Jiggidian Designs

After creating an adventure, or reading through a pre-made adventure, think about how you can add more spice to it. It’s fun and your players will enjoy it. I personally prefer to leave as many loose ends as possible lingering after an adventure and seeing where they lead in the future.

One way of doing this is to use brainstorming techniques, such as listing out all of the major NPCs in the adventure and then thinking about their past, their family life, their affiliations, etc. Branch out from each NPC as much as you can to give yourself plenty of things to toss in to the current and future adventures. Even if the NPC dies, they can linger in future adventures through relatives seeking revenge, maybe they mentioned something about their past before they took their last breath…the possibilities are pretty endless.

For an example, I was running the Plot Point Campaign for SteamPunk (a Savage Worlds setting by Reality Blurs) and I decided that one of the NPCs gets killed, which opens up dialog with a grieving cousin later on. I also decided that one of the major villains of the scenario had an older brother who wouldn’t be happy if the PCs killed his sibling. And then I decided that if the older brother’s quest for revenge failed, the PCs would catch the attention of the two’s crime boss. In exchange for not killing his enforcers, he supplied the PCs with very nice living arrangements and mostly legal work.

Why spend all that time on an NPC just to use it for one adventure? Think about who they would know, how they would interact with the local population, and even if they do not directly interact with others, how do others perceive them? Do they have distinguishing features that cause them to stand out in the minds of the people? There are so many possibilities to expand your NPCs to the point of almost being able to create adventures off of their histories/connections/influences.

Charge
As a full action, a PC may rush full speed in a straight line at an enemy within their normal Pace range. The PC gets +2 Fighting, -2 Parry until their next turn. On a successful Fighting roll, the charge inflicts Str+d6 damage. If the target is equal to or smaller than the PC, they are also moved back 6′ (1″). On a raise, the target is moved back and knocked prone. On failure, the target is missed and gains an Attack of Opportunity as the PC passes into the square behind them. No other action may be taken this turn.

Evolution Pool
A Summoner starts out with 3 Evolution Points that can be spent increasing the capabilities of their Eidolon.

A Summoner may choose to attempt to increase their Evolution Points instead of taking the typical perks from an Advance. To do this, the Summoner makes a Spirit roll.

Eidolon Base Forms

Evolutions
1-Point Evolutions

2-Point Evolutions

Here are 10 new Edges that can be used in any setting. You should give them a read.

http://theminiaturespage.com/news/218082/

The image that comes to most people’s minds when they hear the word “wizard” or “sorcerer” is that of a robed old man with magical books, and I want to bring those books into play.

[Spell Book details to come]

A spell caster starts their adventuring career with 2 + Smarts / 2 spells in their spell book (for a min. of 3 spells). These are the spells that the caster has trained with before turning to adventuring, so they gain a +1 bonus to cast these spells (meaning a -1 spell now has no penalty on the casting roll).

If a spell is in their spell books, a caster can use it at will. Spells beyond what they start with will need to be found/taught/purchased/etc. and spells do not cross their AB boundaries (Wizards don’t understand Summoners for example).

Adding added effect trappings gain an extra -1 to casting difficulty.
Trappings effected by this are earth, wind, fire, water, acid and any others that cause extra effects beyond the norm.

Spells of higher ranks may be attempted as well, but gain an extra -1 per needed advance to casting difficulty. For example, a beginning mage decides to try their hand at casting a spell beyond their training (Novice casting a Seasoned spell). The spell difficulty would be its base difficulty (for this example, 3) and would add the amount of Advanced needed to reach Seasoned rank (4). So the modifier to their casting roll would be -7. Once the mage has reached their first Advance, they may try casting again and it would only be -6 (since there would only be 3 more advances needed to reach Seasoned).

To the victor go the spoils…

After combat, the PCs may wish to loot the bodies of their foes and salvage anything of value. They must find a way to transport these items, or suffer encumberance penalties for being loaded down.

PCs must visit a settlement and make a Streetwise roll to see if they can even sell some of the loot. It is easier to find an interested buyer in large cities than in small villages.

Other factors in selling looted goods is the quality of said goods and reputation of the owner in the settlement.

Make a Gear Condition roll for each Wild Card, and a Gear Condition roll for each unit of Extras.

Example:
Local (Well Known) thug Markus is a Wild Card who likes to keep his gear looking good, but it is obvious he does use it (Maintained).

After being slained in a particularly unfortunate run-in with the PCs, they take his gear and try to sell it in the nearest town. It is a small village of around 400 people.

The PCs would have have to make a Streetwise -5 in order to find someone willing to buy the gear at 30% its mint condition value.

In general, the condition roll applies to all gear the foe possessed. However, you may deem that a weapon is of better quality than their armor.

It is possible that if the PCs fail the Streetwise roll, they attract the unwanted attention of local law enforcement or associates of the previous owner.

Settlement Demographics based on information at
http://www.io.com/~sjohn/demog.htm

Casting (Smarts)
AB: Summoning – The caster can call forth and control animals, spirits and other entities.
AB: Silver Tongue – Through music, song, speech and mannerisms, evoke emotions and sway other’s actions.
AB: Binding – Call forth spirits and other unnatural entities and bind them to objects or flesh to grant magical powers.
AB: Sorcery – The ability to cast various spells through the use of one’s own power.

Casting (Spirit)
AB: Divinity – The caster gains power through the will of the gods.
AB: Conviction – The caster has such burning convictions that they can project them into magical power.
AB: Miracles – These casters are granted powers based on their faith.
AB: Nature’s Blessing – The caster is attuned to the natural powers that surround them.

Skill: Casting (Spirit) or Casting (Smarts) depending on AB

On a roll of 1 on the Casting Die, the caster suffers backlash (see Backlash Table)
On a roll equal to 1 or less after modifiers, the caster suffers a wound and is knocked unconscious for 1d6 hours
On a standard failure, the caster is Shaken
On success, the spell is cast
Raises are handled based on spell cast

Backlash Table (Roll 2d6)

Ok, so I’ve had time to dwell on my original thoughts on my conversion of Pathfinder to Savage Worlds and well…I didn’t like it really. So I’ve decided to start with the Magic Delivery System and move my way up from there (since my 3 players are all casters).

Right now, a lot is going on. good things that have just taken a while to get going.

i’m getting closer to finally completing the first release of the Survey Management System (SMS) for Jenss & Associates (HTTP://www.jenss.com) and from the current sales projections including annual maintenance fees, I just may be able to get my own business up and running, instead of freelancing on the side.

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