Mostly-systemless PBeM starting From: bethmo@microsoft.UUCP (Beth MOURSUND) Date: Wed, 18 Jul 1990 05:14:28 +0000 Having followed with enjoyment all the postings about running PBeM games, and the debates on system-based vs. systemless gaming, I'm ready to take the plunge and try running a PBeM mostly-systemless game. No statistics (attributes, spell points, whatever) will be seen by the players; I may or may not end up using some internally, depending on how the game develops. The setting for the game will be a very modified version of the World of Synnibarr. I will accept characters from any game EXCEPT Synnibarr, or characters thought up from scratch. Restrictions: no gods or demi-gods, nor characters of god-like power. All characters should have at least a minor combat capability. Caveat: upon arrival, the character may find him/her/itself with greater, lesser, or simply different abilities than he/she/it thinks he/etc. has, and abilities are likely to continue to change over the course of the game. The characters will have to find out what works, and how, through trial and error. All characters will be roughly equal in potential, regardless of how strong or weak the original description is. I would like 6-8 players. Preference will be given to (in no particular order): players who I can reach via Reply from my mail system characters which I find interesting players who've been posting stories to the net players whose character description is well-written the player of the kender in the Other Realms(?) game which was being posted in rec.games.pbm a while back characters from different backgrounds and/or with different ablities than what I've already got (I'd like no more than one each of D&D-ish mage, superhero brick, Paranoia clone, space marine, Stormer, street samurai, RuneLord, etc... variety is the spice of life!) (Did I leave out any type that's been discussed recently on the net?) Characters should be described in english, avoiding game terminology. Things to include in description: Character's name and appearance. General description of character's background, including the society he comes from. How the character currently spends a typical day. Does the character have any involvement with time, space, or dimension travel? Any supernatural involvements? Any other "hooks" that could lead to an abrubt removal from their current location? Character's personality. Goals in life. Moral code, if any, and how strongly she adheres to it. Any "hooks" that would be useful in motivating the character and/or personalizing an adventure. I'm hoping that this game will be more driven by the character's desires, rather than following a pre-determined plotline. Natural abilities. How much weight can he lift? How acrobatic is she? What sort of damage would annoy/injure/kill it, and how would less-than-killing damage impair him? Is she more/less vulnerable to some types of damage than others? Is it a genius, an idiot, or something in between? Is he blind? Can she hear a pin drop? Can it track like a bloodhound? Skills. What is he trained in and/or naturally good at, and how good? Give examples of tasks/feats she could expect to accomplish easily and with difficulty. Special powers. This includes magic, mutations, psionics, built-in tech gadgetry, divine favor, incredible luck... whatever the character can do that isn't a natural ability or a skill. These should be described in some detail. I also need to know how the power is powered, if the player (not necessarily the character) knows; some possibilities I've seen include: tap power from another plane/dimension, from the Force created by all life in the universe, from the the AA cell in my back pocket, from the bodies own metabolism, from any ambient energy, from sunlight, power granted directly from a god... Does the power recharge (if so, how) or is it one-use? Is an accessory, focus, incantation, gesture, etc. needed? Does it work all the time, or only at certain times/places/conditions? Does it always work in the desired manner, or can it fail (and if so, what are the results of a failure)? Spell-casters should describe each spell they can cast (memorized, or in their spellbooks) if they cast from a set list, or each effect/element/rune/?? they can manipulate if they build spells on the spot but are limited in their scope. Equipment. What would you like the character to be carrying/wearing at the time of departure? If an item has special powers, describe them just as in the Special Powers section above. Anything else I've left out that you think I'd like to know about the character. Referenced By Up