Dice Robotech: Army of the Southern Cross - OOC thread

[Sherwood]

Yes. Anything that could reasonably make it to the island of Japan is in, but I would like to see something from the Rifts Japan book or core rulebook, like a Ley Line Walker or Cyber Knight, something that would make sense to work in a supernatural-busting bunch of agents.

 

[Psychie]

So, I could do something like a Sohei Warrior Monk (p58 of the Japan book) with the magic Millennium Tree staff?

 

[Purr]

Agents?

I am looking at the Rifts Japan book, and I like the location of Hiroshima as a starting point. For those not familiar with the book, Hiroshima and a large area around it vanished at the time of the Great Cataclysm for a period of 300 years, during which only three days passed for the residents of the area. This has given rise to the (new) Republic of Japan that consists of the three megacities of Hiroshima, Kure, and Iwakuni as bastions of high technology and science.

Taking a page(s) from various manga, the players would be a mystical response force in the city, working together to stop supernatural incursions in the city. This opens up the possible character classes to be any from the Rifts Japan book from the samurai and mystic monks that have been recruited to serve to cyberninjas and cyborgss with high tech guns and armor.

Whoa. So... if you were to GM this (because I'm still not sure who's taking the reins this time), the Republic of Japan and the New Empire are... allies? That would be the only way we could have mystics alongside the tech-oriented (and that's not a bad thing!).

 

[Sherwood]

Agents?

Whoa. So... if you were to GM this (because I'm still not sure who's taking the reins this time), the Republic of Japan and the New Empire are... allies? That would be the only way we could have mystics alongside the tech-oriented (and that's not a bad thing!).

It would be a bit of an exception for the mystic OCCs to be a part of this special unit. It would make the special unit a bit unique.

 

[Psychie]

So a police/military unit that responds to supernatural threats, manned with specialists in dealing with the nasty critters. I like it.

 

[Purr]

That's putting things lightly. In vanilla Rifts, The Republic and the New Empire can't stand each other. But... "you are limited only by your imagination" (thank you, Kevin Siembieda!).

So... no side-stepping questions here. Are the New Empire and Republic of Japan allied?

Is Sherwood running this or Psychie?

Remember, I've run this before. If you're wondering anything, ask me. =)

 

[Sherwood]

I can take the reins of this one. I am liking the idea that I'm working on.

No, the New Empire and Republic are not allies.

I have an image in my mind of the high tech setting from GitS, combined with magic and martial arts action. Who would be interested in this?

 

[Purr]

I can take the reins of this one. I am liking the idea that I'm working on.

No, the New Empire and Republic are not allies.

I have an image in my mind of the high tech setting from GitS, combined with magic and martial arts action. Who would be interested in this?

Depends on the concept. If the two factions are not allies, how are we having magic in the Republic? They don't trust magic. Or do they?

 

[Psychie]

Sounds pretty interesting.

 

[Sherwood]

Depends on the concept. If the two factions are not allies, how are we having magic in the Republic? They don't trust magic. Or do they?

It is a 'fight fire with fire' thing, a special experiment in stopping the monsters of the world, using their own magic to do so.

 

[Psychie]

So is this a secret unit? Operating in the shadows? Or do the rest of the city's police/military know about us?

 

[Sherwood]

I like the idea that you are known to be a special unit, with unique knowledge and abilities, but not widely known.

 

[Purr]

It's a cool idea on the surface; it's the extra questions it raises that concerns me. For example, how is Psychie to play a Sohei? If the New Empire and the Republic are not allies, what monastery in the New Empire is going to have her back if she goes to work for the Republic?

Sure, the Ghost in the Shell tech-like is covered and the Republic has a very, very small amount of magic-users of any kind, but... what of those who want to play characters from the New Empire? What about Rifts China O.C.C.s/R.C.C.s?

I'm asking now because I feel these things will eventually come up in the world presented thus far.

 

[Purr]

I can help with solutions if you like. I don't want to simply present roadblocks. =)

 

[Sherwood]

Sure. Offer up some of the patented Dannigan wisdom!

 

[Purr]

O.K.! =) (Did someone patent some of my wisdom? Oh, how I hope it was me! Hah!) =)

/Brainstorm mode on

Thinking aloud here.

If the New Empire and the Republic are not allies, and if there were to be the creation of a special unit comprised of O.C.C.s/R.C.C.s from both factions... then perhaps...

... something really big in the New Empire got involved and gave the "O.K.". That's pretty much what I imagine it would take for such a union to take place between such peoples. The unit would have to be in the Republic; the traditionalists (some 88% or so who are fanatical anti-technologists) would not have it and would rise up against the Shogun, perhaps against the Emperor himself if such a thing became widespread. Even if such a union had the Emperor's blessing, too many would not understand.

But... what if... one of the fiefs (states) was granted immunity from such an uprising? Given the required divine intervention/blessing? A fief whose own daimyo (lord) prayed for such a union? This would very likely be a fief close to the Republic. All other fiefs would look upon this lone fief as possibly a new outcast... unless...

...the Millennium Tree of Kyoto gave its own undeniable, irrefutable blessing. Perhaps in the form of a magical branch or leaf or see or other item that was... part-tech. But this might lead to an alliance between the two factions which is not to be at this time.

So! What if the Millennium Tree in Kyoto, during a visit of said daimyo whose invited guest is no less than the Prime Minister of the Republic herself, receive a clear and obvious blessing from the tree itself? One that no Japanese can deny? But one that only the people of that daimyo's fief could know about? Say, while the daimyo and prime minister were bowing together, two seeds... both joined by a single twig... one seed natural... the other of pure metal... dropped right in between the two of them? Secretly, the daimyo took it and secret negotiations began between the fief and the prime minister right there in Kyoto.

Being honest and pragmatic, the daimyo decides to approach the Emperor himself with this new treasure. He asks what he should do? The emperor, to his surprise, says to keep the twin-seeds. Keep them in the daimyo's own castle. In his very bedroom. Let the sunshine fall upon them every morning.

In return, the Emperor gives his own silent blessing to the daimyo to secretly but directly assist the prime minister in the forming of a union - a special unit comprised of natives of both lands. Perhaps spirits, mystics, and masters of the martial arts from the New Empire joined together by full combat cyborgs, computer hackers, and special forces - all elements join together like the seed to become something the enemies of both factions should fear.

To be honest, the less the public of the Republic of Japan know of such a team, the better. Like Section 9 in Ghost in the Shell, they are simply... a government secret best left untouched and unheard of.

But... in reality... a team perhaps made up of cyber-ninjas, spirit warriors, mecha-gunners, Tsunami cyborgs, Sohei, demon quellers, and perhaps even a true samurai (!)... could exist?

Could the team itself get past their own biases? Or would they be the kind of people who could put all of that aside for the good of Japanese people and spirits everywhere, all of whom are at stake?

It would be a very secret, very demanding team indeed - one of which that could potentially change history in Japan forever. Before the oni and evil-doers out there do it for them.

Huh!

/brainstorm mode off

What do folks think? Sherwood? Can you use any of this or should I start again from another direction?

 

[Sherwood]

Your mentioning of the Millenium Tree is somewhat amusing, because I had an idea of an adventure dealing with a stolen seedling of the Tree. The Tree gives a blessing of the sapling, and it gets stolen, and must be found intact and alive before the other nation discovers what will end up to be a deadly insult, and destroy any efforts to forge a friendship.

I like this. I must give you props for a brilliant mind.

 

[Purr]

=)

 

[Psychie]

That is a cool idea. The monk concept that I was toying with would be great to go with this, because they are usually gifted a Millennium Tree staff, so a missing seedling would be a big deal to him.

 

[Purr]

For those interested in a techie course, perhaps check out the Gun Master O.C.C. from Rifts World Book 25 China 2? Combine that with the Triad Assassin Martial Art system from Mystic China and you have a recipe for truly magical Asian John Wu/John Wick action like no other! =)

 

[Psychie]

So what races are we looking at here? In the Japan book, the monks are willing to accept outsiders:

Racial Requirements: None; the sohei will accept any "willing spirit."
For this reason, some temples are associated with dragons or the
minions of Shinto gods, like the tengu.

 

[Sherwood]

Hmmm. Human would be easiest, obviously. But I don't have a problem with you taking a different race with the monk OCC.

 

[Purr]

Heh! I'll tell you right now - Tengu Sohei in the right hands are absolutely badass and mystical! It takes a strong amount of knowledge concerning Sohei and the Tengu as a people (plus their own martial art is sweet). However, the character is in no way human and probably sees the world more the way Snowfall (one of Japan's 9 million spirits) does. Also, I would highly recommend reading up on Shinto teachings; to do without that is not to do the spirit of a Sohei justice. But the birds have their very own view of the universe and either it calls to a player or it doesn't. =)

 

[Psychie]

Oh, cool! I wonder. . . would a baby dragon be viable?

 

[Purr]

Sherwood What exactly are we going up against? If this is a Ghost in the Shell-style game, aren't most of our opponents pro-tech humans with cyborgs and such thrown in? Perhaps some magic users and such?

I'm not asking for any "cats out of the bags;" I just want to know what we're being teamed up to fight specifically.