Wednesday, September 18, 2024
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Side by Side
It's never too late to expierence truly hardcore roleplaying game
About
Unique design
- Focus is on the individual, not the group. Finding someone you can trust and move forward side by side is not a trivial task. When you encounter another player character, do not be too quick to celebrate — they might have different goals or even be your secret enemy. Forming solid and unified parties is rare and a luxury thing that requires significant effort;
- Learning-by-doing. Character progression is closely linked to attempts to do something new in the game. The character might need to make several unsuccessful attempts before they finally succeed in casting a fireball. A successful effort is a prerequisite for mastering the spell or feat;
- Permadeath. Losing character means the end of the campaign for the player. It makes participants much more careful and thoughtful when considering consequences. Courage and bravery now actually have value, as the player takes the risk of losing the character and stopping playing;
- A character’s mental condition matters. Unique morale system that considers one's spirit and mood and affects the performance of extraordinary actions. Personal failures lower one`s morale, while personal achievements, tasty food, the inspiration of a bard, and other things might cheer you up;
- The SbS does not intersect with any particular game world; it is universal for any fantasy/medieval game setting. GMs are encouraged to create their game world instead of taking a premade one;
- Watch the time. All in-game actions are measured in seconds. Faster actions happen earlier than long ones. Quickness attribute helps the character to speed up moves;
- The game world does not “freeze” when it is your turn. Player requests are carried out reciprocally, so individual actions cannot be made independently;
- Fresh and simple spellcasting system. There is no need to prepare spells and bother about spell slots. Mana is the only spellcasting resource;
- Eleven character attributes allow players to make their unique character build. The game has no classes. You do not have to wait for Level-Up to improve your attributes. Spend experience as soon as you earn it.
Game Depth
- 114 feats that can make special style of a character;
- 32 professions, including constable, tamer and sailor. Each profession benefits from two attributes and unlocks special professional feats;
- Fully described crafting system that combined within-game economy and pricing. Characters may craft their own weapons, magic items, and even construct buildings;
- Weapons in the game are divided into 13 groups. How well the character fights with weapons from a particular group depends on the character’s combat skill. 70 weapons total. 25 combat skills;
- 12 schools of magic, each contain 20+ spells and several passive perks. Players can invent their own spells during the game in agreement with the GM;
About
For those who never played role-playing games before, I should explain that this activity can be compared to reading a work of fiction, a novel or an epic in which the main characters are under the control of the game players. They decide what to do and what to say. The further development of plot depends on them. People often ask me, “what is the goal of the game”? The goal for player is to “read the book”, find out what happens next, and uncover the narrative along with the other players. Sometimes it may even become cooperative story telling. The goal for a character depends on the character you play and surrounding world. It might also be that your character does not have any specific goal and the player must decide what their character wants to achieve. Many players dive into power-building assuming that only those who wield enough power may change the world on a larger scale (in-game). For example, your character might want to go on a trip, stop an evil villain or become one instead, or save or surrender a city. However, keep in mind that the game is full of dangers and some characters may perish in the process, this is normal practice.
"Side By Side" is a hardcore roleplaying game made in Latvia. The game ruleset suits an online format (via Discord & Roll20) and an IRL tabletop format. The SbS system was developed and tested in the last 11 years in a vast international campaign that reminds MMORPG. The total duration of Side by Side games played: 10k+ hours.
Game Depth
- 114 feats that can make special style of a character;
- 32 professions, including constable, tamer and sailor. Each profession benefits from two attributes and unlocks special professional feats;
- Fully described crafting system that combined within-game economy and pricing. Characters may craft their own weapons, magic items, and even construct buildings;
- Weapons in the game are divided into 13 groups. How well the character fights with weapons from a particular group depends on the character’s combat skill. 70 weapons total. 25 combat skills;
- 12 schools of magic, each contain 20+ spells and several passive perks. Players can invent their own spells during the game in agreement with the GM;
Unique design
- Focus is on the individual, not the group. Finding someone you can trust and move forward side by side is not a trivial task. When you encounter another player character, do not be too quick to celebrate — they might have different goals or even be your secret enemy. Forming solid and unified parties is rare and a luxury thing that requires significant effort;
- Learning-by-doing. Character progression is closely linked to attempts to do something new in the game. The character might need to make several unsuccessful attempts before they finally succeed in casting a fireball. A successful effort is a prerequisite for mastering the spell or feat;
- Permadeath. Losing character means the end of the campaign for the player. It makes participants much more careful and thoughtful when considering consequences. Courage and bravery now actually have value, as the player takes the risk of losing the character and stopping playing;
- A character’s mental condition matters. Unique morale system that considers one's spirit and mood and affects the performance of extraordinary actions. Personal failures lower one`s morale, while personal achievements, tasty food, the inspiration of a bard, and other things might cheer you up;
- The SbS does not intersect with any particular game world; it is universal for any fantasy/medieval game setting. GMs are encouraged to create their game world instead of taking a premade one;
- Watch the time. All in-game actions are measured in seconds. Faster actions happen earlier than long ones. Quickness attribute helps the character to speed up moves;
- The game world does not “freeze” when it is your turn. Player requests are carried out reciprocally, so individual actions cannot be made independently;
- Fresh and simple spellcasting system. There is no need to prepare spells and bother about spell slots. Mana is the only spellcasting resource;
- Eleven character attributes allow players to make their unique character build. The game has no classes. You do not have to wait for Level-Up to improve your attributes. Spend experience as soon as you earn it.
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FAQ
What is Side by Side?
Side by Side is a tabletop roleplaying game that is made in Latvia. The game is based on imagination of players and Game Master. SbS Core Rulebook allows to launch exciting campaign and dive into the adventures you will never forget.
What do I need to play Side by Side?
To play Side by Side, you will need a Side by Side: Core Rulebook, a set of dices, and a group of players. You can also use miniatures, character sheets, and other accessories to enhance your gameplay experience. However, the most important is setting and scenario that would be used for the game. I highly recommend GM`s creating their own setting and plot. This will make you feel like the creator of the whole world.
How many players can play Side by Side?
Side by Side can be played with any number of players, although it is recommended to have at least three players for the best experience. The game can be adapted to accommodate larger or smaller groups of players.
How long typical SbS session lasts?
The length of SbS game can vary depending on the players and the story being told. On average, a game session can last between 2-5 hours. There might be exceptions.
Maksim Yanyushkin
yanyushkin@gmail.com
https://www.twitch.tv/unclescof
https://t.me/maksimlatvia
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