The RPG Homebrew Extravanganza Thread

[Dxpenguinman]

perhaps you could sabotage electrical objects, so that when used by other people, they explode?

That would go under a utility power.

EDIT: here's a passive skill for cyberpunk
Hardwired Brain
They say the brain is wired to the brim with neurons, synapses and all sorts of things. You could say the same thing about yours. It's just wired with different stuff.
Your brain is hardwired to react incredibly quickly and store a large memory, thus giving you a overall +3 bonus modifier to BOOKSMARTS.

[Namboto]

perhaps you could sabotage electrical objects, so that when used by other people, they explode?

That would go under a utility power.

I was thinking that you'd get some sort of bonus whenever you're working with technology.

[Dxpenguinman]

Yeah, that could work too.

[ch00_bakka]

OK, a few ideas for cyberpunk:

Re: Eloquent Arte: I think one should be VR-related. Maybe Bullet Time. That could also work as a high-level skill.

A skill (that would probably overlap with a few other classes):

Badass Longcoat: (PASSIVE SKILL)
It should be a cow's one true desire to be made into something this awesome.
Double any bonuses from a longcoat, greatcoat, or trenchcoat.

[Dxpenguinman]

Perhaps Bullet Time could allow you to perform not just one action per turn, but 2/3?

EDIT: Expanding on Incantations, I just realized I made an error in the mechanic:
[(no of chants in incantation)*d6 + incantation modifier] is not the mechanic for incantation damage, but rather the mechanic for incantation effect.

Going back to the FIREWALL example, if say, the incantation modifier was burning anyone that came close to the READER, then the 3d6 would act as REFLEX DAMAGE for when a enemy enters the firewall, not as GENERAL DAMAGE.

Example 2: Say you combined BARRIER and KNIFE, to make the incantation SHIELDPIERCER. This would give you an incantation effect of 2d6. Since the EFFECT of the incantation would involve piercing through shields, that would mean the modifier would allow you to break an enemy's defensive position. So the 2d6 would act as PIERCING DAMAGE.

TL;DR - the [(no of chants in incantation)*d6] part isn't the formula for general damage, but rather, conditional damage - based off the general effect of the incantation

[Quirk]

Okay, I have a base list of some chants.

show spoiler

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• Age
• Air
• Book
• Command
• Death
• Earth
• Fear
• Fire
• Force
• Growth
• Ice
• Life
• Lightning
• Metal
• Nature
• Shape / Craft
• Wall / Barrier
• Water
• Weapon

[Dxpenguinman]

Have some more chants!

• Darkness
• Electricity
• Light
• Noise
• Power
• Smoke
• Wind

[ragmaan]

Horror Description:
What's that hiding in the corner? Who's that stalking me? Denizens of the Horror genre are dark, twisted people. They thrive on fear: they thrive on terror. They are not capricious tricksters; no, they are dark beings. Their appearances run from seemingly normal to aberrant abomination, but their hearts are all the same. Some focus on their BRAWN and take down their prey with overwhelming force, whereas others use their BOOKSMARTS and BEAUTY to lure people to a dark demise. Horrors run the gambit, but at the end, all they want to do is bring darkness to the library forever more. Rarely will a Horror work with you out of altruism: they are selfish creatures to the core.

How's this?

[Dxpenguinman]

Sounds great.

[Dxpenguinman]

Okay, I formulated the skill rolls in my head, and here's the basic gist:

When you're confronted with a task, make a skill roll depending on the type of task. The skill roll works by:
1) Setting the base value of the PASS mark (The BASE PASS MARK is always 50, depending on the difficulty of the task, this may be higher)
2) Roll a d100.
3) Depending on modifiers, raise or lower the PASS mark.
4) If you roll higher than the PASS mark, skill roll is successful, and vice versa.

EXAMPLE: Hacking into a computer system
The BASE PASS MARK is 50. But since our character has little experiencing hacking computers, the BASE PASS MARK increases to 75. The player rolls 1d100 and gets 58. However, the character is of the CYBERPUNK class and has a skill that decreases the PASS MARK for COMPUTER-RELATED SKILL ROLLS by 10.

The PASS MARK becomes 65. But the player has still rolled below the PASS MARK and so fails the skill roll.

How's that?

[Quirk]

Hmm...wouldn't said character also get a +X modifier for his BOOKSMARTS? As it stands, it really feels like there's a unecessarily large margin for failure. I've used 3d6 for this sort of freeform-ish gaming before, and that works decent enough. The same style applies, but it means you only need a few d6s to play and there are fewer numbers to keep track of.

[Dxpenguinman]

So more like 3d6 GURPS style?

[Quirk]

So more like 3d6 GURPS style?

Yeah, pretty much.

[Dxpenguinman]

So basically the 3d6 system:
1) Select the stat to which you will make your skill roll (e.g. BOOKSMARTS, BRAWN)
2) Roll 3d6
3) If the total is lower or equal to the selected stat, skill roll is successful
ELSE:
4) If the total is higher than the selected stat, skill roll is unsuccessful

Modifiers apply.

[Quirk]

So basically the 3d6 system:
1) Select the stat to which you will make your skill roll (e.g. BOOKSMARTS, BRAWN)
2) Roll 3d6
3) If the total is lower or equal to the selected stat, skill roll is successful
ELSE:
4) If the total is higher than the selected stat, skill roll is unsuccessful

Modifiers apply.

Yes, if I'm getting it correctly. The system I used still had difficulty ratings, i.e. task of 10 and you have to beat that with modifiers, but this works as well.

[Dxpenguinman]

So...fleshing out, right.

Armamentify - Utility Power
Your body is a collection of tools. Quite literally, of course. And in turn, your body can produce tools. And alter existing ones.
You may use this utility power once per day to transform any mundane item into a gun that fires four bullets (these 'guns' are powered by your own body) before the makeshift weapon disintegrates. Each gun shot plays out like a normal RANGED ATTACK.

[Elementoid]

I can sort of understand how YA is a separate genre, but wouldn't that simultaneously encompass all of the other genres within itself? Those kinds of books are still about the same things, they're just written for younger audiences.

This is a really cool thing with a lot of potential. Are we free to just pitch ideas?

[Quirk]

I can sort of understand how YA is a separate genre, but wouldn't that simultaneously encompass all of the other genres within itself? Those kinds of books are still about the same things, they're just written for younger audiences.

This is a really cool thing with a lot of potential. Are we free to just pitch ideas?

Which is why YA is a major genre (race), not a minor one (class). This way you can have Young Adult Space Opera, or Young Adult Self-Help.

And yes. You are free to pitch any idea that you want. Pitch all the ideas!

[Dxpenguinman]

Yes! This topic did not die!

[unvoicedAspiration]

Mystery

Most are content with living in a world of shadows, knowing what they are meant to and never questioning what it all means. But not the Mysterious. They live in an eternal quest for truth, attempting to piece together all knowledge withheld in the library into a a great web of enlightenment. They have a naturally analytical and inquisitive nature, as well as a cultural love for truth, though some tend toward paranoid distrust.

Classes:

- Crime Noir
- Conspiracy
- Ontological

[CSJ]

I skipped a few pages, but are hot librarians a thing? Because if they aren't already, they should be.

Also; some general ideas;

Villain - The GREAT PLAGIARIST

Lost genres - Genre hybrids and older genres lost to the annals of time; unable to fit into the current genre paradigm, they lie in a sort of netherworld.
Cue self-hating Science Fantasy, insecure and troubled-but-cute police procedureals, etc.

Mystery should also include classic detective novels, not just 'noir'. Not sure how to descrime more modern TV shows that may or may not fit in that category, though supernatural mystery may be one, along with shows like 'Midsummer Murders', whose pace is more reflective of this genre than thrillers or such.

EDIT: Wait, what about comedy and its relatives like Romcom and Parody?

[Quirk]

I skipped a few pages, but are hot librarians a thing? Because if they aren't already, they should be.

If you can manage a hot eldritch abomination, go right ahead. We could use some.

EDIT: Wait, what about comedy and its relatives like Romcom and Parody?

Don't forget satire. But yeah, we do appear to be in need of it.

Now then, for a more crunchy shtick, I'm beginning to think that perhaps adapting a universal/generic system might be a good idea. Personally, I like the FU system. Getting this out as a setting should be first and formost, I think, since I know that I'm a whole lot more suited to writing fluff than crunch.

[Souleater17]

I'm pitching in here. This (thread and game) is a very, very interesting idea.

GREAT BOOKWORMS: Great Bookworms are absolute monstrosities. Born as tiny worms, they viciously devour any books they come upon, assimilating their knowledge until they are a massive amalgamation of knowledge and power. They can call down the knowledge of their food to devastate any who dare oppose them in their never-ending quest for it.

SUB-GENRES:
Horror:
Lovecraftian Horror, Dark Fantasy
Fantasy:
Also Dark Fantasy

[alexthewhite]

I might not know much about tabletop games, but I do like books, and Quirk has a beard I would like to learn more about.

So!

On the topic of enemies, perhaps every section of the library can have a group of enemies that are a cliched villain in that particular genre? Some instances:

Adventure: The Traitorous Companion. Even moreso than wild beasts or the always cruel Mother Nature, Adventurers find no greater threat than a fallen friend. These humanoid enemies use tactics and dirty fighting to make them an absolute pain to deal with. However, they always fight in solitary, for they do not trust any of their own species enough to ally with them.

Non-fiction: The fact checker. Skepticism is one thing, but these guys take almost childlike glee in nitpicking details and going after spelling errors. They wield oversized magnifying glasses that allow for a range of high-damaging attacks, but a wise player can confound them with some maneuvering.

Romance: The Third Wheel. Unless you're in the Mormon section, Romance novels tend to end with at least one disappointed party. Hell hath no fury like a woman (or shockingly beautiful man) scorned, and thus the legions of rejected third points in the Love Triangle have banded together to bite and claw at anyone who reminds them of their lost love, which is, uh, everybody. Not particularly powerful, but they travel in packs.

Sci-fi: Rogue Androids. Never ones to spend their lives teaching humans that even a machine can love, these androids have devoted themselves to another love...MURDER. With a bevy of armaments and an unshakable resolve, these Androids are a force to be reckoned with. Luckily, sufficiently intelligent players can hack them into self-destruct or even a temporary alliance.

Horror: The Monster under the Bed. For many of us, it was our first and most real fear, and now it roams the Horror section unopposed. While the residents of the section are hardly fazed by their cartoonishly large eyes and clown noses, other players may find their surprising amount of durability and beds as shields/bludgeons to be a tricky combo to overcome.

Fantasy: The Orc. Although they've been slowly humanized in recent generations, let's not kid ourselves. The species was invented to be slaughtered by more attractive protagonists. With a preference for axes and heavy armor, the Orcs fight in numbers but without organization. They're slow, and easy to outwit, but woe to the player that lets them get close and swarm him.

Mystery: The hired thug. Yeah, he don't like you in his alleyway, see? So he's gotta rough you up a bit with his knuckle dusters and cricket bat, y'know? The thug may be one of the games' dullest foes, but he's also surprisingly good at his job. Luckily, he can also be parleyed with, and you may just end up with a new (albeit churlish) ally in the deal.

Mainstream: The Counter Culture. Known for their spiky rainbow of mohawks, it's a bit hard to tell what movement these rebels belong to. They're no stronger or smarter than the average human, but that still makes them a threat to the physically weak populace of the Mainstream section.

Meta: The Realist. Stuffy, dry, and practical, the Realist's lack of imagination means he has dedicated himself to the annihilation of the Meta section. Or just the decimation of it, y'know, whatever he can pull off, nothing fancy. Surprisingly fast and strong (but not too fast or strong,) the Realist's only true weakness is that he cannot understand the invisible chicken farts of his Absurdist foes, nor the references to tabletop games made by their Meta brethren.

Fanfic: The Fandom Hater. Maybe he wasn't moved by Naruto's fortieth pregnancy, or maybe he just got sick of Ginny raping Blaise Zabini. Either way, The Fandom Hater skulks about this section, preying on the ever-so-sugoi locals. His main asset is his speed; he can call your entire party fags before you can say "perma-ban."

Historical: The History Channel Alien. Nobody can say for certain if aliens helped the North win the Civil War, but don't tell these guys that. With futuristic technology, the aliens can be a major threat until you get close to them. At this point, the fact they aren't real will become rather clear, and gentle breezes will vanquish them.

Thriller: The Man with a Gun. Who's the guy behind the mask? You won't find out for another 200 pages, sucker, so stop reading this in the bookstore and plop down 12$. His armament is basic and his stamina is mediocre, but as one of the most prevalent cliches of all, it's rare to see one of these pistol-and-ski-mask owners alone.

Young Adult: The Mean Old Wolf. You never truly outgrew your childhood, and the Brothers Grimm really hated lupines. These shaggy monstrosities are less evil and more total dicks, trying to wound your party over actually kill them. As for characteristics, they're freaking wolves. Four legs, tail, teeth. You know how this works.

Did I say "some instances"? I meant EVERY SINGLE RACE AHAHAHA

[Quirk]

and Quirk has a beard I would like to learn more about.

It is manly and beard-tastic (though not nearly as beard-tastic as the one in your avatar). Take Gendo Ikari's beard. Add a mustache. That is my beard.

thisissilly.jpg

But! I have not abandoned this thread! I added onto CSJ's idea of the Great Plagiarist.

• The Great Plagiarist – The Murderer of Stories, the Ender of Tales, and The Great Enemy of the Author, an ancient entity of vast evil. The Plagiarist cannot create, but merely copies and corrupts, twisting stories to become monstrous abominations. There are many disciples of the Plagiarist, even some fallen Librarians. Some traditions maintain that the Plagiarist was once a creation of the Author who rebelled, while others claim that it simply came into existence of its own accord, or that it is from outside the universe.

• The Fallen – Those Librarians who have become corrupted by the Great Plagiarist. They have turned their backs on stories and knowledge, preferring instead to destroy and corrupt it instead. Many of them are incredibly powerful, though few have ever made overt attempts at attacking lands allied to the Citadel, preferring to act with more subtlety.

• Malaedut – The most powerful of the Fallen Librarians. His reign of influence is known to be centered around the Dank Mire and the Ninth Branch.

• The Safeguard – A group of Readers and Assistants dedicated to hunting out censorship and book-burning cults, and the destruction of everything connected to the Fallen and the Great Plagiarist. They are permitted by the Citadel itself to use whatever means necessary to achieve this.

In other news: I have another setting project that I've been hammering away at for a while (It's a gigantic [and I mean gigantic] crossover setting.) Any interest in seeing it?