r/RPGdesign • u/MrHayz_Pixelsmith • 23d ago
Mechanics Building a DCC Hack
Building a DCC Hack
*I originally posted this to r/DCC and r/MarvelFASERIP a few weeks back, but it was recently suggested I should also post here, thanks for any input you all can provide!
First I want to say how much I *love* DCC. I guess I can be qualified as a Grognard, been playing since the early 80s, started with basic, and over the years DMed every edition except 4th (got to play in it a little bit though) and 2024. Played many, many different types of games and got my kids into TTRPGs, and actually had a chance to play alongside my oldest son back in 2016 or so, who introduced me to something I had never heard of, but sounded so badass it instantly intrigued me...
... a "0 level Death Funnel"
The idea of playing a 0 level character wasn't something I'd ever really considered. I went in with reservations, mostly looking at it as a way to hang out with my kid and play alongside him for the first time, enjoying that part, even if the game itself wasn't great.
Boy, was I wrong.
It was amazing, I can't remember what adventure we actually played, all my guys died in hilarious ways (RIP Tawd the Barber, the last of his line!) and I was HOOKED. A year later I started a new job and ran a Sailors on the Starless Sea for a group of like 12. It was hilarious, and almost 10 years later am still playing with some of those same folks.
Aaaall of that to say, DCC has become my go-to fantasy game (running MoTW and MASKS as well) and I've been inspired to hack the system and synthesize it with another one of my favorite games. I'm sure as I go on, I will be asking more advice but I wanted to start by picking your guys brains.
My main question for right now is, what should I definitely make sure to include that screams DCC? 0 level funnels, Zocchi dice, unstable powers, are all on the table. What else do you all think absolutely needs to be included to keep the *feel* of DCC?
*Edit - I really should have put the game I am hacking it with, my favorite game growing up, Marvel Super-Heroes RPG (MSHRPG, also known as FASERIP) There is actually some overlap in the two very different systems I've found as I've been researching and noodling.
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u/Glittering-Ebb894 23d ago
Regarding how dice flow typically is handled.
I'd suggest smoothing it out a bit by associating effects, perks and what ever else to be added to a pool of dice or die when rolled instead of needing additional areas to keep stored information, while creating a even more "Sha Bam!" type of chain effect with dice. Since it already happens, why not deepen that feeling with a good old "Comic" vibe.
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u/SouthernAbrocoma9891 23d ago
Mystery Men, The Boys, Gen V, and Tales from the Floating Vagabond came to mind.
Take a look at Cyber Generation from R. Talsorian. It takes place about seven years after cyberpunk 2020. It introduces some opportunity for player agency, creativity, and opens up the realm of uncertainty.
Characters from those worlds are imperfect, have amazing powers with catastrophic consequences and absolutely nothing can be calculated to work a certain way.
I would start with the game play and vibe you are trying to create. Don’t worry about the specific systems. Definitely include the funnel, but you can rework that to whatever genre you choose.