Veil Game 3 - Alternate Rules

[Salaris]

Beyond the Veil Game 3 (the January 18th-20th event) will be using a slightly modified version of the 2.02 Live Effects Rules. This is a playtest, and these rules will not necessarily be used again if the player base does not enjoy using them. The primary change in this modified rules system is that players will no longer need to call damage numbers in combat. As a result, certain skills work differently, as described below.

Since the rules for this game are slightly different, I will allow players to rebuild their characters for the event if desired, however, this should not be necessary. A player with Rank 6 in the "Armor" skill in the standard Live Effects rules still has the same thing here - all point costs and skill levels are the same. The only exception is Tough Skin, which only has three levels in the Veil system. In this case, take your existing Tough Skin skill and divide it in half (round up) if you choose not to remake your character.

Rules Change Summary:
-There are no longer damage number calls in combat. Any hit from a weapon is assumed to be an attack unless the "Subdue" call is used, in which case the attack is non-lethal. Subdue works the same way it does in the normal Live Effects rules.

-The "Weapon Damage" skill has been replaced with "Weapon Skill". This skill grants you combat maneuvers that do not require endurance based on your weapon type.

-Armor now gives the player a certain number of extra hits per hit location. When struck, the player does not need to call anything - you should simply role-play that you have been hit. Calling "Armor" when taking a hit that is blocked by armor or "Taken" when you are hit and injured is optional. I would recommend only using these calls if it would be difficult to tell if you have been hit.

-Tough Skin works the same as armor, but it much more expensive. A player with both Tough Skin and Armor loses his or her armor first when hit, then Tough Skin. The "Pierce" call will go through both Armor and Tough Skin and deal an immediate wound (but it can still be Evaded).

-Backstab goes through Armor and Tough Skin and cannot be Evaded.

-Spells and Blessings that used to increase weapon damage now increase Weapon Skill instead.

-A couple new spells have been added to the Destruction list to compensate for the loss of the different levels of damage spells.

-Armor enhancement spells and blessings now increase the target's level of "Tough Skin". This allows unarmored targets to benefit from these spells/blessings.

Again, you should be able to use your existing character sheets and just convert your armor, damage, and tough skin skills over - but players who choose to remake their characters for this game to try a different build are welcome to do so.

If you have questions, feel free to post them here. This is a fairly significant change in how combat works, and I understand that it may take some getting used to. This system has been playtested by some of our players, but it may still require balance changes at a later time if we use it again at all.

Please send negative feedback/flames should be sent directly to veil@onlineeffects.com by e-mail or PM me here. I do not want another flame war starting on this thread. After the game, I will start another thread to discuss the rules system, at which point you are welcome to tear the system apart on the forum. I would ask that you please reserve any major judgment of the system until actually trying it at the game (but again, questions are welcome). If anyone finds errors or typos, you can e-mail those to veil@onlineeffects.com as well.

Note: Due to the upload restrictions on this website, the rules are compressed in .zip format.

[Sir Rondar]

So backstab is now pierce as well as strike? Ouch.

[Salaris]

Yes, that's correct, it basically functions like "Strike Pierce".

[lisalee]

It might be beneficial to give the new version of the rules a try before play testing alternates. If there is something broken, Ira is generally amenable to fixing things.

[Salaris]

While I do understand your concern, we held a NPC practice last week to test this rules system and it went very well. I realize these rules changes will require some getting used to, but I feel that will occur no matter when we try to implement them.

The Veil event will be more focused on role-playing than combat and rules mechanics. These modified rules are in place to help allow people to stay in character even when combat breaks out. If these rules do not end up serving that purpose, I will likely drop them in the future.

[Dianachan]

Maybe we can practice some more of the new Veil Rules at the up comming fighter practice.

[SpiderFairy]

Now that's an excellent plan!!!

[iraham]

I will probably be a non-com for the veil game myself.

[SpiderFairy]

Hmm....maybe I'll be your body guard. ~laugh~

[Salaris]

Sounds good, I'll try to make it to the practice to watch and make sure there are no glaring issues with the system. I'll be glad to hear feedback at the practice as well.

[lisalee]

The problem I have right now is that my character does not translate very well to a call-less system. I don't have high level combat maneuvers because they are just too expensive. There is no benefit to level 4 weapon proficiency other than damage, unless I missed something? There is a lot lost in the translation.

[lisalee]

I think if you are going to do a playtest, maybe it should only be for one night - say Friday night? Give it a try, and be prepared to go to another system. A weekend is a long time to be in a system that doesn't work.

[Dianachan]

The problem I have right now is that my character does not translate very well to a call-less system. I don't have high level combat maneuvers because they are just too expensive. There is no benefit to level 4 weapon proficiency other than damage, unless I missed something? There is a lot lost in the translation.

With the new system every thing is based on how many times you get hit. Rew can explain this better as I feel I'm going to completely throw you for a loop if I try.

But in the long run, how hard you hit doesnt matter any more, but how many times you get hit, does.

[Salaris]

There is no benefit to level 4 weapon proficiency other than damage, unless I missed something? There is a lot lost in the translation.

Level 4 Weapon Proficiency translates into Level 4 in the "Weapon Skill" ability in my rules system. It gives you free combat maneuvers (no endurance), even if you don't have the prerequisites for them.

At level 4, you would have a certain maneuver 4 times per combat based on your weapon type. For a long sword, this would be Disarm 4x/combat. This might be too much - we'll deal with the balance side of things later. This is explained on page 30-31 in the modified rulebook (from the initial post).

I've also presented the option that players can simply re-allocate their points if they would rather not have this system's version of armor or "Weapon Skill".

I think if you are going to do a playtest, maybe it should only be for one night - say Friday night? Give it a try, and be prepared to go to another system. A weekend is a long time to be in a system that doesn't work.

As I mentioned before, this is a very low combat game. There's a high probability that some (or all) players will never engage in combat on Friday night. Players will have opportunities to seek combat out if they are interested, but most of that will be on Saturday. We'll try to test things more at the fighter practice, however, and make sure everyone understands how the skills translate over.

[SpiderFairy]

Excellent!
I'm looking forward to playing my first Live Effects game in a couple weeks.

[Sir Rondar]

PCing Neeters and NPCing Alex?! Up is down! Black is white! The stars are right! The Old Ones are returning!!!

[SpiderFairy]

Ooooh!!! The Old Ones returning!!! We must prepare!!!
~where's my squid hat?~

[Conconhead]

I'm NPCing! AND doing costuming. Spiff. Should be fun. I'm more familiar with call-less combat anyhow.