diff --git a/blog/7e-2020-12-20.markdown b/blog/7e-2020-12-20.markdown new file mode 100644 index 0000000..09f7da9 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog/7e-2020-12-20.markdown @@ -0,0 +1,177 @@ +--- +title: The 7th Edition +date: 12/20/2020 +tags: + - ttrpg +--- + +# The 7th Edition + +You know what, fuck rules. Fuck systems. Fuck limitations. Let's dial the +tabletop RPG system down to its roots. Let's throw out every stat but one: +Awesomeness. When you try to do something that could fail, roll for Awesomeness. +If your roll is more than your awesomeness stat, you win. If not, you lose. If +you are or have something that would benefit you in that situation, roll for +awesomeness twice and take the higher value. + +No stats.
+No counts.
+No limits.
+No gods.
+No masters.
+Just you and me and nature in the battlefield. + +* Want to shoot an arrow? Roll for awesomeness. You failed? You're out of ammo. +* Want to, defeat a goblin but you have a goblin-slaying-broadsword? Roll twice + for awesomeness and take the higher value. You got a 20? That goblin was + obliterated. Good job. +* Want to pick up an item into your inventory? Roll for awesomeness. You got it? + It's in your inventory. + +Etc. Don't think too hard. Let a roll of the dice decide if you are unsure. + +## Base Awesomeness Stats + +Here are some probably balanced awesomeness base stats depending on what kind of +dice you are using: + +* 6-sided: 4 or 5 +* 8-sided: 5 or 6 +* 10-sided: 6 or 7 +* 12-sided: 7 or 8 +* 20-sided: anywhere from 11-13 + +## Character Sheet Template + +Here's an example character sheet: + +``` +Name: +Awesomeness: +Race: +Class: +Inventory: + * +``` + +That's it. You don't even need the race or class if you don't want to have it. + +You can add more if you feel it is relevant for your character. If your +character is a street brat that has experience with haggling, then fuck it be +the most street brattiest haggler you can. Try to not overload your sheet with +information, this game is supposed to be simple. A sentence or two at most is +good. + +## One Player is The World + +The World is a character that other systems would call the Narrator, the +Pathfinder, Dungeon Master or similar. Let's strip this down to the core of the +matter. One player doesn't just dictate the world, they _are_ the world. + +The World also controls the monsters and non-player characters. In general, if +you are in doubt as to who should roll for an event, The World does that roll. + +## Mixins/Mods + +These are things you can do to make the base game even more tailored to your +group. Whether you should do this is highly variable to the needs and whims of +your group in particular. + +### Mixin: Adjustable Awesomeness + +So, one problem that could come up with this is that bad luck could make this +not as fun. As a result, add these two rules in: + +* Every time you roll above your awesomeness, add 1 to your awesomeness stat +* Every time you roll below your awesomeness, remove 1 from your awesomeness + stat + +This should add up so that luck would even out over time. Players that have less +luck than usual will eventually get their awesomeness evened out so that luck +will be in their favor. + +### Mixin: No Awesomeness + +In this mod, rip out Awesomeness altogether. When two parties are at odds, they +both roll dice. The one that rolls higher gets what they want. If they tie, both +people get a little part of what they want. For extra fun do this with six-sided +dice. + +* Monster wants to attack a player? The World and that player roll. If the + player wins, they can choose to counterattack. If the monster wins, they do a + wound or something. +* One player wants to steal from another? Have them both roll to see what + happens. + +Use your imagination! Ask others if you are unsure! + +## Other Advice + +This is not essential but it may help. + +### Monster Building + +Okay so basically monsters fall into two categories: peons and bosses. Peons +should be easy to defeat, usually requiring one action. Bosses may require more +and might require more than pure damage to defeat. Get clever. Maybe require the +players to drop a chandelier on the boss. Use the environment. + +In general, peons should have a very high base awesomeness in order to do things +they want. Bosses can vary based on your mood. + +Adjustable awesomeness should affect monsters too. + +### Worldbuilding + +Take a setting from somewhere and roll with it. You want to do a cyberpunk jaunt +in Night City with a sword-wielding warlock, a succubus space marine, a bard +netrunner and a shapeshifting monk? Do the hell out of that. That sounds +awesome. + +Don't worry about accuracy or the like. You are setting out to have fun. + +## Special Thanks + +Special thanks goes to Jared, who sent out this tweet[1] that inspired this +document. In case the tweet gets deleted, here's what it said: + +[[1]: heres a d&d for you](https://twitter.com/infinite_mao/status/1340402360259137541) + +> heres a d&d for you + +> you have one stat, its a saving throw. if you need to roll dice, you roll your +> save. + +> you have a class and some equipment and junk. if the thing you need to roll +> dice for is relevant to your class or equipment or whatever, roll your save +> with advantage. + +> oh your Save is 5 or something. if you do something awesome, raise your save +> by 1. + +> no hp, save vs death. no damage, save vs goblin. no tracking arrows, save vs +> running out of ammo. + +> thanks to @Axes_N_Orcs for this + +> What's So Cool About Save vs Death? + +> can you carry all that treasure and equipment? save vs gains + +I replied: + +> Can you get more minimal than this? + +He replied: + +> when two or more parties are at odds, all roll dice. highest result gets what +> they want. + +> hows that? + +This document is really just this twitter exchange in more words so that people +less familiar with tabletop games can understand it more easily. You know you +have finished when there is nothing left to remove, not when you can add +something to "fix" it. + +I might put this on my [itch.io page](https://withinstudios.itch.io/).