Roat Trip in Nowhere

Based on a suggestion from the Looking for GM's page.

Discussion thread

roleplay thread

You are a group of strangers who have become lost in what appears to be the south-west of the United States, lost on your way to wherever you were first going. You have all washed up at the same gas station and repair garage in a small town of Springfield. The residents of Springfield are suspicious of strangers, ignoring most of your questions (especially questions about what state you're in or where Springfield can be found on a map). There is only one major road through the town, and one gas station. None of you can remember the last time you were able to use any of your credit cards, cell phones, or other items that rely on the existence of a communications network. All of your vehicles have broken down, requiring you to pool your resources to get one (or more, if enough people sign up) vehicle working.

The gas station has a bulletin board with a variety of sun-faded flyers for various businesses in Springfield and job wanted signs. There is only one new, fresh sheet of paper on the board, pinned to the cork board by a silver jack-knife. Printed on the paper is the words "Want out? Meet me at Sweet Water".

Here is a list of vehicles and items available. Each player can have one small item and one large item, either from the list or (with GM approval) an item of their own suggestion. If two players want identical items, it will require GM approval. Bicycles do not count as available vehicles, but a bicycle may be considered a large item.

The game will be played with a hidden Dread mechanic: I will start with a 1d100 rolled and each time I roll for a character trying something dangerous, I will roll a new 1d100 value. If it matches a value I already have recorded, the effort fails [[strikevandthe character dies. ]] A character may also choose to sacrifice himself/herself to reset the roll table and to guarantee success for the rest of the group. This means the first roll has only a 1% chance of failure, the next 2%, the third 3%... I'll cap the table if we hit 50% and riskier actions will require multiple rolls.

Rule change: In a green zone, such as Springfield, your character will not die for failung a roll but experience some other bad event. In yellow, a fail may result in character death. If I tell you you're in a    red    zone, a fail means character death.

Player sign up:

Character name:

Player name:

Character description:

Where was your character going eventually: (It's fine if your character no longer remembers his/her destination)

Character background: (Profession, skills)

Character's phobia / fear:

Character's large item:

Character's small item:

Vehicle character wants the group to take:

edited 20th Mar '18 11:06:34 AM by Nodrog

Do we pick our characters from that page as well or are we OCs?

OCs for anyone who wants to play. I'm ignoring the passenger npcs.

Well, it was my suggestion so you can color me interested; also you should've sent me a message or made a post in that thread or something. It was only by chance that I checked the signups sub-forum last night and noticed this, though I was about to go to bed so I didn't want to type up a post then.

Anyway, I'm not sure if other people are going to be on board with the "Dread" mechanic. I get you probably want the feeling of Anyone Can Die, which that would certainly be effective for, but I'm just worried that it might drive away most potential players. I think there's some clarifications to ask for that could lighten things up, like: When you say "trying something dangerous", where are you drawing the line? Is it only going to be for serious situations with otherworldly horrors, or is there going to be a RNG chance of my character suddenly dying just because I threw a punch at a drunkard in a bar?

More importantly though, is there going to be any way of modifying this RNG chance? Could a character get a free pass or like a reroll opportunity if the dangerous thing is something they're supposed to have experience and skill with? Could we have items or maybe some kind of encounter choices that would, maybe not completely reset the table, but at least remove one or more numbers from it to make the table less dangerous? (I would also suggest that this could be a choice that's at the exception of other options, perhaps? To make the choice have some tension?)

Also you mention that if someone does a heroic sacrifice it resets the table, but if someone dies without the sacrifice, does that reset the table too? Or partially reset it?

edited 16th Mar '18 5:14:02 PM by FirockFinion

Ok, update on the dread mechanic

Yes, a character dying resets the table. However, if you died from failing a pull, your fellow characters will still be in a dangerous situation.

I don't want to be 'that guy' gm, making a roll for you for no apperent reason warning. On the other hand, I want drama and that requires risk. Rolls will only occur in four situations:

Situation one: I do a pull in response to your character doing something high risk, when I think it's obvious that you went in knowing you were going to be doing something risky.

Posting your character is going to go ride a motorcycle: No pull if your character has a background with motorcycles.

Posting your character is going to close his eyes and try to jump a canyon on your motorcycle: high risk, expect a roll.

Situation two: I have announced a high risk activity and a player volunteers for it. I will try to describe the situation to allow a person a chance to decide to make a 'sacrifice' play or ways to RP to reduce the risk.

Example: A group of mutated bikers pull into the coffee shop your group is relaxing in. They loudly mock your group and announce they are planning to take your food, unless one of you agrees to a deadly bike race against their champion. Risk factor: 5

In this situation, if you volunteer then I will make a number of rolls. If your person is average with no special equipment or training, I will be doing 5 rolls. If your character has a background as an extreme sports enthusiast that would require Vin Diesel to play you in your bio pic, or if you have a tricked out bike and carrying a concealed weapon, I will be doing a reduced number of rolls.

Situation three:must face the danger. i will try to make a point of making it clear there is a danger, to give

Example: Similar to above, but the mutant bikers announce they are going to kill your group if you all refuse. Escape risk factor: 1 for all.

Assuming no one does something risky to stop or slow down the gang, I will make one roll for each player.

Situation four: Surprise danger. I will be very sparing of this, and promise to avoid using it early in the story. This is something that is reserved for high drama points in the story.

That hitchhiking hockey player you picked up a mile from the local mental institute who never talks and never removes his mask? The hitchhiker suddenly pulls a bloodied butcher knife from his bag and (pull, fail) slashes Joey in the neck. Joey is dead. Stopping him while the vehicle is moving will require someone to volunteer for 3 rolls or everyone to survive one roll.

OR:

Something dramatic is about to happen. Someone will either need to volunteer to face two rolls or I will randomly pick a person to face three rolls.

edited 16th Mar '18 6:35:18 PM by Nodrog

Ah, alright I think I understand. The only one I would say I really disagree with is the one where one of our characters could suddenly get killed off with no warning whatsoever; unless the foreshadowing you used in that example about the hitchhiker is going to be the kind of warning we get before a situation like that.

Anyway, I'll get a sheet up after I get ideas for my character sorted out. (Why do you have a field for player name when it'll be in the top left of the post when we make the sheet?)

I don't intend to be a 'rocks fall, everyone dies' GM, but I want to make sure its understood that I feel I have the right to put your character in danger if I feel it serves the story, especially if I feel you are overlooking threats. Your character's victory or even survival is not guaranteed, it will be up to your luck and skill. There will be N.P.C.s out for your blood, and defeating them will almost certainly require rolls.

i want you to include your player name on the form so that I can copy/paste the information without having to add the information myself.

Also, early on, if a character dies, just ask and I'll probably allow the player to create a new character, to be waiting at the next stop to be picked up by our group. My goal is a story teller isn't to kill off all the players. My goal is to make you feel like you've been through an adventure, one with danger and consequences. If you want to leave this limbo your character is trapped in, you'll have to risk. Will you make it to to Sweet Water, or will you be one of the ones who paid the price for your group's escape?

edited 17th Mar '18 1:16:38 AM by Nodrog

A question—do the PC's have to be in the south-west USA before they end up driving into Springfield? Or can they arrive from any place in the world?

Hello. I'm new to the RP forum let me know if I do something incorrectly. I have read the pinned forums though. Here is a character sheet.

Character Name: Silvia Fisher

Player Name: Yam

Character background: Bank teller. Has a skill for distances and measurements. Can squeeze into small spaces. Quiet footsteps and fast hands.

Location character was trying to go to: Heading back to her home in Osoyoos, British Columbia after attending a friend's wedding.

Fear/phobia: Heights

Small item: Small music box

Large item: Indestructible duffle bag

Vehicle character wants to take: Sedan

OC Characters can be from anywhere, but the story will (mostly) take place between Springfield and Sweet Water. Springfield and the surrounding area only LOOKS like it is the south-west of the United States, Characters can be from anywhere on Earth. I'd prefer characters to be pure human, but I'll be willing to consider magical or alien characters that can look human, assuming they're not too powerful.

Yam: Character approved! √ I forgot to put in a question for your character description, so please write up a short description and/or a picture to a photo online of what your character looks like.

edited 17th Mar '18 1:50:20 PM by Nodrog

Sure here you go:

Physical description: Mid twenties. Petite and pale with straight medium-dark shade brown shoulder length hair, medium shade brown eyes, dressed in casual attire. Finger nails cut short and clean.

Discussion thread

roleplay thread

edited 17th Mar '18 3:23:09 PM by Nodrog

Character name: Jeremy "Nick" Johnson.

Player name: Firock Finion.

Character description: Male, Caucasian, 19, 5'4", short brown hair, green eyes. Always has his brown trench coat on, (see large item) only taking it off to wash it; beneath that is some plain light attire, tank top and jeans, and some sturdy hiking boots. He takes the boots off while sleeping, but keeps his socks and the rest of his attire on.

Where was your character going eventually: Utah, to go rock climbing on vacation.

Character background: Aspiring/freelance (AKA unemployed) photographer, Jeremy is a natural outdoorsman, used to camping and being away from the conveniences of modern life, with all that implies; he knows how to start a fire without a lighter, how to fish and set up simple snare traps, and other such things. Also, he's fairly well fit; while not supremely strong, he does have great endurance, from activities such as the aforementioned rock climbing that he meant to go on, and hiking. And of course, if he gets his hands on a camera, he knows how to take some beautiful photos, especially of natural landscapes.

Character's phobia / fear: Being confined.

Character's large items:

"Nick's" trench coat of clear thinking: A somewhat old looking but strong and reliable, brown colored trench coat. Wearing the trench coat makes Jeremy highly resistant to anything trying to have an affect on his mental status, helping him stay clear headed at all times; it even counteracts the usual grogginess one would feel right after waking up, letting Jeremy be alert and functional instantly. It also has the odd side effect of making everyone who meets Jeremy for the first time assume that his name is Nick until he is properly introduced.

Character's small items:

Battered wallet of sort of limitless money: An old, battered wallet that generates free money! But it only generates $30 in assorted small bills at a time, and just once per store/restaurant/vendor, per day. Also, if you try to pocket any of the leftover money you didn't spend, it'll just vanish, so you can't build up more money for later.

Chess board of life and double or nothing: A magnetic travel chessboard. If someone dies, another person can use this to challenge the grim reaper for their soul; if they succeed the dead person comes back to life, but if they fail, they die as well. It can only be used for this ONCE.

The ultimate Swiss Army Knife: Seems to include pretty much any tool that can be used with one hand, and also can be used to reduce a multiple roll challenge by one roll.

Vehicle character wants the group to take: An RV.

edited 21st Mar '18 11:45:09 PM by FirockFinion

Character approved. √

edited 17th Mar '18 11:27:28 PM by Nodrog

Signup edited after going through PMs with Nodrog. I hope that's acceptable now, but I need to go so I won't be responding anymore until tomorrow.

Sorry, have to withdraw, RL issues.

Character name: Tito Vasquez

Player name: Taco Badger

Character description: Half-latino, half-Polish, born in America, Tito is a heavy set man, with a somewhat athletic frame. He is 30 years old, has a full head of hair, and a thick mustache. Wears a black tanktop, with a grey jacket over it, as well as baggy denim jeans and gym shoes.

Where was your character going eventually: He was originally going to California, to attend his mother's funeral.

Character background: Tito was a high school running back in Boise, Idaho, and while he still somewhat maintains his athleticism, after high school, he worked at a car dealership, originally just as a heavy lifter, but eventually graduating to an actual salesman.

Character's phobia / fear: Fire and Crowds

Character's large item: A spare tire, just in case.

Character's small item: A pair of brass knuckles, just in case.

Vehicle character wants the group to take: An SUV, because it leaves room for people.

Character approved! √

Rule change (see discussion or top post). Still looking for players to join.

Character name: Charlie Sutura

Player name: Korodzik

Character description: Male, 30, black, shaved bald, tall, muscular. Wears a jersey shirt and jeans.

Where was your character going eventually: Escaping the country after making enemies with the wrong people.

Character background: A former truck driver and bouncer, he found his calling—or so he thought—in the world of underground fighting rings, which turned out to be a far more profitable job. He is very athletic, highly proficient at hand-to-hand fighting, and is pretty good at driving and basic car maintenance.

Character's phobia / fear: Snakes.

Character's large item: Emergency kit.

Character's small item: Book of matches.

Vehicle character wants the group to take: Sedan

Character approved, welcome to the game.

Hello, here's my application!

Player Name: Jumping Fruit

Character Name: Kayne

Character Description: A (5'0", 120 lbs.) 15-year-old Asian girl with shaggy black hair tied in a ponytail and dark brown eyes. She wears a dark gray zip-up hoodie with a black t-shirt underneath, baggy khakis, and combat boots with woolen socks.

Eventual Destination: Nowhere in particular, as she was wandering the US before she stumbled into Springfield.

Character Background: Kayne is an orphan who ran away from an oppressive orphange to go hitch-hiking around the country. She refuses to tell people her last name, as "she doesn't have one."

She is fairly quick and light on her feet, and fairly stealthy and good at stealing things. She knows some first-aid, survival skills, and mythological folklore from reading books.

Character's Phobia/Fear: Darkness

Character's Large Item: Strangely Handy Backpack—Kayne's black cloth backpack. There is no brand name to be seen anywhere on it. She uses it to carry her spare clothes. It is actually much bigger on the inside, and whenever looking for something, the desired item will always be on top. It is waterproof and fireproof.

Character's Small Item: Heirloom Knife—Kayne's 5" pocketknife. It has a wooden handle with a small compass embedded in it. She claims it was handed down her family line, from parents to children. When it is dark, the blade will emit a small glow. When this knife is with Kayne, she will not be as scared of the dark.

Chosen Vehicle: The RV

edited 31st Mar '18 4:01:38 PM by JumpingFruit

Approved, not sure why so many knives are cropping into the story.

Here we go. Don't judge me

Character name: toainsully

Player name: Dalek 5C-0R-PI 0

Character description: A grey-headed Dalek that was a commander that was somewhat killed during the Time War. However, it managed to perform an emergency temporal shift that saved itself when the Moment destroyed both Time Lord and Dalek factions.

Where was your character going eventually: The Emergency Temporal Shift severed the Dalek's memory banks causing severe amnesia, so it struggles to remember its previous life.

Character background: Commander of a Dalek Squadron during the Great Time War

Character's phobia / fear: The Doctor

Character's large item: Plunger arm

Character's small item: Blaster

Vehicle character wants the group to take: A vehicle that has a control panel since Daleks can't operate steering wheels

Nodrog has been absent for over a week now without explanation, so unfortunately I think this RP might be dead in the water. I might launch my own version in the near future; I'm finally feeling like I might have the time to run a smaller RP on the side of my main one.

... Besides, I highly doubt that a Dalek would've been accepted anyway.