System

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I have no idea what to call this horrifically complex monstrosity yet, so I'm just calling it "The System". Kinda like "The Man", but different, you know?

As a warning, the System (tm) is designed to abuse the features of the OpenRPG roller, which for the unenlightened, functions as a basic calculator using regular expressions. This means multiples, divisions, whacky dice, minrolls, open rolls, and so on...

The System is not balanced. It is not fair, in the sense that two people with equivalent experience and resources are equal. It is -designed- to be incredibly broken, with insane amounts of options. I may put up some templates, or some kind soul may make them, but in short, part of the fun is all the little custom things you can tweak and make.

Overview

We begin with basic task resolution. In the System, the basic roll undergoes the following pattern:

{DisciplinedCapacity.minroll(Focus).open(Capacity).takeHighest(Technique)+Modifier}

  • Discipline Disciplines are noun skills. Swords, Spears, Computers, Autos, and so on. It is the number of dice you roll.
  • Capacity Capacity is a part of an Attribute, reflecting your potential. It is the type of die you roll. Dice do explode, causing the 'open' term.
  • Focus Focus is a part of an Attribute, reflecting how easily you can reach your potential. It is the minimum roll you can score on a die.
  • Technique Techniques are verb skills. Thrusting, deflecting, sneaking, and such. It is the number of dice that are kept after a roll.
  • Modifier - A raw bonus or penalty to a roll from some other source.

You roll against a target number. For opposed rolls, the Active roll (person who is doing something) must match or beat the Passive roll (person reacting, etc).

Messy, yes? It gets worse. Fortunately, variables are extremely helpful, and will be used extensively.

Attributes

There are a number of different scores representing attributes.

  • Physique - Physical Attributes
    • Dexterity: Active Finesse
    • Reflexes: Passive Finesse
    • Might: Active Force
    • Toughness: Passive Force
  • Mind - Mental Attributes
    • Perception: Active Finesse
    • Awareness: Passive Finesse
    • Ego: Active Force
    • Willpower: Passive Force
  • Luck is an attribute on its own.

Each of these comes in two parts - Capacity and Focus. As mentioned, the Capacity is the type of die you roll (d2, d4, d6, d8, d10, d12...), while Focus is the minimum roll that can be made. Capacity can be recorded as a raw score equal to half the die type. For example:

0: (d2-1) - Poor (1/50th)
1: d2 - Inferior (1/7th)
2: d4 - Average (2/3rds)
3: d6 - Good (1/7th)
4: d8 - Exceptional (1/50th)
5: d10 - Superior (1/750th)
6: d12 - Phenomenal (1/30,000)

And so on. Focus can never be raised above this value (half the die type) - for example, a Capacity of 2 (d4) in an attribute means you can raise your Focus to 2, but no higher - d4.minroll(2) is the limit. Two (2) is considered average, though most beings cover a wide range of scores.

Note that the zero score is -per die-. This means each die can result in a one or a zero.