[PbtA] Final Fantasy Quest

[Homestarbaby]

Game Name Final Fantasy Quest

Game System PbtA

Theme A small group against a greedy empire

Flavour Adventure in the spirit of past Final Fantasy Games, nothing too gritty

[

Basic Info This is where all the basic info will go that is automatically generated when you request a new game. I am looking for 3-5 players to help me test out the system. We will play through 3 sessions so that we get a chance to feel for as many of the mechanics as possible. I've put a lot of work into it, but there is a LOT of room for improvement. Now that I at least have a playable version of the game (I hope), it seems like a good time to get some more perspective on how the game plays as well as how to make it better. So not only will you be playing the game (and hopefully having a lot of fun doing so), but you'll also be offering feedback and shaping the game mechanics themselves! A broad explanation of the system and what sort of flavor I am going for is detailed more below. If you are interested in playing, take a look at the playbooks and submit an application!

Setting Details The continent was at peace for many years. True there were squabbles and skirmishes between kingdoms and races, but never was there an all-out war until the Empire discovered Magitek. Relentlessly pursuing power, they have expanded their borders by conquering the territory of their neighbors and draining the lifeforce of any magical beings they can to further fuel their war machines. Because of their actions, the world is spawning powerful terrifying monsters. Even in the lands that are yet far from the Empire's borders, dangerous creatures attack villages and roadside travelers. Nowhere is safe, and the world is in termoil. Many kingdoms are scrambling to protect their own borders, either from monsters or the Empire itself, and there is little effort to focus on finding a solution to the problem. But there are a few brave souls, each with their own reasons for opposing the empire, that fate has banded together in order rescue the world from its dark looming fate. Will these warriors of light be able to save us all? Only time (and a plethora of Hi Potions) can tell... Tech level is somewhere between FF 6 & 7, but I want to allow some freedom of creativity for players to make their own hometowns. Starting group does not have to be tied to a single nation. We'll establish how the group joined together in Session 0.

Game Details The game is designed to run a standard Final Fantasy story: gather the crystals and thwart the evil empire to save the natural world while fighting lots of monsters along the way! The game assumes everyone is playing a hume but does not discourage players from choosing other races from the Final Fantasy universe (though there is no mechanical adjustment). Players each choose a playbook which is a Class/Job. The playbook has descriptions, moves, Materia, goals, and bonds all tailored for that specific class. Players are encouraged to roleplay in character and rewarded for achieving playbook goals. The playbooks are designed to give basic frameworks and starting stat tendencies, but because Materia are interchangeable there should still be plenty of flexibility. The game is broken up into 3 different parts: Start of Session Planning (where you lock in your Materia Choices), Story Scenes (the majority of the session), and End of Session Grind (where you battle to get what you need for the next session). The Story Scenes can be as action heavy or narrative heavy as the GM wants to make them. That is also where most experience points (potential) will be earned, since players still get these points on a miss. Players each gain 3 Materia at the start of the session, each with a minor power and stat adjustment. Materia can be traded around between players at the start of the session, allowing for customized builds and unique combinations each session. Materia powers are meant to represent narrative flavor, lending to the Use Materia move for actual mechanical effects. Material can be gained as adventure rewards and even improved during the End of Session Grind move. For simplicity's sake, each Materia has 3 levels of progression. Maxing out Fire into Firaga, for example, produces a much more powerful effect. And advancing Firaga instead creates a new Fire Materia to share with others. While Materia are obviously a Final Fantasy 7 tribute, the majority of Final Fantasy inspiration comes from 4-6. The End of Session Grind is meant to represent the hours one needed to level up before moving to a new area without actually taking literal hours. The flow of the game is meant to work like Dungeon World, with combat being no different than non-combat as far as pacing. I also wanted to pull a lot from Masks, where I could, because I really enjoy the roleplay and emotional investment that the game encourages.

Applications If you would like to apply for this alpha test of the system, here's what you need to submit: Name: Name for your character Playbook: See below for links to playbook options Description: What kind of character are they? Appearance: Please include picture Background: Brief paragraph that gives us a glimpse of your character's past Why: Why is your character opposing the empire? And why are you, as a player, wanting to play this game?

Playbooks Please choose 1 of the following 14 playbooks that you'd like to play (see list below). Black Mage Blue Mage Dark Knight Dragoon Engineer Geomancer Mimic Monk Ranger Red Mage Samurai Summoner Thief Time Mage Warrior White Mage (These other 4 are still being worked on but are not currently ready for testing yet.) Entertainer Gambler Ninja Paladin Like most good PbtA games, we'll be doing part of character creation together. But there's a lot that you can look at before we get started! You can even pick your character's name/age/gender and choose from the playbook's starting CHOICES if you wish. But because this is both a PbtA & an alpha test game, I think it would be best to go through character creation together so we'll all be on the same page.

List of Applicants DEADLINE: 5pm EST Friday 2/04 Player Character Playbook Motivation Status -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

[wodine]

Posting intrigue.

I have a few plot related questions.

1. What kind of tech-level are we looking at there's wide span in FFs, are we closer to 4 with flying ships being the pinnacle of technology but only the dwarfs having gunpowder or closer to say 7, which is mostly the same as modern tech but with swords and magic?

2. Are we formally associated with an opposing country or are we a group of like minded eco-terrorists?

3. Should we assume there will be bildungsroman?

Thanks

[BlackDragon0]

ch Name: Dozon Appearance: Noble Karuta Armor Katana. Limit Break Tempest Slice – In the blink of an eye you deliver a rapid series of blows to your surrounding enemies, moving so fast that it takes them another moment to realize they have been struck down. This attack will defeat any ordinary foe and is guaranteed to damage, if not outright kill, any boss level villain! But the power needed to unleash this ultimate attack demands everything you have, and once you have use it you cannot attack again until you have had the opportunity to heal and recover your strength. Starting Gear/Moves Steel Blade You have 3 total Materia slots, +1 Strong, and +1 Steady. Iaijutsu: You may choose to make an immediate Attack when a new enemy first appears. Starting Materia Pick 3 of 5: Atk Up(+1 Strong, -1 Sweet), Bushido (+1 Steady, -1 Sweet), Def Up (+1 Steady, -1 Smart) Other Gear/Moves Fang Technique, Sky Technique, Tiger Technique, (Flurry Technique,) Dragon Technique Goals The samurai serves a code of honor, refusing to stray from it even if it costs them their very life. They oppose the empire for a very simple reason: they have no honor. Whether they oppose the use of monsters, forbidden technology, preying on the helpless, the overwhelming greed, or even a specific dishonorable slight that the empire made against them personally, the samurai cannot allow for this empire to continue their dishonorable existence. * Whenever you suffer greatly for refusing to forsake your code, mark a potential. * Your Strong stat can never go below 0. Party Bonds Choose a PC that you must tolerate, despite their questionable actions or history. ( )Choose another PC whom you admire and would lay down your life to defend.() let them choose. Level Up Masamune Blade: +1 Materia slot Purple Materia(2): Increase a stat of your choice by +1 Musha Shugyō(2): Gain another Samurai move Limit Reached: Unlock your Limit Break BlackDragon0 Dozon Playbook: Labels Materia Bonds Conditions Look: Noble appearance wearing Karuta Armor and wielding a Katana. Moves/Gear 3 Materia Slots, +1 Strong, +1 SteadySteel Blade You may choose to make an immediate Attack move when a new enemy first appears.Iaijutsu You may use an Attack action to target an entire group of minionsFlurry Technique HP: 3/3 Strong 2 Steady 3 Swift 0 Smart -1 Sweet -2 Name Stars (+1 Strong, -1 Sweet)Atk Up 1 (+1 Steady, -1 Smart)Def Up 1 (+1 Steady, -1 Sweet)Bushido 1 Potential: 0/5 Advancement: None Name Note Name? Tolerate Name? Admire -2 SmartConfuse No -2 StrongMini No -2 HPPoison No -2 SweetSilence No -2 SteadySleep No -2 SwiftSlow No -1 everythingToad No

 

Dozon was a born samurai from the east. He serves as honor guard to the Emperor of his country. But word of this new Empire conquering others has the Emperor mad. As peace is his honor code and helping others as well. So he sent his best Samurai Dozonn to join with a band of people from other lands to try and stop this Empire!.

[Homestarbaby]

1. What kind of tech-level are we looking at there's wide span in FFs, are we closer to 4 with flying ships being the pinnacle of technology but only the dwarfs having gunpowder or closer to say 7, which is mostly the same as modern tech but with swords and magic?

2. Are we formally associated with an opposing country or are we a group of like minded eco-terrorists?

3. Should we assume there will be bildungsroman?

1. Tech level is somewhere between FF 6 and 7. The further you get from the empire, the less "tech" there is. But expect modern Magitech stuff near the empire itself.
2. You are a group of like minded individuals. Session 0 will help us figure out if you are eco-terrorists or freedom fighters.
3. I want to leave some freedom for everyone to pull from their favorite FF games, but yes I am quite happy to work up a background story if that will help get a more solid feel for the game's setting!

[Retry]

Is there a deadline to apply or is it a first-come basis?

[Homestarbaby]

Deadline for applications is 5pm EST on Friday February 4th.

[wodine]

Its sort a strange character idea, let me know if it won't work with your vision and I'll adjust it to something a little less... multifaceted.

WIP Name: Jamuna [jəmunaː] Job: Summoner Appearance: Always Smiling, Distant Gaze, and Constantly Whispering to Unseen Friends Jamuna bears three faces – Her moods change on a whim, her actions changing to match. *Clothes: Colorful *Weapon: Staff   Limit Break Yojimbo– You summon a mystic body guard, sworn by celestial contracts to protect you. This attack will defeat any ordinary foe and is guaranteed to damage, if not outright kill, any boss level villain! But employing such an esper is costly. Depending on the strength of the foe(s), the Yojimbo will require a price in gold, items, or blood. Starting Gear/Moves Runic Charm: You have 3 total Materia slots and +2 Sweet. Gifted Caller: You may use Summon Materia an additional time in battle. Other Gear/Moves Friend of Eldions, Part Esper, Master Caller Starting Materia Pick 3 of 5: Dance (+1 Sweet, -1 Smart), Enemy Skill (Gain 1 Blue Move), Ifrit (+1 Strong, -1 Steady), Shiva (+1 Steady, -1 Swift), Ramuh (+1 Sweet, -1 Strong) Labels Strong: +1 Swift: -1 Steady: 0 Smart: -1 Sweet: +3 Goals Most people are afraid that the empire has gotten too powerful, that no one will be able to stop it at this rate. But with the power of friendship, anything is possible. * Whenever you <unique>, mark a potential. * Your Sweet stat can never go below 0. Party Bonds Choose a PC that you feel the need to prove yourself to. Choose another PC that you wish you could always have by your side. Level Up Ancient Charm: +1 Materia slot Purple Materia(2): Increase a stat of your choice by +1 Making New Friends(2): Gain another Summoner move Limit Reached: Unlock your Limit Break Appearance/Description: Many people have been accused of being two-faced, but Jemuna bears three. A self-proclaimed queen of the summoners Jemuna wears colorful robes and clinking jewelry. She stands just under six feet tall; her faces each beautiful in their own way shift according to her moods. One is shrouded in golden hair her blistering smile shining even in the starlit sky. She wishes to heal the turmoiled land. The second is a pallid gray with a Distant Gaze looking out towards the horizon. This face wishes to protect the innocent keeping its gaze transfixed towards a future where it may finally rest. Her final face bears a striking resemblance to a raging beast. Furrowed brows and an angry snarl marks the part of Jemuna that wishes to destroy the Empire and avenge the fallen. This face whispers to the countless souls lost to the war and to the summons that may never walk the earth again, they’re callers lost in the fires of war. Background: All across the world there are the Villages of Mist. Sparkling examples of what happens when a group of Summoners comes together for the greater good. Groups of like-minded, and like-powered, individuals who can be tucked away on lone mountain tops, shaded valleys, or the depths of the umbworld. Jemuna was born and raised in one such village; a quiet little hamlet on the edge of the Empire, somewhere between the Titan Mountains and Southern Chocobo Forest. When the Empire went to war one of the first targets was the potential threat on its southern border. The village was assessed, infiltrated, and annihilated. Scattered survivors fled into the mountains or the Chocobo forest – Jemuna fled and swore her revenge. Why: Jemuna’s gift is a heavy curse. Long have summoners lived in fear of war, they are seen as weapons to be used. Tools to be sharpened, axes to be thrown. The Empire’s war led to the destruction of her village and the massacring of her people. She wishes to heal the land, to protect the innocent, and to destroy the Empire. I’ve always loved final fantasy and this seems like its different enough to be fun. Plus I felt it needed more FF 4 love. ACHOO!

[DrowNinjaPrincess]

Hello! I very briefly played this system and .. maybe kind of get the gist? I'm interested in Final Fantasy and the setting you propose, so I'm willing to give this another try.

Currently interested in the white mage playbook.

[Retry]

The ranger playbook doesnt appear to be completed. Was it suppose to be among the WIP books at the bottom?

Nevertheless, im interested in either the engineer or mimic. Will shoot to get something up soon

[Homestarbaby]

Originally Posted by Retry

The ranger playbook doesnt appear to be completed. Was it suppose to be among the WIP books at the bottom?

Thanks for bringing this to my attention! Just missed copying it over from my private files, it seems. Post has been fixed, and Ranger should be good to go!

[Homestarbaby]

Originally Posted by wodine

Its sort a strange character idea, let me know if it won't work with your vision and I'll adjust it to something a little less... multifaceted.

I do not have any issues with your multifaceted character.