Era Victoria OOC

Demonu wrote:

Crystalite wrote:... Holy. May I pitch an idea at you? Could Smooth Talker have heard the story of The Battery, and decided to write a book about him? 'Cuz that could be wonderful and hilarious to watch.

Though I envision Smooth Talker more as a fiction writer, sure, why not? Something like a fictionalized account or retelling that falls into the historic fiction genre.
It would give Smooth Talker a sort of (personal) mini-quest and a motive to search out the PC's. Also yes, the potential for hilarity is ripe, certainly if you could imagine that, as an urban legend, everyone has a different image of him.

I've been thinking, and I figure Chirurgeon would be a bit of a fan of Smooth Talker's books given he's a bit of a shut in. Is there a specific story idea you have that I can write as Chirurgeon's favourite? Or have you not thought that far?

AleneShazam wrote:

Demonu wrote:

Crystalite wrote:... Holy. May I pitch an idea at you? Could Smooth Talker have heard the story of The Battery, and decided to write a book about him? 'Cuz that could be wonderful and hilarious to watch.

Though I envision Smooth Talker more as a fiction writer, sure, why not? Something like a fictionalized account or retelling that falls into the historic fiction genre.
It would give Smooth Talker a sort of (personal) mini-quest and a motive to search out the PC's. Also yes, the potential for hilarity is ripe, certainly if you could imagine that, as an urban legend, everyone has a different image of him.

I've been thinking, and I figure Chirurgeon would be a bit of a fan of Smooth Talker's books given he's a bit of a shut in. Is there a specific story idea you have that I can write as Chirurgeon's favourite? Or have you not thought that far?

I'm always up for interwoven character backgrounds

The way I've written Smooth Talker's background, is that his first major breakthrough came with a book about fairy tales/folk tales. So you can either pick a classic fairy tale as we know it (pony-fied in game) or, if you prefer, you could give me some general idea(s) and I'll (try to) write something up over the weekend.

Demonu wrote:

AleneShazam wrote:I've been thinking, and I figure Chirurgeon would be a bit of a fan of Smooth Talker's books given he's a bit of a shut in. Is there a specific story idea you have that I can write as Chirurgeon's favourite? Or have you not thought that far?

I'm always up for interwoven character backgrounds

The way I've written Smooth Talker's background, is that his first major breakthrough came with a book about fairy tales/folk tales. So you can either pick a classic fairy tale as we know it (pony-fied in game) or, if you prefer, you could give me some general idea(s) and I'll (try to) write something up over the weekend.

Probably a story involving a wise wizard/witch/magician of some kind, i.e. Merlin, given my character's nerdiness. Maybe some pony version of the tale of excalibur?

The social info and criminal info has been added to first post.

Updated my build a little. Removed Mechanical, Eagle Eye, and Scent Tracker in favor of Pyrotechnics and Celestia's Light. And then discovered I had five extra points, which went into Yee-Haw! and Light of the Summer Sun. Also swapped Loyalty for Honesty.

I must say: I am liking the additional information so far.
Been playing the new Assassin's Creed Syndicate perchance? :p

Quick question: you've said this campaign is nowhere near the show's canon. But what about things that happened in the past? Are Star Swirl the Bearded, Discord's/Tirek's imprisonment, Nightmare Moon's banishment or the founding of Equestria still in effect (for instance)? Or is absolutely nothing of the canon history appliable?

Thanks
um no actually I've sworn off that series after Unity.

Starswirl might be re-purposed , Discord probably exists, Tirek no, NMM no, Equestria no.

About 90% of show canon is either out or not in full use.

These are some cool builds. Nice job.

If I'm not mistaken I'm still waiting on Terrestial's and Paper's Character sheets?

Also some edits to Oirik (bit of an odd name) are still requested.

tygerburningbright wrote:If I'm not mistaken I'm still waiting on Terrestial's and Paper's Character sheets?

Yes, that is correct. I'm actually struggling to cement what concept I want. Back when we had four people and Team Discriminated Against, my idea of a Diamond Dog Mechanic seemed to fit, but now since we're not doing that anymore, and Terrestial has expressed interest in a Mechanic character, so I went back to the drawing board. But then the question is how do I stat them? Not only do we have people highly skilled in each attribute (which is already hard enough to compliment), but everyone has taken stat-boosting stuff as well, so it's very hard to fit a character in here nicely...

That all being said, if you give me a deadline, I'll have a sheet done by that deadline...

I really don't like setting deadlines but tentatively I can say the 8th as a deadline.

tygerburningbright wrote:I really don't like setting deadlines but tentatively I can say the 8th as a deadline.

Very well then. In the meantime, I will present my current two strongest ideas for the rest of the group to decide which they prefer...

Spoiler:

The first one is a unicorn whose family was once a part of the upper class, but their business was hurt greatly by the Witherschappel Riot, and their competition took the opportunity to crush them into the dirt. The business dead, the family had to make some unsavory deals with some unsavory folk in order to avoid falling to the Lower Class. The unicorn himself was an older colt at the time, so he's spent a majority of his life in the lower bracket of the Middle Class, but he's had a good taste of the high life, and hungers for more. He knows a lot about Leadon and anyone worthy of note. He's a slow, thinking talker, who uses... pauses, to add emphasis to what he says...

The second is a deer who, like all deers, like nature and dislikes machinery. Steampunk Deers, in comparison, don't get an easy time and end up hating everything around them. This character is no different, and lives his life as a professional saboteur, taking whatever jobs from whomever, it doesn't matter, as long as machines end up broken. His abilities revolve around nature (because, y'know, who doesn't want to be friends with the rats?) and sabotaging. He hides himself with a cloaked visage and, despite a broken antler and amputated front leg, he uses no technology apart from a purifier, so he doesn't have to breathe that "poisonous smog you call air". Expect a purer-than-thou attitude and a belief that technology should not be used to fix one's flaws, but also a very lonely deer who could do with having a couple of friends...

Let me first say that those drawings are better than anything I could ever put to paper

Secondly, while I cannot speak for everyone here, I've taken stat boosting abilities for the following reason: the narrative nature of a PbP, in my experience, is a much more social and character interactive game rather than a environmental interactive game. Stat boosting abilities would make my character better in those area's. The mechanical nature of a PbP game also pushed me more towards static abilities, as it is difficult (but not impossible) to keep track of things like [for the following 10 minutes] or [once per session] and the like. Furthermore, as the statement goes "Know thyself", I have a crappy memory and as such, I have a slight preference for abilities that don't oblige me to keep track of multiple things like how many times I've used a ability a given day.
(Mook and Pinkie Promise being the exception as Mook is basically "fire and forget"/Vancian in nature and Pinkie Promise carries enough gravitas for me/my character to use)

Now onwards to your suggested character ideas.
Yes, as far as I can tell, we do have characters that all excel in one specific area. Perhaps this is a remnant of traditional RPG party roles (the tank, the rogue, the social, etc) but on the other hand, this makes us vulnerable to Crippling Overspecialization but the prospect of having party members compensates for that. With that in mind, there is nothing wrong with being a non-hyper specialized member in a group of specialists. Ultimately, stats are just numbers. It's not who you are underneath the stats, it's what you do that defines you.

As for the two character concepts you've outlines so far, I find myself leaning more towards the second one, the Deer one. Purely from a narrative POV, I think you could get more out of it in regards to interactions with NPC's, PC's and the world. Conflict is the engine that drives a story forward and while both characters have it, the background of the second one, as you've written it, has more potential to it due to its Nature vs Industry conflict in a heavily industrialized world setting. Also, I like deer but that's beside the question :p

Regardless, it is still your character. You should play the one you (most) want to play. I'm sure the game will turn out to be enjoyable no matter what character you go with

So, I've decided to go for my Deer Saboteur. While my Business Unicorn has the potential to be very interesting, the Deer starts interesting from the start, which for a PbP is pretty important. That being said, I would like at least one connection to another PC. Makes it less awkward to tie him to the party. Any offers?

Speaking of other PCs, can we get a quick roll call done, just to make sure everyone is still here?

Paper Shadow wrote:So, I've decided to go for my Deer Saboteur. While my Business Unicorn has the potential to be very interesting, the Deer starts interesting from the start, which for a PbP is pretty important. That being said, I would like at least one connection to another PC. Makes it less awkward to tie him to the party. Any offers?

Speaking of other PCs, can we get a quick roll call done, just to make sure everyone is still here?

Roll call: still here

As for connections: my PC is a writer so having read something of his is easy enough to do. As for a personal connection, I think some of the other PC's would be more interesting for it (because I have no idea how my character would have ever encountered a Deer Saboteur)

Paper Shadow wrote:So, I've decided to go for my Deer Saboteur. While my Business Unicorn has the potential to be very interesting, the Deer starts interesting from the start, which for a PbP is pretty important. That being said, I would like at least one connection to another PC. Makes it less awkward to tie him to the party. Any offers?

Speaking of other PCs, can we get a quick roll call done, just to make sure everyone is still here?

Still here. If there's anything medical you think can be inserted, Chir can probably get involved. An injury, someone getting sick?

Present. As for the Deer Saboteur; Battery has done his share of sabotage, maybe they worked together on a couple of jobs?

Or maybe... poisons? Chemicals like that, Chir would probably also have in some supply.

Chirurgeon seems to be a good fit. While [Deer Saboteur] doesn't hate books (at least, not as much as things which cost even more trees to produce, or merely cuts down nature to make room, like factories), he'd feel that nothing compares to spoken prose, verse, and birdsong. [Deer Saboteur]'s connection with Chirurgeon can tie with the deer's missing front leg, which the griffon could have treated and amputated to prevent infection from the initial wound. In addition, I would like his home to be swarming with plants, hopefully to the point of living in a very small greenhouse (Victorian Greenhouses have lovely architecture), maybe on the top of a building or something, since he'll have Nature's Touch and most likely Green Hooves as well, even though the pair won't get too much use in this setting. Anyway, with that, he can easily grow medicinal herbs and whatnot, which Chirurgeon would most likely find uses. And finally, Chirurgeon's super disease and knowledge and stories of the plague and diseases would fuel [Deer Saboteur]'s paranoia of the illnesses being related to the air and factories exhausts and whatnot, justifying to himself the use of an air purifier. It's just a question of how much of friends they are, since Chirurgeon is cold and [Deer Saboteur] is isolated...

As for The Battery, even if they had worked together, I'm not sure how much of a friendship would have blossomed. While they both have similar wounds, [Deer Saboteur] would think he was the better of the two, for The Battery has a mechanical arm while the Deer settled with a peg leg...

Although I did come up with an amusing idea to start the campaign. Tell me, is there a connection between The Battery and Chirurgeon?

Paper Shadow wrote:Chirurgeon seems to be a good fit. While [Deer Saboteur] doesn't hate books (at least, not as much as things which cost even more trees to produce, or merely cuts down nature to make room, like factories), he'd feel that nothing compares to spoken prose, verse, and birdsong. [Deer Saboteur]'s connection with Chirurgeon can tie with the deer's missing front leg, which the griffon could have treated and amputated to prevent infection from the initial wound. In addition, I would like his home to be swarming with plants, hopefully to the point of living in a very small greenhouse (Victorian Greenhouses have lovely architecture), maybe on the top of a building or something, since he'll have Nature's Touch and most likely Green Hooves as well, even though the pair won't get too much use in this setting. Anyway, with that, he can easily grow medicinal herbs and whatnot, which Chirurgeon would most likely find uses. And finally, Chirurgeon's super disease and knowledge and stories of the plague and diseases would fuel [Deer Saboteur]'s paranoia of the illnesses being related to the air and factories exhausts and whatnot, justifying to himself the use of an air purifier. It's just a question of how much of friends they are, since Chirurgeon is cold and [Deer Saboteur] is isolated...

As for The Battery, even if they had worked together, I'm not sure how much of a friendship would have blossomed. While they both have similar wounds, [Deer Saboteur] would think he was the better of the two, for The Battery has a mechanical arm while the Deer settled with a peg leg...

Although I did come up with an amusing idea to start the campaign. Tell me, is there a connection between The Battery and Chirurgeon?

I would imagine that Chir and D.S. share a professional partnership. Chir is quite jaded; he's lived a good while longer than most griffons should and has seen the passing of many acquaintances. So he would be distant, maybe, but he would still enjoy the company of others, especially one who is so beneficial to his craft. He would share (to some degree) D.S.'s views of technology. Overindustrialization brings many maladies, and he would be glad to see society shift to a more healthy image. As long as D.S. doesn't mess with his medical equipment, Chir would be fairly agreeable with D.S.

I'm not seeing Battery and Chirurgeon being *too* buddy buddy, they might have met in some capacity, both having extended life spans and with Battery's more active profession it's unlikely they are complete strangers. Chir's background is kind of passive in making connections so whether Battery has met him or not would be a matter of Crystalite's preference.

Also, regarding the 5 talents limit from before, I rescind my opinion and support being able to use all 8 talents at once.

Two things

I'll write something up for deer at some point in the near future.

Role call still needs Terrestial (+character sheet) and the new guy.

Paper Shadow wrote:As for The Battery, even if they had worked together, I'm not sure how much of a friendship would have blossomed. While they both have similar wounds, [Deer Saboteur] would think he was the better of the two, for The Battery has a mechanical arm while the Deer settled with a peg leg...

Although I did come up with an amusing idea to start the campaign. Tell me, is there a connection between The Battery and Chirurgeon?

See, that's the beauty of it - they don't have to be friends. They just need to know each other

As for Chirurgeon... I can see them knowing each other. It might even be that Chir was the one who took the arm off, with an aqcuintance building the new one. I agree, however, that they wouldn't especially like each other. It would be a strained, "I need you, so I won't kill you yet" sort of deal.

Yes, I can see that opening now... Battery is seeking the bird doctor for medical attention, and it so happens D.S. (who really needs a name btw) is there with him discussing herbal sabotage. And then Smooth Talker, looking for Battery, runs into all three, and shenanigans ensue.

Crystalite wrote:Yes, I can see that opening now... Battery is seeking the bird doctor for medical attention, and it so happens D.S. (who really needs a name btw) is there with him discussing herbal sabotage. And then Smooth Talker, looking for Battery, runs into all three, and shenanigans ensue.

That would certainly make more sense than kidnapping a PC, I suppose, but you still got to account for 2 (possible, hopefully) PCs...

Paper Shadow wrote:

Crystalite wrote:Yes, I can see that opening now... Battery is seeking the bird doctor for medical attention, and it so happens D.S. (who really needs a name btw) is there with him discussing herbal sabotage. And then Smooth Talker, looking for Battery, runs into all three, and shenanigans ensue.

That would certainly make more sense than kidnapping a PC, I suppose, but you still got to account for 2 (possible, hopefully) PCs...

Terrestial and his friend's?