Interlock System: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Role-playing game system by R. Talsorian Games}}

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The '''Interlock System''' is [[R. Talsorian Games]]' proprietary tabletop role-playing system.

==History==

Interlock was a game system by [[R. Talsorian Games]] based on a simplesystem ‘dieof +adding bonus’a system,bonus usingto a d10roll on a 10-sided die.<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|208}} ''[[Mekton II]]'' (1987) –, the third edition of R. Talsorian's [[mecha]] game, – revealed forwas the first timegame to use the full-fledged Interlock system., Interlockand featured point-based characters with a character background system thatadapted hadfrom the original ''[[Mekton]]'', though in a more complex and comprehensive form called Lifepaths.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|208}} ''[[Cyberpunk 2013]]'' (1988) was the second design to feature R. Talsorian's Interlock system.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|208}} ''Cyberpunk'' introduced a new combat system to Interlock called "Friday Night Firefight", while the second edition of the game, ''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]'' (1990), made further improvements on the Interlock system resulting in what is now known as "Standard Interlock".<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|209}}

appeared in ''[[Mekton]]'', though in a more complex and comprehensive form called Lifepaths.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|208}} ''[[Cyberpunk 2013]]'' (1988) was R. Talsorian's second Interlock design.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|208}} ''Cyberpunk'' expanded the original Interlock system by introducing a new combat system called "Friday Night Firefight". The second edition of the game, ''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]'' (1990), polished up the Interlock system once more, producing what is now known as "Standard Interlock".<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|209}}

Interlock is one of the dparents of the [[Fuzion]] system, the other being the [[Hero System]]. Characters are created by choosing skills rather than by choosing a [[character class]], as in many other games.

Interlock is one of the direct parents of the [[Fuzion]] system (the other is the [[Hero System]]). The Interlock System is a "skill-based" system &mdash; characters are created by choosing skills for them, and by advancing those skills individually, rather than by choosing [[character class]] packages. The Interlock System is used primarily in the ''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]'' and ''[[Mekton]]'' role-playing games; a variant of the Interlock System is used in ''[[Teenagers from Outer Space (role-playing game)|Teenagers from Outer Space]]'' and the Japanese ''[[Gundam Senki]]'' RPG. [[Ability score|Stats]] and [[skill]]s are both rated on a scale of 0-10 with 0 representing no ability/no training and 10 representing the maximum ability possible for a human being. A typical skill roll will range from 12-20 for most tasks, so a skill 10 + stat 10 will succeed at virtually any task barring a critical mishap, while a skill 0 + stat 2 (minimum statistic level for a human character) will fail at any but the very simplest task, and even then will succeed only on a critical success. Interlock builds on the typical skill-based paradigm by offering "template" (Mekton) or "profession" (Cyberpunk) packages that give specialized abilities to characters that take these packages.

The Interlock System is bestused knownin forthe its''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]''Lifepath and ''[[Mekton]]'' system,role-playing games. aA storytellingvariant deviceis used toin create''[[Teenagers characterfrom backgroundsOuter withoutSpace particular(role-playing directgame)|Teenagers benefitfrom orOuter drawbackSpace]]'' toand the character, avoidingJapanese ''[[min-maxingGundam Senki]]'' RPG.

==System==

Interlock is one of the direct parents of the [[Fuzion]] system (the other is the [[Hero System]]). The Interlock System is a "skill-based" system &mdash; characters are created by choosing skills for them, and by advancing those skills individually, rather than by choosing [[character class]] packages. The Interlock System is used primarily in the ''[[Cyberpunk 2020]]'' and ''[[Mekton]]'' role-playing games; a variant of the Interlock System is used in ''[[Teenagers from Outer Space (role-playing game)|Teenagers from Outer Space]]'' and the Japanese ''[[Gundam Senki]]'' RPG. [[Ability score|Stats]] and [[skill]]sskills are both rated on a scale of 0-10 with 0 representing no ability/no or training and 10 representing the maximum ability possible for a human being. A typical skill roll will typically range from 12-20 for most tasks, so a skill 10 + stat 10 will succeed at virtually any task barring a critical mishap, while a skill 0 + stat 2 (minimum statistic level for a human character) will fail at any but the very simplest task, and even then will succeed only on a critical success. Interlock builds on the typical skill-based paradigm by offering "template" (Mekton) or "profession" (Cyberpunk) packages that give specialized abilities to characters that take these packages.

There are nine [[Attribute (role-playing games)|Attributes]]: Intelligence (INT), Reflexes (REF), Cool (COOL), Technical Ability (TECH), Luck (LUCK), Attractiveness (ATT), Movement (MOVE), Empathy (EMP), and Body (BOD). Characters must have a starting Attribute stat minimum of 2 and a system stat maximum of 10. Empathy is important in ''Cyberpunk'' and ''Cybergeneration'' in particular. Here, it not only controls interpersonal interactions but it also determines how much cyberware you can install. Every piece of cyberware has a Humanity Cost that reduces the character's base Empathy. A rating of "0" or less means the character has become psychotic and can no longer be played.

The Interlock System is best known for its ''Lifepath'' system, a storytelling device used to create character backgrounds without particular direct benefit or drawback to the character, avoiding [[min-maxing]].

==See also==

* [[Cybergeneration]]

* [[Cyberpunk 2020]]

* [[Fuzion]]

* [[Mekton]]

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{{RPG systems}}

{{Cyberpunk (game franchise)}}

[[Category:Role-playing game systems]]