by Michael Baumann | Dec 31, 2014 | Foci
Magic pervades the world. The animals, plants, even the very air resonates with it. Most people are blithely unaware, but not you. You were born with second sight and when you concentrate you can see how wondrous – and dangerous – the world really is. You may wish to keep your power secret. The ignorant equate conjuring with witchcraft, but this is not the case. Your powers are rooted in the living world, not some pact with an infernal being. This focus is best suited for a Paradox, though a Spinner or Vector conjurer would be an interesting combination. With a few tweaks it could be used for a shaman or witch doctor. Tier 1: Second Sight (2 Intellect points). You can see magical forces invisible to the normal eye. This includes spirits, ghosts and creatures using magical abilities to remain unseen. You can determine the level of the creature as well. You may also detect the aftereffect of spells cast up to an hour ago (although details of precisely what spell was cast remain sketchy). Your second sight extends to an area of short range and lasts 10 minutes (about enough time to search the area well). Action to initiate. Secrets of the Other World. You are trained in Occult and Herbalist. Tier 2: Spirit Guide (3 Intellect points). You can call upon the aid of a spirit guide. The player should decide what form his guide takes (human or animal). It is invisible to those without second sight, although the PC may always see it. The guide is intelligent and while it may not speak, it...
by walrusabove | Dec 27, 2014 | Foci
See page 115 of Ryan Chaddock Game’s “The Translation Codex”
by walrusabove | Dec 27, 2014 | Foci
Page 114 of Ryan Chaddock Game’s “The Translation Codex”
by Michael Baumann | Dec 27, 2014 | Foci
Your mother never spoke much of your father. She was young and naïve. He seduced her and she succumbed. Nine months later you were born. But you are no ordinary child born out of wedlock, for your father was a vampire making you a most rare creature: a dhampir. While you are mortal and have nothing to fear from holy symbols or the light of the sun, you do have a foot in your father’s world and are slowly discovering how to master your talents. Your unruly raven tresses, slightly pointed ears and unnatural grace mark you as something different, so watch your step. Few men understand the distinction between your kind and the living dead. Tier 1: Blood Drinker. You may bite an opponent in combat (treat as a light weapon). If your victim is human (or humanoid in some recursions) you may drink its blood, healing yourself 1 point of damage for every 2 inflicted. Enabler. Night Vision. You can see in extremely dim light as if it were bright light. You can see in total darkness as if it were extremely dim. Enabler. Calling of the Grave. You are trained in vampire lore. Enabler. Tier 2: Blood Frenzy (2 Might points). Your lust for blood turns you into a killing machine. You gain +1 to your Might and Speed edge for 10 minutes. Enabler. Tier 3: Allure of the Night. You are trained in seduction. Resist Compulsion. You are trained in Intellect defense. Sense Undead (2 Intellect points). You can scan an area out to short range for the presence of undead....
by Michael Baumann | Dec 26, 2014 | Foci
Most people fear the dark and with good reason. Creatures stalk the night, hungry for the blood of the living. In the dim, morning light the bodies are found; a man torn limb from limb, or a young girl drained of blood. The townsfolk shudder and mumble about raising a hunting party to track down the “wolves” or “mountain lion” responsible for the killings. They quietly bury the bodies and then return to their homes, praying to god they will not be the next victims. But you know the truth. Vampires, lycanthropes and even more terrible things lurk on the edges of civilization waiting for their chance to devour the innocent. These things are not unstoppable. You’ve learned their secrets and now the hunters have become the hunted. This focus is designed for Gothic Horror recursions with “classic” monsters such as werewolves and vampires. It can be re-skinned in a fantasy setting for most any type of monster. It could even be used as a “Big Game Hunter” in a standard physics recursion with a little work. You must choose a “class” of monsters you hunt. The GM is the final arbiter on what a “class” of monsters includes. It should not be too narrow in focus. For example, Undead might include vampires, skeletons, zombies and other corporeal types of undead. Tier 1: Vulnerabilities. You inflict 3 additional points of damage against the class of monster you hunt. Enabler. Know Thy Enemy. You are trained in lore relating to the class of monster you hunt. Enabler. Tier 2: Sense Ambush. You are never treated as surprised by an...
by Michael Baumann | Dec 26, 2014 | Foci
You hold strongly to your principles and most people respect you for this. You are more than capable of defending yourself. You spend long hours honing your skill in the salle d’armes and look forward to testing yourself on the field of honor. Some may whisper that you are hot-tempered and itching for a fight, but they are wrong. Honor is paramount, without it we would be little more than beasts. This focus is designed for dueling cultures of the sixteenth through eighteenth century. It would also be appropriate for Old Mars or similar Planetary Romance recursions. It can be re-skinned to a Samurai focus by replacing references to dueling swords with katana and wakizashi. It can also be used as a martial artist focus by replacing references to dueling swords with punches and kicks. Tier 1: Duelist. You gain +2 damage with your rapier or smallsword. Enabler. Lightning Reflexes. You are trained in Initiative. Enabler. Tier 2: Web of Steel. You are nearly impossible to hit. You are trained in Speed defense rolls when wielding a dueling sword. Enabler. Tier 3: Riposte (3 Speed points). If you succeed in defending against a melee attack, you may immediately launch a counter attack against your foe. You may not put effort into this attack, but any special abilities (such as duelist) will function normally. Enabler. Tier 4: Seasoned Fencer. You are trained in using dueling weapons. If already trained in Light Piercing melee weapons, you become specialized instead. Tier 5: Bladesman. You gain +2 damage with your rapier or smallsword. This bonus adds to the one from Duelist, giving...
