The G.o.T.H. (Games on The Hill) players are gearing up for our first game of Sorcerer RPG, yours truly presiding. We’ve had our planning session, and the game is scheduled to crack wide open in eleven days. Today’s post is our One-Sheet, describing our “game concept” if you like, thematic direction and the selections we made in customizing the rules of play.
One-Sheet
Notes on Theme, Setting and Genre. Mention any inspirational material.
Casablanca, the movie (1942). World War II real history was inspirational, but we are picking elements from it, not adopting real history wholesale into the game.
What is the setting: Location and Era?
Casablanca, late 1940. Crossroads of refugees, outlaws, deserters and resistance fighters from all over the world, war profiteers, black marketeers, corrupt local officials and imperious German officers. French Morocco is part of “unoccupied France,” but the Nazi army moves across and within its borders with impunity. There is some unequal treatment of Jewish people in the setting, some ghettos (Mellahs), but no transportation or concentration (yet). Jews can still operate businesses. Nazis are searching Europe for objects of divine power and sorcerous lore. Nazi occult researchers have turned up nothing real – with exceptions possible.
The events of this game will not be a proxy for the greater war at hand. The players are not trying to defeat the Nazis single-handedly. This game will be about the personal plights of the player characters – as any Sorcerer game should be – and the war is just part of the setting.
What are Demons?
Impossible beings, with fetishes that they want to play out in the real world. There is no big demon conspiracy, although they can know each other, have friendships and rivalries. Like inmates of the same mental institution.
All demons can communicate by speech during the Contact ritual. Demons take on their Type upon being Summoned.
Demons take names when they first encounter the human world. Therefore, mix of biblical, Arabic, Sumerian, Greek, Indian names, etc. and (rarely) some modern names.
What are Sorcerers/What is Sorcery?
People who know about real demons, and how to perform the rituals of sorcery.
What is Humanity?
Sanity/Empathy hybrid. Your Humanity is your ability to empathize with others and to act with compassion. It is also your ability to maintain a reasoned connection with the human world and society.
What acts risk reducing your personal Humanity?
Victimizing someone (demons don’t count). Recklessly exposing the world to insanity or chaotic and dangerous forces. Anything that permanently raises your Lore exposes you to ever greater insane concepts, and requires a Humanity check. Contact, Summon and Bind rituals.
What acts can redeem your personal Humanity?
Acting in the best interest of others, even though it costs you. Destroying a significant source of sorcerous lore. Banishing a demon whose Power exceeds your Humanity score.
At zero Humanity, you are…
…a sociopath, a gibbering wreck.
Demons will…
…challenge and disrupt reality; bypass decency.
Humanity check to…
…keep your grip; understand others.
Rituals are based on…
…transgressing on someone; performing the ritual somewhere you’re not supposed to be, e.g. someone else’s house, or a public place. Creates a permanent incongruity in space/time at the location (insanity manifest, alien geometry).
Descriptors: Stamina, Will and Lore taken straight from the book.
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Next I’ll post the three character concepts, including backstories and kickers. Then you’ll really know why I’m so excited to start this game!
Outside The Red Box 
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