User:Pinchycrab/sandbox

Overview

Xenoplicity is a tabletop indie role-playing game released in February 2018. The Core Rulebook contains instructions and theme material to play in a sci-fi adventure, traditional fantasy, or post-apocalyptic setting.

Xenoplicity debuted to select gaming groups at GenCon 2017 in Indianapolis, IN. The style of play is thematically modeled after a television show in which one player, the “Director,” runs the game by controlling the setting, and all other players make their own “Primary Characters” (PCs) that respond to the situations they are placed in by the Director. Gameplay incorporates film jargon to underscore the idea of the players starring in a TV show: characters and opponents who are plentiful but unimportant are known as “extras;” PCs who are played according to their “motivations” are awarded with the ability to use Hollywood-style “stunts;” and time between scenes is filled with “dedicated montage scenes” that showcase flashbacks, character development, or secondary goals being achieved. The object of the game is to collaboratively narrate a story with elements of action, horror, and drama that will hopefully, although not always, resolve in favor of the PCs.

Setting
Xenoplicity’s gameplay is the same for each genre, but the experience of each gaming session can vary widely depending on the genre that is chosen by the Director during the “mise en scene,” or game setup. The existence of alien races figures prominently in the science-fiction or post-apocalypse settings: in the year 2032, Earth has been occupied by a monstrous reptilian alien race known as the Lacertas, and mankind’s dwindling survivors have struck a dubious alliance with the mysterious Grey aliens. The Greys offer advanced technology to their human thralls that helps to turn back the marauding Lacertas, but this security comes with a price as much of mankind is now shepherded by the sinister Greys. Countless opportunities for intrigue and espionage punctuate life in these “sanctuary cities” amidst a backdrop of paranoia and civil unrest. True freedom is still found in the wastelands and devastated cities of Earth, but the lawless domains of the “outlanders” are plagued by many dangers: bandits and smugglers, radiation-warped monsters, and the murderous lizardlike invaders.

Some dynamic humans have managed to escape Earth and seek their fortunes in the vast expanse of the Milky Way. Those who travel through space find themselves interacting with a surprising tableau of galactic residents ranging from the hedonistic Avarti to the self-aware inorganic life forms known as the Pawn. Space travelers learn that the galaxy is controlled by conglomerate “Mega-Corps” that operate as black market dealers, media empires, and retail and sports franchises all rolled into one. Perhaps the most influential of these is the “Xenoplicity Foundation,” a sort of galactic real-estate developer that buys and sells entire planets (whether they are inhabited or not) and administers to the “terraforming” needs of its clientele. Those humans who join galactic society are welcomed, but frequently kept at arm’s length because of their lower status: ownership of planet Earth is legally held by the Greys and not by its native inhabitants, a fact that enterprising humans must overcome before they are fully welcomed by the “Core Worlds.” In addition, the consortium of civilized alien life is now being threatened by the return of an ancient super-race called the Ethoians, a ruthless and hyper-advanced species of warriors who are bent upon settling the old scores that led to their downfall.

Players may also choose a traditional fantasy setting in which to play. The planet Mythos is home to the fantasy races such as dwarves, elves, and goblins that are familiar to fans of Tolkien and the “Dungeons and Dragons" role-playing game. The world of Mythos is somewhat sequestered from the “Core Worlds,” although alien races from other parts of the galaxy can and do visit on occasion. Without exception, though, the large planet's affairs are decided by internal hegemony. There are countless continents with their own warring kingdoms and city-states; government ranges from medieval feudalism and fledgling democracy among the “civilized races" to tribalism and downright anarchy among the “barbaric races.” Magic is real and the gods are many, and the various adventurers of Mythos include the archetypal Knights, Wizards, Clerics, and Thieves of “High Fantasy.”

Gameplay
Xenoplicity uses a multi-die system that can be scaled in difficulty. At the beginning of each session, the “actors" (all players who are running Primary Characters) inform the Director of their desired “film rating”, from G through PG, PG-13 and R to NC-17. An easier film rating results in an increased likelihood of success for the actions the PCs take during the session, at the expense of experience (XP). Grittier film ratings reward the players with more XP to level up their characters faster, albeit with an elevated risk of the PCs' failure or death.

During gameplay, character actions are heavily influenced by a feature called “context.” This mechanic is used to determine the effectiveness of a character's efforts in the face of opposition. Whereas in many games a simple weapon such as a dagger might always do a set amount of damage, in Xenoplicity the dagger’s effectiveness is determined by the skill of its wielder and the armor, if any, that is worn by its target. These factors combine to form the context of the act, which decides which dice are rolled by the players. In the above example, an unskilled assailant using the dagger against an opponent in heavy armor would find the dice stacked against him, while a trained assassin striking an unarmored victim with the same dagger would have the potential to inflict much more damage.

In this manner, effective play often consists of the actor finding a way for his or her PC to gain an advantage in context, thereby earning a larger dice pool. Cinematic narration plays a part in this, and actors are encouraged to utilize their character's strongest skills in creative ways to stay on the right side of the context equation. If the actor isn't confident about the dice pool allotted to him or her on a given action, “stunt tokens” may be spent to score an automatic success—or to bolster an existing success into an exceptional performance.

Supplemental Materials
Expansion books for Xenoplicity are currently being released on DrivethruRPG, with ready-made adventures and expanded setting material. A science-fiction adventure novel based on the post-apocalyptic Earth setting of Xenoplicity is also in production.