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looking for good lifepath systems

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

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ancientgamer

I am working on a supernatural game where the characters are generated via a lifepath system.  Preferably, I want to see examples online (other than cyberpunk or mere generators...I already looked though those.)

I hear Traveller, WHFR and Mechwarrior have such systems (I am familiar with WHFR and Mechwarrior but not Traveller).  Therefore, I am trying to find out if I needed any good sources before continuing forward.

Right now, I have something set up for childhood, education (transition into adulthood), adulthood, and I tacked on something for becoming a "creature of the night".  

1.  Looking for good examples, preferably online.
2.  If that fails, then any fairly popular games I missed with such an idea.
3.  Any additions to this list (I know that is hard to do without posting more.)
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.

Gunslinger

Burning Wheel/Burning Empires uses a lifepath system.  You could pick up the Monster Burner from BW that breaks down how to develop them.  I think you can also download specific lifepath systems by race from the BW website.  I don't know how helpful they would be without the books.

I also hear Aces & Eights uses a lifepath system but have no experience with the system... yet.
 

flyingmice

My StarCluster System games (see sig - except for Forward... to Adventure!, which is Pundits) have lifepath chargen, and StarCluster Light is free.

-clash
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT

TonyLB

Cyberpunk 2020, unless I'm completely misremembering.
Superheroes with heart:  Capes!

Skyrock

Regarding CP2020, there's also Ocelots alternative Lifepath system for it (although I'm not that fond of it compared to the original, as it defines too narrowly instead of being more open to interpretation, and is filled with too much filler material that doesn't spark adventure seeds directly).
My graphical guestbook

When I write "TDE", I mean "The Dark Eye". Wanna know more? Way more?

ancientgamer

I downloaded starcluster light (thanks clash) and looking at free BW (thanks gunslinger).  In addition, I had found Ocelot's site for cyberpunk2020 but I forgot to mention that above.  Aces and eight, I just read another thread on here about it.  Sounds interesting but I know I would have to find a different group in order to play it.
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.

flyingmice

You're very welcome, AG! Hope it's some help!

-clash
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT

jeff37923

Any R. Talsorian Games core rulebook (Mekton, Cyberpunk, etc) has a lifepath system specific to that game. Any of those make really good examples to springboard off of.
"Meh."

flyingmice

Right. Each of my games has a specific chargen designed for that setting. The full StarCluster 2 game has an enormous chargen section, as it has to cover stone age through ultratech societies, and still is the most generic. The Light game is very much cut down.

-clash
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT

Pierce Inverarity

Also, Sengoku and Artesia, amazing offsprings of Fuzion both.
Ich habe mir schon sehr lange keine Gedanken mehr über Bleistifte gemacht.--Settembrini

ancientgamer

I actually have a rough draft I could post on here for the sections I mentioned previously.  This will probably help hone in my focus a bit more while I continue to look at a few more examples.  At this point, it won't even try to cover all possibilities.  Instead, I am settling for modern day America.  IMHO, it covers the "middle class and upper class" fairly well but it might need some more help for the lower class.  Of course, I could be wrong on that front.  Anyway, I'll put some of it up tonight.

- Ancientgamer

PS  Thanks for all of the help so far.
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.

ancientgamer

I was wanted to inform anyone reading this that I spun this thread into here.
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.

dindenver

Hi!
  Here is a lifepath add on I did for CP202
http://www.mvlan.net/~davidm/NuYork2020Skills.DOC

  Also, here is a game I wrote with its own lifepath system (inspired by traveler/cp, I admit)
http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_12/201000/201024/4/preview/Legends_of_Lanasia_RPG_Beta.pdf

  I love lifepath systems, if you want a hand with yours, lemme know...
Dave M
Come visit
http://dindenver.blogspot.com/
 And tell me what you think
Free Demo of Legends of Lanasia RPG

ancientgamer

I would appreciate any help you could provide and I will look at your documents.  First though, I will bust apart my big childhood table and break it down into social-economic background and possible tragedies.
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.

flyingmice

That's a good idea, ancientgamer, but why only tragedies? Good things can have huge influence on a child as well.

-clash
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT