Author: Mark Plemmons

Question about a ‘magic move’ for my new game.

I’ve been toying around with a new cross-genre PbtA game tentatively titled “F*ck Your Genre” or “FYG” for short.

In my brain it’s currently sort of a combo of the RIFTS RPG meets Rick & Morty. As the working title implies, it’s designed to evoke and fuck with different genres at the same time. The working draft playbooks 16(!) include characters like The Dread Pirate, The Fastest Gun in the West, The Luchador Supreme, The Mighty Kongorilla, The Mekka Prime, and (which brings me to my question) The Holy One.

I don’t want ‘MAGIC!’ to be a big part of the game, so The Holy One’s moves are minor miracles like “Give Me A Sign” (crowd faith healing), “Suspiciously Specific Sermon” (influencing), and such. Those are pretty straightforward, but I could use some feedback on whether the following makes sense or if I’m missing something really obvious….

Religion is Magic: Appeal to whatever sentient cosmic force you believe in, strike a dramatic pose or gesture, and roll +MOVE. On 10, choose the spell form and one effect; unless otherwise specified, the effect is instantaneous. On 7-9, choose the form and effect, but the GM also creates or chooses a mishap. On any hit, target one creature, object, or area within line of sight that is also no larger than an imaginary cube of approximately [6 x STAT] feet on each side; you may target yourself instead. On a miss, your magic goes significantly awry; the GM will decide exactly how.

Special: On 11, double the effect or add a second effect as appropriate. On 12, double one of the current effects or add a third effect as appropriate.

Form: bolt, burst, cloud, flame, globe, ray, shadow, wind

Effect: animate a statue (up to STAT minutes; you do not control it), clothes to ashes, detect magic, find money (up to STAT coins), multiply food (one piece becomes up to STAT), purify water, walk on water/air (up to STAT minutes), water to wine/beer (up to STAT gallons)

Mishap (examples): wrong form, unexpectedly intense form, similar but different effect, max variable = 1 (1 min, 1 coin, 1 gallon, etc.)

Only 2 days left! If you’re looking for a new PbtA hack that deals with gender issues, sexism, racism, body horror, war, cowardice, and other mature content – right alongside medical misfits and hijinks – then don’t miss this Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/504288855/mashed-a-korean-war-mash-rpg

There’s a PbtA sale happening on DriveThruRPG/RPGNow – until September 30th! I’m thinking about picking up Uncharted Worlds.

http://www.drivethrurpg.com/featured.php?promotion_id=SSS16-AWDW

I’m working on special Operating Room rules (for a game about Army doctors in the Korean War, aka MASHED for now) and could use some feedback. (I just posted this as a reply to my original announcement but I think it’s getting buried, so I’m putting it here too.) I think I’ve got it mostly figured, but I still have to actually write it and crunch it, because it’s only in my head right now.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Basically, here’s how it would work.

+ There is a one-page playsheet for each wounded soldier.

+ Each soldier sheet represents dozens of other similar soldiers operated on, because players aren’t going to want to repeat dozens or hundreds of operations in a row.

+ Each major part of the body (head, chest, guts, each limb) has its own trauma clock. You use Dx and Tx (diagnose and treat) moves for surgery, but can only focus on one clock at a time. The MC sets each clock’s current status on the playsheet before handing it out. 

+ roll 10+ heals one segment

+ roll 7-9 heals one segment, but choose from consequences (one of which is another clock gaining a segment) 

+ roll 6 or below leads to Complication (9 or below may cause consequences that lead to Malpractice) and one or more other clocks gaining segments. You can push your luck to avoid Complication and try Tx again.

+ Up to 2 other medic players can ‘assist’ on a surgery, to give a + 1 each.

+ You can start operating on any clock you want, but the goal is to do the minimum needed – to play ‘par’ surgery – to save as many as possible. If you spend too much time on one patient, a consequence may make your next patient’s clocks worse, since he spent too much time waiting for you. 

+ I’m thinking some players will want to make a patient ‘good as new’ but be forced to choose how much time they can afford to spend.

+ Tension and choices will be harder when an NPC they know ends up on their table!