Hey! I’m slowly accumulating enough knowledge to run my group’s first Uncharted Worlds campaign, and we’re organizing thoughts and ideas while our D&D campaign wraps up.
Basically, each player has rolled up a faction and I want to do a sort of behind the scenes metagame where each faction gets one turn/move after sessions that the others don’t know about, so potentially those conflicts or plot hooks come out organically in future sessions. How have you handled this in the past, or have you kept it vague to avoid putting yourself in a corner?
Also, because they wanted aliens and some Space Magic (even though half of them are robots) I made an uncaring Warp/Void/Star/Whatever that corresponds to each stat. Basically, updated versions of the Chaos Gods and a Machine/AI god for the Interface stat. Each time my players pass a check using a skill, that respective god gets a tally mark. Their competition will be totally behind the scenes, but depending on where they are in space or what should happen on a cosmic scale, their decisions will affect which great older one unknowingly devours them some day.
I’m sure I’m not the first to do any of this, what thoughts do you have?
Also I just realized that I could have edited a few things out for the sake of everyone’s peace of mind and sanity. Sorry! I’ll never be accused of trying to class the place up.
I like the idea behind this Chaos god thing. It feels a bit like Coriolis’ Darkness Points mechanic. I’d probably only add a tally each time they roll 12 or better, or something – make each tally important.
Have you seen Far Beyond Humanity?
I’ll definitely look up Darkness Points!
12 or better seems more impactful AND easier to track, so I totally support that.
Yeah, I like Far Beyond Humanity, it’s why I brought up the idea of Space Magic at all. I don’t think any of my players are going that route, but these hungry cosmic beings are what fuel divine magic in our setting. The Expertise God may be the most clever, since any (if there is any) arcane magic would also probably feed its influence.
This is an amazing idea. I could see this working in DW too!! yoink
Victor Segell Upcycling other people’s ideas is how our hobby works!
Just not sure what kind of moves the factions or deities will have.
I just know that a warp jump in a particular quadrant will have its own flavor of danger, and eventually the factions will come into conflict over systems or resources.
That’s awesome! One small nitpick: Nurgle would definitely be Physique (all things health and disease and life related) and Khorne would be Mettle (bravery, recklessness, fanaticism, blind obedience, focus).
Sean Gomes I think that’s a fair critique, I think I based the Khorne-esque attribute on the close quarters combat stat, but that’s an easy adjustment. That’s the issue with basing my made up stuff on real made up stuff. I’ll hear the same when I stat up a bunch of Star Citizen speeders and shuttles. 😀
Dan, the Stars Without Numbers RPG has a Faction Game that does exactly what you want, and it’s totally usable by itself! It’s pretty straightforward and does the job perfectly, worth giving a look
Bruno S. Briseno That’s awesome, I’m definitely going to check it out.