SPIRIT SPIRIT is a new stat in LitC. Spirit reflects a character’s growth and presence in the spirit world. SPIRIT works much like CONSTITUTION except it applies to SPIRIT damage, which adds STRESS to a character. SPIRIT attacks seek to break a character (see FLIPPED OUT under STRESS). At that point the character is susceptible … [Read more…]
Alignment Alignment in Lands in the Clouds is simplified with an optional rules mechanic of Soul Points and Rage Points. The other distinctions are left to the character in-game as benevolence or malevolence as defined by their actions. Every adventure has opportunities for characters to change their outlook. Aspiring towards benevolent goals in critical moments may … [Read more…]
Why another D20 based system? I had developed a game world over several incarnations over several years I called Lands in the Clouds (LitS). Frustrated as I was with D20, I had trouble convincing my gaming groups to adopt other rules sets with flexible skill systems. So GRIT rules were conceived with two main thoughts … [Read more…]
Last month as we concluded our consideration of Magic, we raised a bigger issue: is it appropriate for characters in a fictional world to call upon any deity? It is not a simple question. At every turn God has commanded that we have no regard for other gods; it is top of the list in … [Read more…]
It was inevitable that this subject would eventually surface in this series. After all, the supernatural elements in many role playing games are the ones most feared and criticized by those who oppose them, and eventually something would have to be said about them. But it is just ironic coincidence that the issue has come … [Read more…]
We gamers love our maps! I spend a good deal of time over at The Cartographers’ Guild, and I have been known to occasionally contribute a tutorial over there. This one has been among my more popular offerings, so I thought I’d share it here, too. Anyone who has made brushes in Photoshop has doubtless … [Read more…]
Last month we talked about Settings, one of the foundation stones of role playing, the worlds in which we play. We could go on and talk about characters, plots, deities, philosophies—but in addressing settings, we opened an important issue that we didn’t address. What do you do about Bad Things, and is it appropriate for … [Read more…]
First, let me address the matter of the question. When talking about a designing a role-playing game and the role that magic in the role-playing game will take, we must first decide on what questions we are asking ourselves. Several questions come to my mind. First, what is magic? What is it, not only in fantasy and reality, but also … [Read more…]
The following article was originally published in July 2001 on the Christian Gamers Guild’s website. The entire series remains available at its original URL. I’m going to challenge you today with a question that maybe you have never asked yourself, and yet you have probably answered—and further, that you have probably answered both yes and no … [Read more…]