Ruins of Khazan - A Rumbles RPG - Sign Up/System Test

[Postmania]

Can confirm, they are fun.

[grampagen]

I'm aware it's all in fun but in the interests of repeated clarity, I would just like to stress, again, PVP is not the desired outcome of this game.

Made a small amendment to 0 HP rules.

IC they're most likely going to be roasting each other verbally more than anything.

Arx and Kinu might beef, cuz, well.

They had a bit of beef in Oblitus, mostly because they were both real hungry, and wanted to eat another PC (a giant magic bug). And also because Arx kinda wanted to eat some of the Magical Girls, cuz, well, she was conditioned to hunt and eat them.

No magical girls here though, so that's less of an issue.

Just some residuals at the start I figure. No real PVP outside of like, the occasional elbow drop or fastball special.

In fact, the PVP will likely accidentally become synergy or dual techs. Somehow.

[Beadle]

Beadle, re-read your stuff. Strikes just as hard the second time.

Really a gut-wrenching read.

Thanks, Sharp. Means a lot, coming from you.

I need to:
a) Get something sorted with the stats, traits, techniques etc. (my original stats aren’t going to cut it with RAC of 1)
b) Really read everybody else’s stuff, which I’ve not had chance to do yet (and I wasn’t involved in the other games that certain characters originated in).

I see you've gone semi-classic with the 'devil' motif, in terms of description/picture.

Yeah, I was tempted to veer away, but then I figured that if you’re creating a devil from scratch (albeit using an angelic body as the starting materials) for the purpose of controlling a populace with religious fear, you’d make them look like ‘a devil’.

Granted, there’s nothing to say what a devil would look like to the Kystari, but… bleh… it’s simpler to get the message across.

[Nik Hasta]

I need to:
a) Get something sorted with the stats, traits, techniques etc. (my original stats aren’t going to cut it with RAC of 1)

I would like to see the original stats, if possible. Mostly so I can enter Tzachanothel into the engine.

Also, if you want advice on build, Traits or Techniques, my PMs are open or just ask in the thread.

[Beadle]

I would like to see the original stats, if possible. Mostly so I can enter Tzachanothel into the engine.

Also, if you want advice on build, Traits or Techniques, my PMs are open or just ask in the thread.

Thanks Nik. I’ll put the stats in shortly.

And I’ll probably ask questions in the open here, if that’s OK…? Because I’m permanently stymied by the 100 message limit on PMs here. Frustrates the hell out of me, and I hate deleting messages I’m keeping for perpetuity/nostalgia purposes.

The only other options are to go back into one of the old RPol games and start a PM thread there (they’re still open AFAIK)…? Or are you on Discord?

[Nik Hasta]

Thanks Nik. I’ll put the stats in shortly.

And I’ll probably ask questions in the open here, if that’s OK…? Because I’m permanently stymied by the 100 message limit on PMs here. Frustrates the hell out of me, and I hate deleting messages I’m keeping for perpetuity/nostalgia purposes.

The only other options are to go back into one of the old RPol games and start a PM thread there (they’re still open AFAIK)…? Or are you on Discord?

I'm perfectly happy to answer questions publicly in this thread, I only offer PM as well because I know that some users prefer to use PM so they can work through the process privately.

I'm not on Discord, or rather I technically am but I don't really like Discord as a platform and my old laptop could barely run it. I do have new laptop now so I could likely run it without issue. If it's desperate, I could be persuaded back onto it.

[Beadle]

No, it’s all good. I’m happy to air my incompetence in public.

Nature’s been doing that since I was born anyway.

[Nik Hasta]

No, it’s all good. I’m happy to air my incompetence in public.

Nature’s been doing that since I was born anyway.

Seriously though, I'm of the opinion that it is useful for other players to see the process of character generation.

I even linked a post of me helping Post with Jane to the second post of the thread because it was good explainer of how Trait/Technique combos could work.

I look forward to Tzachanothel developing.

[Sharpandpointies]

IC they're most likely going to be roasting each other verbally more than anything.

In fact, the PVP will likely accidentally become synergy or dual techs. Somehow.

This will be a fun dynamic, and I can totally see the idea of 'dual techs' developing. Like, 'must chain off other person's tech' or something.

Thanks, Sharp. Means a lot, coming from you.

Your stuff is always detailed and evocative, but this one really dug deep. ^_^

I need to:
a) Get something sorted with the stats, traits, techniques etc. (my original stats aren’t going to cut it with RAC of 1)
b) Really read everybody else’s stuff, which I’ve not had chance to do yet (and I wasn’t involved in the other games that certain characters originated in).

Low RAC is maybe not so bad as one might think, depending on the build. If Soak is high enough, or the other stats are high enough, it may obviate some of the need for RAC. Then there are the techniques, some of which provide RAC or the equivalent, and if one has a lot of Energy one can continuously use techs. Etc.

RAC is an interesting dynamic, and I've gone hardcore into it, but I can see it's not the be-all and end-all.

Yeah, I was tempted to veer away, but then I figured that if you’re creating a devil from scratch (albeit using an angelic body as the starting materials) for the purpose of controlling a populace with religious fear, you’d make them look like ‘a devil’.

Granted, there’s nothing to say what a devil would look like to the Kystari, but… bleh… it’s simpler to get the message across.

The whole 'Devil to the Kystari' thing was what I was considering, but in the end it boils down to:

1. Something that has to build upon their ideas of 'Angels', either as an offshoot or the complete opposite (choose one);
2. Something that is visually vicious/cruel/frightening.

If the 'Angels' (the Luninense) were originally beings of 'light and fire', smooth and winged (soaring?), here you have a devil-picture that incorporates darkness, jagged blade-like edges and barbs, pointed horns, etc. The wings (and feathers) may be a call-back to the appearance of the Luminense, to give the idea of 'corrupted' or 'evil versions of'. It's not outlandish that even an alien species would create something that looks like this for 'devil'.

Idea: give him four eyes. ^_^ And say the Luminense had four visual sensory organs, or the Kystari did.

I'm not on Discord, or rather I technically am but I don't really like Discord as a platform and my old laptop could barely run it.

*thumbs up*

[Beadle]

Huh. Started writing this hours ago. Just realised I didn’t send it.

Your stuff is always detailed and evocative, but this one really dug deep. ^_^

Again, thanks. Really appreciated. Usually I’d need to at least think about this stuff for a hot second, but as I think I mentioned before, this one just came out the egg fully-formed. I think the only thing that was added after the initial idea was the term Pneumal Network (up until I was actually committing it to virtual paper, I’d never heard the word ‘Pneuma’ as a word for the soul).

So I didn’t actually put much thought into it. Just the effort of typing the thing!

Low RAC is maybe not so bad as one might think, depending on the build. If Soak is high enough, or the other stats are high enough, it may obviate some of the need for RAC. Then there are the techniques, some of which provide RAC or the equivalent, and if one has a lot of Energy one can continuously use techs. Etc.

RAC is an interesting dynamic, and I've gone hardcore into it, but I can see it's not the be-all and end-all.

We’ll see where it ends up. I’ll probably post the initial stats this afternoon.

The whole 'Devil to the Kystari' thing was what I was considering, but in the end it boils down to:

1. Something that has to build upon their ideas of 'Angels', either as an offshoot or the complete opposite (choose one);
2. Something that is visually vicious/cruel/frightening.

If the 'Angels' (the Luninense) were originally beings of 'light and fire', smooth and winged (soaring?), here you have a devil-picture that incorporates darkness, jagged blade-like edges and barbs, pointed horns, etc. The wings (and feathers) may be a call-back to the appearance of the Luminense, to give the idea of 'corrupted' or 'evil versions of'. It's not outlandish that even an alien species would create something that looks like this for 'devil'.

Idea: give him four eyes. ^_^ And say the Luminense had four visual sensory organs, or the Kystari did.

There is also the slight limitation of me coming up with an initial concept description then following my usual path of ‘wanting to find a mostly-appropriate image and then modify the description to suit’. It wasn’t 100% my original description, but that’s my lazy-ass process.

[Nik Hasta]

We’ll see where it ends up. I’ll probably post the initial stats this afternoon.

Intrigued to see it what the concept translates to in mechanical terms.

From my experience in playtesting so far, like most areas in the system, investing in RAC can yield powerful results. But it's all down to playstyle.

[Sharpandpointies]

Again, thanks. Really appreciated. Usually I’d need to at least think about this stuff for a hot second, but as I think I mentioned before, this one just came out the egg fully-formed. I think the only thing that was added after the initial idea was the term Pneumal Network (up until I was actually committing it to virtual paper, I’d never heard the word ‘Pneuma’ as a word for the soul).

Interesting. Ancient Greeks used Pneuma a lot. Even their martial arts sometimes referenced it as their version of Ki.

So I didn’t actually put much thought into it. Just the effort of typing the thing!

And yet, it all worked out great. ^_^

There is also the slight limitation of me coming up with an initial concept description then following my usual path of ‘wanting to find a mostly-appropriate image and then modify the description to suit’. It wasn’t 100% my original description, but that’s my lazy-ass process.

There's always that, right?

Intrigued to see it what the concept translates to in mechanical terms.

From my experience in playtesting so far, like most areas in the system, investing in RAC can yield powerful results. But it's all down to playstyle.

Most systems reward specialization rather than generalization. In a point-based system, especially, a generalist tends to be a character who gets beat up by everyone. Sure, they might last a little longer than some of the other characters against specific enemies who have specialized in ways that may better target those other characters. But lacking in an area that's 'strong', the generalist has difficulty 'forcing their opponent to fight on their terms'. The areas in which the opponent might be weak, the generalist tends to not be strong enough to capitalize on...and they don't have enough oomph to resist in the areas where the specialist is strong.

Yeah, overspecialization IS a problem...but no more than over-generalization. It's a tricky balance, getting enough specialization to have the oomph and to force the enemy to fight your fight, but not so much that one folds immediately when facing something against which they are weak.

And yeah, playstyle and how one approaches conflict/use of their character can make a difference as well.

This is all a 'generalization' (haha) about design (one might be able to find a game/games where a generalist does quite well!), but after years gaming, I feel it's a pretty worthwhile generalization. ^_^

[Cthulhu_of_R'lyeh]

My playstyle will involve having Arx **** talk Kinu so she throws Arx at the baddies.

Don't need Speed or Agility when you're getting yeeted by a meta.

[Nik Hasta]

Interesting. Ancient Greeks used Pneuma a lot. Even their martial arts sometimes referenced it as their version of Ki.



And yet, it all worked out great. ^_^



There's always that, right?



Most systems reward specialization rather than generalization. In a point-based system, especially, a generalist tends to be a character who gets beat up by everyone. Sure, they might last a little longer than some of the other characters against specific enemies who have specialized in ways that may better target those other characters. But lacking in an area that's 'strong', the generalist has difficulty 'forcing their opponent to fight on their terms'. The areas in which the opponent might be weak, the generalist tends to not be strong enough to capitalize on...and they don't have enough oomph to resist in the areas where the specialist is strong.

Yeah, overspecialization IS a problem...but no more than over-generalization. It's a tricky balance, getting enough specialization to have the oomph and to force the enemy to fight your fight, but not so much that one folds immediately when facing something against which they are weak.

And yeah, playstyle and how one approaches conflict/use of their character can make a difference as well.

This is all a 'generalization' (haha) about design (one might be able to find a game/games where a generalist does quite well!), but after years gaming, I feel it's a pretty worthwhile generalization. ^_^

Speaking of generalisation; Did I end up posting the Average PC I made?

Since I had all the stats on hand, I just had the spreadsheet create an Average for all areas. Granted, Hadron and Cross are both still in the engine which does skew the results a little.

Let me grab them... might be useful for PCs to see where they fall on the spectrum.

[Nik Hasta]

Behold! The Average PC!

Max HP: 228
Core HP: 147

Offensive Block
STR: 39
PRE: 29
CHR: 26

Defensive Block
DUR: 34
RES: 28
AGI: 26

Hit Block
BRA: 29
SPD: 29
SKI: 43

Energy Matrix
ENR: 24
ENR VALUE: 240
Latent ENR: 81
Mastered ENR: 159
Stack: 3.18
RAC: 2.16
RUM: 3
Movement: 88
ATK Action(s): 1
Tech Action(s): 1
Range: 80

Affinity and Techniques
Free Slots: 8

Body: 1 Honed, 1 Epic - 17.50% DMG Reduction
Spirit: 1 Honed, 1 Epic - 20.00% DMG Reduction
Mind: 1 Honed - 12.50% DMG Reduction

Social Matrix
Notice: 12
Insight: 16
Persuasion: 12
Deception: 15
Intimidation: 15
Stealth: 14
Computation: 12

And yes, it is possible to build this in the system without breaking the rules of builds.