TFG Rules

(The Fantasy Game)

Welcome to the World

Some of you who have played TRIAD may have found it perhaps more of a challenge than you’re ready for. Yet, you’re concerned that another game world might lack the opportunities for adventure offered by TRIAD. Fear not! TFG leaves the Machiavellian complexity of Tir na n’Og behind, but still offers the best in monsters, magic, and mayhem. The world of The Fantasy Game (TFG) is completely streamlined in order to facilitate playability, without the loss of adventure.

The land is called CASCADIA, which has two major port cities, called SEAVIEW and TAHOMA, a smattering of villages or small towns, and the caravan routes that link them. Most of our adventures will take place in the outlying areas along the caravan routes. Your characters can be from anywhere in CASCADIA, or from neighboring territories: to the north, VOUCOURVILLE, to the east, the barren wastelands of SPOKANIA, to the south, across the Great River ROSACIA.

The common language is English.

Elves, Dwarfs, Koshka, Sobaka, Goblins, Orcs, Trolls, and other races exist here, but humans are the dominant race, and the ones in charge of trade and commerce. Some races get along, most do not.

All types of magical and mystical creatures abound, with special powers not known to the average inhabitant, but these are NPCs ONLY. Some coinage exists, usually TFA brass, but barter is the most common form of trade. Crystals, gems (marbles/pente stones), polished rocks, and other really cool stuff are always in demand. DON’T BRING IT TO THE GAME IF YOU DON’T WANT IT STOLEN! Food is always a good trade item, and cannot be stolen.

Most of the games will be played as adventures where you are trying to figure out the plot and solve the riddles before the end of the day. You may work as a team or as individuals, but you may never have a group larger than 5 working together. You can mix your races and even play against each other, but ultimately each game is designed to make it impossible for you to divide the spoils amongst a large group of players.

In The Fantasy Game, you may choose to play a variety of characters.  You can be an Elf, Dwarf, Koshka, Sobaka, or even a human.  You may wish to be a half-breed, or even a monster; the only restriction is that you must look like what you are playing; you cannot be a Dwarf if you are 6’2” and skinny.  If you are playing an Elf, you have to have elf ears.  If you play a Koshka or Sobaka, you will need to wear makeup or a mask to make yourself look like one.  If any of you guys are going to play a female character, you’d better shave off your beard and moustache.

Once you have decided what race you want to be, you need to decide what your equipment and abilities will be.  Are you a warrior type, or a Mystic?  Do you want to be both?  It is assumed that most folks are honest...but some may have the inclination to “borrow” game items from others characters.  Those that get caught are often punished.

To figure out what abilities and/or equipment your character can have, you must choose any three (3) categories from the list below, as well as any of the standard adventurer’s equipment you want. Selecting a category does not mean you have to use everything in that category, but you may do so, if you wish.

STANDARD ADVENTURER’S EQUIPMENT

Daggers, shuriken (stars), rocko-socko, staff (in order to use a staff, the player must wear a fencing mask), pocket tools.

The player may choose any three (3) of the categories they wish.  For example, you may choose Armor Category 2, Weapons C3, and Mystic C2.  You are now a medium warrior with a spear and FIREBALLS!  However, as in the standard TRIAD games, steel has its disruptive qualities against magic.  This means that you cannot wear a shirt of steel maille and cast magic at the same time (aluminum maille and Azon “shark shirts”, used for Elvin maille, are considered alloy, even though they are aluminum or stainless steel).  You can always, however, take off the shirt to work a spell.  ALCHEMY and SCROLLS can be used while wearing steel, but cannot be created while wearing steel.  Ergo, steel-armored players could use POISONS and FIREBALLS, but not build WARDS or FIREBALLS.  They would have to remove their armor to be able to do so. They also cannot use KI-BOLTS or SUGGESTIONS or even HEAL by Laying-on-of-Hands while wearing steel maille or armor.  Basically, if you want the armor to protect you from magic, you cannot wear it and do magic.

If you take Category 2 armor, you automatically get C1 as well. If you take C3, you get C2 and C1 as well. You may also layer armor, such as a Helm over a maille coif or a breast plate over a shirt of maille, adding an extra hit before you take damage.

If you wish to be a purist, you may choose to be a magic user only, and choose Mystic categories 1, 2, and 3.  This will make you a straight Mystic-type character.  If you want to be a heavy knight or Cavalier type, you would choose Armor C-2 or C3 and Weapons C2 and C3.  This will give you both spear or poll axe, as well as axe and sword.  There is also the possibility of being a light Ranger with Mystic abilities, or a Mystic with a crossbow and javelin.

There is no limit to the number of weapons you may carry, so if you take C2 Weapons, you can carry an axe, a mace, 2 swords--or six swords if you want to.  By the same rule, a Ranger could carry as many crossbows and bolts as he wants, and a Mystic can carry all the KI-BOLTS he or she wishes, and up to 3 FIREBALLS at a time.  The KI-BOLTS are re-usable, just as a sword can be used over and over again.  Fortunately, FIREBALLS burn up, and therefore cannot be used again.

Use of the staff requires a fencing mask and gloves, for the user’s protection.  The use of other C2 or C3 weapons also requires a minimum of a fencing mask, unless you also choose C1-C3 armor and actually wear a real helm.  If you want to play a Sobaka Mystic with a crossbow and sword, for instance, you will have to wear a fencing mask over your makeup or mask, but cannot wear a standard helm, because that adds a fourth category.

All weapons are alloy unless they are made within game-play, by the Game Master, to be steel.  As always, steel offers protection against magic, but it does not protect an area it does not cover.  Your exposed leg makes a great target for KI-BOLTS.  And even if you are wearing plate, you’d better be ready to dodge FIREBALLS.  This is why FIREBALLS are the most fearsome items in the game system, but they must be made during game time itself, which should add balancing restrictions.

There is no Health Rating in this game system.  All players, no matter what race, will have an equal chance to live or die.  You will die in three (3) minutes after being mortally wounded; sooner if you are wounded again, or if it is compounded.

Mortal wound = two (2) serious wounds or six (6) light wounds

Serious wound = three (3) light wounds

If you feel the need to calculate it on a point basis or time basis, just remember that you can only take 6 points of damage total before you are dying.  For every extra point of damage taken, you lose 1 minute of life, so if you take a total of 9 points of damage you are dead immediately, not just dying. Therefore, a Mystic type could not do a Healing on you of Cure Mortal Wounds...you would need to be Resurrected!

So, are you dead or still dying?  This is a role-playing game, and there is some leeway allowed, but if you just got stabbed in the arm and in the leg with a javelin, chances are you should be on the ground screaming as you start to pass out, NOT still fighting.

CHANGES/DIFFERENCES

The major changes in the Mystic abilities from those in TRIAD are in the number of components you can carry.  In this system, you can carry as many KI-BOLTS (tennis balls) as you like, all of which are re-usable.  You can also have as much flour, cornmeal/ birdseed/ rice bran as you wish, BUT THESE ARE STEAL-ABLE! You have to build your FIREBALLS within game time, but you can make as many as you wish throughout the day.  Just remember that, once broken, they are not re-usable.

The laying-on-of-hands, or HEALING, have no use restrictions.  You cannot HEAL through steel armor, of course, but you can HEAL as often as you wish.  You will still be unable to HEAL your own mortal wounds; however, you can HEAL your own light wounds as long as you do not have 3 or more of them (or two or more serious wounds), and as long as you are physically able to touch the wounded area with one hand.

SCROLLS are a lot shorter to read.  All SCROLLS take approximately 1 minute to read and activate.  All SCROLLS are unlimited in use as long as the player has the ability to read them.  ALL SCROLLS ARE ALSO STEAL-ABLE! There are some scrolls that are added to the game for special purposes that may have only one use, but these items will be marked and directions are usually on them.  You still need the ability to read scrolls in order to make them work, unless otherwise noted on the scroll itself.

The spell SPEAK WITH SPIRITS is an extended version of the SUGGESTION spell.  This allows a Mystic to enter into the mind of the recently-deceased and question them.  The dead must answer truthfully, but need not answer fully.  You can only use this ability once per death of the character, and only for three (3) minutes.  However, another Mystic can do it to the same dead character at the same time.

GAME MECHANICS

So you’re dead again.  No worries!  If you are not raised by a Mystic in the game, you and your un-looted possessions will automatically return to the village square after just 15 minutes. Once there you will be resurrected.  You will be tired and disorientated for a while and this does not repair your armor, but that can be taken care of by any good Mystic or smith for a small fee. (Remember if you are a Mystic with Wards placed you must go destroy them BEFORE returning to the village.) What’s that?  No money?  Well, go earn some by hiring on with someone, or by whatever other means come to hand.

Tired of your character for the day?  Go ahead and change into someone else, so long as you wear a completely different costume and act like another character entirely.  Try being a Sobaka or Koshka.  One thing to remember; you cannot take any game items out of the game in this manner, or “gift” them to your next character.  You can leave them with another player, though.  Of course, if you are not too comfortable in your role-playing skills yet, it may be best to stick with just one character for now.  Unless you play the change convincingly, other players may mistake your new character for your (badly disguised) old character.  You wouldn’t want your innocent new character killed for something your wicked old character did, now would you?

Weapons

Most of the weapons other than shinai are available to rent from The Armory.

The only PVC weapons allowed to be used are those made by the TFA armory. There are no other Foam and PVC constructs allowed! Don’t even bring them!  Shinai, rubber daggers, crossbows and roco-socos are allowed to be brought into the game by players. However, plastic daggers and toy plastic swords are not allowed (they may be in the game for other purposes).

The TFA game worlds have armor in three types: STEEL, ALLOY, and LEATHER.  We have always played that aluminum or plastic are Alloy and steel is Steel.  Steel armor will protect you from magic to a certain degree, where alloy does not.  Steel armor (plate or maille) does not protect you from a FIREBALL; you would be cooked in the shell.  Iron maille may turn a KI-BOLT, but it will not save you from a FIREBALL, and might not stop a SUGGESTION, as it does not cover all of your body.  You will be vulnerable wherever the armor does not cover.  Leather armor or cuir bouillé is a light-weight alternative, but has little protective quality.  It will not stop any magic, and will only turn Type 1 weapons, such as a dagger slashes, but not stabs.

If your armor is Type 3, you will be injured on the 3^rd strike of the shinai or impact weapon to that armor piece and only if struck on the same armor piece.  Type 2 armor will protect you until the 2^ndstrike to the same piece. Type 1 does not protect against shinai; only rocko-socko hits and dagger slashes.  Shields are of all sizes and shapes, and take no damage except from FIREBALLS. All shields and bucklers, either wood, alloy or steel must have an edging of rubber hose wired to it to protect the weapons from damage.

Melee Combat rules are simple: DO NOT HIT ANYONE NOT WEARING A HELM  OR FENCING MASK!  If a person is not wearing a helm, you cannot hit them with any weapon other than a dagger or rocko-socko. If they are not wearing goggles, you cannot hit them with anything!!  They are AC’s (Actors) for you to role-play with.

Range rule is to use against those not wearing a helmet.  You must be wearing a helm or fencing mask in order to invoke RANGE RULE.  The RANGE RULE is: the person on whom you are declaring “Range” must be no more than 3’ past the length of your weapon.  You call “Range” instead of hitting them.  They can’t be concealed behind cover, or in any other way protected from being hit.  RANGE is to subdue only!  A subdued character is unconscious for 3 minutes and at the mercy of other characters. Crossbows, daggers or roco-socos cannot be used for the RANGE RULE.

There is no hand to hand combat, no kicks, punches, knees or elbows.

Mystics

Mystics can be all kinds of characters. Wizards, Sorcerers, Witches, Clerics, Druids and Mystics all fall under this category. 

REALITY RULE

Many times while playing the games, we find situations where our safety or that of other players is compromised.   Should this be the case, it is the player’s responsibility to call “Reality!” in a loud voice, which halts the game.  The players can then ascertain the situation and, if necessary, remove themselves from the danger.  Play can resume once the danger is judged to be negated.  The scene must be re-set as close as possible to what it was before “Reality” was called.  The “Reality” rule is not to be used for any other reason than safety situations.

Real first-aid emergencies need to be dealt with immediately.  If you have allergies to bee stings, flora, or fauna that requires you to carry an epi-pen, it is your responsibility to carry one at all times.  First aid will be available on site, but not always where you are.  Be smart, be prepared, and carry your own emergency supplies—which are non-steal-able!

There is no hand to hand combat, no kicks, punches, knees or elbows.

No tackling other players and no use of trips or leg sweeps etc.

The other players are here to have fun as well and it is not fun if someone gets hurt! Safety is your responsibility!