Any authors interested in tabletop RPG world building?

Discussion in 'Gaming' started by kchilds, Jul 17, 2018.

  1. kchilds

    kchilds Elven Mystic LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

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    Gather round folks,

    Not sure if this is the right forum or if it's allowed, and I'm hoping it's okay to post....
    I'm looking for a few interested souls in a pretty big adventure. I've been developing my own system for a few months now and I'm getting into the best part of the world-building; making up fantasy kingdoms to inhabit my game. The trouble is, none of my usual helpers (read; players and fellow GMs)are all that free or interested in the concept: Anime Fantasy Mecha (Mecha powered with magic in a classic fantasy world)

    Sources of inspiration: Knights & Magic, Magic Knights Rayearth, Escaflowne, Final Fantasy 6.

    I'm very serious about finishing this core book; I've got every single intention of launching this game via kickstarter. Not for money, but because of the awesome mechanics, the world I'm crafting, and finally making a mecha game that doesn't require long-division or dedicated excel-sheet formula for mecha creation. I'm so serious I've already started the search for artists so that when the mechanics are finished, the art is too.

    There isn't an actual deadline at the moment, but I have a personal goal of finishing the world-building and monster creation within the next 2 months.

    Core mechanic is stat modifer+skill+1d10

    Magic system is a three-part freeform addition. Basically you add a line from three columns to combine a spell. I've got a bunch of weird illuminati sketches of the 'three part triangle theory' that went into this mechanic.

    Mecha creation is straight addition and uses whole numbers, no fractions, no division, just 1+2. It's revolutionary!!

    What I need:

    +Someone interested in making a few monsters and stats (like 5-6 would be a HUGE help) using the mechanics and setting in the world

    +Someone interested in bringing two-three fantasy kingdoms to life on an otherwise empty map (400 words ish)

    +Someone interested in writing out equipment lists (yeah, this one is probably wishful thinking!)

    I can't offer much in terms of payment other than free copies of the finished product, pride, having your name as a credit under the authors on the credits page.

    If this tickles your pickle, please join me on discord to discuss it a bit more:

    Discord - Free voice and text chat for gamers

    A brief note about me: I'm a veteran 2nd gen gamer. I grew up in a house of first-edition nerds, my first games were AD&D, vampire, cyberpunk, etc. If I haven't played a system, I've probably heard of it.
     
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  2. Viergacht

    Viergacht Thunderdragon LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

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    That sounds like a cool idea - Escaflowne is one of my all time favorite series.
     
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  3. Gryphon

    Gryphon Level 18 (Magician) LitRPG Author Citizen

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    I wouldn't mind lending a hand to bring a few places/races to life.
     
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  4. Simon Fiasco

    Simon Fiasco Bringer of the Avocadopocalypse LitRPG Author Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

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    I love world building, but really have no experience with your sources of inspiration. I've got a setting I've been creating for some time now, however, that includes magic-powered mecha (though my players have yet to discover them).

    How can I help?
     
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  5. kchilds

    kchilds Elven Mystic LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

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    Aww thanks guys! I'm sharing the current core on discord. Just so I can keep the versions in one spot.
     
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  6. kchilds

    kchilds Elven Mystic LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

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    For convenience I've uploaded a PDF of the current WIP. Still working on combat, but a lot of the creation is up for both mecha and characters. I enabled comments if anyone wants to throw thoughts or ideas at it:

     
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  7. Windfall

    Windfall Level 18 (Magician) LitRPG Author Citizen

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    This looks very cool! <3

    I'll have time at the beginning of Sep, so I'll check back then if you still need help :)
     
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  8. kchilds

    kchilds Elven Mystic LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

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    I've been working very steadily on it for a few months now. Partly in response to my disappointment in my creator-crush Mike Pondsmith, whom did two of my absolute all-time-favourite games (Mekton and Cyberpunk- yes the same cyberpunk CD project red made into video game and is coming out in next 10 years.) For a very, very long time the d10 system that these two systems use was the absolute pinnacle for me from gameplay perspective. But I did find the creation of mecha really, really frustrating as it relied on massive amounts of long-division and most people couldn't do it without specialised excel macros.
    I made sort of a fan-based test system for my favourite comic growing up (Elfquest) and it worked out very well in my group of players. But I've always wanted to try my hand at a mecha system, with the big desire to make construction a simple, linear process not involving fractions, long division or multiplication. I'd shelved thinking about system development for a huge amount of time because of the 'eventual' release of Mekton Zero but the project fell down and failed.
    I know my own gaming group was extremely eager to play it, and I myself was chomping at the bit to get a new system from Mike. I channeled all that energy into Magitech.
    Writing a system is soooo different to writing an adventure or a novel; you've got to flexibly jump around the book from one random point to another. and revise a lot as you go. Halfway through mecha construction rules I realized I needed to figure out the magic system. After getting a chunk on the magic system down I had to revise the skills and the mecha construction. Halfway through equipment I've realized I need to work out how shields will fit in and that's going to take rule adjustments in other places (namely defense and blocking/parrying) which could be interesting.
    The magic system being designed so almost all players have access means I have to also refine it a lot more than it is at present (one element is very like another right now)
    As I was working on the alchemy skill (which is sort of a subset of magic in and of itself) I started having thoughts about artefacts (read: magic items) and that is going to involve a huge chapter on its own.
    The world building is going to be easy in comparison.
    I want to finish the core book and also release an adventure at the same time. (probably one of the kickstarter stretch goals) so people have a chance to really experience it. I've never written an adventure for others to read though and my GM style is extremely adaptable and player-driven (session notes for me are dot points mainly) and a linear adventure book is very against my style. I'll probably be getting into the VtM adventure books since they are the most open style compared to a lot of D&D I've found.
     
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  9. Gryphon

    Gryphon Level 18 (Magician) LitRPG Author Citizen

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    Downloaded the copy to get some reading done on it to get a feel for it. I swear I've seen this somewhere before.
    Whatever you need, I'll try to accommodate.
     
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  10. kchilds

    kchilds Elven Mystic LitRPG Author Roleplaying Beta Reader Citizen Aspiring Writer

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    I've taken a mix and match of a bunch of system designs. The d10+skill system is used by a whole bunch of systems from the 80s-90s though less popular nowadays.
    I think Tenrabanshou had similiar world setting ideas but theirs was very much huge anime mash-up. (not actually looked at tenrabanshou all that much)
    The premise is very much based on a bunch of anime where they have mecha in an otherwise high-fantasy setting.
     
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