[d20-Modern] Monsters in Montana - Conspiracy X Campaign

[Chekken]

Originally Posted by page6e23

Conspiracy X 2.0 core book on DriveThru.

I'm thinking about a DEA field agent in their late forties. A Wisdom-based character, whose main tools are perception and self-control. Others usually consider him cold and distant, but that only describes him in professional situations. In private life, he's quite relaxed and fun.

AEGIS can easily assign him to any 'top secret task force', meaning he's actually doing AEGIS stuff while he's officially doing DEA stuff.

Since I have a lot of knowledge of the setting, I suppose Bertram might have had personal contact with extraterrestials (though he might not know it was them), and done some missions for AEGIS.

Hehe, that backstory sent the wheels turning. It would be interesting to do a mission or two that has to do with "MKUltra" (mind control drugs and other reality-altering substances). Would that be of interest to anyone?

If Betram was in the DEA, it's possible that he was exposed to extraterrestrial-type tasks, but that he didn't connect the dots between that task and anything that is alien. Maybe he was in a drug lab to investigate a drug that doesn't exist, for example? It would be like the "real-life" alien technologist Bob Lazar, who claims he didn't know he was working on UFOs until after he left Groom Lake.

The revelations that the characters might find before the "Big Reveal" would typically not be clearly indicative of extraterrestrials or the urban legend contact. Julia's backstory is excellent in that regard because it's not clear what exactly happened to her pilot father, but it is clear that it wasn't a normal occurrence, and that there could be a story hook there.

Perhaps some players, even, have a more orthodox approach: for example, an ex drug addict construction worker who has literally seen everything, and who will need to be convinced that they actually did see some entities when they were "tripping out". Maybe the PC unknowingly grew up around the urban legend stuff, but didn't know that it was "supernatural"? There are tons of options for how each player found AEGIS itself, and that's what make the characters so much fun!

Originally Posted by Mitsubachi

Vehicle: I am going to beg the GM for a Mercedes SLK200! Otherwise I guess it will be some little Toyota compact.

Alright. I have a compromise.
You can have the Mercedes...
...but the accelerator is in poor condition, and it can only do compact speeds until someone fixes it.
Is that fair?

EDIT: Also, I added all new applications and interested people to post #2 on page 1.

[The Rat Queen]

Application Name: Dr. Dahlia Marlowe Age: 32 Sex: Female Civilian, Professional, or Investigator Character?: Professional Specific Profession from d20 Modern (if any): Academic - Archeologist Three words that describe this character best: Intellectual, dedicated, driven (some might say 'obsessive') What do you as a player like best – RP, combat, or investigation?: All three should work together, but my favorite out of the three is roleplay. Tell a story about the conspiracy proof that your character produced for AEGIS: Ironically, Dr. Marlowe was originally attempting to debunk AEGIS' findings as pseudoarchaeology, trying to prove their conclusions were based upon sensationalism, self-contradiction, fallacious logic, manufactured or misinterpreted evidence, and incorrect information. However, upon meeting with several AEGIS protestors and extensively examining their evidence, she was unable to prove conclusively that the information was erroneous or that the findings were misguided. In fact, the deeper she delved, the more Dr. Marlowe was forced to conclude that the evidence presented did, in fact, meet industry standards of anthropological theory, and archaeological and historical methods. Eventually, she began tying in the information provided with her own research on religions, magic, tradition, symbolism, and the sacred. She found increasing cases of verifiable evidence that many of the beliefs, rituals, and symbols were tied to evidence provided on the existence of aliens. Tell me about the character’s backstory, personality traits, and values: She earned her masters in Archaeological Heritage, studying the sum of all evidence of human existence, including the material remains and environmental evidence of past societies. She traveled abroad on archeological digs for several years before returning to work on her PhD. After gaining her doctorate in Archaeological Anthropology, she began teaching classes while studying the archaeology of religion and ritual in her spare time, tying in all the information she had gathered to connect current human society to common early societies. Characters have access to one vehicle worth less than $30K (Wealth DC 29). Describe your vehicle. (Note that vehicles may not have weapons attached or be unsafe for the road): Ford F-150 XL, white two-door pickup truck with a 4.2-liter, 202-horsepower V6 engine. How many posts can you make per week? I hope for around 2 medium sized posts. Is this doable?: Yes, that should be very doable!

[Drachenspirit]

Application NAME: Sadie Foster Age: 24 Sex: F Class: Fast Hero Civilian, Professional, or Investigator Character?: Civilian Specific Profession from d20 Modern (if any): Professional Athlete Three words that describe this character best: Driven, Intuitive, truth-finder What do you as a player like best – RP, combat, or investigation?: RP first, Investigation second, and Combat third. Tell a story about the conspiracy proof that your character produced for AEGIS: It was during a new route ascent up Granite Peak that changed Sadie's life forever. She had heard about the lights in the sky in the area at the time, but paid it no mind - chalking it up to crazies and conspiracy theories. She'd started the ascent with a few "groupies" who followed her exploits on the web and social media, but they'd been more talk than skill so she'd decided to finish the last bit on her own with ProGo* cameras and her phone to document as she went. She was moving slowly, but so far without problems up one solid face when the lights started to appear. She didn't pay them too much mind until one came dangerously close to her. She turned her camera towards it and that's when her battery died - same with her phone. Then, and only then did the light come closer - winking out a mere 20' away. That's when she saw it in full view, a small craft with a viewing or pilot's station. She remembered clearly what she'd thought at the time; This isn't real. It' can't be. There's... someone, or some kind of... one person-thing inside there. She turned to put her face against the cold granite wall for a dose of reality and looked back. It was still there, watching. She quickly remembered that she'd wanted to make some film look old school like the climbers some 50 or so years back and had a Super8 camera along. She pulled it from a hanging pouch, saw it was wound and began filming, but just from her side to try and be inconspicuous. She got about 15 seconds of video before the thing's light came back on and it darted away. Damn, she'd thought as she hung there alone in the dark with only starlight to let her see. And from that moment on, she knew she had to find out what that was all about. Her video was her submittal into the group, and she quickly met others who didn't seem so crazy anymore. Tell me about the character’s backstory, personality traits, and values: Sadie grew up in a small town in East Central Texas much like any other. Always a natural athlete in junior high and High School, there wasn't a tree she couldn't or wouldn't climb. Team sports didn't appeal to her much, though some track and field along with cross country did. Still not enough, she quickly got into the more extreme sports of climbing - both free and tethered-, sky diving, mountain biking, Spartan races, and more. She gained a following quickly as she documented what she did and lived off those sponsors and such. What drove her was the challenge of doing something better or before anyone else. She didn't make excuses, and judged people for their actions and character over words - something she believed in and lived by. If she had a 'guiding star' it would be "Respect of the individual" and the freedom to be oneself and pursue one's own life and happiness. Though she doesn't value material things so much, she does value quality and what's of use to her as she does what she does. She prefers things that have a proven track record and that last. She always knew she was a truth seeker, but until recently that truth had been in herself and what she could accomplish and live in the moments of the thrill of "controlled danger." Characters have access to one vehicle worth less than $30K (Wealth DC 29). Describe your vehicle: 1980 International Scout in great condition. How many posts can you make per week? I hope for around 2 medium sized posts. Is this doable?: Yes

[Stadiumite]

Application Name: Joey Wexler Age: 29 Sex: Male Class: Tough Hero Civilian, Professional, or Investigator Character?: Civilian Specific Profession from d20 Modern (if any): Adventurer Three words that describe this character best: Rugged, Resourceful, Solitary What do you as a player like best – RP, combat, or investigation?: Combat and RP. (Not really just combat. I like opportunity to utilize the abilities that my character has. Combat abilities, skills, feats, talents Tell a story about the conspiracy proof that your character produced for AEGIS:Joey has spent a lot of time in the wilderness of Montana. Over the last 18 months he has experienced a lot of unusual events. Strange lights in the sky. Illusive and strange "watchers" in the woods. He found traces of physical evidence. Burn marks on trees, footprints, a few photographs. AEGIS is the only place where he has found people who will take his claims seriously. Tell me about the character’s backstory, personality traits, and values: Joey's father, a wealthy Hollywood doctor, built his fortune by founding and selling a successful surgical equipment company. However, from a young age, Joey became disillusioned with the trappings of privilege. While he hasn’t entirely abandoned his trust-fund roots, he uses his wealth to fund a life of wilderness exploration. Mountain climbing and extended survival challenges in remote landscapes dominate his time and energy. Deeply frustrated by inexperienced adventurers who endanger themselves or harm the environment through reckless actions, Joey is a staunch advocate for responsible outdoor behavior. That urge to protect the wilderness spurred his interest in investigating the strange things that he has witnessed. A solitary individual, Joey thrives on the challenges posed by nature, finding them far more fulfilling than human interaction. He values simplicity, self-reliance, and resourcefulness, solving problems with ingenuity and living by the mantra that less is more. Characters have access to one vehicle worth less than $30K (Wealth DC 29). Describe your vehicle. (Note that vehicles may not have weapons attached or be unsafe for the road): Maroon 2018 Land Rover Defender How many posts can you make per week? I hope for around 2 medium sized posts. Is this doable?: 2 post a week is good.

[page6e23]

Name: Bertram Kjoestrom

Age: 47

Sex: male

Class: dedicated hero

Investigator

Profession: investigative or law enforcement

Three words that describe this character best: level-headed, curious, perceptive

RP, combat, or investigation?: investigation and roleplaying

The story about the conspiracy proof that your character produced for AEGIS: Bertram is definitely not an undercover agent, his people skills are not good enough for that. However, he can prep a UC very well, he sees and understands what makes a successful one, even if he can't do it himself. So, he had several UCs as a handler, and one of them trickled some crazy intel back at him, time and again. He couldn't decide what to believe and what not to. Eventually, despite knowing how unprofessional the idea was, he decided to see those wild claims for himself, basically jeopardizing the whole investigation and the agent. The protocol breach did not end in a catastrophe, but Bertram's sense of security did break, and he started lapsing in his judgement, and even dipped into drinking -- something he avoided entirely so far.
Sooner or later his superiors noticed something, but before it could explode in his face, he quit the DEA, and set aside time to clear his mind and decide what he really wanted. And it was not that difficult, actually. The things he saw that night, the fragment of words and phrases he caught (hybrid, alien, DNA, AEGIS) changed his perception of the world forever, and wouldn't leave him alone.

The character’s backstory, personality traits, and values: First of all, Bertram is a fun guy, though very few people know this. He sticks to a small group of friends, where he can let this side of his out, but in his professional life he is distant, analytical, and calculating. He needs to be, because UCs lives depended on it, and he took that seriously. And he got used to it so much, that outside of his private life he just behaves like that as a routine.
He primarily wants to understand things, to better adapt to them. It took him several decades to figure out that the root of this attitude is his parents' personality and relationship. Both of them are capricious, passionate people, who mostly behave by urges and emotions, not by rationale. As a child, he was so confused about them, he escaped into the observant, analytical attitude he is so known of.
He actually likes sci-fi (though not fantasy), he is a fan of Stanislaw Lem and several similar writers. He finds their ideas refreshing within the framework of reason.

How many posts can you make per week? 2 per week is fine

[Snicker]

I can't drop a full application right this moment because I'm traveling for the holidays and have to steal time on family members' keyboards, but I'm thinking of a civilian social character - probably a mix of Charismatic and Dedicated Hero. I had originally planned to submit that, but took time to re-evaluate when I saw we already had some party face submissions - but they seem to have been changed or withdrawn, so now we need a party face again.

[Chekken]

Originally Posted by Snicker

I can't drop a full application right this moment because I'm traveling for the holidays and have to steal time on family members' keyboards, but I'm thinking of a civilian social character - probably a mix of Charismatic and Dedicated Hero. I had originally planned to submit that, but took time to re-evaluate when I saw we already had some party face submissions - but they seem to have been changed or withdrawn, so now we need a party face again.

Mitsy was hoping to put in a party face type of character, but then something came up and we need a new face.

I can see advantages to playing both Dedicated or Charismatic for this campaign. I guess it depends on whether you'd want your character to overcome obstacles by talking it out or by using resources and skills.

[Snicker]

Originally Posted by Chekken

Mitsy was hoping to put in a party face type of character, but then something came up and we need a new face.

I can see advantages to playing both Dedicated or Charismatic for this campaign. I guess it depends on whether you'd want your character to overcome obstacles by talking it out or by using resources and skills.

After perusing the D20 Modern book again, I think I might go for a Smart/Charismatic multi class - someone who excels at getting information, whether from documents and computers or from people's heads. Skills and talking both!

Submission forthcoming, when I get the chance.

[Snicker]

Working on my submission now, and I'm not sure whether to pick Investigative or Student for my character's profession. Both are thematically appropriate; it just comes down to whether I want Personal Firearms Proficiency or not, which essentially means I'm deciding whether to go into melee or ranged.

To me, that depends on the team makeup! I'm probably going to invest too much into mental attributes to be a great fighter in any case, but it's probably inevitable we get in some dust-ups sooner or later (and most of your character build options in D20 Modern are related to combat in some way), so I want to make something that supports the team. If we plan on a largely melee-focused party, I might go down the Defensive Martial Arts line and make a tripping machine, but if that won't help anyone, I'll probably go for a conventional gunfighter.

So, what are the rest of you thinking for your characters? Ranged or melee?

[Snicker]

Application Name: Gertrude "Gertie" McMurtry Age: 23 Sex: Female Civilian, Professional, or Investigator: Civilian Profession: Investigative Three words that describe this character: Confident, manipulative, stubborn What I as a player like best: RP, then investigation, then combat, but none should be neglected. Conspiracy proof that this character produced for AEGIS: One of Gertie's college assignments was to take a series of photos of a location "that isn't usually photographed" somewhere in the city. One group of friends stumbled on what seemed to be an empty, clandestine laboratory on the city outskirts. Before they could turn in their photos, they were each visited by men with dark suits and darker demeanors who claimed to be law enforcement and demanded all copies of the photos. Those that didn't comply soon found their computers hacked or their cameras stolen from their dorms. A couple returned to the laboratory, but found only an empty building, with not so much of a paper clip remaining of what had been there. The local police, of course, claimed to have no idea who the men were. Gertie was not among those friends and never saw the photos, let alone produced them for AEGIS. She did, however, produce evidence of the conspiracy to remove them. She requested CCTV footage from every location at which the men in black confronted her classmates, but every time, the equipment had suffered an unexpected failure or the video files were corrupted. City records didn't indicate who owned or rented the property where the lab was located. The building had power, water, and internet, but each provider had no record of anyone paying the bills. Altogether, there was no evidence - and that lack of evidence was profound. Gertie wanted to print her findings in the college newspaper, but her professors refused, so she posted it on the school's community board. Almost no one noticed. But AEGIS did. Backstory, personality, and values: Gertie didn't decide to become a journalist because she loved the truth, wanted to expose corruption, or anything like that. She did it for the adventure. Gertie was born to a well-off family on the east coast and was raised in a good home, eating good meals and going to good schools - all very safe, secure, and straightforward. All very boring. Journalists travel to different places, talk to interesting people, and are at the forefront of all the new and weird developments of the world. They never know what the next day or the next year will bring, and that's exactly what Gertie wants. To her, all the other stuff - enlightening the masses, speaking truth to power, and so on - are secondary benefits. It's her desire for adventure that grants Gertie her fearlessness and tenacity; every danger is just another challenge, and every challenge is just waiting to be conquered. It's her lack of ideological principles, on the other hand, that grants Gertie her capacity for deception, manipulation, and lies. She's not remorseless or devoid of guilt or empathy, but she believes the ends justify the means, and if she knows someone will be hurt if they learn she decieved them, that just means they should never find out. Currently, Gertie is a freelance journalist and has just arrived in Montana to write about the missing teenagers. Vehicle: 2019 Honda Civic in Rallye Red, purchased by her parents before she left for college. They'd originally planned to buy it in white (statistically, the safest color), but someone told them red cars get pulled over more often, so they passed that and the car on to Gertie in the hopes that she'd pay extra attention to traffic laws. How many posts I can make per week: 2 medium-sized posts are quite doable.

[Chekken]

Thanks for your applications, everyone! It looks like we will be able to have everybody on board who applied. We have our forum now, and I will begin posting there after work so that we can prepare for "mission zero".

The final conspiracy crew is as follows!

Player	Character Name	Class	Occupation	Conspiracy Story
page6e23	Bertram Kjoestrom	Dedicated Hero	Investigator - Investigative or Law Enforcement	Had a close encounter while undercover; broke the protocol to discover the truth.
Stadiumite	Joey Waxler	Tough Hero	Civilian - Adventurer	Witnessed 18 months' of alien related evidence in the wilderness; he's not backing down.
Snicker	Gertrude "Gerty" McMurty]	Undisclosed	Civilian - Investigator	Documented the Men in Black confiscating her proof; she saw the lab, and she knows the truth.
The Rat Queen	Dr. Dahlia Marlowe	Smart Hero	Academic - Archaeology	Tried to disprove AEGIS's alien archaeology; now, she's a believer.
Drachenspirit	Sadie Foster	Fast Hero	Civilian - Pro Athlete	Took an 8mm film of a spacecraft while training at Granite Peak; she was too quick for "them".

[Stadiumite]

Cool. Happy to be selected. Can't wait to get started.

The link in your post is to the advertisement. Did you mean to post the game forum?

I have not built a character sheet yet. Should we do that now, or will that be a result of "mission zero"?

[The Rat Queen]

Yay! Let the paranoia and oppression begin!

[Snicker]

Awesome! I never thought I'd play a D20 Modern game again. If it helps fill in the chart, I expect my character to be a Smart/Charismatic multiclass.

Just as a heads up, Drachenspirit withdrew their application, so it seems we won't have Sadie Foster on the team. At first blush, it looks like this will leave our party a little underprepared for combat, but D20 Modern facilitates multiclassing and, in my opinion, tacitly encourages class "dips", so we can probably shore up our weaknesses fairly easily.

[Drachenspirit]

Originally Posted by Snicker

Awesome! I never thought I'd play a D20 Modern game again. If it helps fill in the chart, I expect my character to be a Smart/Charismatic multiclass.

Just as a heads up, Drachenspirit withdrew their application, so it seems we won't have Sadie Foster on the team. At first blush, it looks like this will leave our party a little underprepared for combat, but D20 Modern facilitates multiclassing and, in my opinion, tacitly encourages class "dips", so we can probably shore up our weaknesses fairly easily.

My Bandwidth just got freed up a bit, so I'm back in if welcome.
- D