Shadow's Dawn: Diving into the past, Pre recruitment: Feedback on idea appreciated Options

[BlackHat]

I'm planning on 5..7 players, so the ones that have registered an interest here will be taken in "first come first served" basis. (that includes people that have already posted registering an interest).

In no particular order, the players that I note have registered an interest are. If I have missed you - let me know

• Blackhat
• Ol'scratch - troll alchemist
• Sabs
• Pbangarth
• Halinn
• Zadine

I don't know if Drace and Sephiroth are still interested (Seph mentioned being on the fence about joining), but according to the first-come-first-serve I think they would both bump a couple of people if they are.

I think this game sounds interesting, and I'll work on putting together something in the next day or so (so I at least have a concept listed up there), but if Drace and/or Sephiroth end up wanting to play, I don't mind giving up my spot to let one of the those who might get bumped have a shot at it.

[sabs]

Btw, Given that it says that Noone who has ever head a magic rating can have a resonance rating. How are you changing things to allow an immortal to become a Technomancer? That's a fairly significant change, i'm just curious how you're changing resonance to make it okay. (I'm neither for nor against.. just curious)

[BlackHat]

Btw, Given that it says that Noone who has ever head a magic rating can have a resonance rating. How are you changing things to allow an immortal to become a Technomancer? That's a fairly significant change, i'm just curious how you're changing resonance to make it okay. (I'm neither for nor against.. just curious)

Can you be an immortal elf and not have a magic rating (like a mundane, who later becomes a technomancer)? I don't know much about immortal elves, but I did recently notice the conversation Seth started in the general forum, and noticed "Leonardo" was an immortal elf who "possesses the Channels of the Otaku" as well as developing a magical THEORIES (no idea if he was a mage or not). Either way, he might be a good precedent for a TM IE.

EDIT: Reference: http://ancientfiles.dumpshock.com/Immortals.htm#44

[sabs]

No, you really can't be an Immortal Elf and not have had magic. On top of that, one of the presets is, that we're a group of Immortal Elf/Drake adventurers with threadweaving who created a Group Pattern. Can't do that at all without Magic (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


Now personally, I think that Technomancers are actually Threadweavers who have learned to tie threads to the pattern of the matrix. But, that's not actually the official RAW or Fluff (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

And he's clearly cheating, he's way older than 18 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) and he's still got the Otaku stuff, which is supposed to fade with age. So Leo's a weird bird case.

[pbangarth]

I'm working on a Free Spirit. Current format is Buddhist Tradition, spent much of the 5th Age that could be spent moving about in East and South Asia. Knowledge skills will heavily reflect a focus during that time on performing arts and other artisanry. Tentative name Mandala. Possible alternate street name Nelson. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

From a quick read of AH's ancient file here are Mandala's tendencies in Relationships toward the big Names Seth provided ('-' means negative. '+' means positive, '~' means ambivalent):

Queen Alachia: --
Harlequin: -
Ehran the Scribe: ++
Prince Sean Laferty: ~
Prince Jenna Ni'Fairra: -
High Prince Lugh Surehand: ~
Dunkelzahn: ++
Hestaby: +

[BlackHat]

I'm also not sure what you meant by "Damage spells do your magic stat as damage". Does that mean it doesn't matter what force you cast the spell at, its base DV is equal to your magic instead of the force?

Was this ever clarified (if so, I missed it)?

EDIT: Or was it just pulled, I don't see it in the first post, anymore.
EDIT x2: Found it, so the question stands.

[Ol' Scratch]

If it helps, here's a little bit about the character I'm planning to submit.

Ambrose (originally Ambran the Seeker when we all first met, and I have a picture available for him that I absolutely adore), was once a lowland troll Weaponsmith. He eventually met up and became the apprentice of the deep dwarf Jaron the Everliving, from whom he learned the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone and thus was the beginning of his fascination with alchemy. I was also considering the idea that he might have been a Lightbringer, thus giving him an "in" with Harlequinn and possibly Ehran the Scribe (I'm not sure if Ehran was a Lightbringer or not), but for the most part he hasn't had any serious relations with the other immortals listed in the aforementioned factions. Celedyr, Moleskin, and Sirrurg are key players in his lifetime, so I'll probably just delegate them to Contacts or some such. Still not sure how I'm going to handle that.

I have a lot more written about him, but I'm waiting for some feedback from Seth in private messages before I solidify anything. As I mentioned earlier in the tread, he's a master enchanter and there's a lot of possibilities that opens up for us as a group if we want to consider some more oddball possibilities. I think a lot of the big questions have already been answered though, particularly with us being in a threaded group and a unique example of friends/associates who have endured the ages. That, in and of itself, is saying quite a bit about us, I think. And i like what it has to say.

Would it be a fair assumption that we're all "good guys" as well? And if so, does any one have any ideas for some of the legendary feats we may have been associated with in the Age of Legends if not during the Fifth World?

[Seth]

I'll try and answer the above questions tonight: the wife seems to think going to the zoo is more important than dumpshock. Ah well I will educate her eventually

[BlackHat]

If its a paranormal zoo, maybe.

[Sephiroth]

I think I may be able to play. It definitely sounds interesting, but it's an issue of available time for me.

also

Celedyr, Moleskin, and Sirrurg are key players in his lifetime, so I'll probably just delegate them to Contacts or some such. Still not sure how I'm going to handle that.

What.

[Ol' Scratch]

Well, Sirrurg will be an Enemy rather than a Contact. I just meant he's a "power player" in what I was considering. As it stands, I think Seth has another idea in mind to replace him.

[BlackHat]

It would also be good to post which SR books you have/are not off-limits, if that information isn't posted somewhere else, already.

[Drace]

While I would like to play, working on an freed orc slave who was turned into a Drake, I could easily step aside. All up to who Seth wants in the game

[Ol' Scratch]

Two other questions I've bumped into: Where and when are we actually starting the game? Should we all be based in the same general area, or will it be beneficial to have individual homes and such located around the globe?

[Seth]

Btw, Given that it says that Noone who has ever head a magic rating can have a resonance rating. How are you changing things to allow an
immortal to become a Technomancer? That's a fairly significant change, i'm just curious how you're changing resonance to make it okay. (I'm
neither for nor against.. just curious)

Im not worried about it. If you have been mundane for a few thousand years thats ok with me.

Now personally, I think that Technomancers are actually Threadweavers who have learned to tie threads to the pattern of the matrix. But, that's not actually the official RAW or Fluf

I'm with sabs on this.

Can you be an immortal elf and not have a magic rating (like a mundane, who later becomes a technomancer)? I don't know much about immortal elves, but I did recently notice the conversation Seth started in the general forum, and noticed "Leonardo" was an immortal elf who "possesses the Channels of the Otaku" as well as developing a magical THEORIES (no idea if he was a mage or not). Either way, he might be a good precedent for a TM IE.

It might be worth posting a question on the general forum "are elves immortal". As far as I can see the question is unanswered in shadowrun: there are places that say yes, and places that say no. Those of you playing the game can answer "does a few thousand years count?". In other words I am happy for you to play a mundane now.

Would it be a fair assumption that we're all "good guys" as well?

In the early earth dawn times, just coming out the kaers, you were all horror hunters. Thats because you were some of the most powerful adepts around, and the unpleasant jobs fell to you. I would like it if at least most of you were good guys, and any bad guys put up with the good guys doing their thing: but its up to you. The first story I have planned mostly doesn't care about alignment, its about survival.

Two other questions I've bumped into: Where and when are we actually starting the game? Should we all be based in the same general area, or will it be beneficial to have individual homes and such located around the globe?

Feel free to live anywhere in the world. The nature of a group bond is that the fates pull you together.

It would also be good to post which SR books you have/are not off-limits, if that information isn't posted somewhere else, already

I am happy with the basics: SR4 (a), StreetMagic, Arsenal, Augmentation,Unwired, DigitalGrimoire. If there is something you really want from another book let me know. This isn't a low power game, so I am only bothered about avoiding the most broken elements. I will publish a (small) list of rule modifications: most of them are in the initial post of this thread.

[Halinn]

Can adepts take a power point instead of a metamagic?

[Seth]

Can adepts take a power point instead of a metamagic

Yes.

Note that as level 4 initiates you can easily have magic 9 or 10, as well as some magic points instead of metamagics. With 10 magic, and 3 initiate grades (See below) thats a potential max of 13 power points.

I think I would like everyone with high magic to have masking as a metamagic. As well as being generally useful, it will be difficult for you to be around other people with astral senses without them turning white in fear, gulping a lot, and maybe notifying all the guards. Nothing says "I am really tough" better than having magic 9 or 10.

[Seth]

OK guys I am travelling a lot for the next 7 days (going back from New Zealand to the UK). So I may be pretty inactive. Please don't think the thread is dead: I will be starting on or about 1st March.

In the next week can all of you that want to play (and any new comers) post character ideas, and chat among yourselves. If you can come up with a group name that would be great: its much better if you come up with it, rather than me. It would be good if you have a competent hacker (someone who can take on a rating 6 system and maybe not die), otherwise I will put an NPC in with you. You might decide if you want to be lightbringers from Earthdawn, and if you followed some passions

The first post will look something like this:

[ Spoiler ]

Location: Somewhere in south America. Underneath Aztechnology research pyramid code name Huitzilopochtli.

Whose crazy idea was it to arrange for us to be arrested and shipped out as prisoners to Tzetlan camp 23? Well the idea had worked, and both the prison camp and the pyramid were inside the extremely challenging security cordon.

No one was absolutely sure why Tzetlan camp 23 was so close to the Aztechnology research pyramid, but statistical analysis had shown that for the last three months over 10,000 prisoners had been moved into the camp, and satellite imagery suggested there was probably only space for a few hundred. Ehran’s “guess”, and he was rarely wrong, was that the prisoners were being fed to a horror. Well he probably had some other information, and wasn’t going to share it with us!

Being blackmailed by Queen Alachia was nothing new. You remember her saying “Just pose as prisoners, tunnel into the pyramid, and then you have three tasks. I trust you will be adequate for this simple job:
1> Remove the internal astral ward by placing this item inside it
2> Deny any occupants access to storage room 27a.”
3> Hold until we capture the place”
“Why us” you asked. “Whats in room 27a” you asked. “What is the source of your information” you asked. “Need to know…and you don’t” was the answer. You considered protesting, but you suspect it would be futile. The phrase “control freak” was invented just for her. You have to wonder where the council gets their information from. The only good thing about this mission is working with the group again. That doesn’t happen often enough. The last time this happened must have been over 120 years ago.

At least you have been promised good Matrix cover, and a hot backup if you ask for it. The Queen may be a bitch, but you’ve never known her go back on her word. The external matrix will be controlled by her, but you will have to deal with any disconnected systems. You will be very surprised if the internal security is not on a separate isolated system.

At midnight on the 27th, the dark of the moon, you started tunnelling. 10 minutes later and here you are. The inner wall of the basement of the pyramid is shattered in front of you, the darkness of the inner store room only lit by the light of the two torches that you smuggled with you. If Ehran is right, and there is horror here, it will be the first time you have been near such a thing in over 5000 years. You hope you are ready.

You will be wearing prison fatigues. You were not heavily searched so items with good concealability / collapsability can be taken. Quite a bit of the game will be in flashbacks, so it is worth working out what sort of armour/equipment you normally wear.

I would like you to think what hold the Queen has over you. As an example, if you are a free spirit it is probably a copy of your formula that she will give back to you.


You have the first approximate post in the above spoiler, and I recommend you think about flashbacks in which you remember chasing down information and doing stuff. The council is Ehran, Lugh Surehand and Queen Alachia (I know this isn't the public facing Council of Princes, but you are fairly sure you know who holds the real power in Tir). Harliquin and Hestaby (in full dragon form) were present (but silent) for your briefing (short though it was) and you had the distinct impression that you were not the only group involved in this operation.

Your last three days looked a bit like this:

• You had about 12 hours notice to get to the council, which was in Tir Tainglire
• The council meeting lasted about 10 mins
• One of you (probably the troll enchanter) is given a magic ring that enables magical tunneling. You thought this type of magic couldn't work at this level of magic: well you learn something every day.
• You were taken straight from the meeting with the council to Aztlan, by private jet.
• You had 6 hours to get arrested
• 24 hours after being arrested you were in the train on the way to Tzetlan camp 23
• You arrived at dawn
• During the day three bus loads of 20 prisoners each were taken to the research facility. The prisoners were selected at random it seemed. The prisoners didn't come back. If that's blood magic involved...its a lot of power.
• Lights out at 8pm
• You started digging at midnight

If this feels a bit like a railroad: it is. Some seriously powerful people want to use you as pawns and you don't have to like it, or just lie down. You do all end up in the tunnel though: the nice thing about a GM is that you can pick where to start the story.

[Halinn]

I'm currently considering a Pixie/Windling who's good at stealth and the likes. I think that the spirit pact way of immortality is most likely.

[Aria]

Btw, Given that it says that Noone who has ever head a magic rating can have a resonance rating. How are you changing things to allow an immortal to become a Technomancer? That's a fairly significant change, i'm just curious how you're changing resonance to make it okay. (I'm neither for nor against.. just curious)

I'm sure that the immortal elf that was posing as/was Leonardo daVinci was also a technomancer - although I can't remember which of the novels that was in (Lucifer Deck possibly, it's in my loft somewhere (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nyahnyah.gif) )

Also expressing an interest in this game if it's not too late for a reserve spot?!? Always loved the Earthdawn/SR corssover even if the ED rules were impossible!

Always wanted a chance to use this character sketch I came up with ages ago! Drake

This post has been edited by Aria: Feb 22 2011, 01:28 PM

[sabs]

I'm a bit torn right now..

I'm thinking a Dwarven Wizard, or an Orcish beastmaster.. moving forward.

I suspect I'll go with the Wizard. Logic tradition, a lot of languages, and a fair bit of face skills. Yes! All in a Dwarf Package.. sue me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Probably with a /little/ bit of Logic enhancing bio/cyberware (about 1 point)

[pbangarth]

By the look of things, we don't actually need a fixer among our Contacts, do we?

[Seth]

By the look of things, we don't actually need a fixer among our Contacts, do we?

Not to get work: its unlikely that any of you are actually hungry, and if you were you could just do something about it. You might want a fixer to recruit people, or to provide access to difficult to get equipment.

[pbangarth]

Oh, good, you're still around, Seth. One more thing. Under the description of Free Spirit PCs in Runners Companion, we are told that their astral initiative is INT X 2. Does this imply that a Free Spirit PC's astral Attributes are based on their Mental Attributes rather than Force, as is the case for spirits in general?

[BlackHat]

As interesting as this game sounds, I think I am going to bow out and give someone else a chance to fill my spot. It sounds like Drace, Sephiroth, and Aria are all still interested, and are farther along on their concepts than I am, anyway. Keep me on a reserve list, though, in case you lose people - which will give me more time to come up with something good (and maybe learn a bit about Earthdawn in the process).