RPG questions

[heretic888]

This thread is for those that have questions about the rules in the Palladium TMNT RPG system (which is occasionally used or referenced on these forums). I will try and answer to the best of my ability... enjoy.

[heretic888]

guys, i cant answer questions if you don't ask them.

[heretic888]

fine... i'll just start typin' up stuff at random....

Question 1) How do I figure out my character's attributes or stats??

Well, to figure out your character's BASE attributes (excluding any racial or skill bonuses, that is), you have one of two choices:

-1) Either you can just 'guess at' the attributes .... however, there is a danger with this in making your character TOO powerful. I will explain what the attributes are and what the numbers mean in a bit. Or...

-2) The alternative is to roll up the attributes with dice. You get a six-sided die and roll it three times. You then add up the total. If you get an 'exceptional' roll, which is 16 to 18, then you get to roll an ADDITIONAL six-sided die with a possible maximum of 24. Do this for each attribute.

[heretic888]

Question 2) What are all those attributes and what do they mean??

-Intelligence Quotient (IQ): Indicates the intelligence of the character. The exact IQ is equal to the IQ attribute multiplied times ten. Characters with an IQ of 16 or better receive a one-time bonus to all skill percentiles.

-Mental Endurance (ME): Measures the amount of mental and emotional stress the character can withstand. Any character with an ME of 16 or higher will have a bonus to save against psionics.

-Mental Affinity (MA): Shows the character's personal charm and charisma. Natural leaders with an MA of 16 or better have a bonus to invoke trust or intimidation in others.

-Physical Strength (PS): This is the raw physical power of the character. The PS times 10 indicates how heavy an object (in pounds) a character can carry. A character can lift 30 times the PS. Exceptionally strong characters with a PS of 15 to 19 can carry 20 times thier PS and lift 40 times their PS. Soemone with a PS of 20 to 23 can carry 30 times their PS and lift 60 times their PS. Any character with a PS of 16 or better receives a bonus to damage in hand to hand combat.

-Physical Prowess (PP): Shows the character's degree of dexterity and agility. Involves overall reflexes, precision, accuracy, grace, and quickness. A PP of 16 or better is rewarded with bonuses to dodge and parry attacks and bonuses to strike (how easy it is for you to hit your opponent).

-Physical Endurance (PE): Demonstrates the character's stamina and durability. The amount of physical punishment and resistance to fatigue and disease are determined by PE. Characters with a PE of 16 or better receive bonuses to save vs. coma, death, and toxins.

-Physical Beauty (PB): Is an indication of the physical attractiveness of the character. A PB of 16 or better will be rewarded with a bonus to charm or impress.

-Speed (Spd): Specifically, this is the character's maximum running speed. The Spd times 20 is the number of yards a character can run in one minute.

[heretic888]

Question 3) What do the numbers for the stats mean??

They determine how good the character is at their respective attribute. Here goes: 1 to 5 is very poor, 5 to 7 is poor, 7 to 9 is below average, 9 to 11 is average, 11 to 13 is above average, 13 to 15 is good, 15 to 18 is exceptional, 18 to 22 is beyond exceptional, and higher than 22 is phenomenal (almost superhuman).

If you want concrete examples of the attribute numbers, just look at the profiles of other characters (especially the turtles):

-Raphael: IQ 12, ME 13, MA 11, PS 20, PP 18, PE 20, PB 5, Spd 15.

-Leonardo: IQ 16, ME 16, MA 17, PS 15, PP 20, PE 18, PB 11, Spd 11.

-Donatello: IQ 19, ME 15, MA 12, PS 13, PP 17, PE 13, PB 9, Spd 10.

-Michelangelo: IQ 11, ME 14, MA 19, PS 16, PP 24, PE 17, PB 16, Spd 14.

[heretic888]

hello?? does anyone have any questions about any of this???

[heretic888]

uhhh... bump?? :-?

[Kali]

Sorry that no one has any questions, heretic. However, I did edit the opening post in the Character Profiles thread to include a link to this thread, should there be any confused new comers down the road.

[heretic888]

well, it's kinda weird...... people seem to be willing to make up stats on their own when they are not impeded by any rules. but.... when i make up a section for questions: silence. interesting indeed.

[Kameko]

:lol: Sorry, heretic, but I'm still trying to digest what you've already put down. This stuff hurts my brain. :dead:

Btw, I am working on Cody's stats.

[heretic888]

ok, just checkin... :D

itz been kinda dead on this thread til now, yah know. :P

if you need any help, just ask.

[GK Punk]

Wow I thought I was the only one that still has that book, I haven't played it in years though...

[greensborohill]

Heretic, I was actually gonna ask you to email me the turtle stats, but they are here!! Would it be possible for you to email me all of their attributes?

greensborohill@hotmail.com

In fact, where did you get those from? Are they from the offical turtles RPG book? I've made up my own based on my perception of the turtles. . . poor Donny isn't very athleticly gifted! Do you really think Mikey is stronger than Leo?

[heretic888]

Heretic, I was actually gonna ask you to email me the turtle stats, but they are here!! Would it be possible for you to email me all of their attributes?


Those are all of the attributes in the game. There are only 8. However, there are Combat Bonuses for the characters which I have not posted. I'll maybe do that next.

In fact, where did you get those from?

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness roleplaying game.

Are they from the offical turtles RPG book?

Yes.

I've made up my own based on my perception of the turtles. . .

You should probably use the official ones so there isn't any confusion.

poor Donny isn't very athleticly gifted!

A Physical Prowess of 17 is nothing to be ashamed of.

Do you really think Mikey is stronger than Leo?

Yes, and so do the game designers, apparently.

[heretic888]

I'm currently working on 'revising' the RPG rules and finally getting all this stuff down. Most of the current combat bonuses for the characters will probably change after this..... laterz.

[Donatello007]

please post more on the subject. i would like to know more so i can actaully learn the game and play it with other people. I have created my character based on what you have put down. PLEASE POST MORE!!!!!! Thanks :)

[heretic888]

well... what do you want to know??

[Donatello007]

i would like to know what i do after i create my character.

[Kid Icarus]

Is alignment random or choice? I didn't see any numbers, but I figured that since basicaly everything else about character creation is random that it would be too.

Edit: One more question, can someone play and GM at the same time?

Thanks Heretic.

[heretic888]

i would like to know what i do after i create my character.

Ummm.... you play them :D

I think you're gonna have to be more specific.

[Kid Icarus]

i think he wants to know about the battle system... which is something i was gonna ask again.

is it turn based? what order do you go in? that kinda stuff.

sorry if some of my questions are n00b-ish, this is my first pen and paper RPG so i'm starting from nothing really.

[Donatello007]

Yea thats what i meant. And also i noticed in some of your other posts that there are different fighting styles. What is that all about?

[heretic888]

Whoa... lotta questions.

Is alignment random or choice?

Typically, you choose your alignment. Some classes/races have alignment restrictions, though, as do some martial arts. There is no alignment restriction for any mutant animal character, though.

I didn't see any numbers, but I figured that since basicaly everything else about character creation is random that it would be too.


No, its not.

Edit: One more question, can someone play and GM at the same time?


You can, but I'd advise against it. The temptation to cheat is just too great. :D

is it turn based?

Yes.

what order do you go in?

You go in the order of your Initiative rolls. If someone gets a Sneak Attack or Surprise Attack, they automatically get Initiative (as long as they are undetected, that is). If everyone is aware of everyone else, you all roll 20 sided die and add any possible Initiative bonuses (as far as I know, the only abilities that grant Initiative bonuses are Zanshin and Iaijutsu from Ninjas and Superspies). You go in the order of your Initiative rolls, highest to lowest. As I understand it, when there is a large group, only the 4 highest Initiative rolls get a turn due to time and space limitations in melee battle (a melee round is only suppose to be 15 seconds to the characters).

sorry if some of my questions are n00b-ish, this is my first pen and paper RPG so i'm starting from nothing really.

No worries. But you're going to have to ask VERY specific questions to get any answers out of me.

And also i noticed in some of your other posts that there are different fighting styles. What is that all about?

For normal mutant animals in TMNT, depending on their background, they have access to various fighting styles. Some characters have to sacrifice some of their secondary skills to take a fighting style. Fighting styles give you access to special combat maneuvers like Leap Attack, Jump Kick, Automatic Parry, and Body Flip/Throw. As you level up with a fighting style, your combat bonuses to Strike, Parry, Dodge, Damage, number of attacks per melee round, and so on also increase and you gain new abilities and better roll chances on existing abilities (for example, a level 8 ninjutsu student can get a Critical Strike on a Natural 17 or higher, whereas a normal character could only do it on a Natural 20). Different characters have access to different fighting styles.

You may also to choose to make your character a Ninjas and Superspies type character in which they would level up not under Mutant Animal charts but under a Dedicated or Worldy Martial Artist chart. When you do this, then you can pick one of the martial art forms from Ninjas and Superspies (which are far more complex and advanced than the ones in TMNT).

Hope this helps.

[Donatello007]

I have some more questions for you since i have never played in an rpg like this before. What do class/race have to do with the game? What is alignment? How is an attack started? How do you know what fighting styles your character has access to?

[heretic888]

What do class/race have to do with the game?

Ummm..... everything. :lol:

Your class and race determine what abilities your receive, how you will level up, what skills you get, etc etc etc...

What is alignment?

It describes the basic motivations and moral compunctions of a character. The alignments in Palladium rpgs are Principled (Good), Scrupulous (Good), Unprincipled (Selfish), Anarchist (Selfish), Aberrant (Evil), Miscreant (Evil), and Diabolic (Evil). Ninjas and Superspies also throws in the concept of including a discipline of honor (with the accompanying sub-alignments of Honorable, Non-honorable, and Dishonorable) and the Taoist alignment (very strange).

You should really read the book(s) before asking questions like what alignment is, though.

How is an attack started?

As I explained before, whoever has the highest initiative gets to attack first.

How do you know what fighting styles your character has access to?

It depends on their character background and/or class. In TMNT, there is a section describing how your mutant animal character may have been mutated and, depending on his or her background, they have a choice of what fighting styles to choose from.

Laterz.

[Donatello007]

Your class and race determine what abilities your receive, how you will level up, what skills you get, etc etc etc...

So if my character's race is a mutant turtle how do i know what abilities he recieves, how he levels up, what skills he gets, etc etc etc...
In TMNT, there is a section describing how your mutant animal character may have been mutated and, depending on his or her background, they have a choice of what fighting styles to choose from. so i just make up a backround according to that criteria or is it a somewhat standard thing that you need to have certain things in there.Then how do i know what fighting styles he can access?

[heretic888]

So if my character's race is a mutant turtle how do i know what abilities he recieves, how he levels up, what skills he gets, etc etc etc...


Ummm...... you read the book. Honestly, it sounds to me like you don't even own the book. Asking my the details of an rpg you don't even own and thus probably couldn't play in the first place is a bit odd.

so i just make up a backround according to that criteria or is it a somewhat standard thing that you need to have certain things in there.Then how do i know what fighting styles he can access?

Read the book. There is a section detailing your character's cause of mutation and story background.

[Donatello007]

There is a book!?!?!? Wow no wonder why i was having problems!!! Where can i get it ?

[Donatello007]

Does anyone know where i can buy it and what it is called?

[heretic888]

*chuckles*

Ummm.... try:

www.ninjaturtles.com

www.palladiumbooks.com

They should be able to give you the product information you need.

[Donatello007]

Thanks!!
The only problem is
"TMNT & Other Strangeness" Official RPG Rule Book - SOLD OUT and i couldn't find it on palladiumbooks.com
any other places. Or should i try the local comic shop?

[Kali]

You might keep an eye out on ebay for it, it shows up every now and then.

[Donatello007]

Yes actually i found one their right now and i am planning to bid on it. Thanks!!!

[heretic888]

If that doesn't work, I would suggest looking into your local comic and/or rpg gaming shops. They might have some in storage.

Also, you could just buy Palladium's Heroes Unlimited. Their rules for creating mutant animal characters in there is unchanged from the ones in TMNT.

[Donatello007]

Thanks anyway herectic but i just purchased TMNT and other strangeness along with 2 of the expansion books. Although it may be a little while before i have anymore questions for you because i will have to create characters and play a little with my friends i can assure you that i will need your help.

(I'll bet your thinking "o great a newbie to the game and hes gonna load me up with questions")

[Donatello007]

Hey Herectic, how long did it take you to learn the game? I am just starting to read through the book now, and it is quite in depth.

[heretic888]

It took me about a week to really get a hold on what I was doing.

[Donatello007]

It took me about a week to really get a hold on what I was doing. Really thats it!?!? Its gonna take me a heck of a lot longer than that.

[heretic888]

So, Donny, gotten the hang of the system yet??

[Donatello007]

Nope not really. I'm still just overthrown with all of it you know? I think im gonna try to take it one step at a time and read it slow from the beginning.

[heretic888]

alright. take your time and enjoy it.

[Space Tanuki 9]

I've looked through the TMNT&oS book, but I didn't find anything on this paticular topic:

Is it possible to creatre your own style of Martial Arts, in case you were a space creature, or would you use the nearest equivilent Earth-style?

[heretic888]

Is it possible to creatre your own style of Martial Arts, in case you were a space creature, or would you use the nearest equivilent Earth-style?

Either one.

Just remember when creating your own stuff, however, to keep it balanced.

[Mr. Stay Puft]

I'm a newcomer to this site, and I wanna get in on the RPG action. Where and how do I start?

"Are we turtle-men, or giant turtles? It's not like we were crossbred with humans or something" -Michaelangelo

[GRiM]

I love RPing over at www.mikeystmnt.com, but this is way more complex and in-depth. On the other boards there aren't stats like there are here. I already have a character, but I'm afraid alot of his abilities would make him unfair to use in this type of RP. For one, he's immortal. Two, he can kill anything just by touching it. I don't know how to apply the character to this rule set. Any suggestions?

[heretic888]

On the other boards there aren't stats like there are here. I already have a character, but I'm afraid alot of his abilities would make him unfair to use in this type of RP. For one, he's immortal. Two, he can kill anything just by touching it. I don't know how to apply the character to this rule set. Any suggestions?

If you could explain his powers in more detail, I might be able to come up with something.

Remember though that nothing is completely "unkillable", nor does anything have the ability to just kill anything else with a touch without any kind of contest or saving die roll.

I mean, c'mon, that just screams munchkin. ;)

[Newton Gimmick]

So long as you are willing to adjust, and in many cases downgrade your character you should be fine Grim. Your character seems to be sort of a take on "Death" but perhaps he should be a bit more like RatKing who is in a way, a "Death" character but certainly has his restrictions. Just a thought.

[heretic888]

Something like that.