"A long time ago, in ancient China, an evil general named Dragon Fist overthrew the old emperor in a coup and became the new ruler. Under his rule he created an oppressive regime, stamping out rebellion and consolidating his empire. Under the order of the Jade Emperor, several spirits were incarnated among men to restore peace to the land."
This is a new RPG I am starting with a completely different "game engine." Based on the wuxia genre of books and movies (think Hong Kong kung fu flicks), players will be able to choose from 3 classes, 5 elements (will be explained later), 11 skills, 9 fighting styles, and 12 weapons.
Most RPGs here borrow game mechanics from Sonny or Monsters Den, which is fine, but has the downside of becoming overly predictable. To address this, I have developed a system of combat utilizing playing cards. I'd like to demonstrate this system first before starting the game.
In this demonstration, I'll use the Brawl fighting style, which is the basic fighting style that thugs, soldiers, and those unversed in martial arts will use. We have two soldiers with 2 health, and basic attacks that deal 1 damage.
Each soldier has a deck of poker cards representing their moves. Number cards (2-10) represent their basic attacks, face cards their special moves, and aces their ultimate move. As you level up in this RPG, you will have the freedom to choose or even develop your own moves based on your fighting style, and build up your deck.
Now in order to deal damage to the opponent, one side must win a "bout" of 5 draws. To demonstrate this:
1st draw: Soldier #1 drew an 8. Soldier #2 drew a 4. Soldier #1 wins the draw. 2nd draw: Soldier #1 drew a 3. Soldier #2 drew a 6. Soldier #2 wins the draw. 3rd draw: Soldier #1 drew an 8. Soldier #2 drew an 8. Neither of them wins the draw. 4th draw: Soldier #1 drew a K. Soldier #2 drew a J. Soldier #1 wins the draw. 5th draw: Soldier #1 drew an Ace. Soldier #2 drew a 10. Soldier #1 wins the draw.
In this bout, Soldier #1 won the majority of draws, therefore, they get to deal damage. I choose the highest draw to become the damage dealer, which in this case is the Ace. In the Brawl fighting style, the Ace attack is the Strangle, which we'll say deals 2 damage in this case. Soldier #1 deals 2 damage to Soldier #2 and wins.
However, I will not reveal draws like this; instead, I will narrate them in a more active style. I might narrate this fight like this:
The two soldiers face each other, ready to battle to the death. Soldier #2 charges and attempts to throw a punch, but Soldier #1 side steps the attack, grabbing him by the throat and strangling him. The attack is fatal. Soldier #1 wins!
It might be a little complicated at first, but I have tested it thoroughly to make sure it works.
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 250/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 6: You can punch through iron with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
He slices your belly open, takes your intestines and strangles you with them, then stabs you in the heart and tears your liver out.
Fine, just kidding.
You yell at him for being a traitor. He cuts your bonds, muttering, "Chill out, man. I'm on your side"
"You're an assassin?"
"I was until now...now they want my @ss. Come on, they have some stables close to here. We need to get out of this place as fast as we can."
You run down the stairs, through the restaurant, to the stables below and get on a horse. Although you've ridden on a horse before, you're not very good at it, but eventually you manage to get moving. The horses are fleet, and in no time you reach the village. You can see upon a hill an army engaging another army. Quickly you slip through the secret door of the monastery, and hand the abbot the book.
"You have done well, and have arrived just in time. Dragon Fist's army has already arrived, and the outlaws that have come to engage them will likely be defeated. I have forseen it. I want you to help lead when the siege inevitably comes. In the meanwhile, wait."
While you wait, you can do several things:
A) Go to your quarters to train for a while. B) Go to your quarters to focus your chi. C) Help plan tactics with your knowledge of the Art of War. D) Take some herbs from the herb storage. E) Help fix the defenses.
Name: Silent Step Level 3 Rogue Experience: 50/250 Element: Wood Skill: Sabotage Fighting Style: Drunken Weapon: Emei Piercers Inventory: 130 taels, bread, 9 rocks, Anqi manual, Drunken manual Attributes: [3] Body, [5] Mind, [5] Spirit Chi Level 3: Able to throw a rock accurately and stealthily, able to throw darts
You stab him through the head, killing him, and you go on your way. Due to your faster speed, you reach Chang'an relatively quickly. Feeling rather hungry and with money to spend, you enter a restaurant to eat. You notice something rather suspicious; there are a bunch of people walking up and down the stairs to the upper floor. Getting up, you walk up the stairs to investigate in a fit of curiousness. There is a woman there, who senses your presence and turns around.
"What are you doing here?" Then she recognizes you.
"Ah, Silent Step...you are here. Your friends managed to escape because of that crazy Baboon, but you will not get away! This is the lair of the assassin!"
She tosses a dart at you, which you dodge, and you engage her in combat. She puts up a furious fight, but you block each of the moves and grab her, tossing her away into a table. Her kung fu is good, but your Drunken style is a naturally effective counter. She gets up though, and presses the attack, knocking you back with an artful kick. It knocks you into a lamp, and hot oil splashes over you. The wick falls to the floor, still burning. Ignoring the pain as best as you can, you remember your skill in Sabotage and grab a pot of wine on a table, spitting it onto the wick. A flame shoots up. You drink some to strengthen your Drunken style, then toss the rest into the flames, making your escape. For the encounter you gain 100 exp., and you level up, with two attribute points to spend. You notice some stables in the corner, and you quickly get on a horse to head back to the monastery. You have a feeling that Dragon Fist is out there.
Sure enough, when you reach the monastery, you see Dragon Fist's army engaged in combat with the outlaws on the hill across. A siege is inevitable. In the meanwhile, though, you can pass the time.
A) Go to gamble with some of the stalwarts staying in the temple. B) Go to your quarters to focus your chi. C) Help plan tactics with your knowledge of the Art of War. D) Take some herbs from the herb storage. E) Help fix the defenses.
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 250/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 6: You can punch through iron with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
[Woah that was a bit too graphic but nicely described xD]
B) Go to my quarters to meditate on my Chi a bit before C) Talking battle plans using the Art of War skill.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 6 Monk Experience: 0/350 Element: Earth Skill: Soothsaying Fighting Style: Crane Weapon: Wind and Fire Wheels Inventory: 75 Taels, Bread, White Crane Manual, Nei Jin Manual, Antidote Attributes : [5] Body, [6] Mind, [12] Spirit Chi Level 6: All pressure points protected, withstand moderate poison, ability to go into Invincibility Mode
The trigrams indicate that the monastery will not be infiltrated, but will eventually be broken under the might of Dragon Fist's army. You continue to meditate on this when a shout comes from the walls:
"The outlaws have routed!"
You get up to see the doors open and the remaining outlaws fleeing inside. They have been greatly reduced, soldiers and generals alike. Still, they are tough and disciplined. The main task now is deployment. You are in command of five trained monks. Where will you and your monks take position?
A) In the middle courtyard. B) Guarding the relic in the very back C) On the walls manning the defenses D) In the rear garden
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 250/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 7: You can punch through steel with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
Tapping into your Chi, you reach a new Chi level; now you are capable of punching through steel. After about an hour, you get up and confer with the abbot and several other tacticians about deployment. You decide that most of the troops be stationed in the courtyard, with another company guarding the rear garden's secret door and the rest on the walls and in the buildings.
As one of the generals in this fight, you have the responsibility of monitoring both your troops and the enemy's troops. Where will you lead?
A) On the walls, giving you a height advantage. B) In the courtyard, where most of the action will be. C) In the buildings, allowing you to remain relatively safe and away from the action. D) In the rear garden protecting the secret door. E) Other
You meditate on your chi and make several darts for yourself. In addition, you coat those and your Emei Piercers with poison.
The battle is about to start, and Dragon Fist has routed the forces of the outlaws, who have retreated into the monastery. As one of the best fighters, you are made an officer in charge of several stalwarts. Where will you deploy?
A) In the middle courtyard, where most of the action will be. B) Guarding the relic in the very back C) On the walls manning the defenses D) In the rear garden guarding the secret door E) In the buildings
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 250/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 7: You can punch through steel with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
A) On the walls, ready to come in when the attackers seem to be gaining the upper hand (not at the very last second...)
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 250/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 7: You can punch through steel with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
Dragon Fist's forces approach the walls with ladders, grapple hooks, and battering rams. Behind them are several units of archers, now pouring fire at and above the walls. You take cover, pushing over ladders. Over the gate are several pots of boiling oil, which you tip over the soldiers trying to batter the gates down. Suddenly, in the distance you hear a loud boom and a giant puff of black smoke, and the solid rock wall shakes. You can see it; it looks like a giant tube shooting giant balls of iron at the walls. Whatever sorcery this is, it looks like it will smash the walls quite soon.
A) Call reinforcements by the gate. B) Call reinforcements next to the wall where it will probably crumble. C) Call reinforcements on the wall. D) Call reinforcements to strike the rear and destroy the cannon. C)
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 250/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 7: You can punch through steel with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
B) Call reinforcements to the wall and send a group, led by me, to take the catapult like threat down by the side (flank attack!)
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 280/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 7: You can punch through steel with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
You take some troops and sneak out the back into the forest. There are troops all around except for the back. You manage to sneak through the forest, surprising the cannon operators. They pull out knives, but your ability with the staff greatly surpasses theirs. You knock out three of them, gaining 30 exp. in total. Unfortunately, you have been spotted, and they're chasing you through the forest.
A) Run down the path. B) Run through the forest.) C) Hide in a tree. D) Other
Flame of the East Level 5 Fighter Experience: 280/300 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant, gourd of spring water Chi Level 7: You can punch through steel with your fist, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [7], Mind [5], Spirit [5]
C) Get everyone to hide in trees and when they are below or further than us surprise attack them
