One of the players in the group just bought the novels(set between Oblivion and Skyrim) and is considering doing a campaign based on the story(or the world in general)
Since there is no pnp version of Bethesda's own system (and I don't have the time to convert it at the moment) do you have a system to propose that would work with the TES series?
PS: I always thought that in TES its more about the world than the system,but Obviously certain rule-sets wouldn't work
I agree that Chaosium's system(s) matches the "improve skills as you use them" aspect of the Elder Scrolls games. I had some issues with using the system for fantasy gaming, though; characters were too likely to get killed or almost killed on a critical hit (this was in Stormbringer, not BRP). And you don't really improve your base stats.
I think perhaps the Hero system would work, but that's one of the ones I'm most familiar with.
FuzioN. Highly versatile and customizable.
Chaosium's Basic (d100) should work well too.
Had a look at chaosium..from what I can read it seems like a perfect fit..Which one of the two would you prefer?
Also is it easy to get into coming from other systems?
|
FuzioN. Highly versatile and customizable.
Chaosium's Basic (d100) should work well too.
Had a look at chaosium..from what I can read it seems like a perfect fit..Which one of the two would you prefer?
Also is it easy to get into coming from other systems?
FuzioN is somewhat more flexible: both the ability and the skill list can be custom fit for the Elder Scrolls setting - Morrowind style is better ;-) - and if you can take a look at the Artesia RPG, you will find a great source of inspiration for a fantasy game, as it incorporates a very detailed system for character development. Each value (from abilites to skills to talent-like elements) can be bought point by point, so players have a good time creating their characters.
It also features a zodiacal influence, which is very appropriate for the Elders Scrolls.However, it's also true that it would require some work on your part, and maybe is a bit less friendly for newcomers, as you need a good grasp of the various elements to get the most out of your character stats.
The d100 Basic instead is way more easy to introduce to players and customize for such a setting, and it has the advantage of reflecting closely the skill use => advancement system seen in the Elder Scrolls games. As pretty much everything is based on a percentile (sp?) check, it's simple, and I recommend the variant seen in Stormbringer 4th edition - great deatil on how ability scores influence skills.
On the other hand, it also "lacks" the typical fantasy increase in HPs/wound resistance developed along the way: while it's possible to increase stats and thusly increase HPs, it's also true that's more difficult, and the starting score is pretty much all you have for a very long time.
To sum up: if you're willing to do a bit of work, I think that the FuzioN system is better. If you don't mind a grittier game where a few wounds can prove lethal, the d100 Basic proves an easier approach and less hassle to adapt.
Have fun!
I would say HARP is a perfect fit, even the races would be easy to convert.
Harp?
I would say HARP is a perfect fit, even the races would be easy to convert.Harp?
Review I guess its this one?
Could you sell it to me?From that review I see its slightly different in comparison to Chaosiums Basic; but in what ways is it better suited for TES?
@golem101: Thanks :)
Aren't the TES games supposed to be kind of gritty in battle though? (the whole one hero thing etc)
@golem101: Thanks :)
Aren't the TES games supposed to be kind of gritty in battle though? (the whole one hero thing etc)
From my experience, it's pretty rare to be severely injured in one shot in Morrowind or Oblivion, especially in Oblivion where enemies tend to scale with your PC.
From my experience, it's pretty rare to be severely injured in one shot in Morrowind or Oblivion, especially in Oblivion where enemies tend to scale with your PC.@golem101: Thanks :)
Aren't the TES games supposed to be kind of gritty in battle though? (the whole one hero thing etc)
Can it be tweaked to resemble the pc games system more?
Unless there is a community version of the Bethesda system like there was with the SPECIAL system from Fallout...
|
|
@golem101: Thanks :)
Aren't the TES games supposed to be kind of gritty in battle though? (the whole one hero thing etc)
They do, but keep in mind that with the d100 Basic, the first encounter "large rat" enemy type stays a menace* 'till the very end of the character development cycle.
Some players like to have a better survivability score increase during the game, even if at a different rate from the PFRPG/D&D HP.Keep in mind that the two systems I talked about are at their basic without clearly defined levels - FuzioN lets you buy more skill points with experience, and d100 Basic lets you improve the skills you used in adventuring - and the equivalent HP value is a derived score from other stats.
No d6/d8/d10/d12 to roll and add to the total each time you get to the checkpoint.
* at least damage wise; the character's dodge and parry skills should level up enough to make the rat's attack efforts less efficient.
Can it be tweaked to resemble the pc games system more?From my experience, it's pretty rare to be severely injured in one shot in Morrowind or Oblivion, especially in Oblivion where enemies tend to scale with your PC.@golem101: Thanks :)
Aren't the TES games supposed to be kind of gritty in battle though? (the whole one hero thing etc)
Maybe, but as I noted above I would probably just use the Hero system instead.
Maybe, but as I noted above I would probably just use the Hero system instead.Can it be tweaked to resemble the pc games system more?From my experience, it's pretty rare to be severely injured in one shot in Morrowind or Oblivion, especially in Oblivion where enemies tend to scale with your PC.@golem101: Thanks :)
Aren't the TES games supposed to be kind of gritty in battle though? (the whole one hero thing etc)
Yeah but isn't it too much of an effort to get into Hero(which has a lot of books etc from what I can see) just for TES?
At least the other two systems seem lighter
@golem101: Thanks :)
Aren't the TES games supposed to be kind of gritty in battle though? (the whole one hero thing etc)They do, but keep in mind that with the d100 Basic, the first encounter "large rat" enemy type stays a menace* 'till the very end of the character development cycle.
Some players like to have a better survivability score increase during the game, even if at a different rate from the PFRPG/D&D HP.Keep in mind that the two systems I talked about are at their basic without clearly defined levels - FuzioN lets you buy more skill points with experience, and d100 Basic lets you improve the skills you used in adventuring - and the equivalent HP value is a derived score from other stats.
No d6/d8/d10/d12 to roll and add to the total each time you get to the checkpoint.* at least damage wise; the character's dodge and parry skills should level up enough to make the rat's attack efforts less efficient.
I guess we could add Oblivion's leveling system(don't remember how it went in previous games): with major skill increases you get a level up,which in turn gives you points to spend on attributes
Maybe, but as I noted above I would probably just use the Hero system instead.Yeah but isn't it too much of an effort to get into Hero(which has a lot of books etc from what I can see) just for TES?
At least the other two systems seem lighter
I guess it depends on what you're trying to do.
If I were going to play a game based on TES, I'd want the game system to be as faithful to the video games as possible. Personally, I think it would be easier to start with a good universal system like Hero (where PCs are generally quite durable) than to start with something more specific like BRP and rewrite the magic system, combat system, etc. to be like TES.
But if you're just looking to play in the world of TES and you don't really care too much about the system, then I agree you're probably better off with something simple and/or familiar.
Maybe, but as I noted above I would probably just use the Hero system instead.Yeah but isn't it too much of an effort to get into Hero(which has a lot of books etc from what I can see) just for TES?
At least the other two systems seem lighter
I guess it depends on what you're trying to do.
If I were going to play a game based on TES, I'd want the game system to be as faithful to the video games as possible. Personally, I think it would be easier to start with a good universal system like Hero (where PCs are generally quite durable) than to start with something more specific like BRP and rewrite the magic system, combat system, etc. to be like TES.
But if you're just looking to play in the world of TES and you don't really care too much about the system, then I agree you're probably better off with something simple and/or familiar.
It all depends on how much work each needs in order to resemble TES.
I don't want to make things more complicated then they have to.
The GM is a newbie and I am limited by other obligations in how much time I can spend helping...
hmm..how many 'cousins' does this system have?
"[...]uses an OGL iteration of Basic Roleplaying ,based on the Mongoose RuneQuest SRD (MRQ SRD), with ideas from previous editions of Chaosium’s RuneQuest and Stormbringer 5th, mixed in with some common sense house rulings from the author’s twenty years of experience with the D100 system,"
|
|
hmm..how many 'cousins' does this system have?
"[...]uses an OGL iteration of Basic Roleplaying ,based on the Mongoose RuneQuest SRD (MRQ SRD), with ideas from previous editions of Chaosium’s RuneQuest and Stormbringer 5th, mixed in with some common sense house rulings from the author’s twenty years of experience with the D100 system,"
Looking at the features list, seems to be on spot for an Elder Scrolls game. Maybe just expand a bit the skill list (not really a problem) and you're set.
Being a d100 based system, it's by default so much easy to understand and introduce.
hmm..how many 'cousins' does this system have?
"[...]uses an OGL iteration of Basic Roleplaying ,based on the Mongoose RuneQuest SRD (MRQ SRD), with ideas from previous editions of Chaosium’s RuneQuest and Stormbringer 5th, mixed in with some common sense house rulings from the author’s twenty years of experience with the D100 system,"
Looking at the features list, seems to be on spot for an Elder Scrolls game. Maybe just expand a bit the skill list (not really a problem) and you're set.
Being a d100 based system, it's by default so much easy to understand and introduce.
yeah we might keep the skill advancing system from Basic and everything else from OQ..Though I read somewhere OQ lacks a location hit system
yeah we might keep the skill advancing system from Basic and everything else from OQ..Though I read somewhere OQ lacks a location hit systemhmm..how many 'cousins' does this system have?
"[...]uses an OGL iteration of Basic Roleplaying ,based on the Mongoose RuneQuest SRD (MRQ SRD), with ideas from previous editions of Chaosium’s RuneQuest and Stormbringer 5th, mixed in with some common sense house rulings from the author’s twenty years of experience with the D100 system,"
Looking at the features list, seems to be on spot for an Elder Scrolls game. Maybe just expand a bit the skill list (not really a problem) and you're set.
Being a d100 based system, it's by default so much easy to understand and introduce.
So a friend gave me a transcript of all the morrowind classes,races,notes on the system and an excel character generator.He reckons Morrowind has a better system than Oblivion. What do you guys think?
I also discovered this: TES wiki.
So a friend gave me a transcript of all the morrowind classes,races,notes on the system and an excel character generator.He reckons Morrowind has a better system than Oblivion. What do you guys think?
They're quite similar, but I slightly prefer Morrowind (mostly for nostalgic reasons).
|
|
I strongly prefer Morrowind, even putting aside game-related issues (that horrible horrible level-based balance system in Oblivion).
Oblivion features a streamlining in equipment/skills/spells that grinds loudly against common sense - no spears/lances, no crossbows, no levitation/fly/teleport spells, axes are blunt weapons, no medium armor, no spell failure caused by fatigue/skill level. Nnnnnnggghh.
I strongly prefer Morrowind, even putting aside game-related issues (that horrible horrible level-based balance system in Oblivion).
Oblivion features a streamlining in equipment/skills/spells that grinds loudly against common sense - no spears/lances, no crossbows, no levitation/fly/teleport spells, axes are blunt weapons, no medium armor, no spell failure caused by fatigue/skill level. Nnnnnnggghh.
the only problem that we ll have to figure is party of more than one pcs, and the tweaking of the leveling system...
I preferred Morrowind because it wasn't just generic, fantasy roleplaying game setting.
On the other hand Oblivion didn't have those bloody cliff racers...