[Mythic Dream Studios] Dark Inheritance?

[MythicJustice]

Sounds great. Can you give us some hints about the magic system?

das Darke

Definately. First, birthrights are supernatural abilities, not magic spells. Birthrights are grouped into trees and higher level birthrights require lower level ones as prerequisites. Each birthright costs a certain number of action points to purchase, anywhere from 1 - 10. But titans can only spend a limited number of action points on birthrights per level, based on their level.

One of the very unique aspects of the birthright mechanic is that it uses a base birthright bonus (BBB), which is similar to a base attack bonus (BAB), to manifest birthrights. You roll your BBB + the Key Ability Modifier for the specific birthright against a Strain DC. Now, the only way to not manifest the birthright power is to roll a 1, just like a 1 is always a failure on an attack roll. Almost every time a titan manifests a birthright he gains a strain penalty that is applied to subsiquent strain checks. If the titan fails his strain check the birthright still manifests but the titan may be shaken, fatigued, or exhausted, depending upon the result of the check.

Raising your BBB doesn't happen as you level. Titans aren't a class; they're more like a race. As you use your birthrights you slowly increase your BBB but you must be careful to balance your birthright use so as to not suffer exhaustion or the devestating effects of a legendary transformation.

 

[MythicJustice]

Looks really Sweet

From the cover and the stories on mythicdreams.com I get the feeling of a Akira and some other anima modern style movies.

Looks cool

Well, you can definately play that way if you want; it's your game, but generally we didn't draw from Anime sources. Akira, I think, is too high powered of a style for a Dark Inheritance campaign but you could definately make some changes to birthight use, strain, and action point expenditure limit to go that direction.

 

[Darke]

Ok, there are the birthrights and they seems cool - but Chapter 5 is the Magic chapter:

"Chapter Five: Magic

How magic works in Dark Inheritance

Rules for Foci

11 New Spells

4 Modern Elementals

Rules for Relics - For starters, a relic is not a single item, as most might expect, but rather a collection of items used together for a common purpose. The Holy Grail, for example, is not an item of power in and of itself, but when combined with the Staves of the Apostles, it becomes an instrument of remarkable significance. Similarly, the Round Table is not an item of power in itself — but when combined with the Shields of the Valorous, they create a mystical circuit much greater than the sum of its parts."

So is the magic in DI like the normal d20 modern magic or are there any changes? (beside the Relics)

das Darke

 

[MythicJustice]

Ok, there are the birthrights and they seems cool - but Chapter 5 is the Magic chapter:

"Chapter Five: Magic

How magic works in Dark Inheritance

Rules for Foci

11 New Spells

4 Modern Elementals

Rules for Relics - For starters, a relic is not a single item, as most might expect, but rather a collection of items used together for a common purpose. The Holy Grail, for example, is not an item of power in and of itself, but when combined with the Staves of the Apostles, it becomes an instrument of remarkable significance. Similarly, the Round Table is not an item of power in itself — but when combined with the Shields of the Valorous, they create a mystical circuit much greater than the sum of its parts."

So is the magic in DI like the normal d20 modern magic or are there any changes? (beside the Relics)

das Darke

Sorry about that. I misunderstood you. I also appologize for being sporadic today with my posts. I'm having to fit it in between bug fixes for a code drop this weekend and have been very busy.

d20 Modern magic, as described in the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game, is used as the base for Dark Inheritance. You still have spells, spell lists, classes that allow you to cast spells, etc. The changes are mostly thematic but there are two changes that do slightly alter the way the game is played.

Dark Inheritance doesn't use material components, though all the new spells include them for completeness. Instead, most spell casters require the use of a focus, an item created from ethereally attuned materials. Without a focus, the Initiate (as the primary spellcasting class is called), can't cast even the tiniest spell. There are detailed rules for foci included in the book.

The second alteration is that there is no difference between arcane and divine spells. All magic arises from the manipulation of the Ethereal Plane. Some classes only have access to subsets of each spell list, while others are able to use spells from both the divine and arcane lists.

Modern Spellcraft, written by Steve Kenson (Mutants & Masterminds, and many more great books), Sam Witt (Encyclopedia Arcana: Chaos Magic, and many more), and myself, will probably include a new magic system as well as new advanced classes, prestige classes and completely detailed, drop-in magical organizations.

 

[Darke]

Hehe, no problem - and thank you for the infos.

I preordered it today.



das Darke

 

[MythicJustice]

Cheers for all that. It looks very good indeed. Cheers also for answering my further question RPGnet (ENworld was having problems yesterday).

I think this is the first d20 setting that I am really looking forward to. The first reason is that the setting looks very good. Hellboy + others but broader I also see Planetary in there in a big way.

The second reason is based on DIs clever use of the increased flexibility of d20 Modern over D&D. I am amazed how most other d20 Modern products don't seem to take advantage of this so far. My favourite existing d20 products that rely on D&D are either radical changes from D&D to suit the particular setting (Fading Suns and Slaine) or required their own book to work (Star Wars and Spycraft). These are all good but a little unsatisfactory. However Dark Inheritance is different. It still uses most of the d20 Modern rulebook and simply adds to that world with new classes and templates. The subject matter is stylish yet suits the d20 Modern mindset of high action.

Again congrats on a great product.

Thanks! We were really trying to be as compatible with the core rules as presented in the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game while still adding new, well balanced, rules to provide the world with its own feel and mood. And sorry for not getting to your post yesterday. Hehe, my day job took over so we could roll out a product this weekend.

BTW if you have a moment - I am looking to start a d20 Modern campaign in March. I know that is before DI comes out but not by much (any estimate of release date and what distributors) I am tempted to start the game in any case set in the normal world of today. The PCs will be "drafted" from normal jobs in the military, police force, fire service and civil service into the government organisation called Project Titan. Sort of like MIB I guess. From there they will undergo a training and a few X Files missions focussed on controlling genetic engineering. Adding a splash of Dark Angel.

Once I get the DI book I then plan to actual have the Rip occur in Jerusalem (maybe the PCs will be nearby) and then begin a DI game proper. I am happy for the PCs to split from Project Titan if they want to. I hope to make one of the PCs a plant for the Promethean Order or Fugo a watu who is trying to recruit the PCs for different ends.

If nothing else this will also allow me to get through the basic class levels Without asking you to go through the setting (happy to wait for the book) my question is will this type of introduction work fine in DI. Is there any bigs bits of info in the setting that make this incompatible? Again this type of intro is able to work because of DIs high compatibility with d20 Modern.

We should have the book back from the printers in mid March, which means Dark Inheritance should be in stores at the beginning of April. Preorders can be done through all the major distributors, though Alliance may lag behind, I'm not sure. We're planning on talking to their rep at GAMA.

Your campaign idea sounds very doable to me and none of your ideas will fall into conflict with the Dark Inheritance book. Before the Rip Project Titan was far more lethal in its attempt to restrict the knowledge of titans. As Otherworldy creatures and the Daemonhost are not yet released it can be accomplished with just the d20 Modern Roleplaying Game and adding the mood you desire.

The main point will be how to deal with titan characters before you have all the rules. I'd suggest making the PCs be latent titans that don't manifest until after the Rip. Project Titan knew they had the right combination of genes and want to keep them under close observation.

Hope that helps and feel free to ask questions

 

[MythicJustice]

Hehe, no problem - and thank you for the infos.

I preordered it today.



das Darke

great!

Oh, I'll be posting a preview from the book this next week and want to know what people would like to see. Any requests?

 

[Brutorz Bill]

great!

Oh, I'll be posting a preview from the book this next week and want to know what people would like to see. Any requests?

Information on the Wild Bloods would be cool!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Darke]

Hm, something about the Titans? Something about the Rip? Something about Terrors?

das Darke

 

[Skywalker]

We should have the book back from the printers in mid March, which means Dark Inheritance should be in stores at the beginning of April. Preorders can be done through all the major distributors, though Alliance may lag behind, I'm not sure. We're planning on talking to their rep at GAMA.

Cheers for all that. Being in New Zealand distribution through stores is both slow and a gamble. I will probably look to buy DI through the internet. If you are not planning to do any direct sales, are you planning to sell DI through any internet stores like Wizards Attic or Warehouse 23?

The main point will be how to deal with titan characters before you have all the rules. I'd suggest making the PCs be latent titans that don't manifest until after the Rip. Project Titan knew they had the right combination of genes and want to keep them under close observation.

I thought on this over the weekend. I think I will give the PCs the choice once they witness the Rip. To choose to be a Titan the PC must forgo spend one feat and a number of skill ranks equal to their current level. One thing I like about DI is that it sounds like it can work with both Titans and non-Titans just as well.

As for other questions I have just one - is there anything in the setting that makes Moreaus or other gentically engineered creatures impossible?

I would love to see a preview on the Rip as it seems so fundamental to the entire setting.