[Other] Providence Valley (d6 system)

[Codex Sparks]

Applications Reopened to try to pick up a replacement player.
One of the starting players dropped out, so I'm open to new applications.

Game Name Providence Valley (d6 system)

Game System Other Roleplaying Games

Theme Primarily solving mysteries, with lots of roleplaying, drama, and exploration as well

Flavour Mostly lighthearted

Plot Summary The small town of Providence Valley, Michigan, seems peaceful and ordinary from a distance. Your family has just moved here, and by the end of the first day, it is clear that there is something supernatural going on. There are layers upon layers of mysteries, and you’re not going to let high school drama stop you from solving them. The Player Characters will be high school students who have just moved to Providence Valley and who want to discover its secrets. This game is intended to have a lighthearted tone, though with emotional depth and moments of seriousness. It is intended to be something of a mix between Gravity Falls and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though you do not need to be familiar with either to play. In contrast to either of those, the magic system has fairly concrete rules defining what it does and doesn’t allow for, though learning those rules will be a mystery unto itself. I am looking for 2-5 players who can commit to posting about every other day. More frequent posting than this is welcome, but not required. If you won't be able to post for a while, please let me know in advance.

System This game uses a tweaked version of the Mini Six version of the Open d6 rules, which can be obtained for free here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...term=mini+six+ The rules tweaks are as follows: The skills are - Might - Athletics, Brawling, Melee weapons, Lifting, Stamina - Agility - Acrobatics, Dodge, Drive, Pickpocket, Lockpicking, Shoot, Stealth - Wit - Biology, Chemistry, Computer, History, Language, Mechanics, Medicine, Physics, Tracking, Wilderness survival - Charm - Animal Handling, Bluff, Persuasion, Sense deception, Streetwise, Willpower In many situations, simply having at least 1D in a skill will result in clues tied to that skill being found without needing to roll. The rules for supernatural abilities and magic are not being used. I've made my own magic system for this game. This means you cannot take esoteric perks. Characters start with 10 dice to spend on attributes instead of 12. Characters may not take the Age complication, they are all teenagers. Character points will be given when a mystery is solved, rather then at the end of a session. The fast static combat rules are being used.

Application Please include the following information in your application: Your character's name Your character's age / grade A description of your character's background and personality The reason your character's family moved to Providence Valley Using secret text, a significant secret, emotional issue, or other source of character drama that your character has. Why you like RPGs in general Why you are interested in this particular game How much experience you have with RPGs (Its fine if the answer is none, I just want to know what I'm dealing with) How much experience you have with mysteries in RPGs How often you can commit to posting

[ElderOblex]

I'm interested in this but don't think I can commit to six days/week of activity. Is this a hard rule?

[Codex Sparks]

I would definitely prefer it, but if I can't get people who are willing to commit to that, then I'd take a slower game over nothing.

[Codex Sparks]

Actually, I've decided to reduce the target posting rate. People who are up for posting more are still welcome to, but I'm going to aim for every other day instead.

[Hal Hammerhand]

The Fighter: Name: Might 3d | Agility 4d | Wit 1d | Charm 2d Athletics 1d | Brawling 1d | Stamina 1d | Acrobatics 1d | Dodge 1d | Willpower 1d | Acrobatics 1dGrace 'Gracie' Williams Age / Grade: 16/ 10th grade, Sophomore Personality: Gracie is stubborn, almost to the point of rebellion but she is also disciplined. She is quiet and tries to stay under most people's radar but when she gets called out or put on the spot, she often reacts defensively. Appearance: Grace is tall and lanky but slowly working her way to an athletic build. She is tall for her age, evident when she is among her class-mates, Nearly six feet tall at sixteen. Her muscles are toned more than large from her mixed martial arts training. Her long gold-blonde hair is always up in a ponytail. Her grey eyes are usually downcast at her feet as she tries to stay out of sight and out of mind and this makes her come off as shy. She likes shorts and t-shirts that don't restrict her movement, so usually form-fitting, sometimes with a light jacket or blazer. She wears mid-top canvas shoes in black and white. Background: Grace was born and raised in the USA but her mother, Sophie, was originally from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Gracie's father, Joseph, was a US marine that had traveled to Europe and upon meeting Grace's mother, fell head-over-heels in love with her. When they found out that Grace was on her way, Her mother and father decided to go to the United States instead of facing the challenge of trying to buy a home that was larger than the small studio apartment they currently owned. In America, in the state of Arkansas, it wasn't hard for Sophie to find work as a secretary and Joseph went into professional MMA competition. As with anything, you teach your kids your skills and so, when Gracie was ten years old, her father started training her at the local gym. Everything was good until Sophie lost her job due to downsizing and Joseph's popularity dropped due to arguments with his agent. They had to move to a smaller apartment and Joseph took up work with some shady folks. One night, Joseph met his end at the end of a gun barrel, after crossing the wrong people. After the funeral, rumor started to circulate about Joseph, that he was little more than an enforcer for the criminal element in the city and Grace was very hurt. She was persecuted at school and pushed to her limits. Fights at school were almost a daily occurrence. At first, Sophie thought to pull her daughter out of school and homeschool her but the dead-end job that she was struggling to maintain was too demanding on her time. They got together all the money they could and moved to Michigan, a quiet town called Providence Valley. Or so they thought. The reason your character's family moved to Providence Valley: To escape the social persecution and backlash of her father's murder. Why you like RPGs in general: I get to create a character that I can relate to and write their story. Why you are interested in this particular game: I like the idea of teenagers solving mysteries, like Scooby-Doo and Buffy the vampire slayer. It's the shows I grew up watching. How much experience you have with RPGs: I have been playing RPG's for two decades, Tabletop RPG's on and off for a decade and RPGX on and off for about 2 years. How much experience you have with mysteries in RPGs: I have been trying to put together a game involving a mystery-solving sort of feel but just can't seem to get a good thing going in my mind. How often you can commit to posting: Probably every other day, maybe once a week at the least.

[Nyx89]

The Brain Name: Sofia Morales Age / Grade: 15 / Sophomore Personality: Sofia is a geek, but she's not your typical geek. Bubbly and outgoing, she loves spending time with friends as much as she loves hitting the books. She tries to see the best in everyone and would go out of her way to help a kitty stuck in a tree or a little old lady cross the road. Background: Sofia comes from a big family. She has a sister and two brothers. As the oldest child, she's always felt the burden of responsibility and high expectations. Her mother and father were 1st generation immigrants from Mexico who worked their way up into high-paying careers, and they expect Sofia to follow in their footsteps. Utterly loyal to her family, she has worked hard to excel both academically and athletically (she plays soccer). But all the pressure is beginning to get to her, and it's only sophomore year. Will she finally crack? The reason your character's family moved to Providence Valley: Sofia's mom got a fancy new job as vice president of a bank so they moved all the way from southern California, and Sofia is not happy about moving to a place where the air hurts your face during the winter. Why you like RPGs in general: I love exploring new worlds and getting to unleash my creative side in creating characters and developing their stories. Why you are interested in this particular game: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my favorite show of all time. How much experience you have with RPGs: A little over 6 months playing D&D 5e play-by-post and in-person games. How much experience you have with mysteries in RPGs: I've played a little bit of Kids on Bikes and Call of Cthulu. How often you can commit to posting: At least every other day or at the very least twice a week

[ElderOblex]

 

The Weirdo @andythelemon Name: Tobi Fujiwara Age / Grade: 17 / Senior Personality: Introverted but friendly once you start up a conversation, Tobi smiles more than often and gets along with pretty much everyone, teachers included. He's not the most astute in academics, but give him a knife and plant him in the middle of a wood and he can forage and hunt just fine. Because of his many "non-traditional" hobbies and interests (some of which include archery, marksmanship, bushcraft, Japanese haiku, RPGs, and sport bikes), he comes across as... weird... to many of his classmates. Tobi also has a strong sense of justice. Though he is rarely confrontational or combative, he has in more than one occasion stood up for a friend when he perceived unfair treatment or some hint of bullying, which has gotten him into scrapes; sometimes even a trip to the clinic. Background: Tobi's parents met and started a family in Japan, but moved to New Jersey when Tobi's dad decided to let go of a lucrative career in the automotive industry to pursue missionary work. That was around 4 years ago, and Tobi's dad - Ginjiro - has been a seminary student ever since. Tobi's been homeschooled from the start, since even back then they'd have to move between prefectures sometimes up to 3 times in a year for his father's work. Here in the States, Tobi's had more time to learn skills and hobbies of a more survivalist flavor, since that was a big part of his parents' current training. He's also been helping out in his dad's live-streaming side-hustle, producing content from DIY projects to bushcrafting to responsible hunting. The reason your character's family moved to Providence Valley: Ginjiro is now finishing a post-grad degree somewhere near Providence Valley, and because it was a 3-year programme, the family decided to put Tobi in a mainstream school where he could conceivably finish his secondary education. The transition was hard, in a lot of ways. Providentially, Tobi was pleasantly surprised to discover that there was one other student in the school whom he'd actually been friends with online even back when he was still in Japan: Leona Gomez, an elite member of his school's swim team and a long-time co-member with Tobi at an online archery enthusiast forum. Why you like RPGs in general: I'm a sucker for good writing and a good story, and the fantasy/supernatural elements just make it more interesting for me personally. I also enjoy the collaborative story-telling nature of RPGs, where I'd like to think being an active player means I get to influence the direction of the plot a wee bit at least. Why you are interested in this particular game: I enjoyed Gravity Falls and really dig the Stranger Things kind of atmosphere I envision this game having! How much experience you have with RPGs: Around 3~ years of combined IRL TTRPGs and PbP (mostly D&D5E) How much experience you have with mysteries in RPGs: My one and only finished game here on RPGX was a mystery... I think? How often you can commit to posting: Every other day is fine on average; weekends are spotty at best

[Silver Sonome]

The Dilettante Name: Mary Hourican Age/Grade: 16 years/11th grade (Sophomore) Appearance: Short and somewhat unfit, Mary could easily be passed as a freshman. She has slightly tan skin, as she spends quite some time outdoors, and a round, meek face with shifty eyes that always try to avoid eye contact. Her dark brown hair frames her face neatly, and although she needs glasses, she'll take the first opportunity she can to take them off. Most of her clothes are hand-me-downs from her sister, which means they're often a size too large for her. She doesn't stick to any look particularly, as she's often seeking new jobs and often wears their uniforms instead of a regular outfit; however, on her off time she prefers dark shirts and tattered jeans that make her pass unsighted through the world. Her shoes are her only point of interest: a pair of worn red sneakers that used to belong to her sister, back when she was on the track team... Background: Mary and Morgan were never equals. In their suburban home in Dublin, the two sisters often teased each other, playfully fighting over who got to do something first, or better than the other. It wasn't a fair game for Mary; her sister was seven years older than her, with a resolute mind and eyes on the future. Mary... Was just Mary. Sister to the athlete, the genius, the cheerful, friendly, empathetic, perfect Morgan. It was a surprise to no one that she had trouble at school, following instructions and remembering things. Mary was constantly supported by her parents, who baked her pies and made entire parties every time she accomplished something, no matter how minor. But in the depths of the night, Mary would still hear them talking among themselves, wondering what to do with her, for her, to help her prosper... And every word of support and love felt hollow to her. Empty. One night, when Morgan was being particularly cheeky, Mary couldn't hold it any longer. And as Morgan cheerfully teased her, she unleashed all of her feelings in a bout of rage. She was angry that she wasn't worth all the effort her parents were putting on her. She was angry that she would never be as good as Morgan. And she was angry that Morgan, despite being the perfect child... Never cared about how she felt. Morgan, trying to deescalate the situation, tried to argue with her, but as these arguments often go for siblings, it soon became more of a fight. "Sometimes," She bellowed, "sometimes I feel like I shouldn't be alive at all!" "... And you think I haven't thought the same?" Morgan was serious. Mary listened in awe as her sister spoke about her own tribulations. How Mary was always the one being celebrated. How she sacrificed so much only to get a simple 'congrats'. She knew that Mary needed the help; her parents had spoken to her many times about it. And she tried to keep a smiling face. Oh, lord knew she tried. But deep down, she couldn't help but feel a sense of neglect. Of uselessness. A feeling that no matter what she did, her accomplishments would never be enough... To save Mary. "I've tried and tried, but if you can't help yourself, then I can't help you!" The two sisters, heartbroken in the middle of a moonlit midnight, apologized to each other in tears... "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Morgan..." "Shh... It's ok... It's fine. We both made mistakes." "P-promise to not tell mom and dad about it?" "Hey, I won't tell if you won't tell. And, Mary... I know you can do it. I don't want to discourage you... I really don't. You can do anything you set your mind to." And then, there was silence. Mary made a promise to herself... And to Morgan. She would find a way to become better. She would find her talent, her spark... And finally make her life worth it. Shortly afterwards, Morgan announced that she'd be leaving to America. She had just finished her medicine career, and a clinic in a small town called Providence Valley was already trying to reach to her. Morgan left Ireland that same week, leaving Mary to fend for herself in her new quest for a better life. She picked up the habit to make notes of everything in her tablet; this increased her performance at school, at the cost of seeming like a weirdo to her classmates. She would often get picked on and had her device stolen several times; but not even this was enough to discourage her. She picked a couple of part-time jobs during vacation, and even picked up photography as a hobby. She wasn't exactly the best at anything, but her approach was to be decent at something, whatever it could be, and so she picked up a series of talents and experiences. Then, a fateful morning, Morgan called home. It had been three years since she had left; she was having an extremely successful career, helping the community and even living in her own comfortable house at Providence Valley. She invited the whole family over to visit, and they all arranged a trip to the town. Mary was ecstatic to finally meet with her sister again. She wanted to show her that she had taken her words to heart. She wanted to show her that she finally had become a better person, at school, at life, at... at everything. However, the very day they arrived, a terrible tragedy occurred. Morgan was found dead in her own home. Tears in her eyes, but with a smiling face, she seemed to have died of a sheer heart attack. Her death was ruled as a suicide, given the lack of evidence for anything else, and her family was left to grieve her loss, stuck in an entirely different continent. The image of her sister's face would haunt Mary forever... Personality: Mary is often looking for various ways to help others. Following on the shoes of Morgan, she tries to do a little bit of everything, but when she fails, she often blames herself personally for the mistakes. She's very much a 'jack of all trades, master of none', kind of person, and if something isn't on her skillset, she will do her best to learn at least the basics of it. She can also be a bit of a skeptic. She will not believe on anything that she doesn't have proof for, leading her to be pretty well informed, but often stubborn and hard to convince. She tends to document and research anything she comes into contact with, searching and typing on her tablet where she makes notes on her daily life. However, she's so nervous to miss something important that she will often write random facts or details irrelevant to the conversation or event, and those are the ones that actually stick with her. She's smart, but her usual smarts are rarely useful information. Why did they move to Providence Valley: Mary's parents are currently trying to settle things on court, as the circumstances of Morgan's death are extremely questionable, and they refuse to believe it was a suicide. But while that's going on, Mary cannot miss any days of school, and so she was enrolled on Providence Valley High... Why do you like RPGs? I love exploring the lives and stories of different characters. I play to be a supporter, trying to keep away from the limelight; I like it when I can help someone develop their character or make a big change to them. Why you are interested in this game? I'm a Gravity Falls fan! Actually, many of the franchises and series I like follow mysteries and enigmas (though most of them involve funky superpowers lol), and I honestly prefer to read and play small scale tales with focused, personal goals, rather than epic world-spanning adventures. How much experience do you have with RPGs? I've been playing D&D since highschool, for about 5 years now, and have dabbled on other systems and formats along the way; however, I've just joined RPGX, and this would be one of my first experiences with PbP. How much experience do you have with mysteries in RPGs? I played an insufferable genius character in a year-long Persona campaign, and I have solved my fair share of riddles in my time with D&D. This would be the first time (aside from the Persona game) that I'd play a game focused entirely on mystery. How often you can commit to posting? Every other day is fine! I'd try to do it daily, but life often gets in the way, so having a bit of a time margin for posting would be perfect.

[Codex Sparks]

I'm liking all of the applications so far. I'd be happy with this group, but I will give a little more time if there are other people who still want to apply.
Its interesting that all of the characters so far are either from another country or their parents were. I don't really know other cultures well, so please let me know of any major cultural differences that are likely to come up.
Reading over Grace's application made me realize I completely failed to include a skill for unarmed combat, so I'm going to add that in. I'm not sure how I managed that, Brawling is listed in just about all the sample skill lists in the rulebook.

[Silver Sonome]

No worries here. I'm actually Mexican, I just watch a lot of Irish YouTube channels and thought having Mary come from there would fit the common 'foreign exchange student' theme that we have, but I'm not too familiar with the culture either. I apologize beforehand if I fall too much on tropes or stereotypes if I get to play her!

Also, a bit of a dumb question: what's the level of technology of the town/setting in general? Taking Gravity Falls as a baseline, the show had a modern setting, but stuff like the internet was rarely mentioned unless it was relevant to the plot; similarly, cars and markets were often old and decrepit, rather than the clean, clear tech that you'd see on other modern settings. Should we assume it's a regular town outside of the supernatural elements? Are there any specific rural or natural areas? If these are things you'd prefer we don't know beforehand it's completely fine, though.

[Codex Sparks]

I'm not the sort to get offended over stereotypes/tropes, so no worries here.
As for technology level, assume its basically a modern setting, with appropriate technology. So you can assume your characters have cell phones, regularly use the internet, and so forth. I'm tentatively thinking it'll start in the Fall of 2018 so I don't have to address covid at all (unless the game keeps going past a full school year). The town is definitely on the rural side, with significant amounts of farmland and wooded areas, mostly outside of the official town boarders, but not entirely. (Its heavily inspired by my hometown, with some extra elements (besides the supernatural) thrown in to provide extra options for mysteries)

[Hotshot lasgun]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/14988611250360040/
Your character's name: gobija zasuzkas "gobi"
Your character's age / grade: 17/junior
A description of your character's background and personality: gobi is a nice, if cold, girl. she has an uncanny ability to sneak up on anyone
The reason your character's family moved to Providence Valley: her family is second-generation russian immigrants. they originally moved here after the fall of the soviet union

Why you like RPGs in general: they're fun as hell to play a different character than myself
Why you are interested in this particular game: i like mysteries, but more of the supernatural kind than scooby-doo
How much experience you have with RPGs: plenty! i played tons of rpg games pre-covid, and switched to online when covid hit
How much experience you have with mysteries in RPGs: none
How often you can commit to posting: once a day, maybe more

[Silver Sonome]

Okay, I've been checking the reference document for Mini Six, and I have some questions about character creation. If I understand this correctly, every roll uses at least one die (the Wild Die), but getting more dice on a certain attribute or skill means you add extra dice and bonuses to the roll, correct? If that's the case, is it possible to have only pips (+1 or +2) on a skill? I ask for skills specifically because the ruleset specifically states that attributes need at least one die. As I've mentioned, I want to play a jack-of-all-trades character (with maybe some specialization on note taking), and it would be fitting for Mary to have no specific bonuses on a skill.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, there's also specialty dice, used for particular uses of non-combat skills. Since 1 skill die = 3 specialty dice, could I set one die per specialty skill, or are these dice locked to the skill they're associated with? The wording of the rules doesn't make it too clear how this mechanic works, though maybe I'm just reading it wrong...

Finally, are there any additional perks and complications? Though the ones in the list are pretty good, I was wondering if there could be some sort of "Forgetfulness" complication, where character points are earned when Mary cannot remember plot relevant facts (as opposed to just any information) or is separated from her tablet. It's fine if this is not possible, I just wanted to know if the option is there, just in case!

[ElderOblex]

I only took some Japanese language courses in college, which only gave a brief glimpse of the culture. So aside from a short dalliance with manga, anime, and JPop, that's really all my exposure with the country. But hey, that's why RPing is fun!

[Treble83]

Colt Cruise Character Name: Colt Cruise Character's Age & Grade: 17 years old, Junior Personality Colt has never lacked in self confidence or bravado. Despite being brought up in a lower middle class family, he's been treated like a celbrity ever since Middle Scool. Being a talented Wide Receiver in a town that lives for Championship runs certainly had it's perks. Now, I'm afraid that Colt will be like a fish out of water. Almost everyone he knows and loves are hundreds of miles away. He's used to having friends around so he'll likely be seeking that out. Background: Colt comes from a long and proud line of men that were all born and raised in the town of Mathis within the great state of Texas. As that same tradition would dictate, Colt's been playing football ever since he was only five years old. In fact, he had just been promoted to the Varsity team of the Mathis Bullfrogs when his father announced that the family would be moving to someplace called Providence Valley, Michigan. At first, Colt was sure that his father had to be joking. Why would they leave Texas!? It was home! All of their family and friends lived in or near Mathis. Hell, they were practically royalty there! Still... After all of his questions, followed by all of his begging and pleading, and finally followed by angry outbursts; His father would not relent. Supposedly, the promotion was too good of an offer to pass up. The sort of position you worked hard to even be considered for. Something about his Dad's story seemed off... He couldn't say what it was and his Dad sure as hell wasn't going to tell him but something was definitely off. However, after only one day in Providence Valley, his Dad's story is the least of his concerns... Something is off about this place and it's not just the glaring lack of southern hospitality... Why do you like RPGs in general? I love to lose myself in fantasy. It's like daydreaming with structure! Why you are interested in this particular game? So far, I have limited myself to DND 5E. It's time to branch out. How much experience you have with RPGs? Tabletop? About three to four years. Including video games? About 35 years (I'm 38). How much experience you have with mysteries in RPGs? Not a lot. I've had DM's dabble in mystery but never a game dedicated to as much. How often you can commit to posting? Generally? Every day. However, sometimes I get busy. So let's say every other day to be safe...