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The <S> <O> <R> <D> Second Edition ________/={_________________________________________________ O{]|///////|[ * >-----------------------------------------------~~--__ `^^^^^^^^\={~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` ====== ======== === ====== === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === ====== === === ========== === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === ====== ======== === === === === TM _______________________________________________}=\________ __--~~---------------------------------------------< * [|\\\\\\\|[}O `~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}=/^^^^^^^^" Copyright September 1994 All Rights Reserved. Created by, Written by, & Edited by, Scott J. Compton About The SORD, 2nd Edition: ---------------------------- The S.O.R.D. or the <S>ystem <O>f <R>ole <D>evelopment is every role-playing gamer's dream. In only 25 pages of information, it is a gaming system free from setting. As a result, the Game Master is able to either create his/her personal universe or get SORD Setting Supplements to the base SORD. Fantasy role-playing, for the advanced Game Master, is a secondary skill evolved from years of using all kinds of systems. Jammed full of in- depth fiction as well as facts on game semantics and settings, most role- playing manuals are only pulled from the bookshelf when something obscure is in question. Since most RPGs include background built into the system (except for some of the generic games), it often limits the Game Master. To overcome a rule or an aspect of the game that might alter how the system works on the whole, a flexible system is required to provide the building blocks for the Game Master's individualistic setting and 'house rules.' In this system, you will get all rules for Character Creation, the main SORD system, the complete Conflict system, all rules needed for game play, as well as a Calculation's and standard SORD glossary for easy reference. This is the second edition. The first edition had some minor problems and two major flaws; they have all been fixed. Furthermore, the writing has been upgraded for smoother transistions, definitions, and concept ideas. The standard SORD glossary has also grown in size. The Fantasy-SORD Setting and the necessary character sheets have recently been completed and can be picked up immediately. The ultimate purpose of SORD is simplicity combined with Character reality. SORD was first built for any fantasy role-playing game, yet it can be applied to any other setting such as science-fiction or standard fiction universes by adding the technologies that are desired. Game complexity is avoided to reduce the time spent rolling dice and contem- plating rules, giving more time for story-telling, player character inter- action, and rule creation and memorization for the Game Master. This game is recommended for the intermediate or expert role-player. Why was SORD created? Essentially, I wanted to achieve a system that would optimize role-playing, but at the same time be simple enough for all players to utilize. From the experiences I have learned over ten years of making various role-playing systems, the best games I have hosted directly related to the group's ability to cooperate, role-play, and optimize the system. Systems that did not focus on role-playing, plot-development, diversity, and adaptability were doomed from the start and everyone involved became discouraged. My final reason for creating this system was to give all role-players alike a financially free game that is not flooded with useless artwork, dreaded examples, and loads of information that will only be skimmed over one time and never used again. Hence, this is one-hundred and forty-four pages of material condensed into just twenty-five, straight-forward pages (~1250 lines). It is time that role-playing companies got a taste humanity and the simple premise of what a hobby means. I hope you all enjoy The SORD! Scott J. Compton /~~ -~~- _-~-_ -~~~- -~~~- \ / ~-_ | | | | | \| \__/ -__- ~-_-~ | | -_| For further details about this base gaming system or other SORD Setting Supplements, contact Scott J. Compton at 4b Hoskins, Escondido Village, Stanford, CA 94305. Scott J. Compton can be reached via e-mail by sending a letter to Galahad@Leland.Stanford.EDU. SORD was created, written, and edited by Scott J. Compton. Copyright September 1994. All Rights Reserved. FTP Sites: You can get all SORD files from the following places-- ~~~~~~~~~ Usually login 'Anonymous' with your full e-mail address as your password. You can 'cd' to get to the proper directory with the SORD.files in it. Or you can simply type 'get directory/SORD.files SORD.files', if you want to download the files to your account. FTP Wais.com (cd /pub/games/general/SORD.files) FTP enif.astro.indiana.edu (cd /pub/ericg/games/SORD.files) FTP ftp.cdrom.com (cd /): you'll need to find them FTP ftp.cs.pdx.edu (cd /): ditto Acknowledgements: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mike McAllister, Jason Yoder, Mark Steiglitz, Michael Ching, Richard Ney, Jocelyn Goldfein, Tim Knight, + many, many, many others that will be mentioned in future SORD Revisions. Final Note: this is the 2nd edition and there is bound to be an error lurking in small places. At this very moment, this game is being play-tested at Stanford University. A revised 3rd Edition SORD system will be available for your 1994 Christmas present. Future SORD Settings will be available by 1995. Currently, only two settings have been created: a Base-Fantasy setting as well as a Beyond-Middle Earth type setting. You may pick up a copy of the Base-Fantasy SORD Setting in October of 1994 from any of the above mentioned FTP Sites. You have my permission to pass this game along or copy it whenever you heart desires, whether it be by e-mail or by hardcopy, as long as the game stays in tact! This game may never be sold to make money, since it is in violation of Federal Law and my wishes. THE ====== ======== === ====== === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === ====== === === ========== === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === === ====== ======== === === === === TM The <S>ystem <O>f <R>ole <D>evelopment The SORD Character Creation Outline Table of Contents: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I. Roll the Base Attribute Dice ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Use one d6, d8, & d12 for each Attribute: drop one die B. Roll five Attribute sets and keep the best two C: Choose location of raw scores within each Attribute Set 1. Primary Set: AMBT/HLTH/MIND/PROW/QCKN 2. Secondary Set: CHRM/EXPR/FOCS/INST/LUCK II. Choosing a Culture ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Adjust Attributes according to initial Cultural Attribute Bonuses B. Write down Cultural Skills (Free Skills) C. Choose or roll Personality Traits: Self/Emotion/Outlook/Disposition D. Adjust Personality Traits according to Cultural Modifiers E. Determine the Age (both Current & Human) of the character F. Write down Attribute Maximums & Cultural Qualities/History G. Write down the Culture's Step Rate Number (SR#) H. Determine the Height and Weight of the character III. Choosing a Profession ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Meet the minimum Attribute numbers & fill them in B. Write down the Trained & Educated Lore dice numbers C. Fill in the character's starting date of the profession D. Complete the Abilities & Remarks section E. Write down the Profession's Step Rate Number (SR#) IV. Calculate the MaxWeight# ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ V. Choose all starting items, worn armor, carried weapons, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Write down the weight (in lbs.) of the items B. Total the weight of all items as Carried Weight VI. Calculate the Reaction Rate(0) and Reaction Rate(lbs.)#s ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VII. Calculate the Surprise# (S#) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VIII. Add up the MOVE RATE (MR) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IX. Note the Character's Upbringing, Experiences, Qualities, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ X. Compute Initial SPECIAL-TYPE Steps:(Attribute Sum)+(Human Agex10) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XI. Add the STEP SUM (SS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XII. Calculate STEP RATE (SR): (SR#s + Human Age x SL) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XIII. Compute Current and Maximum Step Advancements (SAs) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. If SLs>=1, roll for Trained & Educated Lore B. If SLs<1, character only starts with Cultural Skills and Professional Skills. C. Distribute Attribute Modifiers (maximum SAs) to Base Attributes to calculate the maximum Attribute scores XIV. Calculate STEP LEVELS (SLs) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XV. Calculate the Life & Defense Status ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Life-Recovery (LR) B. Unconscious# (U#) C. Deathly Blow (DB) D. Parry/Avoid# (PA#) XVI. Add up any ARMOR#s or Protection ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. Head ARMOR#s/Protection B. Body ARMOR#s/Protection C. Limb ARMOR#s/Protection XVII. Add the WAR and WAR#s: Fired, Thrown, Melee, Disarm, Special, & Critical ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XVIII. Complete Weapon calculations: WSlo, THAWAC, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XIX. Choose additional Skills, if possible ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ XX. Complete the rest of the SORD sheet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SORD is organized for your role-playing efficiency and simplicity. You, the reader, have taken a brave and adventuresome chance by spend- ing two hours reading this gaming system, and I will not fail you. Every comment written will serve a purpose and I will try not to leave one detail will be left out. If you are looking for fluff or long I would suggest getting one of the multitude of role-playing games that currently exist in your local gaming store that have a price tag >$20. Due to SORD's concise and consolidated format, this gaming system can be brought to you in under 30 pages in length with easy to read fonts and font size (hardcopy version). If you do not wish to create your own SORD Setting, you may also find various SORD Settings accessories to the base SORD system. All comments will be directed at the Game Master (GM), as if the person that purchased SORD will host his or her own adventure campaign. Players will take on the role of a character, just as the reader of any novel does. This system should only be used by Game Masters with and inter- mediate or higher degree of role-playing game experience. Definitions that are both in the text and in the Glossaries; Calculated numbers appear the 'Calculation's Glossary.' Other definitions appear in the 'SORD Glossary.' It is *HIGHLY* recommended that you, the reader, first read over the Calculation's Glossary, learn about any notations, and then understand the SORD Glossary before continuing; these Glossaries can be found at the end of this document of course. Character Creation: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To get a feel for this game system, I recommend that you follow the character outline and generate a character as you read through the basic system. As you proceed to fill in the character sheet, check both of the glossaries when you need them. After the character has been completed and you have understood this section thoroughly, you will know approximately 75% of the needed information to start a game. In addition to Character Creation, the basic combat system and other needed rules will be ex- plained thereafter. SORD requires five types of dice: 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12, and a 1d20. The standard notation will be "(x)d(y)", where 'x' is the number of dice used and 'y' is one of the five types of dice rolled. An easy way to remember this is to say aloud: "x die y-sided", "one die twenty-sided", "three dice twelve-sided", etc. Besides dice, a pencil, calculator, character sheets, and this gaming system are necessary for a memorable time (oh, and your imagination too). I. Rolling the Base Attribute Dice ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Creating a character is, by far, at the heart of every role-playing game. Both the player(s) and the GM should have some control to the initial development of character. Since the GM has invented the setting, the pro- fessions, the cultures, magic, and other character qualities, they are balanced with the player's choices of these same qualities. As the character develops over time, the gained Step-experience given by the GM is caught in check with the players's precise control over attributes, skills, and other advancing qualities. As a result, this game gives equal control to all memebers involved in character creation. Before a character's profession, culture, or personality has ever been considered, the 'Base Attribute' dice can be rolled. The Base Attributes exist on a scale from 2-20, and are needed to be 'checked' against life-threatening situations (using a 1d20); the 1d20 rolled must be lower than the base attribute number for success. For instance, if a character is holding himself from falling off a thousand-foot cliff, a base PROW check could be required by the GM. If the character has a 20 PROW and a 20 is rolled on the 1d20 'check' comparison, the character falls off the cliff to his death. In most non-lethal situations, attribute checks are made against the Attribute Maximum (or sometimes the Current attribute). If a 20 on a 1d20 is rolled (normal failure) in the case where a character has an attribute score greater than 20, another 1d20 check using a new higher 'shifted' scale (20 points higher: 21-40) is then rolled. This process of shifting the scale higher by 20 points will continue if a failing 20 is rolled for each consecutive attribute check, and if the attribute number large enough to be checked on the shifted scale. When rolling an initial base attribute score, three dice are tossed: 1d6, 1d8, & 1d12. Of these three dice, one die must always be dropped; thus, the scale is from two to twenty. The Ten Attributes are not rolled in order of attributes; instead, they are rolled in attribute groups called the "Primary Attributes" and the "Secondary Attributes." The five Primary Attributes include Ambition, Health, Prowess, Mind, and Quickness. The Secondary Attributes are the remaining qualities of Charm, Experience, Focus, Instinct, and Luck. The player will roll six base attribute scores for an Attribute Set of five numbers; the lowest attribute roll will be thrown out. Then, the player is allowed to roll five Sets altogether (a total of thirty attribute rolls with five thrown out). The player will choose the best two Sets for the Primary and Secondary Attributes. Within the two chosen best Attribute Sets, the player cannot adjust or modify the five raw numbers in any way, but can choose the location where the rolled numbers will be placed on each of the five base attributes. The GM may use this system to generate character, or simply adapt his/her own system if desired. II. Choosing a Culture ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Culture comprises both the genetic predispositions (heritage) and environmental influences (territories, languages, rituals, etc.) that creates a set of differences between peoples, their attitudes, and their influenced ways. In SORD, a Culture has qualities that are created by the GM or is available in a SORD supplement. The cultural qualities include: the Initial Attribute Bonuses, the Maximum Attribute numbers (rarely infinite), the Height, the Weight, the Average Life & Age (Current/Human) of the character, the Regions where the Culture is located, the Culture's STEP RATE#, Personality modifiers, Granted skills, as well as an overall historical description of the Culture. In any SORD Setting Supplement, example Cultures can be found. When considering a Culture to play, a player should think about what Attribute scores would be more beneficial, if higher. When a Culture is finally decided upon, the initial Attribute Bonuses of that Culture will adjust the *base* Primary and Secondary Attributes. All of the Cultural 'Free Skills', the Attribute Maximums, the Step#, and the Cultural qual- ities and history will be written down accordingly. As an optional rule, the GM can create negative cultural traits, quirks, or disadvantages to make each character unique for role-playing. Personality modifiers can either be rolled via a 1d10, or can simply be chosen if a player wishes to role-play a character's persona a certain way. Once chosen, the character's personality will be modified, depending on Cultural traits, personality quirks, and over the course of the GM's Campaigning adventures) based on encounters, experiences, and various revelations. The Personality Traits are four traits which are monitored along a simple 1-10 scale. They are useful to the player since they give a guideline about how a character's personality should be role-played. The GM should consult with the player to find what number the player is going to attempt to role-play. The numbers are not absolute; as the player role-plays his or her character, they will adjust up or down the scale based on future GM/player consultations. The four Traits and their scales are: Self (Unselfish/Equal/Selfish) Emotion (Emotional/Equal/Unemotional) Outlook (Pessimistic/Optimistic) Disposition (Pure/Good/Open/Evil/Corrupt). The traits are self-defined. As an optional rule, the GM may wish to add more Trait scales to this system or simply adopt another personality system. III. Choosing a Profession ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Professions vary from one to another both in learned skills and abilities. In SORD, a profession is a semi-permanent occupation that takes up a great deal of the character's time. Usually, the character has an interest in one or more aspects of the Profession chosen. The benefits of being trained in Professional lore increases the diversity of knowledge and physical abilities which hopefully will keep the character alive longer (and will allow the player to have a broader selection of character choices). Like the character's Culture, the Profession has a set of qualities that distinguishes one Profession from the next. These qualities in- clude the Location of the Professional organization, the Profession's STEP RATE#, three Minimum Attribute Numbers for Professional Under- taking, both Trained and Educated Lore dice rolled at each STEP LEVEL, the Starting Date of Professional undertaking, the Professional Abilities gained at each STEP LEVEL, and any other remarks or comments mentioned about the Profession. It should be noted that the three Professional Minimum Attribute requirements do not have a m(ATTR) upper limit; however, the other seven Attributes have a m(ATTR) limit of 99 points, even if the Cultural Limits exceed that amount. Thus, it is only possible to have three maximum Attributes that do not have a limit, unless the character has multiple professions. In any SORD Setting Supplement, sample Professions can be found for reference or adaptation to the GM's personal setting. Restrictions for playing a Profession are the three Minimum Attri- bute Numbers, Professional & Cultural compatibilities, as well as plot setting restrictions that can be imposed by the GM. Also, a character must have a STEP SUM equal to, or greater than, the total STEP RATE of the character before employment actually begins the Profession; thus, the character's Step Advancement number must be 'one' or higher. Often, a player will choose one Profession and raise the appropriate Attribute scores, or earn enough reputation in a political circle so another Profession can eventually be played. If one Profession is dropped, and other Profession is taken up, some changes will occur. Obviously, the Professional area on the character sheet will be altered and replaced with all of the new Professional information. The old Step-Status chart will be retained for the character's Professional records. Trained and Educated Lore not used up in Skills will be erased. A new Step-Status chart will be written in place of the old; The STEP-SUM will instantly start over at zero. The specific current Step Advancement number at the time of the conver- sion will be noted on the old Step-Status chart, so the player will re- member where he or she left off if the Profession is ever taken up again in the future. Yet the maximum Step Advancement number (SA#) and the current Step Level (SL) will be kept on the new Step-Status chart. Furthermore, the old Professional STEP RATE Number will be replaced with the new Professional STEP RATE Number to alter the overall SR. Old Professional skills and abilities will be retained, unless they are not used or kept up on a regular basis. Of course, the character will need to seek out a new Profession educator, college, etc. to begin a new Profession. Multiple Professions can be played as long as the minimum require- ments are met. However, Professional SR#s will be added together, the best Trained and Educated Lore/SA dice can only be chosen from the available Professions (TL/EL dice of multiple Professions are replaced). Gained Steps (Experience) are granted to the character in the form of role-played, conflict, problem-solved, and special-type are divided by the number of Professions that the character has. Finally, the GM's setting might not allow a character to have more than one Profession, or even change Professions as adventures unfold. IV. Calculate the MaxWeight# ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This number is the greatest amount of weight that can be carried at a given time. For every point over the MaxWeight#, a point of Move Rate as well as a point of c(QCKN) will be subtracted. The rationale behind creating this number was based on having a realistic limitation based on the char- acter's size and attributes. V. Choose all starting items, including worn armor, carried weapons, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Since the character's Reaction Rate is dependent on the total Carried Weight, the actual weight of all of the carried items and possessions must be added; as a result, these items are needed to be thought about and written down before the player proceeds to complete the rest of the character. If it is not possible to choose all of these items, the player must go back and adjust the numbers that are linked to the 'Reaction Rate: Pounds' number. The Carried Weight will change with time in the course of adventuring (new treasures, armor, etc) and it is up to the player to keep the RR up to date. The player will eventually find the optimal amount of Carried Weight for his or her character, to enhance the MOVE RATE as well as attack capabilities; of course, it's always nice to let the horse carry the burden. VI. Calculate the Reaction Rate and Reaction Rate(0) numbers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Reaction Rate (RR-lbs., not RR-0) makes up part of the Move Rate. In a sense, the Reaction Rate(lbs.) has a great affect upon all Weapon Attack Reaction numbers, the Attack Rate of each weapon, the Parry/Avoid number, plus many other aspects of the character. The player should attempt to limit the number of pounds that is carried by the character to increase the Reaction Rate. The Reaction Rate Zero (RR-0) is simply the Reaction Rate of the character when no items are carried, or when the character is stripped of all possessions. It is a number the GM likes to have on hand that will give a feeling of the best Reaction Rate possible because the RR-lbs. and RR-0 can be compared. VII. Calculate the Surprise Number (S#) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Surprise Number is a stable, mostly permanent score that tells the maximum number of seconds that an opponent can be surprised by the character in a Conflict situation. The best Surprise Number of a individual in a group is compared to the other group's best individual S# to determine how many free Conflict seconds that the surprising group gains before the first Third-turn actually starts (discussed in the Attack system). The best S# in a surprising group is also used as the best percen- tage chance of success for the attempted surprise. Of course, the Surprise Percentage can always be modified at the GM's discretion (terrain, weather, stealth, etc.). As a general rule, every person in a surprising group will subtract the best Surprise Percentage by 1%. Since, the character's Surprise Number is made up of Quickness, Instinct, and Luck, this number becomes a good indicator for the overall speed endurance. As a result, the S# is added to the Reaction Rate to create the Move Rate. Finally, the Surprise# modifies Weapon Slowness (see Calculation's Glossary). VIII. Add up the MOVE RATE (MR) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Move Rate is probably the most useful number to the character. It tells the maximum number of yards the character can move in a Third- Turn or twenty seconds (multiply MR by three for Feet/3T). The Move Rate is linked to many character qualities as well. One's Move Rate is a number that sometimes changes, and is composed of the Surprise Number and the Reaction Rate-lbs. The Move Rate divided by ten calculates the Parry/Avoid Number: a defensive number that is compared to an attack. Due to the many ramifications that creates one's MOVE RATE, the character becomes a realistic statistical tool, instead of a super-character with little consideration of carried weight, age, height, weight, culture, attributes, and many other normal character traits. IX. Note the Character's Upbringing, Experiences, Appearance, & Qualities ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These sections on the character sheet allow the player to design the historical events and physical traits that greatly controls the dispo- sitions, attitudes, and mind-set of the character. As the character is developed, the player might want to add to or alter these written sections as new experiences unfold. X. Calculate Initial SPECIAL-TYPE Steps: (Attribute Sum) + (Human Agex10) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When starting anew, the character should have already experienced situations that had an influence on the current Profession. To help out the character from an early death, Special-Type Steps are given to the character to ideally make all characters equal in power and skills when starting out. The human age plays a great factor, since older character will naturally have more experiences and skills. As an optional rule, the GM may directly give Lore points based on the Attribute sum, instead of SPECIAL-TYPE Steps. XI. Add the STEP SUM (SS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A STEP is a measure of experience that can be directed to the liking of the player. STEPs are gained in the four categories as the adventure unfolds. When the four categories of Role-Played, Conflict, Problem- solved, and Special-Type Steps are added together, the STEP SUM is known. The STEP SUM can either be added instantaneously, or at the end of the adventure, depending on the discretion of the GM; to prevent disruption during an adventure, GMs often leave STEPs to the end of the adventure (or a good stopping point). STEPs should normally be divided equally to the characters in an adventure. During character creation, if the STEP SUM is equal to or greater than the STEP RATE, a character may begin the Profession of interest. As the GM's campaign continues, the character will be granted Steps from the four categories of Role-played, Conflict, Problem-solved, and Special-Type Steps. When a new Step Level occurs (after every five Step Advancements), all of the four categories of gained Steps are lost and the STEP SUM equals zero again. Therefore, whenever a character gains a Step Level, a 'Step Revolution' has taken effect, and the gained STEPs and STEP SUM goes to zero. Role-Played Step per character: For every hour of actual role-playing, the character gains a base of 2d12 Role-Played Steps plus a 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12, or a 1d20, according GM's opinion on the level of role- playing. The GM will get to choose which die will be used with the normal 2d12 roll; this chosen die is called the 'Difficulty Die' (or DD). It is often difficult for the GM to make a judgement. If the GM cannot make a choice, he or she can roll a 1d6 to determine the Difficulty Die if needed: Roll D.D. 1 1d6 2 1d8 3-4 1d10 5 1d12 6 1d20 Therefore, for a typical adventuring session five hours in length, the role-played character might gain 10d12 base STEPs plus five Difficulty Dice. If the DD were all 1d10s, the adventuring group would have a range of 15-170 STEPs or an average of 85 Role-played Steps. Conflict Steps: In every conflict situation between the unknown Non- character(s) and the player character(s), STEPs will be rewarded according to the list of outcomes: 1). Non-character foe defeated in combat*: ((Opponent's maximum Step Advancements x 2d12) + D.D.) 2). Unknown Non-character fled from Conflict: (2d6 + D.D.)/Non-character 3). Player Character fled from Conflict: (2d6 + D.D.)/Character 4). Both Unknown Non-character(s)/Player character(s) resolve Conflict: (2d8 + D.D.)x(New Group Size) 5). Unknown Non-character(s) join/help Character(s): (2d10 + D.D.)/Non-character 6). Special Circumstance: To be decided by GM; Dice never exceed: (2d20 + D.D.)/Situation * To gain STEPs for defeating or slaying a Non-character, it must be a threat to the Character(s). Problem-Solved Steps: Problems come in many sizes-- from attempting to unlock a probable treasure chest to finding a lost item of power, or discovering the way to cast a spell from a scroll, or finding a hidden passageway that leads to freedom. Problem-solved STEPs are rated by the GM as a Minor, Normal, Major, or Grand Problems and the points are given to the character(s) involved in solving the Problem. A Problem is not defined as accidental, but is known and thoughtout by the GM; the problem could have been created by chance as long as the GM planned it. The STEPs are given out according to the chart: Problem Type Dice Used m(Range) ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ Minor 2d20+D.D. 3 - 60 Normal 4d20+D.D. 5 - 100 Major 6d20+D.D. 7 - 140 Grand 9d20+D.D. 10 - 200 Unbelievable 14d20+D.D. 35 - 300 Special-Type Steps: If something happens that is worthy of giving STEPs to all characters involved that does not fit into the other three STEP categories, it falls into this special category. All special events and situations are rated and judged by the GM. Often, GMs will use the Special-Type category as a 'bonus' for a good adventuring session. The GM will roll a multiple of a Difficulty Die: Special Situation Dice Used Minor D.D. x 1 Normal D.D. x 2 Major D.D. x 4 Grand D.D. x 7 Unbelievable D.D. x 10 XII. Calculate STEP RATE (SR) from the SR#s and Human Age ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The character's STEP RATE is composed of three numbers and is multi- plied by the current Step Level: 1). the Professional SR#(s) 2). the Cultural SR# 3). the Human Age The STEP RATE is very meaningful since the STEP SUM divided by the STEP RATE calculates how often a Step Advancement is gained; Additionly, the STEP RATE is also multiplied by the Step Level (except when the SL is zero). for example, if the number (SR/SS) is 3.567, the character would be at the 3rd Step Advancement. As time progresses, it is an uphill climb to gain more skills, abilities, attribute bonuses, etc. based on the multiple Step Level effect; the Step Rate Multiple, is simply part of the normal STEP RATE formula. At the 0th and 1st Step Levels, the multiple is x1. At the second Step Level, the Step Rate is doubled; at the third Step Level, the Step Rate is tripled, etc. XIII. Compute Current and Maximum Step Advancements (SAs) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A character can be of the 0th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th current Step Advancement or c(SA). The moment a character achieves the 5th Step Advancement (one single STEP), a Step Level is gained, a Step Advancement is gained, Trained and Educated Lore dice are rolled, the STEP SUM (and all STEPs) falls back to zero, and granted Professional Abilities are gained. However, the Maximum Step Advancement number will still be noted and added to, since it represents bonus Attribute modifiers. Any extra STEP SUM points that are gained above the 5th Step Advancement will be applied to the current SAs of the next Step Level. In other words, a 5th Step Advancement is actually achieved by just one, single STEP SUM point. This is true because the STEP SUM divided by the STEP RATE determines the current Step Advancement number of the current Step Level. The divided number will always be mathematically rounded down. If the current Step Advancement was calculated to be 2.94 for example, the character would still be on the second Step Advancement. Thus, only one point separates the 4th SA (4.9...) from the 5th, instantaneous SA (5.00). When the fifth c(SA) is reached, a Step Revolution occurs and the character raises one Step Level. SAs are truly significant to the player because an Attribute point is gained at each Step Advancement; the number of gained Attribute points are recorded as the m(SA). The player can modify any desired attribute by one point when a SA is gained. The SA also shows how far off the character is from the next Step Level. XIV. Calculate STEP LEVELS (SLs) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Step Levels represent a comparison between one character to the next. On the *fifth* Step Advancement, one Step Level is gained. To in- stantly calculate the Step Level of a character, one could simply divided the maximum Step Advancements by five. Characters usually start out at the 0th Step Level, and therefore are not given any Trained or Educated Lore based on their Profession (only free Professional/Cultural Skills). Yet at each Step Level, the character gains both Professional special abilities as well as Trained and Educated Lore dice. The current Step Level of the character also tells how the STEP RATE#s are multiplied (STEP RATE Multiple). Characters without a Profession (such as common folk) gain 1d6 TLs and 1d6 ELs at every Step Level. Step Levels provide an indicator to the GM. When the total Step Levels of an adventuring party is added together, the GM will know the combined 'Powerforce' capable by the party. When foes are encountered, the GM will have an idea (based on this statistic) of the outcome if a Conflict occurred. The Powerforce gives a rough guideline to the GM so it can be known what opponents the adventuring party should be faced against in Conflict. XV. Calculate the Life & Defense Status ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Life-Recovery, Unconscious#, and Deathly Blow numbers are the three life traits that are extremely important indicators. The char- acter's Life-Recovery tells how much damage can be naturally healed to damaged current Attributes each hour the character 'RESTs' (See REST and Heal-of-the-Minute). The player will determine where gained Life- Recovery points are distributed on current Attributes after REST has taken place. The Unconscious Number tells how much inflicted damage the character can take before *possibly* going unconscious; If a single attack causes more damage than the character's U# or if any attribute ever falls to zero, the character will fall unconscious if a b(MIND) check is not made. Unconsciousness will last for a certain number of seconds based on the subtracted difference between the total damage taken and the character's U#. For instance, if 45 points of damage are taken and the character has an U# of 34, the character will fall unconscious for (45-34=11) eleven seconds if the b(MIND) check fails. The last life trait is the Deathly Blow indicator. If a character ever sustains more damage than his or her Deathly Blow#, a b(EXPR) check must be made. A failed check is instant death. Fortunately, all life traits are based on m(ATTRs) and increase with time. The Parry/Avoid Number is the defender's front line of protection and is vitally important as a number comparison. Since the PA# number is one-tenth of the defender's MOVE RATE, it takes all realistic factors into consideration within a Conflict situation. When a defender is attacked, this number is directly compared to the attacker's particular S.W.A.C.# so that it is possible to dodge or avoid the attack. A char- acter with a high MOVE RATE should statistically survive longer in combat. XVI. Add up any ARMOR#s or Protection ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The character's physical protection against damage is categorized into Head, Body, and Limb Armor Numbers. One's Head, Body, and Limb#s are directly correlated to the MIND, PROW, and QCKN attributes. When damage is inflicted to one of these three areas, the correlated attribute *might* be damaged as well, depending on where damage is distributed. The player will get a choice of subtracting points from the damaged c(MIND/PROW/QCKN), c(AMBT), c(HLTH), or any combination as long as the damage is taken. Armor numbers and other forms of Protection allow damage to be minimized. Every piece of Armor or Protection will have a certain number of points that will subtract sustained damage from a particular location (Head, Body, or Limb). For instance, a metal helm could have 10 ARMOR#s. Therefore, if an attack hits the *Head* area for 15 points of damage, only (15-10) five points of *MIND*, AMBT, HLTH, or any damage combination will be subtracted according to the player's liking. The player may choose to have the c(MIND) take four points of damage, the c(AMBT) to take one point, and c(HLTH) to not be damaged at all. Protection is a form of defense that is not a 'physical-type' of armor. Some types of possessions can generate protection for character. For instance, a character wearing a magical ring of defense might gain +5 ARMOR#s for all three locations. A character surrounded by a special energy-barrier might gain +15 ARMOR#s. It is entirely up to the GM to create these special forms of Protection. In most settings, unique Pro- tections, in conjunction with physical Armor types, are more common than Protective devices found alone. XVII. Add the WAR and WAR#s: Fired/Thrown/Melee/Disarm/Special/Critical ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Weapon Attack Reaction (WAR) tells the character's base ability make an attack without training in weapon or without actually using a weapon (brawling, open-hand combat, etc.). If a character hits, jabs, punches, kicks, employs any type of body attack, or attempts an attack using a weapon without a weapon skill, this 'base' number called the WAR is used in the T.H.A.W.A.C. formula. If a character is skilled in a specific weapon, one of six Weapon Attack Reaction Types will be used instead of the WAR: Fired, Thrown, Melee, Disarm, Special, or Critical WAR#s. Some weapons have multiple WAR#s possibilities, so that a character can learn more than one skill in the weapon, if desired. For instance, a two-foot sword might have been made to make Melee and Disarm attacks only. A Specific WAR# is used in the T.H.A.W.A.C. formula to determine the character's ability to hit with a specific weapon's learned skill; if no weapon skill is learned for a specific weapon, the base WAR number will be used in the THAWAC formula. XVIII. Complete Weapon calculations: WSlo, Attack Rate, THAWAC, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Weapon Type describes the specific skill the character can use with the weapon, as well as the weapon's quickness probability called the WT#. A WT# is permanent number used in the WSlo formu that determines extra time required when using that weapon-type skill. The weapon's Weight (Wght) and Length (Lgth) calculates both damage and slowness. The T.H.A.W.A.C (the sound it makes if a weapon hits) is a mnemonic for the phrase: "Total Hit And Weapon Attack Chance." It is a number used to compare the attacker's 1d20 roll with the defender's Parry/Dodge Number to create the S.W.A.C. (Subtracted Weapon Attack Chance). The Attack Rate tells the maximum number of times a character can attack in a Third-Turn. The Total Damage is calculated from several sources, such as the Weapon's DAM#, the Damage Type, the Wght & Lnth of the weapon, and possibly from high attribute scores or special setting modifications. Finally, some weapons have a maximum range called m(Dist) that should be calculated for Fired or Thrown weapons. For every ten feet beyond the m(Dist), a THAWAC# is subtracted. See the Calculation's Glossary for all necessary formulas. XIX. Choose additional Skills, if possible ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If a character initially starts out with a high STEP SUM and a low STEP RATE, it is possible to go from the 0th Step Level to the 1st Step Level. In this event, the character can roll EL and TL dice. Since Attribute points are gained at every Step Advancement, it is highly possible for a starting character to gain extra Attribute Modifiers. For instance, a character starting at the age of 50 with and Attribute sum of 120 would start with a STEP SUM of ((60x10)+120) 720 at the 0th Step Level. If the character's STEP RATE happened to be 100, it would only take 500 STEP SUM points to achieve the 5th Step Advancement, and an additional 220 points would be left over for the 1st Step Level. Furthermore, the character would be in the 2nd Step Advancement of the 1st Step Level. In all, the character would initially start with +7 Advancement Modifiers (+5 for the 0th SL and +2 for the 1st SL), EL & TL dice, as well as any Professional abilities of the 1st Step Level. As an optional rule mentioned previously, the GM may wish to add all attributes together and use that number as a starting number of total Lore to be used for Educated, Trained, or General (common) skills. SORD Setting Supplements will define skills in greater detail. XX. Complete the rest of the SORD sheet: c(ATTR), Treasure/Wealth, etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The rest of the SORD sheet is self-explanatory. The possible highest number of Current Attribute is based on the m(ATTR) or the Maximum Attribute. Since the b(ATTRs) and the m(ATTRs) are not altered when the character is damaged, the c(ATTRs) are used for modification purposes. Depending on the setting, the rest of the character sheet will be written up accordingly. If the SORD spell system or any other supplement system is used, the skills, abilities, concepts, spells, powers, etc. should be noted in the appropriate places on the SORD sheet. THE SORD CONFLICT SYSTEM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ________/={_________________________________________________ O{]|///////|[ * >-----------------------------------------------~~--__ `^^^^^^^^\={~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` _______________________________________________}=\________ __--~~---------------------------------------------< * [|\\\\\\\|[}O `~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~}=/^^^^^^^^" _______________________ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~// | The SORD || | Initiative || | Sequence || /__________________\\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A 'Third-turn' or '3T' is one-third of a minute or 20 seconds. A 'Full- turn' is of course 60 seconds. The Conflict 'Initiative Sequence' occurs every 20 seconds. The first action of the Initiative Sequence starts on the first second of the first Third-turn. All Characters and Non-characters alike can move up to a maximum distance of their Move Rate (in yards) every Third-turn. To discuss the Initiative Sequence in full detail, it is recommended that the reader checks both glossaries whenever in doubt about any term. Before the Initiative Sequence starts, the player chooses a weapon (or weapons if ambidextrious) that the character will use in combat, unless the character has other intentions (magic, talking, using a skill, etc.). According to the Attack Rate (AR) of the weapon chosen, that same AR number in 1d20s will be rolled for 'Initiative Chance.' The weapon's WSlo# (in seconds) will then be added to each of the 1d20s that are rolled. The new adjusted numbers, simply called 'Initiative Numbers' or INIT#s, determines on what specific seconds(s) the character will make attacks. Thus, the 'Initiative Chance' of dice plus the WSlo equals the INIT# for all of the 1d20s rolled. When the same weapon is used to attack with, but more than one weapon skills are used for that weapon (i.e., Melee, Thrown, Critical, etc.), the Attack Rates for the specific weapon are divided by the number of skills used in that Third-turn. Thus, a char- acter wanting to use *both* Melee and Critical attacks for the same weapon in the same Third-turn would divide that weapon's Attack Rate by two (remember that all calculations are rounded down). There are three Third-Turns in a Full-turn. The Initiative Sequence of a Full-turn will start three times: on the 1st, 21st, and 41st second (each specific Third-turn). The lowest INIT# determines which attacker strikes first. Furthermore, the initiative order is also known among all participants in Conflict, even if characters have more than one attack during the Third-turn. So when an attack is made, the (x)d20 dice are thrown for initiative based on the specific weapon's AR. Since the Attack Rate directly shows the number of times that the character can possibly attack with the weapon in a Third-turn, there will be no doubts in the GM's mind how many possible attacks can be made and on what second they will strike. If any of the Initiative Numbers rolled are greater than 20, they are simply thrown out and the character loses those specific attack for that Third-turn. Also, the character must sacrifice an attack if two or more 1d20s are rolled on the same second in the Third-turn. Moreover, if two or more 1d20 Initiative Chance numbers are rolled during the Third- turn, the attacker can only attack once on one second and the other rolls on the same second must be given up. Therefore, there are two possibilities for sacrificing the Attack Rate: INIT#s that are greater than 20 and INIT#s that are on the same second as another INIT#. In the event that an attacker does not attempt to start attacking on the first second of a Third-turn due to other actions, the attacker may start on the next available second. All 1d20 INIT#s that are rolled on the seconds earlier in the Third-turn (that are now in the past) will be thrown out in this case. The time (in seconds) required to cast spells, perform actions, use skills, etc., will be determined by the SORD Setting Supplement or the GM's House-rules. After all 20 seconds have expired in the Third-turn, a new Init- iative Sequence (and Third-turn) will occur. At the end of a Full-turn, a character may attempt one specific maximum Attribute check to gain back Life-Recovery points in that chosen Attribute; this is known as the 'Heal-of-the- Minute' and is an optional rule of the GM. If two conflicting opponents attack on the same second, the Attack Rates of the weapons are compared. The highest AR gains priority and will strike just before the lower AR can attack. If the Attack Rates of the weapons are equal, both opponents strike each other instantaneously. If an attacking group is able to 'Surprise' another party, extra 'free' seconds are gained before the Initiative Sequence actually begins. See Section VII of Character Creation, Calculate the Surprise# (S#), for a cross-reference. _______________________ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~// | The SORD || | Attack || | Sequence || /__________________\\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Attack Rolls will be made according to the Initiative Sequence of events, as just discussed. After the Initiative Sequence has been determined, a 1d20 roll will be made on each particular second of the attack(s) in a consecutive order starting from the first second of the Third-turn through the remaining 19 seconds. If a 'one' is ever rolled on the 1d20 attack roll, the attacker instantly hits the opponent. If the rolled number is two or higher, the Attack Roll is then subtracted from the weapon's T.H.A.W.A.C. of the attacker. This subtracted number is now termed S.W.A.C.(Subtracted Weapon Attack Chance). If the SWAC number of the attacker is HIGHER THAN or EQUAL TO the defender's Parry/ Avoid#, the attacker will hit the defender. This process progressively happens for all attacks from the beginning (1st second) to the end (20th second) of a Third-turn. It should be noted that in the case where the attacker's THAWAC is lower than the defender's Parry/Avoid number, a one is the only Attack Roll that will hit the opponent. _______________________ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~// | || | DAMAGE || | || /__________________\\ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Total Damage is rolled based on the weapon used, only if the attack strikes. If the defender's worst ARMOR#/Protection (also called Minimum Blow) is greater than the damage inflicted, only *one* point of damage is inflicted to the current Ambition or Health: c(AMBT) or c(HLTH). The damage is distributed to the character by the player (see Life-Recovery). If the inflicted damage is greater than the Minimum Blow number, a 1d8 is rolled for the actual place of damage (1-2 Head, 3-6 Body, and 7-8 Limbs), unless the character possesses a skill or weapon that pin- points a targeted area. Depending on the place of damage, the de- fender's ARMOR#s will subtracted some (or all but one one point) of damage to minimize infliction. The resulting sustained damage will then be subtracted from the c(AMBT), c(HLTH), c(ATTR) place of damage, or any combination thereof according to the player's wishes. If a current Attribute or c(ATTR) ever reaches zero (negative numbers are not possible since damage is distributed), that Attribute's base number or b(ATTR) must be checked using a 1d20. If the die-check is successful, the c(ATTR) will gain one point. However, if the check fails, the c(ATTR) REMAINS at zero and an Unconscious# roll must be successful to remain conscious. At the beginning of every Third-turn thereafter, the character is allowed another b(ATTR) and U# check; the b(ATTR) check is always rolled simultaneously with the U# roll. If the character's *AMBT* and *HLTH* together are ever zero, death immediately occurs. The "Heal-of-the-Minute" optional rule is quite useful when a character is rolling for consciousness. Yet, if a character takes more damage in one single attack than his or her Deathly Blow#, the character dies. Only the five Attributes of Ambition, Health, Mind, Prowness, and Quickness are normally damaged. The player may only distribute damaged points to these areas, the Primary Attribute Set, unless the situation calls for different damage. Such examples of non-Primary Attribute damage would be special attacks, magical forces or energy attacks on one's Focus, attacks to one's senses (sight, hearing, touch, etc), an attack on Experience (the draining of Step Levels), or any other devistation that could affect the Secondary Attributes. The Conclusion: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here ends the SORD base system! It is up to the GM to create and design 'house-rules', specifics for plot adventures, setting rules and modification, as well as any other aspect that will make each GM's universe and system unique. You now have all of the fundamentals for game play. With this system, modify it to your particular liking until you achieve the perfect and ultimate role-playing game imaginable. Just be sure to buy the dice (sorry, I couldn't include that), unless you can obtain a dice-rolling program over the internet. The Glossaries ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The several pages contain both the Calculation's Glossary and the standard SORD Glossary. All of the important terms can be found within them and it is good for the player and the GM to have both Glossaries on hand during game play. As a matter of fact, some formulas (like the WAR#s) can only be found in the Calculation's Glossary. As the writer and sole creator of SORD, I encourage you to find the Fantasy SORD Setting Supplement, since it can be used as a good mimicking basis for your own universe. CALCULATION'S GLOSSARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SORD Nomenclature: Character qualities and attributes often have three types of numbers: 1). a base number, 2). a current number, and 3). a maximum number. These three numbers are abbreviated 'b(x)' for a base, 'c(x)' for a current, and 'm(x)' for a maximum number, where x is the character quality or attribute. Another uncommon abbreviation used is 'h(x)' for a 'human' number. For example, b(INST) or shorter yet, b(I) is the character's base Instinct number. Another example could be c(Age) and h(Age) or the current and human age of the character. Anything within brackets "(x)" is always calculated first. The four symbols used for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are " + ", " - ", " x ", and " / ". ALL NUMBERS ARE ROUNDED DOWN; thus, 24.98 would equal 24 always. Attack Rate(AR): (Move Rate + THAWAC#) / (WSlo + 20 sec) Carried Weight: Total carried weight, excluding Body Weight Critical W.A.R. Number(C-WAR#): W.A.R.# + m(PROW) Damage: See Total Damage Damage Types(DamTypes): F:1d6, T:1d8, M:1d12, D:--, S:Special, C:2d10 Deathly Blow Number(DB#): m(AMBT+HLTH+MIND+CHRM+LUCK) Difficulty Die: 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12, or 1d20; GM's choice or 1d6 chart roll. Disarm W.A.R. Number(D-WAR#): W.A.R.# + m(MIND+INST) Distance-Fired Maximum(feet): (F.W.A.R.#) / (Length in feet of Weapon) Distance-Thrown Maximum(feet): ((T.W.A.R.# + m(PROW)) x2) --------------------------- (Weight of Projectile) Fired W.A.R. Number(F-WAR#): W.A.R.# + m(QCKN+INST) Initiative Number (INIT#): Initiative Chance roll + WSlo# Initial Special-Steps: (Attribute Sum) + (Human Agex10) Lgth: Greatest Length (measured in feet) of a weapon Life Recovery(LR): 1 + [ m(AMBT+HLTH+FOCS) / Human Age ] Maximum Fired/Thrown Weapon Distance: See Distance-Fired/Distance-Thrown MaxWeight Number(MaxWeight#): b(AMBT+HLTH+PROW) + (Body Weight/3) Melee W.A.R. Number(M-WAR#): W.A.R.# + m(MIND+PROW+QCKN) Minimum Blow: Worst Armor# or Protection category Move Rate(MR): Reaction Rate + Surprise Number; # of yards a character can move in a 3T maximum Parry/Avoid Number (PA#): Move Rate / 10 Reaction Rate(RR): (MaxWeight# + b(HLTH) + Height(inches)) x 50 ---------------------------------------------------- Body Weight + Carried Weight + h(Age) Reaction Rate(0)(RR0): Reaction Rate without Carried Weight Special W.A.R. Number (S-WAR#): W.A.R.# + m(MIND+FOCS) STEP ADVANCEMENTS(SA): (STEP SUM) / (STEP RATE) STEP LEVELS(SLs): STEP ADVANCEMENTS / 5 STEP RATE(SR): (Profession SR# + Human Age + Culture SR#) x SL; except when SL = 0 STEP SUM(SS): Role-played + Conflict + Problem-solved + Special Steps Surprise Number(S#): b(QCKN+INST+LUCK) S.W.A.C: (THAWAC) - (1d20 Attack Roll); compared to the PA#. T.H.A.W.A.C.: ((W.A.R.# Type - WSlo) / 10); the -1d20 Attack Roll S.W.A.C is generated. Thrown W.A.R. Number(T-WAR#): W.A.R.# + m(QCKN+LUCK) Total Damage: Wght(lbs.) + Lgth(ft.) + DamType + Weapon DamMod + Special Damage Unconscious Number(U#): m(HLTH+MIND) Weapon Attack Reaction Number(W.A.R.#): (Move Rate) + m(AMBT+HLTH+EXPR) Weapon Type Numbers(WT#s): F:+1, T:+5, M:+10, D:+15, S:+20, C:+25 Wght: Weight in pounds of a weapon WSlo: ((Wght+Lgth+WT#)x10) / (Surprise Number) SORD GLOSSARY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ambition (AMBT): An Attribute. Represents the ability to withstand fear. One's eagerness and courage in and out of Conflict. Ambition reflects the mental, physical and spiritual endurance. ARMOR#s: See Body, Head, and Limb ARMOR#s. Attack Rate: The number of times a character's weapon can possibly attack in a Third-turn. ATTR: Defines an attribute. The nomenclature of m(ATTR), c(ATTR), and b(ATTR) represent the Maximum, Current, and Base Attribute. Attributes (ATTRs): Ten main character abilities consisting of AMBT, HLTH, MIND, PROW, QCKN, CHRM, EXPR, FOCS, INST, and LUCK (see all of these). Damage inflicted upon the character is taken away from the c(ATTR)#. The highest current Attribute number equals the maximum Attribute, not the b(ATTR)#. Base Attributes are modified by Step Advancements, and the player gets to make the choice where bonus Attribute points are placed; the resulting modified number generates the new m(ATTR)#. Current Attribute numbers can suffer inflicted damage or be taken away after an attribute has been used or stressed. Body ARMOR#: The protection of the chest, back, & torso. Charm (CHRM): An Attribute. Shows the character's non-verbal presence and aura seen by others. It includes persuasiveness, leadership, guile, manipulative ability, other's loyalty to the character, as well as control over others to influence decisions and responses. Check: This is always a 1d20 die roll that is compared to a b(ATTR) or a m(ATTR); it determines if something will succeed or fail. The 1d20 die roll must be lower than the b(ATTR) or m(ATTR) for success. A rolled 20 always means failure, but if a b(ATTR) or m(ATTR) is higher than 20, another check is required and the scale is shifted up by 20 points again. The GM may impose penalties to a checked Attribute. Difficulty Die: This die roll (either a 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12, or 1d20) is given to the base STEP roll by the GM to the players according to their level of play. The Difficulty Die is often a judgement call and based on the GM's overall role-playing experience. Damage Type: The learned weapon skill that allows the character to utilize his/her specific W.A.R.#-types and cause extra damage based on the type of skill; Fired:1d6, Thrown:1d8, Melee:1d12, Disarm:--, Special:**, and Critical:2d10. ** Special Damage will be determined by the specific weapon/ability used. Experience (EXPR): An Attribute. Describes the overall gained insights by learning things throughout life. This attribute can be thought of as common sense or street-wisdom, but also includes various aspects of the nine other attributes. If a die check is uncertain, EXPR will be used. Focus (FOCS): An Attribute. Defines the mental creativity and shear magical powers/energies of the character. One's strategic ability and concentrative ability is generated from this attribute. Full-turn: A one minute duration of Conflict time. Also see: Heal-of-the- Minute. Head ARMOR#: The protection of the head, neck, and the top of the shoulders. Heal-of-the-Minute: (Optional GM rule) At the end of a Conflict Full-turn, a character may gain c(ATTR) based on the Life-recovery number. Only one Attribute can be healed at the end of the minute, and the same m(ATTR) must be checked for healing success. Health (HLTH): An Attribute. Represents the driving life-force physical endurance of the character. It defines what resistance to attack and disease the character has. House-Rules: Any additional rules or modifications the GM wishes to make on the SORD base system. SORD was meant to be universal and adaptable to GMs and players alike; thus, the GM and players should have every last option available. It is recommended that rules are not made too complex for a good role-playing session. Initiative Chance: A random 1d20 roll(s) to determine what second(s) the character can attack on. The number of 1d20 rolls depends on the Attack Rate of the weapon wielded. Initiative Number (INIT#): The particular second that a weapon strikes during a Third-turn, based on the weapon's WSlo# and the Initiative Chance roll. Initiative Sequence: The order in which Conflict takes place among all attackers from the 1st through the 20th second of the Third-turn. Instinct (INST): An Attribute. Describes the perception, six senses, and the animal-like insights; furthermore, this attribute tells the instant judgement of a character. Lgth: The length of the weapon. Each foot causes one point of damage. Limb ARMOR#: The protection of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. Luck (LUCK): An Attribute. Reveals one's ability to manipulate random chance. This attribute is often used when something unpredictable occurs. Mind (MIND): An Attribute. Tells the long and short-term memory, the logic, the thought-out judgements, and the overall knowledge of the character. MIND20: For every MIND attribute point over the score of 20, the character gains an extra point of damage to all Special and/or focused weapons. MIND20 is a "Special Damage" type. Power-force: A term given to an adventuring group when the Step Levels are added together, so that the GM can have an idea of Conflict outcome when other foes are encountered. Prowess (PROW): An Attribute. Simply tells the physical might of the character. PROW20: For every PROW attribute point over the score of 20, the character gains an extra point of damage to all Thrown, Melee, and Critical weapons. PROW20 is a "Special Damage" type. QCKN20: For every QCKN attribute point over the score of 20, the character gains an extra point of damage to all Fired weapons. QCKN20 is a "Special Damage" type. Quickness (QCKN): An Attribute. The coordination, deftness, reaction, and agility of the character. REST: An hour of quality time when the character is not under any mental, physical, or special stresses. Normally, an hour of REST occurs while the character is sleeping soundly without nightmares. For each hour of REST, the character will gain back current Attribute points (if damaged) based on his or her Life-Recovery number. As an optional rule, characters may also gain lost Attribute points back in a specific c(ATTR) if the m(ATTR) check is made at the end of each Full-turn in Conflict. See Heal-of-the-Minute. Scale-Shift: A 20 rolled on a 1d20 Attribute check always fails. When an Attribute check fails, a new scale range from 21-40 will take effect, if the Attribute score still falls within the new range. A new 1d20 will be used on the new scale 21-40. This process of 'scale-shifting' 20 points higher will continue as long as the check fails and the Attribute score falls within the range. Since many maximum Attributes are greater than 20, scale-shifting will occur from time to time. Size: Tiny (Below 3'), Small (3'-4'11"), Normal (5'-5'11"), Large (6'-8'11"), Giant (9' & Above). Although Size is not mentioned anywhere in the system, the GM may wish to classify the height of certain Non-characters or char- acters based on these height ranges. Special Damage: Represents extra damage numbers such as PROW20, MIND20, and QCKN20, as well as other forms of damage that are unique to a setting such as magical attack damage. STEP: A single gained point; All STEPs are added to generate the STEP SUM. Step Advancement: One fifth of a Step Level; Notes when an m(ATTR) point is gained. STEP-category: One of four groups: Role-played, Conflict, Problem-solved, or Special-Type STEPs. Step Level: A measurement of 'Powerforce'; Also, when Professional Special Abilities are gained. Step Revolution: The moment a character reaches one STEP SUM point beyond the 5th Step Advancement. A Step Revolution occurs when gained Steps are erased, making the STEP SUM zero again. Surprise Number: The ability to surprise; If character 'A' attempts to surprise character 'B', the S# percentage of character 'A' will be made. If successful, the S#s of characters will be compared. If character 'A' has a Surprise Number higher than character 'B', the difference (in seconds) will be gained by character 'A' before an Initiative Sequence begins. Surprise Number Percentage: The percent chance (based on the highest S#) to surprise another group. S.W.A.C.: Subtracted Weapon Attack Chance; if a two or higher is rolled on an Attack Roll, the resulting number will be subtracted from the weapon's THAWAC of the attacker and compared to the opponent's PA#. If the SWAC is equal to or greater than the opponents PA#, the attacker strikes the opponent. T.H.A.W.A.C.: Total Hit And Weapon Attack Chance; this number used with the Attack Roll. Third-turn (3T): The Conflict Initiative sequence; 20 seconds in length. W.A.R. (Weapon Attack Reaction): This is the base ability to make an attack using a weapon without a weapon skill, or attacking without a weapon. The Fired, Thrown, Melee, Disarm, Special, and Critical WAR numbers require the character to purchase weapon skills with Lore to use these WAR-types; otherwise, the character must use the base WAR number. There is no Damage Type for weapons wielded without a weapon skill. Weapon DamMod (Damage Modifier): Each specific weapon has a built-in variance that will be added to the Total Damage of a weapon. Most DamMods are zero, but for finely made weapons or one's that are well suited for the character often give a few extra points of damage (GM's House-rules). Wght: The weight of the weapon; every pound causes a point of damage. WSlo: The number of seconds added to an Initiative chance (1d20) roll. /\ _______--~~~~--_______ \~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/ | | < The End > | | /__________________\ ~~~~~~~--____--~~~~~~~ \/ Contact Galahad@Leland.Stanford.EDU for comments or questions about SORD!