Warband: Goalsystem Fantasy Skirmish [Official Game Title Changed - 7/7/14]

[fourcolorfigs]

Do folks want magic items separate from standard weapons and items or mixed in? 

Does this matter? 

In the rules as it stands, you can buy magic items to start a campaign, but I am working on a mechanic called "Cost of Power" which will make carrying too many magic items dangerous. This will hopefully balance the benefits and make magic items more interesting.

[deathjester25]

I like the cost of power rule a lot.  Magic weapons should always be powerful but dangerous.  What kinda ideas do you have for negative effects?

[Nikdo]

Agreed.  The "Cost of Power" mechanic sounds intriguing and I like the idea of rare but powerful magic items.  I'm not sure it matters if magic items are mixed in or not but my initial thought is to have them separate. 

[fourcolorfigs]

Here's what I have so far, pretty simple and direct:


Cost of Power (CoP)
We treat Magic items in GSF as special, rare, and powerful.  Every magic item possesses varying degrees of intelligence or will, and carrying multiple magic items can levy a serious cost on the power-hungry bearer.  Before each game, players should tally up the Cost of Power scores for the magic items each member of his warband carries.  Then each character with a CoP total greater than 1 rolls his Resolve against a TN equal to the CoP total. If the character succeeds on his check, he’s fine. If he fails, he starts the game at -1 Vitality, and if he suffers a KO, he also incurs a -1 penalty on any post-battle checks.

Lost Vitality from CoP checks cannot be healed by Regeneration, healing spells, or magic potions. It returns normally after the post-battle phase ends. 

 If the character still carries magic items in excess of CoP 1 at the start of the next game, he must make the check again. 

Example: Tylak carries Glasses of Scrying (CoP +1) and a Greater Magical Long Sword (CoP +2) for a total CoP of +3.  At the beginning of each game that he possesses these items he must make a TN3 Resolve check or start the game at -1 Vitality.  If he winds up KO’ed or removed from play, he’ll also suffer -1 on his post-battle checks.

[Patsuriku]

I love the Goalsystem, so that project is great news! I backed Delves, and while I loved it, I was expecting something less rpg driven - even if it's possible to use it as a warband agaisnt warband ruleset.
Will you go for free warband creation or create some templates like it's done for Chaos in Carpathia (my fav skirmish ruleset! I love that book) or Chaos in Cairo?

[fourcolorfigs]

Will you go for free warband creation or create some templates like it's done for Chaos in Carpathia (my fav skirmish ruleset! I love that book) or Chaos in Cairo?

Thanks!  Right now it's like B&B in the sense you build each character and make your own warband from them. 

So you can have a Mind Flayer Wizard with an Ogre bodyguard and his Orc Allies fighting a warband of adventurers.

[fourcolorfigs]

More chargen.

Step 1: Select Race (species)
Step 2: Select Attribute Array
Step 3: Select Class
Step 4: Select Additional Special Traits
Step 5: Select Equipment

In step 3 there are 8 Classes--the classic D&D ones.  Plus there's a lesser class called Retainer.  This class is for folks who want to play bands with one or two heroes with better Classes and a number of lesser characters as aids. These Retainers start with 1 less Vitality and a lot less rules "tech" to worry about. 

Retainers are not Henchmen.  Henchmen are separate, and you can still build them as normal too. 

[deathjester25]

I like the retainer class. Perfect for all the lead adventure militia i just ordered.

[fourcolorfigs]

I like the retainer class. Perfect for all the lead adventure militia i just ordered.

Yes, when they lose their last Vitality (and they only have 2) they go down with no KO check. 

A normal hero has 3 Vitality and still gets his KO check.

[Johnno]

On top of the cost for power rule how about some light and dark magic weapons\items that nergate magical properties of other weapons but those shud be expensive and rare.
Is there a component for carrying items like a backpack?

[fourcolorfigs]

There's this:

Backpack/Weapon Harness
Leather pack or sack allows the character to haul around extra gear.
Notes: The character may carry one extra weapon, and two extra items.
Cost: 2 pts.

[Johnno]

Nice. Looks like I'm sold

[manic _miner]

 Only just seen this post Scott.

 I really like the sound of what i have read so far.The D&D Chainmail range of figures is one of my favorites.I have the rules and supplements but not played a game yet.The miniatures were hard to get over here and i am still trying to track some down.

 There are more Goblins,Chaos Dwarves and loads of other Fantasy types waiting for release from Four A miniatures.Including the first warmachine too.

 This maybe a game that i can get a warband painted up for .

[fourcolorfigs]

Thanks, folks! 

Just by way of an update, I am getting closer to sharing a play-test doc. 

I am working now to integrate the Delves campaign system with the new GFS mechanics.  Going pretty well. 

Combat and character creation is pretty much done, thought I can always add more or tweak stuff, and likely will. Maybe I will share a tidbit or two here later today if get another chance.

[Nikdo]

Sounds good.  I'm looking forward to looking at the playtest rules.  Any preview of how magic will work?