The Shadow of Yesterday design log

[DaGreatJL]

Was just wondering how the design work was going with SoY. I apologize if I'm being annoying; I just think this game looks really, really cool, and I want to play it a lot (and will, once the spring semester ends). Anyway, sorry if I offend; take my attention as a compliment to a cool setting and system.

[Clinton R. Nixon]

No problem at all. The design work's going a little slow right now: I have some home life things that are taking up a lot of time.

Still, I've written several new sections, outlined the whole thing, and expect it to be finished relatively soon. A new design idea has struck me which may change the system a bit: I'm toying with the idea that anything can damage the character, making combat into an "expanded resolution system", a la Hero Wars.

[Matt Wilson]

You know, I can never find the anvilwerks page for tsoy. Is there a link to it from anywhere on the anvilwerks site?

I'm the demographic that developers make bonehead page navigation for.

[Clinton R. Nixon]

There's one in the news, but here's a link:

http://www.anvilwerks.com/rpg/tsoy/

For everyone else: lots of working on the game equals less logging on the game. The game's changing a lot, but is getting a thorough working on.

[DaGreatJL]

Just wondering if you've still been working on this. The ideas in it appeal to me a lot, and was wondering if there was any kind of update.

[Clinton R. Nixon]

I've been working too much to update.

You can see what I have online at http://www.anvilwerks.com/TheShadowOfYesterday/TheShadowOfYesterday. There's more to come, and I'm pretty happy with it, even if it smacks heavily of HeroQuest.

[DaGreatJL]

Thank you for the update. Looks great; I look forward to its completion.

[Ben Lehman]

(I know that this is a many-months old topic, but...)

I know that the Merchant's Supplement for Dark Sun (Dune Traders or some such) had rules for fluctuating area-based economies, although mostly in goods rather than services.  I, sadly, can't comment overmuch on them, because I only experience them from the player end, but they might be worth checking out if you're interesting in economic systems.  Most likely available as a $5 PDF from WotC.

yrs--
--Ben

[John Harper]

The link to TSOY (above) seems to be broken.

[Clinton R. Nixon]

Apologies - the link should have been:
http://www.anvilwerks.com/index.php/TheShadowOfYesterday/TheShadowOfYesterday/

[Clinton R. Nixon]

Citizens, be aware! I've been working my ass off on this game, and a stable form of the rule-set is now up at the TSOY site. Next up is "The World Of Near," my setting book. The chapter on the Old Species is about three-fourths of the way written, and I'll be posting it soon.

[Drifter Bob]

System Deconstruction

In this post, I'm going to deconstruct how the Shadow of Yesterday system works, and why I've made the choices I have so far.

In the game, all tests of ability (called Skill Checks) are done the same way. A skill, ranking from 0 to 10, is added to a roll of 2d6 and compared to the following chart

Code Select Expand


8 or below Failure
9-11 Success Level 1 (Mediocre)
12-13 Success Level 2 (Good)
14-15 Success Level 3 (Great)
16-17 Success Level 4 (Amazing)
18-19 Success Level 5 (Legendary)
20-21 Success Level 6 (Ultimate)
22+ Transcendent Success


It might be interesting to have different degrees of failure as well, like they do in The Dying Earth.

JR

P.S. When do I get a look at your new game Clinton?

[John Harper]

Dude. That link is wonky for some reason.

This link should do the trick.

[Clinton R. Nixon]

Damn wonky links - fixed now.

For those following the heated progress, I've begun "The World of Near," my setting book, and have posted the beginnings of it online, including my section on elves which I think will prove odd, at a minimum.

[DaGreatJL]

I was just looking at the newest set of rules for the game, and was unable to find the Magic rules. Have you decided to remove them? Have you just not posted them? Are they there, and I'm just a fool who doesn't know how to navigate the web?