#codndvn

Court of Darkness and Dragons: CODVN but it has some DND/ttrpg mechanics!

We already have virtue stats, imagine if you could actually use them in gameplay.

For example: “There’s an enemy party trying to hurt your consort!”

“Gentlemen, this is all a misunderstanding.” (Roll for Persuasion: bonus depending on your Charisma score.)

“Do it, then— you can’t.” (Roll for Intelligence: bonus depending on your Wit score)

… say nothing, and beat the shit out of them the old fashioned way. (Roll for Strength: bonus depending on your Integrity score)

Continuously picking options prioritizing learning magic? Let that unlock some options to use magic later on in the story.

For example: “There’s an enemy party trying to hurt your consort!”

Cast Fireball. (MAGIC CHECK)

Pick up a magical item? Let that have story implications!

Example: While previously investigating, you found an ancient tome. From picking it up, you gain +(0.25)X% on all magic attacks (X being your magic proficiency, which is dependent on your previous choices). You also unlock some special magical attack options, that you wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

For example: “There’s an enemy party trying to hurt your consort!”

Cast Fireball, lighting up the enemies like gasoline. (MAGIC CHECK)

[TOME OF VANE EXCLUSIVE] Cast Death Kiss— a cloud permanently enshrouds the enemy, slowly poisoning them. (MAGIC CHECK)

You can still keep the endpoints of the story, point A and point B, the same, for the sake of the greater narrative. But mechanics like this? Mechanics like these would open up what can happen in between those endpoints. With some strategically thought out writing, you could even minimize the in world implications you don’t want, while still allowing for a wider variety of more fun storylines.

Basically, this post was inspired by me wanting to have the option of just fucking mercing ops when battles come up. Like, IRL, there are people who do physical training for fun. Whose to say MC didn’t do self defense training as a hobby? Whose to say, while an enemy is charging up a spell, MC’s instinctive response isn’t to just fucking tackle him, American football style?

That, and how variable MC’s proficiency with magic seems to be across different consort paths. Without getting into heavy spoilers, here’s an example: In Lance’s path, MC uses magic in a big fight, and she uses it pretty damn effectively. Meanwhile, at the equivalent story beat in Guy’s path, she doesn’t seem to be capable of spells of that caliber quite yet.

With this model, the player had a little more agency. If you want to basically be a pseudo barbarian class, you could— never take interest in magic, max out Integrity (aka Wrath), pick up sexy weapons/items that boost your strength. You also have the option of doing the complete opposite, and going for more of a mage/wizard build— go to class, max out your Wit (and/or Mystery), pick up sexy weapons/items that boost your magic/arcana.