Free for all experiment game summary

The Questions


Basic government structure


Two governments: Top Tier is Tolkienistic Aristocracy under Sauron.  And the Communist Collective Hive


A popularly sold product


Putty Foam:  Shapes into any small appliance


A famous person


Evan R. Pierson- A famous arceologist.  Fanatic Anti-Tolkienist.  Broad, thick headed, adventurous, rich, powerful.


A legend


The moon is an alien space ship


Overall, do people trust the government?


No, but no one can agree why they don't trust it.  Currently the leading debates are between the tin foil hats who think the gov't is doing creepy experiments, and the illuminati crowd who think it is run by Masons or Templars or something.  Those who think it is just power hungry are usually given a "where have you been" look.


You pass a group of school children, what are they doing/talking about?


They are either discussing advanced quantum gyroscopics, arcane inversion mechanics, or the latest episode of "Metababble" that edutainment show.  That was when the wolf siren sounded and they had to go inside.


What is known about time-travel?


For most people, not much.  It is one of those things like plumbing of medicine, you leave it to the specialists.  Besides there is a fine for doing it without a license.  But accidents happen and sometimes people end up last week by mistake, at least thats what happened to a friend of a friend of a cousin's nephew's brother.  That's why the Time Embassies are there, don't you know.  Isn't it?


What are international relations like?


There is a cold war going on, although neither side will admit it.  They pretend they are the best of friends, but both sides are aware that the other is secretly stockpiling weapons "in case"  


What is one secret organization, and what do they do?


There is an organization dedicated to proliferating "supers" throughout society so that we will be better prepared in case the cold war gets hot.  Ironically, most of its members are "normals" because most supers prefer being special, and in particular vampires worry that this group will deplete their food supply.  Also, the group has few good ideas how to proliferate super powers...


What has been happening locally?


 The secret organization recently released a horde of irradiated rats into the city in the hopes that their bite will give people super powers.  Mostly is's just resulted in an outbreak of diseases and a run on exterminators.  The rival power in the cold war [the French] offered to help, but we declined politely.


Where do people go to have fun?


Night clubs (restaurants with music and or theater)


What was the top story on the news last night?


Explorers in the Himalayas have discovered the ruins of an ancient city buried beneath the ice.


The most common mode of travel is...


The Trolley 


Where does the story start?


A National Geographic lecture at the university detailing recent archeological finds


What is the income distribution like?


There is a small elite class of very rich who really run things, a large "leisure class" of middle class layabouts who rely on legions of clay golems who take the place of the working class


A religion:


Tolkienism:  They believe that JRR Tolkien was a prophet from God.  His books, especially the Silmirillion are treated like religious texts and the churches are common in Western Europe and USA  


The most common cause of death is...


Death by ennui.  Where a person becomes so idle and bored that they cease to exist.


   

Free for all experiment is tomorrow!!

I really have no idea how this is going to turn out.  Hopefully, since I've collected some good players it will be fun.  It's been a while since I GM'd anything, and I missed it.  I put a lot of energy during the game, and it's a bit tiring, but in a good way.  I enjoy creating a mystery that people want to figure out, making them a invested in the world, and I think if the world creation is a group effort, the players will be more invested in it because it will be as much their creation as it is mine, if not more so.

If everyone comes that says they will, we'll have a nice full house, all the better for more creativity and energy.  I even had to create a few new questions.  I'm sure glad that character creation is so simple :)

Updates

It's been some time since I've done anything with 2d6, school has a tendency to suck out one's creativity, and last time I tried to get a group together for the Free for all, everything fell apart with people not getting back to me until the last minute.

But here I am again, and I'm attempting to get the Free For All rolling this time.  The tentative date is Feb. 13th at 2pm.  And I've already got a couple of responses.

Also, I noticed that what I had available for download was an old version of the manual, and when I tried to update it on SkyDrive, I couldn't remember my ID or password, so I had to make a new account and do it all over, for some reason it wasn't giving me individualized links for each document, just the one for the folder, which is why the side bar simply says click me.  It will take you to the folder that has all the new stuff in it.

I also stuck in there the 2d6 supplement guide.  Much of it is unfinished, but I put it up anyway as we will be using some of the sections for the upcoming free for all.

2d6 Supplement guide.

The 2d6 Supplement guide is well underway.

This supplement guide is meant to be used along side with the “2d6 Game System Manual”.  This book is by no means necessary to play any kind of 2d6 game.  It does however provide suggestions on rules that you may or may not wish to use.  We have provided a few basic genres and popular role-playing worlds for you to look at.  Just because an ability is placed in one section of this book does not mean it cannot be used in a different genre, assuming there is a good reason.  For example, if you wanted to create an alien race in a Star Trek world that was capable of turning invisible, by all means use the rules provided for invisibility in the Traditional Fantasy section.  However some abilities may be more or less useful in different worlds, and their point cost may vary at the GM’s discretion.

Next to abilities there is a number in parentheses.  This number represents the suggested point cost for that ability.  There are also some abilities that have different levels.  For example Illusions have three levels: Lesser illusion, illusion and greater illusion.  Each level in a set has its own point cost; however, you may upgrade to a higher level in a set by only paying the difference.  If my character started with lesser illusion, and then gained one experience point, I then could spend that one point to buy Illusion, even though it costs 2 because I already have the lesser illusion ability.  (btw...the points I'm talking about are the experience points you earn, you get 1 point of each 'chapter' of the story.  You may also start with a couple of points to play around with as well.) 

Take a look at the traditional fantasy abilities and let me know what you think!

Area heal (2, prerequisite Buff 2) This ability allows you to heal your allies within a 5’ radius.

Cleave (1) If you kill someone using the aggressive combat style, you can make a second melee attack against an adjacent creature.

Piercing shot (1) If you deal a heavy wound to an enemy using a ranged weapon, you may make a secondary attack against an enemy behind the primary target with -1 Damage

Dispel Magic (2) End a single magical effect by having both the caster and the dispeller roll 2d6 adding their respective magical ability attribute (typically Intelligence or Wisdom).

Elements (1) You gain the ability to cast spells with one new element type.  Suggestion elements are: fire, ice, acid, wind, electricity, poison. Spellcasters start with one element type for free.

Feather fall (1) When this spell is cast, the target can fall slowly like a feather, landing on its feet without taking damage.

Flight (2, this ability may cost more in worlds where flight is extra useful) You gain the ability to fly at your normal speed but not hover.  Any attacks made while in flight take a -3 to attack.

Superior Flight (4): You gain the ability to fly, including hovering.  You take no penalty to attacks while flying.

Lesser illusion (1) Create an illusion that fools one sense and cannot move (ex. make a sound, or visual illusion you can pass your hand through)

Illusion (2) Create an illusion that fools all 5 senses, but still cannot move or interact with its environment (ex a person that you can touch and smell and speaks, but does not move). 

Greater Illusion (4) Create an illusion that fools all 5 senses and can move and have simple interactions with its environment (ex the illusory person can open a door or speak when spoken to, but it cannot hold a conversation). 

For someone to detect an illusion, they may make an Intelligence and Logic or Wisdom and Perception versus a DL of 9 for minor illusion, 12 for illusion, and 15 for greater illusion.  Other relevant skills may be used to detect the illusion at GM discretion.

   

Invisibility (2) You become invisible.  If you touch or manipulate an object or attack something you become visible. 

Greater Invisibility (4) You become invisible.  You may touch and manipulate objects but cannot make attacks without becoming visible.

In combat, becoming invisible takes all your actions for the round.  You can still be detected by sound and smell while invisible.

Mind Reading (4) To read an unwilling person’s mind, you and the target roll each roll 2d6 and add its wisdom.  If your total is higher, you are able to learn one fact that is in that person’s mind.  If your roll is lower, then you are not able read that thought, and you cannot make another attempt for that specific thought.  In the event of a tie, you succeed.  The moment you start attempting to read a person’s mind, they are aware of it, even if they do not understand it.  You cannot read the mind of someone who is unconscious.  If the target is willing in your attempt to read them, there is no roll.

Shapeshift (1/shape) You gain the ability to turn into a different form of your size or smaller (ex a different humanoid, an animal, a potted plant).  For a second point, you gain the abilities of whatever you form you chose (if you turn into a bird you can fly, a fish can breathe underwater, etc.). 

Polymorph (3) You gain the ability to take any humanoid form, including looking like a specific individual you have seen.

Greater Polymorph (4) You gain the ability to take any form of your size or smaller.  For an additional 2 points, you gain the abilities of whatever form you take. 

The GM may limit your choices or abilities at his discretion.

Quick healing (1) You heal 1 heavy wound per day, instead of one light wound.

Regeneration (2) You heal 1 light wound per hour.

Greater Regeneration (4) You heal 1 light wound per minute, can regrow lost limbs, and cannot be killed without extraordinary measures (ex incineration, dismembered and buried in separate boxes, etc.)

Resistant to element (1/element) Choose 1 element: damage dealt to you of that type is reduced by 1 light wound. 

Immune to Element (2/element) Choose 1 element: you take no damage of that type.

Smite Evil (2) Once per day when you have scored a hit against an evil target, you may treat that hit as a critical hit.

Sneak Attack (1) When you hit a target that is unaware of your attack (ex you are hidden or the target does not expect you to attack), you gain a +2 bonus to damage with that attack.

Speed (1) Double the speed at which you run, swim and fly, or triple the speed at which you do one of those things (decide when you buy it).

Lessor Summon (1) You summon a small creature (ex cat, bird, snake) with 1 point in all attributes and 1 light wound.  You can command the creature to perform simple actions (ex attack, climb a wall, go over there).

Summon (4) You summon a medium creature (ex wolf, boar, ape) with 3 attribute points in each category (physical, mental, social) that you can allot as you choose and 1 health point.  You can command the creature to perform slightly more complicated actions, like open a door (if it has hands), guard a location, or avoid being seen.

Greater Summon (8) You summon a large creature (ex bear, horse, small dragon, demon) with 5 physical attribute points, 4 mental attribute points, and 3 social attribute points, and 1 combat style that you can allot as you choose.  The creature has 2 health points.  You can command the creature to perform any action that it is capable of carrying out.

Summoning a creature in combat takes up all your actions for the round, and you can only have one creature summoned at a time.

Telekinesis (2) You can manipulate objects you can see from up to 20’ away with the same dexterity as if you used your hands.  Your telekinetic powers can apply up to 20 lbs. of force.

Greater Telekinesis (4) As telekinesis, but you can apply up to 100 lbs. of force.  This allows a character to make magical attacks according to the normal rules.

Telepathy (1) This allows you to send messages to individuals within 30 feet.  The recipient of the message is unable to respond unless he is also telepathic or you have the mind reading ability.

Teleport (2) You are able to teleport up to 20 feet to a place that you can see.  You may not teleport anyone other than yourself.   

Turn Undead (1) Once per day, for each undead creature within 20 feet- roll 2d6 and add your Presence, and the creature rolls 2d6 and adds their wisdom.  If your total is equal or higher the creature cannot come closer to you

Unarmed Master (2) You may treat unarmed attacks as light medium or heavy weapons (you must choose before each attack roll).

Wall/ceiling climb (1) You gain the ability climb up a vertical surface or a ceiling.  You must have at least one free hand (you can’t be using a two-handed weapon or have a weapon and a shiled)

Water breathe (1) You can breathe underwater.  This power may cost more in certain worlds

Water walk (1) You can walk on water.  This power may cost more in certain worlds.

Free for all experiment.

I know I haven't given much attention to the 2d6 project lately, with school and starting other projects 2d6 got left behind.  But like a faithful friend, it sat and waited patiently for the day my attention would return.

I've come up with an idea, it might completely fail, or it might be awesome, or somewhere in between.

It starts with very few limitations.  Genre: Modern Fantasy (modern times with magic and beasties).

Each player will be given a handful of questions about the world.  Some or very open questions, while some or more specific.  Each player will of course also make a character, anything they want, and must include 2 things in character development 1) What makes your character special/unique?  What is his/her talent that no one, or not many have.  and 2) A secret that the character has.  Players will not know each other's secrets unless it gets revealed in game.  At the beginning only the player and the GM will know their secret.

And once all that is done, the GM takes all that information and runs with it.  I also plan on throwing my cute little story cubes and tarot cards into the mix.

I honestly have no clue how successful this will be, but I'm hoping for the best.

Here is the list of worldbuilding questions I have so far.  Please suggest more :)

Basic government structure

A popularly sold product

A famous person

A legend (a story everyone knows, but all think is just a story)

What is the income distribution like?  (ie. Mostly poor with a handful of extremely rich people, everyone is well off, huge middle class, etc)

A religion

The most common cause of death is….

A noteworthy historical event

Where do people go to have fun?

What was the top story on the news last night?

The most common mode of travel is…

Organics-The End

The conclusion to this campaignlet is being done through email.  I will be posting everyone's responses here on the blog.  PC responses will be in bold.  

You and 2 dozen others spent the cold night huddled together in a hunting lodge in the forest that separates the city from the suburbs.  It was a tense night, and very few of you got any sleep.  People diligently took turns patrolling, and keeping an eye on that lost little alien cube.  Dr. Biaochi learned much from that cube, he talked about his home planet and how it has become devoid of metallic substances, how he found aluminum foil to be delicious, and if his extensive knowledge of quantum physics.  He spoke of his parental unit, and hoped she would return for he found your kind to be strange and frighting.

The morning slowly came, and many were relieved to have survived the night.  People went to work, setting up the basement as a make-shift hospital and laboratory, a small group went into to town to look for any other survivors and collect any useful salvage. While another group went hunting for game.  Zebbi tried to calm the group, by singing her songs and distracting them from the recent events.  

Around noon, the earth started to shake and there was a loud humming noise.  Most ran and hid in the basement, while the more brave ventured outside to see what was going on.  Your little cube friend started humming excitedly and urged you to go out and look.

A floating cube, much larger than any you had seen or heard about approached.  This entity was the size of a small house, and it glimmered in the noon sunlight.  5 figures stood proudly on top waving enthusiastically to the onlookers below, the baby cube zoomed up and appeared to great the larger cube and started darting about the larger cube.  One of the figures on top gracefully floated down to the ground to greet you, followed by the other four who landed directly behind him.

When he landed, you instantly recognized him as your country's president.  Although he was altered slightly, around his head hovered 3 green leaves, and his skin almost seemed to glow in the noon light.

"Greetings, my citizens.  I am pleased to have found you.  Come, join us, and be frightened no more."  Your president reaches out his arms as if to embrace you all.

I (Zebbi) say to the President "Hi Honey!  What's up with the new hair style?"

The president smiles, "There are plants on our new home that even our most brilliant scientists could not have convinced."  He pulls from his pocket a green leaf with a purple sheen, "Try this, for example.  And you will be able to see beyond the narrow spectrum we have been limited to."

Session summaries

Since I didn't do a recap of the last game (of the one before that, I think), I'll combine them into hopefully a short summary...

You met a large shiny cube.  It said to leave the city and game you some hypo sprays.  You didn't trust them, but left the city anyway (After 'saving' all the pastries in the nearby starbucks from certain disaster).  As the group trudged their way to the suburbs, they came across a small, unpaved road.  With blueEye technology George, being a shoot first, ask questions later kind of guy, decided it was best to kill the random dude by the side of the road.  Which had belonged to a group of 5, and had until recently been the only survivor.  All of them wore civillian clothes, but as Dr. Biaochii went through the dead peoples' wallets, found that they all were affiliated with the military.

Finally, the group made it to relative safety- A diner, owned, managed and waitressed by Petunia.  She made the travelers a late lunch, and was paid with and extra PhaseRifle.  She didn't want to leave her diner, someone might steal her pie.

Then three hooligans decided to loot the diner, and break Petunia's historic store front window.  One of said hooligans turned out to be one of Bianca's exes.  Damon was more important to Bianca than she let on, and she was glad to see him alive but upset to see him still being stupid.

Zebbi wanted to go to a mall.  So they went to the mall, and made some friends.  With the group now expanded, everyone set up camp in a hunting lodge on the edge of town.

But of course they couldn't escape the craziness, and found a cute miniature cube that ate George's precious tin foil hat.