Bioware's epic tale of Ferelden comes to the Gameroom!
I have been wanting to get back into hosting games for a while now, and after alot of reading back over games I've played and looking at some currently in the making, I decided to have a go at basing a game around my favourite role-playing game and see if I could incorporate role-playing and mafia elements in successfully.
So this game will incorporate the standard town-mafia face-off, with various characters on both sides vying to complete their own personal goals at the expense of others with the Grey Warden and his/her companions in the middle. There's going to be some elements of roleplay involved, as you'd expect, and hopefully everyone who signs up would get some joy out of the game and feel involved no matter which role they recieved.
I am open to, and actively requesting, any advice or assistance that anyone can offer. If people think the idea sucks or it won't work, tell me! If you've got questions or I've missed something out, say so! :P
Anyways, here's what I've mustered together thus far...
Rules
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Phases
The game is divided into alternating phases of Day and Night; the former lasts 48 hours to encourage voting; the night will be 24 hours long. There may be some fluctuation in this due to real life constraints or other circumstances, but I will adhere to them as best as possible.
Voting
During the Day phase, participants will vote for a player to be imprisoned or executed in Denerim; each outcome carries it's own benefits and drawbacks.
Imprisonment removes a player from the game for a single night phase, whereby they will be released at the end of the next day; it is essentially a roleblock. If you opt for this, vote as follows: Imprison: Secura
Execution is basically the standard lynch; in the case of Dragon Age, this amounts to an attack that deals 100 damage, which will kill all but the hardiest characters instantly... so ensure you pick the right candidate. For this choice, vote as such: Execute: Secura
You can also deign to follow either of these choices by abstaining; in this game, it amounts to voting for no execution or imprisonment, simply vote as shown: Abstain
Persistently not voting will naturally result in a WOG at some point, so please try to stay committed to the game, it'll be worth it.
Communication
Copy and Pasting anything recieved from me is a big no-no, no matter what; feel free to paraphrase, however. This does not apply to communications with players... that's fair game. Be mindful of who you trust, though.
There are QuickTopics for various factions and characters, but out-of-thread comms are also permitted over IMs or via PM... just remember the rule!
Character Information
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Alignment
The core of any mafia game, all players will find themselves aligned to one faction or another; not all evil elements follow the call of the Archdemon, just as not all of Ferelden marches under the banner of the Grey Wardens. Some characters will require the death of others for their own personal success, even if they are both town-aligned.
Hit Points
All characters, from the lowliest citizen of Denerim to the mighty Archdemon, will have hitpoints; their lifeforce that determines how many attacks they can take before dying. The total of hitpoints varies across classes, characters and items used, but the standard role has around 50-60; the more hardier and powerful elements of Ferelden may have as many as 300.
Hit points naturally regenerate at the end of each Day phase, the rate of which can be affected by items or character race/class. Unless otherwise stated, the rate of regeneration is 10 hit points per Day Phase.
Classes & Specialisations
Most characters are given a pre-determined class at the beginning of the game that determines their abilities and hit points; Warriors tend to be hardier and take more damage, Mages are usually able to attack as well as use a spell and Rogues are masters of evasion. This is character-dependent, however.
Specialisations are available for some roles upon meeting character-specific landmarks or personal goals. When this occurs, you will recieve a PM from the host detailing the choices you have, the potential benefits involved for each choice and any abilities you may acquire. You'll have time to decide and then respond with your choice.
Abilities & Spells
Every character will have an ability of some variety, regardless of alignment and stature in the game; some may limited in what they can do, such as 'can protect X each turn', and others may be of much broader and greater use.
For all active abilities, whether they require the Day or Night to be used, send a PM to the host during the specified phase to use them. Naturally, this is not required for passive abilities. Unless otherwise stated, only one ability can be used per phase, though items can change this.
Items, Gold & Shopping
Money makes the world go 'round, and Ferelden is no exception; all characters have a penchant for gold, though some naturally have more than others. Characters will start with a fixed amount of gold and a set amount of income, which is the value they generate each turn; some characters may find it takes many turns to even muster a single coin, whereas others may end up rich indeed...
Most characters can use items; once wielding a sword, even a lowly commoner can attack someone each night, though killing them may be another thing entirely.
Players will have the chance to purchase items, potions and even a different ability for the right price from Bodahn Feddic... providing they can outbid their fellow gamers!
Victory Conditions & Personal Goals
Every single character will have both a victory condition and at least one personal goal that they attend to achieve before the game is over; some may have more depending on the character. These conditions and goals account for your final ranking and the closing write-up will change accordingly, so ensure that you attempt these additional goals to the best of your ability to leave your mark on the game.
Sample Role PM
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Sandal Hit Points: 100 Alignment: Non-Player Character Victory Condition: Enchantment? Personal Goal: Enchantment!
Gold: 50 Income: 5 per turn
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Background
Sandal is the adopted child of Bodahn Feddic, a travelling merchant from Orzammar; Feddic found Sandal many years ago during a routine journey into the Deep Roads; the merchant believes that the boy may have ended up addled by constant exposure to lyrium.
However, despite his mental frailty, Sandal is an extraordinarily gifted enchanter, able to fold lyrium into weapons and armour to imbue them with magical properties, thus becoming a vital component of his father's business endeavours.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Faction Explanation
If Sandal belonged to a faction, there might've been some information about his allies here...
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Items
If Sandal possessed any weapons or armour, it would be explained here...
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Abilities
Enchantment! Passive
Enchanting upon request and fee.
Sandal is skilled at enchanting; for a fee, he can enchant any items upon request.
Enchantment? Passive
Sandal is impervious to all sources of damage and cannot be lynched.
When Bodahn first found him, Sandal was found covered in blood and surrounded by dozens of dead darkspawn; nobody knows how the seemingly oblivious boy managed this feat, but it appears he may be more aware of his surroundings than he lets on.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Communication
If Sandal was capable of a proper conversation, there would be QuickTopic details here for him...
"Blacker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than Hell itself… that is coffee."
[Would you like to play fetch with Centurion.]
[Leave Centurion alone.]
Days since the Apocalypse began
"We are living in space-age times but there's too many of us thinking with stone-age minds" | How to spot a Humanist
"Men of Quality do not fear Equality." | "Belief doesn't change facts. Facts, if you are reasonable, should change your beliefs."
Wherever my blade takes me or to school, it sorta depends
Posts
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Re: Dragon Age: Origins - An Idea
[Would you like to play fetch with Centurion.]
[Leave Centurion alone.]
ah yes beskar named his mabari warhound after me. in an OMGUS retaliation i of course did the same thing, it interestingly enough stuck, i now always name my hound that.
Where's the [Kill Centurion] option?
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
cadderly dies in the last book. yeah thats right cant blame me i used spoilers.
Anyway, the Warden is a female, in the official comic.
Days since the Apocalypse began
"We are living in space-age times but there's too many of us thinking with stone-age minds" | How to spot a Humanist
"Men of Quality do not fear Equality." | "Belief doesn't change facts. Facts, if you are reasonable, should change your beliefs."
In this game, the Warden will be female; whomsoever has the fortune of getting the character will have a small choice in the customisation of it, principally race and class. I'm still working that part out. I'd really appreciate input for this game; Beskar told me it was attempting to be too flashy and would end up confusing, so feedback on that would help me refine things.
The Mabari Warhound was always going to be a character, and has been customary for me since I started playing DA, it will be called Beskie.
"Blacker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than Hell itself… that is coffee."
I'd really appreciate input for this game; Beskar told me it was attempting to be too flashy and would end up confusing, so feedback on that would help me refine things.
I've looked over the rules, and I really like what I see so far. That said, Beskar's warning is fair and valid. You should make sure that abilities and items are balanced for this game, not strive to make it true to the original. That's the number one pitfall when designing a game based around your favorite setting, whatever that setting may be. Be sure that you have a set of core rules for this game that works out well, and then worry about how to map those rules back to the setting.
As I said, I think there are several very interesting ideas from your rules. Ability upgrades/character specializations is a really cool idea, complex personal goals is a must for any RPG-esque mafia game. I also like the idea of using Bodahn Feddic as a neutral auction.
Two things I'm less certain about. The hit points mechanic seems a bit complex for a mafia game, is there any reason it cannot be simplified down to a vitality stat like the one ATPG uses in Resident Evil? You could still call it hit points. Also, story-wise I would think it somewhat weird if there was an Archdemon hidden among the characters. Archdemons tend to be quite hard to miss after all... I think Beskar is right in that regard, about trying to make it more epic/flashy than it really needs to be. How about making the mafia some different faction that is still humanoid? A blood mage cabal perhaps? I realize that makes the Warden less of an obvious protagonist though, but a full Blight isn't really a subtle threat that lends itself well to a mafia game methinks.
You should make sure that abilities and items are balanced for this game, not strive to make it true to the original. That's the number one pitfall when designing a game based around your favorite setting, whatever that setting may be. Be sure that you have a set of core rules for this game that works out well, and then worry about how to map those rules back to the setting.
The abilities were generally the standard mafia faire with fancy names relating to the game, mixed in with some skills that add resistance to certain attacks and such; a mechanic I saw utilised in Sigurd's Star Wars game and really liked.
As for items, they were generally to affect incoming and outgoing attacks or increase health and such. Those would obviously need changing if I removed the health system.
Ability upgrades/character specializations is a really cool idea
I wanted something that would keep players interested whether they were the Grey Warden or just Darkspawn; a motivational tool to not just sit back and lurk through the game.
complex personal goals is a must for any RPG-esque mafia game.
I totally agree.
I've played and replayed the game repeatedly to come up with personal goals for every single character; some of them are straight emulation of the game (companions, for example), while others are related to background or circumstances.
Needless to say, everyone would be playing as a proper character rather than "Generic Orzammar Guard #18" and such. :3
I also like the idea of using Bodahn Feddic as a neutral auction.
And Sandal, naturally... :P
The hit points mechanic seems a bit complex for a mafia game, is there any reason it cannot be simplified down to a vitality stat like the one ATPG uses in Resident Evil? You could still call it hit points.
This mechanic was considered because I wanted to try to mirror the kinda epic feel that the game has, which would be taken away if the Archdemon was a role and ended up lynched... game over, technically.
There were meant to be several things in place to stop the Archdemon role from being one-shotted, including it's HP, the fact only a handful of roles could deal the finishing blow, it's general resistance to damage... >.<
Also, story-wise I would think it somewhat weird if there was an Archdemon hidden among the characters. Archdemons tend to be quite hard to miss after all... I think Beskar is right in that regard, about trying to make it more epic/flashy than it really needs to be. How about making the mafia some different faction that is still humanoid? A blood mage cabal perhaps?
This was a major problem I had; I wanted to include the High Dragon, Broodmother and Archdemon (the latter two in particular were going to be very important roles), but their sheer size doesn't really lend well in terms of a mafia-esque storyline.
There's plenty of other characters that work out fine, it's just getting them into a setting that would work in terms of narrative, which in some cases (Dalish or Dwarven characters, for example), might be tough. >.<
I realize that makes the Warden less of an obvious protagonist though, but a full Blight isn't really a subtle threat that lends itself well to a mafia game methinks.
Well, a Warden can be a hero in any setting, really... :P
"Blacker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than Hell itself… that is coffee."
I named mine Centurion out of affection. You did yours as an OMGUS.
Days since the Apocalypse began
"We are living in space-age times but there's too many of us thinking with stone-age minds" | How to spot a Humanist
"Men of Quality do not fear Equality." | "Belief doesn't change facts. Facts, if you are reasonable, should change your beliefs."
Anyway, the Warden is a female, in the official comic.
I didn't think Morrigan was bisexual though...
Originally Posted by Secura
In this game, the Warden will be female; whomsoever has the fortune of getting the character will have a small choice in the customisation of it, principally race and class. I'm still working that part out. I'd really appreciate input for this game; Beskar told me it was attempting to be too flashy and would end up confusing, so feedback on that would help me refine things.
SEXISM!!!!1111111
Originally Posted by Niklas
This sounds like a very nice idea.
I've looked over the rules, and I really like what I see so far. That said, Beskar's warning is fair and valid. You should make sure that abilities and items are balanced for this game, not strive to make it true to the original. That's the number one pitfall when designing a game based around your favorite setting, whatever that setting may be. Be sure that you have a set of core rules for this game that works out well, and then worry about how to map those rules back to the setting.
As I said, I think there are several very interesting ideas from your rules. Ability upgrades/character specializations is a really cool idea, complex personal goals is a must for any RPG-esque mafia game. I also like the idea of using Bodahn Feddic as a neutral auction.
Two things I'm less certain about. The hit points mechanic seems a bit complex for a mafia game, is there any reason it cannot be simplified down to a vitality stat like the one ATPG uses in Resident Evil? You could still call it hit points. Also, story-wise I would think it somewhat weird if there was an Archdemon hidden among the characters. Archdemons tend to be quite hard to miss after all... I think Beskar is right in that regard, about trying to make it more epic/flashy than it really needs to be. How about making the mafia some different faction that is still humanoid? A blood mage cabal perhaps? I realize that makes the Warden less of an obvious protagonist though, but a full Blight isn't really a subtle threat that lends itself well to a mafia game methinks.
CFC has more complex crap than us, and they get along fine. May be due to the 40 posts per page, though.
Also, the AD could have transmogrified himself. Like how in Koopa Troop, my cover role was bigger than my actual role, only reversed.
Or he could be pulling a Harbinger, mind controlling some mook during the day, and he go out and kill someone at night.
The game needed that aspect I think; Morrigan describes herself as someone who would use sex as a means of getting what she wanted... why limit that to men when there's plenty of wealthy and powerful women in Ferelden (and indeed Thedas) as well?
SEXISM!!!!1111111
I had considered allowing the Warden player to pick their gender to be honest; it's just that when I play DA, I'm pretty much always playing as a female and thus know the story better from that aspect. In the grand scheme of things though, allowing the choice of male/female might be better... I just wouldn't expect many to pick female if that was the case. :P
Also, the AD could have transmogrified himself. Like how in Koopa Troop, my cover role was bigger than my actual role, only reversed.
Or he could be pulling a Harbinger, mind controlling some mook during the day, and he go out and kill someone at night.
That was going to be the original idea... some of the serial killer roles are capable of disguising/changing their appearance anyway, but I haven't seen anything that implies the Archdemon, Broodmother or High Dragon were capable of doing the same.
I could split things up so that there's two mafia factions of smaller size or something to that effect... I've already got ideas thanks to Niklas. My main problem now is finding reasons for certain characters to be outside of the locale they normally are; Dwarves wouldn't want to lose Stone Sense, for example.... guess I can figure that out through narrative though.
"Blacker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than Hell itself… that is coffee."
Days since the Apocalypse began
"We are living in space-age times but there's too many of us thinking with stone-age minds" | How to spot a Humanist
"Men of Quality do not fear Equality." | "Belief doesn't change facts. Facts, if you are reasonable, should change your beliefs."
If I'm honest, I never use the Mabari outside of scenes that require it (principally those playing as a Cousland)... it's decent enough but the limited pool of skills and such just don't compare in the long run. That won't be the case in this game though, it will be a decent role nonetheless.
I still need people's input though to make the game workable!
"Blacker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than Hell itself… that is coffee."
The game needed that aspect I think; Morrigan describes herself as someone who would use sex as a means of getting what she wanted... why limit that to men when there's plenty of wealthy and powerful women in Ferelden (and indeed Thedas) as well?
Uhm... pass.
I had considered allowing the Warden player to pick their gender to be honest; it's just that when I play DA, I'm pretty much always playing as a female and thus know the story better from that aspect. In the grand scheme of things though, allowing the choice of male/female might be better... I just wouldn't expect many to pick female if that was the case. :P
It was a joke.
That was going to be the original idea... some of the serial killer roles are capable of disguising/changing their appearance anyway, but I haven't seen anything that implies the Archdemon, Broodmother or High Dragon were capable of doing the same.
I could split things up so that there's two mafia factions of smaller size or something to that effect... I've already got ideas thanks to Niklas. My main problem now is finding reasons for certain characters to be outside of the locale they normally are; Dwarves wouldn't want to lose Stone Sense, for example.... guess I can figure that out through narrative though.
Ah, but there is nothing in the game implying that they CAN'T do that.
Ah, but there is nothing in the game implying that they CAN'T do that.
It's true... I have always wondered exactly what led to the Cult of Andraste believing that a dragon was the reincarnation of the Prophet, but in all fairness I just assumed they saw such a mythical creature as something to revere rather than that it actually took the Prophet's form or anything.
As for the Broodmother... doubt that thing could move at all, and indeed it wasn't going to be able to; the Broodmother was going to be the second-most important role in the game not for her attacking capabilities (which were zero) but what else she brought to the table for the mafia. Disguising a giant boob-creature as a humanoid... don't think that's possible.
My idea was to have a cabal of blood mages or something similar as one mafia faction, some Darkspawn as the other... it would mean I could chop-and-change the hit point system (or scrap it entirely) and perhaps that the abilities/specialisations mechanic could extend to all characters (with a few special exceptions!).
"Blacker than a moonless night. Hotter and more bitter than Hell itself… that is coffee."
Dragon Age: Origins - An Idea
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Originally Posted by Sasaki Kojiro
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