Firefly D20?

[Thanee]

Nice try from a creative mind, but you surely realize, that it's not quite a fit there.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pbartender]

Like a champ, I think.

Considering that Firefly spontaneously transforms into Kill Bill + Dawn of the Dead in Serenity, the capability to handle different genres come in handy, too.

Yeah, after the movie River'd need a whole wack-load of feats and BAB's to do what she did.

I would say River's moment in the room was something more along the lines of a Psionic Tenser's Transformation sort of thing. She's not normally that much of a badass, but she seems to be able to channel the badass in times of need.

Though, to be honest, again, we're trying to stat up a plot element. River isn't always a 21st level killing machine. She was a killing machine because it was what Joss decided to write into the climax. It's probably something, had the show gone on, that she'd have only done once.

Earlier she had picked up a gun, glanced around a battlefield, and put a bunch of bullets in people. She also has no conception of what a gun IS half the time.

Yeah, but she can use it quite well, when necessary. Her mind is just totally screwed up.

Characters like this simply cannot be build properly with d20 rules IMHO, at least not without inventing special abilities for at least half of what the character is.

For instance, we can certainly stat up River as a 24th level combat god and Jayne as a 6th level Strong hero. We can figure out "close enough" feats and skills and special abilities to replicate the characters in the TV show.

...

I think the Tenser's Transformation thing is probably the right idea. If I were to make something "like" River, I'd give her a spellcasting/psionic type thing. We can model River taking out the guys in the show and movie by making her 20 levels higher than everybody else in the party. We can probably also model her by making her a Wizard. Really ... worthless weakling crackpot most of the time, shows up all of the combat characters at random moments? Wizard.

It's not just amnesia... its more her ups and downs, her abilities, everything.

Sure you can simply roleplay some of that stuff, but when the character mechanics don't give you a reason not to go full bore in every combat, then why should you, for example (apart from the roleplaying considerations, but those cannot really be used as mechanics normally)?

d20 doesn't have the right mechanics for that kind of stuff (at least not that I'm aware of).
i.e. River would have to be very high level in order to be capable of what she is, but then she is all around powerful, which doesn't seem right either. The level system is simply too inflexible there.

In HERO, for example, I could make a character like that.

Now I'm curious...

If I've got the spare time tonight, I'm going to see if I can come up with a decent set of stats for "movie" River using Spycraft 2.0... I'll make her as a PC first, and then a NPC second. I'm curious to see how low-level I can make her and still have stats that emulate what she can do in the movies.

 

[Klaus]

I'll try and convert her Serenity RPG stats (which were toned down to put her in line with the other characters) to d20 Future.

 

[Rhun]

There's an interview out there somewhere where Whedon flat-out states that he got started on Travller, and that line was a nod to Firefly's roots.

Well then, one more reason to use Traveller as the game of choice for a Firefly game, then. I think I've still got a few old Megatraveller books lying about, and the d20 Traveller as well.

 

[Ranger REG]

It's not just amnesia... its more her ups and downs, her abilities, everything.

Sure you can simply roleplay some of that stuff, but when the character mechanics don't give you a reason not to go full bore in every combat, then why should you, for example (apart from the roleplaying considerations, but those cannot really be used as mechanics normally)?

Now, you're talking like a powergamer. Fortunately, not everyone is a powergamer, though there is the temptation.

 

[Ranger REG]

Now I'm curious...

If I've got the spare time tonight, I'm going to see if I can come up with a decent set of stats for "movie" River using Spycraft 2.0... I'll make her as a PC first, and then a NPC second. I'm curious to see how low-level I can make her and still have stats that emulate what she can do in the movies.

Decent, yeah. But we don't fully know what River is capable of. I don't think she knows herself, or perhaps she's afraid, now that the Alliance have removed that "filter" in her brainpan. The "filter" that they believed is keeping someone from realizing one's full potential.

 

[Thanee]

Now, you're talking like a powergamer. Fortunately, not everyone is a powergamer, though there is the temptation.

I guess I just didn't explain it well enough...

Bye
Thanee

 

[Pbartender]

Decent, yeah. But we don't fully know what River is capable of. I don't think she knows herself, or perhaps she's afraid, now that the Alliance have removed that "filter" in her brainpan. The "filter" that they believed is keeping someone from realizing one's full potential.

It doesn't matter... I'm trying to emulate, stat-wise, two things with River. First, the "sleeper agent" plot device -- usually she's a mostly useless and crazy girl, but sometimes she turns into a cold-blooded killing machine. Second, her fighting ability -- within the scope of movie that means the ability to pull some fancy moves and take down an entire room full of mooks... Oh, and beat up Jayne.

And... Now that the "filter" is removed, slowly realizing her full potenital would be essentially equivalent to gaining additional levels as a Soldier.

It's not a full stat block, but here's a rough sketch of how it might work in SC 2.0, using the standard SC 2.0 point buy. I went with level 7, to give her a few extra cool feats, but it feasibly could have been done at as low a level as 3rd. The important part is the "alternate idenity" part of her Test Subject origin... It allows her to switch between her two main roles (power levels) in the show.

Plus, all her "psychic" insights and suh can be modeled easily modeled through Action Dice.

Also notice that most of the feats chosen are nto necessary feats... Many of them could be swapped out for other feats in order to better portray anyone's personal ideal of her fighting style.

RIVER TAM, Level 7 Soldier
Orphaned (+2 to any 1 attribute, -2 to any 1 attribute, 1 additional weapon proficiency, 1 additional action die per session)
Test Subject (Great Fortitude, highest attribute +2, lowest attribute -2, alternate identity, unnerving I)

Str 9, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 10

Action Dice: 5 (d6)

Wounds/Vitality: 13/48
DR: 1/-

BAB: +7 (Unarmed +13, 2d6+1d4+5, 19-20/x2)
BDB: +3 (Defense 16)
BIB: +7 (Initiative +10)
F/R/W: +7/+5/+5

Skill Points: 80 (Athletics, Drive, Intimidate, Notice, Resolve, Search, Survival, Tactics)

Weapon Proficiencies: 10 - Blunt, Edged, Exotic (Blunt), Exotic (Edged), Handgun, Hurled, Rifle, Submachine Gun, Unarmed (forte).

CLASS ABILITIES

Accurate: Roll 2 dice, whenever you spend one action die to boost an attack check.
Fortunes of War I: Gain +1 DR. A number of times equal to your starting action dice, use a free action to double this bonus for one round.
Armor Use I: +1 bonus to defense and -1 ACP when wearing armor. Gain one free caliber I piece of armor.
Weapon Specialist (Killer Instinct, Unarmed): +1d4 damage with each unarmed attack.

FEATS

Contempt: You may take an additional attack against a standard NPC as a free action once per turn.
CQB Basics: +1 to hit against oppnents within CQB range (30'). Make Threaten actions with readed ranged weapons. Ignore attack penalty for fired into melee.
Boxing Basics: Gain stance and trick... Closed Stance, Double Jab.
Dueling Basics: +2 defense against opponent or +1 Defense against all opponents. Once per round, when using a melee attack, target an oppionent 5' beyond your reach.
Great Fortitude: +3 wounds, +3 Fortitude saves.
Kicking Moves: Gain three tricks... Back Flip, Guillotine Kick, Power Kick.
Martial Arts (intelligence): Unarmed threat range is 19-20. Unarmed damage +1d6. Apply intelligence modifier to unarmed attack and damage rolls.
Two-Hit Combo: One extra unarmed attack, -2 to all attack and skill checks for one round.

OTHER ABILITIES

Unnerving I: Each time River inflicts 1 or more points of damage with an unarmed or melee attack, the target suffers 1d4 points of stress damage.
Alternate Identity: River is normally a very confused, very scared and slightly crazy little girl. Her Soldier identity only surfaces under extreme circumstances. The DC of any skill checks made to view her true Soldier identity are increased by 10, when she's being a scared girl. Switching from one identity to another requires 2 full rounds, and can be triggered by a variety of methods including subliminal messaging and secret safe-words.

River Tam (Confused, Scared and Crazy Girl) +7 xp
Initiative +3; Attack +1; Defense 13; Resilience +1; Damage Save +4; Competence +0;
Wealth: 0/0/0; Weapons: None; Gear: None; Vehicle: None;
Qualities: Achilles heel (stress damage), inferior attribute (Str -1), meek (-20), non-combatant, superior attributes (Dex +6, Int +10).

 

[Klaus]

A quick perusal of the XPH brings up Defensive and Offensive Precognition (add +1 to AC and attacks, respectively, with another +1 per 3 power points spent) and Offensive Presomethingsomething (adds +1 to damage, plus another +1 per 3 power points spent) and Detect Hostile Intent. The point cost might explain why she doesn't do it all the time, but she'd be pretty good when the punches are thrown. Weapon Finesse is a must, bypassing a lowish Strength. Her "punches" might be mimicked through Hammer (1d8 damage touch). And she'd need Whirlwind Attack, too. Or at least Great Cleave.

 

[Armistice]

It doesn't matter... I'm trying to emulate, stat-wise, two things with River. First, the "sleeper agent" plot device -- usually she's a mostly useless and crazy girl, but sometimes she turns into a cold-blooded killing machine. Second, her fighting ability -- within the scope of movie that means the ability to pull some fancy moves and take down an entire room full of mooks... Oh, and beat up Jayne.

And... Now that the "filter" is removed, slowly realizing her full potenital would be essentially equivalent to gaining additional levels as a Soldier.

It's not a full stat block, but here's a rough sketch of how it might work in SC 2.0, using the standard SC 2.0 point buy. I went with level 7, to give her a few extra cool feats, but it feasibly could have been done at as low a level as 3rd. The important part is the "alternate idenity" part of her Test Subject origin... It allows her to switch between her two main roles (power levels) in the show.

Plus, all her "psychic" insights and suh can be modeled easily modeled through Action Dice.

Also notice that most of the feats chosen are nto necessary feats... Many of them could be swapped out for other feats in order to better portray anyone's personal ideal of her fighting style.

RIVER TAM, Level 7 Soldier
Orphaned (+2 to any 1 attribute, -2 to any 1 attribute, 1 additional weapon proficiency, 1 additional action die per session)
Test Subject (Great Fortitude, highest attribute +2, lowest attribute -2, alternate identity, unnerving I)

Str 9, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 10

Action Dice: 5 (d6)

Wounds/Vitality: 13/48
DR: 1/-

BAB: +7 (Unarmed +13, 2d6+1d4+5, 19-20/x2)
BDB: +3 (Defense 16)
BIB: +7 (Initiative +10)
F/R/W: +7/+5/+5

Skill Points: 80 (Athletics, Drive, Intimidate, Notice, Resolve, Search, Survival, Tactics)

Weapon Proficiencies: 10 - Blunt, Edged, Exotic (Blunt), Exotic (Edged), Handgun, Hurled, Rifle, Submachine Gun, Unarmed (forte).

CLASS ABILITIES

Accurate: Roll 2 dice, whenever you spend one action die to boost an attack check.
Fortunes of War I: Gain +1 DR. A number of times equal to your starting action dice, use a free action to double this bonus for one round.
Armor Use I: +1 bonus to defense and -1 ACP when wearing armor. Gain one free caliber I piece of armor.
Weapon Specialist (Killer Instinct, Unarmed): +1d4 damage with each unarmed attack.

FEATS

Contempt: You may take an additional attack against a standard NPC as a free action once per turn.
CQB Basics: +1 to hit against oppnents within CQB range (30'). Make Threaten actions with readed ranged weapons. Ignore attack penalty for fired into melee.
Boxing Basics: Gain stance and trick... Closed Stance, Double Jab.
Dueling Basics: +2 defense against opponent or +1 Defense against all opponents. Once per round, when using a melee attack, target an oppionent 5' beyond your reach.
Great Fortitude: +3 wounds, +3 Fortitude saves.
Kicking Moves: Gain three tricks... Back Flip, Guillotine Kick, Power Kick.
Martial Arts (intelligence): Unarmed threat range is 19-20. Unarmed damage +1d6. Apply intelligence modifier to unarmed attack and damage rolls.
Two-Hit Combo: One extra unarmed attack, -2 to all attack and skill checks for one round.

OTHER ABILITIES

Unnerving I: Each time River inflicts 1 or more points of damage with an unarmed or melee attack, the target suffers 1d4 points of stress damage.
Alternate Identity: River is normally a very confused, very scared and slightly crazy little girl. Her Soldier identity only surfaces under extreme circumstances. The DC of any skill checks made to view her true Soldier identity are increased by 10, when she's being a scared girl. Switching from one identity to another requires 2 full rounds, and can be triggered by a variety of methods including subliminal messaging and secret safe-words.

River Tam (Confused, Scared and Crazy Girl) +7 xp
Initiative +3; Attack +1; Defense 13; Resilience +1; Damage Save +4; Competence +0;
Wealth: 0/0/0; Weapons: None; Gear: None; Vehicle: None;
Qualities: Achilles heel (stress damage), inferior attribute (Str -1), meek (-20), non-combatant, superior attributes (Dex +6, Int +10).

Good Show. That actually looks pretty good. You should post that on the crafty boards.