GearHead RPG
You can’t buy this kind of adventure

I’ve just uploaded GH2 v0.603 to SourceForge. I wanted to get this done tonight since Eunsuk and I were planning to go to Ulsan for the long weekend, but today Sean got sick and it now looks like we aren’t going to make it. Click below the fold for the list of changes. Read the rest of this entry »

A new release of GearHead has just been uploaded to SourceForge. There are some major changes this time around- I’ve gone ahead with my plans to streamline the character rules. The skill list has been condensed from 43 separate skills to 25 specialties. Conversation is no longer a mandatory skill. The rumor mechanics have been completely rewritten. The quest system has been merged with the plot generator. Needless to say, this release breaks save file compatibility. See below the fold for the complete list of changes.

Edit- A crashing bug was discovered in v0.600. I’ve just uploaded v0.601, which should fix the problem.

Edit2- I just uploaded v0.602, which fixes a few more bugs. Go get it.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve proceeded with my mad simplification plan, and I have to say that so far I like it. The skill list has been cut from 43 to 25. The talent list has been cut from 30 to 27. Conversation is no longer mandatory. The job list makes a little bit more sense than it did before. Now that all these things are out of the way, it’s time I sunk my teeth into some major changes. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve just uploaded GH2 v0.541 to SourceForge. The big change this time around is the addition of transforming mecha; other major changes include allies/enemies showing up in non-core missions and random city moods. Here’s the complete list: Read the rest of this entry »

My first print comic in 12 years, Voles of the Dusk, is now ready for sale. It’s 84 pages of post-apocalyptic manly-talkin’ rodent-flinging fun! Three stories are included: Voles of the Dusk, Scum Hive, and the previously unreleased The Vole That Dare Not Speak Its Name. All of the artwork has been updated and enhanced for print.

This book is recommended for mature readers due to adult themes, irony, and frank use of the word “sodomize”. Voles of the Dusk retails for $9 and is available from the above link.

You know, the discussion we’ve been having lately on the forum has got me to thinking about the character generation/advancement rules. I’m going to lay out some radical new ideas I’ve had which might make things a whole lot better… or they might not. At the moment I’m not seriously planning to do any of this, but it’s something to think about.

Before I start on that, though, here are some of the goals I have for character creation.

• It should be possible to complete the game with a variety of different character types. Not all winning characters should be identical.
• Outside of a basic competency at mecha piloting, no skill or talent in the game should be mandatory.
• Different types of characters should lead to different strategies and result in different playing experiences.
• There should be challenges and rewards for all specialties.
• Nobody can do everything. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve just uploaded GH2 v0.540 to SourceForge. This one continues with the deep adjustments to the rules of the game… Click below the fold to see which of your favorite god-skills have been nerfed. Read the rest of this entry »

If you want to get ahead in GearHead2 you need to invest a few points in Conversation. This skill is the only way to find rumors, and without rumors your character is doomed to wander aimlessly. I don’t think this is a good thing. First of all, it means that all characters must take this skill. Secondly, it forces the player to play a slot machine minigame in order to gather information.

To counter these problems I propose some new ways to gather information. This would reduce the dependancy on Conversation, while still leaving it as a very useful skill to have. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy Darwin Day! I’ve just uploaded v0.535 of GearHead2 to SourceForge. This one continues my meddling with fundamental game mechanics. Here’s a summary of the changes; further details below the fold.

- Fatalities and relationships are reported in victory file (arenascript.pp)

- Number of NPCs killed is recorded (narration.pp)

- Verbal attack has minimum defense roll (arenacfe.pp)

- NPCs shouldn’t fly off the edge of the map anymore (action.pp)

- Crash landing will happen before order input (action.pp)

- All purchase messages externalized (services.pp)

- Can buy spare clips by examining weapon in shop (services.pp)

- Cannot equip overscale items (gearutil.pp)

- Dungeon goals will be more common (navigate.pp)

- Added RevertPersona ASL command (arenascript.pp)

- Robotics skill should now work (robotics.pp)

- Added Entourage talent (ghchars.pp)

- Maximum number of pets determined by appropriate skill (ability.pp)

- PC can normally only have one lancemate of choice (arenascript.pp)

- Can switch between clock and tactics mode during play (arenaplay.pp)

- Lancemates will rapidly advance to minimum competency (arenascript.pp)

- XP awards no longer divided based on number of lancemates (arenascript.pp)

- Removed unused ProppAdvancement tag (narration.pp)

- All deadends reported so far should be fixed Read the rest of this entry »

The H-10 War Cry is a low end battroid from Hoeller Industries. It is a ranged combat specialist, packing far more firepower than one would normally see on a mecha in this class. At just over $300k the War Cry is more expensive than either of its chief rivals, the Galah and the Haiho. Read the rest of this entry »