[Other] Savage Worlds - Deadlands: Hell on Earth (Post Apocalypse) - The Siege of Crooked Cre

[taleteller50]

Originally Posted by Cap Ut

I'm still working on the background, although as a general concept I'm leaning to a Junker scavenger that settled down mainly for the sake of the protected.

I have a few questions:
- Which version are we using exactly of SWADE? Because I just discovered there have been a few errata in the years (the last one seems to be 5.7).
- Given the supernatural element seems rather overt in the setting, what would the Occult skill actually cover?
- The Junker refers to Malfunctions and a Gadgeteer Edge that works differently than the one in Adventure, would a conversion be required?

We are using the latest 5.7 for the base rules. When the HoE book was released it was during the 'Deluxe' edition which was noticeably changed once Savage Worlds went to 'Adventure Edition' (ie. 5.7). They didn't update HoE for Adventure but many of the core rules are the same. I essence we will be using Adventure Edition as the Core Rules with the rules presented in the Hell on Earth Book as a reference rather then as iron clad. If there needs to be a clarification between the two bring it up and I will clarify.

For Example, Junkers will follow the rules as stated below:

 

Edge: Arcane Background (Junker)
Requirements: Wild Card, Novice
Arcane Skill: Weird Science (Smarts)
Power Points: 10
Starting Powers: 1
Backlash: Malfunction as Noted Below
Available Powers: All but disguise, divination, greater healing, shape change, and summon ally.

Weird Science is different from other Arcane Backgrounds in that each new power is actually a new “gizmo.” The player must write down exactly what the device is when he gains the power. An inventor with the invisibility power, for instance, actually has an invisibility belt, cloak, etc. Players are encouraged to give their devices pseudo-scientific names as well (“Dr. Zee’s Chromatic Disfibulating Device!”).

Weird Science is the skill an inventor uses when activating most devices, and raises increase the effects of the power as usual. If a device uses a different skill, such as Driving, Fighting, or Shooting, the inventor uses that instead. A ray gun, for example, uses the Shooting skill, while a “vibroknife” (a knife with the smite power) uses Fighting.

Powers that require an opposed roll, such as puppet, also use the scientist’s Weird Science skill.

Each device comes with its own Power Points equal to the inventor’s Power Points. An inventor with the bolt power and 10 Power Points, for example, could make a ray gun that fires electrical beams. The gun has 10 Power Points it can use to fire the beams just like a wizard would cast the bolt spell.

Special Rules:
►► New Powers: Each time a Weird Scientist takes the New Power Edge he only gains one power and has invented a new gadget. He simply chooses a power and decides what kind of gizmo it’s contained in as usual. He can also repeat a power he’s already taken. A mad scientist might want to create two ray-guns, for example, so that he can use one and give one to a companion.

►► Maintaining Powers: Because weird scientists use inventions rather than cast spells, they don’t suffer any penalties for maintaining powers, but their devices still pay the maintenance costs in Power Points as usual if used for extended periods.

►► Recharging: Devices regain Power Points at the rate of one point per hour. Recharging may represent the device being plugged into an outlet, gathering solar rays, or even fritzing out for a while until it miraculously just starts working again. Regardless of the description, however, it regains Power Points at the rate of one per hour just like other power types. The Power Edges Rapid Recharge and Improved Rapid Recharge apply to all of the inventor’s devices rather than the inventor himself.

• Gadgeteer: A junker automatically gets the Gadgeteer Edge for free, but it functions slightly differently (and he cannot take the normal version of the Edge). He can bind a tech spirit into his gathered components and create a device that replicates any power available to junkers a number of times per session equal to half his Spirit. The catch for this flexibility is that each device has a number of Power Points equal to the Components consumed in its creation (up to half the junker’s maximum Power Points). Since the gadget binds a tech spirit into its construction, this takes place very quickly—one action instead of the usual 1d20 minutes required by the regular Gadgeteer Edge. The junker has to make a Weird Science roll to bind the tech spirit, and suffers a –2 penalty for each Rank the power is higher than his own. If the junker gets a raise on the roll, he only
uses half the Components required.

• Junkmen: Junkers collect “Components” as they travel about the Wastes—bits and pieces of electronics, chemicals, mechanical devices, and stranger stuff they use to augment and create their weird devices. Components are gathered anytime the Character is allowed to make a scavenging roll (see page 66). The junkmen gather the scavenged items as usual, but also find 1d6 Components with a success, 2d6 with a raise. Every five Components weighs one pound but are otherwise non-specific odds and ends with no other use.

• Repairs: Any time a junker’s gizmo is damaged or needs to be repaired (such as from a Malfunction), he needs Components to fix it. Minor repairs, equivalent to a Minor Malfunction, require 1d6 Components. Major repairs, as a Major Malfunction, require 2d6 Components. Total destruction, like a Catastrophic Malfunction, require a number of Components equal to the maximum Power Points in the device.

• Spook Juice: Junkers can make spook juice without a refinery. A successful Weird Science roll distills one pound of ghost rock into one gallon of spook juice in an hour. On a raise, the junker gets two gallons. Critical failure results in a spectacular explosion, causing 3d6 damage in a Medium Burst Template.

• Malfunction: Weird science devices are never perfect technology. They often suffer from spectacular and deadly malfunctions. If a gadgeteer uses a device and rolls a 1 on the skill die used to activate the gizmo, it has malfunctioned in some way and does not work. Draw a card and consult the Malfunction Table below:
Weird Science Malfunction Table

- • Clubs—Catastrophic Malfunction: The device explodes for 2d6 damage in a Large Burst Template. • Hearts—Major Malfunction: The device breaks down. The gadgeteer may not use it again until it’s repaired, which requires a Repair roll and 2d6 hours of work. • Diamonds—Minor Malfunction: The device suffers a minor hang-up. It can be fixed with a Repair roll at –2. • Spades—Glitch: The gizmo activates but does the reverse of its intent. An invisibility belt makes the caster glow brightly, a weapon fires at a random target, and so on. If a reverse effect makes no sense, treat it as a Major Malfunction instead.

.

If it wasn't clear a Junker's "Powers" are Devices they have built which recharge themselves over time while the Gadgets from Gagetteer are temporary devices which require components to make and who break apart after continued use.

As for Occult, even though the 'Occult' is much more common place in Deadlands it's knowledge is not universal. Even those who are not Doubting Tomosons have limited knowledge of what's actually happened to the world. Most don't even know about the Reckoners and just assume the Bombs F*cked everything over. Zombies? Bio Weapons most likely. Mutants? Well, there is a lot of Radiation. Those giant ghost storms howling like a million dead with faces like tortured souls trapped within the endless vortex? Um.. Ok, that's pretty weird.

Those without Occult can still know that dangerous stuff prowls the night and might even know words like Vampire or ghost but they won't know anything about the truth behind it all. Prior to the war the governments kept a tight lid on the Occult and many survivors haven't left their small settlements since the bombs fell. They might encounter a Zombie and know to aim for the head given old movies but knowing that the Zombies are corpes animated by demons serving the 4 Horsemen.. most don't know that much.

As a point of reference use this list below to give an idea of what a person might know about given their level of Occult.

Occult Knowledge Levels d4 - After the bombs fell the Four Horsemen showed up and brought hell with them. d6 - Evil spirits called manitous carry fear to the Reckoners (ie. the Horsemen). Zombies are Corpses where Manitous have taken up residence in the body's mind. Other abominations are created from areas with large amounts of fear. d8 - The Reckoners feed off fear and would die without it. The hero knows of the Harrowed and that the Reckoners create abominations, called servitors, to further spread fear and empower themselves. d10 - A shaman named Raven started the Reckoning during the American Civil war, freeing the manitous and awakening the Reckoners. d12 - The Reckoners lost, but they sent a man named Stone into the past to kill the world’s heroes. This time, the Reckoners won.

This is of course a general overview and even a Character without Occult can learn more in game from a trusted source.

Originally Posted by Cap Ut

Also a curiosity I run into while familiarizing with the math (I like statistics, so I tend to dive in the probabilities when learning new systems ): there are certain instances in which having a lower dice is slightly more advantageous, for example, if I need to hit target 6, a d4 (3/16 chances) is better than a d6 (1/6); more in general, if I need to reach N, rolling d(N-2) is better than rolling dN.

A very interesting piece of statistic analysis but you are missing something. The typical TN to succeed in the game is a 4, not 6. Yes, there are times when penalties can apply thereby requiring a 6 to be rolled rather then a 4 but 4 is the base value which is more likely to be succeed with a d6 then a d4. Also, although 3/16 (the chance of 6 or better with a d4 that can Ace) is higher then the 1/6 chance of a d6 it's actually only 2.0833% more likely. It is more likely but (in essence) it will only be the better roll about every 2 in a 100 rolls. Not really much a difference.

For PopCultureBard the point that kind of fiddles with this all is the fact that with the Ace rule basic probability principles get bent. After all with a d4 it's Impossible to get a 4 on a Test. Why? Because the moment you get a 4 on a d4 you are guaranteed to get a 5 or better on your test because you can't get a 0 on the follow up roll. In essence, the possible numbers for a d4 which can ace is 1,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,11,13...

You keep skipping some of the numbers thereby making it more likely to get a 'high roll'; at least in the short term. The further you go or the larger the dice the less chance the smaller dice is at an advantage. If we calculate the chance of a 10 with a d4 vs a d10 we then get 3/64 vs. 1/10; a MUCH bigger difference.

Even if we compare getting a 9 with either a d8 or a d10 then we get 1/8 vs. 2/10 (Once again remembering that a roll of 8 would automatically become a 9 or better). That's 12.5% vs. 20%.

In other words the abnormality of getting higher rolls with Aces only really comes into play under VERY specific circumstances. A d2 vs a d4 to get a 3 or better shows us 50% vs. 50% while a d3 vs. a d6 to get a 5 is 2/9 vs. 2/3. Neither has the smaller dice having the higher chance (equal in one case but not higher)

The TN 6 with a d4 is a very small exception to the general rule. There are probably others but I'm a writer not a mathematician.

Also PopCultureBard, even if you can't make 2 posts a week so long as you can post once a week you shouldn't have any big issues. Even in combat if you 'miss a turn' you can just have two 'turns' on your next post. Yes, you might miss the chance to respond to some RP initially but it's not too hard to catch up at those times.

[Cap Ut]

Originally Posted by taleteller50

 

Edge: Arcane Background (Junker)
Requirements: Wild Card, Novice
Arcane Skill: Weird Science (Smarts)
Power Points: 10
Starting Powers: 1
Backlash: Malfunction as Noted Below
Available Powers: All but disguise, divination, greater healing, shape change, and summon ally.

Weird Science is different from other Arcane Backgrounds in that each new power is actually a new “gizmo.” The player must write down exactly what the device is when he gains the power. An inventor with the invisibility power, for instance, actually has an invisibility belt, cloak, etc. Players are encouraged to give their devices pseudo-scientific names as well (“Dr. Zee’s Chromatic Disfibulating Device!”).

Weird Science is the skill an inventor uses when activating most devices, and raises increase the effects of the power as usual. If a device uses a different skill, such as Driving, Fighting, or Shooting, the inventor uses that instead. A ray gun, for example, uses the Shooting skill, while a “vibroknife” (a knife with the smite power) uses Fighting.

Powers that require an opposed roll, such as puppet, also use the scientist’s Weird Science skill.

Each device comes with its own Power Points equal to the inventor’s Power Points. An inventor with the bolt power and 10 Power Points, for example, could make a ray gun that fires electrical beams. The gun has 10 Power Points it can use to fire the beams just like a wizard would cast the bolt spell.

Special Rules:
►► New Powers: Each time a Weird Scientist takes the New Power Edge he only gains one power and has invented a new gadget. He simply chooses a power and decides what kind of gizmo it’s contained in as usual. He can also repeat a power he’s already taken. A mad scientist might want to create two ray-guns, for example, so that he can use one and give one to a companion.

►► Maintaining Powers: Because weird scientists use inventions rather than cast spells, they don’t suffer any penalties for maintaining powers, but their devices still pay the maintenance costs in Power Points as usual if used for extended periods.

►► Recharging: Devices regain Power Points at the rate of one point per hour. Recharging may represent the device being plugged into an outlet, gathering solar rays, or even fritzing out for a while until it miraculously just starts working again. Regardless of the description, however, it regains Power Points at the rate of one per hour just like other power types. The Power Edges Rapid Recharge and Improved Rapid Recharge apply to all of the inventor’s devices rather than the inventor himself.

• Gadgeteer: A junker automatically gets the Gadgeteer Edge for free, but it functions slightly differently (and he cannot take the normal version of the Edge). He can bind a tech spirit into his gathered components and create a device that replicates any power available to junkers a number of times per session equal to half his Spirit. The catch for this flexibility is that each device has a number of Power Points equal to the Components consumed in its creation (up to half the junker’s maximum Power Points). Since the gadget binds a tech spirit into its construction, this takes place very quickly—one action instead of the usual 1d20 minutes required by the regular Gadgeteer Edge. The junker has to make a Weird Science roll to bind the tech spirit, and suffers a –2 penalty for each Rank the power is higher than his own. If the junker gets a raise on the roll, he only
uses half the Components required.

• Junkmen: Junkers collect “Components” as they travel about the Wastes—bits and pieces of electronics, chemicals, mechanical devices, and stranger stuff they use to augment and create their weird devices. Components are gathered anytime the Character is allowed to make a scavenging roll (see page 66). The junkmen gather the scavenged items as usual, but also find 1d6 Components with a success, 2d6 with a raise. Every five Components weighs one pound but are otherwise non-specific odds and ends with no other use.

• Repairs: Any time a junker’s gizmo is damaged or needs to be repaired (such as from a Malfunction), he needs Components to fix it. Minor repairs, equivalent to a Minor Malfunction, require 1d6 Components. Major repairs, as a Major Malfunction, require 2d6 Components. Total destruction, like a Catastrophic Malfunction, require a number of Components equal to the maximum Power Points in the device.

• Spook Juice: Junkers can make spook juice without a refinery. A successful Weird Science roll distills one pound of ghost rock into one gallon of spook juice in an hour. On a raise, the junker gets two gallons. Critical failure results in a spectacular explosion, causing 3d6 damage in a Medium Burst Template.

• Malfunction: Weird science devices are never perfect technology. They often suffer from spectacular and deadly malfunctions. If a gadgeteer uses a device and rolls a 1 on the skill die used to activate the gizmo, it has malfunctioned in some way and does not work. Draw a card and consult the Malfunction Table below:
Weird Science Malfunction Table
.

So we are basically using Deluxe rules for Arcane Backgrounds (at least for Weird Science).

[taleteller50]

It would be more accurate to say we are using the HoE rules for the Arcane Backgrounds but yes. Bare in mind that Powers and what they can do will be based in Adventure rules, not Deluxe.

[PopCultureBard]

Originally Posted by taleteller50

Also PopCultureBard, even if you can't make 2 posts a week so long as you can post once a week you shouldn't have any big issues. Even in combat if you 'miss a turn' you can just have two 'turns' on your next post. Yes, you might miss the chance to respond to some RP initially but it's not too hard to catch up at those times.

Way to turn up the temptation, TT. I'll have to sit down this weekend and really look at my gaming sitch before I commit but if I feel like I can do it without bogging things down for other players I'm likely to get an application up. Sykers have always been appealing to me but there is something about a challenge that makes me kind of want to see if I can give you an 'excellent enough application' to get a Templar in. Templars and Librarians have always been the two groups that felt most interesting to me in the setting.

I'll check back in here over the weekend with a better idea of where I stand.

[Cap Ut]

Another couple of questions:

Originally Posted by taleteller50

- Initiative will be determined by the speed of your post, those posting first going first.

- How do enemies and more in general NPCs enter in the order? Does the Action Deck remain relevant?
- There are instances in which the concept of session is used. I've seen that the refresh of Bennies has already been houseruled, but what about other cases, like the limited uses of Gadgeteers per session for a Junker?
- Do we take Power Edges from Deluxe (sort of in line with Arcane Backgrounds) or Adventure?

[taleteller50]

Originally Posted by PopCultureBard

Way to turn up the temptation, TT. I'll have to sit down this weekend and really look at my gaming sitch before I commit but if I feel like I can do it without bogging things down for other players I'm likely to get an application up. Sykers have always been appealing to me but there is something about a challenge that makes me kind of want to see if I can give you an 'excellent enough application' to get a Templar in. Templars and Librarians have always been the two groups that felt most interesting to me in the setting.

I'll check back in here over the weekend with a better idea of where I stand.

The Librarian (or Book Worm) is the easiest to explain for existing in Crooked Creek as they could originally be from Crooked Creek or use it as a safe base to salvage other areas nearby. Technically a Book Worm doesn't even need to be with the Library and could just be a book enthusiast who the spirits smiled on after having created a mini library of their own in Crooked Creek.

The Templar is a much harder sell as they have to undergo specific training, traveling to Boise, and (theoretically) have a support structure in the form of the Templar order. They also move around a lot or, if they do settle into a specific area, do so due to some ongoing threat. Crooked Creak is relatively safe, being neither the target of major road gangs or powerful supernatural horrors. It's conceivable that a Templar might pass through Crooked Creak on there way somewhere else but they might also be from the Creek, having left home to join the order, and only recently returned to see their family one final time before questing in the wastes in earnest.

However you go PopCultureBard I look forward to your application.

Originally Posted by Cap Ut

Another couple of questions:

- How do enemies and more in general NPCs enter in the order? Does the Action Deck remain relevant?
- There are instances in which the concept of session is used. I've seen that the refresh of Bennies has already been houseruled, but what about other cases, like the limited uses of Gadgeteers per session for a Junker?
- Do we take Power Edges from Deluxe (sort of in line with Arcane Backgrounds) or Adventure?

We will not be using an Action Deck, instead deciding 'Order' based on whoever posts first. NPC's will go together typically before or after the players depending on who had the upper hand duing the initial attack. I realize this makes a lot of Edges all but useless but unfortunately Action Deck initiative doesn't really work with a Play By Post style unless I wanted to really draw combat out. I'd rather have everyone get their posts in when they can rather then having to wait on one another to post themselves. It saves on time and keeps the interest higher.

For any other mention of abilities or powers that can be used 'Per Session' they will instead be considered 'Per Day'. I might come across some specific example where a different format makes more sense and will bring up such a possible change before implementing it but for the most part we will be using a Daily time format.

Powers and Edges should be primarily come from the Adventure Edition, not Deluxe. The Edges shown in the HoE Core and Companion books are also available, with the information for Arcane Backgrounds primarily coming from them, but some are restricted or forbidden as outlined in Character Creation in the Game Application. For example, 'Wheels' is impossible to take as no character can take the Rich edge while 'Tale Teller' or 'Scavenger' is open game. 'Operation Damocles Soldier' is similar to Arcane Backgrounds as I'll only accept it with an exceptional Application and even then I would suggest taking Veteran o' the Wasted West instead.

The big thing I want to avoid is a character who has some way to draw in a major power into any conflict Crooked Creek might find itself in. A Damocles soldier, Templar, or Doomsayer might be able to convince their fellow members to help Crooked Creek when I instead want characters to work for such results. I want the actions of the Characters and the help they discover to save Crooked Creek; not a nearby group they have ties to.

[Cap Ut]

Originally Posted by taleteller50

We will not be using an Action Deck, instead deciding 'Order' based on whoever posts first. NPC's will go together typically before or after the players depending on who had the upper hand duing the initial attack. I realize this makes a lot of Edges all but useless but unfortunately Action Deck initiative doesn't really work with a Play By Post style unless I wanted to really draw combat out. I'd rather have everyone get their posts in when they can rather then having to wait on one another to post themselves. It saves on time and keeps the interest higher.

I guess this means also things like Holding and Interrupting Actions (in general things that mess with initiative) will be tweaked or removed.

A question about the setting: before the bombs, do we assume there was a pop/mainstream culture similar to our? Cinema, music, comics etc. Of course, a lot of our fiction wouldn't be really fiction for them, given all the wizards, mad science, aliens stuff.

About the matter of the protected and related Enemy, this is the general idea I'm working on: the kid is the PC's step-sister and the daughter of the leader of a small coven of witches; an enemy of theirs managed to disband the group and is now hunting down the girl for some reason; her (and the PC's) father, after reuniting with the PC, entrusted him with her safety before finally losing his life at the hands of the enemy faction.
I'm now open to suggestions for this faction.

[taleteller50]

Holding or interruption actions are still possible but will be a little different then normal. If you were to Hold an action you would have to specify what you are holding it for. So if you planned on Holding your action until the enemy drew closer before attacking them then you would post as such and include the rolls for the attack and the Athletic roll to beat the opponent to the punch. If the opposed Athletics roll beats the opponent then I will write the response with your action having happened first. If your Athletics roll is beaten your attack/action will still happen, just after the opponent gets their kicks in.

Alternatively, If you were just Holding to wait and see what happens with others then you just don't post until you are ready.

The point here is to avoid situations where one player is suppose to go next but then they don't post for several days, causing everyone else to wait. I've played a few games that try to keep initiatives and such for Play by Post games and all it really does is slow things down. It's already hard keeping people's interest in a game when a single action might take a week to resolve and trying to keep initiative can drag those turns out even longer. Better to keep things moving and interest high.

As for your other question, the Occult, before the war, was heavily hidden from public view by government groups such as the Agency and the Texas Rangers. There were still instances where the 'Truth' came out but most of these reveals were swept under the rug or thought of as hoaxes. After all, if you had seen a bunch of cheesy Scooby Doo episodes before you might be more likely to believe that horrible monster that just killed your friends was a nut job in a costume rather then a real monster.

There were exceptions of course. Sykes and Cyborgs started as military secrets but eventually came into public view but were explained as scientific marvels. Mad Scientist helped with this by providing a history of scientific inventions that couldn't be understood except by the most 'Brilliant' of minds. Even aliens, at least the Anooks of Banshee, were public knowledge as people were going to the new planet to settle it.

Basically the government's of the world played a misinformation campaign with everything supernatural, gaslighting the public with false news and fabricated Pop Culture so that anyone seeing the real thing believed it was a hoaxe and stories about it was relegated to tabloids like the Tomestone Epitaph.

That said plenty of people who knew the truth would also sneak in tidbits hidden in secret. Hoyle, the first Hukster (aka. Gambling Wizard) his his spells in code within his publication 'Hoyle's Book of Games'. Witch's did something similar with 'How to Serve Your Man'. There is even mention on how some horror movies were based on true stories, produced to get knowledge of monsters to people without outright admitting to them that such things were real.

If you have a specific idea just run it past me and I'll tell you how it might play out.

As for your character idea theres a bunch of possibilities. The first one that pops to mind is the Wichita Witch Coven. This group is Capital E Evil and hold strongly to the idea of the one's who originally started and kept the practise of Witchcraft strong, the Devlin women. Namely how the Devlin's seemed to hate men on an almost genetic level.

Most of these women are She-ra Male Haters but it is conceivable that one of them, possibly even one of Sybil Devlin's clones, might fall in love with the PC's father and turn her back on the Coven. Maybe theres even a prophecy or something about how that woman's child would be a particularly powerful witch which the coven wants to control. This also brings Pentacorp (think the Umbrella Corporation but with more magic) into play as it was the Devlin's base of power.

This can also explain why you are in Crooked Creek, you're trying to help your sister learn about her witchy powers from a sympathetic witch who has no interest int he machinations of the Coven. Maybe Shakufa Farooq is even one of the Witches which went with your sister's mother when she split from the Witchita Coven; that is before the others were hunted down for their betrayal.

An Alternatively you could be hunted by the Combine who could have destroyed a smaller coven for starting trouble near Denver; hunting you down to tie up loose ends.

Maybe it's just a servitor who your parents fought against and ended up losing to. Maybe one who has a particular fondness for witch blood.

These also the various road gangs listed in the map but those would be a little weak, narratively speaking.

[Cap Ut]

Originally Posted by taleteller50

If you have a specific idea just run it past me and I'll tell you how it might play out.

I just plan to make the character a fan of comicbooks.

Originally Posted by taleteller50

As for your character idea theres a bunch of possibilities. The first one that pops to mind is the Wichita Witch Coven. This group is Capital E Evil and hold strongly to the idea of the one's who originally started and kept the practise of Witchcraft strong, the Devlin women. Namely how the Devlin's seemed to hate men on an almost genetic level.

Most of these women are She-ra Male Haters but it is conceivable that one of them, possibly even one of Sybil Devlin's clones, might fall in love with the PC's father and turn her back on the Coven. Maybe theres even a prophecy or something about how that woman's child would be a particularly powerful witch which the coven wants to control. This also brings Pentacorp (think the Umbrella Corporation but with more magic) into play as it was the Devlin's base of power.

This can also explain why you are in Crooked Creek, you're trying to help your sister learn about her witchy powers from a sympathetic witch who has no interest int he machinations of the Coven. Maybe Shakufa Farooq is even one of the Witches which went with your sister's mother when she split from the Witchita Coven; that is before the others were hunted down for their betrayal.

I like the idea of the prophecy. An awakened clone of Devlin may feel threatened, especially if the Coven the kid belonged to was a moderate one and perhaps seen as treacherous (the founder could have decided to tap into witchcraft to actually help people after the war, instead of following the original precepts, and maybe Shakufa Farooq was part of this group before moving to Crooked Creek). And if Devlin can't control her, the girl should be eliminated or offered as a sacrifice.

[taleteller50]

Comics absolutely exist and although I'm sure some are a little different from our world many of the would be similar. Some might even have encoded messages in them that teach would be readers about many of the Hidden Truths of the Deadlands World. Someone who went out of his way to save comics could even become a 'Book Worm' due to the influence of the Comic Books.

There's also the fact that one of you're potential allies in the game has a particular interest in Comic Books and the Super Heroes there in. The two of you might get along really well.

As for your 'sister' it sounds like you are thinking of the kid being a undeveloped clone themselves? One of the Sybil Rose Devlin’s clones which didn't mature in their test tube and didn't receive the same 'programming' as the others who your character is now traveling with rather then your 'Step Mom' being the clone. Is that correct? Or maybe your Step mom was a witch who found the clone (your sister) and decided to raise her as her own with ideals different from those the Devlin's were originally programed with until the Witchita Witches found out and are now trying to bring their wayward 'Sister' back into the fold?

[Cap Ut]

Originally Posted by taleteller50

As for your 'sister' it sounds like you are thinking of the kid being a undeveloped clone themselves? One of the Sybil Rose Devlin’s clones which didn't mature in their test tube and didn't receive the same 'programming' as the others who your character is now traveling with rather then your 'Step Mom' being the clone. Is that correct? Or maybe your Step mom was a witch who found the clone (your sister) and decided to raise her as her own with ideals different from those the Devlin's were originally programed with until the Witchita Witches found out and are now trying to bring their wayward 'Sister' back into the fold?

I was thinking about having the clone as the enemy, and the sister just the subject of a prophecy, not necessarily related to Devlin herself (if not as a potential threat to her influence).
However, the idea of the sister being a young clone is intriguing. In this case, maybe the enemies are not witches, but rivals of Pentacorp without moral qualms about killing a child to prevent Devlin's return. It would also be ironic: the child clone of an incurable man-hater who finds herself under the protection of a caring "brother" (and the fact she's actually a Devlin's clone could be a secret unknown to both).

[taleteller50]

Be aware, there are multiple clones of Mrs. Devlin out there. In fact the Witchita Coven has multiple clones within it's own membership. There also isn't much 'competition' for Pentacorp anymore, they're just surviving like anybody else but also conducting secret experiments away from prying eyes and without having to worry about governmental oversight anymore. Think the Umbrella Corp after the zombies cause Armageddon in the Resident Evil movies or the Institute from Fallout but with black magic empowering high tech research. Both groups mostly keep their activities secret even if the monsters they create may cause problems for many. Such 'Experiments' are just believed to be another danger of the wastes rather then be from a specific group.

I also agree that having the young clone, who's entire bloodline has been nothing but man haters, learning to love her doting brother would make for an interesting narrative. The question is if your 'sister' knows of the power she has within herself? If so then her 'mother' would have been the one to flee with her from a coven. If not then you (and your father if you still wish to have him) may have found her in a cloning vat while scavenging an area. The facility would have been broken down which explains how your 'sister' wasn't fully grown and would leave you potentially unaware of her true origins.

[Cap Ut]

Originally Posted by taleteller50

Be aware, there are multiple clones of Mrs. Devlin out there. In fact the Witchita Coven has multiple clones within it's own membership. There also isn't much 'competition' for Pentacorp anymore, they're just surviving like anybody else but also conducting secret experiments away from prying eyes and without having to worry about governmental oversight anymore. Think the Umbrella Corp after the zombies cause Armageddon in the Resident Evil movies or the Institute from Fallout but with black magic empowering high tech research. Both groups mostly keep their activities secret even if the monsters they create may cause problems for many. Such 'Experiments' are just believed to be another danger of the wastes rather then be from a specific group.

If not rivals of Pentacorp, it may be a group of witch hunters or something similar, lead by someone with a history of conflict with their kind or the specific coven the girl was part of, someone who knows about her true nature and how dangerous she could become if left undealt with, perhaps a resentful warlock or a mad scientist who wants to keep magic in check in his area of influence (like some supernatural mafia).

[DBCowboy]

My computer room has been torn apart while painters worked their magic. I THINK i get to put it all back together tomorrow including my main computer where my Law Dog character is stored. Garret Sax will bring justice to the wasteland, by word or by lead.

Pray the unjust heed his word.

[taleteller50]

Originally Posted by Cap Ut

If not rivals of Pentacorp, it may be a group of witch hunters or something similar, lead by someone with a history of conflict with their kind or the specific coven the girl was part of, someone who knows about her true nature and how dangerous she could become if left undealt with, perhaps a resentful warlock or a mad scientist who wants to keep magic in check in his area of influence (like some supernatural mafia).

No specific group comes to mind for what you are suggesting but it's entirely possible you can design/describe such a villain as part of your application. Such a person would likely count as a Minor Flaw. The choice is yours

Originally Posted by DBCowboy

My computer room has been torn apart while painters worked their magic. I THINK i get to put it all back together tomorrow including my main computer where my Law Dog character is stored. Garret Sax will bring justice to the wasteland, by word or by lead.

Pray the unjust heed his word.

Looking forward to reading all about him DBC.

To All:
Don't forget to go looking for some Allusions to get some sweet bonus XP.