Maelstrom RPG / Maelstrom Domesday available now!

[damned]

The Maelstrom RPG was one of my earliest RPGs back in 1984. I have put together my first ruleset with help from IanMWard, Trenloe and Arion Games. You can read about it here: https://www.fg-con.com/maelstrom-rpg-maelstrom-domesday/ I hope you get the opportunity to play this great game.

v0.99 is now available and has been updated for CoreRPG 3.3.x

[Trenloe]

And if you're really quick you can get the rulebook PDF at 33% off: https://www.rpgnow.com/browse.php?products_id=120361&discount=930a970c8d This is a very short time period offer (only a few hours left) so get in quick!

[hawkwind]

I still have my original paperback........just saying

[Trenloe]

I still have my original paperback........just saying
So do I... Bought from WHSmith in Newcastle. :)

[damned]

i unfortunately lost mine over the years but I did pick one up again on ebay a few years ago.
there are a few changes between the original game and the new one - Imbalance being the main one - there is almost a Cthulhu like element in Domesday - but most of the other changes are pretty simple - you heal much faster in Domesday but you still track and heal each wound individually.

I half joked while doing this ruleset that it will prolly only get run by 2 GMs - myself and Arion Games.... hopefully a few others might give it a whirl :)


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[GunnarGreybeard]

Hmm, first time I have heard of this Maelstrom RPG. It's definitely peaked my interest. Historically based, low magic system . . . I'm off to download the quickstart rules and then the ruleset.

EDIT: The hit table looks very similar to HarnMaster, just not as extensive.

[damned]

Hey Gunnar - the original version doesnt have a Quick Start but the newer version does - the rules are quite interchangeable.

Magick (with a K) is quite interesting - and challenging.

This magick is not the same as is seen in other roleplaying games, where wizards throw balls of fire, fly through the air and create glowing walls of pure energy. Magick in the world of the Maelstrom is far more subtle and primarily affects the normal chances of events. Thus to make a bottle on a table fall over on board a boat in a storm is an easy task, whilst making a man fly through the air is almost impossible. The scale of the event or the size of the target are also of secondary importance. Making a worm-eaten and leaky warship sink in rough weather is a fairly easy task, but making a small coin levitate without visible means of support is extremely difficult indeed.

To cast a spell you must first pass one Knowledge Check for each level of difficulty - otherwise you just cannot remember the spells requirements. If you wanted to cast a Grade II spell you would have to roll UNDER your Knowledge twice in a row. If you do that you can remember the spell. To cast it you must roll under your WILL twice in a row. For each level of spell you must pass that many of each check.

And some examples of spells/difficulty –

Grade I
These effects are things that were likely to happen even if a spell had not been cast. Some examples would be a dog not barking when encountering someone new, a bored guard looking the other way as someone tries to sneak past, a man dropping an apple from an very full basket or a diner knocking over a tall candlestick on a crowded table. Spells of this grade are rarely remarked upon by onlookers due to the high probability of the event happening anyway.
Grade II
Effects of Grade II are those that could happen anyway, but are unlikely. Examples would include a man slipping over on a dry road, a horse rearing for no apparent reason, a book falling off a shelf with no-one near and a bored guard falling asleep on duty.
Grade III
At this grade, the effects are those that could happen anyway but are highly unlikely. An example of this would be an aggressive guard dog completely ignoring an intruder, a burning ember leaping out of a fire to ignite a person’s clothing, an alert guard completely failing to notice someone walking past him or a person knocked down by a charging cart being completely unharmed.
Grade IV
These spells cause effects that could in theory happen, but are very improbable. An example would be a pair of alert guards failing to see the horseman go through the gateway they are guarding, internal bleeding stopping of its own accord, a person surviving a fall from a high cliff with just bruises or a cache of hidden weapons and armour being found in woodland just as the mage needs it. Spells of this grade will often cause comment by observers due to the unlikeliness of the events.
Grade V
This highest grade of magickal spell is rarely cast due to the difficulty and risk. However, the effects that can be created by this grade of spell are the truly impossible. Making a man fly through the air, bringing a recently deceased corpse back to life, causing a sword to explode into fragments or even killing a man on the spot are all grade V effects. If a spell of this kind is cast, there will be amazement and confusion amongst any observers, and if the mage is in clear view the obvious concentration and focus will also draw comment.


Practitioners of magick are also generally branded as Witches and burned at the stake...

[damned]

Hmm, first time I have heard of this Maelstrom RPG. It's definitely peaked my interest. Historically based, low magic system . . . I'm off to download the quickstart rules and then the ruleset.

EDIT: The hit table looks very similar to HarnMaster, just not as extensive.

https://www.rpgnow.com/product/134783/Maelstrom-Domesday-Quickstart?cPath=1684_4422

The whole game including a short solo adventure fit inside a paperback novel of the same size as a Fighting Fantasy book - so yes - the rules are not too complex or detailed.
There is also a significant number of pages dedicated to Herb Lore. The game actually kindled a significant interest in Herb Lore in RPGs all over the place.

[GunnarGreybeard]

The ruleset will be for the new version correct?

[damned]

So the ruleset supports the following rolls/automation:

Full Ability (Attribute) Checks - same mechanics for both versions
Attack Checks - same mechanics for both versions
Defense Checks - same mechanics for both versions
Damage Rolls - same mechanics for both versions
Armour Penalties to Physical Ability Checks - same mechanics for both versions
Initiative Rolls - same mechanics for both versions

After discussion with Arion Games it was decided that it was best NOT to Automate Attack and Defense rolls against each other - so the Attacker Rolls and if a Hit or Critical Hit is achieved (result is calculated into the Chat Window) the defender then rolls his Defense Check and the GM adjudicates (result is calculated into the Chat Window). Damage is then rolled if a hit is declared. The mechanics are the same for both versions.

You track wounds (for Characters) individually - same mechanics for both versions
Each wound heals at the same rate - same mechanics for both versions - except in the original healing was ta the rate of 1/wound/week and in Domesday its 1/wound/day. You apply the healing by clicking the Heal Button and it will reduce each wound by 1 and update the total and report it to the Chat Window.

So other than healing rate, what else is different?
In Domesday:

you have a Patron - text field only.
you may have some Imbalance - text field only
you may have more than one living/profession
starting ability scores are higher (for both PCs and NPCs)

They are the primary differences. This Ruleset was written for Domesday so it can be used fully for the older version by ignoring the small number of extra fields.

The major non mechanical differences between the two are the time period (which does also affect equipment to some degree) and the Domesday element...




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[GunnarGreybeard]

Nice. This looks like it would fit in well with the Lionheart module from Columbia Games although that module covers the 1190's. Not too far off though.

[damned]

i ran a test session using a period adventure sourced off rpgnow... the system is pretty flexible.

[damned]

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[Arion]

The ruleset will be for the new version correct?

It is, but it should not be much of a problem to use it for the original. The newer version is a much tighter game however.

This is a seriously good FG ruleset...

[Arion]

I have now updated the free quickstart adventure with a FG Module containing all of the details needed to play.

You can get the whole package here:

https://www.rpgnow.com/product/134783/Maelstrom-Domesday-Quickstart

[Nylanfs]

Awesome :)

[damned]

Current ruleset attached.

[Nylanfs]

You might want to make a note that it has a FG module with it. :)

[damned]

it doesnt - the module is available from rpgnow/drivethrurpg/obs...
i will release a module and pre-gens for it at some point...

[Nylanfs]

Right, I mean that RPGNow doesn't say that it includes a FG module with it. :)

[Arion]

Right, I mean that RPGNow doesn't say that it includes a FG module with it. :)

Drat...i knew i had forgotten something... I have done that now. I still need to finish off the pregen characters and export those, but otherwise it is all there.

[damned]

Arion I have sent you several emails over the past 6 months without reply - are you getting my emails or am I not getting yours?

[damned]

Latest ruleset here: https://www.fg-con.com/maelstrom-rpg-maelstrom-domesday/
v0.98 is now available with some significant improvements.

And a one shot this Saturday 27th June with room for one more -

[FGDAZE] Maelstrom - Fencing Masters - Noobs Welcome (1 spot available)
FGDaze One Shot - Fencing Masters. This is a one shot session for FG Daze and will run for 4 hours. No Fantasy Grounds or Ruleset experience is required. Pregens supplied. Headset and Mic required. Please have Fantasy Grounds and Teamspeak installed and updated prior to joining the session.
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/calendar/?id=1457

[GunnarGreybeard]

Thinking I might have posted this in a lesser tracked section of the forums so thought maybe I should post it here . . .

For those thinking about getting a copy of Maelstrom Domesday (the game rules not the FG ruleset, the ruleset is free) then you might want to head over to either RPGNow (https://www.rpgnow.com/product/120361/Maelstrom-Domesday) or DriveThruRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/120361/Maelstrom-Domesday) as they have it on sale at 40% off.

[damned]

v0.99 added to Post #1.
Updated to work with CoreRPG v3.3.x
One feature rolled back as I didnt have time to fix/troubleshoot properly.
Should be fully working again now.

[Jay_NOLA]

Major thanks.
I'm looking forward to trying it out.

I hope people go grab the Bundle of Holding for the game now.

[Bifford]

Hi there!

Damned - any chance of a check over with it in FGU?

[damned]

Its not high on my priority list.... :(