Kalos Mechanism 4e EN:Introduction

Contents

What Is This?

Kalos Mechanism is an open roleplaying game system. If you have an idea for a game -- the setting, the history, the conflicts, the kinds of characters, the kinds of adventures you think would be fun to play... all of the important things, in other words -- here is a game system you can plop that on top of and run with it.

If this were a full game: This is where the game author (that's you!) would describe the "elevator pitch" for their game. What it is, what makes it different, and why folks will have fun playing it.

What Is An "Open Game"?

Simply put, an "open game" is one that you may adapt and share, as long as everyone else can do the same with what you create. To that end, the text used in this document is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. You are free to:

• Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
• Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially

The licensor (that's us) cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

What Is A "Roleplaying Game"?

Roleplaying involves taking on a persona or character and making decisions based on what that character would do in a given situation. Maybe those decisions aren't the most tactically advantageous, but that's part of the fun of roleplaying.

Games have rule systems that govern conflicts, and which determine whether a character is successful when they attempt something. This is what you are reading now. In most games, there is some random element to make the game more fun. Kalos Mechanism uses two six-sided dice (2d6).

If you would like to read more about who plays roleplaying games, and why and where they play them, check out The Escapist -- The Five Ws of RPGs.

The Players

In a roleplaying game, each player adopts a persona called a player character, or PC. The player characters are imaginary people who inhabit the fictional universe of the game.

In many ways, the player is like an actor who chooses their own part and writes their own lines as the play progresses. The game moderator sets the stage and introduces the characters to their world, but the story is driven by the player characters.

The Game Moderator

The game moderator, or GM, creates the story and portrays everyone that the player characters encounter during their adventures. These are called non-player characters, or NPCs. Using events and NPCs, the GM provides challenges to the PCs. The players help create the adventure by responding to the challenges the GM presents and by pursuing the PCs' own goals. This dynamic creative process creates a story which neither the game moderator nor the players could have created alone.

Ground Rules

Be Cooperative

A roleplaying game is fundamentally a cooperative activity. The players are not in competition with the GM nor with each other. The goal of a role-playing game is to experience fun stories and to entertain everyone at the table.

Expert Tip: Making the game fun is everyone's responsibility.

• Encourage each other — If someone does something cool, or has a great idea, let them know. It will make them feel good, and it will let people know what kind of game you find fun.
• Embrace setbacks — Don't get frustrated if things are going badly. Recovering from a setback makes the victory sweeter.
• Be considerate — Don't hog the spotlight. Take turns being the center of attention.
• Don't play a jerk — Being "true to your character" is not an excuse for being obnoxious.
• Respect everyone's boundaries — If a topic or a certain plot element makes any of the players uncomfortable, respect that and avoid it. Consider using John Stavropoulos' X-Card, particularly if the players are new to each other.

Use Common Sense

If something in the rules violates the way you think your game should work, then override it. If the rules permit something ridiculous, or would prevent something completely ordinary, then override them.

Expert Tip: Don't use the rules unless you need to.

In fact, if you can play a fun game session without referring to the written rules, you should. Saying "it works like this" is often a better solution than flipping through a rulebook for an answer.

Avoid Rule Arguments

Sooner or later, there will be a difference of opinion among the players regarding what a rule means, or how a rule should be implemented. The time for rule discussions is between games, not during a game. If a rule discussion sidetracks the game, the game moderator should make an interim decision and table additional discussion for later.

Core Mechanics

Abilities

Each character has access to three types of abilities:

• Skills — allow a character to solve problems and accomplish tasks
• Gifts — range from exceptional human abilities to less flamboyant posthuman abilities
• Powers — are exceptional abilities that normal people do not have

See the Skills, Gifts, and Powers chapters.

Additionally, each character has the following characteristics:

• Power Level — is assigned by the GM, and represents the strength of a character's technological might, alien potency, psychic ability, or what have you
• Endurance — represents a character's ability to physically and mentally exert themselves
• Health — represents a character's ability to withstand physical and mental injury

See Characteristics in the Creation chapter.

Rolling Dice

When a character attempts a task, the player must roll dice to see if the character succeeds. The player rolls two six-sided dice (2d6) and adds them together. The player adds this to the character's appropriate skill (Ranged Combat, Socializing, etc.). This total is the character's Action Value, or AV. If the character's Action Value equals or exceeds the DV (Defense Value or Difficulty Value) assigned by the GM, the character's attempt succeeds.

Rolling dice is covered in more detail in the Actions chapter.

Bonuses And Penalties

If something significantly aids or impedes a character, the GM may apply a standard bonus (+3 AV, +3 DV) or a standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 DV). In extreme cases, the GM may apply a double bonus (+6 AV, +6 DV) or a double penalty (-6 AV, -6 DV).

Only the highest bonus applies. Penalties are cumulative.

Attack bonuses and penalties typically apply to one roll. Defense bonuses and penalties typically apply until the beginning of the character's next turn.

Damage

If the attacker's roll succeeds, the player rolls for damage based on the character's Power Level (1d6 + Power Level) or on the Equipment Level of the weapon (1d6 + Equipment Level). The target's resistance (Damage Resistance, Alteration Resistance, or Mental Resistance) is deducted from the points of damage.

If the attack is a normal attack, the remaining points of damage are deducted from the target's Health (or Endurance, if it is a stunning attack).

If the attack is a mental attack or an alteration attack, divide the remaining damage points in half (round down, even if the fraction is more than one-half, to a minimum of 1).

Roll damage and deduct resistance before dividing.

Rounding

When a number is divided, round down, even if the fraction is more than one-half, to a minimum of 1. For game purposes, half of 5 is 2, and half of 1 is 1.

Glossary

action types

There are three types of actions a character may take: standard action, quick action, and anytime action.

Action Value (AV)

2d6 + [Skill] + [Bonus] - [Penalties]; Action Value (AV) is compared to Difficulty Value (DV) to determine if the action is successful.

Alteration Resistance

The amount the defender subtracts from the points of alteration damage rolled by the attacker; the remaining points of alteration damage are halved.

anytime action

An action that takes little or no time and which can be performed at any time, as often as the GM deems reasonable.

AV

Action Value: 2d6 + [Skill] + [Bonus] - [Penalties].

base move

Travel up to the base distance per turn permitted by Athletics or a movement power.

bonus

A number added to an Action Value (AV), a Defense Value (DV), or a damage roll. Only the highest bonus applies.

[Brackets]

Text in [Brackets] indicates that it is replaced by some other value.

character point

Spent to buy skills, gifts, and powers for a character.

combat

Opposed task: the attacker attempts a roll against 7 plus the target's appropriate skill.

competitive task

Different characters are competing to achieve the same goal in a superior fashion; competing characters attempt the same roll, or series of rolls, and compare their results.

damage

1d6 + the Power Level or Equipment Level of the attack, minus the Power Level or Equipment Level of the target's resistance.

Damage Resistance

The amount the defender subtracts from the points of normal damage rolled by the attacker.

Defense Value (DV)

7 + [Skill] + [Bonus] - [Penalties]; Action Value (AV) is compared to Defense Value (DV) to determine if the attack is successful.

Difficulty Value (DV)

Moderate: 9 + [Bonus] - [Penalties]; Action Value (AV) is compared to Difficulty Value (DV) to determine if the action is successful.
Extreme: 12 + [Bonus] - [Penalties]; Action Value (AV) is compared to Difficulty Value (DV) to determine if the action is successful.

dodge

Grants a double bonus to Defense Value at the cost of a double penalty to Action Value; -6 AV, +6 DV; dodging requires a standard action or a forced action.

double bonus

+6 AV, +6 DV; only the highest bonus applies.

double penalty,

-6 AV, -6 DV; penalties are cumulative.

DV

Defense Value: 7 + [Skill] + [Bonus] - [Penalties].

Difficulty Value: [9 (Moderate) or 12 (Extreme)] + [Bonus] - [Penalties].

Endurance

Ability to physically and mentally exert oneself (Athletics + 10).

extended task

The task requires an exceptional amount of time or multiple steps; the character attempts a series of rolls against a set Difficulty Value, typically (DV 9).

game moderator (GM)

The player who sets the story in motion, plays everyone and everything in the game other than the PCs, and arbitrates any disputes.

gift

An exceptional human ability or less flamboyant posthuman ability.

GM

Game moderator: the player who sets the story in motion, plays everyone and everything in the game other than the PCs, and arbitrates any disputes.

Health

Ability to withstand physical hardship and injury (Athletics + 10).

Mental Resistance

The amount the defender subtracts from the points of mental damage rolled by the attacker; the remaining points of mental damage are halved.

non-player character (NPC)

A fictional person controlled by the game moderator.

NPC

Non-player character: a fictional person controlled by the game moderator.

opposed task

Someone is trying to prevent the character from succeeding; the character attempts a roll against 7 plus the opponent's appropriate skill.

PC

Player character: a fictional person controlled by a player.

penalty

A number subtracted from an Action Value (AV), a Defense Value (DV), or a damage roll. Penalties are cumulative.

player

A living, breathing person playing the game.

player character (PC)

A fictional person controlled by a player.

power

An exceptional ability that normal people do not have.

Power Level

Technological might, alien potency, psychic potential, and so on. Set by the GM.

quick action

An action that takes little or no time and which can be performed when it is the character's turn to act in the round, as often as the GM deems reasonable.

ranged attack

The range of the attack is dictated by the character's Power Level or Equipment Level. Attacking a target within short range incurs neither a penalty nor a bonus; attacking a target beyond short range but within long range incurs a standard penalty (-3 AV, -3 DV).

round

One round is six seconds, give or take, giving us ten rounds per minute. During a round, each character gets a turn.

scene

A scene typically starts when the characters arrive at a place, and ends when they leave.

sentient

Capable of perception, problem solving, self-awareness, and anticipation of future events; a person.

skill

Allows a character to solve problems and accomplish tasks.

skill roll

Rolling dice and determining the outcome; see the Actions chapter.

sprint

Travel farther than the character's base move, up to the max distance per turn permitted by Athletics and powers (base move x 6).

standard action

An attempt to perform one task. May be attempted, before, during, or after the character moves.

standard bonus

+3 AV, +3 DV; only the highest bonus applies.

standard penalty

-3 AV, -3 DV; penalties are cumulative.

standard task

No one is actively working against the character; the character attempts a roll against a set Difficulty Value (DV), typically (DV 9).

success

An Action Value (DV) that equals or exceeds the Difficulty Value (DV).

turn

During a round, each character gets a turn. During their turn, a character can move, attempt a standard action, attempt multiple quick actions, and attempt multiple anytime actions.