Second Chances (OOC)

[Comrade Cosmonaut 490]

So, firstly, thanks to everyone who volunteered to join this game, and if you don't get in, then fear not. If this goes well I will be making a new one at some point, and if it doesn't go well, then clearly that's the players' fault, so I'll need more, right?

 

Secondly, here are some answers to questions I saw.

 

Yes, you may know of one another if you so choose; it can be all of you, or just some of you, or none of you, it won't change the game from my end of things, but if it makes it easier or more fun for you lot, then by all means.

 

Absol was correct that we'll be beginning with the group stripped of their possessions and freedom and locked up. Though it was a swing and a miss about that being why there are no credits. I do not intend for anyone to get their hands on numbers of credits for this game. Either the Force will guide you or you'll be rewarded with things as payment when necessary.

 

I like that morality that Maelora uses much more than the one from the books by default, but even then it still falls victim to the major component I don't like -- I feel it should be a role playing tool, not a mechanic with a benefit for the players to work toward. I could write volumes about this, so I'm going to just cut it short. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, but I'm still going to be using the Duty mechanic, and I will futher explain it.

 

There are so many traditions, thoughts, concepts, stances, and beliefs about the Force and what it is and how it works. Over the course of the journey, I want to explore these ideas and allow the characters to interact with them and take them and use them however they see fit, if they even see fit to at all. As each character furthers their contribution to the restoration of enlightenment and study and practice of the Force, they will be rewarded mechanically, materially, and narratively.

 

Each of you should review the Duty mechanics and see how you think your character might want to get involved in this if they had any notion of it going in.

 

If you don't mind, could you lovlies include a link to your sheets again for me, so they're all close together for my lazy ass?

[Kael 1,865]

So long as I get a sniper rifle we're good  . Oh and recover my duster!!

 

Here's Kolah's sheet again. Also I'm open to linking up backgrounds with others if that's what they want to do.

[The Shy Ion 502]

Here's Aanu: http://swsheets.com/c/ek4vtcwur-aanu

[Absol197 5,296]

Kalira Belami, Imperial Elitist super-b...witch.

 

And as for the question floating around in the recruitment thread, Kalira does not know she's Force-sensitive.  This abduction came a quite a surprise and depending on the circumstances, she's probably not even sure yet why she was taken.  Even if she knows the reason, she doesn't believe it.

 

EDIT:  Duty...Duty...hmm, I'll look it over.  Do you have any examples you could give me on Duties to the Force that we might have?  I'm not sure I really grok what you're getting at there quite yet.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Absol197

[Comrade Cosmonaut 490]

If you all want to link up backgrounds, if the opportunity arises, look into Cypher system or Numenera (the setting originally for Cypher System) as it has guides and rules for doing just that. You know, in case nothing comes to mind.

[sinistar 46]

I would love nothing more than to link a sheet and glory in having it done, but I am having massive issues with SWSheets. Does anyone else almost (ALMOST) constantly get "internal server error" when trying to save the sheet, and all the work done since the last successful save is gone? I checked the issues and nothing matched, and I submitted a bug ticket, but I wondered if this was a thing anybody else has seen. It seems to only be one type of box: the description for the force powers.

[Absol197 5,296]

I had that problem the first time I tried to use it, too.  The issue is certain text boxes are really sensitive to going over their character count, and they don't let you know which ones those are and what the character count is.

 

For the "description" of the Force powers, I just put the little blurb in the beginning of the basic power, and then put the actual mechanical effects of the basic power as the first "upgrade" for that power.  Cleared it up for me - hopefully it'll work for you, too!

 

EDIT:  For an example, in the description for Influence, I put:  "You can guide, shape, and even twist the thoughts and feelings of others."  Then I put the basic power ("As an action, make an Influence power check. Spend [O] to inflict 1 strain on an Engaged target. May be activated multiple times.") as an upgrade.

 

For Seek, to clean it up and prevent erasure, I would separate the two different basic powers into different "upgrade" slots so that you don't have too long of a string in one box.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Absol197

[sinistar 46]

So it's not just random chance or some characters--or, it is, but it's all the characters, all of the ones that go over the unknown limit. Thank you, Absol. You have saved me.

[Absol197 5,296]

No problem .  That's sort of what I do - if you ever have a moment, take a look at my Trends, Statistics, and Predictions! thread on the Edge of the Empire forum, and you'll see me at my best/worst...

Edited August 30, 2016 by Absol197

[The Shy Ion 502]

Yeah, SWSheets doesn't like the Force power descriptions. I hadn't thought about putting them in upgrades, though! I'll probably do that from now on.

Edit: I second the question of how having a Duty to the Force works. >_<

Edited August 30, 2016 by The Shy Ion

[Kael 1,865]

I had the same problem when I first started using it too. Was frustrating as all get out. 

[Blackbird888 4,110]

Ze'nemon.

 

So, I think I've got a rough beginning of Ze'nemon's backstory now.

Ze'nemon was a member of a small Kyuzo clovoc, a warrior group, numbering only a few dozen members. His clovoc were quite a noble bunch, and hired themselves out as 'defenders' for what they deemed 'noble causes,' such as protecting people as bodyguards, hunting dangerous fugitives, fighting pirates, that sort of thing. Ze'nemon himself joined at a young age, and trained in the group as one of their shadowy agents, often used to recon and stealth.

 

Unfortunately for Ze'nemon's group, they were hired by the Empire as peacekeepers for a particular mission in the Expansion Region (to fight against wide-scale terrorism and insurgency), but were betrayed when the Empire barraged the planet they were on from orbit, killing most of the group, along with many civilians and the insurgents, who were really Rebel agents. Ze'nemon, due to his skills and role in the band, was the sole survivor. Outraged, Ze'nemon attempted to 'ask back' what the Empire took from him, but was subdued and imprisoned instead.

 

Ze'nemon is, of course, sensitive to the Force. Although he is not aware of the Force as a concept the Jedi and Sith know it, he is aware of his powers (as were a few of his companions and mentors on Phatrong), and cultivates them, although he is satisfied to do so subtly and minimally, and tries not to use them openly.

[Comrade Cosmonaut 490]

Yeah, I had a feeling duty for the Force might be a stumbling block. It's okay, it's not a straight forward thing.

 

Duty, in its default state, is a contribution to a cause. Again by default, this cause is supposed to be to the Rebel Alliance, how do you contribute and do your duty? Just replace Rebel Alliance with The Force. How do you serve the Force?

 

Eliminate agents of the dark? Or the light? Or do you uncover and collect artifacts of the Force traditions that used to flourish across the galaxy? Do you study from holocrons and spread the messages and teachings?

 

The Force strives to be seen, to be acknowledged, and for balance. Can you help it with this? Will you help it with this? Given the time period and galactic state of affairs, fulfilling your duty will likely bring a lot of problems for you on your journey of discovery.

[The Shy Ion 502]

Ah! I think I see now. Hmm.

Well. What Aanu is trying to do is find the underlying truth of the Force through study of its traditions. How that translates into Duty... right. I think I've got something.

Duty: Restoration. (I think I need a better word—suggestions?)

"Under the Empire's authority, most knowledge of the Force has been lost or destroyed. What hasn't been erased has been buried in mountains of propaganda. But everything broken leaves shards behind. Aanu sees it as her Duty to pick up the pieces, rebuilding the knowledge that the Empire has destroyed."

Basically, she's supposed to be piecing together a coherent idea of the Force, and spreading it to others. She hasn't been doing a very good job of the latter so far—the Empire having her notes does not count.

That work?

[Comrade Cosmonaut 490]

Ah! I think I see now. Hmm.

Well. What Aanu is trying to do is find the underlying truth of the Force through study of its traditions. How that translates into Duty... right. I think I've got something.

Duty: Restoration. (I think I need a better word—suggestions?)

"Under the Empire's authority, most knowledge of the Force has been lost or destroyed. What hasn't been erased has been buried in mountains of propaganda. But everything broken leaves shards behind. Aanu sees it as her Duty to pick up the pieces, rebuilding the knowledge that the Empire has destroyed."

Basically, she's supposed to be piecing together a coherent idea of the Force, and spreading it to others. She hasn't been doing a very good job of the latter so far—the Empire having her notes does not count.

That work?

Hell yeah, that works, Your Duty is fulfilled through your contributions to the restoration of knowledge of the Force. It may not have been very well understood at the height of the enlightened period, but it is quite a bit less well documented now then before. The more you learn, and the more you understand, and the more you share of your knowledge and understanding, the more you will contribute to the cause.

 

Fantastic.

[sinistar 46]

With what the Empire has taken from the gankian and her contracts that remain to be fulfilled, her duty centers on protecting non-Imperial Force-sensitives--to stab at the Empire despite the attempted  genocide on Jedi and other Force-users, if nothing else. If the Force-wielders are hostile toward her--well, she can take down almost anyone nonlethally.

 

The gankian, name pending.

[Absol197 5,296]

...dang, I'm really having trouble with the Duty thing. Any suggestions that are suitably Mystic-y?

EDIT: Okay, okay wait. How about this: using the name of a Mystic spec I would love to see but almost assuredly won't (the Dreamwalker), could we say that Kalira's Duty is to discover something new about the Force and share it with others? Plumb the Astral deeps and find something no other Force tradition has, start her own?

That's a really big job and she'd suck at it mightily to start, but a wondrous legacy to try and bring into being, no?

Hopefully that will work.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Absol197

[Blackbird888 4,110]

It's not a bad concept, as far as a storytelling element goes. The main problem the Morality system has is it doesn't offer the GM much to build a game for the players in the way Obligation/Duty does. Maybe we could call it something else though. Burden? Charge? Commitment?

 

Give me a little bit of time, and I can whip up a d100 sheet for Force Duties.

[sinistar 46]

I love the idea of Aanu recovering the past, while Kalira forges new approaches to the force. I really like the label "Dreamwalker."

We're three bounty hunters/mercenaries (at least one of whom worked for the Empire prior to being betrayed), one marginalized "alien" scholar, and a former Imperial socialite. Two of the former worked in groups that are now gone--betrayed by the Empire, or flat-out slaughtered by it. Did Ze'nemon's jobs prior to the betrayal include capturing people, maybe these people?

I will admit that the gankian's employer caught wind of what was going on, but not why, and the contract of the moment is "get in, find out, help those who need you." The loss of her pack is an unfortunate complication. Anyone interested in also infiltrating through imprisonment? The gankian, as a guardian, could absolutely be working with or escorting someone once in Imperial hands.

Kael, I see that your false lord there has Seek. I know the overlap is fine, especially given PC tendencies to split the party, but I may look at suppress or heal/harm instead or in addition.

I am so excited!

Edited August 30, 2016 by sinistar

[Absol197 5,296]

It's not a bad concept, as far as a storytelling element goes. The main problem the Morality system has is it doesn't offer the GM much to build a game for the players in the way Obligation/Duty does. Maybe we could call it something else though. Burden? Charge? Commitment?

Give me a little bit of time, and I can whip up a d100 sheet for Force Duties.

Ooh, that would be neat! Thanks, Blackbird!

I love the idea of Aanu recovering the past, while Kalira forges new approaches to the force. I really like the label "Dreamwalker."

That's kinda what I was thinking. We have someone who is trying to recover/reclaim the Force's past, maybe to balance/harmonize with that we need someone who's trying to discover/create the Force's future.

The Force is all things and all times, it's needs both its memory of where is from and a path for where to go to be complete...

Ooookay, stopping now before I lapse into a philosophical dissertation. That's my current idea. Mr. Spaceman can tell us if he likes it or not.

Edited August 30, 2016 by Absol197

[Blackbird888 4,110]

Ze'nemon's group was more towards the Hired Gun end of the scale, and not Bounty Hunters. As long as their job was agreeable to their code, they would take it. Bodyguards, search and rescue, escort, peacekeeping, that kind of stuff.

[The Shy Ion 502]

I feel like this is going to force Aanu and Kalira to work together with their Duties, and it's going to be great. Especially since they're both a bit abrasive. (Yeah, Presence 1 and her only social skill being Coercion... Aanu might be more a talker than a fighter, but her mouth basically has three settings: snark, information, and intimidation.)

[Comrade Cosmonaut 490]

Everyone needs a snark setting.

I rather like the Dreamwalker. And that's all I shall say for now.

Also, just wanted to mention this. I'm very happy to see you all talking and working on characters together. Three of you had characters that were mostly done by the time I made the thread, but it's great to see the camraderie and how helpful folks are being. Expect a post rather soon detailing gear and items.

[Absol197 5,296]

I feel like this is going to force Aanu and Kalira to work together with their Duties, and it's going to be great. Especially since they're both a bit abrasive. (Yeah, Presence 1 and her only social skill being Coercion... Aanu might be more a talker than a fighter, but her mouth basically has three settings: snark, information, and intimidation.)

That would be very interesting indeed. Muahahaha, I like it! It would be funny if the Force kept drawing them together, like whenever the party gets split up, no matter how much they dislike each other they always somehow end up in the same group, because their paths are Yin and Yang and need to balance each other. Even their approaches to social situations seem like they balance - Aanu is direct and forceful, Kalira is very sly and subtle.

That would be a very fun dynamic, I think! It's going to bug the crud out of Kalira until she finally gets it through her thick skull that there's a reason for it, which makes it all the better !

 

 

Everyone needs a snark setting.

I rather like the Dreamwalker. And that's all I shall say for now.

Yay, I did something right !

 

Also, just wanted to mention this. I'm very happy to see you all talking and working on characters together. Three of you had characters that were mostly done by the time I made the thread, but it's great to see the camraderie and how helpful folks are being. Expect a post rather soon detailing gear and items.

Well, personal opinion, but that's how these things are supposed to go, I think. A party that doesn't have reason to stay together fractures, either held together by the messy glue of "this is a game, so we have to stick together," or the game ends because people can't stretch their credulity enough. So coming together and forging links, however tenuous, to hold the group together is a necessity.

Plus, it's just fun to bounce ideas off each other and see what sticks !

Edited August 30, 2016 by Absol197

[Blackbird888 4,110]

Here's that list, if this is what we're getting at: Force Duty.