I'm wondering if there's enough interest in here to get a game of ICON going!
What is ICON?
ICON is a new TTRPG created by the co-creator of Lancer, who's also the author of
Kill Six Billion Demons (the webcomic). It attracted my attention initially because it seemed to be designed with a very
inclusive mindset, and the combat was described as
class-based, Final Fantasy-esque. I think I first heard about the game here on the forums recently? A very neat aspect of it is that there are entirely separate mechanics for narrative play and combat, and your character will be growing in each of them.
ICON is
not fully released. It's theoretically in a playable version, but there could be balance issues or whatnot. The current version of the rules is available for free
here. Again, emphasizing, as this is new and not fully released: expect some quirks! That'll be part of the experience
. In addition, don't expect a lot of nice online support for character sheets or what-have-you. Pretty much all the stuff will have to be done the old-fashioned way!
What's this game in this thread going to be then?
I expect this to be a learning game to some extent, although very "learn via doing." A real game that we're playing, just with the expectation that we'll have questions and blunders along the way. So, I'm not thinking this is gonna be a multi-year epic with every step in battle perfectly calculated and with perfectly meta builds. It's not D&D where people have a million sites of resources and years of experience
. We can play it by ear: maybe a pretty straightforward "JRPG video game-esque adventurers in TTRPG setting," or maybe we'll grow it to more, we'll see. Gonna try to get the rules right so that we learn properly, but we can adjust things as we go if we feel the need (the game itself is a work in progress after all!).
I'm expecting to GM, thus I'm making this thread and such, but if anyone else wants to, by all means feel free! I don't have any attachment to being the GM, I just wanna play the game, so I'm perfectly happy to be on the player side. Again, remember that this is probably gonna be most of our first game in ICON, so keep your expectations for the GM (whether or not it's me) reasonable.
I'm hoping to have ~3-4 players and 1 GM. Try to be reasonably active. ICON is very Player-led, so the pace of the game will often go as fast as people are around to do it!
OK, but specifics of the setting and starting off and whatnot?
The setting is probably going to be the "default" type of setting for ICON. Post-post apocalyptic, currently with a relatively low-tech society but with ancient wonders of high tech spread throughout, etc. Honestly it kinda reminds me of
Breath of the Wild so that's a lot of what I'm imagining in my head. You all will be a group of adventurers that set out from the relatively safe villages around the world to explore, gain riches, and find magical artifacts.
We'll be starting from Level 0 (although that will be brief). No restrictions with character creation as long as it's in the rules, have fun with picking your class and designing your background and whatnot!
Does this work in a PbP setting?
Based on what I've read, I
think so? No worse than D&D or something in most ways. Better in some ways in that combat initiative is a little more flexible (although does require a lot of GM involvement). There's a class of abilities called "Interrupts" that are a bit worrisome, but most of them have very specific triggers, so we'll know when something should come into play.
Maybe it'll turn out this just really needs to be a realtime game, but I haven't found much that indicates as much so far.
One adjustment that does need to be made is that there are some things that are timed out by the "session." Digitally, we don't have "sessions." My thought is to first just wave our hands here, and I (or the GM if it's someone else) will draw the line on where it's reasonable a session would end. If we get a good, consistent pace, then we could do something like "every calendar week is one session" or such.
The rulebook is uh... over 400 pages long...
Yeah it's big. Thankfully though, you (as an individual player) don't need to read most of it. More than a quarter of that is going over the different classes/jobs, which players don't need to read in depth (you just need to know your own). Another 200+ pages is mostly GM stuff, so players could scan if interested but they don't need to follow too closely. There's rules for the gameplay for players, but we'll be helping each other out with that.
And when it comes down to it, I
like reading rule books for games, so I'm going through the whole thing anyways (mostly done at this point, to be honest). Feel free to let me guide you or answer your questions as much as you want, whether that's a technically in combat or if you want like, a step-by-step guide for character creation. I'm here to help us be able to play, so don't let the rules care you off,
I will help!
And then the last caveat is also just, again, this is a game we're playing amongst ourselves with rules that are not actually finalized. It's OK to not be perfect, although I'm gonna try just because I want to learn the rules. But we can bend/break what we want
OK, I'm interested, what do I do now?
Clearly say you wanna play, in
bold or something so that I don't mix up speculations and actual sign-ups. Feel free to start thinking of your character concept and create them, if you're ready!
Ask me if you have any questions about the game or the rules or anything, up to and including "just tell me step by step what I need to do." Again, I don't want fear of rules or learning the new system to scare people off ideally, this should be fun!
Also, there's a small expedition at the end of the rulebook.
Don't read that 'cause I'm gonna use it
Player List
- Invictus
- AustinP0027
- Elvenshae
- Discrider
Reserves
Posts
https://massif-press.itch.io/icon
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
Appears the character creation has different things you do if you're using narrative play only vs. tactical combat as well.
If it's half as complex as Lancer's, you'll be here a while if so.
It honestly looks like it makes it more D&D-ish for combat, but not sure if that's the goal for trying this out.
I'm going to bed, but I have work tomorrow and there will be a LOT of downtime for me to go over the rulebook and such so hopefully I can be ready ASAP!
Yup, I wanna use both halves of the game. The tactical combat seems interesting, lots of cool class choices and abilities.
Yeah
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I'll play!
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
OK, so onto character creation! I've snapshotted the little cheat-sheet of "how to create your character" here, just for easy reference.
Opening scene is that y'all are in a small village before planning on setting out for another expedition to find riches and treasures and adventures (and whatever else drives you). We can flesh it out however makes sense with your characters, but feel free to bounce ideas or questions in the thread! Otherwise, I'm excited to see what the characters y'all make look like!
As an FYI, I'm in France 'till the end of August, so the hours you see me responding now are not gonna be the same in a few weeks as I jump to a completely opposite time zone. And weekends are always gonna be slower for me.
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Probably won't be strictly necessary until you have some downtime, but I like the idea too much to not highlight it.
Good point! In addition to that, we'll need a group name for y'all and eventually some group goals. (Accomplishing those gets you xp!)
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Going to come up with backstory and more character details in a bit.
Narrative Stats
Stats
Bond Powers
Actions
Tactical Stats
Traits
Abilities
Important Notes
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
(No rush on character creation, this is just to get everyone thinking about where we're starting, and if it helps to get your creative juices flowing or whatnot.)
This small group of adventurers has recently arrived in the town of Oxbridge. It's not normally where any of you would stop off, as the town isn't known for being rich in treasure or artifacts, and there's been no new ruins or monsters discovered in the area for generations. No reason for explorers to stop by, really.
Apparently that's changed. Messages for help and a few terrified families fleeing the area mean that something has happened to shake up the normally peaceful farming village. You're not sure of the details yet, though, it was all vague and nondescript-- to be expected, nothing in their lives would have prepared the villagers for something from the ancient Arken Empire...
You all entered the village via the main road used to get in and out for trade, and stand together on the end of the Ox Bridge that marks the edge of the village, looking out at the small assembly of houses.
This is where your adventure begins. When we have everyone's characters, we'll begin!
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For sure! That'd be awesome!
Haha I looked up your combat abilities. They're both hilarious and I love them.
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Link to Google doc with his stats and stuff:
Narrative Stats
Guilder - Tolerance, Patience, Drive, Friendliness
Mender - +2 Tinker
- I addressed challenges with diplomacy, positivity, or empathy
- I expressed my heritage, background or beliefs through my actions
- I learned how someone or something was broken
Effort: 5, Strain: 5
Second Wind: None (only regain effort from bond powers, camping or interludes)
Special Ability: You can allow someone else to regain 1 effort by spending 1 effort
A Better Way (+1d or increased effect, on Tinker or Study)
Actions
culture or background - Guilder, Charm, Sense
personal qualities - who i am, Studyx2
life experience - what I did, Tinker, Sneak
Sneak: +1
Traverse: +0
Sense: +1
Study: +2
Charm: +1 +1
Command: +0
Tinker: +3
Excel: +0
Smash: +0
Endure: +0
Combat Stats
Wright
Vitality: 8
HP: 32
Defense: 6
Speed: 4 (Dash 2)
Fray: 4
Damage: D8
Basic attack: Melee or Ranged 6
Slip: Wright’s movement does not trigger and ignores interrupts, vigilance and rampart.
Levitation: Ignore dangerous terrain
Aetherwall: Automatic cover against attacks outside of range 2
Chain Reaction:1/turn, if 2 or more enemies damaged, +1 Aether
Aether - 1/turn
Aether Deflection: Interrupt 1: Trigger: You
are targeted by an ability from a character in
range 2. Effect: Gain resistance against damage from that ability. You only have one use of this interrupt per combat. However, you can spend 2 Aether any time to regain it.
Conqueror’s Edge: The Infuse cost of your
abilities is reduced by 1 if there’s a foe in range 2. Additionally, many of your infuses can be triggered as slay effects instead, and you may infuse 3 Aether to trigger the slay effect of any ability. Abilities with infuse or slay effects cannot trigger both at once.
Storm Hilt Rage: At the start of round 5 and for the rest of combat, any effects that teleport you have the range of the battlefield, and you may teleport to any space before using any ability.
Klingenkunst (free action): Teleport 2. This
ability can interrupt other abilities or movement on your turn with stopping them.
ÄTHERWAND
1 Action, Range 4
Terrain Effect: Swipe your weapon to create a
line 3 area of crackling winds in range, with the following features:
• The area is difficult terrain.
• Allies may use any space of the area for cover as if it were height 1 terrain.
• Foes that end their turn in the area are
shattered.
• Once a round, when you include any space of the ätherwand in an area effect, you can infuse the triggering ability with stormy power, teleporting all characters targeted by that ability and any characters in the wall 1 space.
The area lasts until created again.
Infuse X: Äthersturm
Infuse X aether, and extend the area by 1 spaces for every Aether infused, up to a maximum of +3 spaces.
NOTHUNG
2 actions, Attack, Range 2, Arc 4
Effect: Teleport 1
Attack: On hit: 2[D] + fray. Miss: fray.
Area effect: fray
Effect: Teleport 1, then deal 1 piercing damage again to your target for every foe or ally adjacent to them, to a maximum of four times.
Slay or Infuse 3: GRAM
Effect: After the ability resolves, release a flurry of slashes in a burst 2 (self) area effect, dealing 1 piercing damage, twice, to all foes.
BLITZ
1 action, Attack, Range 3
Pierce
Effect: Teleport 1, then deal 1 piercing damage to a foe in range 3, then teleport 1, then deal 1 piercing damage to a foe in range 3.
Attack: On hit: [D]. Miss: 1 damage.
Effect: Foe is vulnerable
Slay or Infuse 3: GRAN BLITZ
Repeat the first effect
II. You can grant Blitz’s first effect to any ally in
range 2 instead.
And taking the Aetherpearls as the camp item.
They are basically walkie-talkies.
And also give +1 to either Command or Charm to everyone.
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Cidryn is a dark-haired Thrynn lad, slight of build and somewhat shorter than average, recently expelled from the city of Penhold.
When most think of the cities, they might think of their Aetheral wonders of mechanisation or their sprawling architecture. Cidryn doesn't hail from these parts though.
Most citizens of Penhold, or at least those living within the walls, are packed into apartments in streets so small that the sun never reaches the ground.
These are the Delves.
These kin do what they can to get by, hoping to receive some scraps from higher society, but at least thankful for the walls and the, admittedly intermittent, access to the Aetheral network and other civic services.
Down there, everything is recycled.
Aetheral gimmicks and toys that might entertain a child of means for a day or two, are reclaimed and repurposed.
Cidryn has spent his youth perfecting this art, pulling things apart and restoring them.
His clothes have as many pockets as patches, and the fragrance of ozone often follows him.
With his skills, he managed to earn his family some dust to work with, as well as access to conveniences not too often seen in the Delves, such as Aetheral ovens and the like.
But eventually the thugs that controlled the Delves took notice.
Not content with their normal protection money, they squeezed Cidryn's family more for their apparent 'wealth'.
This continued until one morning an Aetheral blast took out the front wall of Cidryn's family store.
The thugs tazed.
And Cidryn gone.
Since then, Cidryn has been plying his trade while moving town to town with other travellers.
There's never a convoy that doesn't need something fixed, and it at least keeps a meal in his belly while he tries to find a better place in the world.
So, two things!
First! There is a new version of the rules. This is a small update, mostly just with some tweaks to jobs, and there aren't expected to be many/any other changes for some time while people playtest it. So, head over to https://massif-press.itch.io/icon to get the latest version, and doublecheck your job for changes. Feel free to adjust things if any of the few ability changes inspire you or whatnot. Again, this isn't any real huge stuff, I looked over it briefly already.
Second! I'm not as available on the weekend, so I'd like to suggest starting the game on this Monday, the 22nd! (It'll probably be close to midnight for y'all in the US when I kick off due to the time difference, but as a reminder I'll be back on US time the following week when September starts.) Remember that ICON is a very player-led game, so I'm going to be looking to y'all almost immediately for what you want to do. You have most of the information you'll have to start the game off already from my earlier post, so feel free to brainstorm (privately or publicly) what you wanna do next! I'll offer a bit more info and maybe some suggestions if it seems helpful when we start Monday.
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Electromag no longer turns enemies into Tesla towers.
So now it's mostly a move that pushes/pulls enemies a little (when caught in the aura of the mark; used to also electrify them), with a buff/debuff on the marked ally/enemy.
Any thoughts on whether I should be taking a second damaging move instead?
My thoughts as GM which you are free to ignore :P
Gelbub (Darmak's Chanter) also has no damage abilities, but Kay (Elvenshae's Fool) has two-ish. Maybe see what Invictus' character looks like first? If three of you can only damage with basic attacks, that seems hard, but two of you is more reasonable maybe?
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We Begin!
Crossing the Ox Bridge which gives the village its name and marks its borders, your group walks into Oxbridge. To your left, west of the town itself, you can see the farms on the steppes and many people working the land. The river that you just crossed curls up around the east side of the village, heading towards the mountains in the distant north where the river probably begins. The ground turns more hilly where you're headed, where the homes of the villagers are. At a first glance, it's still hard to see why you're here, what's the problem. You don't see any ruins (from here at least), there're no obvious signs of monster attacks, no technology that looks out-of-place...
These are farmers. Is it possible there's nothing really suitable for adventurers or explorers here, and the villagers are scared of something mundane?
But still, whatever that something is has spooked them. The village is quiet. You all can see people hurrying from one door to another, not staying outside long. A child laughs loudly from an upstairs window, and several people walking down the street jump, startled, before relaxing... a bit.
You do see many of the townsfolks' eyes linger on you. Although you're not as fully decked out as the most accomplished adventurers, you're clearly more than a common trader. You all radiate an aura of something that is not commonly seen in a small farming village like Oxbridge. Are they looking at you with hope, or fear?
How do you want to proceed?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your party:
Some possibilities if you want a kickstart, but you are not limited to anything I say! Spoilered in case you don't wanna look at 'em
Also, @Darmak has a "start of session" choice to make. I think that's the only one, but if anyone else does you should do so!
As no one has asked, I'm assuming you are familiar with the basics of rolling here out of combat, but if you want me to explain or point to the rules just lemme know. Nothing that needs to be rolled just yet, of course.
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This can take the stat to 4 I believe.
I edited it in, so not sure if everyone saw.
'Hel.. Hello?', Cidryn starts, as a villager rushes past.
'Well, this is a bit eerie. Where are all the kids?
I'm not used to having the entire street to myself.'
He eyes the villagers, rushing to and fro.
'They have to have a shop somewhere though, don't they? No street stalls.', he muses.
'How about we pop past and ask a shopkeep what's haunting everyone'
The villager you address tries not to make eye contact and walks faster. It's possible someone else may be more receptive if you keep trying, or you may have to try a different approach.
There are several buildings that are pretty easily recognizable as shops, either from their signs or from a brief observation of what people come out carrying. Here on the southern outskirts of the village, there's one place offering some sort of carpentry services, and a place that looks like they sell more general supplies (basic foodstuffs, non-specialty household and travel supplies, and similar).
Less "shop"-y, but there's also a nearby inn and stables. This is the same route most traders take to enter the village.
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edit: oh wait, from my bond's special ability? I think I'll choose discrider's Cidryn! They seem like a nice lad, and might could use some help down the road
Kay whistles merrily as he crosses over the bridge into town, skipping through the foot traffic to check out first one side and then t'other. River traffic is light, at the moment - just a couple smaller fishing vessels plying their way across the current - fishing mostly by net, it appears.
"Cidryn, lad, it's been days and days since I've wet my whistle with anything but water; and as cool and clear as it was, it's time and past time for sommat stronger. I need a civilized drink." With a subtle hooked thumb at the closed-in, hurrying townsfolk, he continues in a softer voice, "And everyone knows a glass of wine with a man or woman is oft enough to loosen tongues."
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
Cidryn grins wickedly at the thought of booze.
But this is followed by a swift realisation and a clutching of a pocket.
Food is probably more important.
Sadly.
"The inn it is then.", he smiles, holding onto a little hope.
Gelbub hikes up their haversack and thumps their cane into the road, heading towards the inn. He takes a deep breath, tasting the air of the village and finding it pleasant. "This is a nice little burg," he thinks, "what could be the matter with it?"
The inn is old, but well-kept. It's probably been there for decades. A section of the front wall is noticeably newer than the rest from some partial repairs years ago where the wood didn't quite match.
You all head inside. The common room is mostly empty-- it's too late for lunch and too early for dinner, so that's not a bit surprise even not considering the atmosphere of the village. The only guest in the room is a Trogg woman, over in the corner nursing a mug. She looks up as you enter and raises an eyebrow.
The woman opens her mouth to speak, but just then the innkeep comes out from a backroom. He's a short, middle-aged Thrynn man, and rubbing his hands on his apron as he walks out. He looks all of you, then asks in a deep voice, "well, you here by chance? Or come to help?"
His voice is low, but carries across the room. The Trogg woman sits back in her chair to watch.
How do you respond?
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He sits down at the bar, "And also something to eat if you're still serving"
"I'll have what the kid's havin'. And whatever these other two are getting, I'll cover that too."
He takes a look around the room while kicking his feet back and forth, and without looking back asks, "So, what kind of help were you looking for? Looks like you already had a carpenter come by."
.
He let's out a quick laugh, "ha! We'll see, I suppose. Don't have dinner ready yet, but we've always got some stew brewing."
He goes back and returns a moment later with four bowls. He sets them down and looks at you so seriously.
"An Arken ruin right up and popped out of the very earth not a day from here. That hasn't happened 'round Oxbridge ever. It's a bad sign, them ruins, everyone knows that. People've gone and disappeared, there's strange lights and sounds coming from it every night. The monsters will run over the town soon, mark my words, if something's not done. That's what happens when Arken ruins get involved, we all know it. Just... ain't got no where else to go, realty, this is home."
He shrugs, then asks a bit skeptically, "That something you think you can handle?" It's clear, though, he's hiding hope beneath that question.
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"And what happened here.."
Cid wants to Study the wall with A Better Way to learn what broke it
Sure, gimme a Fortune roll to see what you can figure out. No risks here for this really
First roll of the game hype!
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Could probably have pushed it, but three dice seemed good.
Looks like pushing would have taken it from 40% to 50% chance of a six
The repaired section of the wall is itself several years old, so it's nothing that's been done since the ruins appeared. It's about... well, person-sized, or a little bigger. Unlikely a section that large would have been caused by rot or age and not repaired sooner, but it's possible. More likely something happened suddenly to need fixed.
The repairs were done well, with solid quality wood. Just not quite the same type.
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