Tuesday 13 March 2012

The Killshot Ninja or How To Celebrate IAW's 100th Post

For the 100th time, I am the Warden!!

Ah, the centennial. The last time I marked such an achievement was the 50th post for IAW, it was a reflection on why this blog started and the road it had taken thus far. While I've considered doing the same for today's 100th ramble, that was scrapped to do something fun instead. For not only is today the tenth-squared post, it's also me birthday and the day I reach 2000 tweets. (If you're not following me on Twitter, then what the hell, man? You read my blog and not go the full distance? That's like inviting yourself over for dinner and bailing as soon as the meal's done.)

Those of you in the know are well aware of Killshot and it's progress thus far. To those who don't, go here. Then come back. Currently in development and extended playtesting, the results have been impressive considering this is actually my first original RPG design... ever! Over the past couple of weeks, I've been plugging away at the Director's guide to the game, Killshot: Direction, honing its features and tweaking accordingly under the realization the mechanics are more solid than I had expected. With the design phase complete, I feel like testing it further. Really bashing this thing against the wall and see how it holds up.

Therefore, I'm putting out an open request to anyone reading this sucker: give me an idea and I'll adapt it for Killshot. Even if it's not necessarily an assassin theme, you let me figure that out. As much as I'm setting myself up for buffoonery and wild submissions, that's my challenge to YOU, the reader. Send it to me on Twitter and I'll either reply back with how the existing mechanics already cover that or add it to the list and assemble a new creation in the order it arrives.

"But, Warden," you say, "what's all this about a Killshot ninja?" Good question! I've already had a request right here within my own home. Chelsea writes...
Dear Warden,
Can I play a ninja in your game? I really love ninja and think they're cool. If you're game had one, I'd play it in a heartbeat, maybe even with those weirdoes who come into my home once a month and get my dogs all riled up.
Signed,
Chelsea
P.S. Don't you dare put this on your blog and pretend to write in my voice.
A ninja? No problem. While creating a blend of the Burglar and Enforcer focus would work just fine, there are many aspects of these particular assassins just screaming to have its own focus.

THE NINJA
Murder for hire is not a modern phenomenon. Assassins have plied their trade over millennia, from the secret Muslim cabal in the time of the Crusades to the infamous and mysterious Ninja. In the days of feudal Japan, Ninja were the counterpoint to the noble samurai, harnessing their skills with such precision they were believed to possess magic.

While time and technology may have changed, the Ninja still exist and have adapted to the modern era while simultaneously remaining true to their ancestral tactics and weaponry. At their heart, it is not the weapons which make the Ninja, but his ability to invoke fear in their opponents.

Recommended Stats: Body and Mind. Accessing restricted areas and pulling off complex stunts requires a sturdy frame and flexibility only the Body stat grants, while the Mind stat allows the Ninja to convince opponents - from the lowly thug to the targeted mark - they are a demon of shadow and murder.

When you choose this focus, you gain the following benefits.
Ninja Focus Dice: The Ninja operate in shadow, masking their true appearance within a cloak of darkness. If the target cannot see you, they cannot understand you. And if that fails, they rely on favors gained by their environment. Whenever you gain the Darkness modifier or have more circumstance dice from modifiers than your opponent, you can apply your Ninja focus dice to any roll (active or opposed).
Option: You gain the Whirlwind option.
Masters of Death and Shadow: All Ninja specialize in the human body to better understand how best to kill their opponent, an education expanded into incapacitating as well as killing. All attacks made by the Ninja can inflict lethal or normal damage at your discretion, so long as you declare which damage you're causing before making your attack roll. On a successful attack, you can sacrifice 1 hit to use a Move option without spending an option or bonus option so long as you can access your Ninja focus dice at the end of your movement.

New Option: Whirlwind [Dice, Focus]
A crucial element to the Ninja's repertoire is their ability to engage multiple targets with grace and deadly accuracy. The Whirlwind option lets you make multiple melee or ranged attacks as part of one attack roll.
Dice Option: You can use this option to make an attack roll against a number of opponents equal to 1 + your total Ninja focus dice (meaning you can attack at least 2 opponents). Make a single Body attack roll against any opponents within range of your chosen weapon. All your attacks must be melee or ranged, you cannot mix them. Each opponent rolls their defense against your single attack roll; if you inflict damage against at least half of the opponents targeted, this option is successful.
Critical: You can make an additional attack roll against another opponent or an opponent already damaged by this roll. This additional attack roll must be the same melee or ranged attack as before.
Focus: This option is only available to Ninjas.

What's your idea? What challenge do you have for the mighty Warden for his Killshot RPG?

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