"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 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
You sail with the brothers up the river with Perseverance and the brothers, reaching the Lotus Monastery in a short while. Once there, you inform the abbot that the outlaws are coming.
"Good! I will have the warning drums beaten to tell the villagers to take sanctuary in the monastery. The other messengers should be coming back soon. If they have managed to send their message, all the stalwarts of China will know in a short while."
After some time a messenger comes back. "Sir! I just came back from the Jiangshan Monastery! The abbot has been kidnapped!"
"What?! This is grave news. Do you know where he has been taken?"
"I have the ransom note with me: 'Bring the relic to Coldspring Cavern.'"
"The Coldspring Cavern? But that is holy ground!"
The abbot turns to you. "Gathering Storm, Perseverance, I need the two of you to go to Coldspring Cavern and see if you can rescue the abbot. If worst comes to worst, do not leave his bones to decay outside."
The two of you head out the monastery and past the deserted streets of the village. Night is coming, but this is urgent. The two of you reach the cavern opening. The road branches three ways, which you recognize. The left way leads to the Crystal Cavern, the right way leads to the Immortals' Bestiary, and the central way leads to the Coldspring Lake. Which way will you go?
A) The Crystal Cavern B) The Immortals' Bestiary C) The Coldspring Lake
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
The cavern air is cool and musty. You travel into the Crystal Cave, the home of lustrous stalagtites and stalagmites. Some look like the shapes of animals, others like humans. As you travel through, you see the sillhouettes of a tall man standing over what looks like an unconscious figure.
"Abbot?" you call out and approach the figures. Suddenly the standing and the lying figures jump at you, weapons drawn. You backflip and dodge the attack.
"We trust that you have the relic..."
"Show me the abbot!"
"Very well, as you insist...but there is punishment to be had if you do not bring the relic."
They bring you to the Coldspring Lake, a subterranean lake of clear, pure spring water. The two walk up to three other assassins, one of whom stands upon a rock. She looks like the leader of the other four assassins. Below her, bound, is the abbot.
"Well, we gave you what you promised...now hand us the relic."
"Abbot!"
The abbot looks up at you, raising his head up weakly, but his eyes are full of fire and defiance, as if he were ready to give up his life to protect the relic. You want, over all things, to rescue the relic, but you seem trapped.
A) Stall time and look for an opening. B) Charge over and attempt to fight the assassins. 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 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 attempt to stall briefly as I scan the surroundings for anything that may play into my favor. We are, after all, at a subterranean lake. Should worst come to worst, I should be able to take advantage of both the rock formations and the lake itself to incapacitate or separate enemies.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 4 Monk Experience: 90/250 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 5: Protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison, protect pressure points in abdomen, ability to go into Invincibility Mode
Your mind races as you pretend to search, when suddenly Perseverance hurls several darts at the assassins. Two of the assassins are incapacitated, and before they can react you kick the head assassin away from your master. Taking out your Wind and Fire Wheels, you cut the abbot's bonds, and the three of you fight the three assassins. Perseverance fights with his butterfly swords against dual chicken sickles, you fight against a meteor hammer, and the abbot, grabbing a spear from one of the unconscious assassins, fights against the head assassin, armed with a nine-section chain whip.
The man with the Meteor Hammer is enormously skilled, and the unpredictable movements of the chain result in it hitting you in the abdomen. Thankfully, your Nei Jin helps absorb most of the blow. Stung by the blow, you move in closer with your wheels, blocking the hammer and kicking him into a stalagmite. You then hurl a wheel at a stalagtite up ahead, slicing it down, and it impales him as it falls. You gained 80 exp. for defeating him.
The chicken sickle assassin sees this and in desperation he throws a sickle at you. You prepare yourself to dodge, but to your horror, the abbot steps in the way unaware and it embeds into his back. Perseverance takes the opening and stabs the assassin with his poisoned blades, then rushes to the assassin, but she throws a smoke capsule at the ground and escapes in the confusion.
After the smoke clears, the two of you examine the man's wounds, taking out the sickle from his body. It is apparent though, that he is dying.
"Abbot...don't die..." Perseverance says.
"My son, death and pain are inevitable...but in our lives we can overcome them...perhaps in our next lives we will meet each other again..." He turns to you. "I have something that I was going to give to you by messenger."
Out of his robes he takes out a pair of hard leather cuffs.
"These are consecrated gauntlets...they will help you focus your Chi to higher powers of Nei Jin...they're inscribed with the symbol of the Qilin...I have one more gift to give to the two of you."
He puts his hands on your foreheads, and you feel an intense tingling sensation, then a sudden lightness, as if you were a feather. He is transferring his Chi to you.
"By imparting the Chi I and abbots of old have built up to the two of you, I have labeled you two as my successors...I want the two of you to fully cultivate this Chi...and remember me when you do..."
Saying this, he dies. You close his eyes, while Perseverance sobs lightly. There are several things you can do:
A) Meditate in the cavern B) Use your soothsaying skill C) Bathe in the spring D) Bury the abbot's body E) A combination of the above F) Other
Name: Gathering Storm Level 4 Monk Experience: 90/250 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 5: Protect pressure points in arms and legs, withstand weak poison, protect pressure points in abdomen, ability to go into Invincibility Mode
I will first delicately bury the abbot's body, then procede to use my soothsaying skill. Afterward, I will meditate in the cavern to recuperate and think on the revelations that I have been granted.
Name: Gathering Storm Level 4 Monk Experience: 190/250 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 6: All pressure points protected, withstand moderate poison, ability to go into Invincibility Mode
You head outside and bury the abbot's body under a peach tree just outside the cave. As you head inside, you suddenly feel a little woozy, and you fall to your knees next to the water of the lake. Suddenly the ripples start to take form...you see the instruments of war coming to the region...a battle...men fleeing...death...the dragon coming...you're starting to hear the sounds of the dead and the living...those who live by the sword die by the sword...
And then you return back to the world of the living. The ripples have faded now, and the waters are still. Next to the lake you meditate and tap into your Chi. You realize what is happening: Dragon Fist is coming to make war.
In the distance you hear a horn blowing. Have the outlaws arrived?
A) Go to investigate the noise B) Stay in the cave C) Go back to the Lotus Monastery 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]
B) Fight him in armed combat. And make sure to be ready for his kicks-using the staffs long range to parry and counterattack.
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, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5] Status: Wounded
You take your staff out and challenge him. He whips out two sabers, and you duel. He is very skilled, easily parrying your moves and then using his 36th Tang kick. Normally this move is lethal, but you somehow survive it. You are dreadfully wounded.
Baboon tries to attack Thunderleg, but he is similarly easily dispatched. He takes the book from your hands and walks away, and you fall unconscious.
You and Baboon regain consciousness in the night. The city is still far away, and Thunderleg could be anywhere. Lighting a torch, you can see his foot prints, but you are in no condition to fight him again should you pursue him, as you are heavily injured.
A) Follow the footprints. B) Look for a tavern. C) Stay where you are and set up camp here. D) Keep going down the path. E) 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, enter Strength Mode. Attributes: Body [6], Mind [4], Spirit [5] Status: Wounded
