Pious

Don't sell yourself short Phantom, I'm sure Ava's got the strongest human heart to take out those nasties.

Well, it's certainly more interesting to have an improvement/development system within the team.

Bright headlights illuminated two standing figures by the campus and two more on the approach. It was difficult to make them out in the heavy rain but as the 1967 Chevrolet Impala closed in on the group, the Reverend Pious Hunter was sure he was at the right place. He pulled over and exited onto the sidewalk, his sharp suited attire as dense as the night, only his bright white classic tie and cufflin gloves stood prominent. A glistening black cross sat comfortably atop his puffy tie bringing focus off his wide-rimmed hat and masked profile. The priest advanced around the back of the lowrider, his longcoat fluttering majestically in his wake. He rounded to the other side of the car and helped out his lady, who also was dressed rather elegantly. "Contego ex pluvia" he muttered, approaching the Mayor, and an invisible force of energy enveloped his wife, himself and the area surrounding the gathered four, which shielded them from the violent rain. "Beautiful weather as always here in Salamanca, wouldn't you say?" said Pious, looking at the new faces with an air of greeting.

I agree with Alpha. For roleplay purposes beyond prestige ranks, the titles need reason and his examples are spot on with the theme.

• Associates are the newest members or those who only sometimes hunt with us.
  
• Trackers hunt common threats in places not too dangerous, usually as told to by more experienced Nighthunters.
  
• Seekers are elite trackers, hunting the supernatural in dangerous places, mostly under their own volition.
  
• Judicators are highly experienced seekers adept at more specialist tactics for hunting more extreme targets.
  
• Enlightened have developed, through experience, the skills, knowledge and understanding to stop the most evil of all.
  
• Illuminated is an exemplary Enlightened, elected to lead. They bear the metaphorical light that directs the group.

Damn Alpha, that is some deep shi*. I didn't even think of that.

Yeah, sure thing. I'm well excited about this now.

1. Associate
2. Tracker
3. Seeker
4. Judicator
5. Inquisitor
6. Enlightened

((Semi Open Roleplay: Mayor Gordon Bower of the Salamanca neighbourhood in Croatoa has called in for skilled hunters and specialists in the supernatural to investigate a missing persons. If your Unionverse character is into either of these professions, then he or she may have been called in also. Even if you’re just a passing hero or a brave civilian near the Croatoa campus who wants to help with the search, feel free to join in. Note that most of the participants will ultimately come together to form the Nighthunters SG. Same golden rule people, no god-modding. Enjoy. Rated PG13 for violence.))

Nearby the university grounds, an elderly woman holds on to the warm embrace of Mayor Gordon Bower. The night was lit by a full moon but the weather was unforgiving, heavy rain and strong winds, made bitter by the town's strange ghostly chill. The old lady was crying uncontrolably, muttering something about her husband. "I had told him not to go out, but he just wouldn't listen. Oh my dear Nathan, you and your stubbornness. Mayor, please tell me he'll be alight, you will find him for me won't you?"

"Margret, strange things like these are happening all too often nowadays, but I promise you, I'll stop at nothing until Mister Norman is found" the mayor reassured, keeping himself and Mrs Norman dry underneath a large blood-red umbrella, to which he held tightly, to keep from being blown away. "I have called for the best hunters and specialists I know, they should be here soon. Come on now, compose yourself darling, you don't want to be tearful before our gallant heroes, be brave. Be brave. Everything will be alright."

Alright, why not.

1. Associate
2. Tracker
3. Seeker
4. Judicator
5. Enlightened
6. Illuminated

I like those rank ideas Bathory, it resonates the wearer's improving skill, without implying religious hierarchy. Good to see compromise in incoorporating suggested names as rank titles too. Remember though, that not all new members will have characters unestablished and in need of training, they might just be new to the group, so how about;

1. Newcomer
2. Tracker
3. Slayer
4. Judicator
5. Enlightened
6. Illuminated

So we have three levels of hunters: start as a tracker, then a slayer, and finally a well deserved mantle of judicator. But also allowing room for in-character spiritual ascension, meaning (without imposing religion) the chance of redemption and elevation after a long hard time of cleansing the Earth of its demons and evil creatures. Game mechanic wise, those two ranks are leadership stars anyway, so big trusting promotion there.

Newcomers - typically joins the team at skill level 01 - 09+, with little prestige.
Trackers - hunters ranked at skill level 10 - 25+, with at least 100 points of prestige.
Slayers - hunters ranked at skill level 25 - 40+, with at least 10,000 points of prestige.
Judicator - hunters ranked at skill level 40 - 50 with at least 100,000 points of prestige.
Enlightened - hunters chosen by the team for being among the most dedicated to the cause.
The Illuminated - the chief huntsman who must, without fail, bring direction to the team.

Nighthunters says it all for me. Without aiming too highly, the name is short and accurate to what we do and still sends a message of trepidation. It is removed from any religious implications and hints at a small collective of skilled peoples, which, considering the unliklihood of this theme ever attracting more than a dozen active roleplayers, seems just about right. The name even has an intriguing dark edge to it. Best of all, its available!

Good point. I'll think of a suitable contact for us then. In the mean time, I've made the SG in-game and used some of the name suggestions as rank titles to compromise. I'll be opening the RP thread soon. Here's a list of members so far;

01. Rock Powerfist (Hellskeeper)

02. Techbot Alpha (?)

03. Recluses Phantom (Ava Sixx)

04. Pious (Priest)

05. Damsel (Damsel)

06. Cactus Brawler (?)

07. Liz Bathory (Desert Princess)

08. Crazy Dragon (Hellhog?)

09. Lynx (?)

10. Azezel (Sabel Sorcerer)

Anyone else want to get invovled?

I like it, but shall we have Montague Castanella from the Midnight Squad gather us for tasks instead? I think its time we got this idea up on it's two feet. I'll begin a forum roleplay title for us to join and continue to use this for OOC chatter. Any objections to us being known as Slayers and working by an Order of the Seven Saints?

Feeling is mutual Bill

Sounds like Ava Sixx is good for the job Phantom, we'll have to check her out I guess. I've been meaning to look you up Shadowe. I always had a keen eye for your Hunters Guild and would be glad to work something out. Drade's team seem to have vast resources and a long history, is this correct? Is this sort of setting appealing to you guys who're interested?

Sounds good Alpha and you know something Rock, Hellskeeper is definately my kinda girl. Sounds like she's a human Angelspawn like Priest. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what kind of team would set out against demons and monsters, and why. Thinking about how they might have met each other and what motivates them to work together. So far, I've been researching the medieval Knights, the soldiers of old who held the principles of faith, loyalty, courage, and honour. A job that mythically, brought them face to face with dragons and other foul creatures. In a more modern setting and based on Paragon City lore, we're probably looking at affiliates of the Midnight Squad. Maybe these hunters are called together by Salamanca Mayor Gordon Bower to help save his village and then work further to save others in peril from the supernatural. We should probably aim to keep it grounded, as normal or believable as can be, however 'deep' into the supernatural we go, plotwise and characterwise, like the American TV show with Sam and Dean Winchester. Anyway, let me know what you're thinking on that. These are some SG names I'm cooking, trying to keep it within a supernatural, knight, order, midnight squad, assassin's creed, anti-Court of the Blood Countess type thing. Any ideas?

Hunter's Guild

Hunter's Creed

Assassin's Creed

House of Hunter

Croatoan Knights

(The) Knights of Salamanca

(The) Church of Saint Michael

(The) Order of Saint Michael

(The) Dark Covenant

(The) Order of the Seven Saints

(The) Guild of Demon Hunters

In the past, there has been a few roleplay supergroups put together to hunt monsters and I think it's about time to give it another go. So to guage interest in this, how many of us remaining RP'ers have heroic characters who are enemies to or hunt down monsters, and whats their reason?

We're talking vampires, werewolves, ghosts, demons, spirits, fae, Devouring Earth, Hydra, Rikti, Rulaaru, Vazhilok Cadavers, Vazhilok Abominations, Circle of Thorns spectres, Hellion demons, Banished Pantheon spirits, even Council robots, Nemesis or Clockwork machines, etc.

O.o

My favourite American roleplay thread is to return? Excellent! And this time, I can join in. I like the new term idea, when's enrolment?

Turns out we're not alone having this age old discussion right now. On the forums at Marvel.com they are talking about why heroes dont kill but villians can escalate. Best quote, "a hero's job is not to get the bad guy, it's to protect people." Which presents the tought of heroes as shields, to guard the innocents and maybe every now then whack a villain unconcious, ready for the proper authorities. Whereas vigilantes aren't shields, they're more like the sword, which brings about a swift end. Take your pick, so to speak. Shield or sword. In this column and this one, DC comics editor Tony Isabella reminisces on the golden days when heroes were uncomplicated, and the writers were content with aiming their creative mirror to reflect the light of life as opposed to the inner darkness of today's broken heroes. Just something else to think about.