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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

OOC General D20 and Tabletop RPG Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'Role Playing Resource' started by LightWarden, Mar 5, 2005.

  1. LightWarden

    LightWarden Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 2001
    Hello folks, welcome to the thread. You can probably ignore what's below this line as this thread sort of stood up on its own awkward legs. Basically treat this as a thread to talk about various tabletop dice games. Don't take the presence of Star Wars and D&D to be the only things here, it's about whatever you're willing to work up the effort to explain to others (though admittedly some systems such as Dread won't be of much use in PbP).


    Okay, sorry for the previous topic, I didn't quite make myself clear. That was an attempt at conversation... it didn't quite work.

    Well, the point was to test the waters to see if anyone in this forum was interested in playing a Star Wars d20 game... in this forum. I wasn't sure if you preferred playing without dice, so that was supposed to be a quick poll to see if anyone had the books, before I followed through with a question about anyone wanting to play.

    So, the question:
    Would anyone here be interested in playing a game of Star Wars D20? I'm interested in playing, or Gamemastering, but I would like to know if anyone else is interested.

    Several possible eras:

    Old Republic: Pre-prequels, maybe the Sith Wars, Great Hyperspace War, Knights of the Old Republic, etc.
    Rise of the Empire: the Prequels, the Clone Wars
    Rebellion Era: Need I describe?
    Return of the Republic: Post RotJ, mopping up the Remenant, dealing with the second coming, etc.
    New Rebulic-New Jedi Order
    Other- AU, Post NJO, whatever...

    And there's plenty of options:

    Good/Bad/Fringe/Neutral Guys

    Very low/low/middle/high/very high level (although I don't think it's actually possible to exist as a very high level character, there just isn't much to do...)

    This is a polling for interest in players or maybe even a GM. I'm willing to do either, and although I'm not as experienced, I've been Gamemastering Star Wars for about a year, and playing D&D for about half a year before that. I have a good library of books, both RPG and just Star Wars. I'm a fan, but that's kind of a given around here, and I'm sure there are others more solid in their fandom than I.

    So, anyone interested?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 13, 2023
  2. Mr_Sith

    Mr_Sith Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jun 19, 2003
    Hmmm, like I said before, my memory is very falty lately, but I still believe this may belong in Games: RPG. But if I'm wrong, don't hold it against me. ;)
     
  3. LightWarden

    LightWarden Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 2001
    Yes, I checked the forum, but it's more for rules discussing and less for actual gaming. Which is why I went here.
     
  4. Mr_Sith

    Mr_Sith Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Jun 19, 2003
    See; Falty Memory. :p
     
  5. LightWarden

    LightWarden Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 2001
    At least I managed to squeak out my innocence before the moderators came down.

    Anyway, in a D20 or other dice-based game, unless you know and trust the people on the other end (or are playing in AIM or something), the GM rolls for you. In theory, this should change nothing, assuming your dice are actually random, so it doesn't matter if you, your neighbor, the president or your pet marmoset rolls them, it should be the same.

    Of course, some people get a bit... *iffy* about rolling for characters, so there's several options:
    1) The 25 point buy system mentioned in several RPG books, where higher scores cost more points per increase than lower ones

    2) The base point system, I've used on other forums, usually 72 to 75 points, used one for one to buy stats, though that tends to wind up with an eighteen, and then a secondary stat pumped as high as it can go, followed by a dump stat (usually charisma) which has been reduced for extra points

    3) The Vegas system. You let the GM roll your dice, send you your scores privately. Completely random, and can often be completely unplayable, so nice GMs will give you a total for stat modifiers, if they fall below it, they'll scrap the set.

    Anyway, once you have your scores, you simply pick a class, or combination of classes and prestige classes, a race, your skills & feats, your equipment, and then the fun things like personality, history, appearance, wants, memories, etc.

    End result winds up looking something like this, a fairly good template of the stat block:

    (Name)
    Race:
    Class:

    Initiative:
    Speed:

    Defense:

    Base Attack:
    Grapple:
    Attacks:
    Damage:

    Special Attacks:
    Special Qualities:
    Saves: Fort -, Ref -, Will -
    Face/Reach:

    Force Points:
    Dark Side Points:
    Reputation:

    Abilities: Str-, Dex - , Con -, Int -, Wis -, Cha -

    Skills:

    Feats:

    Equipment:

    Equipment Weight:

    Gender:
    Age:
    Height:
    Weight:

    Appearance:
    Personality:
    Biography:

    I'm also quite willing to help people who haven't played the game build characters given an idea, such as for example, a Zeltron Gambler, Rodian Bounty Hunter, Xeto Blasterslinger, Wookie Smuggler, Sullustan Pilot, etc. Those were done completely randomly, there's no real restrictions for anything in this game, aside from the fact that Jedi are in short supply in the Rebellion era.
     
  6. GrandAdmiralJello

    GrandAdmiralJello Comms Admin ❉ Moderator Communitatis Litterarumque star 10 Staff Member Administrator

    Registered:
    Nov 28, 2000
    There have been dice games played here before, as long as there's content that matches the board's style of RPGing. It's acceptable to RP in this style and have outcomes/characters based off of dice rolls.
     
  7. CmdrMitthrawnuruodo

    CmdrMitthrawnuruodo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 1, 2000
    I know a site that does Online Dice Rolling by email and prevents cheating. Basically everyone fills a form with the GMs email address and their email address and rolls the dice. An email is automatically sent to both the GM and the Player stating the results of that die roll. Lemme see if I still have it bookmarked.
     
  8. LightWarden

    LightWarden Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 2001
    That does sound like it would go for improving GM/Player trust. Although does it remove the ability to do secret rolls for skills such as spot, listen, sense motive, disguise, etc, where you should never know just how well you've done?

    Also, if the GM rolls, it lets him make some cinematic rolls, like when the chips are down, everyone's an inch from death, and they launch a final blaster shot at amazing penalties that determines the fate of the galaxy...
     
  9. CmdrMitthrawnuruodo

    CmdrMitthrawnuruodo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 1, 2000
    Edit: http://www.rpghost.com/dicer.shtml This one works

    The only way secret rolls are going to work is for the players to trust the GM (which they should anyway).

    Anyway, I'm interested in playing a d20 Star Wars game. But the only books I have are the planet books and the Darkside Sourcebook. And a Adobe copy of the Corerule Book. And I also dont know how to play this type of dice game. I'm more use to ADnD 2Ed.
     
  10. Long_Live_The_Rebels

    Long_Live_The_Rebels Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    May 17, 2002
    i would be interested in playing this, however i dont have anything for starwars rpg stuff
     
  11. Aragorn327

    Aragorn327 Manager Emeritus star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Aug 20, 2001
    I'll give it a shot if you run this.

    The Games: RPG board has done this in the past, but I don't think they do anymore.
     
  12. LightWarden

    LightWarden Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 2001
    So, why don't they do it anymore? Is it the book problem, or the heavy amount of rules and stats that go into it?

    And you don't really need that much to play, just the core book, or knowledge of how to play D&D 3rd edition, or D&D 3.5e. And if you don't have the books, you might ask around and see if any of your role-playing friends have any...

     
  13. Darth-Dispicable

    Darth-Dispicable Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 4, 2003
    I would go for it. Especially if you get into the Old Republic Sith war type of stuff.

    I honestly think that using dice would help a lot in the dueling as well, it definatly would stop the arguing over who hit who and other such nonsense.

    I do a lot of d20 gaming, and have done so for almost 15 years now so I am more than familiar with the process.
     
  14. LightWarden

    LightWarden Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 2001
    For those of you who haven't played, here's part one of my Introduction to the D20 System:

    Part I: Abilities, Species, and Classes; the core of a character build.

    In D20, just about everything you do is governed by chance, coming in the form of a die, ranging from four-sided, to six, eight, ten, twelve, and twenty-sided dice. You basically roll the dice, and add a number to it, depending on how skilled you are at it. Higher numbers are better.

    All characters are built with Ability scores, representing their natural gifts and such in the physical or mental abilities. These abilities are usually figured out by rolling several six sided dice, usually four six-sided dice and dropping the lowest one, to determine the ability array, which is turned into the ability scores. Ability scores therefore range from 3 to 18, before species modifiers, which is when a species gets a bonus to the ability, such as the fact that wookies are very strong, and get a bonus to their stat.

    The ability scores are:
    Strength (STR)- How well you lift things, hit things, climb, jump, physical prowess. A bodybuilder is very strong.

    Dexterity (DEX)- Your agility, for doing things like picking pockets or locks, doing cartwheels, jumping out of the way of shots, flying, etc. A pilot is very dexterous.

    Constitution (CON)- Your natural hardiness and endurance, for holding your breath, doing physical activities for a long time, resisting poisons, diseases, death, and other plagues on the body. A marathon runner has high constitution.

    Intelligence (INT)- Your intellect, determining how well you deal with intellectual activities like hacking computers, learning new languages and skills, building things, and other pursuits. A scientist is very intelligent.

    Wisdom (WIS)- A measure of your senses and sensability, how well you pick up on things around you, and conduct yourself, as well as fight of things like fear and other mental effects. A Jedi Master is very wise.

    Charisma (CHA)- A measure of your personality and likability, how well you interact with other people, and convince others to follow you. A senator is very charismatic.

    Once you have these ability scores, you pick your species. With all the books that are out, you can pretty much pick any species you've ever seen in the Expanded Star Wars Universe. species usually provide a bonus to an ability score, or a penalty, representing their natural abilities, such as a Jawa getting a bonus to Dexterity, but a penalty to Strength, since they are small but fast.

    Your species may also give you a bonus to certain skills, representing their natural inclinations, which I'll get to soon.

    After Ability Scores and Species, next comes class. Your class is a definition of what you do, and there are nine different classes or so, each based on different things.

    Fringers are a jack of all trades, they come from the outer rim where they've picked up a variety of skills that help them exist. They do anything, can be anything. Luke Skywalker was a Fringer at the beginning of A New Hope

    Nobles are leaders, they're good at getting people to work together, helping them do their best, giving orders, gathering followers, getting resources, and generally seeing things done. Princess Leia would be a Noble.

    Scoundrels are rogues, they're good at doing things that are slightly less than legal, and have access to a bunch of different abilities, which they often specialize in. They're quite skilled, and very lucky. Han Solo would be a scoundrel.

    Scouts are explorers, good at going places, seeing things, doing things like fixing or tracking, or just trying their best. Chewbacca would probably be a scout.

    Soldiers are fighters and warriors, they're skilled with many weapons and know how to use them to the best of their abilities. They're good at fighting, expert shots, and can make sure the job gets done. Many are often leaders in battle. Captain Panaka and the other members of the Naboo Security Force would be soldiers.

    Tech Specialists are wizzes with machines
     
  15. Imperial_Hammer

    Imperial_Hammer Manager Emeritus: RPFs star 5 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Sep 25, 2004
    I'd be interested in playing this as well... although, like Long_Live, I also have no RPG stuff, like die or whatever....
     
  16. LEBIS

    LEBIS Jedi Youngling star 1

    Registered:
    Jan 9, 2005
    So would I. I have some books and that but have never knew how to play
     
  17. CmdrMitthrawnuruodo

    CmdrMitthrawnuruodo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 1, 2000
    I think that Online Dice Roller I provided will do away with the problem of having no dice. You just need an email address. As for the Corerule Book... cough anyone can email me and we can discuss that.
     
  18. Darth-Zame43

    Darth-Zame43 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 6, 2004
    I haven't really played in D20 type games, but I have wanted to for some time now. I would have no problem having a GM roll for me, unless I would have so reason not to trust him [face_mischief]. So if anybody would be willing to help me out on this a little (Getting the hang of how to level up, etc....) I would join. I don't have a rule book, but I do know some people that would give me one.
     
  19. 1baldwookie

    1baldwookie Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2004
    If this gets up and running you can count me in, I've played d20 a little before so I wont be totally green. ;)
     
  20. Zedd-Vega

    Zedd-Vega Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Dec 13, 2003
    d20... niiice. I'm in if it gets running.
     
  21. LightWarden

    LightWarden Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 11, 2001
    Part II is here for you:

    Part II: The Mechanics- Feats, Skills, and Numbers

    If you have the book, you may notice many things about classes that may not seem familiar. These things are the core of number part of the D20 game.

    As I said before, D20 primarily is based on rolling a 20 sided die, adding or subtracting a modifier from the result, and seeing if it's high enough to do what you want.

    I suppose I should start with the basics that determine all of the following things: Level.

    Level measures your experience and skill at doing whatever. Levels range from 1 (completely new at this/fresh out of training/whatever) to 20 (total and complete grand poobah of the galaxy, basically reserved for Yoda and Palpatine, as well as maybe a few others). The higher the level, the better you are.

    When your level goes up, everything else goes up.

    Vitality Dice: A measure of how much damage you can shrug off before really feeling the pain and needing medical attention. Most of the time, you roll a die each level-up, sometimes the GM (Game Master, the guy in charge) will let you take a fixed number to make it more fair. The amount of points you have is referred to as your Vitality Points, or Vitality. I'll come back to this in the Combat Section.

    Your Amount of Skill Points: Skill Points are used to increase skills, which means you've practiced at doing something such as flying, jumping, gambling, singing, or whatever and now do it better. More later.

    Your Base Attack Bonus (BAB): A measure of how good you are with your weapon, or weapons in general. This is used in Combat.

    Your Saving Throws: Saving throws are used when in a dangerous situation, such as when you are poisoned, someone chucks a grenade in the area, or a lousy Jedi tries to use the mind trick on you.

    Your Defense Bonus: Defense is used in combat, it measures how hard you are to hit. More in the combat section.

    Your Reputation Bonus: It measures how well known you are in the galaxy, which can be good or bad, depending on where you go. It aids in skills and other things.

    Your Number of Feats: You gain a feat at first level, and every level that's a multiple of 3 (3,6,9,12,15,18), and bonus feats for various classes. Feats are neat little things that allow you to specialize in doing things, like firing a blaster, or fighting with two weapons, or using strange equipment.

    Your Ability Scores: Every 4 levels, you gain 1 ability point, which can be used to increase 1 ability score by 1. This is a very good thing.

    Ability scores are good because they provide Ability Score Modifier.

    An Ability Score Modifier is equal to (your ability score-10)/2, rounded down.

    So if you had an ability score of 10 or 11, the modifier would be zero. If you had one of 16 or 17, the modifier would be +3. If you had one of 3 or 4, the modifier would be -3, etc. An ability score modifier is added on to a great many things, making them very valuable to any character. So high ability scores are good.

    Now, let's cover the idea of the rolling in the D20 system:

    Every attack, saving throw and skill role is governed by the roll of a 20 sided die. A roll of 20 is an automatic success, while a roll of 1 is an automatic failure. 90% of the time, you play with the numbers in between.

    For a D20 Roll, the way something is resolved is that there's a set number that the person is trying to hit, for a skill or saving throw, it's called the Difficulty Class, or DC for short, for combat, your attack roll must beat the number for the opponent's Defense.

    The player or GM rolls the dice, and then adds or subtracts numbers that affect the circumstance of the action. So it looks something like:

    D20+Save Bonus/Base Attack Bonus/Skill Rank+ Ability Score Modifier+ Situational Modifier (equipment, conditions, feats, training, range, species, the Force, whatever)=?

    If ? is less than the number needed, the roll fails. If ? is greater than or equal to the number needed, the roll succeeds. Sometimes the roll might exceed or fail by a wide marg
     
  22. CmdrMitthrawnuruodo

    CmdrMitthrawnuruodo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 1, 2000
    Era: Old Republic or Rebellion Era
    Side: Bad Guys! or Neutral
    Level range: low-middle
    Theme(s):
     
  23. 1baldwookie

    1baldwookie Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2004
    Era:eek:ld Republic
    Side:Baddies [face_devil]
    Levels:low-middle
    Theme: anything is good
     
  24. Evil Incarnate

    Evil Incarnate Jedi Grand Master star 6

    Registered:
    Aug 18, 2003
    I'm very interested in this and would like to give it a try.

    as for what I'd want to play?

    Era: Goloden Age of the Sith/Sith War
    Side: Sith/other bad guys
    Level range: low-middle
    Theme(s)

    Evil.
     
  25. Zandoran_Celix

    Zandoran_Celix Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Feb 16, 2005
    Count me in if it gets up and running. i've always wanted to do this kind of rp....i even researched how to at the library and everything...that was a while back though....but if you get it going ill give it a try...though i think you.ve got yourself a challenge...