[OOC] Word on the street

[hafrogman]

With jbear opting for the Wolf, I'd like to switch over to the Veteran if that's okay with people. A new character concept has been percolating through my mind over the past couple of days, and I feel that it's gelled into something a little more compelling than my original idea.

[Roekahs]

Thanks for clarifying the desires for the city everyone. I just wanted to make sure my expectations were tracking with everyone else's. With that clarified, I just want to re-state that I am completely city-agnostic, so I don't want to be a vote for DC or anywhere else. The character I am thinking of playing will fit the vibe of any city and I am happy to adjust to anyone's strong conviction on city. (p.s. if you have a strong conviction, now is probably the time to just be "that person" and do it, because otherwise I suspect Wyn is just going to be the one)

Originally Posted by jbear

So I have had a closer look at the Wolf archetype and the Veteran archetype. I looked at the Hunter as well. There were aspects that I liked from each of them, but I think I am more pulled to the Wolf.

This is exciting! This was the other playbook that I was going to have to wrestle between because I wanted to see it in play, but you saved me from me

Originally Posted by hafrogman

With jbear opting for the Wolf, I'd like to switch over to the Veteran if that's okay with people.

The first plot twist!


@Vislands - it seems like it is down to you and me to make choices. I have named the Aware, but I have other options that will work just fine, so if Aware really hits home for you, don't hesitate on my behalf!

[Wynamoinen]

At this point, I think I'm just going to declare: let's set the game in Washington DC. I appreciate everyone's flexibility and feedback, and while I don't think this is anyone's top choice, it sounds to me like a decent compromise (and it's an option that I like). You should absolutely feel free to integrate landmarks like the memorials, the mall, the museums, the Metro (ie the subway), etc, into your characters, if you're so inclined.

Current archetype status:

hafrogman: Veteran
jbear: Wolf
wodine: Dragon (as I mentioned, we'll need to be sure to work up a strong story that also includes the other PCs)
Elanir: Spectre
Roekahs: possibly Aware?
Vislands: tbd

The above definite choices are good to start building characters. I think we've still got a few people reading the book, so I don't want to push forward too fast. You have my permission to make the mechanical choices of your archetypes (which of course will probably take all of 5 minutes). And if you want to start building out a personality and/or backstory, you have my blessing.

But please don't get into your debts yet! I want everyone to be at around the same point in their character build progress before we start handing out debts. Having a description of who your character "is" will be very useful when we start discussing debts. But I'd caution you not to write too much concrete backstory before that point. Your debts will in part define who your character is, and so we don't want you to paint them into too narrow a corner before we start tying the PCs together.

At the very least, I want to give you the full weekend to make your preliminary character build/description. I'll check in on Monday or Tuesday to see how progress goes. If anyone needs more time than that, we'll take it. There's no reason to rush. Of course I'll be available to chat in the interim.

[Elanir]

Sounds good!

Should we post the basics of the character here or would you prefer something else?

[Wynamoinen]

Build it in your personal thread, please, to avoid cluttering this one too much. We'll all do a little "report" on our characters here once we're ready to move on to debts. The personal threads are public, so people can read over your shoulder as you build, if they please.

[Elanir]

Will be done!

[Vislands]

Neato. So I work through the weekend, so Tues/Wed is more realistic for me in terms of having my character up just to give a heads up.

[Wynamoinen]

Right, I think I knew that, sorry. Thanks for the heads up, no problem.

[Roekahs]

If anyone is interested, I did make some "character sheet" templates for US here. I even made 2 versions - 1 for if you like a lot of embedded tables and nice clean, compact look of a finished product, and 1 for if your eyes glaze over and cross trying to sort through all the bbcode of several embedded tables.

[Elanir]

Both look good, Roekahs. Thank you!

[Wynamoinen]

Just checking in quickly. This phase of character building will take until at least Wednesday so that everyone can sit down and carefully think about the character they want. I’ll be looking over your shoulders throughout. The MC’s role in a lot of this initial set up is to “ask probing questions” to try and help build the world and its dramas. So I may ask you some questions while your characters are just taking shape.

After this initial phase is over, we’ll hand out debts and build PC connections. I’ll definitely have questions for everyone during/after that. Once we’ve had those follow up conversations to my questions (and to any follow up questions) - I expect this might be 10-14 days away, but we’ll see - we’ll need to take a pause. I’ll take all your information, and work up the threats and storms of the city living around you. That might also take another one or two weeks.

That’s just an outline of the process I’ll guide us though, and a heads up that once you guys feel ready to go, I will need to ask your forbearance as I take time to myself to build the world of dangers and dramas that you guys have designed through character generation.

[Roekahs]

Originally Posted by Wynamoinen

... as I take time to myself to build the world of dangers and dramas that you guys have designed through character generation.

This was probably my favorite part of running the game...

So both of you ... and if there is ... but it can't be for both ... *shakes head* ... I'm going to need another NPC. I can't possibly need anymore, right?... ok, now about this next thing

[Roekahs]

Hey all, I was snooping and saw something I totally forgot about the sheet: there are placeholders for "Corruption Moves" where I put 4 spaces just to manage the layout space. If you haven't already spent the time to type your moves in, it is probably worth not putting all your Corruption Moves in - lots of typing/copying for virtually no payout. For those new to US, corruption is a lot of fun but it takes a while in game before your character will build up enough corruption to take 1 move, let alone 4. Just to kind of explain more: corruption is sort of built as an exponential type deal - you start the game with very few ways to even mark corruption, then you manage to unlock your first corruption move and you suddenly have a really cool skill that you mark corruption to activate, then you get another move and have 2 cool abilities that use corruption to activate ...

Anyway, sorry if that wasn't clear to anyone that already spent the time

[wodine]

In case you already added your corruption moves, I recommend adding a checkbox so you don't have to delete anything...

[hafrogman]

Originally Posted by Roekahs

you start the game with very few ways to even mark corruption

Hrmmm.
Looks at playbook.
"When you knowingly head straight into danger, mark corruption."
Resolves to walk everywhere sideways.
Brilliant!