Mass Effect : Calm Before the storm


Recruitment

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Sovereign Court

I always wanted to run a Mass Effect game, but seeing as no system can support it without heavy modification or making my own, I had problems with it.
So, I have decided to use Dungeon World mechanics, and work with you, the players on what kind of character you want to be.

So some information:

Era of play begins somewhere around the time Shepard awakens inside the Cerberus base in which he was brought back to life.
You will probably not interact with Shepard, although anything's possible.
The game will mostly happen in Terminus systems, but depending on where the story takes us (I will take cues from you and model the story after your desires somewhat) we might see citadel space as well.
You can be any race sans the geth, rachni and the collectors.
There are no specific classes, or skillsets, you can pick what you want, but I will reject unreasonable (to me) builds, like being able to use warp, singularity and throw while wearing heavy armor and the revenant. Nope.

An important part. Your character should be a badass in some way. Ex STG, asari commando, krogan warlord, take your pick.

The game will focus on character interactions, there will be conversations, investigations, I might even test your deduction powers.

There will also be combat, but it will mostly be narrated in a cool way (you can still get hurt or even die, but it won't be easy)

I was thinking to have around 5 characters. The recruitment will last for two weeks, and I will announce the final selection around noon CET July 3rd.

Any questions you need answered, you can ask here. I will also extract the most important stuff and put it in camapaign notes for easy access.

So awe me. I know you can.


I've seen a home brew of it that looks pretty doable using Savage Worlds.

Check it out.

I have to admit though that I personally haven't played this myself, so I can't speak from personal experience. But it's a well put together document and SW is a great system.

Sovereign Court

Never played Savage Worlds, so zero system mastery there. A nice document though. I'll most certainly hold on to it. I might look up savage worlds, but for now, I'm sticking with Dungeon World mechanics of 2d6-react.


im interested but i dont know anything about the dungeon world system.


Yeah, I figured if nothing else the fluff there would give you a hand. Good luck on your game.

Sovereign Court

It's really simple. You decide what you do. You roll 2d6 plus some modifier. 6-9 you either succeed partially, or you just fail (your choice), 10+ you succeed, and 5 or less, you fail with consequences.


it sounds simple. so are you looking for a general outline for a character like powers and skills and what are the limits for powers biotic and tech wise?

Sovereign Court

Well. Yeah. General outline, like race, and specialty. Limits are what's in the game. Like I said, I will tell you if i think that the concept is unreasonable. Just tell me what would you like to play. And we can iron it out.


no familiarity with dungeon world myself either.

what i AM familiar with, is Mass Effect.

i was thinking of running a game myself, but like you mentioned it was just so much work doing all the modifications. i was considering Mutants and Masterminds as a base system.

ANYWAY, aside from that, i was thinking of a Salarian (STG of course).

that said, Hanar was not on your list of denied races, which reminded me of the show you can hear in the game as you walk by screens, of the Hanar who was known as Blasto, the first Hanar SPECTRE. that would be super fun to play as well.

I also thought an Elcor with a BIIIG gun on its back would be cool.

but i'd have to say playing as Blasto would be my favorite idea.

Dark Archive

Hama wrote:
You can be any race sans the geth,

Yer breaking my heart...

*Heads off to cry in a corner*

Ahem... Sorry about that...

How do you feel about a Yahg "Barbarian"? Whether using the rules from (I think) Sage Kobold or something you work up. Any class that has a mechanic quoting Conan is good by me.

Note: If there are plans on visits to the Citadel, I'd have to stay behind on the ship. They're barred from interacting with the Citadel, if memory serves.

Sovereign Court

Interesting idea, I would have to think about it though.

I assume nobody would want to play turian, human or asari? :D

Note: everyone is barred from visiting the yagh homeworld. Because they ripped apart the first diplomatic team who landed there.

Dark Archive

Turian would probably be my #3. My #1 is barred by you and my number 2 is barred by the Citadel.

I'm looking at the wiki entry on races when I've a chance.


I have a system that requires very little work (in fact the mechanics need no change at all [and are close enough to d20 to grasp quickly], just needs to write out the setting specific options which isn't hard at all). I am making it generic but with a few settings already in mind, including Mass Effect (which has a small amount of work already finished).

I like the idea of playing, but Dungeon World sounds practically free-form, at least from what little I have found on it's srd site anyway, and I don't like free form, but if you do move to a structured system, whether mine or some other system (like savage worlds), then I'd be game to join up.


Can't pass this up :D I Don't know dungeon world either, though I've read a lil. I have a backstory roughed out in my head, but don't have time to flesh it out at the moment. Short version is a Quarian who never came back from his pilgrimage, got mixed up in organized crime, and became something of a mercenary.

Name: Kas'Gala (may change)
Race: Quarian, Male
Alignment: Neutral
Moves: Overload, Tech Armor, and Offensive Mastery (passively increased weapon damage, power damage, and carry capacity--or however you want to handle it).
Gear: Wears a custom-built heavily armored enviro-suit of his own design. Favors his thoroughly modified blackmarket M-6 Carnifex heavy pistol.
Appearance: Tough and dangerous physical build, a criminal's build, made more threatening by the bulk of his armored enviro-suit. The suit itself is mostly black and gun-metal gray, with war-paint around the mask--a maw of long fangs in white. Contrast to the white is a black stripe across the visor, covering his eyes--which is a thin strip aim-assisting and vision-enhancing electronics.
Stats: Str(12), Dex(15), Con(16), Int(13), Wis(9), Cha(8)
--Or something along that order of priority


I like this idea, but I was wondering what pace you’re hoping for once the game gets underway. I’m not sure I can commit to another online campaign at the moment, though I would jump at the chance to play an asari commando specializing in biotics - she'd carry a pistol, of course, but focus on the powers.

Sovereign Court

The pace would be dictated by the players. I can reliably post at least twice a day, if not more.

@GM DarkLightHitomi

It's not that free-form, but it is very rules lite, and I adore it (which is very strange because I'm a rules heavy man.)
As for structured systems, the main problem is system mastery, so till my d20 future conversion is not done, I want stuff to be relatively easy to grasp, plus, I've found that structured systems are very bog down-y when it comes to actual combat.

RinValak

Seems ok. Ok for Offensive mastery we could get you increased damage dice. We will discuss the rest.


Miranda can't be the only genengineered human in the galaxy; the tech her dad used to make her has to be out there somewhere. So, for badass-ness, I think I'd like to do a 'genetically perfect' human.

He'd be the clone of an executive in one of the big human-run corporations with commando training along the same lines as Miranda. Similar power-set to Miranda, but I think I'd do sniper rifles and heavy pistols instead of submachine guns.

I also have no knowledge of this system, but it sounds easy enough.

Sczarni

Just an fyi: F. Wesley Schneider did something similar...


Hama wrote:

...

It's not that free-form, but it is very rules lite, and I adore it (which is very strange because I'm a rules heavy man.)
As for structured systems, the main problem is system mastery, so till my d20 future conversion is not done, I want stuff to be relatively easy to grasp, plus, I've found that structured systems are very bog down-y when it comes to actual combat.

...

Systems mastery isn't an issue really, not if you know d20 (besides systems mastery matters more depending on playstyle and how much rules lawyering one does). Regardless, you might find it easier, faster, and better then trying to convert d20 modern.

I figure if you are going to work, on a conversion anyway (even if not for this game) you might want to take a look at what I got, since it'll be far less work on your part, and fixes a bunch of d20 issues (at least what I found to be issues anyway).

As far as bogged down combat, each attack has at most 2 rolls on the part of the player (never the GM, who rarely rolls in combat except to drive suspense or pick targets at random), and that is regardless of attack type, so whether it is a power (like magic or biotics), or just a regular weapon. Avoiding the bog down is an important point.

Easy to grasp is a design goal, and if you know d20, it is even easier.

Sczarni

Interested.

Probably a Salarian tech-specialist / demolitions guy.


What do you think about Blasto, GM?

Sovereign Court

Listened to everything, read the comic. Plus, freaking Zaeed had to wear a neck brace after a hanar got a hold of him.

Honestly, I don't know. A part of me wants to say no, but also, a part of me is fairly intrigued about the prospect. As long as you are not doing this just to begin every sentence with "this one", or for comedy's sake, I'm fine I think.

Schneider's Krogan are too damn weak. Mine are monstrous powerhouses. Not balanced at all. Because let's face it, they are not balanced in the original game.


I ever though that a Mass Effect game can be played with the Star Wars ruleset anytime, with some light changes, as both sets are similar (Mass Effect is Star Wars without having to get any license IMO)

Sovereign Court

It would still take some heavy reworking of classes and powers, but it's a good start.


How would you feel about a Deadpool like character? like a genetically engineered infiltrator that had many experiments done on him and given many implants. Driving him insane while giving him great combat skills and a knack for tech.

Sovereign Court

Can he work with others?

OH, yeah I forgot. My cardinal rules:

- NO PvP
- Please accept plot hooks
- Al PCs must be able to work together.


Yeah, though he may get on their nerves quite a lot.


sounds good to me, plot hook away


Hey, there's also someone who wrote up a mass effect d20 system (very married to the actual game mechanics)

A noticeable thing about it, coming over from d&d, is that you get 2 actions per turn, which can be any action (so double move, double shoot, use biotics and shoot etc.)


Dungeon World sounds pretty interesting to me, more focus on narration than dice rolls from what I understand.

Sovereign Court

Yes, and the prime thing I love about the ME universe is the rich fluff, amazing story, realistic people and the fact that a lot of stuff can be settled without fighting.


Since somebody else is also interested in an enhanced human, I figured I'd go ahead and flesh out the play style my guy would use. His genetic modifications make him very smart and at peak levels of human physical performance, but he'll be primarily a sniper/spotter, hanging back to shoot and keep an eye on the field of battle as a whole. He's a tactician who'd suggest targets and warn other team members about threats.

A big contributor to his badass quotient would be that his sponsor/boss/father is super rich, so he's got the best equipment money can buy. Armax armor, Rosenkov sniper rifle, Scorpion heavy pistol, Serrice bio-amp and omnitool. His bio-amp is an L4 with the built-in VI, like his very own personal Cortana that only he can see. In addition to monitoring his vitals and releasing chemicals to enhance his biotics, she can also interface with his omnitool to help with hacking and computer interfacing.

Sovereign Court

Ok. So you would have say two biotic powers and one tech power. For now.


I was thinking Overload, Incinerate, Tactical Cloak, and Warp. So drop Overload to start and we're good.

Sovereign Court

Deal :D


Going to have ny character be more of an assassin. Using tactical cloak decoy and sabotage to sneak and trick his enemies. He also had an AI implanted in his brain causing his insanity but also giving him great skill with tech and hacking. The AI ended up blending with him making him hear voices in his head giving him advice sometimes good sometimes bad. He tends to prefer close quarter combat using his swords or omni blade to takedown his enemies before the can even react. He is also skilled with gun able to use any he needs to with great skill.

Equipment wise he stole a prototype phantom suit from Cerberus when he escaped one of their labs. He also uses two swords and carries two locust smgs tough he is just as deadly unarmed. He was also implanted with multiple muscle and bone weaves to increase his agility and strength.


I'll think about the Blasto idea. I'll have to see what others are putting forth to see if my character would fit well.

If not, salarian STG sounds awesome to me.

To be clear, is SPECTRE fair game as a character, or is that something youd rather we work towards? You asked for badass and they're basically the most badass.

Sovereign Court

No spectres. You'll be working for one.


Tenro wrote:
To be clear, is SPECTRE fair game as a character, or is that something youd rather we work towards? You asked for badass and they're basically the most badass.

I think Samara and Aria would probably disagree. Hell, any random asari commando probably has more experience at being a badass than Shepard and Saren combined.


OH snap


Lemme see if i got this right:

Twilsemail: Yahg heavy combat specialist
RinValak: Quarian heavy guns + some tech
Qunnessaa: Asari Biotic (potential interest)
Karlprosek: Human paragon, biotics + tech
Psionichampster: salarian tech/demolitionist
LilWilly5: modified human (i think) guns + tech
Tenro: Hanar guns + guns + probably a little tech out of necessity


I don't think the yahg was okayed.

RinValak wrote:
OH snap

Ha. How badass can the Spectres be? They took Kaidan, and he's the worst.


karlprosek wrote:
Ha. How badass can the Spectres be? They took Kaidan, and he's the worst.

true, but Asari Commandos follow the Ninja Rule: The more of them in one place, the weaker they are. That's why they are practically cannon fodder when they appear, but SPECTREs such as Saren are boss fights.


Saren was augmented though by a reaper, so really, asari commandos are good just like specters, only specters have to be trustworthy and have good judgement in addition to being good.

Specters aren't normally that much more of a boss fight then asari commandos, Shepard is just that good is all.

Of course, asari have a thousand years of life, so a 150 year old asari commando is probably a lot easier then a 600 year old asari commando.

Don't forget the turians greatly respect them and think their lack of numbers is their only weakness.


also GM, if you dont like the Hanar idea let me know. I've got other ideas, and I'd rather not have my off-the-wall idea make it harder for me to get into the game.

Sovereign Court

Tell me about the other ideas. Still on the wall with the hanar.


I was also thinking an Elcor with a really big gun "Arrogant Question: Do you feel lucky?"

Also, I like Salarian STG, although someone else already proposed a Salarian

and i was also thinking Drell Assassin, but someone else proposed an assassin-type character. could also potentially be a primary tech user with an investigative bent, given the species' eidetic memory.

Prothean Biotic would be cool too.

Sovereign Court

No love for krogan? :(

Sczarni

Well, if Tenro is looking towards a Salarian, I could go Krogan assault specialist.

Big head, bigger gun, even bigger attitude.


heh i liked krogan in the multiplayer on ME3, but i wouldn't want to play as one in a roleplaying game.

i don't want anyone to jump off the idea they wanted for my sake. the drell idea could be good, sorta like a space-faring sherlock holmes.

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