We Praise Him For His Decency

My apologies for this belated acknowledgement and commemoration of the birthday of Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr.

I give you the words of the one and only Rod Serling...

“In his grave, we praise him for his decency - but when he walked amongst us, we responded with no decency of our own.

When he suggested that all men should have a place in the sun - we put a special sanctity on the right of ownership and the privilege of prejudice by maintaining that to deny homes to Negroes was a democratic right.

Now we acknowledge his compassion - but we exercised no compassion of our own. When he asked us to understand that men take to the streets out of anguish and hopelessness and a vision of that dream dying, we bought guns and speculated about roving agitators and subversive conspiracies and demanded law and order.

We felt anger at the effects, but did little to acknowledge the causes. We extol all the virtues of the man - but we chose not to call them virtues before his death.

And now, belatedly, we talk of this man's worth - but the judgement comes late in the day as part of a eulogy when it should have been made a matter of record while he existed as a living force. If we are to lend credence to our mourning, there are acknowledgements that must be made now, albeit belatedly. We must act on the altogether proper assumption that Martin Luther King asked for nothing but that which was his due... He asked only for equality, and it is that which we denied him."

[excerpt from a letter to The Los Angeles Times in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.; April 8, 1968]

Happy Birthday MLK, Rest in Peace.

May we do better someday. 

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Barking Alien

Pokemon Go...Shoppng!

This post was originally meant to focus on Runar Synch Moves, the super secret special abilities I'm instituting into my Pokemon: Rise and Fall RPG campaign. Unfortunately, its taking a little longer than expected to rework and format the information so I figure its as good a time as any to tackle another aspect of the game that needs fleshing out: Inventory.

This is a set of guidelines designed to give the Pokemon AD player a little 'resource management' mixed into their high adventure exploration game of cute monster collecting. The mechanics here - such as they are - are less concerned with tracking encumbrance and that sort of thing and more about deciding what your character can and can't live without when heading into the wilderness on your Pokemon Journey. 

This past week, while giving my players an overview of the Inventory mechanics, one of them asked, "How important is Inventory going to be?". A reasonable question and one relatively simple to answer, though as is often the case, what one person says and another hears can be two very different matters. 

Suffice to say Inventory is not one of the most important or largest elements of our Pokemon campaign. It is an element though and as such, it needs some rules. 

Pokemon Trainers begin with a Basic PokeBag that has 10 Slots of Inventory Space. PokeBags can be upgraded at Pokemon Centers for a fee and new PokeBags with far more Slots can be purchased at Poke Marts (A Pokemon League sanctioned international franchise of convenience stores that sell Pokemon related supplies). 

Most items take up 1 Slot. These items are generally about the size of something that would fit in a small backpack, 'fanny pack', or handbag. That's just a rough estimate of course. A rolled up Tent for 1 person also takes up a single Slot. So would a Medical Kit that would itself contain Bandages, Antiseptic Spray, Aspirin, and other related components. 

If the item is notably larger or effects/is useful to multiple people at once it will likely take up two or even three Slots (though that is rare). If the item is too big, not only will it not fit in your PokeBag, it may possess Inventory Space of its own. In fact, that's a good sign that you're looking at an item that shouldn't go in a backpack, like a Steamer Trunk or a Car.

Note that many special items can have multiples of themselves stored in a single Slot. These items will be listed with a ' # per Slot ' on the table below indicating how many can be stored together.

Here are some standard Pokemon Journey items, how many Slots they take up, their cost, and some descriptions:

 

Items noted under the Number of Slots column may be listed as # by Type, such as Potions. This means that a single Slot may hold 3 regular Potions or 3 Super Potions or 3 Max Potions but different types of the same item do not stack. The important thing is that if you have 2 regular Potions and 1 Max Potion, the regulars will go in one Slot and the Max in another. Different varieties of Berries may be stacked together and different Evolution Stones may as well. Not so with Potions or items listed the same way. 

If the Cost of an Item is written #+ by Variety, such as Pokeballs at 200+, it means the basic or standard version is the price listed but improved or special versions of the item can go for more. A standard Pokeball is 200 but a Great Ball costs 600, while an Ultra Ball costs 1200! 

Items with an asterisk * are considered Key Items. Key Items are items often available for free under certain conditions. When a player creates their PC, they may choose up to three Key Items to begin the campaign with. It is strongly suggested that at least one of these choices be directly related to your Trainer Class. For example, if you are a Pokemon Rider, you don't have to buy Riding Gear. You can just choose that as one of your starting Key Items and its definitely a good idea to do you. 

If an item has no Cost, it is generally not available for purchase or is far too expensive to make it viable to a Player Character. Fear not! These items may be given for free as they are intrinsic to the game (like a Pokedex) or they may be obtained on a Scenario by Scenario basis (though in these cases you might not get to keep them). Some are gained as a reward by performing a task for an NPC, as is the case with the Bike Voucher. 

Some items here will likely require further description and explanation but I will save that for another post. This one is already quite long and was much delayed. 

The list above is also no where near complete in that it isn't anything and everything a Pokemon Trainer might want or need so Players and GMs should consult with each other regarding adding new items using the Item Chart about as a reference point. 

It probably doesn't need to be said but you might have some D&D players in your group so: A PokeBag takes up 1 Slot if placed inside another PokeBag, as long as the stored PokeBag is empty. If there is even one item/slot occupied, it counts as 'too big' to place inside the first PokeBag because, as noted above, it is an item with its own Inventory Space. 

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Barking Alien

Future Unknown

I have a lot of things to talk about but I haven't had a lot of time to think and write to the level required, so please bare with me as I jump around a bit with the next few posts. 

I have my new mid-week RPG campaign Pokemon: Rise and Fall which I could not be more jazzed about. So looking forward to this one. Rules are largely finished, Character Concepts have been discussed, and I've been working on plots, subplots, NPCs, locations, and much more. Expanded rules on Inventory and of course the Runar Synch Moves are on the way.

I've also come up with my new Sunday campaign idea which I will discuss in more detail in an upcoming post very soon. After a discussion with some of my Sunday night players I have a much clearer idea of what I want to do and it's kind of mid-way between 'haven't really done it before' and 'back to basics' for me. Not unlike what I'll be talking about in this post.

That brings me to an idea that has been repeatedly gnawing at me for some time...

The Orville has become my favorite Science Fiction franchise. It's everything I want out of a Space Adventure/Science Fiction universe where the future is bright and Humanity's better nature wins out not only because of hope but because we put in the effort to make it happen. The promise of the Star Trek of my youth has been realized and reimagined as The Orville. 

Marrying science fiction, high adventure, action, exploration, character studies, interpersonal relationships, and humor in a fashion akin to my favorite blend of coffee*, this series is at once a 'pick me up' that rarely fails to get me going with inspiration and excitement, while simultaneously feeling warm and comfortable, like having a hot cup of joe with an old friend. 

I would very much like to run an Orville universe RPG campaign. 

The funny thing is that one of my goals this year coming off of last year's fourth quarter burn out is to run things I've never run before. I want to flex my personal creative muscles and do the ever elusive 'something different' TM.

Pokemon is a great example. I've always wanted to run a Pokemon RPG campaign but could never figure out exactly how to do so. Some element was always missing until now. My other campaign in the works is similarly something I've only done once or twice, a very long time ago, and never with the system I'll be using. 

The Orville would be quite the opposite of that in a way. It would be returning to do what I arguably do best and quite often - a Star Trek style Sci-Fi Space Opera campaign with a little more 'Slice of Life' atmosphere thrown in. It would be relatively easy, familiar, and not especially 'groundbreaking' or anything of that sort. Yet, at the same time, it would be a challenge to nail the right feel while also doing something that, like the show, evolves into more than just a Star Trek pastiche. 

I definitely want - no, NEED - to run some passion projects like Pokemon, whereas The Orville is more like a tried and true Blockbuster...or is it? I suppose it could be considered a passion project in its own right even if it isn't necessarily breaking new ground. It is just a thing a love and I love running the things I love. Makes sense doesn't it?

As for system, my brain is saying Modiphius' Star Trek Adventures is the smart way to go, though Last Unicorn's Icon System is definitely pulling at my heartstrings. I loved the game and I know it well enough to make the conversion from Star Trek to The Orville fairly easily. I even have the original playtest rules that feature some differences from the final release that I honestly really like. I also enjoy the irony of using a game by a company called Last Unicorn for a show that featured America's 'That's All I've Got To Say', a song associated with the animated classic based on Peter S. Beagle's Fantasy novel. 

Right now the major obstacle is finding a group for it. I would much prefer a large-ish group for The Orville, more like my classic campaigns, and I don't exactly have the players for it at this time I'm interested in. There aren't enough players in any of my current groups by themselves and scheduling prevents me from combining them in any way. Really, the best group for this project would be my amazing High School of Art & Design gang (Ghostbusters: The Home Office, Champions: Age of Chaos, Star Trek: Renown).

Not only are they an incredible band of brothers I've known for over 35 years but they are some of the most creative, pro-active, improvisational gamers I've ever had the fortune and pleasure of sitting down to play with. They get the balance between action and banter, serious and funny, sci-fi and slice of life that a lot of other gamers don't quite understand. 

We have discussed gaming together more...maybe this post can be my pitch.

Of course, we've had three amazing seasons but no confirmation on a fourth at this time, which is both frustrating and dumbfounding. Disney+ and Hulu don't realize the franchise IP potential they've got. Hopefully they will wake up to it soon and give us more Ed, Kelly, Bortus, Isaac, Claire, Talla, John, and the rest of the gang. 

On to the next post - Engage Quantum Drive!

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Barking Alien

PS: Wishing a Happy Birthday and Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

I Got The Moves Like Ketchum, I Got The Moves Like Ketchum

I am so close to running my first session of our Pokemon: Rise and Fall campaign with my Pokemon AD homebrew rules and I can not tell you how excited I am. Like, truly excited! I

haven't felt this thrilled about a campaign in a long time (or at least it feels that way). 

All we need is the Trainer Moves List, an Inventory List, and the Starter Pokemon. This post will deal with the Trainer Moves, including the special Runar Synch Moves, a unique feature of the Alfmork Region.

I'll start off with Trainer Moves

Trainer Moves are techniques that enable characters to boost or modify the stats and abilities of themselves, their Pokemon, their allies, their allies' Pokemon, and even opposing Trainers and their Pokemon. These abilities are akin to Feats or Talents in other TRPGs.

PCs start with a single Trainer Move of their choice during Character Creation. After completing the Tutorial Stage/Introductory Adventure, they may choose two more for a total of three to start their Pokemon Journey. 

Note that some Trainer Move require the user to have special Advantages (such as being Psychic) or only work with particular Types of Pokemon. If there is a character requirement it will likely be noted under Story Cost/No. of Uses. If there is a Pokemon Type requirement it will be noted under Target, indicated by the Pokemon Type Symbols. 

Top Row, Left to Right:

Normal, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice

Middle Row, Left to Right:

Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug

Bottom Row, Left to Right:

Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark, Steel, Fairy. 

The first thing listed is the name of the Trainer Move, following by the Story Point Cost and the Number of Times it can be used in a single Battle/Scene. You must spend the Story Point Cost after declaring the maneuver but before it is executed. Usually Trainer Moves can only be used one time each but not always. Next is the Target, the recipient of the Move's effects, and the Type of Move it is - Attack, Defense, Enhance, Heal, or Hinder. Finally we have the Description, which explains what the Move does in game terms.

Trainer Moves are primarily used in Battles but many have out-of-combat applications as well. Most initiate immediately upon being used and only last for a single Action. In order to use a Trainer Move, declare which one you are employing at the start of your Attack Action or in response to an Attack as a Defense Action, during your turn. Enhances and Hinders must occur on your Attack Action but you can Heal on your Attack or Defense Action. If using the Move to aid an Ally you must expend an Action/Move before that Ally goes, then you announce which Trainer Move you are using, then that Ally may take their Action/Move modified by your assist. 

Be aware that a single round in a Pokemon Battle/Scene is over when everyone has used all their Moves/Actions. Moves come from your Pokemon, so make sure you know how many Moves you get by checking your Pokemon's Move stat. Most Pokemon are only going to have one or two Moves but more powerful, highly Evolved Pokemon can definitely have more. If you switch Pokemon during a Battle/Scene, subtract the number of Moves you've already taken from the new Pokemon's Moves total. The result is how many you have left that round. 

Example: Emma is an accomplished Pokemon Trainer specializing in Cat Pokemon. In a Battle against Team Usurp she begins with a Purugly, which has a Speed of 11 and gets 2 Moves during each round. In the second round of the fight Purugly uses its first Move to Attack but then gets seriously injured by its opponent. Emma uses the second move to recall Purugly and put out Zeraora. Zeraora has a Speed of 14 and 3 Moves. Subtracting the Moves Purugly already used, 2, the completely unharmed and tip-top Zeraora has one more Move it can take this round. 

Here are 39 Trainer Moves for the start of your game and ours. More will be added later. This should hold us over for a while though. Additional Trainer Moves can be obtained following Milestones or they can be taught to your Pokemon Trainer by a Trainer of higher Rank that knows the Move.

Next up are the rare and unusual Runar Synch Moves! What are they? How do they work? What are Runar and what is their connection to the ancient history of the Kingdom of Alfmork?

Stay tuned,

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Barking Alien

No Dungeons, Less Dragons

Here it is, my first post of the New Year! Woot! Exploding cigars and sparkling muscatel all around! 

What should we talk about on this very special occasion?

Let's see...anything going on in the RPG Hobby right now? What's this? D&D...Oh, One D&D? OK, so...*mutter mutter*...the OGL...huh, hmmm...Wizards of the Coast...*mutter mutter*...OK. Well then. That's a thing, ain't it?

This. This is something.

I may owe Wizards of the Coast money for

showing this and discussing this now, huh?

Anyway...what else is happening? Anything interesting? Huh? What do I think about the whole thing? Well...very little. 

Let's back up a step.

I have decided not to do the Dungeon 23 Challenge that Sean McCoy purposed for this year, largely because my thoughts and interests are elsewhere. The more I thought about doing it, the more I realized I wasn't enthused enough to put the effort in.

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of Dungeon 23 conceptually. It sounds like a fun exercise and one that would generate tons of material for Gamemasters across the internet and the RPG community. To me, this makes the idea a more than worthwhile endeavor.

The thing is, I've looked through some of the posts already out there on the subject and largely they've reminded me why I don't like Dungeons or use them. The Old School approach to Dungeon construction just doesn't interest me in the least.

 

This takes us full circle to One D&D. Just like I don't have any investment in the building of a Dungeon, I don't care very much about D&D and what happens to it. If the current situation hurts D&D, that's unfortunate but it doesn't effect me, my gaming, or this blog.

My bigger disappointment is with the fact that it might spell trouble for many creatives in the RPG industry I like, regardless of whether I use their material or not. The decisions WotC makes in the days, weeks, and months to follow could drastically effect the livelihood of some really talented people and really good games. 

Lastly, there are some other creators out there doing their thing who are also, well, real turds. As people that is. Their work might be decent but it, like they themselves, aren't really on my radar. I don't care for stuff I don't care for by people I don't care for. Simple as that. 

Am I going to be mad at you for liking their stuff? Nope. Knock yourself out. Not my circus, not my monkeys. Do I want to hear about those creatives and their books? Nope. Once more, no interest. 

Anyway, that's enough of that.

OK, back to work. I am writing up the basic list of Trainer Moves and an Inventory List so my Pokemon: Rise and Fall players can finish creating their characters. After that I will be posting the Rise and Fall Starting Pokemon and hopefully going a bit deeper into the setting/campaign.

I've recently become really obsessed with a new idea but honestly its really weird (REEEALLY Weird) and although I'd love to discuss it, I have to figure out what it actually is first. 

Anyway, good luck D&D fans, creatives, and Dungeon 23 participants! Keep lovin' what you love and doing what you do.

Later days,

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Barking Alien