I’m a developer for an open-world tabletop RPG called Fully Automated! The goal is to create a free, open-source game that can be to solarpunk what D&D is to fantasy and Shadowrun to cyberpunk. And the first version is mostly done. It’s got:
- A flexible, easy-to-play system similar to a d20 game!
- A massive open world!
- An easy character creator along with a dozen pre-made example characters!
- A high-stakes three-story campaign with over 14 hours of content! …And a lot more!
I’m looking for more play testers, both as players and (if you’re game) GMs! We’ve got a Discord server where we’re running games on a rolling basis. The goal is to release it for free by the end of the year. I’d like to get as much feedback as possible before then, and if possible build a community around this totally free, open-source tool for making and sharing diverse solarpunk adventures!
Fully Automated! Campaign 1: Regulation
Share these freely!
EDIT: I should have included the link to our Discord server. You can join here or spectate if you like: https://discord.gg/tjscrvjd
Image credit: “Exploring Los Angeles”, a concept image by Sean Bodley
May take a look at the material later, though probably not going to participate in the game.
TBH my initial thought is that it would make more sense to produce source material for an existing genre-neutral system like the Hero System than to create a whole new system unto itself. Still, I guess if the system is going to be FOSG (Free and Open-Source Gaming 😉) then it would still make sense to do the extra work.
Yeah, it’s a reasonable take. Personally, I have enough issues with all the systems I’ve tried that I homebrewed enough rules that it’s easier to just describe the rules than reference anything else.
The rules started with the Corporation RPG, which uses 2d10s for skill checks, and you try to roll below your attribute + points in a skill, and the skills are all selected to be genre-relevant.
The combat system is totally custom. I get that it’s kind of risky and hubristic, but I’ll just say it: I’ve never found a combat system that worked for my interests. The most fun systems I’ve played are Gloomhaven and Unmatched, which are both board games, not RPGs. So I made my own based on what I like.
The goal was to make something that had a feeling like fights in real life: it should feel somewhat tactical, but also be very fast and impulsive rather than slow and methodical. The solution is that it’s a played on a hex grid map, and the players have a very simple set of actions: they can move, they have one or two attacks, they can defend, and they can aim. It acts like rock-paper-scissors: everyone picks their action at the start of the round, then reveals at once. If you want to get tactical, there is plenty of room, but generally it should feel like a real fight: if someone has ranged attacks, you want to take cover. If someone is very aggressive, you should probably play defense. If they are very defensive, take advantage by using aim, which doesn’t work if you get attacked in the round you play it, but makes your next attack devastating if you play it successfully. There are some nuances like fudge dice to avoid it all being determination, but overall it feels fast, easy to pick up, and fair.
Personally, it’s my favorite combat system. Which is funny, because the game isn’t that combat heavy, but it’s an example of why I just went ahead and made custom rules system. If i thought I could tell the stories better with another one I would’ve, but I didn’t. So this is what i did.
As you said, it’s FOSG, so people can take the stories or lore and use them in FATE or GURPS or whatever they like. But it started as a game for friends, and I wrote the manual around the game as I ran it.
Nice. Love to see people contributing both to this genre of source material and to FOSG. And doing it with a good set of players as you go is definitely the best way to do it. Keep on gamin’!