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[BlueMagic]

I'm sure at least some of you have played Pathfinder/d20. What if there was a tabletop version of Adventure Mode? Imagine having your adventurer fight the hidden fun stuff with friends that aren't computer generated. Having to curb a tantrum spiral either by killing the tantruming dwarves or conducting crowd control away from said dwarves. Investigating a vampire and catching them in the act, and actually doing something about it!

To kick things off, let's have some stat conversion for the dwarves.

Fortress Dwarves
A strong, sturdy creature fond of drink. Fortress Dwarves are a strange enigma, creating massive projects some say only geniuses can dream of but regularly conduct flagrant displays of contempt for common sense. They are all too prone to rage, and there are many tales of powerful fortresses brought down not by an overwhelming siege, but rather a "tantrum spiral" that eliminated the population.

Fortress Dwarves receive +2 to INT and a +2 to CON, but receive a -4 to WIS. Without daily alcohol, Fortress Dwarves lose the +2 to CON and receive a -2 penalty to resist mind-altering effects on top of the -4 WIS. They are also able to enter a "martial trance" like the Barbarian Rage class ability once per week.

I have more coming up, but tell me what you guys think.

[GreatWyrmGold]

I'm more knowledge about 3.5 than Pathfinder, but assuming this is on top of standard dwarven bonuses it sounds okay. Just a fluff note that would be cool to see in the rules: Dwarves only seem to go into martial trances when outnumbered. Maybe add a requirement to that effect and remove the AC penalty?

[IronValley]

Interestingly enough, Dwarves seem to receive an agility bonus when they go into a trance. Mechanic wise, the best translation would be a bonus to AC and attack rolls, but not to damage.

[Cruxador]

I feel like d20 isn't really the best system to emulate this. I'd think some sort of classless percentile-based system would fit better.

[davros]

Yeah. Go for something like COC where there are no classes, just skills that work well together.

[weenog]

You're thinking too small.  Why play Adventurer mode when you could be a thrallherd and play Fortress mode?

[noobnubcakes]

We should base it off of the FATAL roleplaying game, a game known for its simplicity, realism and elegance.

[EnigmaticHat]

You could use your fort as a setting within a game (abandoned or otherwise, works either way).  Its on a grid and everything.

We should base it off of the FATAL roleplaying game, a game known for its simplicity, realism and elegance.

And insightful commentary on gender issues.

[WaffleEggnog]

Fortress Dwarves receive +2 to INT

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttt is this?

I barley even read your thing and my eyes just went right too this. Just...... why. Why would you, in any possible universe, give Dwarves +2 INT. Im just.... for a lack of words. Completly and utterly confused.

You know.... I don't feel well..... Im going to go and, like eat a sandwich and take a nap or something and get back too this later....

[weenog]

Fortress Dwarves receive +2 to INT

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttt is this?

I barley even read your thing and my eyes just went right too this. Just...... why. Why would you, in any possible universe, give Dwarves +2 INT. Im just.... for a lack of words. Completly and utterly confused.

You know.... I don't feel well..... Im going to go and, like eat a sandwich and take a nap or something and get back too this later....

In D&D and other D20 system games, Intelligence represents skills development, memory, analysis, problem-solving, that kind of thing.  It's the ability to take two chunks of rock and make a wireless connection that transmits signals over any distance instantaneously, or picking up a new trade and advancing to legend status in just a few short years.  Wisdom represents strength of will, sensory acuity, and common sense.  It's knowing whether it's a good idea to seal yourself in while building a wall, or noticing the last three guys that went after that sock fell off the waterfall and died, or being able to just suck it up and cope when a relative is eaten by a monster.

+2 Int and -4 Wis makes some sense for Fortress dwarves.

[WaffleEggnog]

Fortress Dwarves receive +2 to INT

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttt is this?

I barley even read your thing and my eyes just went right too this. Just...... why. Why would you, in any possible universe, give Dwarves +2 INT. Im just.... for a lack of words. Completly and utterly confused.

You know.... I don't feel well..... Im going to go and, like eat a sandwich and take a nap or something and get back too this later....

In D&D and other D20 system games, Intelligence represents skills development, memory, analysis, problem-solving, that kind of thing.  It's the ability to take two chunks of rock and make a wireless connection that transmits signals over any distance instantaneously, or picking up a new trade and advancing to legend status in just a few short years.  Wisdom represents strength of will, sensory acuity, and common sense.  It's knowing whether it's a good idea to seal yourself in while building a wall, or noticing the last three guys that went after that sock fell off the waterfall and died, or being able to just suck it up and cope when a relative is eaten by a monster.

+2 Int and -4 Wis makes some sense for Fortress dwarves.

Im aware of baisic D&D, but I just thought that without an overseer of any sort, Dwarves would just mill about and do nothing. What I propose is some kind of "Overseer" that Dwarves require to operate.

[AbacusWizard]

A tabletop version of fortress mode would be even better. Maybe something similar to Dungeon Lords? Perhaps via Fantasy Flight Games? They seem to have a reasonable history of video game to board game conversions.

[Cruxador]

I pieced together almost the same stat-line when I made some DF-inspired dwarves before. Emulating DF in tabletop is a bit pointless, though.

Im aware of baisic D&D, but I just thought that without an overseer of any sort, Dwarves would just mill about and do nothing. What I propose is some kind of "Overseer" that Dwarves require to operate.

You're still talking about wisdom, not intelligence.

[weenog]

The thrallherd is the overseer.  Thrallherd directs, thralls and believers act.  Granted a thrallherd is a pretty powerful entity in its own right, but that's not so bad.  Give it a procedurally generated awesome or silly name and call it a minor deity of that dwarven civilization.

[WaffleEggnog]

I pieced together almost the same stat-line when I made some DF-inspired dwarves before. Emulating DF in tabletop is a bit pointless, though.

Im aware of baisic D&D, but I just thought that without an overseer of any sort, Dwarves would just mill about and do nothing. What I propose is some kind of "Overseer" that Dwarves require to operate.

You're still talking about wisdom, not intelligence.

Never said it would raise their INT, just that it would be required for them to operate.