Author: Eric Brunsell

Modern Action Hack: Live Fast.

Ok, since the “one last job” title was taken, I’m trying out Live Fast as the name for my modern action hack. My gaming group wanted to give it a whirl, but really wanted a cyberpunk setting. So, I added an optional AUGMENTATION rule set for the hack.

I thought the modern playbooks (chessmaster, driver, egghead, grifter, hitter, spook, thief, and trixter) worked well in a cyberpunk setting, so I didn’t want to add a bunch of new playbooks. I also wanted some balance with characters that choose no augmentation. So, I treated augmentations as equipment with drawbacks (like alchemical creations).

They are not as elegant or comprehensive as Karma in the Dark, but have a lot of flexibility. These optional rules could be added to many hacks to make them cyberpunk (or steampunk with some flavor changes).

Let me know what you think. I plan on doing the same with an optional MAGIC ruleset for modern fantasy (or fantasy cyberpunk).

Hi all-

Is anyone interested in collaborating on hacks? I am working on two hacks that are relatively mature. However, I would love help bringing them to closure. I am very open to sharing creative “space” with both hacks so that any collaborators can leave their mark on them. I am also pretty flexible. Collaborators can tackle crew books (aligned to a shared vision), setting details, factions, etc.

Let me know if you are interested!

Blades in the Brokenlands is a heroic / epic fantasy hack with completed playbooks, initial setting information, and a vision for the crew books.

I also have playbooks done for a modern action (no magic) hack with a vision for the crew books.

Blades in the Brokenlands:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IFwGwkdkTnruXCGDCy6c9evSAMFY0Jf6/view?usp=sharing

Playbooks (Have not been updated since my last post):

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1eLQbRFmhoRepmaK0wC_cHkK1b5Dx9KeO

Modern / Action

The crew types in this version will look different. In addition, it will be renamed soon.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DDRvSSxyt_7Bx1vHp-XirikHkaLIib6e/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IFwGwkdkTnruXCGDCy6c9evSAMFY0Jf6/view?usp=sharing

Hi all-

A few weeks ago, I posted some playbooks for a modern heist / crime hack. One problem was the name — One Last Job — was already taken by a different RPG. So, I need a new name…

Crewbooks include: Scoundrels in Suits (ocean’s 11), Disposable Heros (mercenaries / operatives for hire), Syndicate (a criminal organization), and Vagabonds (wandering thieves or vigilantes with a schtick).

Does “Sinners, Swag, and Smoking Guns” work? Other thoughts?

Hi all-

Here is the next version (V0.5) of the character playbooks for my epic / heroic fantasy hack – Blades in the Brokenlands. The playbooks include:

Fighter Archetype (Berserker, Hunter, Weapon Master)

Magi Archetype (Alchemist, Enchanter, Weaver)

Rogue Archetype (Thief, Swashbuckler, Watcher)

The Innocent (a peasant hero, naive adventurer, or the classic young hero in epic fantasy stories).

Although this doesn’t have a crew (party) sheet or XP triggers (I forgot to add) they are playable.

The unedited rulebook with initial setting information can be found here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IFwGwkdkTnruXCGDCy6c9evSAMFY0Jf6/view?usp=sharing

I’d love feedback!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eLQbRFmhoRepmaK0wC_cHkK1b5Dx9KeO/view?usp=sharing

Hi all-

Here is the updated and formatted rulebook for version 0.5 of my Blades in the Brokenlands high / heroic fantasy hack. I don’t have the playbooks revised yet. I hope to have the character playbooks and one GM chronicle book completed by the end of the week.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1IFwGwkdkTnruXCGDCy6c9evSAMFY0Jf6

This community is awesome. I really enjoy the diversity of perdoectives!

So, here is another question for you-

Stress, trauma, and vice can fit well in any fantasy hack. I’m working on epic/heroic high fantasy and making tweaks to make the game more heroic instead of desperate. Vice becomes vanity/ego, entanglements become larger than life, etc.

I’m considering changing stress to courage (count down instead of up).

What would you call trauma?

Hi all–

I’m working on version 2 of Blades in the Brokenlands after some play testing. Here are two drafts (without special items & friends/rivals) of character playbooks.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cp3Gfa4yfPO6HztWePKubOCBMw1989vW/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cp3Gfa4yfPO6HztWePKubOCBMw1989vW/view?usp=sharing

Hi all-

I have a “hack” question for you. I’m working on a few major changes to Blades in the Brokenlands based on initial feedback. The biggest is to create formal character playbooks instead of 20+ “archetypes.” Part of this is limiting choices for magic type playbooks. Right now, I’m thinking about organizing around the three “areas” of hermetic magic + sympathetic magic (4 total). So:

Alchemy

Divination

Evocation / Theurgy / Shamanism (using good & bad spirits)

Sympathetic magic

My question — Sympathetic magic is a horrible name! Any thoughts on what I should call it? Witchcraft is too loaded of a term. Primitive magic? Nexus?

I finished alpha testing on the playbooks and some rule changes for this modern action hack. It doesn’t have crew types yet, but is playable!

ONE LAST JOB

Danny Ocean? Ethan Hunt? Dominic Toretto? They have nothing on you. Style, stealth and speed – you and your crew have it in spades.

One Last Job is a game about a group of thrill-seeking characters in a close-knit crew who swindle, steal, and shoot their way to infamy and fortune – or die trying. The game takes place in a fictional setting that looks just like our modern world.

Character playbooks include: Chessmaster, Driver, Egghead, Grifter, Infiltrator, Hitter, (Street) Magician, Spook.

Each player also defines a “Maltese Falcon” (MacGuffin) for their character so that the GM can engage the crew in character story arcs as well as the crew arc.

The Crew types will provide the opportunity play drastically different games. The crews are still in “alpha.” Cleaners (inspired by Mission Impossible and Expendables), Disposable Heroes (inspired by The A-Team and Leverage), Scoundrels in Suits (inspired by the Italian Job and Ocean’s series), The Syndicate (inspired by organized crime movies), Throttle Hoppers (inspired by the Fast & Furious series), Vagabonds (inspired by ???).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DDRvSSxyt_7Bx1vHp-XirikHkaLIib6e/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DDRvSSxyt_7Bx1vHp-XirikHkaLIib6e/view?usp=sharing