Coile

[ QUOTE ]

0.o they must be expensive shoes...

unless he wants to shoe a millipede...

[/ QUOTE ]

...or to shoe a girlfriend.

Coile entered the base via portal and looked around. It was still a foreign environment despite being their own headquarters. He had been denied access for a month.

A terminal was open. Curious to see who had left it unattended he took a peek. A strange message was on screen. No sender, no indication of its origin. He cursed.

"Bad timing, and short notice too. With the leads on Azure Sting that need checking immediately I can't make it." He sent the message group-wide and sighed. "I hope someone else can. That Requiem dude will take a plunge too but now I have a two mindfryers to track."

(( IRL schedule likely prevents me from taking part in this session. Personally I'm interested and suspect the whole Silent Tempest will be cracking down on Requiem before long. ))

Tempest status (13.6.2006)

Quite a bit is underway.

Skorpanok

Skorpanok is still held in containment field in our base. His helmet has been examined by Steel Guard bt it has also a mystical element to it. Now the helmet is in possession of an alleged vampire named Akkarin. We sort of just have to wait for him to get back to us on that.

Azure Sting

We met Azure Sting's partner High Noon. The meeting didn't start well but we gained new information. Azure Sting, the real one, had been searching for someone called Lullabye. Lullabye apparently belongs to something called Crown. High Noon knew of two other operatives in there, Post Mortis and Vaportrail. I will talk to High Noon again and interview him further on those. I have also asked our allies in Ghost Tiger Investigations to look into those names. Pyranha took the case. Last night she met with some people, I think, so we'll have to see when we know more.

Rakila

I am personally certain that Rakila possesses some abilities. We'll see if they manifest themselves again. Meanwhile she will work in our base and be trained by Steel Guard.

Phaine

It looks like Phaine is responsible for the deaths of her parents. Last night she killed a Skull right in front of us. After an argument she lashed out at me. I don't know what happened afterwards. Kitia says it wasas if I had been dropped off a building. She healed whatever wounds I had. Now our priority remains fining Phaine and making sure she won't harm others again. She is still a pupil of mine and I will see if I can help her. But I realize she is a danger and she has to be stopped. Be careful with her. She can kill at a distance.

Echo

One of the people we met over at Pocket D last night was a demonic woman who went by the name of Echo. She is by her own words a succubus. I did someresearch. Traditionally sukkubi drain energy through, well, you know. Sex. She says one kiss from her is enough to steal the soul and kill. Might be she was overdramatic, or she might have told the truth. In any case she tried to get me to go with her. Resisting her is not easy, let me tell you. I needed a firm anchor to not just let go. I think she has somemind powers. She was also after Phaine. I think she still is. Another reason to be cautious.

Alliances

I might be mistaken but it sounded like Akkarin was probing waters for a possible alliance between the Silent Tempest and his group the Fletched Alliance. I know nothing of them. We need way more intelligence on them before we can even consider the idea for real, and as said I don't know if there's any interest on their side. We'll see. Meanwhile, try to find out things about them. Membership roster, reputation, structure, agenda. And let's try to do some digging on our own for once, without involving Pyranha, ok?

The school

I have already started some training with Rakila. Phaine is fo rthe moment gone, but I hope to reach her yet. Kitiainformed me of another girl who has been asking about the school. Looks like we're off to a start at least. I will make a public announcement of it sometime soon.

Personal time off

I will be taking a trip maybe soon. Next week perhaps. I want to test my abilities in a new environment. Mountains. I never traveled much as a kid, the trip from North Dakota to Paragon City is the longest I've taken. This morning I went to the library and after some snoopingaround decided to go to Tien Shan. There's one of the most beautiful mountain in the world, Khan Tengri. I will spen a few days there, testing my flight in high altitudes.

Ideally a gathering notice would benefit from a day or two of being out before the shindig. That makes tomorrow a tad too close. Thursday or Friday?

The time could be one hour before GG. That'd leave some margin for people to gather, talk about the matter and then drop down on GG like a truckload of teen angst. If the hour isn't enough we / they will be just a little late. Kids these days...

Galaxy or Atlas - with the tram it's more or less the same. If people already associate Galaxy City with RP meets why not build on that.

My own presence depends on both IC and OOC. And come August Coile will turn twenty so this might be out of his league (or the other way around) to begin with.

Double post due to laggy connection. Will replace this with something witty later.

[ QUOTE ]
That's what I want us to decide upon

Basilisk is starting to feel real lonely lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just to note - Coile is starting an IC tutoring service school for people who have trouble controlling or using their powers. So far the track record isn't stellar - out of two students one assaulted Coile and ended up on the "hunt these people down!" list of the Silent Tempest accompanied by Azure Sting.

There should be an IC announcement of the school soonish, just waiting for the right moment. Which might be a bit further off as there's a mountaineer mission piled up for the teach. ...bloody flower delivery service... *grin*

...this all is relevant to Basilisk and him being lonely only if he has some problems keeping his powers in check. The school is not a combat training ground as such.

A for Android: Pantheon of Beauty

The goddess Nut

A for Android: Pantheon of Beauty

”I have never worshipped anyone before.”, said Coile aloud.

He was sitting by the living room table legs bent underneath. On the table in front of him was a statue made of plastic. It was a second-hand tourist trinket that he had chanced upon while passing by a flea market earlier. On its left side a slender white candle was burning. On the right site was a sandwich on a plate and behind the plate the tv-guide.

Coile cleared his throat. This felt awkward, talking aloud and alone. He looked at the statue and tried to just think what he wanted to say but immediately his focus started drifting. He glanced at the closed bedroom door wary of making any noises. Even if he wasn’t engaged in any morally forbidden activity getting caught in this situation filled him with dread. They had fought enough cultists for him not to be at ease with his present activity.

Then again, Sword had so far been a tight sleeper. Or at the very least he wasn’t aware of waking her up with any background noise save for those few nights after being assaulted by Azure Sting that he had spent wandering around, crying some of the time. If he kept his voice low and steady there shouldn’t be anything that might alarm his living companion. He began anew.

”I have never worshipped anyone before. I have never believed in any god before. Not really. We weren’t brought up to think like that. All the gods or the one God were just tales. Things to study. Not that I studied gods, mind you.” Coile kept a pause and stared at the statue. It had no resemblance whatsoever to the woman he had met.

”You came to me when I was feeling down and lost high up on that skyscraper. In a distant way you took interest, soothed me. Then you accompanied me in search for my sister who had gone missing and helped to get her to safety. That’s when I started believing in you. You were the goddess Nut. You felt like one. You were real to me.” Gently Coile brushed the side of the statue with his finger.

”I have seen incredible things. I have met powerful beings who claim to have a divine origin. Architects of our reality. They are all fakes. Impostors. Beings of power who have no credentials by themselves, who only seek to add to their fictional fame and prestige. The feeling they leave is stale and repugnant. I don’t care what they are. They are not gods.” He bowed his head in front of the statue.

”You have the air and the feel. You are ancient. You are of different breed. To you humans are still mortals, fleeting things that pass you by. You look at us from above because you are superior to us. And yet you don’t feel contempt or even pity. You seek to comfort, help and aid wherever you can. That is the way of god. You don’t demand our respect and gratitude, you earn it.” He looked up again, a thin film of wetness blurring his vision for a moment.

”You asked if what I felt was worship, or friendship. I don’t think there is a difference. People of the old feared your kind. You were incomprehensible to them. Beings they had no chance at all to understand logically or even ideologically. You were so far beyond their scope of experience that they had no option but to cower and plead for mercy in exchange for their worship. You said it yourself that those days are now gone. I-”, Coile stayed quiet for a moment, ”I think you are mistaken.”

”Look around you. There are superpowered beings all around you. Thousands upon thousands. Some of them godlike to people who lack these abilities. Some more powerful than you or your brethren. People are accustomed of beings giving flight or striking thunder. You are no longer feared. But that is not the root of worship. It’s gratitude for the good that you do. That still stands. Those people you gave rain to. That man with broken leg on the mountainside that you gave comfort to. They worship you. They may hold no altars or sacrifices but still they have the gratefulness inside.” Looking at the statue and the assorted things scattered on the table he almost made a face but instead just went on.

”Nut, sky goddess, sister and lover of Geb, daughter of Shu and Tefnut, mother of Osiris, Seth, Isis and Nephthys. I don’t fear you but I worship you. I see you as a friend to me. And I am in your service. You can be at many places at one time. I don’t see you here. I still believe that you can hear me, in one sense or another. I have lit a candle for you, and prepared a sandwich. I am not sure why but I feel it is enough, and appropriate. They are my sacrifice to you.” Then he fell silent bowing his head again. He remained still for many minutes until he finally smiled.

”I was wrong. I said I have never worshipped anyone before. I was wrong. I serve two goddesses. The goddess of the sky, and the goddess of the truth. You said there are laws forbidding the relations between gods and mortals. I accept that and don’t crave you. But the other goddess I love.” Now he turned his stance towards the closed bedroom door but kept his words directed at the statue on the table.

”She is no god as you are. She is in fact a mortal woman. But to me she is a goddess of immense gracefulness. She is the vessel for Truth, her avenging Sword striking at injustice.” His head remained unbowed, gaze steady and voice level. ”She is Nadia Forester, the Sword of Truth. I serve her. I love her. And in this mad world maybe one day she will love me.”

Then Coile turned to the candle and blew it out. He gathered the candle, the statue and the sandwich from the table. The sandwich he placed on the windowsill for birds to eat. They would soar high, high to the sky and deliver the sacrifice. The candle and the statue he placed into a drawer in his small room. He smiled faintly as he pushed the drawer shut. ”You two are my pantheon.”

Tempest status check 5.6.2006

I'll attempt a summary on the situation.

Coila

Coila has been dealing well with her illness. Stiuation has been stabilized with the suit. A possible cure is under works through our dad's associates. If you can put some stray Vahziloks out of business, do so.

Kitia

Kitia's transformation is still ongoing. Her appearance has become more feline-like ever since we came to Paragon City. I don't think we have seen the end of it. She also seems to spend a lot of time meditating.

Subaiku

Subaiku has been working with the Skorpanok case. We need to divert some of our resources to dig into Saturn Corporation and assist her.

Sword of Truth

Sword has sustained more damage to her left rib section. In team operations I want people pay some attention to enemy movements. Repeated damage on one area can become a permanent injury. Watch each other's backs.

Steel Guard

Steel has been working on the base and modified... something. I was a little distracted while we talked. Something has been converted into a holding cell. We need to either raise funds or ask our father to provide some aid so we can put the base back into shapa and have the cell still operational.

ND-3

Nadia has been out of reach a lot. I suspect there has been some structural damage to her chassis. I guess dad didn't think just how tough a place the city could be. I hope she is operational before soon.

Me

I know I haven't been all together since.. well, you know. Azure Sting. I'm better now. Can't keep a good soldier down and stuff. Thank you for all the help, and Sword for having me over.

Rakila

Some if not most of you have met Rakila. She's a fourteen years old native american girl who has helped us a bit here and there. She needs a place to belong to and it looks like me, Coila and Sword all want to help her. There's a suggestion that Rakila could come to live in base and work for us. Steel could check what she can do with machines - operations and maintanance and stuff. Also, Rakila could very well possess some mind abilities, despite what she herself says. If anyone knows how to test those... Also, if anyone objects to this plan, speak up.

Phaine

This is a girl me and Rakila met a few nights ago. She needs help in training to control her powers. She hurt someone with them. Maybe if Nadia could instruct her like she did us? Also, I want to try and help her, and Rakila too if she lets me after last night.

Azure Sting

It seems there are two. The original Azure Sting hasn't visited her home, we think, in three weeks. The one we met wasn't her, just someone using her looks and name. We need a more thorough check on her than what Hero Corps gave us. Maybe another job for Ghost Tiger Investigations? This is for you all - look into this. Find out useful facts.

If and when we find the one who stole the statues I want everyone to remember that we only arrest them, we don't punish them. Otherwise we become them. Also... I can't be sure of what happened. I remember fingers. I know they are hers, but I don't remember what happened. Just that hey were cold and burning. Don't... don't let her get close.

School

I want to try and help those who don't understand their powers yet. I've so far met Rakila and Phaine. I'll give this some more thought but I think I want to open a small school for people like that. Help them to adjust, and if they later on want, maybe start fighting criminals with the Silent Tempest.

Skorpanok

The man is under confinement. We need to find out what has been done to him and if he can be helped. Add target Saturn Corporation on your watchlist. We'll make a strike when we have enough to go on.

Just read the first part and I have to say it's bloody hilarious. Brilliant! I laughed out loud a few times which in itself is a tad hazardous seeing I'm sitting behind a service desk. I'll definitely be reading more!

One side point: I know that one should not put extra empty lines between paragraphs while writing (in fact the instructor of your creative writing class can bite your head off for that) but with online forum posts it might make the text more readable for some. If the whole text appears to be one large chunk it can deter some people from reading it. Dunno how big a problem that is in general, so it's just a point of view to be considered.

[ QUOTE ]
I think most RP SGs have some theme, so all those joined have something in common to get things started.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is true. What also is important is what kind of IC stuff you are looking for although that can be harder to put into words.

Since I'm pulling these categories out of my sleeve there'll no doubt be omissions. Feel free to fill in things that I leave out.

Some types of roleplaying:

- Deep plots. Plots run for weeks or months, intertwine and create a complex world of its own.
- Light banter. Just some chitchatting, the kind you might have in a cafe with an acquintance you happened to meet.
- Heavy social interaction. The connections and relationships between characters define who even talks to whom, or who sides with whom in a conflict. This works only if there is enough OOC trust.
- Action: Doing hunts or missions IC.

Of course for most if not all these types mix. Light banter can lead to more intense interaction, long running plots might be enhanced by more meaningful relationships, IC missions can boost any of the others above.

The question is which tickles your fancy. And, of course, not all the types must happen all at once. Something one day, something else the other.

It might be worth the while to read Bartle's study on gamer types. Although it describes the player base in general I find it suitable for also roleplayers only discussion because there are RP'ers in every category. Naturally there must be a touch of "socializer" in every RP'er.

http://www.mud.co.uk/richard/hcds.htm

I'm in a SG called The Silent Tempest. So far I have found that we fall in every category (as I think most people do, more or less). The socializer aspect is prominent and for me personally the most interesting one. Explorer side comes into play when we follow the IC story arcs and discover new things and meanings in the world as well learning to use the IG powers more efficiently in combat, solo or group. Achiever trend might be a tad less. We do seek levels but I see them more a sa byproduct of other types on playing. A worthwhile goal, but not a thing towards which to strive in expense of other rewards. Killer category might be the smallest, but we do PvP occasionally. Could do that more often now that I mention it.

Even within the SG the preferences are heavily personal. Still, I believe that my team mates are likeminded enough for it to be meaningful for us to play together.

[ QUOTE ]
And as much as I'd hate to divide my attention from Comrade Sergej, I might just end up creating another "Comrade" on the Union server then. Seeing that it's an rp server.

Thanks again.

//S. Stanovic

[/ QUOTE ]

If you have a comrade you might want to look up Red Commissar and his group Workers of Eastern Europe. As the name suggests your chosen consept would no doubt fit in just nicely.

I believe it's been mentioned that Paragon City is located on East Coast, somewhere nearish to Washington. However of that I am by no means certain. If there's an official map or something set in concrete I'd like to hear about it.

(( This is IC for Silent Tempest members, OOC for others. ))

The Silent Tempest - status check 28.5.2006 - submitted 29.5. at 2 am.

I will start making frequent reports on Tempest activities and developments. This feature should help members keep tabs on what is going on.

New members

Azure Sting will become a member when the registration goes through during Monday. She has helped in a few cases and should prove to be a valuable member to the team.

Alliances

We have made a pact with Ghost Tiger Investigations. We have employed them on a few occasions and a few more active contacts can't hurt. Beside that both Pyranha and Zania have fought well and a few extra hands in a tight spot will be good. We will offer them our assistance should they need it if we can.

Structure

It seems that the command structure of Tempest needs to be discussed. There will be a meeting about it.

Personal

I have handed over certain pills that helped me to carry on without sleeping. The need for sleep will kick in soon. No idea how long I will be out. Coila has the command.

And thanks for Steel Guard for blocking an earlier message from me.

Good idea, Stasis_!

Given name: Andre Kraft
Hero name: Coile
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Powers: Kinetic ranged blasts, power punch, flight (with practice existing powers become stronger and city also seems to bring out new abilities, like flight)
Description of Powers: The kinetic force can be released as a concussion blast from a distance or used to enhance a normal punch sending the opponent flying.
Personality: Kind, inexperienced, at times laconic, serious, naive, quixotix, totally at loss with women
Physical Description: Wide jaw, green mohawk. Wears an eye patch at all times even at beach, unlike his sister.
History/Backstory: Most of it is still untold. The first manifestation of powers is described in a short story Summertime Sonata, see sig for a link.

I'll include here a bio form that we whipped up for similar reasons. I wish we would have managed with a shorter form. And I'm happy if I never have to fill it again. Presented here just in case someone has a use for it.

IDENTIFICATION
1. In-Game name:
2. Character's names:
3. Race:
4. Gender:
5. Age:
6. Physical description and distinctive details:

BACKGROUND
7. General history – in brief what your character has done so far:
8. Criminal record – crimes you have committed (mark if caught/punished) and all outstanding bounties:
9. Medical history - any aspects of your health that are remarkable:
10. NPC ties – NPCs who are worth mentioning
- (family/friends/patrons/slaves):
- (enemies/competitors):
11. PC ties – PCs you feel connected to
- allies:
- enemies:

FACTION
12. Notable GCW ties – if your character is directly affiliated with either faction list all the details here, including rank and all relevant parts of the service records. Also needed are special tasks given:
13. Notable other ties – all connections to various organizations like Hutts, Black Sun, Phoenix Corporation or any other are listed here with all the relevant NPCs and their influences stated:
14. Enemies – who is after you, who you are after, why and how powerful they are:

ABILITIES
15. Skills – what are your outstanding learned skills:
16. Combat abilities – what your character can do in a fight. List all abilities (hand-to-hand/firearms/explosives) and weapons:
17. Languages – what languages do you speak (s), comprehend (c), read (r), write (w) [example: Basic - scrw]:

ADVANTAGES
18. Attributes – Which are your outstanding, defining inborn attributes (Constitution/Willpower/Strength/Intelligence/Agility/Reflexes/etc.):
19. Special abilities – all the little traits that give your character an advantage:
20. Suppliers – are there people who give you access to special equipment (weapons/medicine/spice):
21. Money and financial assets - [censored] poor or wealthy as Jabba:
22. Possessions – vehicles, ships, houses, remarkably expensive gear:
23. Cybernetics – if you have any, what do they do:

DISADVANTAGES
24. Character flaws – learned or habitual small stuff:
25. Disabilities – things your character can’t withstand or that limit them considerably:
26. Chemical Dependencies – drugs, medication, holics; what’s your poison and to what extent:
27. Social Dependencies – people who depend on you or you on them, how and why:
28. Social liabilities – debts of honour, favours that can be called, holds that people have over you:
29. Hooks – what is your characters weak spot which can be used to drag them into a plot:

[ QUOTE ]
But, i'll hold this for the weekend. Unless anyone wants to take over from where I let off (I'm sure some of you are far better at doing something like this than me), then there won't be much 'till monday.

[/ QUOTE ]

Regarding this I have one piece of advice for you, Reep. But before that I guess I must explain where I come from with this. I have no wish to brag (I can do that with a mirror and enjoy the view too), I merely want to show that I actually have the experience and can say with confidence that I know what I’m talking about. If I only said “I’ve been around.” that’d be just empty words.

I have participated in quite a few things. I have formed a roleplaying society (going now tenth year strong), an anime society, a Star Wars society (went past 200 members at high point), I have edited 50 issues of fanzines, taken one 20 page black&white fanzine and built it to a 80 pager colour cover mag, been making the national sf con twice (5000-6000 attendees), been the main organizer of the first national animecon, acted as a society president for 10+ man years, kicked off a national sf writing competition (150-200 entrees a year), organized a record breaking “100 hours straight of sf movies” event, ran for two years a player city community for 200 people altogether... And a score of other smaller stuff.

Each thing, big or small, has operated always with the same principle.

When you decide that something is worth doing, you prepare to do all the work on your own. You must know that you can do it all because you very well might have to. If you want to see something succeed you do it yourself.

Plan the thing. Consider how it will work. Then share the idea with a few friends, or find some enthusiastic people on the forum, and fine tune the plan. Take all the feedback from your team (and from others) that you want, make sure that *you* like the final plan, and then launch it.

The team will back you up, but don’t expect them to pick up the pace at a crucial moment. Every time you’re counting on someone else to just get excited enough to do something you run a high risk of being disappointed and having to do the stuff yourself. As long as you deep down know you’re going to do it all by lonesome anyway you’re covered.

The team, and all the other people will by this system be able to only surprise you positively. Whatever they contribute, big or small, it will just decrease your own burden, which is all the possible work. What is integral for the success of any project is maintaining the positive feel and faith. When you start counting on others you start running a risk of being disappointed. It might not happen, but it’s possible.

You grabbing the ball and running with it full steam will have a side effect. You’ll be making your plan work but also your positive enthusiasm will induce the same enthusiasm to others. Maybe not to many, and not straight away, but it will catch on. When we ran our player city there was a time when there was only three of us hanging around our social center, but we did it diligently. Week after week. There was also one point when we considered calling it quits after half a year. Three days later the pace picked up and went on for a year all the time reaching higher. It gained momentum, players, plots, GMs, the works.

I listed a hoard of achievements. I didn’t accomplish all that on my own. Of course not! Each project had a team and quite often there was someone or several who did more work than me. At times the ball was dropped but it was recovered by someone else, or ultimately by me. The manic need to see the plan and idea through caught on and often whipped the whole crowd into a frenzy, people busting their chops to make the best possible outcome of it.

The Silent Tempest is running smoothly. Some of the members I knew from before, some are completely new to me. In the beginning I had no idea what would come out of it. It’s been less than a month from conception and things are already just rolling. I’m not the hardest working person, again. The team is there, doing its stuff. I’m prepared to pick up the ball if it is dropped but right now it’s all I can do to keep up with the rest. And it’s a wonderful thing. Same as I try to boost others by my own enthusiasm I’m blown away by the dedication and sheer fun that others are having.

The coalition idea will work on this same principle. I’m prepared to plunge myself into it, creating and doing and working and just wishing that someone else will be there too. Past experiences throughout the years, and so far with Tempest, pretty much guarantee that I will not be alone in it. If in one month I have two more SGs signed on I’m a happy camper. If I don’t I’m still keeping the dream alive. I know, for a certainty, that it ill catch on, in the end. There’s no other possible outcome or there’s no sense in even setting it up.

If it still fails, it was because I didn’t have the energy for it, after all. Never start a project you don’t have the energy to do and complete on your own. After the launch, just have faith, set your eyes on the gold and dash like mad. Run all the way to the finish line and be positively surprised if by that time there are people running past you.

Reep, it could be someone picks this up during the weekend and you get a nice surprise when you get back, but don’t count on it. Just, you know, make the plan, and get cranking. Create. Push forward. Make your own dream true.

(( This is IC available in Paragon City communications grid. It is possible for your character to IC access this by accident or if tipped about it. Your call. It obviously is a personal journal entry that has been placed into a wrong category and made public by accident. -Coile ))

Right. I better start keeping a log about things that go bump in the night. I'm not much of a leader if I can't tell what happened when if someone asks.

Let's look at the situation here.

Coila

Coila has been infected with some Vahzilok virus. My own case went away when I got it in one day. Hers is different. She is changing and Kitia said it went deep. Coila looks... hum. Her hair is gone. Skin is dark, blotted with some black stuff. She left on her own but we saw her last night for a second. She came to us but when it got dark she just bolted. I tried to follow her but I think she went into the sewers. Sword has posted a wanted ad, I hope, at Hero Corps. Damn Corp, but I guess we have to work with them. Sword does. I also contracted Ghost Tiger Investigations on Coila. I guess it means basically that redhead, Pyranha. Also, mom delivered some samples from Coila after her infection to dad. He's a robotist but maybe he knows some other science people. Mom said Coila might fear what she could do to us. I guess she meant after dark.

I want her back. I need her back. Even if I’m getting into this hero stuff deeper all the time it was her dream to come here and do good. I just tagged along to see her safe. Safe. What a joke. I’m supposed to lead and manage a strike force and I can’t even protect my own sister. I’m not sure I can pull this off for long, not alone. We trained for five years together. She knows me better than anyone, even Kitia.

I fear she might die. Something best not mentioned to Kitia. Ever.

Kitia

Since we got here she's grown cat ears, and now a tail. I mean, what? Like, she's changing. Turning into a cat. And no one gives a flying fig! What's up with that? My ex-gf is mutating into a feline and people just think it's... I dunno, normal I guess. What if she turns into a complete cat? Like, all-fours, eats fish... oh lords and gods, cats clean themselves with their tongue. I so want THAT mental image out of my head! Kitia said when I asked that she was a bit scared too. Good that someone else is too. I don’t know how everyone else can be so cool about it. It’s so unknown and foreign and just fills me with dread. Kitia is very frantic over Coila. I guess I have to tell her we saw Coila but she slipped away. What will that do? I mean, she has started talking in third person now. She might be snapping. If I brought this up Sword would just shrug. Like, almost nothing seems to move her at all.

ND-3

Mom got back yesterday, Wednesday. Dad had turned her off for two weeks! What's wrong with him!? Why didn't he tell us he had recalled mom? I mean, sure if she needed those mods, especially after that clockwork abduction, but he could have just TOLD us. And I couldn't get him on the phone the whole time either. Like, what's up with that? Mom has never been depowered for that long. I don't like it. First it’s a whole model revision, then a three week long upgrade and maintenance cycle. And mom was off most of the time. I don’t think she knows herself what dad did to her. Oh, Sword remarked how ND-3 behaves differently when dad is connected to her. I hadn’t noticed, but mom has had so many personality chips and programmings over the years that I’m used to her switching between style modules. It’s so good to have mom back with us, I missed her terribly. I need her here especially with Coila gone. Dammit Andrea, come back to us! You know we’ll help you!

Sword of Truth

Oh man, I’m so damn lost. I thought Sword said “us” was never happening and I was like down with it. Cool. Hurt like hell but I was making progress. It was kind of good to be certain. No hope. So, no need to just wait and see, no need to try. Just live my own life and move on. And now she says maybe, if we change. Like, it’s not certain any more. It’s gutting me. I always manage to make her mad whatever I do. I spend time with her I mess up and she gets upset. I stay my distance and she goes on about why I keep away. I can’t win in this! Now she thinks what bothers me is her being hurt in her ribs and mentioning it. I guess she doesn’t even notice the flirting she does to me. Now what am I supposed to do? Of course I still love her like mad. It’s not like it was with Kitia, or Emmily. Definitely not like Emmily. I wish a hit to my head would knock out the memory of being in bed with her. Or maybe I’ll just find a telepath to wipe it out... Gah, can’t, they’d see the memory then. I just have to live with it I guess.

Sword is so damn beautiful. And she has the same name as mom, Nadia. WHY does everyone insist on teasing and picking on me about every damn thing? Like, it’s a name. The snide remarks will no doubt turn into some Oedipus jokes, I just know it. Even if mom is a robot and I’ll never get together with Sword. It’s having worst of the both worlds. Just the [censored] side. And Sword wants me to cut my Mohawk, she hates it. And she tells me to live my life. Hey, like, maybe I am living my life, with my Mohawk, but she just keeps at it. I’m so not going to bend over. Not because it’s so jimmydean to defy her, but I actually like the new haircut. With the new leathers I look positively mean. It’s my life, my hair and if she doesn’t like, well, not my problem.

I can’t believe Sword is scared of me. Like, I’m practically the pushover mascot. Maybe she’s really in love with me and is scared of herself. That’d be cool.

Base

No, still can't access the base. There's no physical way to enter it and the portals won't accept me. City hall still blames a clerical error and they are just sitting on their hands. Bureaucrats! On a bright side Steel Guard got the generator rolling late last night. Now we can detach ourselves from the city electric grid and just tap our own, which means we'll start hauling heavy machinery in real soon. Coila still has access to base, of course. Maybe she comes there?

Missions

I helped Sword with some Family things. I have myself been hitting trolls quite hard, both in Skyway and Hollows. I also have some Council commitments over at Striga Island but it's a really tough looking place. Maybe I should ask some help? Oh, I heard some clocks went and busted the King's parts out two nights ago. I bet he's already reassembled somewhere... A lot of good we did...

The Lost. I’m so [censored]. Sword took me with her and showed me what they were. I still can’t believe it, well, of course I believe what Sword says, but it’s still a lot to take in. Like, they are human scum who are turning themselves into the Rikti! Rikti! I hate them. I loath them. I will never take a human life but Riktis, I’ll kill them without hesitation. It so boils my blood, and I saw it was the same for Sword. She was so furious, so mad. I’ve never seen her like it. After we killed one Rikti she started to cry. War memories. I swear if there’s ever going to be a new Omega I will be in it. It’s my duty, my calling to rid the world of all Riktis! What I don’t understand is how come no one isn’t worried of these guys! Like, they have portals! What if they can tap back to their origin space? It’s a new invasion! And – no one cares!

Allies

Last night me and Sword met this nice blue girl from... MAGI I think she was. Azure Sting. All I saw her do was kick hard and the guys went flying. But she has some powers. She said we could discuss those the next we met. She seemed nice. I then hoped I'd run into her again, but it was before I talked with Sword... Oh hell. I don’t know what to do. But, in any case, I liked her. She didn’t laugh, at least not much, when I kind of botched it with the Warrior bigshot dude. Twice. Man that dude hit hard, my head still hurts. I hope I’ll run into Azure maybe at the Galaxy chica. She had beautiful eyes.

Pyranha got back from someplace she was. She never answered when I asked about it. Still, it’s nice to have her back, I can talk to her about all the [censored] that goes on. She’s always a straightshooter with her feedback, but she never chews at me. She’s now officially with that carrot top, Inago. I’m happy for them. They seem to be made for each other. The dude is like sixteen and she’s twenty one but hey, I’m just nineteen and Sword is like twenty six. She could be even forty six and I wouldn’t mind.

I need to start to look for the those other suitable groups to ally ourselves with. Propose alliances. I guess I’m finally coming to terms of being in here, being a so called hero and having a group. Time to make the most of it, form ties, gain allies and start gunning for the bigger fish. Just wish I knew where to start.


Hmm, reading back this journal thingy has some nice points in it. I’ll just remove all the personal stuff, condense the important bits and send that to the team. Label it something like “Memo from your esteemed leader” or “Boss talks”. Something that has authority ring to it. Make it real professional a weekly feature. Yeah!. Guess I’ll do that tomorrow, though. Time to go see who’s out there.

[ QUOTE ]
It appears one could simply type /Chan_Join Fusion FM to use this little in-character broadcasting tool.

The channel is now up for thos that wish to join. I'll go to GG now and inform people.

[/ QUOTE ]

Cheers mate! Already there!

As this fills every need of my IC chat channel concept except for lenghty chats I'll put my channel concept into ice for the time being. I'll resurrect it if there rises a need that isn't met by other means.

Good going!

[ QUOTE ]
My only suggestion if you want to do that is get a scribe to write up everything that happens IC in the coalition for when new people join.

Unless you want to get into the "I took down Dr. Vhazilok" "Wait, no you didn't, we took him down weeks ago" and other such fun situations. Same for newsworthy events in the coalition.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a good point, one that we have come across while helping various people take down Frostfire. But, it's not actually that big an immersion problem.

In this genre the villains always bounce back. Spidey can put Doc Ock into Vault as many times as he likes and the Doc is always there to pester Peter when the plot calls for it. So, if a major villain gets busted, in a few days he can be out again. I expect the Clockwork King that we stopped IC 2-3 days back to be re-assembled already and working his mischief once more in his spanking new hidden lair.

If it so happens that two concurrent task forces go after the same AV "too close" together it's no sweat still. Doppelgangers and alternate versions of various people are the trademark stock of superhero genre.

While coordination would be a good thing to prevent simultaneous assaults agains the same enemy it's not strictly necessary. Run with the fun and wing it when necessary.

The said point becomes more important with made up villains as such storylines would, imho, be more heavily plot oriented and concentrate more on the rp and less on the goal of whacking the IG mobs. That is where a GM comes handy - a guy who knows where the villain is, what he is doing, who is after him and all the nifty details that make a gripping story.

[ QUOTE ]
I was directing my post at the OP, rather than Coile - but if they both share the same opinion of how the GMs would work, I'm fine with that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oops, my bad. OP should of course answer on his own behalf.

I would like to see if what I described would work. I would not take part in a scenario as described / queried by Stasis_. No player has power over any other player unless there is an agreement on it.

[ QUOTE ]
No one can give or take any power over another player that the player does not wish it. No one is trying to. The aim is to create stories, plots, NPC's, common backgrounds for those players WHO WANT THAT. Or that's how I see it anyway.

Pyranha

[/ QUOTE ]

You said it, Chewie.

The said "rp community" would not be "all rp'ers". It would be "the rp'ers who want to be in". I have stated so before, but looks like it warrants another mention - everyone pays to play, and they play just the way thei like. No one, as long as EULA remains unbroken, can have a say in how someone else plays.

A GM would only have the power that other players are freely willing to give him, be it over plot arcs or NPCs. Such a system would function on consent and be based on trust. Otherwise it would simply not work. I know such a system can work. I've seen it done. If it would work in this environment is another thing, but clearly something that remains to be seen.

[ QUOTE ]
But I feel it may be worth having a place for discussion about this to take place, as when enough effort is put into it by potential leaders, it could go a long way.

I don't want to disregard this idea just because its been trialed before and failed. Even if its just having a larger forum where we can discuss the RP and exchange group information, its enough to get a wider community going and - my ultimate aim since starting this idea - our own original universe going.

[/ QUOTE ]

A common universe as with created NPC villains which the heroes might actually some day beat, unlike the Clockwork King and his ilk, because they always end back into the streets? A common IC ground for expanding the IG world, to make it more immersive?

I see good potential and at least would like to give it a try.

You figured it out already yourself, but never let someone tell something is impossible. The past failures of others should never be taken as indication of future successes. Could be none of the ideas presented within the week in here will work. Could be sceptics are right. But we won't know it unless we give all the fine ideas the best shot that we can.

I am not interested in what has been discussed or tried before! If an idea of mine flops it's not because the idea in itself was flawed, I just didn't have enough energy to see it through.

The coalition starts here.
The common universe starts here.
RP'd mission groups and the like, up up and away!

By the people who want to make it happen, for the people who wish to be a part of something grand.

The rest can do their own thing. Just like we do.

So yeah, Reep. I'm with you.

[ QUOTE ]
Coile - In what you're proposing, would people who chose not to become part of the coalitions for whatever reason be excluded on an OOC level?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. They would not.

[ QUOTE ]
More importantly, when you say coalition, do you mean the OC mechanic of coalitions between supergroups, or an IC agreement to help whenever called on, and a framework in place to assist that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Both, although the IC agreement depends on IC talks.

[ QUOTE ]
In the former, I think it might be a good idea, but does risk becoming "elitist" or "cliquey". Would a RP'er who wasn't a member of those groups be welcomed?

[/ QUOTE ]

Any character who has an IC reason to tag along could tag along based on IC. As I outlined in an earlier post for most missions just the wish to do good and combat crime would be enough.

[ QUOTE ]
With the later, to me at least it seems that either you have a global system respected by every hero (probably maintained by Herocorps) that can be used to call for assistance, or you have individual links between groups.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just thought of a better idea for Coile to start putting this together than I had. I don’t think Coile at any time has become a member of Hero Corps and he has been a bit wary of it due to its corporate nature. The coalition could be his own take on the matter. NOT that Hero Corps would be a deterrent in any way. For example Tempest member Sword of Truth is affiliated with the Corp.

[ QUOTE ]
The first is what I think you want, and is better IMHO as a global chat channel, while the second is the one that uses coalitions in the OOC mechanics sense, and makes sense if you consider heroes as members of their supergroup and not individuals.

[/ QUOTE ]

My idea for an IC chat channel would work concurrently with the coalition supporting it. It pays to mention that the IC chat channel would be of course open to all, not limited to just coalition peeps. Any character could participate there and hopefully find chances for ex tempore rp be it a mission or chilling out on a rooftop in Boomtown.

[ QUOTE ]
On an utterly unrelated note, I have a horrible feeling that you'll find that the SG's themselves will only survive it you have the majority of the players only playing one alt, and near-constantly working together.

[/ QUOTE ]

In other venues I have already found that out. I will personally try to stick to just one character as long as I can. However I have no wish affecting others in how they play, what characters or when. I know that all of my fellow sg members have alts. That’s cool.

[ QUOTE ]
I think what Aisla is trying to get across, is that despite all the good intentions at the moment with the Coalition-stuff, there will always be the risk that you can *unintentionally* become more secluded than you intended, and possibly cut-off from others.

[/ QUOTE ]

However that risk exists with any given group, be it SG or just a bonch of friends having fun. Or a group old oldtimer GG'ers saying how they want to do their own thing separate from GG because GG doesn't appeal to them any more enough.

By definition getting "cutt off" happens. I mostly play with rp'ers. That is not to say I wouldn't tag along a group of lower level non-rp'ers and help them with a mission (I did that today, hence the example) but it wouldn't be my usual choice.

If our group has fun oing missions (at this point in time anyway) we're already a bit cut off from those who don't. It comes ddown to what is fun for each.

On a side note, just in case, I don't see any duty for me to provide fun for others. It's my buck and my game. I have no innate responsibility for any other player. Same goes for everyone, of course.

However, I choose to co-operate as I have more fun in that way, and I see others having more fun with that way too, and seeing my friends having fun makes me feel better. I hazard a guess that this mechanism applies to my friends also.

Right now I'm trying to see how far and big this fun could go. Finding like-minded groups, starting cross-SG plots, getting new friends.

I can do that to some extent at GG but it is tied to a certain time and place. I see a coalition between SGs as a way to make it work better.

So far everyone, and I do mean every single member, in The Silent Tempest has regularly popped by GG at the usual time. I see no reason for that to change.

[ QUOTE ]
None of my characters are in the designated groups that might come together in this. The IC SG’s I am in with some of my characters, would not easily form alliances, nor would they easily let members in.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can it be said that your characters exist only in secluded, not-open-for-all environments which you might describe as elitist and to be a bad thing?

[ QUOTE ]
Having been on both sides of the fence, I can safely say, that secluded roleplay, or elitist roleplay as it is generally called, is a bad thing. I cannot think of a singular time when it hasn’t caused grief in one form or another.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn’t call secluded elitist. They are not the same. All rp that does not take place in a place everyone knows to be there is sort of secluded. Rp in bases is secluded. A group doing a mission in a dungeon is secluded. Coile and Coila standing on a road in Skyway chatting is secluded after a fashion as it is not advertised anywhere. Which makes sense as two people talking about personal things usually do that with no others around.

People have the right to play wherever they wish and with whomever they wish - and also consequently without anyone they wish. I see a parallel in old skool GG’ers saying how much [censored] there is at GG these days and that they want to do their smaller scale rp elsewhere. Perfectly fine, imho.

I might have missed your point. Are you saying that rp that is not open for any and all who might want to take part is bad in any given form?

[ QUOTE ]
But what you are forgetting, both you and Diurne, that this idea has only just come to the surface. Had it been in place sooner, there would have been time allowed for change or altering. There was also no need, as regardless of the SG, GG is equal for all. So no, it’s not a choice as the choice was never there to begin with, not until now.

[/ QUOTE ]

New ideas come along all the time. Now it is this idea’s turn. Not all ideas, supergroup concepts, meeting places etc. are for all.

[ QUOTE ]
Even with a new character, it would take ages to establish an alliance and roleplay my way into a group so that I could join in.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would say that depends a lot. Sword of Truth (Diurne) wasn’t known to me at all in advance. She was hanging around GG the same time we were and came to us. When we decided to go take care of a job we asked her if she wanted to come along. We’re all heroes and the job was fighting for justice and order so there was no other reasons needed to ask her along. In a few days she was regarded as a friend and an ally, and in about a week she was invited to Tempest. Now I would see Tempest to be less if she decided to leave.

It may take long of course, but not necessarily. Depends on the character and person, really.

[ QUOTE ]
Say some of the GG’ers get involved in this, and get taken away from GG (Cause let’s face it, 2 hours to do ic missions, specially when things go well, is not enough, so I am positive there will be plenty of times when this time flows into the GG time), you will see rifts getting created which will lead to all sorts of problems.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you maybe mixing two ideas here? Looks to me like you are discussing Battleflag’s IC mission group concept. The coalition would be “on” at all times, and everywhere.

Why would it be a problem if anything by the coalition OR the Militia happened at the same time as GG? It goes on all the time, without rifts. Old skool GG’ers can be doing their own things instead of hanging around GG all night long.

[ QUOTE ]
This is why I think it actually -is- very important, to make this open for all, and shouldn’t be brought to life unless there is a plan in place to accommodate all who wish to join, no exception there.

[/ QUOTE ]

All can join, it’s just a matter of effort. Creating a brand new char is always an option. It’s just a matter of choosing to do so.

I notice that on one hand you claim that GG is for all, and on the other you say it isn’t. If even GG isn’t for all, why would anything else have to be?

[ QUOTE ]
What people tend to forget when they create a group within an existing world, though, and apply their own rules to it, it soon becomes an elitist group, who will be viewed as stuck up etc. They lose their view of the game world and all the other people in it. It’s not something that happens overnight, it sneaks up on them, and by the time it comes out, they have no view of the potential wrongs, but only the rights through their eyes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, having our own secluded bubble of SWG world worked fantastically for two years. I don’t share your fears and don’t hold them as certainties. You generalize too much.

Beside which what you describe isn’t what is happening, anyway. The proposed IC coalition isn’t a completely separate entity. Characters talk to their friends and everything keeps fluid. In fact I don’t see any possibility at all for (maximum of) 11 SG’s ending up playing solely with each other. I personally wouldn’t and until someone proves me wrong I expect no one else to do so either.

[ QUOTE ]
Please bare in mind, these are just words of caution, as I can see no other scenario than the two eventually clashing on a regular basis which will inevitably result in the two groups being entirely divided and perhaps even hateful to each other.

[/ QUOTE ]

Again I must disagree with the projected outcome. I see no reason at all for hateful relationships between any groups or persons. I certainly will not be bound by such premonitions, nor will they affect my actions as I don’t believe in them.

[ QUOTE ]
One other game-mechanic related issue: you are also limited to 5 (I think) Global Channels which you can be a member of. Between GGOOC and various other ones for SGs (I think Cirque de la Lune members all have another two channels, for example), you start hitting that limit quite rapidly.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep, that funky limit I ran across a few days back although not by personal experience yet. That is why I thought yet another OOC channel wouldn't offer enough to anyone for them to decide between an existing channel and some "coalition channel" in a new channel's favor.

It could very well be that an IC channel would be an equal failure, but that might be something I will still try to make work. My experiences with IC channels run from over two years back but they more often than not have not been in wide use.

Then again, to kick an event going such channels have worked well enough. It has depended a lot on the people in question how often or to what extent general IC chichat has taken place, but on those rare occasions the addition to rp has been good.

Time will tell if this is going to work this time around or if it's going to flop miserably. Provided I actually kick it off sometime soon. Right now I'm writing profiles and agendas for a baddie group...