Thursday, 1 December 2011

Providence Ho!

I'm changing the topic of Critical Brit as a dev blog for my custom D&D game, currently under the working title of Providence.
It is a pen and paper game set in a pseudo-medieval world of magic and monsters, and a group of heroes must quest to save the day etc etc. If you're already familiar with D&D, you know what i'm on about.

What sets providence apart is the balancing of character customisation and simplified gameplay. Like D&D edition 3.5, growth is slow and very in depth. Your character starts as an above-average person, but they must grow into their role as a hero. Taken away from 3.5 are silly rules, blank levels and the over complication of the more obtuse rules, making them unplayable.
Providence takes a lesson from D&D 4th edition by endorsing simplified combat, experience based skill encounters and balancing the existing classes whilst introducing a wide variety of new ones. What has been removed is a highly inflexible skill system and combat orientated campaigns; yes, fighting and adventuring are important, but sometimes a good trap, puzzle or maze in a weird environment is just as exciting.

EXP cost abilities, spells and crafting has been removed, replaced instead with a time and money requirement. Like the Class system, Crafting and items have been given an overhaul to exclude the non-essential elements and allow players a wide scope of customisation. Crafting as a whole has been simplified using a graph and an easy to follow guide on how-to's. Thus, a character built to craft can create fantastically unique items that will never be found merely adventuring. In addition, Masterwork Materials have been added for armour and weapons that grant additional powers rather than a boring +1 bonus to attacks.
 Mundane equipment has been given a reworking to make it balanced, regardless of the cost, so every item has a role in the game. There are no "well, I don't have the money, i'll buy the worse option" items.

When i'm finished, I doubt i'll sell this game. It takes too many cues from D&D and Pathfinder to be called unique, even in the light of changed rules and brand new classes. Nevertheless, I hope to put up an SRD website, so that anyone can look up how to play, and send in ideas for new classes or items, ideas etc. This will be an ongoing project that I am working on for fun, and I hope that you'll enjoy it with me!

Any questions or ideas can be sent to hensarita@gmail.com. If you want to help create Providence, I'm looking for ideas that are workable. I currently don't want anyone to write rules, environmental background stories or assault me with overpowered and super complex classes.
What I am looking for is maybe someone who knows how to make an SRD or something similar, maybe someone new to the website game who wants to spread their wings and have a go at making it. I'm also on the lookout for aspiring artists to draw awesome pictures to put around the website. Let me know if you want to have a go! All entries are welcome!

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