CLAY Roleplay Framework

When you play a TTRPG, have you found it annoying when you do role-play to buy something from a merchant, only to have to roll a die and loose all importance of your role-play to a random dice roll? it can feel like your role-play is just flavor text added on top of a complicated game of chess.

While there is nothing wrong with the systems that work like that, that is not the only way to play. if you looking for a system that a lot more focused on role-play and narrative/storytelling, where rather then following a bunch of calculations, you use improv and communal storytelling skills to control the outcome of the story.

CLAY is a system built from scratch with the objective of using role-play itself as the deciding factor for the outcome and progression of a story. think of it akin to the game of "house" played by kids. the kids self assign a role, and then pretend to be the role. they don't need stats, cards, boards, etc. all they need is to lay some ground rules and stick to a theme.

rather then having a system of stats and calculations, CLAY asks you make a list of the important aspects and abilities of your character, and then use that as a basis to inform the actions that your character is capable of.

NOTE:
this system is a framework, meaning that this file has NO content about worlds etc, it explicitly just discusses mechanics, writing, and advice on making "extensions" to the frame work which will give you a fully playable world/campaign.

PLEASE check out ready made the extension Eternius as this is JUST the framework. Eternius it is a fully fledged fantasy world for you to use, and set campaigns in. it also serves as an example of a extension and how to lay one out, a good skim of it will help a lot in understanding what the frame work can look like when its implemented.

2ND NOTE:
this system is built for a specific type of group/role-play. it is very open ended and shares a lot of power between players and GM. this means that the system work well with groups who are willing to work together, and want to tell stories together. it is NOT build for inter player competition or one-uping each other.

Remember:
the goal of CLAY is NOT to "win" or beat your GM/players. the goal of CLAY is working together with your group to weave and tell a tapestry of the story and ideas you want to explore.

sometimes that is a story of death, fighting against all odds.
sometimes that is a story of losing things important in the pursuit of a goal.
sometimes its a lighthearted story of attending a school and discovering the wonders of magic.

The game of role play is what ever you want to make it, and what ever role you want to play.