Hello everyone. I must be honest I wasn't too sure how to post to this particular forum, but I also would like some feedback on a game I have been working on inconsistently.

The system has many orthogonal properties to it, so this allows me to post it in pieces to keep the discussion focused.

General Game Concept
Type of Play: Live Action
Playable "Races": Angels, Demons, Humans
General Play Style: Social / Political
System Focus:  Less resolution, more RP. 
Solution: Integrate the resolution mechanics into the RP.

"Powers" Resolution
For simplicity I will not include how an opposing character could oppose the use of a power.  There are rules for this sort of contention, but for the simplicity of discussion, let us assume that the power just works. =)

Activation of "Powers"
Each power has 2 things associated with its title that inform the player how its character will enact the given power.

The name of each power is the text that actually must be spoken by character to enact the power.
The name of each power is also distinguished by "how" it is used during play.

There is an exclaimation ( ! ), a question ( ? ), a statement ( . ), and a whisper( ... ).

NOTE: I have thrown around the idea of making some powers fragments (where beginning or end of the sentence would be indicated), and others used as complete sentences.

So, to the punch line.  A character in order to enact a power (let us assume to another player), the character must use the name of the power in its appropriate syntactic form (yelling, question, stating, or whispering).

No examples of play come to mind at this period of time, as I am at work, and can't concentrate completely on writing this post.

Thank you for your time in advance.

Regards,

Mark Stahl

Mark, I like that idea.  Do the phrases or syntax "add up" to something more?  Like, does each instance of play end up with similar elements used in a different combination, which could determine certain End Game conditions? 

I would suggest that powers which have a wide range, or have lasting effects on characters who may not be nearby, should be shouted--that way, everyone knows, "Hey, whoops, it's supposed to be magically raining now," or whatever.

How many participants would be in the game?

James_Nostack wrote:
Do the phrases or syntax "add up" to something more?  Like, does each instance of play end up with similar elements used in a different combination, which could determine certain End Game conditions? 

James_Nostack wrote:
How many participants would be in the game?

Interesting idea, the problems that I see with it though would occur when multiple people try to speak at the same time or somebody tries to speak over, or faster than others.

Also calling out what capability you are using means that the majority of abilities would not be very stealthy. Any ideas on how one would address this potential issues?

Ian wrote:
Interesting idea, the problems that I see with it though would occur when multiple people try to speak at the same time or somebody tries to speak over, or faster than others.

Ian wrote:
Also calling out what capability you are using means that the majority of abilities would not be very stealthy. Any ideas on how one would address this potential issues?

I would like to begin by thanking James and Ian for posting a response to the idea I have set forth in this forum.  Your feedback is very much appreciated.

I am writing this post to amend the mechanic that I used to start this thread.  Well, to be honest, it is not as much of an amendment, as much as it is a clarification.

The 'powers' that I have been talking about fall into two categories: Sins, and Virtues.  There are seven sins, and seven virtues.  And the powers themselves are very much like a spell list.  I buy up to a certain level in a Sin (lets say Wrath), therefore I can purchase any powers that are equal to, or less than the level I have in Wrath.

Now we need to add to the character mechanics, one we will call (because I currently lack a better name) "Expendables", the other we will refer to as "Rank".  An indicated number of Expendables must be spent to use a power, and if the character does not have a Rank that is equal to or greater than his opponent's Rank, the enacting character must Expend the difference.

Let me provide a quick example:

I have a Rank of 5, and you (the enacter) have a Rank of 3.  The power you are to use on me costs 2 Expendables.  My Rank exceeds yours by 2 levels therefore in order to affect me you must spend an extra 2 Expendables for a total of 4.  If you spend the extras required, the power works, if you do not, or do not have enough Expendables to spend, the power does not affect me.

So there is still no contention between the enacter and the victim, I merely built in balancing mechanics.  I am thinking that my rationale for powers "just working" may require some future explaination, but, then again, maybe not. So I will wait for the questions to be posed before I waste my wrists, and your eyes on an explaination. =)

Regards,

Mark

 

In your previous example, what if I were the rank 5 and I used a power on the rank 3? If the power cost 2 expendables to use, would that mean I could use the power on a rank 3 or lower for free? (3-5 = -2)

Also, I note that the power maximum of the character would then be dictated, by what you've shown, by each individual Sin (Vice, perhaps?) or Virtue. In the World of Darkness character power maximum is dictated by a single central score, often the ranking of the character along their path of enlightenment.

I would ask why split the character's overall maximum effectiveness amongst 14 statistics?

Furthermore, would you use gradiation of success, and if so how would you decide on and communicate the grades of success?

Ian wrote:
In your previous example, what if I were the rank 5 and I used a power on the rank 3? If the power cost 2 expendables to use, would that mean I could use the power on a rank 3 or lower for free? (3-5 = -2)

Ian wrote:
Also, I note that the power maximum of the character would then be dictated, by what you've shown, by each individual Sin (Vice, perhaps?) or Virtue. In the World of Darkness character power maximum is dictated by a single central score, often the ranking of the character along their path of enlightenment.

I would ask why split the character's overall maximum effectiveness amongst 14 statistics?

Ian wrote:
Furthermore, would you use gradiation of success, and if so how would you decide on and communicate the grades of success?

So this would be an example of a Karma-based (as opposed to Drama, or Fortune. See GNS and Other Matters of Roleplaying) resolution system in which the players need only compare their relative effectiveness to come to a conclusion about the final outcome of an event?

Why do you choose to eliminate the element of chance in favor of faster resolution? Also, what keeps a high ranking character from domineering the play environment? What is their incentive and/or penalty for exercising these powers? That is, what limits a character from monopolizing the game?

As it stands your game would appear to be Zero Sum, with unequal opportunity. How does this assessment sit with you?

At first I was a little thrown back by the poinant questions, but after thinking about them I appreciate how direct they are.  Thank you Ian.

Ian wrote:
So this would be an example of a Karma-based (as opposed to Drama, or Fortune. See GNS and Other Matters of Roleplaying) resolution system in which the players need only compare their relative effectiveness to come to a conclusion about the final outcome of an event?

Ian wrote:
Why do you choose to eliminate the element of chance in favor of faster resolution? Also, what keeps a high ranking character from domineering the play environment? What is their incentive and/or penalty for exercising these powers? That is, what limits a character from monopolizing the game?

Ian wrote:
As it stands your game would appear to be Zero Sum, with unequal opportunity. How does this assessment sit with you?