Introduction.

It occurs to me that those not involved with this project may or may not stumble upon this blog. I should provide these passer-bys with an explanation.

This is a project currently being pursued by myself and anyone willing to contribute in designing and constructing a home-brew, non-profit based RPG. The rules are based on the Roll-n-Keep system devised by Alderac Entertainment and is found in their Legend of the Five Rings Role Playing Game as well as their currently out of print but fantastically designed and written 7th Sea swashbuckling Role Playing Game (http://www.swashbucklingadv.com). I am modifying this system, although keeping the core build of combat rules, character stats, and the wonderful system of "Drama Dice," to be used for a different kind of swashbuckling setting.

It all started when I was looking, out of curiosity, at the player made Mod for Hearts of Iron II (http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=255) based on an alternate history "what-if" situation in which the Central Powers had won World War I. This setting was named by the modders "Kaiserreich." (http://editthis.info/kaiserreich/Main_Page). The setting I am designing has copied this mod's political and historical situation down almost exactly, with a few changes here and there. However, I have gone further in adding ideas of technological advancement and social revolution.

What I have ended up with is something many people would label as "Dieselpunk" (http://www.ottens.co.uk/gatehouse/dieselpunk.php). It is meant to include all your favorite pulp-adventure motifs of the 1920s and 30s.

Airships are commonly used for shipping and pleasure cruises, and because of the greater autonomy of local regions in places like the United States, South America, and parts of the Mediterranean, air-piracy is also becoming more common. New advances in transportation and surveying have not only increased trade and scientific research but also exploration into undiscovered islands, jungles and archaeological ruins. Greater autonomy of cities has led to greater increase in mafia involvement as well as uncovering of conspiracies here and there who have to shift their focus toward local affairs when previously focused on international ones.

Revolutions in Europe of Syndicalist governments have caused a new cold war to spring up in Western Europe rather than Eastern Europe. Germany has reached a golden era not only in scientific and military advancement but also in economic imperialism and trade, filling the gap left by Britain in their revolution and the United States in their own depression. The United States itself is on the verge of another civil war between regions attempting to declare autonomy (particular California and Texas) and Syndicalist sympathies in the Great Lakes industrial region. The United States is barely holding together due to economic and social dependency, as well as a still deep seeded patriotism in part of the greater populist. Canada, now housing not only Britain's elite, monarchy, and greater part of the Royal Navy and Airforce, is quickly becoming a super power to replace American influence in North America and leading the Commonwealth of Nations throughout the world. The Ottoman Empire, now having taken back its territory in the Middle East, is quickly becoming modern caliphate of oil sheiks trading through German interests but still at odds with Austria and Russia. White Russia, although not in any particular place for hostility, is very wary of German expansion despite the recreation of the Polish buffer state and Scandinavian royalty in between.

In the far East, Japan is still on the rise of imperial power and gazes its eyes towards the Philippines and Russia, knowing that most of China has been annexed and bought by the German East Trade Company. The Ming Emperor still sits on the throne of the Forbidden City, but His Imperial Highness and Court officials must kowtow to the German economic executives in all matters, even if the Germans still do likewise to the Emperor out of respect and formality. While the Indian sub-continent and the Afghan kingdoms are still under rule of the Commonwealth, growing syndicalist and localist tensions may change that, particular with the advent of adventurers coming in from around the world to explore and stake their claim on new found exotic riches.

Africa is still sectioned off, but the Germans have made the greater claim with of Central Zaire and greater central Africa. Many adventurers are still searching out the jungles for valuble and dangerous discoveries of lost civilizations and exotic flora and fauna. South Africa still publically acknowledges the Commonwealth, despite growing Syndicalist sympathies. The Abyssinian Empire, succumbing to German influence, has taken its claim of East Africa and trades openly with its neighbors, becoming another rising regional power. Northern Africa is split between a newly independent Egypt wary of Ottoman takeover, an exiled French Republic in Algeria, and a still free and reigning Morocco. It is suspected that the Libyan and West African coastline are home to many pirates of both the air and the sea.

The Italian Federation in Northern Italy is controlled by the Papacy, virtually, in most international affairs, despite most local control belonging to secular governments. The international situation regarding the Church is growing more and more complex, but there are still Catholic nations, including Austro-Hungary, Ireland, Spain, and a great part of the Latins in the Americas. Many in the journalist community write about the speculation that the Pope may form a new Catholic Commonwealth of nations.

While the political situation is strange, even a bit alien, people for a large part have either become more independent due to reaction to Syndicalism and Imperialism as well as new found spirits of adventure and advancement, or more dependent due to economic hardship and dependency on greater powers.

Next is the martial skills. I want to get the skills done before moving to advantages, backgrounds, and "schools." (that name will probably also be changed).

Martial skills (not necessarily in any particular order):

Athlete ... PG 150
Explosive Guns (Bazookas)
Bodyguard ... SH 93
Captain ... PN 99, WB 106
Pilot
Cloak/cape ... CA 95
Commander ... PG 152
Sniper ... PG 153
Dirty Fighting ... PG 153
Fencing ... PG 154
Firearms, Small ... PG 154
Firearms, Large (same reference)
Hatchet ... US 96
Heavy Weapons ... PG 155
Knife ... PG 155
Chain/Chinese Rake ... CT 90
Martial Arts, Hard ... CT 88
Martial Arts, Soft ... CT 89
Dual Weapons, Exotic ... CT 91
Power Gauntlet ... PG 155
Polearm ... PG 155
Fisticuffs ... PG 156
Rider ... PG 156
Sentry ... SH 94
Sling ... CE 74
Staff ... CT 88
Thrown Weapons, Explosive ... CT 91
Waylay ... LV 81
Whip ... CA 95
Wrestling ... PG 156

I could use suggestions for more Martial Skills.

Basic Stats.

So far I need to go over the basic stats. I like the same five that 7th has, but I think some of them need to be renamed to be more in-tune with the pulp-adventure feel and could use some suggestions on this.

So far they are:

Brawn
Finesse
Resolve
Wits
Panache

The new names so far are:

Beef
Dash
Moxie
Smarts
Flair

These will probably change but that's what I have so far.