Level 99 Games

Argent: Masters of the University is our Current Main Project at Level 99 Games. From this page, you can read all about the major points of the project, as well as download a few samples of the current corebook. Note that this page reflects the current state of the project. Things are still subject to change before publication–most notably chapter arrangements, page layouts, and included illustrations. Contents

• Overview
• Scenario
• System
• Progress & Contributions
• Publication Information
• Project Admins

Overview

Argent: Masters of the University is an large RPG project that has been in the works for over a year. The goal is to create a pen and paper RPG which allows players to experience detailed life in a magical university–from taking classes to going quests to living everyday life. The setting is a vast world known as Indines, filled with wonders of magic, technology, and mystery. As students, players are granted various powers–the broad skills their magic grants them; and arts–specific spells and techniques for use in battle.

Scenario

Player characters in Argent are generally students at the University Argent, somewhere between first and fourth year. As part of their studies, players are required to participate in adventures, complete quests, and do various deeds, mostly at the behest of professors. Beyond that, players can involve themselves in clubs, social circles, sports, and various other occupations. Even lessons can end lead into interesting adventures!

Indines is a vast world, still with many unexplored regions and wonders, within which the University Argent stands. Beyond Indines, there are other worlds–the planes, which play host to vastly different terrains and creatures. Gods walk among men, and Dark creatures from outside reality threaten to tear the world apart. Lost civilizations and ancient wonders of the past wait beneath the surface of the earth in dungeons and forgotten cities, and an evil empire in the south plots to completely control the world using dark magic and a vast military. Wherever the players choose to go, whatever they choose to do, Argent contains adventure to the very end.

Magic

Six major departments of magic exist at Argent, each with 3 disciplines (or majors) within which students can study. (Sample of Department Section)

• Department of Sorcery - Classical spellcraft. Images of students poring over thick tomes of magic, turning teapots into mice, casting illusions, and hurling fireballs is the one this department fits best.
• Department of Mysticism – Black magic. Students learn to see using scrying and clairvoyance, to summon and command all manner of creatures, and to inflict grievous curses on their enemies.
• Department of Divinity - White magic. Students can learn the service of the gods, as well as skills which allow them to heal, defend, and exorcise evil.
• Department of Natural Magick – Nature magic. Within this school, pupils master nature rituals involving elemental control, plants, and even the cycles of death.
• Department of Technomancy – Technomagic. The “magical scientists” within this department can master skills such as Alchemy, Artifice, and High Magical Technology.
• Department of Planar Studies – Mathemagic. A new field of cutting edge logic-based magic, Planar Students can master teleportation, time control, and even magics to manipulate the real world as if it were a collection of data.

Races

Argent contains a wide variety of fantasy race options, and even some new original ones.

• Human
• Elvan
• Half-Elemental (Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Light, or Shadow)
• Dryad (Tree spirits)
• Dragonborn (Half-dragons)
• Undead
• Ghost
• Golem
• Homunculus
• Virian (4 winged angelic beings from the plane of light)
• Rasp (living nightmares from the plane of shadow)
• Chaon (alien humanoids from the plane of chaos)

Nations

The world of Indines is divided into five major countries, each with smaller satellite countries and protectorates. These are the major countries:

• Relecour – A rich nation to the East controlled by a collection of Oligarchs. This is where Argent is located.
• Sanghalim – A western desert empire, led by the living incarnation of a Goddess.
• Jeffreys – A forest kingdom in the midwest famous for producing knights and heroes of legend.
• Willat – A magocracy in the frozen north, filled with wonders of high technology and advanced magic.
• Gesselheim – A massive empire situated in the southern wastelands, filled with undead and monsters, and ruled by the Lich King Lord Rexan.

System

Argent features a two-sided system designed for flexibility within Roleplay and Combat. As developers we have played many RPGs, both freeform and tactics based, and we have come to several conclusions. The first is that most players prefer something clearer than freeform rules when in situations like combat. The second is that players don’t like to be limited to a spell list while out of combat. The third is that no one wants to choose between having a flavorful character and one that is effective in battle (as is often the case with spell-list based magic systems).

For these reasons, we put together Argent’s Dual Magic System. With this system, each time your magic skills increase, you receive Powers and Arts. Powers are freeform abilities that you can use as you wish outside of combat, and are more open and flavorful, lending themselves to a wide variety of applications. Arts are specific skills that can be used in combat, and have complete rules associated with them.

For tactical combat, Argent uses the Original Modular Block System. With MBS, you are given a certain number of slots–weapon slots, skill slots, ability slots, and so forth. You don’t need to haggle with 8 pages of spell lists and a huge collection of obscure rules during combat–you simply make your build ahead of time, and use only the skills and powers noted on your character sheet.

(Discipline Page Sample) <-This sample shows the contrast between powers and arts.

Progress & Contributions

We are currently compiling the Argent Core book, so this means all the writing is done. The only things left to put in are illustrations, icons, and so forth. If you have illustrations of Magic-User characters, fantasy landscapes, magical tools or relics, or other similar things that you would like to contribute, these are highly appreciated! Even small icons or borders could be of great use.

Illustations

Our expected print format is 300 DPI in gray scale. If your drawing is in color, we can put it to gray scale for you, though it may not look as nice as if you had done it yourself (we won’t touch up your art for you). Make sure to sign all submissions, and to include your name as you want it in the credits. Like anything you contribute to Level 99 Games, we promise to protect your work by using it only in this specific project, and by crediting you with its creation.

Playtesting
If you want to playtest Argent, we appreciate your interest! Please contact one of the administrators for this project, and they will help you with acquiring game materials, tips on how to build a test game, and some advice for recording your thoughts on the game. The game is still largely untested, so we could use as much help as possible.

Publication Information

Current plans are to publish Argent as two books–the first is the Core character guide, which contains all the information necessary to create PC characters as well as the info on all 18 disciplines of magic within Argent. The second is the GM Worldbook, which contains weapon/armor manufacturing, a list of relics, technology, and legendary places to encounter, as well as a bestiary and boss-level magics. Together, these books total around 500 pages of gameplay.

So far, we are looking to publish online via www.lulu.com, in hardcover and softcover editions. The hardcover set of two books is projected at about $50, while the softcover set of two will probably run for $35. With each set sold we will make a small profit (perhaps $5 or so) that will go directly back into level 99 (for things like paying our server costs, or even buying better hosting to support another webgame). Long and short–by buying our games, you encourage the production of more good games.

The complete game is slated to be available around the end of September, or so we hope. No promises on an exact date though.

Project Administrators & Credits

• Project Chairman: Church (kiyoshi.kyokai@gmail.com) <- Contact this person to get involved
• MBS System Design: Llaqus, SirZat, Tomcat, Church
• Playtesters: Knitez, Gerevo, Llaqus, Sirzat, Gecko, Tomcat, Church
• Artists:
  • Church (www.kiyoshi-kyokai.deviantart.com)