#arcanum rpg

[vtmbbot]

“Have you ever spoken with the dead? Called to them from this side, pulled them from their silent rest? Do you know what it is that they feel? Pain. Pain, when torn into this wakefulness, this reminder of the chaos from which they had escaped. Pain, at having to live. There will be no more pain. There will be no more chaos.”

Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (Troika Games, 2001)

[stellastra-scribbles]

March 30, 2024 - Face design for my Living One, Ri'an Mal'los.

Her outfit design by pommeplisa can be viewed here.

Additional info under the cut.

Ri'an is my player character in Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura (2001).

She's is a (relatively) young elf of 200 years who grew up with a foppish lifestyle in a city of a continent outside Arcanum. She is a bit disconnected from her elven heritage but otherwise developed a silver tongue and a silly streak.

Ri'an has a very harsh resting bitch face, which can put off some folks when they meet her. In actuality, she's quite the goofy goober and Virgil (the player's first companion) is usually there to keep her grounded. Ri'an considers him to be her closest confidant.

Her aptitude is magickal and her favored spell colleges are Temporal and Conveyance. Ri'an other major skills include Persuasion, Throwing, Melee, and Dodge.

As for her attire, she tends to bend the rules of the late 19th century aesthetic while still mostly adhering to that era's sense of prudery. Ri'an typically wears what would be considered women's athletic wear for that era, like Victorian cycling split-skirts/cycling bloomers and hiking boots (sometimes just wearing men's shoes).

Main Companions: Virgil, Magnus Shale Fist, the dog, Torian Kel, Loghaire Thunder Stone, Raven, and Z'an Al'urin.

[uniquegalaxyfox]

"Fist of justice!!"

[arcanumlegio]

"Las hojas crujían bajo sus pies, y el aire denso parecía guardar un secreto que sólo el susurro del viento entre las ramas osaba contar." G. A. Bécquer.

¡Feliz día, queridas almas en desgracia! Hemos preparado otra aventurilla como aperitivo previo a la Spooky Season. Una nueva brecha se ha abierto en el bosque. Unos visitantes inesperados os esperan allí. ¿Estáis listos para sobrevivir a la siniestra noche? Sí, nos hemos puesto nuestras mejores galas para haceros pasar un rato espeluznante. Bienvenidos al Laberinto de las Almas Perdidas. Donde vuestras peores pesadillas se pueden hacer realidad y vuestros miedos son vuestros verdugos. Nosotros vamos a prepararnos un Bloody Mary para ver cómo lo gozáis. FORO ARCANUM LEGIO 🕸️BÚSQUEDAS 🕸️ TUMBLR

[dwimepon]

Something about western RPGs makes me instantly forgiving of their failings. If a game has enough roleplay options and enough texture in its writing I won't even care if the combat sucks or if it looks horrendous. it becomes my own little imaginary universe where even the worst gameplay mechanics become part of the world.

Arcanum's combat is kind of shit - so shit in fact that they let you choose between turn-based and real-time combat, and both are pretty bad, but to me it's enough; it does the bare minimum such a system should do, i.e translating how you built your character into raw, tangible stats and outcomes. Sure accuracy rates are shit and getting proficient with a weapon type means you'll only be able to hit things 40% of the time at most, but it's made of the same *stuff*, built off the same sets of attributes and skills and proficiencies, so I can very quickly get past the flaws!

It's a a bad branch of a great tree, not the entire trunk.

[aramis-dagaz]

Game stream schedule for the week of 6 Feb!

Monday, 6 Feb, 8pm: Super Lesbian Animal RPG

Thursday, 9 Feb, 8pm: Super Lesbian Animal RPG

Saturday, 11 Feb, 2pm: Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura

[shuunnico]

You like rpgs. Do you recommend any games like baldurs gate 3?

Absolutely. I'll assume you mean CRPGs and not RPGs in general.

Computer Roleplaying Games (CRPGs) refers to a style and genre of game that BG3 follows. Some have started calling CRPGs "Classic RPGs" instead. CRPGs are typically identified by an isometric, top down view style, a heavy focus on story and exploration.

I'm going to split my list it three main categories based on accessibility factors. These factors include the amount of reading involved, the depth of mechanics and the level of abstraction/math required.

Easy Entry Level

Baldur's Gate 3 - 2023 - Larian Studios. The current gold star for easy entry CRPGs. Exceptional graphics, every character voice acted, very little reading and fairly straightforward mechanics and concepts.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 DE- 2017 - Larian Studios. This is basically a less polished, more complex version of BG3 and made by the same studio.

Disco Elysium, Final Cut - 2019 - ZA/UM. Disco Elysium is a detective/social focus game that dives into heavy narrative concepts. Failing rolls is just as viable for the story as succeeding them, making the game's mechanics take a backseat to story. However, there is a lot of reading and that may be a barrier to entry.

Tyranny - 2016 - Obsidian Entertainment. A game about being evil, it's mechanically pretty simple, but there's a fair bit of jank due to it's low budget, and the game ends on a cliffhanger, but it's story is very solid.

Mid Entry Level

Wasteland 3 - 2020 - inExile Entertainment. The long awaited third installment of the Wasteland franchise and significantly less complex than its predecessors. Post apocalyptic, frozen Colorado, grim reality and goofy ideas. This is the franchise that originally inspired Fallout.

Shadowrun: Dragonfall DC/ Shadowrun: Hong Kong EE - 2014/2015 - Harebrained Schemes. Set in the Fantasy/Cyberpunk hybrid setting of Shadowrun. Fair bit of reading, but the game's mechanics are relatively easy to grasp and don't require a lot of math. Always play Dragonfall before Hong Kong.

Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire - 2018 - Obsidian Entertainment. A unique setting, exploring a fictional parallel to the age of piracy. Very wordy (but a lot is voice acted), with a lot of world building, but well worth engaging with. The first game, Pillars of Eternity, is less accessible, but still good.

Kingmaker/Wrath of the Righteous/Rogue Trader - 2020/2022/2023 - Owlcat Games. Owlcat adapts existing systems into CRPGs, like how BG3 is an adaption of DnD 5e. Do not be fooled, these games are where you start hitting a lot of complexity, a lot of math and a lot potential to damage your playthroughs by accident. This is where things start to get difficult.

Difficult Entry Level

Baldur's Gate 1/2 - Bioware - 1998/2000. The prequels to BG3, these games use an older, much more complex version of DnD's rules. Be prepared for a lot of reading and complex mechanics, but you'll be rewarded with some amazing storytelling.

Planescape Torment - Interplay - 1999. Another game using DnD's older mechanics, Planescape is a completely different beast from BG3. Many consider this series mechanically inferior to the Baldur's Gate franchise, but with better storytelling and world building to compensate.

Fallout 1/2 - 1997/1998 - Interplay/Black Isle. One of the most widely known game franchises started as an isometric CRPG. Universally considered more complex, rewarding and deeper than the Bethesda portion of the franchise, you'll need some experience to get into them, but you'll be happy you did.

Games I haven't played but I've heard good things of:

Wasteland 2, DC - 2015 - inExile

Torment: Tides Of Numenera - 2017 - inExile

Neverwinter Nights - 2002 - Bioware

Arcanum - 2001 - Troika Games

Ultima 7 Part 1/Part 2 - 1992/1993 - Origin Systems

Icewind Dale - 2000 - Black Isle Studio

[leather-snow]

psssst. hey. you know what would be a fun thing to do today? try out my game horror arcanum, a solo rpg where you grab a tarot deck & some dice and play through a lil slasher movie. it's pay what you want so you can grab it for free 👀

[ifeelgeek]

NOVEDADES ROLERAS

FOROS NUEVOS (desde que actualizamos) ¡Nos alegra ver que ya esten aquí, les deseamos todo el éxito!

• Savage Garden : Sobrenatural : Año 1837 - Pb real • Next Life Online : Realidad virtual de fantasía - pb animado • Jujutsu Kaisen You are my special z : Anime - pb animado • Golden Blood : Canción de Hielo y Fuego - pb real • Fragments of the Masks : Sobrenatural - pb animado • Blinding Dreams : Realista - pb real • Synnara rpg : Sobrenatural - Pb animado • Pokemon Astria : Pokemon - Pb animado • Yugitest : Reapertura • Harry Potter Head

CAMBIOS Y ACTUALIZACIONES ¡No se pierdan las novedades!

• Yu gi test : Cambio de Skin • Sempiternus : Qué linda está la mañana En vengo a saludarte Venimos todos con gusto Y placer a felicitarte ♪ ¡Felices 2 añitos! • The cosmos Aftermath : ¡Que los cumplas feliz, Que los cumplas feliz , Que los cumplas The cosmos aftermath Que los cumplas feliz! ♪ • Arcanum Legio : ¡Feliz, feliz en tu día amiguito que dios y mr shadow te bendigan, que reine el rol en tu vida y que cumplas muchos más más ! • God Save the king : ¡Feliz feliz en tu día ójala que no te pise un tranvía que no te den torta podrida y que Sí cumplas muchos más! • Kasiopea Valerian : ¡FELICIDADES POR ESOS 7 AÑOS!

TRAMAS ¡Que viva el rol!

• Rails of Cosmos : Inscripción a la trama global hasta el 6 de octubre • Tokyo Revengers rol : Inscripción a la trama global hasta el día 22/09 ¡Corre!

FOROS PRÓXIMOS ¡Esperamos que lleguen pronto y les vaya de maravilla!

Marvel Eden : Superheroes - Seguir para conseguir los chimichangas y conocer más del proyecto @marveleden The greatest : Realista - 22/09 se abren sus reservas de fcs - @thegreatestrp The spiral Dance Rpg : 28/09 REAPERTURA @thespiraldancerpg Star Wars Dawn of the galaxy : Ciencia ficción - Reservas abiertas - @dawnofthegalaxy Neidan : Foro de tématica yuri / Girls Love : Reservas abiertas - @neidanrol

Harold Harrison : Community College - pb real - ¡Abre hoy! @haroldharrisoncollege-rpg

[soulmuppet]

THE BANDOLIER BULLET-EATER AND HOLSTER ARCANUM by Linda Codega

One of the Tales of the Barren, a series of hooks and adventures - or in this case MAGICAL BULLETS - by various writers for Inevitable, our Arthurian Western TTRPG.

[rpgchoices]

Interesting new game, rpg that vaguely reminds me of arcanum??

[uniquegalaxyfox]

[arcanumlegio]

[scotisfr]

1 week studying solo-RPG

🎓 Welcome to Arcanum Academy!

You’ve been accepted into the world’s most renowned magical school, where young witches learn the art of spellcraft, potion-making and ancient magical history. To pass your exams and rise in the ranks, you need to complete 30 Study Points (SP) this week.

📚 Game Mechanics:

Goal: Earn 30 SP by the end of the week (6 SP/day).

Each hour of study earns you 1 SP.

The morning live class earns you 1 SP automatically each day.

On Tuesday and Friday, your 2-hour class earns you 2 SP.

You must decide how to use your remaining time each day to hit your target!

✨ Magical University Features:

Study Areas:

Mechanisms of Taxation & Magical Territories (Mécanisme, territorialité et déclarations de TVA) At the Department of Arcane Economics, witches study the magical mechanisms that govern financial ley lines and territorial taxation spells.

Rituals of Obedience: Rules and Procedures (Respecter des règles et des procédures) At the Hall of Celestial Order, witches are trained to weave protective enchantments by following strict magical rituals and procedures.

Professional Spellcraft: Writing Magical Contracts (Produire des écrits professionnels) In the Scriptorium of Binding Words, witches craft powerful written spells that bind agreements, create professional enchantments, and ensure magical correspondence.

Special Magical Events:

Witch’s Brew (Wednesday): A mysterious potion appears! Flip a coin to either gain +3 SP or lose -2 SP.

Final Push (Saturday): You can cram for extra points on Saturday if you fall behind. For every extra hour of study, gain 1.5 SP instead of the usual 1 SP.

Progress Tracker:

Victory Condition:

If you reach 30 SP by the end of the week, you pass your exams and graduate with honors! 🎉

Failure Condition:

If you don’t reach 30 SP, your magic wand cracks in half and you’ll have to retake the semester… and no one wants to repeat Intro to Goblin Etiquette.

[theresattrpgforthat]

THEME: Magic and Mystics

This week's games are all magical in nature, whether they be solo games, supplements, or something as big and as grand as a wizard's tower!

Tower & Town, by Ari Calix.

After years at the Mages’ College, you have finally completed your studies and acquired a tower of your own. What better use for your new arcane residence than pursuing a wizard’s favourite pastime: magical research! The College, of course, has high expectations and anticipates regular reports on your progress.

There is, however, a complication. Your new tower is far from the distractions of the city, but it’s only an hour’s walk from a small town very eager for your magical assistance. You may have plans to revolutionize magical science, but the townspeople are really more interested in your warding their chicken coops against thieving sprites.

Tower & Town is a solo RPG about a rural wizard managing their time, making friends, and changing magical scholarship forever—while trying not to be driven out by an angry mob or lose research funding.

This is a neat little game that provides you with a balancing act: keeping up on your research while also doing favours for townsfolk in order to keep you in their favor. You’ll use two skills, Arcane and Mundane, and two specialties, one that informs your magical abilities and one that demonstrates your non-magical competencies. Your Reputation exists as two tracks that will move up and down depending on your success in meeting demands. The game provides a structured set of stages to ensure your wizard will receive many requests, and there’s enough moving pieces to keep your game playing over an extended period of time - so you can play a little bit every day.

Spellchitects!, by Viditya Voleti.

You craft and design the spells and rituals that are being cast all around your world. Using your advanced knowledge of how magic is weaved, you mark out the symbols, colors, and components to craft the desired effects. 

Sometimes you make spells for customers, sometimes you make spells just for the heck of it! As Spellchitects, it’s all about experimentation, collaboration, and fun!

As a spell-crafting game, this can be a fun little exercise on its own, but it could also be a way to design a magic system for a larger game. Each player will use a variety of different-coloured writing instruments to create elements of the spell. The colour and the marking involved in the sigil will each communicate something about what the spell does. The players will also have to assign a spell component for each extra symbol invoked in the creation of the spell. 

If you bought the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality a few years ago, you already own this game! 

Summoner’s Fate, by Rae Nedjadi.

You are STUDENTS at a Learning Institution that focuses on the esteemed and complex art of ARCANE SUMMONING. You have learned how to call upon beings to be an extension of your own will and power.

A CONFLICT has arisen, an ADVERSARY reveals themselves. The stakes are high, things are dire! You few are the only thing standing in the way, there’s no one else. You have to rise to the challenge and trust that you’ve got what it takes!

This game takes inspiration from both Spindlewheel, by Sasha Reneau, and Royal Blood, by Grant Howitt. It has a Game Facilitator, also known as Fate, as well 2-4 players. It uses a Tarot deck to determine elements of the game: the Major Arcana provide story aspects and character elements, while the Minor Arcana are used for moments of the story where your summoners will make a wager in order to overcome a challenge. Your characters can summon Powers or Daemons to help them - but doing so also means that you could lose that which you wagered, cracking or shattering one of the crystals from which you draw your power. 

If you like heavily interpretive games, or you like playing with Tarot Cards, this game might be worth checking out!

Research Arcanum, by J. Evan Nyquist.

Research Arcanum is a PbtA game about learning the secrets of a fantasy world for 2-5 players including a GM. It can be used as a supplement to augment an existing tabletop roleplaying game or played on its own to generate the academic history of an Arcanist or to plumb the mysteries of a setting’s magic.

This game is something that you could run as a one-shot inside a larger campaign to give your characters a chance to really delve into the lore of a world, or to role-play the arduous journey of tracking down a specific magical solution to an urgent problem. If you like the idea of magic being something you can study in an institution, this game will give you a chance to really explore that.

I can also see this game being easily hacked into a sci-fi setting as well! Instead of a wizard university, your characters may be seeking information from an alien repository or a Jedi library. Just make the sources places like The Library Planet or Xritex, an alien researcher, and spheres things like Warp Travel, Robotic Intelligences, and Twi’lek Culinary Techniques. 

Wizard Pals, by Tadhg Lyons.

The world is a wretched place, and life is awful. Thankfully, You Are Magic, and even better, you can Do Magic, and it rules. Anyone can be a Wizard, and a Wizard can be anyone.

Wizard Pals is a lighthearted TTRPG/collaborative storytelling game in which every hero is a mysterious and magically powerful being known as a Wizard. To play, you need some pals of your own, some 12-sided dice, and an adventurous spirit. The game itself is easy to learn and approachable, open-ended and chaotic, and perfect for new TTRPG players and veterans alike.

In Wizard Pals, the colour of your robes denotes your area of expertise, your Signature Spells are powerful but require a re-charge, and all of you will go upon a quest to complete a Wizardly Task! There is so much room to make this game as goofy as you like - it’s hard to keep a straight face when one of your wizards is a frog in a top hat, or an ominous floating orb. 

There’s a number of mechanics that remind me of other games, including two abilities and a target number that you must roll under or over, similar to Lasers & Feelings. (The game uses d12s, which is what makes it slightly different!) However, when you’re in combat, your characters will be rolling using something akin to attack and defense, with a stat layout that you have to assign to both. 

This game comes with two supplements: The Bastard of Undertower, and The Haunting of Hobble. These are adventures that a GM can lead the characters through, which is great if your game master wants a little guidance, or just less prep to do. 

What’s So Cool About Street Magick?, by Vincent Quigley. 

So what IS so cool about Street Magick ?  Well... It's a micro-rpg where you play people that have shed the burden of banality and that yield terrible magick for it.  It's a game about the homeless, the vagrant, the people that tend to become invisible in our regular boring ass lives. 

It's a game about finding the fantastic within the rotten. 

It's a game that will need you to make your own. 

This is a simple hack of What’s So Cool About Outer Space?, about magic users on the streets. Follow rumours and fight of arcane threats that nobody else seems to care about. You have power now, but a happy ending isn’t going to just fall in your lap - you’ll have to fight for it. 

This game uses just d6’s and a bunch of imagination. I’d love to see this game in combination with a city-builder, such as I’m sorry did you say street magic, by Caro Acercion, or What is Here? by Matthew Gravelyn. I love the idea of creating a city and then exploring it - it gives me a lot of the same vibes as Urban Shadows or World of Darkness, but with less fiddly bits or chapters of lore.

[calder]

 Tim Cain credits Star Control II with inspiring his open-ended design in both Fallout and Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, calling it his personal favorite RPG of all time and one of the best computer games ever developed.

yaaaay