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Post by Gigermann on Apr 10, 2011 21:03:48 GMT -6
Character Creation Rules- 150pts, -75 Disads + -5 Quirks
- Grace-period, first session only (locked in after that)
- Limited Perks, per the usual rules, w/ exceptions possible @gmd
- No cinematic, exotic, or supernatural Traits (some normally "normal" Traits may warrant some watering-down, per Pyramid 3/21p31—I'll let you know if you run across one of these)
- Sub-Attributes may only be adjusted ±2, in general (there are a couple of exceptions; Hearing±4, HP±1/3HP—check the rules)
- Mental Sub-Attributes will start with a base of 10 (rather than IQ)
- Must take Pacifism (Reluctant Killer) unless "excused" via backstory
- Some Traits won't work, or will be limited, in this campaign:
- Enemy won't really work out
- Dependents will have to be either "All" or "Nothing"
- Not sure how Patrons will work here—depends on the particulars
- This campaign will be "Action™-heavy," so don't make too much of a weenie character
- Planning on a +5 CP bonus for good back-story & off-screen participation
- Backup characters are not required, but I do suggest you, at least, have some ideas, just in case—won't be pulling any punches
Magnificent Seven Samurai ref. + tentative assignments - Hero (Rigil/N8)
- Lancer (ShLE/Josh)
- Big Guy (?—leaning toward putting McN here)
- Smart Guy (N8)
- Old (or experienced) Guy (Josh)
- Young (or inexperienced) Guy (?)
- Funny Guy (?)
- Someone will be Loud
- Someone will be Quiet
- Someone will be Reluctant
- Someone will be a Jerk
- Someone will be a Jerk with a Heart of Gold
- Someone will Pet the Dog
- Someone will Die Heroically
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Post by LabRat on Apr 11, 2011 10:50:34 GMT -6
Okay I think I'm going to play a civilian in this. I'm thinking about someone who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. She did some time in prison (TBD as to why) and is now a hardened ex-con. Her time growing up in the slums and prison time did leave her street savvy so she's kind of an urban survivalist. She would know where to find resources during the alien invasion or at least find things that she can craft into something useful. I have no idea where she would fit for the magnificent seven (maybe the lancer? could take on an anti-hero stance) but I think she would probably "pet the dog." She's not very warm and fuzzy but that doesn't mean she wouldn't have the rare moment of compassion. Hrm, I think I might need a bit of help for this one...
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Post by zenwolf on Apr 11, 2011 11:14:34 GMT -6
Probably Old guy/ lancer for me.
56 year old Vietnam vet. Only spent a year in 'nam before the war ended but served in other engagements around the world before eventually leaving the army. During his midlife crisis he joined a biker gang. He is still in decent shape. Since he is od guy/mentor he might have some experience either fighting one of the aliens or maybe he was just abducted at one point. Idk. It just depends on what you think and what you have planned.
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Post by WxMAN on Apr 11, 2011 11:18:33 GMT -6
Smart guy / Heroic Death? Reluctant?
Astrobiologist / Astronomer... will develop more once I think a good outline. Probably won't be much of a huge combatant, but may learn as he goes? Maybe a combo of ID4's Jeff Goldblum character with BSG's Odama (without the military background)
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 11, 2011 11:22:23 GMT -6
Ya'll are gonna make me play the Hero, aren't ya?
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Post by LabRat on Apr 11, 2011 11:30:20 GMT -6
Only if you want to. I don't mind filling the role but I just don't think that my character would be a good fit for Hero. We're still jockeying for position and some people haven't spoken up yet so maybe we'll get some takers...
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Post by WxMAN on Apr 11, 2011 11:44:07 GMT -6
Ya'll are gonna make me play the Hero, aren't ya? Well, you had said it was a natural fit for your Dispensables character, so I assumed that was you throwing your hat in for it.. Plus we still have Chris and SQ to pick... If you don't want to be the Hero I always could be a smart hero, ie Gordon Freeman
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 11, 2011 14:41:59 GMT -6
Nah, its fine. I was just being facetious since I always seem to play the Hero.
Dibs on Quiet Guy.
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Post by LabRat on Apr 11, 2011 15:10:23 GMT -6
You can grab funny guy too and become a mime ;D
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 11, 2011 16:15:26 GMT -6
Updated "the rules," first post
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Post by zenwolf on Apr 11, 2011 16:45:08 GMT -6
I'll take dibs on jerk with a heart of gold.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 11, 2011 16:53:10 GMT -6
Couple of questions: - Are there any usual disads that will be forbidden? My character is likely going to use the Soldier (infantry) and Soldier (veteran) templates from Space (with TL correct skills selected), and those templates automatically come with the Duty disad.
- Following up on that, would Rank (likely E-5 or E-6) be appropriate and will it actually come into play or is that wasted points?
- Based on the character concept, I'm also contemplating having him be in the US military, but have been born and mostly raised in Israel, so would Social Stigma (foreigner) be appropriate or applicable?
Current character concept: John Noqed - born in Tel Aviv, parents died when he was 10 thanks to suicide bombers so he moved to the US to live with his mother's family. Joined US Army at 17 and has been infantry for 10-12 years (hence, E-6 rank.) While in Iraq, was captured by insurgents who discovered he was both Israeli and Jewish, so he had a ... difficult time before his unit rescued him. As a result of this, he's likely claustrophobic with some minor (-5) flashbacks. More TBD
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 12, 2011 14:56:32 GMT -6
Putting the character stuff up on a spreadsheet, for easier tracking. Adjust as needed. Added "Reluctant Killer" to character rules. @rigil's Questions: My expectation is that this campaign (or the first run, anyway) will span a month, at most, and will not leave the city (at first, anyway). Anything that wouldn't have an effect within that scope will be forbidden. Rank might come up. Duty will not likely. Social Stigma—not sure
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Apr 13, 2011 0:21:52 GMT -6
i'm leaning toward the tempsol idea with the funny man/reluctant and base it off hudson hawk
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 13, 2011 7:54:34 GMT -6
i'm leaning toward the tempsol idea with the funny man/reluctant and base it off hudson hawk I don't remember what your TempSol idea was—remind me. @everyone: FYI. The Magnificent Seven Samurai concept is just a guideline, not a hard rule—if nobody ends up wanting to play a particular archetype, it won't break the game; it just helps keep things organized.
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 13, 2011 15:13:46 GMT -6
@n8: I was gonna use this guy (Sheen) in the Dreamland game—name was Dr. Gideon Freemont
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 13, 2011 15:16:46 GMT -6
He's Winning! LOL
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Post by WxMAN on Apr 13, 2011 15:21:12 GMT -6
Holy crap, that is an amazing likeness! I was also thinking of Michael Douglas' character from 'Falling Down':
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 13, 2011 15:24:20 GMT -6
Holy crap, that is an amazing likeness! I was also thinking of Michael Douglas' character from 'Falling Down': One other worthy of note:
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Post by WxMAN on Apr 13, 2011 15:26:13 GMT -6
NIGHTMARES! CAN'T UNSEE
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 13, 2011 16:03:19 GMT -6
A few character-related (only) suggestions: - You guys are going to get injured at some point. Gonna need a medic. If somebody doesn't want to play one, someone can take him as an Ally, or I will allow the group (in full or part) to pool points together to get one.
- I thought it'd be neat to have a cop in the group. If he's local, he'd almost certainly be of Irish descent.
- Speaking of "local"—I thought it might be a good idea if nobody was actually from Chicago, that way the Players' lack of area knowledge would be fitting. Of course, if you actually know the area already, or are planning to study up, then nevermind
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 14, 2011 15:31:40 GMT -6
Don't look at me for the medic. I saw we have zenwolf play him. His Nam vet could've been a medic, and then he became an EMT or something.
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Post by Mike E. on Apr 14, 2011 20:38:17 GMT -6
Ding! Medic. I call it!
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Apr 14, 2011 22:09:10 GMT -6
here's what i'm thinking...hudson hawk type character recently relocated to chicago where he was caught at his old tricks...was in prison when the attack happened and was inadvertently sprung from the big house...now using his talents to sneak about and "obtain" supplies...would be interesting if we did have a cop in the group ....thats my thoughts
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 15, 2011 7:42:28 GMT -6
here's what i'm thinking...hudson hawk type character recently relocated to chicago where he was caught at his old tricks...was in prison when the attack happened and was inadvertently sprung from the big house...now using his talents to sneak about and "obtain" supplies...would be interesting if we did have a cop in the group ....thats my thoughts Two criminals? Not sure about that. They'll both be stealing each other's thunder (pun intended). Guess it depends on how they work together, or who wants to change their concept first. Nobody will be starting in prison unless everybody will be starting in prison—that's the current plan, anyway, to have them all start the invasion in the same place. Of course, you guys are free to make some kickoff suggestions, if you have any.
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 15, 2011 8:41:01 GMT -6
A few character suggestions, for those that are still waffling or undecided (which I might use as NPCs if no Player takes the concept, as primary or backup): - football/baseball player (good for Young Guy, esp. if from college)
- genre-savvy gamer (Ref: Hurley, or typical Simon Pegg type; good for Funny Guy)
- "Coach" from Left 4 Dead (or really, any character from that, or any other survival or survival-horror game/movie)
- gang-thug
- cowboy/redneck/hunter
- "Aggressive" photo-journalist (Ref: Frank West, Dead Risiong)
- Best I can think of for a fighting "medic"—military infantry medic, AF para-jumper (maybe too high points, except as a "veteran"), ambulance paramedic/EMT
- Most primary characters from Lost would work, I guess—Locke would be funny as an "alien abductee"
Still updating… Add your own, if you like.
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Post by Rigil Kent on Apr 15, 2011 8:44:13 GMT -6
EMT? I vote we begin the game on a bus. We're all going somewhere ... and then crazy shit starts to happen.
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 15, 2011 8:51:34 GMT -6
I vote we begin the game on a bus. We're all going somewhere ... and then crazy shit starts to happen. I was leaning toward the train/subway, but I haven't settled on it.
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Apr 15, 2011 13:41:09 GMT -6
ok...how about a "bonnie and clyde" type deal and we were on the Bus ( if it's like a greyhound) due to changing our venue to expand our resume' ... just a thought
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Post by Gigermann on Apr 15, 2011 15:36:24 GMT -6
Thinking about the makeup of the group thus far, such as we have, and I'm a little worried about the (non) party mechanic that's developing—maybe unjustified, since we don't have all that much info ATM, but better to be safe. Here's what I'm thinking: Everybody needs to consider their current character concept, and ask a few questions: - Why are [you] going to stay with this group?
- Why are [you] going to go along with the Hero's crazy-ass plan?
- Why would [you] step up and be the Hero, when the Hero is gone?
- What happens when [you] disagree?
If the answer to any of these questions is no/leave-the-group, you need to reconsider your character/motivation. Not only do we have to build individual characters, but—maybe more importantly—we have to build a team. That's the whole point of the Mag7Samurai thing (however close we end up sticking to it). We need to make sure that the group, as a unit, is fun to be a part of, and is functional enough to accomplish the mission (whatever that actually is).
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