Equipment & Wealth

Just like the characters, the equipment they wield should play a part of the story. They should inspire roleplaying, not just be another stat.

Equipment in C.O.R.E. is handled a little differently than in most RPGs. There are no huge equipment lists the player is forced to browse through for an hour writing down each individual item the character has, calculating cost and weight. Instead, equipment is very flexible.

Since the damage done with most items is the same, the player writes down primarily the special items they have. They can also write down anything that is necessary to make their character’s concept come to life.

Peter the Knight might have just his dappled-grey stallion, the horse’s insect-like iron armor, his father’s sword, his shield with the Raven’s crest painted on it, and his plate mail with rows of sharp iron studs. They are listed on his character sheet because they help define the image of the character. Notice that it is not just listed as “a sword” but “his father’s sword.” This implies a history, and sentimentality to the character.

Equipment Types

Equipment is categorized into a few different types to differentiate between their usage and abilities, and the type of resources they are required to use.

Equipment

These are mundane devices that characters use to perform certain actions, from swords to super-computers. Some items may be required to perform certain actions (like an electron microscope to examining the molecular structure of an alien substance) or simply provide some situational bonus (using a sword against an unarmed opponent). They do not require any resources to be used.

Focus

This is a device through which a Secret is employed (the awe ability of King Arthur when holding Excalibur, for example.) The power of a Focus lies in its ability to amplify a character’s Secret. Some Secrets may not function unless the character has a specific Focus.

Focus items provide a +3 bonus to using the specified Secret.

Item

A device with a self-contained Secret. The methods for “powering” the item’s Secrets could be one of the following options:

Internal power supply. The Item has its own pool of resources that are used to activate its powers. This could be charges, uses, or ammo. It is part of the Item and stays with the item. Anybody using the Item has access to this pool of resources and can therefore use the Secrets of the item. If the item is stolen, taken, or given to another it will be fully functional for that, or any, individual.

Attunement. the character wishing to use the item must pay some resource in order to attune it to them. Attunement could be learning the word or phrase to activate the ring, for example. Thereafter they may use the Secrets contained within the Item (possibly by spending their own resources instead of some of the internal power supply). Attunement may be limited to one user or may be open to any number of users. If limited to one user it can not be used by another character, unless it is attuned to the new character, in which case the previous owner loses their Attunement with the Item and must Attune with it again to use it. If open to other users (or other type or class of user, i.e. ‘pure of heart’) then it will function as mentioned for any character fitting the proper description.

Equipment Quality

Poor quality equipment imposes a -2 penalty to all rolls involving that equipment. Normal quality does not have any bonuses or penalties. Master quality equipment provides a +2 bonus to all rolls using it.

Wealth

It is not necessary to keep track of every gold coin, gem, or dollar in your bank. Instead, a character simply has a wealth rating from 0 to 5. When rolling on a conflict that your wealth may have some influence over, you add your wealth rating to the roll.