New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

[SCUBA Hero]

Well, actually I'm still looking for a good term. It uses some ideas from The Blood (from The Blood And Dr. McQuark) and I want some differentiating term (such as "Exalted") but as both of those are used, I want some other term that conveys specialness/superiority. Any suggestions are appreciated...

 

Anyway. The basic idea is that of a feudal-type world with magic. Way back when, one bloodline received/developed/somehow acquired Power... and now, the ruling class is the Blood (to stick with the thread title for the moment), with "Mixed Blood" being the general equivalent of knights, and "Normals" being normal humans.

 

The PCs will all be Mixed Blood. I want a definite power level differentiation, and here's my current thinking - Mixed Blood have as a base package:

 

* 6 DCs of Physical and Energy Damage Negation (60 points)

* A Multipower with 1d6 RKA and 3d6 Blast (17)

* Some Teleportation [still working on the details]

* A "Blood Recognition Factor" similar to that in The Blood And Dr. McQuark. Cost is zero, as advantages and disadvantages tend to cancel out

* Some for of Enhanced Senses [still working on the details]

* A new Talent [looking for a name here, too] along the lines of Deadly Blow/Weapon Master - 12 @ 10 point Combat Skill Levels, Only To Increase Damage (-1/2) (80)

 

So it's pretty points-intensive, with 157 Character Points accounted for above, not counting whatever Teleportation and Enhanced Sense costs will be in there - and I'm okay with that, it will be accounted for in the Campaign Rules, plus enough points to customise each character. I need to develop guidelines so that each PC is balanced enough for the players to have fun, but with enough differentiation to make them individuals.

 

I want to create a definite 'tier' level - Mixed Blood are far superior to Normals and far inferior to Blood (in combat terms). A Mixed Blood can stand and take the 2d6 RKA Longbow of a Normal without worry until said Normal runs out of arrows, and then look down and say, "Look... you tore a hole in my shirt. This is my favorite shirt! My turn." and lob a 3d6 RKA that's pretty much a coin flip to send a typical non-armored Normal into negative BODY. Mixed Blood essentialy have a 30-point advantage. Against full Blood, they'd have a disadvantage (thinking 15 points here, rather than 30).

 

The other folks in the group were pretty much in favor of the differentiation.

 

The second thing I'd like to incorporate is rules from The Ultimate Base for each of the PCs fiefs. Working on this (just scraping the surface at this point).

 

So I'm looking for feedback on ideas for names to differentiate the groups, reasons for the group to work together (i.e., they're all in service to a Blood baron who sends them on missions against other Blood barons), ideas to keep the action going, and so forth. Comment away!

[sinanju]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Why not just call them Lords (or Nobles)? Historically, people had to be born into a royal family--and it's no different in your world, except that having "blue" blood really makes a physical difference. The King's person isn't merely inviolate because anyone who dares to lay hands on him will be killed horribly, but because he can stand there, arms akimbo, like Superman as arrows bounce off of his chest! OBVIOUSLY he's superior to any mere mortal. He can even stomp his Knights (who also are superior to any mere mortal).

 

In your world, being a noble isn't just a title--it's a description of fact.

 

"He must be a King!"

"How do you know that?"

"Arrows bounce off of him!"

 

(Of course, if you're using anything like real world genetics, there isn't going to be a clean demarcation between commoners, mixed bloods, and pureblood nobles. Or only if they take draconian measures to ensure that purebloods only breed with other purebloods. Or, perhaps, with the occasional commoner. ("Well done, subject! I admire the way you fought bravely for your King. So much so that I'm going to have sex with your wife and produce a half-blood child. You won't be a Knight--but your son will be! Ha ha!")

[SCUBA Hero]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

I want both titles and descriptions of the difference; for example a Normal could be a Knight (but rarely, sort of like a wealthy simple man buying a manor near a city). There is definite social stratification and tension. I'm not worried about real-world genetics, just want enough versimilitude for the three-tier system of Blood / Mixed Blood / Normal.

 

Thanks for the suggestion!

[Mirgos]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

You may have thought of it already, but have you thought of looking at the Birthright (AD&D 2nd ed) setting it has Bloodlines & rules for ruling fiefs/kingdoms as well.

[NuSoardGraphite]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Your campaign idea reminds me of two fictional stories I read. The first is Mamorou Nagano's The Five Star Stories where the nobility in the galaxy is made up of remnants of genetically engineered supersoldiers. In antiquity, these supersoldiers were made to be the guardians of the galactic empire, but when that empire collapsed (probably from internal strife) the supersoldiers dispersed and bred with the common populace. Fast forward a few millenia and anyone who is a descendant of these supersoldiers and carry the gene can give birth to someone who exhibits the capabilities of these supersoldiers. When that happens, they are absorbed into the aristocracy and made a Knight (at the very least). The chance of such a birth is only 1 in about 360, but among the aristocracy who absorbs as many of these individuals as it can (and thus, many of the aristocracy are composed of these supersoldiers known as Headdliners) the chance is about 1 in 120. On average, they are about 10 times more powerful than a normal human. (10 times stronger, faster etc). Pure blood Knights (i.e. those who are direct descendants of the soldiers of the Super Empire) are about 10 times more powerful than a regular Headdliner and thus vastly more powerful than a normal human. Pure blood Knights are almost exclusive to the aristocracy. Almost none are known to be born amongst the commons.

 

The other story is The Runelords by David Farland. In this story, the aristocracy often gets branded with magical Runes which take "attributes" from a donor who are usually common born. A "Dedicate" (the person who is giving their attribute to their lord) can only give one attribute at a time, but the Runelord receiving the attribute can take runes from hundreds of Dedicates. The Dedicate essentially loses use of the attribute given thus a Dedicate who has given his Stamina to his Lord becomes sickly and frail. If the Dedicate dies, the link is broken and the Lord loses the attribute boost, thus Runelords go through great lengths to make sure their Dedicates are well cared for and safe. A common tactic in war is to send an assassin into a Runelords keep and slay his dedicates, thus depriving the Runelord of power in the midst of a battle.

The attributes that can be transferred are Brawn (STR) Grace (DEX) Metabolism (SPD) Stamina (CON/BOD) Wit (INT) Voice (PRE) Glamour (COM) Sight,Smell,Hearing (Enhanced Senses). Later on in the series, the enemy (a group of interdimensional demon thingys) improve on that ability and start transferring things like Compassion, Empathy, sense of Touch etc to use in torture. The descriptions of battles between two heavily endowed Runelords is spectacular as oftentimes they have so many endowments of Metabolism that everyone else on the battlefield is moving in slow motion compared to them, and they have so many endowments of stamina that they essentially regenerate.

 

I suggest finding a copy of David Farland's The Runelords to give you an idea on what that kind of power level will look/feel.

[NuSoardGraphite]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

As far as "Tittles" are concerned, how about these:

 

Pure Blood/Nobility: Patrician (Lord of or to Rule over)

Mixed Blood/Knights: Chevalier (lowest rank of nobility)

Commoners: Declasse (the classless or pedestrian)

 

As far as differentiating between the classes: I've done this a lot trying to simulate The Five Star Stories, so I have a lot of experience with this.

 

Commoner (Declasse or "Classers") should be based on average human characteristics. The Chevaliers should have bonuses to all their physical characteristics. At least +5, maybe more depending on how much more powerful you want them to be. This should increase their "Normal Characteristic Maximum" appropriately. The Pure Bloods should have additional bonuses...probably bonuses to their mental characteristics as well (though not as much as those to their physical characteristics). Knights and Pure Bloods should be able to develop powers that represent their superpowered skills and abilities (autofire HKA's, Double knockback Hand Attacks, etc). Mixed Bloods should have a lower Active Point cap than Pure Bloods. (I suggest 45AP for Knights, 60+ for Purebloods)

[SCUBA Hero]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

You may have thought of it already' date=' but have you thought of looking at the Birthright (AD&D 2nd ed) setting it has Bloodlines & rules for ruling fiefs/kingdoms as well.[/quote']I'm not familiar with that one. I'll see if anyone in my gaming group has it. Thanks!

[SCUBA Hero]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

NuSoardGraphite,

 

Thanks for the book, Title, and power level suggestions!

 

If "Exalted" wasn't already in use, I'd use that. I want something that suggests being special/above the norm/superiority.

 

Normal/Common/Mundane is the gist of those without Blood, but none of those terms resonates with me... Looking for something that says "ordinary"...

 

The Mixed Blood term will probably fall out of whatever Blood and Normal terms are used...

 

 

I want a clear differentiation between the Blood/Mixed/Blood/Normal "status" and temporal power "title". So you could be a Normal Knight (even, extremely rarely, a Normal Baron) or a Mixed Blood Knight, and the difference would be obvious when talking. Hmmm... maybe I need a prefix for Blood and Mixed Blood... for example, "Von Sir Hendrik" - Von meaning Mixed Blood (and coming first in the sequence), Sir indicating a Knight, and Hendrik being the last name.

 

As far as power levels, I want to explore the differentiation idea in the OP; in essence, each level can shrug off 6 DCs of effect from the next lower level and adds 6 DCs of effect to all attacks against the next lower level.

[Darbor]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Here are a few suggestions.

 

Using animal breeding terms. (in parentheses, as a group)

Blood - Breed (The Breed)

Mixed - Cross (The Cross)

Normal - Mongrel (The Mongrels)

 

Using sort of aristocracy terms

Blood - Patrician (The Patricians)

Mixed - Elite (The Elite)

Normal - Plebeian (The Plebeians, or The Plebes)

[alms66]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

I like the idea, though personally I'd have several different packages for 'mixed blood' with varying degrees of power.

 

Anyway, some "Blood" Names:

The Gifted

The Great Ones

Having "blood" in there actually kind of sounds cool

The Great Blooded/The Lesser Blooded

The Noble Blooded/The Knight Blooded

 

As for the "normals" I really can't think of anything other than peasants or commoners. Why would they need a special name anyway? They are the "common" ones after all, they're just plain old humans.

[SCUBA Hero]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

I like the idea' date=' though personally I'd have several different packages for 'mixed blood' with varying degrees of power.[/quote']Yes, both for 'realism' and variety, several packages with different power levels makes sense. But for this campaign (and given real life time constraints), three levels will work fine. Who knows, at some future point I may write up other levels.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all the name suggestions, folks!

[Lord Liaden]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Hmm... a while back Steve Long was discussing an idea for a family/bloodline of exceptional ability with the suggested name The Rockborn, because the progenitor of the line was as tough and strong as rock itself. Perhaps you could use some combination of "___ born" as the name of this superior bloodline, maybe tied to the Special Effects of their abilities, or inspired by the origin or exploits of the first in the line, e.g. "Fireborn," "Seaborn," "Warborn," etc. Those of mixed blood, or the common folk without this heritage, could have variations of the name designating lesser quality; so for the Fireborn, mixed bloods might be called "Sparkborn" or "Emberborn," while commoners would be the "Ashborn."

 

As for what might keep a particular group of this heritage together and serving the same cause; on Steve's previously-mentioned thread, I suggested that "the Rock" the family was named for could be an actual artifact, the source or stimulus for their extraordinary abilities. Perhaps each of the great feudal noble houses keeps some "sacred" artifact or site -- an everburning flame, hidden pool, ancient tree, enchanted throne, or the like -- which granted or awakened the abilities of the first of their kind. Maybe each of these is a fragment or "offspring" of the original artifact. It might even be needed to fully stimulate the powers of each new generation of the bloodline, part of a rite of passage into adulthood.

 

In any case each artifact would be the symbol and pride of its house, something to be jealously guarded from rivals. Theft of an artifact would be a great blow to a house's prestige and possibly its power, and its recovery an important mission for PCs.

 

As far as other missions go, since the inherited "nobility" of this bloodline is obvious and brings such tangible benefits, blood relations between the various noble houses will be even more important than among real-world nobility. PCs may find themselves escorting young spouses to marriages arranged to bring an end to a conflict or cement an alliance, or helping negotiate such a marriage, while fending off rivals who want it to fail. OTOH they might be sent to recover a "runaway" bride or groom who loves someone other than the arranged partner. Locating children spawned by bloodline nobles out of wedlock would be very desirable since they can add to the power of their families. It's also possible for a child to remain undiscovered until their abilities manifest, which would likely allow them to become leaders of bands of brigands, or even rebels.

 

Members of the bloodline could manifest or train abilities to make themselves exceptionally effective spies, assassins, or enforcers, operating either on behalf of their patron nobles, or independently as mercenaries. Such would make formidable foes for PCs; but the PCs might even be such operatives themselves, sent on especially challenging or sensitive missions.

[SCUBA Hero]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Excellent ideas, LL!

 

In this campaign, the 'original source' of Blood is unknown... perhaps a story arc will delve into what it is, and the implications thereof...

 

So the (whatever)born would have to be something ambiguous... hmmm....

 

Bloodline plots will play a major role

 

I'm envisioning a campaign without Gods and Divine Magic. There will be Magic, but it's a force to be understood and tamed, not granted by superior beings... the idea is that the rulers of the most powerful kingdoms are the most powerful individual forces known.

 

I'm also increasing the Multipower to 30 Reserve with 2d6 RKA and 6d6 Blast slots. Your typical, 'average man' Mixed Blood is a threat to anything less than a fully-armored Normal knight, and conversely is immune to an average warrior (look at 6e weapon stats and STR Min to see how hard it is to do more than 2d6 Killing - yes, important NPCs will be able to do more damage, but the *average* soldier absolutely won't be able to harm a Mixed Blood in combat, short of a Haymaker).

[SCUBA Hero]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Working idea at this point is:

 

Exalted (even though it's already used by another game system)

 

Elevated

 

Base

[Shadowsoul]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Fun idea. You may want to look at Jim Butcher's Codex Alera for some inspiration about how this kind of society would work. Alera is a nation of humans who wield immense elemental powers. The aristocracy are worlds above a normal peasant's power level, however. One way the social order is maintained is through legal duels - legal disputes can be solved by a challenge to combat. This means that weaker Alerans rarely dare to challenge the activities of the more powerful citizens and nobles.

[The Weapon]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Just two levels of "bloodedness"? Wouldn't there be 1/4 blooded (children of a normal and a 1/2 blooded) and 3/4 blooded (one full-blooded and one half-blooded parent)? If there are lots of different levels you get a lot more resentments and power struggles ("He thinks he's so great because he's 1/2 blood, I'm 3/16 that's practically as good, why does he get everything?".).

[Manic Typist]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

You should consider a variety of names, even within groups. Remember, different groups have different names for each other and for themselves. So there might be a super formal name that is only used by the nobility occasionally, and they have a shorter name that they use in more casual speak. They might have a derogatory name for mixed bloods. Commoners are... well... common. That's plenty insulting. On the reverse end, the commoners will have their own slang and nicknames for the other groups, etc.

[Markdoc]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

Just two levels of "bloodedness"? Wouldn't there be 1/4 blooded (children of a normal and a 1/2 blooded) and 3/4 blooded (one full-blooded and one half-blooded parent)? If there are lots of different levels you get a lot more resentments and power struggles ("He thinks he's so great because he's 1/2 blood' date=' I'm 3/16 that's practically as good, why does he get everything?".).[/quote']

 

It depends how it is passed on. If it's a single incompletely dominant gene*, those with two copies will manifest the full effect, while those with one will manifest a weaker effect. If it is passed as a single gene, then either you've got it or you ain't. And given the original description, there'd be no doubt about whether you have it or not. That makes it pretty easy to calculate heredity. Full bloods who married another full blood would only have full-blooded children: I can see that becoming an issue of pride pretty swiftly. A full blood who married a half blood would have (on average) half full blood children and half half-blood. And a full blood who married a commoner would have roughly 50/50 half-blood and common children.Two half bloods who married would have Full blood/Half blood/common children in a 1/2/1 ratio (again, all averages.

 

That raises some interesting social questions. As noted full bloods who marry other full bloods would probably establish hereditary lines and guard them with care, since that way they could ensure that all of their children were part of the aristocracy. Marrying a commoner or marrying down would probably be a great social sin, plus a source of worry for parents, since there'a chance that your children would not inherit. I can see arranged marriage being a big part of society. However, depending on how society is set up, that might also lead to deliberate limitation of how many kids you have - so your inheritance is not spread too thinly.

 

And do fullbloods inherit first, half bloods after and commoners not at all? It might be that there is no inheritance of position, but that full and half bloods are simply inducted into society and expected to earn their own positions (with help from friends and family, of course). If position is inherited, you'd have a quasi-feudal feeling (and you have to decide who gets what). If it has to be earned, you'd end up with something like Ming court politics where families feud to ensure the best positions go their progeny.

 

Interesting ....

 

cheers, Mark

 

*or locus of tightly linked genes

[SCUBA Hero]

Re: New Campaign Idea: "Blood"

 

The Weapon and Markdoc,

 

Thanks for the ideas! I want three levels more for convenience and time than from any genetic reason (although I'll certainly use the genetic idea that fits what I already want! ). I see the genetics as more of a Mellor (from Fringeworthy) - you can't go 'above' the highest level. Thus, two Mixed Blood will produce a Mixed Blood, but a Full Blood and Mixed Blood might produce either (but not a Common) - hmmmm, must consider the percentages.

 

 

Manic Typist,

 

Excellent idea! There should be formal, informal, and slang/derogatory usages.