August 30th, 2016

https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page

The game has been hit by a Hurricane... Like, everything has changed, and a lot is still missing, but just as much of what was missing before is now present. Its odd... but it also feels like its falling into place more quickly and easily? At least it was; more recently, I have hit a wall on the world building side of things which directly effects some of the mechanical rules, namely equipment.

Biggest changes are Test Rules: a d20 is now used, and the pool of d6 has been chucked. This has sent waves through all other rules, extensively changing how most everything within the game works. This is a good thing. Because it barely worked before, and is working a hell of a lot better now.

TONS of new rules. Like Falling, Throwing, changes to Cover, MASSIVE overhaul Awareness, and the introduction of Investigations.

The World of the Hollow section now has like... actual text and shit now. Its all very minimal currently, but just vague enough to give players an idea of things.

Races within the Hollow have been... vague-ified. The idea was that Humans do not follow a single universal culture, nor are they all the same, so why the hell would another intelligent species be as such? Ridiculous, really... I'm upset I ever wrote such trash. They are now shaped and determined by their physical nature and unique environmental factors.

Take the Divine: they've lived on interstellar vessels for centuries on the run from the Fae. That would shape a people both mentally and physically. They also don't have to sleep. So... there's that.

Origins have been improved, but are missing a lot of info right now... I have a lot working behind the scenes, but don't feel comfortable posting anything as of yet.

Equipment will be designed to fight or counter anything the character's may encounter. Building cool weapons and armor was cool, but really offset the balance... and alot of it didn't make sense for the Lore. If the Hollow is at war with the Fae, the equipment they use to fight them should reflect that, yeah?

Powers are... ugg... get back to me.

There are a few monsters to fight (FINALLY), but as I said before, equipment is still limited.


https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page
Follow the Link! Tell me what you thing of the game thus far.

Basically a Title Update...

Yeah... lots of changes to just about everything to make things more balanced and friendlier to the players.

https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page

Link above to all the rules thus far.

My hope is to be done with the mechanics and everything rules related by next year if not earlier.
After which, I will begin to process of publishing this monster.

The Fae, part 2

Fae

True Fae are incomprehensible, monstrous, humanoid creatures. Their motives are obscure; any attempts to communicate have failed. They seem to consider other sentient life inconsequential and insignificant. They do not feel emotions as other sentient life would; they do not experience Envy, Lust, Pride, Wrath, Greed, etc. Nothing; they are simply a force. Fae seem undying, as killing one is nearly impossible. The Hollow have only been able to contain them, or place them into a stasis. The only way to completely destroy a True Fae is to disable its Field i.e. stop all neurological activity. Which is impossible because they cannot be killed.

True Fae produce a Field similarly to the Aether. However, they instead reshape reality, or completely destroy a piece of reality, converting it back into Chaos. These effects are, of course, reversed as soon as the Fae’s influence leaves the affected area; the Observer’s Aether returning to normal. This being said, Fae are not “observed” by the Observers; they do not belong , or rather shouldn’t exist, in the Hollow. Thus, Fae must establish their own reality apart from the Observers through their own Field. They create islands of reality around themselves fabricating everything from the environment upon which they stand, to their own physical form. 

APPEARANCE

A Fae’s appearance varies as they themselves construct their own physical forms. However, they are generally humanoid, lacking any distinguishable facial features, and stand an average of 7meters tall. 

Ergo, if a Fae’s Field were to ever fail, they would cease to exist; the Observer’s would observe that they shouldn’t exist, and they would not. 

IMMACULATE AURA - A Fae's primary mode of defense, and what a defense it is. 

A Fae does not utilize a Field in the same way as other sentient creatures, and may expand their Aura beyond themselves thus creating their own islands of reality. Ergo, the Fae’s abilities, traits, powers, etc. may only affect that which is currently within its Immaculate Aura's range. Further, for every increment of range beyond Touch Range the Aura is spread, Integrity is considered 1 Rank lower for the purpose of a Fae’s Powers. 

Touch – Increase Soak by Integrity versus targets beyond Touch Range; reduce Speed and Defense by Integrity.

Close – Increase Soak and Defense by Integrity /2 versus targets beyond Close Range; reduce Speed by Integrity /2.

Long – Increase Defense by Integrity versus targets beyond Long Range.

To this, it is impractical to engage Fae at extreme range as attacks are simply deflected from the Fae far from the danger. This makes orbital bombardment, fleetships, and other side heavy firepower nonviable. 

Ergo, units must be deployed on the ground, or in close proximity to the Fae, attacking it within it's own Field with heavy support just outside the Field's range. Those tasked with attacking the Fae directly experience incredible danger because within an Immaculate Aura, Fae are supreme. They make the rules. 

TRAITS

Shaping – The Fae may change the Environmental Modifiers, save the time of day, as a Free Action. The Fae may also construct a Field Hazard as a Complex Action.

Sight – Fae never suffer penalties to Awareness, and always roll maximum Awareness. Fae ignore LoS. Fae ignore Stealth. Fae ignore the Partially Covered, Covered, and Concealed Conditions. They are always aware.

Monstrous Creature – Increase all base Vital Statistics by 2, Increase base Speed by 2, Reduce Damage required to Overwhelm target’s with Melee Attacks by 2, Increase Melee Attack Damage by 1d6, Increase Heavy Melee Damage by an additional 1d6, Reduce Defense by 2.

Reality Impaired – Fae are immune to all Physical, Mental, and Dire Conditions. That being said, they are immune to Overwhelm effects. However, if the Fae is Overwhelmed, their Integrity is reduced by 1. Further, when normally considered Battered, all Shaping effects under the Fae are cancelled, it loses its Flight capabilities, and it may not use any of its Powers until they have recovered at least 1 Health. The Fae has no Vitality. Thus, in order to incapacitate the Fae, their Integrity must be reduced to zero. If the Fae’s Integrity is ever reduced to zero, they become Helpless.

Weakness to Orichalcum – Fae Suffer Aggravated Damage from Orichalcum. That is, any non-Special Munition’s Blok (Orichalcum Coin) deals Agg Damage when fired from a weapon. 

EQUIPMENT AGAINST THE FAE

Use unmodified Orichalcum Bloks with high Armor Penetration do prevent the Fae from regenerating. Deal as much Damage as possible to Overwhelm the Fae. 

And it that doesn't work...

Longinus Lance – 20ore

The Character uses this Consumable as a Weapon Attack Action. Deal 1d6 +4 Physical Damage with -1 Armor Penetration to a single target in Line of Sight. If the target is a Fae, the Damage suffered is Aggravated. As well, this Consumable will remain imbedded in the target. If this target is a Fae, their Integrity is reduced by 1 so long as it remains. The target may spend a full Round removing the imbedded Consumable.

Osmium Grenade – 18ore

Create the Fog Environmental Condition within Close Range for 1d3 +2 Rounds. Fae do not have perfect Awareness versus targets within this area.

Rowan Wand – 12ore

The Character gains a Rating bonus to Willpower versus Fae while this Consumable is equipped. 

The Fae

The Fae are the most dangerous enemies characters will encounter in the Hollow, and are treated as such by the peoples of World. That being said... I have not developed them as much as I would like to have done by now. I feel that I have done lots of research into creating them, but have only confused myself in the process many times. 

Anyway! 

THE FAE; beings of Chaos.

Traits

Voice – Social Combat causes damage and other harmful effects.

               

Glamour – Illusions; Field plane seeding (Neuromancy).

               

Shaping – Anti-observation; Reality Mancy.

               

Flight? – self-explanatory... could use some work.

Sight – PERFECT Awareness. Maximum rolls at all times.

Neuromancy should't effect a Fae, or it should suffer penalties. 

Weaknesses

Cold Iron – Material pegs the Fae for observation, inhibiting their abilities. Easily a Special Munition or other consumable. 

Rowan – Inhibits Glamour. Consumable; for setting, I see structures on the edges of Factories, Borderlands, etc which emit? built of? Rowan. Extra-Dimensional poison?

Shiny Objects? Again, structures similar to above and/or consumable. Possibly a power. Traparmancy?

Killing a Fae

Basically impossible.

Lesser fae (un-capitalized, abominations, aberrations, etc.) are more easily destroyed as they are still bound by the Reality maintained by the Observers, and they are technically still considered sentient in the way we understand the concept. These fae are accidental, and a far-cry from True Fae. They are merely touched by Chaos, and warped by the experience. Their body is destroyed or warped, their nervous system (and thus their Field) is the last thing to go. If the Field is left intact, it becomes exponentially more powerful, and begins to construct its own Reality, and thus, a new bodily form. Destroying the nervous system, their Core, will destroy this fae.

True Fae (capitalized) do not have a core, and they create their own reality. Their bodies are hollow, they are similacrum of mortal existence. Damaging the body is like attacking water. Further, Fae produce an anti-observation field which prevents the Observers from observing their existence. That is, if an Observer were to observe a True Fae, the Fae would cease to exists because it shouldn't; they are outside of established Reality as set by the Observers and, thus, do not exist. In order to truly destroy any Fae, their anti-observation Field must be disabled; they must be observed. 

Disabling a Fae’s Field

Chaos Particle Fountains? (SUPER exotic radiation disrupts everything)

A living being's Field; Mancy? (Opposite of an AO Field?)

Final Balancing? Beta please???

I have once again balanced the game rules and equipment with an new balancing model. The model is based on how much one need invest on average in a Skill and/or Attribute.

Basically, it is a shit ton of maths, and I really enjoy this new model. There isn't any one things that forces or discourages use, and players should be effective no matter what they do (so long as they do not miss spend their Skill and Attribute points).

The game is rather Combat heavy. Well... I would say actiony, rather, with Social and Cyber combats breaking things up a bit. Think Mass Effect, and I am happy with that.

Once again, the game may be found here:
https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page

PLEASE!! Play the game, and give me feedback!
I am trying to market this game. Thus, it needs to be good!

Also, look at the WORLD OF THE HOLLOW section for the lore and setting!

Much Balancing. So Words. Many Maths. Wow.

Okay, I think I have gotten somewhere that I am satisfied with.

Everything costs between 18 and 25 bp or ore.
That which does not is considered n/a.
Everything is balanced in an attempt to incentive usefulness.

The game feels rather combat heavy.
Though I have made rules for Cyber and Social combats, they seem more like means to an end.
That end being a boss battle at the end of a Scene, which I'm not sure is a problem.

More story is being written, and Chaos based stuff is also being created.
STILL need some anti-chaotic/fae Equipment's and stuff...

Updates...

Holy
Bollocking
Shit

There are updates to most aspects of the game rules...
Too many to list... Didn't keep track of them all.

Take a look at them here:
https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page

There is also story and setting based stuff here:
https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/the-world-of-the-hollow

New Outline for Weapons.

WEAPONS

Base Weapon Damage

                All Weapons Base 1d6+3 Physical Damage. If this is a Melee Weapon, Melee Damage is automatically converted into Physical Damage by default.

Choose a Weapon Type

                All Weapons are custom built for or by the character. To begin, the character chooses a type of Weapon varying from the Race which created them.

Daemon Weapons

                Clockwork Weapon – 19ore

                                Dmg 5Sh//Ap -1//Acc 3//Mode SA//Shot 20

                Pepper Weapon – 17ore

                                Dmg 5Sh//Ap -2//Acc 2//Mode FA//Shot 15

Divine Weapons

                Fire Weapon – 20ore

                                Dmg 11burn//Ap 1Bashing//Acc 1//Mode SS//Shot 40

                Force Weapon – 14ore

                                Dmg 9supp, ex//Ap 0//Acc 0//Mode SS//Shot 40

Human Weapons

                Laser Weapon – 18ore

                                Dmg 10burn//Ap 1//Acc 2//Mode SS//Shot 45

                Pulse Weapon – 14ore

                                Dmg 7//Ap -1//Acc 0//Mode BF//Shot 30

Rail Weapon – 24ore

                                Dmg 6pr//Ap 4//Acc 2//Mode SS//Shot 50

Terrasque Weapons

                Chain Weapon – 11ore

                                Dmg 6//Ap -1//Acc -2//Mode FA//Shot 25

Thundering Weapon – 11ore

                                Dmg 7ex//Ap -1//Acc -1//Mode SA//Shot 50

            

Choose Weapon Class

                Small Weapon

                                Weight 4, Requires 1 Hand.

                Large

                                Weight 6

Increase Damage by 3

Reduce Speed by 1

Increase Cost by 6

Requires 2 Hands

                Heavy

                                Weight 8

Increase Damage by 6

Reduce Speed by 3

Increase Cost by 12

Requires 2 Hands

If the Character moves before firing this Weapon, they suffer a -2 Accuracy penalty. The Character may not move after Firing this Weapon. 

Constructing and Upgrading

                Next, customize the Weapon with different Upgrades and Properties. A Weapon may not be equipped with more than their Rating in Upgrades nor with an Upgrade with higher Rating than the Weapon itself. Further, Weapons and Upgrades with Ratings greater than 2 are automatically RESTRICTED. Properties gained from Weapon Upgrades do not stack.

Smart Targeting – 4ore

Increases Awareness by 1.

Enhanced Sighting – 4ore

Reduce Accuracy penalties by 1.

Heat Sink – 4ore

Reduce Shot requirement by 5 per Rating.

Frictionless Materials – 7ore

Reduce Shot requirements by 3 per Rating. Increase Accuracy by 1.

Power Rail – 5ore

Increase Damage by 1. Increase Shot Requirement by 3.

Extended Rail – 5ore

Increase Accuracy by 1. Increase Shot Requirement by 3.

Scram Rail – 5ore

Increase Armor Penetration by 1. Increase Shot Requirement by 3.

Recoil Damper – 5ore

Reduce penalties to Accuracy from Fire Modes by 1.

Suppressor – 4ore

Reduce bonus provided to Awareness for shooting this Weapon by 1.

Flashlight – 3ore

Targets in front of the Weapon suffer from Bright Light Intensity within Close Range.

Light Materials – 4ore

Reduce Weapon Weight by half.

Range Compensator – 8ore

Reduce Range Penalties by 1.

ORIGINS OF THE HOLLOW

Chaos

Also known as subspace, or the space between space, Chaos is what has been come to be known as the basic form all things in Reality. All matter, energy, even natural forces can be derived from the fabric of Chaos. Think of it as unconstructed or compiled data. Its volume is limitless, though it can take up virtually no space, nor does it exist in any specific dimension or single point in space. Chaos is everywhere. When “stretched”, Chaos appears as a luminous formless white sheet, though the very of observation affects the nature of Chaos. Thus this description varies from a faint rippling to flashes of pseudo-colors. With the discovery of the Field, it is possible to further affect and even shape Chaos with Mancy. The Hollow itself exists inside a space of stretched Chaos, and is completely surrounded by the material.

The Administrators

These were the frontrunners of all Chaos related research and technologies. They were the first to harness the power of Chaos, and where solely responsible for endeavor into Chaos, and the creation of the Hollow. They alone reside inside of the SSV Erebos, watching over the colonists who live upon the surface of the World. However, all communication with the Administrators ceased during the Lost Age with no explanation.

The SSV Erebos

At the center of the Hollow exists a massive stallar vessel the size of a small city. The SSV Erebos was the ship used by the Administrators, as well as the first colonists of the Hollow, to enter and survive Chaos. Further, this ship houses a machine called a Reality Engine which creates and maintains the World’s existence, stretching Chaos and establishing Reality. This Reality Engine also produces light similar to that of a star. Thus, the SSVErebos acts as the Hollow’s sun. [IMAGE]

The Library

This is a massive data storage hub containing the collective knowledge of all of Humanity. Further, any data created within the Hollow may be stored here. This knowledge is accessible by anyone in the Hollow, and contains anything from novels and research to movies and games. This data can never be completely destroyed; its resolution is simply reduced proportional to the percentage of data missing. However, during the Lost Age, all connections to the Library were suddenly disconnected, and when it returned, all data had been formatted. Though there were those that had copied portions of this information, nearly 75% of the data stored in the Library has been lost including much of the history before the Hollow’s creation.

Nyx

This is the sentient artificial intelligence which permeates most Administrative technology from the SSV Erebos to the Orichalcum Factories on the World’s surface. She is charged with the protection and maintenance of cybernetic and digital systems. If ever there were a cyber-attack on any of the systems she inhabits, she would attack them in kind; ensuring that the assailant is completely incapacitated. During the Lost Age, all systems permeated by Nyx were placed into lock-down, this includes the Library, and all attempts to communicate with her since have been unsuccessful. [IMAGE]

Specializations!

[] – This denotes the maximum rating of a Specialization. The cost of the first rating of any Specialization is listed. The bp cost to increase a Specialization to a new rating is equal to half the Specialization’s initial bp cost. That is, if rating 1 costs 6bp, all greater ratings will cost 3bp.

Agent – 8bp

Reduce the Rank required for Knowledge Tests and the Level required for Gather Information Tests by 1 per rating. [][]

Architect – 8bp

Reduce the Level of Sabotage and Repair Tests by 1 per rating. [][]

Big Ego – 8bp

Increase all Social Defenses by 1 each per rating. [][]

Charisma – 8bp//Requires Big Ego

Reduce target’s Social Defenses by 1 per rating. [][]

Cracker – 8bp

Increase Cyber Combat rolls by 1 per rating. [][]

Provision – 8bp//Requires Cracker 1

Increase Firewall rating of all party members by 3 per rating. [][]

Efficiency – 8bp

Reduce Tax requirement for Tech Powers by 1 per rating. [][][]

Overclock – 14bp//Requires Efficiency 1

Increase Tech Power values by 1 per rating. [][]

Delay – 8bp//Requires Efficiency 2

Increase Tech Power Durations by a factor of 1 per rating. [][]

Brawler – 8bp

Increase unarmed Melee Action pools by 1 per rating. [][][]

Assault Training – 8bp//Requires Brawler 1

Gain a +1 bonus to Melee based Utility Actions per rating. [][]

Follow-Through – 8bp//Requires Brawler 2

Reduce Melee Damage required to Overwhelm a target by 1 per rating. [][]

Focus – 8bp

Reduce Mancy Power Energy costs by 1 per rating. [][][]

Adept – 14bp//Requires Focus 1

Increase Mancy Power values by 1 per rating. [][]

Intensify – 8bp//Requires Adept 1

Increase Mancy Power Durations by a factor of 1 per rating. [][]

Force – 8bp//Requires Adept 2

Reduce Mancy Damage required to Overwhelm a target by 1 per rating. [][]

Bombardier – 8bp//Requires Force 1

Mancy Powers now deal Explosive Damage. []

Medic – 8bp

Increase Medical Consumable Unit sizes by 1 per rating. [][][]

Doctorate – 8bp//Requires Medic 1

Reduce the Level of Medicine Skill Tests by 1 per rating. [][]

Physique – 10bp

Increase Health by 3. [][][]

Thick Skin – 8bp//Requires Physique 1

Reduce Bleed Condition Durations by a factor of 1. []

Sturdy – 14bp//Requires Physique 2

Increase Tolerance by 1 per rating. [][]

Warm-Blood – 8bp//Requires Sturdy 1

Reduce Slowed and Chilled penalties by 1 per rating. [][]

Composure – 14bp//Requires Physique 2

Increase Willpower by 1 per rating. [][]

Guts – 8bp//Requires Composure 1

Gain a +1 bonus versus Fear Effects per rating. [][]

Precision – 6bp

Reduce penalties to Ballistics by 1 per rating. [][][]

Quick-Scope – 6bp//Requires Precision 1

Gain an additional +1 bonus with Aim Actions. [][]

Exploit – 8bp//Requires Precision 2

Making a Weapon Attack Action with an Aim Action bonus provides a -1 Armor Penetration bonus per rating. [][]

Second-Skin – 6bp

Reduce Armor penalties by 1 per rating. [][][]

Bandolier – 8bp//Requires Second-Skin 1

Increase Encumbrance by 2 per rating. [][][]

Articulate – 14bp//Requires Second-Skin 2

Increase Speed by 1 per rating. [][][]

Dodgy – 14bp//Requires Articulate 1

Increase Defense by 1 per rating. [][]

Sharp – 6bp

Reduce Environmental and Range penalties to Awareness by 1 per rating. [][]

Flashing Eyes – 14bp//Requires Sharp 1

The character may roll half their die pool with an Avoid Action when Flat-Footed. []

Ebon Gaze – 14bp//Requires Sharp 2

The character is unaffected by Black or Blinding intensity light. Instead it is treated as one level higher or lower respectively. []

Tempered – 10bp

Increase Energy by 2. [][][]

Questions from The People's Champion and Jenni:

There are many terms that you use and refer to without defining them for your readers, assuming they will automatically understand. The first of which I noticed was the repeated use of 'reality maelstrom'. You have given us a vague idea of what this might be, and your own writing and my assumptions lead me to believe that it is a large, powerful outburst of chaos leaking/escaping into reality. However, as you get closer to presenting this as a finished product remember that you need to define everything so that unfamiliar people can track what you are saying. You do seem to split chaos into two separate things, Fae which are the autonomous beings ((which I assume come from the people that were destroyed by chaos early on)), and other thingsincludingreality maelstroms. What are the options for chaos that aren't fey and also aren't reality maelstroms? 

Also, are things in Chaos destroyed or broken down? It seems like things are broken down and float about in chaos until they are mushed together in unsettling ways and spat back out into reality... 

Your second paragraph in your explanation to Chrono was quite honestly confusing, and even after a few read-throughs I'm not sure what you are saying. What is the "inherent problem"? What are energy cascades/their aftermath? When and how did people start interacting with, and even more so startharvestingchaos? 

Hope these help.

First part: Still fleshing this part out as it is fairly new... or rather, has become more apparent that it must be more important. Thus, how exactly I deal with the mechanics are still being fleshed out. Right now, I simple know there are two (vague) forms of Chaotic anomalies: expulsion and cavitation. Expulsion being leaks, tears, fissures in Reality, and Cavitation being things formed within Choas of entities from Reality manifesting back into Reality.

As for Question two... broken down would be more appropriate.

Third: inherent problems are not defined as of yet... Energy Cascades are probably a result or a solution (or both). Finally, people, specifically those who first colonized and create the Hollow, have been experimenting, interacting, and harvesting Chaos since the world's inception. The how is through Factories, which I will go in the greater detail with later... because it is 12:30AM... and I have work at 6AM...

These did help, and are things that I have been thinking about. Specifics are wonderful, and thank you again!

Answering some questions.

To start, what do you mean by "outside entities" when it comes to the fae? Is it that there are actually creatures outside the Hollow in this Void which destroys everything since its absolute chaos, or do you mean the thoughts and alike or beings on neighboring planes? Though it wouldn't really come up in setting I am kind of curious.

The fae is a blanket term for Chaotic entities which act autonomously , as opposed to other Chaotic phenomenon such as a Reality Maelstrom. Chaos is the space between all space, and thus does interact with multiple planes (universes). Nothing naturally exists physically in Chaos, and everything that enters Chaos is almost certainly destroyed... but there destruction echoes across Chaos. These echoes may well manifest as something... stranger.

Normally, this echo results in a Reality Maelstrom which eliminates the inherent problem in a magnificent display of power rather quickly, or evaporates slowly over many years in the form of energy cascades. However, with the harvesting of Chaos for energy and materials, dead-zones are theorized to exist on Chaos where partially deconstructed entities or echos will pool. To this fissures in Reality may occur, resulting in the strange rock formations and environments created on the Borderlands of the Hollow. However, there are times where something horrific is produced. Enter the fae.

During the first year of the Hollow, as well as during the Dark Age, many people were lost to Chaos either in Reality Maelstroms, fissures, or Factory or Observatory accidents. Their echoes in Chaos are more dangerous than that of a anything inanimate or otherwise. From Chaos, their consciousnesses, and ever their souls', are deconstructed and reformed, often conglomerating and fusing into one another forming a Fae. Upon entering the Hollow, Reality, they manifest as horrifying monstrosities with enormous power beyond any normal being native to the Hollow.



Second, since this is chaos going kind of crazy on the outer edges of the world, as much as some of the effects create beings, there doesn't seem to be anything set up in system that would allow this specialized anti chaos unit deal with anything other than shooting/fighting it. What can they do with a reality maelstroms, or atmospheric disturbances, or anything they can't shoot and or kill?

To this question... I have no answer at the moment beyond shooting at it. I plan to implement equipment which rely on the character's Skills but not necessarily their monies to solve problems such as this. Like a portable Field Emitter or small Reality Engine. As well, larger problems may be solved with larger story set-pieces which will be written into the lore along with the Observatories and Factories. The characters exist to pursue rampant Fae and infiltrate hazardous, often Chaotic, environments. AS well, they hunt down threat beyond Chaos to the Hollow (political and public security stuff here).



Also, where exactly are the borderlands where these disturbances are happening? As I recall, the Hollow is an inward built sphere equadistance from the center. The observers are also evenly place, so there really isn't a edge to work with. Why aren't these anomalies appearing directly in the center of cities?

The Borderlands exist between each Observatory. That is, the border between each Nation. Thus, they exist opposite the axis the Observatories are located. The Observatories "fight back" or more correctly "dream away" Chaos. Ergo, the cities are MORE protected... they are not immune. The Observers themselves could wake up momentarily, Chaos would crash inward to the Nation at the center. OR a Factory could breach, spilling Chaos and those entities trapped inside into the city center possibly destroying its Observatory, thus destroying the Nation.



Now when it comes to current mechanics, as you mentioned, the class system feels tacked on.

Classes are gone. I like everything you said after that sentence, and I have thought of that (looking at Mass Effect as it did the same thing), but right now Specialization (Feat) Trees exist to create progression as well as the inherent progression from spending bp and Ore on new skills, powers, and equipment. Converting a Vidjah game into a Tabletop is difficult... whiiich is partially the reason this has turned into my own game and isn't simply a Mass Effect conversion (as it was before).

Thank you Chrono!

Many updates...

The game has gone through lots of revision as of late, and many rules and number have been re-writen... and I am only getting started.

Currently, I am re-balancing all the equipment, powers, etc. and I plan to cut down on the number of things the player, and character thereof, must worry about i.e. all their equipment. 

Still, I would still like people to provide feed-back and their own thoughts and ideas which may help in the games development! 

https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/

Above is a link to the rules of the game!

Lots of thoughts.

I believe I am coming to an answer that will tie a campaign, characters, and motivation together.

Basically, the area in which the Hollow exists (Chaos) is... odd... and thus odd things will occur when absolute pure energy interacts with creative beings or entities with an existence.

Think of Chaos as you would Exalted. Save that no one can survive it. Period. Entering Chaos is death. Your consciousness, body, and soul are ripped apart and converted into chaos.

However, there are times where Chaos interacts with outside entities in an odd way may this be through the manifestation of... "things" on the borderlands, reality maelstroms, aberrations, or the coalescence of those consciousnesses lost to chaos producing more powerful entities: The Fae.

Basically, the OSSTG will become something different. An ministry formed by the powerful nations of the world to hunt down such oddities in the world and contain or destroy them. If world politics and such become involved in the campaign at some time, they should and will be secondary to the overall threat.

It will be an overall change to the setting as a whole.



Yes, the political aspect as a focus is boring... so it should be THERE as flavor, and no, there need not that be all that much description for the GM to know how to handle political turmoil (much like your own council of death campaign, Jenni). The major problems the characters should face are those which trancend politics, nations, etc. This being Chaos, and how the people of the Hollow effect, as well as how they are effected by, it.

I have been mauling over character proggression and an aspiration aspect like D&D has with its leveling system and such. At this point, the game is still along the line of shadowrun's progression i.e. big and better guns.

I think I'd like the progression to stay away from the power creep aspects of D&D in that a level 20 character is so much more powerful statistically than a level 1 character. I still want their to be a difference, but not 10HP one 1d6+3 damage attack versus 200HP and 5 2d8+10 damage attacks.

To this, I have been playing with a Chasis leveling system which is basically a class which the character takes on at the begining of the game... but I am still not saticfied with it... it is uninteresting, seems tacked on, etc. I want something more purposeful like the classes from Borderlands, or from the up coming Destiny game. Something with small guildlines to give the character a role of sorts and something to aspire to with enough space to give characters the ability to become unique.

Rules: Playable. World, Story, and Lore: on deck.

https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page

The rules of play, character creation, equipment, and powers are done (until someone finds something broken or ripe for exploitation…).

THUS, I will now be focusing on writing the world itself. The peoples, Nations thereof, borderlands, story, conflicts, history, legends, lore, ect. LOTS of writing. Before focusing solely on the rules as well as my gallery, I had written a good 30 pages of the stuff. All of it needs heavy editing and revising. So, updates on the that will begin here.