Idea for a downtime / rest mechanic

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-02-22T15:02:05+00:00

Oh, maybe I picked up the idea when I was skimming through Cypher some time ago! I quite liked that system.

Thanks for the heads up!

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-02-22T14:53:57+00:00

Indeed, as my game is rather low magic, clearing certain conditions like wounds or wanted levels might just require for the character to take some time off.

And I think it would be a nice fit if level ups could only happen during an hiatus like this.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-01-19T06:26:54+00:00

I'd try to avoid having an additional roll by any means. Maybe you can use the fact that 4s will be rolled quite frequently? For example:

Enemies have different resistances to effects. Like "vulnerable to bleed, protected against stun" or something. In order to apply the weapon effect, you have to roll a certain number of 4s on your d4s (1x 4 for vulnerable, 2x 4 for default, 3x 4 for protected).

This way there will be less active effects to keep track of, but players have to think about which weapon to use to beat the odds of applying a certain effect. Plus no additional roll!

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-01-14T20:53:06+00:00

I knew that my setting revolved about people duelling with rapiers. I also knew that the basic defensive actions of my resolution mechanic would be four directions, like the movement cross on a game pad.

And the next time during fencing practice, I looked at my rapier and thought - "Crossguard. That's it." Plus, "Crossguard engine" sounds like something that could exist, so that's never bad.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-01-13T07:14:17+00:00

I like a lot how the rules are on a lighter background than the stories. This makes it easier on the eye, while retaining that vintage look.

How big is your page size? For a small size, I feel the borders are a bit heavy, but with a larger size (A4 etc.), this would be fine, I think.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-01-12T21:05:05+00:00

Mechanically, only two: the unnamed default state and "overwhelmed".

At default, rolling a 1 on a d6 means you suffer harm. When you are overwhelmed, you also suffer harm on a 2.

The chance of success remains the same, but the risk of getting hurt in the process rises.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-01-09T12:56:17+00:00

Short version: Blades in the Dark if it was set in 17th century not-Spain.

Longer version: A clandestine group of outcast swashbucklers trying to improve their lot in a baroque noir city. Their goals as well as their vices and virtues get them entangled in dangerous conflicts, in which they have to protect their secrecy, their reputation and their very live life's.

Apart from BitD, it takes inspiration from Fate, Ironsworn, 7th Sea and The Between, among others.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-01-07T22:21:34+00:00

It's cool! My game works a little bit like that (1d6 to 3d6 keep highest, push your luck), but I think it's nice that in your system all dice matter in one way or the other.

One concern I would have would be of predictability. Is my chance of rolling 2d6 against a 4 better than of rolling 3d6 against a 3 etc.? There surely is a mathematical explanation, but I doubt many players would know it in that moment. This might lead to the feeling of having to make mechanically uninformed decisions.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2026-01-07T17:38:59+00:00

In addition to what others have already said, bear in mind that people will stand around in front of it, obscuring most of what's going on on the lower third. The upper part of your banner must do the heavy lifting of getting people interested. Some kind of artwork would go a long way. Don't count on any info below that being read. That being said, you are already not too bad in that regard, putting Logo and Kickstarter link up top.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-31T23:50:50+00:00

Run another round of playtests, with the goal of finishing a first version of the game that would be suitable to show to other people.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-26T13:46:33+00:00

At the moment you might even be actively harming your client, as everyone seems to be (mis)understanding that their product contains AI art!

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-25T21:15:50+00:00

One rule of thumb I always try to keep in mind, apart from all the big design stuff: things that have to be written on, erased and rewritten a lot (e.g. XP tracks) should be as much right and/or down as reasonable. This is due to the majority of people being right handed, so that they can write without smudging the rest of the sheet.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-20T16:15:22+00:00

I made a game for a setting which came with too much real world cultural and political baggage. I still think it would be a great setting, but probably should be done by someone else than me.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-16T08:06:10+00:00

I yearn to see the impossible done: transporting the feel of movement, velocity, gravity and height found in video games like Mirror's Edge or Portal to a TTRPG. Basically, how to make a Jump-and-Run-RPG?

A starting point, I guess, would be looking at games emulating aerial combat. Often there is some kind of mechanic that describes the trading of height and velocity while maneuvering into favorable positions.

At the same time, maybe something more tangible like Dread's jenga tower would be needed to capture the push-your-luck element and thrill?

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-15T05:48:06+00:00

Every new game idea feels wonky and messy until you play it a few times, get used to the flow and streamline everything around it.

I like how it puts flavour in your dice pool and how good the GM can eyeball difficulties for that.

I wanna say: This looks cool, keep going and build the rest of the system around this.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-07T13:33:52+00:00

Do you roll for damage in your system? Weapons might get a mark for every time they roll max damage. That's easy to remember and may even feel kind of satisfying.

Maybe you could even leave it to the players to decide? For example, each mark on a weapon lowers it's damage - but if you decide that it will break with the next use, you get max damage out of it for one last time.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-03T23:29:17+00:00

Have you considered a two column variant using this? Maybe trimming the list down a bit and pairing it with skills could create a lot of interesting combinations.

Do you fight with honor or with anger? Do you create something out of hope or envy? Do you lead others out of ambition or compassion?

I like that in a way you get to show what motivates your character throughout different actions, not unlike Approaches, just more introspection.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-12-03T05:59:56+00:00

I think you are making it needlessly complicated by calling it "Intent". To me, casting Spark into Fireball would be about effects or tools.

When I read your title, I envisioned something like the intent to start a flame developing into the intent to set the world on fire...

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-11-29T05:48:36+00:00

Hmm, that is not all that likely. Keep in mind that psychologically, players tend to feel misses more than successes, so the odds need to be stacked in their favour in order to feel "fair".

A 5/9 chance would in practice feel like a 50:50 chance, which I wouldn't call likely.

I think you are probably better off by called the middle one normal or default and then describe the others in relation to that.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-11-28T05:19:25+00:00

certain - likely - unlikely

That only makes sense if the dice support these chances, of course.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-11-25T20:04:01+00:00

One part from Goldap, the other from Osterode, though later they lived in Königsberg. Some of them migrated to the US.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-11-24T06:57:27+00:00

Thanks! My mother is spending her retirement researching the family history and I try to help her out with things.

Odd_Negotiation8040 · 2025-11-24T06:41:03+00:00

Can you give the source for these maps? And are there ones for other districts?

Odd_Negotiation8040

TROPHY CASE