Houses of the Blooded
Encyclopedia
Houses of the Blooded is a roleplaying game designed by John Wick
scheduled for release July 2008http://wickedthought.livejournal.com/tag/houses+of+the+blooded. Its author has described ithttp://wickedthought.livejournal.com/tag/houses+of+the+blooded as the "anti-Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game," emphasising elements of the fantasy genre that D&D overlooks. Taking a more swords and sorcery
approach (rather than "generic fantasy"), the game focuses on romance, intrigue, courtly dangers, and domain management.
The ven were created by a mysterious race they call "the sorcerer-kings." The ven speak of this race with absolute fear, terrified their masters may return one day to enslave them once again.
Ven culture is a complicated system of extremes. "Love" and "Revenge" are the same word in the ven language, both different sides of "obsession." The law is a labyrinth of exceptions, allowing the ven to all but ignore their own laws except when it suits them to obey.
Rather than playing the D&D cliché of ageless nomadic orphans wandering the countryside looking to sell their swords to the highest bidder, players in Houses of the Blooded take the roles of nobles responsible for great domains. As they struggle to maintain their own standing, they must solve the troubles that arise in their lands while plotting to expand their own lands. The game system also takes a long-term view, allowing for the passage of time, giving players the opportunity to watch generations pass as characters are born, grow old, and fade away.
. Houses of the Blooded uses "aspects," a key element to the FATE System. Also, the use of "wagers"--a mechanic allowing players to take control of the game and the world of Shanri--are inspired by the mechanics of octaNe.
Players roll a pool of six-sided dice, adding the result so as to reach the target number of 10. Before making the roll Players have the option to discard excessive dice as "wagers". If the roll is successful the Player determines if the action succeeded or failed. If they miss the target number the Narrator decides this fact. When successful each wager allows the player to add an additional fact surrounding the result. This allows you to choose to fail in your main attempt, but in an ultimately beneficial way, or conversely succeed in your main intent, but with disastrous consequences.
John Wick
John Wick is a 20th and 21st century role-playing game designer best known for his creative contributions to the Alderac Entertainment Group properties Legend of the Five Rings and 7th Sea. He self-published Orkworld under the Wicked Press banner, and later co-founded the Wicked Dead Brewing...
scheduled for release July 2008http://wickedthought.livejournal.com/tag/houses+of+the+blooded. Its author has described ithttp://wickedthought.livejournal.com/tag/houses+of+the+blooded as the "anti-Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game," emphasising elements of the fantasy genre that D&D overlooks. Taking a more swords and sorcery
Swords and Sorcery
Swords and Sorcery is a 1963 anthology of fantasy short stories in the sword and sorcery subgenre, edited by L. Sprague de Camp and illustrated by Virgil Finlay. It was first published in paperback by Pyramid Books...
approach (rather than "generic fantasy"), the game focuses on romance, intrigue, courtly dangers, and domain management.
Overview
Players tell the story of the tragic and doomed race of Shanri called the ven. (Both Shanri and the ven previously appeared in Wick's game Enemy Gods.) The ven appear much like humans, but are stronger, faster, and more beautiful. The ven are also emotional powerhouses, emphasising all emotions with capital letters (Love, Hate, Fear, etc.).The ven were created by a mysterious race they call "the sorcerer-kings." The ven speak of this race with absolute fear, terrified their masters may return one day to enslave them once again.
Ven culture is a complicated system of extremes. "Love" and "Revenge" are the same word in the ven language, both different sides of "obsession." The law is a labyrinth of exceptions, allowing the ven to all but ignore their own laws except when it suits them to obey.
Rather than playing the D&D cliché of ageless nomadic orphans wandering the countryside looking to sell their swords to the highest bidder, players in Houses of the Blooded take the roles of nobles responsible for great domains. As they struggle to maintain their own standing, they must solve the troubles that arise in their lands while plotting to expand their own lands. The game system also takes a long-term view, allowing for the passage of time, giving players the opportunity to watch generations pass as characters are born, grow old, and fade away.
Game System
Wick credits the game system to two chief inspirations: octaNe by Jared Sorensen and the FATE System by Evil Hat ProductionsEvil Hat Productions
Evil Hat Productions is a company that produces role-playing games. Chief among them is the free indie RPG, Fate, which has won numerous awards. In 2005, the company began producing a series of commercial role-playing games using an updated version of the FATE system, each focusing on a different...
. Houses of the Blooded uses "aspects," a key element to the FATE System. Also, the use of "wagers"--a mechanic allowing players to take control of the game and the world of Shanri--are inspired by the mechanics of octaNe.
Players roll a pool of six-sided dice, adding the result so as to reach the target number of 10. Before making the roll Players have the option to discard excessive dice as "wagers". If the roll is successful the Player determines if the action succeeded or failed. If they miss the target number the Narrator decides this fact. When successful each wager allows the player to add an additional fact surrounding the result. This allows you to choose to fail in your main attempt, but in an ultimately beneficial way, or conversely succeed in your main intent, but with disastrous consequences.