Achievements like recent video games

resisty · 04-12-2010, 08:03 PM

So in order to make things more interesting and give an incentive to my PCs to try new things and be familiar with more rules, I decided to take a page from the playbook of recent video games and introduce achievements into my campaign.

The idea is that if a player accomplishes an achievement or a certain group of achievements, he gets a reward (maybe a perk, a minor item, a free character point, a one time bonus to a skill roll, etc.).

I figured that you all, being as creative as you are, could help me come up with some more of them. I've already got a decent amount, but I'm sure there are plenty of good ideas out there. Don't feel like you need to come up with a big list, either. Any feedback is appreciated.

Here's what I have so far (campaign is a post apocalyptic setting where guns are the primary weapon):

Headshot - Shoot an enemy in the head
STFU Marvin! - Shoot an enemy in the face
in ur eye! - Shoot an enemy in the eye
You're so lame - Cripple an enemy's leg
SWAT Disarm - Shoot an enemy's hand and cause it to drop held weapon
You Don't Get to Play Anymore - Cripple both arms and both legs on an enemy without killing it outright

Punch - Punch an enemy
Head Punch - Punch an enemy's head
Kick - Kick an enemy
Strangle Kill - Kill an enemy through suffocation
Blunt Trauma - Kill an enemy with melee crushing damage
Prison Shank - Stab an enemy in the vitals

Explosive Kill - Kill an enemy with an explosion
Ground Zero - Cause an explosion at 0 yards range from an enemy
Trap Kill - Kill an enemy with a planned trap
Eat Your Pineapple! - Throw a grenade such that it hits an enemy in the head

One Shot Kill - Kill an enemy with one blow
Lights Out - Instantly kill an enemy who is completely unaware of you
Double Kill - Kill two enemies in one turn
Triple Kill - Kill three enemies in one turn
Rambo Kill - Kill an enemy with automatic gunfire
Spray Fire - Spray automatic fire (using rules for Spraying Fire)
Monster Kill - Kill 4 significant enemies within 10 seconds
Ludicrous Kill - Kill 5 sgnificant enemies within 10 seconds

Float Like a Butterfly - Dodge 2 attacks in the same turn
Incoming! - Perform a Dodge and Drop
Back the Truck Up - Perform a Retreat
Don't Touch Me - Perform a Parry
Seriously, Don't Touch Me - Parry twice in one turn
What is the Matrix? - Actively defend against at least 3 separate attacks and at least 6 bullets in one turn

If You'd Have Only Moved - Overpenetrate one enemy to injure another
Wall H4x! - Fire through a barrier to injure an enemy on the other side

Sneaky - Avoid detection using Stealth
The Forest Came Alive - Avoid detection using Camouflage
Combat Medic - Perform first aid or related skill on a friend during combat
One Man's Trash - Scrounge a useful item
Are You Going to Finish That? - Scrounge something to eat

Diplomat - Convince an enemy to surrender without bloodshed
Devil's Advocate - Convince an enemy to willingly serve you in some way
Infiltrator - Mingle incognito with members of an enemy faction

Unlawful Entry - Gain entry into an owned building by means of Forced Entry or Lockpicking
I Found This - Steal something valuable
Let Me Help You Carry That - Steal something valuable that someone is carrying

RyanW · 04-12-2010, 08:35 PM

I prefer to avoid such metagaming.

I think it's generally enough to have the occasional NPC say "Hey, you're the guy who..." If they are good enough, they may find that their reputation has beaten them to their destination. They may find it difficult to live up to.

jeff_wilson · 04-12-2010, 11:46 PM

I prefer to keep the rewards in-character but I do make over certain impressive deeds or occurrences out of character.

GURPS CABAL includes some "impossible" achievements listed as feats required to reach the highest ranks, like for a vampire to meet the mentor at noon in a churchyard. I came up with a few others I used in-game like recovering from decapitation unaided, spending the night naked under icy water, and filling a ten-gallon urn from a slit wrist.

vierasmarius · 04-13-2010, 01:39 AM

I like the idea, but I would find it irredeemably silly in most campaigns. I certainly wouldn't give any bonus CP or abilities from them! It could be a cute addition to a setting inspired by video games.

~~Ragitsu~~ · 04-13-2010, 01:52 AM

I Put On My Robe And Wizard Hat - Successfully use Sex Appeal

Collective_Restraint · 04-13-2010, 07:36 AM

WHY WON'T YOU DIE ? Kill an enemy by reducing him to -5xHP with a melee weapon by hitting him at least 5 times.

Maz · 04-13-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by resisty

So in order to make things more interesting and give an incentive to my PCs to try new things and be familiar with more rules, I decided to take a page from the playbook of recent video games and introduce achievements into my campaign.

Another idea you could steal from computers games (although mroe for melee than ranged) could be combos.

For instance if you sucesfully make a "Kick (torso), Kick (torso), Kick (Face)" You get a free Kick (skull) at +2 dam.

This will fit persferctly with "combination" attacks and be very suitable for DF games IMO.

Combos could be secret technique perks you have to learn by ancient masters who often require you to do certain things in order to "unluck" the combo.

RyanW · 04-13-2010, 11:38 PM

Some based on quotes:

I know kung fu - Gain a skill through any method other than normal learning.

Some fava beans and a nice Chianti - Stretch your rations with the help of another.

Do you want a peanut? - Humiliate a foe in rhyme.

Springtime for Hitler - Have a plan that depends on failure be foiled by your success.

The fall will probably kill you - Survive an extremely high fall into water.

This is the War Room! - Get in a physical altercation with an ally.

resisty · 04-15-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanW

Some based on quotes:

I know kung fu - Gain a skill through any method other than normal learning.

Some fava beans and a nice Chianti - Stretch your rations with the help of another.

Do you want a peanut? - Humiliate a foe in rhyme.

Springtime for Hitler - Have a plan that depends on failure be foiled by your success.

The fall will probably kill you - Survive an extremely high fall into water.

This is the War Room! - Get in a physical altercation with an ally.

Thanks! Ideas like that will definitely help to spread the focus of the game around to other things besides combat, which is a problem when you come from a D&D background.

The Benj · 04-18-2010, 10:43 PM

I'd be wary of things that rely on things that are outside the player's control (like rolling multiple criticals), but the idea is cute all the same.

A friend of mine had a somewhat similar idea for his Kerberos Club game, where the achievements were specific to individual characters and related to their personality, background and "themes".

04-12-2010, 08:03 PM	#1
resisty Join Date: Feb 2008	Achievements like recent video games So in order to make things more interesting and give an incentive to my PCs to try new things and be familiar with more rules, I decided to take a page from the playbook of recent video games and introduce achievements into my campaign. The idea is that if a player accomplishes an achievement or a certain group of achievements, he gets a reward (maybe a perk, a minor item, a free character point, a one time bonus to a skill roll, etc.). I figured that you all, being as creative as you are, could help me come up with some more of them. I've already got a decent amount, but I'm sure there are plenty of good ideas out there. Don't feel like you need to come up with a big list, either. Any feedback is appreciated. Here's what I have so far (campaign is a post apocalyptic setting where guns are the primary weapon): Headshot - Shoot an enemy in the head STFU Marvin! - Shoot an enemy in the face in ur eye! - Shoot an enemy in the eye You're so lame - Cripple an enemy's leg SWAT Disarm - Shoot an enemy's hand and cause it to drop held weapon You Don't Get to Play Anymore - Cripple both arms and both legs on an enemy without killing it outright Punch - Punch an enemy Head Punch - Punch an enemy's head Kick - Kick an enemy Strangle Kill - Kill an enemy through suffocation Blunt Trauma - Kill an enemy with melee crushing damage Prison Shank - Stab an enemy in the vitals Explosive Kill - Kill an enemy with an explosion Ground Zero - Cause an explosion at 0 yards range from an enemy Trap Kill - Kill an enemy with a planned trap Eat Your Pineapple! - Throw a grenade such that it hits an enemy in the head One Shot Kill - Kill an enemy with one blow Lights Out - Instantly kill an enemy who is completely unaware of you Double Kill - Kill two enemies in one turn Triple Kill - Kill three enemies in one turn Rambo Kill - Kill an enemy with automatic gunfire Spray Fire - Spray automatic fire (using rules for Spraying Fire) Monster Kill - Kill 4 significant enemies within 10 seconds Ludicrous Kill - Kill 5 sgnificant enemies within 10 seconds Float Like a Butterfly - Dodge 2 attacks in the same turn Incoming! - Perform a Dodge and Drop Back the Truck Up - Perform a Retreat Don't Touch Me - Perform a Parry Seriously, Don't Touch Me - Parry twice in one turn What is the Matrix? - Actively defend against at least 3 separate attacks and at least 6 bullets in one turn If You'd Have Only Moved - Overpenetrate one enemy to injure another Wall H4x! - Fire through a barrier to injure an enemy on the other side Sneaky - Avoid detection using Stealth The Forest Came Alive - Avoid detection using Camouflage Combat Medic - Perform first aid or related skill on a friend during combat One Man's Trash - Scrounge a useful item Are You Going to Finish That? - Scrounge something to eat Diplomat - Convince an enemy to surrender without bloodshed Devil's Advocate - Convince an enemy to willingly serve you in some way Infiltrator - Mingle incognito with members of an enemy faction Unlawful Entry - Gain entry into an owned building by means of Forced Entry or Lockpicking I Found This - Steal something valuable Let Me Help You Carry That - Steal something valuable that someone is carrying

04-12-2010, 08:35 PM	#2
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: Achievements like recent video games I prefer to avoid such metagaming. I think it's generally enough to have the occasional NPC say "Hey, you're the guy who..." If they are good enough, they may find that their reputation has beaten them to their destination. They may find it difficult to live up to. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.

04-12-2010, 11:46 PM	#3
jeff_wilson Computer Scientist Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas	Re: Achievements like recent video games I prefer to keep the rewards in-character but I do make over certain impressive deeds or occurrences out of character. GURPS CABAL includes some "impossible" achievements listed as feats required to reach the highest ranks, like for a vampire to meet the mentor at noon in a churchyard. I came up with a few others I used in-game like recovering from decapitation unaided, spending the night naked under icy water, and filling a ten-gallon urn from a slit wrist. __________________ . Reposed playtest leader. The Campaigns of William Stoddard

04-13-2010, 01:39 AM	#4
vierasmarius Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Oregon	Re: Achievements like recent video games I like the idea, but I would find it irredeemably silly in most campaigns. I certainly wouldn't give any bonus CP or abilities from them! It could be a cute addition to a setting inspired by video games.

04-13-2010, 01:52 AM	#5
~~Ragitsu~~ Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon	Re: Achievements like recent video games I Put On My Robe And Wizard Hat - Successfully use Sex Appeal

04-13-2010, 07:36 AM	#6
Collective_Restraint Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal, Canada	Re: Achievements like recent video games WHY WON'T YOU DIE ? Kill an enemy by reducing him to -5xHP with a melee weapon by hitting him at least 5 times. __________________ Collective Restraint For GURPS 4E Game Aids, visit my site!

04-13-2010, 11:38 PM	#8
RyanW ☣ Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southeast NC	Re: Achievements like recent video games Some based on quotes: I know kung fu - Gain a skill through any method other than normal learning. Some fava beans and a nice Chianti - Stretch your rations with the help of another. Do you want a peanut? - Humiliate a foe in rhyme. Springtime for Hitler - Have a plan that depends on failure be foiled by your success. The fall will probably kill you - Survive an extremely high fall into water. This is the War Room! - Get in a physical altercation with an ally. __________________ RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats.

04-18-2010, 10:43 PM	#10
The Benj MIB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Platform Zero, Sydney, Australia	Re: Achievements like recent video games I'd be wary of things that rely on things that are outside the player's control (like rolling multiple criticals), but the idea is cute all the same. A friend of mine had a somewhat similar idea for his Kerberos Club game, where the achievements were specific to individual characters and related to their personality, background and "themes".