Post by Robot on Sept 3, 2016 20:34:37 GMT
Project Carnate: Cultivating The Ark
Earth had become a name forgotten in the annals of history to all but those in positions of importance, so much time had passed since humanity could call it home. Generations on generations ago, a fleet of massive construction ships launched from high orbit. Super carriers, dubbed 'Wandering Poets', laden with everything they needed for humanity to get a fresh start elsewhere departed the home world. It had become a place overcrowded, riddled with disease, war, famine, and pollution. The movement to press on and colonize with humanity's best and brightest might have been one of political contention if any had remained behind to return the argument the dying planet railed against empty space. Pokemon saw different roles on each vessel, but this story begins with the Wandering Poet known as Homer.
Genetic therapy had become a curse these human remnants had to bear every few generations. A recycling and shuffling of code to ensure that their biology remained strong and didn't suffer from inbreeding during the countless births that had occurred in the time between their departure and arrival. It was an alienating, and uncomfortable process, becoming so different from one's parents in a special genetic hydrolysis bath. It was mandated by the Captain, and remained the singularly most enforced rule on his vessel. The banks of usable genes themselves were limited, and would need to be expanded upon soon. Homer was one of the first to establish a colony, there had been no contact with other ships in a very long time, but it came upon a world similar enough to earth that there was a possibility humans might be re-established.
The casualties were immense, the surface far too hostile without any measure of weaponry to defend themselves. On Earth, Pokemon had fought their battles for them. Not knowing the distance they must travel, nor the challenges they would face, they had taken to the void of space without being forewarned or forearmed. Homer licked it's wounds, and developed a pair of Pokemon all it's own. Capable of operating in the vacuum of space, Golurk would serve as the builders, fixers, and protectors of the first human built moon of Gol. Gol was a technological marvel, hung in orbit over what many, many years later would be dubbed the Ark. Their needs met for food and shelter, albeit on the most basic of levels, humans again returned to their more mentalist roots. Careers sprung up. Individuals took to soldiering or science as needed, though the latter was far more common.
The Homer moved on with a skeleton crew, leaving the humans to grow and prosper. Smaller frigates, left to Gol as it's parting gift, The Illiad and The Odyssey remained behind. Commandeered as research vessels, the Odyssey went to the surface for samples of plant life in an attempt to expand the diets of Gol's people. As with Homer's attempt, there were unacceptable losses. Armed with only Pokeballs, her crew had managed to capture a few specimens before being set upon by the planet's vicious predators. Mortally wounded, with the samples onboard, the last of the crew crawled through his fellows and initialized a launch. The Odyssey returned home with some of the dead, and it's first real taste of the benefits the world below had to offer.
The scientific findings were beyond anything they could have hoped, The Ark, they called it. The world below housed a genetic diversity that could carry humanity to the very edge of the universe if they could only access it. The samples they had returned with proved to be nigh impossible to control with Pokeball technology as it existed, it hadn't needed development in over a thousand years. A new approach would have to be taken. Selecting a handful of strong willed and willing candidates, experimentation began.
The technology was simple enough to explain, a series of nanomachines were introduced into the samples via food and water, slowly, until the creature's tissues were saturated with them. A high powered transmitter was then affixed to the human partner, and a link was established wherein the 'controller's' brainwaves would subsume a given Pokemon's instincts. A human mind in a Pokemon's body. There was little time to test all of the nuances of the technology, with the Council bearing over the project with an air of disdain and urgency, the fourth generation of device were ushered in. The first three had been failures on some catastrophic level or another.
Generation One killed many of the initial samples, causing the Pokemon's brain function to cease when the human host left it, as it suppressed base neurological activity, but kept the center firing to the human's specifications until they vacated the body. Generation Two saw synchronization errors, and brought unwanted biofeedback to the 'Carnates', humans that took on other bodies. Generation Three caused neurological damage and psychosis. This was their last chance, before the project was scrapped.
Generation Four was unique. It was a two-way feed. Each subject attended their own biorhythms, and a number of safeties had been put in place based on the research of the previous generations. The devil was in the details unfortunately. With nervous anticipation, the researchers that had built and developed this technology, who were assured in it's functionality, took it upon themselves to initialize the experiment. The last generation of Carnates did their first 'Bonding' with all that remained of the samples. It was alien in ways they had not expected. The bodies they took on were foreign, and instinct, something humanity had never itself known for centuries on centuries before they left earth, railed against their very consciousness. Professor Rosewood watched her bank of cameras with nervous anticipation.
Acceptance to this game requires an RP prompt be answered on the open role play thread. Your application will not be considered if this requirement is not met. For ease of location and access, I have provided a handy link, located here. This game will be Play By Post. Applications close two weeks from tomorrow, on the 18th of September 2016, at Midnight. As this game is intended to be largely narrative, please bring your best writing skills to the table.
Main Story and Goals
Crunch
Banned Content
Playtests in Effect
Starting Items
Homebrew Mechanics
Q&A
Earth had become a name forgotten in the annals of history to all but those in positions of importance, so much time had passed since humanity could call it home. Generations on generations ago, a fleet of massive construction ships launched from high orbit. Super carriers, dubbed 'Wandering Poets', laden with everything they needed for humanity to get a fresh start elsewhere departed the home world. It had become a place overcrowded, riddled with disease, war, famine, and pollution. The movement to press on and colonize with humanity's best and brightest might have been one of political contention if any had remained behind to return the argument the dying planet railed against empty space. Pokemon saw different roles on each vessel, but this story begins with the Wandering Poet known as Homer.
Genetic therapy had become a curse these human remnants had to bear every few generations. A recycling and shuffling of code to ensure that their biology remained strong and didn't suffer from inbreeding during the countless births that had occurred in the time between their departure and arrival. It was an alienating, and uncomfortable process, becoming so different from one's parents in a special genetic hydrolysis bath. It was mandated by the Captain, and remained the singularly most enforced rule on his vessel. The banks of usable genes themselves were limited, and would need to be expanded upon soon. Homer was one of the first to establish a colony, there had been no contact with other ships in a very long time, but it came upon a world similar enough to earth that there was a possibility humans might be re-established.
The casualties were immense, the surface far too hostile without any measure of weaponry to defend themselves. On Earth, Pokemon had fought their battles for them. Not knowing the distance they must travel, nor the challenges they would face, they had taken to the void of space without being forewarned or forearmed. Homer licked it's wounds, and developed a pair of Pokemon all it's own. Capable of operating in the vacuum of space, Golurk would serve as the builders, fixers, and protectors of the first human built moon of Gol. Gol was a technological marvel, hung in orbit over what many, many years later would be dubbed the Ark. Their needs met for food and shelter, albeit on the most basic of levels, humans again returned to their more mentalist roots. Careers sprung up. Individuals took to soldiering or science as needed, though the latter was far more common.
The Homer moved on with a skeleton crew, leaving the humans to grow and prosper. Smaller frigates, left to Gol as it's parting gift, The Illiad and The Odyssey remained behind. Commandeered as research vessels, the Odyssey went to the surface for samples of plant life in an attempt to expand the diets of Gol's people. As with Homer's attempt, there were unacceptable losses. Armed with only Pokeballs, her crew had managed to capture a few specimens before being set upon by the planet's vicious predators. Mortally wounded, with the samples onboard, the last of the crew crawled through his fellows and initialized a launch. The Odyssey returned home with some of the dead, and it's first real taste of the benefits the world below had to offer.
The scientific findings were beyond anything they could have hoped, The Ark, they called it. The world below housed a genetic diversity that could carry humanity to the very edge of the universe if they could only access it. The samples they had returned with proved to be nigh impossible to control with Pokeball technology as it existed, it hadn't needed development in over a thousand years. A new approach would have to be taken. Selecting a handful of strong willed and willing candidates, experimentation began.
The technology was simple enough to explain, a series of nanomachines were introduced into the samples via food and water, slowly, until the creature's tissues were saturated with them. A high powered transmitter was then affixed to the human partner, and a link was established wherein the 'controller's' brainwaves would subsume a given Pokemon's instincts. A human mind in a Pokemon's body. There was little time to test all of the nuances of the technology, with the Council bearing over the project with an air of disdain and urgency, the fourth generation of device were ushered in. The first three had been failures on some catastrophic level or another.
Generation One killed many of the initial samples, causing the Pokemon's brain function to cease when the human host left it, as it suppressed base neurological activity, but kept the center firing to the human's specifications until they vacated the body. Generation Two saw synchronization errors, and brought unwanted biofeedback to the 'Carnates', humans that took on other bodies. Generation Three caused neurological damage and psychosis. This was their last chance, before the project was scrapped.
Generation Four was unique. It was a two-way feed. Each subject attended their own biorhythms, and a number of safeties had been put in place based on the research of the previous generations. The devil was in the details unfortunately. With nervous anticipation, the researchers that had built and developed this technology, who were assured in it's functionality, took it upon themselves to initialize the experiment. The last generation of Carnates did their first 'Bonding' with all that remained of the samples. It was alien in ways they had not expected. The bodies they took on were foreign, and instinct, something humanity had never itself known for centuries on centuries before they left earth, railed against their very consciousness. Professor Rosewood watched her bank of cameras with nervous anticipation.
Acceptance to this game requires an RP prompt be answered on the open role play thread. Your application will not be considered if this requirement is not met. For ease of location and access, I have provided a handy link, located here. This game will be Play By Post. Applications close two weeks from tomorrow, on the 18th of September 2016, at Midnight. As this game is intended to be largely narrative, please bring your best writing skills to the table.
Main Story and Goals
At the beginning of the campaign, the party is a team of researchers charged with exploring the surface of the Ark. There are a number of sub tasks set up in line with this in mind, including collecting genetic material, increasing the range of genetics available in the Gene Bank, developing the technology to correctly utilize non-human genomes in this fashion, and clearing a landing site on the surface to attempt to allow for the first human settlement on the Ark itself. More tasks, inter-character drama, and excitement lie in wait beyond this.
Crunch
Legal Trainer Build Level 15, Pokemon Level 30, Underdog Required. I would prefer if it is capable of evolving but that isn't necessary. For your Starter, you are permitted to use any and all features as it is the only Pokemon you will be immediately interacting with for a substantial period of time. If your trainer isn't a researcher by class, then they are probably an intern or a well meaning volunteer. The majority of applications I take will be researchers, however. Please keep this in mind when writing backstories.
Banned Content
-Supernatural Classes from Core.
-Blessed and the Damned.
-Game of Throhs.
-Upgrader Class
-Pokebots (counterintuitive to the concept of this game.)
-Homebrew not listed in this post.
-Golett not a viable starter because reasons.
-Blessed and the Damned.
-Game of Throhs.
-Upgrader Class
-Pokebots (counterintuitive to the concept of this game.)
-Homebrew not listed in this post.
-Golett not a viable starter because reasons.
Playtests in Effect
-Status Packet
-Tutoring Packet
-Anything not already mentioned here will have to be brought to my attention so I can approve or deny it.
-Tutoring Packet
-Anything not already mentioned here will have to be brought to my attention so I can approve or deny it.
Starting Items
Money is a bit weird given the physical rift between a Trainer and their Pokemon. That in mind, a Pokemon may have one Held Item of choice for free. Players utilizing Crafting classes may send along a 'backup' Hold Item their Pokemon is capable of using in the initial journey of the samples back to the Ark. Each Pokemon may also carry a single digestion buff of choice, three for Pokemon possessing Gluttony. If this instance of Gluttony was provided by Chef, two of the digestion buffs must be from Chef Snacks.
Homebrew Mechanics
Carnate Engine Pokemon Bonding System
The most basic layman's description, the Carnate engine transposes an individual's neurological identity across space into a specially prepared recepticle or vessel. These vessels are living creatures taken from the Ark and introduced to human technology to allow for this process to begin. Research on the current iteration of the project does not show any signs of it causing undue harm to the Pokemon treated with the nanomachine receptors that allow a strong enough signal transmission to allow a measure of physical control of the creature's body without bringing it undue stress. The creature considers the actions it is taking as it's own, and will typically remain unaware of it's rider. Using the Carnate Engine allows a human 'Pilot' to inhabit a Pokemon's body, known as the 'Host' in this instance. Pokemon are intelligent creatures, with their own physical desires, fears, and needs. As uncanny or frightening as it might sound, it is unlikely that our researchers will come away from this project without some evidence of tampering within their psyche. Mechanically, this is represented by changes, usually flaws or shifts in behavior, that will come about as they develop stronger bonds with their chosen vessel. A Bond Rating determines how in sync you are with your Pokemon, allows access to some of your trainer features which will be chosen on immersion, and will slowly apply discordance to your trainer's mental state based on the species chosen with some notable restrictions.
*Pokemon have different ratings for how quickly they wear on your trainer, because not every mind is the same. Typing, Legendary/Non Legendary, Abilities, and Pokedex entries all come into play when deciding these. I encourage people to pick from a variety.
The following general benefits and detriments are applied at their listed Bond Ranks.
Rank 1 - Apply Experience Training and Training Features to Bond Pokemon regardless of distance. Trainer begins to exhibit minor symptoms associated with their vessel which include such things as physical or verbal ticks, behavioral quirks, shifts in diet, changes in temperament, sensory impairment, strange allergies, and minor psychological disorders such as minor general anxiety, phobias or philias, and neurosis.
Rank 2 - Apply Orders Features with a frequency of At-Will to Bond Pokemon regardless of distance. A single stratagem and one Order may be applied in this way, lasting for the full duration of the immersion. A second Order may be applied provided the Trainer also has the Commander's Voice feature. Symptoms become more varied or pronounced, the Trainer may not necessarily notice them, but at Bonded Rank 2, their colleagues most certainly do. Rank 2 continues to pull from the list of minor difficulties which will vary from species to species.
Rank 3 - Trainer may now select and court a partner to receive a new Bonded Pokemon. Trainer receives empathic feedback from their partner at this stage, whenever their Pokemon are feeling any exceptionally strong emotion. They may similarly begin to have animalistic instinct triggers, such as fight or flight responses, an intense desire to flee before a rival or an individual that feels threatening. These will sync up with the Bonded Pokemon's empathic surges, and will often be an indicator that something requires their attention on the surface of the Ark.
Rank 4 - Apply Features and Edges that expend Tutor Points to the Bonded Pokemon. Additionally, once the Bonded Pokemon has had these Features applied to itself, it may bring one for use through the vessel on other tagged subjects belonging to the same owner. If the Feature can be used on Any Pokemon, it functions as written. The empathic bond is a constant at Rank 4, regardless of actual emotional state. Major problems begin arising at this stage which may cause health or safety issues. Eating disorders, splinter personalities, sensory or mobility loss, and more. Most of the items I will be pulling for ranks 4-6 are fairly detrimental but will not be outright crippling to the character (ergo 'coma' isn't on the list).
Rank 5 - Trainer may now utilize a single Crafter Feature or Edge through their Bonded Mon, chosen on immersion. This does still require the requisite crafting kit, but a makeshift one can be cobbled together with time. It also likely requires limbs capable of manipulation, limited telekinetic abilities, or a friend capable of either that you can guide through the process. Will burn through scrap findings provided in your adventures, as normal funds likely won't see much use in this campaign. Allows access to a single Scene-Use Feature in addition to the Crafter Feature. These may be adjusted for the PMD environment. Rank 5 pulls from the list of difficulties Rank 4 presents, or exacerbates existing issues further.
Rank 6 - Trainer may now utilize a Combat Feature that grants Moves while Bonded, treating the moves this Feature grants as Known. Additionally allows access to a single Daily-Use Feature not covered by the other Rank bonuses. These may be adjusted for the PMD environment. The trainer goes a step beyond full empathic link with their Pokemon, and achieves full sensory awareness even while not attached to the machine. They may also suffer body dysphoria as differentiating their human and Pokemon selves is unsettling. Possible new problems depending on species, up to and including psychosis.
The most basic layman's description, the Carnate engine transposes an individual's neurological identity across space into a specially prepared recepticle or vessel. These vessels are living creatures taken from the Ark and introduced to human technology to allow for this process to begin. Research on the current iteration of the project does not show any signs of it causing undue harm to the Pokemon treated with the nanomachine receptors that allow a strong enough signal transmission to allow a measure of physical control of the creature's body without bringing it undue stress. The creature considers the actions it is taking as it's own, and will typically remain unaware of it's rider. Using the Carnate Engine allows a human 'Pilot' to inhabit a Pokemon's body, known as the 'Host' in this instance. Pokemon are intelligent creatures, with their own physical desires, fears, and needs. As uncanny or frightening as it might sound, it is unlikely that our researchers will come away from this project without some evidence of tampering within their psyche. Mechanically, this is represented by changes, usually flaws or shifts in behavior, that will come about as they develop stronger bonds with their chosen vessel. A Bond Rating determines how in sync you are with your Pokemon, allows access to some of your trainer features which will be chosen on immersion, and will slowly apply discordance to your trainer's mental state based on the species chosen with some notable restrictions.
*Pokemon have different ratings for how quickly they wear on your trainer, because not every mind is the same. Typing, Legendary/Non Legendary, Abilities, and Pokedex entries all come into play when deciding these. I encourage people to pick from a variety.
The following general benefits and detriments are applied at their listed Bond Ranks.
Rank 1 - Apply Experience Training and Training Features to Bond Pokemon regardless of distance. Trainer begins to exhibit minor symptoms associated with their vessel which include such things as physical or verbal ticks, behavioral quirks, shifts in diet, changes in temperament, sensory impairment, strange allergies, and minor psychological disorders such as minor general anxiety, phobias or philias, and neurosis.
Rank 2 - Apply Orders Features with a frequency of At-Will to Bond Pokemon regardless of distance. A single stratagem and one Order may be applied in this way, lasting for the full duration of the immersion. A second Order may be applied provided the Trainer also has the Commander's Voice feature. Symptoms become more varied or pronounced, the Trainer may not necessarily notice them, but at Bonded Rank 2, their colleagues most certainly do. Rank 2 continues to pull from the list of minor difficulties which will vary from species to species.
Rank 3 - Trainer may now select and court a partner to receive a new Bonded Pokemon. Trainer receives empathic feedback from their partner at this stage, whenever their Pokemon are feeling any exceptionally strong emotion. They may similarly begin to have animalistic instinct triggers, such as fight or flight responses, an intense desire to flee before a rival or an individual that feels threatening. These will sync up with the Bonded Pokemon's empathic surges, and will often be an indicator that something requires their attention on the surface of the Ark.
Rank 4 - Apply Features and Edges that expend Tutor Points to the Bonded Pokemon. Additionally, once the Bonded Pokemon has had these Features applied to itself, it may bring one for use through the vessel on other tagged subjects belonging to the same owner. If the Feature can be used on Any Pokemon, it functions as written. The empathic bond is a constant at Rank 4, regardless of actual emotional state. Major problems begin arising at this stage which may cause health or safety issues. Eating disorders, splinter personalities, sensory or mobility loss, and more. Most of the items I will be pulling for ranks 4-6 are fairly detrimental but will not be outright crippling to the character (ergo 'coma' isn't on the list).
Rank 5 - Trainer may now utilize a single Crafter Feature or Edge through their Bonded Mon, chosen on immersion. This does still require the requisite crafting kit, but a makeshift one can be cobbled together with time. It also likely requires limbs capable of manipulation, limited telekinetic abilities, or a friend capable of either that you can guide through the process. Will burn through scrap findings provided in your adventures, as normal funds likely won't see much use in this campaign. Allows access to a single Scene-Use Feature in addition to the Crafter Feature. These may be adjusted for the PMD environment. Rank 5 pulls from the list of difficulties Rank 4 presents, or exacerbates existing issues further.
Rank 6 - Trainer may now utilize a Combat Feature that grants Moves while Bonded, treating the moves this Feature grants as Known. Additionally allows access to a single Daily-Use Feature not covered by the other Rank bonuses. These may be adjusted for the PMD environment. The trainer goes a step beyond full empathic link with their Pokemon, and achieves full sensory awareness even while not attached to the machine. They may also suffer body dysphoria as differentiating their human and Pokemon selves is unsettling. Possible new problems depending on species, up to and including psychosis.
Q&A
-Once you have Bonded with a Pokemon, your rating with it can only increase, not decrease.
-When you are able to bond with multiple Pokemon, you may only have the Carnate Engine connect to one in a given twenty four hour period, this is to prevent mental cross contamination as there is some detectable feedback with each bonding. The short is 'an extended rest must be taken between adventures'.
-Your human body continues to require food and sleep, with this in mind the machine has safeties to log your time, and perform an automated extraction after twelve hours. This can be tampered with, but it isn't recommended. Professor Rosewood monitors your times, and can rouse you earlier, but self-waking is not possible once the Carnate Engine has fired up. Additionally, communication is nearly impossible with your Operator. They can only monitor your personal vitals and brain activity, as well as your Pokemon's.
-Tagging a new vessel (obtaining a new Pokemon) is achieved by reaching Bonded Rank 3 and breeding with another Pokemon in your egg group. The resulting offspring as well as the partner will both then be viable for habitation. The act itself will not be role played, but the process of building a rapport with a partner will be.
-Your highest Bonded Rank will continue to apply all of it's adjustments to your trainer's psyche, but bonding with a new Pokemon of a lower rank will begin to override the lower rank penalties. For example, I bond with Dunsparce to Rank 3, picking up Hermit/Reclusive Behavior, Light Sensitivity, and Agoraphobia, then start a new bond with an Arbok, which starts at Rank 1, the GM might replace Reclusive Behavior with Territorialism, with the other two remaining until the bond with Arbok grows. This is to prevent players from getting overwhelmed by having too much trauma at once. If the two are at an equal bond value, you exchange one set of problems for the other, each time you bond.
-Your 'Troubles' as I'm probably going to call them, should be kept close to your chest. If the rest of the research staff knows you particularly well, they may start picking out your new issues on their own. These will be kept by me on a separate sheet somewhere instead of on your character sheets.
-The rate at which Bond builds is to be determined yet. Currently I am juggling either an experience point total per bond rating, or hours logged. I could potentially treat it like Loyalty instead in some fashions, but it will be discussed among accepted players.
-I will likely be accepting three players maximum, four if I am just absolutely moved.
-When you are able to bond with multiple Pokemon, you may only have the Carnate Engine connect to one in a given twenty four hour period, this is to prevent mental cross contamination as there is some detectable feedback with each bonding. The short is 'an extended rest must be taken between adventures'.
-Your human body continues to require food and sleep, with this in mind the machine has safeties to log your time, and perform an automated extraction after twelve hours. This can be tampered with, but it isn't recommended. Professor Rosewood monitors your times, and can rouse you earlier, but self-waking is not possible once the Carnate Engine has fired up. Additionally, communication is nearly impossible with your Operator. They can only monitor your personal vitals and brain activity, as well as your Pokemon's.
-Tagging a new vessel (obtaining a new Pokemon) is achieved by reaching Bonded Rank 3 and breeding with another Pokemon in your egg group. The resulting offspring as well as the partner will both then be viable for habitation. The act itself will not be role played, but the process of building a rapport with a partner will be.
-Your highest Bonded Rank will continue to apply all of it's adjustments to your trainer's psyche, but bonding with a new Pokemon of a lower rank will begin to override the lower rank penalties. For example, I bond with Dunsparce to Rank 3, picking up Hermit/Reclusive Behavior, Light Sensitivity, and Agoraphobia, then start a new bond with an Arbok, which starts at Rank 1, the GM might replace Reclusive Behavior with Territorialism, with the other two remaining until the bond with Arbok grows. This is to prevent players from getting overwhelmed by having too much trauma at once. If the two are at an equal bond value, you exchange one set of problems for the other, each time you bond.
-Your 'Troubles' as I'm probably going to call them, should be kept close to your chest. If the rest of the research staff knows you particularly well, they may start picking out your new issues on their own. These will be kept by me on a separate sheet somewhere instead of on your character sheets.
-The rate at which Bond builds is to be determined yet. Currently I am juggling either an experience point total per bond rating, or hours logged. I could potentially treat it like Loyalty instead in some fashions, but it will be discussed among accepted players.
-I will likely be accepting three players maximum, four if I am just absolutely moved.