Hello, all! If you didn't already know when you clicked on this thread, I have created it because I'm going to run a play by post GURPS 4th edition game. I'll either be running it on the Campaign Builder's Guild or SomethingAwful. I offer it to the CBG first because, simply put, I like you guys better. That's just bound to happen when you've been a member of a small community for five years and a member of a much larger one for about a single year. Also, forgive me for the fact that, since I may end up posting this also on SomethingAwful, things slipped into a rather goony style at points.
I have a number of goals with this game. First of all, I just want to run a game in the system that I enjoy more than any other. Along that same line of thinking, I want to give others the chance to play that system. This includes people with little to no experience with the system or even with pen and paper or play by post RPGs at all. That's right, I am willing to teach as we play. In addition to that, if you want to play but don't want to learn the system, I am also willing to handle all the dice rolling for your character. You can just say what you want them to do and handle the roleplaying. Another important one is practicing my ability to write for what an audience wants. (How I'll do that will be explained just a little further down the page.) I will run this here as long as there are a few people wanting to play to begin with or at least a couple willing to make a commitment to stick with it for a while.
I also want this game to 'work'. To help ensure that it does, I'm doing a few things. First, since no games (especially play by post games) can last forever, this game will have an ending. There will be some main goal and once you've reached that, doing what you've set out to do and completed the story, the game will end. Of course, if everyone had fun and things worked well there could always be a sequel but now I'm getting ahead of myself. This game will also have minimal commitment as there will be no absolute posting requirement and I will allow a drop in, drop out play style. This means a few things; If you're a slow or irregular poster and you're decision / action / whatever is holding the game up, I will have your character act (as in-character as possible, to the best of my abilities, and to help this along you're free to give me pages describing your character's motivations and such) or not act, as needed, to continue with the game. Don't worry about me messing with your character all the time, though, as I will only do this after I have given you at least one full day to act. Often I may even wait longer than that, especially if I know you as a player have a habit of posting on certain days at certain times and we are approaching such a time in the near future. Also, if you decide you want to stop playing or you no longer have the time to play, your character will simply become an NPC and the world will go on without you. Again, I will continue to have that NPC act as in-character as possible. Finally, if you decide that you made a terrible mistake in leaving or you once again have the time to play, just let me know and you can return to the game with your old character, if possible. In addition to this, I will also begin the game with a small number of NPCs that the players of dead characters or people looking to join the game at a later date can take over.
If you're still not interested, have a nice day. There is no reason for you to read any further. Unless, of course, you want to see what absolutely, totally radical stuff is in store for the people that do want to play. Now, if you're one of those people, below is a sort of ballot-application kind of thing. Basically, go through all the categories, one at a time, and tell me what sort of game you want to play. Based on whatever people choose here, I will put together a game using the most popular elements or combination of elements. In your 'application' (or first post here) also include if there are any sorts of game you would not want to play. I'll give you an example of generally what I'm looking for;
For atmosphere, I'd like a mature, just-for-fun game. I'd also kind of like for there to be serious roleplaying involved.
For setting, I'd like it to be fantasy, high tech, and mid magic. Somewhere on the later end of high tech would be best and I would rather most magic be in the form of spellcasters, especially those using practical magic -- I really don't see much need for enchanted items.
Game type is a tough one but I think spec ops or spec ops meets dungeon crawl would be really cool.
I'd be down for just about anything as long as it doesn't go into the realm of what you call 'ultra tech' or high magic. I'm not a big fan of no magic, either.
See? Going point by point makes it easier to sort through responses but it's good if you also clarify your choices a bit so I can get the best possible idea for what people want.
Atmosphere[/b] Obviously, everyone is still free to play however they choose but this should at least be considered a guideline for everyone. It will mostly impact my narrative and how I handle things.
Content How strong of language, how graphic decriptions can be, that sort of thing.
Mature Sometimes, in real life, people say words like "fuck". Also, if you swing a really heavy, sharp sword at someone, you might chop off a body part and get splattered with blood. That said, I still wouldn't make the game 'The X-Rated Gorefest of Vulgarity Hour' or anything like that.
Family Friendly This is pretty much the default position. Using swears won't get you kicked out or anything, if the situation calls for it but keep all the potentially offensive stuff to a minimum.
You Know, For Kids! Most of us here have probably read the Hobbit, right? Think along those lines. That's not a, "massive, slobbering beast barreling headlong at you, his eyes filled with nothing but burning hatred for everything about you". It's a, "big, scary troll coming toward you. He doesn't look very smart but he looks really angry".
Seriousness
Light-Hearted / Just-For-Fun "It was a simple time for simple people. The work was hard but most everyone was happy. Then the aliens showed up. Awww, shit." Anachronisms and general silliness can happen, as long as it isn't too disruptive and it's fun. This can go along with either or the other two options.
Serious Roleplaying Your character is a living, breathing person and have all the depth that goes along with this. Social interaction and character development are pretty much the most important thing.
Serious Game While there will still be roleplaying and such, most fun will come from overcoming obstacles using your characters skills. Also, probably more combat.
Setting The setting will be a solid backdrop for the game but will only have so much depth as is needed for the style of game. In certain cases, that may be a lot. If there is a certain setting (for example, Dark Sun) or style (like steampunk) that you really want to play in, say so and I will consider it.
General Genre Keep in mind that this isn't about the technology level. That comes later. This mostly relates to if there are non-humans (and what kind) as well as what sort of enemies and such may be encountered. If you'd prefer one extreme or another of any of these genres, feel free to mention that.
Fantasy Yes, you can be a dwarf. Someday your dwarf might be eaten by a dragon.
"Realistic" I only call it this because I can't think of a better word for it. You will play a human and anything that engages you in combat will also likely be human.
Sci-Fi There are aliens and you might be one of them. Some of them are mean.
Tech Level This is not the same as genre. You could be an elf with a laser pistol. You might even get the chance to kill an alien with a broadsword. It's probably worth noting which end of your choices spectrum you'd prefer, as well as the degree of realism.
Low Tech Roughly from prehistoric (sticks and stones) to renaissance era technology (maybe simple guns and such).
High Tech There are guns. Maybe even planes or computers. Think whatever from the end of the low tech level to a couple of decades from now.
Ultra Tech Laser pistols, robots, space travel, maybe even lightsabers. That sort of thing.
Magic[/u] Again, not genre. You could have a magical duel on a space ship or be an elf that has never seen a spell cast.
No Magic None whatsoever.
Low Magic Magic exists in the world but few can use it and it is extremely rare.
Mid Magic Your typical fantasy stuff. There are wizards and such but not everyone can throw around fireballs.
High Magic If you get into a serious fight without some sort of enchanted armor or jewelry adding some protection, you gonna die, boy.
Game Type What the goal of the game is. None of these are dependent upon any aspect of the setting. I will find a way to make it work. Feel free to mention any combinations you'd like. If you do, though, it will probably be viewed as a vote for each one. Also, if there are other kinds I didn't think of, feel free to suggest that.
Dungeon Delve Maybe it's a futuristic game show, maybe you're hardcore archaeologists. The point is, there is a place with a whole lot of different rooms here, it's guarded, there are probably traps or other challenges, and you want to get to the end of it, even if it kills you. It has a pretty good chance of doing just that, too.
Arena Nothing too special, right? There may be some underlying plot but you'll basically be trying to make it through a kind of season. I'd try to make it have a bit more strategy that two people in the ring rolling dice at each other until one dies. This has the potential for sub-groups moving at different paces, some player versus player, or for your character to die two days into the game and then you're kind of just screwed out of the fun.
Fetch Quest "Oh no, I lost my great grandfather's [INSERT THING HERE]! Will you please go to [PLACE THING DOESN'T BELONG AT] and get it for me?"
Collection Quest "There are five important balls scattered across the land. Recover them all to win the game!"
Horror This would probably end up being some sort of survival horror. Most likely it would be like the only SAW movie I ever watched and you'd be a bunch of strangers trapped in a big place together and to survive you'd have to either work together or trick everyone else into dying for you.
Mystery It would probably be something along the lines of, "Something has been killing our cattle. Figure out what it is, why it's doing it, and how it can be stopped" or else I would be afraid of it turning into Scooby Doo. Unless, of course, you want that...
Scooby Doo Mystery If a whole lot of people want this sort of game, I'll cave and do it. Just no ascots allowed unless you want to fall through a whole lot of trap doors. I'm also gonna go ahead and call this incompatible with anything but a light hearted style.
Spec Ops Covertly get in, eliminate your target, recover the information, then get out.
Monster Hunting Find the freak and kill it.
Finishing the Fight A war in Whereveryourfromland is almost over and you're winning! Lead the charge to take the capitol! This one would probably involve issuing orders to others with a little bit of spec ops mixed in.
Invasion Whereveryourfromland is being invaded! Either get out and to safety with as many of your countrymen as you can or stop the invasion through diplomacy or killing the ever-loving crap out of the invaders' leadership.
A Wizard Did It! Now Undo It Everything was fine then suddenly it wasn't. Find out what happened and fix it.
I might be up for this, especially due to the whole "no posting requirement" deal. I have played GURPS a couple of times before, but some time ago, so you might have to help me re-learn the rules.
How about this for my ballot? Although I'm gonna say I'm almost completely flexible on this.
Mature-to-Family Friendly Just-For-Fun Low Tech Mid-to-High Magic Sci-fi Spec Ops
Quote from: KindlingI might be up for this, especially due to the whole "no posting requirement" deal.
I figured that would grab some people. I'll admit, it isn't ideal but that's how play by post games usually work out, even if you don't want it, so it's probably better to embrace it than fight it.
I may be interested. I have a small library of GURPS 3rd edition stuff, but I've never played. In fact, although I kind of know character creation reasonably well, I am rather vague on action resolution. I think it involves a 3D6 roll-under vs. your skill number.
Looking at your menu of options, I'd prefer content at about the Mature level. I think games as a rule should be Light-Hearted. Strange as it sounds I'd prefer Fantasy with Mid-Magic and Ultra Tech. Fetch Quest sounds promising.
Content: Between mature and family friendly
Seriousness: Serious Roleplaying
General Genre: Sci-Fi
Tech Level: Ultra Tech
Magic: Low Magic
Game Type: Horror, Spec Ops, Monster Hunting, A Wizard Did It!
Explanation: It would be awesome to play a twisted combination of dead space and star wars... that is all.
[blockquote=NinjaD]Mature Sometimes, in real life, people say words like "fuck". Also, if you swing a really heavy, sharp sword at someone, you might chop off a body part and get splattered with blood. That said, I still wouldn't make the game 'The X-Rated Gorefest of Vulgarity Hour' or anything like t-hat.[/blockquote]
No. Who would do a think like that?
Until I saw the last interested response came in, I was afraid there weren't going to be enough people that wanted to do this here. Like I said, I will be running this game regardless but I'd prefer to run it at the CBG. I also don't think I've ever seen so many views on a thread that I made so quickly and with so few posts. Now, onto it.
Quote from: khyron1144I have a small library of GURPS 3rd edition stuff
I suppose I should have mentioned that I will be running this as GURPS 4th edition. Most supplements are still mostly fine, the big difference lies in point values for things in character creation, I think. That and some stuff that was supplemental before made it into the core book.
Quote from: khyron1144I am rather vague on action resolution. I think it involves a 3D6 roll-under vs. your skill number.
That pretty well sums up the system, yeah.
Quote from: NomadicIt would be awesome to play a twisted combination of dead space and star wars... that is all.
I think I get the basic idea but I know little about Dead Space and probably couldn't get the full feel of it without playing the game, which I probably won't be doing anytime soon.
Quote from: LordVreeg of TasticNo. Who would do a think like that?
...what?
It looks like we're pretty well locked into somewhere between mature and family friendly with two or three votes for that content level, depending on how you want to look at it. That should be easy enough to deal with.
As for the seriousness of the game, we'll see if anyone else wants in before an actual decision is made. It's looking like a just-for-fun element will be involved but character depth shouldn't be ignored. Would everyone be fine with that approach to things?
For the general genre of the setting, we have two for sci-fi and one for fantasy. Technology we have two for ultra tech and one (flexible?) for low tech. With this, there was also a mention of Star Wars. I propose a compromise; The setting will be a universe, with a sort of universal society that is very vast and very old, just like Star Wars. This allows for people from rich planets to be professional adventurers carrying around plasma rifles while others could have only recently left behind the poor mining quality where they grew up and hunted food with a bow. There are probably planets with people resembling elves, living as one with nature. How does that sound for everyone?
Wants for magic are pretty well spread, though a little heavier in the middle. I'm going to wait for any other interested people to speak up before I make any sort of call there. Those that have already stated an interest are free to change their "vote", too, or clarify their thoughts in a way that they might better agree with others. It looks like Star Wars may be a decent inspiration there, too. Most people had no idea what the force was while others could shoot lightning out of their fingers because of it.
This sounding good so far? More people are welcome to step in at the start yet, and could still shape how this game will be, but now you know where my mind will be working for the setting at this point.
A vast, old universe. Many races. Lots of mystery in the past.
To clarify deadspace is sci-fi horror. So what I meant was star wars with horror in it.
As for magic I chose low because that's what star wars has with the force and all. Overall it sounds fine
Sounds awesome to me :)
Quote from: NomadicTo clarify deadspace is sci-fi horror. So what I meant was star wars with horror in it.
Sci-fi horror with an element of survival. Relies on atmosphere and startling for fear. That about right? I've played the demo and heard a bit about it. The enemies are some kind of mutated people by the looks of them. I'd guess something like The Flood from Halo, yeah? Maybe I'll watch animated movie, I think it's on Netflix instant.
Quote from: NomadicAs for magic I chose low because that's what star wars has with the force and all.
Sure, that's how it is in Star Wars but how do you really want it? That's the point here. If people said they wanted a Star Wars game, I would run a Star Wars game. I actually figured that if I had to go over to SomethingAwful with this, I'd post in the Dark Sun Own Zone thread and let them know that if enough people wanted it, I'd run GURPS Dark Sun. As much fun as this will be regardless, it will also be an excerise in writing for an audience I don't choose..
Quote from: KindlingSounds awesome to me :)
Aaaand, I was ninja'd. Thanks, I'm glad you think so. My mind is working on ideas as I type. I'll be digging out my SWRPG books for added inspiration. I'll watch a couple of movies and such, too. Maybe Firefly.
Keep in mind this won BE a Star Wars game, though. Not unless people start saying they want exactly that.
Quote from: NomadicAs for magic I chose low because that's what star wars has with the force and all.
Pretty sure I just said how I really want it, I want it like star wars :P (galactic civilizations, magic-like powers, etc). I don't want a star wars game I just want the space opera feel combined with the twisted horror of deadspace. To clarify, star wars and dead space are just references I was giving you for the kind of feel I'd like for the game. I don't want you to run a star wars or dead space game.
Quote from: NomadicPretty sure I just said how I really want it, I want it like star wars :P (galactic civilizations, magic-like powers, etc). I don't want a star wars game I just want the space opera feel combined with the twisted horror of deadspace. To clarify, star wars and dead space are just references I was giving you for the kind of feel I'd like for the game. I don't want you to run a star wars or dead space game.
You'll find the thread I just posted in Homebrews of some interest, I think.
Quote from: Ninja D!Quote from: NomadicPretty sure I just said how I really want it, I want it like star wars :P (galactic civilizations, magic-like powers, etc). I don't want a star wars game I just want the space opera feel combined with the twisted horror of deadspace. To clarify, star wars and dead space are just references I was giving you for the kind of feel I'd like for the game. I don't want you to run a star wars or dead space game.
You'll find the thread I just posted in Homebrews of some interest, I think.
Awesome :D
Quote from: Ninja D!I suppose I should have mentioned that I will be running this as GURPS 4th edition. Most supplements are still mostly fine, the big difference lies in point values for things in character creation, I think. That and some stuff that was supplemental before made it into the core book.
So, as a for instance, if I wanted to create a character whose race is based on one of the
Fantasy Folk races with a few spells from the Magic book, and with an Advantage, Skill, or Maneuver or two from
GURPS Compendium I; I would need you to approve and double check my math?
Quote from: khyron1144Quote from: Ninja D!I suppose I should have mentioned that I will be running this as GURPS 4th edition. Most supplements are still mostly fine, the big difference lies in point values for things in character creation, I think. That and some stuff that was supplemental before made it into the core book.
So, as a for instance, if I wanted to create a character whose race is based on one of the Fantasy Folk races with a few spells from the Magic book, and with an Advantage, Skill, or Maneuver or two from GURPS Compendium I; I would need you to approve and double check my math?
Yeah. Most of the time, the differences aren't major.
Just to make sure everyone is aware, if this is going to be light-hearted sci-fi, Doctor Who references are fair game!
Quote from: Ninja D!Just to make sure everyone is aware, if this is going to be light-hearted sci-fi, Doctor Who references are fair game!
That's cool.
I'm thinking of making one of my quirks: Occasionally makes a Captain Jack-type remark.
I'm working from memory, so this is more a paraphrase than a quoote:
Captain Jack: Who's the hottie?
Gwen: That's a poodle!
That's fine by me.
Hitchiker's Guide References are also fair game.
Quote from: khyron1144Quote from: Ninja D!Just to make sure everyone is aware, if this is going to be light-hearted sci-fi, Doctor Who references are fair game!
That's cool.
I'm thinking of making one of my quirks: Occasionally makes a Captain Jack-type remark.
I'm working from memory, so this is more a paraphrase than a quote:
Captain Jack: Who's the hottie?
Gwen: That's a poodle!
Once again, TV Tropes has shown me my error (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnythingThatMoves)
It was a Captain John line, Captain John being Captain Jack's former partner. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IfYouKnowWhatIMean)
Capt. John: [eager] Oh, that's gorgeous!!!
Gwen: That's a poodle.
I don't remember that exact line at all but it's well in the spirit of both of them. Of course, it's probably been a good year since I watched most of Torchwood.
I'm guessing that the internet connection khyron had at home for a while there is now gone again, since I haven't heard from him in a while. I will be building Kindling's character, as well as some NPCs probably this weekend. Hopefully we can get going by the end of the week. Sound good?
I decided this morning on what the "adventure" will be. Just the detail work now.
The characters I'm making (PC and NPC alike) will be ready soon and I have a plot / objective / whatever planned. Will people be ready to start soon?
Sure.