There is still some interest in Redbox Hack 2, and if you would like to be interested in it feel free to read the design blog and download the PDF, DOC and character sheet. I enjoy it as an indie take on the most ancient of RPGs.

The warrior of Redbox Hack 2 is a disappointment. Its companion, the stealthy longrunner, is a fresh take on the scoundrel archetype – skipping across the seas, drawing doorways with chalk and with a contact in every city. The warrior is just a warrior, what we have come to expect from thirty years of fantasy heartbreakers.

I’ve attempted to fix this by writing up a set of new warrior-like classes. Each – hopefully – has a compelling hook in the setting and out-of-combat powers that create and solve problems.

The Haunt is my first attempt. He’s a dabbler in ghosts and spectres, someone who dwells in dark fens and swamps. Download the class here.

The Grim is my second attempt. He’s a a stern and battered mercenary who has seen too many battles and ambushes to hold much hope for mankind. Download the class here.

The Moon is my third attempt. She's a serene martial artist who descended from the heavens to search for her missing husband, the Sun. Download the class here.

The Seraph is my fourth attempt. She’s a human sworn to fight for the Heavenly Host, a master of alchemy and the fickle wind. Download the class here.

In addition, I'm looking for ideas regarding the Wick, a new class I'm brainstorming. A master of demons and of flame, the Wick sacrifices body and mind to fuel his or her spells.

Posted By: SanglorianI know there's not much interest in Redbox Hack 2 anymore.

Very nearly the first new thing I did after restoring my site was a respinning of the 'dangers' as stakes setting method from RBH in to a slideshow (over here, should you care).

My interest is primarily in the core rulesy bits, yeah. But it's very real regardless.

I've uploaded the second new class, the Grim. He’s a a stern and battered mercenary who has seen too many battles and ambushes to hold much hope for mankind. Download the class here.

Please let me know if you're interested in seeing more new classes for Redbox Hack. I realise this may not be the right community for them.

Posted By: SanglorianPlease let me know if you're interested in seeing more new classes for Redbox Hack.

YES.

Posted By: SanglorianI realise this may not be the right community for them.

You are incorrect: This is ABSOLUTELY the right community for these. I'm not being facetious here: A lot of people are reading this thread, and agreeing silently.

-Andy

*reading, agreeing silently*
/Peter - very interested in new classes for RBH!!!!!

I'm subtracting 5 points from this thread for no link to RBH 2.

I've uploaded the third new class, the Moon. She’s is a serene martial artist who descended from the heavens to search for her missing husband, the Sun. Download the class here.

Thanks Ryan, I appreciate it.

I've been keeping an eye on the downloads (which box.net tracks). Others might be interested in the patterns if they plan to release material incrementally online. The Haunt has been downloaded 41 times, the Grim 33 times and the Moon 29 times. That the Moon caught up so quickly to the Grim shows, I think, that most people interested in the classes visit Story-Games regularly and scroll down far enough to see this thread. The Haunt's lead is probably from people who downloaded it, weren't interested and so didn't download the others.

The Haunt and the Grim were actually hosted elsewhere, on the Grand OGL Wiki's DM Sketchpad. The text was posted and there was also a link to the PDF. Since the Moon hasn't been posted there yet, it looks like there are only around 4 people interested in the classes on the Sketchpad - either that, or reading the text was enough and they didn't want a copy.

So: when releasing material incrementally, the last release will soon catch up to the other releases. Story-Games is definitely the place for Redbox Hack. Posting the text probably decreases downloads of the PDF.

I'll see if I can post the next class as text as well as as a PDF, and whether that reduces the number of downloads.

Thanks for pointing that out. I've uploaded the PDF, DOC and character sheet. At one point, the Redbox Hack 1 rules were available from the blog, but I never got a chance to download them.

I've whispered to Eric to check he's okay with me hosting his files.

The problem with fueling a class with the character's mind and body is that RBH2 characters don't have a lot of resources to spend. That said, one power that is powered by hit points might work. Say:

Demon Summoning
By performing a ritual and spilling some of your blood, you may summon a demon to your service. Summoning a demon costs you a number of hit points, from one to five. These hit points may not be healed until the demon is banished or dismissed. Demons are monsters and follow the usual rules for monsters. A 1 hp cost demon remains for two hours, has two powers, and has attributes that add up to +10. Each additional hp spent on a demon either doubles the duration of the summoning or gives it an additional power and an additional +2 to its attributes. The summoning ritual requires five minutes per hp spent, except that a normally one hp value demon may be summoned instantly for the cost of four hp. Demons are intelligent, malicious and moderately obedient. They like to kill. The appearance and form of the demon is chosen by you, but they never look entirely like natural creatures, always having at least one unnatural feature, such as fangs, glowing eyes, barbed tail, etc. You may only have one demon summoned at a time. You may dismiss a demon you summoned at will.

But if the rest of the powers worked like that, Wicks would be ... limited. Another approach might be to pay for their powers by taking on temporary disadvantages, such -1 to an attribute for an hour or a temporary mental quirk (like paranoia or overconfidence) for a day.

One nasty ability to balance these (which might be too good) might be:

Transfer Cost
You can make someone else pay the cost you paid to perform your wicked magic. Make an attack as if with a light weapon, and if you hit, you may transfer to the target one penalty you paid for a use of one of your powers (the attack does no regular damage).

Posted By: Eric ProvostI think that it would be more fun if the sacrifices were more narrative and less mechanical.

I like this! No depleting of mechanical resources, but the character will get more and more "damaged" over time. Another cost that might be good is life span/age. What if each use of a Wick's powers aged them a month? It would fit the color of burning themselves up to fuel their powers, but wouldn't require a real mechanical cost.

My suggestion for the Wick, why not have "Retirement" end in death or mental cleansing? You just keep pushing with a dark destiny on your heels all the time. Your finish line is to lose either your body or your soul - on your terms.