"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 4 Fighter Experience: 142/250 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 5: You can punch through bronze with your fist. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5]
You use your Snake style and engage the pirates, distracting them and tossing the rope to Baboon. Baboon, from his training with his rope dart, quickly makes a lasso and ties up the pirates in no time. The two of you grab your stuff and swim to shore. The pirates, stuck in your boat, are tossed and turned around in the rapids ahead. For your creative approach, you gain extra experience, a total of 120 exp.
You and Baboon manage to find a road to travel down. It'll be a long journey, but the two of you could care less. As you walk, you hear a series of hisses. Moving closer, you see the source: a snake and a bird are locked in combat. The bird is unlike any you've ever seen, with beautiful golden-brownish plumage and a strong beak. What will you do?
A) Stay and see what happens. B) Help the snake by striking the bird. C) Help the bird by striking the snake. D) Strike them both. E) Go away. F) Other
Name: Gathering Storm Level 2 Monk Experience: 60/150 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 4: Protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison, protect pressure points in abdomen
The two of you make your way on foot in the direction of the marsh. Soon night comes, and you see a tavern. Staying in the tavern, you see a group of men with bows and arrows and pitchforks talking to each other by the door. Curious, you deduce that they are hunters, and decide to talk to them.
"Haven't you heard? There's a man-eating tiger out there in the ridge ahead! We've tried to kill it, but it's already killed two of our men. We're going again to kill it. You look like a monk skilled in the martial arts, and your friend a strong fighter. Will you go with us to hunt the tiger?"
A) Go with them to the hunt B) No, stay in the tavern C) Other
Flame of the East Level 4 Fighter Experience: 142/250 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, coil of rope Chi Level 5: You can punch through bronze with your fist. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5]
Gasp :O Pheonix! Plus my talismans!
F) Come in and reason with the snake-we're good friends And stop the pheonix. Peace between two such creatures is powerful. Try to understand what they're fighting over and help make a reasonable solution for both.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 2 Monk Experience: 60/150 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 4: Protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison, protect pressure points in abdomen
I decide to accompany them as they go to hunt the tiger, yes, but with the acknowledgment that I will only defend myself and the party if threatened. I am not going to simply kill the tiger if he is only defending his own territory.
Flame of the East Level 4 Fighter Experience: 142/250 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant Chi Level 5: You can punch through bronze with your fist. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5]
You use your staff and lightly create a separation between the two. The snake slithers away, while the phoenix flies up onto a tree branch next to a nest. You can hear the chirps of baby birds...the phoenix was hunting to feed its chicks. Not wanting them to starve, you rip a hunk of your bread and place it on the ground, which the phoenix picks up into its mouth and uses it to feed its chicks. The chicks jostle around, and one of them knocks something out of the nest, which you catch. It's a pendant of fine jade, probably worth a great deal. You put it around your neck as a charm of good luck.
As you go, you find that the path is blocked by a pile of rubble. On closer inspection, however, you see that it's actually an oxcart. There are dead bodies everywhere, and freshly killed, it seems. One of them moans slightly. You realize with a shock that all of them are monks.
A) Attempt to revive the moaning monk. B) Search the rubble for items. C) Examine your surroundings for danger. D) Other
Flame of the East Level 4 Fighter Experience: 142/250 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant Chi Level 5: You can punch through bronze with your fist. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5]
A) Attempt to revive him, using my Snake fighting style (of knowing pressure points) to try to use it to heal himself for as much as possible. Staff at the ready-I don't want to be ambushed.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 4 Monk Experience: 10/250 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 : [3] Body, [4] Mind, [7] Spirit Chi Level 4: Protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison, protect pressure points in abdomen
You tag along with the hunters along with Perseverance. You walk down the path into the night, illuminated by torches. Suddenly Perseverance shouts: "I saw him!" Everyone stops, looking around, but there is no sign of the tiger, not even his glowing eyes.
You continue to travel, when Perseverance shouts that he has seen the tiger again. Everyone stops, but there is no sign. You realize that this tiger is not merely protecting its territory. It's stalking you. Suddenly, the hunters give a shout. In the distant darkness, a pair of eyes shine. A hunter shoots an arrow to hit the tiger between the eyes, but amazingly the tiger runs over and pounces, revealing two tigers with one eye closed, each. At the sight of two tigers, the hunters bolt, leaving you and Perseverance.
You take out your Wind and Fire Wheels, and Perseverance his Butterfly Swords, backs to each other as the tigers circle around you. A tiger pounces, and the two of you dodge it, rolling away and confronting one tiger each.
You leap over the tiger as it pounces, slicing its back with a powerful swipe of your Wind and Fire Wheels. The tiger roars in rage and swipes at you, but you back flip behind and throw your wheel at the tiger. It smashes into the Tiger's skull, killing it.
You retrieve your wheel, then turn to help Perseverance. He had hit the tiger with several of his darts, but the Tiger is too big for the sedative to have any effect. With its paw it bats the man away, knocking him down to the ground with a large slash across his chest.
Now you have to face the Tiger. The tiger tries to hit you with its paw, but you parry it away with your wheel. The tiger uses its other paw to slash you, and you dodge, but you are a little too slow and it slashes your leg. You stumble and fall to the ground.
"Storm!" Perseverance shouts as he tosses a Butterfly Sword at the tiger, hitting it in the leg. The edge of his swords are poisoned, and the tiger starts to grow faint, but it lumbers towards Perseverance. You quickly toss your wheels at the tiger. One of them misses and sticks in a tree, but the other embeds itself into the tiger's lungs, killing it. For defeating two tigers you gained 500 exp., and leveled up twice. You have four attribute points to spend.
You manage to drag yourself over to Perseverance, using your Staunching Powder on his wounds. You are feeling faint...in the distance you can hear voices approaching...
You wake up in the tavern, when a stranger comes in. "Impressive, you and your friend killed two tigers. I heard you were on your way to Liangshan Marsh. My name is Zhang Qing; I am the owner of this tavern and an outlaw of the Marsh. How can I be of service?"
A) Ask him how Perseverance is. B) Ask him to take you to Liangshan Marsh. C) A&B D) Other
Flame of the East Level 4 Fighter Experience: 142/250 Element: Fire Skill: Art of War Fighting Style: Snake Weapon: Staff Inventory: 230 taels, bread, Snake manual, Fa Jin manual, jade pendant Chi Level 5: You can punch through bronze with your fist. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5]
You don't have that skill, as you are not a master of Dianxue. Luckily, though, Baboon has a gourd of wine with him, and he pours a few drops onto the monk's lips to revive him. His eyes flutter open.
"Thank you...kind stranger...we were attacked by an assassin."
"Where are you from?"
"We were returning to the Lotus Monastery...we tried to defend ourselves, but he was too skilled...look into that chest over there...and take it...don't let him take it..."
With a final cough, the monk expires. You look into the chest to find a small book. The title says, "Alchemy of Immortality." Suddenly a dagger flies through the air and hits a tree just behind you. You look up to see a man fly through the air, and instinctively you dodge. He flies over head, and strikes a fighting pose.
"Who are you?"
"I am Thunderleg the assassin, master of the 36 Tang Family Kicks. If you know what's good for you, give me that book!"
A) Give him the book. B) Fight him. C) Run away. D) Other
Name: Gathering Storm Level 4 Monk Experience: 10/250 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 : [4] Body, [5] Mind, [9] Spirit Chi Level 4: Protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison, protect pressure points in abdomen
I will first ask Zhang Qing how Perserverance is. If it is a good report, I will explain my need to travel to the Marsh and ask if he could be of any assistance.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 4 Monk Experience: 10/250 Element: Earth Skill: Soothsaying Fighting Style: Crane Weapon: Wind and Fire Wheels Inventory: 75 Taels, Bread, White Crane Manual, Nei Jin Manual, Antidote Attributes : [4] Body, [5] Mind, [9] Spirit Chi Level 4: Protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison, protect pressure points in abdomen
"How is Perseverance?"
"He is fine. My wife has been tending to him. If you had not applied the Staunching Powder immediately, he could have died."
"And can you get me to Liangshan Marsh? Safely?"
"I thought you would ask that," says he with a smile. "I sent for three of them to come and fetch you, the Ruan brothers. They can take you quickly by boat once you are better."
Several days pass, and both you and Perseverance get better quickly. The two of you go to the docks, where the three Ruan brothers pick you up. The way to the mountain stronghold is like a labyrinth of reeds, but the three know the way like the back of their hands. They lead the two of you to the main room, where 108 generals sit. These are the famous outlaws of the Liangshan Marsh. You give your message to the head, Song Jiang. He looks at the letter, and then tells his generals to mobilize their troops immediately.
"We will return to help our friends in the Lotus Monastery, and we will offer you transportation, if you so desire."
A) By boat, with the Ruan brothers and ahead of the outlaws' invasion party. B) By foot C) By horse D) By boat with the invasion party
BladeBreaker Level 4 Fighter Experience: 82/250 Element: Metal Skill: Craftsmanship Fighting Style: Tiger Weapon: Hook Swords Attributes: Body [7], Mind [4], Spirit [5] Inventory: 60 Taels, Bread, Tiger Manual, Dian Xue Manual, Letter, Tiger's Tooth, Silver Needles Chi Level 3: Can hit pressure point for momentary pain, to stop a wound from bleeding, or to blind an opponent
Your Tiger's Tooth gets you a discount, and you buy their heaviest armor, mail armor, which you wear under your clothes. You then train, getting you 60 exp. You level up and gain a Chi level, which gives you 2 attribute points to spend and the ability to blind an opponent just by hitting the right point.
After, you go to the Lei Tai. Your opponent is a famed wrestler. You open with a strike, but he grabs you and tries to throw you out of the ring. You hit the floor quite hard, but the mail armor protects you from most of the blow and you manage to get up. You then attack even quicker, hitting him with a flurry of fists. He struggles to get up but you deliver a stunning kick to the face that sends him out of the ring. You gained 80 exp. as a result of defeating him.
After that, you head to the monastery and decide to travel on foot to Chang'an, a long way ahead. There's a fork in the road and you decide to take the left one out of your own intuition. It leads to a clearing of grass. In the middle is a rock, and on that rock is a grizzled old man sleeping.
A) Wake him up. B) Come up closer to examine him. C) Walk away. D) Other
Name: Silent Step Level 3 Experience: 55/200 Element: Wood Skill: Sabotage Fighting Style: Drunken Weapon: Emei Piercers Inventory: 130 taels, bread, 9 rocks Attributes: [1] Body, [5] Mind, [3] Spirit Chi Level 1: Able to throw a rock accurately
(I leveled you up to the lowest level the three active participants have. You have four attribute points to spend.)
You make your way down on foot and coming across a fork, take the right way. En route, you encounter a bandit, who demands your money. You refuse, and he attacks you. You quickly ready your drunken style, weaving around him. He punches you, but you absorb the energy and perform the move Uncle Stirs the Vintage, and then kicking him away. He tries to attack again, but you leap over his head and toss a rock at his head, knocking him out. From this encounter, you gain 40 exp., as well as 30 taels, from which you gain an additional 15 exp.
You are a fast walker, and by the afternoon you have reached the tavern a day's walk away. The tavern owner welcomes you in. What would you like to do?
A) You can purchase a room to rest for the night at a cost of 20 taels. Resting will cure any special conditions you have (poison, wounds, etc.), grant you a small amount of experience, and perhaps even a free item from the kindly tavern owner. B) You can gamble and try to earn money, which will get you experience. C) You can read the books that the abbot gave you and learn new moves. D) You can buy some herbs, food, or wine from the tavern owner. E) You can do any combination of A-D. F) You can leave the tavern and continue in the night. It will lessen your journey by a day at the increased risk of running into bandits and wild beasts.
