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Author Topic: *Encounter Critical* God City Sandbox  (Read 28875 times)

ttagxamm

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« on: August 20, 2008, 11:35:50 PM »
Procedures

(adapted from Scott aka Driver's excellent Wilderlands PbP)

This is pretty standard stuff but please give a quick read-through.

1. Dice rolling, for now, is honor system.  I realize making your own rolls can really make you feel more connected to your character and the game overall and I'm down with that.  If it feels like things are bogging down I might prefer to switch to JM rolling most skill and combat rolls.  Let's see how it goes.

2. I can almost always update every day. Players are expected, generally, to post every weekday. Things will be slower for some players on weekends, and I understand. I also understand that things come up and people have to take breaks, and we'll deal with that on a case-by-case basis. It won't be an issue unless your posting rate is consistently out of sync and the game is being held up.  In that case you may find your character frozen by confused bounty hunters and sold to the Hutts till such time as you can keep up.  Worst case you may be asked to leave the game for quits.

3. If you're not happy with the character you rolled up, stick with it for a bit and see how it goes. If the character really does stink out loud and you're absolutely unsatisfied, he'll either die soon or we'll address it after an adventure or two. (I'd be very surprised if this were an issue with this group.)

4. I have no strong preferences about your style of posting.  Detailed and descriptive or short and to the point, whatever is most enjoyable for you, makes the game most fun, should be great.  I do tend to prefer third person narrative, and it's great if we can all match up our verb tenses -- flows better, I think.
 
5. Out-of-character comments in the in-character thread should be bracketed, and skill attempts capitalized, like so:

[I'd like to see if I can Seduce the robodroid housekeeper.]

Rules Notes

Stats: 3d6 in order, natch.

Races, Hybrids and Character Options: All available.  Additional races: Cyclopeans, Hutts and Duckoids (Asteroid 1618, EC group > Files > Game Aids & Resources), Lilliputians and Brobdingnagians (EC group > Files > Rules Expansions & Variants), any of Mike David's new races (RPG Fun Pad, here), Bulterrians (M65Q, here), and Zombies (M&B, here).  

If you choose a non-standard race let me know before character creation as I may make some modifications.

Mutations: Core chart and both expansions posted to the EC message list are available.  If you choose to use the expanded charts please roll randomly to determine the chart to be used for each mutation.

Character Classes: In addition to the six core classes the (Variant) Biker and Scientist/Mad Scientist classes and the Wrestler subclass are available (EC group > Files > Rules Expansions & Variants).

Multi-classing: Per EC rules, but note that when adding a new character class you must perform the task associated with your new class to gain your first level.  Example: Gorgutts the Grappler, a 3rd level warrior, decides to try his hand at warlocking.  When he achieves enough XP to attain 4th level, he must somehow create a new spell to gain his new class (and frankly, good luck to him).

Percentile Abilities:  Surprise me.  I have my own ideas about how things work, but I want to avoid codifying the skills too much.  I'm willing to be persuaded by your cunning, clever or crazy rationales for using the skills.  

Warlocks and Psi-Witches: Both classes will be subject to permanent 1% (or higher) deductions from an ability of the player's choice for gratuitous use of powers.  Example deductions might include a Psi-Witch using Crowd Manipulate to control one or more beings for longer than his ESP score in hours, or a Warlock using Magic Attack instead of Great Feat to lift a huge boulder.

Warlocks can cast any spell memorized without rolling any dice. If desired they may roll Magical Attack to try for special effects, such as casting the spell silently, increasing its length or duration, or increasing its area of effect.  The spell is lost if the Magical Attack roll is missed.

Critical Successes and Fumbles: At JM's option any roll of 95 or higher on any percentile check may result in a critical fumble: pratfalls, foul-ups, stubbed toes, broken bones, public humiliation, private shame, and similar mishaps.  If the Ability chances are 95-99 a fumble might occur on any failed check -- you're so awesome that you only fail spectacularly.  If the chances are 100 or better a fumble may still occur on a roll of 00.  

Similarly any percentile roll of 05 or less may be a critical success determined by the JM, unless the success chances are only 05 or less, in which case the player should just be glad of his or her good luck to make the check at all.  

(The references to the EC Group refer to the Encounter Critical Yahoo Group.  You'll need to join if you aren't a member already.  It's cool, you won't regret it)

House Rules

Easy Hurling rule for thrown weapons: Use Ranged ATT %.  Maximum Range = 1/2 STR x 10'.  -5% ATT per 10'

Grappling: see this post.

Scare Rules: Per A1618, page 80-81

Reference

Character Sheets
Buck Pulsar / Rondo
The Creature / Wulfgar
Hobson Twofoot / Age of Fable
Quazarn the Arcane / Dr Rotwang
Zarko / Coffee

(Incommunicado
Gorgo Ubar III / Edsan
The Robodroid with No Name / Stuart)

General Notes

To get things in gear, let's stick with the PCs already made.

At the start I'm winging this.  I have a bunch of scenarios brewing in my head, but I may end up ad libbing as well.  I'll PM each of you with a rumor or two you've heard in your travels, and let your interaction direct things -- if you all decide not to nibble at my adventure hooks and that you'd rather spend your last remaining gold credits in the fleshpots of God City, I'll roll with that.
« Last Edit: October 28, 2008, 08:49:40 PM by ttagxamm »
Running: Encounter Critical, online at God City Sandbox
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wulfgar

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« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2008, 11:13:58 AM »
The Creature goes looking for someplace to eat.  He's in the mood for a big hamburger, and asks the nearest local for the best hamburger joint in God City.
 

Dr Rotwang!

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« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2008, 01:25:46 PM »
Quazarn, Best Of All The Guys, eyes The Creature disdainfully.  

"Hamburger?  Hamburger, you say?  Humph."  He cocks an eyebrow.  "Hamburger.  Well...Rollo the Entropian makes hamburgers -- 'course he makes rats on a stick and some kind of green, slimy liquor, too, so you're on your own.

"Pardon me," Quazarn then says, filled with sudden regret.  "I'm afraid I may have been kind of unpleasant just now.  Here...let me take you to -- I'll take you to Greebloid's.  You can get a great burger at Greebloid's.  And I'll pay."

[Q's Psychometric Morbidity has kicked in, and he's fighting it.  I didn't roll it, I just decided.]
Dr Rotwang!
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ttagxamm

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« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2008, 01:28:06 PM »
[Talk amongst yourselves if you like -- you're free to assume your PCs are already acquainted if you like, or you can role play their meeting.  I'll be back later this evening.

[Wulfgar has already inspired a scenario, so feel free to toss out ideas.]

[EDIT: Rotwang is way ahead of me.  That's why he's a Doctor.]
« Last Edit: August 21, 2008, 01:29:49 PM by ttagxamm »
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Coffee

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« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2008, 01:51:05 PM »
Sure, Rollo the Entropian makes hamburgers, but he also makes beefburgers and that's what Zarko is eating. He's sitting at his usual place toward the end of the bar, not to far from the corner booth where the Honchos of the local crime syndicate make their social headquarters. (He has been useful to them in the past, in an errand-boy sort of way, and hopes to increase his usefulness someday, but they seem to be ignoring him.)
 

wulfgar

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« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2008, 02:18:05 PM »
Creature pays the burger attendant a few credits and starts chomping away on his double bacon mushroom burger and curly fries.  Being frozen in the arctic sure builds up an appetite.
 

Dr Rotwang!

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« Reply #6 on: August 21, 2008, 05:20:22 PM »
"No, no, no," Quazarn insists.  "I said I've got it."  He stops The Creature from paying and hands over credits of his own.

"Why are we at Rollo's?  I tried to warn you about --" and he points at a passing doxy, legs up to here, walking past with a fried rat on a stick.  "Well, the food, not her."

Quazarn slumps over and sighs.  "I wanted to go to Greebloid's."  He takes a moment to regard The creature.  "Don't talk much, huh?  Yeah..."  He leans back in his chair and drapes his elbows over the back of it.  "I wouldn't talk to me, either."  He sighs, and Vanth presses down harder upon him.
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Rondo

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« Reply #7 on: August 21, 2008, 08:03:29 PM »
Bucks at the bar...cold beer in hand and his helmet on the table.  Turning slowly around to eye the doxy and spots the party.  He takes his frosty one over and with his hand in his pocket, saunters up.  "Where's the fun, boys?  Can I buy anyone a cold one?"

Rondo

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« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2008, 08:34:41 PM »
"Here bud..looks like you could use this", he hands his beer to Quazarn and starts looking for the doxy waitress to flag another one for himself.

Dr Rotwang!

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« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2008, 09:41:45 PM »
Quazarn looks at the beer as though it were a foot-long centipede, humming to itself and flossing its teeth.  "I -- um --"

He sniffs the beer to see if it has Buck Spit on it.  "Er...thanks, pal.  Say!" he says, suddenly perking up -- and recognizing Buck as a potential friend to attach to.  "I'm Quazarn.  this," he says, wiggling a thumb at The Creature, "is a very hungry Frankenstein who doesn't talk much.  That's a nice helmet.  Who're you?"
Dr Rotwang!
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ttagxamm

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« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2008, 11:48:28 PM »
[Check your private message box, boyos (you're new to the boards Rondo, so scroll on up till you can see the options bar and I believe one of the tabs should say "New PM" or "New message."  I missed it myself first time a got a PM).  

[Catch you all on the flip-flop]
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Rondo

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« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2008, 08:00:45 AM »
"Hey, Quazarn!.....Creature....nice to meet you both...Buck Pulsar...bored space cadet.....", Buck spins a chair around and sits down. "Ah, the helmet!...yea, you won't find another one like this 'un", "Buck drifts in thought for a second scratching his chin and thinking about the Academy and another time period....long ago...
  "Say, I've been looking for some guys like you.  Any chance you guys would want to follow-up on a little rumor I've heard going around?  Seriously...I wanna make some scratch!  This place is boring."

Dr Rotwang!

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« Reply #12 on: August 22, 2008, 12:39:54 PM »
Quazarn grins at Rondo.  "The ship?"
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Rondo

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« Reply #13 on: August 22, 2008, 01:33:43 PM »
"Yea! I heard that 'un too!, Buck grins and winks at Quazarn.  "You know, we might oughta work up to that...there's money to be made right here...in this greasy spoon.  I got a little plan that involves making some dough.  If we had the money after this gig, we might have enough to hire enough henchmen to take that ship", Buck starts spinning a Gold Credit on the tabletop...."You know, that thing might be pretty stock fulla monsters, and we'd stand a hell of a better chance with some high end ray guns and a gang to back us up."

Dr Rotwang!

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« Reply #14 on: August 22, 2008, 04:22:32 PM »
Quazarn narrows his bright, intelligent eyes at Buck.  "What are you proposing, mister Pulsar?", he says, conspiratorily.  It is very, very obvious to anyone observing Quazarn that he is astonishingly intelligent, charismatic and, above all, cool.
Dr Rotwang!
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FONZITUDE RATING: 1985
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