Since first posting here I’ve had an idea bouncing around in my head for a game. Though I am not sure how to implement it, or even if it would make a good role playing game-- might be better as a board game-- but since it was reading messages in these forums which gave me the idea I thought I would share the bit of background which I finally sat down and typed up. (And the poem that kept nagging at me to the point I had to rummage for an old poetry book and type it, too. Makes for a nice intro I think.)

Comments, suggestions, criticisms are all welcome.


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FAIRIES’ SONG

We the fairies blithe and antic,
Of dimension not gigantic,
Though the moonshine mostly keep us
Oft in orchards frisk and peep us.

Stolen sweets are always sweeter;
Stolen kisses much completer;
Stolen looks are nice in chapels;
Stolen, stolen be your apples.

When to bed the world are bobbing,
Then’s the time for orchard-robbing;
Yet the fruit were scarce worth peeling
Were it not for stealing, stealing.

- Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)

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Pixies: The Gleaning

In folklore Pixies, being described as elementals or fairy spirits, are often depicted as little people. Often with an elfin appearance. As with most fairy kin they are said to be mischievous and to take (or use) things which are not theirs. Or at least which Humans consider to be their property. They are considered to be opportunistic thieves, much as a raccoon or squirrel might be . Which illustrates the primary philosophical difference between pixies and humans. Pixies don’t understand how any creature, being themselves mortal and impermanent, can have the audacity to claim anything as their sole possession; much less deny its use to another.

Which is perhaps why pixies like to visit humans. Or more precisely human families. For pixies life moves like sweet molasses in winter, while humans are a hot breezes in summertime. Always moving too fast and too harshly for comfort. Of course the thing about summer breezes is that they an be fun, for a little while. Which is all the time most humans have, at least from the perspective of a pixie, which is perhaps why some take it upon themselves to try and bring some cheer into humans everyday lives.

Not that the average human appreciates what pixies are doing for them. But that never stopped a pixies from trying. Besides humans grow the most wonderful things in their gardens and on their farms!

So far Pixies have managed pretty well, all things considered. Which brings us to those “all things”, namely cats. To the eyes of pixies cats are bundles of wickedness, selfish sinew wrapped around bones of malevolence. Worse even than imps! At least dogs care, or seem to, about the humans they decide to adopt. While cats merely purr at humans in their own language telling them how stupid and ignorant they think humanity is and ‘where is my food anyway’. Of course humans don’t even realize what‘s going on, but pixies do, and despite the fact most humans no longer see a pixie even when they are sitting on the edge of their can of soda that doesn‘t mean that pixies have ignored the plight of humans.

That such a creature should have found a way to exploit the stupidity of the average human does not surprise pixies. However that cats consider pixies to be interlopers on their territory, and a good snack besides, does!

So the stage is set and the battle lines are drawn. In the orchards, across the open fields, between the neatly planted rows of farms…

Welcome to Pixies: The Gleaning.

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For the pixie humans are like sunflowers which sprout continually in the open fields. Of course Humans speculate that stories about pixies may have originated as thinly veiled folktales told about the Picts or Druids of old. “Out of mind, out of sight.” as most humans say. Then pixies are all too eager to oblige humans in their skepticism, so long as they continue to disbelieve their eyes and “rationalize” the facts away. Not that all humans are like that.

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Ok, that’s what I have so far.

First question: Has this sort of thing been done before?

Second: As for rules…

Right now I only have an basic idea (and what I think is a decent title). Mostly involving pilfering of apples and trying to save humans from the “evil cats”, that and maybe instead of having Stats like usual have a loose set of abilities which the player can choose from.

[ Something about the ‘evil cats’ strikes me as familiar. But I don’t know why. ?? ]

About the abilities. I was thinking to have them be simple, self explanatory, like: Pilfer, Sneak, Filch, Pocket, Run, Thump, Moon (not the one in the sky), etcetera.

Not sure. Tons of ideas, but was wanting to know if anyone thought this sounds like the basis for a fun role playing game. Of course I was also thinking small, under an hour or to play the average scenario, so rules would have to be quick and easy to use and learn.

Any thoughts?


Kind Regards,

Kester Pelagius.

Perfunctory Forge questions:

What do the Pixies do in the game? Just fight cats? What would a sample session look like in terms of what happened in several hours of play?

A vision of what would happen in play is necessary for you to continue at this point.

Mike

I like the flavor, it could be fun to play a game like this.

Couple of sources of inspiration you might want to check out.

"The Three Musketeers" a board game by Task Force Games many years ago, often available on Ebay. It has elements of roleplaying but is essentially a run my pawns around the map of the palace performing feats of derring-do for a particular scenario. I immediately thought of this format as being a potential way to do your game...some roleplaying, but alot of moving pixies around a map (apartment, farm, suburbia) with differen't feats of mischief-do to accomplish.

"Cats" by John Wick. Since his site is now gone, I don't know where you might find info on it, but it had a very cool "mythology" around cats and dogs and their relationship to humans. One that is actually completely opposite of yours (the cats were the "good guys") but might have some nuggets of catness for you.

I think it sounds like a fun concept, especially if you have some bad faeries (the kind that cause milk to spoil and set fire to things) stirring up trouble that the good faeries get caught up in.

Mike Holmes wrote: Perfunctory Forge questions:

What do the Pixies do in the game? Just fight cats? What would a sample session look like in terms of what happened in several hours of play?

A vision of what would happen in play is necessary for you to continue at this point.

Mike

Valamir wrote: I like the flavor, it could be fun to play a game like this.

Couple of sources of inspiration you might want to check out.

"The Three Musketeers" a board game by Task Force Games many years ago, often available on Ebay. It has elements of roleplaying but is essentially a run my pawns around the map of the palace performing feats of derring-do for a particular scenario. I immediately thought of this format as being a potential way to do your game...some roleplaying, but alot of moving pixies around a map (apartment, farm, suburbia) with differen't feats of mischief-do to accomplish.

Valamir wrote: I think it sounds like a fun concept, especially if you have some bad faeries (the kind that cause milk to spoil and set fire to things) stirring up trouble that the good faeries get caught up in.

Kester Pelagius wrote: What Pixies do is quite simply be Pixies.

No, they wouldn't *just* fight cats; though everyone needs a nemesis of some sort. Cats just come standard for fairy kin.

During play Pixie characters would mostly be engaged in 1) trying to pilfer apples, vegtables, and otherwise avoid nasties like cats, brooms, and hungry foxes. They would also be interacting with humans...

...What do gamers like *you* think the Pixies should be doing?

Okay, now that I'm done being a bad boy, let me speculate a little by way of question.

Scenario 1

The house Pixies are happy with the residents, but something has gone wrong recently; something has infested the dreams of the patron. Will the Pixies go on a quest to the most ancient of Pixies to find a cure?

Scenario 2

Pixies are aboriginal garden dwellers, uncomprehending nor worshipful of the gardener. They live in fear of the Cat and horticulturally encourage catnip as defense.

Scenario 3

Something not so 'alien:' Pixies are an invisible segment of human culture. A Pixie lad may get in fair trouble for all the pickpocketing he's been doing down at the market.

Scenario 4

The Human girl has the sight; together with no one watching, she's fallen in love with a Pixie. Soon they run off together, but find that neither can fairly live in the other's world.

Scenario 5

You fly around supplying magic flying dust for the trickster god of boys and his apostles.

Scenario 6

The Pixie elders had put the chosen one of humans into your care, but you've blown it. Now you race to save the only human who can save both your kinds.

See, there's lots of ways you can play it. I came up with these in only 15 minutes. What's the relationship with people? What era is it set? How focused will it be?

I think Mike's question stands. Tell us how you envision play going, a session, a scene, or even a whole campaign. What ultimately gets done (at least from the player character point of view)? If it were a movie, what section of the store would it be racked in? Over in Depressing Drama with that banal Changeling? Up in Children's Cartoons, with all the Disneys? Down in Classical Action, next to "I'll be Bach" Schwartzenegger? You're making us do too much of the design; if that is what you want, then it's doubtful we can create what you'll like. (Each of us having their own opinion and all.)

I know you've piqued my curiosity.

Fang Langford

I think it is easy to assume a fighting game because the title is the WW structure. You know, "animal", the "something", Vampire, The Masquerade. WW games tend to end up with a lot of fighting.

Personally, all I can think of is the Pixies, the band.

Jeremy

Le Joueur wrote: What's the relationship with people? What era is it set? How focused will it be?

Le Joueur wrote: I think Mike's question stands. Tell us how you envision play going, a session, a scene, or even a whole campaign. What ultimately gets done (at least from the player character point of view)? If it were a movie, what section of the store would it be racked in? Over in Depressing Drama with that banal Changeling? Up in Children's Cartoons, with all the Disneys? Down in Classical Action, next to "I'll be Bach" Schwartzenegger? You're making us do too much of the design; if that is what you want, then it's doubtful we can create what you'll like. (Each of us having their own opinion and all.)

Le Joueur wrote: I know you've piqued my curiosity.

nipfipgip...dip wrote: I think it is easy to assume a fighting game because the title is the WW structure. You know, "animal", the "something", Vampire, The Masquerade. WW games tend to end up with a lot of fighting.

Personally, all I can think of is the Pixies, the band.

Jeremy

Kester Pelagius wrote:
The title is a *spoof*!

Greetings All,

The input I’ve received so far has been very interesting. Your ideas have taken me much closer to deciding the sort of rules I’ll be implementing, and much more. Would still like to get potential players (thinking positive thoughts here) input as to what they would like to see in this sort of game before I start building the system. Also constructive criticism from fellow game designers would also be appreciated.

For those wondering I am, more or less, constructing the game mechanics around the premise and your input. So if you’ve ever wanted to influence an game design now is your chance.

Here’s the changes to the basic script of the proto-game so far ::


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<picking up from near end of original post>

Welcome to Pixies: The Gleaning.

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For the pixie humans are like sunflowers which sprout continually in the open fields, pretty things that grow real big and are nice to look at. Alas, since most humans either can’t or wont believe in fairies, they speculate that stories about pixies must have originated as thinly veiled folktales told about ancient peoples like the Picts or Druids. “Out of mind, out of sight.” as most humans say.

Which is fine by most fairies, pixies included. In fact they are all too eager to oblige humans in their skepticism, so long as they continue to disbelieve their eyes and “rationalize” the facts away, it means the average pixie is far more likely to get at the choicest apples whether anyone is looking or not. Alas every human isn’t like that, especially in rural areas. Since pixies don’t much care for human cities this tends to pose a problem for the more brash pixie youths who haven‘t yet mastered the finer points of Sneaking or Blending into Scenery.

<transition into explanation of Abilities/Skills would go here>

Ok I have a few loose threads that need weaving together before I have a solid system mechanic. Presently I am leaning toward all Skills/Abilities. No Stats, save perhaps one or two; probably Agility and Wits. No Magic, per se, just action based abilities. Though that could change.

What I’d like input on, if you would be so kind, is the following thumbnail outline of character creation :

1. Abilities (tentative name until I can think of something better than “Skills“)

Sample Abilities : Pilfer, Sneak, Filch, Pocket, Run, Thump, Moon (not the one in the sky), Taunt (the Cat), Blending into Scenery (think camouflage), etcetera.

My main question here is this-- Do those of you following these posts prefer %ile or “roll X# of dice under skill” systems, and which would you rather see applied to the lighthearted nature of Pixies?

2. Would you prefer to see an “Template” style character system where you choose a Fairy Kin Archetype that comes pre-equipped, as it were, with Skills; or would you prefer to have Ability Scores/Stats with Skills (“Mischiefs”, maybe, or “Flairs”?) that you generate/choose on your own instead?

3. About dice. If I made Pixies ALL %ile based (even the two possible Stats) do you think that would work for you? If not what mechanic would you prefer to see? (2d6, 2d10, dice pool, tarot cards, etcetera)

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<text explaining difference between good and bad fairies would be here>

Ok here would go the required explanation to let the reader know that a Callicantzari is essentially a nasty Gremlin, Brownies are shy domestic sprites who like to kick back a bowl of milk every now and then, Sprites are more than just pixels, Leprechauns have a fetish for making shoes, and whatever else I can think of to write up.

All of which will be wrapped up with statements like…

“Then not all fairies are as likable as pixies. Some can be downright mean, chew the ears off a rabid junk yard dog mean. There are good fairies and there are bad fairies, of course pixies already know this. It’s humans who have difficultly telling the difference.”

Essentially I will be explaining the game/background setting as you read. I want to try to make the game as seamless as possible. No charts. As few rules as possible. But everything else designed for fun and humorous play.

Also their may not be much of a combat mechanic in this, save of course for a bit of Fencing (standing on and taunting from a distance) with the Cat. And maybe rules for mouse steeds, and using straws and swizel sticks as lances. ;-)

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Cast of Mischief Weavers

<Current outline for possible PC/NPC/Monster types>


Good Fairies Bad Fairies Spirits

Pixie Spriggan ?Undine
Bogle Callicantzari ?Barghest
Bogart Gremlin Fetch
Pooka Harlequin Banshee
Sprite Kelpies
Leprechaun

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Those are my current ideas. Thanks for reading this far.



Kind Regards,

Kester Pelagius

Kester Pelagius wrote:


Good Fairies Bad Fairies Spirits

Pixie Spriggan ?Undine
Bogle Callicantzari ?Barghest
Bogart Gremlin Fetch
Pooka Harlequin Banshee
Sprite Kelpies
Leprechaun

In answer to one of your specific questions, I'd find using percentile dice in a game about pixies pilfering apples to be particularly jarring. The implication for precise statistical measure seems ill suited for such a game.

caveat: but then I loathe percentile systems in general so I may well be biased there.

Valamir wrote: In answer to one of your specific questions, I'd find using percentile dice in a game about pixies pilfering apples to be particularly jarring. The implication for precise statistical measure seems ill suited for such a game.

caveat: but then I loathe percentile systems in general so I may well be biased there.

I think two games might be of interest because the "perspective" is kind of the same.

First one is Rodendom, which is probably the most interesting one. There was also a Rat D&D which Henry Fitch was working on.

I could see the pixies living in a similar "world", with rodents and such being their friends and stuff. In any case the POV is kinda the same.

Our humble Moderator wrote :

5) Finally, it helps a lot to be explicit about the means by which you'd like to publish the game - simple website posting, all the way to book-published store-distribution, and whatever in between (e.g. PDF for sale). This will help everyone give you the best advice possible.


For Pixies, once finished of course, I was thinking of actual print publication. Assuming I can interest anyone in the game.

I know, submit concept first, then design game. But this one just came to me as a lightning strike of inspiration while reading threads way way way way back here.

Now will it be a RPG Board Game or a straight up FRPG Boxed Game?

This I do not know.

Still researching fairies and working out my side trekk with the interactive game mechanic.


Thank you.


Kester Pelagius

P.S. Which brings me to what many here probably have guessed. That is a handle. Albeit one based on my actual name. (The one that appears on my driver's license and birtch certificate.) Should I publish under this name? Or keep this only for anything released to the Web?

Pale Fire wrote: I think two games might be of interest because the "perspective" is kind of the same.

First one is Rodendom, which is probably the most interesting one. There was also a Rat D&D which Henry Fitch was working on.

I could see the pixies living in a similar "world", with rodents and such being their friends and stuff. In any case the POV is kinda the same.

First, let me offer the suggestion to drop the other fairies altogether.

Theoretically having the pixies protecting their household from the influence from other "evil" fairy influences like the old bad Boggan under the bridge who wants to steal the youngest daughter in the family.

However, that seems to be distracting from the original idea. Sure you could put it in, but it doesn't seem necessary. It also detracts from the premise of playing creatures in a world that's really too big for them.

Granted these are my opinions only. However it seems like this would be more in line with your initial idea. When people start talking about "what you could do with it" one always gets tempted to include just a little more to "satisfy those people as well".

That's a dangerous thing. So, I think you should stick with narrowing down the scope and the places for adventure. You can always extend it later.

For the actual system... well I don't see this as a game where you should use pure sim mechanics. You want to be able to tell a nice story, it doesn't need to be a sim about how it is to be a pixie, right?
I think there are quite a few indie games here with mechanics which could serve as inspiration.

I might be wrong but I don't think a game where you describe your pixie's strength, dexterity and charisma is gonna go well with the concept. In fact you already got started with those funny names for their skills.
Maybe you don't need stats. All you need are a couple of skills that works with the mechanic to help the character do more extraordinary skills. The character with high pilfering should be able to pilfer extraordinary well compared to other pixies and so on. You could make the mechanics actually encourage funny and creative uses of skills and such.

I hope some other people could fill me in on rpgs Chris could look at? For an example of how far you could go from the standard style (if you already know about these games Chris, then I apologize for maybe coming on as being patronizing) look at Zak's Shadows.

Pale Fire wrote: First, let me offer the suggestion to drop the other fairies altogether.

Theoretically having the pixies protecting their household from the influence from other "evil" fairy influences like the old bad Boggan under the bridge who wants to steal the youngest daughter in the family.

However, that seems to be distracting from the original idea. Sure you could put it in, but it doesn't seem necessary. It also detracts from the premise of playing creatures in a world that's really too big for them.

Pale Fire wrote: Granted these are my opinions only. However it seems like this would be more in line with your initial idea. When people start talking about "what you could do with it" one always gets tempted to include just a little more to "satisfy those people as well".

Pale Fire wrote: For the actual system... well I don't see this as a game where you should use pure sim mechanics. You want to be able to tell a nice story, it doesn't need to be a sim about how it is to be a pixie, right?
I think there are quite a few indie games here with mechanics which could serve as inspiration.

Pale Fire wrote: I might be wrong but I don't think a game where you describe your pixie's strength, dexterity and charisma is gonna go well with the concept.

Pale Fire wrote: In fact you already got started with those funny names for their skills. Maybe you don't need stats. All you need are a couple of skills that works with the mechanic to help the character do more extraordinary skills. The character with high pilfering should be able to pilfer extraordinary well compared to other pixies and so on. You could make the mechanics actually encourage funny and creative uses of skills and such.

Pale Fire wrote: I hope some other people could fill me in on rpgs Chris could look at? For an example of how far you could go from the standard style (if you already know about these games Chris, then I apologize for maybe coming on as being patronizing) look at Zak's Shadows.

With Shadow I wasn't thinking so much about influencing actual premise, but as an example of what magic tales you can tell with a very simple mechanic. More of an eye-opener than a template so to speak.

Edit: Forgot one thing... Borrowing stuff from Donjon might excellent for Pixies!. Look into how Donjon works. There were some cool stories in Actual Play recently too (game examples from Donjon) which could provide excellent clues on how to get the true Pixie feeling of magic and such. Incidentally I don't think you need a magic stat. Simply assume that all the Pixies skills and abilities are at least partly magic! And... you don't need templates, let people make up their own pixies. It [the premise] is fairly focused anyway, so there is little risk that they make something totally alien to the setup.

Pale Fire wrote: With Shadow I wasn't thinking so much about influencing actual premise, but as an example of what magic tales you can tell with a very simple mechanic. More of an eye-opener than a template so to speak.

Pale Fire wrote: Edit: Forgot one thing... Borrowing stuff from Donjon might excellent for Pixies!. Look into how Donjon works. There were some cool stories in Actual Play recently too (game examples from Donjon) which could provide excellent clues on how to get the true Pixie feeling of magic and such. Incidentally I don't think you need a magic stat. Simply assume that all the Pixies skills and abilities are at least partly magic! And... you don't need templates, let people make up their own pixies. It [the premise] is fairly focused anyway, so there is little risk that they make something totally alien to the setup.

Kester,

I was just watching The City of Lost Children, for about the 84th time, and had a thought that might be good for Pixies. There is a series of sequences in the film featuring very small events effecting moderate things, that in turn affect large things, chain reactions of bigger and bigger consequences, delightfully improbable. I was wondering if the concept of the Pixies being in a very small world could maybe feature this sort of thing.

I thought of a Pixie using a push stat or similar, rolling just a couple of dice to effect a very small thing, such as a making a broom fall over. This would lead to another action, and another action etc. As the chain of actions built more and more bonus dice are gained, until they are finally all used on one final action, such as slamming a door shut, locking the cat outside.

Perhaps the actions could go around the table, with each player making the next link in the chain.

I have no idea if you would like this sort of idea, a couple of posts suggest you're more interested in combat sim mechanics, but I thought I would suggest it if you're interested.

Jeremy

nipfipgip...dip wrote: I thought of a Pixie using a push stat or similar, rolling just a couple of dice to effect a very small thing, such as a making a broom fall over. This would lead to another action, and another action etc. As the chain of actions built more and more bonus dice are gained, until they are finally all used on one final action, such as slamming a door shut, locking the cat outside.

Perhaps the actions could go around the table, with each player making the next link in the chain.

I have no idea if you would like this sort of idea, a couple of posts suggest you're more interested in combat sim mechanics, but I thought I would suggest it if you're interested.

This is just a status update...

The mechanics progress on Pixies is currently in a holding pattern while I work out a mechanic [discussion to be found here and here] which, if found entertaining and fun in actual play, may be adapted for use in Pixies.

That said does anyone here think the mechanic, as outlined in the threads above, is suitable for Pixies one way or the other?

Once again thank you all for your input.


Kind Regards,

Kester Pelagius