Friday, November 15, 2024

Free Magic System for OSR Games - Not Everyone Loves Vancian Magic

 

Free Magic System for OSR Games - Not Everyone Loves Vancian Magic 


Schools of Magic and Sub Class

Alchemist - External, Scientist, Herbalist, and Internal Alchemy
Spiritualist  - Gypsy, Tribal Shaman
Mentalist / Psychic  - Order of the Thought Police
Elemental / Forces - Fire Mages
Fate / Luck / Entropy - Gambler, Assassin
Time  - TVA Agent
Blood / Life  - Healer, Vampire

In some instances, the schools can combine

Alchemy / Entropy / Life - Order of the Viper's Kiss the Masters of Poison. 


Spells outside of Cantrips and Simple Rotes are time consuming at best
To Cast Complex Magic there are 5 Steps

1. Initiate the Spell - tap into the power
2. Construct - The words and other essential components must be presented (sacrifices)
3. Expand - Flesh out any 2nd & 3rd Effects the caster has in mind.
4. Incantation - actually speak the words without interruption.
5. Proclaim the Power - Point, Glare at, Wave at, and Signature Dramatic Pose at

As you can see this can take time.  Time can be worked out between Player & GM.  Shortcuts can be discussed and agreed upon.  The other player did not need their favorite magic toy anymore. 

Steps 1 & 2 Require Fuel

Personal Life Power - take damage that takes 2x longer to heal

Stored Magic - Everyday for a couple of years the mage has squeezed a blood tear into a sacred jar for the magic.

Squeezing / Ripping mana from rare items

Sacrifices - another whole herd of unicorns gone.

Tapping into a Ley Line / Vein of the Universe - On top of the Sacred Mountain as the comet streaks across the sky unlimited power can be had.

For those not happy with Vancian 

Sunday, January 22, 2023

My Easy D8 Combat Distance Chart

 Yes I know there is a great one in the AD&D Books. This one is easy and it gets hard the deeper in the dungeon they go

Roll D8

  1. 3 to 7ft away

  2. 8 to 12ft away

  3. 12 to 21ft away

  4. 23 to 28ft away

  5. 29 to 35 ft away

6 37 to 48ft away

7. 50 to 62ft away

8. 65 to 75 ft away

9. 77 to 90 ft away

10 97 to 120ft away

11 125 to 145 ft away

12 150 to 240 ft away

Outdoors +4 to roll... Dungeon Lvl 1 +3. Lvl 2 +2 Lvl 3 +1 Lvl 4 :)

Thursday, January 19, 2023

My House Rulez for Blanc Box

House Rulez I came up with for Blanc Box TTRPG 

 So my simple dungeon movement rate was

Warrior 6 squares, or 7 if no shield, 8 if no armor at all

Priest / MU 8 Squares

Most Monsters Moved at 7 - Flyers at 10, and horses at 9

***Shield soaks 2hp of damage a round but breaks on 2 in 6 chance after every soak (roll of 1 or 2 on a d6).

Leather Armor soaks 1hp breaks on 1 in 6 chance **heaviest armor that can be used with Sneak Skill. ***Shields can not be used with Sneak Skill.

Chain Mail - 2hp breaks on 2 in 6 chance. *** Heaviest armor that can be worn and cast spells with by Priest. MU can not wear armor and cast spells. MU may use shield.

Plate Mail - 3hp but breaks on 3 in 6 chance.


My Easy Skill System - make a list of 2-24 skills

Warrior gets 4 to start and 1 new every 3 levels *with skills the warrior could do Thief Stuff

Priest 5 to start and 1 new every 4 levels

Mage 6 to start and 1 new every 5 levels

Skills are 1 shot either per adventure or game session - GM's Choice. It is suggested to declare this before the adventure starts.

Using Skills gives a +1 to the target number making it easier to roll under it.

Using a Tool gives a +1 to the target number making it easier to roll under it. *** Tools break or need to be serviced on a 1 in d6 chance after each use.

Skill and tool use could be combined. Using Lock Picks and a Tinker / Lock Pick Skill giving a +2 to the roll.

A Nat 20 is always a Crit Failure in a roll under game

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Back to Lamentations News - Book of Antitheses a review!

 Yes I still do use LOTFP from time to time! 

This is one of the best GM / DM Advice Books out there 


https://youtu.be/DnXIUQ9bhOw

Blanc Box a new Non WOTC OGL OSR Game

 Can be found here Blanc Box: A Creative Commons Fantasy TTRPG by elmarcotote123 (itch.io)

Options for D20 or D6 Based Roll Under Mechanics 

This is a very playable system to replace other OSR Systems 

Blanc Box is a win win 



Monday, January 16, 2023

All is not well in TTRPG Industry! Behold the Evil of OGL 1.1!

 Wow has 2023 started off with a whirlwind. Several of my favorite games are reworking their titles in an effort to remove themselves from the WOTC OGL 1.1 forever. 


Pathfinder has ORC coming up

Basic Fantasy is working on a new Creative Commons License

The Black Hack is conducting a review to see what can be done to remove the WOTC OGL


There is a lot going on in the TTRPG Hobby. 

A lot of us feel the OSR will not be the same.  Too early to tell if this will be a good thing or a bad thing. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

A most amazing monster manual / folio from 1910

 Who knew they gamed back then? 


https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=nebraskianapubs