[M&M] The All-Seeing Eye

[Hal Hammerhand]

I'm sorry if that general reference was far too broad but I want to incorporate a few genres because I can never settle on just one. Basically, time travel, parallel universes, past, future, robots, aliens, monsters...I am definitely leaving it open for romance and horror even if I am very bad at writing one and even worse at writing the other.

I would like to write a game that I can keep interesting enough for myself and hopefully the players have fun too. Yes, stumbling but they are exceptional for reasons beyond their early comprehension since they were chosen by something.

[girlplay]

I'm leaning towards the hostage negotiator idea. With the other concepts so far being an athlete and a treasure diver, it might be nice to have somebody in the group who can shoot if a situation devolves to that.

But the celebrity is just so, so tempting!

[girlplay]

What skill bonus range would be considered "expert" level?

[Hal Hammerhand]

With an attribute of 5-6, you're the best in the world with that attribute so that leaves you 9-10 ranks in a corresponding skill.

Expert level with a gifted level attribute would be 6 skill rank with an attribute of 3 minimum to be called an expert, I would say.

Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

I would love to see a mega-hot superstar celebrity that can command people with her presence alone as she walks into a room.

[DrowNinjaPrincess]

I might be interested! Just have some questions though.

I know we aren't allowed powers. Looking at advantages and really high levels of skills, it's probably the next closest thing. Advantages that stand out to me are Inventor, Ritualist, and Artificer. These advantages, combined with high skill levels, give access to effects that emulate Powers, which you have requested us not to take. All it takes is some downtime and special materials...

Are these advantages allowed? I could see Inventor at least being realistic, and access to items related to technology should be easy to limit. As for expertise on magic, however, that's another something special, most likely beyond doing what you intended, regardless of time constraints. Nevertheless, I find the idea pretty cool. Perhaps, as long as the effects are minor and could potentially be explainable in other ways? Or stuff like "morale bonuses"? I know, that's more of a D&D term. Maybe in this dream world, or alternate dimension, there are more pronounced effects? I don't know.

[Ladytron]

Originally Posted by Hal Hammerhand

With an attribute of 5-6, you're the best in the world with that attribute so that leaves you 9-10 ranks in a corresponding skill.

Not quite understanding you and/or looking for clarification. Do you want mac attribute as 5 or 6? What is max skill lvl? Max attribute + skill (+ advantage?)?.

[Hal Hammerhand]

@drowninjaprincess: I would say whatever you believe as far as modern constraints. I'll leave it up to players, do you believe people in this modern era can harness energy's or curses through 'magical' rituals.

@ladytron: max skill is PL (5) + 10. With skill rank and attribute + advantages cannot exceed +15

I was trying to give Girlplay an approximation of numbers that would make a character an 'expert' in something such as persuasion or an expertise.

[girlplay]

Girlplay's Character Application: Maria Name: Maria Petranova Age: 24 Gender: cis-female Ethnicity: Russian-American Concept: Hollywood's newest, hottest celebrity and professional model Personality: Maria is a second generation Russian immigrant who values her heritage but was also born and raised in the States, so she's as American as apple pie. She's a people-pleaser by nature but picked up a strong streak of pragmatism from her parent. It was her middle school girlfriend that convinced Maria that she could dream and "shoot for the stars", and in Maria's case, that was literal. Her goal from a young age was to become a Hollywood actress and a household name. Fortunately, her good nature and beauty attracted the correct eye while vacationing in the Hamptons with her parents, and she landed a role as an extra in a movie. And the rest is history. Maria learned to love being in front of the camera, especially once she learned that audiences loved her. She's trying to keep grounded while enjoying a meteoric rise to fame. One of her most favorite quotes is, "If what I'm doing brings joy to the world, then I'm happy." She can be a little self-sacrificing and self-deprecating because she wants the group to succeed more than anything. Frequent conversations with her parents remind her of her roots and that she's just a person like everyone else. That's difficult to remember when she's constantly on the news and social media and paparazzi are clamoring for any word she has to say. Life's a struggle, but worth it. Appearance: Maria definitely won the genetic lottery, being both kind of exotic and the girl next door in one small package. She has naturally dark hair (and refuses to dye it) and eyes, a seriously cute look - especially when she smiles. She has soft, supple shoulders, a naturally almost-too-slender frame, and a pleasing build. She is just slightly taller than average, mostly because of her longer than typical legs. Her style varies widely, usually appropriate to whatever project she is working on or what setting she is in. At the moment, she is filming an action-adventure movie, so she has been dressing in a faux military style with her hair in a tight ponytail. Backstory: Maria's parents (Peter and Natalia) emigrated from Russian when they were fairly young to avoid being called to military service. Their escape was long and difficult and costly, but they arrived in America and applied for citizenship and jumped into good, honest work. They never lived well but were eventually able to buy a tiny house. They put everything into raising their one and only child, who grew up healthy and happy. She saw how much her parents scraped to get by and learned to be grateful and unselfish. In school, she enjoyed popularity and made many friends. Her discovery happened more or less by chance when her parents finally opted for an expensive vacation. At the fancy hotel they stayed in, she met people with connections and money. George Hargrave, an up-and-coming director, fell in love with Maria and offered roles in some of his early movies. The camera loved her and she soon found herself in a modelling and acting career, never having finished high school. Maria has starred in nearly every genre as her appeal is universal enough for her to avoid being typecast. Some controversy surrounds her appearance in men's magazines starting at the age of 15 and being cast in a rom-com at age 17 (with an adult co-star). She does not see herself as the victim of exploitation and is super-thankful for the opportunities that she has been given. Complications/Motivations: Notoriety - she's always on camera, even when not filming or posing, so she feels that she must put her best foot forward at all times. People pleaser - Maria needs to make those around her happy first, before herself. Humility - Despite being a celebrity, she is not better than anybody else and must stay grounded. Success - her dreams of stardom are what motivates Maria above all else.   (75pp) Abilities: 34 Defenses: 11 Skills: 20 Powers: 0 Advantages: 10 ----Abilities----(34 pp) Str: 1| Sta: 1| Agl: 2| Dex: 3| Fgt: 1| Int: 3| Awe: 2| Pre: 4 ----Offense---- Unarmed strike: +3, damage 1 (+1 with improvised weapons) Grab attacks: +5 Ranged attacks: +5 ----Defense----(11 pp) Dodge(Agl): 4 | Parry(Fgt): 4 | Tough(Sta): 3/5 | Fortitude(Sta): 3 | Will(Awe): 4 -----Skills------(20 pp) Skill Roll modifier Acrobatics (1 pp, agi) +4 Athletics (1 pp, str) +3 Close combat (1 pp, fgt) +3 Deception (1 pp, pre) +6 (+11) Expertise: Acting (3 pp, int) +9 Expertise: Modeling (2 pp, int) +7 Insight (1 pp, awe) +4 Intimidation (1 pp, pre) +6 Investigation (1 pp, int) +5 Perception (1 pp, awe) +4 Persuasion (1 pp, pre) +6 (+11) Ranged combat (1 pp, dex) +5 Sleight of hand (1 pp, dex) +5 Technology (1 pp, int) +5 Treatment (1 pp, int) +5 Vehicles (1 pp, dex) +5 ----Advantages---- (10) Equipment 1 = 5 equipment points Attractive, very (2) = bonus of +5 to deception and persuasion checks (if target could be attracted) Defensive roll (2) = +2 to toughness while not disabled Fascinate = use Persuasion to entrance somebody Grabbing finesse = use dexterity for grab checks Improved grab = use grab 1 handed and no vulnerability Improvised weapons = +1 to damage with improvised weapons Instant up = stand from prone as a free action ----Powers-----(0) n/a ----Gear-----(-) Smart phone (2) Video camera (with audio recording too) and carrying case (2) Concealed microphone w/ blue tooth (1)

[girlplay]

Hi Hal.

So, about her skills: Maria is proficient in every skill at rank 2 (1 pp each) to reflect a general training in anything she might need to "fake" on camera. She has to at least look like she knows what she's doing, so she kind of does... at a basic level. And then I had her specialize in modeling and acting with the Expertise skills.

[Hal Hammerhand]

@Girlplay: That looks very promising and yes, a little skill in everything screams actress without a typecast. Love it!

[DrowNinjaPrincess]

Originally Posted by Hal Hammerhand

@drowninjaprincess: I would say whatever you believe as far as modern constraints. I'll leave it up to players, do you believe people in this modern era can harness energy's or curses through 'magical' rituals.

@ladytron: max skill is PL (5) + 10. With skill rank and attribute + advantages cannot exceed +15

I was trying to give Girlplay an approximation of numbers that would make a character an 'expert' in something such as persuasion or an expertise.

Yeah that's the thing. There's still a number of people in the modern world that believe in magic and spirituality in some form or another.. and probably a much smaller minority that actually 'practice' it.

I think I have a really good way to start off, which should improve significantly once we get more into the game, and we get more points to work with?

Originally Posted by girlplay

Hi Hal.

So, about her skills: Maria is proficient in every skill at rank 2 (1 pp each) to reflect a general training in anything she might need to "fake" on camera. She has to at least look like she knows what she's doing, so she kind of does... at a basic level. And then I had her specialize in modeling and acting with the Expertise skills.

That's a pretty good take on it! Just a suggestion, though, would you consider the Jack of All Trades advantage? That seems to be what you may be looking for.

[Vesper]

Still working on my app. The first draft was turning out like Tony Sttark without the armor. The second one was more like Bruce Wayne.

She is turning out to be a jack-of-all-trades and pretty good at all of them with photographic memory. Actually based on a RL friend of mine who seems to know everything or deduce/wing it with shocking competency.

[Hal Hammerhand]

@Drowninjaprincess: Yes, I plan on rewarding points every episode based on things like performance and RP, mostly RP.
You will each grow and learn and even have the chance to acquire powers of some sort of another, i.e. magic items/weapons, spell books and afflictions to name a few....

[Ladytron]

Ladytron's Character Application (WIP): XXX Name: Age: Gender: Ethnicity: Concept: Personality: Appearance: Backstory: Complications/Motivations: ??? - ??? ??? - ??? ??? - ??? ??? - ???   (75pp) Abilities: 34 Defenses: 8 Skills: 18 Powers: 0 Advantages: 5 ----Abilities----(34 pp) Str: 0| Sta: 1| Agl: 2| Dex: 2| Fgt: 1| Int: 3| Awe: 6| Pre: 2 ----Offense---- XXX: +0 XXX: +0 XXX: +0 ----Defense----(8 pp) Dodge (Agl): 4 | Parry (Fgt): 4 | Tough (Sta): 1 | Fort (Sta): 2 | Will (Awe): 8 -----Skills------(18 pp) Skill Roll modifier Acrobatics (0 pp, agi) +0 Athletics (0 pp, str) +0 Close combat (0 pp, fgt) +0 Deception (0 pp, pre) +0 Expertise: Psychologist (5 pp, int) +13 Insight (4 pp, awe) +14 Intimidation (0 pp, pre) +0 Investigation (0 pp, int) +0 Perception (4 pp, awe) +14 Persuasion (3 pp, pre) +8 Ranged combat (0 pp, dex) +0 Sleight of hand (0 pp, dex) +0 Technology (0 pp, int) +0 Treatment (2 pp, int) +7 Vehicles (0 pp, dex) +0 ----Advantages---- (5) Assessment = You are able to quickly size up an opponent's combat capabilities Benefit 2 = Independently wealthy Skill Mastery = Insight Ultimate Effort = Will Defence ----Powers-----(0) n/a ----Gear-----(-) XXX

[girlplay]

Originally Posted by DrowNinjaPrincess

That's a pretty good take on it! Just a suggestion, though, would you consider the Jack of All Trades advantage? That seems to be what you may be looking for.

Hi. Thanks for the suggestion. That's not really what I was going for though. The Jack of All Trades advantage allows the character to use skills without training but does not actually make the person better at doing so. I figure that Maria has at least a little training in lots of things, learned on set. Somebody showed her how to load, hold, and fire a gun so that she looks competent on camera, for example.