If I include any undead, I will include a note to the effect that there is a pseudo-science reason for their existence (rather than a supernatural one). Cannibalistic mutants are a great staple of post-apocalyptic fiction, and ghouls fit the bill nicely.
I gave espers the channel energy feature (otherwise, Gamma Terra would be littered with the corpses of countless PCs), but I only included info about healing or harming the living. Should undead in GW be affected by this ability in the same way they are affected by clerical channeling in PF? GW is generally devoid of gods and other supernatural trappings, so I envision esper channeling as being more of a manipulation of "bio-energetic fields", or some similar comic book science. What do you think?
Hm. Given that there are not really those of a divine nature in such a setting, how would you explain them to be able to channel energy? I guess I would have to see your updated crunch on the Esper to think it out and compare with the existing PF mechanics.
Mind you, some people can easily port this into a fantasy setting if they want to. Just have to see whether it is seamless or needs some tweaks.
Hm. Given that there are not really those of a divine nature in such a setting, how would you explain them to be able to channel energy? I guess I would have to see your updated crunch on the Esper to think it out and compare with the existing PF mechanics.Mind you, some people can easily port this into a fantasy setting if they want to. Just have to see whether it is seamless or needs some tweaks.
I'm at work atm, or I'd post it right now, but essentially I simply removed mention of undead from the description of the power. The alignment aspect of channeling pos or neg energy kind of seems out of place, granted, but my idea about how it works (and bear in mind that this makes about as much since as radiation causing super-powers) is that the esper telekinetically repairs tissues (or destroys them) at a cellular level, out to 30 ft.
Or, there could conceivably be dimensions outside our own composed of energy the esper can psychoportably draw into our dimension, but no supernatural entities are involved.
I'm at work atm, or I'd post it right now, but essentially I simply removed mention of undead from the description of the power. The alignment aspect of channeling pos or neg energy kind of seems out of place, granted, but my idea about how it works (and bear in mind that this makes about as much since as radiation causing super-powers) is that the esper telekinetically repairs tissues (or destroys them) at a cellular level, out to 30 ft.
Or, there could conceivably be dimensions outside our own composed of energy the esper can psychoportably draw into our dimension, but no supernatural entities are involved.
I'm @ work too, so I'm just as guitly being pulled away from it. :D
Also when I get a chance, I'll have to look at my old Gamma World materials to see how/if they might have done it and mull on it along with whatever you're able to post once you're home.
Also when I get a chance, I'll have to look at my old Gamma World materials to see how/if they might have done it and mull on it along with whatever you're able to post once you're home.
Awesome, thanks again for your help and advise, Urizen! I'm not sure if I said this or not in an earlier response (and don't want to comb through to see if I did, so I'll just risk repeating myself), but you've definitely helped improve this project. If I write any kind of forward or introduction (which kind of seems pretentious now that I think about it! LOL!), you will be thanked for your input! :)
I love the idea of manipulating 'bio-energetic fields'.
So how close is this to being done? I'm chomping at the bit!
I love the idea of manipulating 'bio-energetic fields'.
So how close is this to being done? I'm chomping at the bit!
My self-imposed deadline is New Years Day. Start dreaming up a GW campaign for the new year! :)
Here is the description as I currently have it for esper's channeling feature (which I should clarify is not necessarily a feature all espers have -- it is only one of 20+ possible class features for the esper to choose from):
Channel Energy: The esper can release a wave of energy by channeling the power of
her mind. This energy can be used to cause or heal damage, depending on the type of energy channeled. A good esper channels positive energy that heals living creatures. An evil esper channels negative energy that deals damage to living creatures. A neutral esper must choose whether she channels positive or negative energy. Once this choice is made, it cannot be reversed.
Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all living creatures (but not constructs) in a 30-foot radius centered on the esper. The amount of damage dealt or healed is equal to 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 points of damage for every two esper levels beyond 1st (2d6 at 3rd, 3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures that take damage from channeled energy receive a Will save to halve the damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the esper’s level + the esper’s Wisdom modifier. Creatures healed by channeled energy cannot exceed their maximum hit point total—all excess healing is lost.
An esper may channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Wisdom modifier. This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. An esper can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect.
(Alternately, if channeling positive or negative energy from another plane of existence seems at odds with the kind of campaign the GM has in mind, channel energy can be explained as telekinetically repairing or destroying living tissue at the cellular level, or this feature can be left out entirely, but removing this feature will undoubtedly result in more frequent character deaths.)
I have at long, long last completed all the crunch for this doc. After I've added a few short paragraphs here and there to properly evoke the typical Gamma World setting, it will be ready to convert to pdf and send out.
I'm a tad concerned about using "Gamma World" and "Gamma Terra", though, as these are IP of WoC. Any suggestions for substitutes? I was thinking "Nova World" and "Terra Nova" ("New World" for the Latin-impaired); or New Earth. What sayest thou?
Also, can anyone tell me if it is possible to hyperlink a pdf file here (about 400 pages), and if so, how?
I'm still doing some last minute editing, and would like to add prestige classes before wrapping it up. If I can't come up with a few good ones before New Years, I'll go ahead and send out pdf without them so I'm not delaying beyond my deadline, and send prestige classes later in a separate pdf to everyone who received the main pdf.
From PF, only Assassin and Duelist fit well (and the assassin's angel of death ability is clearly going to need a bit of reworking to make it less supernatural in flavor).
From d20 Modern advanced classes, I will probably adapt Nomad of the Wastelands and bring it up to PF standards.
Here are a few other concepts:
Knight of Genetic Purity: an NPC bad-guy PrC, combat-oriented, with some kind of mutant-hunting abilities similar to the ranger's favored enemy feature.
New Breed Avenger: PrC for altered humans, defender of mutantkind, will get a few free mutations.
Restorationist: explorer and artifact-hunter, connections to cryptic alliance allows them to temporarily requisition artifacts.
Road Warrior: vehicle expert with special vehicle, has ability to fight while operating vehicle better than other characters can.
If anyone has comments or ideas of their own, let me know. Thanks!
Also, can anyone tell me if it is possible to hyperlink a pdf file here (about 400 pages), and if so, how?
Michael,
You can use a file sharing service like mediafire and have it available for downloading. Set up a folder or a direct link and you can continually update / replace it.
I'm a tad concerned about using "Gamma World" and "Gamma Terra", though, as these are IP of WoC. Any suggestions for substitutes? I was thinking "Nova World" and "Terra Nova" ("New World" for the Latin-impaired); or New Earth. What sayest thou?
Your two ideas doesn't do anything for me at the moment. I'll have to mull on this. Will have to comb my home library.
Michael
I've been following along with interest. Nice job!
I am far from web-savy myself, but I might be able to help with showing you what this would look like hosted on google doc.
I uploaded your first post into a folder called Terra Nova (I like that one, though Nova World does serve as a better homage to the original game).
Basically, you can choose to share as a single file or a folder containing files per chapter. As an example, the following is a link to a shared folder.
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B_61FBwEjRk1MzJiODk5ZDYtZDYzNi00ZGJmLTliNTE tZDU0OTRkZmNlNGMy&hl=en
or linkified for the board.
Brief instructions:
2. Click on "Gmail" and sign up for gmail account. (free)
3. Click on "Documents"
4. Click "Upload"
5. Click "Select files to upload"
6. Navigate to the file you want and select(.doc format is good)
7. Click "Start upload"
8. Click "Back to Google docs"
9. Click "All items" to show which files you have now
10. Click checkbox to choose file then click "Share" button (or right-click file)
11. Click "Get the link to share"
12. Click checkbox "Allow anyone with the link to view" - don't click Allow then to edit unless you want people changing the document :)
13. Copy the link while its shown there and click "Save and close"
14. Go to the boards and post link or use the BBCode tags to linkify it as I did above
That will link to a single file. If you instead want the folder option, you can now create a folder to share the contents. If I can be of assistance, let me know.
Michael,You can use a file sharing service like mediafire and have it available for downloading. Set up a folder or a direct link and you can continually update / replace it.
Right on, thanks!
Michael
I've been following along with interest. Nice job!
I am far from web-savy myself, but I might be able to help with showing you what this would look like hosted on google doc.
I uploaded your first post into a folder called Terra Nova (I like that one, though Nova World does serve as a better homage to the original game).
Basically, you can choose to share as a single file or a folder containing files per chapter.
Brief instructions:
Thanks, Daeglin, great instructions!
It's done! It's finally done! :)
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BxCliOSSjOuZMjM0Yjg2NzMtZDMwYS00ZDVhLWE 2ZDAtMDViNjgyYjg3MmJi&hl=en
I started another thread with this link in the first post, so it is easier to find. Please feel free to post your comments on either thread; I'll check on both periodically. Enjoy!
It's done! It's finally done! :)
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BxCliOSSjOuZMjM0Yjg2NzMtZDMwYS00ZDVhLWE 2ZDAtMDViNjgyYjg3MmJi&hl=en
I started another thread with this link in the first post, so it is easier to find. Please feel free to post your comments on either thread; I'll check on both periodically. Enjoy!
Ooooooooooh. Going to look now. Thanks, Michael!
This is truly amazing! I can't fathom the amount of work involved in putting this together.
That having been said...you put all of this together -- for free, on your own time. Meanwhile, Paizo is saying they need $70,000 or so to even start thinking about PF d20 Modern!?!
If you ask me, you have done an immense amount of work that should be brought to publishing.
Have you guys at Paizo thought about that? This looks, at first glance, like a great product. Seems like this is a great, solid start for PF d20 Future/Apocalypse and that you should talk to MJ66 about using his work and compensating him fairly for it.
Everyone would benefit -- author, Paizo, players.
This is truly amazing! I can't fathom the amount of work involved in putting this together.
That having been said...you put all of this together -- for free, on your own time. Meanwhile, Paizo is saying they need $70,000 or so to even start thinking about PF d20 Modern!?!
If you ask me, you have done an immense amount of work that should be brought to publishing.
Have you guys at Paizo thought about that? This looks, at first glance, like a great product. Seems like this is a great, solid start for PF d20 Future/Apocalypse and that you should talk to MJ66 about using his work and compensating him fairly for it.
Everyone would benefit -- author, Paizo, players.
Don't get it confused with Paizo. It's Super Genius Games that's asking. Even though Michael put in a lot of work on this, it's just one person doing it in his spare time versus people who do it for a living. A lot of that money has to be used to contract out freelancers, artists, and printing. To be truthful, their patronage plea for $70k is chump change. Finally, there needs to be something that's publicly standardized and available in an easy to obtain distribution channel for the masses to obtain. I'm sure if you ask Michael, he'd probably be interested in what they're attempting to accompish despite all the work he put in here.
But then again, I'm biased ... I've been bugging someone to take up the mantle and they answered the call. :P
This is truly amazing! I can't fathom the amount of work involved in putting this together.
That having been said...you put all of this together -- for free, on your own time. Meanwhile, Paizo is saying they need $70,000 or so to even start thinking about PF d20 Modern!?!
If you ask me, you have done an immense amount of work that should be brought to publishing.
Have you guys at Paizo thought about that? This looks, at first glance, like a great product. Seems like this is a great, solid start for PF d20 Future/Apocalypse and that you should talk to MJ66 about using his work and compensating him fairly for it.
Everyone would benefit -- author, Paizo, players.
Thanks for the kindly endorsement, Heliocentrist! It was tedious work at times, but overall, an enjoyable diversion. The best compensation, to me, would be for my fellow RPGamers to use my work to have hours of post-apocalyptic fun, so plug a fresh power pack into your plasma rifle and have at it!
Don't get it confused with Paizo. It's Super Genius Games that's asking. Even though Michael put in a lot of work on this, it's just one person doing it in his spare time versus people who do it for a living. A lot of that money has to be used to contract out freelancers, artists, and printing. To be truthful, their patronage plea for $70k is chump change. Finally, there needs to be something that's publicly standardized and available in an easy to obtain distribution channel for the masses to obtain. I'm sure if you ask Michael, he'd probably be interested in what they're attempting to accompish despite all the work he put in here.
But then again, I'm biased ... I've been bugging someone to take up the mantle and they answered the call. :P
I see your point and thank you for the correction. Nonetheless, I do think that Michael -- one person -- has already done an immense amount of work. Add some editing, artwork, playtesting -- and you have PF GW. A significant part of the work is already done.
I, too would love to see PF Modern, Sci-fi/Future, and GW/Apocalypse. But I do think it is a bit strange to be passing the hat prior to *any* work being done. In the old days, TSR -- admittedly, a large company -- did not come asking for money to start its projects. The writers got an idea, got a sense for the market, and went for it. What if -- and I speak in generalities here, not about the PF Modern per se -- what if the product is sub-par? What if those who forked over money to begin with were unhappy with it?
My point is simply -- one person has put an immense amount of work into PF Gamma World, and it looks great. Why is a company coming around asking for money up front (for PF Modern), without even a preliminary sketch? As far as ths version of Gamma World is concerned -- why should the wheel be re-invented? Michael's work is good, and should be used, and he should be credited and compensated for it fairly by whatever company (should there be one) thinks it can polish and market the game.
I see your point and thank you for the correction. Nonetheless, I do think that Michael -- one person -- has already done an immense amount of work. Add some editing, artwork, playtesting -- and you have PF GW. A significant part of the work is already done.
I, too would love to see PF Modern, Sci-fi/Future, and GW/Apocalypse. But I do think it is a bit strange to be passing the hat prior to *any* work being done. In the old days, TSR -- admittedly, a large company -- did not come asking for money to start its projects. The writers got an idea, got a sense for the market, and went for it. What if -- and I speak in generalities here, not about the PF Modern per se -- what if the product is sub-par? What if those who forked over money to begin with were unhappy with it?
My point is simply -- one person has put an immense amount of work into PF Gamma World, and it looks great. Why is a company coming around asking for money up front (for PF Modern), without even a preliminary sketch? As far as ths version of Gamma World is concerned -- why should the wheel be re-invented? Michael's work is good, and should be used, and he should be credited and compensated for it fairly by whatever company (should there be one) thinks it can polish and market the game
Not intending to be sarcastic, but are you familiar with how the patronage projects work? I just want to be sure before I respond in length so I don't come across as patronizing. Thanks. :)
Don't get it confused with Paizo. It's Super Genius Games that's asking. Even though Michael put in a lot of work on this, it's just one person doing it in his spare time versus people who do it for a living. A lot of that money has to be used to contract out freelancers, artists, and printing. To be truthful, their patronage plea for $70k is chump change. Finally, there needs to be something that's publicly standardized and available in an easy to obtain distribution channel for the masses to obtain. I'm sure if you ask Michael, he'd probably be interested in what they're attempting to accompish despite all the work he put in here.
But then again, I'm biased ... I've been bugging someone to take up the mantle and they answered the call. :P
I would be pleased to see SGG or Paizo do a PF Modern/Future RPG, and would probably revise this doc to comply with whatever they came up with, if I felt it was an improvement (which, given that pros would be working on it as their full-time job, would be likely).
If either company wants to use my work as a basis, I've offered it as free OGL, so they are welcome to it, but I wouldn't turn down a commission. I tried to come up with a wondrous item for the talent search, but meh. I think everything I came up with is essentially already a magic item published in a previous edition; I don't feel like doing the research, frankly. :)
Not intending to be sarcastic, but are you familiar with how the patronage projects work? I just want to be sure before I respond in length so I don't come across as patronizing. Thanks. :)
I'm not at all familiar with the concept. It seems sort of odd to me, actually. I've never heard of it being done in the gaming world -- only with projects like the Sistine Chapel!
Not intending to be sarcastic, but are you familiar with how the patronage projects work? I just want to be sure before I respond in length so I don't come across as patronizing. Thanks. :)
I'm not at all familiar with the concept. It seems sort of odd to me, actually. I've never heard of it being done in the gaming world -- only with projects like the Sistine Chapel!
I'm new to the concept myself too, so it's understandable. What basically occurs is that depending on the levels of participations and the number of participants involved, their dollars and input help sway the direction of how the project is put together. The funding will help go toward paying for the freelance writers, designs, distribution, and printing costs. The hopes is that if you spoke with your dollars, you'll get to have a product that best suits what you're looking for and have access to content well before the regular public does. Do a search for patronage projects on here and a couple should pop up.
Since SGG is a small company, they don't have the resources to be able to go on their own with this unlike other companies that have regular consistent revenue streams. Hence, the need for a patronage project. If successful, they can be able to expand on it w/o needing to go throuh the same patronage process again.
At least with the guys in SGG, they do have the proper credentials based on their previous projects they've worked on that the majority of us are familiar with. You ought to jump on board if they indeed can get past the 1st stage with regard to start up funding. I know I'll be there. :D
That all makes sense, and I am sure encourages creation of products that would otherwise never see the light of day. I did not realize that the relationship was a two-way street (that is, both the patron and the company benefit, not just the company).
Consider me bowled over. Absolutely love it! I may have to send this through Lulu.
Consider me bowled over. Absolutely love it! I may have to send this through Lulu.
Thanks, TAD! I hope you get some fun use out of it.
A few minor errata:
There are a few instances where a reference to dying at -10 hp is made. On page 363, under Damaging Vehicles, third paragraph should read: Unlike characters, vehicles don't "die" when they reach -Constitution hit points.
A few references to level adjustment (no longer used in PF) should be removed as well. These are on pages 326 and 327, for biodroids and bioreplicas, which are listed as having LA +1. Both can probably simply be treated as equal to the other genotypes.
Corrected a few minor typos too, nothing major. I will be posting a link to a revised copy after I've had a month or two to sniff out and correct things like this that were overlooked as I was putting this thing together.