Prologue

From LiMaWiki

"I think being a little bit of a nerd is good for creative people because I think what defines a nerd is you’re so into the thing that you’re doing that you don’t care what other people think. You can’t get something from nothing. You have to put yourself into it and that means an uncommon amount of devotion."

-Guy Aitchison

I began working on Geomancy shortly after my release into the world after my 6th grade elementary year. I was approaching Middle School and found comfort in games such as AD&D and wanted a way to break the limitations that such games held. Even today when I play some of the most fascinating expansions and additions to that game, I still find myself being hindered and not quite play the character I’ve always wanted. Through my research, and my time since the summer before Middle School, I developed countless systems from XP, to level-less, to class-less and never quite found a balance between all of it. It wasn’t until one summer in my high school days that the most inspirational person sat down and worked with me. We ran through countless numbers, scenarios, and sessions until he pitched the idea of completely reworking the game for a 6th time. I sat down that night and began to see the potential for the system this man had set forth. I worked for months on end before I had completed a system in which was balanced, but allowed for so much character development.

When I approached him again with the new plans and the new rules we tried it out. It was a massive success on both the DM and the player part. The story was easy to write, the rules were simple, and the player had the freedom to play with no limitations of weapon, class, or alignment. He was free to choose what he wanted to do, how he wanted to do it, and then deal with how the rules decided to play it out. I tried the new system with my friends, some of which had played since versions 1 and on. The feedback was incredible and so I decided to stick with it.

I’ve built countless rules, spells, and situations on those fundamentals; trying to bring not only balance but intrigue and playability to all the characters. Finally I was given the opportunity to test my game on a person who was so dead hearted on not learning another game. Up till this point, he had no intention of ever learning a new system. When I began to tell him the rules, he was shocked. He then began to ask questions on what he could potentially do as a character. When I told him almost yes to everything, he again, was surprised at the freedom I gave players while still keeping a find box of rules to add some control. There are a handful of people who even through it all, managed to stay with Geomancy up until the end days of our youth. From there, it fell apart very quickly. We all left in different directions in our lives and have yet to regroup and sit down with the so many additives that have been made. However, before then, we enjoyed countless hours after school and on Saturdays playing Geomancy. Some of the most impressive stories and outright fascinating events took place with this group.

I can remember having so many different stories running at one time that I actually took a big roll of paper and drew out the Geomancy map. For each group I placed a tack on the map, which took my entire wall upstairs. I had about 6 different stories running, all spread throughout the world, each party affecting the other parties adventure. It was fun for me to see the confusion on each person’s face when something unexpected happened. It was also exciting to tell them all why the strange things kept happening. Sadly, my goal was to bring all of them together into one large group for an epic adventure the likes that I had never DM’d before. It never panned out. I have no idea where the map went. My mind shows me ripping it up, but I cannot imagine why I would have. I guess I may never know.

One of the most absorbing adventures I ever had changed the face of Geomancy forever. A very important person (still important to me to this day) played with such elegance and grace that I spiced things up a bit by changing her goody two-shoe character into a hardcore demon. I thought for sure that I broke the game, however she pulled it off very well. Eventually her character would become so great that she literally took an entire town, lifted it off the ground with ease and filled the hole with a swarm of creatures not meant for this world. It was at that time that I ended that campaign however her character still lives on. I have thrown countless powerful characters up against her design only to see them all die. I will continue to wait for a group of worthy players to attempt her demonic tower and defeat her.

In the past years since I stopped actively playing on a daily basis, Geomancy has grown into something I never thought possible. The very essence of what I wished a RPG to be is now in place. I have tried my very best to balance it out and while not perfect, I will continue to strive for balance when deemed necessary. Though now, with journey's ending and the major work on Geomancy coming to a close, a new door opens; the door I've been searching for this whole time. Sharing Geomancy with the world has become my next, and ultimate goal. The countless adventures and tomes have come to shape the very person I am in both body and mind.

Geomancy, the name it was given by my inspiration, encompasses everything I have come to like about role playing games. It is my pride and joy. It is my baby, and I will continue to nurture it and watch it grow from my hands and the hands of my peers. It is dedicated to countless people, some who I no longer share words with but their impact is felt by future characters and my world as a whole. To these people, I thank personally.

Phil, Krystle, Chrissi, Jon, Derrick, Brandon, Lacey, Brittany (artist), Jordan, Robbie, Randy, Joe, Sam, Marisa, anna, Maia, Kit, Jason, Jacob, Matt, Brad, Billy, Rice, and of course, my inspiration, the person who started this all; Joel

To all of you, thank you for your words, inspiration, trials, love, hate, and wrath of this game. I will continue to build and expand on this game because of each impact you have left in my heart, both good and bad.

I dedicate Geomancy to Tatsu

It was you who started this, you who ended it, and it is you who has continued to give me hope. We may be dimensions apart for now, but our lives will intertwine and be one in the here-after again; I have a promise to keep... Remember?