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looking for good lifepath systems

Started by ancientgamer, September 07, 2007, 02:21:55 PM

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ancientgamer

#15
September 11, 2007, 09:31:31 PM
The regular tables will have the good stuff plus when I will do the possibilites...most of them will have compensation.  There won't be many choices which have purely positive and purely negative consequences.  For instance, there might be a possibility where one of the parents commited crimes.  This would give the character certain skills but perhaps a small penalty on their education roll and a possible enemy.
It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.

Aristotle

http://agesgaming.bravehost.com

Divinity - an RPG where players become Gods and have to actually worry about pleasing their followers.

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dindenver

#16
September 12, 2007, 03:09:04 PM
Hi!
  Try and steer away from genre neutral lifepath events. Lifepaths are mostly only useful for two things:
1) Flavor - Gives you a great chance to explain how your setting works to your players. By adding events that are unique to your setting, you can give a clue as to how your world works, For instance, for your supernatural game n event like "Parents were possessed" might be appropriate, but not for others.
2) Plot hooks - Add events that give the PCs interesting events to riff off of (Had a rival in school) or unresolved events that can be resolved in play (Is hunted by the law).
  So I think events like "Was a teacher's pet in school" doesn't add much to either, right?
Dave M
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mannydipresso

#17
September 12, 2007, 08:25:11 PM
Hey,

I know this thread is a day old, and I know that you prefer lifepath systems that are available online, but I have to recommend Artesia to you.

It is a beautiful example of what a lifepath system can do. Chargen is a lot of fun and when you're finished you've got a character who is already deeply integrated into the setting and already in motion.


Check it out!
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ancientgamer

#18
September 12, 2007, 09:23:06 PM
Hi dindeaver,

good thoughts about the lifepath approach.  I've revamped to reflect socio-economic background and I am changing them to reflect more plothooks and genre setting material.  

Manny,

I'll have to look at artesia at some point.

edit - I just wanted to mention some of them were in there to explain how they got their skills and such as well.  Even so, I am flipping them to have to be more genre-specific.
It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.

Aristotle

http://agesgaming.bravehost.com

Divinity - an RPG where players become Gods and have to actually worry about pleasing their followers.

If you want to look at another journal, go here.
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