Stormlight Tabletop Game Prototype

[Cocoa he/him]

This is a little something I've been tinkering with in my spare time. I've seen a few people in the past talk about making a set of extra rules for running surgebinding with the Mistborn Adventure Game rules, but personally I think that the feel of both the Investiture and the setting are different enough from Mistborn that it can use its own system. As is, this is still very bare-bones, for example I still haven't hashed out at all the exacts of earning and spending XP, and I don't really have much by way of fabrials yet, but I wanted to show off what I've got so far and see what people's thoughts about it are.

Character Stats

Quote

Each stat is broken up into ten levels, each with an associated size of die:

Level	Die
1	None
2	Auto 1
3	1d4
4	1d6
5	1d8
6	1d10
7	1d12
8	1d20
9	1d20
10	1d20

 

Whenever a stat is used, roll the die correlating to its current level. If the result of the die is a 1, that stat depletes, temporarily reducing its level by 1. If the result is not a 1, then you can deplete that stat by one or more levels to fuel certain feats. If a stat’s “depletion range” is increased, then for each increase it depletes on a roll of one number higher. So a stat with a depletion range increased once will deplete on a result of 1 or 2, one that has had its depletion range increased twice will deplete on a result of 1, 2, or 3, etc.

Unless otherwise specified, the maximum baseline Level a character can have in any stat is 6.

 

Stats:

Physique, used for physical challenges and combat. Level 1 represents severe injury, exhaustion,

Presence, used to sway people through charisma, intimidation, deception, or commanding respect.

Intellect, used to overcome intellectual challenges or put a plan into action. Can also be rolled to ask the GM for clues or guidance in approaching a mystery or puzzle.

Will, used to resist manipulation or emotional and spiritual strain.

Stormlight, used to fuel various surgebinding powers.

Character Creation

Quote

There are three tiers of power that one can begin play at. Regardless of what tier of power your character begins with, they have Level 3 Physique, Presence, Intellect, and Will. Most characters begin play with Level 1 Stormlight. You also start with access to two purchasable feats of your choice at character creation for free. These feats cannot be Advancement Feats.

Low

·        Unpowered Human: You have five additional Levels to distribute among your stats as you wish, and begin play with access to one additional non-free feat of your choice.

·        Disabled Human: You have a disability, either physical or psychological, that is not healed by stormlight. You have five additional Levels to distribute among your stats as you wish, and begin play with access to one additional non-free feat of your choice. Select one stat of your choice; the depletion range of that stat permanently increases by 1, in addition to the more abstract obstacles presented by your disability. You also gain XP at a slightly increased rate, permanently.

Moderate

·        Radiant Squire: You are a surgebinder and might have even privately sworn the first ideal, but you have not yet bonded your own spren and instead rely on your connection to a higher ideal radiant. You have five additional Levels to distribute among your Physique, Presence, Intellect, and Will stats as you wish, but the depletion range of your Will is increased by 1. You also have a Stormlight Level of 3, and its depletion range increases by 1. You temporarily lose the use of your surgebinding abilities if you are more than a mile away from your Radiant for an hour or more.

·        Shardbearer: You have bonded a deadeye Shardblade or are the owner of a suit of Shardplate (your choice), and are most likely an Alethi noble. You have five additional Levels to distribute among your stats as you wish.

·        Singer: You are a singer, capable of hearing the Rhythms and taking on different forms by forming symbiotic bonds with lesser Spren. Whenever there is a Highstorm, you can change your current Singer Form (see feats). You only gain the benefits of one Singer Form at a time.

High

·        First Ideal Radiant: You have sworn the first ideal of the Knights Radiant and bonded your own spren. You have four additional Levels to distribute among your Physique, Presence, Intellect, and Will stats as you wish, but the depletion range of your Will is increased by 1. The highest Level you can raise any of your stats to, at character creation or after, is 6.

·        Full Shardbearer: You have full set of Shards, both plate and blade, and are most likely an Alethi noble. Begin with Level 3 Physique, Presence, Intellect, and Will. You also have four additional Levels to distribute among your stats as you wish. The highest Level you can raise any of your stats to, at character creation or after, is 6.

Feats and XP

Quote

Feats represent the various ways that characters interact with the world, fueled by their stats. Some of these feats are straightforward actions that can be taken by anyone with a Level currently higher than 1 in the relevant stat. These feats are marked with the (FREE) tag, and characters are treated as knowing them automatically as long as they meet any other prerequisites for the feat. Others are not marked with the free tag, and must be purchased using [insert amount of XP here]. These feats represent specialized training or practice with a character’s abilities.

Characters can only spend XP to purchase feats if they meet any associated requirements. If a character temporarily does not meet the requirements of a feat they already have, or if their associated stat is currently at Level 1, they are temporarily unable to use that feat.

If you are a surgebinder, you can also spend XP equivalent to a feat to instantly restore your current Stormlight Level to your baseline. This can represent either extra spheres you carry with you, or you lucking across another source of stormlight.

 

Physique Feats

·        Fight (FREE) – The character engages in physical combat with one or more opponents who are also capable of using the Fight feat. Both parties roll Physique. If one character is fighting against multiple opponents at once, they make one roll of Physique at their current Level for each opponent at once, then total together and apply the levels of depletion from all the rolled dice. The depletion range for these rolls increases by 1.

·        Overcome Obstacle (FREE) – You overcome a difficult physical challenge such as climbing a cliff, swimming across fast water, or moving a heavy weight. Roll Physique.

·        Bounding Leap (FREE, Prerequisite: Baseline Physique Level of 6 or higher) – You leap an inhuman distance, allowing you to do things such as vaulting over a chasm on the Shattered Plains.

·        Powerful Strike – When a character uses the Fight feat and does not roll any depletion, they can choose to deplete their own Physique by one Level to also deplete the Physique of one opponent of their choice by one Level.

·        Backed Into a Corner – When a character uses the Fight feat against multiple opponents at once, the depletion range for these rolls does not increase as a result.

 

Presence Feats

·        Sway (FREE) – You attempt to change the opinion of a person or small unified group of people, convincing them to act according to your wishes through rhetoric, charisma, intimidation, or commanding presence. Roll Presence. If you do not roll a depletion, the target will give your words proper consideration, though their exact reaction will depend on their attitude and your approach. If your Presence depletes, the target will ignore your words, and you will have to attempt a different approach if you want to try Swaying them again.

·        Deceive (FREE) – You attempt to convince someone who has reason to be suspicious of you of a falsehood. You roll Presence, and they roll Intellect. The falsehood is momentarily believable, though another roll may be needed if the target has a new reason to be suspicious of you, and certain proofs or drastic actions can break falsehoods completely even if your Presence is not yet at Level 1.

·        Debate (FREE) – You and another character capable of using the Debate feat argue opposing viewpoints. You both roll Presence.

·        Public Speaking – You can attempt to influence large crowds at once, convincing them to collectively act according to your wishes through rhetoric, charisma, intimidation, or commanding presence. Roll Presence. If you do not roll a depletion, the crowd will give your words proper consideration, though their exact reaction will depend on their attitude and your approach. If your Presence depletes, the crowd will ignore your words, and you will have to attempt a different approach if you want to try Swaying them again.

·        Breaking Speech – You try to break the will of an enemy by pulling on their doubts and insecurities. You roll Presence, and they roll Will.

·        Inspire – You take a moment to encourage someone. Select one target currently at Will Level 1. Their Will Level becomes 2. You then roll Presence.

 

Intellect Feats

·        Investigate (FREE) – You describe the approach you take to investigating a certain mystery, and the GM offers you one clue or hint to help you attempt to figure it out. You then roll Intellect. If the GM decides that they provided you a particularly significant hint, they may have you roll Intellect twice then total together and apply the levels of depletion from both rolled dice.

·        Research (FREE, Prerequisites: Access to relevant records in a language you can understand): You attempt to uncover a piece of obscure or specialized knowledge relevant to a specific question or area of study. You then roll intellect. If the GM decides that they provided you a particularly important or obscure piece of information, they may have you roll Intellect twice then total together and apply the levels of depletion from both rolled dice.

·        Specialized Knowledge – You have a special interest in an area of knowledge such as history, religion, zoology, or botany. Whenever you make an Intellect roll involving that area of knowledge, roll the die as if your current Intellect Level were one higher. You can take this feat multiple times, selecting a different, non-overlapping area of knowledge each time.

·        Multilingualism – You can clearly understand and communicate in one additional language. You can take this feat multiple times, choosing a new language each time. The GM may choose to make one copy of this feat free for all characters to enable clear communication.

 

Will Feats

·        Endure (FREE) – You soldier on in the face of adversity. Rather than choosing to use this feat, the GM may ask you to use it in response to extreme emotional or mental strain, or an NPC using the Breaking Speech feat. Roll Will. If you cannot roll, you freeze up or are overtaken by extreme emotion, and become temporarily unable to act under you own initiative.

·        Desperate Strength – If your current Physique Level is higher than 1 but lower than your current Will Level, you can roll Will in place of Physique. However, if you roll a depletion, both your Physique and your Will deplete by one Level.

·        Desperate Plea – If your current Presence Level is higher than 1 but lower than your current Will Level, you can roll Will in place of Presence. However, if you roll a depletion, both your Presence and your Will deplete by one Level.

·        Desperate Guess – If your current Intellect Level is higher than 1 but lower than your current Will Level, you can roll Will in place of Intellect. However, if you roll a depletion, both your Intellect and your Will deplete by one Level.

 

Stormlight Feats

·        Stormlight Healing (FREE) – Stormlight reinforces your body, granting you energy and fixing wounds. Each time your Physique would be depleted by a Level, you can instead deplete your Stormlight by a Level. You can also hold your breath for long lengths at a time, instead being sustained by inhaled Stormlight.

·        Full Lashing (FREE, Prerequisite: Windrunner) – You paint an object with stormlight, causing it to strongly adhere to the next thing it comes in contact with, other than your body or a Shard. Roll Stormlight. This bond lasts for about a minute, and you can extend its duration for another minute whenever it would run out by rolling Stormlight again.

·        Basic Lashing (Prerequisite: Windrunner) – You alter the pull of gravity on an object, increasing it, lessening it, or changing its direction. Roll Stormlight. Unless you maintain contact, this change lasts only for a few seconds.

·        Windrunning (Prerequisite: Basic Lashing) – You have fine control of your gravitational lashings, and can use them to float or fly through the air. This Flight lasts for about a minute, and you can extend its duration for another minute whenever it would run out by rolling Stormlight again. If you are carrying a passenger or massive object with you, increase the depletion range of these rolls by 1.

·        Reverse Lashing (Prerequiste: Windrunner) – You combine the forces of Adhesion and Gravitation, pulling objects of your choice towards an object you touch. Roll Stormlight. This change lasts only for a few seconds.

·        Capture Memory (FREE, Prerequisite: Lightweaver) – You form a perfect visual memory of whatever you are looking at. Roll Intellect. You can then reproduce the memory through a medium such as drawing at a later time.

·        Illuminated Presence (FREE, Prerequisite: Lightweaver or Truthwatcher) – You subtly use the surge of Illumination to weight your interactions with others. Each time your Physique would be depleted by a Level, you can instead deplete your Stormlight by a Level.

·        Lightweaving (Prerequisite: Lightweaver or Truthwatcher) – You can shape stormlight into an illusion, either as a disguise overlaid onto a person or in the form of an inanimate object. Roll Stormlight for each illusion. Each illusion lasts for about an hour.

·        Soulcasting (Prerequisite: Lightweaver or Elsecaller) – You can convert an object into one of the ten essences: air, smoke, crystal, plant matter, blood, oil, metal, stone, or meat. You cannot soulcast aluminum, people, or Shards, and you cannot create gemstones or Shards. Roll Stormlight and Presence. If you are attempting an especially complex soulcasting, such as creating medicine or a specific alloy, you must also roll Intellect.

·        Soulcast Living Target (Prerequisite: Soulcasting) – You can overcome the resistance of living people to soulcasting. Use the rules for Soulcasting, but roll Stormlight a number of times equal to your target’s current Physique Level instead of only once. Total together and apply the levels of depletion from all the Stormlight dice. If your Stormlight is depleted by one or more levels, the soulcasting fails.

·        Slicking (FREE, Prerequisite: Edgedancer) – You reduce the effect of friction on an object, making it near-impossible for others to hold. You can also use this ability on your own body, making you capable of running or skating without wind resistance.

·        Growth (Prerequisite: Edgedancer or Truthwatcher) – You accelerate and guide the growth of plants. Roll Stormlight.

·        Regrowth (Prerequisite: Growth) – You can extend the healing properties of stormlight to others, and your own healing is enhanced. On your turn you can touch yourself or another person whose current Physique Level is lower than their baseline Physique Level. The target’s Physique Level increase by one. Roll Stormlight.

·        Cognitive Window (FREE, Prerequisite: Elsecaller or Willshaper) – You can briefly peer into the Cognitive Realm, seeing nearby Spren in their full forms, objects as glass beads, and living minds as flames.

·        Elsecalling (Prerequisite: Elsecaller or Willshaper) – You can move between the Cognitive and Physical Realms. Transporting yourself this way depletes your Stormlight Level by 1, plus an additional 1 per passenger you bring with you. If the transportation is from the Cognitive to the Physical, the total depletion cost increases by an additional 1.

·        Stoneshaping (Prerequisite: Willshaper) – You can adjust the pliability of non-living materials, primarily stone. You can make it act as a solid, liquid, or a clay-like in-between state, so long as you remain in contact with it. Roll Stormlight.

·        Sprenblade (FREE, Prerequisite: Third Ideal Radiant) – Your spren can take the form of a glowing shardblade or other shard-weapon. While wielding it, your current and baseline Physique increase by 2 Levels for tasks related to fighting. If you roll a 20 while wielding a sprenblade, your opponent’s Physique Level immediately drops to 1, ignoring standard depletion rules. Sprenblades can cut all matter other than other Shards or aluminum, and can be used to activate Oathgates.

·        Sprenplate (FREE, Prerequisite: Fourth Ideal Radiant) – Lesser spren form a selectively tangible suit of shardplate around you. Your current and baseline Physique Levels both increase by 2.

·        Squire (Prerequisite: Third Ideal Radiant) – You acquire a squire of your order. They count as a member of your order and have a Stormlight Level of 3, but their depletion range for Stormlight increases by 1, and their powers stop working if they are more than a mile away from you for more than an hour. If they swear the first ideal and bond a spren, you regain the XP you spent on this feat. You can take this feat multiple times, gaining a new squire each time.

·        Strength of Squires (Prerequisite: Windrunner) – Taking the Squire feat costs only [slightly less XP than a standard feat] for you.

 

Singer Form Feats

·        Dullform (FREE, Prerequisite: Singer) – The default form singers take when not bonded to any spren. The depletion ranges of your Presence, Intellect, and Will are all increased by 1.

·        Workform (FREE, Prerequisite: Singer, access to gravitationspren) – One of the simplest forms for singers to take. It’s very simple, mostly used for manual labor, but it helps to prevent the worst drawbacks of dullform. Your Physique Level increases by 2, to a maximum of 6.

·        Warform (FREE, Prerequisite: Singer, access to a painspren) – A form well-suited for fighting. Your Physique Level increases by 3, to a maximum of 7, and your Presence and Will Levels both increase by 1 to a maximum of 6.

·        Nimbleform (FREE, Prerequisite: Singer, access to windspren) – Nimbleform is best suited to delicate tasks. Your Physique and Presence Levels increase by 1 and your Intellect Level increases by 3, all to a maximum of 6. The depletion range of your Physique rolls increases by 1.

·        Mateform (FREE, Prerequisite: Singer, access to lifespren) – A fertile form that singers use to reproduce. Your Presence Level increases by 3 and your Physique level increases by 1, both to a maximum of 6. The depletion ranges of your Intellect and Physique rolls increase by 1.

 

Advancement Feats (Double XP cost)

·        Shardblade – You are bonded to a deadeye shardblade. Summoning a shardblade takes ten heartbeats, or one round in combat (though you can still act while summoning it). It will disappear shortly after it leaves your hand, needing to be summoned again. While holding it, your current and baseline Physique increase by 2 Levels for tasks related to fighting. If you roll a 20 while wielding a shardblade, your opponent’s Physique Level immediately drops to 1, ignoring standard depletion rules. Shardblades can cut all matter other than other Shards or aluminum, deaden limbs, and kill via burning out eyes rather than leaving other wounds

·        Shardplate – You are the owner of a set of shardplate. While wearing it, your current and baseline Physique Levels both increase by 2. If your current Physique Level is depleted to Level 2, your baseline Physique Level is only increased by 1 until the next Highstorm. If your current Physique Level is depleted to 1, your baseline Physique Level is no longer increased until the next Highstorm.

·        Swear the First Ideal – “Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination.” This is the first and greatest ideal of the Knights Radiant. Once you swear it, your Stormlight Level is 3, and you gain a spren companion controlled by the GM (or, with the GM’s permission, another player). Spren have little presence in the physical realm, but can act as scouts and friends. The GM can choose to reject your oath (and XP) if they feel your character is not ready to say it.

·        Swear the Second Ideal (Prerequisite: Have already sworn the First Ideal) – You continue on your journey as a Radiant. Your Stormlight Level is 4.

·        Swear the Third Ideal (Prerequisite: Have already sworn the Second Ideal) – Your Stormlight Level becomes 5, and this is also when most orders of Radiants become able to summon sprenblades and take on squires.

·        Swear the Fourth Ideal (Prerequisite: Have already sworn the Third Ideal) – Your Stormlight Level becomes 6.

·        Improve a Stat – You permanently increase your Physique, Presence, Intellect, or Will by 1, to a maximum of 6.

Combat and Rest

Quote

Every 10 rounds of combat last about a minute, with each round matching up to about 10 beats of a racing heart.

Turn order is determined by comparing stats, with characters with the highest baseline Physique going first, then the highest current Physique in case of ties, then the highest baseline Will in case of ties, then the highest current Will in case of ties. The same order applies in social conflicts, but with Presence in place of Physique.

Each evening the characters can rest, regaining 2 Levels each of Physique, Presence, Intellect, and Will, up to their baselines. Each rest also has a chance of being accompanied by a Highstorm. Whenever this happens, the GM should roll 1d4 and add 1 to it. The result is the number of rests until the next Highstorm. A Highstorm recharges spheres and restores each character’s Stormlight Level to its baseline.

 

[TheWanderer he/him]

Very interesting, I am reminded a bit of how the mistborn rpg was designed and like the parallels.