Frames (Races)

Frame, Race or Species?

Whenever we use the word “Frame” you can substitute it for “Race” or “Species”.

We prefer to emphasize that the body or “frame” is just a vessel for a character’s mind (or soul, depending on the game setting).

Many fantasy worlds have a concept of a soul that can change or inhabit different bodies or “frames”.

Mechanically, races and frames are the same thing and the principle on how they interact with the game system is the same.

This is the reason we use the term “frame” over race.

This section covers the rules on creating races and frames for your games. We include a couple of common example races and frames that you can quickly plug into most game settings.

General Frame Notes

When creating a character, the player will usually start with their frame. Most other games and settings call this the character “race” but, we prefer the term “frame”.

We don’t use the term “race” in Nemron, purely because some game settings don’t have a concept of “race”. Race doesn’t make sense in a game setting that consist entirely of robots and mechanical beings (think of the indie game Machinarium).

For your own game settings, you can still use the term “race”, but just be aware that, mechanically a “race” is just a “frame” and, throughout the system we will use the term “frame”.

Some worlds and settings will share common frame types, like “human” or “dwarf”. Other game world may have unique frames for that setting.

Frame Attributes

Every frame will provide a set of minimum and maximum potential values for the primary attribute nodes of the frame.

Starting characters should pick one attribute and increase it’s maximum by one. They then pick another attribute and decrease it’s maximum by one.

Frames are Domains

Every frame counts as it’s own domain. This means that depending on the rank, the character can have access to frame-specific features.

Like domains, frames do can have a rank. However, unlike domains, frames cannot be ranked up with XP. Frames normally have a fixed rank.

The GM could come up with narrative reasons why a frame might increase in rank, but this would normally depend on the game world/setting.

Features are Optional

When a player create their character, they can ignore the frame features and, instead pick starting skills in their place. Remember that they cannot use XP to purchase features later on. Frame features are fixed during character creation.

That said, the GM always have the option to override this rule for narrative reasons.

Frame Examples

The following is a list of generic frames that is commonly used in other game worlds and settings. Feel free to use them as-is for your game, or modify and change them to suit your needs.

They also serve as great examples of how to create your own custom frames for the world/setting you want to run your game in.

Generic Human (E)

Humans are quick to adapt to change and quickly pick up new skills.

Mundane every-day NPC’s will be have a Rank 0 frame.

Trained NPC’s like guards usually have Rank 1 frames.

Heroes and player characters are usually Rank 2.

It’s rare for humans (even heroes and PC’s) to have a frame higher than Rank 2.

Attributes [Min/Max]

Body: Power [0/3], Agility [0/3], Constitution [0/5]

Mind: Intellect [0/4], Awareness [0/3], Willpower [0/3]

Spirit: Control [0/4], Sense [0/3], Focus [0/4]

Abilities

Shout (AB)

Traits

Ambidexterous (E), Charming (E), Empath (E), Inner Monologue (E), Luck (E,R), Resolve (E), Talented (E)

Generic Dwarf (E)

Mundane every-day NPC’s will be have a Rank 0 frame.

Trained NPC’s like guards usually have Rank 1 frames.

Heroes and player characters are usually Rank 2.

Attributes [Min/Max]

Body: Power [0/4], Agility [0/3], Constitution [0/5]

Mind: Intellect [0/3], Awareness [0/2], Willpower [0/2]

Spirit: Control [0/3], Sense [0/3], Focus [0/3]

Abilities

Shout (AB)

Traits

Combat Awareness (E), Dark Sight (E), Empowered (E), Endurance (E), Immunity (E), Resilience (E)

Generic Elf (A)

Mundane every-day NPC’s will be have a Rank 0 frame.

Trained NPC’s like guards usually have Rank 1 frames.

Heroes and player characters are usually Rank 2.

Attributes [Min/Max]

Body: Power [0/1], Agility [0/4+2], Constitution [0/2]

Mind: Intellect [0/3], Awareness [0/4+1], Willpower [0/3]

Spirit: Control [0/3], Sense [0/4], Focus [0/3]

Abilities

Evasive Movement (AB)

Traits

Agile Striker (E), Alert (E), Ambidexterous (E), Point Blank (E), Farsight (E), Fleet Foot (E), Keen Sense (E), Mobility (E)

Construct

Construct cover robots, androids and any game setting where a creature was “constructed”.

Construct Attribute Min/Max

We cannot really define min/max values for constructs. This is because it entirely depends on who created the construct, and what its primary purpose is for.

Non-organic constructs (like androids) cannot rank up their Attribute Nodes using skill points. In order to upgrade their attributes, they have to spend money to buy and install upgrades. Of course, this could change based on the narrative and GM discretion.

Construct Health and Healing

Non-organic constructs cannot heal naturally. They need to heal wounds by making repairs with the appropriate tools and parts.

In some game settings, special construct rules may apply, like using nano-technology to repair the non-organic construct. This would effectively be a healing mechanic for constructs in those settings.