State of Blades

Works is a bearcat with lots of travel right now but, it does give me time while flying to read and think about the game design.  And leaves me with a question...

One of the play-aids for Blades I will include are pre-made classes.  These will be available character archetypes that someone can pick up and play: I want to be a fighter, a thief, a barbarian, a ranger etc.  This should help get newbies into playing right away and fits the "D&D expectation" with players new to the system.  Don't worry though, full on rules for choose what I want skills and character creation are still in the game, this is just a quick play hook so you don't have to spend a lot of time "making characters" and can pick up and play right away.

On the art front Artkid (Luigi) has created the cover image and two additional pieces of fantastic B&W illustration art...with more to come!  I'd love to show them off because they are OUTSTANDING...but I am kind of excited to just leave it as BAM! final unveiling when the game is ready.

The question I  have is one of setting.  Should a simple setting sandbox be included as a kick off area to explore? I think yes but it might not be necessary..or even wanted.  As always your thoughts and feedback are appreciated.

Thoughts on game play

While the core HOW rules serve as the backbone for Blades & Black Magic, there are a few twists I am considering:

Taking Damage
1) Damage initially comes off of the characters EN.
2) Once EN is depleted all damage comes directly off of ST.  When ST is 0 you are dead.
3) EN damage is recovered (back to full) after a good night's sleep
4) ST is more serious wounding damage that requires medical/magical attention to heal.
5) This eliminates HP as a stat
6) NPCs, men and Monsters suffer damage right to ST and do not have the EN benefit.

Why?
This allows PC's to be a bit hardier (maybe even fool hardier?) and fits more into the heroic tropes of fantasy literature...WITHOUT making them superman (ala D&D.)

Magic
Unlike Damage, the cost of casting magic comes right from ST as damage, ST 0 means a dead character.

Ritual Magic allows you to use the ST of others to pay for the cost of casting a spell.

Magical items can grant energy or charges for spell casting.

Attributes
There is no increasing of attributes after the character is built, only skills can be increased or new skills can be learned.

Why?
I am just not a fan of attribute increase mechanics.  I like the idea one has to focus on improving or learning new skills instead of suddenly becoming more dexterous and getting better at everything as a result.

The work continues, and feel free to let me know if you have an alternate thought or issues.  I may not change my mind, but am open to alternatives. Also see some alternative logos below, if you have a favorite let me know!

Blades& Black Magic logo

Not much else to say about it except, I like it!

Let me tell you of the days of high adventure...

Work has begun shifting HOW rules to a BBM style game.  A few notable changes right off the bat:
1) Hit Points are a stat now, which equal ST, or ST+EN if you want more heroic play
2) All spells are Considered Black Magic and cost HP to cast
3) Ritual Magic added

Further additions will include

• Mutations from casting Black Magic
• Sanity/Fright checks
• Career Background option: this is 36 different careers and each starting character has 2 to 4. Each career has a brief description and 2 different skill choices for a character to take.  A character may elect to choose 1 skill and roll again, or both, and roll again.  In this way each character starts with a total of 4 skills and a bit of background history.

I still can't see a character wanting to be a Mage...but I have not closed the door on one who wants to pursue such things.

Also Artkid (Luigi) has agreed to a commission to do the cover and provide some internal illustrations for the rules book! I am very excited to have his work give shape to my game!