145122's blog: "RPGs"

Over the past eight or so years, I've designed well over 20 RPG systems, ranging from simple D&D (the REAL D&D, mind you) simplicity to the insanely complex. A few of the systems which have recieved a higher level of completion than some of my others are: -Alternate Realities (self-insertion-based system with optional PC rules) -Journeyman (with its 32 stats and optional class tier system) -Simplicity (sort of complex, but most of it comes in optional rules) -VGHM (Standard, Gold, and custom Editions, each slightly different, but all play like classic CRPGs) This blog will cover some of those things, as well as some of my gaming experiences with systems outside of my own (I'm in a d209 D&D *ugh* campaign right now, for example). It'll also give SOME minor details on the ABEN RPG, for which I'm the scriptwriter and (currently) helping to totally rewrite the system for. ABEN RPG is a CRPG project that's been in the works for nearly 10 years now, and has the same basic goal as my VGHM systems (to bring back classic RPG gaming).

I've always had a thing for Kobolds (get yer mind outta the gutter!). they're these adorable little lizard-men who are "primitive" and highly skittish. In my systems, I have a similar species called Cobalts, but that's something for another post. Kobolds in d20 are now geniuses at creating traps and tend to be sorcerors. Really bizarre for the species, but then d20 has a habit of doing things backwards. This is an account of what happens when an inept cat burglar rescues a level 15 kobold sorceror... The thief, Vikuka, had just rescued a Kobold and returned its little snake familiar when he discovered a sack in the corner containing the Kobold's posessions. He dumps it out, takes a few items, and walks away, leaving the poor NPC alone with the corpses of his tormenters. Next door, Vikuka discovers a room containing ten augmented greater basilisks. He realises he's in trouble when they start doing damage, so after slicing into one of them, he activates his cloak of etherialness and disappears. The creatures stand like lumps wondering what happened to him (intelligence of 3 is fun ^_^). He then reappears, attacks, and disappears again. At one point, he feels something cold going through his etherial body and turns to see the brave little kobold. He reappears, barks a greeting which probably sounded something like "bra paste" to the Kobold, attacks, and goes etherial again, leaving the poor Kobold the only visible target. They nearly kill him after the first few attacks, so he falls over backwards and plays dead (his has a +9 on bluff, they have no bonus for sense motive... they buy it). The thief continues his habit of appearing and disappearing, casting confusion (via scroll) on the basilisks. Now, five are able to fight, and five have a habit of babbling incoherently, hiding in the corner (they only know hte caster was last near the doorway, so they're afraid to leave the room), and attacking each other. The kobold sits up, casts a spell, and promptly plays dead again. Oddly enough, only one basilisk doesn't buy it (natural 20), but he's busy doing nothing. This actually continues for some time. The basilisks are doubtlessly thinking "Look! The big one! OW! He's gona again. Waitwait! The corpse came back to li...OW! Oh... He's dead again. The Big.. OW! He's gone. The corpse... OWOW! He's dead again..." At one point, the Kobold cast etherial jaunt and vanished as well, only to come back healthier. It was even worse when the corpse started getting up, running over to a basilisk, draining its life, and dying healthier looking than it was last time it was dead. ^_^ The final point of interest in the battle was when Vikuka attempted to cast a sonic attack. HE appeared, told the Kobold to cover its ears, and then totally failed to cast the spell. Thus, the corpse had covered its ears, yet remained dead. Oddly enough, the basilisks (for the most part) never suspected he wasn't really dead. Not only was this one of the most enjoyable (but lengthy) battles I've been in for a long time, but it's gotten me obsessed with the idea of starting a monster-only campaign so I can play a kobold and a goblin (and hopefully others will play similar neglected races, such as the bugbear or half-orc). Meantime, however, all you people who need a good race to play, now you know a secret to effectively playing one of the coolest neglected races out there! ^_-

For those of you who've read the first Hyrian Chronicles novel (and if you haven't, don't feel bad, we've been delayed in publishing it), you'll rewmember Nikola, a black cat with quite a lot of knowledge in that little head of his, even if he can't figure out why Hyrians wear eye clothes... Last night, during our nightly roleplaying, Amsti and her party visited a loremaster and identified a few objects that they've been toting around. One of them was a jar full of some unknown substance they'd found on the floor of the dungeon. Well, it turned out to have been a jar of pure magic in its liquid state (multiplies the effect of a spell by 10, but is highly addictive). So what did they do with this liquid you could easily buy a kingdom with? Amsti found a high-level druid, handed her the jar, and requested that Pussy be awakened. Having discussed it previously with Pussy, the cat was all for it and told the druid as much (one speak with animals later). So the druid cast awaken using the jar... Then had an enlarge animal (with permanency) added (at DM's discretion, mind you). The result? Nikola's *starting* stats are STR=7, Dex=13, CON=10, INT=96, WIS=81, CHA=78! HIs racial skill points were 180, but he only could use 140 of them. On top of that, he took his first level as a Bard, so he's got a bardic knowledge of 44! Yes, he makes Elminster look like a dunce! ^_^ From level 2 on, it's been decided he'll become strictly a sorcerer, using the PHB2 optional metamagic ability. Add to that the fact that the party (thanks to the player being an ex-DM) has basically exploited almost every flaw in the d20 system (and there are a LOT of them) and you've got a party that's got ungodly powerful stats, items, and cash-on-hand. Between Amsti and Nikola, we've got two epic-quality chars (the two half-dragons have a ways to go yet, especially the female). As for Nikola, he's grabbing leadership as soon as he can and will probably end up taking over the world by level 20 LOL Seriously, though, because of his intelligence, he WILL be building a spelljammer in the very near future, so if a black cat, half-elf with ungodly beauty, and two half dragons appear in your skies, you know we're there. ^_^