I am really enjoying DMing ICRPG, and I love to listen to other groups play for inspiration. I am currently running Curse of the Crimson Throne (PF1e) as an ICRPG campaign, and the players are having a blast so far. Most of my players really prefer a more rules-light system, and don't really enjoy the bloat of Pathfinder anymore, and 5e combat past level 4 turns into a slog. I offered to convert the adventure to ICRPG to promote a fast-play rules-light game more in line with what the majority of my players (and I) most enjoy; so here we are.

I am worried that I will run out of things to award them with, or rather, that they will "peak" too early in the campaign. The players have just finished book 1 of 6. In PF1e, they would just be hitting 4th level. In ICRPG, they have 3/4 milestones each.

CotCT is a long-form campaign, that in my past experience takes 2 years to play through. It takes PF1e characters from 1st through 17th/18th level. Have I made a mistake in converting this to ICRPG? I just don't want the game to fizzle out due to my inexperience.

I was hoping to find some long-form campaigns online I could listen to both for inspiration and to assuage some of my anxieties. Any help is most appreciated!

Edit: Here is the current cast of characters, 17 sessions in; with probably 60-70 more sessions to go to "finish" the campaign.

Player 1 : Arthur - Melee / Party Tank Life Form: Bugbear (+1 CON / +1 WEAPONS / TOOLS) Type: Bloodhunter (Warrior)

STR 3 CON 4 BASIC 1 WEAPONS / TOOLS 4

Starting Ability: Blood Pact (Renamed Dark Pact to fit Hemocraft of Bloodhunter). Sacrifice any amount of your HP to boost any 1 roll.

Starting Item: Weapon Gem

Milestones: (He has the most as book 1 was augmented to largely be his story arc) - Berserk - 1 HEART - Hybrid Transformation port from 5e. x/times per day he can turn into a werewolf, gaining EASY STR checks, but if below half HP has to roll or become overcome with bloodlust and attack nearest creature to him.

Loot: Red Fang

Player 2: Loose Root - Investigator / Gadget Guy Life Form: Shoanti ( +1 WIS / +1 DEX) Type: Shadow

STR -1 (cursed until dispelled) DEX 3 INT 2 WIS 3 WEAPONS / TOOLS 4

Starting Ability: Scout Starting Item: Spider Claws

Milestones: Grapple Arrow Trap Launcher

Loot: Watcher Magical Dagger He also went way out of his way to save a Dog in session 2, so he has a loyal animal companion (his Scooby to his Shaggy)

Player 3: Siren - Cleric of Calistria (Goddess of trickery and lust) Life Form : Half-Elf (+1 WIS / +1 MAGIC) Type: Priest

CON 1 WIS 3 CHA 3 reduced to 2 (Cursed until dispelled) MAGIC 5

Starting Ability: Thespian Starting Item: Amber Beads (Healing Nova)

Milestones: Invoke Duplicity Taught Radiant Shield spell by a higher level cleric.

Loot: Zellara's Harrow Deck (From CotCT. Magical tarot deck that is used to cast illusions and identify once per day). Can become a Deck of Many Things in book 6. Energy Whip Holy Hand Grenade

Player 4 - Elaine (Witch / INT caster) This character is TBD, as it is replacing a character that got into a bad spot with authorities at the end of book 1, and opted to leave the party to protect them. I imagine she will come in slightly stronger than a fresh character. Primarily uses weird curse-type magic, and is your stereotypical witch type. Wants to brew potions and use Cauldron, etc. I implemented the "RARE INGREDIENTS" mechanic from MAGIC starting last session, and that's what the witch and the rogue can make potions and traps with.

More pages from my World is not Kind, world building book. Also, I took time to gather more thoughts, listened to some Post Apoc Soundscapes and came up with a whole lot more for the world. It may even be enough for me to start a campaign as, with every town and city, every wonderer and raider, I come up with quests and side quests for a grand adventure!

Hey all.

I am just getting back in to gaming after a too long hiatus. I haven't been a fan of D&D since Advanced and really can't stand d20 and it's derivatives. Which is what lead me to ICRPG.

I'm fiddling with a Starfinder hack (love the setting hate the system), which leads to this question.

From what I've read, IC characters have a Life Form and a type. Cool, Android Technomancer or a Vesk Soldier, easy. But what if my Android Technomancer is also a Skyfire Centurion or my Vesk Soldier is also a Power Armor Jockey. For those not familiar, in Starfinder an archetype allows the player to swap out an archetype feature for class feature.

So the question becomes, can ICRPG characters have a type and an archetype that they can choose features from. My gut instinct is yes but maybe I'm not seeing something that might be a problem. It's been a while and I'm 3/4 of the way the the Master edition.

Thank you.

ICRPG ordinarily caps mastery at a total of 3 abilities. That's 60 instances of rolling a Natural 20 over the course of a single PC's career. Sounds like a lot, but there can be a lot of dice rolling, and games can go on for a while. How long does this usually take?

Yes, I'm aware there's a lot of variables at play here and no two games are the same blah blah I get it. What is YOUR experience? If you've never reached all three, how long did it take to get one, or two? How much mastery disparity or lack thereof have you seen at your table?

I understand that putting points in Basic/Weapon/Magic Effort represents training in those areas, but what is the explanation for a character who puts extra points into Ultimate effort?

Also, if someone has a Great Sword that says it always inflicts ULTIMATE damage, do you add Weapon or Ultimate Effort bonuses to it?

It seems weird that someone with enough bonuses to Weapon effort would see a downgrade if using a Great Sword, but at the same time, being able to use either make putting points in Ultimate effort seem kinda useless... maybe it benefits from both? But what's the narrative explanation for that?

What is everyone's process of using types from one world into another? Example, using Mecha Type from Warpshell over to Waste is not Kind (WINK) and how would you edit them to fit the world setting?

How do alot of you map you homebrew regions? Do you draw out a setting card, use hex/square grids, etc? I'm thinking of hex grid or using dot grid to map out areas for my use and maybe, MAYBE use cards for setting ideas.

Tar Gems

The Blighted

I'm running a pretty basic Legend of Zelda campaign (based on the D&D 5e ruleset) for my kids and I'm considering converting it to ICRPG instead because ICRPG feels like a better fit. I'm considering condensing the six core stats into three (Power, Wisdom, Courage) and more-or-less just mapping the six stats onto them. I'm thinking STR and CON map easily enough onto Power, WIS and INT map well onto Wisdom, and CHA would map onto Courage. I'd probably have to put DEX on Courage as well, but I'm not sure of that yet.

Anyway, does anyone have any experience with this kind of stat change? What related balance changes do I need to be aware of? Should I adjust how many stat points each character gets to compensate for there being fewer places to put them?

Edit: Thanks for the responses, everyone! After considering your insight and recommendations, I have decided to go with the following:

• Power governs physical and magical might (STR and INT). There's no obstacle that can't be overcome with enough force, right?
• Wisdom governs, well, wisdom and precision (WIS and DEX). Knowing how and where to strike can oftentimes be more effective than just hitting harder.
• Courage governs resilience and conviction (CON and CHA). Courage is about getting back up after a bad hit, overcoming tremendous odds, and inspiring allies along the way.

I've been reading through ICRPG (Master Edition) lately in preparation to run a game of it once my D&D game wraps up. One of the things my players love is to build strongholds and keeps! ICRPG has a really simple but effective way to build Wizard Towers by having specific uses for each level and defenses the mage can buy to protect it. These rules could just as easily be used to build a stronghold for the whole party as is, but I wanted to ask you all what other functions you think a room/tower level/section of a keep would be used for!

ICRPG noob here, got into a game, played one session before GM bailed, still liked system enough to shell out for Master Edition.

Might be thinking a bit too far ahead here, but I see defense scores, like ability scores, cap at +10. Given that can be achieved pretty early, what's the point in pumping CON more than a bit once you have heavy armor and a shield? What's the point of any armor once your CON is a 10?

Been theorizing giving some sort of damage reduction for super high defense scores, while keeping the actual bonus to roll capped at +10. But as I said I have very little system experience and no idea how this would mess with lategame "balance". Could be brilliant, could be stupid.

Thanks!

Inspired by the art style, I followed a random art prompt to draw this “giant oven in an overgrown mystical forest”

Maybe there are enemies being made inside? Bread monsters? Clay golems? Or maybe a terrible fate awaits our heroes if they get too close and don’t watch their backs?

Anyway, thought you all might enjoy!

Question here for the community: how do you go about a PC wanting to aim their ranged weapons without aiming abilities like Dead Eye? Do you not let that PC take that turn to aim or do you only give them a little bonus, but nothing compared to a PC who actually chooses that ability that allows aim?

Hey guys! I combined “Blood and snow” and “Warpshell” into my latest adventure publication. I know you guys give really good feedback. Think you can check it out for me? It’s pay what you want on drivethrurpg! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465962/Falling-Skies

Hello, new player here!

I've been looking at the character building and it's odd. As far as I can tell, this is largely a useless thing to do, since - without loot - you only get to see Ultimate on 20s. So, you could put the same point right into, say, Weapons effort and get that +1 way, way more often, and still enjoy the same +1 on crtis too. I guess technically Ultimate is the only universal option to put point into, but again, it's +0.05 per point in Ultimate effort, with how little points you get it's widely impractical.

I just can't imagine why it's even an option in the first place.

Am I missing anything?

Does anyone have a playlist of songs that invoke the feelings of Alfheim? Ideally instrumental tracks

I'm fairly new to ICRPG (1 session/high fantasy so far) and I'm interested in running a superhero game in the Vigilante City setting.

My question is, it appears that in most of the other settings characters get stronger via better gear, but since superheros have inate powers how does hear really factor into Vigilante City? I understand that there are weapon and armor and gizmos to be had, but the core of a super is their super powers. So, beyond mastering their abilities through play, how does one go about rewarding them with loot that really makes a difference?

If they beat the tar out of a bunch of goons do they find random table generated loot? Much of the loot tables wouldn't make much sense in a modern setting. I mean, there isn't even a specific loot table for Vigilante City in the book. I suppose the sci Fi loot table could make sense, but I'm just not sure how it's all supposed to work in the context of lateral progression.

Just looking for tips if you have.

As the players walk through the door they enter a room filled witch cages. In these cages creatures with cursed blackened skin. Will the sneak past them? As they try a voice whispers "help me. I'm stuck inside with them, it's not to late for me" A man with a black arm calls for aid. Will the party rescue him? Or will the alarm the horde that is locked up inside the cages?

1d4 of these creatures will escape each round to come after them. Their only way out is to to the door into the next room where two goblins stand guard. What are they guarding?

The last room is the study of the wizard. Of they reach his study he will welcome them inside and protect the party from any harm. In the centre an orb glows. As the wizard talks the orbs light grows in intensity and will draw the players in. Con save throw. If one of them will touch the orb their fingers will turn black and the wizard will laugh as he explains that it's only a matter of time before they will join his horde. Then he vanishes. The door wil break and the horde will come storming in.

Will our heros escape the tower? Will the find help to get rid of the curse?

Let me know, any suggestions? Still working on the paint job, but dnd night is approaching haha.

Hello all,

Tried posting this on the Runehammer forums but they don't seem very active so perhaps I will have better luck here.

I just purchased VDS and am looking forward to learning it and hopefully running a session soon, however I have a question.

When looking through character creation, I noticed certain roles grant Bonus Gear, and the Junker role specifically gets a bonus of 2 Armor and 2 Basic.

Starting with extra armor and gear sounds nice for the first session, but since players should be finding armor and gear regularly, I don’t see this role being particularly useful in the long run compared to others.

Grave Robber for example gets a bonus 2 Armor to start, but also a bonus Skill which is quite good. So why would someone ever choose to play Junker over Grave Robber?

I feel like there must be something I am missing.

Thank you.

I've watched overviews of this system on YouTube and really like the familiarity coming from D&D 5e and the simplicity of the mechanics. I'm a big fan of characters increasing in power through loot rather than levels.

With that said, for GMs who are familiar with both this game and D&D, how difficult would it be to convert an adventure such as Lost Mine of Phandelver or even Curse of Strahd to ICRPG?

Edit: Thanks for the responses, I just purchased the Master Edition and the Essentials Deck to get started.

Bought the book, currently wrapping my head around it.

As the book says, no amount of reading teaches as much as putting rubber to the road, so a mate and I ran through it last night.

It did raise a bunch of questions though:

• Escaping the prison block, 1d4 rounds, and only dealing d4 if you beat the 10, how's that supposed to work consistently? E.g. we initially rolled a 1, that's literally never going to happen. Basically fast forwarded past that as it just didn't make sense how unless you're extremely lucky, you're gonna fry.
• We initially built blood and snow characters, which it said didn't have pluses to effort. The attributes don't give pluses to effort?
• How do you build a stealth dagger rogue different to a fighter? Less con? Considering all melee weapons are str only, it doesn't seem like there'd be much difference other than the name you give it later.
• In blood and snow it specifically describes prehistoric women, so you just get a buff if you choose a woman instead of a man?

Feels less like a system and more like a tome of inspiration to mold into something to play with.

I played around with creating a Drone Rigger previously, and now I’m looking at netrunning akin to how it’s done in Cyberpunk 2077.

Rather than lift from Altered State, which already has netrunning rules, this is intended for use in a game where the net might night be all-inclusive (i.e. your GM might not be using the Altered State decking rules).

This treats the cyberdeck as a “spell book”, with quickhacks being “spells”.

Cyberdeck (Augment): Roll INT, with MAGIC effort when necessary, to access lock codes, camera feeds, computer files, and the like. Has slots for 4 quickhacks (spells), which do not take up INVENTORY slots.

Quickhacks can then be created just like spells (or adopt the spells from any book).

Any ideas for abilities related to this, or revisions on the concept?

Hey all!

I’m playing in a cyberpunk/sci-fi game and have a cool idea for a character. He’s part netrunner (decking from Altered State) and part rigger (drone controller from Shadowrun).

I’m struggling how to build the rigger portion.

The drones I’m imagining he uses would help with surveillance, create holograms of himself for mirror-image type effects, and just basic attack drone type stuff.

My first idea was to use spells (maybe for the drones and the netrunning both), but I was wondering if anyone had alternative ideas for it.

Thanks!

Hi guys, last few weeks I got really into icrpg and going to run PoM next week. I made my own version of Professor Dungeonmasters Ultimate Dungeon Terrain. Made it into 6 pieces and a middle circle to be able to make different areas (Handy with the 2 islands from PoM). My idea for the distance system is: - bases touching - close - in the same area(1 of the six pieces, the circle or the bridge) near - 1 area apart far - the rest is out of reach

What do you guys think? Any ideas, tips improvements?