[Final Twilight] Another attempt to bridge the gulf...

[daMoose_Neo]

- Final Twilight TCG Rules
-Divergence Customization Rules

Okay, I'm back at it with Twilight and trying to do something with CCGs and RPGs, gotta love it!
After abandoning an earlier idea to have Print on Demand cards, my mind wandered back to something on my "fun to do" list - a process for players to create their own cards. As it stood on the list, the system was very limited in scope- it would allow players to create their own Major Character cards, which they could then print off the family ink jet and presto~
Its...evolved, considerably. Using this new system, the Divergence "expansion", players can create any card they like and copy the info down onto an official card blank, allowing them to play the card with the cards I've produced. Other options will exist to print complete card faces which can be adhered to the card blank, but hand-writing it in is the quick and dirty way.

The concept itself- point based card design- has a lot in common to point-based RPG character design, and adds an element to CCGs that RPGs have had for ages: the ability for the player to add something to the system and have it recognized, accepted and appreciated by other players.
So, Divergence has another possibilty- applying it to an RPG, using Twilight's system for resolutions and card/ability playing. Options in hand represent what the character knows/has in mind at the moment, cards and options in play represent resources or contacts available
That has a lot of work ahead of it but I've gotten the basics for the card design worked out, fleshing more of that out and starting on the Major Characters (which would be the PCs).

Questions on this:
1) Is such a hybrid workable? What flaws would you see?
2) Regarding the material here, do the points appear to balance out? Its heavily based on my own process for selecting how cards end up as they do and serious play testing on it begins next week, but feedback is always good ^_^

[KeithBVaughn]

Have you checked out Dragon Storm? I had a short talk with its creator yesterday and he says it is a combination between RPG and CCG.

I think the web address is www.dragonstorm.com

Keith

[daMoose_Neo]

I am aware of it, not in depth, but from the little bit I did know (and can see on the website, thanks for the link ^_^), its still serving the "collectable" aspect of the CCG, whereas my main focus is on the "customizable" aspect of the CCG. (which is an important distinction to myself).

Looking more and more into it, I'm seeing massive differences in design goals. Its worth a look, but its almost an antithesis to what I'm looking to do- give CCGs the accessability of RPGs, and give RPGs the get-up-and-go of CCGs. From the look of DS, it keeps the "Collect them all!" aspect of CCGs with the D&D like RPG overhead. Its cool if thats what you like, I can see the merit, but not quite what I'm looking to do.

I just may have to write an essay/rant on the kinds of things I'm looking at. Final Twilight is one side of the bridge I'm working on, starting with a Card Game and adding the RPG elements- Divergence adds to CCGs what RPGs have had all along- the ability for PLAYERS to add to the system.
The other side is a game tenatively called Hunters- its a little closer to DS in that it is an RPG first, but without the collectable element, just customizable. While FT is getting the focus and orientation of stories and characters (and now customization), Hunters is getting that get-up-and-go. Get 2-4 players together and start an adventure- the cards and a little player imagination drive the story. Someone who really wants to can even play a solo game~
Check out the last post for Hunters here: http://indie-rpgs.com/viewtopic.php?t=13858
Playable, just run the cards off on some business cards or cut them out of printer paper.