Uncouth - Revision history

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Wordman: *

2009-06-17T12:28:03Z

New page

''Uncouth'' is a variant of Exalted by [[Wordman]] that keeps much of the systems intact, but entirely replaces charms with something more manageable. Even without charms (hence the name), ''Uncouth'' still allows a flexible method of generating most of the style of Exalted. Using the ''Munchkin'' card game as part of its inspiration, this system provides a way of mixing and matching effects into tests, providing a much smaller set of special rules than thousands of charms.

Within these pages, the word "Uncouth" refers specifically to the system described here, while "Exalted" specifically means the "canonical Exalted system".

== Progress ==

These pages are about 80% done, but likely won't get updated much more.

They are in decent enough shape to playtest with at this point, though some specifics still need to be filled in. Almost no playtesting has been done. (If you want to give them a shot and report the results, see the /Playtesting page.)

These rules will likely be updated a bit when the Infernals book comes out and a lot when ''Graceful Wicked Masques'' is released. Comments will probably also create situations where the Examples section will get more love. Otherwise apart from minor revisions, only real playtesting will cause any more work to be done on this idea.

== Terms ==

Uncouth uses specific definitions for certain elements of its rules, and tries to make sure that these terms are only used in that specific way in the rules. These include:

* '''action''': how the character spends his or her ''moment''.
* '''attack''': largely a synonym for ''test''.
* '''boon''': a specific mechanical alteration that can be made to a ''test'' or ''defense''. Boons are learned in association with a given Trait to form an ''effect''.
* '''break''': describes an attempt to "shake off" a mental ''effect''.
* '''defense value''' or '''DV''': a number that opposes a ''test''.
* '''effect''': a magical trick that a character knows, usually used to enhance a ''test'' or a ''defense''. Each effect combines a trait, a ''boon'' and a ''rank''.
* '''exclusive''': an type of ''boon'' that cannot be stunted.
* '''intensity''': a measure of how much much concentration (i.e. Willpower) is required by a supernatural metal effect.
* '''moment''': the tick on which a character takes an ''action''.
* '''primary effects''': the set of ''effects'' a character can use within a single ''cycle'', without having to pay extra for activation.
* '''rank''': a measure of how long a character can make an ''effect'' last.
* '''secondary effects''': any ''effects'' activated in a single ''cycle'' that are not ''primary effects''. These cost extra to activate.
* '''sphere''': a method of tracking time, in which time passes in ''ticks'' of a fixed duration. Play can, and often does, exist within multiple spheres at once.
* '''subtlety''': a measure of how much the target notices a supernatural mental ''effect''.
* '''tenacity''': a measure of how easily a target may ''break'' a supernatural mental ''effect''.
* '''test''': a single roll of a dice pool.
* '''tick''': the smallest resolution of time within a ''sphere''.
* '''threat''': a rating measuring the number of effects to which an entity has access.
* '''threshold''': the number of successes remaining after the ''defense value'' is subtracted from the successes generated by a ''test''.

== Outline ==

The following chapters describe the Uncouth rules variant:

* '''/Mechanics''' details the basic mechanical concept of the game, and details on how it is brought to bear in various ways.
* '''/Combat''' offers a simplified version of Exalted combat, some changes meant to mesh with the replacement for charms, some meant to address weaknesses within Exalted's combat system.
* '''/Effects''' replace charms, and this chapter shows how.
* '''/Stunts''' are more versatile and important.
* '''/Character''' considerations are mostly the same as Exalted, with a few variations.
* '''/Paths''' address the other "specialty" types of magic, such as sorcery, shapeshifting, astrology, etc.
* '''/Analysis''' holds various number crunching done on the mechanics, consider it an appendix.
* '''/Playtesting''' contains reports on playtesting. Feel free to add to it.

== Comments ==

''Please leave any comments about this system here, and none on the sub-pages.''

I like your partitioning of charm effects. This catalog could be useful for charm building, even if one didn't want to change the system over entirely. I see that by this system, a Solar could have an Intrinsically Perfect Ability at essence 9. Is there a way to defeat such a person? - IanPrice

: Should there be? I'll need to think on that. A slightly less flippant answer is: use effects that don't rely on damage. One way to prevent such a thing would be to arrange it such that an effect like that requires Essence 11 to attain (i.e. not possible). This would mean raising either the "Essence" rating of the ranks, or the Perfect ability, or both. Once I get the text tightened up a bit more, I'll play with the numbers better. By the way, re: the "catalog" you mention, try CharmTypes2E for something more generic. - [[Wordman]]

: There should probably be a way to explain why the Primordials could possibly be defeated, why the Solar Deliberative ever fell, why the Deathlords can ever fail at anything, why Sol Invictus, God of Perfection isn't immune to the Games of Divinity's lure... etc. Many of those beings seem likely to have Intrinsically Perfect Everything, if designed using Uncouth. Perfection is a tricky design concept, which must be applied narrowly, or the system becomes less fun to play with. - IanPrice

: A slight cop out here by adding arbitrary rank limits to Perfects. Probably makes the game funner, though. - [[Wordman]]

Wordman: *

2008-10-24T19:56:37Z

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 The following chapters describe the Uncouth rules variant:
-* ''[[Uncouth/Mechanics]]''' details the basic mechanical concept of the game, and details on how it is brought to bear in various ways.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Mechanics]]''' details the basic mechanical concept of the game, and details on how it is brought to bear in various ways.
-* ''[[Uncouth/Combat]]''' offers a simplified version of Exalted combat, some changes meant to mesh with the replacement for charms, some meant to address weaknesses within Exalted's combat system.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Combat]]''' offers a simplified version of Exalted combat, some changes meant to mesh with the replacement for charms, some meant to address weaknesses within Exalted's combat system.
-* ''[[Uncouth/Effects]]''' replace charms, and this chapter shows how.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Effects]]''' replace charms, and this chapter shows how.
-* ''[[Uncouth/Stunts]]''' are more versatile and important.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Stunts]]''' are more versatile and important.
-* ''[[Uncouth/Character]]''' considerations are mostly the same as Exalted, with a few variations.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Character]]''' considerations are mostly the same as Exalted, with a few variations.
-* ''[[Uncouth/Paths]]''' address the other "specialty" types of magic, such as sorcery, shapeshifting, astrology, etc.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Paths]]''' address the other "specialty" types of magic, such as sorcery, shapeshifting, astrology, etc.
-* ''[[Uncouth/Analysis]]''' holds various number crunching done on the mechanics, consider it an appendix.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Analysis]]''' holds various number crunching done on the mechanics, consider it an appendix.
-* ''[[Uncouth/Playtesting]]''' contains reports on playtesting. Feel free to add to it.
+* '''[[Uncouth/Playtesting]]''' contains reports on playtesting. Feel free to add to it.
 == Comments ==

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 These pages are about 80% done, but likely won't get updated much more.
-They are in decent enough shape to playtest with at this point, though some specifics still need to be filled in. Almost no playtesting has been done. (If you want to give them a shot and report the results, see the Uncouth/Playtesting page.)
+They are in decent enough shape to playtest with at this point, though some specifics still need to be filled in. Almost no playtesting has been done. (If you want to give them a shot and report the results, see the[[Uncouth/Playtesting]] page.)
 These rules will likely be updated a bit when the Infernals book comes out and a lot when ''Graceful Wicked Masques'' is released. Comments will probably also create situations where the Examples section will get more love. Otherwise apart from minor revisions, only real playtesting will cause any more work to be done on this idea.
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 The following chapters describe the Uncouth rules variant:
-* '''Uncouth/Mechanics''' details the basic mechanical concept of the game, and details on how it is brought to bear in various ways.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Mechanics]]''' details the basic mechanical concept of the game, and details on how it is brought to bear in various ways.
-* '''Uncouth/Combat''' offers a simplified version of Exalted combat, some changes meant to mesh with the replacement for charms, some meant to address weaknesses within Exalted's combat system.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Combat]]''' offers a simplified version of Exalted combat, some changes meant to mesh with the replacement for charms, some meant to address weaknesses within Exalted's combat system.
-* '''Uncouth/Effects''' replace charms, and this chapter shows how.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Effects]]''' replace charms, and this chapter shows how.
-* '''Uncouth/Stunts''' are more versatile and important.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Stunts]]''' are more versatile and important.
-* '''Uncouth/Character''' considerations are mostly the same as Exalted, with a few variations.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Character]]''' considerations are mostly the same as Exalted, with a few variations.
-* '''Uncouth/Paths''' address the other "specialty" types of magic, such as sorcery, shapeshifting, astrology, etc.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Paths]]''' address the other "specialty" types of magic, such as sorcery, shapeshifting, astrology, etc.
-* '''Uncouth/Analysis''' holds various number crunching done on the mechanics, consider it an appendix.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Analysis]]''' holds various number crunching done on the mechanics, consider it an appendix.
-* '''Uncouth/Playtesting''' contains reports on playtesting. Feel free to add to it.
+* ''[[Uncouth/Playtesting]]''' contains reports on playtesting. Feel free to add to it.
 == Comments ==

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 These pages are about 80% done, but likely won't get updated much more.
-They are in decent enough shape to playtest with at this point, though some specifics still need to be filled in. Almost no playtesting has been done. (If you want to give them a shot and report the results, see the /Playtesting page.)
+They are in decent enough shape to playtest with at this point, though some specifics still need to be filled in. Almost no playtesting has been done. (If you want to give them a shot and report the results, see the Uncouth/Playtesting page.)
 These rules will likely be updated a bit when the Infernals book comes out and a lot when ''Graceful Wicked Masques'' is released. Comments will probably also create situations where the Examples section will get more love. Otherwise apart from minor revisions, only real playtesting will cause any more work to be done on this idea.
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 The following chapters describe the Uncouth rules variant:
-* '''/Mechanics''' details the basic mechanical concept of the game, and details on how it is brought to bear in various ways.
+* '''Uncouth/Mechanics''' details the basic mechanical concept of the game, and details on how it is brought to bear in various ways.
-* '''/Combat''' offers a simplified version of Exalted combat, some changes meant to mesh with the replacement for charms, some meant to address weaknesses within Exalted's combat system.
+* '''Uncouth/Combat''' offers a simplified version of Exalted combat, some changes meant to mesh with the replacement for charms, some meant to address weaknesses within Exalted's combat system.
-* '''/Effects''' replace charms, and this chapter shows how.
+* '''Uncouth/Effects''' replace charms, and this chapter shows how.
-* '''/Stunts''' are more versatile and important.
+* '''Uncouth/Stunts''' are more versatile and important.
-* '''/Character''' considerations are mostly the same as Exalted, with a few variations.
+* '''Uncouth/Character''' considerations are mostly the same as Exalted, with a few variations.
-* '''/Paths''' address the other "specialty" types of magic, such as sorcery, shapeshifting, astrology, etc.
+* '''Uncouth/Paths''' address the other "specialty" types of magic, such as sorcery, shapeshifting, astrology, etc.
-* '''/Playtesting''' contains reports on playtesting. Feel free to add to it.
+* '''Uncouth/Analysis''' holds various number crunching done on the mechanics, consider it an appendix.
 == Comments ==
@@ Line 51: / Line 52: @@
 ''Please leave any comments about this system here, and none on the sub-pages.''
-I like your partitioning of charm effects. This catalog could be useful for charm building, even if one didn't want to change the system over entirely. I see that by this system, a Solar could have an Intrinsically Perfect Ability at essence 9. Is there a way to defeat such a person? - IanPrice
+I like your partitioning of charm effects. This catalog could be useful for charm building, even if one didn't want to change the system over entirely. I see that by this system, a Solar could have an Intrinsically Perfect Ability at essence 9. Is there a way to defeat such a person? - [[IanPrice]]
-: Should there be? I'll need to think on that. A slightly less flippant answer is: use effects that don't rely on damage. One way to prevent such a thing would be to arrange it such that an effect like that requires Essence 11 to attain (i.e. not possible). This would mean raising either the "Essence" rating of the ranks, or the Perfect ability, or both. Once I get the text tightened up a bit more, I'll play with the numbers better. By the way, re: the "catalog" you mention, try CharmTypes2E for something more generic. - [[Wordman]]
+: Should there be? I'll need to think on that. A slightly less flippant answer is: use effects that don't rely on damage. One way to prevent such a thing would be to arrange it such that an effect like that requires Essence 11 to attain (i.e. not possible). This would mean raising either the "Essence" rating of the ranks, or the Perfect ability, or both. Once I get the text tightened up a bit more, I'll play with the numbers better. By the way, re: the "catalog" you mention, try [[CharmTypes2E]] for something more generic. - [[Wordman]]
-: There should probably be a way to explain why the Primordials could possibly be defeated, why the Solar Deliberative ever fell, why the Deathlords can ever fail at anything, why Sol Invictus, God of Perfection isn't immune to the Games of Divinity's lure... etc. Many of those beings seem likely to have Intrinsically Perfect Everything, if designed using Uncouth. Perfection is a tricky design concept, which must be applied narrowly, or the system becomes less fun to play with. - IanPrice
+: There should probably be a way to explain why the Primordials could possibly be defeated, why the Solar Deliberative ever fell, why the Deathlords can ever fail at anything, why Sol Invictus, God of Perfection isn't immune to the Games of Divinity's lure... etc. Many of those beings seem likely to have Intrinsically Perfect Everything, if designed using Uncouth. Perfection is a tricky design concept, which must be applied narrowly, or the system becomes less fun to play with. - [[IanPrice]]
 : A slight cop out here by adding arbitrary rank limits to Perfects. Probably makes the game funner, though. - [[Wordman]]