17 replies to this topic

[Xeres]

Alright. I'm not sure if anyone even checks this forum, but I might as well try. I'm willing to share with you my latest brain-child in a series of novels I've been brainstorming. It's pretty precious to me, and I'm thinking it could be turned into a rather good pseudo-sci-fi RPG.

Just because I'm concerned that I'd waste my time writing pages upon pages of information on a concept no one's going to check, I'm going to do a brief overview... Maybe see if I can catch some interest.

Era: Alternate Universe, the year 2250.
Location: The city of Eurimedes, the central city of the World-Government, called Scrye.
Genre: Sci-Fi (lasers, hovercars, but before space travel, think Cyberpunk), Action, Romance (if you can manage romance, be my guest. Hawt.)
Characters: (Too much to write, I'll wait for suitable response before I go there)

Background:

In the year 2250, mankind is at a new height in technological advancements. Hover technology, hi-tech laser weaponry, robotics and genetic modification... The world is at a crossroads. Bullets are battling with laserguns, 4-wheeled monstrosities are being phased out in favour of efficient hovercars, bikes, etc. At the center of the turning tide of technology, is Eurimedes.

The city of Eurimedes is the pride of Medea, the world-government. It's the most technologically advanced society in the world... And it's also host to the world's biggest threat. The Alpha.

The Alpha are the bane of the 'perfect world' that Medea is intent on creating. Genetic anomalies, the Alpha present a threat to Medea, and as such, must be destroyed... Or better yet... Harnessed.

The Alpha have powers ranging from control of the elements, to energy-conjuring, to enhanced physical stamina. The range of abilities is unpredictable and the form these mutations take can be physical or none at all, and so Medea has taken to classifying each of these types of 'super-powers' using the Greek alphabet. Alpha through Omega.

So, Medea took to creating their own forces to stop the Alpha. Thus, Kratos was born. The organization that has been given the task of either capturing or killing any Alpha they find. With such a powerful force opposing them, the poor humans that find themselves cursed with this genetic difference go into hiding.

Enter Bacchae.

Bacchae is the resistance, formed by a small group of Alpha that have banded together to form an underground organization, dedicated to the survival of the Alpha, and the destruction and exposure of the corrupt Kratos organization.

And so their silent war begins... Dun dun DUN.



...Thus, a very, VERY succinct description was born. Basically, I'm thinking forum members can either be a part of Kratos, or of Bacchae. Hell, if you want to play a political minded member of Medea, you're welcome to it.

Of course, I'd have to give you more background on the Alpha, if this was to take off... I have a number of castes already made, but still a good chunk of the Greek Alphabet is empty, and I'd welcome anyone to create their own caste.

So, umm... I'm really sticking my neck out here, considering the RPG discussion section has been pretty silent as of late. I would totally love you guys forever if you wanted to be a part of this... Hell, it helps me write the novel version of 'Alpha' even faster.

So, what I'm really trying to say is... *tries to put on most charming face* ...Little help here? Please? Hell... Pwease?

(Note: I have a number of character drawings/sketches for the characters that'd be a part of this RPG... I'll post them if, I dunno... Five people feel like joining me on this one.)

[Khuffie]

It sounds interesting! You need to poke people like Toan, Chik, Jaina, Veteran etc and tell 'em to come. Then use your evil supermod powers to intimidate others into joining!

And just a point, which isn't a criticism over the RP but seems something of concern for your novel, it does sound earily similar to X-Men, though the groups have different motives. How else is it gonna be different from X-Men? Besides the fact that you wrote it and hence will be extremely AWESOME!

[Steel Samurai]

It is similar to X-Men, but the thing is that because it's not X-men, and basically is similar only in the normal-people-predjudiced-against-mutants factor, we can do whatever we wish within that. And Xeres' limits of course. Anyway, I'm in. Mitsuakara now has a mutation, unrevealed until two things happen. a) I come up with one. B) I reveal it during the course of the rpg. ^^

[Delphi]

Sure, why not? I'll think about it. PM me if you need a specific character played.

[Xeres]

If you know Cyberpunk, 'Alpha' reads [img]http://forums.legendsalliance.com/public/ALOT.png[/img] like a few scenarios from that. It's also on a much smaller scale, being limited to the one megacity that is Eurimedes. (Hell, if anyone can draw the connection between all the names and titles, you get a cookie. Shortbread cookie.)

There's [img]http://forums.legendsalliance.com/public/ALOT.png[/img] more to Alpha then what I've written here. I just don't feel like revealing my entire hand all for naught.

Well, I have [img]http://forums.legendsalliance.com/public/ALOT.png[/img] to write if I plan to try this... So... I should get on that.

[Goose]

I'd like to join If I could.

[Chikara Nadir]

This actually sounds like it could use characters remarkably similar to those of the LAVille University, which could work out great with people who don't want to try too hard to think up new character designs. I like it. I always like angst, and this reminds me of the X-Men (as Khuff said) or The Matrix meets Brave New World.

[Xeres]

This actually sounds like it could use characters remarkably similar to those of the LAVille University, which could work out great with people who don't want to try too hard to think up new character designs. I like it. I always like angst, and this reminds me of the X-Men (as Khuff said) or The Matrix meets Brave New World.

Well, that's the reason I decided to try it. It's broad enough that any being with superpowers will fall under some sort of category... But I'm trying for something a little more plot driven... A.k.a, I want to steer it towards an eventual conclusion, adventure, set-ups, all that business. It's really a rather interesting story, and yeah... A little X-Men based.

So... If you, Goose, Steel, Khuffie and myself are in (I'd have about three characters on my plate, plus assorted NPCs) I suppose I can start fleshing things out... Not to say I don't want more people in on this... I mean, c'mon. LAville can't be the only active RPG we have going.

So... Time to start bribing people!

(Note: Expanded story to come soonishly, it'll be a double post, I'm sure.)

[Jaina]

I might join >.> I am in the LAville RP so heey..I just need a tad more description and for sure I will

[Xeres]

Okay, I'm in the middle of finals, so I haven't gone converting my story into RPG guidelines. I have converted some of the characters to follow the RPG guidelines.

Here's Jayce, one of the Alpha. She'd be one of the characters I'd be playing... Pretty much NPC stuff. She's a support character in the story... And I'm thinking I'll have the RPG take place before the main character of 'Alpha' even shows up... So... A prequel of sorts. Anyways... here we go:

PART I

Name: Jayce Winters
Race: ‘Alpha’ (Human with special powers, basically) Sub-class: Sigma
Gender: Female
Age: 19
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 115 lbs
Hair Colour: Dark red, shoulder-length, see attached image for style.
Eye Colour: Dark blue. Close to navy blue.
Build: Athletic, on the slender side.
Other notes: Has a strange set of markings covering her entire right side. (see image)

PART II

Strengths & Abilities: Energy conjuring, the ability to summon a sort of dark purple energy in the form of offensive waves, beams, shields, etc. Can also create ‘energy constructs’ that take the shape of small animals. Slight psychic ability that proves to be more of a fault than a strength. Slight martial arts ability, akin to street-fighting. Carries two knives on her person, mostly out of fear. Is skilled with them.

Weaknesses: Power is very unpredictable, and requires a number of ‘channeling jewels’ to be worn on her at all times, lest she become unstable and suffer a sort of ‘energy-backlash’ that has put her into comas for weeks and months on end and gotten her into no end of trouble with ‘Kratos’. Psychic ability is completely uncontrolled, and happens in fits, usually causing Jayce to react in the form of a mild-to-serious epileptic seizure. Not much can be gleamed from her latent psychic ability, all it seems to do is burn a single image in her mind and cause her an immense amount of pain. Painfully shy and self-conscious, which affects her ability to fight and use her powers. Lives in a state of fear and loathing, due to her powers and unusual markings. Her ‘energy constructs’ aren’t very large or helpful in combat.

PART III

Biography: Jayce Winters was never popular. Hell, sometimes she wondered if she even existed. It wasn’t until she was cursed with being an Alpha that anyone ever paid any attention to her.

And like most things, it was the wrong kind of attention.

When Jayce turned 18, her latent ‘Alpha’ gene surfaced in the form of violent markings on her face and the entire right side of her body. These markings became the way to identify the new ‘Sigma’ caste of the Alphas, and Jayce was their first member. Suddenly, Jayce found she had a little too much attention. Kratos wanted her, and all she wanted to do was run.

To explain, the Alpha are a reviled part of human culture, human beings with super-powers that go far beyond the technology of Eurimedes, the city Jayce is from. The Alpha are broken down into castes, which denote their ability and level of threat to the world. Jayce is a ‘Sigma’, one who is able to conjure energy out of thin air and make it do her bidding. Well, in theory, anyways. Jayce, for whatever reason, seems to have very little control over her powers, only being able to use them in small instances. In addition to that, to simply contain her energy and to keep it from harming herself or others, she is forced to wear a number of jewels that keep her power harnessed and make it easier to control.

Kratos is the world government organization formed to track, capture and/or kill the Alpha. The world sees the Alpha as a threat, and is working to suppress this new species until they can learn to control them, to use them as the ultimate weapon. The motives and influence of Kratos are uncertain, all that Jayce knows is that if she sees them, she runs.

Jayce was quickly disowned by her family, and was to be given up to Kratos. When they arrived, her powers erupted violently, causing a huge explosion of energy that left Jayce in a coma for 3 months. She awoke in the Bacchae infirmary, under the care of Pheo, one of the forerunners of the resistance. Jayce has no memory of the incident, or that she destroyed an entire city block in her outburst. The members of Bacchae are well-aware, but they fear Jayce’s instability and don’t want to upset her with the news.

It was at Bacchae that Jayce was introduced to the channeling jewels. By wearing them on her body in the form of jewelry or sewn into clothing, Jayce is kept in control of her powers. Of course, this limits the amount of power she can summon, but she’s working towards strengthening her control at Bacchae, and is making slow but steady progress. Jayce is well-known in the Bacchae hierarchy, mostly due to her connection with Pheo and Seth Lanner, both top-ranking members of the resistance. She’s rarely recruited for missions, as her powers are easily detectable as well as being unstable, and her markings make her stand out regardless. If anything, Jayce is a bit of an enigma. No one seems to know much about her, aside from the ‘incident’ and her status as a Sigma. She’s often one to fade into the background, and can usually be found talking with the energy constructs she conjures, she considers them her only real friends.

Image:
(S'a little rough and grainy. So sue me. No. Wait. Don't.)

...So... It's a little bit fragmented, but it explains a bit more of the Alpha story. Of course, it also alludes to two other characters, Seth and Pheo.

I'm not sure what else to explain in-depth. ...So... What else do you guys want to know? I'll post the caste-info soon enough, that much I know is required for character creation.

[Steel Samurai]

I think once we have the castes we'll be right . . .

[Xeres]

Alrighty. It's 8AM and I have enough time on my hands to throw out a caste list. For reference, I'm going to write out the entire Greek Alphabet, and letters that have castes assigned to them will have an explaination.

If you want to come up with your own caste, pick a letter, and go ahead. I'll have to give it the thumbs up in the end, and it'd be first come, first served with your pick of the Greek alphabet. So... Here we go.

Alpha- Refers to any kind of power/mutation. Not a caste per se, just a classification for mutants. All mutants are 'Alpha'-type, plus a secondary classification (ex. Jayce is an Alpha: Sigma)

Beta (Enhanced physical attributes)- Basically a mutation that enhances the strength, speed, durability, etc. of a person to inhuman levels. Can concentrate energy to certain attributes (flame energy around fists, rapid healing, super-speed) requires channeling jewels. Easy to hide mutation. Doesn't show up on scans. (ex. Seth Lanner is a Beta, his profile will explain it a bit more.)

Gamma
Delta (Bacchae only)

Epsilon (Elemental energy)- The ability to control and manifest any one element (earth, fire, wind, water... HEART!) in advanced stages, can transform self into a being of pure elemental energy. There's a lot of creativity to be had with this power, but it's pretty self-explanatory. Somewhat detectable on scans, unless Alpha is proficient at hiding it. (ex. Pheo is an adept Epsilon, she'll be the basis any other Epsilon is judged.)

Zeta
Eta
Theta
Iota
Kappa
Lambda
Mu (Kratos only)
Nu (Kratos only)
Xi (Kratos only)
Omicron
Pi
Rho

Sigma (Energy conjuring)- Can summon an element-independent energy in the form of shapes, beams, or small creatures. Jayce's profile already outlines the abilities the Sigma have. (Bacchae only)

Tau
Upsilon
Phi

Chi (Mechanical affinity)- Slowly corrupts the body of the subject, while granting them the ability to 'merge' with any computer interface, and retrieve any kind of data. In short, the person becomes a sort of 'super hacker' without even having to touch a keyboard. Think being psychic, but for computers. The further the physical corruption, the stronger the ability. This ability isn't limited to computers, but to any technological implement. (ex. they can cause guns to overheat, consoles to explode, etc.) the catch is, they have to be somewhat near the item to do it, and the corruption of their body makes that difficult. Most Chi are fitted with mechanical body parts as the corruption intensifies. Easy to detect. (Bacchae only)

Psi (Psychic ability)- Reading minds, telekenesis, pretty self-explanatory. Hard to detect.

Omega (???)- Mythical caste. The rumour is that one day an Alpha will emerge that will surpass any other Alpha, but how is uncertain. This caste is not playable. The main character of Alpha (Adrian Vosette) is the Omega, but like I said, this is a prequel, and it's really hard to play Adrian without god-moding. So he'll be set aside. Go ahead and speculate what you think the Omega can do, though.



There, caste info has been written. Hopefully it makes sense, because I know it makes sense to me... But that's because I made it. You can see how wide the range is of abilities. So, just don't make it too overpowered, and you're golden. Also note that if you want to play/create a caste that has (*side* only), you're going to have to play that side, unless you can give me a really interesting reason why not.

...So... Help me think of some different powers, man. I spend my time writing this stuff... FOR YOU.

Edited by Xeres, 13 December 2005 - 08:43 AM.

[Masamune]

Where's the Batman power?

Off the top of my head, some caste-types to consider would be...

Intelligence based (beter than photographic memory, super-reading skills, ability to quickly master languages, capable of fixing anything, complete knowledge of every Star Trek episode ever)

Then of course you need a type of mutant where the change is a largely exterior one (gasp, plausible mutations!). This might include the ability to breathe underwater, hollow bones and primitive arms evolved into wings for flight, or something similar. Actually, I guess those would be throwbacks in a way...

And of course, you can't do it without vampires. A RP without vampires... is actually a pretty good RP. But inevitably someone is going to want to play some sort of characters that absorbs plasma, life energy, mucus, ear wax by some means (and not neccessarily through the teeth!) This would be more your parasite caste that anything.

And... more. I just felt like listing those, I'm not a RPer so... don't arrest me.

[Selena]

Hmm... I was actually thinking of creating a character that would fit into your Psi caste. I might be interested but given how flakey I can be, I wouldn't bet too much money on it. So that's a maybe. Woo. <.<


As for a new caste? Don't know. Maybe a shapeshifter caste. Or at the very least, a caste that has the mental ability to make people think they're seeing something else than what's presented before them. So not so much actual shapeshifter as mental trickster. An offshoot of the Psi caste maybe.

Edited by Selena, 13 December 2005 - 04:21 PM.

[Xeres]

(Note to self: Make BATMAN power... DUH! Consider Spiderman.)

Just in case people don't really want to make their own characters, I have a number of packaged people I thought I would play, but if you can prove you won't slaughter my characters, I'll let you have 'em. If not, well, I can still introduce you to the NPCs. Here we have Pheo and Seth Lanner... You probably won't be able to read their story notes written in my shoddy handwriting, but you can at least look at them!

Pheo (Yes, I forgot to finish drawing/inking her boots. Shaddup.)


Seth Lanner


If you can't see the images. Well. Damn.

Now, to work on making new castes. I like the suggestions, though! *stolen!*

[Delphi]

Oh! Oh! I really wanna play now! I don't have any ideas off the top of my head for another caste, but I'll be thinking.

EDIT:
Maybe I'll actually play a "normal" character for once. But I be thinking...

Edited by Delphi, 16 December 2005 - 04:50 AM.

[Jaina]

Oooh! ^^ I am interested..maybe this time I will use something other then my fave element Lightning >.> or maybe I will just play a girl this time..I know scary..Jaina play a girl ^^

[Xeres]

Alrighty, I'm working on putting together the final package for the RPG submission... Most of this is taken up by writing up the background information for each NPC. There'll be five NPCs that'll need description, 3 Bacchae, 2 Kratos. Of course, there'll be filler characters that don't require a backstory, they just kind of appear... Like any RPG.

Feel free to continue to submit ideas, though... I've got some work to do before this is polished enough for my liking. Probably will be up this weekend... Not too sure, I do things in spurts.

So... If I'm not busy, it might be up in an hour. My timeframes are weird like that.