Dice Rifts Japan - OOC Thread

[Sherwood]

A quick skim of it shows that it is interesting. What about the RCC is appealing to you?

 

[D. Rex]

Hey D. Rex! How's it going? Sounds like you've had a busy time of it lately.

Super busy. Felt like it was getting busier by the day. But gotta keep up that grind to get ahead. How have you been? Everything been well.in the world of Psychie?

Hey D. Rex ! Great to see you again, even if for a moment! Are you looking to get into another game? If it works with your schedule, and that sounds busy as heck, you are always welcome in one of my games. We can get you up to speed and get a character for you that you'll love without any trPsychic?

Sherwood games are some of my favorite games. So I'm always happy to see one pop up. Have seen them pop up from afar now and then. Always brought a smile to my face, even if I was too busy to join.

Am I looking to get into one? Yeah, kinda. Would love to do some RP. Give my mind a bit of exercise from the monotony of the grind. Lol its not so much the schedule as much as the mental burnout that has me in its clutches. I just need break loose some of that rust. Though not sure if I can operate at 100% mental capacity from the start.

That said, I'm certainly interested. Might give it a try.

 

[Sherwood]

As I said, you would be welcome in the game.

 

[Eonivar]

A quick skim of it shows that it is interesting. What about the RCC is appealing to you?

It fits the Ghost in the Shell genre well. They are amazing infiltrators, spies, and snipers.

And why not play a Cyber-Knight if Sherwood will let you? I thought something Jedi like that was your dream character?

I don't know. I have had kind of a rough week and to be fair nothing seems like it is the character for me. The Cyber Knight sounded fun, but I am not sure if I want to get in to the code and such.

Sherwood There is one other OCC that I would like to see if I could play it, the only problem is that they would not necessarily be a New Republic character. That is the Momano Headhunter from Rifts Canada. They are truly one of my favorite classes, a technomagic cyborg headhunter...and they are known to be a bit weird and seen as a bit odd amongst other Headhunters. Would I be able to put one of those together? They probably would not be that extraordinarily powerful, but they would be at least kooky and fun to play.

 

[D. Rex]

As I said, you would be welcome in the game.

Then consider me down. I'll a give it good college try.

 

[Purr]

D. Rex ! Welcome back to the World Beyond The Daily Grind! Here, where distractions abound, wonders arise, and silliness ensues! May you enjoy your stay!

 

[Purr]

Sherwood and Co.! =)

In the spirit of fairness, I think I'm going to have to drop O-Ken Wa. Thank you very much for allowing ithe system.

The system is meant to be used with two swords and since it appears I'm going to be playing a Ley Line Walker who needs one hand to cast, I feel I ought to do right by the rules and have a system that has one hand ready at all times.

Plus, I can't be that guy who says, "Oh yeah, it's a two sword style but my character casts... through his swords!" Talk about a cheap sidestep, right?

Current ideas include matching the spirit host animal with their Chinese style of martial arts. So... monkey animus with the Monkey Style Kung Fu. Or Tiger with Tiger Claw?

Concerning the Snake spirit host, it has everything but a natural prowl (it slithers! What is quieter than that?) and most importantly - it has no venomous bite!

A "fangless viper" is akin to a Chinese insult. Would you consider swapping out one of its benefits with a venomous bite? I don't care what the bite does! Sleep, knock out, uncontrollable unhide-able loud farting for 1d4+1 Rounds! I don't care.

I like the snake, but I just cannot bring myself to even consider playing a fangless viper. =)

 

[Sherwood]

It fits the Ghost in the Shell genre well. They are amazing infiltrators, spies, and snipers.

I don't know. I have had kind of a rough week and to be fair nothing seems like it is the character for me. The Cyber Knight sounded fun, but I am not sure if I want to get in to the code and such.

Sherwood There is one other OCC that I would like to see if I could play it, the only problem is that they would not necessarily be a New Republic character. That is the Momano Headhunter from Rifts Canada. They are truly one of my favorite classes, a technomagic cyborg headhunter...and they are known to be a bit weird and seen as a bit odd amongst other Headhunters. Would I be able to put one of those together? They probably would not be that extraordinarily powerful, but they would be at least kooky and fun to play.

I don't see that the Momano Headhunter class would be a problem. Its not like you are wanting to pull in a Cosmo Knight or a demigod, right? I am pretty flexible as to what I can deal with; the only question that we need to know is, will you be from the Empire or from the Republic? I would like to have someone that is familiar with the Republic in general and Hiroshima specifically, but it doesn't have to be you.

 

[Sherwood]

Then consider me down. I'll a give it good college try.

Outstanding! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[Sherwood]

Sherwood and Co.! =)

In the spirit of fairness, I think I'm going to have to drop O-Ken Wa. Thank you very much for allowing ithe system.

The system is meant to be used with two swords and since it appears I'm going to be playing a Ley Line Walker who needs one hand to cast, I feel I ought to do right by the rules and have a system that has one hand ready at all times.

Plus, I can't be that guy who says, "Oh yeah, it's a two sword style but my character casts... through his swords!" Talk about a cheap sidestep, right?

Current ideas include matching the spirit host animal with their Chinese style of martial arts. So... monkey animus with the Monkey Style Kung Fu. Or Tiger with Tiger Claw?

Concerning the Snake spirit host, it has everything but a natural prowl (it slithers! What is quieter than that?) and most importantly - it has no venomous bite!

A "fangless viper" is akin to a Chinese insult. Would you consider swapping out one of its benefits with a venomous bite? I don't care what the bite does! Sleep, knock out, uncontrollable unhide-able loud farting for 1d4+1 Rounds! I don't care.

I like the snake, but I just cannot bring myself to even consider playing a fangless viper. =)

I think we'll pass on the bite that causes loud farting - I think that will unbalance the campaign too much. lol

Since I'm letting Psy have a dragon with a metamorphosis ability that it doesn't normally come with, I can't in good conscience say no to a reasonable request like that. I would just need to figure out what kind of poison it is and how it would react in the game. Say it is a poison that does damage. Is it a ongoing damage, or is it just a one time thing? How much damage does it do? Is there a saving throw for it? Stuff like that.

You can always try the idea of matching the style with the spirit animal. I don't know Monkey Style well enough to comment on that one, but Tiger Claw is a solid MA with good bonuses.

 

[Psychie]

Then consider me down. I'll a give it good college try.

Yeaaa! We have a D. Rex in the house! Woot!

 

[Purr]

I think we'll pass on the bite that causes loud farting - I think that will unbalance the campaign too much. lol

Hah! Right? =)

You can always try the idea of matching the style with the spirit animal. I don't know Monkey Style well enough to comment on that one, but Tiger Claw is a solid MA with good bonuses.

Monkey Style kung fu has a lot of acrobatic attacks and faints. Great martial art Powers overall and automatic Dodge to go with it. Plus I believe it comes with Gymnastics and Acrobatics.

I was considering asking for Snake Style Kung fu, but that one requires that one would have had to have started with an evil alignment. So if my guy does go snake, I'll be heading somewhere else for a martial way.

Hmm. Are we using my Aikido 2.1? (sorry if you answered that and I can't recall it. I thought you said you'd consider it?)

 

[Sherwood]

Hah! Right? =)


Monkey Style kung fu has a lot of acrobatic attacks and faints. Great martial art Powers overall and automatic Dodge to go with it. Plus I believe it comes with Gymnastics and Acrobatics.

I was considering asking for Snake Style Kung fu, but that one requires that one would have had to have started with an evil alignment. So if my guy does go snake, I'll be heading somewhere else for a martial way.

Hmm. Are we using my Aikido 2.1? (sorry if you answered that and I can't recall it. I thought you said you'd consider it?)

Regarding your Aikido, I don't remember if I said yes or no to it yet. So let me say that you can pull it in as a variation on the style. And I appreciate you not wanting to go with Snake Style Kung Fu; that alignment restriction is not one that I want in this game.

 

[Purr]

And I appreciate you not wanting to go with Snake Style Kung Fu; that alignment restriction is not one that I want in this game.

Well, you know me and Evil characters. Plus, I think it's a little weird to ask for that system and simply say my character is the only good one! Yeah...

Oh! Concerning Monkey Spirit Host? Magic requires fingers which monkeys have. But nobody knows if a monkey can actually speak English/Japanese much less magic. We are like 99% kin to chimps. Would you allow my character to cast in Monkey form if he purchased a skill like Imitate Voices into it to show his practicing of it?

 

[Sherwood]

Is the transformation into this monkey form total, or is it like a werewolf in its Crinos form? If it is a hybrid form, then yes you can still speak and cast magic as normal. If it is a full monkey, I will say no.

 

[Purr]

Is the transformation into this monkey form total, or is it like a werewolf in its Crinos form? If it is a hybrid form, then yes you can still speak and cast magic as normal. If it is a full monkey, I will say no.

Animal form.

O.K.! Thanks for the quick reply!

(The Spirit Host's natural form is their "Crinos" form. There, they can speak, move, etc. and evidently cast freely. Their human form requires the expenditure of Chi/I.S.P. to remain in while their animal form can be entered at will indefinitely). =)

 

[D. Rex]

D. Rex ! Welcome back to the World Beyond The Daily Grind! Here, where distractions abound, wonders arise, and silliness ensues! May you enjoy your stay!

I shall do my darndest!

Outstanding! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Alrighty!

Let's start with the 5 W's. I'll put some stuff out to know if I'm on the right track or not. So you can fill in the gaps.

1.  When? -- Future. To my understanding something of a cyberpunk futuristic setting. Gritty or bright? How future?

2. Where? -- Japan. Lovely place. A city too I think. Anywhere in particular? And how comparable is the setting to real world Earth? In that other countries and history are the same? (Excluding the time from real present to game future.)

3. What? -- From what I read at the start, though didn't get too deep into the pages, this is like a heist. And we are wanting to take something from a supernatural evil.

4. Why? -- See above. Also future martial arts stuff.

5. Who? -- Being not up to date on rifts lingo. Whats the sort of spread we got going on for char concepts/class kinda of thing. Character niche sort of thing. Just to get an idea of what is on the table. I know Psychie is a dragon. I think I read that right.

 

[Sherwood]

I shall do my darndest!








Alrighty!

Let's start with the 5 W's. I'll put some stuff out to know if I'm on the right track or not. So you can fill in the gaps.

1.  When? -- Future. To my understanding something of a cyberpunk futuristic setting. Gritty or bright? How future?

2. Where? -- Japan. Lovely place. A city too I think. Anywhere in particular? And how comparable is the setting to real world Earth? In that other countries and history are the same? (Excluding the time from real present to game future.)

3. What? -- From what I read at the start, though didn't get too deep into the pages, this is like a heist. And we are wanting to take something from a supernatural evil.

4. Why? -- See above. Also future martial arts stuff.

5. Who? -- Being not up to date on rifts lingo. Whats the sort of spread we got going on for char concepts/class kinda of thing. Character niche sort of thing. Just to get an idea of what is on the table. I know Psychie is a dragon. I think I read that right.

1. If you have seen the movie/anime of Ghost in the Shell you will have the setting locked in. High tech mixed with a bit of magic.

2. You will be starting in the city of Hiroshima and the Republic of Japan. What makes it significant is that when the great catastrophe happened to start the Time of the Rifts, that curry and two others vanished. What was three days for the residents of the city was three hundred years on Earth. They used their advanced tech to wall themselves off from the monsters that were hunting them, and have had limited contact with the rest of the Japanese islands. The Empire of Japan is different in that they are more steeped in magic and less in technology than their time traveling relatives.

3. The city of Kyoto in the Empire is home to a Millennium Tree, one of only a few that are on Earth. It is a supernaturally powerful being of good will and positive energy. During a diplomatic mission from Hiroshima, the Tree sprouted a sapling to be gifted to Hiroshima. This is the start of the two nations trying to establish better relations, and as such, the Empire has sent several supernatural advisors to help the Republic deal with the demon threat out there.

Teaming these advisors up with some locals, the Republic has formed a rapid reaction force designed to detect and destroy the demons before they can do much damage. There will be a big bad guy that tries to steal the Tree sapling, and you will be the tip of the spear to get it back no matter what.

4. A lot of this was covered in 3 above.

5. The only character that is set right now is Psychie. She's a dragon monk from Kyoto that has been chosen to help escort the sapling to Hiroshima. I want someone to be from Hiroshima to be the local expert and technology guru, but that role is still up in the air.

 

[D. Rex]

1. If you have seen the movie/anime of Ghost in the Shell you will have the setting locked in. High tech mixed with a bit of magic.

2. You will be starting in the city of Hiroshima and the Republic of Japan. What makes it significant is that when the great catastrophe happened to start the Time of the Rifts, that curry and two others vanished. What was three days for the residents of the city was three hundred years on Earth. They used their advanced tech to wall themselves off from the monsters that were hunting them, and have had limited contact with the rest of the Japanese islands. The Empire of Japan is different in that they are more steeped in magic and less in technology than their time traveling relatives.

3. The city of Kyoto in the Empire is home to a Millennium Tree, one of only a few that are on Earth. It is a supernaturally powerful being of good will and positive energy. During a diplomatic mission from Hiroshima, the Tree sprouted a sapling to be gifted to Hiroshima. This is the start of the two nations trying to establish better relations, and as such, the Empire has sent several supernatural advisors to help the Republic deal with the demon threat out there.

Teaming these advisors up with some locals, the Republic has formed a rapid reaction force designed to detect and destroy the demons before they can do much damage. There will be a big bad guy that tries to steal the Tree sapling, and you will be the tip of the spear to get it back no matter what.

4. A lot of this was covered in 3 above.

5. The only character that is set right now is Psychie. She's a dragon monk from Kyoto that has been chosen to help escort the sapling to Hiroshima. I want someone to be from Hiroshima to be the local expert and technology guru, but that role is still up in the air.

I enjoyed Ghost in the shell. Was some fun stuff.

Definitely helps fill in the gaps. Got me a better grasp already.




Needing a niche filled? I can be your guy. Always happy to help.

But first. Define "local expert" and "technology guru".

 

[Purr]

By Jove, I think I've got it! =)

My character is a Snake Spirit Host, Ley Line Walker as O.C.C..
He studies Ninjitsu (and was formerly a Genin, ninja of the lowest rank) who body-doubled for a young samurai (Zanji Shinjinken Ryu). =)
I have a deep background in my head that I feel works, but before I continue, Sherwood are you O.K. with this combination?

The only other sword system I would love to try out is... incomplete. In Rifter #3 on (physical copy) page 37 is the system Yung Huo Jen: The Eternal Fires of the Sword. Unfortunately, there is a very clear editing error at the bottom of page 37 where the information stops at Basic Foot attacks (Jumping Foot Attacks should be next) and skips straight to their Level Advancement bonuses starting at not 1st level, but 4th level! Quite a gap!

Does anyone have Rifter #4? At the end of the book, is there an addendum/"correction section" to Rifter #3? If so, could I ask you to copy/paste it here, please?

 

[D. Rex]

While barely even rough draft, and me haven't even poured over the book yet to see what works or unsure if said folk would even be let to do such a mission or how to put them in yet if they were. Off the top of my head I got 2 concepts.


1. A humble maintenance man in a dirty jumpsuit. A grunt, as they might call him. Far from the glorious technicians and glamorous specialists that get paid the big bucks. Doesn't even have a college degree. Not that you need it when your career is defined by learning it on the fly while deep in the cities guts. The stuff you learn by hands on experience with the real innards of technology. Technology is never as pretty as it is on paper, its a tangled mess in every medium. In the bowels of the machine, book learning only gets in the way, and you have to really on practical application and improvisation.

A versatile techy type who has been working in the city a long time. Knows how it works, and its quirks and flaws. An asthetic of the blue collar workers who keeps the city running that nobody ever thinks about or holds very highly. And he probably never thought he was about to go on the adventure of a lifetime. He certainly isn't going to be getting paid enough for this.

Combat wise? Since we are focusing on some martial arts, I think it could be fun to focus on the Jackie Chan approach. That sort of chaotic, desperate, somewhat silly improvisation, making use of what's around to best effect.




2. A robot, an AI. A rather simple looking one, yesterdays model if one were to be generous. One with a fair degree of independent thought... thoughts centered on the existential quandries of what it means to BE. It would say it belonged to a church once. But saw things that would shift its logic to that of faith. That its logic would lead it to that faith. And believe it with every circuit. That this is the path it should do good for humanity. Humanity that it loves. But in it are struggles. It knows it has no soul. There is no afterlife. No eternal punishment or salvation. No spirit. An empty husk of the very finite material world. Yet with his faith. why should his lack of a soul be excuse to not do what is good and true? But more frightening to him... how real is he? And does he even matter.

A benevolent helper robot with ideas above his station. Ownerless and rudderless, helping how he can. If anyone can be a guru tech, a piece of tech oneself should surely be able to manage. And being a local, could have often helped guide lost people as well. Combat-wise, could probably fit any role. From terminator to robot ninja. Though won't lie, martial arts on an android could pretty amusing.








Of the two, I'm probably leaning towards 1, as it would probably be easier to play and build. And maintenance folk need some love too.

 

[Sherwood]

By Jove, I think I've got it! =)

My character is a Snake Spirit Host, Ley Line Walker as O.C.C..
He studies Ninjitsu (and was formerly a Genin, ninja of the lowest rank) who body-doubled for a young samurai (Zanji Shinjinken Ryu). =)
I have a deep background in my head that I feel works, but before I continue, Sherwood are you O.K. with this combination?

The only other sword system I would love to try out is... incomplete. In Rifter #3 on (physical copy) page 37 is the system Yung Huo Jen: The Eternal Fires of the Sword. Unfortunately, there is a very clear editing error at the bottom of page 37 where the information stops at Basic Foot attacks (Jumping Foot Attacks should be next) and skips straight to their Level Advancement bonuses starting at not 1st level, but 4th level! Quite a gap!

Does anyone have Rifter #4? At the end of the book, is there an addendum/"correction section" to Rifter #3? If so, could I ask you to copy/paste it here, please?

I have a PDF of the Rifter #4, but it's at home and I'm at work at the moment. I'll check on that addendum later, assuming there is one.

Dann, that is quite the list of stuff for your character. A ninja samauri ley line walker spirit host? That's a mouthful. That shouldn't be a problem, though. I trust you well enough to know you wouldn't try to screw up a game with overpowered bull. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

[Sherwood]

I enjoyed Ghost in the shell. Was some fun stuff.

Definitely helps fill in the gaps. Got me a better grasp already.




Needing a niche filled? I can be your guy. Always happy to help.

But first. Define "local expert" and "technology guru".

Well, looking at the dragon monk as an example, she doesn't even know how to drive a car or use a computer. I would like someone that can cover the technology needs for the group, and that knows the underground and back streets of the city.

 

[Sherwood]

D. Rex The maintenance man idea has some things going for it, but why would he be selected to be a part of the government backed team that is being assembled to fight demons in the city?

 

[Purr]

I have a PDF of the Rifter #4, but it's at home and I'm at work at the moment. I'll check on that addendum later, assuming there is one.

Thank you!

Dann, that is quite the list of stuff for your character. A ninja samauri ley line walker spirit host? That's a mouthful. That shouldn't be a problem, though. I trust you well enough to know you wouldn't try to screw up a game with overpowered bull. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

You could shorten all of this to "Serpent Wu Jen" if that's better? (Of course, that's taking a little from AD&D's Oriental Adventures, isn't it? Heh!) I'm looking to make a support character (kind of like Snowfall but differently made). =)

To be clear, he is not a Mystic Ninja nor a True Samurai (nor do I want him to be) so no rune blades, no Ninja Clan, or anything from those O.C.C.s. He knows their martial arts well enough to pass for either.

I am attempting to make a fun, long-lasting, and versatile character that is true to the Rifts Japan setting, but not as mighty, say, Blake or other characters in that ballpark. But nor do I want him to be an easy kill either (like most mages of 1st level tend to be!). I haven't seen the end product, but I highly doubt my character will be as badass as Blake! Just far more versatile.

When I get to a final build, I'll take a break and come back to it all with a fresh perspective. By that time, we ought to have Eon's Momano Headhunter more worked out? And GunMan2 and D. Rex's characters too. I'll adjust. =)

I appreciate your trust in me! =)