Virtually Real Overview
A Rose By Any Other Name
So what makes this system so special anyway?
Virtually Real is an attempt to give players more agency than a narrative style game, and more crunch than a simulationist game. It's not a "narrative" or "storytelling" game, because players aren't given narrative control. The system covers social mechanics, intimacies, desires, and cultures, but player agency stops at the actions of their own character.
Rather than being more abstract, Virtually Real reduces abstractions and turns many of them inside out! By removing abstractions, Virtually Real lets you more freedom to learn about the world in a logical manner. More importantly, rather than getting in the way, the game mechanics will help you think like your character, not as a person playing a game at a table.
Individual simple sub-systems interact together to model a world where risks and rewards face the same balancing act that they would in our real world. Thirsty for power? This system will tempt you!
Conclusions
The mechanics follow from the decisions of the character, not by the player using a list of "what can I do".
Virtually Real isn't just a new RPG. It's a complete system for role-playing in any genre at any scale. It's more of a toolkit. You decide what elements you need for the story you wish to tell. The book isn't a rule book, but a guidebook to show you how to map the world inside your mind to mechanics that will model it as simply as possible.
I hope you enjoy this system as much as I do!
Specifically ...
- Two book format: 1 Core Rule book + 1 for the Campaign Setting. Easily convert other worlds and settings for use with Virtually Real.
- "Capacity" system for easy control of power levels by controlling the "curve" of results. This core mechanic makes the rest of the system possible.
- Skills have levels, characters don't! XP is earned directly to each skill as it's used; no stopping to level up! Characters grow and evolve in a way that feels natural.
- Simple condition system based on saving dice (so you don't have to remember modifiers). This system also has a unique method of preserving game balance.
- Should advantages and disadvantages affect the same roll, then the conditions fight each other and only one set will win! You get what is called an inverse bell curve! This adds suspense & tension when the stakes are highest.
- "Occupations" replace classes offering all the benefits of a class system, but without the limitations.
- Tactical Combat based on time per action. Guaranteed to be unlike anything you've played before.
- Your combat styles, training, and cultural elements mix and match to tune your combat style to your individual character's identity.
- Special combat environments such as Virtual Reality or a person's unconscious mind! Not everyone is best in all environments!
- Unified free-form Magic & Technology system handles the creation of just about anything from weapons to magic to designer drugs or even songs!
- Simple and fast social interactions that don't get in the way or restrict options, focusing on player decisions but character skill.
- Cultures and Dispositions over alignments, with relative morality that judges no one!
There are unique mechanics in every chapter!
