Post by Robot on Mar 10, 2018 21:53:47 GMT
Your machinations had been flawless. Your armies powerful. Your own body and mind primed to receive the godhood that you had killed for. You were certain your enemies scattered before you like field mice, they would return to you before long. Prostrate themselves at your feet and beg mercy. Ransei rested solely in your palms, yours to decide how it was shaped.
The ritual completed, the bitter draught imbibed, apotheosis nigh as your mortal form was wracked with pain. Slipping in and out of consciousness, vaguely aware of commotion beyond the innermost sanctums of your most guarded and secretive lair. Champions breached the door, chanting amidst them. Your vanguard moves to intercept and a fierce battle rages. It is too soon. Much. Much too soon. A roar escapes with your newest pained lurches, the room shrinking before you. They'll die for ruining this moment! Their faces etched deep in your mind.
A black fletched shaft the thickness of a man's wrist seems to erupt from your chest. Where strength had fed into you since the moment your rite finished, it bleeds away so casually. A chill settles into each limb, and as quickly as your empire rose, it collapsed again in a shapeless heap. The events that follow are lost to you, but you awaken on a dilapidated throne amidst a ruined keep.
About the GM
I go by Jer, or Robot, and have been a part of the PTU community for going on four or five years now. Before that, I frequented Mythweavers under the same nickname. I have run two iterations of my personal setting, Meihnos, as live games now. Project Carnate is my only other still-running PbP campaign to date.
As an experienced game master, I am well versed in the rules and understand full well that the game at it's core isn't particularly well balanced. I don't take constructive criticism well if I didn't ask for it, but if you have questions I'm happy to answer them. Running games, I like challenges to feel over the top and carry my games with some camp. My time zone is Atlantic, and I work four days, off three. Tuesdays are never a good time to contact me, but most of the rest is probably fine.
As an experienced game master, I am well versed in the rules and understand full well that the game at it's core isn't particularly well balanced. I don't take constructive criticism well if I didn't ask for it, but if you have questions I'm happy to answer them. Running games, I like challenges to feel over the top and carry my games with some camp. My time zone is Atlantic, and I work four days, off three. Tuesdays are never a good time to contact me, but most of the rest is probably fine.
Preferred Players
I prefer players with good problem solving skills, that can surprise me with ways they approach a challenge. I also tend to prefer characters that are go-getters. Forward thinkers. Leaders. This campaign will require these traits. Characters that fill roles better as support or who are timid or otherwise passive will still be considered, but should be beholden to another applicant. A passive villainous overlord-to-be is not a good fit for this.
Campaign in a Nutshell
Your character has already usurped a god, but through interruption of your ritual things haven't exactly gone the way you were hoping. By some intervention, you survived. You are left with your own two hands to rebuild everything you lost and again unite this region under your banner.
Basic Character Crunch
TL 6, No Starter. This campaign will not be using Pokeballs of any variety, though there may be items that make subjugating, befriending, taming, or otherwise controlling Pokemon easier.
Each player begins with light armor and a fine weapon of choice. This weapon cannot possess the weapon move 'Take Aim', and must be no later then early flintlock technology in theme.
Each player also begins play with the Usurper base feature, making their human form their 'Avatar' going forward. Your Legendary/God form will be greatly stripped down at the beginning, and your avatar subject to some changes as well, as detailed below.
In addition to weapon and armor, each player begins with a Summoning [Item], This functions like their set of Pokeballs. It works with Juggler features as normal, and is keyed to your Vanguard. This is to prevent you from having to feed, house, and otherwise sneak about with gigantic fire-breathing lizards. Normal action economy rules apply.
Banned Content: Do Porygon Dream of Mareep, Anything from Blessed and the Damned that I do not offer you.
All play tests are in effect.
Each player begins with light armor and a fine weapon of choice. This weapon cannot possess the weapon move 'Take Aim', and must be no later then early flintlock technology in theme.
Each player also begins play with the Usurper base feature, making their human form their 'Avatar' going forward. Your Legendary/God form will be greatly stripped down at the beginning, and your avatar subject to some changes as well, as detailed below.
In addition to weapon and armor, each player begins with a Summoning [Item], This functions like their set of Pokeballs. It works with Juggler features as normal, and is keyed to your Vanguard. This is to prevent you from having to feed, house, and otherwise sneak about with gigantic fire-breathing lizards. Normal action economy rules apply.
Banned Content: Do Porygon Dream of Mareep, Anything from Blessed and the Damned that I do not offer you.
All play tests are in effect.
Advanced Character Crunch
Each player will be of a monstrous race, distinctly non-human. This can be a classic fantasy monster, a Pokemon-Human hybrid, a picture you found on google, and so on. It does not have to be bipedal, or have hands, but I would recommend it. Some measure of realism will be observed despite this being a Pokemon game.
Monster Race: Select one Move, one Ability, and one Capability that defines your race. You may detail the race's place in the world in your backstory if you'd like. This race does not need to associate with the god you usurped in any way. All players will play Non-humans in this fashion.
God Form Changes (Start): Choose a Legendary Pokemon. Reduce all stats by 4 Points (-24 BST). Remove any Steel typing if it possesses one. Remove any special capabilities that don't carry numerical values, such as Phasing, or Stealth. Remove any Sky, Teleport, and Burrow speeds.
Jim has provided an updated BatD document which includes the AlolaDex Legends. It is located here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1cN-SRG0GIzRyVbJwkdfeplVQH-hVf9Kk/view?usp=sharing
Avatar Form Changes (Start): In your base form, you now carry the weaknesses of your God Form. God form Type Immunity are treated as resistances for you. Status immunity based on type are not conferred this way.
Speak with Pokemon: Pokemon that share a type with your God Form can be communicated with via speech normally. They understand and respect you more readily then Pokemon of other types. When addressing Pokemon in this way, you may add a +2 to all social checks. This bonus stacks with Elemental Connection. Pokemon that do not share either of your types may have limited understanding of your instructions.
Monster Race: Select one Move, one Ability, and one Capability that defines your race. You may detail the race's place in the world in your backstory if you'd like. This race does not need to associate with the god you usurped in any way. All players will play Non-humans in this fashion.
God Form Changes (Start): Choose a Legendary Pokemon. Reduce all stats by 4 Points (-24 BST). Remove any Steel typing if it possesses one. Remove any special capabilities that don't carry numerical values, such as Phasing, or Stealth. Remove any Sky, Teleport, and Burrow speeds.
Jim has provided an updated BatD document which includes the AlolaDex Legends. It is located here:
drive.google.com/file/d/1cN-SRG0GIzRyVbJwkdfeplVQH-hVf9Kk/view?usp=sharing
Avatar Form Changes (Start): In your base form, you now carry the weaknesses of your God Form. God form Type Immunity are treated as resistances for you. Status immunity based on type are not conferred this way.
Speak with Pokemon: Pokemon that share a type with your God Form can be communicated with via speech normally. They understand and respect you more readily then Pokemon of other types. When addressing Pokemon in this way, you may add a +2 to all social checks. This bonus stacks with Elemental Connection. Pokemon that do not share either of your types may have limited understanding of your instructions.
The Fluff
In addition to the typical character crunch, I will require a role play sample from each player to be considered for this game. The sample should delve into the reason for their fall from grace, or their thoughts and reactions towards it. As with backstories, it doesn't need to be particularly long. All-in-all, I am looking for interesting monster-character designs, strong motivations, and themes. Characters can be from any region originally, but the beginning of the game will be in the 18th Castle, labelled Dreadmarsh.
Homebrew
The Vanguard: Your immediate team of Pokemon. You have a maximum Vanguard size equal to your highest Social Skill. Social Skills are Command, Charm, Guile, Intuition, and Intimidate. These Pokemon are so taken with you they will not move out on deployments until you forcibly discharge them into your armies.
The Minions/Help: Pokemon that you have won over through force of presence or presence of force. They are at your beck and call to carry out tasks that may take an extended period of time. Pokemon as minions can be considered to be 'In Storage but Active'. Many hands make light work, and you will need many, many hands. Minions are deployed in squads equal to half the size of a Player's Vanguard. Minions cannot benefit from Training, Features that spend TP, or anything else that cannot target 'Any Ally/Any Target'.
Conquest: Player's objectives are going to span out over months and years (In game time.) With that in mind, the Minions can be directed towards completing tasks to further your nefarious goals. I will get more into the details of how this system works when I have selected my players.
The Minions/Help: Pokemon that you have won over through force of presence or presence of force. They are at your beck and call to carry out tasks that may take an extended period of time. Pokemon as minions can be considered to be 'In Storage but Active'. Many hands make light work, and you will need many, many hands. Minions are deployed in squads equal to half the size of a Player's Vanguard. Minions cannot benefit from Training, Features that spend TP, or anything else that cannot target 'Any Ally/Any Target'.
Conquest: Player's objectives are going to span out over months and years (In game time.) With that in mind, the Minions can be directed towards completing tasks to further your nefarious goals. I will get more into the details of how this system works when I have selected my players.
This game will be recruiting from 1800 3/10/2018 until 1800 3/24/2018, at which point I will be accepting two, possibly three players, but not more then that.