ABS12: Basic Fact Generator
ABS12 Solo Game Engine: Additionals, Branching, & Conditionals
ABS12: Synonyms for writing using the ABS12 Solo Game Engine
Testing the ABS12 Solo Engine and Fact Generator
ABS12: Story Engine
ABS12: Drama Escalator
ABS: Solo Gaming Engine - flexible version It contains 1d6, 1d8, Fate, Fudge, 1d10, 1d12, 2d6, 3d6, 1d20, 4d6 JAGS, and 1d100 columns and modifiers.
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| Picture I made after the story was written. A collage of three images. In the actual story, Dwima has one elven blade not two |
In this session, I want to try planning to test the skill, combat, solo engine, and fact generator all together if possible to see how they work so far. All of them can be found in the ABS12 gaming system.
In the last test I tried a PL1 fighter vs PL1 fighter. In this one I will try a PL1 fighter with a PL0 encounter.
I will set up the game story first. Each step I will show the work of how those ideas were created. Then I will start the story. When I need a decision I'll use the solo game system. For ideas and story, I'll use the fact generator. For combat I'll use the ABS12 combat system.
After the game detailed story I will do an analysis of the game system and story results.
I will end by cleaning up the story and presenting a more readable first draft of the story with minimal editing. This should be easier to read. But first I begin with the story framework.
Genre: I want to this to be a fighter character in a fantasy setting.
Characters:
Dwima the elven fighter PL1
| Fighter | 1 | 1 | Lf 4 | Sp 5 | Def 6 | 1d12/3 | Sword | Rescue+2 | 1 | Speed | 3 |
a grunt orc fighter PL0
| Fighter | 0 | 0 | Lf 0.5 | Sp 1 | Def 4 | 1d12/3 | Sword | Rescue +2 | 0 | Fighting | 0 | Speed | 0 |
Roll for Scene Location
Rolling for setting seeds using the fact generator.
I'll roll 4 and see if it's enough.
1d12 = 3 = Taste; 1d12 = 12 = Suck
1d12 = 12 = Description; 1d12 = 7 = Small
1d12 = 4 = Hear; 1d12 = 12 = Background
1d12 = 3 = Taste; 1d12 = 12 = Sweet
To me these two words fit togheter like tasting a sweet fruit. Small, Sweet
And these means hearing something in the distance. Suck, Background
I roll one more time to clearify.
1d12 = 8 = Time; 1d12 = 1 = Stop
Scene Setting
Okay, the scene is that Dwima is outside in an orchard tasting a sweet fruit - a golden juicy peach - when in the short distance he hears the sound of an orc sucking loudly on peaches coming down the rows of peach trees. That sound stops him immediately and he will go into action.
Note on the orc language
When the orc speaks, I will use some of the orc vocabulary and grammar that I made for Aioskoru several months ago, which will be unreadable to others. That is until I publish that orc dictionary sometime in the future.
It was beyond delicious.
The sweat nectar of the morian golden peach dripped down the sides of Dwima's mouth as he slowly and carefully took bites from the delicious golden goodness.
It filled his stomach and helped ease the hunger pains that he had been experiencing the last few days during the long hot days of crossing the eastern wasteland. Days when all he saw was grey barren flatland sprinkled with burnt oases.
This is most likely the best food I have ever tasted.
He felt his spirits lifted and having nearly lost his sanity.
"Vinun ka ava kiut kokorov," said a deep gurgled voice, just over the crest of the small rolling orchard hill.
[Does Dwima recognized the orc voice words in his hunger? -2 Somewhat Unlikely in his starved state; 1d12 = 4 - 2 = 2; No, also > Not only does he not recognize the orc's words in his hunger + ]
[Rolling twice for other negative seeds. 5 = Scent, 6 = Woody; 8 = Time, 8 = Old; Old + Woody scent > The scent of the old peach tree orchard wood distracts him as well]
The sweet taste and euphoria that the peach together with the old woody peach tree aroma overtook Dwima's mind.
"This is the best place ever," he shouted and began a dance around amount the fruit trees."
It reminded him of last year's harvest feast, among the myrtle trees.
[The young orc heard the shout and chooses to attack the distracted and slightly insane elf Dwima.
The orc is at an advantage due to the distraction. 1d12 = 5, 1d12 = 6, the 6 is higher.
Offensive roll 1d12 + PL + DL + PL Damage roll
Orc Offensive roll 6 + 0 + 0 (3/3) = 7
Defensive roll 1d12 + PL Defense
Dwima is at a disadvantage due to being distracted.
1d12 = 4, 1d12 = 11, the 4 is lower
Dwima Defensive roll 4 + 6 = 10
The orc's roll is only half way of the possible results - not very good, despite having an advantage.
In addition, the damage portion isn't very good - only 1 out of 4. So obviously, the orc didn't attack well and the situation wasn't great
I roll a quick single time to help explain why.
1d12 = 6 = Think, 1d12 = 8 = Observe
Think, Observe > I interpret this then that the young orc is so focused at hitting the elf that it forgets to to watch it's step.
It does hit Dwima because the 6 exceeded the 4 situation and 2 more skill, but the plate armor easily protected Dwima - only 1 damage to the 4 armor.]
Dwima brought the peach up to -.
He felt his armor jolt in a violent chorus. His plate armor rang out like frantic bell ringer. The shock of the blast temporarily shook him causing him to loose his breath for a moment. He shook his head to clear his head and gasped to gulp in some air. He turned his head to see the stone grey features of an orc trying to regain balance.
Removing his long elven blade, he prepared to fight back.
The scent of wood receded as Dwima squinted and sized up his would be assailant.
"You son of a troll," he brought sword sideways in an arc.
[1d12 = 9 + 1 + 1 + (1d12=3/3) = 12 attack roll
1d12 = 9 + 4 = 13 defense]
Despite his well place blow, it wasn't enough to penetrate the black stinking plate armor.
[I'm going to drop narration and continue when something happens, focusing on major battle events.
Orc attack 5 + (10/3) = 8
Dwima defense 10 + 6 = 16
Dwima attack 6 + 2 + (5/3) = 9
Orc defense 6 + 4 = 10
Orc attack 5 + (8/3) = 8
Dwima defense 2 + 6 = 8]
After several clash of blades, the orc thrust at his throat.
Dwima panicked and barely was able to turn, to avoid possible death.
The orc was grinning a ghastly smile, fangs dripping with saliva.
His grip slightly trembled. Taking a deep breath of the air, he tried to regain his focus on the annoying grey beast in front of him.
[Dwima 11 + 2 + (8/3) = 15
Orc 6 + 4 = 10
15 - 10 = 5 > 4 = Spectacular success
Orc Life 0.5 - 5 = Dead
Spectacular Success + Kill!]
Dwima jumped forward, swinging his blade before the orc could respond.
He felt his blade crunch into the side of orc's head.
The orc's smile and grin froze. Slowly its face muscles slackened.
He yanked the blade from the skull, and the orc fell to the ground.
The trembling in his hands, briefly gone for that moment, returned.
He dropped his blade and fell to the ground.
[6 = Think, 3 = Apply, what does Diwam learn from this experience?]
I need to be more careful.
That old woody scent now felt threatening.
Sitting under the peach tree looking up, he saw one of the peaches drop towards him.
Reaching up, he caught it with one hand.
He held the peach in the air strong and steady. His trembling had dissipated.
Sitting up, looking over the peach briefly, he bit into the peach enjoying and replenishing his strength.
The peaches are good, but not that good.
After he gathered what was valuable from the orc and eating several more peaches.
He stared at a map that he found in the orc's pack. The map showed nearby village locations. Strange orcish markings wrote notes across the map. He tensed his stomach as he saw red ink arrows pointing towards the various villages.
A desperate need to answer questions entered his mind.
What was this orc doing? Do they plan on attacking the villages?
And have they already done so?
He looked in the direction of one of the marked villages. He could make out the river on the map in the distance.
Dwima gathered his gear and headed down the hill towards closest village near the distant river.
Analysis of the Tools
The tools performed pretty well, I think.
It takes me a while to write the bracket material. At first I felt the need to write everything out even the little details to explain the process. As time went by, I created more shorthand form.
The entire setting was a surprise. I added details to try to add significance to orchard.
I figured Dwima would fail, but not by that much. When he did, it forced me to explain how he would be caught totally off guard. That's why I fished for another clue and got the woody scent. So that became my explanation for why he was even more distracted.
The battle, I thought he would take down the orc quicker.
I sort of like how the orc almost hit Dwima.
For more effect, I added my own detail of the 'trembling hands' to help shed a little light on his uncertainty and near broken spirit.
Amazingly the next action was an overwhelming success, which received one of the new rules that I added after last test, the spectacular success. I checked to make sure it was a kill, which at PL 0 is 0.5 Life because they haven't received training yet (I don't think I've updated that in the core book yet). Any damage would have killed this orc.
I one more time and got the think-apply which was a great reminder for Dwima to be more careful and apply what he has learned.
For the rest of the scene I added my own interpretation and wanted to end on a somewhat contrasting and returning back to the beginning with the peach.
I wanted to end the scene with a little bad news - the orc's map. That way the story would have fuel to continue.
Main concern
Mechanic wise, I don't like rolling against myself during combat. It slightly feels like I am fighting myself. I will search out a method to help reduce this feeling.
"Peaches and Blades"
a scene by Ken Wickham
Copyright © 2016
It was beyond delicious.
The sweat nectar of the morian golden peach dripped down the sides of Dwima's mouth as he slowly and carefully took bites from the delicious golden goodness.
It filled his stomach and helped ease the hunger pains that he had been experiencing the last few days during the long hot days of crossing the eastern wasteland. Days when all he saw was grey barren flatland sprinkled with burnt oases.
This is most likely the best food I have ever tasted.
He felt his spirits lifted and having nearly lost his sanity.
"Vinun ka ava kiut kokorov," said a deep gurgled voice, just over the crest of the small rolling orchard hill.
The sweet taste and euphoria that the peach together with the old woody peach tree aroma overtook Dwima's mind.
"This is the best place ever," he shouted and began a dance around amount the fruit trees."
It reminded him of last year's harvest feast, among the myrtle trees.
Dwima brought the peach up to -.
He felt his armor jolt in a violent chorus. His plate armor rang out like frantic bell ringer. The shock of the blast temporarily shook him causing him to loose his breath for a moment. He shook his head to clear his head and gasped to gulp in some air. He turned his head to see the stone grey features of an orc trying to regain balance.
Removing his long elven blade, he prepared to fight back.
The scent of wood receded as Dwima squinted and sized up his would be assailant.
"You son of a troll," he brought sword sideways in an arc.
After several clash of blades, the orc thrust at his throat.
Dwima panicked and barely was able to turn, to avoid possible death.
The orc was grinning a ghastly smile, fangs dripping with saliva.
His grip slightly trembled. Taking a deep breath of the air, he tried to regain his focus on the annoying grey beast in front of him.
He felt his blade crunch into the side of orc's head.
The orc's smile and grin froze. Slowly its face muscles slackened.
He yanked the blade from the skull, and the orc fell to the ground.
The trembling in his hands, briefly gone for that moment, returned.
He dropped his blade and fell to the ground.
I need to be more careful.
That old woody scent now felt threatening.
Sitting under the peach tree looking up, he saw one of the peaches drop towards him.
Reaching up, he caught it with one hand.
He held the peach in the air strong and steady. His trembling had dissipated.
Sitting up, looking over the peach briefly, he bit into the peach enjoying and replenishing his strength.
The peaches are good, but not that good.
After he gathered what was valuable from the orc and eating several more peaches.
He stared at a map that he found in the orc's pack. The map showed nearby village locations. Strange orcish markings wrote notes across the map. He tensed his stomach as he saw red ink arrows pointing towards the various villages.
A desperate need to answer questions entered his mind.
What was this orc doing? Do they plan on attacking the villages?
And have they already done so?
He looked in the direction of one of the marked villages. He could make out the river on the map in the distance.
Dwima gathered his gear and headed down the hill towards closest village near the distant river.
