Solo Donnut DIY RPG playtest #1
So I wanted to test my micro rules (the new version, again) and as to not torture my players decided to try it solo. I wanted to abandon making all these once I found FMC Basic https://traversefantasy.blogspot.com/2023/11/fmc-basic-personal-pamphlet.html but then I just learned of Sword of Cepheus being fantasy version of Traveller and I want to make my own too.
Starting character has one Heart to prevent being hit in combat;
One general skill like War, Crime or Trade on +1;
Fortitude, Reflex, Will saves rolled 2d6:
2 = -2
3/4 = -1
5-9 = 0
10-11 = +1
12 = +2;
All tests are roll 2d6, success on 8 or more;
Hearty (fighter) characters get bonus Hearts;
Skilly (thief) characters get bonus skills;
Not sure how to handle magic yet, so magic-user can cast 1 spell of kinda messed OSE list.
Setting is something akin to Mediterranean Sea basin, after the collapse of almost-Roman Empire after centuries of decay. A lot of city-states, maritine trade and traces of cosmopolitan society, also evil psychic magic and conanesque vibes. Undead terrifying as in Ironsworn.
Characters:
Takrog, former gladiator in one of petty kingdoms, descendant of northern forest tribes
Hearts: <3 <3 Skills: War +1
Saves: Fort +1 Ref -2 Will 0
Phythis, former pirate of southern Sea, comes from desert kingdom of great river
Hearts: <3 Skills: Crime +1, Trade +1
Saves: Fort 0 Ref -1 Will -1
Ionos, adept of high magic from the capitol of decayed Empire
Hearts: <3 Skills: Study +1
Saves: Fort 0 Ref 0 Will -1
Spells Known: Charm, Hold, Ward, Shield, Sleep, Reveal, Light, Speak; - prepared
Adventurers were promised employment by one of the petty kings of the east, as well as twenty other fighters and mages. Unfortunately ship on which they traveled got wrecked when a storm mercilessly threw it on the shore.
Phythis as a former pirate is the first to wake up. Seeing no one near and a lot of gear floating on the water she jumps to salvage something from the wreckage. I rolled 3 on d4, so three things salvaged.
Salvageable Equipment Table:
1 map or book
2/3 tool
4 weapon
5 coins
6 vice
7/8 rations
Rolls: [3] tool, [6] vice, [7] rations. I guess axe is a tool present on a ship, as for vice I'd say small box of sour leaves, and rations - maybe small barrel of salted fish.
Not seeing any people in the water Phythis goes to look after anyone washed up on the shore. She finds Ionos and Takrog, awake but exhausted. Ionos asks if there are any books in the wreckage but there are none. After short conversation and making sure everyone is okay they get up and decide to try another jump for any useful things in shallow waters. Phythis due to experience does it automatically. [5] a box of silver coins but no one has time or energy to count them. Ionos jumps in the water [9+0] (I ruled Wild or Labour skills give appropriate mods) and [6] let's say it is wine amphora. Takrog also tries [10+0] and finds [4] a weapon. Let's say bronze sword. An hour gets by.
Afternoon sun still shines brightly so Ionos makes improvised headgear of water-soaked rags for their bald head. Then they all take a swig of wine and decide to look for a settlement. Takrog takes an axe behind the belt and a barrel over the shoulder, Phythis sword and amphora tied on some rags and Ionos holds sour leaves and a box of coins. They don't know where they are but hope to find a settlement, river or at least dry cave to rest.
Since no one has Wild skill but also they just go along the shore I'll roll d12 for their search (8+ success). There are around three hours until sunset. [6] during first hours they find only sharp rocks and steep cliff separating them from dry land. [5] next hour is marked by flooded cave and cracks in rocks. [2] sun starts to set but there is no safe place to stay, they choose rock shelf hoping the water won't get there during their rest. With no way to start a fire they drink some wine and lie down. Ionos takes first watch and casts Ward spell, being both alarm and slight protection. Each prays for their respective gods before sleeping, knowing well no god will listen to them here.
I'll roll for each persons watch to see if there are any random encounters or events.
Shore Encounter Table:
1 monster
2 another survivor
3 fisherhands
4 phenomena
5/6 animals
Encounter happens on 5/6 on d6. [1] Ionos wakes Takrog and goes to sleep with Ward still active. [6] and [1] crap. Monster on Takrog's watch. My first intuition was some creature of folklore changing shapes. But I wanted to enhance the feeling of evil undead and no gods to help. So this tells me a Sodden - drown undead, maybe even from the ship. But since they are far away from the ship at the moment and drowned people haunting feels to me more like a freshwater thing I'd go with Ironsworn Chimera.
During Takrogs watch, among sounds of the sea, there is something unnatural in the air. Some large creature walks towards the group through shallow waters, terrible smell of rotten flesh hits with the breeze. Ionos wakes up as the Ward is breached by an enemy. They wake up Phythis who grabs her sword, Takrog grabs his axe tighter, Ionos can only throw some stones. In the dim light of the moon they see only irregular shape with twitching appendages. It is fast though and strikes nearest person - Takrog. War roll for defense [5+1] - Takrog with enormous strain (one heart spent) pushes away twitching arm. Monster is a powerful one though so it strikes randomly once again. d4: 1 Takrog 2 Phythis 3 Ionos 4 surprise. [1] it is Takrog again [8+1] though this time he parries it away with ease, he learned his lesson. After that hit the team know it is impossible to defeat the creature and so they decide on running away.
Jumping off the shelf in the shallow water and then running away in darkness is a dangerous task. Takrog [8+0], Phythis [7+0], Ionos [5+0]. Takrog jumps in the water and quickly finds his footing, running along cliff. Phythis and Ionos stumble upon hitting sand under water and it gives the monster time to attack. Phythis [2+0] jumps away on the last moment (heart spent), Ionos [7+0] positions themself such as it hits sharp rock next to them (heart spent). The two starts to run away seeing Takrog's axe glistening slightly away. Phythis [8+0] and Ionos [10+0] successfully flee while monstrosity cuts itself on sharp rocks around.
After they get tired of running they don't stop walking still, resting only for short moments while the morning slowly comes. Once sun shines and no easy way up is visible they each take last swig of wine and climb up the cliff in the least steep place. Takrog [8+0], Phythis [10+0] and Ionos [8+0] make it up without problem. They see before themselves an land of shrubs and hills with a mountain range looming over horizon.
I think these mechanics are underwhelming. I will post my comments in another post.