D20 Modern Trouble in the Heartlands (Full)

[cdsaint]

Ok, Kind of an odd unformed game going on here, but I'll just lay out what details I have and let you decide. My daughter and her boyfreind are going to college this year, so our regular family game is going to be impractical. After taking a vote to see what they wanted to play, D20 modern was the unanimous winner.

I've pretty much decided that it'll be a dark view of our world, and we'll be using sanity rules (either from OGL Horror or Arcana Unearthed). I'll decide on that before we actually start.

So far I have 3 players. My son (16) my daughter (18) and her boyfreind (20). I'm looking for 2 more players who are willing to bear with 3 newbie PbP'ers. I don't have a lot of experience, but I'm feeling cocky so I can handle anything.

The rules we are using are:
D20 modern, duh!
Urban Arcana
D20 modern players companion (Green Ronin)
and 22 Talent Trees PDF (Bloodstone Press) (well worth what little I paid for it)

Characters will be 2nd level, 32 point buy, max HP at first level, 1/2+1 at all other level. Normal humans suitable for the real world to start please. We'll be starting in the central Illinois area of the US.

It'll probably be a week or so before we get started, so bear that in mind. Thanks, Chris

 

[Jarval]

Sounds interesting. I'd like to play in another modern game, and the use of the Sanity rules sounds like it could make for an interesting setting.

Of the list of books you've given, I only own the D20 Modern core rule book, although I do also have all of the Modern SRD on my hard disk I'm also familiar with some of the Urban Arcana material. If that's not a problem (and you don't mind having me in two of your games, of course! ) then count me in.

 

[cdsaint]

Welcome to the game Jarval. Lacking those books won't be a problem. The only one that's really important is the Modern core rules. I'm not even really sure where I'm going with this one. It might be Dark*Matter style, or Urban Arcana, or Evil Deadesque. All I know for sure is that things should get weird.

Chris

 

[Jarval]

All sounds good to me. I'm very fond of Dark*Matter in particular

Hmm, I've got a character concept that I've had for some time that might suit this game quite well. How does a postgraduate mathematics student with an interest in numerology sound?

 

[Gramcrackered]

I'll bite. Been looking for an excuse to play D20 Modern for the last month or so.

Is there anything we should keep in mind when putting together a character concept? Or will pretty much anything relatively ordinary fly, so long as they have a reason for being in Illinois?

 

[cdsaint]

Sounds fine to me. I think what the kids have in mind are

Smart hacker / demolitions expert

Fast military gunbunny type (this from my daughter who is excited about the more intense role playing environment of PbP games)

Dedicated law enforcement (criminologist) type guy

Of course these are just breif descriptions of my knowledge of the characters, but should give you some ideas of what the group is likely to have. Of course things could change by later today too. Make the character you want, we'll work with it.

Chris

 

[cdsaint]

I'll bite. Been looking for an excuse to play D20 Modern for the last month or so.

Is there anything we should keep in mind when putting together a character concept? Or will pretty much anything relatively ordinary fly, so long as they have a reason for being in Illinois?

Just about anything you want to play, just have a reason for being in Illinois. Riverboat Casino's come to mind if you can't come up with anything else. Also some fine Institutes of higher learning located in the area.

By the way, welcome to the game Gramcrackered. Good to have you aboard.

Chris

 

[Jarval]

Here's my character. I'll obviously need to make a few small location based edits to his background, but I need to do a search to find the names of some suitable universities in Illinois.


Elijah Morton
Smart 2 Academic (Permanent Class skills: Computer Use, Knowledge (Arcane Lore), Knowledge (Physical Sciences))

STR 10 (+0)
DEX 14 (+2)
CON 12 (+1)
INT 16 (+3)
WIS 12 (+1)
CHA 14 (+2)


Combat Stats:
Base Attack Bonus: +1
Melee: +1 [+1 BAB, +0 STR]
Ranged: +3 [+1 BAB, +2 DEX]
Hit Points: 12 [10 (levels) + 2 (CON)]
Defense: 13 [10 + 2 (DEX) + 1 (Class)]
Initiative: +2 [+2 (DEX)]
Movement Rate: 30 feet

Attacks per round:
Unarmed Strike (+1 to hit, 1d4 damage, Crit 20)


Action Points: 11
Reputation; +1
Wealth: +4 [4 roll, +3 Occupation, +1 Profession, +1 Level, -5 Purchases]


Saving Throws:
Fort: +1 [+0 base, +1 CON]
Ref: +2 [+0 base, +2 DEX]
Will: +3 [+2 base, +1 WIS]


Feats:
Simple Weapon Proficiency (Free for Smart Hero)
Creative (Craft (Writing), Perform (Stringed Instruments)) (1st level feat)
Combat Martial Arts (1st level feat)
Educated (Knowledge (Arcane Lore), Knowledge (Physical Sciences)) (bonus Smart Hero feat)


Skills:
Balance +3 (1 rank, +2 Dex)
Computer Use +9 (5 ranks, +3 Int, +1 Occupation)
Concentration +3 (2.5 ranks (cc). +1 Con)
Craft (Writing) +10 (5 ranks, +3 Int, +2 Creative)
Decipher Script +4 (1 rank, +3 Int)
Jump +1 (1 rank, +0 Str)
Knowledge (Arcane Lore) +11 (5 ranks, +3 Int, +2 Educated, +1 Occupation)
Knowledge (Physical Sciences) +13 (5 ranks, +3 Int, +2 Educated, +2 Savant, +1 Occupation)
Knowledge (Theology and Philosophy) +8 (5 ranks, +3 Int)
Perform (Stringed Intstruments) +9 (5 ranks, +2 Cha, +2 Creative)
Profession +6 (5 ranks, +1 Wis)
Read/Write Language 3 (Ancient Greek, Ancient Hebrew, Aramaic)
Research +8 (5 ranks, +3 Int)
Speak Language 2 (Ancient Greek, Aramaic)
Tumble +4 (2.5 ranks, +2 Dex)


Talents:
Savant: Knowledge (Physical Sciences) (+2)


Gear:
Briefcase:
- Notebook computer (DC 23, -4 to Wealth)
- - Broadband and Cellular modems
- Cell phone
- Penlight

Not carried:
Guitar (DC 13, -1 Wealth)
Several sets of casual clothes, a couple of coats, an overcoat and a parka.

Total Weight Carried: 9.5 lb
Load: Light


Current XP:
Current: 1,000
Next Level: 3,000


Elijah Morton, Associate Lecturer in Mathematics at Imperial College London.

Elijah has had a deep seated love of mathematics since his first days of school. To say he's in his ideal job is an understatement, as he's paid every day to do his favourite hobby. He's teaching to pay his bills, while doing research to finish his PhD thesis "The development of early mathematics through mythological and psuedomagical constructs".

Outside of his "work" he's a cheerful, easygoing sort of chap. He plays guitar with a less-than-successful band, and is still living the student lifestyle as much as he can.

 

[cdsaint]

Jarval,
I'm not 100% sure about graduate studies but ISU (Illinois State University) in Bloomington Il, U of I (University of Illinois) in Champaign Il, SIU (Southern Illinois University) in Carbondale Il, and Northwestern University in the Chicago area somewhere would all be good possibilities.

I'll take a close look at your character in a while, but at first look he's fine. Don't know how he's going to react the first time he's invited out cow tipping though.

Anyway, I'm finding I've a little brushing up on the rules to do, and ideas are starting to percolate.

Chris

 

[Gramcrackered]

I'll take a close look at your character in a while, but at first look he's fine. Don't know how he's going to react the first time he's invited out cow tipping though.

Ah, Hell. What with that comment, how can I NOT help but base my character off my uncle who lives up in that area? Besides, we've already got quite a few educated concepts...he'll serve as a nice contrast.
Or he won't fit in whatsoever. Er. Definitely one or the other.

I'll throw up a character sheet in a bit.