D&D General Has the OGL/WotC debacle motivated you to create your own Fantasy Heartbreaker or homebrew?

[Burt Baccara]

Like many, had started something before this mess. It will be for personal consumption with zero plans to publish at this time.

 

[Umbran]

Classic, Plus, or Prime?

I was expecting to use Prime, because I have this nice shiny book for it. Cortex seems able to sort of mirror the ST:Adv stat structure, without needing the rather fiddly dice mechanics.

The interesting bit will be mirroring the character generation mechanics.

 

[Art Waring]

I have been working on a non-fantasy project for years, all that will change is the system it uses (going with my own), and the fact that I won't be using the OGL, but another less restrictive license, CC, ORC, whatever fits best with the future of the open gaming community.

 

[Laurefindel]

Oh! That sounds cool! The official Twilight Imperium RPG by Fantasy Flight Games (waaaaaay back in the day) was a real disappointment. I'll be sure to check yours out when/if you share it.

FFG also has one in the making (it should already be out but was delayed during COVID) which I'm really looking forward to. It looks like it's a direct TI port into their Genesis system (same as FFG Star Wars), whereas mine is a lot more gimmicky with Action Cards replacing The One Ring's advantage dice gained at the beginning of combats, Command Tokens replacing Hope as the in-game currency to fuel abilities, Victory Points (xp) scored by objectives during the Status Phase (the equivalent of the fellowship phase in TOR), etc. Some people will find it too boardgame-like.

 

[payn]

No, im still too lazy. Though, if I did it would be something closer to 3E/PF1. Id look at a 12 level system with archetypes and prestige classes. Feats, expansive skills, bounded accuracy etc..

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Maybe look at Worlds Without Number and Atlas of the Latter Earth?

EDIT: There is a free version of WWN on DriveThruRPG that covers most character options. There are three full classes: Warrior, Expert, and Mage. There is the Adventurer, which is the multiclass option that lets players be a Warrior/Mage, a Mage/Expert, or a Warrior/Mage. Mages can even go full mage in certain magical traditions (e.g., High Magic, Healer, Necromancy, Elementalism) or take two partial mage traditions (e.g., Healer/Necromancer, etc.).

The paid version has additional character options for partial classes, including a spontaneous-casting "Sorcerer" using spell points, a shapeshifter, a classic D&D-style priest, a duelist, a beastmaster, and a psychic. Atlas of the Latter Earth expands this by providing the bard, a warlock (i.e., the "Accursed"), the anti-magic mage-slayer, plus low/no-magic options like the Alchemist and the Wise.

Plus there are "feats" that all classes can take, and some magical traditions and partial classes have special abilities that they can pick.

All in all, it's a nice balance between 3e-style build options and OSR simplicity.

Thanks. I've never actually heard anyone talk about the player-facing side of WWN, just raves about the DM-facing elements. I'll check it out!

 

[Aldarc]

Thanks. I've never actually heard anyone talk about the player-facing side of WWN, just raves about the DM-facing elements. I'll check it out!

WWN comes out of creating a fantasy version of Stars Without Number, which is itself something of a D&D / Traveller hybrid. So skills are typically 2d6 + attribute + modifier, whereas attacks and saving throws are d20 + attribute + modifier. The standard method in the game is that Attributes are rolled 3d6 in order and then bump one to 14. There is also a standard array without the 14 bump. Attribute modifiers are much flatter: 8-13 (no modifier), 14-17 (+1), and 18 (+2).

WWN Character Summary

Backgrounds and Skills: Players can choose or roll for a Background. Backgrounds provide one free skill. From there, players can choose whether to pick the two quick skills OR they can choose to roll three times for the chance to gain a random skill or attribute (either mental/physical). A character's proficiency in a skill starts at -1. You are trained in a skill at +0. And proficiency in a skill caps at +4. Remember that this is 2d6 + Attribute + Skill Modifier, with Skill Check difficulties of 14+ being only possible by true masters.

Class: Players then choose their class. There are three standard classes: Expert, Mage, Warrior. The Expert is best at skills. The Mage is best at magic. The Warrior is best at combat. Each class gets one or two special abilities as part of the class. For example, the Warrior gains Veteran's Luck, which lets them once per scene turn a missed attack they made into a hit or turn a hit against them into a miss. Additionally there is the Adventurer class, which has rules for the multiclass combos: Warrior/Mage, Mage/Expert, and Expert/Warrior. It's typically in the Adventurer that the other specialized partial classes operate: e.g., Bard (Expert partial class) can be a Bard/Expert, Bard/Warrior, or Bard/Mage. But you can also combine partial classes: e.g., Bard/Psychic, Bard/Duelist, Bard/Priest, etc.

Foci: Players then choose a Focus, which are much like feats. Foci have two tiers, so you can potentially take the same Focus twice and gain an additional benefit. Since a mage's choice of Arcane Tradition provides them access to various non-spell arcane arts, Warriors and Experts (as well as partial Warriors or Experts) gain a bonus foci. Warriors gain a free combat foci and Experts gain a free non-combat focus.

Weapons & Shock: Some weapons have a Shock value. Shock is damage on a miss that is inflicted if the target has an AC less than or equal to the value. For example, a Long Sword has 2/AC 13 for Shock. This means that a Long Sword will inflict 2 + Str/Dex damage against a target on a miss if that target has an AC of 13 or less. This is meant to keep combat (a) deadly and (b) quick so there is not just round after round of misses. Ranged weapons do not have Shock. So this gives more risk/reward with melee weapons.

Race/Ancestry: I have not talked about ancestry yet. Worlds Without Number takes place in a Latter Earth setting where humans are the presumed norm. There are, however, rules for creating more standard fare tabletop fantasy demihumans with some sample ones, including gnomes. If a player picks one of these demihuman options, then they give up their free starting focus. I will also note that WWN also has its own version of elves and dwarves that fit its setting.

 

[DeviousQuail]

WWN comes out of creating a fantasy version of Stars Without Number, which is itself something of a D&D / Traveller hybrid. So skills are typically 2d6 + attribute + modifier, whereas attacks and saving throws are d20 + attribute + modifier. The standard method in the game is that Attributes are rolled 3d6 in order and then bump one to 14. There is also a standard array without the 14 bump. Attribute modifiers are much flatter: 8-13 (no modifier), 14-17 (+1), and 18 (+2).

WWN Character Summary

Backgrounds and Skills: Players can choose or roll for a Background. Backgrounds provide one free skill. From there, players can choose whether to pick the two quick skills OR they can choose to roll three times for the chance to gain a random skill or attribute (either mental/physical). A character's proficiency in a skill starts at -1. You are trained in a skill at +0. And proficiency in a skill caps at +4. Remember that this is 2d6 + Attribute + Skill Modifier, with Skill Check difficulties of 14+ being only possible by true masters.

Class: Players then choose their class. There are three standard classes: Expert, Mage, Warrior. The Expert is best at skills. The Mage is best at magic. The Warrior is best at combat. Each class gets one or two special abilities as part of the class. For example, the Warrior gains Veteran's Luck, which lets them once per scene turn a missed attack they made into a hit or turn a hit against them into a miss. Additionally there is the Adventurer class, which has rules for the multiclass combos: Warrior/Mage, Mage/Expert, and Expert/Warrior. It's typically in the Adventurer that the other specialized partial classes operate: e.g., Bard (Expert partial class) can be a Bard/Expert, Bard/Warrior, or Bard/Mage. But you can also combine partial classes: e.g., Bard/Psychic, Bard/Duelist, Bard/Priest, etc.

Foci: Players then choose a Focus, which are much like feats. Foci have two tiers, so you can potentially take the same Focus twice and gain an additional benefit. Since a mage's choice of Arcane Tradition provides them access to various non-spell arcane arts, Warriors and Experts (as well as partial Warriors or Experts) gain a bonus foci. Warriors gain a free combat foci and Experts gain a free non-combat focus.

Weapons & Shock: Some weapons have a Shock value. Shock is damage on a miss that is inflicted if the target has an AC less than or equal to the value. For example, a Long Sword has 2/AC 13 for Shock. This means that a Long Sword will inflict 2 + Str/Dex damage against a target on a miss if that target has an AC of 13 or less. This is meant to keep combat (a) deadly and (b) quick so there is not just round after round of misses. Ranged weapons do not have Shock. So this gives more risk/reward with melee weapons.

Race/Ancestry: I have not talked about ancestry yet. Worlds Without Number takes place in a Latter Earth setting where humans are the presumed norm. There are, however, rules for creating more standard fare tabletop fantasy demihumans with some sample ones, including gnomes. If a player picks one of these demihuman options, then they give up their free starting focus. I will also note that WWN also has its own version of elves and dwarves that fit its setting.

This is timely. I just downloaded the free version from Drivethrurpg earlier today. I'm trying to expand my gaming knowledge and this being OSR and well reviewed made it a 'two birds, one stone' situation. I've never played SWN but I have stolen a lot from it over the years. Beyond what you've already said is there anything else you'd tell someone before they dive in?

 

[Aldarc]

This is timely. I just downloaded the free version from Drivethrurpg earlier today. I'm trying to expand my gaming knowledge and this being OSR and well reviewed made it a 'two birds, one stone' situation. I've never played SWN but I have stolen a lot from it over the years. Beyond what you've already said is there anything else you'd tell someone before they dive in?

There are two other player-facing mechanics that Crawford uses in WWN that may be worth mentioning: System Strain and Effort.

System Strain is a limit on the healing or other magical effects that a target's body can receive that equals to the target's Constitution score. The Healer's Healing Touch ability, for example, heals the target 2d6 HP, but confers 1 point of System Strain on the target. A target cannot receive any additional healing if they are capped, and it takes usually one night of rest to reduce each point of system strain.

Effort is a mechanic similar to concentration, but it's what fuels many mage's non-spell magical arts. Full Mages have an amount of Effort pool equal to their Magic Skill + Ability Modifier + 1, though this gets a bit complicated with partial mages as their pool differs and they have separate Effort pools per arcane tradition that can only fuel their respective tradition's abilities. Mages may have to commit a point of Effort for a scene, a day, or indefinitely for some of their abilities. For example, a High Mage may commit a point of Effort to Sense Magic around them.

I would also add that if your players would prefer more heroic style games and less gritty OSR-style games, there are optional rules in the paid version of the game for Heroic Characters. This is also a good option if you are running a smaller party of 1-2 players. I would probably use these heroic rules, for example, if I ran my partner through a solo campaign.

 

[Stormonu]

Back during 4E, I put together my own fantasy RPG, called 54 Fantasy. It uses a deck of cards to resolve actions, instead of using dice.

It’s available on DriveThruRPG through the link above.