Lookouts - The RPG

Erich Zahn

We don't need more sci-fi RPG's, Traveller is damn near perfect.

SUPERSUGA

nefffffffffff wrote: »

I like the idea of it just being one running forum game with continuity instead of several different games on the forum. Everybody who wants to can have a character and can go on expeditions whenever they open up, maybe even becoming masters when they get enough badges. Or you could just rp when not on an expedition. Sort of a "massively tabletop rpg." Would need some reliable way of keeping track of peoples characters, however.

I don't really know how to describe the idea I'm having, but does this make sense?

EDIT: incidentally, at work today I was daydreaming about porting your game rules into a sci-fi uneverse. Is the main thread for Overworlds and Underworlds(err, I guess the Adventurers tale) still around?

The sort of campaign you're describing is something I've tried to do before, but not quite successfully. This blog post has some really great guidance on a similar sort of idea.. The idea of having a larger roster of characters that take part in some expeditions and sit others out is definitely appealing and fits the theme.

A SciFi port of The Adventurer's Tale... could work. The original thread talking about The Adventurer's Tale was the one for the all-dwarf game, I believe. It'll still be in the depths of Critical Failures somewhere.

Gandalf_the_Crazed

The idea of having a larger roster of characters that take part in some expeditions and sit others out is definitely appealing and fits the theme.

I really really like this idea.

simonwolf

Gandalf_the_Crazed wrote: »

The idea of having a larger roster of characters that take part in some expeditions and sit others out is definitely appealing and fits the theme.

I really really like this idea.

I really, really, really like the idea.

nefffffffffff

simonwolf wrote: »

Gandalf_the_Crazed wrote: »

The idea of having a larger roster of characters that take part in some expeditions and sit others out is definitely appealing and fits the theme.

I really really like this idea.

I really, really, really like the idea.

ditto.

nefffffffffff

Why the fuck not:

Duke - the Trouble Maker
Grace 5, Craft 4, Awareness 3, Body 2, Melee 1
Woodcraft(acorn)
Treeclimbing(acorn)
Lookout Sword, Utility Knife, Uniform, Pack w/ bedroll, Utility Woodtool, Treeclimbing Bootspikes, Rope.

Missing anything?

SUPERSUGA

Looks good, neff. But anyone making a character should remember this is all work in progress and so potentially subject to great change without notice!

zenpotato

This is an interesting idea. I like.

My first instinct is that the badge list is a little too big and could use some pruning. Going to have to spend some time look at that list.

SkyCaptain

Nah, it needs even more badges. They're like feats.

zenpotato

More seems like bloat. I'd rather simplify to keep things simple. I'm not a huge fan of the gigantic 3E feat lists though.

I think the only thing left to do might be some kind of rank system. Have 6 Oak badges? You're a Warden, etc.

Also, what about the idea that this is really a boy scout like organization, designed to teach kids useful things. These kids aren't going to become Rangers when they grow up; they're just as likely to be bakers or smiths or something. It's just useful for them to have all these skills.

Eventually though, they grow up and go do other stuff. Maybe it would be useful to note what they're apprentices of as some kind of extra skillset?

nefffffffffff

yes, well fortunately character creation isn't a super involved process with this ruleset. I don't think there's much time lost.

Erich Zahn

So, anyone thinking of an Automata ruleset?

Perhaps modded CoC?

nefffffffffff

Right now I'm really still thinking lookouts. also reading all of the stuff that suga has linked to has gotten me into a mood. I want to do something along the lines of the west marches project, using the adventurer's tale ruleset because I am infatuated with its simplicity.

It's a pretty ambitious plan I have going in my head right now, so we'll see how(if) it turns out.

Infidel

This is going to be run at times I can never make isn't it SUGA I hate you.

nefffffffffff

Infidel wrote: »

This is going to be run at times I can never make isn't it SUGA I hate you.

God I hope not. If it is we can work out some sort of PbP solution. It will be just like suga's game, except with black jack. And hookers.

Actually, forget the lookouts.

Yeah... working nights on the west coast makes it hard to organize anything with people on the internet. Are there any Hawaiians in the house?

SUPERSUGA

zenpotato wrote: »

More seems like bloat. I'd rather simplify to keep things simple. I'm not a huge fan of the gigantic 3E feat lists though.

I think the only thing left to do might be some kind of rank system. Have 6 Oak badges? You're a Warden, etc.

Also, what about the idea that this is really a boy scout like organization, designed to teach kids useful things. These kids aren't going to become Rangers when they grow up; they're just as likely to be bakers or smiths or something. It's just useful for them to have all these skills.

Eventually though, they grow up and go do other stuff. Maybe it would be useful to note what they're apprentices of as some kind of extra skillset?

In my head I had a sort of pyramid-based idea. I don't know if I just like it because of the pretty shape, though.

It would be based around gaining a "star" (a better name required to keep with the forest theme) every time you get three acorns, two shoots and one oak. It's quite a hefty achievement so maybe you can get a minor version of the award for getting two oaks and one shoot.

Thinking this over and in a bit of a hurry at the moment, so will post properly later with some updates.

Hayasa

I have to say, I do like the apprentice idea.

SUPERSUGA

nefffffffffff wrote: »

Right now I'm really still thinking lookouts. also reading all of the stuff that suga has linked to has gotten me into a mood. I want to do something along the lines of the west marches project, using the adventurer's tale ruleset because I am infatuated with its simplicity.

It's a pretty ambitious plan I have going in my head right now, so we'll see how(if) it turns out.

The good thing about a West Marches style project would be that we'd be able to have all the different timezones involved in one campaign and spread the GM burden. Whereas I'm happy to GM I'd be much more in favour of leading the odd expedition and helping keep things in check rather than having sole responsibility. Having neff on board as a GM too would mean we'd have one in a GMT zone and one in Bizzarotime, hopefully allowing for most people to be able to find an expedition they can join.

zenpotato wrote: »

Also, what about the idea that this is really a boy scout like organization, designed to teach kids useful things. These kids aren't going to become Rangers when they grow up; they're just as likely to be bakers or smiths or something. It's just useful for them to have all these skills.

Absolutely. This is how I saw it myself. I imagine the forest is a dangerous place that requires everyone has these basic survival skills and knowledge.

nefffffffffff

SUPERSUGA wrote: »

nefffffffffff wrote: »

Right now I'm really still thinking lookouts. also reading all of the stuff that suga has linked to has gotten me into a mood. I want to do something along the lines of the west marches project, using the adventurer's tale ruleset because I am infatuated with its simplicity.

It's a pretty ambitious plan I have going in my head right now, so we'll see how(if) it turns out.

The good thing about a West Marches style project would be that we'd be able to have all the different timezones involved in one campaign and spread the GM burden. Whereas I'm happy to GM I'd be much more in favour of leading the odd expedition and helping keep things in check rather than having sole responsibility. Having neff on board as a GM too would mean we'd have one in a GMT zone and one in Bizzarotime, hopefully allowing for most people to be able to find an expedition they can join.

This way 'campers' can RP on the boards and get to know eachother and have all those social interactions as if they were at summercamp.

zenpotato

How do you guys feel about these as slightly modified versions of the badges? Added one or two, mixed up a couple of others, and changed the Beastmaster badges to be "family of beast" oriented (otherwise you could end up with a ton of them).

I'm going to throw some ideas about how to run a Lookout adventure in to a different post. One thing I've seen come up a couple of times though is the Master. Is he an NPC? Maybe the GM's PC, in a way ("I'm Master Gibbs, and I'll be taking you out caving. I require that you have at least an Acorn badge in Caving and two Shoot badges for this expedition.")?

Anyways, the modified list:

Woodworking
Acorn: Gain a Lookouts Utility Woodtool.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when using Craft to make something out of wood.
Oak: Add 1 to Craft.

First Aid
Acorn: Gain a First Aid pouch.
Shoot: Add 1 to the amount of damage you can heal when taking a short rest.
Oak: Add 1 to Wisdom or Craft.

Archery
Acorn: Gain a Lookout Bow
Shoot: Add 1 to shooting rolls using a Bow.
Oak: Add 1 to Shooting or Awareness.

Beastmaster
Acorn: Automatically identify this family of beasts whenever you encounter it.
Shoot: Add 1 to all combat rolls against the specific family of beast or monster.
Oak: Add 1 to Awareness or Wisdom.

//Need clarification
Note: A seperate Beastmaster Badge exists for each type of beast or monster and is suffixed with that monster's name. For example, a Lookout could have the "Beastmaster - Manticore" badge at Acorn grade and the "Beastmaster - Pegasus" badge at Oak.

Traps and Snares
Acorn: Gain a Lookout Trap Kit
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when attempting to catch an animal using traps. Add 1 to rolls when attempting to spot or disarm a trap.
Oak: Add 1 to Craft or Awareness.

Hiking
Acorn: You may lead Lookout Cross Country Runs without requiring a Master.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls involving running over distance.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Grace.

Caving
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Caving Spikes and Rope.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls involving navigating, moving or spotting danger in tunnels.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Awareness.

Climbing
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Bootspikes and Rope, allowing you to attempt to climb trees and cliffs without obvious footholds.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls involving climbing, or moving in trees.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Body.

Swimming
Acorn: You may take a group of Lookouts swimming without needing a Master.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls when swimming in water.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Body.

Swordsmanship
Acorn: Earn a special scabbard for your Lookout Dagger.
Shoot: Add 1 to combat rolls using your Lookout Dagger.
Oak: Add 1 to Melee or Grace and gain a Master's Blade (Damage 3)

Athletics
Acorn: You may represent your Lookout Troop at Contests.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when throwing or jumping.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Grace.

Fishing
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Fishing Pole.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls to catch or identify fish.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Awareness.

Tracking
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Tracker's Book. You can identify any normal animal or any monster you have the appropriate Beastmaster badge for just from its prints.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when trying to follow tracks.
Oak: Add 1 to Awareness or Wisdom.

Boating
Acorn: You may use the Lookout Canoes without a Master.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls when operating a rowboat.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Wisdom.

Wrestling
Acorn: You may spar with a buddy and represent your Troop at Contests.
Shoot: Add 1 to combat rolls when fighting unarmed.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Melee.
Note: All Lookouts may attempt wrestling rolls, but at a -1 penalty if they do not have Acorn badges in Wrestling.

Herbology
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Herb Guide and automatically identify any common herb, flower or fungus.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when foraging for edible plants or identifying unusual plants.
Oak: Add 1 to Wisdom or Awareness.

Patrol
Acorn: You may take part in Lookout Patrols.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when attempting to spot someone or something trying to sneak or hide from you.
Oak: You may lead Lookout Patrols and add 1 to Awareness or Body.

Engineering
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Engineer Toolkit (hammer, chisel, saw, ruler).
Shoot: Add 1 when attempting to craft a mechanical structure.
Oak: Add 1 to Craft or Wisdom.

Orienteering
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Compass
Shoot: Add 1 when attempting to determine a direction.
Oak: Add 1 to Awareness or Wisdom.

Possible Expansion Badges:
Ghosttalking
Cartography
Alchemy
Animal Friendship

SUPERSUGA

My comments in bold. Most of the minor changes seem fine to me at first glance.

zenpotato wrote: »

Woodworking
Acorn: Gain a Lookouts Utility Woodtool.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when using Craft to make something out of wood.
Oak: Add 1 to Craft.

First Aid
Acorn: Gain a First Aid pouch.
Shoot: Add 1 to the amount of damage you can heal when taking a short rest.
Oak: Add 1 to Wisdom or Craft.

Archery
Acorn: Gain a Lookout Bow
Shoot: Add 1 to shooting rolls using a Bow.
Oak: Add 1 to Shooting or Awareness.

Beastmaster
Acorn: Automatically identify this family of beasts whenever you encounter it.
Shoot: Add 1 to all combat rolls against the specific family of beast or monster.
Oak: Add 1 to Awareness or Wisdom.

Think I still prefer this being for specific monsters rather than families, but I'm open to discussion on it.

//Need clarification
Note: A seperate Beastmaster Badge exists for each type of beast or monster and is suffixed with that monster's name. For example, a Lookout could have the "Beastmaster - Manticore" badge at Acorn grade and the "Beastmaster - Pegasus" badge at Oak.

Traps and Snares
Acorn: Gain a Lookout Trap Kit
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when attempting to catch an animal using traps. Add 1 to rolls when attempting to spot or disarm a trap.
Oak: Add 1 to Craft or Awareness.

Looks good.

Hiking
Acorn: You may lead Lookout Cross Country Runs without requiring a Master.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls involving running over distance.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Grace.

Caving
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Caving Spikes and Rope.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls involving navigating, moving or spotting danger in tunnels.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Awareness.

Climbing
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Bootspikes and Rope, allowing you to attempt to climb trees and cliffs without obvious footholds.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls involving climbing, or moving in trees.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Body.

This seems fine to me. I was thinking there wouldn't be much rock to climb in the forest but it's pretty plausible

Swimming
Acorn: You may take a group of Lookouts swimming without needing a Master.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls when swimming in water.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Body.

Swordsmanship
Acorn: Earn a special scabbard for your Lookout Dagger.
Shoot: Add 1 to combat rolls using your Lookout Dagger.
Oak: Add 1 to Melee or Grace and gain a Master's Blade (Damage 3)

Name change is good, that was my mistake initially.

Athletics
Acorn: You may represent your Lookout Troop at Contests.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when throwing or jumping.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Grace.

Fishing
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Fishing Pole.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls to catch or identify fish.
Oak: Add 1 to Grace or Awareness.

Tracking
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Tracker's Book. You can identify any normal animal or any monster you have the appropriate Beastmaster badge for just from its prints.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when trying to follow tracks.
Oak: Add 1 to Awareness or Wisdom.

Boating
Acorn: You may use the Lookout Canoes without a Master.
Shoot: Add 1 to any rolls when operating a rowboat.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Wisdom.

Wrestling
Acorn: You may spar with a buddy and represent your Troop at Contests.
Shoot: Add 1 to combat rolls when fighting unarmed.
Oak: Add 1 to Body or Melee.
Note: All Lookouts may attempt wrestling rolls, but at a -1 penalty if they do not have Acorn badges in Wrestling.

Really don't like this penalty for people without the badge. Doesn't work for me at all for a number of reasons.

Herbology
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Herb Guide and automatically identify any common herb, flower or fungus.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when foraging for edible plants or identifying unusual plants.
Oak: Add 1 to Wisdom or Awareness.

Patrol
Acorn: You may take part in Lookout Patrols.
Shoot: Add 1 to rolls when attempting to spot someone or something trying to sneak or hide from you.
Oak: You may lead Lookout Patrols and add 1 to Awareness or Body.

Engineering
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Engineer Toolkit (hammer, chisel, saw, ruler).
Shoot: Add 1 when attempting to craft a mechanical structure.
Oak: Add 1 to Craft or Wisdom.

I like.

Orienteering
Acorn: Gain the Lookout Compass
Shoot: Add 1 when attempting to determine a direction.
Oak: Add 1 to Awareness or Wisdom.

Can't believe I missed this one.

Possible Expansion Badges:
Ghosttalking (eh... not sure how much supernatural I'd want in there)
Cartography (makes a lot of sense)
Alchemy (could be good if handled well)
Animal Friendship (could be interesting too)

Overall, nice work

zenpotato

I didn't really think through the melee penalty that much. I just though there should be something else there to make getting an Acorn badge worthwhile. I can see how it wouldn't work though.

SUPERSUGA

zenpotato wrote: »

I didn't really think through the melee penalty that much. I just though there should be something else there to make getting an Acorn badge worthwhile. I can see how it wouldn't work though.

Yeah, I didn't mean to sound so hard on it but it just really doesn't work for me with the system. Looking forward to what you have planned for adventure thing. I keep trying to find the time to have a go at it myself, but a little hectic at the moment.

DVG

There should be a badge called "Lookout's Honor".

I don't know what it should do, I expect it gets rewarded for exceptional valor on an expedition or for making a hard decision which adheres to the Lookout's Creed.

SUPERSUGA

Good suggestion, DVG. I think that would have to wait until we (hopefully) see more from the Lookouts, though.

Of course this relies on people going here and voting Lookouts.

Erich Zahn

SUPERSUGA wrote: »

Of course this relies on people going here and voting Lookouts.

What do you have against robots?

Mike Danger

Yeah, I don't think there are 4000 people out there on the Intersphere to push Lookouts past Automata.

Regardless, their day will come.

SAW776

Lookouts will still get made, as Tycho said in yesterdays post. So fear not!

SUPERSUGA

I'm truly missing what makes Automata so popular. It looks kinda neat, but I could probably find a dozen noir-ish robot stories out there. Lookouts just lept out at me and made me wonder why noone had done it before.

SAW776

SUPERSUGA wrote: »

I'm truly missing what makes Automata so popular. It looks kinda neat, but I could probably find a dozen noir-ish robot stories out there. Lookouts just lept out at me and made me wonder why noone had done it before.

But how many robot noir comics can you find?

The thing is, The Lookouts is similar to most other stuff Tycho/Gabe do. Automata is something different for them, which I think a lot of people are interested in seeing.

SUPERSUGA

I was about to do a google search but this isn't really the thread for it, so I'm going to swerve this thread back towards the topic at hand. They're both neat concepts, I'm just hoping we get to see more Lookouts first so we can get this campaign started.

SAW776

Here's an idea: Run this campaign as a sort of flashback.

Have like the opening be all of these Lookouts are together somewhere, battered and bloody, in a momentary break from a huge battle, and they are remembering back to when things were so much simpler, when they were all just young friends learning how to survive.

Then, once more comes out about the Lookouts, you update it back to "modern day", and any discrepancies are brushed away by the fact that your original game took place like 20 years earlier and things have changed.

firemanfred

+1 to Saw's idea, no reason to wait for what could be months to get things rolling (literally).

SUPERSUGA

I must have missed the announcement. Did Lookouts lose the poll?

Been a bit busy the last few days but I'll pick this up as soon as I can.

SAW776

SUPERSUGA wrote: »

I must have missed the announcement. Did Lookouts lose the poll?

Been a bit busy the last few days but I'll pick this up as soon as I can.

Lookouts lost, but because, apparently, people complained that Jim Darkmagic was essentially Ross Perot and stole votes from Lookouts, they're redoing the poll just between Lookouts and Automata.

Erich Zahn

No, I LIKE it when Gabe changes things up and matures his style, Automata should be the winner
1.because I am an impatient fuck
2.because when he gets back to Lookouts his coloring will undoubtedly get better.

nefffffffffff

Erich Zahn wrote: »

No, I LIKE it when Gabe changes things up and matures his style, Automata should be the winner
1.because I am an impatient fuck
2.because when he gets back to Lookouts his coloring will undoubtedly get better.

This. Also, I liked lookouts, but sci-fi does not get enough love. Probably because of all the shit out there, but I have a feeling that Automata will be good.

SUPERSUGA

Right, another busy few days with work. I have a clear looking weekend as it stands, though, so expect something from me then. Might just throw caution to the wind and suggest a one-off session to test things out and throw around some ideas.

Actually I'll do that right now. Who'd be free to come on IRC around 7pm GMT on Saturday?

simonwolf

Blegh. I want to be involved in this, but 7pm GMT is 4am on Sunday here, so I doubt that's really going to happen. A shame!

nefffffffffff

yeah, I'd love to but 7 GMT is right around when I start work on saturdays.