Role-Finale: Introduction

The Role-Finale roleplaying game is a vast and immersive storytelling experience that spans multiple genres and universes, offering players the opportunity to step into worlds of boundless creativity. With settings ranging from medieval fantasy and cyberpunk dystopias to anime-inspired adventures and gothic chaos realms, Role-Finale enables players to craft their own narratives. Like childhood games of make-believe, it thrives on imagination and creativity, but it also provides structure and rules to guide the outcomes of the characters’ decisions. Picture a neon-lit sprawl teeming with rogue AIs, a crumbling cathedral of cosmic dread, or a mystical battlefield where titanic beings clash. Role-Finale invites players to not just imagine these worlds, but to live in them.

 

 

Game Master (GM):
The towering gates of Obsidian Spire creak open as you approach. The air is heavy with the scent of charred metal and ozone. Inside, shifting shadows dance along the polished onyx walls, illuminated by the pulsing red glow of the runes carved into the floor. At the far end of the hall, a figure cloaked in jagged armor rises from a throne of shattered swords. "You are bold to enter my domain," the figure says, their voice resonating with a deep, metallic echo. "Now, prove your worth."

Player (as Lyra):
 I step forward, my hand hovering near the hilt of my blade. "Your reign of terror ends here," I say. Can I sense if the runes on the floor are a trap or part of some defensive magic?

Player (as Quinn):
While Lyra distracts them, I want to use my stealth to slip around the side and get a better view of the throne. Is there anything there—a switch, a lever, or something that might help us?
Unlike games of simple make-believe, Role-Finale employs a structured system to determine the success or failure of characters’ actions. Players roll dice to see if their characters’ skills, abilities, or powers are enough to overcome the challenges before them. Will Lyra’s blade strike true against the armored figure? Can Quinn locate a hidden mechanism to disable the runes? Or will the figure unleash the arcane wrath of the Obsidian Spire?

GM:
Lyra, roll an Arcana check to assess the runes. Quinn, roll Stealth to see if you can slip past unnoticed.

Lyra: (rolling) I got a 13. Can I add my Proficiency Bonus?

GM:
Yes, that makes it a 16. The runes are definitely defensive magic, designed to activate if someone attacks their master directly. They’re powered by a faint connection to the throne.

Quinn: (rolling) I rolled a 21. Do I find anything?

GM:
You spot a glowing sigil etched into the back of the throne. It pulses faintly with energy, matching the rhythm of the runes on the floor. It looks like disrupting the sigil might deactivate the defenses.
In Role-Finale, players create unique characters and work together to explore the worlds crafted by the Game Master (GM). Characters can be anything from battle-hardened knights and cunning rogues to cyber-enhanced hackers or spell-slinging wizards. The GM’s role is to weave a story filled with challenges, mysteries, and opportunities for heroism, setting the stage for the players to shape their destinies.

Expanding Beyond Swords and Sorcery

While Role-Finale draws inspiration from classic fantasy, its multiverse is vast, encompassing:

- Cyberpunk Dystopias: Venture into sprawling megacities ruled by ruthless corporations, where hackers, rogue androids, and freedom fighters battle in the shadows.

- Anime Worlds: Pilot massive mechs, channel supernatural powers, or unravel ancient curses in adventures inspired by the dynamic and dramatic worlds of anime.

- Gothic Chaos Realms: Enter a war-torn cosmos where the Sapiens of Tzion clash in ceaseless civil wars, their dark ambitions driving them to unleash eldritch horrors and catastrophic magic.

- Superhero Universes: Take on the role of a costumed hero (or villain), defending cities from alien invasions, thwarting world-ending conspiracies, or battling rival factions for supremacy.

Each setting offers unique challenges and rewards. Whether sneaking into a corporate stronghold, battling Chaos Lords on desolate battlefields, or unraveling the schemes of a magical council, the possibilities are endless.

Built on Open Rules

Role-Finale is built on the foundation of the Dungeons & Dragons Rules (SRD 5.1), published under the Creative Commons license. This open ruleset provides the framework for a dynamic and adaptable gaming experience, ensuring that both new and veteran players can jump in with ease.
The system includes:

- Character Creation: Design your adventurer with customizable races, classes, and abilities, equipping them with everything from enchanted relics to cutting-edge cyberware.

- Game Rules: Learn the mechanics of skill checks, saving throws, and combat, ensuring fair and balanced gameplay while encouraging creativity.

- Magic and Technology: Harness ancient spells, futuristic gadgets, or a fusion of both as you navigate the multiverse.

- Game Mastering: Discover tools to create compelling adventures, manage NPCs, and maintain an engaging narrative.

How to Play

Role-Finale follows a simple gameplay loop:

1. The GM describes the environment. The GM sets the scene, presenting details about the surroundings, NPCs, and potential challenges.

2. The players describe their actions. Each player decides how their character interacts with the world. Actions can range from simple exploration to complex strategies.

3. The GM narrates the results. Dice rolls and character abilities determine the outcome, which the GM narrates to advance the story.

This loop fosters creativity and collaboration. Most of the time, gameplay flows naturally, with structured mechanics coming into play during pivotal moments like combat or high-stakes challenges.

GM:
The warlord raises their hand, and a massive wave of black fire sweeps across the battlefield. The flames seem to consume light itself.
Player (as Sarek):
I summon a shield of radiant energy to protect us. Can it hold back the fire?

Player (as Kiora):
While Sarek holds the shield, I leap through the flames to strike the warlord. Do I need to make an Acrobatics check?

GM:
Yes, and Sarek, roll a Constitution saving throw to see how long the shield lasts.

Dice Mechanics

Role-Finale uses polyhedral dice to resolve actions. The most iconic is the 20-sided die (d20), used for ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. Other dice include d4, d6, d8, d10, and d12. Rolls are modified by character abilities, proficiency bonuses, or circumstantial effects, and compared to a Difficulty Class (DC) or an opponent’s Armor Class (AC) to determine success.

Unique mechanics like Advantage and Disadvantage add layers of strategy, encouraging creative thinking and teamwork.

Adventures in the Multiverse

Each Role-Finale adventure is a standalone story, yet they can be linked into larger campaigns. Adventures span the breadth of the multiverse, from infiltrating a corporate arcology to exploring the ruins of an interdimensional fortress. Campaigns allow characters to grow in power and depth, weaving their individual arcs into a shared epic.

Role-Finale centers on three pillars of gameplay:

1. Exploration: Uncover hidden secrets, navigate perilous environments, and interact with the world’s mysteries.

2. Social Interaction: Engage with NPCs, form alliances, or manipulate foes to achieve your goals.

3. Combat: Test your mettle in tactical battles, using abilities, strategy, and teamwork to overcome your enemies.

The Wonders of Magic and Technology

Magic and technology lie at the heart of Role-Finale’s multiverse. Characters might wield spells that reshape reality, pilot machines powered by arcane engines, or combine the two to create unimaginable tools. From the devastating chaos of warlocks’ hexes to the precision strikes of a plasma rifle, the game’s blend of mysticism and innovation ensures a unique experience.

GM:
The dragon unfurls its wings, revealing mechanical augmentations grafted onto its body. Its roar shakes the ground, and flames streak with glowing plasma erupt from its maw.

Player (as Quinn):
I aim my railgun at the dragon’s wing joint. If I can disable its flight, it might be easier to take down.

Player (as Lyra):
I cast a binding spell to slow its movements. Can I use my Arcane Mastery feature to amplify the spell?

GM:
Yes, roll an Arcana check with advantage, and Quinn, make an attack roll with your railgun.

Role-Finale invites players to embrace the limitless possibilities of their imaginations, crafting tales of heroism, villainy, and everything in between. Whether delving into ancient ruins, battling titanic foes, or unraveling conspiracies, the multiverse is yours to explore.