I need to detail fairies before I can release OHMAS to beta playtest. It's perfectly playable as is now, but adding fairies will give it a lot more flavor, and it will be much more like what I will eventually release.

Any other suggestions before I go into beta playtest?

-clash

OK - the Bestiary first draft is finished! There's a lot of work to do now, but I am going to firm up a couple things I noticed in the text as written, then start the playtest period. If anyone else is interested in playtesting, let me know via this thread, PM, or email at clash(underscore)bowleyATyahooDOTcom.

-clash

Thanks to all of you who have volunteered to playtest the game! I hope this process will make OHMAS a better game! Now I look forward to some solid criticism!

-clash

Quote from: flyingmice;305714This is my latest project, based on Blood Games II. I'll be posting snippets about it occasionally, and don't really care if anyone doesn't respond, although it would be awesome if you do!

The Task Resolution sub-system I'm using is StarPool - roll Skill Rank+1 d20 under Stat TN, count successes. Stats max at 15 for humans.

I'll confess that I'm not familar with this RPG, but the setting notes you have posted have been awesome.

Continue to post updates, while I lurk! :-)

Quote from: finarvyn;319772I'll confess that I'm not familar with this RPG, but the setting notes you have posted have been awesome.

Continue to post updates, while I lurk! :-)

Hi finarvyn! Welcome to the thread! StarPool is a task-resolution sub-system used in my Sweet Chariot 2, Commonwealth Space, and Blood Games II RPGs, all of which should be equally as unfamiliar to you.

I'm glad you are enjoying the bits I am posting! I'll be posting some more tidbits later today if i get a chance.

-clash

As promised - a look at the Warlock:

A Warlock is a spirit summoner, one who controls, The Warlock directs, and commands spirits of any type. In popular thought, a Warlock has made a deal with the devil for her powers. While this is often true, it is just as often false. There are Warlocks working for the light as well as for the dark, and many who merely work for themselves.

Warlocks Gain:
+1 STR
+1 COOR
+1 AGY
+1 END
+1 CHAR
+3 MAG

Unlike Esotericists, who summon only individuals with spells specifically tailored for them, the Warlock summon generically. For example an Esotericist summoning a Naiad will always summon the same Naiad. When a Warlock summons a Naiad, he summons a random Naiad, possibly but not likely the same individual.

Summoning
Summoning is the calling of the spirit, from the Spirit World to our world, or from elsewhere in our world to the Warlock's presence. To safely summon a spirit, the Warlock must first create a Summoning Circle. Summoning without the circle risks the spirit escaping, perhaps to wreak havoc in our world.

The Summoning Circle
The Warlock can create a Summoning Circle about herself by scribing the circle with appropriate material, stepping outside, and imbuing it with one MAG point. Nothing can cross the circle either in or out until the Warlock releases it. The summoning takes place within the Circle.

Spirit creatures have ranks, which describe how many Spirit Ranks successes are needed to summon that creature. A Rank 3 spirit requires 3 successes to summon correctly.

Summoning a Spirit
The Warlock calls for the spirit to come to him from wherever it is. On a successful Summoning check and the expenditure of a STR point, the spirit appears in the Summoning Circle, visually appearing as how the spirit normally
appears in our world. This means most spirits will be bodiless, perhaps a slight flickering of light, perhaps completely invisible.

Anchoring Spirits
On a successful Anchoring check and the expenditure of an END point, the Warlock can Bind a spirit to a place, an object, or a person. When Anchoring to a place, the spirit must be summoned to the place. When Anchoring to an  object, the object must be present in the same area as the spirit. When Anchoring to a person, the Laws of Correspondence are followed. The spirit must stay bound as long as a MAG point is invested in the Anchoring. Regaining the MAG point looses the Anchoring.

Commanding Spirits
Warlocks can command spirits to perform specific tasks. On a successful Command check and the expenditure of a COOR point, the Warlock can detail a task and the spirit must perform it. The complexity of the task depends on the number of successes achieved in the check, with one success allowing one sentence of up to ten words, and each additional success adding another sentence. Unless the spirit is Clothed in Flesh, though, the spirit is limited to non‐physical actions, as spirits are immaterial. The Warlock must maintain the Command by investing a MAG point. At the completion of the task, or on the will of the Warlock, the MAG point is retrieved and the spirit is sent back to where it came from.

Cloathing the Spirit in Flesh
The Warlock may cloathe the spirit in flesh ‐ creating a physical body for the spirit to wear ‐ on a successful Cloathe check. The new body will have the STR, COOR, AGY, and END given it by the Warlock, from the Warlock's own points ‐ though the Warlock must retain at least 3 points in each attribute.

The CHAR depends on the type of spirit summoned, and will be adjudicated by the GM. The cloathed spirit will have a +5 damage modifier per success of the Cloathe check, and a +1 Natural Combat skill per 2 successes, rounded down.

Example:
The Warlock has 11 points currently in each of the four stats, and summons a Sylph. He gives the Sylph the maximum of 8 points (11-3) in COOR and AGY, 6 points in STR, and 7 points in END, leaving himself with 4
STR, 3 COOR, 3 AGY, and 4 END. The GM gives the Sylph a CHAR of 12.

The Warlock must invest a MAG point to maintain the body, with the MAG point being returned to the Warlock when the new body is reduced to 0 Constitution, or at the Caster's will, whereupon the body dissolves and dissipates, and spirit is returned from whence it came. The Warlock may heal his lost points naturally over time without affecting the cloathed spirit's attributes, so long as the MAG point is invested in the spirit's cloathing.

Spirit Contracts
The Warlock may enter into a contract with a spirit, where the spirit agrees to serve the Warlock in return for something the spirit wants. These contracts vary greatly and should be roleplayed out, and are mutually binding upon both parties. Upon signing the contract, the Warlock loses a MAG point permanently, but the spirit does not have to be summoned, instead coming at a simple verbal call. The spirit will always do the bidding of the Warlock as long as the terms of the contract are maintained. If the Warlock breaks the contract, the MAG point will not be returned, and the spirit may take  vengeance upon the Warlock if it wishes.

Sequence of Skills
Warlocks may do any of these things without the others. It is not necessary to Anchor a spirit before Commanding it, or Command it before Cloathing it. It is not even necessary to summon a spirit, as one may be met up with in the world at large.

Working with Other Warlocks
Warlocks may work together, with the number of successes from each check added together. All Warlocks involved must expend the necessary attribute  points.

The Warlock Reputation
Warlocks have a nasty reputation. If word gets out to the populace that a person is a Warlock, it is guaranteed to ignite a Witch Hunt. People hate and fear Warlocks, with good reason. Many of them do deal with vile spirits for dark purposes. Those who work for the Light are tainted by the others, and shaking this bad reputation is almost impossible outside of a small circle of trusted people.

Warlock Profession
Person specializing in summoning and controlling spirits.
Prerequisites: At least one MAG point
Waiver Roll: N/A
Base Lifestyle: Upper Middle Class
Skills available: Summoning, Anchoring, Command, Cloathe, Intimidate, Goad, Entice, Sneak, Leadership, Discipline, Negotiate, Convince, Endear, Evaluate, Focus, History, Research, Instruct, Meditation

Quote from: flyingmice;319848StarPool is a task-resolution sub-system used in my Sweet Chariot 2, Commonwealth Space, and Blood Games II RPGs, all of which should be equally as unfamiliar to you.

Sadly, you're right. I'm unfamiliar with the whole group.

Quote from: finarvyn;320058Sadly, you're right. I'm unfamiliar with the whole group.

Which means you are part of the 99.999% majority of roleplayers!

-clash

Today, an example character. I chose to make Sir Edmund my example because he had a lengthy non-Path service in the military before taking the Esotericist Path of Power.

Example Character: Sir Edmund Teague

Edmund’s player decides Edmumd will be a Path character - an Esotericist - after a solid military career. The 44 points are divided into STR 8, COOR 9, AGY 9, END 9, and CHAR 9. The 180 points are divided into INT 3, MAG 4, and Wealthy Lifestyle. So, Edmund Teague was born in 1522 into a wealthy military family in Middlesex, near London.

Mother’s Milk Skills

As his father James was a cavalryman, Edmund grew up with horses and weapons. Before he is ten, he takes Ride, Firearms, Blade, and Tracking.

Apprenticeship

Starting in 1532, the year before Princess Elizabeth is born, Edmund serves his apprenticeship as an Apprentice Warrior to his father’s friend, William Holly. From Holly he learns Firearms (up to Firearms+2), increases his INT to 5, with two ranks of INT increase, takes two ranks of blade to bring his total to Blade+3, and increases his COOR by one rank to 10. He also increases his STR by two ranks to 10.

Journeyman

Starting in 1538, Edmund becomes a Journeyman Soldier in Holly’s unit, increasing his Blade skill by two ranks  to Blade+5 - a master, his Firearms skill by two to Firearms+4, and his Ride skill by two to Ride+3. He also picks up Brawl+1, Overdo+1, and React+1.

Profession

In 1544, age 22, Edmund is accepted into the Cavalry as an officer, taking three ranks of Flash to Flash+3, one rank of Firearms to become a master at Firearms+5, and increasing his Ride Skill by two, becoming a master at Ride+5. He also picks up Observe+1, Leadership+1, and Engrace+1. He earns his spurs and becomes Sir Edmund Teague for services to the crown. By the time he leaves the military in 1550, King Henry has died, and his young son Edward VI becomes king under a regency. During his adventures in service to the Crown, Edmund has become aquainted with magic and discovers he has great talent in that area. He decides to become an Esotericist.

Path Profession

Edmund gains two points of MAG, briunging his MAG total to 6,  when he becomes an Esotericist and the mental disciplines free potential magic. As the Esotericist Path has an associated profession, Edmund devotes all his time to learning Magic from 1551 on. In 1553, King Edward dies of consumption, and names his cousin Lady Jane Grey as Queen. After nine days, Jane Grey is overthrown, and Elizabeth’s older sister Mary takes the throne. Mary vows to bring England back to Catholicism, and Protestants like Edmund fall from favor. Edmind retires to his family home in Middlesex and intensifies his studies. In 1558, Mary dies, and young Elizabeth takes the throne as Elizabeth I. Elizabeth restores the Church of England, and Edmund gradually returns to society. By the time he joins the Queen’s Arcane Service in 1560, he is an accomplished Esotericist as well as a powerful warrior.

As an Esotericist, he learns three ranks of Attach, two ranks of Focus, two ranks of Bind, three ranks of Perform, and one rank of Ritual. He owns grimoires with two Very Common spells - Sniff Out Trail and See In The Dark; three Common spells - Cat Charm, Rat Charm, and Water Charm; two Uncommon spells - Balloon Float and Gate of Fire; and one Rare spell - Summon Esmee, which summons a Naiad named Esmee.

Traits

Distributing his seven points, Sir Edmund is Meticulous 3, Grandiloquent 2, and Steely 2.

Equipping the Character

Being Wealthy, Edmund can afford some quality equipment. He gets various firearms and blades, some fine clothing, containers and provisions, tack, and a Buff Coat for armor. He hires a bodyservant (Charles), a cook (Guillaume),  a mistress (Heloise), a groom (Michael), and several maids. He has his ancestral house outside London, and a large apartment in London. He also has a war horse (Lightning), a couple of riding horses, and a mule.

-clash

Quote from: flyingmice;320079Which means you are part of the 99.999% majority of roleplayers!

Well, even if I don't play a game I like to be at least somewhat familiar with it just to be able to converse intellegently. Must do research...

Quote from: finarvyn;320606Well, even if I don't play a game I like to be at least somewhat familiar with it just to be able to converse intellegently. Must do research...

Research is always good! To start with, try the link in my sig, then go out from there. Pundit has reviewed most of my games here, and there are several reviews on RPGnet. If you have questions, just ask them - in a thread or by PM. I'm usually hanging around here.

-clash

Another illo from the game:



-clash

I continue to get some excellent feedback on OHMAS from the beta testers. Big and small changes have been made as a consequence, and the the game will be much stronger for it.

Thanks to all of you who are helping!

-clash

I added the troupe play as an option rather than in the core ruleset. I sketched out 5 different types of troupe structure that would work well in the setting as well - discussed on my blog - to use as guidelines.

Right now I'm  working on a guide to the English counties - one paragraph of text, with a link to a map online. I don't want to get more involved than a paragraph - there are 39 counties plus London itself! - but I needed something in the book about counties, since the adventure generator relies on them.

After that I have to write up short bios of important people - Walsingham, Shakespeare, Marlowe, Raleigh, Hakluyt, Essex, etc. - set up a basic timeline, and write up some additional overview.

I have made some big changes in the layout based on the feedback of several playtesters. Hopefully there will be more as time moves on!

-clash

I have finished the description of the counties, and the biographies, along with a treatise on the peculiar Elizabethan form of government.

The biographies include Elizabeth, Dudley, Mary Queen of Scots, Burghley, Walsingham, Nicholas and Francis Bacon, Raleigh, Doctor Dee, Drake, Shakespeare, Marlowe, Ben Jonson, Edmund Spencer, and Hakluyt. Even at that I feel like I'm just scratching the surface - there were so many fascinating people in this time! I won't bother writing about Essex - he was such a loser I feel like I'm betraying all those I didn't write about.

Any others who *must* be covered?

-clash