Mutant: Year Zero (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

Welcome to the game! I am looking forward to giving this system a go to see if it plays as well as it reads.

You can go ahead and start working on your characters. For the NPCs you hate and wish to protect, feel free to use some of the examples listed or create some of your own. We can flesh them out in more detail as we go. Once everybody has made their character, you can work out your connections with the other PCs. From there, we'll create the Ark and make decisions related to that.

I'll be using one of the example Zones in the book, The Dead Apple (ruins of New York City), to make things easy. Let me know if you have any questions!

I do have a Discord server for my games. If you are interested in creating a discussion channel for this game on the server, let me know your Discord IDs and I'll send you an invite.

Awesome! This looks like a really cool game.

I'm at work and won't have access to the rulebook until this evening so I can't start creating my character just yet. However since ElbowtotheFace has Enforcer as their top pick and Evindyll wants to play either Fixer or Boss, then I'll go ahead and commit to Stalker.

In Discord I was EverAnon#0642, but they recently changed it so I think now it's just everanon? Let me know if that doesn't work.

Looking forward to learning a new game!! The background looks cool!!

Alright. I've got the rulebook and am working on a character. Before I create a profile let's see what mutation my Stalker has.

Mutation: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9 45 = Sprinter, which is a useful mutation for a Stalker to have!

I'll try to finish getting a profile together in the next hour or so.

Bullets: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Rations: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Water: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Alright, Ever_Anon's Stalker here. I think I'm done with character creation other than relationships to other PCs and describing the den, (which will be best done after building the Ark).

Mutation 1: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 66 - Reroll
Mutation 2: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 34 - Parasite
Bullets: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Rations: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6
Water: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Mutation 1(reroll): 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 42 - Rot Eater

Fixer / Empathy feels like the right direction atm ...

Bullets: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
Rations: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6
Water: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Mutation 1: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 Extreme Reflexes

STR - 2
AGL - 3
WIT - 4
EMP - 5

Guess I will be happy that it's a lot of water ...

Fixer / Empathy feels like the right direction atm ...

STR - 2
AGL - 3
WIT - 4
EMP - 5

Guess I will be happy that it's a lot of water ...

OR

STR - 2
AGL - 2
WIT - 4
EMP - 5

Talent = Bad Omens

While we wait for the others to finish their characters, Koko, tell us a bit about the NPCs you hate and need to protect. Why did the Enforcer Jonats kill your friend? How did you become close with the Grunt Eriel? You can provide some physical description for the two of them as well, if you'd like.

Hate - Jonats

Koko and Allira grew up together. While neither of them were certain who their parents were, they viewed each other as sisters. Koko was the quick one, the stealthy one, the one who could find grub and water and, in a pinch, fight to protect it. Allira was the smart one, the one chosen by the Elder to join the Chroniclers and learn the history of the People. While her mind was powerful her body was weak, her bones fragile as glass. Still she prospered under the Elder's tutelage.

As they grew Koko began taking short trips into the Zone. Mostly for grub at first, she had to eat somehow, but whenever she found artifacts she'd bring them back for Allira to study. Allira was excited for each and every one. She thought Koko might find an artifact that would lead the People to Eden. Koko herself wasn't sure she believed in Eden, but she believed in Allira. If Allira wanted more artifacts, Koko would get them for her.

Koko's trips became longer, and unbeknownst to her Allira's position in the Ark became less secure. The Elder was growing too old to lead anymore. The bosses that cropped up had less respect for Allira's talents. Without the Elder's protection an Enforcer named Jonats began harrassing Allira, going so far as to steal her grub and water rations. Not wanting to worry her sister Allira said nothing to Koko about any of it.

Koko only learned about it when she came back one day and Allira was dead. At first no one would tell her what had happened but she eventually found a Chronicler willing to talk. Jonats had come for his usual 'tribute' of grub and water, but he'd taken a fancy to the artifact Allira was studying and demanded that too. She'd refused. He'd shoved her up against a wall. And while he probably didn't mean to kill her, the back of her fragile skull shattered on impact.

Jonats is far stronger and more well-connected than Koko, but she has no intention of letting him get away with murdering her sister. Like a true Stalker, she's just waiting for her time to strike.

Need to Protect - Eriel

Koko had never been good with people, but after Allira's death she practically became a hermit. (As much as one could while still living on the Ark.) She wasn't suicidal but she figured she would die soon enough. If not out in the Zone, then in an ill-fated attempt at getting revenge on Jonats. Best not to drag anyone else down with her.

She was sitting in her den one day, idly toying with a trinket she'd picked up in the Zone, when an angel darted inside. Koko blinked and rubbed her eyes. She must be hallucinating. Angels weren't real, they only existed in those old stories Allira had told her.

"Please help me," the angel begged, and Koko blinked again. It wasn't an angel. It was a mutant with dark skin, green eyes, butterfly wings...and a slave's collar around her neck. "I just need to hide-"

"Where are you," slurred a voice nearby. "Come out come out Eriel, you're only making it worse for yourself." Green eyes fixed pleadingly on Koko's.

Without really thinking Koko stepped out of her den. "What's with all the racket? Whoever you're lookin' for ain't here, so shut up already!"

The person in the hallway, a Boss from his clothing, stumbled against the wall. "Ya sure? Thought she went this way."

"Sure as sure." Koko gestured behind her. "You're welcome to check for yourself. The Rot shouldn't stick to ya if you're fast."

The words slowly penetrated the drunken mutant's brain and he took a step back. Like everyone else he was terrified of Rot and leery of Stalkers by extension. "Not necce..necce...neccessary." He turned and staggered down another hallway.

Koko waited a moment before ducking back inside. "He had a point you know. It'll only be worse later."

Eriel shook her head. "He's too drunk. He'll pass out soon and forget all about it." She grabbed Koko's hands and her brain short-circuited. No one touched a Stalker. No one. "Thank you."

Koko stared at her hands. Then up at Eriel's face. Then back down at her hands. "You're, uh, welcome?"

That was the start of an unlikely friendship. Koko would never admit it, but Eriel probably saved her life just by existing. For the first time since Allira died Koko had someone else to care about. Someone else to live for.

Her trips into the Zone now had a purpose beyond mere survival. If Eden really existed like Allira had thought, Koko would find it. One day she'd bring Eriel to a place where they both could live free.

Ok..rolling up a gearhead....

Mutation: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
Bullets:2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10
Water: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Grub: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Artifact: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 5) = 12

Ok...I think I have most of the crunch done.

I know ElbowtotheFace and Evindyll are still working on their characters, but would you like to start defining the relationship between Ford and Koko?

I see you have a Stalker that left you in the Zone as the NPC you hate, so I'm wondering if maybe Koko could be a Stalker that didn't leave you in the Zone. One of her predetermined relationship ideas is "[X] walked with you in the Zone and lived."

My thought is since we're using the Dead Apple map which has a lot of water and you rolled a canoe as your starting artifact, maybe Koko approached you to ask for your help in reaching an area she couldn't get to by foot. What do you think of that idea?

That works for me. He sees Koko as the only trustworthy Stalker, and allows her to use the canoe.

Elbowtotheface, Evindyll, how are your characters coming along?

Blaze is honestly coming along amazing, and if we give me a minute, I will summon his righteous outrage that Koko was forced to rescue Ford. Mutants don't abandon mutants: not for bullets, not for grub, not for water.

But Blaze wasn't Blaze then. He was Ardor. He was the paragon of passion. He made deals. He was 'beautiful' by every mutant standard of beauty. Until Jonats. Until the little death. Until his explosive personality actually exploded.

The mutant formerly known as Ardor … Blaze wasn’t always known as Blaze. Times past, he was what they called “unseeming” – basically, someone who didn’t seem like they were mutated.
The pyrotechnics changed that. Very quickly. Drastically. Dangerously.
When the amber eyes flared it was a problem ... for everyone.

ARDOR

Alright, looks good, Blaze! Still waiting on Elbowtotheface's character, but in the meantime, the three of you can start determining your relationship to one another.

We can also start talking about the Ark itself. What kind of building it is, where your water comes from, etc., as detailed in the Core Rulebook.

Obviously I chose to borrow from both of your backgrounds to build mine; a hatred of Koko's Enforcer and Ford's Stalker. It was also they who pissed Blaze off so much that he blazed for the first time; he had had somewhat passive Rot burning powers that allowed him to eat dead animal proteins, with just a little glimmer in his eyes and an emmanating warmth around him. Then they pissed him off ...

So my thought was maybe Ford & Koko witnessed this first flareup, that when Jonatts & Kara were laughing about screwing him over (and having made an end run around Boss Marlotte's protection order) they also happened to be standing basically on a tinderbox which Blaze whirled around and ignited with a glance. Maybe one of you ran to get Marlotte's gang? Maybe one of you spirited Blaze away from the scene? Maybe you laughed your asses off that all of their grub was destroyed? Just spitballing ...

Alright, looks good, Blaze! Still waiting on Elbowtotheface's character, but in the meantime, the three of you can start determining your relationship to one another.

We can also start talking about the Ark itself. What kind of building it is, where your water comes from, etc., as detailed in the Core Rulebook.

I'm off for a couple days ... so I am posting a little extra.

The first ARK thing that I had in my head to discuss was if we wanted our ARK to be 'exceptional' in any particular DEV; i.e. would we want to maybe allocate 10 of our 12 points to 1 catagory, and then use project to level up the others. Just thinking out loud (thinking with my fingers?) because it seems like it would be cool if maybe the ARK actually wasn't just about to starve or something.

I like the idea of how we all met. Koko would have tried to get you away from there; she's very aware of what Jonats can do when he's mad. She doesn't fully trust you though. A Fixer wouldn't do anything without there being something in it for him, right? Which means any camaraderie has to be viewed with suspicion until she figures out your angle.

Regarding the Ark, I also like the idea of getting one attribute to 10. My personal vote would be Food Supply 10, either Warfare or Technology at 2, and the others at 0.

Type of Ark/Map Position: I like the beached cruise ship that the book uses as an example. To make it even better there's a beached ship already marked at Q11 on the Dead Apple map. What do people think of having that be our Ark?

Once we've decided on what type of Ark and where it'll be we can draw it, determine the Elder/Bosses location, and pick our source of fresh water.

For Bosses right now in our backstories we've got Marlotte, who Blaze likes and wants to help. There's also the Boss that owns Eriel who'd probably be a Kingpin. (I'll call him Johammed.) He's a drunken a%$*~!& who got, (and keeps), his power via the occasional flash of brilliance. Maybe he came up with a new fishing method or something which is why the Ark is doing okay on food. Since he controls some of the grub supply he has a lot of power even though no one really likes him.

Just throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks.

I like the idea of how we all met. Koko would have tried to get you away from there; she's very aware of what Jonats can do when he's mad. She doesn't fully trust you though. A Fixer wouldn't do anything without there being something in it for him, right? Which means any camaraderie has to be viewed with suspicion until she figures out your angle.

Regarding the Ark, I also like the idea of getting one attribute to 10. My personal vote would be Food Supply 10, either Warfare or Technology at 2, and the others at 0.

Type of Ark/Map Position: I like the beached cruise ship that the book uses as an example. To make it even better there's a beached ship already marked at Q11 on the Dead Apple map. What do people think of having that be our Ark?

Once we've decided on what type of Ark and where it'll be we can draw it, determine the Elder/Bosses location, and pick our source of fresh water.

For Bosses right now in our backstories we've got Marlotte, who Blaze likes and wants to help. There's also the Boss that owns Eriel who'd probably be a Kingpin. (I'll call him Johammed.) He's a drunken a~$~$!$ who got, (and keeps), his power via the occasional flash of brilliance. Maybe he came up with a new fishing method or something which is why the Ark is doing okay on food. Since he controls some of the grub supply he has a lot of power even though no one really likes him.

Just throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks.

Totally coming together ...

ANGLE: People need to pay, it's simple. The scumbags Kara & Jonats didn't pay for their bullets, they didn't pay for abandoning Ford, they didn't pay for killing Allira. They have an outstanding invoice, and that invoice has come due. That said, alliances are their own form of payment, as is loyalty. The moment that Koko helps Blaze, there is both an alliance and a debt. Fixers fix, again, it's simple.

ARK & DEVs: Food-10 --- Cruise ships carry an incredible amount of non-perishible food items AND have extensive galleys for food prep. I love the way that goes together. Even if the tech isn't fully comprehended yet, it could be. The surounding area would for sure have water that could be purified somehow as well. My vote is:
FOOD-10
TECH-2
CULT-0
WAR-0
Remembering that Blaze's dream is to be photographed as a fashion model, where better would there be glamorous print material than a cruise ship!?

I'm loving Johammed as the slave owner, but I'm actually seeing him a little darker; like slave trade / food trade. I'm seeing them as a bigger problem, and I kinda see Koko as scared that Eriel will get eaten when he gets too drunk or too hungry or too bored. Like their gang is focused on going into the zone for slaves, using Kara & Jonats to help them ... and yet it seems the gang are all really healthy AND many of their captures are never seen again.

Just some more of my thoughts

Sorry for the delay, I had to be out of town unexpectedly through the weekend, I should have the character finish tomorrow evening

Any other opinions on the Ark? I'm hoping to start the first session in the next few days, just want to be sure everybody is ready to begin! :D

Any other opinions on the Ark? I'm hoping to start the first session in the next few days, just want to be sure everybody is ready to begin! :D

I'll do a little more reading shortly and come up with a few more ideas

Rols

Appearance: Large and muscular, wears patchwork leather with bits of chain and a hockey mask for protection.

Talents: Barge Through

Mutations: Parasite, Rot-Eater

Stats: 5 3 2 3

Gear: scrap axe, 2 bullets, 6 rations, 4 water

Skills: Intimidate 2, Force 2, Endure 1, Fight 3, sense emotion 1, Sneak 1

You Hate: Fixer Milix how you think stole your stash of grub

You need to protect: Boss Marlotte who provides you grub

Big Dream: To build rather than destroy

Alright, looks good! I'm hoping to get the gameplay thread started today, but may have to wait until Monday morning depending on my free time.

Okay, for relationships I'm thinking Blaze and Rols probably know each other since they're both working for/associated with Boss Marlotte. Blaze could have introduced Rols to Ford and Koko after The Incident with Jonats and Kara.

Koko would like Rols. He's simple. Easy to understand. Dangerous if you piss him off of course, all Enforcers are, but as long as you don't get between him and his grub you're golden. She likes it when things are simple.

Okay, for relationships I'm thinking Blaze and Rols probably know each other since they're both working for/associated with Boss Marlotte. Blaze could have introduced Rols to Ford and Koko after The Incident with Jonats and Kara.

Koko would like Rols. He's simple. Easy to understand. Dangerous if you piss him off of course, all Enforcers are, but as long as you don't get between him and his grub you're golden. She likes it when things are simple.

I think those are the magic words "get between him and his grub" - I feel like Marlotte will have sized up a LOT of things, including the Elder's view on Blaze's mutations. Knowing that Blaze can consume some things that others can't, I feel like he would be tasked with helping to make sure Rols gets good grub.

Okay, the gameplay page is up and running! Everybody may begin posting there. Each session of the game begins with an Assembly, as long as one or more PCs are in the Ark. Please refer to the rules beginning on page 103 to decide on which project(s) you would like the People to begin.

I've added a link to the Zone Map at the top of the campaign page. The location of the Ark is indicated by the green biohazard logo. I've also included the DEV levels for the Ark at the top of the page as well.

Ford and Rols can still chime in during the Assembly!

Anyone else have any ideas? Otherwise Koko and Blaze can try to convince each other or just agree to work on separate projects.

It's been some time since either Daniel or Elbow have posted. I've sent them private messages to see if they are still interested in the game. If I dont hear from them soon, I'll start looking for other players.

It's been some time since either Daniel or Elbow have posted. I've sent them private messages to see if they are still interested in the game. If I dont hear from them soon, I'll start looking for other players.

Understood :)

Hey, sorry I have been away sick for some time. I will try to get my character up and start posting.
Thanks for getting in touch with me

Thank you for checking back in. I hope you start feeling better soon, Daniel. We'll wait for you to post before continuing.

Thank you for checking back in. I hope you start feeling better soon, Daniel. We'll wait for you to post before continuing.

and let us know if you need help with anything :)

Thanks...I will try to get on tonight and get something up.

I still haven't heard from Elbow, so we will proceed with 3 PCs for the time being. If Elbow returns, they can join in as well, but if not, 3 players is fine!

I've posted the Ark Sheet, as well as details on the projects you've proposed, under the campaign info tab.

I'm not clear on whether there are any negative consequences for failing a Project roll, (other than not making progress). I left Koko's return open-ended so if there are negative consequences she can run into them before she makes it back.

On the campaign info tab I notice the water source was blank. I don't think we ever explicitly decided, but cruise ships usually have an on-board system for desalinating and purifying drinking water. What if that filtration system is still working? As Blaze mentioned we're surrounded by water already, it just needs to be purified.

The only consequences for failing a Project roll is making no progress towards its completion in the current session.

An onboard salination plant is a perfect water source! I'll add that.

Once Blaze posts his Project roll, I will post in the gameplay thread. :)

It's kind of a pity Boss Johammed is the one working on the cropland. Know the Zone is Koko's best skill but she's not going to volunteer to work with him unless there isn't anything else to do.

Gah, sorry guys, things keep coming up preventing me from focusing on this game. I promise I will post by tomorrow at the latest!

Just to be clear, Blaze actually DID roll ... no clue where the post is though. I will post it up again in just a bit :(

So I didn't originally remember that it was a hot summer's day when reading about the stranger with hypothermia. Whoops.

Koko's excuse is she's too freaked out by the prospect of actually talking to someone to fret over small details :P

I apologize that I have been very busy and haven't been able to devote as much time as I would like to this game. In two weeks or so, my free time should increase once more, at which time I hope to get the pace back up. Thank you for bearing with me.

I apologize that I have been very busy and haven't been able to devote as much time as I would like to this game. In two weeks or so, my free time should increase once more, at which time I hope to get the pace back up. Thank you for bearing with me.

My apologies as well, I am back, I have tomorrow off, so please let me know what we need. PCs, happy to roleplay with you.

Sorry again for the long delay. I will post either later today or tomorrow morning.

Sorry again for the long delay. I will post either later today or tomorrow morning.

I'm here, and have today off too

Temperature check ... how are we all?