phaserip primer 1

8/9/2019 Phaserip Primer 1

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PHASERIPISSUE ZERO

PRIMER

YOU'VE NEVER PLAYED AN RPG BEFORE

Phaserip is a role-playing game (hence!r"h RPG# $herein p%a&ers "ae !n "he r!%es !her!es in a $!r% crea"e )&* escri)e* an p!p+%a"e )& a reeree* ,+-e* !r .-a/e0/as"er. (hence!r"h GM#1 I &!+'re reain- "his an ha2e ne2er p%a&e an RPG )e!re* "hen Ienc!+ra-e &!+ "! %!! +p an& n+/)er ! "he e3ni"i!ns !4ere !n%ine* as "he e%+si2e "as !escri)in- "his "&pe ! -a/e in pr!se is s!/e"hin- ! a pass"i/e ! a3ci!na!s !2er "he&ears* /an& 5+i"e )e""er "han I c!+% !4er1 I par"ic+%ar%& rec!//en Gre- S"!%"6e's .H!$ "!P%a& R!%ep%a&in- Ga/es.1

U%"i/a"e%& I c!nc%+e "ha" %earnin- "! r!%ep%a& is 2er& /+ch %ie %earnin- "! rie a )ic&c%e("h!+-h easier#1 7he /!s" e%a)!ra"e an $e%% $ri""en ins"r+c"i!n !n h!$ "! rie a )ie $i%%ne2er c!/pensa"e !r "he e8perience ! ac"+a%%& -e""in- !n a )ic&c%e "he 3rs" "i/e an3nin- !ne's )a%ance1 I" is "he sa/e $i"h RPGs9 "he& are s!/e"hin- &!+ ,+s" ina ha2e "!"r&1

S!+n in"i/ia"in-: Le" /e p+" &!+ a" ease9 "his -a/e re5+ires n! specia% si%%s !r ac"in-a)i%i"ies1 Y!+ nee n!" )e c%e2er* a /a"h $hi6* n!r a 2e"eran ! s!cia% in"erac"i!ns1 7he !n%&"hin- "his -a/e ass ! &!+ is crea"i2i"&; an ! "ha"* n!" /+ch /!re "han &!+r iner-ar"enc%ass e8pec"e1 In !"her $!rs* r!%e0p%a&in- -a/es are 2er&* 2er& eas& "! p%a&; ,+s"ann!&in-%& har "! e8p%ain1

As s+ch* "hese r+%es ass+/e "ha" "he GM is e8perience $i"h RPGs* an $i%% -+ie ne$p%a&ers a%!n- as necessar&* $hereas a/i%iari"& $i"h r!%ep%a&in- -a/es is n!" necessar& !r"he p%a&ers in an& $a&1 7h!+-h "he pa-e c!+n" /a& see/ %ar-e* %earnin- "! p%a& Phaseripsh!+% "ae !n%& a e$ /in+"es (i I'2e !ne /& ,!) ri-h" an "he GM !es "heir par"#1 A%% "hep%a&ers nee $!rr& a)!+" is c!nsierin- "he si"+a"i!ns* en2ir!n/en"s* an i%e//aspresen"e )& "he GM* an eciin- $ha" "heir Her! $i%% ! in resp!nse1

YOU'VE PLAYED AN RPG BEFORE

O+rs is a $!ner+%%& i2erse h!))&1 Man& RPG s&s"e/s are raica%%& i4eren" r!/ !nean!"her* s!/e ai/in- a" speci3c /e"h!s ! p%a&in- "ha" /i-h" )e+%e a p%a&er +se "!"he ass+/p"i!ns ! an!"her 2arie"& ! RPG s&s"e/1 7h+s* I'2e !+"%ine "he c!re ass+/p"i!ns! "his -a/e in "he sec"i!n Under the Hood a" "he en ! "his iss+e1 I +r-e &!+ "! rea "his

i an& par" ! "he !r"hc!/in- r+%es see/ c!n+sin-* n!" $ha" &!+ e8pec"e* !r si-ni3can"%&+na/i%iar1


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SYS7EM PRIMER

E2er& p%a&er is resp!nsi)%e !r "he ecisi!ns ! !ne Her!* a%s! ca%%e a .p%a&er charac"er.(hence!r"h PC#1 7he GM is resp!nsi)%e !r a%% "he !"her inha)i"an"s ! "he +ni2erse $here

"he -a/e "aes p%ace* c!%%ec"i2e%& reerre "! as .n!n0p%a&er charac"ers. (hence!r"h NPCs#1

Each p%a&er )e-ins "he -a/e $i"h a Character Sheet escri)in- "heir Her! in -a/e "er/s1 7he


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Ages. So its an easy assumption most anyone reading this will be familiar with the character.

A%% Her!es in Phaserip share > Primary Attributes* essen"ia% ac+%"ies p!ssesse "! s!/ee-ree )& e2er& charac"er in "he -a/e9 !aring* Agility * Might * !urability * "its* Intelligence*an #ourage1

DARING is a /eas+re ! a Her!'s )!%ness* 2a%!+r* an ra$ c!/)a" a)i%i"&1 A Her! $i"h hi-hDarin- is a -rea" $arri!r* $hi%e a Her! $i"h %!$ Darin- is pr!)a)%& a )i" ! a p+sh!2er1 Darin-is +se "! p+nch* ic* ,a)* p!e* "hr!$* $hac* !r c%!))er an !pp!nen"* ei"her $i"h )are 3s"s!r ee" !r $ie%in- a hanhe% $eap!n1

AGILI7Y is an es"i/a"e ! a Her!'s ni/)%eness* ?e8i)i%i"&* an c!!rina"i!n1 A Her! $i"h %!$A-i%i"& is c%+/s& an +nc!!rina"e; $hi%e a Her! $i"h hi-h A-i%i"& is capa)%e ! per!r/in-as"!+nin- acr!)a"ic ea"s1 A-i%i"& is +se "! c%i/) "rees* !-e e)ris* %eap )+i%in-s* an$in a" a -a/e ! ar"s1

MIGH7 is an e2a%+a"i!n ! a Her!'s s"ren-"h an ph&sica% p!$er1 A Her! $i"h hi-h Mi-h" isa)%e "! %i" -rea" a/!+n"s ! $ei-h" an in?ic" e2as"a"in- )%!$s in c!/)a"* $hi%e a Her!$i"h %!$ Mi-h" is $ea an +na)%e "! %i" hea2& $ei-h"s1 Mi-h" is +se "! %i" hea2& !),ec"s*)rea !$n !!rs* h!% !n "! "he e-e ! a c%i4* !r $in ar/0$res"%in- /a"ches1

DURABILI7Y represen"s a Her!'s c!ns"i"+"i!n* en+rance* an a)i%i"& "! rec!2er r!/ in,+r&1 AHer! $i"h hi-h D+ra)i%i"& is "!+-h an "enaci!+s* $hi%e a Her! $i"h %!$ D+ra)i%i"& is rai% an"ires easi%&1 D+ra)i%i"& is +se "! r+n %!n- is"ances* 3-h" !4 sicness* s+r2i2e p!is!nin-* anh!% !ne's )rea"h1

@I7S es"i/a"es a Her!'s percep"i2eness* in"+i"i!n* an si"+a"i!na% a$areness1 A Her! $i"hhi-h @i"s is !)ser2an" an ic+%" "! s+rprise* $hi%e a Her! $i"h %!$ @i"s is easi%& is"rac"ean !"en ca+-h" !40-+ar1 @i"s is +se "! 3n c%+es* n!"ice e"ai%s* e/pa"hi6e $i"h !"hers*an !!% !r en"er"ain pe!p%e1

IN7ELLIGEN


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for the most part li*es o1 the land +or forest as the case may be and any excess wealth he tends todonate to the hard-pressed peasant folk of the areas surrounding Sherwood.

@hen a p%a&er $ishes "heir Her! "! ! s!/e"hin- in "he -a/e* "he& escri)e "heir in"en"i!ns"! "he GM* an )ase !n "he Her!'s Eche%!n in "he A""ri)+"e /!s" re%e2an" "! "he ac"i!na""e/p"e* "he GM ei"her escri)es "he ac"i!n "! "ain- p%ace as "he p%a&er in"ens* ec%ares"he ac"i!n i/p!ssi)%e* !r ca%%s !r "he p%a&er "! /ae a G%S! Roll1

GES7 is an acr!n&/ !r .Ga+-e ! %8"ra!rinar& Si%% !r !a%en".1 A GES7 R!%% is /ae$hene2er a Her! is a""e/p"in- an e8cep"i!na% ac" !r e8"ra!rinar& ea"1 @hen a""e/p"in- aGES7* a P%a&er r!%%s percentile dice (=C* !ne ie se" as "he ."ens. an !ne ie se" as "he.!nes.; a res+%" ! .CC. e5+a%in- CC# an ann!+nces "he res+%" "! "he GM1 7he GM "henc!/pares "he res+%" "! "he c!rresp!nin- r!$ !n "he ARG1 (Ac"i!n Res!%+"i!n Graph#1 Asi/p%i3e 2ersi!n ! "he ARG is -i2en as an e8a/p%e )e%!$9

%CH%ON RAN2 PURP% "%O$ GR%%N #U% R%D

UN%AR!H" &' 3 '& 3 &, &- 3 +, +- 3 .0 /' 3 ''

INCR%DI#% 0 3 '& 3 &0 )' 3 +0 ,' 3 /, /- 3 ''

AMA4ING / 3 '& 3 ), )- 3 ,, ,- 3 /, /- 3 ''

5AN!AS!IC . 3 '& 3 )0 *' 3 ,0 -' 3 /0 0' 3 ''

UNCANN" - 3 '& 3 *, *- 3 -, -- 3 /0 0' 3 ''%G%NDAR" , '& ') 3 *0 +' 3 -0 .' 3 0, 0- 3 ''

%6C%%N! + '& ') 3 +, +- 3 ., .- 3 0, 0- 3 ''

GOOD * '& 3 ', '- 3 +0 ,' 3 .0 /' 3 0. 0/ 3 ''

NORMA ) '& 3 ', '- 3 ,, ,- 3 /, /- 3 0. 0/ 3 ''

PUN" & '& 3 '0 &' 3 ,0 -' 3 /0 0' 3 00 ''

7he ARG pr!2ies !ne ! Phase Results* each e%inea"e )& a c!%!+r* $hich e"er/ine i an h!$ $e%% a charac"er s+ccees a" "he a""e/p"e GES71 A Green* #lue* !r Red PhaseRes+%" inica"es success* $hi%e a "ello7 !r Purple Phase Res+%" inica"es failure1 @hen ap%a&er r!%%s "he ice* "he GM c!/pares "heir res+%" "! "he r!$ "ha" /a"ches "he Eche%!n !"he A""ri)+"e +se !r "he GES71 7hen "he& 3n "he Phase Res+%" c!%+/n $h!se ran-e !n+/)ers is ana%!-!+s "! "he ie res+%"1

Imagine that Robin somehow gets trapped under a fallen tree trunk +that sort of thing can happenwhen you spend all day in the forest2 maybe he pissed-o1 a bea*er. Robin must escape soon or MaidMarian will fall prey to an ambush by the notorious Sheri1 of $ottingham3 4he player asks the M howmuch the tree trunk weighs and the M calls for a Might ,S4 as Robin makes an initial attempt to lift it to determine how much e1ort it will take to get the damned log o1 of himself. Robin's player rollsthe dice and ends up with a result of . #hecking the row of ARG1 corresponding to his Might ,chelon

+ G!! he sees this is a Green )hase Result.

GES7 r!%%s are s!/e"i/es /!i3e )& "he Di8culty ! "he ac"i!n a""e/p"e* esi-na"e )&an Eche%!n (e"er/ine )& "he GM#1 I "he Dic+%"& ! a GES7 is below "he Eche%!n +se !r"he GES7* a Green Phase res+%" is a%% "ha" is neee "! s+ccee1 7! s+ccee a" a GES7 $here"he Dic+%"& is e5ual "! "he Eche%!n +se* "he p%a&er /+s" r!%% a #lue Phase Res+%" "!s+ccee1 I "he Dic+%"& is abo*e "he Her!'s re%e2an" Eche%!n* "he p%a&er $!+% nee a Red

Phase Res+%" "! s+ccee1

4o continue with our pre*ious scenario Robin &ood is trapped beneath an o*erturned tree trunk. 4heM determines the trunk weighs close to 600 lbs. Rather than letting Robin's player know the exactamount he indicates that the !i7culty to lift the log is ,xcellent. As this is one ,chelon higher thanRobin's Might ,chelon he will need a Red )hase Result on his ,S4 to succeed in lifting the log up 8ust enough so that Robin can s5uee9e out. Rolling the dice Robin &ood's player gets lucky and managesto roll a . #omparing the die result to the ARG1 shows this is a Red )hase Result 8ust what heneeded +whew3 and Robin succeeds in escaping.


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If Robin's player had rolled a number that yielded another )hase Result he would ha*e failed in hisattempt. !oes this mean Robin is stuck under the tree trunk inde(nitely doomed to be food for moss:$ot at all3 ;ailure can mean a number of things depending on the M's 8udgement. It may simplymean Robin e*entually frees himself but not in time to pre*ent Maid Marian's kidnapping and mustnow stage a daring rescue from the Sheri1's dungeon. nfortunately to reach Marian Robin must make his way past agroup of ?ing's uardsmen posted on the main road. "anting to a*oid a (ght +so he can sa*e hisenergy for the ine*itable clash with the Sheri1 Robin decides to try and trick the uards into lettinghim pass. 4aking a moment to disguise himself beneath a peasant's cloak Robin attempts to con*incethe uardsman that he is merely a *illager passing through on his way home. 4he M decides this willre5uire a "its ,S4 with the guards' Intelligence setting the !i7culty. In this case the guards are allof $ormal Intelligence meaning that Robin only needs a Green )hase result to succeed.

Occasi!na%%& a GM /a& re5+es" a r!%% $i"h!+" "he Her! ini"ia"in- an ac"i!n* in resp!nse "!s!/e"hin- happenin- in "he -a/e$!r%1 7his is a Reaction Roll* an !%%!$s "he sa/epr!ce+re as a GES71

;or example Robin &ood makes to enter a ta*ern owned by one of the poor *illagers he recentlysa*ed from the cruelty of uy of uisborne unaware that the Sheri1 has laid a trap for him. 4he Masks Robin's player to make a "its ,S4 before Robin enters the building to see if Robin notices thatthe ta*ern is suspiciously dark 5uiet and seemingly unpopulated. Robin's player rolls a @ andcomparing it to the ,xcellent Row of 4he ARG!* the M determines that this is a ello )hase Resultindicating failure3 Robin is blissfully unaware of the dangers lurking inside and strolls into the ta*ernwith not a care in his feathered cap.

A GES7* Opp!se* !r Reac"i!n r!%% is +r"her a4ec"e )& a Her!'s "RAI"#* charac"eris"ics

"ha" e3ne a Her!'s +ni5+e si%%s* ap"i"+es* an 5+irs1

%ooking at Robin &ood's character sheet one can see se*eral 4raits listed including Archery#hicanery Marksman Ride and Sherwood.

7rai"s /!i& GES7 R!%%s in "$! $a&s9 E$%EL&' #%IF"# (%S# an P%A#E #%IF"# (PS#1

An %chelon Shi9t is app%ie before a r!%%* an a%"ers "he Eche%!n ! "he A""ri)+"e +se !r"he GES71 F!r e8a/p%e* a charac"er $i"h 7&pica% (# A-i%i"& $h! recei2es a JES $!+%c!/pare "he res+%"s ! "heir r!%% "! "he G!! (=# Eche%!n r!$ ! "he ARG

A Phase Shi9t* !n "he !"her han* is app%ie after "he GES7 is r!%%e* an a%"ers "he PhaseRes+%"1 As s+ch* a charac"er $h! sc!re a Green Phase Res+%" !n a GES7 $i"h a JPS $!+%rea i" as a #lue Phase Res+%"1

In sh!r"* an Eche%!n Shi" increases "he chance ! a GES7 s+cceein-* $hi%e a Phase Shi"increases "he e-ree ! s+ccess1 A %is"e 7rai" pr!2ies a ea+%" J ES !r PS /!i3er*"h!+-h 7rai"s /a& )e doubled (/are as ':)'# !r* in rare circ+/s"ances* tri(led (/areas ':*'#* pr!2iin- /!i3ers ! J= ESKPS !r J ESKPS* respec"i2e%&1

Robin &ood is famed worldwide for his Archery skills which border on the inhuman. As such his Archery 4rait is noted as x/ indicating that the modi(er to ,S4s utili9ing that 4rait is doubled.

@he"her a 7rai" pr!2ies an ES !r PS /!i3er "! a GES7 epens !n $he"her "he& areapp%ie acti)ely !r (assi)ely 1 I a Her! is a""e/p"in- a "as "ha" speci3ca%%& e/p%!&s !ne !


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"heir 7rai"s (s+ch as a charac"er $i"h "he 7rai" Science a""e/p"in- "! /i8 a che/ica%c!/p!+n#* "he& are acti)ely +sin- "ha" 7rai"* recei2in- a PS /!i3er "! "he GES71 On "he!"her han* a (assi)e +se ! a 7rai" pr!2ies an ES )!n+s in si"+a"i!ns $here "he 7rai" !esn!" irec"%& app%&; s+ch as $hen "he 7rai" is +se "! s+pp%e/en" an ac"i!n pri/ari%&e/p%!&in- an!"her charac"eris"ic1

Ai"i!na%%&* +ner n!r/a% circ+/s"ances* "he +se ! a 7rai" is c!nsiere passi2e i app%ie

"! a Reaction Roll !r Opposed Roll1 7h!+-h s!/e e8cep"i!ns "! "his r+%e /a& !cc+r* in-enera% an& "i/e a Her! is !pp!se in s+cceein- )& an !pp!nen" !r is reac"in- ra"her "han"ain- ac"i!n* 7rai"s pr!2ie an ES /!i3er !n%&1

Robin &ood possesses the 4rait Ride. If he were to attempt a complicated horseback maneu*er suchas riding down a sheer cli1-face the M may call for an Agility ,S4 and as this is an acti*e use of his4rait Robin's player could then increase the result of the ,S4 by one )hase. If the aforementionedhorse were to become spooked by a phantom and Robin attempts to calm it down before he's thrownfrom the saddle the M may call for a #ourage ,S4 and allow Robin's player a BC,S to their roll torepresent how the Ride 4rait implies experience dealing with the moods of horses. 4hus Robin rollsthe ,S4 as if he possessed ;antastic #ourage.

A Her! cann!" app%& )!"h Eche%!n Shi"s an Phase Shi"s "! "he sa/e GES7; "he& /+s"ch!se !ne !r "he !"her )e!re r!%%in-1 H!$e2er* "he !"her /a,!r i4erence )e"$een +sin- a

7rai" ac"i2e%& !r passi2e%& is "ha" a Phase Shi" )!n+s r!/ !n%& one 7rai" is a%%!$e per GES7*)+" "he Eche%!n Shi" /!i3ers r!/ n+/er!+s 7rai"s "ha" app%& /a& )e .s"ace.* !r ae"!-e"her "! pr!2ie a c+/+%a"i2e ES "! a r!%%1

Robin &ood possesses the 4raits Archery x/ and Marksman pro*iding a cumulati*e bonus of B@ ,S toany ,S4 related to hitting a target with his bow and arrow. If the target is inanimate and the roll isnot


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"ai%!re "! a GM's se""in-1 N!" e2er& Her! p!ssesses "he sa/e (!r an Specia% A""ri)+"es1 In"his case R!)in p!ssesses "he Specia% A""ri)+"e Resources1

REASOUR


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S! pre""& si/p%e espi"e a%% "h!se %!n-0$ine e8p%ana"i!ns* eh: As %!n- as &!+'2e -!" ahan%e !n "h!se e& c!ncep"s* e2er&"hin- e%se is ,+s" )e%%s $his"%es1 I' a%s! rec!//en"he !%%!$in- a2ice "! p%a&ers ne$ an e8perience9

= Descri)e &!+r in"en"i!ns "! "he GM in as /+ch e"ai% as p!ssi)%e1 7he /!re e"ai% a p%a&eras in"! his escrip"i!n* "he )e""er +ners"anin- "he GM has ! h!$ "! res!%2e e2en"s (an

p!"en"ia%%& "he /!re )!n+ses "ha" can )e app%ie#1 In !"her $!rs* i"'s "! &!+r a2an"a-e asa p%a&er "! escri)e &!+r Her!'s in"ene ees $i"h ra/a"ic ?!+rish1

== I "he GM ass &!+ "! r!%% "he ice* he'%% speci& "he A""ri)+"e +se* e1-1 ./ae a

Reno7n is an appr!8i/a"i!n ! h!$ $e%%0n!$n an p!p+%ar a Her! is* an "heir -enera%rep+"a"i!n !r h!nes"& an air p%a&1 Ren!$n is represen"e )& an Eche%!n "ha" /a& increase!r ecrease +rin- p%a& epenin- !n a Her!'s ac"i!ns1 Ren!$n in?+ences "he reac"i!ns !!"her charac"ers "! "he Her!1

Robin &ood's Renown is %egendary as his name is known across ,ngland already the sub8ect of folkballads and manhunts. 4his will only increase as time goes on and his stories make their way acrossthe globe.

Contacts ra"es a Her!'s s!cia% ne"$!r an +se+% ass!cia"es1 A Her!'s c!n"ac"s /a& )ee3ne speci3ca%%& )e!re !r +rin- p%a&* an a p%a&er has "he !p"i!n ! es"a)%ishin- aper/anen"

Robin &ood can always rely on the Merry Men of Sherwood to ha*e his back pro*iding aid whennecessary +and the occasional rescue when the pro*erbial excrement hits the fan.


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phaserip primer 1

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