James Bell
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10 days ago
Project Update: Example Setting: Paths
Hello Ultranauts,
In our last manuscript preview, we got to see the Expansion chapter, which contains guidelines for creating your own Paths. Today, we'll delve into our example setting, Pinfall from Grace, and look at how those could be written up for your game.
Let's take a peek at some of the Angelic Choir Paths, the Before Time Paths, and the Wrestling Style Paths.
In our last manuscript preview, we got to see the Expansion chapter, which contains guidelines for creating your own Paths. Today, we'll delve into our example setting, Pinfall from Grace, and look at how those could be written up for your game.
Let's take a peek at some of the Angelic Choir Paths, the Before Time Paths, and the Wrestling Style Paths.
Angelic Choir Paths
The most significant Path in character creation is the wrestler’s Angelic Choir Path. This determines the type of angel that melded with the wrestler to help them in their quest to overcome the demons. Each angel is unique to each wrestler, but they can be roughly categorized into five groups, depending on their personalities, skills, and the benefits they provide to their hosts.
Concordia
Order. Building. Structure. These are the virtues of the angels of Concordia. They often speak to their hosts in intricate, carefully constructed sentences, and grant them powers that help to rebuild or reinforce the world around them.
Skills: Enigmas, Leadership, Science
Major Path Attributes: 5 Mental, 2 Physical, 3 Social
Major Path Special: Angels on the Path of Concordia gain the Summon Ring miracle, along with one other Universal miracle and one Structure miracle at character creation.
Contacts: Settlement marshal, community leader, scientist working to recover lost technology
Major Path Attributes: 5 Mental, 2 Physical, 3 Social
Major Path Special: Angels on the Path of Concordia gain the Summon Ring miracle, along with one other Universal miracle and one Structure miracle at character creation.
Contacts: Settlement marshal, community leader, scientist working to recover lost technology
Diligentia
The angels of Diligentia are rugged, hard-working spirits that push their hosts to the limits of their stamina. They communicate with their hosts in deep, relentless tones, while their powers enhance the raw strength of their hosts.
Skills: Leadership, Medicine, Survival
Major Path Attributes: 3 Mental, 5 Physical, 2 Social
Major Path Special: Angels on the Path of Diligentia gain the Summon Ring miracle, along with one other Universal miracle and one Strength miracle at character creation.
Contacts: Physical trainer, construction worker, desperate scavenger
Major Path Attributes: 3 Mental, 5 Physical, 2 Social
Major Path Special: Angels on the Path of Diligentia gain the Summon Ring miracle, along with one other Universal miracle and one Strength miracle at character creation.
Contacts: Physical trainer, construction worker, desperate scavenger
Fides
Those of the Fides choir cherish the bright feelings of hope and faith that humans are capable of, even in their darkest hour. Their musical, soothing tones reassure the wrestler, while their blessings inspire all those around the host.
Skills: Artistry, Culture, Empathy
Major Path Attributes: 3 Mental, 2 Physical, 5 Social
Major Path Special: Angels on the Path of Fides gain the Summon Ring miracle, along with one other Universal miracle and one Blessing miracle at character creation.
Contacts: Wasteland artist, wandering entertainer, local preacher
Major Path Attributes: 3 Mental, 2 Physical, 5 Social
Major Path Special: Angels on the Path of Fides gain the Summon Ring miracle, along with one other Universal miracle and one Blessing miracle at character creation.
Contacts: Wasteland artist, wandering entertainer, local preacher
Before Times Paths
In The Y2K World, time is divided into two large but extremely clear chunks: before and after the Apocalypse. Many people call anything that happened before the Apocalypse the Before Times. As such, the Before Times Paths refer to what the character did before they became an angelic wrestler. These Paths inform who the character is now based on prior experiences. She can change and grow based on those experiences or hold on to her history as a form of identity.
The following are some example Before Times Paths common in angelic wrestlers, although players are encouraged to make their own Paths to reflect a particular concept.
(Note if you are making your own Paths: In Pinfall from Grace, Body Slams from Hell, only the Wrestling Style Paths award Close Combat Paths, so do not include that Skill any of your Before Times Paths.)
Doctor
The character can set broken limbs and patch gunshot wounds in the field or perform complicated lifesaving surgeries with the right equipment. Maybe she was an emergency responder, or maybe she worked in a hospital. She is the one who gets her hands dirty when everything goes sideways and people get hurt.
Skills: Empathy, Medicine, Science
Minor Path Attributes: 2 Mental, 1 Physical, 1 Social
Contacts: Former surgeon, pharmacist scrounger, thankful patient
Minor Path Attributes: 2 Mental, 1 Physical, 1 Social
Contacts: Former surgeon, pharmacist scrounger, thankful patient
Mechanic
The character hasn’t met a piece of machinery he can’t understand. He feels more comfortable working on a car than dealing with other people. In the past he maybe worked in a garage or a fix-it shop, but these days he’s discovered his skills are incredible valuable now that everything’s gone to shit. Just don’t ask him to be polite about it.
Skills: Enigmas, Science, Technology
Minor Path Attributes: 2 Mental, 2 Physical
Contacts: Chop shop owner, junkyard scavenger, rebel scientist
Minor Path Attributes: 2 Mental, 2 Physical
Contacts: Chop shop owner, junkyard scavenger, rebel scientist
Warrior
The character can perform amazing feats of athleticism, hand-to-hand combat, or marksmanship. She may have had military training in warfare, or simply combat training in various martial arts. These days she’s a physical force in and out of the ring, trained to deal with threats quickly, if not quietly.
Skills: Athletics, Ranged Combat, Survival
Minor Path Attributes: 1 Mental, 3 Physical
Contacts: Physical trainer, professional wrestler, embittered soldier
Minor Path Attributes: 1 Mental, 3 Physical
Contacts: Physical trainer, professional wrestler, embittered soldier
Wrestling Style Paths
Angels have convinced a variety of humans to wrestle demons in order to save the world, but there are a wide range of ways in which these hosts can conduct their gladiatorial combats. The specifics and nuances of these wrestling styles are endless, but they can be loosely organized into five rough collections called wrestling styles.
Each wrestler is drawn to a particular style that speaks to them — as such, in addition to teaching them skill in Close Combat, each Wrestling Style Path grants an Enhancement bonus. This Enhancement is added to any actions taken during a wrestling match (see more on p. XX), but the hit it awards can only be used to purchase a Move from a specific category. Other hits generated by the roll can be used to purchase any Moves the wrestler otherwise qualifies for — their Wrestling Style simply allows them to get easier access to a specific set of Moves that speak to their training.
Brawling
Everything from professional boxing to underground MMA fights fall under the purview of the Brawling Path. Whether it’s from mixed martial arts, training on a heavy bag, or simply by surviving gangland ass-beatings, brawlers know how to do serious damage with their fists and feet.
Skills: Close Combat, Larceny, Pilot
Minor Path Attributes: 3 Physical, 1 Social
Contacts: Boxing ring owner, martial arts trainer, illegal fight club promoter
Wrestling Bonus: +1 Enhancement to purchase Brawling Moves.
Minor Path Attributes: 3 Physical, 1 Social
Contacts: Boxing ring owner, martial arts trainer, illegal fight club promoter
Wrestling Bonus: +1 Enhancement to purchase Brawling Moves.
High-Flying
If they can’t catch you, they can’t hurt you. That’s what those of the High-Flying Path feel, eschewing hard-hitting tactics for speed and flashy, acrobatic assaults. They’re comfortable dodging blows or running on the ropes to get into just the right position to unleash their assault.
Skills: Athletics, Close Combat, Esoterica
Minor Path Attributes: 2 Physical, 2 Social
Contacts: Parkour enthusiast, yoga instructor, graffiti artist
Wrestling Bonus: +1 Enhancement to purchase High-Flying Moves.
Minor Path Attributes: 2 Physical, 2 Social
Contacts: Parkour enthusiast, yoga instructor, graffiti artist
Wrestling Bonus: +1 Enhancement to purchase High-Flying Moves.
Technical
Those on the Technical Path know how to wrestle very, very well. They have a deep and dazzling array of moves, and all the counters for any move used against them. For Technical wrestlers, the goal isn’t to hurt your opponent, but to pin them, and only the best of the best will win.
Skills: Athletics, Close Combat, Persuasion
Minor Path Attributes: 1 Mental, 2 Physical, 1 Social
Contacts: Chess enthusiast, wrestling historian, career manager
Wrestling Bonus: +1 Enhancement to purchase Technical Moves.
Minor Path Attributes: 1 Mental, 2 Physical, 1 Social
Contacts: Chess enthusiast, wrestling historian, career manager
Wrestling Bonus: +1 Enhancement to purchase Technical Moves.
Under the Mask: Path Skills
Paths are easy to make but tricky to balance, particularly regarding Skill distribution. Aside from Close Combat (which is a key skill in Pinfall from Grace, Body Slams from Hell, as previously mentioned), every other skill only appears two or three times through all the presented Paths. This ensures that only Close Combat is disproportionately represented, while all the others are more evenly spread through all fifteen Paths. And with the caveat that Close Combat can’t be a part of the Before Times Paths — and isn’t part of any of the Angelic Choir Paths — even Close Combat only appears five times, so it’s not that disproportionate.
Speaking of "Behind the Mask" and secrets of SPU, you can learn more by watching this interview with Eddy Webb talking to Secret GM Corbin about our current crowdfunding project!
We'll have another example from our sample setting on Thursday, when we look at Miracles! Maybe we'll understand how magnets work!
#StorypathUltra
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