Goal System: Delves - First Adventure

[fourcolorfigs]

Here's a shot of the whole group of Delves minis that I painted for a backer:




I hope to have these available for general sale at some point in the future.  Again, sometime after I've finished with the KS business.

[sundayhero]

Thank you for your comment,

If you manage some kind of solitaire mode, please also make it compatible with SS3 

As I explained on another topic :

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=47153.0

that's a feature I miss in your game...I really like the system, but my current like make it not so compatible with my hobby needs. These days (and, I bet, it will be worst as I become older...  ) I'm focusing on solitaire playing. Solid, full featured solitaire gaming. Not some kind of a "poor man version" of the dual player game


thanks

[General]

Hey Tenz,

How do "social checks" work?  Does success indicate whether information is revealed or the quality of the information?

Thanks.

Phil

[Tenz]

Hey Tenz,

How do "social checks" work?  Does success indicate whether information is revealed or the quality of the information?

Thanks.

Phil

Hey Phil,

What I enjoy about Delves most is areas like these as you can make them as simple or complex as you want. The rules state that social checks are TN2 for people the characters may know and then can change depending on demeanor, situation etc.

As to revealed information what I like to do are extended social checks. I give out a little information for each success. I have handled this in a couple of different ways.

One example would be from our last adventure where the characters encountered a Bone Dragon. The TN was increased to TN3. Each success gathered the characters some information and kept the dragon engaged in the conversation. If a character failed the check the dragon would snark a remark of hostility towards said character. If that character continued the conversation then it would need a TN5 for success. If they failed that check the dragon has grown tired of the ramble and attacks. However I also had a feature in the dialogue that the characters could avoid the dragon without combat.

Another example is the characters are talking to people in a city and are looking for a secret cult. The initial check would be TN2 to gather the basic information. If the players pressed the conversation TN would increase to 3 and would continue based on the information they know. But if they fail it has to have some repercussions. Maybe one of the people was a snitch for the cult and informs them so later in another encounter they prepare a trap for the heroes or maybe the conversation goes side ways and the players are accused of being apart of the cult.

Either way its really up to you as a GM how you want to handle the situation. I enjoy the above as its my little spin on how I perceive the events flowing.

Also remember not all the information the players find have to be truthful facts ;-)


Cheers,

Tenz


 

[fourcolorfigs]

Tenz pretty much nailed it on his explanation of Social Checks in Delves. They're pretty open-ended and allow a lot of latitude for the GM and players. 

Let me know if you have any other rules questions.  I try to visit LAF at least 2 - 3 times a day to check for questions.

Thanks! 

--Scott

[Hatemonger]

Sorry to continue hijacking this thread, but I have a bunch of questions, too, and I didn't see a better place to ask.

First, what's the difference between "Goalsystem: Fantasy" and "Goalsystem: Delves"? I see Fantasy available at $3 for 16 pages, while Delves is $15 for ~250(!) pages. What the hell is filling up all those pages?!? Are they compatible, or totally different? Is Delves more like an "expanded version", or would you need Fantasy for other bits, like big battles? I read that Fantasy has a points system for generating your own creatures, and Delves has some kind of character advancement. Could you give some more details about how those work?

Just like sundayhero, I was most interested in Delves as a solo/non-GM game, as a Heroquest-type replacement (hopefully improvement!), and I was disappointed when those rules didn't materialize in time for the Kickstarter - in fact, that was what made me hold off from backing.

So I guess my next question is, what's missing? I saw some bits about random events for between-adventure encounters. Is there enough of that to fill the "down time", or are there just a few fun bits to add some spice?

What about parts of the adventure itself? Are there things for generating a dungeon map? Random monsters? Traps? Treasure?

And how about running the monsters? They don't seem to have any kind of "AI" in the descriptions - is there some mechanism for leadership/morale/psychology?

Sorry if this seems like an interrogation, but as I hinted, I've been on the fence about the game for a while, and frankly I'm trying to figure out whether it has enough of what I'm looking for. So feel free to convince me. One thing that might help a lot is to upload a pic/scan/pdf of the Table of Contents (there is no preview file available for Delves on either of the download stores).

Thanks in advance for any answers,

- H8

[fourcolorfigs]

First, what's the difference between "Goalsystem: Fantasy" and "Goalsystem: Delves"? I see Fantasy available at $3 for 16 pages, while Delves is $15 for ~250(!) pages. What the hell is filling up all those pages?!? Are they compatible, or totally different? Is Delves more like an "expanded version", or would you need Fantasy for other bits, like big battles? I read that Fantasy has a points system for generating your own creatures, and Delves has some kind of character advancement. Could you give some more details about how those work?

GSF is a much older, much less complete fantasy skirmish game using my system. Delves is brand new, and heels much more closely to the D&D tropes anyone whose played those sorts of RPGs would no.  There's formalized classes in Delves, and a detailed experience and advancement system that GSF does not have. Neither game is meant for "big battles;" they're both skirmish games, and Delves really is a hybrid miniature-RPG type book.

Just like sundayhero, I was most interested in Delves as a solo/non-GM game, as a Heroquest-type replacement (hopefully improvement!), and I was disappointed when those rules didn't materialize in time for the Kickstarter - in fact, that was what made me hold off from backing.

I have worked on and off on the solo rules, but they're a tough nut to crack if you want them to be good. So right now I am tabling them until I can have another go at them.  As a writer, when I finish a big project like Delves, I need a mental break, and right now I am working on other stuff unrelated to Goalsystem. I am putting together twice-monthly updates for the Four-Color web page that will include new monsters and other new material. That stuff is easy. Good solo rules are tough.

So I guess my next question is, what's missing? I saw some bits about random events for between-adventure encounters. Is there enough of that to fill the "down time", or are there just a few fun bits to add some spice?

The post-battle, post-adventure sequence is probably the closest thing to having true solo utility right now. You can send party members on jaunts to the various town spots to fence loot, run criminal enterprises, and seek other bonuses and equipment.

What about parts of the adventure itself? Are there things for generating a dungeon map? Random monsters? Traps? Treasure?

Nope, sorry. It's very much a GM driven game. We have sample adventures, but no mechanisms for generating the random elements you're asking about.  That would come with a solo play rules module.

And how about running the monsters? They don't seem to have any kind of "AI" in the descriptions - is there some mechanism for leadership/morale/psychology?

Every monster possesses a drive that guides his behavior and acts as a cue to the GM to let him know what a monster should be doing in a certain situation. These will tie into any solo play behavior AI I would create.

Sorry if this seems like an interrogation, but as I hinted, I've been on the fence about the game for a while, and frankly I'm trying to figure out whether it has enough of what I'm looking for. So feel free to convince me. One thing that might help a lot is to upload a pic/scan/pdf of the Table of Contents (there is no preview file available for Delves on either of the download stores).

No problem. It really sounds like you're looking for a solo play oriented game, and Delves just is not it.  Delves was written with group play in mind.

Thanks in advance for any answers,

You're welcome! When I do get a play-testable version of the solo rules together, this will be one of the first places I announce them.  I cannot say for sure when that will happen, as inspiration is a fickle force.

Thanks for your interest!

--Scott

[sundayhero]

thank you for your explanation. I'll still be interested but I think I'll search for other solo rulesets in the mean time

[sundayhero]

Digging this topic to see if any progress or schedule is planed for goalsystem (delves and ss3) solitaire rules ?


thanks

[fourcolorfigs]

Digging this topic to see if any progress or schedule is planed for goalsystem (delves and ss3) solitaire rules ?


thanks

I have not worked on the Solo rules for Delves in some time. I hit a sticking point and then moved on to other projects.  I may re-visit it at some point, but not until after I am done moving house and handling some other personal issues.

Thanks!

--Scott

[sundayhero]

Please keep us informed. I'm owner of supersystem, and sadly I don't play it as much as I'd like too.

I really like your system and the way you're writing rules. So I'm very interested in Delves, but if I cannot play it, because of the lack of players...I will not buy it.

If some solid solo mechanics would exist for goal system (SS, delves, and any future game), it would be a great thing. I believe indy games like yours, as good as they can be, are suffering of the competition with "mainstream" games, when it come to find game partners, because of all the "hype" these mainstream games have.


My humble opinion  


thank you for your answer