So, this isn't a formal recruitment or anything of that nature. I'm not even sure when I'd run that, but I do want to get an idea of what you guys would like to play. I've got a few ideas, some of which are kinda similar and some that aren't. TL is short for Tech Level. For reference, Modern day is mid to late TL8. The Expanse would be TL10ish and Star Wars/Star Trek would be TL12 with some stuff stuck at TL8 or lower. If you see a ^ next to the TL, that means superscience is involved. This includes artificial gravity and plasma weapons.
- Tramp Freighter Crew (TL10^): You are the crew of a tramp freighter that ferries cargo around, but most tramps make ends meet by taking side jobs. You might have to do a heist or escort someone from point A to point B. You could even act as part-time mercenaries. What kinds of jobs are available really depends on the party's skillsets. This wouldn't be a serious campaign, with more of the focus being on situational humor.
- Mercenary Unit (TL9-TL10): The party is a special forces unit in a near future PMC. Again, the campaign wouldn't be very serious. There are two variants. The first is that you are all members of an elite PMC that are typically the last on list for any jobs. The second is you are the elite unit of a PMC that is full of oddballs and other "bottom of the barrel" types as far as operations are concerned. Either way, expect wackiness and explosions followed by more wackiness and yelling.
- Infinite Worlds (TL8^-TL9^): This would be a campaign in the Infinite Worlds setting. The party is a squad of explorers that go in to gather data and make contact with the locals after the initial explorations. This one I'm a little more hesitant to run because I'm not as familiar with the rules regarding powers like Magic and Psionics as I am with the rules regarding tech stuff. I will run it if people want. The tone would be moderately serious. There'd still opportunities for humor, but that wouldn't be as big of a factor as in the other games where "what would be funny," would be a legitimate question for what happens next.
- Spy Games (TL7-TL9): You're secret agents with either the government or some third party. You'd be tasked with finding information, infiltrating crime/spy rings, and anything else you mind find in the plot of a Bond movie or some other spy movie. Tone would honestly depend on what you wanted. It could be Bond. It could also be Despicable Me.
-Something else? (TL?): This isn't everything that I'd run, just what I'm most interested in running. If you have another idea, post it and we may wind up going with that.
Also, note, this would be my first time GMing a GURPS game. So while being a mercenary tramp freighter crew with psychic powers and magic might be cool, I think it might be too much for me.
Anything. My opportunities to actually play GURPS are way too scarce.
Anything. My opportunities to actually play GURPS are way too scarce.
Well, I'm hoping that after things get settled with the other games I'm trying to get off the ground, I'll be able to run a game. Do you have a preference on any of the ideas above, or is it fine if I run anything?
I'm in! For most anything; but...
The tramp freighter crew interests me most; the most freedom, most flexibility, you can usually customize/get a ship you like, and most every module out there is something you can drop them into.
... Or GURPS Mecha; that's fun too!
I'm in! For most anything; but...
The tramp freighter crew interests me most; the most freedom, most flexibility, you can usually customize/get a ship you like, and most every module out there is something you can drop them into.... Or GURPS Mecha; that's fun too!
Why not both? I was thinking of ways to have mechs in the tramp freighter campaign. Maybe it's classified as a heavy cargo handler unit?
I am most certainly interested. GURPS is always a ball.
Alright, I think the freighter idea is the one drawing the most attention. I want to give myself some time for things to settle and to read up on what I want to use, so sorry, but I won't be starting for a little while longer.
That said, I'd like to narrow things down a bit and see what you would like to have in there.
So, obviously, there are some of the books that will be used:
- Basic Set (kinda need this to play)
- Space
- Spaceships
- Ultratech
- Biotech
I am open to allowing psi powers, but I think I might leave it as is for now and maybe introduce them later.
Spaceships and mecha are going to be in the campaign. I would like to know the following.
-Do you guys also want aliens?
-How cinematic do you want things to be? I was thinking a little cinematic, but not too much, so things like Gadgeteer would be out.
-How comical are you okay with things being? Or, to put it another way, where do you want this on the Sliding Scale of Silliness vs. Seriousness.
-Do you want things to stay mostly light-hearted, or are you okay with things getting darker?
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-Do you guys also want aliens?
-How cinematic do you want things to be? I was thinking a little cinematic, but not too much, so things like Gadgeteer would be out.
-How comical are you okay with things being? Or, to put it another way, where do you want this on the Sliding Scale of Silliness vs. Seriousness.
-Do you want things to stay mostly light-hearted, or are you okay with things getting darker?
Hm.
Aliens - Yes, please! It depends on whether or not you'd want to go full space opera, however. I don't mind a little bit of cliche, but not too much.
Cinematics - Just below Gadgeteer and Gunslinger sounds good to me. Occasional reversion of polarity to fix a problem is fine, but I tend to dislike McGuffins.
Comedy - Humor can be found anywhere, in my opinion! I prefer my villains monologuing only when appropriate. Say no to Excessive Monologuing! Somewhere between prequels Star Wars and Borderlands, maybe?
Light-Heartedness - I'm always okay with things getting darker, as long as, you know, it doesn't happen overnight. Although, overtime, "Damn, man, I'm a glorified space janitor, I wasn't expecting to decide the fate of billions!", could be nice!
A little bit yeah. And I figured we'd start small then go from there. If you want to throw something into the pot, then by all means, feel free to do so.
I wasn't planning on having any galaxy-wide plot, although a big enough enemy might feel like one.
In regards to The Expanse/Firefly, I'll just say that while I haven't seen The Expanse I have gotten far enough into the first novel of the series it's based on to know that it's pretty dark. I think firefly with a little more humor is closer to what I'm after as far as tone and adventure scope are concerned. The campaign is a different story since that's more dependent on what you wind up doing.
As far as aliens go, any requests? I have at least one I'll be making a template for.
-Do you guys also want aliens?
Certainly! I love the occasional Cantina scene...
-How cinematic do you want things to be? I was thinking a little cinematic, but not too much, so things like Gadgeteer would be out.
I would like a significant splash of the Cinematic.
-How comical are you okay with things being? Or, to put it another way, where do you want this on the Sliding Scale of Silliness vs. Seriousness.
Some humor at least.
-Do you want things to stay mostly light-hearted, or are you okay with things getting darker?
I would like more light-hearted, but I can go darker; as long as I don't have to live there permanently.
-Do you guys also want aliens? Yes, please. The more bizarre and inhuman the closer they will be to my heart.
-How cinematic do you want things to be? I can roll with most anything in this range and enjoy it thoroughly, as long as everyone else is having fun.
-How comical are you okay with things being? Somewhere in the middle is fine with me. Humor is fine, but serious moments are also fine. As long as the intended tone is clear, I will adjust.
-Do you want things to stay mostly light-hearted, or are you okay with things getting darker? I think moving back and forth between light-hearted and darker tones, when appropriate, is a good balance for the game.
Hmmm... If this is based more on firefly, perhaps mutants/genetically altered humans.
I'm sort of interested, but part of the problem is that I tend to need to feel the universe to get going. Which is why I'm glad you're bringing it up.
There'll be those too!
I'm still getting a feel for the world myself, so apologies if things are pretty vague. Right now, it's kind of a cross between Firefly, Star Wars, and some SciFi webcomics I've read.
I don't know if we'll be anywhere near Earth, or even if the galaxy will be the same one we're in, but thank you all the same.
Don't forget Transhuman Space; lots of stuff there already GURPS-ized.
Actually been rewatching that series. :D
Although, for this we might better say, Full Metal Panic + SPAAAACE! + Firefly
Sadly, I don't have any of the Transhuman Space or Traveller books.
I've actually got a program called Astrosynthesis that can do starmaps and the like. There's also several stellar catalogs converted for it that center around Sol, though I don't think any of them have stars all the way our to 73 Parsecs.
On a side note, I'll probably be pulling a lot of inspiration from the Wildstar OST. Like this for example. (Two fer with this one, both the song and title.)
I'm not much of an anime fan (only one I ever got into was Starblazers back when I was a kid), but I sure played a lot of GURPS back in the '90s!
I tend to prefer serious games to silly or wacky games. I like the tramp freighter idea... although I'm thinking more Firefly than Quark.
Firefly is the way the tone for this one's leaning. I've never seen Quark, so I'll have to give that a looksee.
There's still some silliness, at the moment. The idea of a race of maniacal furball mad scientists and generalissimos is too amusing to me to pass up.
I was thinking 175 or 200 points with disadvantages would be limited to -75 points and -5 points of quirks.
Sure, but I don't really have anything other than vague idea of what the game world will be like at the moment. I also don't have a clue when I'll be starting the game. I was just trying to find out if there was interest. (Which seems to be a yes.)
Well...
Sci-fi sounds like a very interesting change of pace. GURPS I have never used before, but I have checked it out. Seems interesting and flexible.
The freighter idea I find the most appealing, especially when words like Firefly have been thrown into the mix.
-Do you guys also want aliens?
Sure. If for no other reason than the sheer variety they can bring, but generally I like options, even if I myself am not interested in playing one usually.
-How cinematic do you want things to be? I was thinking a little cinematic, but not too much, so things like Gadgeteer would be out.
No problem, cinematic can be fun and as long as everyone is having it then even better.
-How comical are you okay with things being? Or, to put it another way, where do you want this on the Sliding Scale of Silliness vs. Seriousness.
I shall echo the others that have already answered this. I like humor and I definitely consider it a plus when a campaign includes it, especially seeing as how most of my characters I try to make witty and wry and other appropriate adjectives that may or may not start with a w. But seriousness when appropriate is good, and it does balance out things, preventing it from getting a bit too silly.
-Do you want things to stay mostly light-hearted, or are you okay with things getting darker?
Again I am with the others who have spoken up so far. But if I had to pick one word as an answer: Firefly. It has its dark moments, but there is occasional silliness hand in hand with -somewhat dark sometimes- humor (such as Mal's negotiation skills).
Speaking for myself, and although I know it is ridiculously early at the moment, I am considering a human-looking and -acting and more or less -feeling android.
Also, here be something that prospective submissionists (is that even a word...?) may find of use.
Definitely useful. It will even give you the pages stuff is on, which can be a big help when trying to remember what a skill does.
By the way, when you say -75 points of disadvantages and -5 of quirks, are the quirks included in the disadvantages (so -75 overall) or are they in addition (so -80 in total)?
Quirks are separate from disadvantages, although some can be lesser forms of a disadvantage. So it'd be -80 total.Quirks are just there to give personality to the character.
Some advice regarding disadvantages in GURPS...
Disadvantages affect your character's behavior; the point value is directly proportional to how much the disad makes your life harder. The description of your disadvantage can be interpreted in many ways.
Let's say you have the Delusion "Purple things are alive."
If that means you pat purple things and talk nicely to them, that's a Quirk (-1 point)
If you refuse to discuss important topics in front of purple things, that's a Minor Delusion (-5 points)
If you lobby politicians and organize street protests demanding "Equal Rights for Purple Things!", that's a Delusion. (-10 points)
If you attack all purple things on sight, that's a Major Delusion (-15 points).
And I think my favorite example of a Delusion from the rulebooks is, "Computers love ice cream! Spoon it right in!"
I have not done anything GURPS since 2nd edition, but mention of Firefly-style makes me want to give it a shot. :)
I have a couple of concepts in mind, so will see what I can come up with....
So, out of curiosity, what are you guys considering, if anything?
I am currently going for an adaptable and self-improving (to explain the leveling of attributes and abilities and skills and whatnot) and self-aware (volitional AI and all that) human-looking android prototype with an actual personality and an interest in science and medicine. It -or he, as he likes to think of himself- can also shoot and/or hit people if the situation calls for it. Here is to hoping for a TL10 campaign and a 200-point character creation... ;-P
Yeah, I know it is ridiculously -perhaps even ludicrously- early, but eh... What can you do. Theory-crafting and character-building can be fun, especially with a system I am not exactly all that familiar with.
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I had a character from a Sci-Fi in mind, but I think I might wait for a bit to see where the PB and the setting is. I like to go a bit away from the standard, mostly.
My last GURPS TL10 character, since the party was severely lacking a frontliner/fighty individual, was a 6'11" exo-armour pilot, who had higher ST outside of his suit than most others had inside them.
I'd like to see what the aliens and the setting is first, though, and what others are mostly interested in. I've played a plethora of Sci-Fi characters, filling virtually every archetype I like in the setting, from space ninja, through smooth talking rogue, cyberwrench monkey, odd alien, and honourable and dishonourable warriors - I'll go by heart(s) - I always enjoy making an atypical character to round up the party skillset.
Out of curiosity, have you given any thought to the whole "Adding and Improving Mental and Physical Advantages" (page 291 of the Basic Set Characters book) part of character improvement, i.e. leveling during the course of the game?
According to it, most of them (mental and physical) cannot be bought after character creation, though there do seem to be caveats and exceptions, such as the particulars of the game world and campaign (supernatural elements, sufficient TL, magic, etc) and, of course, GM fiat/permission/rule 0. Mostly asking because there are some very interesting (and adaptable-and-self-improving-android suitable, if you do end up recruiting for a TL10 campaign) advantages in the book (at least if memory serves) that are a bit too expensive and/or powerful to take from the beginning that also happen to fall under the categories of Physical and/or Mental.
Buying off disadvantages and buying advantages with character points would honestly depend on the advantage/disadvantage. Take Combat Reflexes or Combat Paralysis, for example. Gaining Combat Reflexes or losing Combat Paralysis can reflect growth in a character and would make sense to buy with character points awarded in play. Now, if you spend the money to buy the upgrades that grant an advantage that you wouldn't normally get after beginning play, you still need to play the points to represent adjusting to having that.
As for starting with those toys, well, Debt is always an option. :)
First, apologies for the minor thread necromancy.
Second, apologies for this not being an announcement that I'll be starting a recruitment thread for this soon.
Third, as to why I'm casting raise thread, I've been working on the setting and have started writing posts to help me organize my thoughts and narrow my focus. the first post is up and there's more to come.
If you are interested, go here: Campaign Building: Free Traders of Oani Dal - Part 1
In the interest of leaving the forum open for actually recruitments, please comment on the blog. I'm not actively watching this thread anymore, so anything posted here will be missed!
Thanks and again, I'm sorry that this isn't the "Hey! Recruitment's open!" post.
As far as I can, he will indeed run it here. However, it is still a bit early for recruitment and he is using the linked site for world-building.