Theoboldi
2016-05-18, 10:00 AM
Hi there, everyone. Based on a conversation I had with a friend of mine, and done entirely on a whim, I made these variant rules for the Roleplaying is Magic system (http://www.roleplayingismagic.com/), specifically for more changeling-based campaigns. They're designed to be a somewhat different experience from what the game usually is, making it more a-kin to a very rules-light and upbeat Vampire the Masquerade. Feel free to point out any flaws with them, as they were made in a very short amount of time without any sort of playtesting and I still am not too sure about their balance.
These variant rules for the Roleplaying is Magic are meant for Changeling-centric campaigns only, and follow two basic assumptions.
1. All, or at least most players will be playing as Changeling characters. Due to the free edge they receive, and their enhanced ability to acquire edges, Changelings as presented in these rules will be severely imbalanced next to normal RiM characters. Should you wish to allow normal pony types for your players despite that, consider utilising the Paragon Pony variant rule for them.
2. The Changeling characters to which these rules apply are not loyal to their hives, and their main motive is not to gather as much love as possible. Rather, they seek to infiltrate, or maybe even integrate into pony society to the best of their ability for various other reasons. Also, unlike most other Changelings, they consider ponies to be actual people, and not simply sources of food.
Also, for sake of clarity, the names of new Attributes are always bolded whenever the text specifically refers to the Attribute.
Willpower variant: Instead of Willpower, Changelings possess an Attribute called Goodwill. It is calculated the same way as Willpower, but functions quite differently. Goodwill presents any given Changeling's capability to rise above their instincts, and treat ponies as more than food. While they are capable of feeling fear, living in a hive-mind society for long periods of time and being considered expendable from birth typically inure most Changelings to the dangers that ponies face from damage to their willpower. However, they face a just as terrible danger from falling into their old habits and ways of thinking.
A Changeling takes Goodwill damage whenever he takes an action that is deliberately abusive towards a pony or creature of similar intellect. This includes everything from using a Changeling’s power of disguise to deceive them for personal gain, to using any form of violence against them. Whether the changeling is justified in taking such an action does not matter, as the very act induces in them feel a sharp thrill of power and superiority, and hacks away at their sanity.
However, a Changeling who makes sure to take such actions only as a last resort or uses them purely in self-defence usually takes only light damage. Further, if the Changeling only uses their power to fit into pony society, to escape from danger, or to defend a non-changeling creature, they are not at risk of taking Goodwill damage. Goodwill may still be used to power spellcasting.
A changeling reduced to 0 Goodwill falls to their own greed and hunger momentarily, and for the rest of the scene is driven by pure instinct to attain love. (I.E. they’re under control of the GM.) Should the action that reduced them to 0 Goodwill have been particularly callous or motivated purely by greed, they may permanently become a loyal minion to their hive again.
Valor variant: Instead of Valor, Changelings possess an Attribute called Love. Their starting Love is calculated the same way as Valor, and represents the love they have drained from the ponies around them. It is spent in the same way as Valor, and all Edges and effects that affect Valor affect it the exact same way, but needs to be gained differently. To gain a point of Love, a Changeling must invoke an honest feeling of love in another non-changeling creature of pony-like intelligence, and then drain them of this love for around one minute in a secluded area. Whether this love is given freely or attained through trickery or mind-control is irrelevant, though the latter options always carry Goodwill damage attached to them, with mind-control especially almost always causing at least heavy damage.
This love must not necessarily be of the romantic type. Making a close connection with someone, or simply displaying great enough selflessness may be sufficient to earn their love. However, in the case of freely given love the donator must still agree to be fed upon.
Shapeshifting: All Changelings gain the ‘Shapeshifting’ Edge for free. In addition, they may also pay a point of Love and describe one form they’d be elligable to transform into as per the normal rules of the edge. For the rest of the episode, they may freely and without paying Goodwill or Fortitude change into that form and back as often as they want.
Edges: Changelings may chose any edges that would otherwise be exclusive to, Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, and Zebras, as well as the 'Reflective Protection' Edge.
These variant rules for the Roleplaying is Magic are meant for Changeling-centric campaigns only, and follow two basic assumptions.
1. All, or at least most players will be playing as Changeling characters. Due to the free edge they receive, and their enhanced ability to acquire edges, Changelings as presented in these rules will be severely imbalanced next to normal RiM characters. Should you wish to allow normal pony types for your players despite that, consider utilising the Paragon Pony variant rule for them.
2. The Changeling characters to which these rules apply are not loyal to their hives, and their main motive is not to gather as much love as possible. Rather, they seek to infiltrate, or maybe even integrate into pony society to the best of their ability for various other reasons. Also, unlike most other Changelings, they consider ponies to be actual people, and not simply sources of food.
Also, for sake of clarity, the names of new Attributes are always bolded whenever the text specifically refers to the Attribute.
Willpower variant: Instead of Willpower, Changelings possess an Attribute called Goodwill. It is calculated the same way as Willpower, but functions quite differently. Goodwill presents any given Changeling's capability to rise above their instincts, and treat ponies as more than food. While they are capable of feeling fear, living in a hive-mind society for long periods of time and being considered expendable from birth typically inure most Changelings to the dangers that ponies face from damage to their willpower. However, they face a just as terrible danger from falling into their old habits and ways of thinking.
A Changeling takes Goodwill damage whenever he takes an action that is deliberately abusive towards a pony or creature of similar intellect. This includes everything from using a Changeling’s power of disguise to deceive them for personal gain, to using any form of violence against them. Whether the changeling is justified in taking such an action does not matter, as the very act induces in them feel a sharp thrill of power and superiority, and hacks away at their sanity.
However, a Changeling who makes sure to take such actions only as a last resort or uses them purely in self-defence usually takes only light damage. Further, if the Changeling only uses their power to fit into pony society, to escape from danger, or to defend a non-changeling creature, they are not at risk of taking Goodwill damage. Goodwill may still be used to power spellcasting.
A changeling reduced to 0 Goodwill falls to their own greed and hunger momentarily, and for the rest of the scene is driven by pure instinct to attain love. (I.E. they’re under control of the GM.) Should the action that reduced them to 0 Goodwill have been particularly callous or motivated purely by greed, they may permanently become a loyal minion to their hive again.
Valor variant: Instead of Valor, Changelings possess an Attribute called Love. Their starting Love is calculated the same way as Valor, and represents the love they have drained from the ponies around them. It is spent in the same way as Valor, and all Edges and effects that affect Valor affect it the exact same way, but needs to be gained differently. To gain a point of Love, a Changeling must invoke an honest feeling of love in another non-changeling creature of pony-like intelligence, and then drain them of this love for around one minute in a secluded area. Whether this love is given freely or attained through trickery or mind-control is irrelevant, though the latter options always carry Goodwill damage attached to them, with mind-control especially almost always causing at least heavy damage.
This love must not necessarily be of the romantic type. Making a close connection with someone, or simply displaying great enough selflessness may be sufficient to earn their love. However, in the case of freely given love the donator must still agree to be fed upon.
Shapeshifting: All Changelings gain the ‘Shapeshifting’ Edge for free. In addition, they may also pay a point of Love and describe one form they’d be elligable to transform into as per the normal rules of the edge. For the rest of the episode, they may freely and without paying Goodwill or Fortitude change into that form and back as often as they want.
Edges: Changelings may chose any edges that would otherwise be exclusive to, Earth Ponies, Pegasi, Unicorns, and Zebras, as well as the 'Reflective Protection' Edge.