Good morning, and welcome to the weekend!!
Kickstarter Backers got this update this morning, and I'm reposting it here mostly so you can see how I make the donuts, the inside baseball --the Mojo. I leaned hard into not having access to branded characters, no Capt. America, Magento, Supes, JLA. The good guys aren't that organized. That's up to the players, you. Second. Antagonists. I'm gonna be antagonist-focused in this book.
When I launched this project nearly two years ago, I thought I had plenty of time. My plan was straightforward: take the Lifted setting, which I had already framed out in Lifted: Vault 01, integrate it with the Cortex system using elements from Marvel Heroic RPG, and we’d be good to go! PROFIT!!
Then, something happened. As I started running the game, I already knew I needed rules for character generation and advancement. While I was at it, I figured I could tighten up the Plot Point economy. During this process, it hit me—you already have Marvel Heroic RPG Primed by Cortex. Always have. This realization gave me the freedom to explore the shape of Lifted into its own unique supers game while still leveraging the robust Cortex toolbox.
In my software-slinging circles, we talk about the shape of design/solutions —this becomes the shape of a game in video game design. The idea is that you take your initial thinking and play with it, test it, prod it, and explore and iterate in that discovery space. Your game, your design will be better for the time spent.
Here's what's new in Lifted: Indomitable
Hx AKA History: Kinda like Relationships, but asymmetrical and evolves over time, just like real comic books. You'll also need it for that 'Fastball Special.'
Death: I’ve mechanized how characters can go out in a blaze of glory and how they can make a comeback later.
Entanglements: As covered in previous updates, these add history, enemies, and complications to characters in exchange for experience.
Tests and Contests: This is the primary resolution mechanic. Plenty of examples, a replay or two, and a Twitch stream are planned to teach and showcase these mechanics. Plus, there might be a collaboration in the works—super secret talks are happening!
And of course, the three most vital words in superhero comics: Antagonists, Antagonists, Antagonists.Antagonists: Like cash, they move everything around them. Their stats are a little asymmetrical from heroes.
Threat Dice: Time isn’t your hero’s friend. These grow every session the antagonist is in.
Agenda Pool: For antagonists with big ideas and grand schemes.
Cortex Prime is an RPG toolset that allows you to swap out options you don't like for the ones you do. You already have the Marvel Heroic RPG. Always have. Thank you for being so patient as I explored the shape of the Lifted game.
Here's my now sheet. It's unorganized and unordered but tidied up a bit for folks who aren't me. I work in Obsidian and Markdown. The italicized parts are maybes, in-flux, possibly MIA. The bold are Markdown links to completed docs. Regular text are words done. Next is to set the order of pages, get or cut the missing parts, and make the PDF. I fully expect to revise the PDF before we go to print. I'm kinda new at this solo designer gig! And the quote is actually at the top of my doc IRL. My people are the misfits.
##Lifted WIP
I. Lifted: Global State of the Lifted Crisis
Brief overview of the Lifted setting Intro
Explanation of the Lifted and their powerful impact on the world.
Overview of human fears and concerns regarding the Lifted
II. Cortex Primer
Task Resolution Tests and Contest
Action & Reactions (Alternate)
Challenges and Conflicts
Replays
III. Character Creation
Hx
Dx
Distinctions
Archetypes and Pre-Generated Characters
Sfx and Limits.
Character Advancement
Lifted Equipment and Gear
Exotic Gear and Technology
Weapons and Armor
Tools and Gadgets
Vehicles and Transportation
IV. The Lifted Universe
Lifted in Society
Factions and Organizations
Cities and Sanctuaries
Technology and Resources
Supernatural Phenomena
Alien Influences
Conspiracies and Secrets
Historical Events and Crisis Points
Description of different types of antagonists (corporate, governmental, criminal, etc.)
Antagonistic Traits!
Agenda Pools
Threat Dice [Scale] Recurring Threat dice
Agendas Antagonists don't wait.
The New Apostles FKA Loki's Get?
MKZeta Psi Program
RUBICON FKA Project Owl
Mjollnir PMC from Lifted vault01 -> Echo Watch ->Cerberus PMC
Dr.Clark/R3D/Murder of Crows- Lifted vault01
The Surge
Radiant? (Microscope)
Dr. Faust
Ancillaries
Spectres
VI. Game Master Resources
Session Zero. Running Sessions
Story Hooks and Plot Seeds
The Atlantis Conflict
Homo Evolutis - the Post Humans
Death of Radiant (becomes a Shade?)
Starter City that's not NYC. Maybe Detroit? Mjollnir has a destroyed facility there being re-built.
Managing combat and contests
Chess rankings
Tips and advice for running games in the Lifted setting
Guidelines for pacing and escalating conflicts
Suggestions for keeping campaigns fresh and engaging over time
VII. Appendices
Glossary of Lifted Terminology
Sample NPCs and character templates
List of suggested reading and viewing for inspiration
X-Men, X-Force Comics. "Morlock Massacre", "Inferno", "House of X/Powers of X"
WildCats, D.P7, Authority comics, COPRA!
Imperfects(Netflix), Heroes, The Nevers(Netflix), Project Power(Netflix), Code 8(Netflix), Jupiter Ascending, Darker Than Black, Witch Hunter Robin, FLCL
IX. Lifted Bonus Edition
Designer thoughts and practices.
QUIVER
Lawbreakers? analog Externals of XMen fame.
Peaty & Underworld Fam troubles - Lifted vault01
