The Kung-Fu Tournament
Posted 16th July 2008 at 08:39 AM by Graf
Updated 16th July 2008 at 08:40 AM by Graf (clarity (or what passes for it in my posts))
Updated 16th July 2008 at 08:40 AM by Graf (clarity (or what passes for it in my posts))
I should say that, even by the standards of gamers, I know nothing about kung-fu or martial arts.
So, if this is hideously off base. Well... there you go.
The characters, all of whom are martial artists, get together for a big martial arts tournament. They'll fight each other, they'll fight NPCs. There are big personalities.
The whole shebang.
In a PbP game I think you'd want 12 - 18 pcs and you'd probably need a second or even third DM to keep the game going (refereeing PC fights and interactions, getting people involved in sub-plots, etc).
There would be an understanding that it would be possible for some members to "advance" to a campaign; so the stakes would be that you could keep playing your (presumably awesome) character if you "did well".
The 'catch' is that the campaign would involve another group that had been watching the game from the sidelines; so it wouldn't be based upon winning the tournament. PCs who showed the proper mindset (discipline, manners, grace in defeat) would be selected, not necessarily the guy who did the most damage.
Due to the tournament laws that only one person may challenge another on a given day no-one else may challenge the "renegade" and he becomes the master of the school.
The campaign?
He picks the PCs, or gets help from the hidden mystic brotherhood to pick the PCs, for a mission.
They are honor bound to accept.
The PCs have to work for this person, who, while being a terrible person on a personal level, wants very much to protect and maintain the school and it's area (now that its finally his or hers).
In 4e you'd have to take a few liberties.
The monk is due out at some point, so you'd have a non-striker (hopefully a defender) open-handed-warrior type class.
On top of that "monk base" each character they'd get another class that represents the secret techiniques of their school.
In mechanics terms "free multiclassing".
They'd get an improved version of the multi-class benefit (probably sneak attack/quarry whatever as an encounter instead of a daily) as well as a "free" encounter or a daily power from that class list. And more "free" powers from their secondary class as they advanced in level.
These powers would be reflavored as martial arts powers.
You might need to do some tweaking -- handing out a few more attribution points -- to avoid MAD problems.
So, if this is hideously off base. Well... there you go.
The characters, all of whom are martial artists, get together for a big martial arts tournament. They'll fight each other, they'll fight NPCs. There are big personalities.
- The aging grandmaster and his Cabinet of Thunder (a powerful group of warrior brethren)
- The secret cult of anonymous mystic warriors engaged in a shadow battle
- Serpent men looking for easy converts
- The emperors spies (he's concerned about the threat of this martial artists on order in the empire
- The aging grandmaster's failed and evil disciple, rumored to have returned to humiliate his master
- delegations from half a dozen major schools, and individuals from a score more
The whole shebang.
In a PbP game I think you'd want 12 - 18 pcs and you'd probably need a second or even third DM to keep the game going (refereeing PC fights and interactions, getting people involved in sub-plots, etc).
There would be an understanding that it would be possible for some members to "advance" to a campaign; so the stakes would be that you could keep playing your (presumably awesome) character if you "did well".
The 'catch' is that the campaign would involve another group that had been watching the game from the sidelines; so it wouldn't be based upon winning the tournament. PCs who showed the proper mindset (discipline, manners, grace in defeat) would be selected, not necessarily the guy who did the most damage.
The crazy plot I'd run
Due to the tournament laws that only one person may challenge another on a given day no-one else may challenge the "renegade" and he becomes the master of the school.
The campaign?
He picks the PCs, or gets help from the hidden mystic brotherhood to pick the PCs, for a mission.
They are honor bound to accept.
The PCs have to work for this person, who, while being a terrible person on a personal level, wants very much to protect and maintain the school and it's area (now that its finally his or hers).
In 4e you'd have to take a few liberties.
The monk is due out at some point, so you'd have a non-striker (hopefully a defender) open-handed-warrior type class.
On top of that "monk base" each character they'd get another class that represents the secret techiniques of their school.
In mechanics terms "free multiclassing".
They'd get an improved version of the multi-class benefit (probably sneak attack/quarry whatever as an encounter instead of a daily) as well as a "free" encounter or a daily power from that class list. And more "free" powers from their secondary class as they advanced in level.
These powers would be reflavored as martial arts powers.
You might need to do some tweaking -- handing out a few more attribution points -- to avoid MAD problems.
Total Comments 6
Comments
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very interesting and original.
Once the monk is out, i'd gladly give this a try if you're still keen on the idea Graf...Posted 11th September 2008 at 05:31 PM by Atanatotatos
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Thanks!
I was am/really keen on the idea in principal, the problem really would be time issues. And VV's already running a great OA-flavored game (which I'm kicking myself for not joining but...)Posted 12th September 2008 at 02:47 AM by Graf - Actually I was thinking that to run it properly you'd need multiple DMs.... I was imagining say... 12+ pcs all roaming about. So one DM would do tournaments (people would fight every other day, or every third day), and every character would have one encounter a day (but if you're hanging out with someone you'd potentially get to take part in their encounter too).
Of course, your encounter could be "x fears your kungfu, and tries to jump you with a bunch of people in a back alley with a bunch of friends before he has to fight you in the tourney".Posted 12th September 2008 at 02:54 AM by Graf - yeah it surely sounds fun. The post-tournament story too. And you can really write everything in the text to describe your attack. A powerful, damaging,single-attack daily may well be described as a flurry of blows, or a stunning attack like a strike to the groin.
Also, the easy multiclassing is very entartaining and fitting in an eastern-type campaign, as easter culture tends to tie closely martial arts and mystical arts and such.
An Oa-flavored game is cool, but this kind of idea would give it a really "different" vibe.
I suggest waiting for more classes (or playtests) to be released, as classes like monk, barbarian, or even sorcerer would probably add a lot to the campaign.
As you probably noticed, i like very much "the stories you like to tell". I like your game (obviously), i like the Imperium, and this idea. And i loved your changeling rogue's concept.
Consider me a supporter
Posted 12th September 2008 at 04:12 AM by Atanatotatos - Yeah, the power system works very well for modeling a lot of Asian or Asian inspired pop storytelling (by which I mean stuff like anime, manga, kung-fu action, etc)
Your enthusiasm is quite infectious!
And the support much appreciated (thanks again for helping getting ePoL started!)Posted 12th September 2008 at 07:12 AM by Graf
Updated 12th September 2008 at 07:18 AM by Graf - my pleasure of course.
I'm sorry, though, that I didn't contribute much to living 4th's development in the end. I found a bit pointless going on developing a pantheon that was not fitting with the primary setting anyway. Maybe with the living world ongoing...
I'll submit a character though. My interest in the project hasn't faded. And I forgot to mention my (and surely many others') appreciation and admiration for te enthusiasm and time you put into it.Posted 12th September 2008 at 07:22 AM by Atanatotatos
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