[Forge-main] Basic Forge 0.0

[Ricardo Gladwell]

Dear All 

Welcome to the Forge mailing list. Let me start by thanking you all for
volunteering your time and effort. All contributions are welcome,
whether you just lurk on this mailing list weighing in with your opinion
every so often, or writing a full FORGE supplement. We need whatever
help we can muster and we make no judgments about how much time and
effort you put in.

Please find a pre-release copy of Forge Basic version 0.0 at the
temporary web site I have created here:

http://www.freeroleplay.org/forge/

They're are lots of holes in this, which are basically places I haven't
thought about, I'm stuck on or simply haven't filled in the dots. 

Introduction 
------------ 

First of all, I would like to tell you a little bit about what I want
from FORGE: FORGE will be a simple, generic roleplaying system that can
be customized to create your own roleplaying games. It will be published
under the GNU FDL. I see FORGE as a mix between the d20, Storyteller and
FUDGE systems - it will have the solid mechanics and detail of d20, the
simplicity of the Storyteller system with some of the generic power of
FUDGE. 

Basic Mechanic 
-------------- 

The system for FORGE will be based upon a simple task resolution
mechanic. I want this system to be based upon a 1-10 range, preferably
using a d10 based system. All stats will be rated 1-10 (1-5 for normal
range). All results will be between 1-10 (again 1-5 for normal results).
This is the scale that the Storyteller system uses which I believe is
the most elegant and human-understandable scale.
 
At the moment this is the most crucial design decision to make. The task
resolution mechanic I have used in the attached file is the kind of
mechanic I am looking for. However, I am not sure this is the best
mechanic. For instance, I do no like the clunky rules for determining
the roll modifier. This is a perfect place to start our discussion of
FORGE. If anyone can come up with a better mechanic or think of an
improvement on the existing one please let us know. 

Other Problems 
-------------- 

There are a variety of problems with the system as I have published it
here. Listed they are as follows: 

* I need a method of classifying unique traits under a unified system.
Unique traits include GURPS like advantages and disadvantages, as well
as d20 feat-style talents. How will they work? How much will they cost?
How will different levels of advantages work?

* Combat: two variant rules, one for detailed combat, one for simplified
combat? 

There are lots of holes in this project that need thinking about. If you
want to take ownership of a section of Basic FORGE let me know. 

Powers 
------ 

Powers deserve a section of their own. I intend to create a system of
meta-rules for Powers - rules that can be customized to create your own
rules. For example, under the same set rules you could create your own
super-hero powers or a spell-based magic system.

To do this I've defined basic power traits which can be used to gauge
the power of specific effects. This can then be used to develop further
system using a comparative point system (i.e. the points used to buy
spell casting ability are equal to the points used to purchase a one-off
super power). What is lacking is a system of developing comparative
powers. How do you describe spell casting ability, psychic powers and
super hero powers under the same system?

Conclusion: The Future 
---------------------- 

Finally, I would like to let you all know where I see FORGE going. Once
we have a solid basic system published I would like to subsidiary
supplements for specific genres as sub-projects branching off from the
main one: Fantasy Forge, Science Fiction Forge, Modern Forge, etc.. 
Each would include customizations of the rules to make developing
campaigns for these genres fast. The most important of these would be
Fantasy Forge - I see this including systems for developing d20
class-style career progressions (another useful rules simplification)
and a magic system.

Finally, I see each sub-project having its own supplementary material.
For example, with Fantasy Forge I envisage Plane Forge for planar
adventuring, and individual, free/open fantasy world source books and so
forth.

As you can tell from the above I've been thinking a lot about this
project. However, I do not want to be project dictator. If anyone
disputes the direction of this project or has ideas of their own please
speak up and get a discussion rolling. Nothing above is set in concrete
and I am always grateful for whatever input or direction people can give
this project. If anyone wants to take ownership of a particular part of
FORGE please let me know.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and working with you all in the
future.

Yours...

-- 
Ricardo Gladwell
President, Free Roleplaying Community
http://www.freeroleplay.org/
address@hidden