OOC - Let it begin!

[qwerty123]

:tsk:

[Akuma]

There is no need to post your characters to the thread, and I would rather you sent them to me directly, so that we don't have people looking over stats and giving suggestions based on paper rather than interaction. Thanks.

[qwerty123]

So are we to not know what character each player is playing; because if that is the case, too late for me. I already know the other character types.

Also help me out here, what is the background. I gather we as PC's attacked an IT X facility; how well do I know the rest of the party? Do I know them for the various types of 'special' beings they are? I just need a bit to go on before I can post.

[qwerty123]

Query for the almighty ST. Do you think I might be able to find someone via my background of influence that could have a box of bullets shipped to me? If not do you think that the resident were-wolf is sufficiently technologically based to help in construction of bullets? Or am I just being too paranoid and it will not be that hard to get bullets in Japan. I really want them especially if we are hunted by the Technocracy; since without them as a party we lose a whole lot of what little combat edge we have.

[Akuma]

Okay, let me try to answer both posts at once.

As far as knowing each other's character types goes, It depends on whether we all agree to the concept of the 3 Amigos plus one. It would seem that the three Amigos know each other, so Nevermore the Mage, Adam Young, the Werewolf, and Baljeet Singh the Hindi Immortal all know each other and generally what each can do.

But Joe's character, who looks middle-eastern was just the only one the group could save from the clutches of the Iteration X trap. Once Joe can get his ducks in a row, we can start on that, and through IC, get to know each other better (though there is little time for things with the Xers heading after you...)

As far as ammo goes... If you have a background contact you want to spend for a military contact (not police) who might be in Japan at the same time, he could possibly send you some bullets, but it would be a one time thing only, and limited. Guns are EXTREMELY RESTRICTED in Japan, and using one is likely to bring down the house as it were.

You did say that you wanted more of a mystery and thinker than a shoot-em-up game. You only really need bullets to cover the effect of the mage-shot for purposes of keeping paradox demons at bay. But if your gun looks fake and everyone expects it to be just a bb gun, then having real bullets may not help much. you'll definitely be counting bullets and being very careful of how they are used...

btw. could you please resend the copy of your mage to my gmail account. You put it here, but I don't have it on my pc where I need to access it as a ST.

[qwerty123]

Ok I will resend my character. As for the three amigo's plus one - I like that idea, so my vote is for that. Also you are right I am all for a mystery game but when we were making characters for this you seemed to be pretty adamant that combat was needed. Let's be honest I can't imagine that our play styles changed that much from PSU, so no matter what combat will erupt. : )

How a bout this solution, since I have yet to use my wonder, can I change it to the symbol on the gun? The symbol grants the weapon it is in touch with to do it's enchanted prime 2 effect of agg. damage, we could give it a corr. 1 effect to make it transferable from weapon to weapon. That way I can have an airsoft gun and get ammo there.

[lawwnum]

Ya the 3 amigo's plus 1 sounds like a good plan. And ,if we are going to go that way all powerful ST, then if necessary could I use my military contact to get ammo for Chris if it comes to that?

Also a little bird told me about Joe's character concept, and I love it his guy and my guy will get along like bread and butter, IF he doesnt change his mind or the character too much.

Also if we are going to go the Amigo route we should try to get some mutual background stuff worked out. Of course we will need everyone to do that right but at least me and Chris can maybe get a basic ackstory worked out.

[qwerty123]

Yeah I could really get behind this concept. I think it would be neat to find out what Joe's dude is and what he can do. Brings a little mystery.

[Akuma]

Sounds good. Yes, I'll allow the Military contact to send bullets, but they will be a limited number and likely hidden (smuggled) inside of something else. By the way, I've seen that Nevermore's gun is a .45, but do you mean a colt 45 revolver or a 45 ACP? For arcanum style, I like the revolver. Less parts to break. it can also have story...

Go ahead and work on a backstory for the 3 Amigos (or whatever name you choose). Maybe Eric and joe might eventually be great together, but if the first impression says anything, you guys might be at each other's throats despite the common inner desires.

Finally, I'm going to have to get this game moving despite the lack of posts by Spoogie or Joe. I know they are busy, but if we wait and wait, the game will die out. Let's say that Joe's character is passed out and spoogie is watching over him.

The next section is the shopping run...

[qwerty123]

You know I always pictured a modern police issue - like a 9mm. However I can really like this old school revolver idea. Think I will go with that. Good idea Akuma!

[lawwnum]

Yes Old school can be cool, slight limitation if we get into anything heavy(6 shots) but VERY stylish.

Ok we're doin the3 amigoes, Excellent, first query for qwerty :) ad the ST of course. I will have to assume then this isnt our first mission like this that we've done then, but obviously our biggest screww-up. How do we want to explain that an do we even need to?

Second I got a hook-up with Spooge's Garou, I knew his great to the 3rd or 4th power grand father and kinda kept in touch with the family down thru the years. How is Butch's mage get mixed up with us and how long have we known each other? Just so we can get a handle on how to interact with each other. Perhaps make some odd quirks or the ever popular catch-phrase that individuals are prone to doing.

[Akuma]

Okay, if everyone's cool with it, let's go wit the revolver. Specially, since its a Wonder/talisman, it would fit if its older than sin itself... can have a nice backstory. That can also be part of the connection between lawwnum and Qwerty. Perhaps Qwerty helped originally craft the weapon for an old mage friend in the wild west days. The mage enchanted it, and the two kicked butte... also, Spoogie's Garou, Adam, comes from a mixed Sept where lots of the non-wolf mating comes from mages. I won't say that Qwerty and Spoogie are necesarily related, but they could have taken him in long ago, and so the werewolf ancestors and gun connection brings the circle together...

How's that sound?

[lawwnum]

Hmmmmmmmmm I think that can work. And assuming the gun passed within the Mage's family that would give me a connection to Butch's ancestors as well.....LOL great I'M everyones eccentric uncle LMAO!

Or Chris if you want to make it a TRUE Wonder we could make it be the gun of a Gunslinger from the line of Arthur Eld of Gilead. Now THAT would be a wonder! if you dot get the reference Mr. ST I'll let Chris explain if he so chooses.

[Akuma]

I think we'll probably say that the pistol is special, but not THAT special. He didn't pay that much to have it.

By the way, Just for reference purposes, I am going to indicate that the party is currently in a fictional town in Arizona that I'm loosely basing on Flagstaff. I'm going to call it Flagstand, Arizona. I chose Arizona because the recent immigration frackus would work in the favor of MIB and Iteration X's experiments. For the shopping phase, I will figure on the group heading towards a generic mall. If anyone wants to know general topography or what might be around, feel free to google Flagstaff, and then give me a OOC heads up/reference. K?

[lawwnum]

Flagstand AZ.......ok well that wouldof TOTALLY eliminated my bank reference.LOL

[qwerty123]

Please don't hate me but I might be off the grid for the next two days. Not sure if where we are going to be staying will have internet access or not. Right now I am at my Sister-in-laws and have a brief moment to let you all know.

Sorry to have to slow it down just when I got going. :disa.ed:

Oh, and Akuma I talked to my two friends. One is intersted but is very sick. Once he is back on his feet I think he will make a character. The other guy said it would be great to game online, and then never got back to me. Oh well.

[Thanos]

M

O

U

T

H


You guys are getting so screwed, its AWESOME!

[lawwnum]

hey anyone else havig probs with it booting your login when your trying to type moere then 2 sentences?

[Akuma]

Yeah, but I thought that was normal for this website. I just write out my mail, then do a copy and paste very quickly after signing in... Is that normal, or is there a problem?

By the way, everyone, I hope you will soon welcome Thanos into the game...

[qwerty123]

I think I have uncovered the Mystery of Mura-Cho, Japan...it will be a mystery if the party survives to get there.

:)

[lawwnum]

LOL yes Qwerty it will be a mystery how we got there!

And Thanos are you following the game? And if so you STILL want to join in :tsk: well we always welcome another glutton for punishment!

[Akuma]

Well, hey, you have to have some reason to lay low in Japan, don't you? I think exploding HIT-Marks serves as a good deterrent to sticking around in one place too long, don't you? Why should the middle east be the only ones with bombers....?

Of course, I always try to leave some options open.... not necessarily good options, but this is what you get for not disguising Flynn in the least bit before going back out in public again...And now Iteration X has Nevermore's latest face, too.

Can't wait to see how you guys get out of this one...

[lawwnum]

And how the HELL do you disguise a 5'10 man o Indian descent that i basically immune to magic? Like Make-up would of worked. Beside I would of thught he hadhis face covered during the raid that dumped this load of feces down our necks

[lawwnum]

By the way does anyone expect to ever see Joe or Spooge here or should we write them off now?

[qwerty123]

I have a sinking feeling they will not appear.

[Thanos]

But as a conciliation prize you get ME!


Oh, sorry, that might not be a prize........at least he is not a Ragabash Nuisha!

[qwerty123]

........at least he is not a Ragabash Nuisha!

So you are saying you are no fun then?
:D

[Thanos]

Oh, it will be fun for ME.....just maybe not you!

[qwerty123]

Your a turd. :shit:
:fun:

[Akuma]

Turds are fun too... I need to fling something, don't I?

I just want to go over 1 point that should be obvious... I'm not up to speed with all the latest rules and books.

I only have a few books here in Japan, and its taking me time to pour over them to find what I need to know. I'm fine with shooting from the hip, but not everyone else is.

If you want me to roll out the numbers, please OOC the skills/attributes etc. you want to use. Like Dex4 + Brawl 3 for 7 dice to pummel Ms. X. That way I'll be able to reply faster.

If you are okay with just cinematic, I'll use base target numbers and if you have more points than is needed you get it done...

K?

[lawwnum]

Works for me.............

[qwerty123]

Cinematic is great for me...better flow for the story. It is in your hand me ST.

[Thanos]

I always use Cheat Sheets of what characters have to attack/dodge/soak/areta/spheres :-)

.....but that is me.

[Akuma]

Cheat sheets work. Just tell me what you are using and how many dice. I'll take care of the rest. Ok?

[Thanos]

Thanos: Are you using persuassion to get the guy out of the truck or just a good Hong Kong English? Just wondering.
--Just yelling at him. Was saving the action to get out of the way or help in some way instead.

Extra Edit: I am taking some license in assuming someone with the Spirit Speech Gift would be able to understand that ancient language of Enochian which is used to talk to spirits by the Hermetics. Also gives a little bit of storyline SNAZ as a method of having the two actually want to hang out or travel together!

[Akuma]

OOC: Ok, here is how I am going to play Spirit Speech. I think of it as a quasi-universal translator that allows the werewolf to make its intentions known to spirits/awakened creatures. That way when in Hispo/Lupus form, the awakened can understand its barks and grunts. Likewise, The Werewolf can understand the whisperings of spirits or the languages of different creatures.

BUT NOT PERFECTLY. you'll note that I say the user can make people know its intentions, and those are all that Spirit speech can confer to the werewolf as well. So, through Spirit Speech, Luo can understand that Pope was using a kind of magic to heal the woman, but it does not teach Luo Enochian nor the rites of the Mages.

In the case where Luo speaks English already, using Spirit Speech to communicate his intentions to Pope would be rather useless... as it would give less information than English would. If Luo only spoke Chinese, then Spirit Speech would be useful to get basic meanings known to Pope and Flynn.

Okay?

[qwerty123]

Works for me, it will be kinda neat to have a 'secret' language we can share as PC's. Even if we can only share intention, that can be pretty powerful in certain situations.

[Thanos]

Which is why I wanted Luo to have it instead of Mother's Touch ;-) seeing as our resident Life Mage is still ticking.

Picking up the Touch later, sounds like a good idea though!

[Akuma]

What was that old watch commercial.... Takes a licking, and keeps on ticking.... for now. At least for game purposes, when Luo goes Kujo, you'll be able to keep the lines of communication open.

[Spoogie]

Hey, guys. I've finally got some time to read through all that has happened so far. I can start in whenever you want me to.

[qwerty123]

Glad to see you made it Spoogie. So what do you think of all the trouble we have managed to get into in such a short amount of time?

[qwerty123]

Just a heads up, Thanos is with out a computer until Thursday night.

[Akuma]

Okay, so. Spoogie has joined us, and Mantit is making his mummy. So, guess we can say they wake up and Sylvester gives them a kick in the ass, and some car keys to go find you guys. How about a cell call IC to update and relocate?

[lawwnum]

Sounds good

[Thanos]

HAHA! I got onto a computer. While my wife is on the phone!

If anybody ever gets to the MALL and needs it.....Luo can go in with the wad of cash from the till/safe and get the suits. That way none of the 'recognizable' people will have to step out of the van and get on camera and noticed by the seemingly all knowing Tech-Heads. Idea created by Q123.

And, just for you paranoid people out there. I noticed that when I went to the airport last night that when I went to do the quick check in, the ke-osk that that prints the ticket (and you put your credit card in) has a little camera build right into it. Should you stand in front and use it normally, it takes your picture and they have a picture with a name on a CC. Sneaky little buggers! Needless to say, I stood to the side......Fracken Technocrats!

[Akuma]

Darned. I was gonna keep that for a surprise for when the group gets to the airport.

[Akuma]

Of course, Luo'd have to get everyone's measurements before going in... luckily, Mr. Pope has already gotten everyone's sizes down, right? (figure that's a forces/life1 kinda thing).

[qwerty123]

You know it Akuma, as good as a tailor. :)

[Spoogie]

First things first, we gotta loose the tail (sorry Thanos), but no one ever said that we had to go to the mall in Flagstand.:devious:

[Akuma]

Welcome Zoltan! Glad to have you join us. I'm awaiting your character, and will start you in ASAP.

[Thanos]

On the subject of Car Alarms....

Next vehicle that I get I will have them REMOVE the fracken alarm. I have been woken up in the middle of the night, electrocuted (my own fault somewhat), and the number of times I have had to go turn it off in the middle of the S. NV summer is gruesome!

and on to other matters....Steally steally that vehicle already.

[Akuma]

These days, the car alarms serve more as a cheerleader for thieves. no one else even pays them any mind, and the alarm tells the thief that you have something that you don't want stolen, so its worth stealing.

But what's the best alternative?

[Thanos]

I liked the one in RoboCop. Doesn't say anything till you get in, then it wraps you up and FRIES the thief! (or you if you didn't undo the defenses).

Best bet is to not have a lot of extra's in the car (ie radio, sound equipment) and keep all valuables hidden (trunk, under seat). Good thieves will get anything they want, first, then get caught, perhaps, later.

[Spoogie]

OK, now that were almost all together (with the exception of Joe). I'd like to get it straight who each of the players are (no reason other than curiosity). I know querty123, and Akuma. I think lawwnum is GG. Thanos, I have no idea.

[lawwnum]

Someone give Spoogie a Cupie-doll LOL

[Spoogie]

Wow, GG, I haven't seen you since you almost blew up my car battery. BTW, I had to compression start it for 6 months before I figured out you shorted out the Ground wire. What a crazy 6 months of parking that was.

[Thanos]

OK, now that were almost all together (with the exception of Joe). I'd like to get it straight who each of the players are (no reason other than curiosity). I know querty123, and Akuma. I think lawwnum is GG. Thanos, I have no idea.




I am playing Lou, a chinese werewolf.

[Spoogie]

I am playing Lou, a chinese werewolf.

I meant, I don't know if we (not the characters) have met before or not. All the others, I met up in State Collage, PA.

[Thanos]

As far as I know we never met. If we did I do not remember or it was a large group of people and you were not the only new person.

[Spoogie]

We really didn't do the large groups of people thing so chances are that we didn't meet. Well then, nice to meet you.

[Thanos]

Likewise. I have heard so many things about you, all bad of course! ;-)

[Spoogie]

I'm flattered, although they likely held out on the really good (I mean bad) stuff. :devious:

[qwerty123]

Yeah, I might not have mentioned the time you caught your gloves on fire when you refilled your lighter. Good time.

[lawwnum]

HMMMMMMMMMMM funny I dont remember trying to kill you.......Oh well I was young and didnt know how to do it properly yet :)

[Spoogie]

Ah, yes..."Oh, look I'm on fire...Hey this is starting to hurt."

You remember the Star Wars video game marathon night? We were drinking a case of Red Wolf and a Black Cat wandered into my apartment. Of course we both thought it was Eric's girlfriend Becky who we all think was a witch. We were messing around with it and I threw it up on my loft. I lost my balance, grabbed onto one of the 2x4 railings which the broke; giving me a nice long cut down my back. Of course this was only further proof that it was Becky.

[Akuma]

I think I missed that one. I only remember the 48hour marathon whitewolf session where we went through a carton of smokes each while there was a blizzard outside. I had to burn my clothes to get the stench out.

And of course, I also remember escaping from MBNA with Spoogie while Manager Brent went looking for us...

[Spoogie]

Oh yeah, the mission impossible escape from MBNA.

It was our last night working there.
Brent: Do you know what time it is.
we both turn to look at the clock on the wall (I think it was like 5 after 6).
Brent: Well your too late, there are no more computers. (he turns and walks away)
we look at each other, I say, "Well, I guess we'll go home then." Akuma agrees, and we start to slinkaly walk towards the door. Brent comes back and says something about following him, but we are already committed to the escape I think I said something to the effect of "No, no we're too late, we'll just go home." And then ran for the door. After that it was like anything that could possibly slow us down jumped right in front of us. Security, I cant find the key to my car, the door won't unlock, the car won't start, get down so they can't see us in the car. All along I heard the Mission Impossible theme, or was that you Akuma?

[qwerty123]

Man that is too funny about the MBNA days. I forgot all about Brent. Who was it that asked him as a joke if he ever killed a man and he answered 'never anyone that didn't deserve it'.

[Spoogie]

That was me. He also told me this other story about his days at Paris Island. I went in on a Saturday Morning, really tired I wasn't making any sales. I told Brent I was just too tired, He says "Tired, you don't know the meaning of tire, back at boot camp we were on a field exercise, I hadn't slept for 3 days, standing up to my waist in a swamp, at night, all of a sudden there was this bright light, and I was holding a fishing pole, and I said 'The fishing doesn't seem to good around here.' The next thing I know, I'm holding my M-16, and my buddy standing next to me says 'What the hell are you talking about'. I was so tired I was hallucinating, so don't tell me your tired, you don't even know the meaning."

Who was the other squirrelly guy that Badman threatened to set on fire.

[qwerty123]

Josh Kelso. He had the hottest girlfriend, I think her name was Megan. I don't remember the exact thing said but Kenny made a Hitler refrence to Josh that went over like a lead ballon.

[Spoogie]

I seem to remember something about that, at least I can guess the context.

[Akuma]

Missed that... vaguely remember kelso... he had glasses, right?

Yeah Spoogie, that was me doin the Mission Impossible theme while we were escaping Brent's evil eye. heh heh.

And Butch's favorite little ditty... "The loop, the loop, Ride the loop until you puke." or something like that. and 4 dollar pizzas. Damn I miss that place... even with the riots.

[qwerty123]

Yeah that pizza at Pennsylvania Pizza was great. So was the grub from DP Dough, I would kill for some of that right about now.

[Spoogie]

Gumby's Poky Stix

[qwerty123]

And a dirty drink from John Henry's. I remember those nights after leaving MBNA and heading over there until they turned the lights on.

[lawwnum]

Sadly John Henry's and Pennsyvania Pizza are no more, altho DP Dough is still going strong I believe.

[Akuma]

That's sad to hear. I hope the Diner is still there. I remember that their chilli was pretty good and their bottomless coffee was a necessity for studying before exams...

Wonder if they still have the goth group LARPers. Nothing like a string of black people standing around the park like crows glaring at everyone.

[Spoogie]

Last time I was up there, the Diner was still there but the insides were totally remodeled. It looks nothing like it did before, they even got rid of the tables with all the writing on it. They were still 24hrs though. I don't know anything about the coffee, since I don't drink it.

[Thanos]

WOW AKUMA!

Luo so needs to find a local pack and tell them about this shit. They need to do something!

[lawwnum]

Why should the locals get all the fun?

[Spoogie]

My guess is that the locals already know about it. Which could mean their either 1. a part of it (danced the spiral) 2. too scared to go near it (some might call that smart) 3. Already dead/ or in the process of becoming dead and maybe being experimented on. Unfortunately this is something that we'll have to deal with some day. But on that day we'll be much better prepared than the last time.

[Akuma]

It took me a bit to realize that Thanos was talking about the game instead of the diner....

too bad about the interior change for the diner, the tables with the writing on them were part of the charm.. sigh.

As for the locals... those that tried to fight... ended up inside the cube, and of those inside, only the msytery man who remains incomunicado it seems is a survivor. Yeah, you'll have to come back with a personal magical nuke to take this out.

From my reading of the books... the player characters are on the losing side of things and aren't making any major wins in the war, but little actions can delay armageddon just a little bit longer until someone comes up with a better plan... The only hope would be if some people could unite all the different awakened beings together, then a united counterstrike could overwhelm the enemy. but thanks to the Werewolves' past actions, no one trusts each other... and a union is unlikely.

[qwerty123]

Not sure if it is in your master game plan, but us PC types could always strive to come back one day with an army of supernatural's and take on the cube of doom. White Wolf is know for it's metaplot where the PC's never really move the plot forward, it is just the broken NPC's that they make that can do things. Like Sam Height, a skinwalker with sphere magic, or Alonso the vampire werewolf, or even Wepawhet the mummy werewolf.

It would be refreshing as PC to actually be able to move the plot forward with out regard for the NPC of White Wolf.

[Thanos]

Hey, maybe the werewolf's will get past Rank 1! That would be refreshing ;-)

[Akuma]

Well, I don't want to get ahead of the plot, but remember what the game description is; The characters discover something in the faraway land. Something that needs to be awakened... doing so could give you that army you wish for... or open up pandora's box... or both.

So yes, for now the characters are too weak, but in the future you could return as bad-asses and/or as generals of an army of bad-asses...

[lawwnum]

We should of brought the rocket launcher, it would at least have been fun to fire of a few rounds into it even if we couldn't destroy it.

[Thanos]

Don't think it would work in the Umbra......

[Thanos]

I was out of town and got a bit sick.....will post when I get a chance or let Q post for me or Akuma.

[Akuma]

Okay, rest easy Thanos. Qwerty can post for you. Let me know when you feel better.

[Thanos]

"WAS OUT OF TOWN"

I am back now ;-)

SPEND RAGE!

[Akuma]

OOC: FYI Everyone. Got a message from Spado wanting to hop right into the game. So, If you gotta plan to include him, figure out how you're gonna get him and get going.

[Spoogie]

That mysterious character has not been forgotten. Although I'm sure knowing that he was conscious would help planning.

[Thanos]

Q,

Side of your butt cheak (outside) usually plenty of 'flesh' there to exchange for a rabbits food.

[qwerty123]

Talk about putting a foot up your ass...you know though, it is crazy enough to work.

[Spoogie]

you could always put it in the space your appendix takes up.

[lawwnum]

Well Q this is going to give a hole new meaning to "stick it where the sun dont shine" lol

[Spoogie]

Have fun explaining that to your proctologist.

[lawwnum]

BY the way Q and I tried and you cant get video of more then 2 people t same time, we also arent sure of how many can use it at once. HOWEVER if everyone is interested I have found a way to do video conference with all of us if you are al interested. Let me know because it will take me a few days to get things set-up. After that we could video chat as many as we want whenever we want.

[lawwnum]

DAMN Lag...well my last post was about Skype we dont know how many can link together on it at once but more then 2 you loose video sooooo. I was checking some things and I know a way we can all video together at the same time whenever for however long at no charge. It would just take me or us some time to set up. but if we wanted to it could be done in maybe...2-3 days then we would be set for as long as we want.

Just a thought let me know and Ill share the details.

[qwerty123]

So just what is the mystery program that lets you hame a multi-party video chat at no charge? Also why does it take so long to set up? You sir have me intrigued.

[lawwnum]

its.......well its kinda hard to explain. Theres an on-line game I play that has about adozen or more various support sites. One of them allows the players to video chat with each other. it just taks some setting up to get it working.

But once it is set-up Ive seen up to 8 diff people video chatting at once. Im not sure waht the limit is but thats more then enough for our purposes. And again it is free not even anything to download really.

[Akuma]

I'm intrigued as well, but sadly doubt I could join it. at the moment, I am only able to get time in when everyone else is in bed. video conferencing would likely wake some one up... At least until I get the new house in order.... give me a month.

Then there's the bummer of the 14 hour difference. that may cause havoc right there... but again, lets see what happens after I move into my house.

[Akuma]

For now, can I just get Q and Sp to post that they are going through the door? I'm waiting for that... seems like people are waiting for something, but I don't know what.

[Thanos]

Chris is this the guy you learned what MOUTH truly is when it comes to GMing?

[Spoogie]

I guess we need to finish the shopping as well as give Sylvester a call, before we head back.

[lawwnum]

So out of curiousity what exactly are we waiing for now?
Thanos and I are stuck in .........wherever the HELL we are till Adam comes back.

Adam and nevermore are supposed to be on their way back to us from LA if im correct soooo
whats goin on guys?

[qwerty123]

Akuma is moving and off line. Not sure how far we can move the story with out the GM.

[Akuma]

Hi everyone! I'm sorry to have been offline for so long. It was like going cold turkey!!! Anyway, I have connection again, so I can resume the game. Give me a few to catch up on any posts and start drawing everyone together.

unless there are any complaints or specific last minute requests, I will assume that Adam and Nevermore have 4X everything they need, and that is for Adam, Nevermore, Flynn, and... which? Luo or Mystery man?

[qwerty123]

Welcome back Akuma! I agree that we have 4x the essentials. I also figure that the 4th set is for Luo as my guess is Joe is not going to play and without a player I don't think we can drag an unconscious mummy to Japan.

[Akuma]

OOC: I can understand that Spoogie has become caught up with life. that's fine, but I believe the rest of the group would like to progress. Taking Executive Power, I am going to do a minor post to indicate that Adam does his thing with the key so that everyone can go through to the motel and that he will follow through and shut the door behind you guys.

If Spoogie would like to countermand that post or change it in any way, I give him permission to do so within the next week. If not, at least people can relax and chat it out. Any problems with this, please tell me.

[Akuma]

PS: I haven't forgotten about you all, but have decided that tis the time to give experience for ending the first chapter in our saga.

Now I just have to figure out how many points everyone gets. give me a few days. and we'll be starting a new thread from now to start the next chapter...

[Thanos]

there is XP? Really? XP instead of 8 Jesabels?


WOOOOOHOOOOOO

[lawwnum]

please Thanos, dont give him any more ideas then he already has....

[Akuma]

Okay Boys and Wolves, come and get your experience.

I will roll by the idea that you have completed a major arc of the story. I have given experience based on what skills I saw people using for the most part. The skill points are divided roughly to allow people to choose which individual skills to put them towards.

Example: 'Combat' could be for firearms, or melee or brawling, etc. Medical could be directly as combat medicine (triage) or herbology... I hope that people will apply the skills towards those areas they actually used in the game.

I will follow the formula from the textbooks that says new skills cost the skill level desired X 3... and so on. Just as listed on page 340 of Mage the Ascension book. I couldn't find a chart for werewolves, but will apply it as it is found.

Since Luo missed the bus scene, he gets less points than Nevermore/pope and Baljeet/flynn. Adam came in last, so gets the least points.
Questions? You know where to write me.



Pope/Nevermore


Acting: 2
Combat: 2
Magic: 3
Medical: 2
Free: 1


Baljeet/Flynn


Combat: 3
Driving: 1
Medical: 2
Endurance: 2
Free: 2


Luo:


Combat: 2
Medical: 2
Acting: 1
Free: 1
Renown: 2


Adam:


Combat: 2
Free: 2
Renown: 2

[Thanos]

Sooooooo. What are the chances of Luo finding an appropriate spirit to teach him Mothers Touch for those 8 XP he has.....or is it 6XP and 2 points of Renown AND are they Perm or Temp Renown?

[Akuma]

Sooo, you are in the umbra, right? Can Luo summon one?

Also, note that the 6 XP are split among the skills used by Luo. so 2 for Combat cannot be used along with the 2 for medical. Although the free point can be used with any other skill sets. The renown is temporary. Going by what I read and by advice from Butch, the skill points can be used towards something, but nothing will likely be raised right away as the skills are desired level (one above current) X 3.

[Thanos]

So how do we wolves pay for gifts which are not skills or attributes, yet we also can't use them because we don't have them yet? Free XP only?

Is there some reason your not using the three types of renown for Renown awards?
Beyond that is there some reason that the Temp Renown is so very light given the large number of tough badguys that were killed, defeated, evaded, and the wyrm infested gunstore owner that was given his just rewards and the location cleansed by fire (it blew up and burned down right)?

Just saying.

[Akuma]

Valid points. As far as gaining gifts, and powers, my understanding has always been that you have to find the approriate spirits in-game or via a Caern or a teacher of some kind. Perhaps you can summon the appropriate spirit, then undergo its teachings/quest/whatever in order to gain the skills/magic/gifts/whatever.

I don't follow the old D&D/video game method in which people just gain abilities out of the blue because they've gotten points or achieved a level. I find that counter to the whole ROLE playing experience.

As far as renown goes... I know there are sub areas of honor, glory and wisdom. I admit that I was too light in that area. I'll refigure that out. but it doesn't help you anyway until you can hold a moot at a caern to get recognized for the deeds you did, as your peers put them into the silver record.

Tell you what. If you can help me out with listing your accounting for activities, I'll update the temp renown figures. If you have time to help me out with that, I can give you the numbers sooner. Or since they aren't going to help until you find a caern anyway, you can just list up everything and email me it when you have your accounting at a moot. For example, 2 fights BSD in umbra gives XX Glory, healing Pope gives you XX honor, and deciding to tell the ghosts in the surplus shop to go after the old man shows XX wisdom... I believe the White Wolf books have lists of activity types and their renown points.

Spoogie/Adam can do this as well when he gets a chance...

Okay?

Now between you and spoogie, you can decide how to find or summon a spirit of healing in order to learn mother's touch.

[Thanos]

I understand the xp per skills....just wondering if Free XP is the ONLY source of XP for Gifts or if combat gifts can use Brawl XP or Social gifts can use Intimidation/Streetwise/Subterfuge XP, etc?

To be honest I don't really care how you want to run things as long as we actually know how your running things.

[Akuma]

How to explain this... perhaps in the current game style, everything is paid for by points like in a video game, but when I played in the States, the style was that XP points IN-GAME were used for skills, and that includes freebie points too. As far as Gifts go, while you are IN-GAME, you cannot buy gifts, but rather you obtain them by seeking out the appropriate source for instruction.

XP for buying gifts is done after the game ends.

The +/- of this is that while in game, like in a movie or story, the character has to put in effort for a gift or skill rather than just automatically obtain it. Skywalker had to seek out Yoda, Karate kid had to find his Jackie Chan/Mr. Miyagi (whatever) to teach him the skills. It made for more character development. That's what I hope for as well.

I hope that will help you to understand my point of view for saying that the XP you got you can use for various skills, but you will need to role-play out obtaining any gifts, combat or otherwise while we are playing the game. The freebie points can go to any skill or towards attributes.

You could use your time at the hotel to start summoning the appropriate spirits that can teach you the first gift you want to learn. Just tell me which gift and which spirit you want to summon. we'll go from there.

K?

[Thanos]

I got you then.

I will get back to you shortly. Must do some research.

[Spoogie]

It occurred to me that something that we could do to keep the game moving along, is to have separate threads for each PC. so when one character wants to do something on their own, it won't stop the combined story. Just a thought, what do you think?

[qwerty123]

That could be pretty good to keep it rolling along. What do we do when the party wants / has to act together? Basically how do we reconcile the fact that if I am out getting a burger in my personal thread and way out of town, and the rest of the party is at the school and I need to be at the school - how do we move my personal thread along faster so the others don't have to wait. Or am I way over thinking this....

[Akuma]

Mmmm. From what I have seen in some of the other online games, if we start with multiple threads, then we will never be able to get the characters together at the same time.

I'm going to start a new thread anyway for this chapter, since we are finally in Mura-cho, and have the basis of the game laid out before you. Yup. Its the power plant, and getting the sword back.

But there's always more too it and all that, of course.

How about this: I'll create a single personals thread for when you absolutely gotta go on your own, but I will try my hardest to keep everybody on the main page so that the story will progress.

I also will put you at ease about the teaching soon enough by saying that for the most part, the work days will go by in a blur. That way we get past the boring stuff and get to the interesting problems... and there are plenty of problems... and plenty of potential allies and teachers (you guys did indicate before that you might like to learn your way up to super-kick-ass mode).

Any other concerns?

[Spoogie]

money, resources (information, tech) , Adam would like to find some kind of esoteric library to get more info on the way things work in Japan.

[Akuma]

I'll say that you each have gotten a very generic packet of information about Japan, You can find some basic info in that about squat toilets, asking for money exchange at a bank, etc.

Is that okay? The rest you will have to find out on your own I think.

[qwerty123]

Finding out is half the fun.

[Spoogie]

How much money do we have, how much do we get paid?

[Akuma]

You have the traveler's checks that you brought with you, and have to exchange. Until you get to a bank, you probably have only a bit (I think some money was exchanged at the airport, but don't remember how much).

According to the info you got, you'll get around $2,000 a month payable at the end of the next month on the 25th (1 month from now). Its actually $3,000, but $500 goes to rent, and @$500 goes to taxes and universal health coverage.

[lawwnum]

OOC: Hmmmm how bout computer access? do we have access with the laptop we found where we are staying? Wireless or plug-in landline? at our jobs perhaps? and I imagine there isa bank of some kind in this town..an ATM at the least. If so I can get us any extre money we may need for supplies.....assuming we can find stuff in this town, to use.

Actually I think it would be best if we did our shopping out of town..little town lik this EVERYONE knows and talks to each other.

We need to perhapss take a train ride as part of our scoutin

[Akuma]

At this moment in the story, you have just been dropped off in your rooms. The house is OLD. floors creak when you walk on them though they have been cleaned so much as to be almost lusterous. The rooms have 1 power outlet each. There is no evidence of either a phone line nor a jack for cable. No one has mentioned anything regarding internet at all, but likely it just hasn't come up in conversation yet.

You were shown that there is one bank in town, a branch for the prefecture bank, Shizuoka Bank. There is also a post office, where people have postal savings accounts (governmental banking). Sometime during the week, Ken-chan is going to help each of you set up bank accounts at the bank for them to pay you. there is also a 7-11 near the train station. That has an international ATM machine...

[qwerty123]

Could we use the computer to find an access point. Most laptops can automatically scan for a wireless access point. Now that may or may not be password protected but the laptop should tell us if there is one in range; and we may be lucky, if the laptop belonged to a Glass Walker it may have better properties that allow it to access the internet in some kind of magical way we just haven't discovered yet. (Hey a guy can dream can't he?)

[Akuma]

Hmmm. Point taken. There might be a spirit inside it that could help it contact to any wireless nodes that are in the area... that are within range. But for the moment, no WIRELESS nodes are close to the house.

(you'll find out why in-game).

[Akuma]

OOC: Musketeer role call, please. I've tried mailing Thanos, but gotten no replies. Anyone wanna clue me in as to whether he can continue, or if his character needs to be mothballed...

Thanks.

[qwerty123]

I will ask him when I see him if he is still interested, but my guess is he will drop out of this game. You can drop him now if you need to - if not I sould be in touch wth him by Monday.

[Akuma]

I'm fine either way. Sorry it didn't work out for him. If he has a request for how he exits, let me know. Or any suggestions on your part.

[qwerty123]

He said he wanted to be my bodyguard. I don't really see how that would work, or why he would want to do that from a character stand point. Also I don't see it as fair for you to have to play an NPC now just to follow my character.

You could always say he wandered out of the story just a quietly as he wandered in. I mean his character was not a part of the existing back story group of guys, so no loss there.

[Akuma]

I think we can just have him quietly leave. Perhaps you can say that he'll go off in search of the one who made Lee into a zombie. That kind or person should be found, and likely stopped (or brought to justice).

He'll leave in the middle of the night, and there'll be hell to pay tomorrow morning when only 3 show up, but you can all play dumb and things'll blow over.

And maybe when the finale comes (whenever that is) I can bring him back in if Thanos wants to join the final battle, and if not, he'll be a cameo... Sound good?

[Thanos]

Its been fun, its been grand.....

I will be bowing out. Enjoy as much as you can, while you can.

[qwerty123]

Sorry to see you go Thanos, it was fun while it lasted.

On another note, Like Lawnnum I will also be travelling and not really sure when I can get back online. If I can get away and hit the net I will if not would it be safe to assume that Flynn and Nevermore confer about Lee while Adam does what he has to do - that way Spoogie and Akuma can carry on.

[Akuma]

Have a good trip guys, and I hope to hear from you when you get back. Let's see if Spoogie will be able to hold down the fort and not nuke it like he did the umbra during that one game we played together in PSU...

[Spoogie]

I don't think I'll be able to nuke anything. For one Adam doesn't have a Nuke. Wait a minute, there are Nuclear spirits over at Hiroshima. It's possible Adam could run over, bind a few spirits, and be back before...:dead:

[Akuma]

Actually, its doubtful you'd have to go that far. remember what they are building nearby...

[qwerty123]

Much like lawwnum I am also back... happy to lurk until the combat with Spoogie is over.

[Akuma]

Glad you both are back. If you wanna lurk anywhere special, just let me know via the personals. Hopefully this fight will be ending soon.

[Akuma]

I have a question for all you with more gamer/rule knowledge then me... Is it possible for a werewolf to be a member of more than one caern? As in... Adam is (or was?) a member of his family's inter-character caern, and then he made the hotel his own inter-character caern. Is there a conflict of interest? how many caerns can one werewolf be a member of?

Also, what happens when he uses his key to open the door to his caern inside of another caern, like his parents' caern. Is there any paradox or black hole energy that comes from having a caern inside a caern?

And third, ... relating to the first question... if a werewolf is brought from one caern into another, whose avatar takes precidence? or if the werewolf is forcefully brought into another caern, and those two caerns are different, what happens? Is there a resistence towards admitting the werewolf from another caern?

Obviously the relevence is that old Carl has his Caern in Mura-Cho. Its his home, and as Spoogie put it, he wasn't in any condition to resist Adam taking him to the umbral Hotel. But that is Adam's Caern and the door is being opened inside of the town... so that implies a caaern inside a caern.

And Carl didn't ask to be admitted to another caern, nor be taken from his own. Friendly kidnapping or not, will the hotel's spirits admit him or attack him?

Just wondering what all he recent rules say.

[Spoogie]

There are likely specific rules o deal with this kind of thing but I have no idea what they are or where to look for them.

I have a question for all you with more gamer/rule knowledge then me... Is it possible for a werewolf to be a member of more than one caern? I would look at it as the caern belongs to the group and not the other way around.

As in... Adam is (or was?) a member of his family's inter-character caern, and then he made the hotel his own inter-character caern. Is there a conflict of interest? how many caerns can one werewolf be a member of? This is like how many houses can you have. Which really depends on how much time and effort can be spent in maintaining them. In Adams case He puts little into the family Caern, but then again there are others who do more in his place. Silent Striders are like that.

Also, what happens when he uses his key to open the door to his caern inside of another caern, like his parents' caern. Is there any paradox or black hole energy that comes from having a caern inside a caern? My thoughts on this lean towards a Moon bridge, although it's not the same. Adams hodout is more like an Umbral shortcut. Although the full extent of what it is has yet to be understood.

And third, ... relating to the first question... if a werewolf is brought from one caern into another, whose avatar takes precidence? or if the werewolf is forcefully brought into another caern, and those two caerns are different, what happens? Is there a resistence towards admitting the werewolf from another caern? I would think that if Adam carries a wounded Garou, into the Caern the Avatar wont argue. And I doubt the it would ask for an explanation. Now as far as Carl's totem goes. Spirits make contracts with Garu. Spirits are happy as long as the Garu hold up their end, if there is something about visiting another caern in their contract that Adam violates, well it would not be happy and the ramifications would range between loosing favor of the totem to the totem attacking the pack. I guess it depends on how serious the totem feels that the offense is.

Obviously the relevence is that old Carl has his Caern in Mura-Cho. Its his home, and as Spoogie put it, he wasn't in any condition to resist Adam taking him to the umbral Hotel. But that is Adam's Caern and the door is being opened inside of the town... so that implies a caaern inside a caern. There are three things that we made up that are not really covered by the rules AFAIK. One, It is located somewhere in the umbral (horizon) realms. Two, the key that allows access. three, a caern with non-Garu members. From here you have to make up the rest as long as your consistent it's good with me.

[Akuma]

Thanks for the opinions. If everyone else feels the same, I'll go along with that. I like the idea of caern's being like houses... if you can maintain them, you can have more than one.

That way, if you decide to join/help Carl, then there won't be a conflict of interest with your hotel... As far as the members go... I think it would fit to have those with a common heart to be together rather than racially or class-restricted just to be rule-huggers.

So anyway, if Carl continues to ask you to take his place, it doesn't affect your standing in the other places just as my buying a house in Japan hasn't take away my American Nationality. I think I'm good to go.

[qwerty123]

Sorry I haven't posted more but I am really sick. Been to a doctor and he said I should get better in a few more days, if you have to write me out I understand or just go ahead and have me do what you think I would do, as I am in no shape to post more myself.

[Akuma]

I'm not sure what's going on, and would love a message from someone explaining the situation... But, if you (butch) are going to get better in a few days or a week or so, there's no reason to write you out of the game we've been playing for a year.

Take some time off and rest. I hope and pray you'll get better soon. For now we can just say that Nevermore is covering for everyone else's doings. He'll be going to work, explaining any disapearances, and so on... Okay?

Rest well, friend.

[Akuma]

OOC: FYI. I'll be on vacation and away from the internet for 2 days. I'll be back online by the weekend. I'm headed to the East Sea for some beach time... (East sea is the opposite side of island from Fukushima and all the radiation).

[Spoogie]

cool, take some pictures.

[Akuma]

I'm back. I'll try to put some pics on Facebook. thanks for waiting.

[qwerty123]

Hope you had a great trip!

[lawwnum]

I'll 2nd that. Hope you had a good time.

[qwerty123]

Looks like we will be out of action for a bit here. Akuma posted on his Facebook page that his modem got fried in the last electrical storm, he said he has to wait two week until the new one is delivered.

Well lawwnum at least we have the Doctor to tide us over.

[Akuma]

I'm Baaaaaaacccckkkkk!!!!! Like any good pimp, my provider knows not to string me along too long iwthout my fix lest I go looking elsewhere for my fix. I got my modem this morning, and will endeavort to catch up ASAP. Sorry for the weaklong wait.

[qwerty123]

Glad you are back. Not sure how you went so long with out the internet. I would have lost my mind...oh wait I already did.:O

[Akuma]

Well, while I was offline, I thought of dire punishments for all those who still had internet while I had none.... totally postal... Maybe I'll throw a few into the game somewhere... No more cigarettes, no more magic.... craving craving craving.

.... but I'm all better now....

[Akuma]

OOC:

Okay, I looked over the Sparks stuff, and I remember some of it from way back in PSU. I remember that the part where they step into the dominion caused a bit of a game imbalance because it allowed them to escape any situation easily while dumping the dox on everyone else.

I'm kind of thinking it would be better to reverse the level 2 and level 3 powers. in other words,

Level 1, Spark sight (see the auras)
Level 2, Hellfire (in one chosen weapon, which advances with the character)
Level 3, Step up (step across to the umbra... and LATER to the Dominon)
Level 4, Spark of Life (convert own life force into either healing or destruction)

I know that this is different than what the pdf says, but I'm thinking of balance. Having a pc with a agg weapon, but stuck in a situation with others is better than having houdini always disapearing from any conflict and leaving others to take the hit is what got Adam in trouble in the first place....

[Spoogie]

Okay, I looked over the Sparks stuff, and I remember some of it from way back in PSU. I remember that the part where they step into the dominion caused a bit of a game imbalance because it allowed them to escape any situation easily while dumping the dox on everyone else.

I'm kind of thinking it would be better to reverse the level 2 and level 3 powers. in other words,

Level 1, Spark sight (see the auras)
Level 2, Hellfire (in one chosen weapon, which advances with the character)
Level 3, Step up (step across to the umbra... and LATER to the Dominon)

I know that this is different than what the pdf says, but I'm thinking of balance. Having a pc with a agg weapon, but stuck in a situation with others is better than having houdini always disapearing from any conflict and leaving others to take the hit is what got Adam in trouble in the first place....

The level switch I'm OK with.
Level 4, Spark of Life (convert own life force into either healing or destruction)

I'm not sure if you didn't understand what you read, or this is a suggestion to how you want it to work?

I was thinking of pushing the Fire of Life up to rank 5 and adding a multitask type power at level 4.:worry:

[lawwnum]

hmmmmm after reading the changes...Im thinking of making a spark...BUT first a question Akuma.

I was thinking of reviving an old character that I always liked but never got to use as much as I wanted. Namely one..

Jonathan Arthur Quincy Holmwood (Jaqh pronounced Jack to his freinds)
Lord Godalming

He is a...unique character I'll have to find him and mail his stats and background to you Akuma. BUT I think he would fit in well with the party and its general purpose.

[Akuma]

OOC, yeah now I'm on the confused end... but let's try this again with version 2.3

Level 1. Sight
Level 2. Agg weapon.
Level 3. multi-tasking
Level 4. Umbra crossing
Level 5. Healing/destruction

Is that the current level progression?

[Akuma]

Oh wait, so its

Level 3. umbra crossing
Level 4. multi-tasking

????

[lawwnum]

Your world, your rules Akuma....just let us know how you want it.

[Spoogie]

OOC, yeah now I'm on the confused end... but let's try this again with version 2.3

Could you tell me what your confused about?
I'll write up what I mean by multi-tasking for the next revision.
I've also started writing up a background for a character.

[Spoogie]

I took a bit of time to work on it. What do you think.
Here is a list as it stands now.
The First Power: The Sight
The Second Power: Hellfire
The Third Power: Stepping up
The Fourth Power: Multi-tasking
The Fifth Power: Fire of Life

Mostly done with the character background. I will send it to you soon. His name is Arthur Brown.

[Spoogie]

Merry Christmas.

[Akuma]

Merry Christmas to everyone. I'll try to save more energy for writing tomorrow.

[qwerty123]

Sorry I haven't posted in a few days, work is pretty busy and about to get busier. Hope all had a Merry Christmas. Oh, and I can't lay hands on the right notebook that had the original spark stuff in it. I thought I knew right where it was - looks like you have things well under control with out my input though.

[Akuma]

OOC: Merry Christmas, again. Sorry for the delay in story, but since all three are adding new characters, I have to pause the story to figure out where everyone will jump in.

I have starting places for GG's character, and Butch's character as well. Just need final ideas from Spoogie as to why his character would be in this area (like is he a japanese person?) and once he's in place, then we can restart the game clock.

Bear with me till then.

[Akuma]

OOC: Happy New Year to you all!!!

Spoogie is almost ready, I think. I hope to restart soonish...

[lawwnum]

Happy New Year Everyone! :)

[Spoogie]

Happy New Year!

It will likely take a few days for me to finish a character so you might as well start without me.

[Akuma]

I can start with Lawnum's 2nd character in Toshi-city. But I can't restart the Mura-cho town till your character is ready because he might join the battle.