LivingTriskele

I'd love to be involved, it's just a matter of finding the time (I have two unfinished monoliths, grad school, band, work and parental duties to contend with as well...) I will see how far I can get with my point-buy project and keep the forum posted. Monographs... I meant monographs.

Yep, there you are--thanks for your contributions!

You came up with that? Who is this masked man?

I'm running a Pathfinder game right now in grim dark fantasy setting I've been working on. Everyone has a 'handy haversack'. It's like Walmart had a going-out-of-business sale. Granted, I'm to blame. But creating encounters using Pathfinder/3.5's system of determining Challenge Rating assumes the party has a certain level of magic items in its possession. The mystique of magic is hard to maintain under these circumstances.

The idea is definitely there with the superpowers component, though I'm inclined to rebuild from the ground up. I've started (creating a point-buy system), using GURPS 4th Edition (Advantages/Disadvantages) as a model. The hardest part is just finding the time (I'm looking at 200 to 300 pages). There is some transcription work as GURPS functions on a 3d6 bell curve and BRP is a straight percentage. My idea has been to leave the generation of Characteristics as it is, and offer this as an optional modular component, though I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to branch of into all aspects of character creation. At this point, my biggest concern (aside from finding the time) is in regards to legality-- I'm changing the wording but the idea is still taken from another game system. Then again, GURPS was heavily inspired by Champions (as was BRP's superhero component).

I've started tinkering with one but it's a ton of work and I have many projects on the burners...

What I love about BRP the most is it's core mechanic. It's simple and fairly solid and I wouldn't change it. I'm talking about coming up with balanced optional modular components for magic/superpowers/abilities, even disadvantages, etc. beyond the level of normal, skilled PCs. Over the years many things have been done with BRP and it has always remained a solid game. I don't think that allowing for optional components will change that, especially if one of those options is to keep it 'old school' as it is now.

I haven't had a chance to read this entire thread, but if the idea is to make BRP more popular by coming up with a flagship setting, I don't think it's going to work--the setting may take off in flying colors, but I doubt it will make BRP more popular. Call of Cthulhu is already very popular but it hasn't really helped promote BRP in the gaming community, at least around here (San Francisco Bay Area). Just, my unsolicited two cents-- BRP needs to be brought up to modernity's standards to compete. To do this it needs to be restructured so it has the option of being a point-buy system (like GURPS 4th Edition or Hero System), with modular balanced components and options. I'm not talking about replacing any of its arbitrary aspects--just providing more options. The superpowers section strikes me as an attempt to do this, though its success is open to debate... And for BRP to really compete with other multi-genre compatible game systems out there it needs to be hardbound with color artwork. Like I said, just my two cents.

LOL-- I hear you there. Nothing quite like a nice hot cup of coco, a snuggie, and The Book of Vile Darkness.

I probably have an unhealthy relationship with RPG systems. In fact I'm such a dork I read tabletop RPG rulebooks for pleasure. I have three bookshelves filled with games, and I have even more packed away in storage. For me the game mechanic is very important, as well as how thoroughly it is supported. Different rule sets tend to influence different styles of play. Nice packaging/artwork communicates to me that the publisher both cares for the product and has faith that it will last. Of all of the games I've played, BRP's core game mechanic is my favorite. Still I find myself considering Hero System or GURPS instead.

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Ars Magica has a lot of great supplements that capture the era. Could be worth looking at, despite the drastic difference in game systems and the obvious high magical elements.

Just dropping in to give an update-- I'm still working on this monograph, but with work, school, band and parental duties it's taking a lot longer than I had anticipated. I've been getting more done recently, but honestly still have no idea how long it will take to complete... I nibble at it daily though...

Unfortunately I'm too swamped with projects right now to take on anything new... as it is I'm not making enough progress on the monograph I promised to deliver months ago... But a collaborative effort with common theme would be very cool! And the Gods know I'm not in it for the money...

I'm really hoping to finish it by the end of August (before the Fall semester...). Unfortunately I'm just perpetually spread thin... But it's among the two top-priority projects for the summer!

Hey Conrad, I just had to postpone the ETA due to graduate school obligations and parental duties... (I'm working on my thesis while daily watching our 21-month old daughter. The semester ends for me around the 2nd week of May--after that I plan to go overdrive on the module. My intent is to ask people on this forum to play-test it-- first the setting material (which consists of a detailed description of the islands and the City of Sepherin), then the actual campaign. If your interested I'd appreciate it you were one of the play-testers. The 'islands' chapter is nearly ready to go, including 'side-adventures' and what not. Things are very busy right now, though I will see this done. One thing I can't stand is not finishing something... Best, Steve

Thanks!

Thanks, it's coming along-- slowly but surely... Life--she does get in the way sometimes...

Only for the heads>:->

I was thinking just a Stamina roll with a x 3 multiplier. Pot vs. CON on the Resistance Table is for the white, purple-spotted mushrooms growing along the edge of the lagoon... :party: Yeah, they scream a lot and babble incoherently too. Just another day at the Evil Shaman Grand Convention Hall. Bring your party hats

That's a great idea, thanks!

I've looked in the Spot Rules chapter for how to handle a character that fails his/her Stamina roll when faced with the stench of a thousand rotting heads. I didn't see anything. I'm assuming a -15% on Combat, Communication, Manipulation, Perception and Physical skills for 1D6 rounds (not to mention possible SAN loss...). Does this meet with approval? I'm open to suggestions...

Cool. When I'm ready I'll let you guys know about play-testing it, just in case you're interested.

It's funny you should say that-- the campaign setting I've been working on (beyond the islands) has a bit of the old 'Michael Moorcockian' vibe it.

These look great--did you design this yourself? It looks like it calculates special and critical successes for skills. Can it provide extra hit locations? You might want to ask Sverre (aka Trifletraxor) if he can upload the files for you.