diff --git a/.vscode/ltex.dictionary.en-US.txt b/.vscode/ltex.dictionary.en-US.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de04183 --- /dev/null +++ b/.vscode/ltex.dictionary.en-US.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Auslaufer +fortner diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json deleted file mode 100644 index 1d34c0b..0000000 --- a/.vscode/settings.json +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12 +0,0 @@ -{ - "cSpell.words": [ - "Demonfish", - "Gameplay", - "permadeath", - "roleplay", - "timeskip" - ], - "cSpell.ignoreWords": [ - "TTRPG" - ] -} \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/notes-and-comments.txt b/notes-and-comments.txt index 7dc5ff4..9e315b0 100644 --- a/notes-and-comments.txt +++ b/notes-and-comments.txt @@ -59,3 +59,32 @@ Possible Missions: I need to fix the README.md +--- + +critical hits may grant extras other than double damage + + +--- + +..."tier" is the german word for "animal". It's also ironically a physically tiered mountain. + +## Ancient Artifacts and Global Impact + +...Should artifacts have grades? + +...artifacts are sold overseas, and the most powerful ones can tip the balance of nations + +...aubade's don't exist, right? + + +# dis gud, yas? +Fortner = gatekeeper +Auslaufer = foothills +Tier = Animal + + + + + +:warning: **Attention:** +:memo: **Developer Note:** diff --git a/playtest_notes/playtest_001.txt b/playtest_notes/playtest_001.txt index de059fb..bcd2325 100644 --- a/playtest_notes/playtest_001.txt +++ b/playtest_notes/playtest_001.txt @@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ - + notes and stumbles: triangular skill costs diff --git a/rules.md b/rules.md index 0a7e64c..de4bb31 100644 --- a/rules.md +++ b/rules.md @@ -1,48 +1,37 @@ # Introduction -...Hey Reader! Any line that begins with three dots, like this one, is a "comment" that does not impact the rules; these are just left here as references for later. I've also included "developer's notes" sections, which are more commentary regarding the design process - these are open for feedback, along with the rules and prose. +:warning: **Attention:** Hey Reader! Any line that begins like this, is a "comment" that does not impact the rules; these are just left here as references for later. I've also included :memo: **Developer Notes**, which are more like commentary regarding the design process - these are open for feedback, along with the rules and prose. -...The core gameplay of this game utilizes a d20 system, where certain dice are rolled to determine the outcome of various actions taken by the players. +:warning: **Attention:** The core gameplay of this game utilizes a d20 system, where certain dice are rolled to determine the outcome of various actions taken by the players. -...table of contents, eventually - it would be really neat if there was a WORKING EXTENSION FOR THIS!!! :/ +:warning: **Attention:** a table of contents will go here, eventually - it would be really neat if there was a markdown extension for this :/ # The Setting -This game's world is focused primarily on a sacred mountain, known as Tier, and the surrounding areas. Jutting out of an otherwise largely flat landscape, the mountain can be seen clearly from a great distance in all directions. This has given rise to many myths and legends centered on the mountain, and has attracted people to climb it for thousands of years. +This game's world is centered around Tier, the sacred mountain, and the surrounding areas. Jutting out of an otherwise flat landscape, the mountain can be seen clearly from great distances in all directions. This has given rise to many myths and legends centered on the mountain, and has attracted people seeking to climb it for thousands of years. -The history of the mountain is long and varied; the oldest known tales liken it to a great beast that emerged from the oceans, and walked to its current position before falling asleep. Other, more credible stories tell of ancient and powerful artifacts left behind by long-forgotten kingdoms; some of these artifacts are believed to be so powerful, that they may tip the balance of power between nations across the continent. +The history of the mountain is long and varied; the oldest known tales liken it to a great beast that emerged from the oceans, walking to its current position before falling asleep. Other, more credible stories tell of ancient and powerful artifacts from long-forgotten kingdoms buried deep within; some of these artifacts are believed to be so powerful, that they may tip the balance of power between nations. -Many people try to climb the mountain, and as such the city of Base Valley formed at its foot, which houses the Mountaineer's Guild - an administrative organization that licenses climbers, and handles the processing and sale of recovered artifacts. It is from here that your game begins. +Over time Auslaufer, the city of the Great Valley, formed at the mountain's foot; it now houses a thriving culture dedicated to exploring and exploiting the mountain. Foremost among them is the Mountaineer's Guild - an administrative group that licenses climbers, and handles the processing and sale of recovered artifacts. + +It is from here that your game begins. ## Tier, the Sacred Mountain -..."tier" is the german word for "animal". It's also ironically a physically tiered mountain. +The mountain's slopes are traditionally divided into seven distinct areas, known as tiers. These are: -...physical/visual description of the mountain +* [Auslaufer, The City of The Great Valley](#auslaufer-the-city-of-the-great-valley) +* [1st tier - Foothills and Forests](#foothills-and-forests) +* [2nd tier - Dotted Caves](#dotted-caves) +* [3rd tier - Gambler's Bluff](#gamblers-bluff) +* [4th tier - Mycelia Jungles](#mycelia-jungles) +* [5th tier - Kingdom of Failures](#kingdom-of-failures) +* [6th tier - Frigid Plateau](#frigid-plateau) +* [7th tier - Chained Apex](#chained-apex) -The mountain's slopes are traditionally divided into seven distinct regions, known as tiers. These are: +## Auslaufer, The City of the Great Valley -[1st tier - Foothills and Forests](#foothills-and-forests) -[2nd tier - Dotted Caves](#dotted-caves) -[3rd tier - Gambler's Bluff](#gamblers-bluff) -[4th tier - Mycelium Jungles](#mycelium-jungles) -[5th tier - Kingdom of Failures](#kingdom-of-failures) -[6th tier - Frigid Plateau](#frigid-plateau) -[7th tier - Chained Apex](#chained-apex) - -## Base Valley - -...This is the city at the base of the mountain - -...Should also detail the tiers here? - -## Ancient Artifacts and Global Impact - -...Should artifacts have grades? - -...artifacts are sold overseas, and the most powerful ones can tip the balance of nations - -...aubade's don't exist, right? +TODO: This is the city at the base of the mountain - fill out it's details ## Foothills and Forests @@ -50,29 +39,47 @@ A dense, but navigable forest that covers the lowest parts of the ascent. The fl ## Dotted Caves -A series of natural and unnatural cuts into the mountain can be found here. The first caves mark the beginning of this tier, but the forest cover continues until the Gambler's Bluff. The cave systems have yet to be fully explored and mapped due to the dangerous fauna and precarious terrain within. The river that feeds the city below seemingly originates from inside. The name comes from the unusual rocks of this tier, which appear speckled or "dotted". +A series of natural and unnatural cuts into the mountain can be found here. The first caves mark the beginning of the second tier, while the forests of the first continues until the base of the Gambler's Bluff. + +The cave systems have yet to be fully explored and mapped due to the dangerous fauna and precarious terrain within; the river that feeds the city below seemingly originates from inside. The name comes from the unusual rock and stone of this tier, which bear an apparent speckled or "dotted" pattern. ## Gambler's Bluff -...replace the killer pigeons joke +A sheer cliff face with grips and handholds no larger than your fingertips. It's covered in narrow tunnels, sometimes called "pigeonholes", which have been dug into the rock face by large birds called fortner. -A sheer cliff face with grips no larger than your fingertips. It's covered in "pigeon holes", which have been dug by giant killer pigeons, among other things. Choosing the right burrow to rest in is important, because choosing the wrong one will kill you. Many of the burrows can be traversed, and there are unexplored caves within. No known connection to the previous tier has been found. +Choosing the right tunnel to rest in is important, because choosing an occupied one will result in being rudely ejected by the nesting fortner, and an early demise; hence the name of this tier. -## Mycelium Jungles +Many of the tunnels can be traversed, and there are seems to be an unexplored network of caves within, but no known connection to the lower tier has yet been found. -A vast array of fungi cover this tier, some of which are large enough and strong enough to act as platforms, jutting out above the void beyond the cliff face. Many creatures adapted to the high altitudes can be found here, some of them being endemic to the mountain. +## Mycelia Jungles + +A vast array of fungi and other plant matter covers this tier, some of which is strong enough to act as support structures, jutting out above the void beyond the receding cliff face. As a result, the livable area of the jungles are much larger than one would initially expect. + +Many creatures endemic to the mountain have evolved to thrive in this high altitude ecosystem. While it's possible to consume some of the more benign fungi here, the environment is just as likely to consume you in return. + +A word of warning: care must be taken not to become infected; there are recorded instances of climbers who, after reaching this tier and returning to the valley, were totally unaware that their horrific latticework bodies were in any way unusual. ## Kingdom of Failures -Above the jungle, higher than any could expect, lies the ruined remains of past civilizations; at least three distinct architectural styles have been identified. Among these ruins live small bands of climbers who, for one reason or another, have failed to ascend any further and can't or won't descend the sheer bluff below. Subsisting off materials gathered from the jungle, these bands are in constant conflict over the powerful and abundant artifacts found here. +Above the jungles, higher than any could expect, lies the dilapidated remains of past civilizations, seemingly built into and on top of each other, in a dense network of twisting rooms, corridors and bridges. At least three distinct architectural styles have been identified, with an unknown number of others having been scrapped for building materials. + +Among these ruins live small bands of climbers who, for one reason or another, can't or won't ascend any further up the mountain. Subsisting on materials grown here or gathered from lower tiers, these groups of people are often at odds with each other, as they race to find the powerful artifacts that fill these halls in abundance. ## Frigid Plateau -The top two layers of the mountain remain hidden in clouds at all times - this seemingly unnatural phenomenon also prevents climbers from returning from this point. The only information we've been able to recover comes from messages thrown from high above, by the few brave - or suicidal - souls that enter. Reports say that the already cold air becomes frigid, and snow is piled high among the cloudy gusts. The only notable features can be found at the very top, where a flat surface - reportedly as smooth as ice - stretches "forever". +The top two tiers of the mountain remain hidden in cloud cover at all times; this seemingly unnatural phenomenon also prevents climbers from returning from beyond this point. The only information we've been able to ascertain comes from written messages secured within rocket-like projectiles, and fired over the cloud barrier by the few brave - or suicidal - souls that enter. + +Reports say that the already cold air becomes frigid, plant life becomes scarce and feeble, and snow drifts may hide deep crevasses that swallow people whole. + +The most notable feature of this tier has only a few reliable accounts dating back centuries - it seems as though the very top of the mountain has been shorn off, as if by a sharp razor - the exposed rock is smooth to the touch, and seems to extend from one side of the mountain to the other. ## Chained Apex -Visibility on the plateau is nearly non-existent, but for those few that wander here, they may be lucky enough to encounter the "chains"; massive constructs reaching into the heavens, with each link as thick as an elephant. The exact number of chains is unknown, as is their purpose here - however they appear to be embedded several links deep into the rock below. The biggest mystery of all, however, is what they are attached to - while attempts at climbing them have been made, no reports of their success or failure has ever reached us. +Visibility on the plateau is poor to non-existent due to the snow storms, but for those few that wander here, they may be lucky enough to find the chains - massive metallic constructs resembling a link chain, with one end reaching into the heavens, and the other embedded into the rock below. + +Estimates put the width of each link at roughly equal to an elephant, and it is clear to any who observe that they do in fact shift their positions, as though whatever they tether is drifting with the winds. + +While attempts at climbing them have reportedly been made, no news of their success or failure has ever reached us. # Character Creation