"Let's try and stay quiet, we have no idea what we are going to find," whispers Mick as he sticks near Stringer and Kat. He gives Salvo the go-ahead nod and cracks his neck.
"We're in the belly of the beast! Let's end this. Shango is with us!"
Kat adjusts her grip on her sword and is ready to go toward the likely location of the source of the goo.
second room #8
Snoop flies in and sees another room full of mounds of goo. just like the other room. There's no sign of life. Each mound is like 2' high. It's not apparent what the mounds are used for.
Male Human Fast/Smart 3 | HP 27/27 AC 21 (22 vs melee/25 vs ranged) | Perception +4 Init +3 | F +5 R +6 W +5 | Action points 18/18
Just a suggestion- if most of these rooms are empty, maybe face to face it's atmospheric and tension building to go room to room not finding anything but in PbP it just kind of draws things out for no benefit. Could we skip to something to interact with? Maybe describe all the rooms where we don't find anything or just find more goo and move us to somewhere there is something?
Stringer directs Snoop to fly on to the next room. "Next room," he says as he pilots the drone from the back of the group.
Just a suggestion- if most of these rooms are empty, maybe face to face it's atmospheric and tension building to go room to room not finding anything but in PbP it just kind of draws things out for no benefit. Could we skip to something to interact with? Maybe describe all the rooms where we don't find anything or just find more goo and move us to somewhere there is something?
Stringer directs Snoop to fly on to the next room. "Next room," he says as he pilots the drone from the back of the group.
Please describe the elevator shaft again and what rolls will be needed to move to the next floor. Is that the next higher floor?
Yes it's the next highest floor. The "black" material is BEHIND the shaft. You're able to take the executive elevator up to the final floor with OUT climbing the shaft made up of the "black material if that wasn't clear
There is one final "empty" room on this floor. It contains large pieces of a launch tower for Russian Zenit commercial rockets. Like the "whole" car it's not clear how the pieces got inside the room, given the dimensions of the door. There's also pieces of the guidance system and controls on another separate table. in the "universe" the Zenits were used to launch satellites but other rockets took their place a few years before
Human Anthony 'Salvo' Salvatorie | Military |Adventurer | Fast 2/ Strong 2 | HP 18/ 18 | AC: 21 FF: 18 T: 18 | F: +4 R: +6 W: +2 | Init: +4 | Per: +6 SM: +6 | APs 16 | Status:
After the group explores the final rooms on this level. Salvo spends a few minutes rigging the car with det cord, blasting cap and radio controlled detonator.
Then joins the group at the elevator.
” The Car is all set to go boom when we need it.” Holding up the Radio Controlled Detonator.
He removes the SMG’s magazine and flips out one round with his thumb catching in his other hand. He then snaps the round back in the magazine and slaps it home and pulls back the bolt, reading the weapon for use.
Male Human Fast/Smart 3 | HP 27/27 AC 21 (22 vs melee/25 vs ranged) | Perception +4 Init +3 | F +5 R +6 W +5 | Action points 18/18
Stringer nods at Mick. "I can't figure out what all this drek has in common. The aerospace magazines, the rockets, the car, the clothes..." He shrugs. "Maybe we can ask one."
Kat seems disappointed when their are no monsters to attack.
"Let's see if we can hack into this place's computer network and see if we can find more information on what's happened here. Some of the employees have to have recorded information on the events that transformed this place so drastically."
If the computer hack is a no-go, she suggests we find the loading dock and see if any truckers are there filling up for another dump or returning from one.
Can someone tell me if we dealt with the monster in the sewers near Lou's place? If not, we could head back there with proper equipment and try again.
Male Human Fast/Smart 3 | HP 27/27 AC 21 (22 vs melee/25 vs ranged) | Perception +4 Init +3 | F +5 R +6 W +5 | Action points 18/18
I wouldn't call what we did 'dealing with' the monster. We went into the sewers and almost got eaten by a shapeless, formless horror.
Stringer nods at Kat. "I'd love to if you can find me a computer or any place to jack in. So far I haven't seen any signs of computers up here."(I think that's correct, anyway. If not, Stringer will attempt to hack into any computers they find/found.)
are you taking the elevator up to the last floor? Or headed back down to the "regular" levels?
you didn't deal with the "monster" in the sewer per se. Part of the sewers were bio-organic and alive. You stopped after you fought a few dog sized maggots. The tunnels continued after that.
"Let's see what's what up the elevator. If no computers are up there--and no monsters eat us--we can head for lower levels where there ought to be computers a-plenty."
The group takes the elevator up to the final floor. Unsure of what they will find. This room contains 8 four-foot high sofa sized mounds of black gelatinous material. On top of each mound is a sofa sized creature creatures with multiple legs and tentacles. They rise and move menacingly towards the party.
"What the...? Hey! Stay back!"
Mick holds his weapon at the ready, aiming at the nearest insectile monster. He looks at the others, wondering how to proceed. "They aren't rushing us, but they don't look friendly. Wraith, Salvo, tactical options?"
Sounds like they didn't technically initiate combat, so not going full aggro just yet...
Mick holds his weapon at the ready, aiming at the nearest insectile monster. He looks at the others, wondering how to proceed. "They aren't rushing us, but they don't look friendly. Wraith, Salvo, tactical options?"
Sounds like they didn't technically initiate combat, so not going full aggro just yet...
Human Anthony 'Salvo' Salvatorie | Military |Adventurer | Fast 2/ Strong 2 | HP 18/ 18 | AC: 21 FF: 18 T: 18 | F: +4 R: +6 W: +2 | Init: +4 | Per: +6 SM: +6 | APs 16 | Status:
Fear/will save:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
"Never seen these things before. But I have an Idea."
Stepping to the front of the elevator he thumbs the selector switch to auto and pulls the trigger of the SMG.
AutoFire:
If a ranged weapon has an automatic rate of fire, a character may set it on autofire. Autofire affects an area and everyone in it, not a specific creature. The character targets a 10-foot-by-10-foot area and makes an attack roll; the targeted area has an effective Defense of 10. (If the character does not have the Advanced Firearms Proficiency feat, he or she takes a �4 penalty on the attack roll.) If the attack succeeds, every creature within the affected area must make a Reflex save (DC 15) or take the weapon�s damage. AutoFire shoots 10 bullets, and can only be used if the weapon has 10 bullets in it.
Aiming to catch more than one creature if possible. They may be too large
SMG damage:2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10
The small weapon blazes away, sending 10 bullets toward the things. Ejected brass clatters to the floor.
These are nothing like anything anyone has seen. They have tentacles and weird skin. Evidentially they have some importance to the company given that they're at the top of the tower. A chamber goes off to your left.
on the map we're on slide 2 I put a token for reference. You're all still on the elevator.
a ten misses. Everyone else can get off a shot. everyone but salvo at a -2
Kat thought her experience in fight clubs and her training by Mestra May had prepared her well for real combat, but these creatures inspired fear the likes of which she has never experienced. Still she advanced, taking the fight to the bugs. Attacking orange.
Mick misses as Salvo, Kat and Stringer kill three of the large alien creatures. Three of the remaining ones scurry over to attack the party. It's nothing like you've seen as the bugs move to attack.
One moves to attack Kat.
attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
One Stringer
attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
One Salvo
attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Kat is too fast as Stringer and Salvo are grabbed and are hit by the tentacles.
Kat grits her teeth and concentrates on the next one to come at her, dodging and striking with her katana. She's gaining confidence but still shaken by the alien nature of the creatures. As her katana cuts into the beastie, there is a sound like distant thunder that also seems to cause damage.
Human Anthony 'Salvo' Salvatorie | Military |Adventurer | Fast 2/ Strong 2 | HP 18/ 18 | AC: 21 FF: 18 T: 18 | F: +4 R: +6 W: +2 | Init: +4 | Per: +6 SM: +6 | APs 16 | Status:
Wincing at pain from the creature’s attacks.
GM wrote:
Kat is too fast as Stringer and Salvo are grabbed and are hit by the tentacles.
Have we been grappled by the aliens? I made the attack for either possibility
If Not Grappled SMG Attack:
Salvo continues to hold down the trigger of the SMG, waving it back and forth. As white flame erupts from the barrel and 10 Tracer rounds streak toward the creatures.
Intending to catch both ‘blue’ and ‘pink’ creatures
SMG Autofire VS AC 10:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15 SMG Damage if hit:2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7
If Grappled Pistol whip attack with SMG:
Salvo struggles against the creature's tentacles. He swings the butt of the SMG at the thing’s head.
I will be taking that hit for Stringer (assume I'm always doing so for whoever I've declared the "target" for that ahility, 1/round) per my Harm's Way ability. Will get a real post up ASAP but wanted to make sure Stringer is aware before he posts!
Male Human Fast/Smart 3 | HP 27/27 AC 21 (22 vs melee/25 vs ranged) | Perception +4 Init +3 | F +5 R +6 W +5 | Action points 18/18
Stringer nearly falls on his ass as Mick pushes him out of the way and gets grabbed by the alien's tentacles. He yells a string of curses in a mix of languages as he fires his shotgun at the beast.
Ick grunts and grits his teeth. He lets the Krait drop to the ground and grabs at the telescoping baton on his hip as he wrestles with the I sectiloid. He flicks his wrist and triest to smash the thing.
Assuming you mean Mick, since I knocked Stringer out of the way? But am I the first or the second, lol. Nevermind, with that roll it doesn't matter!
Grapple:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
"Gah! These things are a nuiscance! Mick shouts as he deals with the clutching insect-thing. He continues to try and get the baton to crack their chitin.
"That's what I said! You never pay attention!" Mick snaps with feigned annoyance and a snicker before the creature struggles to pin his arms to his body. "Ow, yeesh, I'll save the jokes for if we survive. Hey, Salvo? How big of a party did you wire downstairs?"
Quick reminder: d20 Modern provdes characters with action points, which basically can be spent to add 1d6 to any d20 roll provided the point is spent before learning the outcome of the attack. Mick might want to spend one to improve that low grapple check.
Did the attack that hit do 7 points of damage to Kat?
Can you please update the map to show current creatures active and locations? Thanks.
I'm assuming Kat will be making an opposed grapple check. She has a feat (Wild Tallent: 0th level psionic spell Valor) which allows her to add a +1 to a saving throw as an immediate action. Let me know if she can use to aid her grapple roll, even though that is technically not a saving throw.
Grapple roll (BAB + STR):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
If not grappled, Kat will attack this monster with her sword. If grappled and if that means she cannot use her sword, she will make an unarmed attack instead if allowed.
Assuming she is not grappled and can attack with he sword.
If she is grappled and can only make an unarmed attack:
Unarmed strike:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Unarmed Damage:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Will spend an action point if this is her attack: Action Point bonus:1d6 ⇒ 1
Kat cleans off her katana and sheathes it. "Let's make sure there's nothing important here and then see if we can find a working computer that might have some more information on what this is all about. Then I say we torch the place."
"I don't even care what they're doing here. Big bugs are poisoning the water, that's all I need to know. If nothing else, Salvo's birthday cake will bring heavy attention to these things and NOBC. It'll stop the dumping. Kat's right, quick search then let's get out while we still can and blow out the candles."
Human Anthony 'Salvo' Salvatorie | Military |Adventurer | Fast 2/ Strong 2 | HP 18/ 18 | AC: 21 FF: 18 T: 18 | F: +4 R: +6 W: +2 | Init: +4 | Per: +6 SM: +6 | APs 16 | Status:
After wiping away the goo left from the bug tentacles, Salvo moves to kick each bug to make sure they are dead.
Looking over to MIck. ”The party favor downstairs should take out a third to half of the glass on this side of the building, start one hell of a fire, and maybe collapse part of the floor. Standard Saturday night fun.”
He pulls out the radio detonator and holds it up for all to see. ”Boom is ready when we want it.”
Then moving to cover the others as they search the area.
”Let's not linger too long though. Worse things might show up. And we will want to be long gone before any first responders show up.
Hey Qstor! Gosh you know there will always be interest!
It sounds like you have a direction thought of, which books are thinking of allowing? Would you tweak the skills and feats @ levels so they are more 'pathfinder' like or would you stick to the original D20 Modern method?
Hey Qstor! Gosh you know there will always be interest!
It sounds like you have a direction thought of, which books are thinking of allowing? Would you tweak the skills and feats @ levels so they are more 'pathfinder' like or would you stick to the original D20 Modern method?
Just some main ideas...
I was going to use the d20 modern WOTC books and the Psionics rules.
I'm using the old Dark Conspiracy game (GDW) setting but d20 modern rules. America is "NOW" dystopic Set in the early 21st century
after the "Greater Depression" has destroyed the global economy, Dark Conspiracy focusses on the America, describing a country
undergoing slow collapse. Its larger cities have expanded into massive metroplexes, in some cases covering entire states. Beyond the
Metroplexes is “Outlaw:” without federal or state protection; the road network barely maintained; territory governed by gangs and
warlords. Scattered within the Outlaw is Demonground: terrible lands inhabited by a fantastic range of monsters, vampires, aliens,
werewolves, cyborgs.
Using the Fear Effects from 12 to Midnight rules.
PL 6 cybernetics are available (beware the consequences!)
No PL 6 Starships, NASA flies, space plane and Space Shuttle.
I'd be heavily interested. High level of knowledge of the setting. Check out my articles in Protodimension Magazine if you want some bona fides, lol.
Since d20 is more forgiving on empathic abilities it'd be hard not to be interested in playing one, but might be leaning more toward a sneaky type or vehicle expert (setting permitting).
Would you be looking for newbie minion hunters who have just been introduced to the truth or somewhat more knowledgeable characters?
Any specific setting (I have lots of ideas about southern New Boswash) or more globe-trotting?
Guns blazing or Kolchack the Nightstalker?
Oh, any potential mechanical/rules systems for dealing with social class and contacts? Always important stuff in dystopia, hehe.
I'd be heavily interested. High level of knowledge of the setting. Check out my articles in Protodimension Magazine if you want some bona fides, lol.
Oh nice! DM me!
dickie wrote:
Since d20 is more forgiving on empathic abilities it'd be hard not to be interested in playing one, but might be leaning more toward a sneaky type or vehicle expert (setting permitting).
Would you be looking for newbie minion hunters who have just been introduced to the truth or somewhat more knowledgeable characters?
I was going to have the characters start at 2nd level so they're not so "squishy" but they'd be "newbies"
dickie wrote:
Any specific setting (I have lots of ideas about southern New Boswash) or more globe-trotting?
Guns blazing or Kolchack the Nightstalker?
I was going to run the mod New Orleans converted to d20 Modern unless you've played it :p Then probably "throw" something togehter set in WestErie and Michigan. I"ve had some ideas for a long time but never fleshed them out based on the USA map and the Demonground locations.
Have you published the New Boswash stuff in Protodimension Magazine?
dickie wrote:
Oh, any potential mechanical/rules systems for dealing with social class and contacts? Always important stuff in dystopia, hehe.
Just "role play" if the characters come into an expensive restaurant looking like "something the cat dragged in" the maître d' might ask them to leave unless they make a Diplomacy check for instance?
Imagine your character got this email from a friend:
"Something very strange is going on. Stranger than usual, I mean. Hell, I'm used to eco-commandos dynamiting oil refineries. I'm used to riots in the Farm Family Relocation Camps. I understand the wars that street gangs and corporate security goons are fighting for the inner cities. I can accept the steady breakup of the old nations, even if I can't pronounce half the names of the new ones. I'm even used to grave robberies and blood bank heists in California. After all, it's California, right?
But a few days ago, the Eastern Australian Air Force nuked Melbourne, and refuses to explain why. Black, spiky things that only vaguely resemble fish are attacking people in the Great Lakes. A radio station in Chicago is broadcasting only a single, oscillating tone — all day long. Whole blocks of Mexico City have been abandoned — by people, anyway.
My contact in the WestErie Police Department Intelligence Bureau said we're being invaded, part of a centuries-old plot. I wanted to find out more, but before we could meet, she turned up headless in a park.
Now I have this feeling I'm being followed...”
- - - -
Shapes that rip and tear. Shadows that live in corners. Windows in space and time that lead to realms of madness and decay. A dark lurking horror that feeds off the echoing anguish of a billion tortured souls. This is the center of a twisted, sinister conspiracy which threatens the very existence of all humankind.
Set in the near future, the world of Dark Conspiracy is dramatically altered from today and is fraught with peril and challenges. The Metroplexes, where most of the world's population lives, are a blend of lawless gang turf and corporate fortresses ruled by men and women powerful enough to be above the law. The countryside is sparsely inhabited, its natives suspicious and violent. And increasing areas of countryside are turning into Demonground, from which few humans return.
When an ancient, brooding evil is released from its dimensional prison, humankind's worst nightmares come to life. What is the link between this sinister horror and the mysterious holes in the ozone layer, the rise of empathically aware humans, and the alien visitors from another star system
Oooooo. I'm liking the CoC vibe. I've always been a big fan of the mysterious message from a friend's into. It's like a high-density shot of exposition.
Are we in recruitment yet? (I admit I may need some help there. Every modern d20 I've been I interested in never technically got off the ground.)
I'm not familiar with the Dark Conspiracy game (GDW) setting, but I know how to google :)
Hmmm, so either someone from the streets or a 'country-side native' who comes to the fringe of town to trade...
Like Atlass2112 I've built characters, but games ended quickly. I will start thinking about character ideas but not nail details down until we get more clarification on builds.
I've really just got a few short stories and a couple of articles in PDM, lol. The fiction took place in what I termed the "DMV District" which is the most DC you can get in one place: corrupt governments, wealthy neighborhoods walled off from the slums by Mike towns, and of course plenty of military and aerospace industry contractors who may or may not be minions and Igors.
I really liked the article I did about trash pickers. Creepy subject to research. There are a lot of extremely poor nations where people literally make their living scavenging and recycling garbage. Extremely dangerous work in the real world, but when you are also talking about toxic materials in retrotek and monsters lurking in cave-filled trash mountains, then it becomes one of the most hazardous ways known to scrape together a few bucks.
I'm good with playing New Orleans. I am familiar with it, but I try to be good about player vs character knowledge. What I mostly remember is that it's an excellent introduction to the setting.
Anyway, I will dig up some stuff, including the D20 Modern books and my PDM stuff and figure something out. Still thinking a Fast hero, but may consider a neuropath-going-psion type.
Alright, this sounds pretty damn neat. I haven't done anything with D20 Modern in a long time and the time I did left a bad taste in my mouth. However, that was totally from the DM's choice of things and not the system's fault so I'd love to give it another go.
I'll have to look over the classes and stuff, get a feel for what I want to play and then make see about all of us working well (enough) together.
EDIT: Could we also lump together Move Silently & Hide into Stealth?
Totally got ninja'd by dickie, I started typing on a 'sticky note' and stopped to fix my moms lunch and came back reading his post. But will leave as is, cause I still like the idea.
So influenced a little by Paolo Bacigalupi “The Drowned Cities" I'm thinking a Country-sider scavenger. Who salvages scrap and sells it in the Metroplex. Maybe part of a tribe/gang/co-op who uses a truck to deliver valuable metal like copper or aluminum. Or a solo operator on a bike who collects high end tech stuff like computer chips.
Obviously Class and occupation would depend which direction I went. I think my decision would be determined by three things: What type of vehicles are available at the beginning, how the character style fits in with the game and whether any of the other PC's wanted to be scavengers as well.
Obviously if were in the city most of the time, a kid with a motorcycle would be easier, but if were out of town a lot and need something bigger with a little push then a truck or a jeep. Any observations?
Edit: Hey Qstor how are we doing stats, rolling or point-buy? If it's point buy are we using the original d20 modern (like on pathology guys builder) or pathfinder?
I really really want to start throwing out some ideas for character concepts but, depending on how we're generating stats, will kind of influence things a bit. I do have a tendency for, in systems that I feel new in, to make a big & tough guy.
Maybe former-military after being recruited from a corporate prison? Maybe another street ganger who is trying to turn away from that kind of life? I think a Strong or Fast hero would fit either of those pretty well.
If folks wanted to do a ganger-kid themed group I'd for sure do the empath starting out as the weird kid and eventually going to either psionic or mystic disciplines (whichever I can mimic best with D20 rules better) if he can find a mentor.
If a face is desperately needed I could revive a concept I liked. USPS Postal Inspector, Special Agent Marcia Starr. Why haven't they done a cop show about those guys?
Could do any class, really. Have an idea about a Tough hero who was a rising star athlete but lost a corporate sponsorship when he injured himself fleeing a monster. Company publicists claimed his story about werewolves were proof of drug use, now he wants to restore his rep by showing monsters are real.
EDIT: Could we also lump together Move Silently & Hide into Stealth?
Yeah sure! I mean to add that.
Robert Henry wrote:
Edit: Hey Qstor how are we doing stats, rolling or point-buy? If it's point buy are we using the original d20 modern (like on pathology guys builder) or pathfinder?
32 Point buy, average hit points after 1st level PLUS CON bonus.
Atlas2112 wrote:
Hey, how important is Wealth? Like, is it worth it to take the feat, or once you buy your starting gear, does it not really play a big role?
If wealth is your characters shtick, then sure. I'm not going to "nickle" and dime everyone. As long as everyone doesn't want say a private "jet" I don't think that's the way to go in a modern game. I just STRONGLY prefer that you don't "come up" with something "in game" that's not listed on your character "sheet." like an electronic toolkit or something when your in the middle of "nowhere"
Large ares of the countryside are abandoned in the game setting so it's not like the characters can run to Home Depot and get tools.
I'd be interested if you're still looking for players. I'm not familiar with this Dark Conspiracy setting specifically but from what I read up there it looks pretty basic cyberpunk-y so that shouldn't be too big of a deal. I actually played a mishmash d20 Modern, Urban Arcana, and Spycraft/Shadowforce Archer campaign back in the day.
To make sure I'm clear- you're doing Psionics and Psionic Agent but no other magic or psionic classes (Battle Mind, Telepath), right? What about non-magic Advanced Classes or PrCs from Urban Arcana like Shadowjack, Speed Demon, or Street Warrior? Or from the Cyberscape or Future books, like Cyberwarrior, Helix Warrior, and Technosavant?
Is the main thrust of the campaign going to be more in the heavily urban, tight spaces of the metroplexes or out in the countryside/Demonground? I love the idea of a Fast Hero/Speed Demon motorcycle ace "I can drive anything" kind of character but that doesn't work that well if the game is going to mostly be in corpo hallways and fancy penthouses.
Some stuff that helps you get into the right flavor:
The X-Files, Supernatural, They Live!/8 O'clock in the Morning, anything by Lumley, Derleth, Lovecraft, certain stories from Chambers (first three or four from The King in Yellow especially), certain ideas from HG Wells (and certainly The Island of Doctor Moreau), and plenty of Cuberpunk a la Gibson. Pretty much any and all slasher flicks.
Edit: Hey Qstor how are we doing stats, rolling or point-buy? If it's point buy are we using the original d20 modern (like on pathology guys builder) or pathfinder?
32 Point buy, average hit points after 1st level PLUS CON bonus.
Thanks!
Several good questions that I'll wait for answers to before I work too much on crunch. Let me add a couple questions of my own; how long are you keeping recruitment open? Would you rather we be a group that knows each other and may have worked together or will we be complete strangers brought together by circumstances?
With my wife home for the holiday and getting ready for guests, I probably won't have both crunch and fluff done until possibly the new year. Hopefully that will be within your time line.
dickie wrote:
Some stuff that helps you get into the right flavor:
The X-Files, Supernatural...
So that means we get a 1967 Chevrolet Impala? I was thinking a jeep wrangler, but I'd take the Impala...
How about a truck or van? Heh, "The Mystery Machine"? For a team vehicle, at least, personal is another thing. You could always buy a Zil, it's almost better than having a root canal! (Inside reference for folks that have read the original rulebook lol)
I'm considering how I'm looking for a game that's not-fantasy and wondering why I'm considering playing an empath.
So my most current idea is a Tough hero. Cheesy Tagline: "He was a well trained corporate bodyguard who knew how to protect his clients from typical threats. No one could have prepared him for something as atypical as a ghost!"
I could change my mind a dozen times, just floating ideas and waiting to see other concepts get tossed around and settled on.
To make sure I'm clear- you're doing Psionics and Psionic Agent but no other magic or psionic classes (Battle Mind, Telepath), right? What about non-magic Advanced Classes or PrCs from Urban Arcana like Shadowjack, Speed Demon, or Street Warrior? Or from the Cyberscape or Future books, like Cyberwarrior, Helix Warrior, and Technosavant?
Arcane Arranger, Shadowjack, Speed Demon, Street Warrior and Techno Mage are FINE
Ecclesiarch, Holy/Unholy Knight, Swashbuckler, Mystic Wildlord, NO. They don't really fit the setting IMO.
Dogfighter, Dreadnought, Explorer, Helix Warrior, NO. They don't really fit the setting IMO.
The psionics feats in Dark Matter are OK. I have to check the PrC in the book. I have it at home.
I have to check the Cybernetics book.
Just a note. It's out of character knowledge for most characters but those that HAVE psionics or cybernetics know there's SOMETHING or SOME forces controlling the "planet" and have a DIRECT link to psionics or cybernetics and in some regards characters with those abilities have dealt with or made a deal with the "devil" or BIG government. Like Stranger Things and 11.
Robert Henry wrote:
Several good questions that I'll wait for answers to before I work too much on crunch. Let me add a couple questions of my own; how long are you keeping recruitment open? Would you rather we be a group that knows each other and may have worked together or will we be complete strangers brought together by circumstances?
..
I'll probably close it next week. We seem to have a good # of folks.
There's a HOOK in the adventure that the characters ALL get a letter from a friend. So they're all friends of a friend..
Other notes. These spells or psionics powers are fitting.
Some stuff that helps you get into the right flavor:
The X-Files, Supernatural, They Live!/8 O'clock in the Morning, anything by Lumley, Derleth, Lovecraft, certain stories from Chambers (first three or four from The King in Yellow especially), certain ideas from HG Wells (and certainly The Island of Doctor Moreau), and plenty of Cuberpunk a la Gibson. Pretty much any and all slasher flicks.
And of course the fiction in the Dark Conspiracy fanzines and the Michael Stackpole Dark Conspiracy novels like A gathering of evil
Ooooh, Techno Mage? I'm totally down for a Smart going into Techno Mage!
Everybody else, I'm also happy to do shared backgrounds or at least have people know each other. I think that helps, a lot of the time. And if I don't get picked then you can always just say my guy's off at the library or something.
I was thinking street whiz kid who tinkers with stuff but they could just as easily be a corp engineer who moonlights or does off the books merc work. The first one could definitely be a country-side scavenger's contact (or little brother or cousin) and the second guy could easily know a current or former corp bodyguard.
Several good questions that I'll wait for answers to before I work too much on crunch. Let me add a couple questions of my own; how long are you keeping recruitment open? Would you rather we be a group that knows each other and may have worked together or will we be complete strangers brought together by circumstances?..
I'll probably close it next week. We seem to have a good # of folks.
There's a HOOK in the adventure that the characters ALL get a letter from a friend. So they're all friends of a friend..
I will try to get crunch and fluff done by next week.
Can we have a little information about who is sending us the letter, that way we can tie our backstory to the person?
Are you ok with information out of the "D20 Modern - Apocalypse" book, I'm looking at the advanced class "Salvager" it would fit the vibe for my character.
Can we have a little information about who is sending us the letter, that way we can tie our backstory to the person?
Sure, I'll post it next week,
Robert Henry wrote:
Are you ok with information out of the "D20 Modern - Apocalypse" book, I'm looking at the advanced class "Salvager" it would fit the vibe for my character.
Are you ok with information out of the "D20 Modern - Apocalypse" book, I'm looking at the advanced class "Salvager" it would fit the vibe for my character.
Sure, but there's stores in the Metroplexes?
Good point, So if someone was going to make money from salvage, would it be more likely they were looking for rare older tech or just salvage like copper or aluminum?
I really really want to start throwing out some ideas for character concepts but, depending on how we're generating stats, will kind of influence things a bit. I do have a tendency for, in systems that I feel new in, to make a big & tough guy.
Maybe former-military after being recruited from a corporate prison? Maybe another street ganger who is trying to turn away from that kind of life? I think a Strong or Fast hero would fit either of those pretty well.
It sounds like there are several that are talking about doing some magic or psionic character. I like that. I like that because Imma second KHT that since I'm not overly familiar with the system I'm going with what I know, which will be a real guns-shooting kinda thing. Basic Fast into Gunslinger, I'm thinking.
I mean, if that's a terrible idea now is a good time to let me know. =]
I think Robert Henry was getting more at the career/background angle.
We could probably use a good Ranged person, my character is more melee focused as a tank, but will be able to shoot a gun.
Question 1, starting wealth is usually rolled. Do you want us to roll at some point or take the average die? Everyone gets 2d4+wealth bonus from occupation and Feats, so taking average won't give a wide range...
Question 2, we do NOT get bonus languages known for Int, is that correct? I don't see it anywhere, but I haven't gone looking for errata yet to confirm.
Anyway, here is my most current, unformatted, crunchy bits. It's been a while since I've worked in 3.x/d20 SRD, so if anyone spots any errors lemme know! Will post the fluff side, including a name, in a day or two (still working on it), but wanted folks to have an idea of what I'm working up.
UNNAMED TOUGH:
Human Adventurer Tough 3
Str - 14
Dex - 14
Con - 16
Int - 12
Wis - 12
Cha - 10
HPs 3d10+9, 10+11+9=30
BAB +2; Def +2
F + 5, R +3, W +2
Feats - Armor Proficiency (light) (1st), Combat Martial Arts (3rd), Defensive Martial Arts (2nd), Personal Firearms Proficiency, Power Attack (Bonus)
And I've decided to start folks at 3rd level to give a better start to character builds and more "umph" to the characters.
dickie wrote:
Question 1, starting wealth is usually rolled. Do you want us to roll at some point or take the average die? Everyone gets 2d4+wealth bonus from occupation and Feats, so taking average won't give a wide range...
Since I'm not familiar with/if d20 modern has a WBL, do PC's get any additional wealth bonus, to represent that the events that got them to 3rd level carried occasional rewards? Or just stick with the standard increase roll that goes with gaining levels?
Oh, right, forgot about starting at 3rd with wealth.
Table 7.2, p 204 lists basic WBL. The text doesn't explicitly say it, but I'm assuming starting occupation and Feats would modify it. The base for 3rd level is listed as 6.
For Action Points it is assumed we have 1/2 character level, so 1 (see the same page as WBL).
So yeah, let us know if you want us going with the book or a different system.
Also, note about my first draft, forgot to check skill requirements for Bodyguard advanced class, so those will be changing some. Stupid concentration. Might try and juice Int up for more skill points.
Seeing how Robert Henry likes this one and I love D20M
Then going to throw my hat in, as there seems to me a Tech-Mage being made, I'll go Psionic Vet-Grunt with Telepathy now HoBo-ing his way across What's left of the US, keeping one step ahead of 'Them' the ones who did this to him.
Cus I really liked the
Mindstar_Rising books. And the idea of Johnny Panic [Not real name] fought in the "Mindstar Brigade", a tactical psychic unit.
Seeing how Robert Henry likes this one and I love D20M
Then going to throw my hat in, as there seems to me a Tech-Mage being made, I'll go Psionic Vet-Grunt with Telepathy now HoBo-ing his way across What's left of the US, keeping one step ahead of 'Them' the ones who did this to him.
Not to be sour grapes but I closed the recruitment right before Christmas. I'll put you on alternate and see if someone drops out soon.
Good point, So if someone was going to make money from salvage,
would it be more likely they were looking for rare older tech or just salvage like copper or aluminum?
Stealing copper or aluminum or salvaging items/metals off abandoned factories.
I don't want to discourage you from developing a character that YOU WANT to play. I just thought the PrC was more Road Warrior than Soylent Green or William Gibson's books (distopian)
This is from the main book for some background on Urban areas:
Many small businesses-restaurants. shops, and light manufacturing facilities--have remained open, but it is more of a struggle than ever for them to keep the wolf from the door. Average salaries have steadily
declined, while prices have continually increased. Transportation costs, in particular, have risen astronomically, forcing working people to move into the inner cities, closer to their jobs.
This has left the suburbs for the unemployed and rural refugees of the Farm Family Relocation Camps. Consequently, those suburbs have degenerated into nightmarish ghettos of squalor and crime.
Municipal police are responsible for order in the sprawling metroplexes. but large areas of urban slum are entered by the police only when in hot
pursuit, and then with great caution. These areas are surrounded by signs reading "You Are Now Leaving A Controlled Zone."
With large areas no longer under police control, violent subcultures have inevitably grown up. Many gangs are based in the abandoned parts of town and strike out on raids into the controlled zones. Police attempting to follow them are increasingly subjected to ambushes, and infrequent attempts to clean out these areas resemble a military campaign, with the police supported by armored vehicles
and clearing the area building by building.
Yet, in the very center of the cities, new skyscrapers attest to the wealth of the international business conglomerates. Whole downtown areas are purchased by these corporate entities. then fenced off and reworked to house their employees in comfort while the rest of the world sits outside and watches with hungry eyes. Here. safe within well-patrolled walls and fences, a few glittering towers stand surrounded by lush green lawns and sparkling fountains. Many municipalities have ceded police authority to megacorporations for their own properties, relieving government of a financial burden while giving corporate executives virtual life-and death power in their own domains.
I used to live in Michigan and parts of Detroit even NOW more so around 2007 remind me of that, an Urban center with police and miles of abandoned rundown areas with gangs. ie:
It sounds like there are several that are talking about doing some magic or psionic character. I like that. I like that because Imma second KHT that since I'm not overly familiar with the system I'm going with what I know, which will be a real guns-shooting kinda thing. Basic Fast into Gunslinger, I'm thinking.
I mean, if that's a terrible idea now is a good time to let me know. =]
I'll keep track. I have an idea for a "hook" for those PCs
Atlas2112 wrote:
Since I'm not familiar with/if d20 modern has a WBL, do PC's get any additional wealth bonus, to represent that the events that got them to 3rd level carried occasional rewards?
Yeah I'll give everyone a +2 increase to the score since items are expensive after the "Greater Depression"
I think Robert Henry was getting more at the career/background angle.
We could probably use a good Ranged person, my character is more melee focused as a tank, but will be able to shoot a gun.
Question 1, starting wealth is usually rolled. Do you want us to roll at some point or take the average die? Everyone gets 2d4+wealth bonus from occupation and Feats, so taking average won't give a wide range...
I realized that I didn't answer.
Yeah you can roll or take average.
dickie wrote:
Question 2, we do NOT get bonus languages known for Int, is that correct? I don't see it anywhere, but I haven't gone looking for errata yet to confirm.
dickie checking in with my work-in-progress alias and a first draft of the backstory below.
Mick's Bio:
Mick remembers very little of his life before the age of eleven when his drug-addicted mother "leased" him and his younger brother to the Juneau Motors Corporation.
His time in the corporate dormitory made an already hyper-vigilant child even more attuned to danger. The motley collection of discarded children were a highly desperate lot, and their minders turned a blind eye to abuse and violence. Protecting his brother Connor became his existence for three years on an assembly line.
While Mick became exceptionally good at detecting threats early and keeping his brother out of harm's way, Juneau Motors decided he had value beyond being an unskilled laborer and sold his contract to Firestone Security where he brought into their "Little Warrirors" program to hone his skills.
Mick did his best to convince his new corporate masters to bring his brother, but he did not meet their criteria. He made a few attempts to run away before the company decided Connor McCarren had become too great of a drain to their bottom line. They cut a deal with Mick to sign both McCarren brother's voting rights to Fireatone in exchange for a standard adult prole package. His brother wod jave a small stipend, food stamps, and a private apartment away from the vicious bullies in his dorm at JM.
For a time Mick considered this a victory and began to grow loyalty to the company, believing they had been swayed by his fraternal love rather than being worried they made a poor investment.
A few years ago a combination of things turned Mick's life upside down. The first disruption to his life as a corporate bodyguard was learning of his brother's death by overdose. A week later a second event would clue Mick in to a larger world than he had ever imagined.
His protectee was a vile piece of work who had just been exposed in the media for failing to disclose the high addiction rate of his company's newest pain medication. The same medication Connor had been hooked on. His protectee had been receiving no shortage of death threats from angry family members of victims as a result, and Mick himself was having a difficult time reconciling his feelings and doing his job.
Mick hardly understands what happened that night. He had just cleared his protectee's penthouse apartment and was bringing the man in when he felt a strong chill in the air. Mick's stomach dropped and his protectee blanched. A form appeared in the air between Mick and the man. It was a blue-white mist shaped like a woman's torso, head, and limbs and it floated swiftly up to his charge. It let out an ear-piercing wail that shattered the windows in the apartment and caused both men to drop to their knees and cloth their ears in pain.
Mick lost consciousness, and when he woke found his protectee dead on the floor. His face was contorted into a look of terror and blood ran from his eyes and mouth. Knowing the company would blame him, especially after his brother's death, Mick went on the run. To his surprise, the company swept the incident under the rug and made attempts to peacefully contact Mick. They eventually caught up to him with a NDA and a severance.
Mick understood there was something he did not understand about the incident and became obsessed. He knew he saw a ghost. He investigated as best he could and began to freelance as a Bodyguard and private security consultant by day. Since that night Mick has come to discover that monsters are real. He has fought some, run from others, and started to meet others aware of the monsters.
It needs a little work (and proofreading) here and there but it's a good start.
Good point, So if someone was going to make money from salvage,
would it be more likely they were looking for rare older tech or just salvage like copper or aluminum?
I used to live in Michigan and parts of Detroit even NOW more so around 2007 remind me of that, an Urban center with police and miles of abandoned rundown areas with gangs. ie:
Vanishing Houses of Detroit
Or the acres of the abandoned Packard Plant:
Packard's Detroit factory from Boom to Bust
Areas just "ripe" for "urban" horror stories.
Woooooow. I read both those articles and they're just...chilling. In the Vanashing Houses one in the span of just two years it all goes to rot, and then in another few it's like Nature reclaims the land as its rightful due.
As horrifying as those pictures are, they do do a good job of putting one in the mindframe for playing the game. =}
In the same line of obvious questions, we also don't get any + anything to our stats, right? What we get is what we buy, yeah?
With that said Imma just get these numbers down for my gunbunny. Then I just gotta do skills n' stuff.
Home rules
Spot and Listen combined into Perception, Tumble and Jump into Acrobatics as per Pathfinder 1e.
otherAnd death occurs at negative Constitution Score NOT -10. (Using Pathfinder rule)
I'm just going over the skills list to refresh my memory on how 3.0 do, and I'd like to spitball some ideas. If these don't work, that's fine, I'm just putting these out there, but, in the same vein of the above, it seems like there are some skills that also didn't make it into Pathfinder, and that could be a very good reason for that. Like:
1) Just as Tumble and Jump were merged because neither are used so often as to justify their individual investment, I think the same thing applies to Balance and Escape Artist. While PC's "can" be on a high beam or tied up, it doesn't really happen so often as to justify it's own skill.
2) I always thought that Search and Investigate should be the same skill. It even says they're used together in the skill description. Having merged Listen and Spot we've kind of widowed Search anyway, making it redundant with Perception. If we wanted to roll in Search with Perception and Investigate with Computer Use, I don't see a problem with that.
