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[Tsuchigumo550]

Been tossing around another RtD idea, this one simple enough to where I think I could run it, but I don't intend to unless someone or many individuals would like to help with the base engine.

Ninjas.

Note, so far all I have is a base idea for an engine. Setting and plot details are lackluster at best.

Spoiler: Character Sheet (click to show/hide)

---
The engine I have in mind is sort of tri-fold, in the way weapons and rolls work. Everything is based on a d12, so +2s to stats are equivalent to +1s on a d6. First off, weapons themselves.

Weapons are simple enough in that you have two slots and you can have weapons that take up these slots so long as you don't reach 3. Each weapon and weapon combo has special attacks that can change up combat in your favor, for instance:
Taking a Shuriken set and a Katana is a common and viable option. You can use specials such as Curve Shot (guaranteed to hit, single shuriken), Half-Drawn Counter (A guaranteed counter, where most rolls result in a pommel strike and higher ones net you a slash), and Entrapment (Shuriken+Katana attack, a miss is more common and the desired effect- missing with your shuriken nets you a powerful slash.) Taking, say a 2-Handed Sword, you have access to things such as Wide Guard (only high rolls deal any damage if used), but can't use Shuriken specials. Special Techniques follow your character, you can store up to four. Changing equipment can really mess you up if you've been using shuriken and suddenly you're wielding a spear.

This is where I need some help- the list of possible weapons is complete, however, I'd like different "houses" each with their own groups of specials- each House should have three common (found in other styles, anyone could feasibly use) specials for each weapon, two signature (No other House will have this ability, so these are much looser on restrictions- if your house is based on a wolf, you can have something wolf-related in the attack) specials, then two common combos (for the shuriken and katana, for example), and one signature combo for each setup. I'm not going to say every House has to have signatures for every weapon, but a note should be made of it and it should be consistent- if you don't include shuriken anywhere in your single signatures, don't use them in your combo signature.

The list of weapons is:
Melee
Katana (1s)
Wakizashi (1s)
Dagger (1s)
Two-Handed Sword (2s)
Spear (2s)
Thrown or Ranged
Shuriken (1s)
Short Spear (1s)
Bow (2s)

---
Secondly, all Ninja have affinities for one of a large number of elements, as well as a detriment. These determine the kinds of Spirit techniques they can use (below). You get +1s to your affinity element rolls and you can improve techniques of that element, you get a -3 to your detriment element (You shouldn't be using it anyway) and a -2 to defending against it (You get a +2 to resisting your own element.) The 8 elements are:
Fire
Metal
Earth
Water
Air
Dark
Light

Chakra

Most of them are pretty self-explanatory, there are a few oddball elements, and some might not work the way you'd expect.
Firstly, Ink is interesting in that you call upon the specials not through the normal means of hand signs (because I couldn't think of anything better than what Naruto had- no, that's not the main inspiration, it's actually a bunch of indie games) but through brush on paper. Sand is equally interesting in that certain attacks with it are less sand and more glass, and Chakra is an oddball because it's basically pure energy. Think of it as magic missile substance.

How do you attack with these elements? You give them forms, the area I need the most help with. For instance, one form is Imprison- with the Metal Imprison, you can have things like chains wrapping around an enemy, or even metal bars constricting them, with Dark Imprison, you can trap them in a ball of light-eating void, rendering them blind and unable to tell what's going on, robbing them of their senses, and with Chakra Imprison, you create a wall around the opponent that saps their energy if they try to move through it.

I need a huge list of possible forms, anywhere from a d50 to a d100's worth. Not all elements would work with all forms easily, and that's OK, so long as they work with at least 4. say, a Laser or Beam, Metal wouldn't play nice with that, and so wouldn't be able to be a laser form. Each form needs to be at least slightly different- say a Hadouken-esque Chakra Ball and a frisbee-throw like Chakra Disk- both hit a single enemy, both focus damage on that one enemy, both are launched. What's the difference? The Chakra Ball does splash damage if blocked, the Chakra Disk can't be blocked. Even differences that small are completely fine. Try not to be too outlandish- say you've got an unblockable, guaranteed-to-hit attack- it would be nearly worthless for damage, possibly, or would have an incredibly low chance to hit. There should be forms to heal, buff, debuff, and do things other than just outright attack.

Houses have no bearing on this.
---

Lastly, there's Joint Attacks. If two team members attack the same target and get the same roll, even if that result is double ones, it is a smashing success. Say one teammate used Metal Disk and got a one, then one teammate attacking the same target used a regular attack. They would pair up, and both would succeed- the Metal Disk would slam into the opponent, breaking their guard, opening the way for the other teammate to attack.

As far as stats go, each character has three gauges.
Blood, which is a general indication of HP. It does not matter in most cases as a separate injury system is used (from light bruising to chopped off) however blood loss can and will kill you. Injuries carry penalties to this number per turn. Everyone has a set amount, probably 20 or so. This does not change.

Next is Stamina. Using weapon abilities reduces Stamina, you get one point per turn. You've got a total of 10 points. Techniques can cost anywehre from 2-7 points.
Last, there's Spirit. Using elemental attacks reduces Spirit. You don't get one point a turn. 15 points here. Techniques here cost anywhere from 1 to 3 points, most of the time it's 2.

This area needs a little more fleshing out, I might switch out Spirit for a cooldown system.
 

[flabort]

Sounds like a lot of work. 
I'd be willing to help a bit. So, Forms, you just basically need a list of words that you can come up with the exact technique/whatever from based on which element they're added to? No, I guess, reading into it further makes me think you need at least a brief description.

Spoiler: How's This? (click to show/hide)

Sweep: Usually causes the user to fly upwards, sometimes at a curve (depending on the element), and sometimes carrying an opponent or target with them (Think flying uppercut to the jaw, by SuperMan). Agility move, element-dependently a melee attack with high damage but high chance to miss - when blocked, still flings target. Fire, Earth, Chakra: Attack. Air, Light, Water: No attack, more effectively moves user. Fire, Air, Water: Curved motion to the flight. Metal, Dark: Unusable

Barrier: Creates a wall or at least a small shield to defend against incoming attacks. Some are more durable and long lasting then others, and some are rooted in place while others are mobile. Generally provides bonuses to defensive actions. Earth, Dark, Fire: Rooted to the ground. Metal, Water, Chakra: Mobile. Earth, Metal: Longer Lasting and more durable. Fire, Chakra: Capable of dealing small amounts of damage back at an attacker. Air, Light: Unusable.

Also, while I'm already thinking up an idea for a house, I need a brief description of each weapon first. Even if I know what a weapon is like (shuriken), I don't know what many of them are like (Waki...zish...ashi?). And some were not used like how the general public assumed (shuriken, often thought of as "throwing stars", could be used to disarm an opponent and held between his neck and shoulder, be much more effective at threatening to bleed the opponent then today's modern knife. TV thinks it's just used to pin people's clothes to the wall, which I DON'T actually think can be done. Blame the Mythbusters for my knowledge on that one weapon).

[Harry Baldman]

I'm rather disappointed that you would include a spear as a ninja weapon and nothing blunt, like a hammer or a club. But that might be my love for blunt weaponry speaking in that case. Also, you need axes. Those are great utility weapons.

Also, forms.

Spoiler: Form Suggestions (click to show/hide)

Weakening Touch: causes weakness in the element associated with it on touch, makes it less resistant to stress, less suited to its purpose. Can be used with Metal (creates metal fatigue, rust, sunders metal objects), Earth (fractures stone, weakens stone, clay, wood and dirt-based structures), Sand (shatters glass), Chakra (dissipates energy, lessens spirit in enemies), Air (turns oxygen into CO₂, stopping fires and effective respiration).

Liquefied Sphere: shoots a small liquefied sphere of the chosen element. Works with Metal (molten metal), Earth (lava), Water (cold water), Air (liquefied air - causes mean frost burns), Sand (molten glass). Can be blocked with a shield or another object, but said object may sustain terrible damage in the process (except with Water in most cases). Can be dodged, however, and the projectile isn't too fast.

Elemental Incorporation: channels an element with one's entire body for two rounds. Works with Fire and Chakra (turns body into flame or magical energy, making one both intangible and burn/explode to the touch, yet unable to handle objects or deal damage with weapons), Earth and Metal (turns body into stone/steel, making self invulnerable to flame and air attacks, resistant to all physical damage, yet also slows one down and renders it difficult to dodge), Light and Dark (turns body into light/turn self into a shadow, can move extremely quickly and become invulnerable to all attacks, but can't physically attack either), Air, Water and Sand (invulnerable to physical damage, can change shape to accommodate needs of the moment).

Elemental Projection: creates a duplicate of the caster, except with Elemental Incorporation cast on them according to the element. Active for as long as the caster keeps still and concentrates on the technique, which prevents them from taking any other action.

Elemental Annoyance: forms a rain of tiny pellets formed from the chosen element that hit the target from all directions, not causing any notable damage (though there may be some singing in certain cases), but distracting them and rendering it nearly impossible to use any Spirit Techniques that turn (or the next, in case initiative is lost) as well as hindering dodging.

Draw Element: pulls a specific element from someone else's technique, dissipating its effects, or from the environment (or, in the case of Water, from people). If successful, provides a free shape (sphere, disc, bolt, that kind of thing - restricted to known techniques) of said element to use next round.

Create Pillar: creates a pillar of an element (3 meters in diameter, 10 meters in height) at a location of the user's choosing. It rises from the ground rapidly. Metal and Earth pillars can be stood upon, Water pillars cause floods, Fire, Chakra, Light and Dark can be used to engulf things or beings, Air does nothing unless in an airless space, Sand just collapses immediately and creates dust.

Elemental Gate: can be used on a reasonably hard surface to create a portal to a realm made purely of the selected element. The portal collapses shortly, initially after a round. Can be used to dispose of enemies and objects, works extremely well with Draw Element (effects of Draw Out Element do not dissipate it and are far greater in scope).

Also, can forms be used outside of combat for utility purposes? After all, being a ninja is all about spying and stuff.

[Tsuchigumo550]

Sounds like a lot of work. 
I'd be willing to help a bit. So, Forms, you just basically need a list of words that you can come up with the exact technique/whatever from based on which element they're added to? No, I guess, reading into it further makes me think you need at least a brief description.

Spoiler: How's This? (click to show/hide)

Sweep: Usually causes the user to fly upwards, sometimes at a curve (depending on the element), and sometimes carrying an opponent or target with them (Think flying uppercut to the jaw, by SuperMan). Agility move, element-dependently a melee attack with high damage but high chance to miss - when blocked, still flings target. Fire, Earth, Chakra: Attack. Air, Light, Water: No attack, more effectively moves user. Fire, Air, Water: Curved motion to the flight. Metal, Dark: Unusable

Barrier: Creates a wall or at least a small shield to defend against incoming attacks. Some are more durable and long lasting then others, and some are rooted in place while others are mobile. Generally provides bonuses to defensive actions. Earth, Dark, Fire: Rooted to the ground. Metal, Water, Chakra: Mobile. Earth, Metal: Longer Lasting and more durable. Fire, Chakra: Capable of dealing small amounts of damage back at an attacker. Air, Light: Unusable.

Also, while I'm already thinking up an idea for a house, I need a brief description of each weapon first. Even if I know what a weapon is like (shuriken), I don't know what many of them are like (Waki...zish...ashi?). And some were not used like how the general public assumed (shuriken, often thought of as "throwing stars", could be used to disarm an opponent and held between his neck and shoulder, be much more effective at threatening to bleed the opponent then today's modern knife. TV thinks it's just used to pin people's clothes to the wall, which I DON'T actually think can be done. Blame the Mythbusters for my knowledge on that one weapon).

Wakizashi are like, knife-size katana with a squared tip rather than a stabbing edge. I think some actually would have a stabby-stabby edge. I can see replacing Dagger with a blunt weapon, though. In fact, yeah. Dagger is now, err, axe? Not totally sure, but dagger is redundant.

I was originally going to have hand axes and staves, but I wanted to keep weapon lists short as the system puts emphasis on them. Spear is now Staff. Combat is pretty much the only time you'll see effects, but note that healing can be a thing at any time.

Forms should be kept somewhat simple, and fall into one of three areas- buff/debuff, attack, and healing/recovery.
For instance, Clone would be considered a buff- the opponent has a very low chance of hitting the real you and if they're using single-target attacks they're royally fucked until it wears off. With different elements-
Fire clones combust if hit and deal a small amount of damage to whoever attacked them. Small number (d8)
Metal clones, if attacked, allow a counterattack from the real one. Very small number (d4)
Earth clones crumble into dust when hit, -1 rolls to the next enemy attack. d8.
Water clones splash all over the place when hit, +1 to any water techniques next turn. d8.
Air clones burst into a small amount of smoke. Very large number (d20)
Dark clones burst into ink, having a coinflip chance to blind all nearby for one turn. d8.
Light clones become a bright flash, coinflip for blind all nearby for a turn. d8.
Chakra clones sap energy from the enemy, reducing their Spirit gauge by one point when hit. d6.

You have to get a 1 to hit the real person when a clone technique is used, they last for two turns. Hitting the real person dispels all clones without using their effects.

---

Forms should be pretty simple, only becoming complicated when applied to elements. Clone, for instance, creates a number of fake copies of the user equal to whatever dice used -1. Elemet determines how each clone is special and the die based on power. Sweep and Barrier are good, Pillar works, Draw could be a buff to other spells (as the techniques automatically do this, however, if you use a water technique after drawing some water from the air, it would be better). Annoyance works as Rain, Body would be incorporation. I'm going to try and get a Google Docs up at some point, no mater how godawfully huge the table would need to be.

---

Weapons List is now:
Katana (1s)
Wakizashi (1s)
Axe (1s)
Two-Handed Sword (2s)
Staff (2s)
Shuriken (1s)
Bow (2s)

[flabort]

I did some math on Houses, and made a form!

Setups: Any 2 1s or 1 2s.
2s's: Two-handed sword, Staff, Bow.
1s: Katana, Wakizashi (Dagger), Axe, Shuriken.
(4+3+2+1)+3 = 13

3 common for all (3*7=21)
2 signature for ~4 sig weaps (2*4=8)
2 common combos for all setups (13*2=26)
1 signature combos for ~4-10 (7?) sig setups (7*1=7)

21+8+26+7 = ~62 specials per house on average, ignoring overlap of common specials, assuming two handed weapons combo with themselves.

Spoiler: House Application Form (click to show/hide)

Katana (1s):
Common 1:
Common 2:
Common 3:
Signature 1?:
Signature 2?:
Combo W/ Katana 1:
Combo W/ Katana 2:
Combo w/ Wakizashi 1:
Combo W/ Wakizashi 2:
Combo W/ Axe 1:
Combo W/ Axe 2:
Combo W/ Shuriken 1:
Combo W/ Shuriken 2:
Signature Combo 1?:
Signature Combo 2?:
Signature Combo 3?:
Signature Combo 4?:

Wakizashi:
Common 1:
Common 2:
Common 3:
Signature 1?:
Signature 2?:
Combo W/ Katana 1:
Combo W/ Katana 2:
Combo w/ Wakizashi 1:
Combo W/ Wakizashi 2:
Combo W/ Axe 1:
Combo W/ Axe 2:
Combo W/ Shuriken 1:
Combo W/ Shuriken 2:
Signature Combo 1?:
Signature Combo 2?:
Signature Combo 3?:
Signature Combo 4?:

Axe:
Common 1:
Common 2:
Common 3:
Signature 1?:
Signature 2?:
Combo W/ Katana 1:
Combo W/ Katana 2:
Combo w/ Wakizashi 1:
Combo W/ Wakizashi 2:
Combo W/ Axe 1:
Combo W/ Axe 2:
Combo W/ Shuriken 1:
Combo W/ Shuriken 2:
Signature Combo 1?:
Signature Combo 2?:
Signature Combo 3?:
Signature Combo 4?:

Shuriken:
Common 1:
Common 2:
Common 3:
Signature 1?:
Signature 2?:
Combo W/ Katana 1:
Combo W/ Katana 2:
Combo w/ Wakizashi 1:
Combo W/ Wakizashi 2:
Combo W/ Axe 1:
Combo W/ Axe 2:
Combo W/ Shuriken 1:
Combo W/ Shuriken 2:
Signature Combo 1?:
Signature Combo 2?:
Signature Combo 3?:
Signature Combo 4?:

Two Handed Sword:
Common 1:
Common 2:
Common 3:
Signature 1?:
Signature 2?:
"Combo" 1:
"Combo" 2:
Signature "Combo"?:

Staff:
Common 1:
Common 2:
Common 3:
Signature 1?:
Signature 2?:
"Combo" 1:
"Combo" 2:
Signature "Combo"?:

Bow:
Common 1:
Common 2:
Common 3:
Signature 1?:
Signature 2?:
"Combo" 1:
"Combo" 2:
Signature "Combo"?:

If there's a question mark inside the ":", then the spot is optional, to a degree. Remove either the whole line or just the question mark when filling in the form for making a house.
Furthermore, you will find duplicates: Under Katana, for example is a "Combo W/ Axe 1". And under Axe is a "Combo W/ Katana 1". While the duplication is unnecessary, and you may remove either one (Not both, though), they are there for ease of location, and filling out both (With the same information) will aid anyone reading this.
Additionally: the "Axe Combo with Axe", etc. combos are NOT typos. They are for when you use two of the same weapon. Fill them out as normal.
Finally: There are enough Signature Combo spots for if all weapons were used for signature specials. You'll probably remove a lot of them.

[freeformschooler]

I was going to post an RTD thing... but I got too distracted by the above posts of math and ninjas.

ROLL TO SLICE HONORLESS VILLAINS AT TRIGONOMETRICALLY CALCULATED ANGLES

[Nicholas1024]

I was going to post an RTD thing... but I got too distracted by the above posts of math and ninjas.

ROLL TO SLICE HONORLESS VILLAINS AT TRIGONOMETRICALLY CALCULATED ANGLES

I'd play that. Do we get to use calculus to figure out the velocity to give the sword?

[freeformschooler]

I was going to post an RTD thing... but I got too distracted by the above posts of math and ninjas.

ROLL TO SLICE HONORLESS VILLAINS AT TRIGONOMETRICALLY CALCULATED ANGLES

I'd play that. Do we get to use calculus to figure out the velocity to give the sword?

"When I'm finished with you, you'll have THREE derivatives!"

[Dermonster]

"Prepare for my ultimate technique, passed down the Hellbinder line for GENERATIONS! INFINITY ART: GRAHAMS NUMBER!"

[Gamerlord]

I was going to post an RTD thing... but I got too distracted by the above posts of math and ninjas.

ROLL TO SLICE HONORLESS VILLAINS AT TRIGONOMETRICALLY CALCULATED ANGLES

I'd play that. Do we get to use calculus to figure out the velocity to give the sword?

"When I'm finished with you, you'll have THREE derivatives!"

Sooo tempting... but it would drive me mad to either run OR play.

[Persus13]

I was going to post an RTD thing... but I got too distracted by the above posts of math and ninjas.

ROLL TO SLICE HONORLESS VILLAINS AT TRIGONOMETRICALLY CALCULATED ANGLES

I'd play that. Do we get to use calculus to figure out the velocity to give the sword?

"When I'm finished with you, you'll have THREE derivatives!"

So you'd make me a jerk? Or is that the 4th derivative of movement?

[Tsuchigumo550]

Still working on the table, I'll probably release it in a base form at some point for people to use freely.

---

Meanwhile, more ideas. Fuel for these ideas are much too numerous to even begin to go into, however I am listening to tracks from Hotline Miami.

OFFLINE
The idea here is simple crew-management and equipping your squad. There are initially three types of units to choose from:
Soldiers. Soldiers take up the least space on your landers. They can't carry much in the way of weapons, only able to handle a main, secondary, and item. They can't take much damage. They are the easiest to customize, and offer the most versatility in doing so. Soldiers are cheap, come in good number, and take to upgrades well.

Hardsuits. Hardsuits offer more HP, weapons, abilities, equipment slots, and they take up more space.

Lastly, Mecha. Mecha are huge. Mecha are badass and have all the weapons, abilities, and equipment, as well as all the HP.

---
The way the system works is every unit has slots that can be filled with weapons, and every unit takes damage from different weapons in different ways. Take a Soldier with a light machinegun, for instance. They'd be good at killing other soldiers, they could do some damage to a hardsuit, but they'd be ineffectual against mecha (Ballistic Rounds). Give the same soldier a pulse rifle, and they're laughably bad against other soldiers, but can deal some damage to mecha and absolutely shut down hardsuits (pulse rounds), and if that soldier had a laser rifle or rocket launcher, they'd be able to stop Mecha easier than anything else.

This allows you to give each unit weapons to counter other types of units. Soldiers are cheap and offer quick counters, but they will almost always have targets they can't easily kill. Hardsuits will be very versatile, able to use two weapons, but still will lack in one department, and Mecha can either be very balanced or insanely specified.

Next is Subweapon, which is like a knife or grenade. They generally give some form of boost, such as grenades being able to stun enemies (Flashbangs, EMPs).

Last is Item, which are things like medpacks.
Soldiers get one weapon, one subweapon, and one item.
Hardsuits get two weapons, one subweapon, and one item.
Mecha get three weapons, two subweapons and no items.
---
The plot would revolve around a black-market hub in the desert, in a war-torn area. You back one side of the war machine that's currently losing, you aim to change that.

[Tsuchigumo550]

Each mission revolves around your units fighting, however, you start in waves. The enemy may or may not have waves, you will have to send your units out based on how much space each wave allows- helicopters may only be able to have one crew-space, but you may also wind up with a Flying Fortress (Imagine an aircraft carrier, but as an aircraft) that has 12 crew space.

Crew space works as follows:
Four soldiers make one crew space.
Two hardsuits = one crew space.
One mecha fills one crew space.

[ExKirby]

Sorry, my mind broke at Aircraft Aircraft Carrier.

[10ebbor10]

Sorry, my mind broke at Aircraft Aircraft Carrier.

Airborne Aircraft carrier.


Airships.