- I was more thinking of the unrefined metals/minerals inside of rocks were he ever to be inside a mine or something of the sort, not actually metals that'd been transformed already. Should've been more clear about that part.
- Changed Nightvision to just say a "Limited time".
- As for the reason he'd join, basically just to get himself even more fame and skill than he already has. He wants to be an adventurer that radiates experience when he walks into a random town, as now he's a little known in some states but not very much. This could easily help him in that goal. Should I have added that?
I haven't asked the GM about this at all, buuuut...
Bumping this to inform people that this RP is still accepting players. We just finished our first mission, so in the downtime might be a good chance to sign up for either side of the conflict! That, and Exla is kind of outnumbered by a person. Give 'em some support.
@1: Golems are definitely magic; I'm not sure why you'd even think they'd be science, unless I'm misreading your question. I had discussed alchemy with Thrall on skype regarding Anabella's potionbrewing before; it's also definitely magic in this setting, in fact inherently involving magic. That inherent magic is what distinguishes alchemy from its non-magical counterpart, chemistry.
@2: I could allow one skill, golem creation, to make golems of virtually any element, though some elements would be more difficult to create golems from than others. (Thus requiring a better roll; any metal for instance would be a lot more challenging than just stone.) Also, these golems would just be glorified animated versions of inanimate objects/materials; giving them special abilities/skills of their own would require additional skills on your part. Otherwise just having one skill for creating golems with their own skills would be open for exploiting.
... That reminds me, I totally forgot about telling Undying Phoenix what I'd allow the golem creation skill to do when he got it. I need to do that and let him refund his experience if he doesn't want it after all.
edited 28th Aug '15 10:58:55 PM by FirockFinion
You are reading this.1): Given the concept of alchemy (often a bridge between magic and science, or a blend of both), I'd say it's rather obvious why I think it could be science. Probably not the best examples, but look at real-world alchemy (turning metals into gold) and fictional alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist). In both, they're treated as magic at first, but through understanding and almost anyone being able to do it, and having hard-coded laws, it becomes more of a science and isn't so awe-inspiring. Maybe the specific GOLEM part is weird, but alchemy as a whole potentially being scientific? I don't see where you're coming from or what you're on about.
2): Now you're confusing me. My concept would be golems made of different elements, with different properties and abilities. That's simple enough, unless you want to go into more detail about it or have a suggestion/idea on how to make it game-fitting.
No, no, no. Not in this setting. I'm not doing full "Magic A" Is "Magic A" or Sufficiently Analyzed Magic; doing so would just make them scientifically explainable thus removing part of the point between the two factions. Science Cannot Comprehend Phlebotinum is in effect here, and part of what makes magic magic here is that it specifically can't be fully explained. It follows rules but never sticks to them adamantly.
If your character is using magical ingredients, using magical methods, or creating magical results, it's alchemy, and it's magic. If not, it's chemistry, and it's science. The two are considered extremely similar in setting but are specifically not the same thing, or even close.
Also, alchemy here is about making potions; it's not Full Metal Alchemist alchemy.
... >_<
That's exactly what I just did. Read my response again and double check it with the actual game rules that I have in the first post. I was telling you how I would allow golems to work in terms of game mechanics, specifically skills.
One skill for your character would create the golems but that skill alone wouldn't make golems that are any more complicated than animated material. They would have different properties based on the material but would not have any special skills. Only by adding on additional skills for your character could you give the golems special abilities of their own.
Cast just create golem on some rocks? It's just a moving pile of rocks with all that implies. Cast create golem and infuse:elemental spike and now it's a moving pile of rocks that can shoot sharpened stalagmites at targets. That kind of thing.
I need to go to bed now so I won't be responding for some time.
You are reading this.Name: Maximus Therapon
Gender: Male
Age: 25
Race: Human
Faction: Exla
Appearance: Maximus is the most average looking guy one will ever see in the world.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RidiculouslyAverageGuy
It shows in this trope's picture. Maximus prefers wearing a longcoat or a business suit because it makes him look pretty damn awesome despite his average looks.
Personality: Maximus is generally cynical and distrusting of people due to his rather grim brush with gangs in his childhood. This is why his dealings with people are usually melancholic and downright depressing. He is paranoid to the point that he plans fighting strategies with the people he talks to while engaging in a conversation. He has a sick mind that is constantly devising new ways to blow shit up and skewer people to bits.
Backstory: Hailing from the most violent neighborhood in Exla, young Maximus' life was one filled with strife. One observer has commented that "the amount of blood spilled on the streets flowed like an endless river, bringing further evidence of the bestial savagery of the local people." Indeed, although Maximus is not a prodigy in the ways of violence, through constant exposure to the street fights and the overall fierceness of the inhabitants in general, he has become accustomed to this barbarian lifestyle as much as any natural cold-blooded killer could ever be. Naturally, he joined the Exlan military in an attempt to find a more legal outlet for his violent tendencies.
Backstory Note: Why would the military of all people allow such a thug in their league anyway? Let me explain, he comes from the City of Dis where strife is commonplace. The military's elite troops come from there because they're used to the everyday savagery there. Though some of the more moral circles of the military opposed hiring those assholes, the other less moral circles decided that they needed some stronger men even if they proved to be loose cannons.
Recently he has been sent Seliin to back up the local power that supports Exla headed by a Count Escom. He has been chosen for this mission because of his combat skills.
HP/MP: 5/5
Crunch stuff:
Skills:
1. Marksmanship (Level 4) - Back at home he was known as the "Head Blaster" for making skulls explode. Training in the military certainly did help develop his shooting ability.
2. Knife Stab (Level 2) - He is adept in the use of knives, having used them frequently in gang wars.
Items
A couple of bowie knives: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_knife
A couple of shoe knives: http://deadliestwarrior.wikia.com/wiki/Shoe_Knife
A sword bayonet to attach to his M1 Garand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_bayonet
An M1 Garand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Garand
A Smith and Wesson Model 500: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_500
A multitool shovel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60OZhrTB6o
Made by one of Maximus' friends.
Money: 100 Exla bills.
Other:
Reputation (Low) - He is only known as the "Head Blaster" in his own city, but he is quite legendary there.
Catchphrase - "This is why I'm the HEAD BLASTER!!!"
Theme Music:
Main: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7MzVRImJpU
Fighting with Knives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8bpPY8bUNw
Fighting against Multiple Opponents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3VSYWmbJFg
EXPERIENCE POINTS RECORD:
1.) Starts with 30 Experience Points at the beginning of the game.
-Spent 20 EXP to upgrade Level 3 Marksmanship to Level 4 Marksmanship -Remaining EXP 10 (Also, during my first expenditure of my EXP, I thought MP cost 10 EXP so... yeah, let's never mind that.)
REMAINING EXP: 10
Status: Finished, I've made the final adjustments that suit me well.
Note on Edits: I've edited out the "Serene Marksmanship" and replaced it just with "Marksmanship". Plus, I've taken your previous Item suggestion into account.
edited 26th Sep '15 12:16:19 AM by Victor_Skye
"In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war."Well it says you're still editing but I've gotta get going for tonight real soon so I'll comment on what's currently up.
Your character's back story is a little... Bizarre. I know I left a lot of details unspoken specifically so people could fill them in as they wanted, but a few things just don't make sense.
First, it makes him out to sound extremely passionate and militant about technology; okay, but then it also goes on to say that the "Creed of Progress" is stirring up worry amongst the upper class of Exla... A nation which is built on being passionate about technology. This two and two is not fitting together.
Also it mentions religious wars; religious wars against who? Exla and Dorothan have not actually been at war yet, just a tense cold war.
The bigger problem other than the back story just being bizarre, is that the reason for Maximus to go to Seliin is not compatible with the reason the rest of the Exla team is there; it's not even compatible with the RP at all. The Exlan characters need to be going to Seliin with the intent of backing the local power that supports Exla, AKA Count Escom; not the intent to just take Seliin for themselves. Also, no government is going to send someone causing a ruckus in their own borders to help with a delicate situation in a foreign country unless they are pants on head retarded, so even the explanation of why he's going there in the first place doesn't make sense.
As for the crunch stuff, it's all acceptable, though I will say it seems a tad uninspired. (The Exlans have steampunk and clockwork tech; you don't have to just take real world items.) Also listing a Crowning Moment Of Awesome onto one of your skills just looks kinda tacky; and listing it on a level 1 skill seems hilariously bizarre.
edited 24th Sep '15 7:28:11 AM by FirockFinion
You are reading this.I'll take these into account.
Anyways, I do tend to make my characters so fanatical that it's just embarrassing, so I'll tone down the rabble rousing and instead replace it with a loyalty to the Exlan government.
edited 24th Sep '15 7:46:25 AM by Victor_Skye
"In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war."Looks better now. I do wonder about why the Exlan military would send a soldier off with three high power revolvers and nothing more practical like a rifle, but if you really want to go that route, okay.
The only problem is that I don't know what you want "close combat" to be; that's too vague for me to accept. Is it about CQC firefighting? Is it a martial art? If so, which one? Is it a more crude barroom brawling kind of fighting style?
You are reading this.Well now he has way too much stuff.
Two knives, a shoe knife, a small sword, a rifle, three handguns, molotov cocktail, a cyanide cigarette, a rolled up newspaper, and a multitool shovel is just ridiculous for a starting character.
Also his skills can only do one thing. You can't have his marksmanship skill also be a cool headed skill. Street fighting should just be about basic punches and kicks plus improvised weapons at most; it can't also be a gun skill.
You are reading this.The listed Crowning Moment of Awesome still looks tacky. (In fact it looks even more tacky now that you tried to make it a bigger CMoA) And the category listings on his items now seems superfluous and just makes that area unwieldy to read.
But other than the sheet being hard to read, it looks all good now. Maximus Therapon is accepted.
Don't forget that you also get 30 starting experience; if you're going to use any before coming in, post it in the discussion thread.
You are reading this."But other than the sheet being hard to read, it looks all good now. Maximus Therapon is accepted."
-Well, I tried... you could give me a hint or two on making things easier to read.
"Don't forget that you also get 30 starting experience; if you're going to use any before coming in, post it in the discussion thread."
-Er, how does it work?
Example: Like I put all my 30 EXP on HP then I get 30 more HP?
edited 24th Sep '15 9:41:50 PM by Victor_Skye
"In the grim darkness of the future, there is only war."... You need to reread the rules in my starting post. It explains there how you can spend EXP.
"you could give me a hint or two on making things easier to read."
Cut down on superfluous text that doesn't need to be there, mainly.
If I were to rewrite the item section while still keeping the links, I'd make it like this:
A couple of bowie knives: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_knife
A shoe knife: http://deadliestwarrior.wikia.com/wiki/Shoe_Knife
A sword bayonet to attach to his M1 Garand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword_bayonet
An M1 Garand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Garand
A Smith and Wesson Model 500: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_500
A multitool shovel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60OZhrTB6o
Made by one of Maximus' friends.
Money: 100 Exla bills.
Alternatively keeping the flavor texting would still be fine, but I'd at least remove the "Category A - Knives and Swords" kind of stuff.
You are reading this.Not the best idea; Anyone Can Die is in effect for this RP, remember. Also you should leave quotes for the roleplaying in the game.
@Boot knife and vest: Another boot knife doesn't matter, but the vest is bringing you back into the territory of having too much stuff. Ditch it or ditch something else.
@EXP spending: MP are 15 experience each, not 10.
I need to take a nap and then maybe head out, so I won't be responding to anything for a while.
edited 25th Sep '15 5:00:42 PM by FirockFinion
You are reading this.As I answered in the PM you sent me, yes technically, but not in the really heavy sci-fi sort of sense.
EDIT: Something else I forgot to mention in that PM is that while a straight up giant spider character wouldn't be allowed, an otherwise normal character with "turn into a giant spider temporarily" as a skill would totally be allowed.
Also, post is also to mention that I'm once again accepting characters for either factions as the teams seem more evened out now.
edited 29th Nov '15 4:10:05 AM by FirockFinion
You are reading this.

I just personally don't see it as a "natural" element is what I mean. But like I said, it doesn't really matter what the magically conjured shield looks like it's made out of; just as long as conjuring it doesn't involve forcibly handicapping anyone or anything.
Also, main thread is live!
We'll still be accepting players of course.
You are reading this.