Talkin' T.W.E.R.P.S

The World's Easiest Role-Playing System

In the interest of full disclosure, I never played it much back in the day. But the adds in the old magazines and my personal preference for rules-lite systems, interested me enough to buy as many of the books I could find. After a recent move I discovered, much to my delight, that my Twerps collection had survived were many other games have been sold off or lost to life.

The idea for this page is two fold. First off, I’m going to drag TWERPS kicking and screaming into the modern age with a project that I am calling TWERPS-X, a retro-clone which will attempting to fix some inerrant problems with the system, as well as adding some more modern rpg element.

Secondly, I’ll be discussing Classic TWERPS and the the fifteen (15!) classic modules. I am also going to archive as much TWERP material as I can find, while its still out there.

Not much of a hobby I'll admit, but it keeps me off the streets. Without further ado, lets Talk TWERP!

With thanks from Wikipedia
The World's Easiest Role-Playing System was created by Reindeer Games (whose sole product was the TWERPS line) and distributed by Gamescience. Presented as a parody of the complicated RPG systems which were prevalent at the time while still being a playable game in its own right, its simple structure and humorous nature gave it unexpected popularity. TWERPS was originally created, written and illustrated (in a distinctive cartoony style) by "Jeff & 'Manda Dee".

15 Books were written in all including:
-TWERPS Basic Rules
-TWERPS MAGIC
-The Tome of Mighty Magic (More spells)
-How to Do Everything Better (a rules supplement)
-Campaign Book 1: Kung Fu Dragons
-Campaign Book 2: Fly By Knights
-Campaign Book 3: Space Cadets (Space Opera)
-Campaign Book 4: Robo-Punks (cyberpunk)
-Campaign Book 5: Super-Dudes (superheroes)
-Campaign Book 6: Rocket Rangers (Space Opera)
-Campaign Book 7: Twerps Twek (Star Trek spoof)
-Campaign Book 8: A Second Edition of the Magic supplement.
-Campaign Book 9: Metaphysical Ninja Maniac Chainsaw Vitamin Junkies (post apok, Mad Max)
-Campaign Book 10: M.E.C.H.I. Tech (Giant Robots)
-Campaign Book 11: Twisted Tales of Terror (pulp gaming and horror)
-Campaign Book 12: The T.W.E.R.P.S Files (X-Files parody)

Legal Stuff
-All original materials belong to their original authors and artists. TWERPS was written and illustrated by Jeff and ‘Manda Dee, and was published by Reindeer Games.

Oddyssey Encounters: The O.V.L.E.E.2

This is for my upcoming Labyrinth Lord, but I wanted to see what I could do with it in TWERPS and RollCore (my own work-in-progress system). 

O.V.L.E.E.2

Like her sister, the O.V.L.E.E.2 was taken from a cutting of an alien plant found growing in the ruins of a lost colonial outpost. Brought back to the ship, the OVLEE 1 was taken down into the garden for a controlled planting, while the OVLEE 2 was taken to the lab for study.

Both plants showed signs of intelligence, but it was not until it discovered that their diet required quantities of fresh meat that their true potential was unfortunately discovered. After the quarantine breach incident that resulted in the radical sterilization of the entire botanical wing, the OVLEE 2 was frozen until further preventative protocols could be put into place. It was believed that all traces of the OVLEE 1 were incinerated along with all samples, equipment and staff on the effected levels.

O.V.L.E.E.2 - Labyrinth Lord
Omnivorous, Vegetative Lifeform: [Emergency! Emergency!]
No. Enc: 1 (unique), d20 (wild)
Alignment:  Chaotic
Movement: Rooted to spot. Tendrils 90' (30')
Armour Class: 4
Hit Dice: 5, 1 per tendril
Attacks: 2d4 tendrils. 1 bite.
Damage: d4 (Tendrils), d6 (bite)
Save: F4
Morale:    9
Horde Class: V
XP: 300
A small, alien plant with a purple and green, egg-shaped bulb sitting on 2-8 thick, dark purple tendrils. The plant possess an evil intelligence and can even learn to speak after exposure of 2d4 days of exposure to a language and. Though rooted to the spot, both the bulb and the tendrils can move independently, giving the small plant ample opportunity to grab its prey. On a successful attack, the tendril can constrict for an additional 2 points of damage per round until the tendril is severed. In addition, until the tendril is removed, the trapped opponent cannot move. On a successful bite attack, have the bitten opponent make a Save vs Paralysis. If they fail, all lost Hit Points are transferred to the OVLEE, and the plant unfurls a new tendril.

*****

O.V.L.E.E.2 - T.W.E.R.P.S.
Strength 5
2 points damage (tendril strike, bite). Bite, if successful roll vs Strength. If OVLEE wins she drains one 1 Strength from her victim and adds it to her own.
Hide = leather armour
Tendrils - range 2. d6 of them.

*****

O.V.L.E.E.2 - RollCore

Body: 4 Mind: 4 Power: 2

DiceClass: 4 M/S/G: 4/3/2

Maxes

-Multiple Attacks: Tendrils

The OVLEE 2 can attack as many times a Round as it has Tendrils. Roll 2D4 to determine how many tendrils the OVLEE 2 has. Each Tendril has an M/S/G/ of 1/1/1. All other stats are the same as main plant. 

-Entangle

After completing a successful Tendril strike, instead of doing damage, the OVLEE can attempt to 'entangle' its opponent. Make an Opposed Body roll. If the opponent wins, they have slipped free and suffer no damage. If the OVLEE wins, the opponent suffers -4 to all rolls until they can sever the entangling Tendril. 

Entangling Tendrils cannot be used to attack or defend opponents. 

-Draw Blood

On a successful Bite attack, roll vs Spirit. If the opponent wins, roll Damage as normal. If OVLEE wins, it begins sucking blood and the opponent looses one Body point (but no damage is rolled), while OVLEE gains an additional Body point and unfurls an additional Tendril.  If the OVLEE gains 10 or more tendrils, its DiceClass goes up to 6. 

-Defense, Tendril Block

If the main body is about to take damage, the OVLEE can sacrifice a tendril and absorb all of the incoming damage. 

Damage: Tendril Strike +2, Bite +3                           Armour: Natural -3

Combat Matrix

1-4 Tendril Strike

5-6 Bite