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Post by WxMAN on Mar 4, 2013 12:21:51 GMT -6
Since Giger has put out the pitch we need to discuss what we as players want to do as far as characters....
CP: 200/-75/-5
Do we (as a group) want to be familiar with combat/weapons... as that is probably going to determine a bunch as far as how survival is going to go....
Thoughts?
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Post by LabRat on Mar 4, 2013 12:44:20 GMT -6
Since Giger has put out the pitch we need to discuss what we as players want to do as far as characters.... CP: 200/-75/-5 Do we (as a group) want to be familiar with combat/weapons... as that is probably going to determine a bunch as far as how survival is going to go.... Thoughts? As I have said in the other discussion, I like the idea of all of us being different. People are just going to know that your characters might not last very long if they are going with a character that isn't very good with guns. Or find another avenue of strength that will help the party and their own survival. For now, the character concept I have kicking around in my head (and probably because I am just in love with the state) is to be an alaskan outdoorsman. She has spent the last month traveling to TBD-state so that she can find the rest of her family and see if they survived. So she knows her way around firearms, she knows survival, and she probably knows how to fly since that is a rather common mode of travel in Alaska. She is far from being fleshed out, but that is the concept I was thinking of.
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 13:27:43 GMT -6
For now, the character concept I have kicking around in my head (and probably because I am just in love with the state) is to be an alaskan outdoorsman. If you haven't, watch The Edge
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 13:33:28 GMT -6
I should say, for the record, that this is one instance of a game where, if everyone doesn't work well together, or cover all the bases, the game (by genre) can still work—the typical "party" in most examples are misfit, at best. Just for the record…
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Mar 4, 2013 13:56:21 GMT -6
as far as character concept...I'm going to be leaning toward something like Daryl from TWD, redneck hunter type with a penchant for bows and knives
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 14:05:43 GMT -6
Probably won't hurt to have a backup
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Post by WxMAN on Mar 4, 2013 14:52:33 GMT -6
Sounds like Shelley and ChrisIII are expecting someone who has weapon familiarity/survival training... so I will adjust accordingly I guess
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 15:04:52 GMT -6
Sounds like Shelley and ChrisIII are expecting someone who has weapon familiarity/survival training... so I will adjust accordingly I guess What did you have in mind? Your idea might be better
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Post by WxMAN on Mar 4, 2013 15:17:17 GMT -6
I figured an 'average joes' campaign survival may be interesting... Not necessarily 'stat yourself' stuff, but something along the lines of "These 4(?) people are the first you've seen after a month of running... You don't know them, you don't trust them (yet), but 4 people can survive a lot easier than 1 alone.... and together you are going to have to learn how to survive in this PA world"
I'm concerned with survivalist/military types the 'zombie' menace will degrade into a more "action" feel with us mowing through a ton of 'mooks' and less of a "horror/survival" feel...
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 15:28:38 GMT -6
I figured an 'average joes' campaign survival may be interesting... Not necessarily 'stat yourself' stuff, but something along the lines of "These 4(?) people are the first you've seen after a month of running... You don't know them, you don't trust them (yet), but 4 people can survive a lot easier than 1 alone.... and together you are going to have to learn how to survive in this PA world" I'm concerned with survivalist/military types the 'zombie' menace will degrade into a more "action" feel with us mowing through a ton of 'mooks' and less of a "horror/survival" feel... That's all true…depends what feel you're going for; either is good. If we're shooting for average-joes, we should lower the point total. OTOH, zombies in a zombie show are really obstacles/scenery, and not the BBEG, per se— that's usually human, and that can end up very action/military. That said, if everyone does a survivalist type, or close to it, I think I know an easy way to get the 28-days…when the bombs (?) drop, everybody goes Red Dawn and buggers off to the woods, hides out until the food runs out, and returns later to find everything's gone.
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Mar 4, 2013 15:38:10 GMT -6
Well, what type of PA feel are we going for ...something like walking dead where the ratio is about 5000:1 of something less overwhelming? I've always like the ranged personnel ... and have dabbled with the redneck/country boy in some previous campaigns...I'm ok with the average joe's thrust into survival of the fittest type thing too
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Post by LabRat on Mar 4, 2013 15:49:59 GMT -6
To me, my character concept was the happy medium between marketing major and Navy Seal. I have a hard time believing that after at least a month that the marketing majors would survive, unless they completely hole up somewhere and the zombies just haven't found them yet. If it is average that you are looking for, then the points need to be reduced. That being said, an outdoorsmen from Alaska isn't something that is too terribly above average. She essentially knows how to shoot a gun and knows how to survive in the woods for an extended length of time (hence being able to survive the month after shit goes wrong). If we do a lot of urban combat, she's not going to be that effective. Shoot, my brother can shoot guns and fly planes, but I wouldn't consider him way above average.
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 15:58:10 GMT -6
Shoot, my brother can shoot guns and fly planes, but I wouldn't consider him way above average. You never know until you throw him a zombie apocalypse. The tone of the game will be set by the starting characters. If they are ultimate badasses, it will revolve around badassery. If they are fish-out-of-water, it will be about getting back into the water. If they all have funny names and backgrounds, expect a less-than-serious return.
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Post by WxMAN on Mar 4, 2013 16:23:52 GMT -6
That being said, an outdoorsmen from Alaska isn't something that is too terribly above average. She essentially knows how to shoot a gun and knows how to survive in the woods for an extended length of time (hence being able to survive the month after shit goes wrong). If we do a lot of urban combat, she's not going to be that effective. Shoot, my brother can shoot guns and fly planes, but I wouldn't consider him way above average. Well, assuming we are starting or originating in a relatively rural setting and these are stereotypical zombies, urban areas are just death traps in the beginning... those out in the country tend to survive longer just from the human population density being much smaller.... So I think people with less survival skills could easily survive one month... I doubt 1 in 10 folks could survive more than a year if given basic survival tools and forced to go it alone... I doubt I could survive a year honestly... Also, do you consider your brother average? Looking at wikipedia (the truest source of all true things on the internet) says there are ~0.6 million pilots in the US... Gallop (self reporting) polls put US gun ownership at ~50% (I'd say it may be a bit low) So all things being equal that means ~0.3 million people are both pilots and own guns... Given the US population is ~314 million people... Your brother as a pilot/gun owner represents 0.1% of the US population...
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 16:26:56 GMT -6
Your brother as a pilot/gun owner represents 0.1% of the US population... Yeah, but how many CPs is he?
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Post by LabRat on Mar 4, 2013 16:28:51 GMT -6
Shoot, my brother can shoot guns and fly planes, but I wouldn't consider him way above average. You never know until you throw him a zombie apocalypse. That wasn't supposed to be a knock on him. It was an example of an "average joe", who might be gifted in one or two areas that other people may not be. Another example would be that I would be willing to bet I have more medical knowledge than the average person, so if we were to raid a hospital, I would know what supplies to get. I don't know if N8 just wants us to be vanilla at everything and it is going to be a matter of time before a TPK. I guess I am confused on the overall tone. And we probably won't have the matter resolved until Rigil and DanE (see what I did there) weigh in.
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 16:32:00 GMT -6
I say we call him "Hudd"—he'll totally answer to it
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Post by WxMAN on Mar 4, 2013 16:39:08 GMT -6
Yeah, but how many CPs is he? I could make a 500 CP accountant who'd be fantastic to get your taxes done but useless in any kind of survival situation I don't know if N8 just wants us to be vanilla at everything and it is going to be a matter of time before a TPK. I demand full realism! Roll your D100 to determine employment sector! www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_201.htm(Remember to include 1-8 being unemployed!) ;D
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 16:48:43 GMT -6
Just a thought: we could do what I was planning for Earthfall, and start the game with the schmoes, and switch over (or not) to the badasses once some threshold is reached (the base, or whatever)
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 4, 2013 17:14:53 GMT -6
No character concept as of yet. Toyed with using John Noqed, still may. Leaning toward something else though, just not sure what.
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 17:50:00 GMT -6
I could make a 500 CP accountant who'd be fantastic to get your taxes done but useless in any kind of survival situation You could always use the Twilight:2000 random character generation, to its randomest, and rebuild the character in GURPS. Of course, you could end up dead before it starts
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 4, 2013 18:56:49 GMT -6
Inching toward a humorous (but not comedic) character concept: B-Grade Actor fallen on crappy times due to some sort of scandal ("It wasn't my fault. She said she was eighteen!") whose last actual part was in a zombie movie (or maybe even a cable-produced zombie series ala "The Walking Dead.") This gives the character a reason to be skilled in any number of areas without him ever being an expert in any of them. As it stands, I'm leaning toward him being something of a joke (think "cliched actor") who could conceivably evolve over the course of the campaign into someone that the other characters would no longer be embarrassed to admit knowing. Kind of thinking of using someone like Luke Wilson or Ben Stiller as the character image.
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Post by Gigermann on Mar 4, 2013 19:31:17 GMT -6
SyFy movie: The Dead Walkers
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 4, 2013 19:33:17 GMT -6
There ya go.
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Mar 4, 2013 23:30:11 GMT -6
Inching toward a humorous (but not comedic) character concept: B-Grade Actor fallen on crappy times due to some sort of scandal ("It wasn't my fault. She said she was eighteen!") whose last actual part was in a zombie movie (or maybe even a cable-produced zombie series ala "The Walking Dead.") This gives the character a reason to be skilled in any number of areas without him ever being an expert in any of them. As it stands, I'm leaning toward him being something of a joke (think "cliched actor") who could conceivably evolve over the course of the campaign into someone that the other characters would no longer be embarrassed to admit knowing. Kind of thinking of using someone like Luke Wilson or Ben Stiller as the character image. so would this be something similar to Johnny Cage in the MK universe (minus the comedy part)
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 5, 2013 9:58:26 GMT -6
Maybe a little, but Cage is actually very highly competent in his area of expertise (HTH), whereas my guy would be just slightly above average in a lot of different areas (at least initially.)
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Mar 5, 2013 11:56:05 GMT -6
So, going for the Tropic Thunder approach huh?
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Post by Rigil Kent on Mar 5, 2013 13:11:32 GMT -6
Not to that extent, no. He's an actor and I expect the other characters won't take him seriously at first, but I don't intend for him to be purely comedy relief or anything.
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Post by thedefiantbudah on Mar 5, 2013 14:52:07 GMT -6
I was meaning the Actor thrust into the real life situation for which he's currently filming...
So potentially what we have so far is ....
Zombie Expert (sort of) PR Rep for US Navy Good ol' boy Redneck
would that be about right?
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Post by LabRat on Mar 5, 2013 17:31:39 GMT -6
Wait, what? Who is the zombie expert and PR person?
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