Events that are occurring around Barrican. These will almost never involve combat and will usually take place in the hub city. Downtime Events are generally narrative in nature but there will often be choices your character can make, and they may involve proficiency checks. You can usually decline an event by simply not joining it. If you wish to join an event, make a post indicating your character wants to. Some events may be limited in the number of players that can take part, or may only be available to certain players.
+ ADVENTURE HOOKS AND INVITATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------
Assuming a group has returned from an Adventure (or the GM thinks they can handle more adventuring groups) A number of prospective adventures will be listed as job board postings or narrative introductions. These will usually include the number of characters that can take part (usually 2-4) and the probable rewards for successfully completing the adventure (Gold, faction Rep & Favor, Renown, etc.)
Note that gold rewards will sometimes be referred to as a 'pot'. This means that the gold reward listed will be Divided evenly among all player characters.
(ex. If 4 characters go on a mission with a '$100 pot' as a reward, each character will get $25)
Favor, Reputation and Renown are never split; each character will get the full listed amount.
To join an Adventure, make a post indicating that your character wants to. If more characters want to join than there are slots for, attendance will be determined by Priority, with higher priority being awarded to characters who have gone the longest without having been on an adventure.
Some adventures may only be available to specific characters as a continuation of an existing storyline they are on. This will only occur when those characters are at or near the top of the priority list and are therefore nearly guaranteed a slot.
Ideally an adventure will run at about 1 post per weekday, for around two to three weeks. To keep things running smoothly, please makes sure you are ready to post on a daily basis for the expected duration of the adventure.
---- [ ADVENTURING ] ----
Characters are considered to be adventuring when they have left the hub city to undertake some kind of specific task. Adventuring consists of basically two alternating phases, Narrative and Combat.
In the Narrative phase, the GM will describe the surroundings and what is currently happening. You may be presented with choices for your characters' actions (or if you are creative, you can make up your own). You can / are encouraged to also narrate your chapters responses to what is going on. Proficiency rolls of various types are often made.
In order to keep things flowing quickly, party decisions will usually be presented as a vote.
Majority rules, and ties will be broken by a diceroll by the GM. (You can also ask for a little extra time to discuss decisions if it seems necessary)
When combat occurs, it will be presented on a map as described in the Combat section.