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2016 saw unprecedented levels of natural disasters: earthquakes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes worldwide. There were strange sightings and unexplained phenomena taking place with increasing frequency. Scientists point to an unexplained rise in earth’s high energy field
On the 21st of december 2016 hundreds of thousands of gates open all over the earth, in nearly every nation, some beneath the earth, some in the oceans, some high in the sky. Through these gates, for 16 hours stream millions of beings, the Shadowkind.
The Shadowkind explain that they are refugees coming from a dying world and that in exchange for being given space to live, they will share magic that can mend many of the world’s ills and more than repay their hosts for their kindness.
Most nations accept the bargain and begin creating enclaves where the Shadowkind can live and practice their arts. Magical products begin to arrive in local markets benefitting all walks of life.
One of the largest Shadowkind enclaves in the continental United States is located in Detroit and is linked to a similar enclave located in Windsor Ontario. This enclave actually consists of several distinct enclaves that host groups of Shadowkind who view themselves as separate nations. Each nations is composed of a multitude of races that work together based on similar values and goals.
Shadowkind enhancement syndrome. 2% of people who were within a km or two of the portals when they opened were found to have an unusual reaction where they found their abilities and capacities heightened. These humans are also more likely to be able to learn magical arts. One of the more immediate effects is an increased healing speed
The arrival of the Shadowkind fundamentally changed reality on earth. It created access points between elemental planes. This allows magical effects native to earth to manifest independent of the shadowkind. This also includes divine effects including those of deities of the Shadowkind and faiths on earth. Wherever sufficient belief manifests deities will respond to the call.
Players will begin as humans (with Shadowkind enhancement syndrome) using any class form the book, altered as per d20 modern supplement and modern magic supplement. Access will be granted to other races based on in-game contact with said races (half elves and half-orcs, do not yet exist in this setting). Backgrounds should be adjusted to match more modern, contemporary careers.
Ability array will be standard 15-14-13-12-10-8. Max hit points at first level. Multiply starting gold by 10 for how much cash your character has at the start of the game. Keep in mind that at this stage only characters who have a background in the military or law enforcement would have legal use of firearms. With the Arrival of Shadowkind enchanted archaic weapons and armor have made firearms less useful in many situations than they might have previously.
I don't plan on updating the skill list. If your career would reasonably have you knowing something or being trained in a specific skill or task, then you know it. Skills will mostly cover contests and opposed tasks, we can abstract those or rely on pure ability checks. Unless the need becomes obvious I don't plan on changing the skill list.
The campaign takes place 4 years after the Arrival of the Shadowkind. characters will be taking part in an on-the-job interview for the Lollard detective agency. The Lollard detective agency has made a name for itself by being willing to deal with Shadowkind in ways that many people and even law enforcement would prefer to just steer clear of.
Characters will be faced with a choice of cases to investigate, largely these will break down into investigative-rp cases and more combat intensive cases.
I'm also looking for input on adapting the systems. If you have ideas for spells, magic items, race/class adaptations or anything else please let me know.
About myself. I post between 9-5 Monday to Friday Eastern time. I post often during these times and seldom outside of them. If there are enough interested players I will split the table as necessary. I run my combats through ditzie, where a map is required. I do most of my rolls through random.org and usually just post the results in the thread. I do block initiative. I'll roll for you, list the characters that go before the mobs, wait for people to post, then post what the mobs do and give the slowpokes their turn. I'm always open to changing my mind so if you have a different idea than mine, please share it with me. When I run a game, I run it for the players and encourage them to participate in world building just as much as I do.
Interested. I'll start making a Monk.
Running up skyscrapers, and then jumping off them? Check.
Knocking out gangsters with your fists? Check.
Being a badass? Check.
Catching bullets with your bare hands? Double Check.
Doctor Felix Burn (Belac93), is submitted for your inspection. I don't know much about Detroit, but I'll try to learn more.
When would you be starting?
Been staring at this since it opened on and off, trying to work a concept. For now it's probably best to just dot in my continued interest though, so you're aware there still are people who want to play in this from the Interest thread! I'll hopefully have a concept finished soonish.
@Doctor Felix. A Doctor Martial artist with a penchant for the undead. That is great!
I'd like to start as soon as I have four to five players.
So guys if you want ot jump right feel free.
Dot for interest. Thinking of doing something arcane of divine. I'd like to see how the world interacts with newfound magic, and religion vs divine magic has all sorts of fun (angry) implications.
Dot for interest. Thinking of doing something arcane of divine. I'd like to see how the world interacts with newfound magic, and religion vs divine magic has all sorts of fun (angry) implications.
Religion vs divine magic vs arcane magic vs science!
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Interested. If another monk is not allowed how do you feel about a bladesinger?
Or perhaps using the modern magic unearthed arcana?
altered as per d20 modern supplement and modern magic supplement.
Go technomaner! Fireball enemies through your iPhone!
Need to read the supplement, but love playing 5e bards, if there's room for one.
Although City domain cleric is pretty cool.
@DaWay Bladesingers are elves and I love both elves and bladesingers. If you want to play an elf you have to sell me on it. Both for playing and elf, but also how this elf would come to be working for a human detective agency. It doesn't have to be long, or even detailed but there has to be a compelling reason.
By all means use modern magic, that's what it's there for.
This sounds very cool. I loved Urban Arcana when it was originally created for D20 Modern, and I also really like the 5e ruleset.
I'll try and get a character done this evening. The new City domain is really exciting. I'm thinking ex-Detroit PD detective, hounded out of the force for reporting too much weird stuff. I'd like to make it work as a City domain cleric, but I'll have to wait until I get home to check out how it would mesh rules wise.
@GDF Sounds great! Bring it on in.
Golfdeltafoxtrot here posting as Derrick Johnson, former Detroit PD detective looking for a new way to help those in need.
Hopefully all the mechanical stuff is OK, it's only my second time with 5e. Backstory to follow tomorrow once I can get on the computer at work (it's hard doing a lot of typing on my iPad).
Derrick, you did a great job making your character, I love it. I love how you made an interesting character that incorporates the modern setting. he's an investigator, a cleric, law enforcement background, it's great. All I need is some kind of event, after, or perhaps during, the Arrival that would have put him in touch with the spirit of detroit, the god of the city.
We can PM this, since it doesn't have to be public knowledge, but there's got to be a moment where he went from an ordinary person to literally worshiping the city of Detroit.
Derrick and Doctor Felix, two great characters, who's next?
Thanks, glad you like it.
I can come up with something when I write my backstory tomorrow. I'll have a think.
So I think I've settled to three options.A high school dropout that plays gigs at a nightclub to pay the bills and finds there's something magical about his music (a bard), A grad student who thinks he might be insane when he gets whammied by the sudden magic rush and is somehow connected to the Eldritch being Cthulu (warlock), or a undergraduate who gets sorcerous powers and joins a small group who try to act as superheroes/vigilantes (sorcerer).
So I think I've settled to three options.A high school dropout that plays gigs at a nightclub to pay the bills and finds there's something magical about his music (a bard), A grad student who thinks he might be insane when he gets whammied by the sudden magic rush and is somehow connected to the Eldritch being Cthulu (warlock), or a undergraduate who gets sorcerous powers and joins a small group who try to act as superheroes/vigilantes (sorcerer).
I like the first 2 the most. I can totally see enemies being lured into a nightclub, and then hit with this guy's magic.
Idea! DJ!
I like the bard idea and the sorcerer idea. They sound like real people trying to make something positive out of their newfound abilities.
Background written - beware, it is an epic wall of text.
I hope that it makes the source of his powers clear, JKassand.
Loup Blanc here, with my submission, a lawyer-turned-investigator-turned-paladin, of sorts, although he's still all three. Had fun playing around with converting some things to the modern day and exploring that sort of stuff. The backstory's probably a little muddled and draws heavily on my limited knowledge of how lawyers work, so hopefully it just makes sense to some degree. Let me know what you think!
P.S. I know you commented that only characters with police or military backgrounds would have legal use of firearms, but I'm assuming that's for carrying them and such. Lysander owns a revolver but it's for defending his home/office, which I assume is acceptable.
Kyle Groski reporting for duty.
It's been a few years since I (hiiamtom) have lived around Detroit, but it would be fun using it as the backdrop for this modern game since I know the area a bit.
I used the Waterborne Adventures UA for my fighting style because it fit the background of the character, but I can change if needed.
P.S. I know you commented that only characters with police or military backgrounds would have legal use of firearms, but I'm assuming that's for carrying them and such. Lysander owns a revolver but it's for defending his home/office, which I assume is acceptable.
I'm British, and so had to do a lot of research about Detroit to create my background (all I could tell you previously was about motors, Motown, bankruptcy and urban decay). The state of Michigan, it seems, is perfectly happy to hand out concealed carry permits to anyone who qualifies, so long as they don't take their firearms into schools, theatres etc. I therefore surmised that it'd be OK for my ex-detective to carry a weapon, and I suspect it might be OK for others to do so, if that GM agrees.
Also, your background is great. I think Lysander and Derrick are going to enjoy working together.
Kyle, you sound like the hardman of the group. Like the background. Looking at your character sheet though - are you sure you're a wizard?!
Lol, it was late. Definately fighter.
The backstory's probably a little muddled and draws heavily on my limited knowledge of how lawyers work, so hopefully it just makes sense to some degree.
I have no idea how doctors work. I've never been to Detroit, or even to the U.S.A. without just passing through on a flight. I'm not very qualified to play my character in that way.
However, I've also played elves, undead, demons, dragons, kobolds, and goblins. I think we're going to be fine ;)
The backstory's probably a little muddled and draws heavily on my limited knowledge of how lawyers work, so hopefully it just makes sense to some degree.I have no idea how doctors work. I've never been to Detroit, or even to the U.S.A. without just passing through on a flight. I'm not very qualified to play my character in that way.
However, I've also played elves, undead, demons, dragons, kobolds, and goblins. I think we're going to be fine ;)
Oh, I'm not too concerned about it, and don't expect it to be any kind of problem unless it becomes important; cursory research and assumption has typically worked well in other games I'm in where specific knowledge becomes important. I just figured I'd bring it up in case anyone here happens to have actual working knowledge of the American legal system, and to cover myself from any "That's not how that works!" comments. Again, not expecting it, but I've seen that happen too. It isn't pretty.
I also know very little about Detroit, the Detroit police department, or conducting a private investigation. I figure we can all just wing it, with the aid of Professor Wikipedia.
@Derrick. Great work Derrick. I can tell how much research you've done. Thank you.
@Hiiamtom. I will allow Monster hunter, since it doesn't start until third level there's plenty of time to line it up.
@Lysander. Great, good. There's no reason why you would not be able to own a gun and keep it at home. As Derrick points out it's not particularly difficult to legally get a firearms license in Michigan, but even if you have such a license your prospective employer, the Lollard investigations agency, would request that you not be armed while on the job until you have been approved as a full and registered employee. Honourably discharged police and armed forces personnel may continue to carry their firearms as they are regarded to have received sufficient working experience with firearms.
@Kyle. Looks beautiful. I hope you don't find my lack of first-hand knowledge of the area too insulting. That's why i set the game in the future, to help distinguish it form the current reality. Mariner is fine for your background.
@Derrick. There's no reason why Derrick and Lysander might not have met previously, considering one is a cop and the other a defense attorney.
I don't plan on being a hardass about details. In the year 2020 many of the areas you will be investigating will have been rebuilt from the ground up in order to make room for the enclaves and neighbourhoods that exist to support them.
So far we have Doctor Felix Burn, Derrick Johnson, Lysander Tremayne and Kyle Groski.
If we can squeeze in one or two more players that would be great. So i'll give it until tomorrow and then we'll get started. Your adventure will begin with the most harrowing test you can imagine: commuting!
As we have a fighter, cleric, paladin, and monk, I'll be going with sorcerer then. I'll hopefully finish and post the character tonight.
JKassand, I'm glad you like the backstory. It evolved over the period of about an hour during some downtime at work. I enjoyed reading the Wikipedia article about Detroit to get a feel for it as a city.
Maybe Derrick and Lysander could have met in the past, it'd make a nice connection to start bringing the group together.
inxpitter your sorc idea sounds interesting, since the character would be inherently tied to their neighbourhood. The choice is really up to you.
I could definitely see Lysander and Derrick having met in the past, potentially several times. Lysander also essentially lost his job not long after the arrival of the Shadowkind, so I could even see them bonding over that to some extent, both trying to build themselves back up after the troubles they had. I could definitely see Lysander contacting Derrick for investigative advice and help.
I could definitely see Lysander and Derrick having met in the past, potentially several times. Lysander also essentially lost his job not long after the arrival of the Shadowkind, so I could even see them bonding over that to some extent, both trying to build themselves back up after the troubles they had. I could definitely see Lysander contacting Derrick for investigative advice and help.
Sounds good to me. I suspect that detectives and defence lawyers don't always see eye-to-eye (based on my viewing of American police procedurals!), but Derrick and Lysander seem to be essentially good people who likely would have forged a trusting relationship.
Quick question as I whip up a personality and background. I'm interested in Wild Magic as a sorcerer, but that relies heavily on a GM calling for rolls. What would be your frequency of wild magic activating? Or would you rather have me go Draconic?
I love wild magic. Go for it. We may have to come to some agreement where I may roll on your behalf sometimes, in order to keep things moving along.
I love the randomness if you wouldn't mind it I'll activate wild magic at every opportunity. Though as I look over some effects we should come to a decision about how long certain effects last.
Wild Magic sounds great for a sorcerer coming into his powers.
I am so excited to get this going!
For any wild magic effect that does not have a specified duration I will roll in secret. In world we'll say Wild Magic is generally not permanent. The larger the effect the shorter the duration, but this is only a general rule, not an absolute one.
Wild Magic on Earth is specifically caused by our reality buckling around the power of magic (wild magic rolls become more likely the higher the spell level slot). The theory put forth by magical scholars and theoretical arcanists is that eventually Wild Magic will settle down and fade away. This may take decades or centuries but for the time being remains a potent force.
The only effects I'm seeing without a specified duration are 11-12, 35-36. So that's a 4% chance and even then only a d10 change in height or age. Truly large swings would wear off quickly, but small ones might not even be noticed.
We can also talk about including other random effects, or incorporating other charts. The mind boggles when you consider the option of including the 10,000 random effects chart that's floating around out there.
I'll have my character done by tonight. As for how wild, Wild magic is, I'm sure we'll figure something out.
Alright, meet Rohan Avalon.
Currently in college, he splits time between patrolling the streets for crime, studying for class, and trying to control a wilder aspect of his arcane magic.
Is everyone who made a character in the game, or is there selection?
Rohan sounds great. I love that his arcane focus is a D20 pendant.
There's no selection, we're going to start right now. If other people are still interested in joining in feel free to message me and you can be introduced to the story.
Seems Rohan might have a grudge against the Shadowkind, but it was likely something during his kidnapping that endowed him with the spark that made him a sorcerer.
It looks like Rohan is poor, everyone else if modest and Lysander is rich. I don't want to micromanage your character's money and rent and have them pay taxes and all the rest. Generally if something could reasonably be afforded by someone with your background then there's no reason you can't afford it. As the campaign progresses you may have the opportunity to loot certain treasures and your career should afford you certain financial improvements but we'll negotiate those in-story.
Feel free to use the discussion thread, or pm if you are uncertain about something, we'll figure it out together.
Your ride is waiting to pick you up in the gameplay thread.