Project manager: Anders Troberg
Project rules: Feel free to make additions, but mark them clearly (add them to the bottom of the page they belong in). The project manager will integrate them into the main text. This is to maintain a coherent content and style throughout the project.
Since it is too much work to put the entire document (200 pages or so) in wiki form, put your additions here? and preface them with the section number to make it easier to enter them in the Word document.
Generica is an open roleplaying system which is meant to be generic and adaptable enough to handle most roleplaying settings.
It is available for free and has a very generous licence inspired by GPL which allows game creators to use it, completely or partially, in their own products. It can also be used a base for your own supplements and game worlds.
Generica can be downloaded here: File area (this document is a work in progress, so quality of content may vary)
It can also be discussed in the official forum.
The current state of the game development is "playable, but some polish remains". Expect a complete version to be released before the end of the year.
Highlights of Generica:
- A license making it ideal for realising your project ideas and creating content for the gaming community.
- A character generation system that creates characters with personality and background, not just monster bashing abilities.
- Non-level based character development.
- A unique, goal based experience system.
- A combat system which is more realistic than the traditional alternating wearing down of hitpoints, yet very simple to use.
- The combat system increases playability by not relying solely on die rolls, there is also a strongly tactical bluff/dare element. You fight against the opponent, not against the rules.
- Simple, yet realistic and practical rules for automatic fire, something that tends to mess up other game systems.
- An innovative injury system which fits neatly with the combat system. It is focused on the effect of the injuries rather than extent. It handles complexities like pain/shock, different types of armour and performance loss due to injuries in a simple, seamless system.
- A magic system that is less of "Grenade, ehm I meant Fireball!" and more inspired by historical magic. Powerful spells are still possible, but they are not the clockwork toys of most systems.
- A psionics system which also is much less of a controlled tool and more like Firestarter or Carrie. Psionic powers are manifestations of the wild, untamed, uncensored subconscious and can be quite scary.
- Quick rules for handling nonimportant NPCs, especially in combat, eliminating the need for extensive book keeping or detailed characteristics for orc1, orc2, orc3 et cetera.
- An extensive chapter on game mastering, giving advise on subjects such as handling the game session, building a good game world, planning the scenarios, and adjusting the game for different genres.
Generica should be able to handle almost all environments with somewhat realistic power levels. Historical gaming, contemporary settings, James Bond, Zorro, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Conan, cyberpunk, horror, western and similar should work just fine. If you go beyond that, for example extremely heroic epic fantasy, superheroes, or very strange or peculiar worlds, you will probably have to be prepared to do a bit more modding.
Things left to do before release:
Things left to do for next version:
- Cybernetics
- Biotech
- Super powers
- Miniature rules (while not fond of them, I think I have an idea that will make them interresting without detracting too much from the game)
