October: Cloud Empress Playtest Rules Release
A free playtest document, why I'm hacking Mothership, and more
This month I'll keep things short and sweet, with the biggest Cloud Empress free content release to date!
Playtest Rules Now Available
I've just released a free 28-page playtest version of the Cloud Empress rules on my worldsbywatt.itch.io! Inside the playtest book is everything needed to run a Cloud Empress adventure including tables and load-outs, spells, and new and new futuristic weapons. I'd love for you to take a look and share your feedback on Twitter @worldsbywatt or by email me at worldsbywatt@gmail.com!
Hacking Mothership
For Halloween, I've decided to unveil Frankenstein's monster (ahem, watt's monster). Mothership is my favorite and most-run RPG, but I've decided to hack it for Cloud Empress.
There are two primary reasons I decided to change Mothership's rules for this game:
First, I wanted to invoke a unique science fantasy setting and needed a system that would allow players to cast spells.
Second, I wanted to make Mothership easier and more accessible to play (both mechanically and thematically) without sacrificing its strategic roleplaying experience. I’m always trying to help queer and trans gamers find a home in our wonderful hobby.
Here’s a high-level overview of the rules changes in Cloud Empress (as of October 28):
New names for some stats and saves
Intelligence has been changed to Mind
A Heart stat has been added
The Combat stat has been removed
The Sanity save has been renamed Reality
Your character’s age is random and modifies your stats
There are four new classes, Sellsword, Magician, Courier, and Lordling
All classes start with 15 hit points and 3 wounds
I’ve created a whole new set of skills with a streamlined skill tree (roll advantage when using skills instead of modifying rolls)
New panic and wound tables that are more thematic and less medical
Combat has been sped up. Damage with ranged weapons are automatic hits (except when making a difficult shot) to speed up and intensify combat (adapted from Frontier Scum).
In the upcoming months, I’ll spend more time sharing why each change has been made. For those who don't want to learn any new rules, the Cloud Empress setting will also be compatible with the Mothership 1E. You can still take marines, teamsters, androids, and scientists into the world of Cloud Empress without using the new character sheets, classes, and damage system.
Press Tour
In the lead-up to Cloud Empress's Kickstarter launch in January 2023, I'll be sharing more about Cloud empress with TTRPG content creators.
I’ll be on the Wobblies and Wizards, on the Plus One Exp Youtube show, and interviewed in the Guac newsletter in November.
Cloud Empress was also covered in an article by Dicebreaker in September and the article was reposted by RPGNews.
I love sharing Cloud Empress! If you run a TTRPG blog, podcast, actual play show, or any kind of gaming media and would like to feature Cloud Empress or interview me, let's connect at worldsbywatt@gmail.com!