Final Decisions

[The_Universe]

It's come down to this - I've managed to narrow down what I intend to run to the following two choices:

"You tell 'em I'm coming, and Hell's coming with me."

Welcome to the developing ground for a new campaign (currently untitled) set in the late 1800's of what, on the surface at least, appears to be the real world. We'll be using a combination of D20 Modern, Sidewinder: Recoiled, Grim Tales, Darwin's World, and D20 Past to help set the framework of this new campaign. The latter half of the 19th century was a strange confluence of the old and new worlds. Europe played out some of the last of their border wars while spreading colonies across the globe. Americans pursued their manifest destiny with an unbridled passion, and tamed an untamed continent in the process. By the end of the era, the world had become something that we could recognize as our own. But it took many brave, rough men and women to make it so.

With Victoria of England passed the last of many ancient traditions, and her death marks the birth of a recognizably modern earth. This is the era upon which we will focus. A time of war, sorrow, and heroism; a time of wilderness and civilization - a time of the last true frontiers.

But not all the wars made it into the history books. Some were fought on battlefields that few men will ever see. There is a world behind the world, and this will be part of our story, as well. Come with me, and make sure that old Colt Navy is loaded. There are things man was not meant to know. Kill them.

"Keep your distance, but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance. ...I don't know! Fly casual!"

Welcome to the developing ground for a new campaign (currently untitled) set in the beloved Star Wars universe. The Empire has ruled the galaxy for a generation, the Old Republic and the Jedi are little more than faded memories. The New Order is a harsh reality. But, not all the citizens of the galaxy are willing to take Emperor Palpatine's predations lying down. Word of rebellion spreads through the galaxy like wildfire, a burning hope for a better tomorrow. Two sectors in the outer rim are already in open rebellion, and those in the know whisper that they are merely part of something larger - a Rebel Alliance.

This is an era of stormtroopers, Star Destroyers, and starfighters. It is a time of war, rediscovery, and loss. It is a time of smugglers and blockade runners, royalty and regency, rogues and knights.

Life below the Empire's scanners isn't easy, but you've got a few tricks up your sleave. Tricks, and a ship. There's a life to be made in the shadows of the galaxy, live it like a pro.

[The_Universe]

I stuck one of the descriptions into the welcome thread, since this is (obviously) no longer the new home of a Kingdom of Ashes. However, I don't necessarily favor it over anything else. It's just the first one I wrote.

[The_Universe]

Star Wars is in the lead! Place your votes now!

[The_Universe]

Ooh! D20 Modern is catching up!

[The_Universe]

Any votes left out there? Can I have everyone interested in participating check in to let me know that they've voted (but feel free to keep your vote private).

[Archon]

i haven't voted yet. i think we should see how everyone reacts to a series of "shorts" before we have you commit to anything long term.

[The_Universe]

We can have shorts. I'm just asking what *I'm* going to run. Because I'm going to run something, definitely.

[Xath]

I voted for the D20 modern because I'm uninterested in playing Star Wars. However, I have my concerns.

The thing I found out in Liz's game (fun though it was) is that it's extremely difficult to make an interesting female character in this time period. Gender and class restrictions mean that the options for women are signifigantly less than those for men. Will this be ignored? Set aside? Do we get to be special? Because I don't really anticipate great joy in playing a house wife or another nun.

[The_Universe]

You get to be special/exceptional, as is the premise with almost all roleplaying games, except maybe Paranoia and Call of Cthulhu.

You might encounter resistence from NPCs who's reactions will be loosely similar to how "real" people might react the adventuring woman, but it's not like the era is devoid of historical examples of such women, either. Nun's certainly don't make typical adventurers, and I don't really see why they're an official exception to the rule (I think the nun thing worked out for different reasons in Liz's game). Regardless, as with most games, the key is to do a little bit of thinking and come up with a background that makes sense, and will be fun. As long as you can meet those two tests, there's no worries.

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Originally Posted by Xath

The thing I found out in Liz's game (fun though it was) is that it's extremely difficult to make an interesting female character in this time period. Gender and class restrictions mean that the options for women are signifigantly less than those for men. Will this be ignored? Set aside? Do we get to be special? Because I don't really anticipate great joy in playing a house wife or another nun.

I don't believe that to be true at all.

I have been working on ideas for a potential character for Nico and - boy howdy - are there some awesome concepts. The 1920's in particular is an awesome time period: flappers, newly acquired sufferage, a raging women's movement, and - with WWI just ending - you could certainly write an excellent female that *had* been working while her man was off at war and was forced to give up her job upon his return (that would make for one FIESTY woman!).

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

The 1890's is very diverse, as well... so much is still going on! From a sweet Japanese samurai woman to a wild west gun sling-ette - you don't lack for options in the slightest.

*grins* It would totally rock.

[Xath]

Ha! I have her. Now I'm officially excited for this game. More details to come when I flesh her out with stats and stuff.

Winefred "Fred" Thompson: Sheriff's daughter from Roswell, New Mexico. Probably a Smart/Strong mix.

[The_Universe]

Originally Posted by Xath

Ha! I have her. Now I'm officially excited for this game. More details to come when I flesh her out with stats and stuff.

Winefred "Fred" Thompson: Sheriff's daughter from Roswell, New Mexico. Probably a Smart/Strong mix.

That's a good one. I want to make sure to have *at least* one character like that.

I've got further details for character creation in development (and some creation guidelines) that I'll post or otherwise publish as soon as I decide upon them.

A question for you specifically, Gertie - are you attached to Roswell, or could I move you to a similarly sized town in Texas without it interfering overmuch with your concept?

[Xath]

I'm not too attached. I was doing research this morning and found that nothing terribly interesting happened in Roswell until 1947 anyway.

Wait wait! In 1890, they discovered....water!

Texas is fine.

[The_Universe]

Well, there was a silver mine in Roswell, but it wasn't exactly a rough-and-touble wild-west town. I don't know that the town I'm thinking of in Texas was, either. But, it's mentioned in a book by Jim Marrs, and though the real life event may be a little later than when the game will ultimately be set, I think it might be close enough. So, since the event in question is of dubious truthfulness *anyway,* I don't see much harm in moving it back in time.

Anyway, Aurora, TX is what I had in mind.

Google Satellite

Other Info:

http://ufocasebook.com/Aurora.html

http://www.rense.com/general3/aurora.htm

http://www.rense.com/general27/auror.htm

http://www.ufoevidence.org/ufolinks/...asUFOCrash.htm

[Archon]

My character that i'm keeping in mind is a cross between Doc Holiday and X-Men's "Gambit". His working name right now is "Johnny Cash" (from whom the man in black stole his name ) and he's a quick drawing, womanizing, gambler from any Major western town.

[The_Universe]

You'll probably be OK picking an origin/location anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line and/or West of the Mississippi. I just posted a thread with some initial thoughts about available advanced classes. Grifter and Maverick from Sidewinder: Recoiled spring to mind as being potentially useful at first blush.

Also, Mel Gibson's (and James Garner's) Maverick might be useful for inspiration, as well.

[Archon]

What does the "Grifter" get? I'm assuming it's a Charismatic Hero advanced class. Right now i'm thinking more along the lines of "Gunslinger"

[The_Universe]

Originally Posted by Archon

What does the "Grifter" get? I'm assuming it's a Charismatic Hero advanced class. Right now i'm thinking more along the lines of "Gunslinger"

I don't know off the top of my head what they get - but I would suspect that nearly all of the advanced classes in Sidewinder: Recoiled are going to have some "gunslinger" focus.

[Xath]

I'm working on my character and I have a few questions.

1. Do we still need 1 ability score under 10?
2. How are you working Toughness?
3. For cross class skills: Do they cost double the points? Or can you only have half of the ranks in them? Or both?