[M&M] The City of Darkness: Shadowgate Breach

[AlphaZ]

Runetide is right, that's a good candidate for alternate form. You could throw on a modifier like Unreliable (sometimes you can't shift) or Uncontrolled (the GM gets control of your power). Both? Both could be fun. Or just make it a complication.

If you want powers to exist in both your forms at once, just buy them as normal. Only wolf form, put them in the alternate form. Only human... why do you have "human" powers? If you really need them, maybe do an alternate effect (+1 pt) to your alternate form.

But the system has a whole lot of options to make it just how you want. Dynamic arrays, metamorph, you name it. I'd say just decide on your brand of werewolf (uncontrolled monster, dynamic shifter, two-faced fighter, hairy strong man) and then worry about how to fix it all up.

[girlplay]

Hi again! I have a solid first draft completed. I may take a few more passes at it to refine the application. But I'm basically "done". Comments, critiques, and suggestions are welcome.

[ProjectLazarus]

@Avner, do you have any in-game rules or lore set up surrounding werewolf packs, or werewolf relationships with the Magnus Veritas?

[Mitsubachi]

[lydklein]

@Avner in case my questions got lost here is the link<---

[AlphaZ]

I'd better go ahead and put my thoughts down here so they stop cluttering up my head.

Complete, Draft 2 Name: Aaron Greyson Character Concept: Magically enhanced warlock brawler Abilities: Enhanced strength and durability, minor mobility, hex punches Quote or Comic Byline: "Witchcraft isn't dangerous. Unless you're an idiot." Complications: They haven't spoken in years. They don't hate each other, they're just not close.Estranged Father, It's complicated. Vampires do love their drama.Vampire Girlfriend, The Magnus Veritas doesn't generally allow witchcraft, but they have a special arrangement.On Probation, If you push his buttons just right, he can really ruin a dinner party.Temper, Hexography can be risky.Witchcraft Affiliation: Magnus Veritas member (probationary) Description: Aaron is tall, handsome, well-groomed and well-dressed, with piercing eyes and gentle lines that suggest the beginning of middle age. He carries himself like a man who doesn't care and doesn't have to. Like he might trade your soul for a cigarette, if he really needs a cigarette. Beyond that, there's something slightly uncanny about him that makes it uncomfortable to look directly at him, but just as uncomfortable to look away.   Aaron is the only son of Walter Andreas Richards Greyson (masters of science, archaeology). His father was and is an antiquities dealer, procuring pieces for museums and private collections alike. This resulted in money, connections, and a great deal of travel. As such, Aaron grew up wealthy, privileged, and bored. But instead of turning to the typical playboy lifestyle, he got involved in a much weirder, more magical scene. What most don't know about Aaron's father is that he also works for the Magnus Veritas to procure magical artifacts and, perhaps more importantly, keep them out of public circulation. Of course it's generally understood that Walter keeps some articles in a private collection, but he doesn't flaunt them or use them so the Magnus Veritas begrudgingly turn a blind eye. However, this left Aaron growing up with some interesting reading in the family library. It took him some time to realize that perusing this old dusty tome on "Arcanics" was actually changing him somehow. Slowly he began to see the world for what it really was, and uncovered the magical side of his father's work. He started mingling with his father's more secret associates and found the company of supernaturals to be a remedy for his ennui. For a long time he kept his studies private, letting everyone assume he had been introduced to everything by his father. But the Magnus Veritas (or "the wizards club" as he calls them) started snooping around and found that he was more than he pretended to be. They planned to pressure him into joining until they discovered his magic came from dark pages of forbidden lore. Then they decided to arrest him. However, thanks to his father's years of patronage and the good word of a vampire sorceress he'd more than befriended, he was offered a deal. He'd work for them and they'd watch him closely. As long as he could keep out of trouble and do more good than harm, they'd let him be. In truth he didn't have much use for good or harm, but his mother used to say he needed a job to keep him honest. And this was evidently it.   "Naomi, please, the cinema is disgusting." Aaron protests as he squeezes his eyes shut and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Honestly, they will let anyone in who has $10." He thinks of how inclusive that metric is and voluntarily shudders. "Ugh! You never like my surprises!" The younger-looking woman whines back. She was actually over twice his age, but nobody would ever guess. "Well maybe if you would--" His response is cut off, which is just as well; the conversation was obviously spiraling downward. Screaming cinema goers flee from the theater like it's on fire, but it wasn't an inferno raging inside. He looks past the panicked throng and locks eyes with a dark and gruesome creature. "Demon." With a look of stern determination he steps forward and-- "Hey! Where are you going? Now you want to see a movie? What is with you? How can you..." Naomi continues ranting at him and pulling on his sleeve as he looks between her and the monster inside. "Do you actually not see the demon?" He asks with a calm puzzlement. "I am not letting some random demon ruin our night! I planned this all week!" He blinks twice. "Oh my god." "This is my job. You know the deal." He tries to pull away, but Naomi was like a stone statue when she wanted to be. "No, you are not going in there unless it's to see a movie, with me!" She cries defiantly as she continues to pull on his arm. With a flood of sudden refugees still pouring out around them, Aaron looks up at the starless night sky and heaves a mighty sigh. "Okay. After I banish the demon, we can go inside and watch your film." The last word leaves his mouth like vomit as he stifles a wretch. "I will have to launder this whole outfit." He thinks with a roll of his eyes as Naomi claps and hops up and down in celebration. As the last of the runaways trickle out the doors, Aaron moves in. Naomi hears grunts and roars and feels tremors that rock the building. A few moments later Aaron emerges looking annoyed, but nonetheless he holds the door open and gestures her inside. She enters the theater wherein flickering florescent lights dangle haphazardly from the ceiling, display cases and movie cutouts are smashed to bits, and a lone employee still lingers uncertainly. "Can you get us some popcorn?" "Oh my god."   Naomi - A young vampire, a sorceress, a Magnus Veritas member (in good standing, as she always points out), and Aaron's girlfriend. They usually have drama, but they always seem to come around. Walter - Aaron's father, an antiquities dealer and magical artifact collector. He doesn't really understand Aaron, but they didn't spend a lot of time together while he was growing up. They don't speak unless they have business. Arcanics - the underlying fundamentals of true reality (not surface reality). Used by wizards as building blocks for spells, but used by witches to discover their true selves. Hexography - the language of hexes. Whereas a spell uses Arcanic components to produce a magical effect, a hex is an invitation to a primal or extradimensional power to manifest in a certain way. That makes hexes potentially more powerful, but also far more dangerous. A poorly phrased invitation can result in unwelcome visitors. Hence why hexography, the phrasing of the invitation, is so important. And why witchcraft is generally forbidden. Character Connections: "My father doesn't like Venus. It's mutual I'm sure. I don't think she likes me much either. I won't give her my books." "Weaver unsettles me, but I do love his work. And I mean, at least he isn't a cat. But I swear if he tries to 'mend' one more of my hexographs..."   STRENGTH STAMINA AGILITY DEXTERITY FIGHTING INTELLECT AWARENESS PRESENCE 4 8 1 0 2 0 4 0 Tough Dodge Parry Fort Will 10 6 6 8 8 SKILLS: Athletics +5, Close Combat (unarmed) +6, Expertise (magic) +2, Insight +5, Perception +5, Persuasion +5 ADVANTAGES: Benefit (wealthy) 1, Fearless -------------------POWERS------------------- Arcanics True Vigor : Regeneration 15 Emotology Focus : Enhanced Trait (stamina 4, will 4, strength 2, close combat: unarmed 4), Advantage (attractive, power attack), Flight 1 Hexography (array) Blood Loss : Enhanced Trait (strength 2, limited: damage, improved critical 3), Linked Affliction (impaired > disabled > incapacitated, progressive, vs Fort) 6 Death Toll : Enhanced Trait (strength 2, limited: damage, affects insubstantial 2, incurable), Linked Weaken (toughness, progressive, vs Will) 6

[Runetide]

Okay so I think I'm done. I've included my character build in a spoiler, so I'd appreciate some feedback both from other players and the GM on the build.

Basically, he has a fair number of skills and a relatively mortal body. His always available powers give him mobility for the most part, and then he has an array of 'spirit spinning' powers that he can switch between as needed, etc. I tried to go for a blend of Shinto priest-seeming stuff and spider spirit things. I will note that he has one attack power, but it requires him to have already attached a 'thread' to the desired target. Which is more of a set up and take down style of fighting. The thread thing is a recurring theme through his build.

The one power I'm 'concerned' about is his Rift Weaving, which at least how I've envisioned it, should let him stitch closed an open gate or rift, but with their power level I don't think that he'd be able to close any of the super big ones on his own. If this power wouldn't work as I thought it would in regards to closing portals, please let me know what I could do instead please?

[Avner]

Originally Posted by ProjectLazarus

@Avner, do you have any in-game rules or lore set up surrounding werewolf packs, or werewolf relationships with the Magnus Veritas?

The werewolfs act mostly as guardians of the natural world, which lends them to conflict with vampires from time to time as they consider them unnatural predators that unchecked would disrupt the balance of nature. Vampires tend to stick to cities and largely populated areas more concerned with politics and power than the others. They have their own governing order that ensures knowledge of them stays secret while they acquire influnce through manipulation and positions of power. Since they Shadowgate has been more active there is a tentative unspoken truce between them.

The Mages oversee all supernaturals and make sure they do not expose the supernatural world. They do not hunt them as much as keep it in check. They work closest with the hunters but maintain relationships with everyone and often are looked to for their vast libraries of historical supernatural knowledge.

[Saratek]

@Avner: Would it be unlikely (or impossible) to stumble upon a "fledgling" vampire attacking and feeding on a mortal due to hunger/lack of guidance from an older vampire (perhaps the one that "embraced" the fledgling)?

Was planning on using that idea for my writing sample.

[Avner]

Originally Posted by Saratek

@Avner: Would it be unlikely (or impossible) to stumble upon a "fledgling" vampire attacking and feeding on a mortal due to hunger/lack of guidance from an older vampire (perhaps the one that "embraced" the fledgling)?

Was planning on using that idea for my writing sample.

Totally Possible.

[Avner]

Originally Posted by lydklein

@Avner- What is the relationship between the Fae, Vampires, Werewolves and Human Hunters with each other in this world?

Sorry I missed your question but Im circling back now.

So I explained how Vampires, Werewolves, and Mages work.

Hunters generally are just mortals who have become aware of the things that go bump in the night and are actively trying to hunt them or at least keep them in check. Just like anything else there is going to be an array of types and organizations of hunters from a group of locals and lonewolves to clandestine government organizations. Some make work with the 'good' creatures but some might have more of a blind prejudice.

Fae are very special in that they are so unique not just from the other creatures but from each other as well. The Fae are organized into four courts representing the seasons Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring with different creatures being involved in each. Fae generally steel clear of Vampires because they are pretty addictive when it comes to feeding. Werewolves and Fae get along pretty well and a lot of Hunters may leverage Fae for supernatural info but some others may not trust them at all.

[AlphaZ]

Originally Posted by Runetide

I'd appreciate some feedback... on the build.

Your black thread/traveling thread don't seem to really do anything besides enable your other powers, which is better as a modifier (Activation?) on the other powers rather than as its own power. If you want a thread power I'd do a Move Object power, Continuous, Permanent, Limited: grab & drag, Reversible. Thread would just be your descriptor.

Your Rift Binding is a nullify, which I believe works on specific descriptors. So it would be better written as Nullify (dimenional). Coincidentally, Your Rift Weaving would probably work best as the same (a dimensional portal being a dimensional Movement effect with the Portal modifier). So I'd combine those.

Your Shape of Uttu makes you small, and makes you *look* like a spider, but that part is just an illusion. You'll actually just be a tiny man. If you want to actually *be* a spider, you probably need to add Metamorph to that.

Thread Detonation could have Grab-Based rather than Limited: target threaded if you do the Move Object thread effect.

[lydklein]

Thank you! Appreciate the info.

[Runetide]

Thanks for the pointers. Ill fiddle.
Fiddling is here:

New Build Weaver - PL 8 Strength 0, Stamina 0, Agility 4, Dexterity 2, Fighting 0, Intellect 0, Awareness 2, Presence -2 Advantages Accurate Attack, Agile Feint, Benefit, Athletics Based on Agility, Defensive Roll 8, Evasion 2, Favored Environment: Urban, Fearless, Languages 1, Prone Fighting, Tracking Skills Acrobatics 8 (+12), Athletics 2 (+6), Close Combat: ???? 8 (+8), Expertise: Spiritualism 8 (+8), Insight 2 (+4), Perception 8 (+10), Ranged Combat: Threads 8 (+10), Sleight of Hand 2 (+4), Stealth 4 (+8) Powers Self-Marionette . . Leaping: Leaping 2 (Leap 30 feet at 8 miles/hour) . . Speed: Speed 2 (Speed: 8 miles/hour, 120 feet/round) Spider's Blessing: Movement 4 (Safe Fall, Swinging, Wall-crawling 2: full speed) Spirit Spinner . . Black Thread: Cumulative Mind Reading 8 (thread, mystic, DC 18; Cumulative; Grab-based, Limited to Surface Thoughts) . . Blue Thread: Insubstantial 2 (thread, mystic, Gaseous; Affects Others, Affects Others Only, Increased Duration: continuous) . . Gold Thread: Healing 8 (thread, mystic; Energizing, Persistent; Activation 2: standard action, Distracting) . . Green Thread: Nullify 8 (thread, mystic, Counters: Dimensional, DC 18; Broad, Precise, Simultaneous; Activation: move action, Side Effect: on failure - Two degrees of failure causes backlash (Damage check=Nullify rank)) . . Red Thread: Affliction 8 (thread, mystic, 1st degree: Hindered, Fatigued, 2nd degree: Immobile, Exhausted, Resisted by: Will, DC 18; Extra Condition; Grab-based, Limited Degree) . . Shape of Uttu . . . . Shrinking: Shrinking 5 (mystic, -1 STR, -2 Intimidate, +5 Stealth, +2 active defenses, -1 size rank; Permanent) . . . . Spider Shape: Morph 1 (+20 Deception checks to disguise; Single form; Metamorph) . . Spider's Stillness: Concealment 4 (mystic, Sense - Hearing, Sense - Sight, Sense - Smell; Blending, Passive) . . Yellow Thread: Comprehend 3 (thread, mystic, Languages - Understand All, Languages - You're Understood, Spirits - Communicate; Affects Others, Increased Range: ranged, Sustained) Spiritual Spinnerettes: Move Object 4 (threads, mystic, 800 lbs.; Affects Insubstantial: half ranks, Increased Duration: continuous, Reversible; Limited: Grab/Drag, Noticeable: Colored glowing 'threads') Thread Detonation: Damage 8 (mystic, DC 23; Penetrating 8; Grab-based, Limited: Using this destroys any threads on the target) Offense Initiative +4 Black Thread: Cumulative Mind Reading 8 (DC Will 18) Grab, +0 (DC Spec 10) Green Thread: Nullify 8, +2 (DC Will 18) Red Thread: Affliction 8, +0 (DC Will 18) Spiritual Spinnerettes: Move Object 4, +2 (DC 14) Thread Detonation: Damage 8, +0 (DC 23) Throw, +2 (DC 15) Unarmed, +0 (DC 15) Complications Motivation: Responsibility: Weaver was tasked by Uttu, the mother weaver, to patch the holes in the veil between Shadowgate and the spirit realm. Weaver had not developed enough self-determinism to even consider straying from that cause, and he might not even if he had it. Power Loss: Spiritual sealing. As a spider spirit possessing a soulless living body, Weaver is just as succeptible to sealing as other spirits, except instead of binding it into uselssness, it simply prevents him from using any external powers. Languages Ancient Sumerian, English Defense Dodge 6, Parry 0, Fortitude 5, Toughness 8/0, Will 5 Power Points Abilities 12 + Powers 55 + Advantages 18 + Skills 25 (50 ranks) + Defenses 10 = 120

[GleefulNihilism]

Comments and Critique for John Doe is welcome, do you want something Mechanical @Anver?