The Matrix Awakened
Idea for running a game in the world of The Matrix.
Regular humans have 1 dice.
Expert humans have 2 dice, as do humans capable of being awakened.
Awakened humans have 3 dice and can leap from building to building.
Masterful awakened humans (like Morpheus) have 4 dice and can dance swan lake on the back of moving semi.
Agents have 5 dice and can dodge bullets.
Neo has 6 dice and doesn't need to.
You don't know what type of character you "truly" are. When you attempt an action, you specify how many dice you are rolling (which also determines what you can do). If you are rolling more dice that your character type allows and you fail the roll, you die (possibly with a penalty for rolling more than 1 dice over your level).
The only way to find out what level your character occupies is to interpret the subtle hints of the GM, or to die.
The GM's job is to carefuly subtly lead the characters from the role of ordinary human to ultimately acheiving their destiny, whatever it may be, through the use of carefuly crafted situations and subtle hints as to their true abilities.
Some Sugested Rules
Example
Morpheus is fighting an agent. Morpheus attempts to roll 3 dice to kick the agent across the rool (because he can). The agent attempts to catch his foot and throw him through the brick wall, rolling 4 dice (because that's reasonable for an agent). They dice off, the agent has one extra dice AND can do nastier stuff.
Having been thrown through the wall, Morepheus elects to dust himself off, stand up, and roll 4 dice punch the agent 42 times in the chest in one round (reasonbale for a 4 dice character). The agent elects to take whatever Morpheus throws at him, laugh, and then throw him through the other wall. Now they're rolling at an even level, but if Morpheus loses, he loses it all.
Regular humans have 1 dice.
Expert humans have 2 dice, as do humans capable of being awakened.
Awakened humans have 3 dice and can leap from building to building.
Masterful awakened humans (like Morpheus) have 4 dice and can dance swan lake on the back of moving semi.
Agents have 5 dice and can dodge bullets.
Neo has 6 dice and doesn't need to.
You don't know what type of character you "truly" are. When you attempt an action, you specify how many dice you are rolling (which also determines what you can do). If you are rolling more dice that your character type allows and you fail the roll, you die (possibly with a penalty for rolling more than 1 dice over your level).
The only way to find out what level your character occupies is to interpret the subtle hints of the GM, or to die.
The GM's job is to carefuly subtly lead the characters from the role of ordinary human to ultimately acheiving their destiny, whatever it may be, through the use of carefuly crafted situations and subtle hints as to their true abilities.
Some Sugested Rules
- The stakes aren't necessarily death, but something chosen by the GM, for example, Morpheus is captured.
- If you've got a gun, you get a re-roll.
- If you've got the advantage (e.g. surprise, position, a helicopter, or someone's helping you) you get another re-roll.
- In a training simulation, you don't die, but you also never get re-rolls.
Example
Morpheus is fighting an agent. Morpheus attempts to roll 3 dice to kick the agent across the rool (because he can). The agent attempts to catch his foot and throw him through the brick wall, rolling 4 dice (because that's reasonable for an agent). They dice off, the agent has one extra dice AND can do nastier stuff.
Having been thrown through the wall, Morepheus elects to dust himself off, stand up, and roll 4 dice punch the agent 42 times in the chest in one round (reasonbale for a 4 dice character). The agent elects to take whatever Morpheus throws at him, laugh, and then throw him through the other wall. Now they're rolling at an even level, but if Morpheus loses, he loses it all.