[X] My Assistant

[Karoline]

Woo! Interest (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Lets see if I can address some things. First off, even with 23 dice you aren't guaranteed to be able to fight off the infection (Scary thought) so you'll likely still want/need meds, you'll just run through them more slowly. I'm going to be doing a somewhat specialized system for the meds, with something along the lines of 'you use up as much meds as you get bonus dice' because meds as they are presented in the game can't help against HMHVV III at all (Highest rating is 6 and HMHVV III has penetration of -6) So yeah, lots of dice on your resistance tests are certainly a good idea, and basically a requirement of being able to last long enough to make it to the start of the game (That or good med type skills or other reasons that you aren't already a Ghoul).

The large majority of IV Ghouls are basically zombie grade intelect and mentality, having their old skills overwritten with natural instinct, but some (We'll call them Ghoul Bosses) Ghoul Bosses will retain their old skills. This is -especially- true of those who were awakened when they were transformed, so yes, expect to run into ghoul mages/adepts wielding concentrated pain. There will also be the odd ghoul that has retained other skills through sheer will, or the fact that they are heavily cybered enough to have retained a bit of their old memories (Basically people who were under 1 essence when they turned). So, be ready to fight the hoard, be ready to fight the snipers, be ready to fight the ghoul adepts in heavy armor of hurt, be ready to fight the ghoul swat team, and for the love of all that says 'final boss' be ready to fight the super cybered troll ghoul (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

In short, I plan on pushing your 500 BP and 100 Karma to the limits and beyond. Planning, tactics, teamwork, and conservation of resources mixed with just that perfect level of overkill might see you through this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) If you've played L4D, you'll know what I mean... if you haven't... what's wrong with you people? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

You may buy quickened improved reflexes at force 4 if you can buy the 4 hits (ie a DP of 16). If you can't buy all four hits, you'll need to pay an extra karma per die that you need to reach the proper number (I may be willing to adjust this price, just kinda off the top of my head.)

Your biggest difficulty with vehicles will be moving them without drawing serious infected attention, not to mention just getting through the streets filled with wrecked cars, bodies, and of course infected. Drones are a good option, as hacker Ghouls will indeed be exceedingly rare. I will warn you that matrix connection has become spotty, and power has gone out to many parts of the city, so recharging your drones could be an issue. Your best bets for recharging your drones will be corps that have their own in-house power supply, or anywhere you can find an old fashion portable generator (Which you are welcome to buy at startup along with fuel, but you'll have to lug it around if you want any use out of it.)

Oh, and someone asked when this will start... I guess whenever I get enough characters submitted to me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Karoline]

We are using: Pretend you are advancing your character through normal play of the game. ie use whatever rules you would use if you had made a 500 BP character, and then played and gained 100 karma (Except you don't have to pay for training).

I was just guessing on 8 magic. Still, even a magic 6 character can summon a higher force spirit if they're willing to take a handful of points of damage, which given the benefits of having a high force spirit, may be worth it (Especially if the mage can just throw a heal spell on himself and make it all better).

Don't worry though, there are still plenty of surprises in store for you guys.

[pbangarth]

I was just guessing on 8 magic. Still, even a magic 6 character can summon a higher force spirit if they're willing to take a handful of points of damage, which given the benefits of having a high force spirit, may be worth it (Especially if the mage can just throw a heal spell on himself and make it all better).

Heal spell won't work on Drain damage, but the controversial First Aid seems to do fine.

Don't worry though, there are still plenty of surprises in store for you guys.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) Bring it on! [Last words of Death Wish Charlie]

[Embers]

It would probably be better to go with magic 7 and 4 initiations. Pick up centering, masking, extended masking, and uhh Shielding? I could see Flexible signature being good too. Actually what would even be good for this type of game?

[Karoline]

Actually what would even be good for this type of game?

Well, that is up to you to figure out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Karoline]

Since I got asked in a PM, I'll clarify a few points.
1. When I said 10 clips of ammo, I meant 'you have your gun loaded, and you can reload it 9 times' If that is magazines of 100 shots or a speed loader with 6, that is what it is. I will be asking you how you are carrying around thousands of rounds of ammo if you come equipped with a warehouse worth of ammo. Also note that this is -per gun- so you can have 10 clips for your predator, 10 speed loaders for your thunderhawk, and 10 magazines for your White Knight (Two of the same gun do not count)

Edit: oops, left out the rest of my post...

Grr, stupid quick links getting hit by mistake.

2. In order to get the virus, you must either touch a ghoul, its blood, or its saliva with your bare skin (So gloves and face covering helmets are advised), or you must be forced to resist P damage from a ghoul's melee attack (So even if you resist it all because your body is just that amazing, it still managed to get through your armor enough to touch you).

[CollateralDynamo]

Hmm, sounds like everybody wants to go all magicky, maybe I'll create some sort of super troll muscle...a bruiser with insanely high resistance to toxins and some big dakka skills could be fun.

[ravensoracle]

I am working on a Harumen BioNinja/GunBunny. I am planning on having a nanohive with high rating O-cells.

[Karoline]

I am working on a Harumen BioNinja/GunBunny. I am planning on having a nanohive with high rating O-cells.

Now that's thinking with your credstick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spin.gif)

But really, could I please get a headcount on who is actually joining. Right now I have CollateralDynamo as the only confirmed player, with pb and mar as 'I'm in unless someone else wants my spot'.

[crizh]

I'm in.

I'm going to see what I can do with a Pixie Shaman.

O-Cells was on my list for a less exotic character. Combined with nano-infectors you could actually treat others that had been infected.

[ravensoracle]

I'm in, IF you'll have me.

Crizh, Where are nanoinfectors? Augmentation what page? Guess I'm missing them.

[crizh]

117

[ravensoracle]

Ok, well the only piece of cyberware I've taken is the Nanohive with Rating 9 O-cells and Rating 3 Nano-infectors (Contact Vector). Everything else is Bio.

Or is that a too much cheese Karoline?

[Marwynn]

Dude, I'm quickening a Force 4 Improved Reflexes spell. I don't think any amount of 'ware can compare to that cheese at the moment.

But me wants some nanoware too. You know what? I'm in hehe, this is too much fun to pass.

[CollateralDynamo]

Yeah, how much time have our characters had to adapt to this "ghoul land" if you will? Would it make sense that our characters have had time to stock up on things like high rating o-cells (grabbing them while civilization was collapsing). Also, what is the opinion on things like spells that allow you to go with-out food and sleep? Do you expect us to have combat monsters? People optimized to survive the ghoul apocalypse? Or just an experienced runner?

Either way, I'm still debating heavily weather to go high magic or high tech, I'll wait to see what we need.

[ravensoracle]

Yeah but I am also rolling with an agility of 10 and a strength of 11. I thought for this game it would be fun to make a combat monkey. Then I remebered the Harumen (Monkey like Dwarfs), so I literally made a combat monkeyman.

[Embers]

Since Crizh spoke up first on the Pixie, I'll leave him to it, I made one as well, though more of as an exercise to see what a character built like this could do than for any other reason. I think she would be pretty damn bad ass. She throws 17 dice for spell casting and 18 for resisting drain, she'd be pretty hard to notice given her concealment 7.

The only thing that I wonder about is just how much someone with strength 1 could carry, if one sized down armor for a pixie, just how strong would you have to be to wear it? If you could get away without needing the improved Strength you could do some good stuff with the other 9 build points and extra spell.

It was fun to see what I could do with it, though I'm sure there are probably things I missed and/or got wrong.

Triella
[55] Race: Pixie [Uneducated is bought off]
[200] Attributes:

B [10] A[20] R[20] S[00] C[40] I [30] L [20] W[40]
2[5] 5 5 1 [4] 7 5 3 7
[/size]
[75] Special Attributes:
EDG ESS M Init IP
3 6.0 7 10[12] 1[3]

Karma: 99/100
[1] Joining a Shinto Magical Group [Her Pixie Clan]
[8] Initiation 1- Ordeal - Oath [Masking]
[35] Magic >7
[10] Initiation 2- Ordeal - Asceticism [Extended Masking]
[12] Initiation 3 - Ordeal - Thesis [Centering]
[14] Initiation 4 - Ordeal - Asceticism [Shielding]
[05] New Spell Slaughter [Infected]
[05] Improved Invisibility
[05] Physical Barrier
[02] Binding Specialty [Spirits of Man]
[02] Unarmed Combat 1

[-25] Qualities:
[10] Mystic Adept [Shinto]
[-5] Braggart
[-5] Thrill-seeker
[-15] Sensitive System
[-5] Incompetent Automatics
[-5] Incompetent Ritual Spell Casting

[102] Skills:
[24] Sorcery 6
[12] Counter-spelling 3
[04] Astral Perception 1
[04] Perception 1
[10] Influence Group 1
[06] Infiltration 1 [Urban]
[04] Dodge 1
[18] Summoning 4 [Spirits of Man]
[16] Binding 4 [Spirits of Man]*
[04] Computers 1
[00] Unarmed Combat 1


[00] Knowledge Skills: [24 Free]
Meta-Sapients 3
Magic 5
Spirits 3
Para-Critters 3
Fashion 2
Languages
English N
Sperethiel 4
French 4


[36] Spells:
Fashion
Heal
Orgy
Increased Reflexes
Stunbolt
Stunball
Manabolt
Influence
Physical Mask
Mana Static
Shape-change
Improved Body
Physical Barrier
Improved Strength
Slaughter [HMVV Infected]

[44] Gear Resources: ¥10 / ¥220,000 / 700 Starting Nuyen (800)
Power Focus r4 [100,000¥]
Sustaining Focus r3 [Health][30,000]
Sustaining Focus r3 [Health][30,000]
Sustaining Focus r3 [Health][30,000]
Force 6 Lodge Materials [3,000]
Spirit Binding Materials F6 [3,000]
FFBA Full-suit [1600]
+Chemical Seal [5000]
Bike Racing Armor [500]
Bike Racing Helmet [200]
Fake SIN r4 Myrielle [Pixie, France][4,000]
Fake License r4 [Health Focus][400]
Fake License r4 [Health Focus][400]
Fake License r4 [Health Focus][400]
Fake License r4 [Power Focus][400]
Fake License r4 [Stunbolt][400]
Fake License r4 [Heal][400]
Fake License r4 [Improved Body][400]
Low Lifestyle 1 month[2,000 credits]
Erika Elite 2500
running Redcap Nix 400
R4 Firewall 2000
FTL Matrixware Powersuite 1240
+Skinlink 50
+AR Gloves 250
+Simrig 1000
+Subvocal Mike 50
runs in silent mode
[size="3"]
[13] Magic Gear:
[04] Power Focus 4
[03] Sustaining Focus 3 [Health]
[03] Sustaining Focus 3 [Health]
[03] Sustaining Focus 3 [Health]

Armor: 11B/10I [8B/10I for encumbrance]

[pbangarth]

Looks like there are lots of committed players. Have fun, gang, and I'll be cheering from the sidelines.

[Embers]

Looks like there are lots of committed players. Have fun, gang, and I'll be cheering from the sidelines.

Same here, though I'll definitely be reading curiously. I'm kinda curious how fast the infection would run itself out though, if infection is this rapid, then it should probably burn out and be safe for survivors to come out again in 4 or 5 months with most infected of every kind that has to feed off of meta-humans going with the Strain 4 ghouls as their food supply is killed off or changed.

[Karoline]

You've had a few days tops to adjust to what is going on, but that said, high rating O-cells aren't -that- hard to get. I don't mind you getting things like O-cells, because it explains why you aren't already a Ghoul. It may seem kinda cheesy for every character to have O-cells, but it is kinda a darwinism thing. The people with O-cells are the ones who could handle the infection.

Do keep in mind though people, that O-cells go down one rating every time they are used, so they will help for a while, but you'll eventually need to restock (Nanohive can only restore a rating per week)

Str 1, especially for a pixi, means that she would have trouble carrying much. Supposedly her armor would be custom fitted, so it wouldn't hamper her more than a human with str 1 and armor, but that is already a fair bit of their load capacity.

So, my players are:
1. CD
2. Mar
3. Crizh
4. Ravensoracle

My offical cheerleaders are:
1. pbangarth
2. Embers
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It is true, the ghouls will kill themselves off fairly quickly once the infection has spread completely. A ghoul needs 5% body weight in meat per week, so that means that 5% of the population will be killed off every week once they run out of fresh victims. It'll still be a while until anyone is likely to come out though, because even one ghoul left could cause problems.

Triella looks good, but I wonder how long she would really be able to survive, she doesn't seem to have the body or spells to keep from getting infected quite quickly.

Also, you should keep in mind people, that the nano-infectors need actual nanites to go with them. You can use your own nanites, but then you have to get them back, which is actually somewhat hard (And may carry risk of bringing the infection back with them if you don't wait long enough. They also need a nanohive to keep them alive in your system until they are deployed.

[Embers]

I wouldn't think a Pixie would have too much trouble avoiding problems. They aren't on the menu for ghouls since they aren't meta-humans and they wouldn't provide much meat if they were. I am curious if a Pixie could be infected at all (aside from just being swatted for being annoying). Without a need for Improved Strength since her only gear is her armor and a commlink Strength 1 should be more than sufficient, she could take a different spell, maybe Cure Disease, but even that wouldn't be of too much use given the strength of HMVV, even with a body pumped up to Augmented Max.

That goes for Crizh's pixie too, with such a low bod, the only way to survive the infection is just not getting infected meaning fly above all the ghouls and use your concealment. The best spells to prevent infection are ones that keep the enemy away, ie physical barrier, though I'm not sure which others would be of use. Keeping a Force 7 spirit of man (with Slaughter Infected as a power) around with a service spent on killing any infected that come within X yards of you would make for a pretty pro-active defense as well.

[crizh]

Yeah, Pixies are relying on not being Metahuman.

Pixies, Nagas, Centaurs and all the Shifters ain't metahumans and can't be infected or targeted by spells that are restricted to metahumans.

[StealthSigma]

So, my players are:
1. CD
2. Mar
3. Crizh
4. Ravensoracle

My offical cheerleaders are:
1. pbangarth
2. Embers
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Awww, I guess I won't be playing a Heavy Milspec Armor, Nodachi wielding Troll.

[CollateralDynamo]

So Pixies can't be infected? I thought one of the requirements of players was that you had to be able to be infected...(IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif)

So of Karoline's players we have:
1. Marwynn: Mage, something about a quickened force 4 reflex spell
2. Crizh: Pixie mage type guy
3. Ravensoracle: Heavily armed nano-gunbunny
4. CD: Hmm, as I doubt hacking will be all that important I guess the primary role remaining is a fire support drone rigger, I'll start working up a drone rigger that can avoid infection, see what shakes out.

[Embers]

Well, the ghoulies don't know that the pixie wouldn't satisfy the rumbling in their tummies, the same for the other Meta-Sapients I would imagine. I would say though that unlike Spirits and AIs though, they could be just as screwed by the outbreak as the meta-humans from the take a bite out of me point of view, especially with stupid ghouls.