The Role Playing Public Radio Forums
Play by Post Arena => Play by Post => Recruitment Board => : Arje May 13, 2010, 09:58:04 PM
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Game Title: St. Louis. the Gateway City
System: Dresden Files RPG
Players Wanted: 3-6
Posting Rate: Every other day or more often if you are capable
Special Rules:
Advancement Rules: Same as Game, these kinds of things will happen naturally. The Dresden Files RPG is pretty story driven.
I have a preorder copy PDF of the Dresden Files, and i'm looking to experiment with it.
For those of you who don't have access yet, character creation is as complex as it is basis, I think we can work through it on this medium. It's fairly story based.
This may be a mistake, but i want to create a game in the submerged level, which is the highest starting level, but it will allow you guys to play anything. You want to play a powerful fey, or a wizard of the white court or a werewolf/sorcerer, you can!
And we will all be working on creating St. Louis's supernatural side. I currently live there, and we can draw tons of stuff from the internet so it should be easy to get around. I think google maps and wikipedia will be playing a larger part in this game than in most fantasy games.
As for why St. Louis, other than the personal familiarity, St louis is known as the gateway city, it's the first important city west of the Mississippi in North America. I think that the larger world of the Dresden files fits in nicely in terms of how i can fit in the fey and the nevernever etc.
Running waters ground magical energies, and St Louis is surrounded on all sides by rivers and creeks. The mississippi must surely split the magical energy of the USA in half. That can be something to play around with.
Culturally, St Louis has a lot to offer, but at the same time prizes sort of old world sensibilities. Additionally, It's very very segregated in terms of how people interact. Rich money doesn't so much socialize with the old money, neighborhoods tend to be very established. People are aware of class and structure to a larger degree in STL. It has some mystical traditions and a lot of ghost stories and fables. The arch is a nice backdrop. the 1904 worlds fair is a never ending source of legends and backstory. The mounds of cahokia are going to be lots of fun to play around with.
And it's long been a hub for trains and planes and automobiles. But that is beginning to fade. It's no longer an airline hub, trains don't have the same importance for passenger purposes. STL is a city in something of a crisis.
And that's just the mundane.
Character concept stuff. You can all play wizards if you want. Or vampire or whatever. I'd like to see some differentiation in character archetypes, but i'm willing to run anything. My preference is for a healthy mix of supernatural and badass normal characters. Everyone will be clued into the supernatural as it were...
But if we want to be an awesome super vampire team or something like that, we can do that too.
The game makes a lot of use of templates, so...we can do all kinds of things.
If you have a long over arching story-plot for a character you want to work in: GREAT! Lets do it.
Last two things: 1) I will also be making a character, constrained by all the same things as you. I want to play around.
2) I have an overarching story line i plan on moving at a certain pace. But, as the dresden files RPG is based on relationships and you actually gain some of your mojo from the personal relationships you have with other players...You guys are more than free to run your own stuff with one another. Every character will have a chance to shine, and everyone will have a chance to DM something with them and some other player. We'll talk about the rules and what not for that much later, after we get through city and character creation, but it is a component to this game.
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I've never been in a Play by Post yet, but I'm willing to try it out, I really want to make a character in this. I need to finish reading the rules first though. Reserve me a spot!
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Reserved
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Now I have a tough decision to make...
Read the rules tomorrow, or go see Robin Hood.... Maybe I can load the rules on a palm reader and read them while seeing it.
Decisions decisions.
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I'm in. I haven't had the chance to play a character who can really wreck shit in a long time and I'd like to give it a go. I'd like to aim for a magical character with the ability to lay about with serious firepower but only rarely and at great cost. Basically an all or nothing style dude.
If that doesn't work for the story, I'll think of something else.
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I would like a go at this. I am enjoying the dark dark 4e game and would like to try Dresden.
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I would like to play also. I haven't cracked open the pdf yet though.
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I'm thinking for my high concept..... Wait for it..
A bounty hunter that specializes in hunting down male vampires who like to wear glitter.
In all seriousness though...
High Concept: Berserker of the Gods.
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I guess I'll join in on the fun. That's gonna be two PbP on this forum now!
I'm sure I can handle it.
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Here are some thoughts on a Riverboat gambler character. I have only skimmed over the Dresden pdfs, so have not looked at character creation in any detail.
Character Concept:
Born in 1832, he made a living as a riverboat gambler ( and when out of stake money, whatever he had to do, cat burglary, confidence scams ... ). He was caught cheating in a poker game, got the shit kicked out of him and thrown overboard to die. He washed up on the shore and healed normally, but with no scarring. From this point on he did not age. He also slowly discovered the ability to "sense the odds" in situations. This is a great skill for a gambler. Unfortunately, he will go sometimes against this sense, even though he know the odds are bad, and bet the longshot or the good story or his favorite. By following his heart instead of his mind, he usually loses. And when he loses, he loses big.
He heals naturally, but his scars go away quickly. Well, the physical ones at least.
Over the years, he has found his ability to not age is tied to being close to the Mississippi River. He left for New York after the War ( that one in the 1860's ), and found after a couple of years that he was aging normally. When he returned to the Delta, he stopped aging again. Since then he has not left for any extended periods.
I am thinking of the Minor Talent template, but the unaging ability may not fit. The only supernatural power ( other than the unaging ) would be something like Supernatural Sense - Sense the Odds ( it could also be a variant of Cassandra's Tears ). There could be other supernatural abilities that fit with his "criminal" background like cloak of shadows or spider climb. Inhuman Speed could be possible to account for his card cheating abilities, which he has gotten much better with over the years. All of these could also be handled with normal skills and stunts, to keep him more of a human. I haven't read enough of the book yet to get a full grasp of character creation.
His troubles would be gambling and backing the long odds. This would usually manifest in a weakness for a good story that will enlist his help, even though the task is doomed to fail. As many gamblers do, he wealth fluctuates between rich and broke with dramatic frequency, even if he could have used his ability to make a lot of safe money.
This is just a quick attempt at the character.
Here is a list of some of the powers/skills/stunts he could have. Not sure where the "doesn't age" comes in.
supernatural sense -
sense the odds ( cassandras tears? )
**cloak of shadows
**spider climb
**inhuman speed
skills -
alertness
contacts
deceit
empathy
performance
stealth
burglary
stunts -
acrobat
too fast to hit
cat burglar
ear to the ground
i know just the guy
read the surface
impersonator
let me tell you a story
another option for a template to account for the long life could be a red court pre vampire with the Tattoos of St. Giles, but not sure how he could have stayed unturned this long.
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I just made a quick google of st louis ghost stories and found out that the exorcism that The Exorcist was based on is from St. Louis. Also, it looks like the lost caves of St Louis may be useful.
http://www.prairieghosts.com/stlouis.html
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I bought a copy of the players book so I can make a character and learn the player rules. I'll be reading and rolling all day today.
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If we are using templates, I think I'll go with wizard. I'm not big on faith concepts (which a lot of them seem to be) and I like the flexibility.
However if we want to narrow the focus and all play the same type, ie all white vamps. I'm fine with that too.
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I think it would be cooler if we could all make different types of characters, but an all one archetype thing would be cool too.
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After a little reviewing of the templates I don't think wizard will be the one I need.
I do have a rough High Concept: "Out of Control Magical Engine"
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I do really this this High Concept thing, gives a lot of freedom to the characters. My Berserker of the Gods will enjoy meeting your Out of Control Magical Engine! WITH HIS SWORD! BUWAHAHA
Ahem... ignore that.
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Looking through the archetypes I think I'll either go for some sort of minor talent or just a normie.
Perhaps some sorta wizard?
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I do really this this High Concept thing, gives a lot of freedom to the characters. My Berserker of the Gods will enjoy meeting your Out of Control Magical Engine! WITH HIS SWORD! BUWAHAHA
Ahem... ignore that.
I think we switched over to playing Exalted at some point here.
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I've never played exalted, though I have wanted to.
I'm still trying to decide on my guy, though I know he will see himself as some sort of holy avenger, trying to smite all unnatural things.
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I imagine my character as a more convention and founcation member of magical society, likely on the side of the White Council who is trying to gain a proper control over his abilities. Some of his Troubles will be linked to his lack of control (my core Trouble at the moment is "Crap, the practice dummy is ashes... again").
I definitally want a group Aspect so we're all connected to one another mechanically. Something like: "Motley Bunch of Misfits" or "Coterie of the Unlikely".
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My character is going to be, kind of like an inquisitor. Hunting down the supernatural powers. But he'll also be very easily tempted by the power they can give. He might be coerced into, say, drawing upon some evil artifact to be able to accomplish his goals.
I just need to figure out how to best do this.
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Sounds like we'll need a pretty compelling reason for him to work with the rest of the party. Something in Phase 4, perhaps?
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Well, I'm thinking he might have had his life saved by another party member, and feels he owes a debt to said person, travelling with them and keeping them safe from harm, despite his hatred of the supernatural.
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I could work with you on that. My characters powers are supposed to be less than perfectly controlled. If I helped you out than you might think my abilities could be harnised to turn against the greater supernatrual world, much in the same manner that one could turn an evil idol against some vampires. Then you could use play friendship and desire to create a weapon against the supernatural as oppossing drives through out the game.
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Okay, I think I've settled on the high concept of a sorcerous vagabond.
some sort of walkin' dude who travels on the ancient highways of America.
An ageless stranger who has come to st. louis.
MUST REFINE CONCEPT
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Hey Tad, your concept sounds a bit like an apprentice, ie a lot of potential, but limited on training and control. You might be impressive enough for the White Council to want to keep you around even with your 'faults'. I'd say (if the New Star Wars movies weren't so bad), it be something like that.
I see my guy as not much of a company man, tow the line, or obey orders without question type. He'd be big on personal choice and personal responsibility, so I doubt he'd be on the best of terms with the Council. He's rather tolerant of most things or maybe he just doesn't care. Motivating him would be the biggest problem. However once he made up his mind, once he was focused then all hell would break loose. :P
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I like that Idea Tadanori!
He could try to "refine" you, and keep you on the morale path, and use your character to keep himself from succumbing to those same powers he considers to be evil.
My character is quite honest, and doesn't really care about other people's personal opinions, more suited to ordering and leading than following, though he doesn't just order either, he likes to lead by example, being the first into the fray.
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I like this apprentice thing Ryo threw out too. Have the White Council on one side of my character promising control (of the character's power and of his life) and have Bronnen's character on the other side promising purpose and 'freedom' after a fashion. And with Ryo's character such a free spirit the mix get even more interesting.
Okay, to represent the conflicting paths ahead of my character, one of my Troubles is gonna be "Balanced on the Razor Edge pf Neutral".
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I have a pretty good idea of what I want my character to be, working on most of it right now.
However, I have an idea for the city itself. As one of the themes, I'd like to propose. "A sin for your every fetish!"
What I mean by that is, for every possible depravity that someone could have, there is a place and people willing to give it to you.
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Thinking..
High concept: Freeform mage or Unfetter Fellow or Sidestepping Warlock
Troubles: No concern of Consequences or White Council Black Sheep or Hiding in Plain Sight
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Name: Mordred Thulsson
High Concept: Soldier of Faith
Trouble
other Aspects:
Template: True Believer
This is what I have so far, I'm having a little trouble getting used to the skills and stress, as well as the powers, but I'm getting the hang of it right now.
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Here is my first try with the crunchy stuff. The aspects still need some work.
He should be able to fit into a group by either owing people favors or some sort of noble quest that may strike his fancy.
Thaddeus "Lucky" Barlow
High Concept: Lucky Rogue with a Heart of Gold ... Silver?
Template: Minor Talent
Aspects:
Champion of the Underdog.
Graveyards are Filled with my Dead.
"No Balls, No Blue Chips".
Riverboat Gambler, both literally and figuratively.
Been around a long time and seen a lot.
Troubles:
Live long enough and you will owe everyone something.
Don't know when to fold 'em.
10 refresh, 35 skill
Supernatural Power:
( -1 ) supernatural sense - sense the odds
Mortal Stunts:
( -1 ) acrobat
( -1 ) catburglar
( -1 ) I know just the guy
( -1 ) read the surface
Skills: 3 Great, 3 Good, 3 Fair, 8 Average (17 total skills)
**** Burglary
**** Contacts
**** Deceit
*** Athletics
*** Empathy
*** Rapport
** Stealth
** Presence
** Alertness
* Investigation
* Performance
* Scholarship
* Guns
* Fists
* Resources
* Discipline
* Intimidation
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Would Thaddeus like to show up in one of my adventures? Perhaps he saved you from a gambler, or stopped you from cheating someone?
I do believe we should have two separate threads. One for character creation, and one for city creation.
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And we will. I'm going to create RPPR's first board now...
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Hurray! I'm almost done my character, just need to finish skills, powers and have my last two phases done with the other players.
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http://slangdesign.com/forums/index.php?board=16.0 (http://slangdesign.com/forums/index.php?board=16.0)
This thread is closed. Please click on the above link to go to our new forum home...I'll leave this up for a few days before i move it to the archives so that people can see it.
It's not to late to join us if you are just seeing this now, please PM me with a concept if you'd like to play.