SIXTH STAGE : STAKES

STUFF Happens

As with each Systembook, your options as Director should not be limited to what you read herein. The direction that you bring to the Story should be uniquely your own, but the flavor your groups contributes to our sessions will enhance your efforts.  

Armor and Defensive Stuff

Armor - not too surprising, in a world in a medieval setting, with weapons a large part of the damage-dealing process, Armor is pretty important and rather sophisticated in terms of styles and kinds that one may have. The details on armor and how they impact combat are attached in another article under this one - see below. Perhaps the old ways, the old style of Physical Arms and Armament have re-spawned. Perhaps a factory or two has been converted to build, at least for the most affluent, full suits of Steel armor. Your Director will make those calls.

Steeds & Transports and Stuff

Personal Beast of Burden and mass transportation (boats, wagons, airships, etc.) beyond the norms of this text (horseless carriages, flying carpets, etc.) may full well exist within one or more of the Kingdoms but should be considered extremely rare and risky to use. The concept of DarkShards (And in particular, Nycos) holds that we have achieved our pinnacle and are in yet another Cycle of the Crystals, unless the players, through their Enjoined Persona can accomplish the impossible and reclaim sovereignty over the world. Good luck with that!

Perishables & Resources and Stuff

Are the basics of life plentiful? Has the Wilderness recovered from the interference of humanity, or is it a depleted wasteland? Depending on where you want the story to develop and go, these kinds of questions need at least cursory answers. How will the Cadre survive and flourish? Trade and community, or perhaps a more “take and keep” environment has evolved. Consider these issues on an ongoing basis; the conditions and environment are at the whim of the peoples of the Byways and ruins, but also of the Cities and the Burbs...

Recipes & Treatises and Stuff

Items can be constructed by Persona if they have the skill to make them and/or the materials of which the item is made. Both of these can be found easily for common items, less so for uncommon, and rarely for rare items.

Toolkits and Stuff

Feel free to play around with alternate material in terms of gear and gizmos, tools, and toys. This is a decadent and collapsing world of wonders, both magnificent and mundane. Again, the limits are your own, but with all wonders, there should be danger and excitement along the way. Did one of the Nations or Races overcome the limits of gravity? Are the various Great Governances at war or in a constant state of a truce because of weapons of mass destruction? Maybe the paranoia of the unknown itself is the limit, and the Powers are racing for superiority? The kinds of marvels you unleash will give the adventurers not only direction and focus, but a greater sense of the direction the Story is going.

Weapons & Ammo and Stuff

Weapons - there are tons of possibilities here. Almost anything can be considered a weapon of one sort or another, but the basics are divided into crude or improvised, basic or common, and Exotic or Specialized. All kinds of weapons are covered in an article under this one - see below. Fundamentally, they break down by damage type, damage value, and perhaps a Mitigation Factor or something. Weapons and Armor do not categorically have Type and Quality as other Types of STUFF. Instead, they deal with Kinds and Styles, as you will see. For the most part, Weapons are either Martial or Missile attacks,(arrows and bolts, please... don't get too excited when I said missiles. Predominant among the DarkShards and the world of Nycos are weapons that are familiar to us – Axes, Spears, Swords, and Clubs(Martial Weapons) and Bows, crossbows, javelins, and throwing knives (Missiles)

Magic and Magical Stuff

Certainly, Magical Armaments and Magical Effects are of course available, but more to the point, is what your story brings to light. Is this a time of healing and rebirth? Of an increasing grind toward oblivion? A mix of them all? Balance your decision on the armament with the armor, the agenda with the artifacts as you build your story together.