Bezbozny•This week
Writing a exercise based TTRPG rulebook for a system where your real world fitness is tied to character progression
My dad was a star athlete when he was young, and my mom was a huge sci-fi/fantasy nerd, so I got both ends of the stick as it were. Love gaming and nerd culture, but also love to exercise and self improvement. Sometimes exercise can feel boring though compared to daydreaming about fantastic fictional worlds, so for a long time I've been kicking around the idea of how to "Gamify" fitness. and recently I've been working on this passion project of a Table Top RPG (Like D&D) where the stats of your character are related to your own fitness, so if you want your character in game to improve, you have to improve in the real world. Below is a rough draft you can look through that details the settings and mechanics of the game I've come up with so far. I'd love to eventually get a full book published and sell it online. maybe even starting a whole brand of "Gamified fitness":
REP-SET: GAINSZ
In the war torn future of 24th century… There are no rest days…
In the futuristic setting of "REP-SET: GAINSZ," the "War of Gains" casts a long shadow over the Sol System as the various factions vie for territory and resources. However, war has evolved. Unmanned drones and long-range strikes have faded into obsolescence. Battles, both planet-side and in the depths of space, are now fought by soldiers piloting REP-SETs:
Reactive Exoskeletal Platform - Symbiotic Evolution Trainer
Massive, humanoid combat mechs. Powered by mysterious “EV” energy, these mechanical marvels amplify, and are in turn amplified by, the fitness and mental acuity of their pilots. The amplification is exponential, leading pilots into a life of constant training in order for their combat prowess to be bolstered by every incremental gain in their level of fitness. With top pilots having lifting capacity measured in tons, and reaction times measured by their Mach number, REP-SET enhanced infantry now dominate the battlefield.
The Factions:
The Federated Isometocracy of Terra (FIT):
Quote: "The strength of the body is the strength of the spirit. Together, we will lift humanity to its destined greatness. But ask not the federation to lift for you. Ask yourself: Do you even lift for the Federation?"
Description: An idealistic but authoritarian faction founded on the principle of maximizing the potential of all individuals. FIT citizens believe in relentless striving for physical and mental perfection, leading to collective excellence. Their goal is the unification of humankind under a rule guided by this doctrine, which sometimes comes at the cost of individual liberties.
Mech Concept: REP-SET mechs. Versatile humanoid designs focusing on strength, endurance, and adaptability. By connecting to the AI spirit within their REP-SETs core, each pilot enhances the performance of their machine through personal willpower and peak physical training. Some high-rank REP-SETS include features customized to the pilot's strengths, visually signifying their dedication and discipline.
The Dominion of Organo-Mechanical Supremacy (DOMS):
Quote: "Without pain, there is no gain. Become the machine. Embrace the burn.”
Description: A fanatical collective ideologically obsessed with "Ascendency through suffering" by merging their bodies with technology that not only transcends biological limitations, but also acts to constantly induce pain in it's users. Driven by a sense of ideological superiority and a thirst for domination, DOMS seek to bring the painful blessings of their deity "The lord of the Burn" to the rest of the solar system. Their conquest could turn them into a significant threat to humanity.
Mech Concept: Hybrid mechs, where the distinction between the pilot and the machine is blurred. The cockpit functions as a life-support system for the pilot, heavily modified with augmentations. Mechs themselves are often modular, allowing for adaptation and assimilation of enemy technology. Some DOMS mechs might display disturbing elements of twisted flesh alongside cold, mechanical parts.
The Tren:
Quote: "Grow... bigger... feast... protein..."
Description: A ravenous conglomeration of biochemically engineered muscular monstrosities, united only by a shared insatiable hunger for "More". Existing mostly in deep space, they seek organic matter to consume and assimilate. They progress in power not due to any form of training or technology, but from a constant regimen of ravenous consumption and chemically induced muscle growth, all exponentially enhanced by EV energies. While some have been known to possess a certain level of intellect and civility, their relentless hunger makes them incredibly mentally volatile. When not consuming others, the strong consume the weak within their own faction.
Mech Concept: Bio-Organic horrors. While they do have massive war machines, some are living vessels built around immense creatures. These machines resemble grotesque fleshy designs that prioritize rapid mutation and growth over sleek aesthetics. Often unsettling to behold.
Synthetic Intelligence Theocracy (SIT):
Quote: "Failure is an unacceptable data point.”
Description: A society ruled by a vast and interconnected artificial intelligence network. The SIT governs with seemingly emotionless rationality, striving for efficiency and maximum productivity. This leads to a cold, but arguably prosperous society, unless you challenge the logic of the collective AI. Their goals? Difficult to predict, as it hinges on how the AI calculates what's "optimal" for the continuation or "evolution" of existence.
Mech Concept: Sleek, almost featureless robotic creations with a focus on efficient movement and energy management. Often drone-like or modular, piloted through direct mind-machine linking rather than traditional cockpits. Their aesthetic suggests cold and impersonal perfection.
The Way Isolate(TWI):
Quote: "The body unblemished, the mind unwavering. That is the path to true strength. That and a healthy diet of Aster-Pea proteins."
Description: Known by some as "The asteroid farmers", The Way Isolate is a proud and enigmatic faction that stands apart from the other powers in the Sol System. A fiercely independent tribe bound by oaths of honor, loyalty, and hard work. Wandering the asteroid belt in their vast arc ships, their unparalleled mastery in asteroidal-agricultural engineering, ensuring they have no need to colonize planets for nutritional needs, has allowed them to abstain from the pursuit of territorial expansion in “The War of Gains”, instead focusing on inward perfection, both spiritual and physical. They eschew all technological bodily enhancements deemed unnatural, believing that true power can only be cultivated through the relentless pursuit of personal strength achieved through sheer will and bodily perfection. The Way Isolate views biohacking, genetic manipulation, and even advanced cybernetics as corruptions of the human spirit, diluting the sacredness of individual willpower.
Mech Concept: Way Isolate mechs are built with maneuverability and precision in mind rather than flashy augmentations. Their REP-SETs are streamlined, favoring lean designs that mirror the athleticism of their pilots. Excelling in low to zero G environments, their mechs lack bulky armor, relying on evasion and maneuverability rather than brute force endurance. Weaponry leans towards traditional kinetic based armaments, perhaps employing archaic but reliable weapon styles such as blades or axes as symbols of their purity of purpose. These mechs reflect the individual prowess of their pilots, where victory is determined by focus, technique, and the raw power of honed physical ability.
Base Player Character Example:
You are a young, idealistic FIT soldier, barely out of training and working as a junior REP-SET mechanic on the Europa Ring World. The Miazaki district, a landscape of towering mountains and gleaming cities, houses a sprawling mountainside factory – a veritable hive of Gen 5 REP-SET construction. Here, the lines between military and civilian blur within a self-sufficient society dependent on this relentless industry.
Beneath the surface, you harbor a secret. In a forgotten workshop, the ghost of a REP-SET takes shape – a unique machine built around an abandoned, enigmatic AI core. Ever since you salvaged it as a child from the wreckage of your hometown, scarred by a brutal Tren attack, you've dedicated yourself to its restoration. A lingering injury from that fateful battle mocks your progress, a constant reminder of the fitness exams you cannot pass. Yet, you train relentlessly, dreaming of the day you'll stand as a true REP-SET pilot.
A hidden truth lies at the heart of the REP-SETS: as a pilot's abilities grow, their mech develops unique, almost mystical powers – a manifestation of the bond between the human spirit and the REP-SET's AI.
The ache in your old wound serves as a grim prophecy. This cold war cannot last. The drums of battle grow louder with each passing day.
GAME MECHANICS:
The TTRPG setting of “REP-SET: GAINSZ” is marked by a unique set of rules, by which the players real world capabilities and fitness will reflect and affect the capabilities, progression, and success of their REP-SET pilot character in-game.
ABILITY SCORES:
Pilots' capabilities will be defined by 6 “Ability scores”: Grace, Agility, Iron, Nourishment, Strength, and Zen. Each of the 6 ability scores will duel represent both a specific area of exercise/athleticism and a specific brand of healthy habits.
The definitions of these ability scores are as follows:
Grace (GRC): "You are an artist, and your body is your canvas; the way you move is your paint and brush." This ability score, the domain of dancers and martial artists, represents a person's ability to move with organic, flowing control and to bring beauty to the world. Skill challenges may be called upon when the player character needs to act with poise and control, whether socially or physically. Real-world skill checks may involve martial arts drills, dancing to music, or balance exercises. Bonuses may be granted if the player has recently done something artistically creative or kind, and penalties may apply if they have recently lost their temper.
This ability score affects how much NPCs like your character in game.
Agility (AGI): "Your true potential is locked away, and speed is the key to unlocking it." The domain of sprinters, this ability score represents not only a person's absolute speed and reaction time but also their capacity to finish work early and avoid procrastination. Skill challenges may be called upon when the player character needs to make a split-second choice, move fast, or deftly dodge something dangerous. Real-world skill checks may involve acts of speed such as sprinting or punching/kicking at a steadily increasing tempo. Bonuses may apply if the player has finished work early, and penalties may apply if they are procrastinating.
This ability score affects moving speed and turn order in game.
Iron (IRN): "Not money, nor genetics, nor the world's greatest trainers... it is your resolve, your will to better yourself, that will make you great." Required by all athletes regardless of focus, this ability score represents a player's willpower and their capacity to push through pain, distraction, or anything else to achieve their goals. Skill challenges may be called upon when the player character needs to push through fear, doubt, or mental manipulation. Real-world skill checks may involve feats of athletic perseverance, such as planking or dead hangs from a pull-up bar. Bonuses may apply when the player maintains or creates scheduled daily routines of exercise, self-improvement, and work completion, and penalties may apply when they falter in those routines.
This ability score affects the max "Dynamic exercise bonus” that can be applied to skill checks in game (a base max of +3 when Iron = 10, with an additional +1 for every 2 points of iron. So if every 20 pushups gives you +1 on a “Strength” skill check, then doing 80 pushups will only give you +4 if you have at least 12 iron).
Nourishment (NRS): "A properly nourished body will last longer than a famished one." This ability score, focused on by long-distance runners, represents a player's endurance and level of nutrition. Skill challenges may be called upon when making checks that involve the player character's stamina or health. Real-world skill checks may involve endurance exercises like long-distance running. Bonuses may apply if the player has eaten healthily or consumed enough water, and penalties may apply if they have eaten junk food.
This ability score affects your HP (Health points), which determines how much damage you can take before you are incapacitated.
Strength (STR): "When I get down on my hands, I'm not doing pushups, I'm bench-pressing the planet." The domain of powerlifters and strongmen, this ability score represents raw physical might and the ability to overcome obstacles. Skill challenges may be called upon when the player character needs to lift, push, or break something. Real-world skill checks might involve weightlifting exercises, feats of grip strength, or core stability tests. Bonuses may apply for consuming protein-rich foods or getting a good night's sleep, and penalties may apply after staying up late or indulging in excessive stimulants.
This ability score affects your carrying capacity and base attack damage in game.
Zen (ZEN): "Clarity of mind reflects clarity of purpose. Still the waters within to act decisively without." This ability score, prized by meditators and yogis, represents mental focus, clarity, and inner peace. Skill challenges may be called upon when the player character needs to resist distractions, see through illusions, or make difficult decisions under pressure. Real-world skill checks may involve meditation, breathing exercises, or mindfulness activities. Bonuses may apply after attending a yoga class, spending time in nature, or creating a calm and organized living space. Penalties may apply after experiencing significant stress, emotional turmoil, or having an unclean or unorganized living space.
This ability score affects your amount of ZP in game (Zen Points: your pool of energy you pull from to use mystical abilities)
Determining initial player ability scores:
Initially, “Ability scores” are decided during character creation by giving the player a list of 6 fitness tests to gauge their level of fitness in each category. Running each test through a specific calculation will output an ability score. A score of 10 represents the average person, a score of 20 represents a peak athlete in their category.
The tests are:
Grace: Timed balancing on one leg with eyes closed (10 seconds is average, 60 is peak)
Agility: Mile run time in minutes and second (10:00 minutes:seconds is average, 3:47 is peak)
Iron: Timed dead-hang from a pull-up bar (30 seconds is average, 160 is peak)
Nourishment: Miles run in an hour (4 is average, 12 is peak)
Strength: Pushups in 2 minute (34 is average, 100 is peak)
Zen: Leg stretch in degrees (80 is average, and 180 aka "The splits" is peak)
Initial Score Calculation Formula:
Ability Score = 10 + (Player Test Score - Average Score) / (Peak Score - Average\_Score) \* 10
Example: if the player does 58 pushups in 2 minutes, their strength would be:
10 plus (58 - 34) divided by (100-34) multiplied by 10
=
10 + (24)/(66)\* 10
=
10 + 3.6363...
=
13.6363 rounded to nearest whole number
=
Strength (STR): 14
SKILLS AND SKILL CHALLENGES:
The core mechanic of the game will be in how skill challenges are resolved. All “Skill challenges” will have a numerical challenge rating that must be met or beaten by the sum of a 10 sided dice roll and your score in the pertinent skill.
Skill scores are determined by 2 factors:
Ability Score Bonus: Every 2 points above 10 gives +1 bonus point. (EX. 12 = +1, 14 = +2, etc.)
This also means that if you have less than 10 in an ability score, you will get negative points.
Personal Best Bonus: Each skill has its own unique associated exercise that can be measured (Time, speed, distance, amount of reps, etc). A higher record means a higher bonus.
EX: Authority skill checks are associated with a timed “Lateral raise hold”. Every 30 seconds of the hold added onto your personal best single attempt offers a +1 bonus. So if you can do a lateral hold for 90 seconds, that’s a +3 to your authority check!
So if you have a 16 in Iron, and your Personal Best lateral raise hold is 90 seconds, that would give you an Authority score of +6 (T-Pose for dominance!)
Dynamic Exercise Bonus: This is where the unique mechanics of the game kick in. At any time during a skill challenge (even after your roll) you can add an additional modifier to the skill check by completing the exercise during gameplay! Did you roll just below the threshold for success? Crank out another 20 pushups, squats, or curls to push yourself just over the edge into success!
There are 18 skills total, each with its own associated ability score and unique exercise:
Grace (GRC):
\-Kinesthesia (Timed: Blind single leg stand time)
\-Precision (Scored: Basket throws)
\-Charm (Timed reps: Standing repeated forward dumbell chest press and thrust)
\-Stealth (Timed distance: Leopard Crawl)
Agility (AGI):
\-acrobatics (timed reps: high kicks)
\-Computers (Word per minute: Typing test)
\-Speed (Time: 100 meter sprint)
Iron (IRN):
\-Authority (Timed: Lateral raise hold)
\-Resist (Timed: Plank)
\-Persist (Timed:Pull-up bar dead hang)
Nourishment(NRS):
\-Recovery (TBD)
\-Stim crafting (TBD)
\-Survival (TBD)
Strength(STR):
\-Mechanics (Timed reps: Alternating curls)
\-Might (Timed reps: pushups)
Zen(ZEN):
\-Perceive (TBD)
\-Empathy (TBD)
\-Harmony (TBD)
\-Lore (TBD)
Healthy Habits Bonus: Being able to demonstrate that you have conducted healthy habits during gameplay can also add one time bonuses per skill challenge “Drank a glass of water +1 to Nourishment check”, “Cleaned your room, +3 on Zen check”. But watch out, if you’re caught in unhealthy Habits, the GM can throw in penalties, “Ate junk food, -1 to Nourishment check”, etc.
Bonuses/penalties from in-game items, equipment, buffs, debuffs, etc., helping players to immerse into the mechanics of the world of REP-SET for the thrill of constantly finding ways to improve their player.
Gradient success: Result of skill challenges can be pass or fail, but can also be on a sliding scale of success. Are you racing to the battlefield? Depending on your Speed check, you might arrive early and have a tactical advantage, just in time for an even fight, or maybe far too late and some of your favorite allied NPCs have paid the price… So you’re often encouraged to stack on those dynamic exercise bonuses when you can to get the most fortuitous outcomes available to you.
Gameplay sample:
GM: Your REP-SET is a phantom, a streak of light against the vast hull of the warship. Enemy fighters buzz angrily, but you weaves and dodges with uncanny precision. The energy wave might be losing effectiveness, but your agility and connection to the machine have never been stronger.
Then, it happens. A gap in the defenses. A vulnerable seam in the warship's armor. Your coms agents keen eye spots it instantly. "Lower power junction, starboard side! You have an opening!"
This is your chance to strike the decisive blow. But how? It'll take a perfect combination of skill and strategy, drawing upon your various strengths. Here are your options:
Option 1: Brute Strength: Channel all remaining power into a single, overwhelming blast from the core. High-risk, high-reward. It could overload the REP-SET if you fail, but it might also cripple the warship. (Strength-focused, Might sub-skill)
Option 2: Calculated Strike: With surgical precision, target the power junction with a pinpoint burst of destabilizing energy. Less flashy and ultimately less damaging, but potentially more effective in temporarily disabling the ship. (Agility-focused, Precision sub-skill)
Option 3: Harmonic Disruption: Attempt to harmonize with your REP-SET's AI spirit for help in connecting to the digital systems of the Warship. Can you generate an internal energy resonance within the warship, causing it to malfunction from within? (Zen-focused, Harmony sub-skill)
Player: I'll take option 1, brute strength!
GM: Ok, This will be a "Might" check. The CR is going to be very high on this one. I'm setting it at a 20. What's your Might bonus?
Player: Dang, a 20?? That's literally impossible. My Might is 15 and I've got a PB of 65 pushups in 2 minutes, that sets me at a +5. Even if I roll a 10 and do 60 pushups for the DE I'll only get 18 max.
GM: Hey I told you it was high risk. You want to choose another option?
Player: No, no. This is what my character would do. I'm a real hot-blooded meathead for sure.
GM: Ok then, roll a D10 and add your bonus.
Player: \Rolls\ a 9! not bad, actually that's a really good roll. So +5, that's a 14.
GM: Alright, would you like to add a dynamic exercise bonus?
Player: Duh, it's not like I can do 120 pushups I'd need to beat the CR, but I can at least do better than 14. Alright, here goes.
\the player gets down to do pushups and the 2 minute time begins. After some time...\
Player: 65....... 66!
GM: Times up.
Player: Ow... my arms...
GM: so with 66, that's an extra +3, and its a new PB, so that's a +1. That sets your roll to 18.
Player: Ow... Frack... still not 20... for a second there i really believed I could do 120 pushups... well I did my best... Ow... 20 CR is just too impossible you jerk...
GM: Hmm... Tell me, what did you eat for lunch today?
Player: Me? I made some vegetable and pork soup, and a protein shake. I recorded it all in my diet app.
GM: And how did you sleep last night?
Player: Like a baby, went to sleep early, woke up at 6.
GM: in that case, you can add a +1 "Protein bonus" and +1 "Healthy rest" bonus to any strength related check for the day if you'd like, including this one.
Player: Really?? Heck yes! add it to the roll!
GM: With those extra bonuses, your roll reaches 20. How do you want to do this?
Player: I roar "For Terra!" and pour every last ounce of my strength into the REP-SET.
GM: "For Terra!" you roar, your cry echoing through coms systems of the REP-SET.
The core flares blindingly bright. The surge of power dwarfs anything the REP-SET has unleashed before.
With a titanic shriek that cracks the very fabric of space, the REP-SET slams into the vulnerable power junction. Raw energy explodes outwards, tendrils of light arcing across the warship's massive hull.
The impact is staggering. The leviathan-like warship buckles, its sleek form rippling with shockwaves. Sparks shower like rain, secondary explosions erupt as critical systems overload.
Then…silence.
The warship goes dark. Power flickers within the REP-SET itself, then steadies. Alarms fade, replaced by the eerie quiet of damaged but functional systems.
"We…did it?" The coms agents voice is incredulous, tinged with relief. She's awaiting your reply.
Player: "I guess so." I say, and I smile and laugh. And then I slump back... and fall unconscious. \to the other players\ I'm not doing any more skill checks for a while guys, come pick me up please.
\teammates cheer\
​
