A feature of many video games I've seen is the Rage mechanic. As combat progresses, a charge builds up, and eventually provides a boost of some form to the character, frequently some spectacular attack form. I think such a mechanic could have a place in some campaigns, especially combat heavy ones that are not trying too hard to be realistic.

Rage effects should be dramatic - everyone nearby who witnesses a rage effect will notice it, so any boon they grant will not be some subtle effect.

If you use these effects, they increase the power level of your players, so granting this also to key NPCs would go a long way towards balancing these out.

Here is a suggestion on implementing Rage in your game:

1. Gaining Rage

To use a Rage action, one needs to build up 10 rage points. These points may be acquired as follows:

Allies must be named characters that the player's character has a positive relationship with - someone they care for in some real degree. Redshirts are allies that the PC really does not know or care for. Seeing, for example, 100 redshirts die in an explosion or something is likely to fill your Rage meter.

Attacks include melee, missile and offensive spell use.

The use of 10 as the range facilitates use of a d10 for tracking purposes. Simply keep track of rage with a particular D10.

2.Using Rage

Once your Rage threshold is reached or Charged, you may use it on your next action or you may hold it up to the end of the current scene or encounter. Rage points may no longer be earned while Rage is charged.

Rage effects ideas can be drawn from many sources, some examples below. At GMs discretion, these effects may last for multiple ‘rounds', especially as the player increases in power level.

Weapons:

Massive Damage:

No bonus to hit, but if landed, triple damage applies.

Skilled strike

+50% to hit (+10 D20) on next attack

Flurry

3x normal attack rate, possibly at some penalty to hit.

Recovery

Regain 10% of lost hits/HP, 1 damage level or 10% of expended endurance if any.

Crippling Strike

Double damage, and target receives a 20% penalty until healed.

Thrown Doom:

User's weapon may be thrown without penalty and causes automatic double

damage if it hits. Missile weapons range triples.

Spells:

Area Effect:

Single-target spell now impacts multiple targets

Boosted:

Damage of spell increased

Enhanced:

Secondary spell effect layered upon existing effect - one related or complementary.

Recovery:

25% expended mana or 25% of used spell slots..

Special Powers:

Totem form:

Assumes the form of a powerful totem animal for a short period of time that can deliver more powerful attacks than normal.

Elemental/Energy Blast:

Can deliver a ranged attack that causes double normal melee attack damage

Elemental/Energy Wave:

Can deliver a cone-shaped ranged attack that causes normal melee attack damage to all in the area of effect.

Steel/Stone/Wood skin

Subject becomes significantly harder to injure - +25% (+5 D20) to armor/defense.

Stunning Stomp:

All enemies within a certain distance are subject to a stunning attack.

It is quite possible this mechanic mirrors that already in place in some games, however those that I have played or read the rules of do not contain this mechanic.

3.Variations:

Great Rage

This represents a different level of rage - the brooding rage that explodes with epic force. Only those of great power can harbour this ability.

As before, 10 points of Great Rage are needed to invoke the effect, but the differences are as follows:

Great Rage points are acquired through major campaign events - fall of kingdoms, death of primary figures, etc.

Once charged, the rage can be held indefinitely, though no additional Great Rage points may be acquired.

When invoked, they unlock massive effects such as:

- They may acquire the effects of one or more normal rage effects for the entire duration of a battle.

- A spell of immense power becomes usable.

- A powerful representative of a deity or perhaps the deity themselves steps into our reality to assist.

Rolled Rage

In many systems, D10 is also rolled at the start of a battle, with small values being good. In such systems, you could use the initiative roll as the initial state of the character's Rage level. So while a PC could be last to act, they would likely be the first to have a charged Rage bar.

Modified Rage

Different die-sizes could be used to either increase or decrease the rate of Rage - Rage being charged when the highest figure on the die is reached.

Rage Powered items

Some magic items may contain additional powers that can only be unlocked with fully charged rage. These rage effects would be in keeping with the properties of the item and generally more powerful than the typical player rage effects.

Rage check

One way to put some more uncertainty into these, and to tone down their use, would be to attach a Rage Check to the use of rage, such as needing roll under the Rage number with a D20, with failure dissipating the earned Rage.