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12:23, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew.

Posted by NowhereMan
NowhereMan
member, 201 posts
Thu 26 Apr 2018
at 20:08
  • msg #1

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew

My home group has a homebrewed system/setting constructed from BESM d20, d20 Modern, and Pathfinder that we absolutely adore. It's a shaky system, easily broken or interpreted incorrectly, but what we can do with it is unlike anything else we play. We call it the Mashup Rules System because of what a cobbled-together monstrosity it is, along with the way we created the setting.

The setting is comprised of bits and pieces of different fandoms, brought in by both the GMs and players of each campaign. The big pieces in the setting I GM (NowhereMash, to differentiate it from other GMs using the system) are the early Marvel Cinematic Universe, Command and Conquer (primarily Tiberian Dawn), XCOM, and bits and pieces from different d20 Modern published settings.

The player-characters are typically modern day adventurers with superhuman ability, whether they be supersoldiers, cyborgs, magical girls, wizards, or something else entirely. They work for a variety of different patrons and organizations, including the Global Defense Initiative (Command & Conquer), SHIELD (MCU), and the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (Hellboy), among many, many others.

The question is, would a homebrewed monstrosity like this have enough interest to bother to try to run a game of it here? All of the major component pieces of the system are available in online SRD or free, legitimate pdfs, so accessibility shouldn't be an issue.
Pookaking
member, 203 posts
Thu 26 Apr 2018
at 23:57
  • msg #2

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew

I have had a concept for character that doesn't quite fit in any other system, so I may be willing to give this a shot.  I don't really want to learn a whole new system, but I am familiar with BESM and Pathfinder so I hope that would give me a head start.
NowhereMan
member, 202 posts
Fri 27 Apr 2018
at 00:03
  • msg #3

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew

That's generally enough. It's d20 Modern's combat framework, with a skill system that is mostly taken from Pathfinder with d20 Modern skills to fill in the gaps, and BESM d20's classes.

It's not a system for power-gamers, though. It's dead simple to break, so you have to play to the spirit of things rather than trying to optimize to the nth degree. Usually I get that point across to new players by instructing them in how to gain infinite character points in two or three different ways right off the bat. Tends to take the fun out of breaking the system. :)
Pookaking
member, 204 posts
Fri 27 Apr 2018
at 00:49
  • msg #4

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew

Now in this setting:  Is your average person fully aware and used to superheroes flying around, magic, and having to share his cubical with a Dwarf?  Of are the PCs forced to hide in the shadows and keep their supernatural uniqueness from the common man for fear of persecution?
NowhereMan
member, 203 posts
Fri 27 Apr 2018
at 02:16
  • msg #5

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew

That depends. Some superhumans are known to exist. SHIELD and the BPRD are known to have "enhanced assets". Some of them are actually celebrities. However, most people don't know how far it goes. Magic isn't commonplace knowledge and the Veil of Shadow prevents the average Joe from noticing that their cubicle mate is an elf.

Different types of "supernatural" are handled by different agencies within the world's governments. SHIELD specifically handles technological threats, such as Nazi Supersciencetm, whereas the BPRD handles magical threats and XCOM handles extraterrestrial ones.
Gray-Exile43
member, 350 posts
Fri 27 Apr 2018
at 05:18
  • msg #6

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew

I would be very interested in playing this game.
I like the idea of being able to play what you want in a system you like. I swear I will not be a min/maxer. I will play with in the limits of character concept.
Please RMAIL me when this gets off the ground.
airellian
member, 425 posts
Fri 27 Apr 2018
at 06:04
  • msg #7

A modern fantasy d20 homebrew

Interested! :)
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