This is a continuation with what I have of the character creation chapter. It's much more fragmentary. When designing the game, the problem I ran into was coming up with enough actual dharma techniques. My goal was to shoot for three for each attainment and attachment, (with some inversions of techniques between attainments and attachments, though not just a straight mirroring) which meant 48 different ones. I drifted off after writing a handful of them.
Characters come in two types, Awake and Ignorant. An Awake PC starts with three attainments and one attachment. An Ignorant PC starts with three attachments and one attainment. PCs then pick one background. An Awake PC gets one extra attachment from their background, and an Ignorant PC gets one extra attainment from their background. A character also gets one piece of Gear from his background. Backgrounds are things like caste, previous incarnations, etc. A newly created PC starts with all of his attainments and attachments "open".
There are nine attainments and nine attachments. Characters use their attainments and attachments to determine what dharma techniques they can use and in some cases, how effective those dharma techniques are.
If a PC dies, a player can choose one of two options. He can play the reincarnation of that character, or he can play a new character. A reincarnated character is created like a new character, but gets a bonus depending on his previous incarnation. If his previous incarnation was Awake, he receives a bonus attainment. If his previous character was Ignorant, he gets a bonus attachment. He can also be recognised as the new incarnation of the older character by those capable of doing so. Reincarnation takes 49 days, but the player does not need to wait for his new character to be born or grow up to adulthood. Rather, the 49 days are simply how long it takes for the karma of the past life to fully attach to an already living person. A new character does not receive these benefits, but may be introduced as quickly as desired.
If an Awake character has more attachments than attainments when he dies, he becomes Ignorant upon reincarnating. If an Ignorant character has more attainments than attachments when he dies, he becomes Awake upon reincarnating.
Attainments:
Right View - A character with Right View can see the proper course of dharma. He can use the __________ dharma techniques.
Right Intention - A character with Right Intention desires to act in accord with the dharma. He can use the _______ dharma techniques.
Right Speech - A character with Right Speech can speak in accord with the dharma. He can use the _______ dharma techniques.
Right Action - A character with Right Action makes decisions according to the dharma. He can use the ________ dharma techniques.
Right Livelihood - A character with Right Livelihood has a role in society in agreement with the dharma. He can use the _________ dharma techniques.
Right Effort - A character with Right Effort works constantly on behalf of the dharma. He can use the _________ dharma techniques
Right Mindfulness - A character with Right Mindfulness has knowledge of the dharma. He can use the ________ dharma techniques.
Right Concentration - A character with Right Concentration thinks in accord with the dharma. He can use the ________ dharma techniques.
Perfection of the Awake - A starting character may not take Perfection of the Awake. A character with this attainment can use any dharma technique without "closing" that attainment. A character must not have any attachments to get this attainment, and cannot get any attachments in future. If he would for any reason, that effect does not affect him. In dharma combat, a character with this attainment can only work to "push" the number to 15. He cannot work to push it to 1.
Getting New Attainments:
A character gets new attainments by winning a number of dharma combats equal to the number of attainments he currently has. Only dharma combats that he wins by raising the dharma number to 15 count for this purpose. The character may pick the new attainment and immediately gains access to its dharma techniques.
Attachments:
Taking - The character takes things - lives, money, risks - without regard for others or their well being.
Lying - The character does not care about truth for its own sake, and lies whenever it would benefit him to do so.
Intoxication - The character indulges in sensual pleasures immoderately and without regard for others or himself.
Foolishness - The character is thoughtless and unreflective.
Hatred - The character hates others.
Scorn - The character discriminates between people on improper grounds.
Severity - The character lacks compassion for others.
Fear - The character fears.
Unfortunate Birth - A starting character may not take Unfortunate Birth. A character with this attachment can use any dharma technique even if the associated attachment is closed. A character must not have any attainments to get this attachment, and he cannot get any attainments in future. If he would as the result of winning challenges, he does not. In dharma combat, a character with this attachment can only work to "push" the number to -15. He cannot work to push it to 15.
Getting New Attachments:
A character gets new attachments by winning a number of dharma combats equal to the number of attachments he currently has. Only dharma combats that he wins by lowering the dharma number to -15 count. The character may pick the attachment and immediately gains access to its dharma techniques
I like the reincarnaton rules, especially crossing the Awake / Ignorant border. I feel like three techniques for each attainment and attachment is a little much; maybe two would be enough?
ReplyDelete