[QUOTE=Omi no Kami]
I was about to suggest the same thing, so I can say that I’m more than happy to let you stack up Aspect bonuses for your Resources, as long as you spend a fate point for each Aspect that you call into play.
[/QUOTE]
Nice, so if we need something REALLY big I can still grab it, I just need the fate points available to me. I like that.
[QUOTE=NAF1138]
Nice, so if we need something REALLY big I can still grab it, I just need the fate points available to me. I like that.
[/QUOTE]
Exactly. The more I look at it, the more I’m annoyed with how weird Resources were implemented… I’ll reserve making a verdict unless and until it comes up, but if there’s a good (or really funny) reason for it, I might allow multiple characters to pool their Resources to add a bonus (something like +1 to the roll for each character helping out).
I think Sam is still getting used to the concept of money. >.<
[QUOTE=ArrMatey!]
I think Sam is still getting used to the concept of money. >.<
[/QUOTE]
ArrM, I don’t want to distract you from what you have going on, but I am stuck on an idea for a crossover with our characters. Do you have a reason why you might want to hook up with THE DARK SPECTRE?
Certainly. THE DARK SPECTRE has run into a science-fiction villain of some power, and somehow incidentally runs into Sam, who can identify the villain’s power-source as something extra-terrestrial. Sam won’t know how it works (due to the lack of knowledge of the ‘old tech’ on his world), but he’ll certainly be intrigued enough to follow up on it!
[QUOTE=ArrMatey!]
Certainly. THE DARK SPECTRE has run into a science-fiction villain of some power, and somehow incidentally runs into Sam, who can identify the villain’s power-source as something extra-terrestrial. Sam won’t know how it works (due to the lack of knowledge of the ‘old tech’ on his world), but he’ll certainly be intrigued enough to follow up on it!
[/QUOTE]
Works for me, you want to start it in your book or mine?
Early Childhood : The troll Ed Wrathbone was born into a life of luxury and privilege. His father vanished on a hunting expedition while he was still a baby, but his mother was a powerful sorceress who spent her time traveling and performing rituals. She sent wagons of gold home to her son who was raised by servants. Ed avoided being spoiled because a warrior saw potential in the child and trained him in troll combat techniques with their harsh discipline and focus on the mind and body.
Aspect : Trove of Gold (Lots of money to spend, lots of stuff to lose)
Aspect : Brawny as a Troll (A troll in a human world. Physically imposing, feared and hated)
Adolescence : Ed did well in his training, though his mother didn’t approve of his interest in dark magics. So she encouraged him to follow her path and arranged for his apprenticeship to a series of wizards. They taught him magics to affect the world around him and form images of light to act out the ancient stories of his people. He learned quickly and actually performed a ritual on his own which acted out a new tale to surprising success.
Aspect : Knowledge of the Occult (Knows about the occult)
Aspect : Sorcerous Might (can use spells)
Adult : Ed Wrath and The Ghost’s Revenge. While working on one of his tales, Ed was drawn through to this new world. Astonished at his strange surroundings, Ed discovered that humans were the dominant species and other trolls were rare. Posing as a mere lackey of a fictional boss named Zeke Bone, Ed took control of the old house in which he’d appeared. Even worse, many of his sorcerous tools for creating light imagery were lost, though he still possessed his gold and the many strange tools of modern film making found within the house. Determined to return to crafting tales in this new medium, Ed began filming of a remake of The Ghost’s Revenge, only to discover that someone wants the production halted. Even if it means making Ed a ghost!
Aspect : Tale telling (Used to design and tell stories, always curious to hear a good story)
Aspect : Lackey to Zeke Bone (the chief agent of a powerful and rich man who doesn’t actually exist, often looked down upon as a mere lackey)
So Arrmatey, any ideas on how you’d fit into my story?
BTW, my thoughts for the last two phases (requiring guest stars, and thanks for the quick volunteering) are :
Ed wants to make a movie about vampires prostitutes, but he’s being threatened off of it because it is too close to actual events including a trail of dead prostitues. What if the villains convince Dark Spectre that Ed’s behind the deaths?
Someone leaves Ed a spellbook with a mysterious spell. Unfortunately, he’s not entirely sure what it does, but it must be completely before an eclipse and it requires a really big diamond. Time to turn to a famous thief.
First draft of mechanical stuff :
Skills
Superb : Art
Great : Mystery, Resources
Good :Resolve, Might, Endurance
Fair : Contacting, Intimidate, Leadership, Rapport
Average : Academics, Athletics, Deceit, Engineering, ?
Stunts
The artist’s eye (Notice patterns and “signatures”)
Virtuoso (master of films, horror films)
Do You Know Who I Am? (Complement Rapport, Intimidation, Deceit and Contacting)
Herculean Strength (weight based challenges are -2 difficulty)
Wrestler (Use Might instead of Fists)
Secrets of the Arcane (respected authority in magic)
Aspects
Trove of Wealth
Brawny as a Troll
Knowledge of the Occult
Sorcerous Might
Famous Film Maker
Lackey of Zeke Bone
I noticed that they didn’t really explain how magic works in SotC. Improvisational? Budget? In some of the setups, the number of spells was dependent upon Assets, so I’m leaving a few spots open for boosting that.
I also thought that a film maker, known to act as lackey to the studio head (the fictional Zeke Bone) and sorcerer would be sufficient plot hooks to get things going.
[QUOTE=danar]
Someone leaves Ed a spellbook with a mysterious spell. Unfortunately, he’s not entirely sure what it does, but it must be completely before an eclipse and it requires a really big diamond. Time to turn to a famous thief.
[/QUOTE]
Works for me. (Though, I’m not exactly famous yet.)
Any details on who has the diamond? And is it a specific diamond or a general diamond of a specific size? I can also use Mr. Z as a way to find the diamond you need, though the events of that would have to take place after the events of The Dave: Just PLAIN Wanted! since I got Mr. Z as an official aspect after that point. Though, that might complicate things a bit since my events with Roosh would be happening in the middle of my Pulp story without specific mention of them happening then. So it would probably be easier if you had a target in mind for me to steal from.
Also, are you looking into this as a mutual crossover, much like I did with Pollux since technically I volunteered to be in your story?
I was going to just suggest random “really big” diamond from the local museum. (if the goat knows of another one it town, that’d be fine too.)
I was actually suggesting this as your guest spot, but I’m good with the idea of of a crossover too. (I’d actually planned on trying to guest star with the martian and the Dave to forge as many connections throughout the party as possible.)
Oh yeah, I need to get 2 more aspects by starring in the Martian’s Novel.
Any Suggestions Arr?
[QUOTE=danar]
I was going to just suggest random “really big” diamond from the local museum. (if the goat knows of another one it town, that’d be fine too.)
I was actually suggesting this as your guest spot, but I’m good with the idea of of a crossover too. (I’d actually planned on trying to guest star with the martian and the Dave to forge as many connections throughout the party as possible.)
[/QUOTE]
Either way works. If Roosh and ArrMatey! are good to go with you guest starring in theirs, that’s all that’s really needed. You can pretty much write me into yours however you see fit. We’ll place it officially post-“helping Roosh clear his name” in my timeline.
Oh, two updates to my equipment.
I’m going to be carrying around some monofilament tripwire on my belt.
And I’m changing how the flash grenades work. Instead of having two each of thrown and motion sensor type, I’m going to have all four be a dual purpose remote detonated and motion sensor type. I think this works better strategically.
Basically the remote detonator will have four switches and four buttons. The switches will arm/disarm the flash grenades, the button will remote detonate them. Also on each grenade will be a switch that turns on whether or not it detonates by motion sensor or not. The idea is I can set them as defensive traps with the motion sensor feature activated, but I have to remember to turn them off via the remote if I don’t want to have them accidentally set off by me or an ally. I also will have to keep track of which button goes with which grenade (each grenade will have a variable frequency receiver which can sync to the appropriate switch and button from the remote) so I don’t detonate one on my belt for instance. (Although, that would be fairly amusing to an external observer or the guy trying to kick my ass.) Also, when using them as direct weapons, I’ll have to remember to be far enough away or at the very least turn away so that I don’t get hit with the flash or the tear gas.
When using them as thrown weapons, I figure my weapons skill will be used to determine how well I aim, and when using them as motion sensor placed weapons I figure a roll of weapon skill will determine how well I placed them in a location to effect the person who triggers them.
From Arr’s Novel:
Aspects 9: 9 more lives than a cat!
Aspect 10: Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow
Figured I could use some POSITIVE aspects to my guy, since I’m playing with a loaded deck of negative ones.
9- obvious- David Fandango is incredible lucky to walk away from some crazy situations, the more it looks like he’s got a chance of dying, the better off he is at surviving.
10- Both The Dave and The Grim Fandango are unflappable characters, they work best under pressure, and always can have a cocky air to them when Danger and excitement is about. (One Negative- The Dave needs that pressure to do his best work- so figuring a solution ALWAYS ends up happening the closest to the countdown as possible)
Sam S’mith’s first novel: The Last Martian versus Father Christmas
How does a man fight for his home when he has none? Sam S’mith must learn quickly; he’s found himself in yet another akwardly human moment. One by one, the people around him have taken it into their hearts to invite the loner on 15th street to their homes for holiday festivities. Never knowing the joy of a christmas, Sam must learn the true meaning of the holiday, and learn it fast. The clock begins ticking faster as he begins to realize the gifts that are being passed around look suspiciously like the tools of the very beings he fled his homeworld to escape…
Aspects: “The Humans Need Me”, Seen by the Cosmic Eye.
Sam S’mith’s second novel: The Last Martian and the Quality of Mercy
It’s time for another walk on the streets with the man from another world. This time, life isn’t as kind as Christmas. This time the streets are a bit darker, and lurking within them is THE DARK SPECTER. Both men seek a prize, but will they collide before gaining it?
The mysterious E-ray weapon lies in the hands of master Li, puppeteer of the underworld. It is said no man can catch him, or even touch him when he posseses such power.
But what if it’s two men?
Come read the thrilling adventures of two heroes who are dangled like marionettes on a string, and find what it takes to bite the hand that controls them!
Aspects: “Science is just another Deity”, “Closer than your own shadow”
(And Danar and RoOsh, I’m trying to come up with a third novel to put you both in. Or am I guest-staring in yours? I get confused, and could use some brainstorming help)
[QUOTE=ArrMatey!]
Sam S’mith’s first novel: The Last Martian versus Father Christmas
How does a man fight for his home when he has none? Sam S’mith must learn quickly; he’s found himself in yet another akwardly human moment. One by one, the people around him have taken it into their hearts to invite the loner on 15th street to their homes for holiday festivities. Never knowing the joy of a christmas, Sam must learn the true meaning of the holiday, and learn it fast. The clock begins ticking faster as he begins to realize the gifts that are being passed around look suspiciously like the tools of the very beings he fled his homeworld to escape…
Aspects: “The Humans Need Me”, Seen by the Cosmic Eye.
Sam S’mith’s second novel: The Last Martian and the Quality of Mercy
It’s time for another walk on the streets with the man from another world. This time, life isn’t as kind as Christmas. This time the streets are a bit darker, and lurking within them is THE DARK SPECTER. Both men seek a prize, but will they collide before gaining it?
The mysterious E-ray weapon lies in the hands of master Li, puppeteer of the underworld. It is said no man can catch him, or even touch him when he posseses such power.
But what if it’s two men?
Come read the thrilling adventures of two heroes who are dangled like marionettes on a string, and find what it takes to bite the hand that controls them!
Aspects: “Science is just another Deity”, “Closer than your own shadow”
(And Danar and RoOsh, I’m trying to come up with a third novel to put you both in. Or am I guest-staring in yours? I get confused, and could use some brainstorming help)
[/QUOTE]
You’re actually guest starring in mine.
Technically, you get the last four aspects from starring in others’ novels. You get four from life prior novelization, two from your novel, and four from the novels you guest star in.
But if you have an idea for which ones you want to get from my novel and explain specifically what they mean, I can see how it’ll work into mine. Pollux and my crossover story is complete.
Cool ArrM. Like Hoopy said, you are technically supposed to take you last aspects from the novels you guest in (though I am not sure how much it matters) but we can make the story with master Li cross over into your guesting in my book and you can put your aspects in there.
Let me write up a quick dust jacket blurb for the conclusion of Quality of Mercy.
The Dark Spectre in When Mercy Fails.
When we last saw our hero THE DARK SPECTRE he was hanging out in the lair of Master Li, puppeteer of the underworld…literally! Poised high above a tank of acid it is up to his new acquanitance Sam S’mith, The Last Martian to save him before he meets his fate.
Join our heroes in the conclusion the the gripping novel The Last Martion and the Quality of Mercy as they go toe to toe with the most vile members of the underworld. Far East training meets Martian know how in this thrilling tale of daring do. Don’t miss it!
What do you think?
Also, I am going with the British spelling of spectre, it just seemed more pulpy to me. Sort of falsly high brow.
Okay, I’m apparently vastly confused. Can someone give me a hand figuring out what I’m missing, and what I’m supposed to be doing, story-wise? Throw me a line, please!
[QUOTE=NAF1138]
You could have a James Bond-esqe “women are your one great weakness” thing that comes into play. It can potentially be positive, but if you risk all for a piece of tail that probably isn’t really all that good.
Do you have a good luck charm? Most gamblers do. That could be your last one.
[/QUOTE]
Hmmm. I kind of wanted to stay away from the James Bond spy woman weakness trope. To me it kind of already fits into the Natural Charmer aspect. I can see Luke charming women and then absent-mindedly forgetting about them because he’s trying to figure out a puzzle and them getting PO’d about it.
I do like the idea of a good luck charm though, I hadn’t even thought about that. That’ll probably be one of the two aspects. The other one I’m thinking about now is “Needless Bravado.” Or maybe just “Showoff.” Something like that, where he makes things needlessly more extravagant and showy than he really has to, and sometime it’s to his detriment.
[QUOTE=ArrMatey!]
Okay, I’m apparently vastly confused. Can someone give me a hand figuring out what I’m missing, and what I’m supposed to be doing, story-wise? Throw me a line, please!
[/QUOTE]
There’s three initial sections you come up with: his early childhood, his adolescence, and then a single pulp novel. Each of these nets you two aspects. Then you guest star in two other people’s novels and gain two more aspects from each of your guest spots for a total of 10 aspects.
[QUOTE=danar]
Stunts
The artist’s eye (Notice patterns and “signatures”)
Virtuoso (master of films, horror films)
Do You Know Who I Am? (Complement Rapport, Intimidation, Deceit and Contacting)
Herculean Strength (weight based challenges are -2 difficulty)
Wrestler (Use Might instead of Fists)
Secrets of the Arcane (respected authority in magic)
[/QUOTE]
First off, I don’t think anybody corrected you on this yet but you only get five stunts to start with. Also, for the SoC set-up there’s a list of stunts you can use that can be found here:
They’re sorted by skill.