Tales of the Future

The Rules of the Tales of the Future

There are occasional situations where the result cannot be determined by roleplaying. For those cases, there is a mechanic for combat resolution that can be used. This will look familiar from our other Tale games.

This is so rarely used that we will run it as GMs when needed.

Character Statistics

Every character has three somewhat arbitrary statistics:

  1. Hardware: This represents tools, machinery, and devices. Robots are mostly Hardware, with their platinum sponge positronic brains. There is Software programming, but the Hardware substrate is at the root of every thought and action. A humanoid picking up a rock is using Hardware. Using a power lifter to shove an Alien out an airlock is a classic Hardware move.

  2. Software: This represents the world of the programmable. Most sentient systems are software based, including sentient ships with all their ancillary hardware. The thoughts of Enigmatic Ponderings of Universal Truths, one of the greatest sentient computational units in the entire Galaxy, is a Software triumph. Trying to open a locked smart door can be a difficult Software challenge depending on the sarcasm level of the door.

  3. Wetware: This represents squishy biological beings and constructs. Humanoid competitions of strength and endurance are clear Wetware tests. Genetic modification of a herd of H'roz to produce better meat byproducts, while completely unethical, is clearly a Wetware challenge. Enhanced mentalics through Lasko Radiation can result in supergenius levels of Wetware intelligence, if you survive the process.

NOTE: Volume 3, adapted from Across the Sea of Stars Tales, uses Diplomacy, Economics, and Technology statistics, instead of Hardware, Software and Wetware. The system works in exactly the same way as the Challenges rules listed below.

Challenges

Challenges, including, but not limited to Combat, are started by using the word "Challenge," preferably in a sentence naming the challenger and the target.

"I, Furlong Kilostep challenge you, Emotionally Distant to combat by techno danceoff. My musical Hardware will slay your cool."

"I am Emotionally Distant and my Wetware will remain that way."

Furlong declared the use of their Hardware statistic. Emotionally responded with their Wetware statistic. Each player adds their Hardware and Wetware scores and compares them. If both players declare the same statistic, double it and compare the result.

Ties go to the challenger. The winner can tell the loser to do one simple task.

"You have lost Furlong, and you bore me. Leave and do not return."

This might end the Tale in favor of Emotionally. It might add angst to the scene. The players should use the opportunity to add to the roleplaying.

Others who want to assist add one to the total of the person they are supporting. If Deth Weeze wants to assist Furlong, Furlong adds +1 to their score.

This is fast, easy, and can be run without the need for a GM. It will be more challenging in the virtual realm, but having one person (the person initiating combat, for example) take the lead and figure out what everyone is doing should keep this fast.

Deja (Thoris?) Vu

In fact, the Rules and Mechanics for Tales of the Future are identical to those in The Journey of a Single Step Made Quadrillions of Times. If you replace the Diplomacy, Economy and Technology traits with Hardware, Software and Wetware traits, the mechanics of The Tales of Irnh and Across the Sea of Stars are also identical. If you've already played in one or more of these LARPs, you know how the mechanic is used. It is not necessary to have played in any of those LARPs to play in any of the Volumes of Tales of the Future.