About RPGs and How to Play Them
If you're reading this, it's likely you've played RPGs before. If not, there
are plenty of good, free ways to learn. You can read my short tutorial, learn
from someone who already plays, watch online videos, and so on.
This game assumes you're already familiar with RPGs—especially the world's most
famous one—and particularly its "old school" versions. While I've
tried to explain each mechanic as clearly as possible, you can consider my
ideas as suggestions or house rules you can adapt to your own game.
We're not
trying to reinvent the wheel here—just grease it so it runs more smoothly.
Overview
Primus, the
Prismatic Planet, is a place of wonder and pain.
Its earth
is scorched and dangerous. Alien creatures roam the land. People are fractured
in many ways, divided into different tribes, cities and kingdoms, each with
distinct customs and beliefs. Most have no sense of history and no real grasp
of technology, being unable to understand where they come from and how to use
the mysterious machines that litter the landscape.
Maniacs,
mutants, and marauders, wielding obsidian and bone, ride saurian beasts through
the Endless Sands. Psionic monks battle radioactive sorcerers, dinosaurs and
warlords in the apocalyptic heat of this lost world.
For now,
humanity seems unable to bond together over shared difficulties. Instead, they
fight for dominion over scarce resources. Slavery, prejudice and violence are
common everywhere.
Genre
This
setting is inspired by books and other works in the "weird" genre—a
blend of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Its primary influence is sword
and planet, a subgenre that typically features swashbuckling heroes, alien
worlds, ancient technologies, and a mix of science and sorcery.
This book
doesn’t feature orcs, halflings, or faeries. Instead, it offers human-like
beings, bizarre alien species, psychic powers, and ray guns. If you’ve read A
Princess of Mars or similar pulpy sword and planet adventures (see the list
below), you’ll know what kind of world you’re stepping into. If you haven’t—go
read them! Or check out the movies, comics, and adaptations. You’re in for a
wild ride!
Some
aspects of the setting have been directly taken from the public domain works of
E. R. Burroughs, H. P. Lovecraft, H. G. Wells, R. E. Howard, and many others.
Many
Martian tales have inspired the setting, but the exact placement of Primus in
time and space is left to the GM’s discretion. It could be an alternate version
of Mars, a distant planet thousands of years in the future, or a world in an
entirely different universe.
Brief
History
The history
of the Prismatic Planet before the apocalypse is nearly lost to all living
inhabitants.
Legends say
humanity was once ruled by the Progenitors, mysterious figures who abused their
subjects in various ways, including slavery and scientific experimentation.
While some poor humans long for the safety of their brutal masters, most are
relieved to be free from their cruel grasp – if they remember these days at
all.
The reasons
behind the great change are lost or misunderstood in history. It is widely
believed that the planet endured a catastrophic event that disproportionately
affected the Progenitors. For many days, the sun burned brighter and fiercer
than ever before. This mythical calamity is known as The Scorching.
The
Scorching decimated vast swaths of flora and fauna, seemingly drying out entire
regions—leaving behind empty riverbeds and forgotten ruins, now stranded far
from any surviving bodies of water. Entire civilizations may have been
destroyed or driven underground into the lost shelters that most
surface-dwellers fear to tread. The sun’s radiation remains dangerous even
today, but the darkest days of widespread mutation, madness, and destruction
appear to be behind us.
Unable to
withstand the new, unforgiving conditions, the Progenitors disappeared and relinquished
their hold onto the world. In their absence, creatures once kept in check by
their dominion flourished in chaotic freedom. Now, the planet is inhabited by
disoriented humans, unfathomable alien entities, and savage beasts that no
longer fear mankind.
The
people
We call the
ruling species of the planet “humans” for short, though they are something
slightly different than humans. In appearance, they resemble people of vivid
colors—red, green, blue, yellow, chalk white, and deep ebony. Their physiology
is largely human-like, with a few notable exceptions, such as heightened
resistance to the planet’s atmosphere and environmental hazards. Whether these
traits are the result of genetic engineering or natural selection remains
uncertain.
There are
many other intelligent species on the planet, such as insect people, robots
with varying levels of artificial intelligence, and the mythical progenitors,
for example. Humans consider these beings—and sometimes even groups with
different mutations, cultures or skin colors—as something other than human.
The
Planet
Primus is
slightly smaller than Earth. In its current state, only about a third of its
surface is covered by water. Large bodies of water often contain enormous
monsters, and humans are cautious about sailing far from shore with their
rudimentary boats and basic nautical tools.
Gravity may
be slightly weaker than Earth’s, allowing for larger creatures and taller
mountains. For most intents and purposes, however, the inhabitants of Primus
refer to it as “Earth,” since they possess little knowledge or understanding of
other planets.
Primus has
one large moon and two smaller ones. Seasons and day/night cycles are similar
to Earth’s. The climate varies greatly but is, on average, hotter and drier than
Earth, with extreme cold found only at the poles. Vegetation is scarcer and
deserts are more common.
The
underground is teeming with caves, tunnels, and abandoned structures—some
carved out by creatures like the burrowing prismatic worms, others constructed
by Progenitors and other forgotten beings. The underground is often inhabited
by creatures searching from protection from the scorching sun and harsh
environmental conditions.
The
“Prismatic Planet” moniker refers to the colorful nature of its inhabitants.
Humans, animals, and plants display an astonishing variety of vivid colors.
Even the sky often takes on effects resembling the aurora borealis, which the
inhabitants frequently interpret as portents of impending doom.
Fauna
and flora
The fauna
and flora of Primus are markedly different from those of Earth.
Mammals—especially domesticated ones—are rare. Dinosaur-like creatures are more
common. Many native creatures exhibit a blend of reptilian, arthropod,
humanoid, and even vegetal traits. Most species retain symmetrical body
structures, although large organisms with six or eight limbs are nearly as
common as four-limbed ones. Exceptions do exist and are typically referred to
as aberrations.
Animals in
Primus are often more aggressive than Earth’s beasts. Since humanity spent
years in captivity, animals have not learned to fear them. In addition, the
Scorching has made many of them more desperate for food and more willing to
fight. Anything larger or more numerous than humans can be extremely dangerous.
The flora
also diverges from Earth’s, though plants fulfill similar ecological roles.
Their coloration is more diverse: green remains widespread but is not as dominant.
Some plants possess limited mobility or exhibit rudimentary telepathic
communication, either among themselves or with humans.
It is
likely that many of the creatures, plants, fungi, bacteria, and viruses on
Primus were genetically engineered by the Progenitors, though humans are
unlikely to recognize the difference.
Society
and culture
Humanity is
currently in a savage, sorrowful state. Only a few generations removed from The
Scorching, they have little knowledge of what came before—relying only on
fragmented legends and half-remembered myths. Prejudiced and superstitious,
they distrust outsiders and cling to tribal beliefs.
People are
divided into many small tribes and villages, with great cities being
exceedingly rare. Communication between settlements is rare and often erupts
into violence. While most human groups have learned to survive within the
planet’s harsh environment—at least in their small, isolated regions—they
remain largely ignorant of its flora, fauna, and even its unpredictable
weather.
One trait
many people share is a strong sense of practicality. Empiricism reigns—most are
more concerned with what they can see (or what can harm them) than with
abstract philosophical ideas. Charity, compassion, and self-sacrifice are
valued, but not to the same extent as they are by earthlings. Instead, traits
like courage, decisiveness, and ruthlessness are prized—qualities that signal
one is not to be trifled with.
Charity
often serves as a display of wealth, and mercy typically comes with the
expectation of future repayment. It’s not uncommon for the elderly to walk away
and die alone once they can no longer contribute. Unwanted and disabled
children fare even worse.
Religion,
likewise, is the worship of the strongest. Local rulers often title themselves
as gods. In other tribes, a powerful monster, aberration, automaton or
artificial intelligence may be elevated to deity status—knowingly or not. Most
cultures lack a clear concept of Heaven or Hell, believing sin to bring doom to
themselves or their people in short time. Terms like “god” and “demon” are
often used interchangeably to describe incomprehensibly powerful beings. A
“god” usually denotes something beyond direct communication, while a “demon”
tends to have clearer—though often malicious—intentions, and might even be
willing to bargain.
Technology
is mostly at a Bronze Age level, with one exception: humans often find and use
lost Progenitor devices—though they rarely understand how they work. Most
powerful items belong to the ruling class, although any random child can
potentially own a small trinket of unknown purpose.
Mature
themes and the dark side of the prismatic planet
As you can
see, life on Primus is far from easy. Humanity engages in many
evils—infanticide, slavery, human sacrifice, prejudice, wars of aggression, and
the wanton destruction of ecosystems, among others. On top of that, it must
contend with man-eating monsters, hostile machines, destructive technologies,
radiation poisoning, and severe environmental catastrophes.
This book does not dwell on these themes, though
they are mentioned in passing. The bleak setting of Primus need not lead to
bleak or hopeless adventures; on the contrary, it can serve as a backdrop for brave
characters striving to save the world—or at least their own necks.
