Dumpshock Forums > [Recuiting] The Gaslamp Shadows

Meriss

Jul 9 2007, 03:02 PM

Friends, Dumpshockers, netizens. Lend me your ears. I come not to praise myself but to bury myself. In GM work.

Yup, folks. I'm going to be trying my hand at GMing a PbP game. Silly me thou, not a standard game.

A steampunk Victorian age game. Yup you read right. Steampunk. Right now I'm taking concepts and thoughts. You have a week or so to get ready, I'm not going to rush this. Here are the basic house rules.

SR 4th Ed.
350BP characters
Starting year 1870
London Metroplex
One of you must have some locksmith skills
Hackers no wireless, so it's back to the good old days of steam powered cyberdecks

TMs are allowed but you'll be closer to a mage build, you must come into physical contact with a machine to use sprites. CFs are 3 BP Registered Sprites are bought at their Rating
I'm using Fist's CSP. (Common Sense Points) Doing clever or neat things will get you CSP to be spent on Knowledge Skills
Not all techs exist keep this in mind during CC (Ask me for a ruling)

Any questions please post in this thread.

Recommended Reading
You don't have to read or look at these but it might make envisioning my Victorian Age a little easier.

[ Spoiler ]

Critias

Jul 9 2007, 03:34 PM

I am...intrigued.

DuckEggBlue Omega

Jul 9 2007, 03:46 PM

Stop giving me reasons to finally cave in and buy SR4, when I'm BROKE, DAMN YOU!

Oh well, if I stumble upon some spare cash before this game fills up, I'll be back, I really like Steampunk.

QUOTE ("Meriss")

Hackers no wireless, so it's back to the good old days of steam powered cyberdecks

Well, I atleast have to post these links before I go...

Steampunk Keyboard with Steampunk LCD Monitor.

Critias

Jul 9 2007, 07:07 PM

So I've got a few concepts pretty solidly in mind (a gunslinger type, either adept or maybe trying out a mystic adept, or maybe a "mysterious Easterner" sort of guy, with all sorts of martial arts just to be different), but I've got a few questions on gear/steamware/whatever.

As far as guns go, what are we looking at? Use the Ruger (and other revolver) stats, for the most part? Any drop in damage/AP due to the differences between modern day and Victorian era gunpowder and propellants? Similarly, are we looking at prepackaged cartridges for bullets (or hand loading black powder weaponry before each shot)? Anything like a smartlink or a laser sight possible?

And (not directly related to the above) any chance we can get a starting setting and exact year from you, for background purposes (depending on who you ask, we're talking about a more than fifty year period, here)?

Meriss

Jul 9 2007, 07:28 PM

*BONK* Sorry Critias, knew I forgot something see original post for year and setting. Feel free to use the Ruger +1AP/ -1 damage. Cartridge rounds exist at Avail 6, or Black Market Avail 4 Telescopic sights +1 to Accuracy, no laser

Fresno Bob

Jul 9 2007, 09:40 PM

I'm interested.

ludomastro

Jul 10 2007, 04:09 AM

I presume that all races are playable then? Assuming so, what is the back-story to their how and why?

Meriss

Jul 10 2007, 03:06 PM

@Alex: Yup All races are playable. The mana cycle started in 1612 as opposed to 2012. Thus here we are.

Welcome to the past

ludomastro

Jul 10 2007, 06:18 PM

I want to make sure that I understood you correctly: 1612?

As in Jamestown in America and Galileo staring at the sky?

One question ....

Are the Horrors here yet?

Meriss

Jul 10 2007, 07:08 PM

The current year is 1870. As in Queen Victoria rules Britannia, and Britannia rules the waves. There might be Horrors but I ain't telling potential PCs

You'll just have to wait and see.

ludomastro

Jul 11 2007, 12:56 AM

Ok, point taken on the Horrors (I didn't think that I would get a response there).

However, what about the year: 1612 or 1812?

Meriss

Jul 11 2007, 02:27 AM

My bad Alex I was A little confused meself about that. But you are correct the mana cycle began in 1812. *sigh* Must keep better GM notes.

ludomastro

Jul 11 2007, 11:58 PM

I am intrigued. I'll send you a concept later as long as I think that I can manage another game.

Meriss

Jul 12 2007, 02:42 AM

Still Plenty of room at the Inn folks

ludomastro

Jul 12 2007, 05:54 AM

Working on a human detective with some Face-like skills. What is the cap on attributes? 170 BP or 200 BP?

What groups of weapons exist? Automatics I assume since you referenced LXG.

Meriss

Jul 12 2007, 04:06 PM

Attribute Cap is whatever you think will work

Honestly I'm trying not to stifle creativity here. I'm going to be reworking all the weapons. Basiaclly no SMGs LMGs or other full autos (Unless you want a Gatling which will be a: impossible to get ahold of without raiding a military base ands b: Unbelieveably expensive.) Grab any of the light to heavy pistols rifle or shotguns. Cut the ammo capacity. And remember, if you shoot at some one without a gunn bad things may start happening.

I don't remember referencing the LXG?

Critias

Jul 12 2007, 04:12 PM

They're in the suggested reading part up top.

Anyways -- yeah, I'm...still torn savagely between my two initial concepts. Either The Mysterious Easterner (with zany martial arts action), or Spellgunslinger-Guy. Torn, I say. Toooooorn!

pbangarth

Jul 12 2007, 04:20 PM

Man, I wish I weren't still finishing my dissertation. Good luck to you, folks! I bet it will be fun.

Meriss

Jul 12 2007, 04:55 PM

@Critias: Well apparently I need to read my own recommended reading list.

Thanks. Feel free to play whatever will make you happy.

@Alex: Sorry too many acronyms *head explodes*

ludomastro

Jul 13 2007, 04:15 AM

QUOTE (Meriss)

@Alex: Sorry too many acronyms *head explodes*

Hey, I work for a company that has an acronym database named "CHAOS". The problem is that one acronym may have as many as 13 different definitions.

Meriss

Jul 13 2007, 04:07 PM

*tapes head back together, reads Alex's post, head explodes again* Gee man I feel sorrry fer you.

Meriss

Jul 14 2007, 02:04 AM

@My Players to be: Guys Seeing as how it's Friday, I'd like to move forward a little. Can you have basic concepts by Monday (July 16)? Thanks! Try not to kill yerselves over the weekend.

fistandantilus4.0

Jul 15 2007, 03:16 AM

HAhahahha!!! So amused to see some familiar faces here. Cirt, Alex, 'allo. Meriss asked me to join in. I told him I was more than happy until he told me the BP was so low. Then I cried like a baby, until I realized that , hell, let's be honest, I'd play even if I was forced make an awakened shapeshifter with enough just eough points left over to take Neg 1 to talk people pit of killing my pathetic ass.

That being said, going for a low powered mage, as previously discussed w/ Meriss.

Fortune

Jul 15 2007, 03:27 AM

The low BP's was what kept me from throwing my hat in the ring. I'd really like to play a serious game with better-than-starting characters for a change.

ludomastro

Jul 15 2007, 03:29 AM

Meriss, how do you want the characters sent to you?

email
PM
Post

Thanks!

ludomastro

Jul 15 2007, 06:38 AM

Going with PM.

Background:

[ Spoiler ]

ludomastro

Jul 15 2007, 06:52 AM

Continued

Stats etc.

[ Spoiler ]

Fortune

Jul 15 2007, 09:05 AM

QUOTE (Alex)

Going with PM.

Your PM box must be leaking.

Synner667

Jul 15 2007, 07:02 PM

Fabulous idea !!

Can't believe you've not mentioned Castle Falkenstein or Jules Verne or Space 1889 or Cthulhu By Gaslight as a source , tho !!

I hope you will you be keeping us updated on progress ??
I am very interested to see how this works out.

Thanks..

Meriss

Jul 15 2007, 07:15 PM

@Alex: Whoa! I just wanted Archetype and party role. Post is fine fer char sheets, save em and repost when I open the OOC.

Edit: Very nice sheet. There is no such thing as "Positive ID" in the year 1870 thou. SINs will be more like what calling cards and IDs you can support. You are Approved

@Synner: Never got around to Castle Falk, Verne is a given, Space 1889 eh? and I never did like the Lovecraftian genre, as my own San is in doubt.

Just watch the IC And OOC when I get em started.

@Fortune: It's a challenge, just how good a twink are you?

Fresno Bob

Jul 15 2007, 07:49 PM

I was thinking I'd make a demolitions/shooty guy.

fistandantilus4.0

Jul 15 2007, 09:27 PM

I've got my character in mind that I want to play. You know the type Meriss; Englishmen, fascinated by the occult, following up on everything from the original Hellfire Club to the works of John Dee, but focusing on Classic Hermeticism and the Book of Thoth. Getting very in to the Arcanum. Bating around a name like Charles Montgomery Spencer, ostrocised from an atrisocratic family that wants little to do with his "sorcerous ways", as they may cast the family in a bad light.

but the motivation is what I'm missing. HWat style are we having here? Are these essnetially 18th centruy shadowrunners? Is it some sort of Leagure of Ext Gentl thing where wedo missions for the crown? Or a hodgepodge of people's drawn inadvertantly to a common cause? Need some info man.

ludomastro

Jul 16 2007, 12:54 AM

QUOTE (Fortune)

QUOTE (Alex @ Jul 15 2007, 04:38 PM)

Going with PM.

Your PM box must be leaking.

Oops, yeah. I posted that kinda late so I guess it was.

Meriss

Jul 16 2007, 02:42 AM

@Fist: I'm going for a rags to riches game. Your first run will be for the reasonably well known magsman and putter-up (conman and financier) "Doubting" Thomas Brookes. How I'm going to shoehorn all of these radical characters in is my problem. Smith/Alex could be a challenge, but I'm rolling with the punches. Bring it.

For your char I'd say the urge to fund a lodge or some weird occult experiment would be a decent short term and a long term goal would be get enough money/power to impress/cow his family.

Fortune

Jul 16 2007, 02:58 AM

Screw the money, Fisty. Steal Crowley's thunder and research Sex Magic.

fistandantilus4.0

Jul 16 2007, 04:34 AM

If I do that, I might have to battle him on the astral, and get into a contest of wills, when he sends in Baphomet.

Crowley was a nutter. Dee is where it's at.

Meriss, I'll pitch you my char in a bit then.

Prae

Jul 17 2007, 06:48 AM

Hi!

I've been lurking the forums for about a year, but this game concept (And LitS, now that I understand it correctly lol) right here is what made me want to step up and join in the fun.

I just picked up SR4, Havens, and Street Magic, but I have experience (and books) in SR3 and 2... as well as countless other games. I am, however, relatively new to PbP games. I've only been in about 4 over at Rondak's and they... well, died.

Right now I'm reading up on the new rules and thinking up possible characters to play, if there is room in Gaslamp, that is.

Meriss

Jul 17 2007, 04:48 PM

@Prae: I currently have hmmm... Alex playing a detective, Voorhees wants to be a demo guy, Fist is a mage of some sort, Critias is still in air between a Martial Artist and gunslinger. So that's four. Yeah I can swing another player. Welcome aboard.

@My Players: Alright second warning. You have till Wenesday to finish basic char concept. Just your archtype and party role for now. I will be asking for full Char sheets on Friday, July 20th, 23:00 hrs your local time. This will hopefully give me the weekend to review and look over your sheets.

Critias

Jul 17 2007, 04:54 PM

QUOTE (Meriss)

...Critias is still in air between a Martial Artist and gunslinger....

Nah, I'm pretty decided on Mysterious Celestial Martial Artist guy. Just gotta get my booty in gear on that sheet.

fistandantilus4.0

Jul 17 2007, 06:23 PM

Sorry, I've been caught up in RL things without time for write ups. Will send my "some sort of mage" tonight.

Prae

Jul 17 2007, 07:10 PM

Alrighty, I think I might play a Street Doc-type character. Maybe with some magic to back him up.

Meriss

Jul 17 2007, 08:26 PM

@Prae: Sounds good

@All: Did any one get some kind of locksmith skills? Cause I may have to rework my starting run if nobody did.

ludomastro

Jul 18 2007, 12:03 AM

QUOTE (Meriss)

@Prae: Sounds good

@All: Did any one get some kind of locksmith skills? Cause I may have to rework my starting run if nobody did.

Yep.

Locksmith 4

Fortune

Jul 18 2007, 01:24 AM

I remember being sorta impressed when I noticed that.

Meriss

Jul 18 2007, 03:00 AM

@Alex: ooops, sorry.

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to wake up in the morning.

@Fortune: Yer going to be my heckler for this whole thing, aren't you?

Fortune

Jul 18 2007, 03:24 AM

QUOTE (Meriss @ Jul 18 2007, 01:00 PM)

Yer going to be my heckler for this whole thing, aren't you?

Only in the recruitment thread.

Seriously though, not really. My last post originally was to mention Alex's character's Skill, but by the time I actually pushed the 'post' button (too many windows open), he had already answered the question, so I edited the post's content so that it didn't sound too stupid.

fistandantilus4.0

Jul 18 2007, 04:48 AM

Which is hard for him at times.

[ Spoiler ]

Fortune

Jul 18 2007, 06:30 AM

You can't be the Resident Heckler™. You're already a Player.

fistandantilus4.0

Jul 18 2007, 06:42 AM

Damn it. I'd argue, but I still haven't figured out how to do the Trademark symbol.

BTW, sent in my char background. Team's got it's self a book worm. I'm thinking of going with Magic 2 on this one. Not sure if I dare though. We'll see how the stats turn out. I may go as high as 4.

Critias

Jul 18 2007, 06:53 AM

I've lost access to my SR4 stuff at home for a few days. I've only got it in PDF form and my wife's been using the computer for some ridiculously long on-line standardized test she's got to do to graduate nursing school (despite graduation being last week, they have this 900+ question thing this week).

I don't understand her priorities, but she keeps telling me that's more important than me working on any of the characters I'm supposed to be working on right now. Women, eh? They're nuts. She's all "blah blah blah getting certified as a nurse and starting work is important blah blah blah."

On the bright side, all I've really got left for the guy is deciding once and for all if I want to go the Distance Strike route or the Throwing Weapons route, and then finding a Chinese name. Once she wraps up her silly test, it shouldn't take me long to get him finished up and PMed.