Athazagora (DIE RPG Interest Check)

[Hatless]

Hello E, Hatless here. I'm considering running a group game using the DIE Tabletop Game. Everything that you need is freely available here: https://diecomic.com/rpg/

It's a fairly simple game, so I hope that the inclusion of a little structure doesn't scare off those that are intimidated by RPGs. The character sheets walk you through the entire creation process and the mechanics are never more complex than "Roll a number of d6s equal to the attribute being used, occasionally including your special class die, and every 4+ counts as one success."

At the moment, I'm currently only checking to make sure that there are enough willing writers out there to fill the five roles. If I can get that, a character sheet and a few questions to answer will follow.

What is it?

The easiest way to describe the game is to compare it to Jumanji. A group of friends gather around their favorite tabletop game, roll some dice, and then start to notice that the world around them is changing. Each of the traditional gaming dice (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20) have an archetype and a host of abilities associated with them, essentially transforming normal people into fantasy characters.

By default, the game places a lot of the world building into the hands of the players. I intend to trim most of this down, but the framework of the world will be based around player input so that it feels like their world -- all so I can corrupt it and make it feel wrong. Expect a fairly dark world that feels like it's out to get you (because it is.)

Expectations

- Maturity. Some of the classes can do terrible things to other people. The game also revolves heavily around emotions and inner desires. I want characters that approach these subjects in a believable manner.

- A posting rate of roughly 2-3 posts per week. The Godbinder player will need to be able to commit to exceeding this as they'll often be taken out of time to strike bargains and I don't want this to slow down other things.

Some Changes

- The setting has a cyberpunk twist that I'm not that fond of. I'm planning on scrubbing most of this out of the game for a more standard fantasy experience. This does, however, present a problem for the Neo. Ideally, I'd like to reflavor the class into more of an Alchemist or Warlock. The AI will be something closer to a powerful patron that grants your boons or a magical book of knowledge that always seems to have the answers to your questions.

- Combat. Every person that roleplays over text will tell you that it's a hurdle but I so rarely see people try for a solution other than to tolerate it. I'd like to do something different and run combat encounters purely OOC. No describing actions unless you really want to, just a "I attack Monster A. Here's my roll." I'll sum things up in the IC and then we can move on. Ideally, people can pop in once or twice a day to keep things moving and won't have to deal with the monotony of describing the same actions over and over.

- I will be using the alternate lighter rules for dying in the interest of adding some longevity and not removing characters from combat as easily. Rather dying if you're dropped to 0 and not stabilized by the end of combat, characters can still will themselves to act and only risk dying after accumulating injuries for going into negative health.

[Xurtan]

Hm, this is a really interesting system I hadn't heard of. I like what I'm seeing. Going to watch this, tentative interest in the Dictator.

[Envious]

*waves*

I have an interest in the Knight.

[Hatless]

Hm, this is a really interesting system I hadn't heard of. I like what I'm seeing. Going to watch this, tentative interest in the Dictator.

Yay! My first sucker potential player!

I was introduced to it about a year ago by someone that enjoyed the comic. We never got to actually play it, but it stuck with me. I got my start in D&D and stuff like that, but the more I play, the more I've started to drift toward games like DIE. I'll take the vague template that I can expand on and customize however I want over the rigidity of some of the other games.

*waves*

I have an interest in the Knight.

And a second one!

[Xurtan]

I was introduced to it about a year ago by someone that enjoyed the comic. We never got to actually play it, but it stuck with me. I got my start in D&D and stuff like that, but the more I play, the more I've started to drift toward games like DIE. I'll take the vague template that I can expand on and customize however I want over the rigidity of some of the other games.

Haha, I fully agree honestly. I think everyone got their start in D&D, but there's so many other options out there that just seem like they flow better. I really like the classes here, they seem like they have a unique take on some older ideas. 

Also hi again Envi.

[TheHangedOne]

Hi Envi, hi Xur! I am also interested. PDF downloaded, and I will nibble at it tomorrow.

[c0i9z]

I've got some interest in a fool. Especially if we can play non-humans.

[Hatless]

I've got some interest in a fool. Especially if we can play non-humans.

So, I have two guidelines:

1- Your character has to stay human shaped and roughly the same size that they started. No growing into a 8' tall ogre or shrinking down to a 3' tall gnome.
2- Alterations are cosmetic only; adding gills to your character won't allow them to breathe underwater just like being a cat-person won't improve their night vision. I'm open to making these changes functional in the future as a means of alternate progression.

[Xurtan]

So, I have two guidelines:

1- Your character has to stay human shaped and roughly the same size that they started. No growing into a 8' tall ogre or shrinking down to a 3' tall gnome.
2- Alterations are cosmetic only; adding gills to your character won't allow them to breathe underwater just like being a cat-person won't improve their night vision. I'm open to making these changes functional in the future as a means of alternate progression.

Now I'm half-tempted to go catboy. *snerk* I appreciate the general meme of it all; writers playing personas who are playing characters. Hrr, it sounds like a lot of the details of the world are sort of designed by consensus/question asking and such? Wondering how much you have in mind detail wise for the game. Glancing through the book(s), I did have one question--which version are you planning to use? Looks like there's some decent differences class wise between them, though also some errors even in same edition I'll have to ask about. *squints and scrolls through the books* 

[Hatless]

Hrr, it sounds like a lot of the details of the world are sort of designed by consensus/question asking and such? Wondering how much you have in mind detail wise for the game.

I'm planning on doing most of the heavy lifting so that we're not spending weeks answering questions back and forth, but there will be a few questions in character creation about what kind of characters your persona played in the past or their favorite adventure. I'll build off of that.

Glancing through the book(s), I did have one question--which version are you planning to use? Looks like there's some decent differences class wise between them, though also some errors even in same edition I'll have to ask about. *squints and scrolls through the books* 

From what I can tell, the newer versions are meant to replace the respective content in the older versions. The 1.46 sheets are the most up-to-date ones and have everything you need to get started. 1.3 has all the rules for progression, so that's where you'll look when it comes time to 'level up.'

[Xurtan]

I'm planning on doing most of the heavy lifting so that we're not spending weeks answering questions back and forth, but there will be a few questions in character creation about what kind of characters your persona played in the past or their favorite adventure. I'll build off of that.

From what I can tell, the newer versions are meant to replace the respective content in the older versions. The 1.46 sheets are the most up-to-date ones and have everything you need to get started. 1.3 has all the rules for progression, so that's where you'll look when it comes time to 'level up.'

Sounds like a fun way to go about it! And good to know. The original version had Dictator starting with four emotions was mostly why I was asking, as the 1.46 handout PDF says one. Though amusingly the 1.46 Google Sheet still has four listed, I suspect they forgot to update it. Admittedly any of the individual spokes certainly can be horrifying enough on their own, in some very good ways. *squints and fiddles with options for the fun of it*

[c0i9z]

Aw. No cocky shorstack imp. But alright, I can work with those limitations, too.

[Envious]

Hallo, familiar faces!

The manual says for non-gm to read the Handout PDF and Rules section. I just want to make sure that's enough or if you'd recommend skimming anything else, such as the Arcana. I started skimming yesterday and have been reading chunks as I have time. Things seem easy enough to pick up. Some of these questions might be answered in the text and I just haven't gotten to it yet, but:

I haven't seen much on Persona's yet. Is there a lot of lead-up where Persona's are creating Characters, or are we starting just as Persona's are sucked into the game?

How important is the Persona drama to the Characters surviving the game they've been sucked into? What is the balance between Character's surviving the game and Persona's dealing with drama as Characters, I guess is my question. For example, Persona A only decided to come to game night because they wanted to put Persona B on blast for sleeping with Persona C, the spouse of Persona A.

Just some idle thoughts as I'm mulling over character creation.

[Hatless]

The manual says for non-gm to read the Handout PDF and Rules section. I just want to make sure that's enough or if you'd recommend skimming anything else, such as the Arcana. I started skimming yesterday and have been reading chunks as I have time.

You could probably get by with only reading the character sheets. If you want to read everything that's out there, I don't think it will detract from the experience. There might be a few spoilers in the main document about the nature of the game, but I'm also making a few changes to tell the story I want to tell.

I haven't seen much on Persona's yet. Is there a lot of lead-up where Persona's are creating Characters, or are we starting just as Persona's are sucked into the game?

The game will start right before the big event. Expect like 2-3 posts as your persona, maybe more depending on how resistant they are to what is happening. The setup is that all the characters knew each other as teenagers, played D&D (or something like it) together, and are now reuniting 15 years later. My current plan is for it to be a high school reunion that led to reminiscing and an agreement to play one more game for old times sake.

How important is the Persona drama to the Characters surviving the game they've been sucked into? What is the balance between Character's surviving the game and Persona's dealing with drama as Characters, I guess is my question. For example, Persona A only decided to come to game night because they wanted to put Persona B on blast for sleeping with Persona C, the spouse of Persona A.

I do approve of giving some thought about your persona's opinion toward the others and things that might have happened between them in the past, but this is more about internal drama rather than external. The game's goal is to keep your persona here forever, and one way it does that is by exploiting their personal weaknesses.

[Envious]

Thanks, that helps a lot!