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Sphynx
Shalimar : Elven Hermetic w/ Nature Spirits.
Lt Douglas: Street Samurai/Mercenary
Kah'gi: Shaman
Rupert: Adept Hermetic
Terrance O'Neil: Adept
(Kremlin's Character): Adept
Ajax: Rigger
TonyBeck: Merc

I'll discuss 4 tonight, the rest tomorrow.

Decided on an 8 man team. Before we go into details on what each of you should work on, I'd like to work on the characters themselves (the number side primarily) this week. You are free to talk amongst yourselves on how you got to know each other, but I'll concentrate on numbers.

Shalimar first: Nice character, my only concern is the almost waste of Power Points to have Reflexes 3. It really doesn't make you that much faster, and doesn't really fit the cost. Reflexes 2 is the only cost-worthy reflex level IMHO. I recommend you save 2 points and pick up 4 levels of Mystic Armour since you are more of an Astral person, and will definitely end up in spirit combat, both pre and during Bug City, it makes more sense. If not that, some sense improvement or something. Feel free to ignore my advice, it won't get you killed, just trying to be helpful.

Lt Douglas: Definitely the Leader of the team. Personally, I think you should get some Bone Lacing and upgrade to Boosted-3 to improve your combat, but it's your call on that. 8 power will bounce off of anyone with decent armour and decent Body. Without a couple more points in power, you may find yourself not using those skills, and speed could be highly maxxed (4d6) with the Boosted. Anyhows, the character looks great.

Rupert: I like the character, but you spent too many points. I think you calculated 1 BP per attribute and forgot to pay for your race. Might wanna recalc and resubmit. Character concept is good though, the team needed a Troll Combat specialist. wink.gif

Tony Beck: This time follow instructions and email me (I almost didn't add you cause I use my mailbox to select. Thank Hamster for saving your Hoop). nyahnyah.gif
All I can say here is too weak. You should really upgrade to more Cyberware. I don't think you came anywhere near spending 256 BP, you could upgrade in so many ways it's not funny. I wasn't going to let this character in originally because I didn't feel the 'special' effort in the character, he seems so generic. Let me see that alot of effort went into it. wink.gif

Kah'Gi: Get your sheet updated. Then let me know.
Kremlin: Resubmit (somehow lost your sheet, I think it's cause you didn't email)
Terrance: Read my comments on Shalimar.
Ajax: Haven't looked yet, but at least there's a Security rigger. nyahnyah.gif

Others: I'm sorry not everyone fit. I would have liked to have had everyone, but you have to make cuts somewhere. I primarily cut the people that were in mutliple games.

Sphynx
Cthulhu449
If your smiley faces mean you were kidding, then totally ignore this post, but:

Not intending to sound sarcastic, but what you see as generic I see as reasonable, believable, and very likely. The effort that went into him was primarily the three pages or so of history and putting stats together that spoke to me of someone who was new to the force but highly capable of making intelligent decisions that compensated for having comparably less personal mojo than the rest of the team. I also wanted to make sure that once hell broke loose he would have to scrounge for every tiny advantage he could, putting him in a very real survival situation. If you wish I will rework him and make him extremely good, but I felt for dramatic purposes it would be nice to have a relatively normal person (insomuch as an expert sniper with a degree in electrical engineering is) to show what bug city is really like.

Again, this isn't meant to be angry or anything, just my viewpoint on how I made my character. If it is essential that he be changed just give the word and I will have it done tonight.
Sphynx
I wasn't kidding Cthulu. You do not have to change your character at all if you don't want to, as said, he's accepted. But I've found in my various online play-by-posts games that without something to focus a spotlight on oneself with, people tend to get bored and leave the game by going idle on it. Whereas those that are really great at stuff, having spent hours min-maxxing, never ever seem to get tired of their game. With everyone else looking like 256BP characters, and yours seemingly looking like half that, I'm not suggesting that your character isn't worthy, but rather concerned that since everything you do, someone else does alot better, you won't like the game.

Someone doesn't give 256 BP and expect reasonable, believable characters. They expect to see characters that could challenge 256 karma characters easily. If you find it fun to play a much weaker character, then by all means do so, my goal is to make sure you're having fun, that's all. The question isn't whether or not it's essential that he be more powerful for the game. The question is whether or not he needs to be more powerful for you to stick with a game that moves at 1/100th the speed of a tabletop RPG long enough to tell a story.

I truly recommend upgrading the character, based on my own past experience with weak characters and survival of games. Unlike tabletop, you don't sit and chat doing your own RPing while the GM listens in. Attention is held by giving players something to do every turn. Times that you'd sit by and listen for 15 minutes in a table-top is the equivalent of not posting for weeks in a play-by-post.

Anyhows, I'm rambling now. And no, I don't mistake your post for being upset, so don't mistake mine as anything other than someone trying to be helpful. smile.gif

Sphynx
Cthulhu449
Cool, I do so enjoy rational discussion.

I will do a pretty big rehaul of him then and send you the game stats. His abilities may go in a very different direction, but the "man" will stay basically the same. This time I will email them to you too smile.gif .
Sandoval Smith
Am I over by ten points? I did pay for race, so I must've slipped up somewhere along the way when I was calculating how many character points I needed to use in the generator. I'll have time to look him over again this evening.

I am pleasantly surprised though that everything else worked out so well. I was afraid that I was going to have some massive screw ups working without the books.

One question (if this was mentioned somewhere else my apolgies for missing it) What are the starting karma pool and karma points going to be?
Shalimar
Sphynx, your right on the fact that level 3 isn't worth it, its at most a +8 on initiative tests, and only when I roll 4 6s would it matter greatly. It was a level 3 Geased to cost 3.75, dropped it to 2, and it went to 2.25. Put the 1.5 power points into 4 levels of mystic armor with the same geas.

So my 5 PP of powers are:
1.25 Improved Senses (Vision Mag, Thermo, Flare, Hearing Amp, Hearing Damp)
1.5 Mystic Armor 4 (Condition Geas: Painted)
2.25 Increased Reflexes 2 (Condition Geas: Painted)

For the Increased Reflexes, the paint is an unbroken chain of infinity loops around her wrists and ankles. For the Mystic Armor its a symbol on her face. See the attached link. (Does her face painting remind anyone else of another elf? nyahnyah.gif )

http://home.comcast.net/~smp19026/Frost.doc
Kremlin KOA
Heres the repost stats for Toothpick, incl background... this was just resent to you via email as well. one change has been made since the resend... added skills for centering.

[ Spoiler ]

Sandoval Smith
I think I know what went wrong. I think that the Character Generator was using 1 BP = 1 Attribute point, and i BP = 2 skill points. This might take a little while to straighten out.
Sphynx
QUOTE (Sandoval Smith)
One question (if this was mentioned somewhere else my apolgies for missing it) What are the starting karma pool and karma points going to be?

1 and 0 respectively. wink.gif

Sphynx
Sandoval Smith
*very very edited*

Okay, I redid the whole dang sheet from scratch to include the eight extra points to purchase adept powers up to Intiate 4. I had to downgrade my resources to do so, but I'm a starting adept with a weapon focus 2 staff. Not so bad in my book.

I have updated the stat costs to show the actual BP cost, instead of the generator cost.

Name: Rupert Lynn Smythe
Race: Troll
Sex: Male
Height: 7'11"
Weight: 435 lbs
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown

[ Spoiler ]


I get 256 when adding everything together, so I think I'm golden.
Sphynx
QUOTE (Sphynx)
Shalimar : Elven Hermetic w/ Nature Spirits.
Lt Douglas: Street Samurai/Mercenary
Kah'gi: Shaman
Rupert: Adept Hermetic
Terrance O'Neil: Adept
(Kremlin's Character): Adept
Ajax: Rigger
TonyBeck: Merc


Kah'Gi: Get your sheet updated. Then let me know.
Kremlin: Resubmit (somehow lost your sheet, I think it's cause you didn't email)
Terrance: Read my comments on Shalimar.
Ajax: Haven't looked yet, but at least there's a Security rigger. nyahnyah.gif

ALL ADEPTS : READ THIS ! ! ! !

You do NOT get a free PowerPoint per level of Initiation at character creation, just as you do NOT start with PowerPoints equal to your Magic Rating, they MUST be purchased. That means a couple of you will have to resubmit characters with less points.

Kah'Gi: Really need your sheet to have BP costs so I can see how you spent BPs. Your Magic rating is only a 7 (2 initiate grades removed Geasa). Other than that, further comments await a BP listing.

Terrance: You say you bought off geasa from cyber/bio, no cyber/bio listed on sheet. If you chose against cyber/bio, the rest looks good, if not, then your Magic rating should be 7 and I need the list. wink.gif Also, you spent 89 points on the Adept side of things, if your Magic is a 7, you only needed to spend 81. If it's a 9, you only needed to spend 77. I recommend getting Astral Perception personally, and if you have no cyberware, more Power Points. (I'd like to not see more than double ones magic in Power Points, so I ask no more Power Points if your Magic is a 7)

Toothpick: Need BPs listed please. Rest looks cool for now, and although there's no way a Chineese Lion's Head is anywhere near as powerful as a Katana, I'll let it stay at that damage and reach value anyhows. wink.gif

Ajax: Main concern is the Rotor skills, I feel they're wasted points. I realize it might fit the character concept, but the game is never leaving the no-fly zone, and there'll obviously be no choppers. I recommend moving those points into Drones, and spending some cash on drones in the process. Even if it's only MicroDrones (which cost about 14k), they could prove very useful in an 'insect' zone. I also recommend changing CyberCombat/Spurs to Unarmed/Spurs (You can leave it like that if you want, but I don't believe in the CyberCombat theory). And that'll let you punch things for stun damage, well. (Also, need BP listings, please)

Ok, tomorrow I go back over the first 4 with whatever changes were submitted.

Sphynx
Whizbang
Well...I didn't make the cut...doesn't mean I can't stay on as a lurker...perhaps pick up some hints that will be useful along the way. *Is still learning about SR*
Mr Hamster
Edit: sorry, forgot knowledge skills. just fixed that.


Hi all,
Updated Terry. Found out I'd miscalculated how many points I'd spent pretty badly the first time. Since this game seems to be into powerful I just poured the rest in to increase his survivability, but he does basically the same thing. Comment away if want.

(How I spent points listed at bottom in detail)

[ Spoiler ]
Shadow
Sphynx I am just not feeling the character, I want to play in the game, but I am just not loving hte character. So I think it would be best if I dropped and let someone else do the rigger thing.
Mr Hamster
Sphynx,

Quick question: Roughly what's the annual salary for a Knight Errant employee in a team like this?

(not trying to get money out of you, just curious so I can visualize what sort of lifestyle and background our guys may be used to if we've been working for Knight Errant awhile. we rich, poor, upper middle class etc.)
Ecclesiastes
QUOTE (Sphynx)
Kah'Gi: Really need your sheet to have BP costs so I can see how you spent BPs. Your Magic rating is only a 7 (2 initiate grades removed Geasa). Other than that, further comments await a BP listing.

I won't have time for this today, been a busy one for me. I'll get back to you tomorrow.
Kremlin KOA
the points spent is in the secnd spoiler tag within the spoiler tag.... if you need more of a breakdown say so and I will have it up later today my time
Sphynx
Ok folks, I won't be able to be on as much over the next few days (hence the original delay to begin game next week). I think you have the jest of what's needed from you. All I need is one more time, everyone send in an updated form of their sheet WITH BP expenditures. This time though, it must be emailed to wing_lion@hotmail.com, no history/background. Preferably in a .txt format if you can handle notepad. nyahnyah.gif

Monday will have my first IC post given, and an OOC thread to explain the way to post in my games. You should use this thread from this point onward to work with each other on character creation finalization, getting to know each other, and deciding who is leading who. There should be 2, 4-man squads created each with Squad Leader. In addition, a Sarge that is in neither Squad (yep, 9 man team. Since WhizBang is in no game currently, I allowed him to join in).

You guys decide that if you can. If not, on Monday, the OOC thread will have it for you. wink.gif

Cya on Monday.

Sphynx
Sandoval Smith
Well, it looks like Smith and Lightfoot are the two medics in the group, so they should be in different squads. Also, given his general role as I've written him (scout and intial contact asset)he would probably be a poor choice for either squad leader. His job is to provide recon and tie up enemy elements while someone else oversees the engagment and assigns additonal elements as needed. Squad commanders should not be the first ones out of the choppers.
Whizbang
I got the okay to come on and play with you guys smile.gif So now I can be a backup medic, defensive caster, and general person who tells you just how to kill the darn things.

[ Spoiler ]
Shalimar
QUOTE (Whizbang)
I got the okay to come on and play with you guys smile.gif So now I can be a backup medic, defensive caster, and general person who tells you just how to kill the darn things.

[ Spoiler ]

Uhh, I thought we weren't allowed to know about bugs before hand. It would be great to have the knowledge though.
Cthulhu449
Here's my finished character. I will take whatever position/rank is given to me.

[ Spoiler ]
Sandoval Smith
To try and get some of the IC stuff set up, I'll talk a bit about Rupert. Due to the blessings of good dental genes he speaks fairly clearly, with a public school accent. He's a pretty polite chap and tries to get along with others as a matter of course. He very good with the first impressions and generally when he sets out to get someone on friendly terms, he suceeds. He is rather fussy about his appearance, and keeping his hair neatly combed and parted, and his complexion clear (well, for a troll anyway. He tends to be rather lumpy no matter what he does).

Being a troll who drinks his tea with his pinky extended and who can frequently be heard loudly expounding why his are the best recipes for crumpets (it's the lashings and lashings of ambrosia cream!), he's got a fairly well developed and broad sense of humor. He takes practical jokes played on him in good humor, and usually refrains from retaliating. He has mastered the 'art' of the dumb troll impersonation, and likes to use it at appropriate moments.

As for his career in Knight Errant, he has established himself as a solid squad member. He takes orders well, knows when to speak up, and when to keep his trap shut. He does sometimes have a tendancy to grandstand, and many times stores of past engagments have a strange tendancy to feature him filling the pivotal roles. He really does enjoy it when he gets rotation on fast response teams, enjoying the rush that comes from his frequent role as intial retaliation element. There're few greater thrills than leaping from a helicopter and immendiately engaging enemy operatives (although this is tempered by the knowledge that if the rest of the team does not deploy like they're supposed to, he'll be in in drek up to his horns).

He also enjoys defensive assignments as that give him a chance to show off his non-pugilistic skills. Very few people expect a to be taken by surprise by a troll, and his favorite story retells about how he once concealed himself so well against a tree, that a runner started to climb him.

So, in summation, he's a troll, polite, friendly, sneaky, and has a bit of an ego. How does this work with all of your characters?
Ecclesiastes
I was out sick again yesterday. I'll have my sheet fixed and sent in to you by the end of the day.
Shalimar
Well, lets make with the dividing. 2-4 man squads, and a Sergeant.

We are pretty magic heavy here, and we are going to be up against a magical threat, so my thoughts and what have gotten out of the info so far is that we are all operatives of Knight Errant and we were all pulled from different areas, or we volunteered, and they took us from wherever we were and stuck us together for this mission. If thats correct, then it stands to reason that they would indeed pick a group as magical as we are to fight a magical threat like this, and that the leader would have a wide base of magical knowledge (The boss knows aproximately whats going on, and he calls on his specialist for detailed knowledge, but he needs to know everything, even if only to a lesser degree)

There are 2 ways to do the Squad assignments, a balanced method where both squads have some of everything, or specialty squads where the people in the squads would be assigned around the purpouse of the Squads. For example, a Main Battle Unit, with the Merc, two of the Adepts, and the most combat oriented of the Spell Slingers; and a Support Unit of the Rigger, 2 Magicians, and the last adept.


Sargeant: LT. Douglas (Street Sam)

Squad 1 (Battle Squad)
Squad 1 Leader: Tony Beck(Merc)
Squad 1 member: Rupert Smythe(Adept)
Squad 1 member: Terrance ( Adept)
Squad 1 member: Douglas O'Malley (Adept)

Squad 2 (Support Squad)
Squad 2 Leader: Frost (Hermetic Adept, Astral Specialist)
Squad 2 member: Kan'gi lightfoot (Shaman Adept)
Squad 2 member: Leslie (Defensive Hermetic)
Squad 2 member: Ajax (Rigger)
Kremlin KOA
or a more fluid structure with the teams being able to sitch between the two configurations mentioned previously.
Shalimar
QUOTE (Kremlin KOA)
or a more fluid structure with the teams being able to sitch between the two configurations mentioned previously.

I don't particularly care one way or the other, it was just stated that we need to come up with some method for doing it.
Mr Hamster
Decent setup shalimar, personally though I'd vote for two balanced squads capable of acting independantly.

We've got the firepower and enough overlap in abilities to do it, and chances are we're going to split up occasionally; either by design like when 2 things need to happen at once, or because when bad stuff happens sometimes you have no choice.

So yeah, when the two squads are together its nice, but let's have it so one squad isn't screwed if it's left alone. Also makes us more versatile if the squads have a spread of capabilities within themselves.


Side note: Lt. Douglas, that's cool if you want to be the leader, but checking out your character think you forgot to get any small unit tactics skill. I suppose it's your choice, but might be nice if you could put 6 points into it; would be pretty useful for the team leader and just sorta make sense. Your call though,
Cthulhu449
Looking over some special forces info, and considering our teams are broken into too small of groups to really cover all the bases as we should (I personally think 9 people is good if not too small for a single special teams unit and everything I'm reading here points that way), here's what I think we should have in each team:

Detachment Commander: This person should have very good knowledge of tactics, and in my personal opinion should have the ability to astrally perceive so that he is aware of all aspects of the battle field. He should be versed in the most common weapons to the team, as well as some sort of backup.

Every team will also have an EXECUTIVE OFFICER who doubles as the INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST and the OPERATIONS OFFICER. The shadowrun parallel here should probably be another decent leader who can also be a stealthy covert op type. Also, taken right out of some special forces texts: "For any particular team, the position of Executive Officer is served by a Warrant in possession of considerable regional expertise in language, political science, HUMINT and COMINT (Human and communication intelligence for those not down with the mil terms) techniques, and interrogation methods above and beyond that of other team members. No other team member is cross-trained in this area; the function is solely the responsibility of the XO."

The next position I have to squeeze together is the ENGINEER/COMMUNICATIONS officer. This person must be trained in all manner of technical skills, as well as vehicle piloting.

MEDICAL OFFICER: This position is easily filled by a mage with Heal, and I feel, though you may disagree, that it is VITAL that both teams have this capability and that it be in the hands of someone not in a critical leadership position who cannot be distracted with such duties while fighting.

Finally there is the WEAPONS NCO (well, most of us are NCO's). This person should have some sort of support weapon, whether it be the ability to snipe, carrying heavy weapons, or in some cases a mage who is decked out with combat spells.

Of course a lot of these will overlap causing a bit of trouble. For instance, my character could fill the role of Weapons, Medical, and perhaps Intelligence or Communications Specialist. However, we can endeavor to make sure that these roles are filled on both teams if we have to split up.

Why doesn't everyone post what they think they would fit in based on these classifications and then we can arrange the teams as needed. The overall commanding officer can be chosen out of the people who feel their character would make a good Detachment Commander.


Side Note: Who has demolition equipment? Also, are there any viable perimeter defense weapons our team can bring along?
Mr Hamster
It would be useful if everyone who hasn't yet posted their characters on this board does so, so everyone knows who their teamates are and what sort of capabilities everyone has.

Also, now Cthulhu mentions it, the overall leader should definitely have astral projection. Not only for observation and quick recon, but he could always manifest if he needs to deliver a message to a squad and radio is out (or if there's not enough time to return to his body)
Fortune
Sphynx: Sorry to intrude dude, but I'm damn sure I regret not being involved in this game. So many concepts, so few high-level games! frown.gif

Have fun, Play Shadowrun. wink.gif
Sandoval Smith
Rupert has some commercial plastic explosives, radio, timer detonators, and the skill to use them. He's also got medical training (but no healing magic) and a wide selection of mundane medical equipment. The only problem with him playing medical support is that he is also supposed to be one of the forward elements.

"Medic!!"
"Sorry, he's out reconning the enemy position. Could your chest wound maybe suck a little quieter? That slurping noise is really grossing me out."
Shalimar
QUOTE (Sandoval Smith)
Rupert has some commercial plastic explosives, radio, timer detonators, and the skill to use them. He's also got medical training (but no healing magic) and a wide selection of mundane medical equipment. The only problem with him playing medical support is that he is also supposed to be one of the forward elements.

"Medic!!"
"Sorry, he's out reconning the enemy position. Could your chest wound maybe suck a little quieter? That slurping noise is really grossing me out."

Your realize that over half the team has heal spells, or medical skills right? Not an issue to be concerned about.
Cthulhu449
Is everyone still around?
Whizbang
I'm here. Guess weekends are just slow
Sandoval Smith
I didn't want to be the spastic poster and sound like "Hey guys! How about this? Huh? How about it?" I'm hoping to see some more posted character development before we start, since supposedly our characters have probably allready met each other professionaly. I don't know about everyone else, but I always do the 20 questions thing with my characters, and try to come up with more depth than stats and a back story about how bad ass they are usually provide.

So, here are two questions: what was your character's most embarassing professional moment?

2: The squad has just returned from a succesful mission. What do you do next?
Shalimar
In answer to your questions Sandoval:

1)Frost wouldn't allow herself to be embaressed, its all just a state of mind, and she does the whole I'm a haughty Elf Lord thing very well. She can look down on someone even if they are 100 feet tall, not sure how, but somehow she seems to manage it.

2)Frost is pretty new to the whole corporate thing, and before that, she was just wandering around learning her mystical skills. She would most likely reward herself (thought she wouldn't call it that), with a few days of simply relaxing, drinking fine wines, a trip to the Spa, some meditation, some cathartic extreme shopping. After her mellow out period, she'd get back to her studies, summoning more elementals, learning spells. She is only with Knight Errant to put her abilities that she has recently gained to the test, as a test of herself, of her readyness.
Sphynx
Well, it looks like some people dropped out as I never received the requirements (BP Allocations, etc) from them.

GenoSick: No posts in awhile, none in this thread. No BP Allocations.
Kan'gi: No BP allocations.
Toothpick: No BP Allocations.
Frost: Spent 266 BP, and be careful on Edged Weapons, you paid 1 point to little because your Strength is only a 4

I'll start with your characters in the story, but these are requisites to post in the IC thread. Mail me the fixes first please.

Sphynx
Sandoval Smith
Rupert's most embarassing professional moment (you really don't need to know the private one) occured shortly after he was promoted to a KE HTR team. A cargo ship carrying both a shipment of some of Ares whiz new products, as well as some of the specialists who'd designed them was departing from Detroit, heading North for Lake Huron. Shortly after leaving port, the ship was attacked by an unknown force intent on stealing the shipment and extracting the personnel. Rupert's squad was first on the scene, and as the deployment chopper leveled off above the freighter, it came under fire.

Rupert prepared to launch himself right into the thick of the gunners, but as he went out the hatch, his feet came out from under him. To his credit, he has never made any excuses about what happened. He might've protested that it could've been a sudden gust of wind, or that a good hit sent the chopper lurching and it wasn't his fault, but he didn't. It was his frag up and no excuse could change that.

Instead of landing in the midst of the gunners on the deck, he plummeted hoop over headware, bounced off the side of the freighter, and into the lake. Two things made it even worse: he lost his staff in the impact, and the frieghter was still in motion. He managed to avoid being pulled into the props, but the freighter quickly began to leave him behind while the rest of his team engaged in a pitched battle on the deck.

Eventually, with the addition of three more HTR teams, KE was able to prevent the loss of most of the shipment, and rescue most of the specialists. Although the ship was stopped well before the fight was over, there was no way for Rupert to make it up to the deck, and there was no one to spare to get him out of the water while the battle was still ongoing .

Following that fiasco, Rupert was demoted from HTR duty, and spent a good while holding down a bank of security monitors. He also spent nearly a month worth of his off hours in scuba equipment on the bottom of Lake St Claire looking for his staff. A solid performance record, and working even harder to excel from that point on allowed him to redeem himself, but in a database somewhere his file has a big black tag leading to the report of that engagement.

He also now possess and absolute hatred of swimming.
Whizbang
hmm...

1. She isn't hard to embarrass, at least in her own eyes. She's a perfectionist, and hates when things don't go as planned. Hmm...trying to think of something to pull out...

2. After the mission...hmm...She'd likely join Frost for the spa and shopping. Then back to teaching at the Institute.

hmm...making me think here...hmm....
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