What is a Role Playing Game?

A role-playing game is a game where people play characters in a fictional setting.  Like any story, there is an author who dictates or mediates where the characters in this fictional story go.

Like books and stories, role playing games can take place in any setting.  The old west, outer space, Victorian era, a world of fantasy, World War II, etc…

Unlike other entertainment mediums, the role playing game as an entertainment genre, is by far the most educational and dynamic. 

In the world of movies and video games, people sit back and passively watch other people’s ideas and creativity take shape; there is no outlet for the imagination, strategy, and problem solving.  At the very least books allow the reader to imagine what is going on, but the reader is only viewing the action, in role-playing, the player is an active character in the story.  Essentially, a pencil and paper role playing game is the marriage between books and video games, taking the best qualities of both.

The Narrator

In a role-playing game, there is one person who guides the others where the story will go.  In Odyssey the person is called the Narrator.  The Narrator’s job is to create a storyline that is both exciting and interesting enough to keep the players entertained.  The game is fluid enough to allow anything to happen, so the Narrator should not feel it necessary to dictate his players’ every move, in fact it is strongly not recommended.  His duty is primarily only to provide a framework of a story and let the players build off of that.  The other basic duty of a Narrator is to interpret and implement the rules of the game for the players

The Players

If the Narrator is a writer, producer, and director of a movie, the player is like an actor.  A player creates a character and decides exactly what he will do.  This character will be the player’s persona in the Narrator’s story.  Characters are very important to the Narrator’s story, for the player’s characters carry the chronicle along.

The player’s characters will meet other characters called Non-Player Characters (NPCs).  They essentially act as the supporting cast to the story.  These NPCs are played by the Narrator.

There are no “winners or losers” in the game of Odyssey, or role-playing games in general.  The question is then, “Why play if you do not win?”  The answer is simple.  One does not play a role-playing game to win.  One plays a role-playing game to have fun.  Honestly, I guess the term “game” is false.  It is more like acting in a continual story and it is all shot on location in our imaginations.

Game Support

For the game to flow nicely, the narrator and the players should each have a pencil, a character sheet, some note paper, and a standard deck of playing cards (which can be found at almost any store.)  The Narrator might also provide some music to set the mood.  Because Cail takes place in a fantasy genre, classical music or movie soundtracks fit well with the various moods created within the stories.

For NPCs, there are a few schools of thought on whether or not pictures should be provided.  This decision is also up to the Narrator.

Game Terms

The following list is a lexicon of terms that the narrator and the players will use during the game.  Experienced role-players will be very familiar with most of these words.

Ascensions: Negative powers that Cail Children receive. 

Blessings: Positive histories for the character.

Burdens: Negative histories for the character.

Cail Mass: The power Cail Children use to fuel their channels.

Casting: The action when someone activates a channel.

Channel: Truth imbued power possessed by Cail Children.

Character: The persona the player plays in the game.

Chord: Slower channels for Aquail Casters.

Chronicle:  A long story told by the Narrator.  This usually lasts for several game sessions.

Derived Skills: Specialized skills possessed by the character.

Development Points (DPs):  Points awarded to the players at the end of a game session.

Dice Pool: The collection of dice that is needed to perform a roll.

Difficulty Number: A number ranging from 2 to 12 determining what the player needs to roll with his dice.

Element: The Mind, Body, or Soul

Failure: When a roll is made and no successes are achieved.

Falling: When a player rolls more 1’s on his collection of dice than successes.

House: A family or fellowship of people who share a common goal that are given higher status among the government.

Narrator:  The person who has created and is telling the story that the players are a part of.

Name:  The name of a character

Nature:  The basic personality of a character.

Non-Player Character (NPC): Characters in a story that are not directly played by a player, but by the Narrator.

Player:  One who plays the game of “Cail.”

Primary Skills: Basic skills your character possesses (Speed, Strength, Knowledge, Truth, etc…)

Session: The term for your role-playing time (daily sessions, weekly sessions, etc…)

Soak: The amount of damage you can take.

Story: The chronicle you are participating in.

Stroke: Shorter castings performed by aquail casters.  They have immediate effects.

Success: Any dice in your roll that are at or above the Difficulty Number

Temporary Points (TPs): Points given by the Narrator for special achievements, or as a reward for anything the Narrator deems worthy. 10 TPs = 1 DP. TPs may be spent to increase your dice pool on any roll.

Truth Heal Level: Much like regular health levels, but truth-related.

Turn: When you can attack, defend, etc… Reaction is usually rolled to determine which character goes fist.

The Deck of Cards System

The game of Cail is unique in that dice are not the standard accessory to telling the story and performing actions. We have developed a simple, fun, and robust system that utilizes a standard 52 playing card deck.