DwD Studios
Coming Soon: Keranak Kingdoms Fantasy Setting
Fri, 11/09/2012 - 12:04am | 
DwD Studios
"Long ago, before the gods were banished from the realm but after they exiled the giants to the islands beyond the Northwaters, they crafted the Ruling Crown: a silver circlet set with nine stones. This was a gift to the races of the realm who would inherit the lands they freed from these tyrants."»Read more
Tags: Transport at Lspellcaster level 1 and 2
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 12:52pm | jasales
Effect: Target can levitate 1 space each turn.
Does the spellcaster need to maintain concentration each turn or must they make a spellcaster roll each turn to move 1 space. I'm thinking it is the simpler former.
As long as the spellcaster is concentrating he is able to move the target (or himself) using transport.
Note that some GM's may ask the caster to make a spellcaster skill check if he wishes to perform other actions on his turn while using transport such as casting another spell, shooting a bow, etc.
Player Guide?
Mon, 11/05/2012 - 3:13pm | jasales
The first 31 pages would make a sweet player guide product. :)
That is a totally cool idea. We're going to chew on that a bit... thanks for the idea!
Spell durations
Fri, 11/02/2012 - 5:31pm | mort
Several spells, such as illusion and summoning, have a duration of "1D turns per spellcaster level if cast in combat or 2D hours outside of combat".
This statement is somewhat ambiguous. Is the outside of combat duration also increased based on the spellcaster level, or is the duration for a first and sixth level spellcaster the very same 2D hours?
Yes. Remember - these spells were designed to be simple to adjudicate and fast to play and remember... when the spell is cast without stress in a controlled manner, it has a duration of 2D hours regardless of level. When cast under duress, its duration is far more limited to the scope of the encounter. A skilled caster is able to maintain enough control of his emotions in such a stressful situation to pull the spell off well enough to last longer than a less skilled caster.
Hope I said that right :-)
Post-combat healing - who is "qualified" to treat wounds?
Fri, 11/02/2012 - 9:19am | Harrison
In the Getting Healed section of the Game Guidelines chapter, the core book notes that characters that receive prompt care after battle can immediately recover up to 5 BP. However, none of the Skill descriptions includes "healing" or "first aid" as an attribute. Is it safe to assume that as long as the characters are not in peril or captivity at the end of combat, that they can perform this basic wound treatment for each other without checks?
We generally rule that everyone is, including the wounded character himself.
How real are Illusion spells?
Fri, 11/02/2012 - 8:53am | mort
The writeup for the Illusion spell mentions that those who believe them are affected by them. To what extent? If a man is stabbed by the illusion of a dagger he believes in, will he take bp damage? Can he die from it?
And if a man walks out onto a bridge he believes is real, will it carry his weight?
Like many things, we built a framework and expect a GM to adjudicate, leaning on his preferences and experiences from other games. Here's the way we handle it, your tastes may vary:
If someone believes an illusion, he believes he is affected by it personally - but that won't convey supernatural ability to him.
For instance, if he is stabbed by a hurled illusion spear, he BELIEVES he takes the damage. Keep track of it separately... because if he later becomes convinced of its phantasmal nature the damage can be removed. Some GMs rule the damage is mental and doesn't go away (sometimes mental wounds are far more damaging than physical ones!). If he takes enough believed damage to drop, he drops like normal and might in fact die (all characters who drop in the game get to make a STR check to see if they die or not after the fight's over).
But walking on an illusion bridge won't convey supernatural ability to levitate/fly to the person, and he'll know it's an illusion pretty quickly when he falls.
Also keep note of the number of senses which may be affected. A bridge that affects only sight will fool someone unless he's being smart... but a visual-only illusion of a burning wall that doesn't give off heat (sense of touch) will not fool someone who walks through it that he's on fire.
Dwarves - +5 BP bonus in addition to +10 STR bonus, or because of it?
Fri, 11/02/2012 - 8:19am | Harrison
Page 8 of the core book notes that Dwarves add 10 to starting STR and add 5 to starting BP. Mathematically, the +10 to STR already gives the Dwarves an additional +5 to BP, so is the 5 BP mentioned on that page an additional BP bonus?
That is correct, not only are Dwarves stronger, (+10 starting STR) they also gain 5 starting body points.
Leader "Battle Commander" skills and initiative?
Fri, 11/02/2012 - 8:09am | Harrison
There are really two questions here:
1. Is initiative rolled once per encounter, or once per round? The text in the Initiative section of Game Guidelines implies that it is only rolled once, at the beginning of turn-based actions, but is not explicitly stated either way.»Read more
Initiative is rolled at the beginning of each turn/round. The Battle Commander aspects (tactics, assault, inspire) are in effect until the turn ends.
At the beginning of the next turn, before initiative is rolled, the Leader may make a skill check and if successful choose which aspect is in effect on this turn. Thus each turn he chooses which is in effect.
Simulate favorite D&D spells
Thu, 11/01/2012 - 11:02pm | DwD Studios
(copied here from forums)
With the spell templates, how would you create (for example), a spell that allowed you to step through a portal in the air, enabling the pcs to escape? Obviously this is a d&d spell called Dimension Door. Or what about changing form into a bear or some such?
I was wondering how the system handles these types of spells. Spells that do not come under such templates as 'Buff', 'Blast', 'Aid' or 'Bolt', for example.
Regarding transformation into a bear, that can be done with the Transform spell.
The dimension door spell is another issue... We do have the Transport spell. Although it doesn't specifically describe an effect identical to the dimension door spell, it does provide effects like blinking and teleporting.
We were general and flexible with the spells in this core product release. They cover much of what you'd want to do, but not everything. Additional spells will be published in various supplements that keep with this categorical concept. Therefore, simulating every finite spell from D&D is sorta beyond the scope of this magic system. But remember, this is a creative commons product and we not only permit but encourage YOU to produce additional content. Someone making a new spell system with more numerous and specific spells (and a different acquisition method) might be a neat product.
Also - magic items and potions can be made by use of the enchanter skill which have effects not covered by the existing spell list. If you want a caster type character capable of doing all sorts of neat tricks not specifically covered by the known magical spells of the kingdoms, then you get creative and build yourself magical gadgets!
And let's not forget, this game was designed to a strong GM role (like the old days) and house-ruling things can be simple and fun. The GM is there to make sure you enjoy your time in his game. Tell him you have a concept that requires a certain spell and he's likely to create one (or as for suggestions here on the forums).
Using DEX as a melee modifier
Thu, 11/01/2012 - 10:57pm | DwD Studios
(copied here from forums)
Would it break the system if I gave players the option of using DEX (as well as STR) for melee combat? Reason being, I want to cater for characters that rely on agility and not just brute strength.
Nope, as long as you do that for the enemies too I guess.
[game_theory_rant]
We at DwD don't believe there is such thing as "balance" in game systems because any given play session one race, skill, or ability can be more important than in any other. Any game system can feel unbalanced by a GM focusing on one aspect or another too heavily.
For instance, even in the critically acclaimed play balance of 4E D&D, any game session which focuses ONLY on stealth is going to disbalance it against that plate mailed front-line fighter. Trust me... it's happened to me.
In our opinion, game balance comes from the GM in every game in existence. The GM is like the host of a party, and it's his job to make sure all his guests have fun. We've tried to build a foundation that is solid and strong so the GM can do his part to balance his stories.
So you can't break this or any system; you can only fail to manage your story well enough to give all players a chance to have fun! :-)
[/game_theory_rant]
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