More mad science! I decided to write up a solo framework for Amber Diceless using a tarot powered system (it is thematically appropriate to the setting.) Would like to get feedback from both communities before I jump in and started playing.
If you're not familiar with the Amber Diceless system, it is point buy character generation with secret auctions and a crap ton of hidden information. All conflict resolution is diceless and driven by character ranks, situational modifiers, and even more hidden information. :-)
Originally shared by Todd Zircher
So, here's something that I'd like for people to read and provide feedback on. It is a framework I wrote up for playing Amber Diceless as a solo game. First draft of course, but I would like for you all to take a look and comment if desired. While many of the techniques are not new to the Lone Wolf - solo RPG community, are they clear enough for first time readers? I do plan to take a crack at a solo game using this system at some point. Not sure on the posting format, frequency, and such at this time.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zuWb0F1jviP4SBNKiDsakwj3zPjFhR-I90sHwRttgAw/edit?usp=sharing
Looking forward to checking this out later.
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ReplyDeleteI had a friend ask about why the complexity of the card buying system in character gen. For those of you not familiar with Amber Diceless, in session zero there is a player auction for buying attribute ranks in the game. Since we don't have a group of bidders in a solo game, the card drafting is intended to simulate the 'randomness' of that.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the hazards I've run into writing this up is that I've got a pretty good knowledge of Amber Diceless, solo gaming techniques, and the tarot (I have several decks and I used to break them out at parties as a form of entertainment.) So, all the pieces fit together in my head. Communicating that to potential Amber solo gamers is part of the balancing act.
i'm skimming it now, I love the Cosmic Tarot deck (I have 2 copies). Looks pretty good, I might try my hand at creating an Amberite Trump Artist, a Conjurer from Chaos and a third character to be determined.
ReplyDeleteOh, that does bring up a point I had not considered, troupe play. Hmm, given the potential (make that probable) complexity of Amber plots, that might be way too much. But, it would be good for filling out some of the princes and princesses in the other houses.
ReplyDeleteOf course, in a solo game you can have the discipline to not split the party to the four corners of infinity. :-)
I have no idea how tarot works, nor any knowledge of Amber, but I'm interested in you work.
ReplyDelete+1 isn't enough for this bit of awesome. Not only did I mention the desire to try something diceless last post, I happened across my Dishonored tarot deck. Talk about wacky Good Stuff. XD
ReplyDeleteDefinitely need to try this after chapter 2 is done. I still have Amber, Shadow Knight (I <3 Brand and The Keep), as well as Lords of Gossamer and Shadow. ^_^ And maybe Lords of Olympus lying around in my hard drive somewhere.
I actually have a pdf for a Tarot based RPG called Swansong. It was designed to be a crunchier version of Everway.
ReplyDeleteI got the auction part and it's very clever. What I think will be tough to replicate is the "bad blood" the auction is supposed to trigger in order to seed player rivalries.
ReplyDeleteThat is a dynamic that never appealed to me so I might have accidentally filtered that out. I should ask the Amber group if they consider that a feature. :-)
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