"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.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 2 Monk Experience: 0/150 Element: Earth Skill: Soothsaying Fighting Style: Crane Weapon: Wind and Fire Wheels Inventory: 75 Taels, Bread, White Crane Manual, Nei Jin Manual, Antidote, Staunching Powder Attributes : [2] Body, [3] Mind, [5] Spirit Chi Level 3: Can withstand blow to stomach, protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison
You spend 25 taels on the two items and then head off. The path winds through the forest. As you follow it, you enter a clearing and see a deer with only one antler standing some distance. All of a sudden, you hear a roar, and a leopard pounces at the deer. It uses its antler to ward off the leopard for now, but it doesn't look like it can hold it off much longer. What do you do?
A) Help the deer and attack the leopard. B) Kill the deer and the leopard. C) Keep going. D) Hide in some bushes and see what happens?
For those that don't do anything until the next "checkpoint" (where the five of you are addressed), I give you the items needed to progress and half of your experience.
Flame of the East Level 2 Fighter Experience: 52/150 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 100 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual Chi Level 2: You can break two boards with your fist. Attributes: Body [4], Mind [2], Spirit [3]
Let's be adventrurous and go with B) go up the small dusty road.
Flame of the East Level 2 Fighter Experience: 132/150 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 2: You can break two boards with your fist. Attributes: Body [4], Mind [2], Spirit [3]
The road is quite steep, but you continue to climb. You finally reach the ridge, and find a large log bridging the gap. Just as you're about to cross, you are ambushed by two bandits! They're unarmed, so you go forth with your snake style.
Although your skill is higher, they have the advantage of numbers, and you have a bloody nose. The way they draw blood infuriates you, and you kill one with multiple hits to the stomach. The other is dispatched just as easily with a blinding Spitting Cobra Strike and a roundhouse kick to the head.
All in all, you defeated 2 bandits, each of whom yielded 40 exp. Searching them, you found 30 taels and a coil of rope.
After the encounter, you cross the log bridge and into the village where the Lotus Monastery is located. Since not everyone is here yet, you can visit the city before delivering the message. Where would you like to go?
A) The Apothecary, where you can buy herbs. B) The Tavern, where you can buy food and meet other people. C) The Lei Tai, where you can battle other people. D) The Monastery, where you can train and read your books. E) The Tailor Shop, where you can buy clothes and armor. F) The Blacksmith's, where you can buy weapons. G) Any combination of the above.
Flame of the East Level 2 Fighter Experience: 132/150 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 2: You can break two boards with your fist. Attributes: Body [4], Mind [2], Spirit [3]
I do not need armour or weapons-just pure skill so... B) The tavern to meet the people and whats going on in town and D) the monastery.
Flame of the East Level 2 Fighter Experience: 132/150 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 3: You can smash bricks with a single hit. Attributes: Body [5], Mind [2], Spirit [4]
You head to the monastery first to inform them that you and your companions are coming over. Then you train and read out of your manuals. From training, you gained 75 experience, and have now leveled up. You have two attribute points you can spend. From reading the books, you learned a new attack, Leaping Snakebite, as well as gaining a Chi Level. You are now able to smash bricks with a karate chop.
After, you head to the tavern. There aren't a lot of people. You sit next to a man, who looks at you and asks: "You look like you're from the Jiangshan Monastery."
"Err...yeah. How'd you know?"
"You don't need to know that. But I heard about the attack on the Monastery. I heard from some people that the assassins came from Chang'an, but I don't know much more than that."
Suddenly some soldiers burst into the tavern. "Halt!" pointing to the man, "You're under arrest!"
The soldiers are armed with spears, and there are five of them. They wear cuirasses with wooden scales as well as helmets, offering them quite some protection. You have a few options here:
A) Help the man out and fight the soldiers. Remember that they are part of Dragon Fist's army. B) Leave out the back door. C) Make like you're leaving out the back door, but hide and watch how the fight goes. D) Other.
Flame of the East Level 3 Fighter Experience: 57/??? Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 3: You can smash bricks with a single hit. Attributes: Body [5], Mind [3], Spirit [5]
Flame of the East Level 3 Fighter Experience: 57/200 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 3: You can smash bricks with a single hit. Attributes: Body [5], Mind [3], Spirit [5]
You make for the door, but you hide behind a shelf and watch the action. The man overturns a table on the soldiers, then expertly backflips onto a table and pulls out his weapon: a Rope Dart. The man is extremely agile; he looks like a master of the acrobatic Monkey Style. Although he is skilled with both the Monkey style and the Rope Dart, it looks like he could use some help. Do you join the fight, or do you leave?
Flame of the East Level 3 Fighter Experience: 57/200 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 3: You can smash bricks with a single hit. Attributes: Body [5], Mind [3], Spirit [5]
Can I keep watching and come in when he's in the actual trouble. For example, when a spear is aiming at his neck use my staff knock it from the soldiers hand. Other wise join in with my staff ready.
Flame of the East Level 3 Fighter Experience: 112/200 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 4: You can smash two bricks with a single hit. Attributes: Body [5], Mind [3], Spirit [5]
(Very nice thinking. Fire's personality is creativity. )
You see a soldier just passing by you, trying to flank the man with his spear, and you quickly use your staff to knock it out of his hands and grab him over. You use your Fa Jin power to quickly snap his neck before he can make a sound. You gain 55 experience and a Chi level for the kill. You can now smash two bricks with a single chop.
The fight still rages on, and the soldiers are too focused on the man to notice their fallen companion. Do you:
A) Continue to hide there B) Come out of your hiding place and attack C) Leave D) Other
Name: Gathering Storm Level 2 Monk Experience: 0/150 Element: Earth Skill: Soothsaying Fighting Style: Crane Weapon: Wind and Fire Wheels Inventory: 75 Taels, Bread, White Crane Manual, Nei Jin Manual, Antidote, Staunching Powder Attributes : [2] Body, [3] Mind, [5] Spirit Chi Level 3: Can withstand blow to stomach, protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison
I'll go with (D), electing to wait and see what happens. I would prefer to take a wait-and-see approach. It's not my position to interfere with nature.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 2 Monk Experience: 0/150 Element: Earth Skill: Soothsaying Fighting Style: Crane Weapon: Wind and Fire Wheels Inventory: 75 Taels, Bread, White Crane Manual, Nei Jin Manual, Antidote, Staunching Powder Attributes : [2] Body, [3] Mind, [5] Spirit Chi Level 3: Can withstand blow to stomach, protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison
As the two battle, you notice how much the deer looks like your talisman, the mythical Qilin. The deer is steadily losing the fight, and the leopard deals it a fatal blow. In its death throes, the deer impales the leopard with its antler, killing it. The two collapse together in a heap, dead.
Wondering what this omen could possibly mean, you take several sticks and make a rudimentary trigram. From it, you discern that there will be a terrible battle in the near future.
As you are walking down the path, you are suddenly hit by a dart. You can tell it is tipped with a sedative of some sort, but thanks to your Nei Jin you pull out the dart and resist the sedative's effects. What will you do now?
A) Run down the path as fast as you can. B) Take out your weapons and stay where you are. C) Take cover behind a boulder. D) Fall down and play dead E) Other
Name: Gathering Storm Level 2 Monk Experience: 0/150 Element: Earth Skill: Soothsaying Fighting Style: Crane Weapon: Wind and Fire Wheels Inventory: 75 Taels, Bread, White Crane Manual, Nei Jin Manual, Antidote, Staunching Powder Attributes : [2] Body, [3] Mind, [5] Spirit Chi Level 3: Can withstand blow to stomach, protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison
I will choose to fall down, feigning death. Presumably, the attacker will assume I have been sedated correctly and come to capture me. Considering that there will likely be a battle in the near future, it would be unwise to pass up an opportunity to possess an element of surprise.
Flame of the East Level 4 Fighter Experience: 22/250 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 130 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 4: You can smash two bricks with a single hit. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5]
As the battle goes on, you manage to disarm another person, but before you can grab him he runs and shouts to his other companions. Now that your position has been revealed, you jump out and toss a jug of wine at the soldier, shattering it on his head and knocking him out. You then attack the other soldier.
You start out on offense, driving back the soldier with your staff, but he blocks the hits and tries to stab you. You dodge that, and grasp the lower end of your staff to keep him farther away. Although he is repulsed, the soldier still manages to block those hits and attacks still. You block those attacks, then mount a fiercer offense, hitting the soldier on the head. The soldier's helmet protects him, but the hit was hard. He tries to stab you back, but you dodge and then perform a stunning combination of staff strikes, hitting the soldier over and over again and knocking him out. At the same time, the monkey master defeats the other two soldiers.
All in all, you defeated two soldiers, gaining 55 experience from each. You also leveled up, and you have two attribute points to spend. The soldiers did not drop any money, but you can take a cuirass from them, which will reduce any damage you take by 25%.
After helping the owner of the tavern fix up the place, the Monkey master talks to you. "Everyone calls me Baboon, so you can call me that. Can I join you to find out what's going on here?"
A) Allow Baboon to join you in your quest. B) Refuse him C) Other
