Heart of Darkness
Welcome to the Dark Conspiracy adventure Heart of Darkness, an adventure intended to span the globe and filled with greedy corporations, powerless governments, creepy cults, and secret societies with unknown agendas!
Your characters begin in Rio De Jineiro, Brazil, at the Bossa Nova Mall and are attacked by persons unknown. Finding out who targeted them and why places them on the trail of a cursed opal known as the Heart of Darkness. But they are not the only ones following the trail!
From the favelas of Rio to the Australian Outback to the gleaming streets of Hong Kong, the team will need a range of skills and abilities to survive and thwart an ancient evil!
Note: I am planning this to be a fairly high-powered game (see Character Creation, below) with high-powered opposition and milestone leveling. Be aware that while the characters get lots of love to be significantly more powerful than the standard character, the opposition, monsters, and challenges may get even more love!
Toss out the Advanced Firearms Proficiency feat. If you are proficient you're proficient. The standard -4 autofire penalty applies to weapons you're not already proficient with (and stacks with the non-proficient penalty).
I'm open to nixing other tax-feat things on request. Let me know in Discussion and I'll think it over and let you know.
Because of the world-traveling nature of this story, vehicles are not a useful purchase at starting levels. Most sea-worthy vessels and aircraft are going to be out of reach for characters looking to purchase them, but if a player is deadset on playing a mariner or pilot, we can figure out something.
Mostly, do not worry about running into travel and legal issues traveling with weapons and armor. I have an easy in-story excuse to allow characters to transport such legally dubious items at the conclusion of the first episode. Buy what you think you will want and need, but maybe not that fire engine red Ford-Revolon convertible.
The following languages will be encountered most frequently: English, Portuguese, Arabic, German, Hausa, Yoruba, Cantonese, Aborignal English (Kriol).
Each of the traits below are intended to explain why your character is in Rio at the start of the game. Every option has two sub-options with different mechanical effects, each character gains one of these benefits chosen at character creation. Watch out for the hidden costs for Missing Time...
Brazilian Native: Your character is a native to the country and likely the city of Rio De Jineiro, either coming from extreme poverty or extreme wealth. As such, there could be any number of reasons why you are in the Bossa Nova mall at the start.
If your character is part of the Rio Nomenclatura, they begin the game with a +3 Wealth bonus. If they are part of the destitute masses instead, they receive a +1 trait bonus to initiative.
Missing Time: Your character cannot account for the last few weeks, months, or possibly even years! They have no idea how they came to Rio, or what occurred during that missing time. They only know for sure that they woke up with a nasty migraine in a noisy food court a few minutes ago.
Your character either begins play with a cybernetic implant from the following list: night vision optics, subcutaneousbody armor (light), or telescopic optics. Or they gain one of the following mutations: Claws, darkvision, or leapers. They're aware of the modification and have control over it, but do not know when or how they received it, or why.
On the Job: Your character is in Brazil as part of their work (or in the case of monster hunting professionals, because of their calling). Either way, you are operating with a low profile and have come to the Bossa Nova Mall to pick up a package at a dead drop near the food court.
If working for a private empolyer, then your character begins play with a special contact who can provide limited services of a financial, bureaucratic, or informational variety on a successful Reputation check. Each time this check is attempted (whether successful or not) apply a cumulative -1 penalty to the character’s effective Reputation bonus for subsequent attempts at calling in favors from their contact(s).
If the character is a full-time monster hunter, they have a contact in an emptahic underground group. This works as decribed above, except that the type of favors accessible are those of a criminal (smuggling, black market access) or esoteric variety (access to instructors for empathic/psychic/magical abilities and items).
Stuck: Your character became stuck in Rio, either because they were hung out to dry by a corporate or government group or because they were on the run from someone or something. They have come to Bossa Nova to meet with a contact who can move them along somewhere or help get them home.
If your character was hung out to dry by a former agency, they gain Portuguese as a known language and receive a +2 trait bonus to Bluff, and Bluff is a permanent class skill. If they are on the lam, they gain Portuguese as a known language, a +2 trait bonus to Sense Motive, and Sense Motive is a permanent class skill.
Clebsch here. I'll be working on a character.
First question: is this D20 Modern?
Clebsch here. I'll be working on a character.
First question: is this D20 Modern?
Uh, yeah it is, but... this is a private invite game, lol. That's why no recruitment thread. Maybe I should try and update the title to reflect that, hehe.
That said, are you a Dark Conspiracy RPG fan? Because I might be willing to make space, but really this is intended for some folks who were wrapping up a different DCRPG PbP.
Clebsch is my Paizo name. I ran Grace "Kat" Shannon in the other game.
Oh, I'm dumb, lol.
Should we have any of the Dark Conspiracy sourcebooks? I have the D20 Modern, Urban Arcana, and D20 Menace. Is there a useful online database about the DC world?
I think we had a few links buried in the other game threads somewhere, but I'll try and put a resource list together.
In a lot of ways you take one part "Supernatural" and mix it with one part "The X-Files" and stir in a healthy dose of "Max Headroom". A shadow of our world where corporations are more powerful, governments leas so, the middle class is nearly extinct, whole swaths of land are toxic, and monsters from other realms are constantly preying on each other and humanity unbeknownst to most.
I'll probably recreate Grace as a starting point, modified for the new context. Since I had her using Capoeira, which is a martial arts style that originated in Brazil, that could be her hook as to why she would be in Brazil.
I like the genre in general and so I look forward to that. Is the time frame similar to present day as far as tech goes or is this more of a futuristic cyberpunk type situation?
I played a gestalt character a good while ago, but it did not last long. Just so I understand, we are starting a 2nd level character and for each level, we take two classes, combining them as described in the first post. So that would be like a strong combined with a Fast for level 1 and a charismatic combined with a Tough for level 2 or a second level of strong and fast for level 2.
I think we had a few links buried in the other game threads somewhere, but I'll try and put a resource list together.
In a lot of ways you take one part "Supernatural" and mix it with one part "The X-Files" and stir in a healthy dose of "Max Headroom". A shadow of our world where corporations are more powerful, governments leas so, the middle class is nearly extinct, whole swaths of land are toxic, and monsters from other realms are constantly preying on each other and humanity unbeknownst to most.
This sounds a lot like one of my favorite SF books: Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson. Then with monsters and magic added in.
Yes, that's pretty much it. It can be weird though, and the action economy keeps it to a point where you have more options but you're still limited.
It's very cyberpunk adjacent. A little closer to the Max Headroom's "10 minutes into the future" than Gibson on the cyberpunk scale.
Expect a less massive and open internet and more private computer networks. Most cybernetics/genetic/biological augmentation and replacements are about where we are now, but with examples of more advanced tech existing among the wealthy or within secret experimental labs.
I'm unable to connect to the Internet. Must replace our router. Hope to be back to normal by Monday evening. I'm posting with my phone.
I can probably just upgrade Stringer to gestalt rules? I liked the character and the concept has a lot of cool stuff he can potentially do. He'll be a Rio native, low level criminal/entrepreneur, Fast/Smart hacker going into Techno Mage with a focus on drones. Does that work?
I assume the Nomenclatura trait means he's from a wealthy family- does that mean corpo affiliation or just general kleptocrat sort of rich?
I assume the Nomenclatura trait means he's from a wealthy family- does that mean corpo affiliation or just general kleptocrat sort of rich?
I'd say those things are not mutually exclusive, lol. I'm sure the difference would matter to wealthy society, but for the purposes of background, whatever works works, lol. Corruption, graft, legit business success, parents who are old money, whatever works for you to explain it works for me, lol.
Router has been replaced and I'm back to posting from my computer.
I worked on a first level version for Kat. Will add a second level soon. I'll probably choose the Brazilian Native, wealthy option. She has so far pretended to do all the things her parents expect of her, but secretly she has been training at Capoeira and planning on getting involved helping the down and out. I'll probably choose the athlete occupation, which would represent training in the skills selected while participating in college athletics. Once we get past the first three levels, I'll probably start adding the Acolyte or Mystic class levels (from Urban Arcana).
That said, I may also create a different character along the lines of a PC I've tried to run in a number of similar campaigns which all died early. If we need a solid fighter type, I'll run Kat, but in case we have lots of muscle, I can make this other character a bit more heavy on skills.
I'm hoping we can make some changes to d20 Modern's skill list. It's basically the D&D 3.5 skills with a skills added for things like technology. It also uses the complicated system of skill points giving half ranks for non-class skills. Pathfinder has combined a number of skills to shorten the list and group similar skills into a single skill, such as balance and tumbling into acrobatics, hide and move silently into stealth, and listen, spot, and search into perception. Gather Information was lumped in with diplomacy. Most research was just a knowledge check with a bonus if one were able to use a resource like a good library or internet searches. Concentration did not have a skill and mostly applied to spell casters whose concentration bonus was based on level and an ability modfier. Languages cost one skill point and includes reading, writing, and speaking.
Pathfinder also eliminated the half rank for non-class skills and instead cut down the first level skill points to the same number as for post-first-level points but then gave an automatic +3 in any class skill that has at least 1 rank. They also give characters one additional language at character creation for each Intelligence modifier point.
If you don't want to convert along these lines, then I recommend everyone get skill points from both gestalt levels so we have more points to spend at first level.
Let us know when you can what you think of this, so we don't have to completely re-calculate skill point allocation.
I might also suggest we get to choose two occupations in the spirit of the gestalt process for making characters more formidable at low levels.
I will probably run a version of Salvo again as well. Probably go strong / fast 1st and fast/ dedicated or smart for second. Depending on others.
I agree with Kat on the changes. I made a list a while ago.
D20 Modern. Proposed changes.
Combine the following skills.
Balance and Tumble =Acrobatics
Diplomacy and Gather Information= Diplomacy
Climb, Jump, Swim= Athletics
Listen and Spot, Search = Perception
HIde, Move silently,= Stealth
Research should be a knowledge check.
Eliminate cross class half rank
Feats.
Every Class should have Light Armor Proficiency
Advanced Firearms should include Burst Fire. Machine Guns and Strafe
Dead Aim and Farshot, Precise shot combine = Sniper
Point Blank-shot should include double tap.
I honestly forgot we had done the skill update in the other D20 DC game, yeah, let's keep that more simplified list, I'll update my notes and have it ready to be posted in the camp info tab when I create the game page itself this weekend.
I'll do a long review of all the shooty feats, lol.
I also notice that all the base classes provide the simple weapon proficiency, so why not just say everyone can use simple weapons and offer something more useful as the additional feat, maybe a choice of one of the range weapon proficiencies, archaic weapon proficiency, or an exotic weapon proficiency.
OK, I'll revise Stringer for this gestalt game. Fast 1/Smart 1, hacker concept aiming for Techno Mage. Brazilian Native trait as mentioned above, probably corpo background. Is there a list of big corps in the setting?
There are two other players who will be joining us, they just haven't chimed in yet. I'm also working on getting a bunch of resources ready, which I'll have in a Google folder I'll drop a link for in the Campaign Info tab this week.
Each character receives Light Armor Proficiency for free at first level.
Each character also begins with any one of the following: Archaic Weapon Proficiency, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (one weapon only), or Personal Firearms Proficiency feat at first level.
I'm still juggling some questions, obviously, mostly related to skills and feat trees.
Other than those things, am I forgetting anything that needs review?
Setting question- is openly carrying weapons allowed at the mall?
I have a few questions about the gestalt rules.
Can we pick two occupations at once?
Do we get the skill points for both classes added together?
Are we using class skills with a +3 bonus when you spend at least 1 rank on the skill? If so, will the starting skills at first level be the same as the skill points per level after first?
Also some of the combined skills have different associated abilities, like tumbling (Dex) and jump (Str). Be sure to go through the list and tell us the ability that goes with the new hybrid classes.
I also made a suggestion about the Simple weapon proficiency feat that every class gives as a bonus feat. I'd suggest changing this by giving everyone the simple weapons feat but letting everyone pick an additional weapon proficiency at 1st level. I presume we will be fighting a lot, so let us have some choices without having to wait for higher level feats.
I'm not going to have a ready character for at least a week, as I will be traveling for the next week with little time to work on a character.
Setting question- is openly carrying weapons allowed at the mall?
You would need to purchase a license. This would be a Purchase DC 15 for standard personal weapons, military grade wouldn't be allowed, even with a license, at a public place.
I have a few questions about the gestalt rules.Can we pick two occupations at once?
Do we get the skill points for both classes added together?
Are we using class skills with a +3 bonus when you spend at least 1 rank on the skill? If so, will the starting skills at first level be the same as the skill points per level after first?
Also some of the combined skills have different associated abilities, like tumbling (Dex) and jump (Str). Be sure to go through the list and tell us the ability that goes with the new hybrid classes.
I also made a suggestion about the Simple weapon proficiency feat that every class gives as a bonus feat. I'd suggest changing this by giving everyone the simple weapons feat but letting everyone pick an additional weapon proficiency at 1st level. I presume we will be fighting a lot, so let us have some choices without having to wait for higher level feats.
I'm not going to have a ready character for at least a week, as I will be traveling for the next week with little time to work on a character.
I'm still tinkering with skills, legit forgot the Occupation question (had a similar issue with the question when we did a Starfinder gestalt). Yeah, we can do two Occupations.
The extra weapon prof feat (and light armor feat too) is a go, scroll up a few posts where I specifically mentioned that, lol. I'll update the Campaign Info tab when I can with those updates so it's harder to miss.
Do you mind if we reskin existing items to cover things that we can't find in the SRD? Specifically, I'm thinking that rich folks might wear bulletproof suits like James Bond or in Shadowrun and just use the Undercover Vest stats for it.
Also, are FX items available to start with if the PCs can afford them? I'm looking at a couple of the cheaper Magic Tattoos for emergencies.
I actively encourage reskinning! I'll allow FX items at start. There are not a lot of other major purchases to drain wealth, so that'll help, lol.
I've updated the campaign info tab with some character rules decisions, copying here for quick view.
Skills:
Skills altered as follows. References to old skills now apply to new (including class skill access). In the event of a feat that is "+2 to X and Y" where X and Y are part of the same new skill, the bonus is now +3 to the new skill.Balance and Tumble are now Acrobatics (Dex).
Diplomacy and Gather Information are now Diplomacy (Cha).
Climb, Jump, and Swim are now Athletics (Str).
Listen, Search, and Spot are now Perception (Wis).
Hide and Move Silently are now Stealth (Dex).
Research is now just a function of an appropriate Craft, Knowledge, or Profession skill. Follow the 3.5/PF standard where class skills grant a +3 bonus to skill checks. Max rank is equal to character level. Reduce all Advanced and Prestige Class skill requirements by 2.
Feats:
Each character also begins with any one of the following: Archaic Weapon Proficiency, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (one weapon only), or Personal Firearms Proficiency feat at first level.
Characters choose two occupations at first level.
Advanced Firearms Proficiency is now part of Personal Firearms Proficiency. The -4 autofire penalty is an additional penalty added to a non-proficient user and stacks with that penalty.
Other feat changes TBD. Characters gain bonus languages for high Intelligence. These bonus slots can be used for Read/Write Language.
Heck yeah, pull up a seat, lol! Your turn to be on the other side of the screen, hehe.
I've been unable to work on the character for a while, but I should have time this week to finish Grace and do an alternate character named Faith Sierra.
I think Salvo is just taking his time because he can. Regarding the other two I invited, I believe they've just been super busy IRL. Last I heard one was considering a character building toward telepath and the other seemed like he wanted to see what gaps the group might have.
Also, I keep forgetting to update the Info tab, but I'm going to go ahead and roll Speak/Read Write/Decipher Script into Linguistics. Less confusion.
Salvo is almost ready, just a few more adjustments. Went with Military / Investigative occupations and Strong/Fast classes.
I'm focusing today on creating characters. Forgive me if these questions have been answered above, but I want to confirm a few last details of how the gestalt rules work.
Hit die is the best of the classes? So the hit die of a Strong + Tough hero would be d10?
Skill ranks per level: Is it the best of the classes or the sum of the classes?
I'm working on a spreadsheet that provides a quick way to keep track of skills. I'm making some assumptions about what the class skills are based on the hybrid skills we are using. I'll share it when it's ready.
I'll probably have more questions, which I'll post as they occur to me.
Suggestion for skills: Combine Ride with Handle Animals.
Also, combine decipher script with linguistics, with a bonus if the script one is trying to decipher relates to a knowledge skill or language in which the character has spent ranks.
Since linguistics now covers the language skills, does every class include linguistics as a class skill, since every class has read/write/speak language as a class skill? Or maybe just the Smart, Dedicated, and Charismatic classes get linguistics as a class skill, since they are more focused on such things?
I just noticed that decipher script is included in linguistics so ignore that suggestion above.
Regarding languages
If you put a rank in linguistics, do you add a language? If so, is that read/write/speak?
The house rules say a language taken based on INT bonus gets you read/write for that language. This implies you cannot speak the language. Was that intentional or does knowing a language always grant read, write, and speak skills? Most people who learn a language learn to speak it as well as how to read/write it.
Yes to both HPs and skills.
I'll consider ride/handle animal, but I'm not likely to combine those two since you can know how to train a dog without knowing how to ride a horse and vice versa, but I'll think it over.
I need to update the HR info for languages, but the short answer is we are rolling them into one. I was originally going to keep the three skills separate, but decided it would be easier. I'm at work until late today so expect the official phrasing for the HRs to come out tomorrow or Fri, but yes it will work pretty much as it does in 3.5/PF. If you speak it, you can read it.
These are the rolls for wealth and 2nd level hit points for Kat.
DC 10
Wealth Bonus: 10 (1st level) + 2 (2nd level increase) = 12
I suggest house rule addition for the profession check to increase wealth level at level up (page 70 core rules).
Since the house rule allows you to spend just 1 skill point to get a +4 bonus to the profession from the class skill +3 bonus, the first line of the table for Wealth bonus increase based on Ranks in the profession should be changed to 1-2. Then reduce the numbers in the rest of the lines by 3 to account for the need for fewer ranks at first level.
Looking at the equipment lists, some items should have their purchase DC reduced to account for technology advances for things like cell phones, cameras, video cameras, computers, and such. Include something for an iPad or tablet which are relatively cheap and can function as a simple computer.
I'm second-guessing the ride/handle animal thing, mostly because there is really only one place where ride may potentially be useful anyway, and likely not.
I'll take a look at the Profession and wealth, but I think you may be right about that.
The purchase DCs are actually good. Setting-wise there was a "Greater Depression" which took place, almost entirely wiping out the middle class. For our revised timeline, assume our Great Recession of 2008 was the character's Greater Depression.
Do all characters get the Simple Weapons Proficiency feat free?
Grace is equipped and the character is generated. I'll work on getting the details into the profile.
Something to think about: Since Grace came out lucky on the wealth roll but did not need to spend much to get her basic armor and weapons, think about the Wealth DC for a powered skateboard, if such exist. At the most basic level, it runs on a battery and can move her faster than she could run. An additional feature would be wheels that can sense the shape of the ground ahead (using some kind of ultrasound sonar) and telescoping segments on the wheels adjust to make the ride smooth even across bumpy ground that usually would not allow a skateboard. (See Snow Crash, YT's board).
The other item she might want to get if available would be to make her katana have some magic bonuses.
Another item on her wish list would be a magic enhancement to her armor. If the rules for that exist, I'll work it out, if allowed.
This is what I'm working on as an alternate character. This character was run in a similar campaign using Savage World rules but I'm working on a Modern/Gestalt version for this game. She's basically a former police office turned paranormal investigator.
I made a spreadsheet for calculating skills and listing equipment for this campaign. You can see/download it from here.
To use, entering your character abilities, classes, and such in the areas highlighted in yellow. Do not type anywhere else or it will eliminate the programming. In some columns, 1 = yes, 0 = no. So to indicate your occupation bonus class skills, put a 1 in the Occ Class column.
Use the File/Download/Microsoft Excel option to download for your own personal use.
Let me know if you have questions, suggestions, or if you find bugs.
In the spirit of reducing feat taxes, in addition to eliminating the Advanced Firearm Proficiency, can we consider something similar for Combat Expertise and Point Blank Shot? Maybe replace Combat Expertise with Combat Martial Arts, which is more useful and makes more sense as a prerequisite for things like improved disarm, etc.
Can we reduce the prerequisite number of ranks for feats by 3, since a point now at first level is equal to 4 in the standard rules for first level at least for class skills?
The following feats could use house rules. Consider using Pathfinder versions of feats that provide +2 bonus to two feats. Athletic, Attentive, Focused, Meticulous, Stealthy, and Studious.
DC 11
Can I spend an action point to add to this roll?
If so:
If allowed, that would mean adding 2 points to wealth level up to 2nd level, 1 for the success, and 1 for profession ranks.
Working on magic weapons and armor for Kat.
+2 Katana, Keen, Thundering: Purchase DC 29. Wealth Level 13.
Ring of Mage Armor: Purchase DC 26. Wealth Level 9.
1st character is ready. It's pretty much Kat from the other campaign. Profile has the crunch as well as I can put it together. She would be a good character if we need someone who is good at melee combat, with options for ranged combat. She doesn't have much to offer in skills, however.
This is the alternative to Kat. She is a former cop turned paranormal investigator. She's a competent fighter but with many more skills, including Acrobatics, Bluff, Computer Use, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Drive, Escape Artist, Intimidate, Investigate, Knowledge (Arcane Lore, Behavior Science, Current Events, Popular Culture, Streetwise), Pilot, Linguistics, and Stealth, all at +7 or higher.
I'll wait to see who else is in the part before deciding which to run.
Sorry, been super busy IRL. But, can I get a status update from folks? Lurkers too? Lol
Kat is a good damage dealer. But since Salvo 2.0 drops Smart hero for Strong hero, he looses a lot of skills. So Faith may be very useful.
Good to know.
I'm still checking regularly. I'm ready with two characters to choose from.