There seems to be a certain sense of indiscriminate labeling applied to online character based games and Role Playing Games of yore which, admittedly, share a lot of similarities, but are fundamentally quite different experiences. Granted, a lot of online RPGs derive their inspiration and content directly from pencil and dice based RPGs, but the difference I'm talking about has more to do with the experiencing of gaming, not the game itself. I personally think that it is misleading to label these games as RPGs for the simple reason that by definition, you MUST actually be engaged in Role Playing. Simply selecting a character class then acting like every other jackass who use the veil of anonymity to engage in infantile name calling does not qualify a game as an RPG. As any experienced RPGer knows, playing a character well involves making decisions in the game world from the perspective of the character. To do this well requires the complete engagement of a player's imagination. It is this complete dissociation of the imagination which separates old school RPGs from their digital equivalents. It's as if by explicitly depicting the game world, a player's imagination is stifled. At the very least, imagination is homogenized. Until this disconnect is addressed in current virtual game environments, the experience will always be a pale imitation of what our imagination's can conjure up.

Those who have measured the distance between expectation and reality.

Ceux qui ont mesuré la distance entre l'espérance et la réalité.

Over the years, my RPG group has sampled the entire genre of classic RPG games ranging from Paranoia to Warhammer10K. Three systems we always find ourselves returning to are Earthdawn, ShadowRun 3rd Edition, and Torg. These systems represent the pinnacle of the RPG experience. Whether it's the immersive world stories and plot lines, the technical mechanics of representing dramatic action, the scalability in play for increasingly capable characters, or the engagement of players in telling their own stories in the context of the game, these systems epitomize the true nature of RPGs. All that needs to be said about the quality of these games can be summarized by one simple fact - they are imminently replayable. How may games can you say that about?

Instead of subjecting ourselves to YAGS (yet another gaming system), we decided to create a fusion of these existing games. This will hopefully bring together all of the best elements from the individual gaming systems to create an familiar, yet engaging whole. It is assumed that groups that wish to apply these rules have access to source material from all of the three gaming systems mentioned above.

The base story line is that from ShadowRun 2050. The rise of magic and the return of the Halley's comet provide key points to inject themes from Torg and Earthdawn into the near future at the confluence of magic and technology.

New Rules

1. There is a disconnect in SR between attributes and skills which impacts the probability of a success test.This does not make the distinction between aptitude (represented by attributes) versus skills.The changes below address some of the shortcomings of the 3rd edition rules.
   • certain game aspects will be changed to reflect the that skills are based on attributes. The failuretarget number for skills based on the attribute is equal to 6 - attribute value to a minimum of 1. Failures always take precedent over successes. For example a character with an attribute of 1 will result in the skill failure threshold of 5 or less regardless of the standard success target number.
   • the number of true failures (1 on a d6) that can be ignored on a skill role is based on 1/4 of the skill. In essence, there is a balance between the skill (in terms of the number of true failures that can be ignored) and the base aptitude (the failure threshold). While increasing aptitude (the attribute) reduces the threshold of failure, skill limits the amount of mistakes that can be made, but does not remove the possibility of failure.
   • BOD
     • for every two points of this attribute add 1 additional box to the physical damage monitor.
     • 1/3 of the BOD attribute shifts the damage levels by its value. For example, a BOD attribute of 8 will result in the following physical damage monitor: xxLxxMxxSxxxDx
     • this results in 2 additional boxes before L damage is felt. It also means that a character with a BOD of 8 can take D damage without going unconscious as well as having an additional box before going into overflow.
   • STR
     • 1/3 of the STR attribute can be used for recoil compensation.
   • DEX
     • 1/3 of the DEX attribute is used to determine the number of physical distance attack successes to target a character to a minimum of 1. For example, a character with a dexterity of 6 would require 2 successes to damage successfully.
   • INT
     • 1/3 of the INT attribute can be used to cancel Dump Shock damage associated with a single action.
   • WIL
     • for every two points of this attribute add 1 additional box to the stun damage monitor.
     • 1/3 of the WIL attribute shifts the stun damage levels by its value. See the BOD attribute.
     • 1/3 of the WIL attribute is used to determine the number of magical attack successes required totarget a character to a minimum of 1. For example, a character with a willpower of 9 would require 3 successes to damage successfully.
   • CHA
     • 1/3 of the CHA attribute is used to determine the number of social interaction successes required to target the character.
   • MAGIC
     • 1/3 of the MAGIC attribute can be used to cancel drain boxes associated with a single magical action. For example, a character with a MAGIC attribute of 6 can ignore 2 boxes of drain. When casting a spell with Medium drain, the amount of actual drain taken is 1 box (3 - 2) or Light. This allows highly magical beings to ignore drain in proportion to their magic rating.
     • (physical adepts only) 1/3 of the MAGIC attribute determines the power level of certain powers. The adept is only responsible for purchasing the base power. Its effectiveness is inheritly linked to the adepts magic / initiate level.
     • (MAGIC - 6) = the number of metamagical techniques a character can possess.
     • (MAGIC - 6)/2 = technological healing modifier. Magical creatures are more difficult to heal with purely technological means. This modifier does not apply to magical healing methods.
   • ESSENCE
     • (ESSENCE - 6)/2 = social interaction test modifier. Characters that are heavily modified by cybernetics have lower emotional affect which hinders social interaction
     • (ESSENCE - 6)/2 = magical healing modifier. Characters with extensive cybernetics are more difficult to heal by magical means. This does modifier does not apply to technological healing methods.
2. Current dice mechanics measure only successes and not failures. Going forward all roles will require measure successful roles against true failures (1 on a d6). Any true failures must be subtracted from any rolled successes to determine the net result of the test. For example if the standard target number of 4 results in a roll of 1,2,4,4,6 the net result is 3 successes - 1 failure = 2 successes.

3. Karma pools remain the same, but their usage is as follows: Karma can no longer be used to buy successes. They can only be used to augment dice rolls. They cannot be used for rerolls. They can be used to cancel dice failures (1 on a d6), but not gain unrolled successes. The corollary is that your karma pool can only increase and NOT decrease. Increasing your karma pool requires using accumulated karma points to increase the pool at a cost of karma equal to the next level.

   There are no more group karma pools. Karma points refresh at the end of every session.

4. Skill concentrations will be used as following: For every 2 points in a skill, a single concentration can be chosen. There are no more separate build/repair skills, only the build repair concentration. This removes the skill tree proliferation that has handicapped 3rd edition rules. Using skills with the correct concentration allows the character to role against standard success target numbers. Using the skill without the correct concentration will require achieving a good success for a test. This also reduces the maximum staging offset by 1.

   As well as determining the number of dice rolled, a skill also determines the number of true failures that can be disregarded on a single roll. 1/4 of the skill level can be used to disregard true failures (1 on a d6). For example, a skill of 8 when roled will allow for 2 true failures to be ignored.

5. Target numbers will be modified for difficulty following ED rules. There will be failure, average, good, excellent, and extraordinary success target numbers. The highest roled dice determines the success level. For every success level achieved, the staging number of the role is increased by 1. For example, an attack that does 9M damage will a single good success will result in 10M damage. Additional successes will power level will increase. For example, two average successes for an attack that does 9M damage will result in 9S damage.

   Failures result when there are no rolls resulting in successes, but the number of true failures (1 on a d6) exceed 1/4 of the attribute on which the skill is based. For example, if a skill of 6 based on an attribute value of 4 results in a roll of 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3 when a standard target number of 4 is required for the role will result in 3 failures (1 true failures + 2 standard failures based on 6-4=2).

   A catastrophic failure results when the skill dice roled results in more true failures (1 on a d6) than 1/2 of the base attribute. For example, if the skill roll instead resulted in 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3 this would have resulted in 4 failures (2 true failures + 2 standard failures). Since the attribute base is 4, this would have resulted in a catastrophic failure.

   A standard failure results in a minor inconvenience (i.e. a gun jam). A catastrophic failure will result in something more dramatic (i.e. such as your ammo exploding resulting in damage). This is usually a good time to use a karma point to reduce the number of true failures.

   Using karma to offset roles results in a double edged sword. As well as providing more opportunity to increasing the role effect, it also increases the possibility of true failures. Karma usage becomes more unpredictable which reflects the uncertainty introduced by relying on magic. Only experience can mitigate the risks associated with using karma.

6. Initiative is to be determined using the Drama Deck. Only one standard action is allowed per round, unless modified by the Drama Deck. Speed and defensive/offensive capability is now better reflected in a character's attributes.

7. Magical or technological enhancement of the attribute does NOT affect the base attribute modifiers. They are considered externalities and already have requisite benefits associated with their use. The only caveat is for physical adepts who use their magic points to improve their attributes. These bonuses affect the underlying attribute which affect the base attribute modifiers.

8. Essence can be improved like any other attribute. This allows for healing and social interaction bonuses as well as to recovering Essence Loss associated with the removal of cyberware. This also allows magical characters to install cyberware by offsetting any loss in their magic rating.

9. Knowledge skills and contacts can only be improved through role playing.

10. The Drama Deck will be used to enhance various aspects of the game:

    • as per Torg, characters will start out with 5 cards which they must activate by placing into their pool. One card per initiative turn is allowed.
    • each skill bonus can be applied to a single die result. Multiple cards can be used either on a single die result or to affect multiple dice (with one card per die).
    • the attribute bonuses correspond as follows:
      • BOD - Toughness
      • DEX - Dexterity
      • STR - Strength
      • CHA - Charisma
      • INT - Perception
      • WIL - Mind
      • MAGIC - Spirit
    • alertness cards function without modification.
    • haste cards allow for an additional action within a round.
    • master plan cards function without modification.
    • seize initiative cards function without modification.
    • hero cards can be used to re-roll ALL failed dice or cancel one true failure (1 on a d6). They can also be used to counteract an opponent fails card. Keeping this card till the end of the session increases the karma reward by 1 as well.
    • opponent fails cards function without modification.
    • rally works without modification. All stun damage is removed.
    • second chance works without modification.
    • connection allows a character to develop a contact.
    • idea works without modification.
    • glory : use of this card in conjuction with an extraordinary success will also shift the damage level to D. Keeping this card till the end of the session increases the karma reward by 3 as well.
    • monologue works without modification.
    • campaign works without modification.
    • coup de grace : shifts the base damage level of an attack by 1 damage level. An attack with a base of S can be shifted to a base of D.
    • romance works without modification. Can be submitted for 1 additional karma point reward if unused.
    • martyr : why change this at all?
    • mistaken identity : ditto
    • true identity : ditto
    • personal stake : ditto
    • nemesis : ditto
    • suspicion : ditto
    • drama : can be used like a hero card or redeemed for 3 karma points at the end of an adventure.
    • leadership works without modification
    • supporter works without modification
    • escape : probably shouldn't allow this, but oh well ...
    • hero fails : no deck is complete without this. Can be redeemed (if used in a session) for 3 karma points.
    • research works without modification
    • quest works without modification
    • super hero : roll twice and take the best result or use it like a hero card.
    • second wind : ignore stun penalties for this round only
    • resolve : add an additional success to any WIL based action for this round.
    • breakthrough : use any unskilled skill without penalties
    • new hope : roleplay a round of inspirational speech. All players that can trade cards are inspired.
    • plunder works without modification
    • fate : replace as many cards from the deck as you have discarded
    • murphy's law : like hero fail's but worse. The bright side is its worth 4 karma points if used.
    • retrospection : cannot be played in combat. After a round of meditation, you can replace this card with another card in the Discard Stack.
    • desperation : all players can put their cards into their pools.
    • clone : this card duplicates the affect of one card already in the pool.
    • reckoning : bonus applies to a single opponent and only until the end of an event/scene.
    • defiance : bonus applies to a single opponent and only until the end of an event/scene.
    • repair : works for 1 round

    Card actions work as follows:

    • Fatigue : add L Stun Damage (this is not compensated for by WIL bonuses)
    • Inspiration : remove L Stun Damage
    • Up : re-roll all failed dice
    • Flurry : get another action this round
    • Setback : lose your action this round, if completing a task lose one level of success
    • Stymied : lose your action this round
    • Breaks : lose one success for every action taken this round.
    • Confused : if completing a task, you cannot make progress this round

    As per Torg, approved actions will allow the character to draw another card from the drama deck. At the end of a session, players can only have a maximum of 5 cards in their hand. Excess cards MUST be discarded.

11. We will be starting at the beginning of the know ShadowRun universe. SOTA will be factored into the game time line as your characters progress through the adventures. This means that all characters start off with only the base equipment allowable for SR3 2050 characters. This also means that as SOTA becomes a factor, older gear will begin to loose its effectiveness. Your characters will also have age affect their attributes.

12. Spells will NOT have rating levels. The force/power of the spell is to be determined by the caster. This should simplify magic immensely. The distinction/bonuses for hermetic versus shamanic magicians still apply.

13. Building gear. The appropriate build/repair skill will allow construction/customization of gear. Custom built gear will have the same stats as the manufactured stuff, but will have a reliability rating as well. This factor will be based on the following formula:

    (manufactured cost)/2 
    ---------------------
         custom cost
    

    This means that a custom solution can be as reliable as the manufactured one if the component cost is equal to half the cost of the original. Using inferior components reduces reliability. If the custom component cost is equal to only 1/4 of the original cost, the component will be twice as likely to fail. Reliability mechanics to be determined. This also means that for riggers, repairing their droids should be feasible (assuming there is enough left to salvage).

14. As per ED, skill advancement requires successful use of a skill at the current level. Attributes can be improved whenever (assuming you have the karma points to spend).

15. Reputation will also factor into the game. The Karma Point total will be used to measure character reputation. This will have both positive and negative impacts on character interaction with in-game personalities and will affect game mechanics such as availability. The reputation system mechanics to be determined.

This is a work in progress. Obviously, play testing will reveal any flaws with these rules. Changes will be published as these deficiencies are discovered. Feel free to comment on these rule changes or make additional suggestions.

DM Rules

1. Talent Linking. Two or more characters can collaborate to perform a task together assuming that both characters possess the skill. In this circumstance, task resolution is accomplished as follows:

   • the highest skill level is used for the test.
   • additional characters reduce the possibility of failure. Instead of adding skill to the test, additional characters can use their allotment of failures to ensure that the test succeeds.
   • if the test allows the use of karma pools, additional characters can add dice to the test equal to the number of failure dice that can be canceled by the skill level of the character.
   • the success level can be used to determine the effect. If the task is time sensitive,standard success is accomplished without any time bonuses. A good success results in accomplishing the task in 1/3 the time. An excellent success results in the task taking only 1/2 the time. An extraordinary success results in the tasks taking 1/4 of the time.
   • additional characters can use cards in their pool

2. Magic. There are some missing ED corollaries that need to be addressed in ShadowRun.

   • Matrices. There must be a progression from casting raw magic to using artifacts to filter astral energy to the use of matrices. The ideal of warping can easily be reflected in additional physical drain that characters must take when casting in a corrupt area. The use of the matrix artifact removes this "lethal astral feedback" from the spell caster. The use of matrices will be limited to magical initiates with the initiate allocating one of his/her metamagical technique slots to be able to access this ability. The number of matrices is equal to 1/3 the Spellcasting skill.

   • Conjuring. There must be limitations placed on current conjuring techniques. The act of conjuring binds the astral construct to the conjurer. This is reflected by Magic Pool dice being allocated to conjured spirits with 1 Magic Pool dice per level being used while the spirit remains bound to the conjurer. While this Magic Pool dice is associated with the spirit it CANNOT be used to augment Magic rolls. Not all of the Magic Pool must be used this way. Unallocated Magic Pool dice functions as normal. For example a character wil 6 Magic Pool dice that conjures a level 3 spirit allocates 3 dice from his pool while the spirit remains bound to him. The remaining Magic pool dice can be used normally. The 3 Magic Pool dice return to the character's Magic Pool when the spirit has returned to the astral plain it was conjured from.

     This now provides a method to create Free Spirits (or Familiars). By permanently giving Magic Pool dice to an astral construct, it becomes self empowered.

   • Enchanting. To be determined.

3. Opposed resolution. There are situations which are tedious to resolve using the current ruleset which can be easily resolved through the use of the Drama Deck using the following mechanism:

   both parties declare their objectives. The first party to complete all of their actions(A, B, C, D) wins the their desired outcome.

   For example, a car chase results between the players and local law enforcement. The character's objective is to escape the coppers and the coppers objective is to catch the players. This situation can be resolved using this mechanism. The characters escape when they complete all of their action sequences before the cops do.

4. Karma effects in an evolving magical world. Like Earthdawn, Karma can be used to represent a character's innate magical nature. World events which change the nature of magic can manifest in game play by modifying Karma behavior. For example, using Karma near magically active sites can result in different Karma behavior. Using magic near a Ley Line may result in Karma dice never resulting in failures (even on a 1).

   This also allows for magical attacks which affect the use of Karma. Cursed Luck can take a player's highest roll and turn it into a 1. Corrupt Karma can prevent Karma from being used on an action. Various ED karma modifiers can be used to supplement SR3 to provide a more magical feel to the game.

5. Convergent Torg storylines. That FASA meant to introduce the Scourage and the coming of the Horrors, there can be no doubt. The problem lies in the implementation of these details.Torg provides a great framework to meld SR3 / ED themes without upsetting the game universe dramatically.

   • As well as Church dogma to proclaim the validity of the metahuman soul, church elements begin to embrace technology as a source of salvation. This leads to the formation of a modern Cyberpapal state with Magic taking on the role of "miracles". The search for a spiritual machine results in the birthing of a "moral" AI (Gabriel).

   • The astral bridge to signal the beginning of the Scourage is halted temporarily, but minions of powerful Named Horrors managed to gain a foot hold in this world. When they realize that technology played a factor in repelling their advances, they create technodemon constructs to augment their power and provide insight into this tool. A negative astral cascade sweeps SoCAL and transforms it into Tharkhold. This fits in with Saito succession of Japanese authority and creating a nation state.

   • The Atlantean Foundation spurred on by the discovery of the pyramids on Mars manages to create an astral gateway to contact the last of the Therans. The Space Gods arrive as a call to their answers. With their return, will they look to re-establish the dominance of 3rd world Thera. A twist on this could be that the Incan Gold looted by the Spanish was in fact Orichulum. The geoglyphs of Nazca and Palpa are the traces of the magical glyphs that took the Therans from this world to the next.

   • Aztechnology and their penchant for blood magic seems like a natural fit for Orrosh. We can develop the story line to transform Aztlan nto the first bastion of the Horror foothold in SR3. Given its proximity to SoCAL and the transformation of the adjacent L.A into Tharkholdu, this makes a lot of sense as the Horrors experiment with high technology in a separate realm. Think HellRaiser meets the Cube. This could also explain the strange similarity between Space God/Theran magical methods (and their use of the pyramid).

   • Aysle can manifest in the Tir nations. The heavy reliance on magic due to the high availability of magical sources such as ley lines makes this a natural fit. By introducing a continuum between the technological and the magical, we will have the ability to adjust magic use depending on the game context. This can play well against the Eleven Schism which manifests between Tir Tairngire and Tir Nan Og. This can be the the parallel between Sereathea and the Wyrm Wood. Once the encroaching Horrors target Aylse strong holds due to their attraction to the high mana available in these zones, perhaps the Alichia will reinvoke the Ritual of Thorns.

   • The Nile Empire fits in well with idea that "Egypt" is analogous to Creana. Although Weird Science has no SR3 analogue, I think that if approached with the technomagic bent (such as personal force fields powered with Karma), this might be doable. Ra can be transformed into one of the Great Dragons which is late to the party (or All-wings herself).

   • Nippon Tech I think suites the intrigue posed by the Yakuza/Seoulpa Rings/Triads. With their penchant for cloak and dagger maneuverings, this would be a good fit. I suggest that the 227 plot line be attempts for either biological or cybernetic cloning (which in SR3 falls into the realm of cybermancy). The surreptitious acquisition of technology from competitors plus the alchemical philosophers stone (i.e. Orichulum) allows the transfer of human consciousness to an autonomous technological body.

   • The only problems I have are with the Living Land / Land Below cosms which I think violate base SR3 idioms. If these are left out, I think that most of the Torg world is well preserved that the general feel can pervade the campaign.

6. Convergent ED storylines. There were a number of world storylines in ED which remained unresolved. These themes could provide a wealth of adventure possibilities in SR3.

   • The Ever Living Flower. Some of the SR3 adventures touch upon this, but do not go into any further detail. This could be a good introduction to magical theory regarding Immortality, elves on the Path of Lords, and the power of True Naming. This could lead in to magical means of enchanting mundane items and create an interesting mechanic for the game.

   • Aardelea and the Drakes. The appearance of drakes in close temporal proximity to extended periods of elevated Mana suggests that Great Dragons are still relying on the Ritual of Blue Spirits to create their servants. Perhaps a genetic marker exists in the descendants of Aardelea which through exposure to high mana sources forces a latent transformation.

   • The Books of Harrow. As I mentioned previously, I think that artifacts from previous eras could prognosticate the return of the Scourage. Perhaps the Sphinx in Eygpt is Jaron himself and the Ritual of Awakening can coax some tidbits of information from him.

   • The Orichulum Wars. I think the manifestation of Orichulum in SR3 provide ample opportunity to introduce the theme of War on a Global scale to SR3. As well as allowing for closer technological and magical integration, it becomes the currency of the new era.

   • Kaers. With the discovery of the Books of Harrow, preparations begin to secure humanity against the onslaught. Although there are those who believe that the Scourge can still be avoided, the prudent begin construction of Kaers; this time with the help of technology. Think Saeder Krupp Prime.

   • The rise of Magic. The warning by ancestor spirits of the coming Scourage points to the development of Nethermancy. Prior to this, Elementalism, Wizardry, and Illusionism were well represented in SR3. This would be a new magical focus which manifests in SR3. At first, those who are practitioners are hunted down until it becomes understood that Nethermancy is not the practice of the Dark Arts, but the study of the magic use of the Horrors. This could dovetail nicely with the rise of the Cyberpapacy and their war on Heretical Nethermancers.

   • The Power of Naming. This could have the biggest effect on the use of persistent magic in SR3. Like ED, it is not enough that something is inherently magical because of its construction or materials, but through its use becomes empowered. This could mesh well with the Torg cosm artifacts in terms of the Karma/Possibilities. Mechanics to be determined at some future date.

As with the general rules, comments are welcome.