Character Concept... :)

[Jason Kemp]

Kurt:

If I am chosen to be a part of your starting crew, I'd like to take a moment to mention the basics of the character concept I'd like to play. Picture the grandson or great-grandson of Allan Quartermain, he is basically among the last of the great hunters of deep Africa. He believes in the legends of jungles, and desperately wants to find and hunt a Tyrannosaur, if he can ever find one. (He has this dream of hunting dinosaurs.) Hooking up with this organization came about because of one of his kills, and he views these missions as his means of finding the elusive "big game" that he's been looking for all his life, trying to live up to the family name.

What do you think?

With Regards,
Flynn

[Telas]

Not a problem. I am putting a to-be-announced common element into chargen, but that's a good start.

Kurt

[Alex Johnson]

Wow, what a coincidence.  I just got finished watching a show with the wife where in I decided vaguely what I want my character to be, but most importantly what his catch phrase is going to be about.

[Micheal Sebben]

I have a concept for a character, but need to see what "supernatural" background/edges your allowing/introducing.

[Keith Sealy]

I am still tossing around ideas in my head... I am trying to decide if I want to try a more gun totting character (a cop with weapon skills, intimidate, contacts) or a more technician character (an electrical engineer with science, repair, etc).   

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From: Micheal Sebben <svisi...@gmail.com>
To: after-the...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 8:38 AM
Subject: Re: [After the Darkness] Character Concept... :)

[Jason Kemp]

Savage Worlds Deluxe, or Savage World Explorer's Edition?

Just Checking,
Flynn

[Alex Johnson]

I hope Explorer's Edition.  They're such nice portable books, I've sunk money into buying and spiral/coil binding them.  Deluxe hasn't been out that long (most won't be familiar with its changes).  Really the abandoning of the smaller format has really upset me.  I've been dreaming of a Explorer's Edition SciFi Companion ever since the Fantasy Companion came out.

 

Kurt, what is the desired tone of your game?  I looked up a couple of the inspirational sources and found them to be mostly silly.  I'm not a fan of silly and was expecting serious/dark.  Delta Green and Fringe instead of Buerau-13 and Paranoia.  More X-Files, less Kolchak.

[Telas]

If y'all are interested in something in particular, email me directly.  Not everything's nailed down just yet, but I've got the basic structure worked out.  

Alex - I prefer SW Deluxe, but the differences are fairly minor (link to updated material).  Aside from the Powers list (which will be pretty limited as far as PCs are concerned, anyway), there weren't a lot of changes made.  One of the big ones was Bolt, which is now either 1-3 2d6 Bolts or 1 3d6 Bolt.  I am very interested in using Reality Blurs' Agents of Oblivion setting rules (which are also the Realms of Cthulhu rules), which ignore Power Points and use Rank as a prerequisite, but require concentration (maintenance) right off the bat.  It makes more sense in play than in text.  

Also - According to everyone I talked to at Con on the Cob (Clint and Jodi Black, Sean Preston, etc), the 'full size' format was a one-off, so it looks more like a 'game' on a gaming store shelf.  They'll print it in softcover 'journal' size next.  

The tone of the game will be pretty serious, although there will definitely be some silliness due to the time period, the 'action movie' element, and the fact that a bunch of gamers will make anything silly...  After all, y'all will be hunting things that literally feed off humanity, many of which individually could take an entire team down, if caught unprepared.  I won't be messing with Sanity, however; I think heroes break before they get twisted.  

Kurt

Got plot?  Try Eureka, 501 adventure plots to inspire game masters.

Got NPCs?  Try Masks, 1,000 memorable NPCs for any role-playing game.

[Telas]

I just got the SW Horror Companion. Great stuff, and does Sanity differently than I thought. I'll write it up and see what y'all think.

Kurt

[Reed Ulvestad]

I've got an idea for a slightly unhinged wheelman/pilot character.  A Vietnam vet fighter pilot suffering from PTSD gets locked up for going too far in self-defense and is offered early parole if he joins the team.  Basically a mashup between Firefox, Con Air, and xXx.

[Keith Sealy]

I am thinking more and more I will go with a veteran, street smart, ex-cop, who's teenage daughter disappeared.  His obsession with investigating her disappearance got him kicked off the force and broke up of his marriage, and led him into the world of the occult.  He has a code of honor, but isn't afraid to shed blood to get what he needs.  The archetype could be the main characters from "Get Carter", "Payback", "Shoot 'em up", "Blitz", or similar movies focusing on a violent antihero.   

Catch phrase - "You don't want to get in my way."

Kurt can decide if his daughter is alive or dead, and if it plays into the larger story at all.  Assume skills like Streetwise, Intimidate, Contacts, Know:Law, as well as weapons and combat skills.

Let me know if that works Kurt.

K

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From: Reed Ulvestad <rulv...@gmail.com>
To: after-the...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 12:32 AM

Subject: Re: [After the Darkness] Character Concept... :)

[Alex Johnson]

Okay, if we're sharing concepts, here's what I'm going for.  The
crime-connected, good hearted street kid (thinking about 20 yrs).  If
you remember the original V mini-series from 1983, the character Elias
Taylor is what I'm aiming at. The key parts of his bio that I'm
looking at are: "an influential member of the black market and a
petty thief and criminal", "[after a personal/family tragedy] became
[an] active member ... and although he still resorted to using
criminal practices to achieve objectives, he still remained conscious
of what he was doing and remained loyal to the cause."

Alex

[Telas]

Those all sound like good character concepts.  There will be a character questionnaire, so stay a bit flexible.

By my count, seven players are interested (no particular order): Keith, Brent, Alex, Michael, Flynn, Jake, and Reed.  I have room for five, total.  I'd love to do the "large pool of players; those physically here are on the mission" thing, but I don't have room for a full table.  

Currently, I'm leaning towards Monday night for gaming.  I get more prep time on days that Christine works (normally M-W-F); Wednesdays have a couple of conflicts; and Friday is a weekend night.  We'll probably start around 6:30 or 7:00, and end around 10:30 or 11:00.  

I'd like to do a couple of playtests first, which could use the whole group.  I want to test a few things, and y'all may want to see if the game and group will work for you.  A lot of plot and backstory will be hand-waved for the playtests, but the tone and 'vibe' should be consistent.

Kurt

[Micheal Sebben]

I think Monday would probably work best for me so that's good news.

I sent my initial concept to Kurt, but I think I might change it up and since everyone is sharing...

My concept will be a 20-something (depending on the date Kurt picks to start) black male that is clinging onto the 70's. He was born and raised in the ghetto's of Harlem where he got into dealing cocaine at an early age and later diversified into prostitution. He was very driven and cold-hearted when it cam to the business, but he took care of his ho's in 1971 at the age of 17 he saw Superfly in the movies and it resonated with him. He decided to get out of the business before the business got rid of him. He tried the "big-score" method and made a lot of cash, but it didn't get him out as he hoped. Then one of his girls was killed, followed by another and another. Well, nobody messed with his girls, and certainly not his money. So he decided to find that jive-turkey and get a little pay back. He watched and waited, talked to his girls and other girls on the street till finally he found the M-F'er messing with his ho's, but this "person" was more than he bargained for. He survived the fight and badly wounded the creature, but the event sent him down the path to become the baddest M-F'in monster hunter in history...(At least in Harlem)

[Reed Ulvestad]

I was LTTP and new to the group, so I'd expect to be on the waiting list :)  Mondays would work for me and I shouldn't have trouble getting a babysitter for that time frame (7:00 would be better than 6:30, but either is fine).

On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 10:57 AM, Telas <tel...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Alex Johnson]

Reed, your reasoning is sound. Kurt, it's good that you can have a
full house playtest round. I've been wondering 1) if this new genre
will please me and 2) if I can hack the insane commute. This puts me
quickly on the #2 spot for "if you have too many players, I can be on
the wait list." Michael, you have nearly copied my idea! :-D 'sok, a
party can use two black street toughs. And I know you can't stick
with a single character concept too long before the itch to try
something new gets you. ;-}

Alex

[Telas]

Yup, everyone will be invited to the playtests.  Gotta break it to see what it's made of...

Kurt

Got plot?  Try Eureka, 501 adventure plots to inspire game masters.

Got NPCs?  Try Masks, 1,000 memorable NPCs for any role-playing game.

[Micheal Sebben]

nah, not at all...that was his genesis, by the time the game starts he will have roughly 10 years experience...also I have more worked out for him.  He will have none of the associations your concept would have. While both black and from the street I think our simularities would end there....also I still have my first concept I just came up with the second because lack of response from Kurt led me to believe he may not like the idea...

[Telas]

Resend it. I haven't gotten anything.

Kurt

[Jake Tejchma]

For those of you that have already volunteered spots on the waiting list, there's a spot for one more at the table.  Due to football season, which coincides with the high-point of video game releases for the year, and a dodgy work schedule, I've decided it'd be most fair to the group, myself, and my wife, if I sit this one out.

More than happy to join a game (this or another) in the Spring, and I hope you all have a great time.  I'm not sure how Kurt feels about it, but maybe I'll drop by sometime to observe the game, if that's alright.

 

Jake

[Telas]

You're definitely welcome to observe and to help out with the playtests and one-shots. :-)

Kurt

[Micheal Sebben]

I'll just paste it here...

I am thinking a sort of mid 18th century hunter that either by accident or on purpose came into contact with something that made him "immortal" By "Immortal" I mean he has stopped aging and so long as he doesn't sustain significant damage he will live forever. The "Immortality" doesn't offer any bonuses but I will use edges and backgrounds to explain some the side effects. "Hard to kill", "Brawny" stuff like that.

Initially I am thinking of a kind of "True Blood" mythos where drinking vampire blood heals you, but has some side effects (In true blood they are temporary) but either they aren't in this world or some other item/event caused me to change, but not become a vampire. I might have a minor sensitivity to light or garlic, silver....something like that.

[Keith Sealy]

Kurt

All this talk has got me itching to make a rough version of my character... Do we start with any levels/XP?

---

From: Telas <tel...@gmail.com>
To: after-the...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 2:16 PM

Subject: Re: [After the Darkness] Character Concept... :)

[Telas]

I'm thinking 10 XP. Strong advice to have dice in Shooting.

Kurt

[Alex Johnson]

So....
the TV show Amsterdam.

Cursed by a Native American shaman during the French and Indian War,
he stopped aging. Think about the emotional scarring that kind of
longevity would cause. Your character may have some hangups about
getting close or connected with anyone and may be reckless in Arrogant
and Overconfident or cool as a cucumber as in Cautious, Improved Level
Headed and Strong Willed.

Honestly, I like your black street tough more. Especially if we have
a common basis but evolve differently from the event that caused us to
get involved in the organization. My character is Connected,
Persuasive, Streetwise and a Thief; Greedy, Loyal, and Wanted; and
among the stolen goods he traffics in he specializes in military
surplus (firearms, jeeps, etc) thanks to one of those organizations
he's Connected with. So I've got the info and the equipment, you've
got the guts and the know-how to use them.

Alex

[Micheal Sebben]

Good possibility, the other character has evolved with chats with Kurt into a more Victorian Era (steampunkish) inventor, like the Time Traveler in the H.G. Wells novel The Time Machine. I want to see what sources will be available, but initially I am thinking he'd have level-headed, scholar, maybe some weird science and a few others to round him out.

but as I said I am working with a few ideas and want to see whats available first :)

[Micheal Sebben]

Might go the leadership route too...

[Jason Kemp]

My initial concept was, and remains, a big game hunter who is the last descendant of Allan Quartermain. He most likely did a stint as a sniper in Her Majesty's armed forces in Nam, but prefers his family's stomping grounds in Africa. Still looking for the ultimate big game thrill. Nothing supernatural about him. His quote will likely be some variant of:

"All it takes is a single bullet... and me, of course."

More detailed history will likely follow as we get closer to game time.

Mondays work great for me!

Looking Forward To It,
Flynn

[Telas]

Weird Science is available. Read up on it, it may be different from what y'all remember.

Kurt