Kevin Borrup has hit Kickstarter targets for a tabletop RPG system called Burn that promises to be innovative, good for one-shots and campaigns and be released under a Creative Commons license.
The core mechanic in the game is, yes, a burn one. If there are no glitches, we’ll get at least a 64-page core rule book in colour and 6.14″ by 9.21″. You can scoop more on the pitch page.
Right now, you can grab the core mechanics as a name your price on something the size of a business card.
Four genres are at the heart of Burn;
- Pulp
- Space Opera
- Myth & Magic
- Supers
The core rules being funded by this campaign have primers for all four settings.
BURN is the name of the game and BURN’s main use is to improve your odds of success. Essentially, BURN is damage taken to one of the four STATs. To accomplish something, you make an action roll, trying to roll-under your STAT value. The base roll is 2d6 but can be increased as high as 6d6 for truly heroic or impossible deeds. To improve your odds of success, a player can choose to take BURN to a STAT to reduce the number of action dice to be rolled, on a one for one exchange. This choice is always made before rolling the dice. Fewer rolled dice improve your odds of rolling under the applicable STAT value. So, if the Moderator states that a roll is an Impossible 5d6 action roll, a player can absorb BURN to the relevant character STAT to increase the chances of success with each point of BURN canceling a d6 from the action roll. But, if you take BURN equal to the value of two STATs, it’s “lights out.” Each setting has slight modifications or add-ons that add depth. Setting-based rules include investigations, spaceships, space travel, boons, magic, super powers, and weaknesses.
You can help the indie project by shouting from the roof about it.
Backers who pledge $15 or more will get a PDF copy of the core rules via DriveThruRPG.
There are early birds, but the $30 will unlock the core rules as a colour softcover if they sell out. There are two similar tiers which differ by where in the world you are, and you have to suck it and see before you know which.
Step up to a limited $55 tier, and you’ll get the softcover and your name in the book. Above this level, at $135, there’s a retailer pledge and a t-shirt with a free game with Kevin at a hero $350 level.
The team estimate a delivery date of June this year.
Check out the comments below to see what other Geek Natives think.
