Unreleased Draft from [8-15-16]: ABS12: Descriptions paragraphs

Fighter - Fighters can wear heavy protection armor for protection. A fighter uses various possible weapons to inflict damage. Their main role is to be able to absorb some physical damage while inflicting some damage. They protect and defend others.

Thief - Thieves wear lower middle protection armor for protection and rely on covert actions to hide and sneak. A thief uses sneak attacks to deliver heavier than normal damage using a dagger primarily.

Disciple - Disciples use no armor for protection and rely on covert actions or swift movement to avoid damage. A disciple uses thief fist, kicks, or throws to deliver heavier than normal hand-to-hand damage.

Hunter - Hunters use no armor for protection and rely on some covert actions and distance for protection. A hunter uses ranged attacks to deliver damage at a distance.

Musician - Musicians help inspire others and affect others through their powerful songs.

Druid -

Healer -

Magic User -

Elementalist -

[2/29/20 Note on this previously unreleased blog post:

This blog post had been sitting somewhere after 8-11-16 post titled ABS12: Ranged Weapons. Druid through Elementalist remains incomplete and undefined. It represent a "what could have been a fantasy profession or class category system for ABS12. A Basic System 12 latest online version was last update 8-25-16, which was right after creating a character example of steps 1 to 12.

For now, this character Descriptions paragraph be published "as is" separate from ABS12 system (maybe supplementary) will remain copyright Ken Wickham © 2020. All rights reserved. This content cannot be transmitted, stored, or rebroadcast without expressed consent of the author.

The main 2016 ABS12 system will remain without established character Descriptions. ]

World of the Fifth Sun progress 2014 to 1018

Summer of 2014

Everything really began in 2014 when during the summer I came across NaNoWriMo. Sometime around the mid or late summer I decided to try writing a novel during November. I remember checking out several books and taking notes on how to write novels.

I created Song and Fire, a short novel set in a world that I called the Ea, the World of the Fifth Sun.

2015

For a more complete look at 2015 summary, see my 2016 year end review of 2015 post.

I remember revising Song and Fire during January of 2015. While this first novel only sold a few copies, it spurred me to return to tabletop RPGs after 20 years. This book's mythology is that Ea is on the third planet on the fifth sun or 'sol' in a series of worlds, each proceeding world having been destroyed in a war of gods. I can actually easily move this story into an Aioskoru human region if I wanted to.

I began World of the Fifth Sun blog on March 13, 2015.

Exploring into RPG engine source documents

I created several documents which would inspire generator and engine products this year in 2018. 

Much of my Character Generator and flaws was initially created in the Stories vs RPGs series and resulting book.

July of 2015 my nephew in my family was tragically killed by a drunk driver.

I began my Rolemaster beta testing experience around this time as well.

In October, I began creating Aioskoru.

October 28 I began trying to build Aioskoru using online random content generators and learning to expand map techniques. 

November I wrote my 2nd novel, a collection of short stories for the World of the Fifth Sun which resulted in two of the short stories being released Worn and Lanic. Although only those two stories were ever published in one small volume, I still have the remaining stories unedited in my collection. I might be able to do something in the future with this old unreleased content.

I ended the year with more map creation techniques which resulted in techniques used in Quick free maps series and book in 2016.

2016

For a more complete look at 2015 summary, see my 2016 year end review of 2016 post.

2016 began by finishing my map making techniques. 

I then switched to fantasy constructed languages. 

Dice, card, and probability brought me to ABS12 creation series. This was actually my 3rd RPG game attempt after a WotFS Fudge and FAE versions which are actually inspirations for One-Roll Fudge RPG, which were never published anywhere. While A Basic System 12 (ABS12) V1.08 may not be great in it's entirety, pieces of that game are great and are actual pieces such as the Plot Generator and Fact Generator. 

In mid 2016 summer, I began selling products on DriveThru and RPGNow. First, maps were my topic. It quickly switched to Aioskoru and the Solo Game Engine and Fact Generator (which are pieces of ABS12).

In late that year, I began creating Fairy language, which is a test into the possible content of books such as Elvish Language. I've had words written for Elvish since earlier this 2016 year but have changed much of it in it's current form. It is based, however, on the same words. Fairy would be published first since I knew that I owned the rights to this invented language.

5e x 5 was really the emphasis at the end of this year 2016.

Comparing open gaming systems during this year also fueled my more recent Parallel Open Gaming Systems products.

2017

2017 began by finishing 5e x 5 products for a few months. Later, Character Gen (based on Stories vs RPGs) vs, Description Gen (item focus), and Motivation Gen  (based on Stories vs RPGs) were released. 

In the blog, I began with finishing my Fairy Language which I would release a year later in PDF.

My Aioskoru Myth Making series created early 2017 has yet to be published anywhere except on my blog.

The Star Frontiers blog series helped inspire me to complete 5e x 5 Future Characters later during the year. 

In the middle of the year 2017, my MERP Collectors Edition series helped to quench my RMX anger.

Next post

Tomorrow, I might look at some goals that I wrote at the beginning of 2017 and see if there is any inspiration there.

2016 World of the Fifth Sun summary

2016
2015 World of the Fifth Sun summary
2016 World of the Fifth Sun summary

Maps

2016 began where I left off in 2015, with map work. I first produced an Aioskoru Highway map.

I had been working on Aioskoru languages as well, revealing that I had 175 elfin and orcish words in mid January. These words would expand along with Common, Goblin, Dwarf, and Halfling throughout this year in spurts.

In February of 2016 I returned to FAE, which I had paused studying due to RMU the summer before. I considered bidirectional approaches.

In March, my Quick free world maps using GIMP filters and Donjon fractal maps. I used a new technique to make more accurate 3D maps than the prior methods I had tried, using grayscale maps.

I also started my Dice, Cards, and Probability series of posts.

ABS12

In April, I began my A Basic System 12 (ABS12) system creation. I did this to give me a system that I could fool around with different mechanics. The entire series of posts shows my struggles, victories, and problems creating a system from scratch. Although the current system might not be entirely polished nor great, however I think the actual value is within the process posts. It's sort of a journal showing how they came to be.

In late April, I wrote a post that would serve as a basic model to me when comparing different game system attributes. I tried to fit together a Master chart of attribute words used to describe characters and monsters. Attributes, skills, and special gifts

In May, I wrote a post that would influence how I set monsters up for Aioskoru World Guide monster list. In my Looking at OGL stat data: Black Bear eight Open Gaming License (OGL) systems were examined comparing Black Bear stats.

Stories vs RPGs

Also in May, I started the series that would become the book Stories vs RPGs. In it, I compared character approaches, theory, and methods in story writing vs role playing games.

In May, I started my Search for a current fantasy main system. I would post a summary of process, comparisons, and criticism/praise beginning in June's Search for a current fantasy main system Part 1: suggested games and evaluating their samples

In late May, I created my ABS12 Solo Game Engine and Fact Generator.

I wrote a microfiction piece "Bargain for Eternity" at the end of May.

In June I began writing a RPG and Story Scenes. This is a short series that I hope to do more with at a future time.

In June, I started what would become In search of Centaurs using the ABS12 system.

In July, I wrote my Test Played series using the game information that I had gathered in the Search for a current fantasy main system process.

Quick free world maps using GIMP filters and Donjon fractal maps

I released the book Quick free world maps using GIMP filters and Donjon fractal maps on July 4th which included all of my blog post and a few new sections unique only to the book such as how to create the topographical maps and how to alter the biome maps to add new symbols. This was my first RPGNow book listed.

I also created some JAGS content such as some NPC templates, wild west creatures, and a d20 to JAGs conversion.

New Maps w river flow

July also saw my experiment with maps return, with me trying to find a way to figure out rivers quicker. This lead me to experiment with wilbur which resulted the map below which is the area for In Search of Centaurs story in Western Ekouinmanus Kapos.

Fantasy Constructed Languages: Fairy Celestial

In August, I began my Fantasy Constructed Languages series where I try to create a Fairy/Celestial language. Unlike the Common, Goblin, Elf, Orc, Dwarf, and Halfling this would be a constructed language entirely created from the sounds on up to the grammar. This series lets you look into my journey from a blank slate and see how I've created 194 words so far with some grammar rules and sentence structure.

RPGNow Aioskoru and solo game books

I also released the Aioskoru World Guide, ABS12 Flexible Solo Game Engine, Aioskoru OGL maps, ABS 12 Fact Generator, In search of Centaurs, and then Aioskoru World Atlas. Although it may appear that these were created simultaneous, really they had been in the works since late of October of 2015 - most of the work taking place at the end of 2015 in October to December, as mentioned in the last post. They had been on hold for several earlier months of 2016 while I looked into some theory and practiced game design. The Aioskoru World Atlas has some of the river techniques only recently discovered at that time.

I made two YouTube videos for the Aioskoru World Atlas and the Aioskoru World Guide

5e x 5

In September after an agreement with a partner Peter Rudin-Burgess who had created the first region of Aioskoru which he that he named Melos. We created a project named 5e x 5 to convert 5e SRD into a d100 attribute and skill based system.

For two months all other projects went on virtually on hold. Most of my posts at that time concerned either 3.5e or 5e, except one fantasy language post.

At the end of the project, we released the 5e x 5 OGL SRD using a kickstarter like tier system. We did the tier system to help generate contributions even though the actual SRD was PWYW. Keeping the system OGL and free if need be is the spirit of both Aioskoru and 5e x 5.

The motivational draw that I presented for contributors was an unavailable 5e x 5 Modern and Future conversion, which I began in November.

Since then, I've made strides into converting 5e x 5 Modern Characters, Modern Equipment, and recently began Modern Psionics.

For future I have converted 5e x 5 Future Characters, Future Equipment, Future Cybernetics, Future Robots, and recently Future Mecha.

Ezine #1

We released a collection of Peter and my blog posts named 5e x 5 Ezine #1. In addition, for contributors, we offered 5e x 5 Fantasy Weapons & Armor II as a motivational draw to contributors of the ezine.

5e x 5 two-column

We released a two-column version of the 5e x 5 books priced individually or by bundle with some savings.

That two-column version has received background images in the fantasy Character book and in the Spells book. 

In the next post I'll look at the next year and future current goals of World of the Fifth Sun blog. Ken Wickham

ABS12: Ranged Weapons

I'm going to try modifying this chart for use with ranged weapons for the time being.

Movement Speed - Difficulty - Target numbers - Range for spells
0 - Very Easy - 3 - 10 ft or 3 m
1 - Easy - 6 - 20 ft or 6 m
2 - Moderate - 9 - 30 ft or 9 m
3 - Hard - 12 - 40 ft or 12 m
4 - Very Hard - 15 - 50 ft or 15 m
5 - Impossible - 18 - 60 ft or 18 m

Ranged Target Number Multiplier
Use the chart above except multiply the ft or m distance by the modifier for the appropriate weapon.

net x 0.25 

dagger x 1 
handaxe
light hammer
shortspear
dart
trident
shuriken
bola

blowgun x 1.5

javelin x 2
sling
handcrossbow

light crossbow x 4
shortbow

longbow x 10

ABS12: Movement Speed

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

For movement speed, I think the best way to use the speed is to separate the original speed for the species at EL 0. I'll attach the movement speed

Humanoid Speed.
Humanoid speed I will set at 1.
Looking at the chart below, that means that humanoids can move 30 ft per turn.

The current formula for standard movement will be.
20ft/turn + (10ft/turn x original description speed modifier).

Running or Sprinting
Running faster is up to x2 movement speed unless something else slowing the character.

Combine Movement Speed with difficulty and range chart
Movement Speed - Difficulty - Target numbers - Range for spells & movement
-1 - Very Easy - 3 - 10 ft or 3 m
0 - Easy - 6 - 20 ft or 6 m
1 - Moderate - 9 - 30 ft or 9 m
2 - Hard - 12 - 40 ft or 12 m
3 - Very Hard - 15 - 50 ft or 15 m
4 - Impossible - 18 - 60 ft or 18 m


A Basic System 12 (ABS12)

ABS12: Money, Friends, & Gear

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

I don't want to introduce micromanaging gear.

This means that I am not planning on creating an economy for gear and items. Rather I will focus on what helps the character to accomplish the story.

Vague & Fuzzy Gear
The game is based on what is good or appropriate for the story. Descriptions should somewhat indicate what kind of wealth, status, friends, organizations, relationships, contacts, housing, vehicles/mounts, equipment, and tools that the character possesses.

By not focusing on gear and people, I'm hoping that players can focus more on the stories.

How to use vague gear to increase tension in the story
Bad situation rolls can mean something goes terribly wrong with the gear. Maybe the gear is faulty, inadequate, insufficient, or is accidentally dropped into a precarious location. Good situations rolls can sometimes mean that the equipment performs better than normal, more precise, and is more than adequate.

Special Items
Having said that many much of the standard gear and tools are contained in the description, I believe that special items are important in many stories.

For special items, record the details together with the other character special verb actions. In a sense, while they posses such item, that gear becomes a very important part of the character. Loosing such item can be traumatic for the character. A piece of equipment or item that acts like powers might be listed with the powers including a noun to indicate that that power is limited to that specific item.

How does one know the Properties of the Player's Character Description 'gear'?
What about normal vague gear and relationships that is included in the description of the character. And how do you determine when supplies are low or gone, broken, or insufficient? That is where the situation roll comes in. If you have arrows and are firing them, one interpretation of rolling up a 'No', 'No, however', or 'No, also' are that maybe the arrows are getting low or that several are broken. If rolling one of these 'No's rolls up about using a rope, maybe it's short or beginning to break. If you are looking for information and a 'No' is rolled, maybe the contact relationship is shaky or something is wrong.

The story and situation dictates what the roles might mean. A player can even use the fact generator to find clues into what a bad situation means.

Researched Games

Fate
Characters have stuff appropriate for their Aspect.
Fate uses a similar method.
Extras that influence the story are aspects.
Extras that create new context for actions are skills.
Extras that make skills more awesome are stunts.
Extras that can be harmed have stress and consequences.

Risus
Cliche's include powers, abilities, tools, and equipment for standard for that cliche.
Tools of the Trade can be lost or damaged. Roll with half dice if that happens.

Risus Companion treats special equipment as extra dice generally, once per scene, or once per session.

FU
All characters have appropriate gear for their concept, setting, and story. It includes clothing, weapons, armor, tools, mounts, and vehicles. Gear is made up of an adjective and a noun like 'long rope' Gear modifies 'beat the odds' type rolls. The character begins with two of them. They can be lost, broken, or stolen. Props are items that don't improve the chance of success.

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)

Two New Pay What You Want products on RPGNow

I took two of my free products and put it into PDF form. They have more minimal advertisement, are portable, and very flexible.

Now available on RPGNow as Pay-what-you-want

ABS12 Flexible Solo Game Engine v 1.0

ABS12 Flexible Solo Game Engine v1.0

This is a flexible solo game engine that is meant to take the place of a Gamemaster (GM) for answering questions or finding the results of modified rolls. A chart with results for 1D6, 1d8, Fate, Fudge, 1D10, 1D12, 2D6, 3D6, 1D20, 4D6 JAGS, and 1D100 systems is included. It makes it a versatile game engine.

Suggested Price $0.99

Pay-What-You-Want

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/190270/ABS12-Flexible-Solo-Game-Engine-v-10

Aioskoru World Guide v 1.3

Aioskoru World Guide

This is my collection of some basic information for the world of Aioskoru. Aioskoru is an Open Gaming License OGL world. I use this world in my ABS12 Solo Gaming stories and map technique book and posts.

Included in the book are some names of regions as well as some naming vocabulary. Also suggested measurements for direction, time, distance, and weight are given. A collection of biome and animal locations is suggested. About 60+ universal or popular creatures are suggested with references to RM and HARP page numbers and D20 SRD and PFSRD websites.

Suggested Price $1

Pay-What-You-Want

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/190255/Aioskoru-World-Guide 

Any donations would be appreaciated.

ABS12: Action Speed

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

Looking at a few different variable systems, I think I want to try something relatively simple. By using Speed/5 I am guessing that the normal range will end up.

With EL = 1 to 12 and bonuses equaling 1 to 3 so far ( with some plans to maybe go to 6 or 7

Speed 1 to 5 = 1 action
Speed 6 to 10 = 2 actions
Speed 11 to 15 = 3 actions
Speed 16 to 20 == 4 actions

Speed
Speed is the speed of a character used for initiative, action speed, and movement which if no bonus is shown then there is no bonus. Receiving a speed bonus from special verb actions depends on the situation. If a character has fly 3, then the 3 speed for flying only applies if they are flying.

Speed = 1 + EL + speed bonus for description + speed bonus for special verb actions if the situation fits the bonus.

Action Speed

Action Speed is based on the characters speed for that EL. It represents how fast that they act and how many times. It is the number of actions the character can do

Action Speed = Speed/5 rounded up

Movement
I'll work on distance another day.

None of the creatures in the system have had their speeds changed to reflect these changes. I'll have to spend time to change them in the future.

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)

Index of my blog

ABS12: Healing

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

I looked over many systems. Realistic games heal slower. Most fantasy games heal in one day. Cinematic games heal after each scene.

Because of that I'll implement a scaling system with 3 levels into ABS12.

Natural Healing Rate
How quickly a character recovers depends on the type of game being played.

Healing rates 
Realistic = 1 Life per day
Standard = Restore all life with full sleep
Cinematic = Restore life after each scene


My Research Notes
For D20 related games

Hit points are based on character classes  which assigns a hit dice and modified by constitution stat and/or magic. Race modifies constitution occasionally. A creature size determines their hit dice. Level determines the number of hit dice and modifier multiplier.

5e

Looking at 5e, healing can takes place quickly by magic for instant healing through a power or potion. Short rests can be used to spend hit dice to recover hit points by rolling + con modifier. Long rests can recover hit dice. 8 hours of resting can restore all of the hit dice spent.

3.5e

Different than 5e, characters recover 1 hp/level after 8 hrs of rest.

Basic Fantasy RPG

Recovers 1HP/ 6 hours of sleep - CON modifier. If fully bed rest, add +1 HP recovered.

Dungeon World

Make Camp move recovers half of your total HP amount.

Recovery move recovers all of your total HP amount after a full day of rest.

Fantasy Craft
Vitality is based on one's class + CON modifier.

A regular character looses all accumulated damage at the end of a scene.
A special character regains 1 vitality per career level per hour of rest & 1 vitality per day.
Mend check (DR: 15) heals 2d6 damage.

Other Games

Barbarians of Lemuria

Hit points are based on 10 + STR. After 10 to 15 min rest, heal half. After that, 1 HP/day.

Action!
A character's Life (LIF) equals three times Health (HLT) plus two times Will (WIL).

Wounds
Superficial 1xHLT
Light Wound 2xHLT
Serious Wound 3xHLT
Critical Wound 4xHLT
Fatal Wound 5xHLT

Action! uses three levels of healing depending on the type of game being played. Realistic mode has it's three types of healing as hour for stunning, week for lethal, and month for special damage. Cinematic mode has minute for stunning, day for lethal, and week for special damage. Extreme mode has turn for stunning, day for lethal, and day for special damage.

Fate
Each character has by default 2 physical stress and 2 mental stress with values of 1point and 2point. They also have 3 consequence slots: mild, moderate, and severe. Physique adds physical stress boxes with higher values. Will adds mental stress boxes with higher values.Both can add an additional mild consequence at superb rating.

At the end of the conflict after taking a breath, all stress return to their original states.
Mild consequences recover in one scene. Moderate consequences recover in one session. Severe consequences recover in one scenario.

D6
Cumulating Wounds. Two wounded. One Neutralized. One Mortally Wounded.

Strength roll
Wounded: 3 days rest, roll.
Wounded twice: 3 days rest, roll.
Neutralized: 2 weeks rest, roll.
Mortally Wounded: 1 month rest, roll.

D6 has an optional localized wound system. It's a 2d6 roll. With head, neck, eyes, ears, arms, legs, torso, heart, and ribcage results and states.

D100
Hit points equals (Size+Constitution)/2. Races may modify SIZ and CON. Major wounds equals HP/2.

Minor injuries CON/4 HP/24 hours
Major Wound must do a healing test & recover 1 HP/day

TriStatdX
Health points equals (Body+Soul)*5.
Recovery is the amount of the Body stat per day.

Risus
Cliche dice regained at the end of combat at a healing rate determined by the GM.

PDQ
Recover all ranks if not in danger.
Recover 1d6 ranks if still in danger. GM decides when to recover additional ranks.

USR
Hits equals Action die + Wits die.

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)
Index of my blog

Aioskoru part 5 : "For Sickness or Work"

Tools Used
Aioskoru website
Aioskoru Adventure seeds
ABS12 System

Here are the stats for my two main characters. I've changed Madi's powers to the new magic system.

Madi the amateur magic user is PL1.

Species

Life

Spd

Def

Def Type

BP

Damage

D Type

Mag

Sc/Tc

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

Magic User

2

2

3

Cloth

2

1d12/6

Staff

4

2

Destroy

1d12/6

2

Fire

2 range

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

BP

Verb

Adj/Adv

Cost

2

Trap/Close

2 duration

2

Organic substance Web

2 range

15

Andelin the amateur fighter is PL1

Fighter

4

3

6

Plate

4

1d12/3

Sword

2

Rescue

2

2

Tracking/hunting

2

15

Madi = 4 EP

Andelin = 6 EP

Before I start, I want to test the new experience points for the two characters for the prior two scenes.

EP per Scene Goal reached - scene 1 - make a deal
Madi - scene 4 = yes
Andelin - scene 4 = yes

Character true to it's concept
Madi - scene 4 = yes
Andelin - scene 4 = unknown

Conflict with opposition

Madi - scene 4 = yes

Andelin - scene 4 = yes

New Awareness about something important

Madi - scene 4 = yes

Andelin - scene 4 = unknown

Total EP for "Emotional Plea"

Madi = 4 + 4 EP = 8  EP

Andelin = 6 + 2 EP = 8 EP

Powers
I have also redone the powers into 4 powers (2 verbs and 2 nouns): destroy, trap/close, fire, and organic substance - web. The damage 

Continued from this Aioskoru Story Series
Aioskoru part 1 : "Wild Horses"
Aioskoru part 2 : "Friendly Centaur"
Aioskoru part 3 : Experience Points award
Aioskoru part 4 : "Emotional Plea"
Aioskoru part 5 : "For Sickness or Work"


"For Sickness or Work"

By Ken Wickham

Copyright © 2016

The scent of the incense filled the centaur village.

Outside of their homes, centaurs had returned to their homes, each lit up an incense stick in some sort of funeral ritual.

He had heard from a few humans that Madi and he were lucky that the centaur would bring their request up to the elders. Although several before them had begged and pleaded, the centaur's hadn't considered those people's offers so kindly.

"You must have said something right," one of the older human's said. He looked strong despite his age. Maybe because of the constant work from his sentence.

"Yes. Maybe so," Andelin said, not wanting to mention the war with the scorpion centaurs.

[Do the elders come to speak today? This is another plot escalating roll, this time at -3. Roll = 3 - 3 =  0; No, also ...
2, Touch, 4, Smooth
10, character quality; 9 personality
Something about personality and smooth, I'll discard the smooth part and try something else]

[I'll also roll for a story idea for the first time. 9+10 = 19

1. Daring - a bold leader sets out to obtain an object from or to fight against a powerful adversary.

I'll say that whatever killed that centaur - maybe after coming in contact with a contagious illness or disease which causes personality change before death -  requires obtaining an object, a substance, to help heal. The centaur village is upset over this and it has recently spread to several more.]

 While working later that evening, Andelin overheard from several that the illness is spreading.

Andelin kept sweeping the cobblestone floor, pretending as if he wasn't hearing anything important.

"You missed a spot over here," point one of the muscular centaurs towards the doorway. Andelin turned towards them and quickly hurried over to the spot.

The other continued. " They say he behaved crazy before it overtook him. They think that a root which grows in the clefts may cure the disease."

Andelin finished sweeping, looked off in the distance to see Madi weaving with several other people. He quickly finished sweeping the area, dumped the waste into a pile outside, and made his way to her.

She did not have a happy face at the moment. Andelin began to sweep around near her. He felt like he was doing something wrong, although he had to mention what he had learned - to warn her.

"Madi," he whispered, though he continued to focus on picking up dirt, straw, and clumps of mud on the stone below him.

He could see out of the corner of his eye her head turn to look at him. She then returned to weaving. "Anything new, " she whispered back.

"Just to let you know, there is a sickness going around."

"That's bad."

"Keep quiet about it."

"Okay."

He coughed and then moved off to sweep in other spots along the cobblestone path.

[Another plot based roll at -2. Do they come the next day? 10-2 = 8; Yes, however they want the two to help out and substance to help cure the disease as a test]

The next day, one of the centaurs came down the path calling out his name. It was Nefron. Andelin moved towards the centaur. His face wasn't smiling as it had since their capture and journey here.

He spoke with a unusually serious expression. "The elders are ready to see you."

Maybe they had a chance.



The gray hair and maned elders - about a dozen - stood in front of them at some distance, four guards armed between them. Some were studhes (studs) and some were markoes (mares). A few of them seemed uncomfortable, some even not looking at him directly.

"Leader Theda has informed us that you have a request." spoke one of the elder stud, who held a long staff which seemed to lean on to help keep his upper torso erect.

Andelin quickly spoke before Madi, " Yes. We have offered instead of serving our sentence helping to maintain the feed to serve it in a common defense with the humans against the scorpion centaurs."

Immediately many of the elders began to speak with each other. Andelin couldn't hear what they were saying.

Andelin rubbed his face and temples trying to ease the slight pain that throbbed in his head.

"Why should we trust fighting with you? How do we know that we can trust you?"

Andelin knew that they had to give them a reason to trust them. He was slightly unsure of what to say. His muddled thoughts went back to last evening overhearing the guards.

He took a deep breath and hoped for a good response. "We can help you find the root to cure the disease that is spreading among you. That can be a test of our intention."

A few of the centaurs that wouldn't look at him before now turned and looked towards him.

They spoke among themselves slower this time and without as much argument occasionally glancing at either him or Madi.

"Maybe they will give me my use of powers," Madi whispered to him.

He just nodded back. He wasn't really concerned with powers, but having her powers back would help if they were to find the root.

The answer came quick enough. The quickness of response took his breath away.

"Very well," the main elder said

A few moments went by and they seemed to discuss more details. One of them walked off down the hall and disappeared.

Nefron and Kado, they motioned forward. Nefron and Madi's centaur walked forward. They joined into the discussion. Kado seemed to shake his head often. He would look towards Madi and seemed to argue more.

Madi seemed to shrink back at his stare.

Soon all of them were nodding in agreement.

"Nefron and Kado will continue to be your escort while under sentence." With that Andelin saw Nefron elbow the other, Kado in the side. Kado somewhat snared at Nefron, who halfway grinned.

"My powers?" Madi asked.

The leader of the elders said a name he couldn't hear and motioned over one of the elder mares over who had a long smooth thin blue torso robe.

After a briefly conversing with each other, she made her way towards Madi.

She said a few things to her. Madi noded once in agreement.

The centaur mare began to mutter words while circling her hands in the air - almost like she was holding something. Silver speckles seemed to materialize in the air. Andelin slightly dropped his jaw and watched wide-eyed. She seemed to scope the sparkles from the air and pulled it to her lips.

Then she motioned her to come to her. She grabbed her by the shoulders, said a few words to Madi and then pulled her towards her and kissed her upon the forehead. The sparkles seemed to move and transfer to Madi's forehead and briefly should a glowing lip mark.

Soon they both smiled and the lady centaur went back to the group of elders.

"She did not give a full blessing. Her blessing is temporary this time. You will have three days to get the roots or the power use will cease once again in our lands."

Another elder who had disappeared earlier stepped forward bringing forth a parchment.

"This is what the root that we are looking for looks like. It grows in a cliff area from the derman bush. We haven't been able to get any since several scorpion centaurs took over that region of our border."

Andelin studied the drawings intently. He noticed the leaf patter, the shape of the bush and the various features, and even the coloring which had been painted on the image.

"Where are the cliffs located?" Madi said.

"Nefron and Kado know the region and will take you there. How well you four get along and successfully achieve getting the root will determine how much we will trust you. Ten bags of roots will be needed for now and in the future."

"Our weapons?" Andelin asked.

"They will be given to you as soon as you are outside the village."

[To be continued]

ABS12: updated intro with overall game summary and purpose, verb actions, and preview of future graphics version

All the changes from this page will be added to the complete master game page at A Basic System 12 (ABS12).

Purpose of the game
Overview
No other players are needed for this game. It is built with a solo game system where you ask a question, roll, add or subtract modifiers if needed, and check a chart for the answer. You can also use the game without the solo components.

This is a single die linear system, with one stat. Skill proficiency are defined by Descriptions.

Purpose of the game
The purpose of the game is to break away from the normal boredom, pains, and worries of life by having a character go through a story, explore stuff, do neat things, and to have an adventure. It does so by allowing you to play a character that receives answers obtained at least partially by a random number.

Also I will be adding this to the Verb Action section as a brief summary before listing the details.

Summary of the Verb Actions
Initiative - used to figure out who goes first
Unskilled verb - used for actions that are done unskilled
Skilled verb - used for actions done skillfully
Special verb - used for special actions indicated within one's description
Combat verb - used to attack or defend against another
Combat damage - used to figure out the reduction of life

Power action - used for actions that use powers

Working with a graphics version
I've started making a basic graphics version of the game for myself. It's something that I want to do for layout practice. I may post it up to RPGNow in the future if I can get everything looking good enough for an amateur RPG release. Maybe I'll do a 'pay what you want' release so that followers can contribute if they wish.

But I want that version to be at least be in beta quality. Tested to the point where I'm comfortable with the overall system.

A Basic System 12 (ABS12)
Index of my blog