Easy Online RPG rules

[Visitor Q]

Thought these rules I designed might help any online GM's out there.


General Online RPG rules

Basically these are some very simple rules for any GM. They are designed first to be useable in any genre and second be very simple.

Attributes

Representing physical and mental prowess.

Health
Representing a combination of stamina, resilience to illness and disease and general fitness levels. To an extent represents toughness. Also used when running long distances

Strength
Strength of an individual. To an extent represents toughness. Also used when sprinting

Reflexes
How nimble and generally well balanced a person is as well as hand eye co-ordination.
Also used for starting times when running.

Intelligence
A mixture of intelligence and knowledge. Also used when mental agility is needed.

Charisma
The presentation of confidence and the ability to lead. Also used in situations where charm or humour is required

Willpower.
Personal mental fortitude. Also used in a system which uses magic or psychic abilities.


These attributes range from -2 to 5. -2 would be severely impaired to the point of some physical or mental handicap (-1 by comparison is merely unfit or generally lacking in practice of that attribute)
5 is exceptional, A truly legendary figure. The average human will have 0 in most stats with perhaps one stat at 1 or 2.

Some creatures may go above 5 but these are truly unique (daemons etc)

Skills
Skills work in a similar way to attributes but are far more specific
Skills can range from cooking to quick draw, to nerves of steel, to carpentry.

Skills are rated on a scale of -2 to 5. Most people are 0 at a skill. -1 or -2 represents severe incompetence or being unable to understand the concept involved. (a medieval scholar trying to work a PC for example)

Actions

Ok so we have our skills and attributes. How do we use them. Basically the success or failure of an action or the damage done in the case of combat is resolved by a single d20 dice roll modified by any relevant attributes or skills. (You can at a pinch get away with 2D1


D20 roll
Action
-2 or worse Disaster! Critical failure with dire results
-1-0-Critical failure
1-3-Faliure.
4-5 Failure with possible marginal success
6-8-Marginal success
9-12 Competent success
12-14 Proficient success
14-17 Excellent success (Critical)
18- Outstanding success (Critical)
19-Legendary success (Critical)
20 or better Godlike success (Major critical)

Critical success and failure will give some bonus or penalty next round (typically up to a +3 bonus). A major critical or failure is similar but with even more profound results (+6 bonus). The exact nature of the bonus is up to the GM however and may effect the Player that turn

Damage
-2 or worse-Critical failure + no damage
-1-0-No Damage
1-3- No damage (superficial damage)
4-5-Minor damage(surface damage)
6-8-Damaged (Structural damage)
9-12 Heavy damage (Significant damage)
12-14 Severe damage (Major damage)
14-17-Destruction (Severe damage/destruction)
18-Destruction (Destruction)
19-Destruction (Destruction)
20 or better- Complete destruction ( catastrophic Destruction)

The words in brackets are for vehicles and buildings. Remember that for very large buildings (or vehicles) the area damaged may not represent the whole, so you can destroy several sections of a building.

Additional factors can also effect the success or failure of an action or the damage caused.

Natural action (an action natural to that species, for example sitting down, walking normally, eating)
+6
Note you cannot critically succeed with natural actions (though you can critically fail)

Mundane action (an action very obvious to the species but may involve some minimal effort for example running, picking up an object, talking )
+2


Difficult action (a fairly straight forward action but one which requires some minimal level of skill driving, performing an action in a normal sport, operating a basic computer, firing a gun).
-1

Complex (a complex action that requires immense concentration or skill for example surgery, gymnastics, molecular biology)
-5


Other factors both positive and negative can include the following (the actual bonus is up to the GM)


Nervous
-1

Experienced
+1
(Note that there is a difference between being experienced and being skilled. Basically the same difference between being trained and doing it naturally.)

Last minute.
-1

Adverse weather
-1

Severe weather
-2

Comfortable (good equipment, familiar environment)
+1

Preparation
+1

Focused (including aiming a weapon)
+1

Light cover
-1

Heavy cover
-2

Average targeter
+1

Respected
+1

Loyal followers
+1



So as an example Jack is trying to shoot someone with pistol

Jack has got 0 Reflexes but is skilled with pistol weaponry (+1) but it is a difficult action (-1) which cancels it out.

He rolls the D20 and gets 12= Competent success


Other factors might include

Unmaintained weapon -1
Light cover-1
Moving target-1
Close range+1

This would bring the roll down to 10=competent success

A competent success in this case would probably include something like a solid body shot (GM’s discretion)


Rolling on damage I give this type of pistol +5

Other factors might include light armour (-1) and targets toughness (health and strength which ever is higher 0 for both)

Jack rolls a 4= Minor damage
+ 5 for the pistol type but -1 for the armour bringing the total to 8=damage

Its up to the GM to decide what exactly has happened but the target is probably fairly badly injured but still able to act.

[dr_nick22]

Cool So, did you make the rules yourself, or is it an existing system/based off an existing system?

[Visitor Q]

Originally Posted by dr_nick22

Cool So, did you make the rules yourself, or is it an existing system/based off an existing system?

I was thinking of a way of introducing an easy rules system for online play by post RPing, then during a particularly boring Land Law lecture it came to me.....

[Sammy the Squib]

Excellent thread Visitor Q *stickied*

I've been interested in RPGs for a while, and after my exams finish I might look a bit further into it. For now though, these will definitely help

Ciao

Stonehambey