I will MC After Sundown

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:07 am

Here's what I'm looking at for the android:
Borghild was first made as a simple life sized doll to save the SS troops from the ravages of disease ridden french prostitutes. When Dresden was firebombed, she walked out of the flames, and was found by a squad of supernaturals fighting for the Allies. After a short interrogation under truth detection magic, it was determined that she really was made as to be a nazi sex doll, and somehow had no love for the hateful, genocidal regime that created her (who'da thought?) and was employed as a deep cover spy to provide the Allies' supernaturals with information on the Axis' supernaturals, which were honestly much more widely known, as a number of animates and transhumans were championed as examples of Aryan science.
After the war, she was granted amnesty and citizenship in the US, but soon headed off to Central America to keep tabs on the various nazi war criminals who'd fled to South America.

It'd probably make the most sense for her to be running prostitution in Mexico for the Covenant, but with Endovior working prostitution for WCL... Plus character wise, she'd much rather not be working prosititution, but would likely do it to protect the workers.

The Dryad would probably be a refugee scientist who works the drug trade.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:16 am

Another thought I had was bringing Henry the Baali astronomer back as a visiting professor at the Instituto de Astronomia Ciudad Universitaria.

Oh, an another question about pushing the limits with the extra starting goodies. Could I select the same item more than once?

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:28 am

Alright, so here's my proposed character sheet. I chose the extra power, skill and edge boosts as my three special options.

The concept is a 27 year old Mexican American Nezumi who was infected with lycanthropy during a gap year backpacking trip in India. His infection lay dormant until he was declared legally dead following a car accident during spring break. From there his life became rather complicated and after some dabbling in the stereotypical street rat lifestyle he joined up with the Order of Daziban and relocated to Ciudad de Mexico and became the new acquisitions specialist.

Anyway, I have one pretty important question about skills: What could I do with the Stealth skill that I can't do with my current bucket of Veil powers? I ask because I've got a whole mess of sneaky tricks that are being fueled by Intuition, Survival, Larceny and magic. It'd be kinda weird to have a sneaky character without Stealth but given that it took about a 1/4 of my powers to get there it doesn't seem that terribly implausible, either.

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:12 am

I'm interested in playing, and I'm currently working on a Strigoi who was Old World French aristocracy, until the Communes took over Paris during the Revolution and kicked him out. He's now in Ciudad de Mexico and hating it, due to the pollution and lack of fine culture.

The only problem is that I'm currently in Australia, so afternoon (4 PM) for you guys means early morning (6 AM) for me. So I guess what this means is that gaming in the afternoon won't really work for me, and the later the better. Would it work if the game started later, like around 8 EST or something like that? Any day works for me, although if that doesn' t work I don't mind bowing out. Any day works for me, although something other than Friday or Saturday is preferable.

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:13 pm

CatharzGodfoot wrote:Oh, an another question about pushing the limits with the extra starting goodies. Could I select the same item more than once?

You should probably just ask specifically what you want. You want a science lab and another science lab? Sure, go ahead. You want more than one magic item, yeah. That's fine.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 1:23 am

Kaelik wrote:
CatharzGodfoot wrote:Oh, an another question about pushing the limits with the extra starting goodies. Could I select the same item more than once?
You should probably just ask specifically what you want. You want a science lab and another science lab? Sure, go ahead. You want more than one magic item, yeah. That's fine.

I should have said "option" rather than "item".

Endovior · Post by **Endovior** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 5:20 am

Again, you should probably be very specific about exactly what it is you want. Personally, it sounds to me like you're trying to say "I want to trick you into letting me take Edge 3 times, because I am an enormous munchkin, and thus am being as vague as possible, even when pressed for details, out of the hope that you'd say yes without thinking it through, so I can then proceed to whine about it later when you come to your senses".

Not, y'know, that I'm accusing you of anything; you just sound that way. Correct yourself.

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:20 am

Ok, Borghild is almost done, pending picking Backgrounds (taking me the most amount of time, but now that I've fleshed her out more, I should have some direction), and advancement picks. I have a question though, does the "Two attribute advancements" include Special Attributes?

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 3:05 pm

CatharzGodfoot wrote:
Kaelik wrote:
CatharzGodfoot wrote:Oh, an another question about pushing the limits with the extra starting goodies. Could I select the same item more than once?
You should probably just ask specifically what you want. You want a science lab and another science lab? Sure, go ahead. You want more than one magic item, yeah. That's fine.
I should have said "option" rather than "item".

Oh, see, when you said extra starting goodies, I thought you meant "resources" because you had already expressed interest in taking resources, and there is any chance in hell that I would let you double up.

I thought you were asking, "Can I take Secrets 3 and Secrets 3" and the answer was "almost certainly yes, but let me actually see what those two secrets are."

But now I see you are asking if you can take Edge three times out of my initial list, and the answer is fuck no you deceptive [EDITED].

When the MC is giving you free stuff, and you ask, "can I use the free stuff in a none standard way" and he answers "can you be more specific" that's the point where you stop being vague.

I'm with Endovior, your actions make it seem really clear that your goal is to get me to agree to something without me knowing what it is I am agreeing to.

But now that I have a vague idea of what you are asking, I can say fuck no.

I said pick 3 of the 5, no you can't double up. If Edge is strictly better than all the other choices, then it's balanced by the fact that everyone will pick it, and at the same time pick other things therefore allowing actual customization. No you can't pick the same thing more than once, because that would make it much harder for me to balance the choices.

Prak_Anima wrote:Ok, Borghild is almost done, pending picking Backgrounds (taking me the most amount of time, but now that I've fleshed her out more, I should have some direction), and advancement picks. I have a question though, does the "Two attribute advancements" include Special Attributes?

Fuck you die in a fire.

Yes, I balance Potency as exactly as useful as Logic because I'm the dumbest mother fucking ever.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:13 pm

Kaelik wrote:I said pick 3 of the 5, no you can't double up. If Edge is strictly better than all the other choices, then it's balanced by the fact that everyone will pick it, and at the same time pick other things therefore allowing actual customization. No you can't pick the same thing more than once, because that would make it much harder for me to balance the choices.

Well, the 'strictly better than the others' is almost certainly a resource 6. I'm having trouble trying to figure out how not to break the game with that one...

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:23 pm

He said you can divvy up the 6 Resource points however you want. If you feel like having vampire Obama on speed dial or taking Iron Man as an Asset is bad for the game you can just decide to not ask for that and split the points down and investigate buying book examples like a 4 point scrying pool and a 2 point forensic lab or whatever instead. That's why I didn't try taking the Limbo copy of the Library of Alexandria as a destiny and start badgering Kaelik about how that should make me the most respected Order Daziban member basically by default even if that is objectively a way better plan than adding snake and bird forms to my shapeshifting repertoire (which is what I actually did).

Anyway, as long as we're on the topic of resources, I came up with a potential destiny item and would like to start talking costs. The idea is a humble looking ring of hematite and soapstone from the Indus Valley that is actually a signet which marks the bearer as the rightful king of the rats. Here's the characteristics I'm interested in:

1. Rats view you as an authority figure and will be hesitant to betray you to others with Tongue of Beasts. You can always use (Willpower+Animal Ken) Appeal to Authority tests when dealing rats without them finding that particularly weird or unreasonable.

2. As a unique magical signet ring it is super hard to forge the seal it leaves without magic tools.

3. Documents sealed and stamped with the ring can be understood by rats. I had initially thought of this as mostly a flavor thing since rats still aren't all that terribly smart but if it could be used to address things and send reasonably small notes and objects via the Rat Express that'd be pretty cool too.

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:11 pm

I generally like it, what were you thinking in the realm of points?

Prak · Post by **Prak** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:13 pm

Kaelik, asking if "Attribute" included "Special Attributes" was a perfectly reasonable question.

I'll work away on Borghild, while also seeing if I can come up with something more interesting.

Whipstitch, if you want to see some more uses for rats, try reading the Nightwatch story arc of Discworld, there are a couple books that show Vetinari's use of (iirc, mundane) rats when he's in his reverse prison for one reason or another.

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:27 pm

Prak_Anima wrote:Kaelik, asking if "Attribute" included "Special Attributes" was a perfectly reasonable question.

No it wasn't. For attribute to include Special Attributes you would have to believe both of the following:

I thought +2 to Potency was worth as much as +2 to Logic.

I thought +2 to Edge was worth as much as +1 to Edge.

Those are both dumb.

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:03 pm

Kaelik wrote:I generally like it, what were you thinking in the realm of points?

As long as it comes in under rating 4 so I can afford it without taking the 6 point option I'd be pretty happy. It seems a touch strong for a 2 point Destiny but on the other hand my character can already sweet talk or press gang rats pretty well by cracking open a large jar of peanuts or using The Beckoning. All told, I'll gladly pay 3 points if it means that rats I have treated well remain pretty damn loyal even when chatted up by other low Potency supernaturals. If nothing else having a rating 3 trinket is probably a nice status symbol in the Order Daziban anyway.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:16 pm

Well, here's what I have so far. Let me know if there's too much overlap with anyone.

Code: Select all

Hannibal Rex

Equipment&#58; 1951 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 &#40;Finances 1&#41;, pack of cigarettes, lighter, hip flask of tequila, 1/2 bottle of tequila, sandwich bag of amphetamine capsules, guitar & case, harmonica, wallet with 50 USD and 800 pesos.

Resources&#58; Finances 1 &#40;vehicle&#41;, Languages 2 &#40;Espanol, German&#41;, ?

Backgrounds &#40;34/35&#41;&#58; guitar music 6, hell mouths 5, Ciudad politics 4, infernal politics 4, file clerk 4, gambling 3, street drugs 3, US legal system 3, classic cars 2.

Syndicate&#58; The Covenant.
Cult&#58; perhaps the Church of Set or the Wreckers.

Disadvantages&#58; Feared by Children, Ugly.
Advantages&#58; Experimenter.

Physical Skills &#40;19/19, 1&#41;&#58; Athletics 1, Combat 2, Drive 2 &#40;4&#41;, Larceny &#40;concealing&#41; 6, Perception 6, Stealth 3, Survival 2.
Social Skills &#40;24/24, +6, 3&#41;&#58; Bureaucracy 4, Empathy &#40;motivations&#41; 6, Expression &#40;music&#41; 6, Intimidation 4, Persuasion 4, Tactics &#40;inspiration&#41; 6.
Technical Skills &#40;14/14&#41;&#58; Artisan &#40;instrument maker&#41; 6, Medicine &#40;first aid&#41; 1, Operations &#40;repair&#41; 6, Research &#40;archives&#41; 1.

Advancements&#58; One Basic Sorcery &#40;Enchanted Sleep&#41;, Increased Edge, 6 Points in Resources &#40;devil on a leash?&#41;.

Physical Attributes &#40;2+1&#41;&#58; Agility 2, Strength 3.
Social Attributes &#40;5+2&#41;&#58; Charisma 7, Willpower 2
Mental Attributes &#40;4&#41;&#58; Intuition 2, Logic 4
Special Attributes&#58; Potency 1, Edge 4

Fallen
 Fortitude &#40;Physical resistance +2&#41;
    Patience of the Mountains
 Magnetism &#40;Charisma & Willpower socializing +2&#41;
    Attract                     Charisma + Tactics &#40;inspiration&#41; = 15
    Repel                       Strength + Tactics &#40;inspiration&#41; = 11
		Dismiss                 Charisma + Tactics &#40;inspiration&#41; = 15
 Veil
    Mask of a Thousand Faces    Charisma + Larceny &#40;concealing&#41; = 15
 Devotions
    Desire Reflection           Charisma + Empathy &#40;motivations&#41; = 15
 Names of the Blasphemies &#40;Dark sight, true name&#58; Hannibal&#41;
    Learn the Heart's Pain      Charisma + Empathy &#40;motivations&#41; = 15
 Progress of Glass &#40;Drive +2&#41;
    Deny the Gauntlet           Logic + Operations &#40;repair&#41; = 12

In Media Res
Disciplines
 Veil
		Hide in Plain Sight
Astral Sorceries
 Veil of Morpheus &#40;Dream sight&#41;
	Enchanted Sleep				Charisma + Expression &#40;music&#41; = 15
Infernal Sorceries
 Names of the Blasphemies &#40;true name&#58; Rex&#41;
    Poison Heart                Charisma + Empathy &#40;motivations&#41; = 15
Orphic Sorceries
 Frozen Note &#40;perfect pitch, passive sonar; active sonar&#41;
    Missing Voice               Charisma + Expression &#40;music&#41; = 15
		Death Note              Charisma = 7, Logic + Artisan &#40;instrument maker&#41; = 12

Endovior · Post by **Endovior** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:21 pm

Resources-wise, the one magical thing I really want is a library of Infernal Sorcery, but since that's cheap and I've got spare points for it, I was thinking I'd make it more convenient then a full library of books, and instead have The Grand Grimoire, a rather thick book which is a full library in and of itself, because it eats other books to absorb their contents. It looks like a fairly substantial book already, but it contains far more pages then it actually appears to, and is somewhat intelligent, and thus can guide it's reader to relevant information. Of course, being a book full of devil magic, it's intelligent and evil, and thus has a tendency to be unhelpful unless it's been fed recently. I was thinking that'd fit in around 3 points, since it's still basically just a two-point library of Infernal Sorcery, except more convenient to transport and reference.

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:27 am

CatharzGodfoot wrote:Well, here's what I have so far. Let me know if there's too much overlap with anyone.

We're both Veil heavy but I'm not concerned. Your character is a better conversationalist and impersonator while my character is a better at waltzing out of the place unharmed as the world burns. If nothing else we could spot for each other.

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:15 am

@Everyone

On reviewing resources I'm going to reduce the resources to 4 and not allow anyone to increase a resource higher than 4 using it.

@Carthaz:

If that's going to be your character sheet, put your resistances and init somewhere on it.

(Concealing) is too broad as a specialization. Concealing Good is an example. I am willing to be pretty broad about what counts as a good, IE, your guns, you drugs, these are all goods. But concealing without a qualifier is too broad.

(Motivations) is also too broad, example is motivation determination.

Ciudad and Infernal Politics are both too broad, and should be narrowed somehow. IE, either interaction between covenant/cult/gangs or intra specific thing for Ciudad, Infernal, not sure exactly how, but somehow.

Determining Motivations would not boost your Poison Heart.

Frozen Note is a power under the Symphony of Silence Sorcery, and I can't tell if you have it the way it's written. And you don't get Passive Sonar, because you do not have an Elder Power.

Death note will only obtain the specialization bonus when you use an instrument you have created to do it.

@Endovior

3 Points is good, but to be clear, it has to physically eat other things to obtain the information, it cannot copy them, so no one is going to lend you anything, and it doesn't guide you to what you are looking for much better than an archiving system in a library.

@Whipstich

I think 3 is appropriate for that.

What is a glossatar?

Chamomile · Post by **Chamomile** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:28 am

Someone please log this. If I can't actually play it I'd at least like to be able to see it played.

Kaelik · Post by **Kaelik** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:31 am

Chamomile wrote:Someone please log this. If I can't actually play it I'd at least like to be able to see it played.

Why do you think you can't play? I thought you were open at those times?

Korgan0 · Post by **Korgan0** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:46 am

Okay, if you'll have me, here's my character sheet.

Code: Select all

Jean-Claude de Lyon

bonuses- resource, power, attribute

Attributes
Strength 2     Intuition 4        Charisma  6             Edge     3
Agility  3     Logic     2        Willpower 3             Potency  1



Quick stats- init +9, soak +9, physical resistance +5, mental resistance +7, social resistance +6 



skills

Physical- Combat 6 &#40;rapier&#41;, Perception 4, Stealth 4, Athletics 4, Drive 1- motorboats

social- Expression 6 &#40;oratory&#41;, Bureaucracy 4 &#40;covenant&#41;, Empathy 4, Intimidation 5 &#40;fear mongering&#41;, Persuasion 5

Technical- Artisan 4 &#40;painting&#41;, Medicine 7 &#40;surgery&#41;, Research 4 &#40;archives&#41;



Powers
Fortitude- +4 to soak rolls
	Patience of the mountains- basic
	Revive the flesh- basic 
	Restoration- advanced
	Indominability- advanced
Clout- +1 Strength
	Vigor- basic
Celerity- +2 Initiative
	Quickness- basic
Magnetism- +1 to socialization tests
	Attract- basic
Lure of Destruction= +2 to Death Threshold
	Bite of the serpent- basic
	Glimpse of the abyss- advanced
Path of Blood- +1 Medicine and Survival
	Gift of health- basic
Authority- My death or Purity of Mind required to undo
	Mesmerism- basic
	Suggestion- basic
	Cloud memory- advanced



Backgrounds-
French Nobility 6
Covenant Politics 6
Fencing 4
Haute Cuisine 4
High-Stakes Gambling 4
Vampire Culture 3
Medicine 3
High-Class Prostitution 3
Recreational Drugs 2



Resources
Finances 4 &#40;various stocks in businesses&#41;
Languages 2- English, Spanish
Contact 2- Mid-level functionary in Drug Carte;
Secrets 2-  The mummified heart of Chiang Kai-Shek
Destiny 2- magical library



Advantages
Weapon finesse
Attractive



Disadvantages
Compulsive behaviour
Feared by children
Prideful



Items
Wallet containing ID, several credit cards, and 600 USD in various currencies
Silver knife
Heavy Pistol
2009 BMW M5
fancy suit
silver hip flask containing 25-year old single-malt whiskey
Wedding band



Backstory- Jean-Claude was born in 1725 into the highest tier of French nobility. He enjoyed the benefits of such a lifestyle
to the fullest until he was turned into a Strigoi by another nobleman. Jean-Claude quickly realized that the benefits of such
a transformation would allow him to enjoy life as he never could have before for a very long time, and quickly joined the 
Covenenant, seeing them as a group that could preserve his lifestyle and provide him with security and companionship. 
Jean-Claude spent most of his days gambling, whoring, dueling, drinking, and feeding on prostitutes until his ignorance of politics turned 
on him. Along with the French Revolution came an invasion of Paris by the Communes. Jean-Claude fought on the front lines out of
loyalty and fear&#58; he had no doubts that with the revolution, both in the mortal and supernatural worlds, would come with an end
to his indulgent, exploitative lifestyle. Seeing that the writing was on the wall, as he was a young vampire with nothing to bargain with,
he fled to the Covenant stronghold of Ciudad de Mexico. Sadly, the prostitutes had fleas, the wine was piss, and it was far too hot.
Jean-Claude quickly weaseled himself into a positiion as the overseer as the Priest as one of the more debauched barrios of the city, a position
that he has held with a remarkable degree of competence given the amount of time he spends in an opium fog or in high-stakes poker games.
He continues to despise Ciudad de Mexico, although the quality of the wine has improved markedly. He wants nothing more than to sail down
the Seine or to dine in Versailles in a time when the Covenant ruled Europe, the supernatural ruled mortals, and the nobility ruled the 
peasants. On the other hand, Jean-Claude knows far too well that this will never be possible, given the peace treaty and modern democracy.
As such, his hate for the Communes has diminished slowly over the years, although he still salivates at the oppourtunity to damage their
cause, although he reacts far more strongly to any threat to his position and security.

His obvious function is as a face+bank, but he can function in combat if necessary.

CatharzGodfoot · Post by **CatharzGodfoot** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 4:11 am

Kaelik wrote:@Carthaz:

If that's going to be your character sheet, put your resistances and init somewhere on it.

(Concealing) is too broad as a specialization. Concealing Good is an example. I am willing to be pretty broad about what counts as a good, IE, your guns, you drugs, these are all goods. But concealing without a qualifier is too broad.

(Motivations) is also too broad, example is motivation determination.

Ciudad and Infernal Politics are both too broad, and should be narrowed somehow. IE, either interaction between covenant/cult/gangs or intra specific thing for Ciudad, Infernal, not sure exactly how, but somehow.

Determining Motivations would not boost your Poison Heart.

Frozen Note is a power under the Symphony of Silence Sorcery, and I can't tell if you have it the way it's written. And you don't get Passive Sonar, because you do not have an Elder Power.

Death note will only obtain the specialization bonus when you use an instrument you have created to do it.

Sounds good.

"Infernal Politics" was one of the example backgrounds, so I assumed it was a safe bet. I'll try to figure out something.

"Concealing" and "motivations" were just shorthand for "concealing goods" and "motivation determination". I'll fix that as well.

As for Symphony of Silence, that was all just sloppy reading. I'll fix it.

A Glossolator is a high-level legal functionary in the Covenant hierarchy.

Whipstitch · Post by **Whipstitch** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:01 am

Yeah, they're essentially the lawyers to the Palatine's judge. Reviewing the book a bit revealed that they are rarer than I had realized while drafting that initial character sheet--apparently there's only 3 Glossators in Mexico City, so, uh, oops, I guess-- but it's not a big deal since I want to drop that Contact to free up the 3 points for my Destiny signet anyway.

Speaking of Contacts, do we need one to have basic communication with our chosen Cults? If so, can we use low rating Duty to our chosen Cult to buy one or is that too close to getting points just for doing shit you already planned on doing anyway?

Also, I noticed that aside from Giant Size it doesn't say anywhere whether personal effects change along with you or something when you activate Protean powers or if I should have budgeted for an enchanted Ring of Pants instead of that signet. My assumption was that we would just run off of movie logic and that there's some kinda arbitrary but small weight allowance so that shifters aren't constantly retrieving their clothes but can't use ratshifting to trivially smuggle nuclear weapons.

Chamomile · Post by **Chamomile** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 5:28 am

Kaelik wrote:
Chamomile wrote:Someone please log this. If I can't actually play it I'd at least like to be able to see it played.
Why do you think you can't play? I thought you were open at those times?

I can't access IRC and since you never mentioned switching to roll20 (or some other chat I can actually get to), I assume you are not.