Hiya!
Powers and perils?
As in the Avalon hill boxed sets?
How does it play? What is the system like?
I’ve never come across anyone who has actually played it before!
Yup, that's the one. Here:
Powers and Perils - Index (and yes, 'we' have permission from...well, it's a long story, but bottom line... as long as it all remains free, Hasbro is cool with it).
I tell new P&P Players that it's a "Light Bulb Moment" RPG. That is to say that when you first start reading and making a character, you will likely be confused. Maybe a little, maybe a lot, but you will be confused. Then, at some point in the process, or in the first session... BING! A light bulb goes off over your head and everything just sort of falls into place.
The system is d100 based, and your chance to succeed is based on several factors; they type of check (Characteristic/Stat, a "Normal" skill, or an "Or 80" skill). A difficulty is assigned to the task, and that gives a multiplier to the Char/Stat, Skill rating to get the chance. For example, if making a single, simple Strength check of, say, "Difficult" rating, you simply multiply your current Strength by x1. That's your percent chance. The ratings are Easy / Moderate / Difficult / Very Difficult / Impossible. If the call was for a Strength + Stamina (two Characteristics/Stats), then a Difficult raging is actually /2; meaning add your Strength and your Stamina together, then divide by 2. If it was a three stat check, say Strength + Stamina + Willpower, a Difficult rating would be /3.
Skills are of the same style; a skill is "Normal" (a lower number for a rank), or an "Or 80" (closer to a percentage for a rank). A "Difficult" task for a Normal skill has you take your skills level (called an "Expertise Level", or "EL") and multiply it by 5. The same difficulty for an Or 80 skill would be /2. (e.g., a Normal EL of 6 would give you a 30% chance; an Or 80 EL of 44 would give you 22% chance).
As I said...confusing, but at some point it 'pops' and makes sense. For example, combat skills are always Normal, as are Spells. Oh, each Spell is, effectively, it's own "skill". In fact that's one of the beauties of P&P, imnsho. Everyone in the world has a CEL ("Combat Experience Level"); this is your 'level as a fighter', to use D&D'ish terms. This represents your experience at fighting...how long, how many battles, etc. Those that can cast magic also have a MEL ("Magic Experience Level"), which is the same idea, but for using Magic. Each weapon you use has it's own EL ("Expertise Level"...your skill level in that particular weapon). Same with spells...each spell has it's own EL. This allows a character to be highly Experienced...say, a 14th level CEL...but if he's never used a Quarterstaff before, he's going to suck at it and have an EL 0 rating. He'll still be hitting fairly often...he IS 14th level!...but he will have less capability to adjust his fighting style with it (meaning he has 0 'points' to either use for offense or defense). But the 5th level CEL warrior who is an expert in Quarterstaff, say EL 9, may have a lower 'base' chance', but he can choose to divvy up 9 (his EL) points between Offense and Defense. This 'small' adjustment can make ALL the difference in the severity of a hit.
Spells...same thing. High level wizard that's never cast Fireball in his life? EL 0 in Fireball; pretty weak. But a pyromancer who has little Experience, but is EL 7 in Fireball? Ouch!
The overall "feel" of the game is a strange mix between classic "Swords & Sorcery" (think Conan, Lankhmar, or even Dark Sun)... and "Classical Fantasy" (like the old movie Legend, or more classical medieval wivestales... like 'fairies live in toadstool rings' or 'iron burns the skin of elves', etc).
It's a very fun and rewarding system...even if it takes a bit of getting used to. Once you do 'get it', however, everything falls into place and makes sense. Definitely worth the effort!
Go DL the rules and try it for yourself. Or join the mailing list and ask questions. We don't do a lot of talking, but we all love the game and are happy to answer any questions.
^_^
Paul L. Ming
