Line #50 Roleplay/ShadowsOverTheSouth


1	-->"''Take it from [[TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen somebody]] who has actually been to hell, Altair. The road to hell '''is''' paved with good intentions.''"
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3	''Shadows over the South'' is a [[Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness Living World of Darkness]] game. Primarily set in the small town of [[TownWithADarkSecret Starke, Florida]], the game centers around the sudden, massive influx of numerous supernaturals all at once, isolated from the larger supernatural community at first. In time, a fragile peace was set up between the various, disparate factions. Of course, those who prefer the status quo quickly took notice... and peace has a nasty habit of never being able to last.
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5	With multiple pains being taken to ensure balance between the various types of characters and a plot that evolves by the week, the game itself is over a year old as of this writing. The game's website can be found [[http://www.shadowsoverthesouth.net/ here]]. The game's wiki can be found [[http://www.shadowsoverthesouth.net/wiki/index.php?n=Main.HomePage here]]. The game's Discord server can be found [[https://discord.gg/zZzn3GM here]], where the vast majority of the roleplaying is done.
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7	----
8	!!''Shadows over the South'' provides examples of:
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10	* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: The Starke Catacombs, which obviously [[ArtisticLicenseGeography don't exist in real life]]. Indeed, it wouldn't be possible in real life, due to the [[ArtisticLicenseGeology water table]] in the RealLife city, which was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the game. Of course, AWizardDidIt in the game. And by wizard, of course, we mean a [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension Mage]].
11	* AerithAndBob: You have ordinary names like Thomas, Ivan, Vivian and Gabriel, then the unusual such as Sinestrae, Szarik and Veruka.
12	* AllMythsAreTrue: All the gods are one flavor or another of either spirit, ex-mage, angel [[EldritchAbomination or something far worse...]] The problem is deciding [[CanonWelding which of them is true]], which has at one time stated that there are actually several different aspects of Odin, even if they're all technically the same entity.
13	* AllYourPowersCombined: Another point of the alliance, as the diversity of powers among all the splats offers them all a much bigger chance of surviving a much stronger force than a single splat might be able to tackle.
14	-->"Way I see it, if the Amenti and a Corax can't find it, it can't be found."
15	* AlwaysSomeoneBetter: Even if you're the most badass, high-XP character in the game, there's always someone or something out there bigger, badder, and scarier than you, and if you make too much noise, it ''will'' take notice.
16	* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Vampires do not automatically fall asleep during the daylight hours, but they ''do'' need to avoid sunlight.
17	** Mages also recover from Paradox much faster to account for the possibility of casting spells constantly, and no longer need months in order to read a grimoire.
18	** Changelings have a far bigger buffer against banality, and only have to roll for it if the level of banality is truly intolerable (8 and above).
19	** Amenti have a much more relaxed balance in order to not be forced to be assholes to the others for just existing as long as they do not intentionally go against the balance.
20	** As of March 2019, Demons lose one point of Temporary Torment (but ''not'' Permanent Torment) per month, so long as they don't ''gain'' any for that month.
21	** The 'Character Save Card' is a [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] example. Once per character, if that character ''is'' going to die and there are no more saving throws left for the player to attempt, they may invoke their card to have the Storyteller pull a DeusExMachina to save them. Note, however, that this cannot be used if the character death was the result of being TooDumbToLive (i.e. purely the player's fault and not the fault of the dice), and it only saves them from ''death'': That character is still at the Storyteller's mercy, and could very well end up owing a life debt to an NPC or with a very nasty flaw, in a few notable cases pushing this into CruelMercy territory on the part of the Storyteller.
22	* AnyoneCanDie: There's a "No Stomping" rule for newbies (meaning, you can't just go around hunting new characters for sport; they're immune from PVP for a month unless they do something to [[TooDumbToLive bring it upon themselves]]), but that only applies to PVP. At one point, even the character with the highest XP at te time was killed in action, so it's generally a good idea not to get too attached to ''anyone'' in this game.
23	* TheApocalypseBringsOutTheBestInPeople: More or less the entire premise of the game. You have the Garou and Fera fighting anything Wyrm-tainted, the Amenti forcibly enforcing the Balance at gunpoint, Vampires and Demons trying to hoard power for themselves, the Imbued trying to keep all of the above from growing too powerful as to protect normal humans, and Mages, Changelings, and Wraiths just trying to live while keeping (almost) everyone else at arm's length. But the moment shit hits the fan, EnemyMine takes full affect, status quos are upended, and relationships are formed. Whether or not this can actually ''last'' is another matter entirely.
24	* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Despite one of the game's admins actually living in the area, all of the [[GameMaster Storytellers]] are upfront about the fact that the game's take on the locations in the story are ''not'' based on their RealLife equivalents. Only a few historical landmarks are used, though if somebody knows of a RealLife location in the area and wants to feature in a plot, go for it.
25	* AutobotsRockOut: Sometimes a [[GameMaster Storyteller]] will drop a [=YouTube=] link to music before a particularly epic fight scene, to set the mood. Sometimes it will even [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall be playing in-character]], such as from an overturned car's blaring radio.
26	* BadassCrew: The characters who have been in the longest have developed a reputation for this, having taken down [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu enemies way above their weight class]] like [[TheOlderImmortal elder vampires]], mages just below TheArchmage, even an [[EldritchAbomination Earthbound]]. Other characters are taking notice, however, and are starting to view this group as a threat...
27	* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: Particularly prevalent with ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension'', with Music/KeithRichards having been shown to be an Ecstatic, and Elon Musk having been implied to be a Void Engineer.
28	* BigBadEnsemble: One of the core reasons why the supernaturals teamed up is because they realized that the bad things from every {{Splat}} do not discriminate, and will hunt them all equally. Then [[FromBadToWorse it got worse]] as Apophis and the Wyrm teamed up.
29	* BlackAndGrayMorality: The situation in Gainesville, from the perspective of many in Starke. With the previous MeleeATrois between the Sabbat, Pentex, and the Technocratic Union now largely replaced by Pentex and the Union fighting over what's left of Gainesville with the Amkhat taking potshots at both sides and at Starke, the majority opinion of the Council is that an EnemyMine with the Technocracy ''may'' be possible, given that out of the three of them, the Technocracy is by ''far'' the LesserOfTwoEvils given that they at least try to keep the Masses out of harm's way. The problem is their militant xenophobia toward 'Reality Deviants,' at least among their leadership.
30	* CanonWelding: Needs to be done sometimes as the books directly contradict each other often when not keeping to the same splat. And sometimes they do it in the same splat as well. [[FromBadToWorse And sometimes in the same sentence.]]
31	* CantCatchUp: Steps were taken to avert this, such as Floor XP and the Catchup XP mechanics, in order to prevent the game from being completely dominated by characters who have been in the game for months as opposed to fresh-off-the-boat newbies.
32	* {{Cap}}: On how much XP one can earn in a month, to ensure that the hyperactive players do not outrun everyone by jumping into every possible scene, or that an ST does not abuse ST XP to quickly power up their characters. There's also a cap of 600 XP total before your character straight-up cannot earn any more and are ''heavily'' encouraged to retire... or become a Main Stage character.
33	* CompetitiveBalance: Several HouseRules were put in place to ensure one splat cannot dominate every other splat (in large part due to White Wolf really not even trying to make the various splats balanced against one another). If they weren't in place, vampires and hunters would be extinct, demons, wraiths, and changelings would be hiding in a corner, and the rest of the game would be a free-for-all between the Werewolves, Mummies, and Mages.
34	--> "The houserules seem daunting, but they're not. It's a few things here and there to make multi-splat less of a giant pain in the ass." - An admin
35	* CutscenePowerToTheMax: Often used for plot purposes, both for player characters and {{NPC}}s alike. One particularly notable case was with Gabriel Martinez during "Blood, Drugs, and Magick," built up as a monstrously powerful Ravnos Elder... and then his [[TheWorfEffect now-legendarily funny]] boss fight happened.
36	* CuttingTheKnot: [=STs=] in this game oppose {{railroading}} on principle, meaning this is an entirely valid tactic for players clever enough to figure out a way to do it. Some examples:
37	** A group of extremist KnightTemplar Hunters took an old Cold War era fallout shelter and converted it into a heavily-boobytrapped fortress, hoping to lure the [=PCs=] into a death trap where the Hunters would stage their LastStand. The [=PCs=] instead planted demolition charges in the main entrance tunnel and warded the exterior (meaning they couldn't escape via magical means or even radio for help), leaving the Hunters inside to slowly starve to death once their supplies inevitably ran out.
38	** In a similar manner, a group of renegade Mages had holed up inside a building that the [=PCs=] were ''sure'' was boobytrapped. While the other [=PCs=] were arguing amongst themselves how to attempt to disable the traps remotely with magick, the [[EnemyMine Technocrat]] present stomped right passed them and fired a single canister of totally-mundane CS gas through a window. The Mages were outside surrendering while violently coughing less than a minute later.
39	--->'''Jim Mathers''': "And you wonder why you're losing the Ascension War."
40	** A vampire with high Potence was wielding a OneHandedZweihander and getting all kinda of lucky dice rolls, both in saving throws ''and'' attack rolls, and was one more lucky roll away from killing a PC. So what does Joy Livingstone do? Use Matter and Forces to make the damned thing exactly as heavy as it looked, causing the vampire to drop it even ''with'' Potence. He was dust the very next turn.
41	* EnemyMine:
42	** ''The'' reason why the local Camarilla and the local Garou Sept buried the hatchet, at least at first. The Sabbat and the Black Spiral Dancers were attacking both sides indiscriminately, and due to mutual VillainRespect between the Sept Elder and the then-Prince, both sides called a truce until they could defeat their mutual enemies. This true continues to this day, though not without consternation from hard-liners on both sides. This was also seemingly the rationale behind the Study Continuum Chantry throwing in their lot with Starke, until the Ranger's [[TheBusCameBack true identity]] was revealed.
43	** This is also the rationale for why the Hunters are trying to make peace with Starke, though this also has drawn heavy criticism from of the more extreme corners of Hunternet... especially Waywards and members of the [[KnightTemplar Society of Leopold]].
44	** The Technocratic Union is another big one. Many of the Traditions mages really hate their guts (and for good reason), and even the Hunters don't trust them despite the overlap in their overall goals, knowing just how much firepower and influence over nearly all aspects of mortal society the Technocracy has and that they've shown on multiple occasions that they're not afraid to use it. Still, the Council agrees that peace is in everyone's best interest, and the Technocracy ''has'' shown some willingness to cooperate against groups like the Black Spiral Dancers and the Amkhat, but how long genuine peace with them can last is anyone's guess.
45	* EnergyEconomy: In order to give a more monetary incentive, the council splats officially trades in Tass, the mage currency, and the other Splats have been given abilities in order to obtain it from their own energy sources. [[AdventureFriendlyWorld Or you can just get it as loot.]]
46	* ExperiencePoints: As per the source material. Of note is that players receive 2 XP every week (as long as they are at least semi-active) and a Storyteller can assign one of their characters just as much XP as they gave to any characters in a scene they ran, to encourage the running of said scenes, as well as admin XP, to offer a payback for managing the extensive structure the game uses in running such as the forum, site and discord server.
47	* ExtraStrengthMasquerade: Those who ''do'' notice weird things going on in Starke just shrug their shoulders and realize that they live in ''Florida''.
48	* FantasyKitchenSink: [[TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade Vampires?]] They're real. [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse Werewolves?]] They're real. [[TabletopGame/WraithTheOblivion Ghosts?]] They're real. [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension Wizards?]] They're real. [[TabletopGame/MummyTheResurrection The Egyptian Gods]], [[TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen demons and angels,]] even [[TabletopGame/ChangelingTheDreaming fairies and goblins]]? Noticing a pattern here?
49	* FourLinesAllWaiting: Every storyteller is encouraged to have their own plots, and while attempts are made to make them tie into each other, sometimes that just isn't possible, and given timezone differences and the real-time nature of Living World of Darkness games, the different plots can give this feeling.
50	* GenreShift: Experienced one when the previous administration was removed, which also changed the location of the story. The previous owner was much more [[EverythingTryingToKillYou strict.]]
51	* HardLevelsEasyBosses: While most bosses are rather well statted to prove a challenge to even the diversity of powers in the game, and the [=STs=] ''try'' to make them a challenge without resorting to straight-up {{railroading}}, certain characters, like [[LightningBruiser Altair]], were designed to survive in a [[DeathWorld much more]] [[EverythingTryingToKillYou difficult setting]] and can usually stomp them hard. Thus, this trope applies even when it isn't intentional, especially in cases such as the Blood, Drugs, and Magick and The Lady of Discord plotlines, where actually getting into a fight with the bosses was hard, but they [[CurbStompBattle did not last longer than a turn]].
52	* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne:
53	** A common reaction from Fallen to being compared to Fomori. They're not offended by being called evil spirits that possess human hosts, they're offended by the implication that they come from the Wyrm, when few Fallen have even ''heard'' of the Wyrm, and indeed actual Fomori have been known to attack Fallen as much as they attack anything else.
54	** In a similar vein, most Technocrats roll their eyes any time a Traditions Mage accuses them of being power-hungry fascists, while others will point out that when the Traditions ruled the world, they [[{{Hypocrite}} were even worse]]. They do, however, tend to take offense whenever a Shapechanger of some flavor accuses them of being servants of the Weaver, as they find the idea of them being an UnwittingPawn to some [=EDE=] few of them have even heard of to be deeply insulting.
55	* KatanasAreJustBetter: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. Other swords were brought to be in-line with katanas stat-wise, which, in the books, really ''are'' just better for... some reason.
56	* LighterAndSofter: When compared to [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder the usual World of Darkness game]], and often called out as such, which has in turn averted [[EverythingTryingToKillYou what becomes of the servers who keep the original recipe.]]
57	* MauveShirt: Several {{NPC}}s such as the vampires' ghouls, demons' thralls, or the staff at the Chantry. Some of them become so well-liked that they become a BreakoutCharacter, as was the case with [[BrattyHalfPint Ada]] [[LittleMissBadass Hendricks]].
58	* MechanicallyUnusualClass: Several of the Limited character types are this. Examples include the Void Engineers for ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension'', Risen for ''TabletopGame/WraithTheOblivion'', and Earthbound for ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen''. The storytellers who allow characters like this straight-up warn players that attempting to play them is effectively playing on hard mode for one reason or another, including being kill-on-sight for other characters, specifically to deter SpecialSnowflakeSyndrome.
59	* MegaCrossover: The entire [[Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness World of Darkness]]. Bring some books or have a wiki handy, you're going to need them.
60	* MoreFriendsMoreBenefits: Getting enough friends in high places, whether they be player characters or {{NPC}}s, is a possible route to power, just like in every other ''[[Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness World of Darkness]]'' game. Of course, ''keeping'' that power is another matter entirely...
61	* MutualDisadvantage: Sums up the state of the conflict between the Technocracy and Pentex. The latter knows that it can't win a straight fight against the former due to being massively outnumbered and outgunned, and waging economic warfare against a group counting the Syndicate as one of its main assets would be financial suicide. The former, however, is extremely reluctant to bring down the full force of its vast arsenal and financial assets against the latter due to the fact that Pentex has a nasty habit of using its employees — most of whom are [[{{Muggles}} average Joes]] just trying to earn a paycheck and have no idea what their bosses are ''really'' up to — as human shields, and considering that Pentex is the very definition of 'too big to fail,' it going belly-up financially would trigger a global economic recession if not a full-blown depression with the Masses feeling the worst of it, and that's assuming it doesn't get just bailed out by the taxpayers. The result is a stalemate that only the player characters can break, meaning they have to decide if aiding the LesserOfTwoEvils is worth it.
62	* NerdsAreNaive: Simon was noticeably apprehensive about changing into the VR system's synaptic bodysuit with TeenGenius Alissa watching during his first Seeking scene. Alissa, oblivious to ''why'' Simon didn't want to get half naked in front of her, instead surmises that it must be because that bodysuit was universally hated by Technocrats at the Symposium due to it being made from uncomfortably form-fitting FutureSpandex. She then assures him that she personally overhauled the VR system and it no longer ''needed'' the suit.
63	* NewGamePlus: The Retiring mechanic can be seen as a form of this. When you voluntarily retire a character, you are allowed to create a new character with 25% of the retired character's XP as Floor XP.
64	* NoCampaignForTheWicked: Some character types, such as Nephandi, Black Spiral Dancers, and Baali are banned due to being impossible to implement into this setting without the game turning into a PlayerVersusPlayer free-for-all. The ones that aren’t banned are allowed on the grounds that they're only AmbiguouslyEvil or are {{Hero Antagonist}}s such as Technocrats and Waywards (though in their cases, they’re Limited, meaning only established players the [=STs=] trust will be allowed to play them). Others are much ''less'' AmbiguouslyEvil, and the [=STs=] are experimenting with allowing certain things to be playable (such Earthbound for ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen'').
65	* NotInThisForYourRevolution: While there are a few true believers in Starke's vision, there are several characters who are just going along for the ride because they personally benefit from the protection of other characters, or they feel they can manipulate the others into serving their own interests.
66	* OneSteveLimit:
67	** Thoroughly [[AvertedTrope averted]] with the name 'Michael.' There's at least two {{NPC}}s named 'Michael' (and that's not even counting the ArchangelMichael from ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen'''s background) as well as one player character named Michael.
68	** Also averted with the names 'William,' 'Daniel,' and 'Madeline.' Exaggerated with the name 'Alex,' when there were 'three' different characters named Alex at once, two male and one female.
69	* PrestigeClass: So-called 'Main Stage' characters. These are characters who successfully reached the 600 XP {{cap}} without being retired for one or another before then, and become so famous in-game that they become a part of the lore of their own splats (Status 6 and higher, mechanically). They are explicitly forbidden from taking part in plots not specifically tailored for them (so as to avoid being a SpotlightStealingSquad or a CrutchCharacter), but those plots that ''are'' meant for them are HarderThanHard.
70	* PutOnABus: More often than not, when a character is retired. This allows for that character to [[TheBusCameBack come back in some way]], such as when a former player returns and wants to pick that character back up, or if that character was beloved enough to become an {{NPC}}. In other, much rarer circumstances, they're KilledOffscreen, usually when the Storytellers know that that character (or their player) is for sure [[BusCrash never coming back]].
71	* RealLifeWritesThePlot:
72	** Hurricane Michael's effects on Florida were reflected in the game, much to the amusement of at least one character in the game named Michael.
73	** Thoroughly averted with the Covid-19 outbreak. Given that several players and storytellers have had their lives negatively affected by the virus, storytellers immediately ruled out having any sort of plotline based on it, as it would have been in very poor taste.
74	** Anything based on RealLife politics - especially in the United States - is also strictly off-limits, due to just about anything political these days being potent FlameBait.
75	* ShoutOut:
76	** Several. Characters regularly make references to everything from ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' to ''Series/GameOfThrones''. When [[TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen Lucifer]] finally appeared, he was pretty blatantly, well, [[Series/Lucifer2016 Lucifer]].
77	** When the [[TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning Hunters]] needed help dealing with some rogue [[TabletopGame/WraithTheOblivion Wraiths]], a type of supernatural they are ''not'' well-equipped to deal with, they came up with the idea of asking the [[TabletopGame/MageTheAscension Void Engineers]] for help. The ST of that scene titled the scene, "[[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} Who You Gonna Call?]]"
78	* SkillPointReset: Your first one is free. Every respec after that will shave an increasing percentage of XP from your character.
79	* StormingTheCastle: Several times, often during the conclusions of major plotlines. The first was the conclusion of the 'Blood, Drugs, and Magick' plotline, and the second was 'The Once and Future Prince.'
80	* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Almost always. Unless one of the Storytellers [[SubvertedTrope decides to]] [[KillerGameMaster be a jerk]].
81	* TeethClenchedTeamwork:
82	** All over the place. Werewolves and vampires in Starke, for example, have come to realize that there are greater threats out there than each other and are willing to fight together to defeat them, but that sure as hell doesn't mean they have to ''like'' it.
83	** Definitely between the Continuum Study Chantry and the Technocracy. [[DarkActionGirl Claire Weldon]] and [[BewareTheNiceOnes Joy Livingstone]] barely even try to hide their contempt for one another, but Joy, having seen for herself just how dangerous [[AlienInvasion Threat Null]] is even before becoming leader of the Chantry, admits that the [[TokenGoodTeammate Void Engineers]] at least have a point about them in particular.
84	* TownWithADarkSecret: Starke, Florida, founded by one [[MadScientist Amadeus Starke]], is built right on top of a massive, underground magickal research facility, that has existed in temporal stasis for centuries. The Sabbat found out about it, which is why they keep attacking the city. They think that a sleeping ancient is down there, somewhere, and they want to do what [[YourSoulIsMine what they do best]]. The players found out about it eventually, kicking the game's metaplot into high gear.
85	* UrbanFantasy: The game's primary setting is in a small town in Florida, though other settings have included Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Amelia Island.
86	* VideoGameCaringPotential: Aside from the mechanics found in various splats that encourage this, a notable example involved [[BrainwashedAndCrazy Sofia Gómez]]'s return as a Wraith. Madeline Cooper's own [[CoolSword Vengeance Sword]] appeared, and after Joy Livingstone [[CriticalHit scored a ridiculously lucky number of successess]] on a damage roll with it, Sofia only had a single health level remaining. Joy could have easily finished her off. What did she and Michael do, instead? [[DefeatEqualsFriendship Offered her mercy]] and then [[RedemptionEqualsDeath helped her pass on]], allowing her Avatar another chance at reincarnation. Even the [[GameMaster Storyteller]] running the scene admitted he didn't see that coming, and threw in another reward for both players afterward.
87	* WeAreStrugglingTogether: The true believers in Starke, most notably at least one former Visionary [[TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning Hunter]], make this into an artform. They've managed to get a few people in high places, such as Imbued in the United States Government, a Garou Sept Elder, and a Camarilla Prince to at least give it a shot, but the rest of the major players in supernatural society are all either skeptical at best and openly hostile to the idea at worst.
88	* WeHardlyKnewYe: Some of the named {{mooks}} have been particularly memorable as characters for funny one-liners or being a BossInMooksClothing due to particularly lucky (or unlucky) dice rolls. Few of them make second appearances.
89	* WhatTheHellPlayer: Certain [=STs=] have been known to use the Common Sense merit (assuming the character has it) to all but reach through the Fourth Wall and shake that character by the shoulders either before or after they make a questionable decision.
90	* WorldHalfFull: Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness is one of the most notorious examples of a CrapsackWorld in all of tabletop. It pretty much defined the GothicPunk subgenre. While it's still very much a CrapsackWorld here, Starke is a rare island in an endless sea of crap, but even those that live there question as to how long it can possibly last until the rest of the world takes notices and tries to throttle it in the crib.

Context Roleplay / ShadowsOverTheSouth