PNEUMATA: VELMIRE ACADEMY

Power has a price. Magic is intimate. School is lethal.
A dark fantasy RPG where students at a lethal academy soul-bind with arcane beings called Pneumatas to wield magic,  flirt with death (and each other), fight monsters, and maybe live to graduate.

Complexity Rating: ***

The Pitch:

In the 112th year of the 5th age, 3 rival nations navigate their politics in a world radiated by ethereal energy; a product of an apocalypse from the first age. As the world rebuilt itself from its former babylon, it not only became populated by different species of humanoid, but areas of the world manifested mutated monsters, ethereal ghosts, and grand arcanists of newly acquired magic. 

The most popular form of magic user is part of the military in the Viormont Dominion. Known as Abiters, these powered warriors bind their souls to intelligent ethereal creatures known as Pneumata. The Pneumata help these military officers cast magical abilities that help them lead the Dominion’s army, defending their lands from the monsters that torment the countryside, and the political rivals of the Eredax Imperium and the technomancers of the Zakara Veil.

The Arbiters are trained by the Dominion at Velmire Academy, a military war college near a forest that is rich in ethereal energy. You’ll play as a hopeful student that will survive tests and trials to become soul-bound to a Pneumata, and trained to become an Arbiter.

Tone and Feel:

Spicy, Angsty, Punk, Grim, Edgy, Adventurous

Themes:

Self-Identity, Resilience, Questioning Authority in a High-Stakes Setting, Relationships

Touchstones:

4th Wing Series, Shin Megami Tensei/Persona Series, Metaphor: Refantazio, Witcher 3, Final Fantasy VIII

While not explicit ERP, adult themes and content will be on full display. It IS college, after all.

Has anyone tried coming up with rules when it came to reloading crossbows or the black powder guns?

The one I thought of was having a 'reload time' noted in the weapon. For instance, a hand cannon needs '2 actions' for a reload, the black powder revolver maybe 3 actions. In that time, 2 actions need to be done at the table, either from PCs or the GM but during that time the reloading character has the vulnerable condition.

Thoughts?

Posting a bit of a creators journal both for feedback and possible future playtesters.

The pitch of the campaign is:

Pneumata: Velmire Academy

Power has a price. Magic is intimate. School is lethal.

A dark fantasy RPG where students at a lethal academy soul-bind with arcane beings called Pneumatas to wield magic, flirt with death (and each other), fight monsters, and maybe live to graduate.

The most popular form of magic user is part of the military in the Viormont Dominion. Known as Abiters, these powered warriors bind their souls to intelligent ethereal creatures known as Pneumata. The Pneumata help these military officers cast magical abilities that help them lead the Dominion’s army, defending their lands from the monsters that torment the countryside, and the political rivals of the Eredax Imperium and the technomancers of the Zakara Veil.

The Arbiters are trained by the Dominion at Velmire Academy, a military war college near a forest that is rich in ethereal energy. You’ll play as a hopeful student that will survive tests and trials to become soul-bound to a Pneumata, and trained to become an Arbiter.

Mechanically speaking, these ethereal beings power a PCs domain cards. I actually started players at a level 0, putting them through a few meat grinder tests and trials such as a dead obstacle course, a fighting tournament, and a trek into the ethereal forest to either soul-bind with a Pneumata, or add their corpse and soul amongst the undead.

Other game mechanics I'm testing, inspired by the ATLUS RPGs:

- Social Links: where the bonus someone gets from the help action varies based on how closely bonded they are together. Goes from +1 for total strangers, to a +D10 for the closest friends/lovers. Taking the time to bond with other characters, PC or NPC, becomes important... which leads to...

- Active Calendar System: an add-on to the downtime system where a student can do extra activities outside of study and training. This can include taking on side jobs in the city, mercenary gigs (on the down low, as its against school rules), research and projects, 'Friday Night Fight Club', and other extra organizations that can provide temporary bonuses to actions and traits.

How does this look so far?