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Troika Background - Gurren Lagann Notables

Because of a friend's influence, I decided to watch Gurren Lagann's momentous scenes last weekend as a hype-feel watch for the incoming Session Zero event. I've finished one of my games, "May Project na Naman si Kapitan?" (see previous blogpost), and cut losses on my other game that is not going well, development-wise.

This feels-trip watch inspired me to do Troika backgrounds for 2 notable characters, Simon and Viral. Check them out below.

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source. used without permission

Spiral Digger of Heavens

You were once a mech pilot and warrior, wielder of a metaphysical energy called Spiral, who helped liberate your world against a universe-threatening force. Along the way you have lost many of your comrades, your mentor, and your lover. Now that life and growth have been restored in your world, you understand that you are no longer needed there. You wander around the cosmos helping those who have need help drilling through the walls and ceilings that oppress their lives.

Special 
Your Spiral energy developed as a manifestation of spirit and tenacity. You never accept your fate, and always test your luck against obvious dangers. Your luck score never goes below 2, even after testing your luck or spending it on combat.

Possessions
a drill
a worn-out overcoat
a tiny beast pet
an old pair of googles

Skills
3 Tunnel Digging
2 Speleology
2 Fist Fighting
1 Mech Piloting
1 Mech Fighting
1 Trapping


DESIGNER NOTES: Used the Simon from after his wedding, but before the futuristic version of their world in the epilogue. He already passed his core drill and ganmen, so no mech for him. I added Speleology to give his tunnel and cave system knowledge a proper term, but I'm not sure of using a real world term. I'll settle for it for now until I have something more informal but appropriate.

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by Rinian. used without permission.

Immortal Beastman

A creature made by a bio-engineer who uses metaphysical energy called Spiral, you were a tool of oppression by your creator's millennia-long regime using beastmen and mechs. Now the castle has collapsed, the kingdom is in chaos, and the rebels are hunting you down. You fight and scavenge the wastelands trying to get by.

Special
You cannot die physically, but you still feel pain, hunger, and fear as normal. Your beastman biology prevents you from reproducing.

Possession
1 Cleaver (damage as knife)
a long scarf
Beast claws (damage as modest beast)
Beast senses

Skills 
3 Knife Fighting
2 Claw Fighting
2 Mech Fighting
1 Mech Piloting
1 Run


DESIGNER NOTES: This version of Viral is from after Lordgenome died, but before he was captured then recruited for the Anti-Spiral war. No mech for him either.

Both versions still have Mech-related skills while having no mech, to give them a goal already: get a fvcking mech to pilot.


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Highlights

Momentum - Hack from Ironsworn

So a while back I've played a few games of Ironsworn. If you haven't played it, it's a game of quest-driven characters seeing their stories unfold in a perilous land . Nothing grand about the setting, but I did like some of its subsystems and the way it frames usual gaming constants like initiative and supply. But for now I'd like to toy with its momentum subsystem, which is a core part of the game. It gives the play a heroic and dramatic feel: accumulated successes lead to point where you can grab control a crucial moment in your journey. At the same time, continuous failures will make your usual strong moments a bit more risky. It won't make the game swingy, like how usual meta-currency subsystems work. So I tried converting it for d20 games. Usable in D&D 5E, D&D 4E, Knave, or any d20 game that has a roll over DC/TN resolution system. - - - image from Ironsworn book. used without permission Momentum Score Momentum is a mechanic that repres