Crown and Skull Character Creation & Core Concepts Explained!

[@aaronsomerville2124]

Pausing at 2:41. "Roll under"? My heart sank. I'll watch on but I'm reduced to a 0% chance of wanting to play this game. It's like if someone took a fresh, beautiful sub sandwich and then dunked it in dirty dishwater before putting it back on my plate.

[@PaladinProse]

I'm not sure how to respond to this comment, but I am sure it's an amazing analogy. 🥪

[@EdwinSteiner]

It should be straight-forward to convert any D20 roll-under-skill system to a D20 roll-over-skill or roll-over-DC system. The following give the same odds: *) roll at or under your Muscle skill of 7. *) roll at or over your Muscle skill-difficulty of 21 - 7 = 14. *) roll at or over DC 12 using a D20 and your Muscle modifier of 7 - 9 = -2. *) roll at or over DC 15 using a D20 and your Muscle modifier of 7 - 6 = +1. You can convert any skill value with a simple subtraction and the conversion has to be done only once.

[@Mankcam]

The easiest thing to do is say "Roll high, but dont max out". In this case, 'maxing out' is rolling higher than the Skill Value on a D20. It is essientially the same, except it's more intuitive when it comes to competing rolls (highest value wins, as long as it isnt maxed out) It also keeps a 1 as a Fumble, and a 20 as a Critical, which is something many people like 😊

[@Grimlore82]

You may want to allow some flexibility in your preference. I say this from personal experience. If you gate keep yourself into a d20 roll high only mindset you will rob yourself of so many outstanding RPGs. Remember, the more games we play the more well rounded player/GM we will inevitably become.

[@jcraigwilliams70]

Another question for you: Players buy things with Hero Points. This replaces treasure. What does that look like in the fiction? If a character buys a new sword, what are they "paying" to the smith?

[@PaladinProse]

Good question! In general, I've essentially been handwaving currency. If the PC has enough hero points to spend on a cool new sword, when the narrative calls for it, they can commission the sword and we just assume that they have the coin to pay for it from their adventures thus far.

[@oldercloudify]

I just received my copy. I love the book’s aesthetic and layout. Ambivalent about the attrition system, but I haven’t seen it in play. The authorial voice is a bit off-putting as well. However, this is a solid product. I with he’d provided the North Holds as a sample setting and given GMs the tools to create their own setting(s). The creator is probably going to do so in a subsequent book.

[@ogbang]

Dude, awesome summary of the rules! CnS is such a refreshing take on ttrpg scene, and MUCH needed!

[@PaladinProse]

Thank you Oggy, sir! Looking forward to rolling bones, soon 🤘🏻

[@PaladinProse]

Lemme know what character concepts you're brewing up with the free player's guide!

[@calvinawald1225]

Would love to see an in depth magic system video. The rules are a little too vague for my table to fully grasp

[@PaladinProse]

I'll see what I can do!

[@heroeshomebrew]

Sounds like character creation is very open for personalization in a way a lot of modern games aren't. I dig it, I might have to check it out.

[@PaladinProse]

Dude, I really think you'd dig crown!

[@heroeshomebrew]

@@PaladinProse I’ll download the player’s guide and check it out.

[@TravisGraef]

Garish gang sounds awesome. Looking forward to seeing where the story goes

[@PaladinProse]

I'm blessed with these players. Awesome, glad to have you along for the ride!

[@Mankcam]

Nothing described in terms of game mechanics is new or unique to Crown and Skull. However it all seems to come together well in one bundle, and it is hard tp fault the enthusiasm and creativity of Hank (the author]. I've just found your video and going tp be eagerly watching the updates on the Crown and Skull sessions now. Great summary, and good video 👍

[@PaladinProse]

Hot take - nothing is truly new or unique. Thanks man! Glad to have ya.

[@uid360]

Need to learn more about

[@Grimlore82]

I see those complete guides on your shelf behind you 👊 Enjoying your content and looking forward to more!

[@PaladinProse]

Ayyye thanks homie! 🤘

[@xStormbloodx]

Been looking forward to hearing about the fabled Garish Gang! Thanks shield Bro!

[@PaladinProse]

Thank you, too, homie! Stay tuned, their journey just keeps ramping up from here 🤘🏻

[@NicholasOnken]

Royce and a “theft of swords”? Sounds like someone is reading some Michael J. Sullivan. Well done!

[@PaladinProse]

Thanks!

[@liamarken3023]

Great video ! You've gained a subscriber ! I'm all in for the mechanics video. :)

[@PaladinProse]

Thanks so much for the support! Keep your eyes peeled 👀

[@kingjames3192]

ribbit gilliman lol

[@PaladinProse]

🐸

[@Jdufore19]

Crown & Skull baby!

[@PaladinProse]

Let's gooo!

[@jcraigwilliams70]

After reading (most of) the preview player's guide, I have a few questions: 1. A character spends Hero Points to learn a spell. It comes with 1 cast by default, but can be customized with more for extra Hero points. When a spell has no more casts, it must be studied again. So does this mean that a character simply narrates that they study the spell (when able) and they can cast it again, or must they spend Hero Points each time they study it? 2. Under Infernal Magic, it reads "Charred: Terrible burn... reduce skill inventory by 1 permanently." Would that mean that a skill is lost forever (but can be rebought/ replaced) or does the character lose a skill "slot" and they will only ever have a maximum of 9 going forward? 3. All of the Core Abilities seem to give a bonus, except for Spellsinger. As written: "You can never use ‘silent’ or ‘still’ spells. As a default, though, your spells work on a target that can HEAR you cast." As I read it, that A) limits the type of spells you can cast, and B) prohibits you from affecting non-living targets, since they can't hear you. The ability has no bonus, only penalties. 4. More an observation than a question, but... A character can carry 10 items. If they buy a backpack, it gives 2 more slots. But the backpack itself uses 1 slot.... So effectively, you can carry 10 items without a backpack, or 11 with one. That backpack must be the size of a small purse.

[@PaladinProse]

Happy to try and clear some of this up for ya! Please keep in mind while I am a playtester, I'm not a designer of crown and skull so I can't make any official rulings, etc. Crown and Skull also emphasizes the importance of interpretation and working with your GM to make the calls that feel right to you and your table. 1. At my table, I do not require that spellcasters spend HPs to re-learn spells, as long as they rest in a safe place. 2. If at this point the character already has 10 skills, then yes, they would lose a skill. Otherwise, they lose one skill slot, and can only ever learn a total of 9 moving forward. 3. Spells typically work at "touch range" at first. Spells that immediately affect anyone that can hear you have a significant advantage over spells that can only affect those you can touch. 4. You're right. The backpack can contain all of a player's minor trinkets, foodstuffs, etc. If they lose it to attrition, they lose all of these trinkets, too. Otherwise, players could pad out their inventory, and make attrition irrelevant very quickly.

[@primafacie5029]

Cool idea

[@PaladinProse]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@pixelamerica6601]

Do you have a good email? The second edition of my OSR RPG is in the works and I'd love to hear your take on it

[@PaladinProse]

[e-mail] !

[@cgilarno]

The character sheets you show, are they the ones you use in game? Or do you use the standard ones? The ones you show seem really clean and neat.

[@PaladinProse]

My fiance made those just for us with procreate 😎🤘

[@cgilarno]

@@PaladinProse ahhh ok gotcha. Thanks. Fun watch.

[@minibuscus2]

bruh when is your next episode I starved for C&S content

[@PaladinProse]

Tomorrow! Thanks for sticking around 🤘🏻

[@monkeymule1286]

In youre experience, whats the average number of slots a 50pt character starts with? Cheers mate.

[@PaladinProse]

What do you mean by slots?

[@monkeymule1286]

@@PaladinProse Apologies, "Slots" is what I took to calling lines of equipment and skills, the character's "HP". 8-10 seems average? I'm trying to discover the catalyst that allows the transformation of enemy stats into the character architecture. The hard asymmetry of the rule set is beautiful but leaves, just for example, Uruhito unable to help in the fight against the Butcher, with rules as written. Don't really want to rebuild him as a 'companion' (low fidelity and work), or resort to hand waiving and flat rolls. And in the unstable world of north holds, being able to handle shifting alliances without hiccup feels key, hopefully while maintaining the clean hot rod performance of C&S.

[@PaladinProse]

@@monkeymule1286 no need to apologize! Of course it depends on how many points players allocate to the skills they pick, but yeah, I'd say 8 - 10 attrition between skills and equipment sounds about right for fresh characters.

[@monkeymule1286]

@@PaladinProse Any insight on a low effort high fidelity way to transform enemy stats, across the game mechanic, into the architecture of character builds, so they can fight other NPCs?

[@PaladinProse]

@@monkeymule1286 personally I used the monster stat system for NPCs, even when they were fighting along with the Gang. Used tactics dice to determine their action for the phase, rolled attacks and defense as normal. Worked great!

[@wahsiK]

this guy is hung. sick video.

[@PaladinProse]

Gawsh

[@michaelmullenfiddler]

DnDNA?... 🤨

[@PaladinProse]

🤓

[@dorothymccomb2244]

Not so much D&DNA as GURPS or Hero System DNA with big dashes of ICRPG and Into the Odd. Looks like fun!