We're trying one more time to get a successful kickstarter project out there for Azamar while we wrap up the work on our end before going to print. The idea is to help cover the costs for promotional and review print copies so we can get some minor distribution and orders coming into our publisher down the road. If you have the time and are willing to pledge again, please head on over: http://kck.st/gxFtgH

- Jeremy

We want to thank all of our pledgers for their support through the process of developing Azamar! It is unfortunate that we did not succeed in meeting our funding goal, but we will get back up and proceed with the project bringing it to fruition. We have many exciting and recent changes to the project and will share them as they solidify in the coming weeks and months.

Best regards,
Jeremy

Over the weekend and into early next week, we are posting some more character sheets from upcoming systems under development. Keep an eye on the blog for updates.

The Cinema6 Framework document will be much tighter and smaller in final form than right now, serving more as a guide than a sourcebook. We will outline modularizations, which allow GMs to easily add or remove rules without having to interrupt flow or make major changes to gaming styles. The design of Azamar revolves around a subset of rules, and provides the possibility for GMs to use some but not all of them, based on game testing determination and the way Azamar was constructed, it for instance, does not use wound levels, instead sticking to Hit Points. Descension and Clandestine, on release however will have accommodations for both wound levels and hit points. Westward will use Hit Points to begin, but determination there is much earlier, so we have not made the decision with it yet.

The c6 Framework will remain and stay free as a source document for designing and creating games that leverage the basic mechanics there. Cinema6 remains a single point pool system, Cinema Points only, so there is no concept of force or fate or otherwise bigger points, instead the offset compartmentalizes the use of Character Features. At Character Creation or when "leveling" or improving a Character, the Character Features are purchased. You will buy a Character Feature to customize your character further, demonstrating greater proficiency in a Skill set, or perhaps magical or supernatural abilities. You will spend 2-7 Cinema Points at Character Creation, and 5+ after, to buy Character Features. Creation Only features are snazzy and provided much more dramatic and drastic benefits to Characters, where as standard Character Features tend to be progressive and have intermingled dependencies, demonstrating the conceptualization of levels, tree-branch-leaf learning structures, and the dramatic benefits of sticking to a specific path.

In game, Character Features are activated or permanent. An Activated Feature, means the Player spends a Cinema Point and the benefit of the Feature activates for a limited period (Duration, and at the Activation Speed designated) - typically taking longer to activate under certain conditions, like for powerful magical effects or supernatural powers. Duration is often depend on a roll, such as 1d Rounds. Permanent Character Features are generally more expensive, because they are as always active and cost no Cinema Points to activate in game; sometimes they deliver permanent bonuses to Attributes, other times it might mean permanent double Cinema Points any time Cinema Points distribute to Characters. The majority of magical powers, supernatural abilities, and major bonuses provide a core concept behind Cinema6 and the framework.

The biggest differential for Cinema6 with the traditional d6 RPG is this logical separation of supernatural and magic powers and abilities away from supernatural stats. There would be no Sense, Control, or Alter under Cinema6. Instead, it would have (for example):

Force Push, Cost: 5.
Description: Push one or more targets through the Force.
(Willpower, DR Easy, Push up to 1d in targets as if 8d (24) Push, every DR above Easy delivers additional “strength” gaining an additional +2d (+6) to the potential Push, at DR Epic, the Push is enough to rip apart blast doors, etc., Duration: Instantaneous, Activation: Immediate)

This funnels most powers into a single dice pool and helps to reduce complexity. As well, it provides a unique outlet for GMs and designers to create powers that focus on specific Skill Sets of a Character, for instance emphasizing a Skill of Sneak and creating a series of Character Features whose powers/abilities rely on Sneak as the basis. Not only providing unique bonuses to Sneak, but perhaps providing bonuses to social or physical interactions. Another “example”:

Illusive, Cost: 5.
Description: Through the manipulation of Shadows and control over the body, the Character can appear as if another person.
(Sneak, DR Moderate, The Character changes the shadows around the face and body, manipulating the way the very light makes them appear, if successful +4d (+12) Deception, Duration: 1d Rounds, Activation: 1 Round)

This would be an appropriate power for a video game or comic made into an RPG, such as The Darkness. There are many possibilities for Cinema6, and the flexibility and strength, as well as the simplicity in understanding, makes it ideal for creating large scale gaming environments and world quickly and easily.

Thanks - Jeremy.