Bay 12 Games Forum

I thought of a combat system that could be used in an RTD, but I wanted to test it with a small group of people before I invest in making lore, etc. Here are some perks to the system:
-New Players can jump in at any point, and inactive players are not too much of a detriment.
-Positional strategy is very important, but not too complex to keep track of.
-Characters do get more powerful the longer they survive, but can still be killed rather quickly if caught in a bad place. Should keep you on your toes.
-Teamwork is very important.

I am looking for at least three people to test this combat system out, with at least one of each class. If more people want to join, you can post a character sheet at any point. I'll find a way to fit you in.

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Combat

There will be 2 teams of characters: Your team, and the enemy. Each team has all their members take a turn at the same time. Each player will get 2 action points per turn. Those may be spent on Movement actions, Combat actions, or bonus actions. You can mix and match those points as you wish. (For example, you can move and attack, move twice, attack twice, move and bonus, etc.) I will discuss how each of those actions works in their own sections. First I need to explain how the battlefield works.

Battlefield
All battles will take place on a 1-dimentional battlefield. Each character will be on a certain numbered "row" of the battlefield at all times, and movement consists of moving up and down the rows. Row 1 of the battlefield is the back of the players army, while row 9 would be the back of the enemy army. Characters will move among the rows and when two characters are on the same row, the potential for melee combat begins. If two characters become engaged in melee, they will typically be stuck together until one of the characters dies, or some coordinated relief by allies separates them. (or if neither character wants to be in melee)

Movement Actions
Characters engaged in melee may not move unless they first spend a movement point to disengage from each enemy (if engaged with multiple enemies, each one must have a movement point spent on disengagement.)
Movement points may be spent on the following actions:
-moving forward or backward one row, and optionally engaging in melee with a single enemy on that new row.
-engaging in melee with a single enemy on your current row
-disengaging from melee from a single enemy. (you stay on your current row)

To use a movement action, simply state "move up one row and engage enemy 2" or something else easily interpreted by me.

Combat Actions
Each character will have a set list of potential attacks, based on their class and level. (higher level characters will get access to more attacks) You can spend one combat point to perform a specific attack. You must be engaged in melee to use a melee attack, and you must not be engaged in melee to use a ranged attack. Each attack has a set damage, which is modified by a d6 dice roll as follows:

1: Miss, and the opponent gets a free attack (if able)
2: Miss
3: Half Damage
4: Full Damage
5: Double Damage
6: Triple Damage, and the opponent gets a free attack (if able)

Some attacks have a modifier that adjust the dice roll up or down. However, these adjustments can only bring a roll down to a 2, and up to a 5. If a 1 or 6 was rolled, that roll is final, regardless of any modifiers. (For example, if someone rolled a 5, but their attack had a +1 modifier, the roll remains a 5. If they had rolled a 4, the attack would have become a 5 because of the modifier.) If you rolled a 1, or a 6, the enemy will get a free attack following the same formula. At the end, the damage dealt is taken from the respective character's HP, and the attack ends. If you were engaged in melee, you will remain engaged in melee. Only a movement point can disengage you from melee.

To do a combat action, simply state the attack you wish to use (attacks are listed in the class details), and the target character.

Bonus actions
Bonus actions are any actions not covered in the previous two. They will usually involve the character trying to get an advantage in future turns. (Some example of Bonus actions are: climb a tower, let out a war cry, find some cover, bandage my wound, etc.) These actions are resolved by standard RTD dice rolls. If the action is a success, a relevant bonus will be given to the player (Using the previous examples, possible bonuses are: +1 movement point required to engege in melee with this character, +1 to next attack roll, -1 to ranged attacks on this character, +10 HP, etc.) More difficult actions will require a higher roll , while easier actions will require a lower roll. This will be decided by me. But in general, the rolls are as follows:

1: Epic fail. You fail your action so hard that you get a relevant debuff instead.
2: Total fail. You fail to make any progress on what you were attempting. Nothing happens.
3: Partial success. You make some progress on your intended goal, but it might require another try. Might work completely for easier actions
4: Mostly success. You do what you wanted to do, and now have a relevant bonus. Might not work for harder actions
5: Complete success. You are guaranteed success on whatever you were trying to do.
6: Overshoot. You succeed in your goal, and succeed so well that some other random bonus is gained.

To use a bonus action, describe what action you want to do, with an optional description of what bonus you are hoping to achieve (I will take that into account. If you don't give me a bonus wish, I will make up a relevant bonus) For example, "Breathe deeply to calm my nerves for the next shot"

Characters
Every point of damage dealt to a character reduces that character's HP by that amount. If a character's HP reaches 0, they are dead. Death in this game will be permanent, however, due to the structure of the game, it is very simple to create a new character and join back in the next battle. Health can be regained fully at each level up, and can also be increased by some bonus actions.
Every point of damage dealt by a character grants that character an equivalent amount of both experience and loot. experience goes towards a character's level up. Once a character level's up, they gain more health, and are fully healed. They also gain access to more attacks once the battle is over. Loot is used in between battles to upgrade one's equipment, and learn new attacks.

Classes

This game will feature 3 classes for the players, and the normal enemies. All characters of a class will have the same options as each other. Boss enemies will not fall under a specific class, but their information will be known to all.

Warrior
The Warrior class has no ranged attacks, but deals massive damage. In addition, they have armor which lowers the damage of incoming attacks. They wreck archers if they can get in range, but mages counter them.

Archer
The Archer class has strong, long ranged attacks that deal considerable damage. However, their melee attacks are all very weak. They are great at killing mages, but get destroyed by warriors.

Mage
The mage class has weak medium-ranged attacks that ignore armor. They are also good at keeping enemies away from their position. They are well suited to fight Warriors, but struggle to deal with archers.

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Those are all the mechanics involved in combat. There are several mechanics that take place in between battles, but for the sake of this test, i will spare you the details. I would like at least three players to join, with at least one character per class. I will run two test battles, one against an enemy of similar characters, and one against a single boss character. If you have any questions, or suggestions for how to improve the combat system, please let me know. But if you would like to join, please fill out the following character sheet:


Updates will happen sporadically, since I don't have constant access to a computer. I can respond to questions or comments from my phone, but updates will only happen when I have computer access.

This is the story focusing around the Shokan Character. I suggest reading the OOC thread first to get acquainted with this game. (If you have not already)

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Shokan are a species of giant, 8-foot tall humanoids with four arms, and three fingers on each hand. Every inch of their body is covered with thick muscles. A single Shokan is easily able to uproot a fully-grown tree by himself. The Shokan are consumed with a lust for war and fighting. The Shokan and Minotaurs often clashed in order for the men to prove their worth to a potential mate. With the Humans recently exterminating the Minotaurs, fighting the Humans was the logical next step. What the Shokan had in brute strength, they lacked in intelligence. While the Shokan were clearly sentient, able to communicate with other species and understand spoken language, they retained many traits most would consider "animalistic" There have been a few Shokan in history who persued knowledge, but they were shunned by their own community.

It was a day like any other when a large army of humans arrived. A human diplomat demanded to speak to the chief of your community. However, the Humans were clearly trespassing on your property, and almost every Shokan simultaneously grabbed whatever heavy thing they could find, and charged the army, Yourself included. The human diplomat screamed, and ran back to the army, quickly getting behind a wall of shields and pikes. A few dumber Shoken ran themselves through on the pikes, but the others were smart enough to stop, and attempt to bat their way through the wall of pikes.

A few Shokan, like you, preferred to stick back and throw large rocks at the enemy, picking up rocks from the ground using your lower arms, handing them off, and throwing them with your upper arms. That was until a volley of crossbow bolts sailed into those of you who stayed back. None of them hit you, but many of your brethren were struck with many shafts. A couple of your brethren fell over, but the rest just casually looked down at the arrow shafts protruding from their body, then simply returned to throwing their rocks. You, however, reasoned that more of the pointy things might very well come again, so you moved behind a tree to throw your rocks.

It was about this time that the humans' cavalry crested a nearby ridge, charging at you and your fellow rock-throwers. The horses moved to flank your position, then charged. They lowered their lances, intent on running your body clean through. All you had was four rocks, one in each hand.

This topic has been moved to Roll To Dodge.

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=164248.0

You are all pilots in the battle of brittan. You all must defend your homeland from the encroaching nazis. You can attempt any action you like, (provided it is somewhat reasonable, eg. no wizardry or ascention into godhood etc.) and the dice will decide if you succeed or fail. In this first battle, it is 100 british planes against 80 luftwaffe aircraft. Give me a quick character sheet, and you'll join right in the battle.


Character Sheet
Name:

Anything else you want to add: (optional)

Yep. That's the character sheet. I'm not putting any work into this, why should you?



GET FLYING!

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The kingdom of Shaedoria had fallen under a terrible curse. Everybody knew of it. Even village-folk, like yourself, had figured as much. The crops were sickly, plague spread like wildfire, and bandits were more audacious and numerous than you could ever recall in your long life. There was no telling how bad things must be in the rest of the kingdom, but given the lack of relief from the capitol city of Traniel, it must have been equally terrible throughout the land. You had mostly resigned to the fate of your village, being much too old to do anything to change the situation. Furthermore, ever since your other half had died to the early rounds of plagues, your indomitability to the punishing will of the gods had all but ceased. You simply lived your life, letting age deteriorate you until you inevitably collapse due to hunger or sickness.

Today, everything changed.

At first, your hopes were raised when a lone swordsman pompously walked into town. He could have been a mercenary willing to fend off raiders for some money, or perhapse a messenger from King Tybalt bringing news of relief. However, none of that was true. Everybody's spirits were crushed when the lone man first spoke. "I AM THE HERO OF SHAEDORIA! I HAVE BEEN SENT BY THE GODS TO DESTROY THE EVIL UPON THIS LAND. I WILL RESTORE PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO THIS PITIFUL VILLAGE. NOW GIVE ME ALL OF YOUR BELONGINGS, OR I WILL RANSACK YOUR HOUSES!" Every adult in the village remembered the last time such a "hero" had come. And they all quickly scattered back to their houses to hide their few items of value that they had managed to save through the hard times. However, he soon began his search. And given the cries of the village members, you suspect that this "hero" was very meticulous in his searching.

After a few hours spent hiding your valuables, the "hero" came to your house, entering without even asking. He immediately began rummaging through absolutely everything, drawers, cabinets, even your bed. Every time he found something, he would dramatically hold it over his head, and sing a few notes, "DA da-da da DAAAA!" The first items he took were some wooden cooking utensils. You didn't care too much for them, as they were easily replacable, but it did anger you that he took something he would have absolutely no need of in his silly adventures. The next items were much more important. He opened a barrel filled with the few cabages you harvested from your fields. He then emtied the entire barrel into his pockets. You have no idea how he fit them all there, but you were more focused on how you were supposed to survive winter with no food. Your anger was slowly building as he took more items that you knew he would have no need for: a plate, a pot, your knife, etc. However, your anger reached its boiling point when he found your stash of valuables in the ceiling rafters. There were your gold savings, and your significant other's wedding ring. The "hero" took those items, sang his rediculous jingle, then haughtily marched back to your door. Your months of yielding to life suddenly ended as your rage took over your actions...

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This is a community story where I write the character into scenarios, and they then react to those scenarios based off of your suggestions. As of now, there is no pre-determined plot. A plot will emerge based heavilly off of your suggestions for what the character does. Furthermore, the character is a complete badass and can perform any task, no matter how inprobable, completely flawlessly. So feel free to do completely rediculous and over-the-top actions for simple problems. That is where the fun in this game comes from. 

Rules:
1. While your suggestions can be improbable and rediculous, do not suggest something that is completely out of the realm of possibility. For example, do not suggest "build a duct-tape nuke" when there is no duct tape available.
2. Do not manipulate the enviroment, rather, suggest actions for the character to perform in order to react to the enviroment.
3. No trolling, For example, "kill yourself" will not be taken as a suggestion.
4. No repeating the same tactic multiple times. Find new creative ways to deal with the situation.
5. Have fun.

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You woke up early in the morning, while the sun was still below the horizon, so that you could get a head start on tracking suitable game. You have been away from civilization for over 3 months, living off of the land in the Appalachian forests. The reason you came out here was to train your young Golden Eagle, which you named Argos. You found Argos in the woods with a broken wing while you were hunting. You took Argos back to your home in Virginia, where you nursed her back to health, feeding her, and getting her accustomed to you and other humans. Your grandfather was a falconer, and taught you how to care and train a bird while he was still alive. Once Argos was able to fly again, you ventured out into the wilds, and used that experience to train Argos to obey your commands while you perfected your hunting techniques. You focused on catching small game, rabbits and marmots, but today was different. Today was going to be a big day. You had been tracking a herd of elk for three days, and they were at most a few hours ahead of you. Argos would most likely be able to see them today, and you could secure a weeks worth of meat. Your remaining food was running low, so it was imperative that you killed something. You exited your tent, and methodically packed your tent and supplies into your backpack, and whistled loudly through the forest. In a few moments, Argos came flying through the canopy, and perched onto your arm. You then set off, following the tracks you followed yesterday.

After an hour of traveling, you released Argos to search for the deer, while you continue following the tracks. After 30 minutes, she returns, clicking her mouth, signalling that they are no more than a mile away. You loop around so that the wind is in your face, then continue following Argos's directions to the elk. You catch sight of the herd. You release Argos to go fetch food for herself while you prepare to kill an Elk. You spend another half-hour getting in range, and in the perfect position to shoot your rifle, carefully making no noise in the process. You see a large buck grazing on the outskirts of the field... a perfect target. You bring your hunting rifle to your shoulder, and look down the scope, taking into account the range, and windspeed. You aim for the heart, place your finger on the trigger, and BAM!

You jump in alarm. You hadn't pulled the trigger, and the sound of a gun almost made you wet your pants. The Elk all prance away at high speeds, you quickly bring your rifle back, but it was too late, they had gone. Three hard days of work wasted. Argos quickly returned to you, and started squawking in alarm, signalling to you the direction of the noise. You angrily pack up your rifle, and march towards the direction of the disturbance. While other people technically had just as much right as you to hunt, that didn't make you any less angry. However, your attitude changes when you hear another gunshot, then another. Then, there was a short break, followed by the sound of machine guns. Something fishy was going on. Before you can make any more cohesive thoughts, two men with machine guns break through the undergrowth, see you, and take aim. Argos was still circling above you, squawking at the two men. Your gun was securely fastened to your pack, and you don't have time to ready it.

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This is a storytelling game where the protagonist is a complete and utter badass. Every action the character does will be performed flawlessly, no matter how improbable or ridiculous. The story as of now has almost no plot, I will make up the plot as the story progresses based on your decisions.
Rules:
-Your suggestions can be extremely improbable and ridiculous, but not anything that is impossible for a human to do. For example, "throw a rock right through soldier one's open mouth, ripping through and striking the other soldier two in the head" Is perfect, but "Summon a phoenix to kill everything" Will not be accepted.
-Try to keep your suggestions interesting and unique. Don't use the same action over and over again, or say "kill everything." It will make it more entertaining if you are more specific and creative with your suggestions.
-Do not manipulate the environment. Instead, give suggestions for how the character can deal with the current situation. No matter what action you suggest, the character won't die.
-Don't be a troll. Suggestions like, "kill yourself." Will not be accepted.
-More rules as needed.

This is a community story where each person writes one sentance to add to the already existing story. After the starting sentance, however, each post will alternate between starting with "fortunately" and "unfortunately." The first sentance will be a starter, the next sentance will start with "unfortunately" and the next will start with "fortunately" etc. An example from an earlier version of the game is in the spoiler.

There are a few rules to make this more fun.

1. Keep it clean
2. No blatantly contradicting a previous post (no saying "unfortunately, that didn't actually happen")

Other than that, I think it's time to get started!

Once apon a time, Steve woke up to a strange smell.

A familiar sound pulls you out of a light slumber. It is a rhythmic alarm (beep, beep... beep, beep...) You react instantly and put your communication device into your ear. You type in the password and listen. The robotic voice of central control begins speaking to you. "Agent 7, this is central control. Do you read? Over." You reply, "Central control, this is Agent 7. Read you 5 by 5. Over." Central control continues, "6 unidentified hostiles are breaking into the white house. We have no idea what their intentions are. You are the only agent close enough to deal with this. You are to make sure these hostiles are no longer a threat, but you must not interrupt the business in the white house. You must do this by whatever means necessary. Central control out."

You put on some clothes that would help you blend in with the typical Washington DC foot traffic, and look at your supplies to determine what you will take. You look out the window of your apartment and see the White House in all of it's glory, then open a trunk containing the following items: a silenced pistol, a grapple gun, some pills containing a deadly poison, a rocket launcher, a coiled zipline, a sniper rifle, some body armor, some carbon nano tube rope, some bungee rope, and a wad of cash. How are you planning on entering the white house, and what items should you take?

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This is a storytelling game where the protagonist is a complete and utter badass. Every action you suggest will be performed flawlessly (with a few exceptions, explained in the rules), no matter how improbable or ridiculous. The story as of now has almost no plot, I will make up the plot as the story progresses based on your decisions.
Rules:
-Your suggestions can be extremely improbable and ridiculous, but not anything that is impossible for a human to do. No supernatural wizardry, or summoning, or telepathy, etc.
-Try to keep your suggestions interesting and unique. Don't use the same action over and over again, or say "kill everything." It will make it more entertaining if you are more specific and creative with your suggestions.
-Do not manipulate the environment. Instead, give suggestions for how the character can deal with the current situation. No matter what action you suggest, the character won't die.
-Don't be a troll. Suggestions like, "kill yourself." Will not be accepted.
-More rules as needed.