faustin
2014-12-12, 01:11 PM
Recently, I have been thinking in creating a set of rules for a game based in that comic setting. For those who donīt know, "Okko" is a relative popular french mini-comic relating the adventures of the so-named ronin and his crew of demon hunters (Noburo, the terrible yet loyal half-oni, Noshin, the sake addict priest, and Tikko his apprendice, who narrates the story), in the Asian-like world of Pajan.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Okko.jpg
While most of the aspects of the game can be translated easily (even with Oriental Adventures), my biggest concern is the magic system. You see, in that world magic is the work of priest (and wicked sorcerers, but that is NPc territory) who commune, worship and bargain with kamis (elemental spirits).
In general, I have discerned that brief, low powered effects (making a sword burn the hand of an enemy, a temporal shadow to hide) can be archived with a few short prayers to the nearby less powerful kamis.
However, great and/or prolonged effects demands a direct plead and negotiation with the middle-big strong ones. Example.
The group is on pursuit of a gang of slavers who days ago kidnapped Tikkoīs sister, a geisha. The trail lead them to the sea. Noshin makes contact with a pair of water kamis and convince them to send a magical, glowing fish to guide their boat for a few days... in exchange of a bottle of his favorite sake.
Later, they arrive to an island (presumibly the bandits hideout). The local lord, while seemingly affable seems to be interested in making them leave in the next ship to the continent. Noshin has no better idea than to create a tiny, little EARTHQUAKE :smalleek: to destroy the local port and all the ships. For that purpose, he spends several hours dealing with the local spirits, who will carry his plead to their elders... this time, the price will be to build a temple in their name where the local peasants will pray and send their offerings. Better for our monk to work his silver tongue.
Finally, itīs possible in certain ocasions to coerce the kamis to do your bidding. Of course, such course of actions always have consequences.
Example: in another book, Okko has been called by a noblewoman to help her find a cure for her daughter, who seems to be in a permanent catatonic state. Suspecting evil supernatural influences, Okko asks Noshin to work his talents. After closing all the doors and windows of the house, the priest
demands the kazikame (air elemental of the room)to reveal all hidden sounds in exchange of letting him go). Grudgingly, the spirit raises the volume, revealing an strange melody coming from a banjo, which turnes to be the container of a demon who was whispering the little girl how her mother had actually killed her father. The cursed artifact is immediately destroyed.
Later, Noshin is ambushed alone by an hostile demon hunter who is after Noburo. Enraged, N calls the spirits of the wind to wipe out the insolent... only for such kamis to backlash at him for the abuse of their brother in the mansion. The monk is badly hurted and left at the mercy of his enemy.
So, any ideas to translate the pleading/dealing into mechanics?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8f/Okko.jpg
While most of the aspects of the game can be translated easily (even with Oriental Adventures), my biggest concern is the magic system. You see, in that world magic is the work of priest (and wicked sorcerers, but that is NPc territory) who commune, worship and bargain with kamis (elemental spirits).
In general, I have discerned that brief, low powered effects (making a sword burn the hand of an enemy, a temporal shadow to hide) can be archived with a few short prayers to the nearby less powerful kamis.
However, great and/or prolonged effects demands a direct plead and negotiation with the middle-big strong ones. Example.
The group is on pursuit of a gang of slavers who days ago kidnapped Tikkoīs sister, a geisha. The trail lead them to the sea. Noshin makes contact with a pair of water kamis and convince them to send a magical, glowing fish to guide their boat for a few days... in exchange of a bottle of his favorite sake.
Later, they arrive to an island (presumibly the bandits hideout). The local lord, while seemingly affable seems to be interested in making them leave in the next ship to the continent. Noshin has no better idea than to create a tiny, little EARTHQUAKE :smalleek: to destroy the local port and all the ships. For that purpose, he spends several hours dealing with the local spirits, who will carry his plead to their elders... this time, the price will be to build a temple in their name where the local peasants will pray and send their offerings. Better for our monk to work his silver tongue.
Finally, itīs possible in certain ocasions to coerce the kamis to do your bidding. Of course, such course of actions always have consequences.
Example: in another book, Okko has been called by a noblewoman to help her find a cure for her daughter, who seems to be in a permanent catatonic state. Suspecting evil supernatural influences, Okko asks Noshin to work his talents. After closing all the doors and windows of the house, the priest
demands the kazikame (air elemental of the room)to reveal all hidden sounds in exchange of letting him go). Grudgingly, the spirit raises the volume, revealing an strange melody coming from a banjo, which turnes to be the container of a demon who was whispering the little girl how her mother had actually killed her father. The cursed artifact is immediately destroyed.
Later, Noshin is ambushed alone by an hostile demon hunter who is after Noburo. Enraged, N calls the spirits of the wind to wipe out the insolent... only for such kamis to backlash at him for the abuse of their brother in the mansion. The monk is badly hurted and left at the mercy of his enemy.
So, any ideas to translate the pleading/dealing into mechanics?