Fudge Familiars

Introduction

This article is part of the series where I share parts of my home-brew RPG - Rope - converted to Fudge (of course). I'm doing this to push myself to actually get the conversion done, so I can start running it again in earnest :).

This is a port from my RPG I created before finding Fudge, and has not been tested. If you do use it, I would love to get some feedback on this!

This system uses the Spell Crafting and Item Crating rules from my previous posts. I recommend reading them first to understand the actual Item Crafting mechanic.

Familiars are a staple in most high-magic systems. My intention is to make the familiar a key part of a character; the familiar is ever-present, needs care and/or attention, and is not a tool that is used only when convenient. Therefore, I chose to bind the well-being of the familiar to the keeper, and vice versa. This will also allow clever non-magic using Characters to utilize this potential weakness.

A familiar is a small magical creature bound to a keeper. Depending on the setting a familiar can look like a normal animal, or might be a different kind. In some settings familiars are actually spirits. Whatever shape familiars take, these rules remain the same.

Sky Pirates of Doom World

Introduction

This setting was created when we were playing Fudge on the #fudge IRC channel, some 10 years ago. We wanted to try a new setting but nobody had any ideas. So we decided to generate one by using the Seventh Sanctum generators.

For the setting I would recommend using the Story Generator or the Quick Story Idea Generator or the Quick Story Theme Generator. Then generate a bunch of ideas and pick the one that inspires you. For Sky Pirates of Doom World I got these:

The initial Quick Story Idea was

The theme of this story: metaphorical conspiracy. The main characters: misguided inventor and unpredictable sailor. The start of the story: apocalyptic event. The end of the story: premonition.

I also used the Quick Story Theme Generator and one of the results was

Setting: pirate/cyberpunk. Theme: loss-of-technology

Here I took the main characters to present the player characters. Inventors and misguided sailors: Sounds like mad scientists and pirates to me! The start of the story is going to be the setting. So a Post-apocalyptic world with pirates and mad scientists. Hmm that sounds like steam punk to me! Combine that with the cyberpunk/pirate setting and the loss of technology and we have Sky Pirates of Doom World!

In the spirit of this system all characters were also based on randomly generated descriptions and names, and we used Fudge on the Fly.

I found this process to be quite inspirational and I am going to use it again. In fact it was so powerful that I have remembered the setting for 10 years even though we never actually did play the game. Perhaps I'll use this for my next Fudge Game! If you do use this method, please let me know!

But now, without further ado, let me present:

Doom World

Doom world is a cyber-diesel-punk setting where the world was cracked into asteroids floating in air. It happened so long ago that no-one anymore knows of the time before that. Since then humanity has learned to cope. People live on these asteroids floating in air, yet somehow the planet remains separate. Think treasure planet meets drifting dragons meets cyberpunk.

Detailed Combat rules for Fudge

Introduction

This article is part of the series where I share parts of my home-brew RPG - Rope - converted to Fudge (of course). I'm doing this to push myself to actually get the conversion done, so I can start running it again in earnest :).

As this is a port from my RPG I created before finding Fudge, and has not been tested a lot. I would love to get some feedback on this!

Fudge core rules introduce 3 ways to do combat: Story Elements, Simultaneous Combat and Alternating Combat. All these are quite generic and lack a bit of crunch and tactical elements that many other RPG systems provide. These rules resemble Alternating combat the most, and aim to provide the option for GMs who prefer a bit more detail in combat, with special moves and potentially multiple actions etc.

More Options to Fudge on the Fly

Introduction

This is a short one, it's basically a small adjustment to Fudge on the Fly Option #2. It's all based on Fudge on the Fly by Rob Donoghue and I will assume that you are familiar with it. If you are not familiar with it, please read the article on the wayback machine from this link.

I also use Option #1: Stats, and will extend Option 3 to them too.

Skill Training for Fudge

Introduction

This article is part of a new series where I share parts of my home-brew RPG - Rope - converted to Fudge (of course). I'm doing this to push myself to actually get the conversion done, so I can start running it again in earnest :).

As this is a port from my RPG I created before finding Fudge, and has not been tested a lot. I would love to get some feedback on this!

Often Characters find themselves having down time, either being between sessions or else are waiting on their journey to come to an end, etc. When there is nothing else to do characters can spend this time in training. Characters might also want to learn new skills and will go out of their way to seek out masters of certain rare skills and petition the masters to teach them.

All of that is covered in this article.

Fudge Shape-shifting

Introduction

These rules build on Fudge Tasks and A new damage system for Fudge I assume that the reader has read these article first.

This article is part of a new series where I share parts of my home-brew RPG - Rope - converted to Fudge (of course). I'm doing this to push myself to actually get the conversion done, so I can start running it again in earnest :).

As this is a port from my RPG I created before finding Fudge, and has not been tested a lot. I would love to get some feedback on this!

These shape-shifting rules apply to both voluntary and involuntary shape-shifting. The only difference is the trigger. In case of involuntary (like that of a Werewolf at full moon) the Character can try to resist the shape-shift but if they fail then these shape-changing rules apply.

Sisu

Introduction

This is the fourth and final article I had planned for the Fudge Compendium. I actually wrote it to be a Fudge conversion of the Nature attribute in the Mouse Guard RPG. Here I present it as a generic system that can be used as a replacement of using a fudge point to take a +4 on dice for an unopposed roll.

Sisu is a Finnish concept described as stoic determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, bravery, resilience,[1][2] and hardiness[3][4] and is held by Finns themselves to express their national character. It is generally considered not to have a literal equivalent in English.

—“Sisu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.” May. 1st 2020 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu

Sisu is a bit different from the other regular attributes. It measures how well the character can overcome obstacles and persevere in the face of hardship. It also measures how well the character can handle mental strain and recovery of said strain. The less Sisu he has the more meek he becomes and will be more likely to crumble beneath the strain that is life.

The Moon Spear - A Fudge Fantasy Adventure

Introduction

This is my third Fudge Compendium article. This adventure is based on a dream I had quite a while ago. When I woke up I promptly made enough notes to write his adventure.

In the dream I was trying to find a spear called the Moon Spear. It was some sort of “trust in god type of thing” and one of the obstacles was to select the correct spear among multiple ones. I think I was inspired by some movies. If the spear was picked correctly some sort of hidden place would open up. The hidden place contained a cloth bundle containing several items. To make things harder, only a child could pick the correct spear in moonlight. Once the correct choice was made, some prayer resulted in the spear appearing. With the spear comes the shadow guard, an army of fierce spirit warriors, only visible in the moonlight. This is also clearly inspired by books and movies.

Meanwhile some bad dude had come before, but had failed to identify the correct spear, and left with what he thought was the moon spear. This is when I woke up. In order to create functioning adventure, I had to add things not in the dream. Remember it was a dream, so you should feel free to make some changes for it to fit your world.

I have also on purpose not included any maps or charts but instead verbal descriptions of places in order to make it easier for you to insert this into your game world.

A new damage system for Fudge

Introduction

This is my first article that was meant for the Fudge Compendium. Hope you like it!

This system for tracking damage is based on the damage system used in The Storytellin System, by White Wolf, Inc. It has been modified to work with Fudge and to give more flavour to Fudge Games.