Hitting
There are 2 ways to hit in ToI, and the batter can change between these two methods as he wishes. Hitting for Average, and Hitting for Power.
Hitting for Average
When a hitter is hitting for average, the Hitting check is made with a TN of COOR. The number of successes made is subtracted from the Pitcher's successes. If the result is positive, that is the pitcher made more successes than the hitter, an out is made. If the result is zero or negative, that is if the hitter made as many or more successes than the pitcher, the result is a hit. If there is a tie, the batter walks. If there is one more success, the result is a single. Two more successes means a double, three more a triple, and four more a home run.
Hitting for Power
When a hitter is hitting for power, the Hitting check is made with a TN of STR. The number of successes made is subtracted from the Pitcher's successes. If the result is positive or zero, that is the pitcher made as many or more successes than the hitter, an out is made. If the result in negative, that is if the hitter made more successes than the pitcher, the result is a hit. If there is one more success, the result is a single. Two more successes means a double, and three more a home run.
Pitching
There are two basic types of pitchers, Power Pitchers and Crafty Pitchers - AKA Junkballers. A pitcher must declare what type of pitcher he is at the beginning of the year, and may only change after the season ends and before the new one begins.
Power Pitchers generally use fastballs and sliders to blow the ball past the batter before the batter can react. Their Pitching Check is made vs a TN of STR. Any time the Power Pitcher has at least two successes more than the hitter, he can declare a strikeout. Strikeouts cannot be challenged.
Crafty Pitchers use curves, knuckleballs, splitters, and other junk as their main pitches, to trick and fool the hitters. Their Pitching Check is made vs a TN of COOR. Any time the Crafty Pitcher has at least two successes more than the hitter, he can declare the out a ground ball, with potential for a double play.
answers to Questions:
How would you model a Hit & Run?
- Team at bat Manager makes a Tactics check, compared against catcher's Tactics check, then:
If the Manager wins, the runner has a bonus success in the ensuing play.
If the batter gets a hit, the runner attempt third, adding the bonus success to whatever is rolled.
If the batter gets out, the runner has a bonus success to add to his chance to steal second.
If the catcher wins, it's a pitchout, and the catcher gets an extra success to add to his throw to second on the steal attempt.
How would one bunt?
- A drag bunt has been treated already in the examples. It's basically the batter Challenging an out.
- A sacrifice bunt takes away one die from the hitter, and adds it to the Advance Challenge of the runner
How would a pitcher pitch around a batter?
- Pitcher declares he's Pitching Around the hitter. Both pitcher and batter lose a die from their respective checks. Batter is also forced into Hitting for Average.
-clash
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tools of Ignorance Challenges
Challenges
Challenges are the way base running and fielding works. A baserunner challenges the catcher's arm when trying to steal a base. A fielder challenges a hitter by trying for a spectacular catch on a hit. Players only have two challenges per game, so they need to pick and choose their challenges. Challenge a single in the third inning, and it's a waste. Challenge a homer in the ninth and you may not have enough to stop it. Otherwise, the result of the contest between a hitter and pitcher stands.
If more than one challenge is made on the same play, each succeeding challenge is at an additional -1. The Challenger must *beat* the challengee, so a tie means the original result stands.
So:
A batter hits an out with a runner on first. The Shortstop decides to challenge the out and try for the runner at second. Since he is challenging the hitter, he rolls an arm accuracy check against the base runner's Advance check. If he wins, the runner is out at second, and if he fails the challenge, everyone is safe. The second baseman can then challenge the runner at first the same way, but since it's the second challenge on the same play, it's at -1 die. If he wins the challenge, it's a double play. If he fails, it's a force out.
The runner at first base attempts to steal second by challenging the catcher's arm. The runner is challenging, so he has the burden of proof. The base runner must beat the catcher's throw or he's out.
Some Other Challenges:
You can see any baseball play as a Challenge, or as a series of Challenges.
Hitter Challenges an Out
When this is successful, it means a drag bunt or an infield hit. The Hitter makes a Base Stealing check vs. the Arm Accuracy of the infielder. The Hitter is limited to First Base unless there is an error.
Pitcher/Catcher Challenges a Runner
This is a pick off or pitch out. The Pitcher or Catcher rolls his Arm Accuracy vs the Runner's Advancing check.
Injuries
Injuries have a chance of happening any time a character uses his Traits in play. By using your traits, you are - by definition - giving everything you have, and that's when injuries happen. Each time a character uses a trait, immediately after the play the player - or GM for NPCs - makes an END check on a d20.
A character would have a serious injury only on a botch - a 20 - on his END check. That's a 5% chance. There is a higher chance of a nagging injury - with a consequence of -1 to an Attribute - on a simple failure, depending on the Attribute. So if a character has an END of 12, he has a nagging injury (which won't prevent playing) on a 13-19, and a bad injury (which will prevent play) on a 20.
If a 20 is rolled, roll again to determine how long the player will be sidelined:
1-5 = 7 days
6-10 = 14 days
11-13 = 30 days
14-16 = 60 days
17-18 = 90 days
20 = season ending
Nagging injuries are the typical strains, sprains, bruises, and such that happen in normal play, and which the player is normally expected to play through. The Attribute injured in a nagging injury is the one used in the play where the injury happened. If it happens on a Base Stealing check, for example, the injury would be to the character's AGY. The character may play with any number of nagging injuries, but each one cumulatively degrades performance. The Manager may, of course, sit the player out until he has a chance to heal.
Healing
Any even diamond card turned over at the beginning of the day will heal at least one nagging injury, with higher cards healing more if present.
Traits
Each character has 7 points to put into personality traits. There are a minimum of 3 traits, with a maximum of 4 points in any one trait. Traits can be free form, but there's also a list you can choose from if you are stuck. Traits are both descriptors and mechanics. Traits when used can give the character an extra die for each trait point used *if* the GM agrees the trait is appropriate to the circumstance. In the example below, Stubborn would probably be appropriate, but Braggart probably wouldn't. Trait points are a renewable resource - they are refreshed entirely each session, and optionally a character can gain a point back when the player plays a trait to his disadvantage.
Example - A ball player who is Hot-Tempered 3, Stubborn 2, Adventurous 1, and Braggart 1 is attempting to stretch a single into a double. He's challenging the outfielder's arm and rolls three dice - Base Running+2 - against his END of 9, while the outfielder rolls 4 dice - Arm+3 - against his END of 8. Both get 2 successes. Since the runner is challenging the fielder the burden of proof is on the runner, so he has to beat the throw. A tie won't cut it. He uses his Stubborn trait - "bastard's not going to throw *me* out!" - to gain another die, and rolls a success. He's got a double!
Cover
Here's the cover of ToI:
-clash
Challenges are the way base running and fielding works. A baserunner challenges the catcher's arm when trying to steal a base. A fielder challenges a hitter by trying for a spectacular catch on a hit. Players only have two challenges per game, so they need to pick and choose their challenges. Challenge a single in the third inning, and it's a waste. Challenge a homer in the ninth and you may not have enough to stop it. Otherwise, the result of the contest between a hitter and pitcher stands.
If more than one challenge is made on the same play, each succeeding challenge is at an additional -1. The Challenger must *beat* the challengee, so a tie means the original result stands.
So:
A batter hits an out with a runner on first. The Shortstop decides to challenge the out and try for the runner at second. Since he is challenging the hitter, he rolls an arm accuracy check against the base runner's Advance check. If he wins, the runner is out at second, and if he fails the challenge, everyone is safe. The second baseman can then challenge the runner at first the same way, but since it's the second challenge on the same play, it's at -1 die. If he wins the challenge, it's a double play. If he fails, it's a force out.
The runner at first base attempts to steal second by challenging the catcher's arm. The runner is challenging, so he has the burden of proof. The base runner must beat the catcher's throw or he's out.
Some Other Challenges:
You can see any baseball play as a Challenge, or as a series of Challenges.
Hitter Challenges an Out
When this is successful, it means a drag bunt or an infield hit. The Hitter makes a Base Stealing check vs. the Arm Accuracy of the infielder. The Hitter is limited to First Base unless there is an error.
Pitcher/Catcher Challenges a Runner
This is a pick off or pitch out. The Pitcher or Catcher rolls his Arm Accuracy vs the Runner's Advancing check.
Injuries
Injuries have a chance of happening any time a character uses his Traits in play. By using your traits, you are - by definition - giving everything you have, and that's when injuries happen. Each time a character uses a trait, immediately after the play the player - or GM for NPCs - makes an END check on a d20.
A character would have a serious injury only on a botch - a 20 - on his END check. That's a 5% chance. There is a higher chance of a nagging injury - with a consequence of -1 to an Attribute - on a simple failure, depending on the Attribute. So if a character has an END of 12, he has a nagging injury (which won't prevent playing) on a 13-19, and a bad injury (which will prevent play) on a 20.
If a 20 is rolled, roll again to determine how long the player will be sidelined:
1-5 = 7 days
6-10 = 14 days
11-13 = 30 days
14-16 = 60 days
17-18 = 90 days
20 = season ending
Nagging injuries are the typical strains, sprains, bruises, and such that happen in normal play, and which the player is normally expected to play through. The Attribute injured in a nagging injury is the one used in the play where the injury happened. If it happens on a Base Stealing check, for example, the injury would be to the character's AGY. The character may play with any number of nagging injuries, but each one cumulatively degrades performance. The Manager may, of course, sit the player out until he has a chance to heal.
Healing
Any even diamond card turned over at the beginning of the day will heal at least one nagging injury, with higher cards healing more if present.
Traits
Each character has 7 points to put into personality traits. There are a minimum of 3 traits, with a maximum of 4 points in any one trait. Traits can be free form, but there's also a list you can choose from if you are stuck. Traits are both descriptors and mechanics. Traits when used can give the character an extra die for each trait point used *if* the GM agrees the trait is appropriate to the circumstance. In the example below, Stubborn would probably be appropriate, but Braggart probably wouldn't. Trait points are a renewable resource - they are refreshed entirely each session, and optionally a character can gain a point back when the player plays a trait to his disadvantage.
Example - A ball player who is Hot-Tempered 3, Stubborn 2, Adventurous 1, and Braggart 1 is attempting to stretch a single into a double. He's challenging the outfielder's arm and rolls three dice - Base Running+2 - against his END of 9, while the outfielder rolls 4 dice - Arm+3 - against his END of 8. Both get 2 successes. Since the runner is challenging the fielder the burden of proof is on the runner, so he has to beat the throw. A tie won't cut it. He uses his Stubborn trait - "bastard's not going to throw *me* out!" - to gain another die, and rolls a success. He's got a double!
Cover
Here's the cover of ToI:
-clash
Tools of Ignorance Character Templates
Background Templates
Greyhound
STR 7, COOR 10, AGY 12, END 9, CHAR 11, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+0, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+2
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Alert+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Moose
STR 12, COOR 8, AGY 10, END 11, CHAR 9, INT 7, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+1, Glove+0, Arm+2, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Overdo+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Panther
STR 10, COOR 11, AGY 12, END 7, CHAR 9, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+1, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Psych+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Bulldog
STR 11, COOR 10, AGY 8, END 12, CHAR 7, INT 9, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+1, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Intimidate+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Rooster
STR 8, COOR 12, AGY 11, END 9, CHAR 10, INT 7, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+1, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Goad+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Bear
STR 12, COOR 10, AGY 7, END 9, CHAR 11, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+1, Glove+0, Arm+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Endear+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Gorilla
STR 12, COOR 10, AGY 7, END 9, CHAR 8, INT 11, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+2, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Tactics+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Monkey
STR 8, COOR 10, AGY 12, END 7, CHAR 11, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+0, Glove+2, Arm+1, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Deke+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
ALL AVAILABLE NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Alert, Analyze, Business, Endear, Goad, Intimidate, Leadership, Overdo, Psych, Deke, Tactics
Professional Templates
Rookie
STR+1 OR END+1, COOR+1 OR AGY+1, CHAR+0, INT+0, LUCK+0, STATUS +0
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Arm+1, Base Running+1 OR Glove+1, Hitting+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Hitting+1 OR Base Running+1
Outfield: Glove+1 OR Arm+1, Hitting+2
Catcher: Glove+1, Arm+2
Pitcher: Pitching+2, Glove+1 OR Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS OR ANY BASEBALL SKILL
Age 24
Veteran
STR+1, END+1, COOR+1, AGY+1, CHAR+0, INT+1 OR STATUS+1, LUCK+0
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Base Running+1, Hitting+2
Outfield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2, Glove+1, Hitting+1 OR Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 4 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS OR ANY 2 BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 28
Prime
STR+1, COOR+1, CHAR+1, INT+1, LUCK+2 OR STATUS+2
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Glove+3, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+2
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+3, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Outfield: Hitting+2 Glove+2, Arm+2, Base Running+2
Catcher: Hitting+1 Glove+3, Arm+3, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+3 Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 5 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 32
Aging
LUCK-1 OR STATUS-1
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Glove+1, Arm+3, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+3, Base Running+1
Outfield: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+3, Arm+2, Base Running+2
Pitcher: Pitching+3, Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 6 NON-BASEBALL SKILL
Age 35
Declining
STR-1, END-2, COOR-1, AGY-2, CHAR-1, INT+0, LUCK-0
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield:Glove+1, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+2
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Outfield: Glove+1, Arm+2, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2 Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+0, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 7 NON-BASEBALL SKILL
Age 38
Over the Hill
STR-2, END-2, COOR-2, AGY-2, CHAR-1, INT+0, LUCK-1 OR STATUS-1
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield:Glove+1, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+2, Base Running+0
Outfield: Glove+0, Arm+2, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+0, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2 Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+0, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 8 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 40
Ancient
STR-3, END-3, COOR-3, AGY-3, CHAR-2, INT+0, LUCK-2
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield:Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+1, Arm+0, Hitting+2, Base Running+0
Outfield: Glove+0, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+0, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2 Glove+1, Arm+0, Hitting+0, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 9 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 42
Greyhound
STR 7, COOR 10, AGY 12, END 9, CHAR 11, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+0, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+2
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Alert+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Moose
STR 12, COOR 8, AGY 10, END 11, CHAR 9, INT 7, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+1, Glove+0, Arm+2, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Overdo+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Panther
STR 10, COOR 11, AGY 12, END 7, CHAR 9, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+1, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Psych+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Bulldog
STR 11, COOR 10, AGY 8, END 12, CHAR 7, INT 9, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+1, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Intimidate+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Rooster
STR 8, COOR 12, AGY 11, END 9, CHAR 10, INT 7, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+1, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Goad+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Bear
STR 12, COOR 10, AGY 7, END 9, CHAR 11, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+1, Glove+0, Arm+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Endear+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Gorilla
STR 12, COOR 10, AGY 7, END 9, CHAR 8, INT 11, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+0, Hitting+2, Glove+1, Arm+1, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Tactics+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Monkey
STR 8, COOR 10, AGY 12, END 7, CHAR 11, INT 8, LUCK 2
BASEBALL SKILLS: Pitching+1, Hitting+0, Glove+2, Arm+1, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Deke+1, Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
ALL AVAILABLE NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Alert, Analyze, Business, Endear, Goad, Intimidate, Leadership, Overdo, Psych, Deke, Tactics
Professional Templates
Rookie
STR+1 OR END+1, COOR+1 OR AGY+1, CHAR+0, INT+0, LUCK+0, STATUS +0
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Arm+1, Base Running+1 OR Glove+1, Hitting+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Hitting+1 OR Base Running+1
Outfield: Glove+1 OR Arm+1, Hitting+2
Catcher: Glove+1, Arm+2
Pitcher: Pitching+2, Glove+1 OR Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 2 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS OR ANY BASEBALL SKILL
Age 24
Veteran
STR+1, END+1, COOR+1, AGY+1, CHAR+0, INT+1 OR STATUS+1, LUCK+0
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Base Running+1, Hitting+2
Outfield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2, Glove+1, Hitting+1 OR Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 4 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS OR ANY 2 BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 28
Prime
STR+1, COOR+1, CHAR+1, INT+1, LUCK+2 OR STATUS+2
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Glove+3, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+2
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+3, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Outfield: Hitting+2 Glove+2, Arm+2, Base Running+2
Catcher: Hitting+1 Glove+3, Arm+3, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+3 Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 5 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 32
Aging
LUCK-1 OR STATUS-1
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield: Glove+1, Arm+3, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+3, Base Running+1
Outfield: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+3, Arm+2, Base Running+2
Pitcher: Pitching+3, Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 6 NON-BASEBALL SKILL
Age 35
Declining
STR-1, END-2, COOR-1, AGY-2, CHAR-1, INT+0, LUCK-0
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield:Glove+1, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+2
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Outfield: Glove+1, Arm+2, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2 Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+0, Base Running+1
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 7 NON-BASEBALL SKILL
Age 38
Over the Hill
STR-2, END-2, COOR-2, AGY-2, CHAR-1, INT+0, LUCK-1 OR STATUS-1
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield:Glove+1, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+2, Base Running+0
Outfield: Glove+0, Arm+2, Hitting+2, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+2, Hitting+0, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2 Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+0, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 8 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 40
Ancient
STR-3, END-3, COOR-3, AGY-3, CHAR-2, INT+0, LUCK-2
BASEBALL SKILLS:
Middle Infield:Glove+1, Arm+1, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Corner Infield: Glove+1, Arm+0, Hitting+2, Base Running+0
Outfield: Glove+0, Arm+2, Hitting+1, Base Running+1
Catcher: Glove+2, Arm+1, Hitting+0, Base Running+1
Pitcher: Pitching+2 Glove+1, Arm+0, Hitting+0, Base Running+0
NON-BASEBALL SKILLS: Choose 9 NON-BASEBALL SKILLS
Age 42
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Mo' Tools of Ignorance!
As to not playing games out, my idea is basically to work off contested Team base ratings to get a modifier, then roll once for the unplayed game, win or lose. A highlights roll could also be made - each player roll 1d20, any 1 rolled means the player had a personal highlight. This TN should be modified upward depending on the star status (as determined by accumulated Notice) of the player - A standard player +0 to the TN, Rising Talent +1, Star +2, and Superstar +3. The quality of the highlight could be handled by a second roll with number of dice = 1, modified by star status, and counting only the highest roll. Thus the range of the result would be the same - anyone can hit a dramatic home run, or make an athletic catch - but the stars would have a better chance of getting the better success. I would let the player dictate the actual play, based on the roll and the predetermined result - no walk-off doubles when you lose the game! The highest result would decide first. The highlight would count toward Notice.
As for Tools of Ignorance CharGen, I'm thinking I'll go with layered templates. One for base Attributes and Background - life up to HS and/or College, and one for the Minors and Majors. Each template ages you a varying number of years, which affects your Attributes. So you can come into the game as a fresh-faced rookie or as an aging star on the decline, or as a veteran in his prime. Each template will have one or two switches, but mostly it is a package. This method will be a big aid in the Team Construction, because I can list the resource point cost of an Aging Superstar right up front, and the player-owners can see what slots are open for them. Also, real baseball loves these 'types' in real life, and it's a natural fit, like with pulp.
I went with the layered approach to speed up CharGen. The more choices players have to make, the slower CharGen is. I could go with a two-template version, combining Attributes and Background into one, and College, Minor and Major experience into another. My group has been with me for a long time, since they were 13, and my typical loose lifepath chargen with a lot of choices is duck soup for them - they blaze through it in minutes - but I recently lost a couple players to college and gained a new one, and watching the newbie slowly pick his way through was deadly slow, because each choice had to be analyzed and understood before he could select.
I originally went with a five-layered set up to reduce choices to five while retaining as large a variability between PCs as possible. Going with two layers reduces variability, but would speed up CharGen even more.
There will be two basic types of pitchers, Power pitchers who rely on STR, and Crafty pitchers who rely on COOR. END will differentiate between relievers and starters. There will be Infielder, Outfielder, Utility Fielder, and Catcher templates for position players. Generally DHs will nominally be position players who have poor fielding skills. David Ortiz, for example, is actually a competent first baseman with poor range, but why play him at first when you have a Kevin Youkillis?
Attributes will decline faster and earlier than with my other games - not because they actually decline compared to normal people, but because the gradations are smaller. An athlete is his 40s could be in terrific shape compared to a normal schlub, yet compared to young athletes would have lost his edge. The decline will start earlier and accelerate with age. The Attribute change would be built into the templates for chargen, and would apply to everyone, PC and NPC, in the yearly maintenance phase thereafter.
Social skills will be important as well. An intelligent, charismatic star could become a superstar solely because of media manipulation and fan favoritism. Leadership can also raise a character's status. There will also be a large component of the game devoted to the players' personal lives. I'm thinking of a random system - I'm thinking cards - which would turn up good and bad things happening such as scandal, romance, loss, betrayal, children, heartbreak, disease, etc. once per session. Players could volunteer to take it, earning a bennie, or it could be assigned by the GM with no bennie if no one volunteers. This may be an optional sub-system.
I'm thinking broadly along the lines of Hearts = Romance, Diamonds = Health, Spades = Media, and Clubs = Team, with the magnitude increasing along with the value, and odds being negative, evens being positive. So turning over a nine of Hearts might give a result of "You suspect your S.O. may be cheating on you", with the Player and GM hashing out the details, or substituting something which is equally important, but which makes more sense with the player's actual situation.
The higher ranking cards should possibly have on-field impacts as well, no matter the suit. A bad relationship can set a player into a tailspin as much as an injury can. Media attention can have on-field consequences as well. I'm thinking of giving a recommendation to suit the card result, which the group can enact, ignore, or modify as suits them.
With the StarPool system I have two aspects to play with, which can combine to create the overall ability - Skill (number of dice) and Attribute (TN). So Hit for Average would combine Hitting + COOR, and Hit for Power would combine Hitting + STR. Glove would be split into Range, combining Glove + AGY, and Ball Handling, combining Glove + COOR. Arm would be split into Arm Range, combining Arm + STR, and Arm Accuracy, combining Arm + END. Speed would be split into Stealing, combining Base Running + AGY, and Advancing, combining Base Running + END.
Thanks to Rich/Orklord on RPGHaven for crystalizing so much of this game with his suggestions!
As for Tools of Ignorance CharGen, I'm thinking I'll go with layered templates. One for base Attributes and Background - life up to HS and/or College, and one for the Minors and Majors. Each template ages you a varying number of years, which affects your Attributes. So you can come into the game as a fresh-faced rookie or as an aging star on the decline, or as a veteran in his prime. Each template will have one or two switches, but mostly it is a package. This method will be a big aid in the Team Construction, because I can list the resource point cost of an Aging Superstar right up front, and the player-owners can see what slots are open for them. Also, real baseball loves these 'types' in real life, and it's a natural fit, like with pulp.
I went with the layered approach to speed up CharGen. The more choices players have to make, the slower CharGen is. I could go with a two-template version, combining Attributes and Background into one, and College, Minor and Major experience into another. My group has been with me for a long time, since they were 13, and my typical loose lifepath chargen with a lot of choices is duck soup for them - they blaze through it in minutes - but I recently lost a couple players to college and gained a new one, and watching the newbie slowly pick his way through was deadly slow, because each choice had to be analyzed and understood before he could select.
I originally went with a five-layered set up to reduce choices to five while retaining as large a variability between PCs as possible. Going with two layers reduces variability, but would speed up CharGen even more.
There will be two basic types of pitchers, Power pitchers who rely on STR, and Crafty pitchers who rely on COOR. END will differentiate between relievers and starters. There will be Infielder, Outfielder, Utility Fielder, and Catcher templates for position players. Generally DHs will nominally be position players who have poor fielding skills. David Ortiz, for example, is actually a competent first baseman with poor range, but why play him at first when you have a Kevin Youkillis?
Attributes will decline faster and earlier than with my other games - not because they actually decline compared to normal people, but because the gradations are smaller. An athlete is his 40s could be in terrific shape compared to a normal schlub, yet compared to young athletes would have lost his edge. The decline will start earlier and accelerate with age. The Attribute change would be built into the templates for chargen, and would apply to everyone, PC and NPC, in the yearly maintenance phase thereafter.
Social skills will be important as well. An intelligent, charismatic star could become a superstar solely because of media manipulation and fan favoritism. Leadership can also raise a character's status. There will also be a large component of the game devoted to the players' personal lives. I'm thinking of a random system - I'm thinking cards - which would turn up good and bad things happening such as scandal, romance, loss, betrayal, children, heartbreak, disease, etc. once per session. Players could volunteer to take it, earning a bennie, or it could be assigned by the GM with no bennie if no one volunteers. This may be an optional sub-system.
I'm thinking broadly along the lines of Hearts = Romance, Diamonds = Health, Spades = Media, and Clubs = Team, with the magnitude increasing along with the value, and odds being negative, evens being positive. So turning over a nine of Hearts might give a result of "You suspect your S.O. may be cheating on you", with the Player and GM hashing out the details, or substituting something which is equally important, but which makes more sense with the player's actual situation.
The higher ranking cards should possibly have on-field impacts as well, no matter the suit. A bad relationship can set a player into a tailspin as much as an injury can. Media attention can have on-field consequences as well. I'm thinking of giving a recommendation to suit the card result, which the group can enact, ignore, or modify as suits them.
With the StarPool system I have two aspects to play with, which can combine to create the overall ability - Skill (number of dice) and Attribute (TN). So Hit for Average would combine Hitting + COOR, and Hit for Power would combine Hitting + STR. Glove would be split into Range, combining Glove + AGY, and Ball Handling, combining Glove + COOR. Arm would be split into Arm Range, combining Arm + STR, and Arm Accuracy, combining Arm + END. Speed would be split into Stealing, combining Base Running + AGY, and Advancing, combining Base Running + END.
Thanks to Rich/Orklord on RPGHaven for crystalizing so much of this game with his suggestions!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Tools of Ignorance
A game I've had in the back of my head for some time is a baseball RPG. It's got a great structural similarity to RPGs - team play, season as campaign, individual heroics within the context of a group, rivalries and friendships both within the team and with other teams, tactics, strategy, risk, and reward. It's also awesome fun!
I want to do this using the StarPool resolution system - used in Blood Games II, OHMAS, and Outremer - because it's easy to deal with contested actions by subtracting successes from each other, or with uncontested actions by changing the TN. I would also set up a Company Resource allocation bit like in OHMAS and Outremer, to buy Free Agents, maintain and expand the park, and pay for other players. Income would be based on market size and modified by success. There would be a troupe aspect - the players would be both owners as well as players.
Most games wouldn't be played out - I mean there are 162 games in the season, plus playoffs and World Series. A Notice system might make sense as well - as in the In Harm's Way series of games - for appropriately rewarding important successes and failures.
Sound interesting?
-clash
I want to do this using the StarPool resolution system - used in Blood Games II, OHMAS, and Outremer - because it's easy to deal with contested actions by subtracting successes from each other, or with uncontested actions by changing the TN. I would also set up a Company Resource allocation bit like in OHMAS and Outremer, to buy Free Agents, maintain and expand the park, and pay for other players. Income would be based on market size and modified by success. There would be a troupe aspect - the players would be both owners as well as players.
Most games wouldn't be played out - I mean there are 162 games in the season, plus playoffs and World Series. A Notice system might make sense as well - as in the In Harm's Way series of games - for appropriately rewarding important successes and failures.
Sound interesting?
-clash
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Levi's OHMAS Lite
Levi Kornelsen has brilliantly captured OHMAS' spirit in a very lite version of the rules in a thread over on RPGNet: http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=545476
I think it's extraordinary! Comments?
-clash
I think it's extraordinary! Comments?
-clash
Monday, November 1, 2010
Outremer Starting to Roll!
I should have an alpha playtest version of Outremer done very soon. I have most of the Paths done, and most of the setting. I worked on it over the last week - I was on vacation - and got off to a very good start. I still have a long way to go, but A good start like this was a huge energy boost for me!
Much of the work was collecting and integrating dozens of scattered notes into an actual game framework. I still have to write huge chunks of the Religion section, Most of the Djinn section, a couple of Paths of Power, and a few bits of the setting, but much has been accomplished!
Also, I need to paint some more illos! :D
-clash
Much of the work was collecting and integrating dozens of scattered notes into an actual game framework. I still have to write huge chunks of the Religion section, Most of the Djinn section, a couple of Paths of Power, and a few bits of the setting, but much has been accomplished!
Also, I need to paint some more illos! :D
-clash
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