----------- The Tome of Andraax --- (Important Houserules for Shadow World)

[Micael]

---------------------    The Tome of Andraax --------------  (Important Houserules for Shadow World)
Today, I want to introduce a new category of discussion: house rules for Shadow World and fixes for unclear or unrealistic mechanics. Post your examples in this thread—situations where the official rules didn't quite add up, and you felt the need to create your own solutions.

I'll start with something that's always bothered me: the official rules state there's a 5% chance of an Essaence storm occurring daily near the PCs. This implies such storms are not localized and likely happen everywhere, not just around the characters. According to the Shadow World rules, these storms can occur underground, in the air, and even in the higher atmosphere.
Given this, there must be ways for wealthier individuals to survive, or even thrive, in these conditions, yet the rules offer no guidance. So, I came up with my own system.

Drawing from the RFRP core rules, we know that various materials can make spellcasting more difficult or even impossible, as detailed in the modifiers table following the rules after. It stands to reason that the same materials could mitigate external Essaence. Ever wonder why noble castles are littered with full suits of armor? It's not just for show—these can be quickly used to shield against the dreaded Essaence bolts during storms. Similarly, stone statues, sarcophagi, or even coffins could serve as protective shelters for common folk, as long as they're in full contact with the material on all sides.
In additions there are certain Arcane lists (Arcane open Arcane Barriers, Realm Law,  Spell inhibitors, arcanist: Power focus, void law, wards), that can help to deflect Essaence bolts-  Because the bolts make no attack roll and you have no RR roll and they are arcane, "normal" magic will mostly not help against them.
In Shadow World arcane casters are very rare and nearly all in organizations like Navigators or Loremaster.
Discuss together with us ion the ICE Discord Server, there you can see the details and stories: https://discord.com/channels/737958249936060416/750324220533145680/1306907881530069033
Have fun!
Micael

[Micael]

Welcome back! I've developed a house rule to give PCs the heroic edge they need.

In Shadow World, many NPCs—both allies and villains—are exceptionally powerful. This can create a disconnect when player characters, who may only play sporadically, struggle to keep track of key events, equipment, or preparations. Expecting them to meticulously plan every detail in advance can slow the campaign significantly.

To address this, I've adapted a rule from another game system:

Now, if your character is lying on the ground, dying from a poisonous plant or scorpion sting, ythe player can tell the GM that yhis dying pc had the foresight to purchase the right antidotal herb beforehand.


FLASHBACKS
The rules don't distinguish between actions performed in the present moment
and those performed in the past. When an operation is underway, you can invoke
a flashback to roll for an action in the past that impacts your current situation.
Maybe you convinced the district Watch sergeant to cancel the Bluecoat patrol
tonight, so you make a Sway roll to see how that went.
The GM sets a stress cost when you activate a flashback action.
� 1 Stress: An ordinary action for which you had easy opportunity. The Cutter
Consorted with her friend Chael to agree to arrive at the dice game ahead of
time, to suddenly spring out as a surprise ally.
�3 Stress: A complex action or unlikely opportunity. The Hound Finessed
his pistols into a hiding spot near the card table so he could retrieve them after
the pat-down at the front door.
�6 (or more) Stress: An elaborate action that involved special opportunities
or contingencies. The Whisper has already Studied the history of the property
and learned of a ghost that is known to haunt its ancient canal dock—a ghost
that can be compelled to reveal the location of the hidden vault.
More then one player can be involved in an elaborate action- the actions will be assigned to each player, so perhaps afew players can make together complex actions instead of one player doing an elaborate action.
Result and Handling of Flashbacks
After the stress cost is paid, a flashback action is handled just like any other action.
Sometimes it will entail an action roll, because there's some danger or trouble
involved. Sometimes a flashback will entail a fortune (Glücks/Pech)roll, because we just need
to find out how well (or how much, or how long, etc.). Sometimes a flashback
won't call for a roll at all because you can just pay the stress and it's accomplished.
limits of flashbacks
A flashback isn't time travel. It can't "undo" something that just occurred in the
present moment. For instance, if Inspector Helker confronts you about recent
thefts of occult artifacts when you're at Lady Bowmore's party, you can't call
for a flashback to assassinate the Inspector the night before. She's here now,
questioning you—that's established in the fiction. You can call for a flashback to
show that you intentionally tipped off the inspector so she would confront you
at the party—so you could use that opportunity to impress Lady Bowmore with
your aplomb and daring. Think about Flashbacks as sections, an author is putting into a novel to describe an action or timelinechange not known before to the reader.
Getting Stress Points:
All chars get 3 Points+1 /2per lvl everytime they level up- all unused Stresspoints are gone- in addition they can get additional stress points if they do the following:
Change a success roll at the first rounds of a dangerous combat to a fumble
Change a success roll for a important event roll from success to fumble