Rules for Equal-Power Play

Being a GM is hard. It requires countless hours of set-up, story-writing, world-building, etc., etc. And sometimes you just want to play a game. This document is designed for a group of people who all want to play a tabletop role-playing game, but don't want to have the responsibility of being the GM placed on any single person. It attempts to spread the power and responsibility evenly, giving all players opportunity to create, as well as to play.

Character Set-up

Players should decide on a single ruleset, such as D&D, Pathfinder, Etc. This document assumes Fifth Edition Dungeons and Dragons will be used, but feel free to adjust it for whichever kind of game you're playing.

Homebrew classes/races/etc. need to be confirmed with the group before being used. Flavor changes, (names, appearances, descriptions) can be changed freely, but actual stats and effect changes should be confirmed with the group as well.

Assume that all standard content of whatever ruleset you use exists in the game. Each player builds a single level 1 character.

Be sure the character:

• Has a solid reason to adventure.
• Is willing to work with a group.
• Isn't so strange as to constantly be the center of attention.

If for any reason one of those things changes, try to resolve the situation quickly or consider retiring the character.

Characters can be built together - existing relationships can be fun - or simply thrown together in a starting area.

Campaign Set-up

There is 1 world map, but players may take turns recording discovered areas as they like.

On a standard 8 1/2 by 11 piece of paper, assume that 1 inch is 2 day's travel on foot. (Printing a square or hex grid may help for this measurement.)

Do not draw anything on the paper until it is created in-game. The map will be created as it is explored. If a place is referenced, jot a note down as to its general location, (how to get there, how far it is, etc.), but don't put it on the map until you are certain where it is. The best way to do this is to wait until your characters actually get there, but this isn't strictly necessary.

Everyone will need their own notebook for writing down this kind of information, as well as information about characters/organizations/places they create.

Introductions

It is appropriate, when the game starts, to roll a dice, with the highest roller beginning the game by introducing his or her character. One effective option for this is to introduce your character in the middle of some action, for instance:

"A tall short-haired human lumbers down the middle of the road. A banjo rests on his back, and his cutlass sways at his hip as he walks. He is dressed in a stained white tunic and brown pants, and a single scar seperates his left eyebrow. His eyes turn from one cart to another, but he keeps walking until he pauses at last at a vendor selling meat pies."

The next player clockwise then chimes in on how their character meets this first character. For instance:

"In front of the human is a female dwarf in leather armor. Two hand-axes rest at either side, and her foot bobs up and down as she waits impatiently behind the half-elf in front of her. She turns to the human behind her and asks, 'Can you believe this guy? Just order your pie!'" Notice it involves the player who has already gone.

The introductions go on around the table, each of them attempting to involve the building group that has already been introduced. Once everyone is introduced, try to find reasons to stick together until conflict starts building. Soon you'll be a proper party!

Roleplay

Player characters are now free to explore the created area and interact with its people.

Any player may announce to the group, for example, "John, with the gold he just got from some bandits, is going to look for a blacksmith."

If someone has created a blacksmith, they raise their hand. If two or more people have created smiths, they may roll a dice, play rock-paper scissors, etc. to decide who the player encounters first, and an RP encounter proceeds. If another player goes looking for the same type of character/place they default to the next player who created one, or the next highest roller.

If no one has created that type of character/place, the player may give a brief description of what they're doing, and then let someone else explore

During this time, players with villains or plots should consider how to tie in plot-hooks to whatever the party is doing. Maybe someone screams while John is buying a new sword. Maybe something is overheard in a tavern. Maybe players see an individual with singular and disturbing focus heading down the street. Etc. Don't force players to investigate, but let them see there is something to be investigated.

As a rule of thumb, one-sided RP isn't fun. Let the characters you have created interact with other players characters. If its just your characters speaking, give a short, one sentence description of what happens, and then move on.

Inspiration

Inspiration can be given by any player to a player who gets into their character well, but no player can give their own character inspiration. Asking for inspiration is not allowed.

Skill Checks

When a player character attempts to do something challenging - such as scaling a wall or convincing a pirate to turn themself in - the creator of the place/NPC being acted upon can decide the difficulty of that action. In general, DC is set with an average person in mind, and should be based on:

• Simple 5
• Easy 10
• Challenging 15
• Very Difficult 20
• Practically Impossible 25

Combat

During Combat, the creator of the combat encounter controls all opponents, as well as their own character. Remember to role-play the combat well, and be fair in choosing who opponents attack.

Combat encounters should be grounded in a system such as 5E's Challenge Rating. While many easy encounters could be strung together without an opportunity for rest, a deadly encounter should have an opportunity for rest directly before and after. If a combat encounter begins to turn towards an accidental TPK - and an intentional TPK is not at all advised for this style of play - the person running the encounter may reduce monster stats in an attempt to prevent the TPK.

For fairness sake, always roll in the open. If player characters die, they die. If opponents crit fail, they crit fail.

Speaking of critical rolls, have a standard for what happens on a success/failure. For instance, a typical critical success could eqaul double damage or the best possible outcome while a typical failure signals the end of a turn, and half damage applied to the player or another member of the party. Alternatively, an agreed upon fail table can be used.

Leaving an Area

When it is decided that the party will leave the area, decide where or in what direction the party will travel.

Note that each player should keep the notes they have written for the NPCs in this place secret. These NPCs still exist in this town, and should the party return they may be useful. Alternatively, if you need a similar kind of character later, they can be reused then.

If a villainous plot was allowed to succeed, the players should hear a rumor of the outcome from the individual who created said villain. This can happen at any point down the road, as appropriate.