The
Genesys System
By Jeff Clough <jeff@chaosphere.com>
A Free Universal Paper and
Pencil Role Playing Game Engine
Introduction
The Genesys
System is a universal paper and pencil role playing game engine designed to be
as simple and flexible as possible. It is intended to support modular
development, allowing others to create add-ons in the form of
“plug-ins” for such things as magic systems or super powers. The core rules describe the modern
United States, but this is done in the interest of making the mechanics easier
to learn and understand. The rules
can be applied to any genre or setting.
Among
the features of this system are a reduced element of randomness that makes it
more likely that players can depend on their skills and tactics to see them
through a challenge, and mechanics designed to represent a character’s
“off screen” time, providing a way to quickly resolve some situations
that might normally eat up large amounts of game time or remove some characters
from the action. It is also very
easy to learn and run.
At
present (10/25/2009) the Genesys System is in beta. I am actively soliciting play-testing
reports in an effort to improve the system and get it ready for prime
time. The mechanics are now in
feature freeze and no new major changes are expected, but if you wish to
develop seriously for the Genesys System, you are strongly encouraged to wait
for version 1.0.
How to Use Genesys
Genesys
is designed to be a sort of “operating system” for your role
playing game. It is a set of core
rules that handle such things as task resolution, combat, and various other
things you might expect in a traditional paper and pencil role-playing
game. Plug-ins are designed to be
like tools or programming modules that you add on to the core rules to give you
extra things you might need for your game, like a magic system.
By
using Genesys, and choosing the appropriate plug-ins, game designers and GMs
can focus on those things that truly matter to them: the setting and those mechanics that
re-enforce the setting or otherwise make your role playing game unique. The license Genesys uses lets you not
only build new games for your own enjoyment, but you can also publish them,
even commercially! Many people have
an idea for a setting, or a new game mechanic, or a desire to create an
advanced magic system, but a lot of these gamers may not wish to invest the
weeks and months required to write an entire rules system from scratch. Genesys gives you a solid core rule set
so you can focus on what makes your game special. And it doesn’t restrict your ability
to later make money on your creation.
Current Progress
The
focus on development is now exclusively based on play-testing reports, the
system having reached the point where theoretical discussion is no longer a
benefit. After the official release
of Genesys, the primary means for improving the system will be based on
play-testing experiences. If you
would like to be involved in the development of the system, now is the time to
get started. Download the rules and
run a game for your own group, then join the mailing list and share your
thoughts!
There
have been no critical rules changes submitted or suggested over the last few
months, though work is ongoing and more rigorous play-testing is happening, now
that summer is officially over. The
current release (0.8.2) is the last “rough release” before a
complete re-write of the core rules document for clarity and better
structure. Version 0.9 will be that
re-write, with subsequent revisions being limited to correcting typos and
clarifying existing rules so that 1.0 can get out the door.
I
had expected to release version 0.8.2 along with a “surprise”, but
that project has been delayed due to other obligations. Don’t worry though,
work on the core rules continues to have priority.
I
hope to have version 0.9 ready by the end of the year. It is my hope that 0.9 will be quickly
followed by 1.0, but I’m not willing to put a hard and fast official
release date on the Genesys System.
The core rules will be done when they are ready.
A Call for Play-Testing
As I
mentioned above, play-testing is king and is especially helpful during the
pre-release phase of a game. Anyone
who play-tests the system in their own groups, and send me their results, will
be credited as a play-tester and will also receive my
undying gratitude.
Files
(All
files are PDFs unless otherwise noted)
Core Rules
Genesys:
Modern (Version 0.8.2) – This is the core rules document which
describes the mechanics of the Genesys System.
Genesys:
Modern (Character Sheet) – This is a character sheet for the core
rules.
Plug-Ins
Genesys:
Action! (Version 0.6) – A plug-in designed to provide rules for a
more cinematic/epic style of game.
Genesys:
Wizardry (Version 0.6.1) – A plug-in for a simple magic system that
easily allows for the creation of new spells.
Wizardry
– Magic Items (Version 0.5) – A plug-in to handle magic items
designed to work with Genesys: Wizardry.
Community
Mailing
List: To subscribe to the official
mailing list, send a message to genesys-rpg-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Alternatively, you may visit the link
below which also contains an archive of all the messages sent to the list.
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/genesys-rpg/
Everyone
who wishes to is entitled to develop for the system, and if you create such a
product I’d be happy to link to it here. Those people who create plug-ins or
other content for Genesys using its Creative Commons license are invited to
send me a copy of their PDF file and I’d be glad to host it here as a mirror,
as well as providing a link to your site and proper credit.
License Notes
The
Genesys System is ©2009 by Jeff Clough and is distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution 3.0 United States License.
You are free to use, modify or otherwise develop content and mechanics
for the Genesys System, even for commercial purposes, provided proper credit
and a link to this page is given.
The specific requirements of this attribution can be found in the core
rules document.