Overwatch: Heroes of the Future (Inactive)

Game Master kamenhero25

Alright, so we're here to discuss how to make Overwatch work as a tabletop RPG. My current idea is to use something more free form or looser since Overwatch is a rather pulpy, soft science setting. I generally don't like to use D20 for modern or sci-fi as much because it doesn't really work as well in my opinion. I was thinking the Savage Worlds is a possibility, though I was also recently introduced to Fate and I think that would certainly work, since it's all about telling a story and very light on rules.

There's also the issue of deciding what kind of story we're interested in telling and what kind of characters you're going to be interested in running with.

I'm up for using any system so long as you can send me the stuff! XD

I would like to play a Blackwatch team. As of right now there are only three agents we know where in Blackwatch. Reyes, McCree, and Genji. So it would narrow how many characters you'd have to play while allowing you to bring in others if you wish. Also I was hoping for this to be before the fall of Overwatch itself.

I have been thinking about this and I also think that the Iron Kingdoms RPG might be one to look in to too, if you have ever heard of it? It is a system where you mix two classes with abilities to make a character.

I don't know anything about Iron Kingdoms and can't really afford to buy books right now. If you can send me the material, I'll look at it, but I usually don't like to run games with a system I don't have some experience with first.

I can probably email you the pdf but yeah if you aren't familiar with it, it might not be the right fit. The main reason it jumped out at me is it has rules for building robots that are controlled by characters, and also for magic and stuff. It is more steampunk esq but that is pretty easy to fix.

I'm good with whatever though, just happy to be here.

*smacks forehead* Duh! What about Shadowrun? Have you ever played that GM?

I have, and a friend suggested it when I pitched the idea. I'm considering it, but I'm really bad at building Shadowrun characters and I have a feeling that I would do very badly trying to run encounters.

Yeah but if we focus on story over mechanics we can just say "rule of cool" if we need. Kinda like a story game both Darkest and I are in based in Ireland in 1166. It is story based. I mean we've only had one combat so far.

If we want to focus on story over mechanics, I would say just use a mechanics light system like Fate rather than doing a very rules heavy system like Shadowrun and then ignoring them whenever we feel like they don't work for the story.

Yeah, if everyone is cool with that, then if you can send me the fate stuff I'm cool with that.

Conveniently, the core book is completely free on the developer's website if anyone wants to take a look. It also has a lot of good advice about how to set up a game and what the players and GM should talk out in advance.

EDIT: Their website is right here

We just want the Fate Core right?

Fate sounds good to me.

Yup, Fate Core is the one. If someone else has another idea when we find more players, I'm open to more suggestions of course.

Now, I'm thinking of setting it in 2065, right as Overwatch's popularity and influence start to wane. Well before Blackwatch is leaked and things get really bad, but a little outside of the golden era that started after the Crisis.

Cool, I'll download it while at work on my phone and look it over.

I'm cool with that, gives us just enough room to move with out being the "originals" like the main group is know form.

You know I had a story I was going for with my character and I'm sad I can't make the numbers work. Damn you Chinese zodiac for taking my fun away! XD

But yeah the Fate system seems like it'll work! Very story heavy and I really like that. The little things about your character that no one really ever pays attention to now gets actual results.

So, the Fate system highly encourages us to work together for backstories and knowing each other. Thus! I shall go first! ^_^

Erin Taylor, code name "Erinyes", was born in 2044 making her 21 in present game play. So I shall give you guys a few bullet points so that we can weave the stories together once I have everything from you all!

-Erin was born to James and Lin Taylor in 2044.
-She was actually a twin, her brother being named Lee.
-Her parents had been a doctor and ambassador respectfully.
-Erin graduated high school at 14 alongside her twin, then both entered college.
-The twins lost their parents in an unexplained fire in 2060 at the age
of 16.
-Fate wasn't done with Erin, on their 18th birthday the twins where in
a bad car accent. Lee had been driving and turned the car just enough
that his side was the one to take almost all of the damage, killing
him instantly. Erin was in the hospital for almost a month.
-2064: Erin graduates from college with four degrees Engineering,
Chemistry, Biology, and linguistics. The last being an associates.

That's pretty much her backbone. So, yeah feel free to find a place and plop in!
(I do not apologize for the sadness Erin has been through, It has made her the person she is)

Edit: Oh and if anyone wants to know it concepts they are
High Concept: Child Genius
Trouble: Pain follows me

Hello! I'm posting in here briefly to say hey and that I'm very interested in this. kamenhero25 is a good friend of mine from school, and I'm also a fan of Overwatch, so he invited me to the game. I'm not familiar with the Fate system so I'm reading up on that, but it looks quite neat and I like what I'm seeing so far. I don't have a solid concept yet--I've got ideas rolling around, but I need to feel them out and think on how they'd work within Overwatch's setting--but I've got plans in the works, and I'll post in as soon as it's more fleshed out!

Well, welcome to the merry little band of misfits.

I had planned for Erin to be the group's "healer" but she could be just a straight up fighter.

I'm mostly trying to come up with a concept that I feel is unique and interesting enough for this game. Overwatch has a pretty diverse cast of characters and I want to make something that both fits the theme but doesn't feel too similar to something they already have. I think I have a decent idea for something that would feel a little different, but I'll need to get a better look at Fate so I can see how well it would work. In-game terms would probably designate him as a Tank, but he's pretty heavy on offense in my mind.

Story wise, I think he's a former British SAS operative who volunteered for work in Overwatch after the Omnic Crisis and, given his skillset from SAS, he's assigned to Blackwatch.

I had a similar background idea for my character to JD. Former Irish Ranger focused in Counter-Intelligence. He carries a Heckler & Koch HK416 assault rifle and a Benelli Super 90 Shotgun.

He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin where he studied Mechanical Engineering and Computer Programming. He has a PHD in Robotics. He built a Stealth Drone that is controlled through a neural implant. He can use the Drone for recon, to remotely access closed networks and to act as an emp.

He signed up for service after his Degree, joining up as a grunt, even though he had the qualifications to get himself in to a Cadetship. He worked on his PHD during his time in service and got promoted to an Officer position when he finished the PHD.

His work with the Rangers is still on a need to know basis and his reasons for joining Overwatch are unknown. His skills have also seen him attached to Blackwatch

Well Overwatch did take a lot of people from military backgrounds. I mean it itself is a military. Though they do take from all walked of life. For example, Mercy. She was actually the head of a hospital at the age of 25 and was recruited to head the medical area of Overwatch.

So having more then one person from a form of military isn't shocking. I mean Gab, Jack, Ana, and Reinhardt where all from military back grounds.

Erin most likely joined up to work with Mercy to start work on her Biology degree and turn it into a doctorate like her Engineering is. Then she found out that, while she likes the woman, they don't agree on too much... and transferred to Blackwatch.

Alright, so as I'm cooking up ideas and working through them, I think I have an outline at least right now. Things may keep developing and changing, but Fate seems to encourage that through the character creation process, so that shouldn't be a big problem. I'll do some rough sketching with bullets like you did, Erin; the timeline is based on the timeline on TVTropes, since as far as I'm aware there isn't an official one.

So to wrap that into the basics of character concept work...
High Concept: Burned Special Forces Knight
Trouble: Big Damn Hero Syndrome (as in he wants to help people and will do so at almost any cost, not that he views himself or wants to be viewed as a Big Damn Hero)

If we're concerned about the number of military backgrounds, he could easily be from Mossad instead, having worked more directly as a covert intelligence operative rather than special forces. Same story, just different detail, and I guess the concept would become "Burned Intelligence Operative," which also has a nice ring to it along with the double meaning.

Is that a Firefly reference...? :-P

Samaritan: Hey Erinyes, look at this! Appears like we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us?
Erinyes: Big Goddamn heroes.
Samaritan: Ain't we just!

Yeah no Darkest, my mind went there immediately! XD
Which do not get me wrong, I love!

It actually wasn't meant to be, I was referring more to just the general trope. Although the specific phrasing does, I think, trace to Firefly.

It does, but that's okay. Firefly was an amazing show and the characters where good. The type of character you took the phrase from is really cool and every character type I've seen with it always end up being entertaining!

Edit: Also! I am giving this to you all! XD

Would Samaritan be willing to allow a medical student to observe how the doctors help him through his recovery?

If not maybe they could have been in the same hospital for the time? As their hospitalization is only about a year away or less. As Erin's happened on February 16th 2062. If his accident happened late in 2061 he may of still been in ICU when they brought Erin in.

That sounds like a good potential connection, yeah. My timeline isn't set in stone or anything, so I'm happy to move stuff around as needed.

It doesn't need to be moved much at all, just narrow down when his accident happen. Even if it was very early in 2061, form what it says, he was very badly burned. He must have been in the ICU for some time and in the hospital even longer.

These ideas sound fine to me so far. Keep 'em coming.

Okay so, I know how Erin met Samaritan and Darkest's character. We ended up working that out in PM while talking about other stuff! XD

So it's just JD's character I need to work with,

I'm not sure yet if I want to use a new alias to account for having a squad nickname like the two of you do or not, so the name listed in my little backstory synopsis might change.

High Concept: Close-Range Shock Trooper
Trouble: Firebrand

I imagine his cybernetic limb is fitted with what I described as a "kinetic feedback system"; essentially, it is a shield (sort of similar to Reinhardt's, but on a smaller scale) that absorbs kinetic energy and stores it. This can be used to fire off high-powered kinetic pulses that force enemies away or to empower feats of extreme strength. His other hand holds his actual weapon, which is an SMG.

So I am having a little trouble finding away for Erin to know Kent. But I did think of away for Kent to know, of at least, Erin. Also to help Samaritan and Kent figure out how they know one another, I made a time line!!

I believe I got everything given at the moment. I will do an updated one once Darkest gets his stuff up. But as I said doing this gave me an idea for Kent and Erin. Kent may have been asked to survey the young engineer to see if she could have been useful for Blackwatch and if she had learned enough from Mercy to also act as Blackwatch's main doctor as well.

After thinking about this some more, I think Malachi is going to be a former Mossad agent, rather than Israeli special forces. It'll lend him toward a different role in the team to some extent, and a different focus and feel to him. With that in mind, his points on the timeline are as follows:

2028: Malachi Jäger is born.
2032: Shifra Jäger is born.
2044: Malachi's parents are killed in the Omnic Crisis.
2044-45: Malachi seeks to join the Israeli military, instead begins Mossad training.
2046: Malachi Jäger is inducted as a fully trained Mossad agent.
2061: During a joint operation with IDF and Overwatch, Malachi suffers severe burns across most of his body while rescuing civilians from a terrorist attack.
2062: Malachi Jäger and Erin Taylor meet in an ICU run by Overwatch personnel. Presumed dead by Mossad, Malachi receives an offer to join Blackwatch and accepts.
2063: Malachi Jäger begins field operations with Blackwatch under the moniker Samaritan, donning stylized combat gear over extensive bandaging.

That's a possible connection, yeah. Kent participates in his first field operation in 2062, meaning he would have been in the organization for three years before Erin joins. He also could have had a hand in her combat training, given his long military history. He has ample time to see her join Overwatch and serve as someone to assess her skills.

Hahaha! Her combat training... Oh wait you're serious! XD
That would have been a show. She would have been a good student, but those first few months would have been comical.

Sounds like we've got some good stuff put together so far. JD and Loup are busy this week, so we'll let things sit until they have more free time. I'll send a message to check with Darkest too.

Oh, GM! Question, what month are we starting in? Are we starting in to beginning of the year? Late in the year? Mid way?

My preference, if you had yet to pick, would be starting in either January or February of 2065. But I'm also saying that for very selfish reasons. It would mean her fall out with Mercy is still a bit fresh and she'd likely just had been moved to Blackwatch.

Sorry for my radio silence, but I've been horribly sick for the last three days and was barely conscious half the time, so my posting was sporadic and occasionally done while half delirious for the past couple days.

But I don't have an exact time when the game starts thought up yet and Fate encourages the players and GM to build the setting and story together, so I'm fine with beginning of the year if it helps your backstory.

Also, I mentioned this to Loup when he asked, but didn't get a chance to post here. Super powers will be using the refresh cost, meaning they're taken in place of stunts. We'll try it with the base 3-5 stunts, but if that's not enough I'll give out a few extra points of refresh to fill out powers.

For example: Erin's healing (assuming is mostly the same as Mercy) might be a Lore stunt that allows you to remove a stress box of equal or lower value as the successes rolled on a Lore check or a condition of equal or lower value. Kent's kinetic feedback system might cost 2 points, but it allows him to add the difference between his defense roll and the opponent's attack to his attack rolls during the next turn whenever he successful defends against an attack. It probably also allows him to use Fighting to defend against Shooting since it creates a barrier, thus the extra refresh cost.

Actually Erin's healing is closer to Ana's healing then Mercy's! XD
Mercy wouldn't let her copy the staff because of their... issues.

Doing a bit of Scifi here: Erin's healing is actually nano bots and rebuild the cellular structure and close up the wounds or rebuild the bone, etc. She gets them into by shooting you with, well think Honeybun from Big Hero 6 with the chemical balls? That but smaller and in bullet like form. The moment is comes into contact with skin the outside shell bursts and the nano bots go to work. You also feel really good after she shoots you because the nano bots piggy back on the adrenaline system to travel through the body as fast as naturally possible. So not only is your body starting to heal itself, but you get a big boost! So it's like healing and buffing in one go!

Though Erin's look is far closer to Mercy's. Her code name she actually picked as a joke as an Erinyes is a fallen angel and Mercy's look is that of an angel.

To be fair, both of their healing uses Mercy's biotic nanobot technology, just in different forms. Going with Ana's more weaponized version would certainly contribute to a fallout with Mercy though :P

Still, the effect would make sense to be similar, but maybe using Shooting instead.

Actually no, Mercy regenerates the cellular structure. Her beam actually revitalizes your cells with their own healing abilities. It is still still apart of Nanobiology but she does not use the nanobots that Ana uses.

Also I just noticed something... there is a chance that you could get addicted to Erin's form of healing.

So here is my basic timeline. It will need updating but this is it so far minus the pieces me and Erin have agreed on.

-2036 Cillian o'Hare is born in Dublin Ireland
-2045 Cillian loses his parents in the Omnic Crisis, is raised by his Grandmother from then on.
-2051 Cillian wins an All Ireland Medal for Hurling and a World Cup Medal for Rugby.
-2052 Cillian enrolls in Trinity College Dublin on a Sports Scholarship.
-2056 Cillian graduates Trinity College Dublin with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Programming, enlists in the Irish Army as an Infantrymen.
-2057 Cillian develops the first iteration of his drone (Find Cool Name here)
-2058 Cillian graduates Trinity College Dublin with a PHD in Robotics. Cillian is offered a place in the Irish Ranger wing and begins training in the Officer training college.
-2059/2063 Cillian engages in numerous Ops throughout Europe and the middle east with the Rangers.
-2064 Cillian is recruited to Blackwatch, earns the name "Midnight" for his ability to plunge enemies in to complete darkness

Hey, would Kent be willing to take Erin on her first mission? Since he was the one who was assigned to teach her combat skills.

Hey would Malachi speak Hebrew? If so would be teach Erin?

The name is definitely changing at this point, FYI.

Yes, he'd be willing to take you on your first mission, that seems like it'd make sense.

I firgured it would be. Seeing as you're the one training her in combat.
Oh this likely means Angela(Mercy) does not like you.

Also I'll PM you the stuff so that Kent actually acts like Kent.

Hmm. Malachi would probably know Hebrew, but I'm not sure how willing he'd be to teach Erin if it's just a matter of curiosity or interest. So I suppose it depends on her reasons for wanting to learn?

Also, looking over our characters, it looks like we've filled the four roles within the game, whether it was intentional or not. Erinyes is definitely a Support sort, Midnight strikes me as a Defense type with drones and darkness, Firebrand seems like a Tank, and I've been envisioning Samaritan as a close-range Assault character. (I'm not suggesting we build characters with that in mind, and I don't mean to shoehorn anyone into a position they weren't aiming for--just something I found amusing as I looked at it.)

Also, I've been thinking on what Malachi's exact fighting style and "abilities" would be, but I'm not sure I've got it totally nailed down just yet. I'm trying to think of something that isn't too similar to what exists already with established characters, although with the roster they have it's a little challenging.

Erin loves languages. It comes from the fact she learned each of her grandparents languages in order to be able to speak properly. It is also why she has linguistics as a degree. Erin is 1/4th German, 1/4th Norwegian, 1/4th Chinese, and 1/4th Japanese. Her father being the German/Norwegian and her mother being the Chinese/Japanese. They moved to America before the twins where born so growing up Erin learned German, Norwegian, Mandarin(Chinese), and Japanese along side English. She also prefers to speak to people in their native tongues, something she got from her mother who was an ambassador.

Also the fact we kinda did that without thinking about it, I believe is a good sign!