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Welcome

<< The Stygian Labyrinth
<< Boufdot
2/7/2002
The Best Game Expansion Thingy Ever

The Volatility Game Supplement a.k.a.  Look out, it's gonna blow!

This supplement can be added to any roleplaying game.  It is a simple system to implement. Whenever a critical miss/critical hit is made and any player shouts, "Look out, it's gonna blow!" Whatever was hit explodes. The size of the explosion and the damage it causes can be determined by Table 1-1.

Table 1-1
Action Level/Object Size

Small
(wristwatch to basketball)
Medium
(TV to Desk)
Large
(refrigerator to car)
Giant
(semi truck to building)
Low
(montage/love/establishing shot)
Minor Explosion
(No injuries, comedic effect)
Minor Explosion
(No injuries, comedic effect)
Significant Explosion
(Minor injuries)
Significant Explosion
(Minor injuries)
Medium
(chase scene/conflict)
Minor Explosion
(No injuries, comedic effect)
Significant Explosion
(Minor injuries)
Significant Explosion
(Minor injuries)
Major Explosion
(Life threatening injuries)
High
(Opening scene/climactic scene)
Significant Explosion
(Minor injuries)
Significant Explosion
(Minor injuries)
Major Explosion
(Life threatening injuries)
Major Explosion
(Life threatening injuries)

As an example.  A group of players are playing D&D and the character being played by Jason swings his mighty broadsword at the Orc Chieftan.  Jason rolls a critical hit and makes the necessary rolls as described by the standard rules.  Mary, the GM, describes the action: "Good roll, Jason.  Klearghe smashes his might broadsword against the chieftan's leather shield, tearing it and his arm away from his body!"  Michael, after hearing the description shouts, "Look out, it's gonna blow!"  Mary then determines WHAT is going to explode.  She has four options.  It can be the shield, the arm, the chieftan, or Jason's sword.  She opts for the chieftan.  The chieftan was a medium sized creature so Mary looks down the column for Medium.  The scene was in the middle of the adventure and had nothing to do with the main plot so it is determined to be a Medium action level.  The Explosion is significant.  Mary determines significant in this case would be 3d6 worth of explosive damage.  She then calculates the explosion as per the rules for the game system.

This system works for all games.  Vampire: The Masquerade, a character botches a roll on feeding and a player shouts 'Look out, it's gonna blow' and the intended victim may explode in a fiery ball of death.  Or maybe a motorcycle skill check is failed and the cycle explodes, or a lucky shot is made against a Toyota Civic - KaBoom!

Trying to read that ancient text to stop the unnameable evil and fail your language roll?  That book could be the end of the character.  Trying to bribe a guard and succeed beyond your wildest expectations?  Watch out, that money may take your hand off.

This system is copyright Sean D. Francis 2002 and can be used by anyone for any reason.


Journalizer c2001 Sean D. Francis