Hello,

My name is Tim Dugger, although you likely know me by my more common internet handle, Rasyr. A few months ago, I started work for a tiny company called Firehawk Games. I have authored a new role-playing game for them. It is called Novus.

We are proud to announce that Novus has just gone live!

Firehawk Games has released Novus in an Open Beta format. In fact, there are two different versions of Novus. The Free Version and the Deluxe Version.

The Free Version is a no-frills PDF that contains just the rules. No bookmarks, no internal hyperlinks, no artwork, no extras of any kind. The Deluxe Version currently has bookmarks and internal links, and will be updated with an index, and artwork as the Open Beta progresses. Both versions will receive updates to the rules as any such updates are made in response to feedback from folks participating in the Open Beta.

Both versions are available from RPGNow at http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=410

Here is a brief overview of the system. I hope that you find it interesting.

Novus is a 2d10 roll-over TN system that incorporates exploding dice. What this means is that the GM decides upon a Target Number (TN) for a given task, and you have to equal or beat that number to succeed. By "exploding dice", I mean that if you roll an unmodified 10 on either die, then you get to roll that die and add it to the previous roll. There is no limit to how many times your dice may explode, thus allowing for the possibility of very high rolls. This also means that there is ALWAYS a chance for success.

Combat works just like normal task resolution. However, the TN for the attack is the foe's DEF (Defense), and sentient foes can perform actions that raise this (i.e. sacrificing some or all of their attack bonus to increase DEF). Shields add to DEF, armor does not. Instead, armor reduces the damage received (AR - Armor Rating). When dealing damage, you start off with a static base (Base Damage + Strength bonus for melee) and then you do additional damage based on how good your attack roll was. You can also earn "Boon Points" which you can then spend on dealing extra damage or on making additional attacks or even giving yourself a bonus of some sort in the following round.

Magic also works like other tasks. You have a single skill for casting spells, and you learn each spell separately (you purchase them via character points, same as with skills and talents). Each spell has its own TN and Spell Point cost for casting. And just like for combat, you can earn Casting Boon Points that allow for scaling up the power of the spell. As part of one of the first supplements we will be introducing a spell creation system that is designed to also allow characters to cast spells on the fly, creating them as they need them.

Novus comes with everything you need to begin playing today! Go get the Free Version from RPGNow, and give it a spin. If you like it, feel free to support Firehawk Games by coming back and picking up the Deluxe Version.

And if you would like to continue to receive updates about Novus, visit our website at http://www.firehawkgames.com and either sign up for the newsletter or join the forums.

We hope to see you soon!

_________________
**TANSTAAFL**
Tim Dugger
Personal Website: Wizard's Lair
Original author of HARP, Designer/Author of the new rpg, Novus by Firehawk Games

We are pleased to announce that we have just released version 0.6 of the Novus Open Beta. You can now go to your RPGNow or DriveThruRPG account and re-download the file to get the latest version.

This update contains a number of fixes and corrections,to a number of different areas. Below is a partial list of those many changes and corrections:

• Character Classes - We have revamped the way that they look so that they are easier to understand and so that the abilities are more clearly stated.
  
• Defense (DEF) - We removed the level dependency and changed it over to being based on your skill ranks with your best melee weapon skill.
  
• Spell Points - We removed the Spell Points per level and made it based on the type of Adept you are and your ranks in your Spellcasting skill.
  
• Hit Points - We removed the Hit Points per level and made it so that you actually have more Hit Points starting out than previously. We also added racial maximums (which are then adjusted by Strength and Constitution Stat Values) so that there isn’t an ever-increasing number of Hit Points.
  
• Saving Throws - We have removed the level modifier from Saving Throws and replaced it with a static modifier. This makes Saving Throws more balanced overall.
  
• Reduced Level Dependency - The overall effect of the above 4 changes is a reduced dependency on levels. This makes it very easy for a GM who doesn’t like levels to remove them from the game,while at the same time,retaining them for those GMs who like the structure of levels.
  
• Fate Points - We have removed the limit on the number of Fate Points that a character may have,but also put in a limit on how many may be used at a single time. We have also made Fate Points a bit more versatile overall.
  
• Talents - We have added several new Talents based on several of the changes made above (i.e. Talents for gaining Hit Points,for increasing Saving Throw modifiers,etc..)
  
• Combat (Special Situations) - We have added several new entries to the Special Situations section of the Combat chapter. These include Disengaging from Melee,Opportunity Attacks,and Zones of Combat. These allow for more possibilities overall.
  
• Spells - All spells that require Saving Throws now have the TN of the Save listed in their stat blocks so you don’t have to figure it on the fly.
  
• Familiars - You choices for a Familiar have been greatly expanded,and so have the benefits of having a Familiar. We have also made it possible for Nature Spirits to become Familiars as well.
  
• Essential Salts - This is a new addition. This substance can substitute for Spell Points,and is also the basis of almost all alchemical processes. We have also expanded the Herbal Elixers in the Treasures section to provide you with the information and rules needed for your characters to be able to make them on their own while adventuring
  
• Character Sheet - We have also updated the Character Sheet to reflect the changes. You may also pick up a blank Character Sheet PDF from the Downloads section of the Firehawk Games website.

That covers the vast majority of the changes. So swing on by and pick up the most recent version. I am sure that you will not regret it.

_________________
**TANSTAAFL**
Tim Dugger
Personal Website: Wizard's Lair
Original author of HARP, Designer/Author of the new rpg, Novus by Firehawk Games

I have downloaded the free version, and to me it looks good. Thanks Tim.

Simple - like old style D&D.
Believable - while 'realistic' might be a stretch for such a simple system, some of the Novus mechanics at least correlate to reality better than D&D (e.g. armour/hit points and overpowered high level characters).
Adaptable - obviously a bit of tweaking required for a Hârnworld setting, but I think it would be doable. Not much detail on non-stat characteristics, but everyone has their favourite methods for that anyway. Will have to consider how easy it would be to convert HM/D20/D&D data.

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"...blogging is literary pole dancing."
Robin Hobb

Glad that you like it.



Personally, I don't think that there is any possibility of a "realistic" game, not when that game include fantastical elements such as magical bolts of fire and dragons and so forth...

But, I do believe that a game should be internally consistent with itself and that "reality" within the game should also be consistent.



Grant has actually given me permission to create a free Novus/Harn document, so that IS something on my to do list (it will be a free PDF once complete). I just have to find the time to get it complete...

And that adaptability is part of the design goal. I wanted a system that was simple, flexible, easily adjusted to different settings (or even genres) and that was fairly well balanced as well. I came pretty close to that with the first game I wrote, but being honest with myself, I did make a number of mistakes with it; mistakes that I tried hard to avoid (which only means that I likely made new mistakes with Novus... hehehe).

Part of the reason that it is in Open Beta is so that folks can help me find those mistakes and I can fix them before I do a print version.

_________________
**TANSTAAFL**
Tim Dugger
Personal Website: Wizard's Lair
Original author of HARP, Designer/Author of the new rpg, Novus by Firehawk Games

I'd bite yer hand off twice to get hold of that Novus/Harn love child

Now, if you did that, I'd have a bit of a hard time actually typing it up, now wouldn't I?

Anyways, feel free to visit the forums over at http://www.firehawkgames.com and participate in discussions on how to best adapt Novus to Harn.

_________________
**TANSTAAFL**
Tim Dugger
Personal Website: Wizard's Lair
Original author of HARP, Designer/Author of the new rpg, Novus by Firehawk Games

Spiffing!