So I have a setting for a PbtA hack I’m working on (World of the Awakened), something I’ve been working on for the better part of a year. I have never done one before so please be gentle haha. In reality, if it’s constructive, I’ll take any criticism. I’ll summarize it here, so please let me know if you guys think it’s worth writing something about.
Summary:
Thousands of years ago, Earth was visited by three species from outer space: the Helians, the Acaplians and the Kyrrlyks). They wanted Earth’s abundant resources, so like every race they started a to wage war for them. The worlds native inhabitants, the humans were caught in the cross fire of this war. Forced to work for the other species, killed for sport and even used for experiments, the humans were at the brink of extinction.
One day, the Helians (those who experimented on them), found something interesting hidden inside the human genetic code. They found the solution to the war, once they activated the gene humans gained otherworldly abilities. These humans rebelled against their invaders and ended the war, but at high cost. The world lies in ruins, broken and battered because of the war.
Now, hundreds of years later, comes the story of the new ‘Awakened’. Will they defend the world? Has the threat of the war really been vanquished? Or are they lying in wait until the can strike again.
Again, sorry for the long post, but that’s the best I could do to summarize it.
What do you do in the game, and how does that relate to the questions you ask in the next to last paragraph?
Setting sounds neat, what differentiates this from AW? So far I’m just seeing it as setting.
Jesse Coombs So I haven’t decided what they would actually have to do. It would depend on how the MC takes the story. It could be that they just discovered their powers and how they deal with it. It could also be that there are machinations in back end because somebody wants to start the war again. I’m not trying to establish but it you feel it should I can.
Fraser Simons I have playbooks written. They are Awakened that have different reasons for becoming one. As for mechanics, I have basic and special moves that I’m tweaking. And instead of doing Hx or bonds, or debts, I’m writing what are called Oaths (sort of promises but have deeper meaning in the fiction) Another thing that comes into play in the fiction is a ‘Code to live by’ but I’m debating if I’m going to include it or not.
Let me rephrase then. What do you want the experience at the table to be like?
Good to see ideas getting out there, I love it. It can be hard sometimes. I’ll have some questions later, but for now I need to sleep.
I like it. So I take it alien tech is scattered all over?
I think it’d be fascinating to mix poverty and violence with cloning vats and ray guns.
Ghost DM Sounds neat. I really like oaths, I was playing with incorporating it into a playbook for a while for the Veil. Would be kind of neat to have the code to live by part created as they play. Depending on their actions maybe it fills in that code to live by so they aren’t constrained at character creation, but based on choices being made in the fiction we now know who they are. I’d definitely have them be able to grow and change from that but I think it’d be useful for roleplaying. Maybe that is your HX right, knowing oneself – through your own actions , perhaps it changes throughout based on action. Would be cool to tie that to advancement as well.
Fraser Simons Thanks for the feedback! I really like your game so I backed in Kickstarter, but that’s another matter entirely haha. As for the oaths, yeah they will have an important roleplay aspect as well as mechanical. They can be broken, with dire consequences but I’m not sure what they’re going to do yet (although I do have some ideas). As for the Code to live by, I thought about making it like you’re saying and yeah, as the game goes on, it will change throughout. It’s basically the way the PC will react to the world around him. And not only it will change with his own actions but those actions done to him (like life changing situations). What do you think?
Tony Ferron Yes, there’s alien technology and also undiscovered human civilizations that were destroyed in the war. Now, I don’t want to make it too sci-fi, because I think it’s plenty enough. I love playing in sci-fi games but I’m not keen on running them lol. But we’ll see, as I keep writing it might change. Thanks for the feedback and questions!
Ghost DM Hey, thanks a lot man! Much appreciated!! I think that’d be really cool, I like anything where it’s evolving and changing with the protagonist usually. What you COULD even do is treat them as bonds in worlds in peril where they burn the bond to get a success. Except now it’s based on their oath. So they get a success but they also have to now complete that oath or something. Maybe if they don’t complete it you could go hard like in the warren. Have them completely remove a basic move until it’s fulfilled even. Be curious to see what Marshall Miller would think of that. He’s around on the forms, might be able to ask him! If you think that’d be appropriate for it anyways!
Fraser Simons I thought about those ideas, but I want something fresh. I’ll keep thinking about it and see what pros/cons I can come up with concerning the breaking of oaths. By the way, I have the print copy of Worlds in Peril and did run one shots and short campaigns with it. My favorite superhero game thus far. Kyle Simons did an awesome job with that game.
Sweet! Glad you liked it – I love it. Totally! If it’s about oaths and how it evolves the character it should be the most unique thing about it, if possible. Did you think anything up since?
Fraser Simons I have some ideas. I have a playtest tomorrow (hopefully) where I’ll see which one the group likes better. Then, we’ll see how it plays out. If it doesn’t I’ll change it for the next one. Trial and error… as with most things hahaha
Ghost DM Nice! hope it goes well!