Tortured Earth Core Rule Book
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How is Tortured Earth different from other RPGs?
Tortured Earth is a unique¸ classless system that uses skill points for character advancement. The system is genre-less and easily integrates sci-fi¸ fantasy¸ and horror.
As a classless system¸ players may create their own specialty characters without the constraints of pre-defined limitations. Players may pick from a wide variety of playable species ranging from classic fantasy¸ aliens¸ insectoids¸ animal hybrids¸ and more.
Characters are awarded Skill Points as rewards for completing storylines¸ quests¸ or defeating adversaries. Skill Points are placed into Point Pools used to power skills and abilities. Advancement and basic operational mechanics are unified using a Ranking system. Once a player learns a single interactive system¸ they immediately know how all other systems operate - general skills and crafting¸ magic spells¸ psychic powers¸ and weapons.
Tortured Earth boasts a unique system for the casting of spells and psychic powers. Through fusion abilities¸ spellcasters may combine variants to unleash new effects. Psychics may focus their powers through psychic crystals to add additional status effects. At certain thresholds¸ new investment opportunities are available and fuse magic¸ psychic¸ and weapon abilities.
From the Game Master perspective¸ the Mist can be used as a mechanic to transport characters from one genre to another or other worlds and realities. This mechanic allows the transition of characters between sci-fi¸ fantasy¸ and horror settings seamlessly without losing skills¸ assigned points¸ or equipment.
Tortured Earth
Imagine that within the next hour¸ your computer screen turns RED. The only words visible are 'The Gate is Open. Beware the Mist'. Every computer¸ television¸ tablet¸ and cell phone on the planet has the same message. An hour later¸ it abruptly ends. Twelve hours from the initial Broadcast¸ every human in New York City instantly vanishes.
The world continues to unravel as magic¸ aliens¸ telepaths¸ and far worse flood through random cracks in reality. Reality itself has lost the ability to keep barriers in place. Magic and its associated species mingle with future civilizations and alternate realities in which humans never existed.
Tortured Earth is a world torn by plague¸ warring species and factions¸ and fragmented civilizations. The few remaining humans have learned to coexist with their alien neighbors. Some have formed strong communities to combat the terrors that have come through the Mist.
The only sign that a crack is forming is the odd atmospheric depression causing a dense mist. Those who enter The Mist don't always return. Those who return from The Mist are never the same. Many that didn't disappear after encountering the Mist have instead mutated into a hybridization of animals¸ insects¸ or other unrecognizable species.
Welcome to our Tortured Earth. Beware the Mist.