[30-Jun-21 07:32 PM] Smalls#4453
I am C. Scott Smallwood, writer and designer, of Creative Spheres. My wife and I make TTRPG games, products, and art. KINOPEA is a new urban tabletop roleplaying game from Creative Spheres Studios, written by C. Scott Smallwood with art done by Michelle Smallwood. It is an examination of life within a fantasy Roman/Byzantine-style city through cooperative old-school style roleplay. KINOPEA allows you to play out a variety of styles, including picaresque, heist, political intrigue, and mysteries. Aether-management is a primary component of the game.
[30-Jun-21 07:34 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
(Just a reminder to please give us a (done) when you’re ready for questions. 🙂 )
[30-Jun-21 07:34 PM] Smalls#4453
I knew I’d mess that up!
[30-Jun-21 07:34 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Heh. No worries. 🙂
[30-Jun-21 07:35 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Ready for questions, then?
[30-Jun-21 07:35 PM] Smalls#4453
Certainly.
[30-Jun-21 07:35 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Great! The floor is open to questions!
[30-Jun-21 07:35 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
What sort of fantasy would you say this is? (As in high, low, dark, etc.)
[30-Jun-21 07:37 PM] Smalls#4453
I’d call it a high fantasy product, which is surprising for me, because I try to stay just a little less than high and a little more than low. The point is that you are a citizen (possibly non-citizen) of a Roman/Byzantine city, in which you are trying to survive in the face of daunting, new circumstances.
[30-Jun-21 07:38 PM] Henry#3418
@Smalls Do you have a link to your current project?
[30-Jun-21 07:38 PM] Smalls#4453
A generation ago, your people were in a pitched battle for their civilization and lost. Kinopea was sacked and many of its riches taken. But before all was lost, a sorcerer who became emperor made a devil’s bargain to give your people the edge.
[30-Jun-21 07:38 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 07:39 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry We have the kickstarter print-run, we attempted. Unfortunately, life took over and I’ve had very, very little time to market between work and real-life responsibilities. http://kck.st/2S0fjhn
[30-Jun-21 07:40 PM] Smalls#4453
It will likely not fund for printing. Once that’s over, I intend on offering it through https://creativespheres.itch.io/ for PDF with Print on Demand through Lulu
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[30-Jun-21 07:40 PM] Smalls#4453
Done)
[30-Jun-21 07:41 PM] Henry#3418
Time is the currency of life. @Smalls Why should people spend their time on your Kinopea? In a flooded market of RPG’s what does your game provide more than any other, what makes your game unique and why should people play it more than any other?
[30-Jun-21 07:42 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Kudos for not giving up, @Smalls!
[30-Jun-21 07:43 PM] Smalls#4453
Kinopea is an easy-to-learn, rules-light product with a procedural neighborhood generation system. It’s meant to be picked up and played quickly. Additionally, it facilitates a number of playstyles. To an extent, I see it, personally, as blend of VTM, Fate, B/X, with gangs of Necromunda potential. A friend looks like he’s going to play a heist series with it. Another has talked about exploring the Aether mysteries.
[30-Jun-21 07:43 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 07:43 PM] Henry#3418
Is your System unique to this setting?
[30-Jun-21 07:44 PM] Smalls#4453
@Dan Davenport Thank you. I thought I was going to have going to have much more time than I did.
[30-Jun-21 07:45 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry Yes, it’s a paring down of a system I’ve been working and refining since 2009. I wanted to breakdown my personal design biases and decision making. At it’s heart, it’s a d20 roll under system with 4 stats; it has no levels or classes. Kinopea started a complete overhaul and streamlining of a rather bloated idea been building toward.
[30-Jun-21 07:46 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Who are the PCs, and (generally speaking) what do they do?
[30-Jun-21 07:46 PM] Henry#3418
What is the systems base? Dice based? Pool? something else?
[30-Jun-21 07:48 PM] Smalls#4453
@Dan Davenport You are taking on the role of a Lustarai who is developed randomly through character creation as a means to draw you in the game world. Your goal is to make it through the day without falling prey to aether sickness or violence.
[30-Jun-21 07:49 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry The system is d20-based. Aside from 3d6 at character creation, you likely won’t need to worry over other dice again.
[30-Jun-21 07:49 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
What is a Lustarai?
[30-Jun-21 07:49 PM] Smalls#4453
Directly from the book: “All Lustarai are fay. They stand between 5’8” and 6’2”. Their skin tones range from a ruddy pink to a deep marron, with eye colors varying from blue and red to violet. Hair colors range from pink and purple to black. Additionally, they have strange, shimmering markings, which are unique to each person. Their ears are long and pointed, like other fay.
Prior to Emperor Alexianos’ ritual, Lustarai had olive to dark brown skin tones, hazel to brown eyes, and brown hair. Every fay of Lustarai ancestry experienced this change, having been infused with powerful Aether magic. Each Lustarai gained the ability to wield magic but became reliant upon it to live comfortably.
[30-Jun-21 07:49 PM] Henry#3418
Similar to classic D&D?
[30-Jun-21 07:50 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry, yes, but without classes or levels.
[30-Jun-21 07:50 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
What caused the change you mentioned?
[30-Jun-21 07:51 PM] Smalls#4453
A copy of the cover detailing a Lustarai couple.
{Attachments}
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/780948065367490590/859959321612648478/E1bjsx5WQAENTbb.png
[30-Jun-21 07:52 PM] Smalls#4453
A magical ritual performed by the Emperor Alexianos I and his allies connected the people to an Aether node at the heart of the city. This node had been used throughout the years to power wondrous magical devices, create magical texts, and other magnificent items.
[30-Jun-21 07:53 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
So can the citizens not leave the city?
[30-Jun-21 07:55 PM] Smalls#4453
They can, but they risk missing out on aetherfigs, which are only grown in Lustarai cities. Each month a festival occurs around the middle of the month. Called the Cura Cerealis (based off the real thing), you can only participate if you are citizen of the city in which you live. If you are considered Peregrinoi (an outsider), you do not receive a monthly ration. This is nearly a death sentence, and peregrinoi often earn fruit as a wage instead of coin.
{Attachments}
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/780948065367490590/859960494457487420/Kinopea_CSheet.pdf
[30-Jun-21 07:56 PM] Henry#3418
@Smalls The question must come, why not 5e and if not 5e why not one of its well-known competitors? Such as Power by the Apocalypse, Savage Worlds or Fate? Why put in the massive work that is making a unique system?
[30-Jun-21 07:56 PM] Smalls#4453
I’ve attached the character sheet.
[30-Jun-21 07:57 PM] Smalls#4453
I’m not a fan of the 5e power curve personally. As far as the others, I using concepts from Fate (traits are stunts, basically). In regards to my system? It’s what we play and we enjoy it; Kinopea works well for its aim.
[30-Jun-21 07:58 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Who are the antagonists in this setting?
[30-Jun-21 08:00 PM] Smalls#4453
In my head, the city and its structures. I’ve included Hippodrome horse-racing rules (like Rome) with teams funded by political parties, who are vying for prestige and honor with their sport. Sometimes that competition spills out into the city.
[30-Jun-21 08:01 PM] Smalls#4453
Other times, the PCs may be interested in a heist game, where soldiers are the antagonist. Heroic games may deal with corruption and vice.
[30-Jun-21 08:02 PM] Smalls#4453
Picaresque likely with brush into mafia-like scenarios. My goal was to offer the bones of a city for your table to build and explore during play. (done)
[30-Jun-21 08:03 PM] Henry#3418
What is your least favourite aspect of Kinopea?
[30-Jun-21 08:03 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
What other races/species exist in this setting?
[30-Jun-21 08:04 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry Kinopea is a “historical product” in terms of my setting in general. It’s event are occurring about 250-350 years before the present of my setting. Keeping that straight in my head can be a bit of a curveball from time to time.
[30-Jun-21 08:05 PM] Smalls#4453
@Dan Davenport In Kinopea itself, you can encounter barbarian guards from the north who are hired hands of the emperors and other nobility.
[30-Jun-21 08:05 PM] Henry#3418
Imagine @Smalls
Imagine Kinopea has gone triple platinum, people no longer say I am going to play D&D they say Kinopea instead. People cosplay as characters from your game and people wear merch about Kinopea like Nirvana T-Shirts. Usually followed by comments like oh I love that Rome show. Imaging that.
- How does it make you feel?
- What is the thing that gets you in trouble?
- What is the one thing you loved from your game that now makes you cringe?
[30-Jun-21 08:06 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Are they human?
[30-Jun-21 08:06 PM] Smalls#4453
You also have the Rivenoi (masc. Rivenus; fem. Rivena). These are individuals who have fall into Aether sickness. Think magical zombies who eat Aether, instead of brains. Mana wraiths and wyrms are present as well.
[30-Jun-21 08:08 PM] Smalls#4453
@Dan Davenport The Lustarai, Kiryu, and Gjålies (the northern barbarians) are fay. My goal is purely anthropological there.
[30-Jun-21 08:09 PM] Smalls#4453
- How does it make you feel?
I’d be totally happy about it. I think I’ve got a solid product that details a fairly accurately themed late Roman setting.
- What is the thing that gets you in trouble?
Overall, Kinopea is a step to the larger system that will house the Matter of Elbe, which a much larger continent, with levels, classes, and a few more rules.
- What is the one thing you loved from your game that now makes you cringe?
[30-Jun-21 08:10 PM] Smalls#4453
As for no. 3, I worry about a connection to a Walking Dead-like story, which is not really something I was going for, but is a valid play style.
[30-Jun-21 08:13 PM] Smalls#4453
Additionally, I worry about the Aether system being almost too analogous to the ‘blood system’ from VtM’s 2e/3e.
[30-Jun-21 08:13 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 08:14 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Is Aether akin to magic points?
[30-Jun-21 08:14 PM] Henry#3418
What is the one thing you wished people asked about Kinopea but haven’t yet?
[30-Jun-21 08:16 PM] Smalls#4453
Yes. If you open the character sheet, you’ll see the Insight stat. Your Aether is half your Insight plus any modifier (or trait).
[30-Jun-21 08:17 PM] Smalls#4453
It is used to cast spells, recharge Aetheres (magitech) and grimoire. You can share it with others. But it cannot be restored unless you eat aether figs, drink wine made from the fruit, drain it from others, Aetheres or grimoire.
[30-Jun-21 08:18 PM] Smalls#4453
Once you hit 0 Aether, you have 2d6 turns to restore some before the Sickness sets in.
[30-Jun-21 08:18 PM] Smalls#4453
You can also use Aether to succeed on a failed roll that is not a natural 20.
[30-Jun-21 08:19 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
What are some forms that magitech takes?
[30-Jun-21 08:19 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
(brb)
[30-Jun-21 08:19 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry That’s a good question. Let me think a little longer and circle back to it.
[30-Jun-21 08:20 PM] Smalls#4453
@Dan Davenport Bardas’ Wandering Eye. This is a small brass ball. When activated, small wings sprout from it. It remains active for I rounds during which it records all sights and sounds within Near range for AE rounds. This can be replayed on command. It will try to return to its user before deactivating. Latent Aether: 10. — this is an example from the book
[30-Jun-21 08:20 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry The magic system.
[30-Jun-21 08:21 PM] Smalls#4453
I think I’d like to have a question about it. @Dan Davenport I means Insight; AE means Aether.
[30-Jun-21 08:22 PM] Henry#3418
@Smalls Can you tell us a bit about your magic system?
[30-Jun-21 08:22 PM] Smalls#4453
Latent Aether is number of charges it has. You can siphon Aether to restore your own, use the device, and so on. If it hits zero, the device is destroyed.
[30-Jun-21 08:22 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
(back)
[30-Jun-21 08:24 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry Spells are freeform and cast as you need them. You cast using an Insight check and you spend Aether to cast them. The more Aether you spend, the more powerful the spell.
[30-Jun-21 08:24 PM] Smalls#4453
Anchor. Touch an object; it becomes the target of all magic cast near it for AE rounds.
[30-Jun-21 08:25 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 08:25 PM] Henry#3418
@Smalls I have asked you a few questions and I hope they have been helpful, so this is my…
Final Question. What are people not talking about in the Roleplaying community that should be and why?
[30-Jun-21 08:29 PM] Smalls#4453
@Henry Most definitely! Thank you. I don’t particularly like speaking for a community as a whole and this isn’t something I’ve thought much about. I have my pet subjects personally that are informed my dayjob.
[30-Jun-21 08:31 PM] Henry#3418
Well how you see it
[30-Jun-21 08:34 PM] Smalls#4453
I think great in-roads have been made to develop more inclusive and diverse environments within TTRPGs, but I think, very much, that we still have much further to go. Designers need to listen and understand a difference between intent and impact, and how both can be negative.
[30-Jun-21 08:35 PM] Smalls#4453
As for other topics, you can hear me on Dice Geek’s podcast here soon talking about a variety of topics associated with archaeology and looting in gaming.
[30-Jun-21 08:36 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 08:37 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Looking at your character sheet, I see Abilities (attributes?), but no skills. Is the entire game Ability-based?
[30-Jun-21 08:37 PM] Smalls#4453
Yes. Your Traits provide you customizable boosts and kickers to increase your abilities with particular abilities.
[30-Jun-21 08:39 PM] Smalls#4453
The point of this particular game and setting is to be simple, direct, and to the point. These are things that until ‘A State of Being’, I wasn’t very good at. Thanks to some honest friends and editors, I’ve refined my writing style.
[30-Jun-21 08:40 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
So what would a skilled archer look like, system-wise?
[30-Jun-21 08:40 PM] Smalls#4453
A far more advanced, but similar product, will be coming soon. It is called Høglund. It takes place in Gjalish lands, involves classes and levels (renown), and flyting/boasting battles at the Mead Hall.
[30-Jun-21 08:43 PM] Smalls#4453
A skilled archer would have decent Agility and associated traits; e.g. Sniper, where they get a +2 bonus to attacks made against targets at Far range, or Sharpshooter, who gets a bonus to attacks made against targets in close range.
[30-Jun-21 08:44 PM] Smalls#4453
Another trait may be ‘Rapid Fire’, where once per Long Rest (I do like THAT terminology 😉 ) you fire 3 shots in a single round. This one just came to me.
[30-Jun-21 08:45 PM] Smalls#4453
Again, Kinopea is a very simple system meant to not be very fussy at all.
[30-Jun-21 08:45 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 08:46 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Very nice. Seems simple yet robust.
[30-Jun-21 08:47 PM] Smalls#4453
That’s the point. Like I said earlier, the goal was to build a system that challenged my ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ mentality when it came to design. Could I build a system tied to a setting in a way that sucks folks into the game through the PCs and have it work.
[30-Jun-21 08:49 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
nods
[30-Jun-21 08:49 PM] Smalls#4453
The answer, in this case, was yes. Kinopea is my attempt at codifying the basic roleplay system we use. It was challenging AND entertaining. I wrote it in about 3 weeks, completed initial editing in 4 weeks.
[30-Jun-21 08:50 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 08:56 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
How does combat work?
[30-Jun-21 08:57 PM] Smalls#4453
Initiative is determined by your Agility score. Highest goes first. Ties go to the player. Actions are declared up (low to high), then occur high to low).
[30-Jun-21 08:58 PM] Smalls#4453
Direct from the book: “To attack another being, you roll d20. Most melee attacks are made using the Vigor ability, while finesse melee weapons and ranged weapons use the Agility ability. Unless indicated by the weapon or spell, an attack deals one (1) damage plus your Vigor modifier. Extraordinary Success deals double damage, ignoring soak.
Soaking
A successful Vigor save soaks one (1) Wound worth of damage. Armor helps soak damage.”
[30-Jun-21 08:58 PM] Smalls#4453
If you take more Wounds than you have, you die.
[30-Jun-21 08:59 PM] Smalls#4453
(done)
[30-Jun-21 09:15 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
What is a weapon that does more than 1 damage?
[30-Jun-21 09:17 PM] Smalls#4453
Magic is one of those things that can. Gjålish axe (Salishtzikourion) and Composite bow deal 2 damage.
[30-Jun-21 09:19 PM] Smalls#4453
One of the things that is interesting (to me) is the connection between this product and future one. Where you are viewing these folks through the lens of these situations being new to them versus by the time Høglund occurs, you see a small settlement of Lustarai living in Miklavarad.
[30-Jun-21 09:22 PM] Smalls#4453
This is done for a few reason: 1.) the Gjålish mercenaries are call back to the Norse guards and soldiers who worked for the Byzantines and were called the Varangians, while 2.) in the later product, we see those who have left to find a place of peace in another land away from the difficulties of living within Kinopea (or other cities). Miklavarad is a bastardization of the Norse word for Constantinople.
[30-Jun-21 09:24 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Nice!
[30-Jun-21 09:24 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
In the time remaining, is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?
[30-Jun-21 09:27 PM] Smalls#4453
It goes back into the idea that I’m having people come in as non-human PCs. I want people to bring their own perceptions and biases to the game and take on a different role within a fantasy analog of the post-Rome Roman Empire (it’s important to remember those of Constantinople called themselves Roman, not Greek). I’d like people to get involved with it and experience a rather biased take on a city.
{Reactions}
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[30-Jun-21 09:28 PM] Smalls#4453
Understand that the difference between the two capital cities of the Empire is profoundly different, where Constantinople is a city built around faith and religious institution, Rome is built around its power and wealth. I’m definitely paging to that earlier city-style.
[30-Jun-21 09:30 PM] Smalls#4453
Otherwise, our goal with this system is to offer a simple, but meaningful way to interact with that setting.
[30-Jun-21 09:31 PM] Smalls#4453
With that, I want to say that I sincerely appreciate your inviting me for this Q&A session; it was fun and challenging to answer these questions!
[30-Jun-21 09:31 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Thanks, @Scott! I’m so glad you had a good time!
[30-Jun-21 09:32 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Thank you for joining us!
[30-Jun-21 09:32 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Usual reminder: If you’ve enjoyed this Q&A and would like to treat me to a coffee or two, you can do so at https://www.ko-fi.com/gmshoe. Anything’s appreciated! 🙂
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[30-Jun-21 09:32 PM] Smalls#4453
Definitely will as I can!
[30-Jun-21 09:32 PM] Dan Davenport#6715
Now, if you’ll give me just a minute, I’ll get the log posted and link you!
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