Ah, spring break. Video games, movies, character creation, etc. Speaking of which:
The Game: Tales of the Magical West
The Publisher: Red Roberts
Degree of Familiarity: None
Books Required: Just the one
I got this game from a bundle. The premise - wild west/magic/adventure sandbox sort of game - seems solid enough. I mean, I always get a little worried when TTRPGs start using video game terminology (like "sandbox"), but whatever.
I gotta say, though, my first impression isn't helped by stuff like this:
I'm not talking about the content; that's fine, and I'm glad the author takes the time to address the shitshow that is American history. But like, holy shit, that editing (or lack thereof). It's like that going forward in the book, too, and it really took this game from "looks interesting" to "fuck it, just get me to chargen."
Anyway, fuck it, let's get to chargen. Hang on, need to turn off Tori Amos, not really the right tone. OK.
I'm meant to start with a backstory, but the book says it'll walk me through a backstory if I don't have one. One of the suggestions (along with "tired sherrif", oy) is a mage-turned-bounty hunter, and I kinda dig that idea, a character that started off scholarly and became more grizzled and ruthless over time (not unlike King Schultz in Django Unchained, I guess). But I think I'll use the "walk me through" thing and see what it gets me.
OK, the first thing I do is pick an Upbringing, which then gives me a choice of one of two Specialties. I...don't see anyplace on the sheet for these. Oh, wait, there's a second page. Ok, then. I'll pick Magical Middle (I'm middle class in the magical world, whatever that means). I can choose between Mana Sensing and Persuasion. I think I'll take Mana Sensing.
Now I pick two "Educations" and the attendant Specialties and Fighting Styles. I think I'll take Traditional Magical Training (and pick Magical Studies as the Specialty, Earth Magic as the Fighting Style) and Modern Military Training (Riding Specialty, Two-Handed Ranged Fighting Style).
Next I take skills. This consists of adding a +1 to any Skill in which I have a Specialty. F'rex, I have Magical Studies, which is under Education (don't double up on terminology, doop-de-doo), meaning I get a +1 in Education. I also get those bonuses in Strength and Wisdom. I...guess Fighting Styles count here, too? If so, I'd also get the bonus in Awareness (but not for Earth Magic, since that's a Strength bonus and I already have one of those). There better be a damn example of chargen.
Next, Fighting Styles, I guess? Oh, geez.
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| Guess we know what this game is about. |
I'm gonna wind up with three abilities in each Fighting Style, but they're not listed in this section, so I'm gonna keep going and fill them in later. Health is 1d6 + Constitution + 10 + level, I roll a 6 (no, really, I did), so I have 17 Health. Equipment...OK, I get stuff based on my Fighting Styles, and I get manastones likewise.
OH THANK FUCKERY there's an example of chargen. One moment.
Hey, this example character isn't too dissimilar to the one I'm making, at least in terms of the traits we chose. Anyway, no, we don't increase skills from Fighting Styles, just Specialties, good to know.
OK, the rest of this is actually really easy. I just need to choose Fighting Style stuff and equipment. "See p. XX" would've been handy here. Anyway, Earth Magic. I pick a school from a list of five. There are a couple that I think are interesting, so I guess we should think about the character somewhat.
We'll say that my guy is named Clay Ryeman. Clay left home with a few dollars and some magical training to his name, and rather than pursuing his studies directly he joined the Army. He was deployed west and his unit took heavy losses fighting...I don't know, Mexico maybe, and Clay was wounded. He was discharged from the Army and everyone expected him to return home, since walking was now difficult, but he was perfectly able to ride and his riflery and earth magic skills gave him the opportunity to take on a different line of work - bounty hunting.
Well, given all that, I'll take the Grounded School, since it supposedly lets me improve perception. Let's see. Indeed it does! I can sense vibrations and root myself to the earth, as well as channel the earth for more Mana. Okey-day. How about Two-Handed Ranged? Oh, Marksman School, thanks very much.
As for Equipment, I'll take a rifle (doy) and three manastones - specifically, two Emerald and an Onyx. I'll dedicated 5 points of Mana to raise my Evade, too, why not.
I think that's everything. Clay is in his late 20s but looks older. He's got blonde hair and scruff on his chin, blue eyes and wears a brown duster and hat. He also usually wears a bandana on his face to help filter the dust. He walks with a limp on his right leg, and prefers to ride (which also means he prefers to ride slow so as not to exhaust his horsey). His rifle is decorated with runes and sigils, but they don't actually mean anything (rather, they don't have any real effect), he just likes to let people think they do. Clay prefers not to use magic in stressful situations, although he has been considering trying to learn some Sand Magic...
That'll do it. Rather disappointing, this. It's got some potential.
