I really wish there was a reference guide, or a GM screen for this game. Reading the PDF, the game throws a lot of similar sounding terms with different mechanics behind them.
I know it'll click with some play, still, would be nice to have a simple reference sheet with cool art and layout handy.
I've been playing Cain as an Admin for a while now (6 sessions total) and implementing troupe play since players come and go and the game was supposed to be deadly for the characters, so we didn't want to grow too attached. Despite that I am noticing that unlike what the lore seems to imply dying is almost impossible. Did I read some rules wrong or are the pc exorcists just preternaturally lucky by design?
I haven't run/played CAIN yet, but from what I've read it seems the admin has to play pretty fast and rough for the PCs to experience any kind of pressure.
Also, the more exorcists there are the easier time they'll have.
The game seems to make you play against your players, unlike most modern day games taking the approach of "you're building a story together".
By that I don't mean actively hindering their progress in playing the game, but when a Sin comes in to play, you have to think this Sin wants the Excorsists gone. Not simply subdued, but removed in whatever flavour the Blasphemy express that in.
Depending on the threat level of the sin, It should have used each of its abilities at least once. Cat I should get your players used to what a Sin might do, but once they are against Cat II+ the Sins should not be pushovers.
The players should be coming out of fights by a hair's breadth, if at all. The only way I let players feel at ease against a Sin is if they are fighting sins below their level. If they are already cleared to fight Cat III but decide to take a breather helping a non-exorcist friend deal with their Cat I issue, yeah, I can see them not having too many issues at that point.
Looking forward to trying this! Is there any good place to report typos? In case not: p. 20, first sentence: phenomena -> phenomenon p. 32, grievance -> grieving p.93, proscriptive -> prescriptive
They're correctly spelled but used ungrammatically or in the wrong context. Phenomena is plural, phenomenon is singular. A grievance is a complaint and has nothing to do with grieving. Proscriptive means "forbidding", which is different to prescriptive which means "imposing rules".
I'm confused on dice rolls. Is the max you can roll for an action 3D, or 6D? the rolling section says you add up to 3D for skill, then up to 3D for advantages, so do those stack?
yes in most cases. Divine Agony I think is the only way to push past the +3 advantages. So I think the max you can roll is 9D if you have 3 skill, 3 advantage, and spend 3 Pathos
I love this book! I was curious if you have an answer for this: How should an Exorcist's death be handled after the mission? Is it expected that the player makes a new character with the same level and CAT? Or are they expected to make a character that is base level and CAT 1?
A rules question I couldn't for the life of me find an answer to: Does using a blasphemy in a conflict scene always require an action, even when the power does not roll PSYCHE or (directly) affect a talisman?
On page 43 it says that players can perform an action once on their turn, which includes anything involving one of the courses of action (like Act, Defend, and the others listed). This would mean anything that helps on the fight/conflict, including the use of blasphemies for those objectives (wheter it be setting up an ally, using objects, assess the situation for advantages, etc).
Heya! Thanks for the fixes in 1.1 - I think the update broke the links at the contents page though, if possible would be great to have those fixed in a future release c:
hello, I'd love to print out hte booklet but your pdf is not printer friendly, could we have a single page, inverted colors version maybe? thank you in advance
Hi! I love the game but would really like to print it booklet style, but that's pretty difficult with the only pdf option being spreads. Is a singles version of the pdf in the cards?
First I love the system and how creative you allow the flow to be, while making it challenging and potentially rewarding for players. Even having the abilities having some open-endedness to allow cross Blasphemies synergy.
This is more of a ruling question, is there mechanical/narrative benefit or importance to having a CAT on weapons, since using weapons on SINS are already considered Hard? Like would increasing CAT just make it so we can do more anime-like stuff in the higher level, like a CAT 4 exorcist with a CAT 3 sword can bisect a building with a Hard force roll? Or a CAT 2 exorcist with a CAT 1 pistol is able to snipe like it has a range of a rifle rather than a handgun?
I just to want to understand the benefit the characters would get from spending 60% of a successful, no death, mission payout on an upgrade like this.
Also, Horde Spirit's speed bonus is pretty small at the moment, especially at low CAT levels - would it be reasonable to raise that power to giving CAT+1 or maybe even CAT+2 speed? That way, a CAT 1 Exorcist could have the equivalent of a horse or something at will, rather than spending a Psyche Burst to... Get the speed of a fast human.
In page 18 is explained that category can be used by the Admin to determine the nature of dice rolls. While this part wasn't changed on the 1.1 update (It only talks about the exorcists and their powers), I asume that it also extends to the weapons, so higher CAT weapons would be more destructive/powerful (as a house rule, with the integration of category on weapons I'm also asking my players to choose/describe their weapons according to their CAT, so as they are on CAT 2 now, they still have no access to highly destructive weapons), and maybe even make certain actions don't even require rolls. An example I'm thinking is using like a CAT 4 weapon against mercenaries or police forces (which are normal humans), I wouldn't even ask for the roll then, they just kill/obliterate them.
Hi Tom with the CAIN 1.0 pdf i was able too click on the contents page too view that page but with CAIN 1.1 i am no longer able too also im very much enoying the changes with CAIN 1.1 amazign work as always
Hey Tom, I wanted to get your feelings on fan content and supplementary material. What's your stance on publishing modules, new blasphemies, sins, and such, both paid and/or unpaid?
I really like the licensing system you have for Lancer, and love seeing all the cool stuff coming out of that. I don't remember seeing an official stance on Maleghast, but I know I've seen some homebrew cults and rulesets posted on here and elsewhere for free. So I just wanted to get some clarity before I think about publishing something I shouldn't.
Hello! Me and my group are in love with the game, one of the best narrative experiences we have ever had!
That said I do have just single spot of constructive criticism: My players have noticed that the Blasphemies- Whisper, Edit, Bind, and Especially Palace, do not scale especially well with CAT rating. We sort of a house rule a few adjustments to the abilities to help these players feel like they are keeping up with the Tension and Ardence in the group, but it may bear a second look at the scaling of these Blasphemies.
Othee than this small observation, its been a killer time!
As an Edit player, I love this! Would be cool to be able to use Utility according to CAT instead of just manifesting things the size of a small room every time, for example.
It will be very useful, but I also love your art. An spare page versión would be still beautiful and easy to print, but i don't know if its very hard to create....
Is this still a plan? Honestly if I knew how the PDF was formatted and how much Black was on each page I'd have actually avoided buying it since I like to print and and bind PDF only TTRPGs and this is just a huge pain and ink sink as a result.
holy shit this is it, this takes my number two spot for favourite ttrpg setting, idk how the hell ill do it but im gonna fuckin buy this and find a group of people to play it with
Hi. Game looks really interesting y'all. I see at the bottom of the game description the words "a new narrative role playing game." As Tom Bloom is well known for Lancer, with its 4E level of crunch, how "narrative" is Cain? Are we expecting FATE levels of narrative tags used in combat? Is it just as crunchy as Lancer? Or is it something else?
CAIN is 100% a narrative game. If you have played ICON, it is kind of JUST the narrative part of that game. By which I mean this isn't like Lancer at all, it's a game about investigating a mystery and using weird powers creatively to solve problems in a freeform way. There isn't combat but a conflict scene instead, much more open ended with talismans representing progress on certain tasks, including executing monsters.
The most "crunchy" part of the game are the powers. They aren't as open as FATE aspects, they have certain restrictions, but at the same time they require the table to work together to reach a consensus about how they can be used in the current narrative context.
Anyway, I would say this is more of a vibes based game, much more writer’s room style than wargame. The table needs to work together to tell a story about trauma and dehumanization while using cool powers to do weird shit.
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More blasphemies please
I really wish there was a reference guide, or a GM screen for this game. Reading the PDF, the game throws a lot of similar sounding terms with different mechanics behind them.
I know it'll click with some play, still, would be nice to have a simple reference sheet with cool art and layout handy.
I've been playing Cain as an Admin for a while now (6 sessions total) and implementing troupe play since players come and go and the game was supposed to be deadly for the characters, so we didn't want to grow too attached. Despite that I am noticing that unlike what the lore seems to imply dying is almost impossible. Did I read some rules wrong or are the pc exorcists just preternaturally lucky by design?
I haven't run/played CAIN yet, but from what I've read it seems the admin has to play pretty fast and rough for the PCs to experience any kind of pressure.
Also, the more exorcists there are the easier time they'll have.
You might be pulling punches as an admin.
The game seems to make you play against your players, unlike most modern day games taking the approach of "you're building a story together".
By that I don't mean actively hindering their progress in playing the game, but when a Sin comes in to play, you have to think this Sin wants the Excorsists gone. Not simply subdued, but removed in whatever flavour the Blasphemy express that in.
Depending on the threat level of the sin, It should have used each of its abilities at least once.
Cat I should get your players used to what a Sin might do, but once they are against Cat II+ the Sins should not be pushovers.
The players should be coming out of fights by a hair's breadth, if at all.
The only way I let players feel at ease against a Sin is if they are fighting sins below their level.
If they are already cleared to fight Cat III but decide to take a breather helping a non-exorcist friend deal with their Cat I issue, yeah, I can see them not having too many issues at that point.
alguém sabe se tem alguma tradução br em andamento?
tem não meu chapa provavelmentr nehuma editora pego ainda
Looking forward to trying this! Is there any good place to report typos? In case not:
p. 20, first sentence: phenomena -> phenomenon
p. 32, grievance -> grieving
p.93, proscriptive -> prescriptive
none of these are typos.
They're correctly spelled but used ungrammatically or in the wrong context. Phenomena is plural, phenomenon is singular. A grievance is a complaint and has nothing to do with grieving. Proscriptive means "forbidding", which is different to prescriptive which means "imposing rules".
Thanks! I edit this myself so its hard to catch everything
I'm confused on dice rolls. Is the max you can roll for an action 3D, or 6D? the rolling section says you add up to 3D for skill, then up to 3D for advantages, so do those stack?
They do, the max is 6D
yes in most cases. Divine Agony I think is the only way to push past the +3 advantages. So I think the max you can roll is 9D if you have 3 skill, 3 advantage, and spend 3 Pathos
You commented on doing a printer friendly version. Is that still in the works?
goode
what is this? an rug or is it soluble? is this a miniatures game?
no it's not a miniatures game, it's a more a narrative investigation game. Very JJK if you watch anime.
I love this book! I was curious if you have an answer for this:
How should an Exorcist's death be handled after the mission? Is it expected that the player makes a new character with the same level and CAT? Or are they expected to make a character that is base level and CAT 1?
Amazing book, my main issue with it is that the pen on page 85 says see note. WHERE'S THE NOTE TOM?!
Hey, for some reason Edit isn't listed on the table of contents
Is there a paper version?
Hi Tom,
A rules question I couldn't for the life of me find an answer to: Does using a blasphemy in a conflict scene always require an action, even when the power does not roll PSYCHE or (directly) affect a talisman?
On page 43 it says that players can perform an action once on their turn, which includes anything involving one of the courses of action (like Act, Defend, and the others listed). This would mean anything that helps on the fight/conflict, including the use of blasphemies for those objectives (wheter it be setting up an ally, using objects, assess the situation for advantages, etc).
Hi, is there alternative method to buy this game ? I live in country that dosent support pay pal or master card.
Is there a discord for this yet? I have a few questions for running it.
if you go to the lancer discord (Pilot NET) there are a couple dedicated CAIN channels where you can ask stuff <3
Heya! Thanks for the fixes in 1.1 - I think the update broke the links at the contents page though, if possible would be great to have those fixed in a future release c:
fix coming for this shortly
hello, I'd love to print out hte booklet but your pdf is not printer friendly, could we have a single page, inverted colors version maybe? thank you in advance
Yep!
Seconded! I'd like to print the system, but it's not printer friendly.
I was wondering of there was anywhere I could read into the world of Cain more.
It is an absolutely fascinating place.
Side note, are you a Dorohedoro fan? Me and my friend were debating if you were or not based off some of the content youve made.
It's 100% borrows concepts from Dorohedoro, especially sinseeds.
Hi! I love the game but would really like to print it booklet style, but that's pretty difficult with the only pdf option being spreads. Is a singles version of the pdf in the cards?
Hello Mr. Bloom,
First I love the system and how creative you allow the flow to be, while making it challenging and potentially rewarding for players. Even having the abilities having some open-endedness to allow cross Blasphemies synergy.
This is more of a ruling question, is there mechanical/narrative benefit or importance to having a CAT on weapons, since using weapons on SINS are already considered Hard? Like would increasing CAT just make it so we can do more anime-like stuff in the higher level, like a CAT 4 exorcist with a CAT 3 sword can bisect a building with a Hard force roll? Or a CAT 2 exorcist with a CAT 1 pistol is able to snipe like it has a range of a rifle rather than a handgun?
I just to want to understand the benefit the characters would get from spending 60% of a successful, no death, mission payout on an upgrade like this.
I'm seconding this question as well.
Also, Horde Spirit's speed bonus is pretty small at the moment, especially at low CAT levels - would it be reasonable to raise that power to giving CAT+1 or maybe even CAT+2 speed? That way, a CAT 1 Exorcist could have the equivalent of a horse or something at will, rather than spending a Psyche Burst to... Get the speed of a fast human.
All great questions, would recommend heading to either the CAIN discord server or the CAIN section in the Pilot.net LANCER discord c:
In page 18 is explained that category can be used by the Admin to determine the nature of dice rolls. While this part wasn't changed on the 1.1 update (It only talks about the exorcists and their powers), I asume that it also extends to the weapons, so higher CAT weapons would be more destructive/powerful (as a house rule, with the integration of category on weapons I'm also asking my players to choose/describe their weapons according to their CAT, so as they are on CAT 2 now, they still have no access to highly destructive weapons), and maybe even make certain actions don't even require rolls.
An example I'm thinking is using like a CAT 4 weapon against mercenaries or police forces (which are normal humans), I wouldn't even ask for the roll then, they just kill/obliterate them.
I have to ask this but I really looove this concept, can I take inspiration for it for my worldbuiling or personal projects? If not that is a-okay.
would it be possible to add community copies?
Hi Tom with the CAIN 1.0 pdf i was able too click on the contents page too view that page but with CAIN 1.1 i am no longer able too
also im very much enoying the changes with CAIN 1.1 amazign work as always
Hey Tom, I wanted to get your feelings on fan content and supplementary material. What's your stance on publishing modules, new blasphemies, sins, and such, both paid and/or unpaid?
I really like the licensing system you have for Lancer, and love seeing all the cool stuff coming out of that. I don't remember seeing an official stance on Maleghast, but I know I've seen some homebrew cults and rulesets posted on here and elsewhere for free. So I just wanted to get some clarity before I think about publishing something I shouldn't.
A-ok as long as you don't reproduce text or art from the main book
If you do create homebrew content such as new blasphemies, I'd be very interested to see them and possibly run them!
Hello! Me and my group are in love with the game, one of the best narrative experiences we have ever had!
That said I do have just single spot of constructive criticism: My players have noticed that the Blasphemies- Whisper, Edit, Bind, and Especially Palace, do not scale especially well with CAT rating. We sort of a house rule a few adjustments to the abilities to help these players feel like they are keeping up with the Tension and Ardence in the group, but it may bear a second look at the scaling of these Blasphemies.
Othee than this small observation, its been a killer time!
As an Edit player, I love this! Would be cool to be able to use Utility according to CAT instead of just manifesting things the size of a small room every time, for example.
Hey I have a small question, is there by any chance will be more monster compendiums in future developments?
Hi,
I would love to print this but this format is very difficult.
Can you make a spare page version?
Thanks for your work!
I am planning to release a version with no art or art style formatting.
It will be very useful, but I also love your art.
An spare page versión would be still beautiful and easy to print, but i don't know if its very hard to create....
Is this still a plan? Honestly if I knew how the PDF was formatted and how much Black was on each page I'd have actually avoided buying it since I like to print and and bind PDF only TTRPGs and this is just a huge pain and ink sink as a result.
will there be community copies available at some point?
Are there planes on putting the character sheets on virtual tabletop sites like Roll20 and Foundry?
There is a community built module for Foundry already: https://github.com/diabeatz96/cain
Did the blasphemies purposefully or accidentally have a similar color sets to the skills from disco Elysium?
holy shit this is it, this takes my number two spot for favourite ttrpg setting, idk how the hell ill do it but im gonna fuckin buy this and find a group of people to play it with
Okay now you have to tell us your #1?!?!
it may have been three months but i have returned to answer this question finally >.>
It is The Wildsea, by far, check it out if you havent its cool as hell
Better late than never, checking it out now!
Hi. Game looks really interesting y'all. I see at the bottom of the game description the words "a new narrative role playing game." As Tom Bloom is well known for Lancer, with its 4E level of crunch, how "narrative" is Cain? Are we expecting FATE levels of narrative tags used in combat? Is it just as crunchy as Lancer? Or is it something else?
CAIN is 100% a narrative game. If you have played ICON, it is kind of JUST the narrative part of that game. By which I mean this isn't like Lancer at all, it's a game about investigating a mystery and using weird powers creatively to solve problems in a freeform way. There isn't combat but a conflict scene instead, much more open ended with talismans representing progress on certain tasks, including executing monsters.
The most "crunchy" part of the game are the powers. They aren't as open as FATE aspects, they have certain restrictions, but at the same time they require the table to work together to reach a consensus about how they can be used in the current narrative context.
Anyway, I would say this is more of a vibes based game, much more writer’s room style than wargame. The table needs to work together to tell a story about trauma and dehumanization while using cool powers to do weird shit.
Okay, thanks for the help! :)
Giving me big Persona/Shin megami tensei vibes
Can we expect a 1.1 version with the typos fixed?
I plan a release later this year or early next