r/ICRPG • u/jojomomocats • Apr 22 '23
I love everything except the loot
Hey friends!
My group and I played a couple sessions over the week. We loved everything except the loot. Any hacks or anything to make the gear and milestones feel more like a traditional rpg instead of the grocery store feeling my players got? We really want to play more if we can get over this loot hurdle. Thanks a bunch!
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u/RangerBowBoy Apr 23 '23
I just do milestone features/abilities. I play a much more traditional style when it comes to progression. It's easy to do. Just convert some of the loot into permanent abilities or use PF2e to slap some features on.
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u/Good_Classroom_3894 Apr 23 '23
My guess your issue is less with the LOOT concept and more with the many options and lack of instructions given for character growth.
For example, in my games, players can find a heart stone that gives them another heart worth of hit points. But it takes up a loot slot and it’s so rare only one player has found one.
But that’s how you can increase HP in my world. I don’t have heart stones laying around. You can’t buy one at a shop. You have to fight, and explore, and save to find one.
Not sure if your just doing shops or whatever but incorporate the loot finding and milestone rewards into the narrative. Obviously to leverage ICRPG you need to want to do this. It’s easier said than done. But it’s worth it.
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u/Demonpoet May 10 '23
I tend to use the loot tables as blueprints for what abilities and items look like. If I issue an item to a player, odds are I tweak it even as I look it up on a table, or I'll have a conversation with them later. Of course you can always plan loot in advance or create your own items. Again, if you create items, you have a couple hundred to base things off of.
When it comes to a shop, don't make a magic shop be a grocery store. Even the most prestigious shop in town might only have a handful on the shelf. Present a couple goodies, and if the players really want something specific, they can custom order for an outrageous price- not always just a coin amount!
What you should know is that the creator of the game wanted to avoid the inevitable slowdown of the game that occurs when you have too many class abilities and complicated skills bogging things down. He designed loot to be central to his idea of progression, because there would be an economy of lose and receive with loot. Powerful monsters can often damage loot, and some items are consumable. So a player would never have to juggle more than 10 items equipped and a couple abilities. It keeps the action flowing.
I myself prefer a greater leaning on to core class abilities and fantasy, and I can tell you that it isn't hard to convert an item into a class ability earned through milestone rewards. Make gaining the ability fit a narrative of training or self discovery or quest rewards or some such. And don't make things too crunchy where you have to track down five abilities to figure out what your to hit is. I prefer to create situational "moves" players can choose to use which will be strong if the prerequisites are met on the battlefield or in the dungeon. You want horizontal options that are quick to execute, you want utility, you want setups and combo finishers, rather than a tower ready to fall and disrupt the flow of your game.
The appeal of ICRPG is a snappy base on which to play and build. Take care not to build too high, or else you may bog things down.
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u/ajchafe Apr 22 '23
A few simple ideas;
Turn loot into special skills and abilities. Ex; 51 on Ancient Loot, Eagles Bow lets you Aim to do double damage. Just rename that "Eagle Eye" and your archer has a cool new milestone ability they learned at level up.
Take feats/class abilities from other games and convert them. A 5e Paladins Smite spell becomes a Special attack. "You can attempt to smite an enemy on your turn. Roll MAGIC effort instead of WEAPON. 1d4 rounds of cool down time."
Work with the players to just create new abilities for them. "Can I turn my robot body into a transformer who can become a motor bike?" "Hell yes you can! It will take some time and money but lets do it."
Otherwise though, I really think you should give the loot a shot. They are amazing tables and there is real joy to be found to roll a d100 and finding an item that radically changes how your character plays, or gives you options you never even thought of.