Wordman/ORExThoughts - Revision history

Wordman: Table style change

2011-04-18T15:31:46Z

Table style change

Wordman: Table reformat

2011-04-18T15:29:23Z

Table reformat

Wordman: Testing script to fix links messed up in conversion

2010-06-03T22:37:15Z

Testing script to fix links messed up in conversion

Conversion script: link fix

2010-04-06T01:18:25Z

link fix

Wordman: *

2008-06-18T14:10:33Z

Show changes

Wordman: Adding Primal Magic example

2008-06-18T13:19:54Z

Adding Primal Magic example

Wordman: *

2008-06-04T04:25:11Z

@@ Line 363: / Line 363: @@
 The distribution of which types can use the virtues looks like this:
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="numbertable"
 ! Type !! Compassion !! Conviction !! Cunning !! Duty !! Expression !! Freedom !! Harmony !! Order !! Passion !! Succor !! Temperance !! Valor !! Wisdom
 |-

@@ Line 363: / Line 363: @@
 The distribution of which types can use the virtues looks like this:
-||'''Type'''||'''Compassion'''||'''Conviction'''||'''Cunning'''||'''Duty'''||'''Expression'''||'''Freedom'''||'''Harmony'''||'''Order'''||'''Passion'''||'''Succor'''||'''Temperance'''||'''Valor'''||'''Wisdom'''||
+{| class="wikitable"
-||Abyssals|| - || X || X || X || X || X || - || - || X || - || - || X || - ||
+! Type !! Compassion !! Conviction !! Cunning !! Duty !! Expression !! Freedom !! Harmony !! Order !! Passion !! Succor !! Temperance !! Valor !! Wisdom
-||Alchemicals|| - || X || - || X || - || - || X || X || - || - || X || X || X ||
+|-
-||Dragon Kings|| X || X || - || X || X || - || - || - || X || - || X || X || - ||
+|Abyssals|| - || X || X || X || X || X || - || - || X || - || - || X || -
-||Infernals|| - || X || X || X || - || - || - || X || X || - || X || - || X ||
+|-
-||Jadeborn|| X || X || - || X || - || - || X || X || - || - || X || X || - ||
+|Alchemicals|| - || X || - || X || - || - || X || X || - || - || X || X || X
-||Lunars|| - || X || X || - || - || X || - || - || X || X || - || X || X ||
+|-
-||Mortals|| X || X || X || X || X || X || X || X || X || X || X || X || X ||
+|Dragon Kings|| X || X || - || X || X || - || - || - || X || - || X || X || -
-||Raksha|| X || X || - || - || X || X || - || - || X || - || X || X || - ||
+|-
-||Sidereals|| - || X || X || X || - || - || X || - || - || X || X || - || X ||
+|Infernals|| - || X || X || X || - || - || - || X || X || - || X || - || X
-||Solars|| X || X || - || - || X || X || - || - || X || - || X || X || - ||
+|-
-||Spirits||||||||||||||||||||||||||any two||
+|Jadeborn|| X || X || - || X || - || - || X || X || - || - || X || X || -
-||Terrestrials|| - || X || - || X || X || - || X || X || - || X || - || X || - ||
+|-
 ==== Compassion ====

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 === Skills ===
-Having [[Wordman/ORExThoughts/AbilityRedesign|messed with]] Exalted's skill system on several occasions, it should come as no surprise that I don't like Exalted's skill choices very much. I suspect that much of what I dislike about it ultimately is caused by the "five skills per caste" idea, forcing the existence of ''exactly'' 25 skills whether you want that many or not. And I certainly wouldn't have chosen ''those'' 25.
+Having [[Wordman/AbilityRedesign|messed with]] Exalted's skill system on several occasions, it should come as no surprise that I don't like Exalted's skill choices very much. I suspect that much of what I dislike about it ultimately is caused by the "five skills per caste" idea, forcing the existence of ''exactly'' 25 skills whether you want that many or not. And I certainly wouldn't have chosen ''those'' 25.
 I suspect that OREx uses these skills because it a) made the charms match better and b) it fit the "favored" concept. Since WORX basically jettisons both of these concerns, it has no real need to use the canon Exalted skills either. The skills in Reign are a better starting place, but are still not perfect.

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 === Skills ===
-Having [[/AbilityRedesign|messed with]] Exalted's skill system on several occasions, it should come as no surprise that I don't like Exalted's skill choices very much. I suspect that much of what I dislike about it ultimately is caused by the "five skills per caste" idea, forcing the existence of ''exactly'' 25 skills whether you want that many or not. And I certainly wouldn't have chosen ''those'' 25.
+Having [[Wordman/ORExThoughts/AbilityRedesign|messed with]] Exalted's skill system on several occasions, it should come as no surprise that I don't like Exalted's skill choices very much. I suspect that much of what I dislike about it ultimately is caused by the "five skills per caste" idea, forcing the existence of ''exactly'' 25 skills whether you want that many or not. And I certainly wouldn't have chosen ''those'' 25.
 I suspect that OREx uses these skills because it a) made the charms match better and b) it fit the "favored" concept. Since WORX basically jettisons both of these concerns, it has no real need to use the canon Exalted skills either. The skills in Reign are a better starting place, but are still not perfect.
@@ Line 625: / Line 625: @@
 Regardless of the style of primal magic, it is all resolved with the same kind of roll. Primal Magic rolls are made much the same as other rolls used in ORE, but the results are interpreted differently. In primal magic, only a set with a height of ten represents the effect the caster is trying to achieve (called the ''casting result''). Other sets that are rolled create ''side effects''. If these sets as as wide or wider than the casting result, bad things usually happen to and/or around the caster, even if his desired effect works as planned but especially if it doesn't.
-Each school of magic provides the character with access to a ''circle'' of that type of primal magic. Each circle controls a certain power level of effects, and has a specific threshold that the casting result must meet to succeed. Each circle also has an inherent degree of instability that is represented by adding a fixed number of ''wyld dice'' to the pool (using a different color for these dice is recommended). Wyld dice act as normal dice, but any tens rolled on them are re-rolled until a result that isn't ten comes up. As such, these dice can never add to the casting result and are likely to cause side effects.
+Each school of magic provides the character with access to a ''circle'' of that type of primal magic. Each circle controls a certain power level of effects, and has a specific threshold that the casting result must meet to succeed. Each circle also has an inherent degree of instability that is represented by adding a fixed number of ''wyld dice'' to the pool (using a different color for these dice is recommended). Wyld dice act as curse dice, forming the lowest straight possible. As such, they can never add to the casting result and are likely to cause side effects.
 Every effect also has an ''interval''. The default for this depends on the variety of magic. Most sorcery, for example, has an interval of rounds, while most astrology has an interval of days. Each interval spent ''channelling'' the primal magic increases the chances that the effect will be successful. When channeling, it is difficult to do much else. If done during combat, a roll must be made using the base pool for the casting (see below). This can be combined with other actions, using the normal multiple action rules, and at least one set must be used only for the channelling. For long intervals, rolls may be need for things like staying awake and so on.
@@ Line 661: / Line 661: @@
 Able has just learned sorcery and is summoning his first demon. He wants to be very, very careful, so will spend much more time channeling than he needs to. He is summoning a first circle demon using Emerald Circle sorcery. He knows a spell specifically for demon summoning, which has an interval of one hour. His roll works like this:
-* He intends to cow the demon into subservience, so the skill he will use is Intimidate. (If he were less arrogant, he might try to negotiate with it instead, using Haggle.) He adds is rating of 3 in this with his Essence (also 3) to get a base pool of six dice.
+* He intends to cow the demon into subservience, so the skill he will use is Intimidate. (If he were less arrogant, he might try to negotiate with it instead, using Haggle.) He adds his rating of 3 in Intimidate with his Essence (also 3) to get a base pool of six dice.
 * As Emerald Circle magic, he gains 4 wyld dice and has a threshold of 2x.
 * Since he will be using a rote summoning spell, one die in his pool is set to 10, and three wyld dice are eliminated.
 * Being careful, he decides to spend four hours (four times the spell's interval) channeling. Since he is not being threatened, he need not roll to do so. For each hour he does this, he decides to change a die to 10. At the end, he has a pool with five 10s, one standard die and one wyld die.
 * He rolls the dice. The 5x10 remains and the standard die comes up 3. The wyld die is set to 1.
-* The only set is the 5x10, which measures the desired summoning effect. This more the matches the threshold needed for the spell, so the demon comes and is bound (or, perhaps the spell has specific mechanics that happen now).
+* The only set is the 5x10, which measures the desired summoning effect. This more than matches the threshold needed for the spell, so the demon comes and is bound (or, perhaps the spell has specific mechanics that happen now).
 ==== Combat spell ====
@@ Line 678: / Line 678: @@
 * She rolls. She keeps the 3x10 and gets 3x2, 2x5 on the standard dice. The two wyld dice are set to 1, 2.
 * The final result is 4x2, 3x10, 2x5. Effects are determined from widest to narrowest:
-** The 4x2 set is an unintended side effect. Looking at the table, height 2 indicates that "some of the caster's intended effect reflects back onto him". In this case, since this set is wider than the set for the intended result, there is a backlash of magic onto Belis and her comrades that even more damaging than the one the will hit Belis' enemies.
+** The 4x2 set is an unintended side effect. Looking at the table, height 2 indicates that "some of the caster's intended effect reflects back onto him". In this case, since this set is wider than the set for the intended result, there is a backlash of magic onto Belis and her comrades that even more damaging than the one that will hit Belis' enemies.
 ** The 3x10 set is the intended effect. This meets the threshold, so fire lands on the enemies as planned.
 ** The 5x2 set is an unintended side effect. Looking at the table height 5 indicates that "an elemental effect of some type is generated around the caster, afflicting all in its area". The GM decides that this elemental effect will be part of the backlash caused by the 4x2 set, changing it to a wood-based effect. The backlash causes vines of poisonous thorns to erupt from the ground around Belis and her allies, attacking them this round.
@@ Line 684: / Line 684: @@
 ==== Fast combat spell ====
-Having not learned any lessons from Belis on backlash, Cron is in a real jam and needs to stop an invading horde ''right now''. He "shoots from the him" the same fire spell Belis cast. His roll works like this:
+Having not learned any lessons from Belis on backlash, Cron is in a real jam and needs to stop an invading horde ''right now''. He "shoots from the hip" the same fire spell Belis cast. His roll works like this:
 * Even though this is an attack spell, Cron's player argues that he is really trying to deflect the horde, and convinces the GM to let him use his Parry skill (5). Adding his Essence (4), he has nine dice.
@@ Line 693: / Line 693: @@
 * The final result is 3x1, 2x10, 2x3, which do the following, in order:
 ** The 3x1 set is an unintended consequence causing a "random effect that either opposes, counterbalances or undermines the caster's desired effect". Since he was trying to repel the horde, instead the effect of the spell works to help the horde get in, rather than turn them away. Perhaps the flames destroy a gate that was holding them back, or some other such circumstance.
-** The 2x10 set is the desired effect, but it does not meet the 3x threshold. The intended frying of the enemies doesn't occur.
+** The 2x10 set is the desired effect, but it does not meet the 3x threshold. The intended frying of the enemies doesn't occur. Note that if this had been wider, the enemies would have been burned as planned, but the 3x1 result would have ''also'' helped them get in.
-** The 2x3 set is an unintended consequence causing "creatures and/or objects materialize out of thin air". Since this set was not that wide, the GM rules that this summons a number of small birds made of fire, that swarm around, irritating both sides of the battle.
+** The 2x3 set is an unintended consequence causing "creatures and/or objects materialize out of thin air". Since this set was not that wide, the GM rules that this summons a number of small birds made of fire, that swarm around irritating both sides of the battle.
 ==== Improvisational magic ====
@@ Line 708: / Line 708: @@
 ** 4x10 is the desired effect. This meets the threshold with width to spare and a vortex opens up under the pirates as planned.
 ** 2x4 is an unintended side effect, which "mutates the local environment in some way". The GM decides that the ocean in the immediate vicinity starts to boil.
-** 2x3 is an unintended side effect, in which "creatures and/or objects materialize out of thin air". The GM decides that the swirling of the vortex spawns a number of dog-sized "vortex elementals that start attacking everyone. (Oh yes, thanks to the previous effect, they are made of scalding water.)
+** 2x3 is an unintended side effect, in which "creatures and/or objects materialize out of thin air". The GM decides that the swirling of the vortex spawns a number of dog-sized "vortex elementals" that start attacking everyone. (Oh yes, thanks to the previous effect, they are made of scalding water.)
 ** 2x1 is an unintended side effect, which creates "a random effect that either opposes, counterbalances or undermines the caster's desired effect". The GM decides that the boiling seas and vortex elementals are making the main vortex unstable. Its a minor effect, but a skilled pirate crew might be able to use it to keep their ship upright and escape the vortex (that is, if they stunt like hell, the GM would be more lenient than usual).

@@ Line 627: / Line 627: @@
 Each school of magic provides the character with access to a ''circle'' of that type of primal magic. Each circle controls a certain power level of effects, and has a specific threshold that the casting result must meet to succeed. Each circle also has an inherent degree of instability that is represented by adding a fixed number of ''wyld dice'' to the pool (using a different color for these dice is recommended). Wyld dice act as normal dice, but any tens rolled on them are re-rolled until a result that isn't ten comes up. As such, these dice can never add to the casting result and are likely to cause side effects.
-Every effect also has an ''interval''. The default for this depends on the variety of magic. Most sorcery, for example, has an interval of rounds, while most astrology has an interval of days. Each interval spent ''channelling'' the primal magic increases the chances that the effect will be successful. When channelling, it is difficult to do much else. If done during combat, a roll must be made using the base pool for the casting (see below). This can be combined with other actions, using the normal multiple action rules, and at least one set must be used only for the channelling. For long intervals, rolls may be need for things like staying awake and so on.
+Every effect also has an ''interval''. The default for this depends on the variety of magic. Most sorcery, for example, has an interval of rounds, while most astrology has an interval of days. Each interval spent ''channelling'' the primal magic increases the chances that the effect will be successful. When channeling, it is difficult to do much else. If done during combat, a roll must be made using the base pool for the casting (see below). This can be combined with other actions, using the normal multiple action rules, and at least one set must be used only for the channelling. For long intervals, rolls may be need for things like staying awake and so on.
 The basic roll works like this:
@@ Line 652: / Line 652: @@
 Note that much of the primal magic system operates assuming a "that looks good" approach by the Storyteller, rather than a huge block of rules.
 === Sorcery ===