MURPG Lite

[takewithfood]

Hey gang,

So, here's the deal: I'd like to run some MURPG games in settings that are much lower-power than even the usual Marvel setting, but doing so while using the standard MURPG system (or 2.0) poses a problem: When everyone is stuck with abilities at 3 or lower, and few to no "super" powers, every character starts to look more or less the same - and the game gets really, really boring.

What I'd like to do to fix this is come up with a set of house rules that expands powerless, and low-ability combat.

For example, I've been working on a new D&R chart based around the concept of expanding the "natural" limit for abilities to 4 instead of 3. So far, it looks something like this:

Str	Max Weight	Example	Description
1	50 lbs	small dog	feeble
2	100 lbs	child	average
3	250 lbs	adult human	athletic
4	500 lbs	motorcycle	peak human
5	1,000 lbs	bear	superhuman
6	2,500 lbs	sedan
7	5,000 lbs	humvee
8	10,000 lbs	elephant
9	25,000 lbs	school bus
10	50,000 lbs	cement truck

As you can see, the system works by roughly doubling at each step (with some rounding off happening here and there). In extreme cases, an individual might be able to temporarily exceed their limits by one step (by spending a Drama Stone, which I'll get to another time) - for example, Olympians are deadlifting just over 1,000 lbs these days.

Similarly, for speed, I've worked up:

Spd	Max Speed	Example	Description
1	3 mph	cross a street	feeble
2	6 mph	1 block	average
3	12 mph	2 blocks	athletic
4	25 mph	5 blocks	peak human
5	50 mph	10 blocks	superhuman
6	100 mph	20 blocks	highway car chase
7	200 mph	1.5 miles	F1 race car
8	400 mph	3 miles	light aircraft
9	800 mph	6 miles	mach 1
10	1,500 mph	12 miles	speeding bullet

Again, this follows the pattern that an ability score of 1 is your ailing grandma, 2 is most people, 3 is that guy at the gym, and 4 is the guy on that team you cheer for.

The leaping row needs a little work (it can really just be dialed back a step), but you get the point.

Aside from fixing the D&R chart, we'd need to expand on some of the non-powered actions - particularly the combat actions, since that is a major component of the game. I think it is worth breaking Close Combat into Armed (or "melee") and Unarmed Actions. And each should be filled with potential actions that enable one martial artist to distinguish his/herself from another.

Similarly, Ranged Combat should probably be split into Projectiles (for bows, etc) and Firearms, since being a military-trained sniper doesn't mean you're good with a bow - and vice versa.

An example of what I've worked up for Unarmed Combat so far:

Combat, Unarmed (AN+0 CL)
- free physical Ability bonus
- -2 situational penalty against Melee combat (negated by specialty)
- can't shift stones against projectiles or firearms

Options
+1 CL = Specialties. Choose a martial arts style, such as Shaolin Kung Fu, Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, etc. Negates or lessens some situational penalties (GM's discretion).

+1 CL = Adaptation. (Requires 2+ Specializations) After fighting an opponent for at least 1 panel, switch styles; gain a +1 situational modifier to Unarmed Combat until opponent also switches styles/weapons; you may only do so once per style, per encounter

+1 CL = Kung Fu Genius. Swap a physical ability bonus out for an Intelligence bonus.

+1 CL = Deflect Arrows. (Requires Agility or Speed 4+) You can shift stones against projectiles by batting them out of the air. If your defense is at least 2 or more stones higher than the incoming attack, you can catch the projectile instead.

+1 CL = Disarm. (Requires a Specialization). Instead of making a regular attack, you can attempt to disarm an opponent. When calculating your opponent's defense, swap their toughness and armor values (if any) for their strength, agility, or Combat AN (whichever is highest); if any "damage" is done, they are disarmed instead of taking damage..

The goal here is to offer some options that expand the Action to something more than just comparing ANs and Ability bonues. I'm working up something similar for the other Combat Actions. Not sure if other Actions really need much work. I'll try to post what I have soon.

Meanwhile, I'd love some feedback to see if I'm headed in the right direction. Ultimately, I'd like to use these rules (and the new magic system I designed) for a Buffy the Vampire Slayer game that I am simultaneously writing. Fingers crossed!

~TWF

[Reaver]

I like the way you broke down Unarmed Combat but, there are a couple things I might add to it, counter attack and grapple rules.

[takewithfood]

Thanks for reading and commenting, Reaver! I was worried that nobody would see this.

A quick note: I think I'll have to revise the Strength table to beef up the weights. Str 4 should probably be 1,000 lbs.

I have rules for touching and grappling, though the grappling in particular needs to be tested out.

What would you suggest for counter attacks?

BTW, here's what I have for the other combat actions so far:

Combat, Melee AN +1 CL
- Free weapon bonus

Options
+1 CL = Specialties. Choose a weapon type, such as swords, axes, knives, or staffs. Negates or lessens some situational penalties (GM's discretion).

+1 CL = Deflect Arrows. (Requires Agility or Speed 4+) You can shift stones against projectiles by batting them out of the air. If your defense is at least 2 or more stones higher than the incoming attack, you can catch the projectile instead.

+1 CL = Deflect Bullets (Requires Agility or Speed 6+, deflect arrows). You can shift stones against firearms by cutting them out of the air.

+1 CL = Disarm (Requires a Specialization). Instead of making a regular attack, you can attempt to disarm an opponent. When calculating your opponent's defense, swap their toughness and armor values (if any) for their strength, agility, or Combat AN (whichever is highest); if any "damage" is done, they are disarmed instead of taking damage.

Weapons in MURPG Lite should be a little more dangerous than in 2.0. I think they should all give a +1 free stone in addition to some kind of advantage. +1 dmg for knives, x2 dmg for swords, "reach" (+1 stone of defense against anyone who doesn't also have reach) for spears and whips, etc.

With a good Ability score, you can probably achieve a higher total attack with Unarmed Combat; however, Melee is more efficient in the long run.

Projectiles AN +1 CL
- free projectile weapon bonus
- -2 stone situational penalty against anyone engaging you with melee or unarmed combat (so keep your distance and stay mobile!)
- no reload time, but keep track of ammunition
- cannot split stones between multiple targets

Options:
+1 CL = Specialties. Choose a projectile weapon type, such as bow and arrow, crossbow, throwing knife, etc. Negates or lessens some situational penalties (GM's discretion).

+1 CL = Rapid Fire. You can split stones between multiple targets, at the cost of an extra panel of ammunition per additional target.

+2 CL = Power Throw. When throwing a weapon, you can combine stones of Projectiles with stones of Strength, though doing so costs both of your actions in a panel (one for Projectile Combat, and one for Strength).

+1 CL = Heave Heavy Objects. (Requires Power Throw.) You can combine the use of your Strength and Projectiles to throw heavy and unorthodox objects with destructive force.

Subtract 2 from your Strength to determine the heaviest object you can throw; you must invest stones of Strength equal to the object's weight. Any additional stones of Strength combine with your stones of Projectiles (and determine range). Objects of at least weight 5 (cars, for example) deal x2 damage. Objects of at least weight 8 (school buses, for example) deal x3 damage.

To calculate range, calculate the difference between your stones of Strength and the object's weight; consult the Range row on the D&R chart.

Projectile weapons simply aren't as good as firearms in most ways. However, they do have a few advantages. They're easy to reload (except for crossbows, arguably), and they're typically pretty quiet. Also, the Power Throw and Heave Heavy Objects options allows very strong people to put some extra power behind thrown weapons. Power Throw is good for very strong humans, whereas superhumanly strong characters will probably want to go the extra mile and buy Heave Heavy Objects, too.

Ranged, Firearms (AN +2 CL)
- ignores shifted stones of melee combat or unarmed combat
- ammunition measured in panels; must spend a Firearms action to reload when ammunition runs out
- cannot shift stones to defense without cover (hide behind a wall or lie prone, or just use a second action for defense)

Options:
+1 CL = Specialties. Choose a type of firearm, such as pistols, shotguns, SMGs, rifles, etc. Negates or lessens some situational penalties (GM's discretion).

+1 CL = Efficient Aim. (Requires one or more Specialties.) Double the number of panels of ammunition with any specialized weapon.

+1 CL = Rapid Reload. (Requires one or more Specialties.) Reload specialized weapons by spending a blank action. (In other words, you can keep using Firearms, and reload by spending your second action.)

+1 CL = Instant Reload. (Requires one or more Specialties, and Rapid Reload.) Reload specialized weapons by spending a Free Action. (You are entitled to one Free Action per page.)

+1 CL = Accuracy by Quantity. Gain a +1 situational bonus to attack for each additional panel of ammunition you decide to spend, up to a maximum of +3.

+1 CL = Suppressive Fire. At the expense of an additional panel of ammunition, you may shift stones of Firearms to defense. If you like, you can even add the stones you shift to a near-by ally's defense instead of your own.

Firearms is an expensive action, but very advantageous. Firearms, like melee weapons, come with a +1 stone bonus and advantages such as +1 dmg for pistols, x2 damage for rifles, and "burst" (which gives you bonuses if you split stones) for fully automatic weapons, and of course they all come with range.

Additionally, you can't block firearms with your bare hands, and only well-trained supernatural creatures have a hope of cutting bullets out of mid-air (and if you're fighting one of those and you only brought a gun, you are too stupid to live anyway).

On the downside, you must keep track of ammunition, and reload when you run out. In general, about 3 bullets = 1 panel of ammunition. So, revolvers will have 2 panels of ammo, your average 9mm pistol will have about 4 or 5, and assault rifles and SMGs will have about 10. Ammo can disappear quickly if you use some options, such as Accuracy by Quantity and Suppressive Fire. (I may actually make Accuracy by Quantity a basic feature of the Action; firing like crazy and hoping you hit something is what most poorly trained people will probably do in an actual firefight.)

Also, beware of being disarmed! This is always what happens in the movies: kickass martial artist guy is up against some badguys with guns, and the first thing he does is kick the guns away. Then its asskicking time.

Again, the goal here is to separate mooks with a decent AN from well-equipped John Woo-esque lead whirlwinds of death, like the Punisher.

Lastly, a fun Modifier to make things interesting for the truly vicious combat monsters:

Dirty Fighting / Trick Shooting (MN +4 CL)
Choose one combat action (unarmed, melee, projectile, firearms). Gain a pool of MN x 3 stones per issue that can be added to any attack with this action when using a specialized style or weapon. You cannot add more than 3 stones to any single attack. You must describe your dirty or clever trick in your post (get creative!); this Modifier can be renamed as just about anything to suit a style or theme, such as "berserker rage" or "lucky strike" or whatever fits your character.

I may need to up the cost, but this is a fun alternative to a flat combat modifier. The more choice in the player's hand, the better, for the most part.

Let me know what you guys think of all of this. It's all very much in the experimental phase, and costs will need some balancing I'm sure.

~TWF

[Reaver]

What I would do for a counter attack is have it work like an offensive defense, you would shift your unarmed combat into counter attack and any stone that exceeds the assailants attack would count as damage, along with the exceeding stones the efficiency rule would come into place and for every two stones that get through you would get one from the pool to compensate for the enemy's momentum.

I would say it would possibly be +2 to cost, +3 if you let the Reflexive Dodge count towards the initial dodge of the attack.

[takewithfood]

Oh, that's a neat idea. It gets tricky, though, if someone attacks you cautiously. The lower their stones of attack, the easier it is for you to counter attack them, which doesn't really make sense.

When you first suggested a counter attack option, this is sorta what I came up with:

+1 CL = Counter Attack. Gain a +1 stone of attack against any opponent with a lower initiative score who also attacks you with Unarmed or Melee combat.

It's a bit simpler, but it gives the advantage to opponents with initiative, which is sorta how counter attacks work. What do you think?

~TWF

[Reaver]

I can see what your saying about testing the waters and pulling punches to get a feel for your opponent, but I've seen some pretty quick strikers get thrown into an arm bar by a much slower fighter.

I'd say that the counter attack should be a... passive move, with no outward attack, should count towards defense toward one opponent, the excess deals damage, never deals more damage the opponent threw out except for the +1 for every two stones of energy, if there is excess from the damage and defense are reabsorbed. I'd also give the option to convert that into a grapple at no extra cost but deal no damage.

The reason I give it that extra umph is for the momentum and the way an attack could expose the assailant's more vulnerable parts such as joints, tender areas such as the different nerve clusters exposed at the skin and variable other weaknesses. It would be without a doubt a damaging blow, but of course it would get a negative sit mod with melee, and it would have no impact on a ranged attack by any means.

[takewithfood]

Okay, I'm having trouble understanding exactly how this would work. Could you phrase it as it would be presented in a rulebook?

~TWF

[Reaver]

+2CL=Counter Attack. It involves no outward attack. Stones from Unarmed combat are shifted into a counter attack. Counts as defense against one target, any stones exceeding the targets attack are dealt in damage (Never more then the targets attack) or can be used to grapple the target. Stones of counter attack not used are reabsorbed. Due to the nature of a counter attack, for every 2 stones of damage, the target gets 1 extra stone due to joint manipulation or various other weak areas.

Does that sound better?

[takewithfood]

That's much more clear, thank you! ^__^ Sometimes I have too many ideas in my head to interpret something one way or another.

I think my problem with that rule is that it doesn't take into account an opponent's static defenses, such as toughness or armor. For example, let's say Cyclops is fighting Colossus. Cyclops has Counter Attack and puts 5 stones into Close Combat and chooses to wait and counter. Colossus doesn't want to hurt Scott too badly, so he only attacks with 3 stones. In theory, Colossus would take 3 damage, making him lose a white stone of health.

Suddenly, Colossus' toughness isn't helping him at all, and that seems weird. Same goes for particularly agile opponents, like Spider Man and his reflexive dodge. I don't see the justification for just ignoring that sort of defense.

~TWF

[takewithfood]

Also, I've decided to keep the Strength chart as above (instead of bumping it up), but I'll add a description that clarifies that the weights listed represent the maximum amount of weight that a character can lift over their head - essentially a clean and jerk. Characters should be able to push or budge objects one stone larger than their own Strength with great effort (maybe by spending two actions). Or possibly with a drama stone?

I think this better represents the world records for weight lifting in the real world: About 500 lbs for clean and jerk, but about 1,000 lbs for bench press and dead lift, under optimal conditions.

~TWF

[Reaver]

May 13, 2010 12:46:52 GMT -5 takewithfood said:

I think my problem with that rule is that it doesn't take into account an opponent's static defenses, such as toughness or armor.

~TWF

I guess I forgot to include that, sorry. Both Toughness and Reflexive Dodge would work. Cyclops would have dodged the punch but couldn't inflict damage. My only issue with body armor is it only covers your chest, and depending what type of body armor you are wearing would be something to look at.

Example:
Kevlar Body Armor: It is made out of fabric, a highly condensed fabric, but a punch, a kick or any other type of strike still will hurt and it won't lessen the blow any, offers no protection except for ballistics.

Kevlar with Steel Plates: I could see this working but still it leaves all limbs exposed, It does protect against Blades.

Military Grade Body Armor: See Kevlar with Plates.

Dragon Skin : Substantial coverage against all ammunition, I mean it can stand up to a grenade, but... it is still affected by blades.

But the big thing is it leaves multiple limbs exposed (arms, legs,head) leaving plenty of unarmored area. But stones are stones, I play with 1.0 Rules so body armor counts as toughness, and the only reason why I bring it up is because MURPG lite seems like you are going in the direction of a much more realistic system.

[takewithfood]

Well, I'm not trying to be realistic for the sake of realism - I'm just going for greater depth on a non-powered/low-powered scale. But yeah, the advantage is that I get to incorporate a little more realism.

I've also struggled with the idea of body armor covering only some parts of the body, but I don't know of a good way around it. I just try to rationalize that +1 body armor either blocks hits or it doesn't. That is to say, if someone has 5 defense, and wears +1 body armor on top, if they're hit for 6 stones of attack, the body armor helps: if they're hit for 7, well, they got hit somewhere where the body armor didn't cover (or it was penetrated, depending on the weapon type and whatever feels dramatic at the time).

But there can definitely be different types. I usually think of "bullet proof" vests as being armor with a "no x2 damage" rating. A small vest that fits easily under clothing might not give any actual armor rating at all (as in, +0 defense), but it might negate x2 damage. A bullet will still hurt like hell, but it won't tear up your vital organs. Of course, if circumstances essentially force a headshot, then screw the armor rating, but those are special cases. GMs should always be ready to make rulings on the fly.

There's also stuff like nomex suits that are fire retardant and insulated, which might only give Energy Defense instead.

~TWF

[Reaver]

My suggestion (Negating Body Armor) would cause a lot head shots, there for rendering Body Armor useless, and breaking the game.

With these rules could you use a firearm in melee, and would it still get the point blank sit mod?

[takewithfood]

Yeah, we have to be careful about that sort of thing - otherwise Firearms is almost always better than melee. That sort of situational modifier should probably only for for cases where you have your opponent dead-to-rights, as in you managed to sneak up on them and planted the barrel against their head or in their back. It shouldn't count if you're simply in melee.

~TWF

[bikermatt]

I'd say double the abilities (except for Int, which would be *1.5) and bump up actions by one or two levels for the same D&R effect. That should provide a good spread and still allow characters to have a normal "feel".