Trans-global Ghost Cartels campaign, OOC administration Options

[pbangarth]

This is the thread for OOC development of characters, technical discussions on on-line hook-up and scheduling for the Ghost Cartels campaign initiated in the "Any online chat games going" thread.

I will try to keep general, pertinent info posted in this top posting.

There is an IC thread for IC PC discussions. Same topic name.

Peter

ENTRY: 12 January 2009

[ Spoiler ]

Players so far: (6 would be ideal, but I can stretch a bit)
1. unseen
2. Fyndhal
3. ChiPsiUp
4. Knight Saber
In line unless earlier potentials sign up (cutoff date is 14 January 2009):
5. Octopiii
6. Jake
First game: Saturday, 24 January 2009. Time to be coordinated yet.
Venue: Online, chat-based, specific software yet to be determined.

ENTRY: 14 January 2009

[ Spoiler ]

The players for the first game, on 24 January, 2009 are as follows:
Fyndhal - Mau - cat shaman
Knight Saber - Lamia - hermetic mage
Octopiii - Fishbreath - ex-armed forces guy
unseen - Invisible - technomancer
ChiPsiUp - Skullcracka - rigger
Iscariot - face

tentative start time: 20:00 GMT (12 noon PST, 13:00 MST)
If there is a problem with the start time, let us know right away.

ENTRY: 19 January 2009

First game switched to 1 February, 2009. Same time slot. So far, same players.

ENTRY: 25 January 2009

See post #103 for Matrix rules.

ENTRY: 26 February 2009

[ Spoiler ]

Players for Sunday, 1 March, 2009 at 13:00 MST :

Fyndhal
Knight Saber
Octopiii
ChiPsiUp
ChipheadCharley

LAST EDIT: 26 February 2009

[pbangarth]

Ok, so the first thing I need to figure out is when to play to allow the maximum number of players. It appears we have several people interested, spread out across approximately half the globe. I can't imagine coordinating a time other than on the weekend, as otherwise work and or school would interfere for someone somewhere.

( A ) Timing

For anyone who wants to play, post the following:
1)
The time zone you live in -- I am in Alberta, Canada, in Mountain time zone, which is GMT - 7 hrs.
2)
How long of a session you can fit in. My guess is everyone can fit in 4-6 hours. My experience is that even when people -say- they will only play 4-6 hours they go longer.
3)
What days/time slots are available to you/are preferable for you. Weekends are way best for me.
4)
When you can start. I am tutoring students (for great pay!) who are coming up to midterm exams in a couple of weeks, so for the next couple of weeks I want to keep time open for those who are panicking and need extra sessions. (And I could use the money) My guess is that I can't start before the weekend of the 17th/18th January. Safer would be the next weekend, the 24th/25th of January.

( B ) Player Characters

1)
We should decide the starting BP for PCs. The campaign book suggests regular startup characters -can- play this campaign. I believe this is true, but I tend to bend only so far to keep PCs alive, and there is some SERIOUS badness in this campaign.

So, I am thinking maybe 450 BP to start and I will find ways to award karma on the fly. Any thoughts?

2)
Post character ideas and descriptions here. Take a look at each other's PCs. You will have to be a team.

3)
Have backup PCs in mind. Have any of you played Paranoia? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

( C ) Technical issues

I will need help setting up the online playing environment. I have never run a game online before. Lets figure out the forum on which to play, and then walk me through setting things up. Yeah, let's recap what was said already on the other thread, just to be complete here.

Ok, let's rock!

Peter

[pbangarth]

Over in the other thread, here are the people who have indicated interest so far, in the order they checked in. Some already have a GC campaign going, and probably are not interested. Let me know one way or the other.

1. Socinus
2. ChiPsiUp
3. void_forger
4. Fyndhal
5. Chrysalis
6. Dulencard - already GMing GC, I believe?
7. Knight Saber
8. Cang
9. Unseen


Peter

[Unseen]

I don't have a character sheet up (give me a few days), but I'm going to make a hacker named Invisible (obviously his handle). More to come.

1. I live in South Korea, but on the Jan. 23 - Feb. 1 I'll be visiting family in Southern California.
2. I could put in between 4-6 hours.
3. Weekends are best for me too.
4. Actually, between Jan. 23 - Feb. 1 would be best for me.

[pbangarth]

Alright!

Unseen is in Korea, Chrysalis is in Finland, Fyndhal is in the western U.S. ... Trans-global, the Team that Never Sleeps!

Peter

[Fyndhal]

I don't own Ghost Cartel (and likely won't anytime soon) so no worries about splitting player vs character knowledge!

Availability is Wednesday 2am-6am GMT, either Friday or Saturday 2am-6am GMT, Saturday 8pm GMT to Sunday 6am GMT or Sunday 8pm to Monday 6am GMT. Some point in the later two days is my preference (mainly because I have a wider window to play in; the other times are pretty hard on the end point of 6am.)

As for Characters, my Gun Bunny Adept is going to be used in Dulencard's game, so I'll have to come up with something else. Probably a mage; I'm not comfortable enough with the Matrix rules yet to run smoothly with those.

[ChiPsiUp]

A)
1 - I'm in British Columbia, Canada. Pacific Time. ( GMT - 8 )

2 - 4 to 6 hours are great. Especially on Weekends.

3 - Definately the weekends are preferable.

4 - 17th and 18th are good for me. The 24th works for me as well, but not Sunday the 25th. I'm also fine with the 31st, or 1st of Feb.


B)
1 - I'd never say no to more BP! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Just give how ever much you think is fair.
2 - I have two character ideas I'm toying around. The one I'm much more excited about is a human rigger, who's an ork poser. A loud-mouthed, arrogant type of guy who's into the Orkploitation stereotypes a bit too much. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The second one is a bit more murky personality wise, but a troll adept of some kind. Maybe ninja-y.
3 - I /have/ play Paranoia. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) But aren't all the back-ups in Paranoia clones with identical stats? xD

[Unseen]

Unseen is in Korea, Chrysalis is in Finland, Fyndhal is in the western U.S. ... Trans-global, the Team that Never Sleeps!

Right? Our fiction is edging a little too close to reality. Before long, we'll be running IRL covert operations for Haliburton.

[Knight Saber]

I'm definitely interested. I'm in the US Mountain time zone for now (Arizona doesn't change, so I shift to Pacific come spring). I'm pretty open for evening times. 8PM is a starting time I can do every day, then it gets more complex schedule-wise, but I have some flex.

I don't have and haven't read Ghost Cartels.

Character-wise, I have a variety of ideas... the former wage mage and ninja mystic adept are posted here, and I'd also enjoy updating the Former Company Man to 4e for starters. That's a more subtle and jack-of-all-trades muscle character than the Street Samurai.

I think a straight 400 BP might be better. The template characters aren't always that optimized.

[pbangarth]

Unless someone complains soon, I will go with 450BP to start. I think there is enough room for coolness as well as competence in that number. Let's make this game a hoot (Canadianism?) and have fun with the PCs.

So far I see a likely hacker and a probable mage, with a couple of others unsure yet. One can tell from the cover art and text that there is potential for international travel and exurban action. Use those hints for what they are worth.

Peter

[ChiPsiUp]

Well, I'm not really unsure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I think I'm rather set on the rigger idea.

Should we figure out when first session's time and date now?

23rd? 24th? 25th? That's Friday, Saturday, and Sunday respectively.

Everyone please post your availability. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) On Friday I can start from 1am GMT, for a 4 to 6 hour session. On Saturday I can do just about anytime. On Sunday the 25th, starting from 3am GMT.

[Fyndhal]

ChipSiUp and I are in the same Time zone, so we have the same availability.

450pts sounds good; I'll work up a character this weekend.

How does 8pm GMT Saturday the 17th sound for a start time? That's 5am for Unseen and 10pm for Chrysalis.

As for Software, we can use Maptool or Gametable. I've used neither, but my boss *highly* recommends them both. Maptool has more features, while Gametable is more bare bones.

Maptools
Gametable

[pbangarth]

I tutor students who are writing university entrance exams a couple of days after the 17th, so I would like to keep that day for work and set the next Saturday, the 24th, aside for play. That would also give me time to figure out the interface software. 8 pm GMT works very well for me. Unseen will be in California then, though only a day after he will have come across the Pacific.

So that would make three in the Pacific Time Zone (12 noon), Fyndhal, ChiPsiUp and Unseen, and two in the Mountain time zone (1 pm), Knight Saber and me. I haven't heard from others yet, but the farthest in the other direction would be Chrysalis in Finland, I think, who would be ... oh dear... 10 pm.

Chrysalis and others in that time zone, is that too late? I'm sure we could move things ahead a bit if it is. (aren't we Canadians just so... nice and accommodating?)

I will check out the two interface packages you suggest Fyndhal. Thanks.

Character creation seems to be getting into gear. While Ghost Cartels is a decent framework, it needs fine-tuning, especially to fit the PCs.

Peter

PS. ChiPsiUp, is that a fraternity name?

[Unseen]

I finished my character at work yesterday. Should I post this on a reply, or are we sending these directly to the GM? Excuse me for my newbacity, I haven't really played since 1997.

Incidentally, I'd be more than willing to play at 5:30 a.m. for future campaigns. I might not be able to make this first one because of traveling, but there is a small chance I can pull it off. I'm buying a netbook today, and that may allow me to hole up in my hotel room for a few hours.

[pbangarth]

I think it would be good if during character creation the team members had an idea of what types/skills/cool shit the other players are coming up with. So yes, post characters here.

What a trooper, Unseen. Keep us apprised as to whether you can play the first game.

Peter

[Knight Saber]

Fridays and Sundays work better than Saturdays for me.

I'll update a couple of characters to 450 BP and have them up shortly... a former corporate mage who a generalist spellcaster type, and a former company man, more subtle cybered muscle type, I think. Maybe a ninja adept.

[Octopiii]

Wondering if it isn't too late for me to jump in here!

If there's still room, I'd be interested in playing an ex-merc... a vet of the Yucatan campaigns, perhaps.

I'm PST so I should be able to fit in; and if anyone cares, I'd prefer Fridays at noon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotate.gif)

[ChiPsiUp]

On Fridays I cannot start till around 5pm Pacific time. I'm fine with the Saturday noon idea for the 24th, although Knight can't make it then, I believe. Sunday the 25th I can't start till 6pm Pacific time.

What exactly are Chrysalis' hours of availability? Knight's available hours on Saturdays is starting at 7pm Pacific Time, from what I've heard...

[Knight Saber]

How much room in the campaign will there be for plumbing the backstories of the characters? I have a bit of a complex background in mind for one character, or I could just make her "What you see is what you get" if there won't be a lot of personal side-track stuff.

[Unseen]

Edit: See my more recent post

[Unseen]

EDIT: See my most recent post.

[The Jake]

I am interested. I live in Melbourne Australia and post from +1000 GMT.

Having said that, I own Ghost Cartels, have read it (I am GMing it for my group shortly) but I think I can separate GM from PC knowledge. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I have a few concepts I'm toying with. I have two I am playing around with. One is a troll face/street samurai I'm toying with called 'Mr. Vain'. The other is a dwarven combat shaman/fire support character.

Are there any restrictions on character creation? E.g. Availability?

Thanks in advance,

- J.

[pbangarth]

How much room in the campaign will there be for plumbing the backstories of the characters? I have a bit of a complex background in mind for one character, or I could just make her "What you see is what you get" if there won't be a lot of personal side-track stuff.

As far as I am concerned, there are no limits. If the players take the story off into left field, that's fine with me, though it may take me longer to prepare the next session.

You may want to talk it over with the other players, though. I remember in years gone by my ex-wife created a PC for Virtual Seattle who had an amazing back story. The problem was, in the strict time control of convention games, the poor woman was continually seen to be trying to steal game time for herself, and voted upon poorly by most other players and GMs. (And there were a few male players who just couldn't handle a very self-possessed woman in their midst.) This led to some unhappiness for her.

There will be no voting here, and time constraints won't end a run early, just defer the finish to another session. This could still be an issue, though. So up front, decide how closely folks want to stick to the story arc. Whatever is fun, is fun.

Peter

[pbangarth]

I am interested. I live in Melbourne Australia and post from +1000 GMT.

Having said that, I own Ghost Cartels, have read it (I am GMing it for my group shortly) but I think I can separate GM from PC knowledge. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I have a few concepts I'm toying with. I have two I am playing around with. One is a troll face/street samurai I'm toying with called 'Mr. Vain'. The other is a dwarven combat shaman/fire support character.

Are there any restrictions on character creation? E.g. Availability?

Thanks in advance,

- J.

All are welcome, with the following proviso. Up in post #3 there is a list of 9 people who have already indicated interest in playing. Ah, and then Octopiii makes 10. You would be 11th in line, Jake.


I'm not sure I can handle that many people in an online environment without bogging down. Not all have replied here indicating interest, so there may still be room. I guess I should go back through and see who has thrown in their hat.

As far as limitations, follow character creation in the book except for 450 BP.

Peter

[pbangarth]

Wondering if it isn't too late for me to jump in here!

If there's still room, I'd be interested in playing an ex-merc... a vet of the Yucatan campaigns, perhaps.

I'm PST so I should be able to fit in; and if anyone cares, I'd prefer Fridays at noon. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rotate.gif)

Sorry for not replying sooner. You are in the list of potentials at number 10.

@ everybody: In the first post I list (OK, as of about 5 minutes from now I will have listed) those who have confirmed interest in this thread. By confirmed I mean discussed in this thread when they can play and suggested a possible character. If you aren't on the list, and believe you should be, let me know.

I guess I should set a cutoff date for entry into play, both for myself and for hopefuls down in the list. Ok, today is Monday, 12 January. Play is targeted for Saturday, 24 January. So give me 10 days to prepare. Therefore, I make Wednesday, 14 January the cutoff day for entry into the game.

Peter