- EORIS ESSENCE -
Tabletop Roleplaying Game
Essence System: Summary
Complexity
The system is extensive including many variables like species customization and long lists of special actions during combat. However, it is essentially easy to use.
There is little book keeping, the system has a simple mechanic used to solve all issues, but Character Creation offers a high degree of complexity including the possibility to invent/create your own version of vehicles and character species. It has over ten steps each with multiple setting related choices and the possibility to come up with your own version of things as you go along. It also allows Character to have pets or companions which must be creates separately as an independent secondary Character. It also proposes the idea of a species creation system that allows not only the creation of your own specie, a variation of your favourite specie, but also the creation of any form of antagonist.
The sheer amount of possibilities makes the simple complex to start with, but simple to handle once you get started.
Combat Dynamic
Combat may be fast and furious, so to speak, in the sense that Players and Narrator alike are constantly engaged on the events given the high mortality and injury rate of combat. Nevertheless, Character has many (no really, many) options to get out of tight spots, immediate defeat, or hard situations. The Parry action allows Characters that have already been hit to sacrifice their next Turn by attempting to block an attack that was already successful. This generates tense moments of swashbuckling slash exchanges that really generate intense and fun situations. If you couple that with the Transcendences (special actions), character may skip the initiative order and act immediately, act two times in a Turn (thus parrying and counter-acting immediately, use powerful spells while attacking etc. This later one may be used, for example, to power one’s own weapon with a surging veil of fire and then attack all in a single Turn.
As you may be seeing, combat is thrilling and full of tactical possibilities. But hard encounters may take time since both opponents and Character will have all these perks to choose from. This makes “boss fights” even more relevant and special and common combat quicker and less lethal.
The system uses a dice pool system with d20s. Eight d20s are needed to play. These can be bought in any local hobby store. They may also be ordered online.
The Essence System is a fast paced, action driven Gaming System that focuses on providing the Players with a large range of available options for Character Creation and Character Action. Based on the concept of Attribute + Skill=Dice Pool, Players roll D20s to determine the success of their actions.
Hit Points are determined by a combination of Attributes + Skills + Species, and Damage is a fixed number that may be multiplied by 2 with a critical hit or divided by 2 when the Character barely hits the target. Armour is also a fixed number that reduces Damage taken. Characters may roll dice to evade, and if they fail to evade, may roll to Parry. This makes the combat system very effective, fast paced and dynamic. It is lethal but at the same time provides the tools to "save" you Character from defeat thus creating a sensation of tension and drama. One die in the Dice Pool is known as the Essence Die and establishes special events such as a Critical Hit, a Botch etc.
Character diversity and a wide range of Skills grant Players the possibility to create the Characters they want within a setting that provides the rules to create Characters from 3 different natures; Xylen (mortals with over 12 species to choose from), Sil (conscious Spirits), and Kalei, (Spirits that share one mind and are part of God's unconscious will).