• This section is for roleplays only.
    ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.

    Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.

In the Dojo (O.O.C. Chat - Session Zero)

Just to provide a viewpoint - by and large, the Mutanimals do not see themselves as human. This is in large part because they are outside of human society and are treated so very differently, often feared on sight! Mutant animals have a wide array of perspectives on this subject - some like having anthropomorphic bodies and that's where their link to humankind ends. Others love having opposable digits, the gifts of language and learning, often powerful bodies, and most of all - a brain of the likes they did not imagine even existed when they were animals!
Thanks for the perspective - the way I'm envisioning it for her, she wouldn't define herself as human. She does, however, have the capacity of pretty human-like thoughts - and while others might embrace that as you wrote, she's reluctant at best. Complex thoughts come with a lot of doubts, fears, responsibilities and the like - quite easily a burden if one could instead just be a simple bird and not give a damn. That's one of the inner conflicts I'm looking at for her - that a humanoid mind is not always a blessing, but sometimes a curse as well.
 
For she is tainted with mankind's heritage, and part of that is the curse to care. To care enough, she knows, to forget today's lessons, to stand in for a cause that seems worthy enough.

In the name of capitalism, communism - ideology.
Silanon Silanon Here's another thing that might get under Alya's craw (annoy her) - she might be one of the few mutant animals that care about politics, humans killing each other, and human wars in general. Those mutant animals who aren't just trying to get by aren't fixated on human things but far more driven to care about animal matters - especially their own species.

One example: "Hey! I'm a mutant pangolin! Pangolins are the most hunted and most endangered species on the entire planet, Earth! They're hunted and killed everywhere they go! Humans sell pangolin body parts as luxuries for themselves! Why don't more people care about us?" That "us" there is very big in their world.

Most Mutanimals (in my world anyway) are just trying to get by from day to day. There are far, far too many humans and far too few people who fear Mutananimals. A thing many humans are right to fear! Mutant animals most definitely come in Miscreant, Aberrant, and Diabolic Ailgnments too!

I'm not recommending you change anything about Alya, mind - I... just realized I can't think of a single Mutanimal of my own creation that gives a darn about human politics. Most in my world think, "Who cares? Human politics are about humans - when is it dark again so I can try and move around San Francisco without someone spotting me and calling Animal Control, S.F.P.D., or worse? Me and my kids are hungry!"

That too might be something Alya's not happy about? She'd be far from alone there.

(More later. Real Life Strikes Again! Rawrz!)
 
Here's another thing that might get under Alya's craw (annoy her) - she might be one of the few mutant animals that care about politics, humans killing each other, and human wars in general. Those mutant animals who aren't just trying to get by aren't fixated on human things but far more driven to care about animal matters - especially their own species.

One example: "Hey! I'm a mutant pangolin! Pangolins are the most hunted and most endangered species on the entire planet, Earth! They're hunted and killed everywhere they go! Humans sell pangolin body parts as luxuries for themselves! Why don't more people care about us?" That "us" there is very big in their world.

Most Mutanimals (in my world anyway) are just trying to get by from day to day. There are far, far too many humans and far too few people who fear Mutananimals. A thing many humans are right to fear! Mutant animals most definitely come in Miscreant, Aberrant, and Diabolic Ailgnments too!

I'm not recommending you change anything about Alya, mind - I... just realized I can't think of a single Mutanimal of my own creation that gives a darn about human politics. Most in my world think, "Who cares? Human politics are about humans - when is it dark again so I can try and move around San Francisco without someone spotting me and calling Animal Control, S.F.P.D., or worse? Me and my kids are hungry!"

That too might be something Alya's not happy about? She'd be far from alone there.

(More later. Real Life Strikes Again! Rawrz!)
Interesting insight - For me, that came naturally with the origin of hers, and felt right with her way of growing into her existence under ther circumstances she did (i.e. protected and surrounded by others of different non-human origins. Think I like that part about her, though - which means I might have found an area where to spend my skills, actually. Meant to go for a feral approach just like the one you described, but I'll find room for some skills on history and human nature.
 
It's probable that she'll lean more towards the "professional" level, but I can't say for sure because I still don't know what that means. I understand the difference between "amateur" and "pro" but -- the the "facts about ninja"? The "people, culture, and reasons behind Ninjitsu"? I don't have much more than a vague idea of these in real life (and what I have, is based more on TV, movies, and games rather than fact), much less in the Other Strangeness world.
Well... I have more than vague idea, but most of what I know is from modern-day practitioners and stories from those who have taken from Japan's past. Just tossing out an idea here - if you want, part of Kiseko's goals could include searching to find out what ninja are in Other Strangeness; trying to find "the way of the shinobi" as it were. Kiseko could learn a bit from the Savior, enough to give her a general idea, and then given the task of finding other Ninjitsu practitioners and seeing what Ninjitsu means to them.

As time passes, Kiseko might then decide what she wants Ninjitsu to mean for her - a very personal thing.

It's not a matter of comfort in posting, it's that she just isn't finished. I need to redo her skills, or at least make sure her number of skill packages and secondary skills is right. And sit down and try to put her character into words to finish out the other tabs.
Haoyu, Moyo, and Toby aren't finished either - we still have a few things to discuss. Post when you want - ask me when you have questions as always. =)

Kiseko would be more out to stop the bad guys than to stomp them into submission. Unless that's what it takes to stomp them. Some people need hard lessons to change their ways. Some won't change regardless of what we do. Those, she might well kill, since saving the good and innocent is higher priority to her than avoiding killing. She will remember those whose lives she's taken, but probably not mourn them. Their choices led to their demise, as far as she's concerned. But it's not likely to be her first option.
This is a good example of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' attitude as a whole towards their opponents. Their enemies largely dictate the Turtles' approach. Also, I think different worlds in roleplaying games offer slightly different definitions of Alignment - what is considered Scrupulous behavior in Superman is slightly darker in, say, Batman. The Turtles range from Principled to Anarchist Alignments - that's quite a wide range! In Eastman and Laird's TMNT, even Principled Leonardo killed when he felt he had no other option - and he killed without hesitation or remorse if the enemy was a killer themselves. For some, actions dictate reactions. I like Kiseko's approach. =)
 
That said, I don't have much to offer myself - one problem being that Alya does not come with a strong agenda, other than perhaps ripping apart whomever tries to create the next gloomy birb.
Ah! That offers quite a lot right there to this Game Master! Thanks for expressing that!

She is designed in a way to join someone else's crusade rather than lead her own; and I don't know enough about the others to have a clear idea what they'd fight for.
This is precisely why I wanted to have this discussion - thank you for joining in, everybody! This is wonderful!
 
For some reason, I’m getting an A-Team vibe from this. We get into Chinatown and along the way, someone that knows our Saviors somehow gets word to us that they need help because one of the gangs that run the area are doing some shady stuff to ruin them and we come in to protect these people.

Word starts to spread and soon enough we get other requests to help a family do something like recover a kidnapped child and we may not be human, but we all have a heart that won’t let us sit back and do nothing. Eventually we become the de facto guardians of Chinatown, a well known secret kept by all the people we help.

While I’m not familiar with the A Team reference other than as a movie from a few years ago that I never saw, I like the idea that Sherwood just mentioned. Having to stay hidden from the ‘legit’ law enforcement people that want to apprehend us because we are breaking the law, but being sheltered by the people we are protecting from threats that are not just gangs, but include supernatural challenges that the police just can’t understand or cope with.
Sherwood and Psychie are describing here my initial concept of Other Strangeness almost perfectly! Well done! I realized not long after I wrote my rough draft that I didn't know what kind of team you guys want to play and what purpose you might want your team to have, hence my requesting this discussion! But yes, this is the world and game I am closest to creating after I hear back from all of you!

I must point out that staying hidden from legit law enforcement officers is only one of the reasons you hide - the other is that you are, and never have been, human! You don't look, smell, or (often) sound, anything like a homo sapien!
 
The A-Team was a action show in the mid-80’s that was about an army special forces unit that was falsely accused of being criminals and in every episode there was someone that needed help in some department that law enforcement wouldn’t or couldn’t aid them in, you might be able to hire the A-Team to save the day. They were not killers (this was in the 80’s after all) but were always able to do the job and be the unsung heroes of whatever was the problem.
I remember the A-Team! Yes, that is an excellent analogy! Not only was the A-Team set in the 1980s, so is our entire game! Nicely done, Bud!

Old Sherwood is old.
That's all right, Psychie - your time is coming! *friendly smile* =)
 
Purr Purr do we have any kind of idea just how many mutant animals there are out there?
No. And from what you understand, neither do they.

Your characters were animals or newly-born yokai. This was all of the life you knew. Then the bad guys captured you and life has not been the same since. The Savior rescued you (with help). You have spent the last 10 years in the Savior's sanctuary, Shangri-La (with trips outside from time to time). Once the Savior departs, your destiny and your purpose will become your own as you come to live in San Francisco. =)
 
Thanks for the perspective - the way I'm envisioning it for her, she wouldn't define herself as human. She does, however, have the capacity of pretty human-like thoughts - and while others might embrace that as you wrote, she's reluctant at best. Complex thoughts come with a lot of doubts, fears, responsibilities and the like - quite easily a burden if one could instead just be a simple bird and not give a damn. That's one of the inner conflicts I'm looking at for her - that a humanoid mind is not always a blessing, but sometimes a curse as well.
Silanon Silanon A fine way of mind for Alya indeed.

If she did define herself as human, she would be living under a heavy illusion indeed, one that would bring much trouble for her and her family. Alya has gained the powers of higher intelligence along with a mutant body, a family, and a life unlike any her falcon ancestors came close to imagining. To them, Alya would be akin to a god.

I am of the mind that humanity has no monopoly on emotions - animals of all kinds have them too. Except now Alya has the ability to think, reason, imagine, daydream, plan, and so forth in ways falcons simply don't. What is more is that her entire family, none of whom are avians, much less falcons, are in a similar quandary! But they love Alya and I hope Alya loves them back, for they are likely the only family that Alya can hope to have in this strange and often chaotic world we call Earth. Even in the 1980s.
 
Interesting insight - For me, that came naturally with the origin of hers, and felt right with her way of growing into her existence under ther circumstances she did (i.e. protected and surrounded by others of different non-human origins. Think I like that part about her, though - which means I might have found an area where to spend my skills, actually. Meant to go for a feral approach just like the one you described, but I'll find room for some skills on history and human nature.
Thank you! I had fun coming up with it!

Just try to pick up the Board Games Skill. Moyo, Toby, and Kiseko (at least at the time of this writing) all have it and it might be just one more piece of glue that binds you all together! (Plus, the Savior would love to play and lose against all of you in these "fun and creative games young people play nowadays! Could we play another round, please?") =)
 
Just try to pick up the Board Games Skill.
As a boardgame enthusiast, there's not much convincing needed - I'll pick it up!
I am of the mind that humanity has no monopoly on emotions - animals of all kinds have them too.
Most definitely - there are, however, for example fears that only come with human civilization - does a bird ever fear not being able to pay its rent? Does a bird have to deal with hundred years old traditions and expectations? Nope.
But they love Alya and I hope Alya loves them back, for they are likely the only family that Alya can hope to have in this strange and often chaotic world we call Earth. Even in the 1980s.
Don't ya worry about that - part of Alya's core is the fierce love and loyalty for all those who've earned it. And those would be all in the family.
You don't look, smell, or (often) sound, anything like a homo sapien!
One Google search about the smell of falcons coming right up! Looking forward to see these differences play out - I mean, what point is there to play a mutant bird if it then feels like a human?
 
As a boardgame enthusiast, there's not much convincing needed - I'll pick it up!
Are you really? How cool is that?! 8D

Don't ya worry about that - part of Alya's core is the fierce love and loyalty for all those who've earned it. And those would be all in the family.
O.K.! Thank you for sharing that with me! I get her more clearly now. Forgive me if you've mentioned this before and it didn't stay in my odd brain. =)

One Google search about the smell of falcons coming right up! Looking forward to see these differences play out - I mean, what point is there to play a mutant bird if it then feels like a human?
Right! I think both Mutant Animals and yokai would be very different if they had zero human qualities. How would they interact with humans? Could they interact with humans?

One direction I haven't brought up yet is - Mutants who are born human. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this comes up often enough to be a thing (I won't provide examples because those are also spoilers to someone new to TMNT). In the TMNT world, humans who are changed into mutants never think like animals. In my game, ,they receive none of their benefits, but nor do they keep their educational benefits (their brains change along with their bodies and not always toward the positive - plus, this is a game balance thing).

Also, I don't want any at this stage in the game hence my not making them available as PCs or NPCs. I feel you've all got enough on your collective plates already! =)

But human-born mutants do act like humans because that's what they have been always prior to their change. For me, the worlds of animals and humans are very far apart. Comparatively few are the humans who relate accurately and well to the true perspective of animals. And I'm willing to bet not even chimpanzees, who we humans are most-closely related to in terms of DNA, know with absolute certainty the lives we humans lead through our eyes. =)
 
Are you really? How cool is that?! 8D
Cooperative boardgames, mostly - if schedules permit, I'm playing Arkham Horror with friends once per week, and I'm testing the boardgame in development of a friend of mine.
 
Well... I have more than vague idea, but most of what I know is from modern-day practitioners and stories from those who have taken from Japan's past. Just tossing out an idea here - if you want, part of Kiseko's goals could include searching to find out what ninja are in Other Strangeness; trying to find "the way of the shinobi" as it were. Kiseko could learn a bit from the Savior, enough to give her a general idea, and then given the task of finding other Ninjitsu practitioners and seeing what Ninjitsu means to them.

As time passes, Kiseko might then decide what she wants Ninjitsu to mean for her - a very personal thing.
This might be a valid option for the character, but doesn't help the player decide, sorry. >.> The problem I'm having is my ignorance, not hers. I don't know enough to say "yes, this suits her" or "no, this isn't her thing" -- even as a starting point. I don't know those modern-day practitioners and stories from those who have taken from Japan's past. I don't know much about that aspect of Japan's past. I can't tell if my very, very vague idea of ninjitsu is at all like yours. "Shinobi" is just a word to me (and one I'd never heard before playing Final Fantasy 14, and I don't want to make any assumptions based on that). "Ninja" isn't much better because of all the pop-culture variations, again not something I want to base my opinion on.

If you want Kiseko to be completely making it up as she goes, that's about all I can offer with the knowledge that I have at this point. If you want something resembling actual ninjitsu, I need something more to go on. I don't know enough to have a "want" either way.
 
If you want Kiseko to be completely making it up as she goes, that's about all I can offer with the knowledge that I have at this point. If you want something resembling actual ninjitsu, I need something more to go on. I don't know enough to have a "want" either way.
All right! I will try to help give you more to go on. =)
 
All right! I will try to help give you more to go on. =)
Kaerri Kaerri Hey, you! Hope you're having a good one! =)

While typing into Google, "what is a ninja?" came up with a definition I can agree on, you have asked me for one-line quotes from ninjas to help you understand what Ninjitsu is from their perspectives. I'll give this a go! Since this is for Other Strangeness, I found it fitting to draw upon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Street Fighter has some good quotes too so they're also in here.

The question for each character I'm trying to find an answer to is, "What does being a ninja mean to you?"

I might have to go longer than one line if the statement is really good, but I'll keep it as close to one line as I can. I may quote a particularly good source twice because some of these are great! But much of the time, the quotes are not directly about being a ninja. In these cases, I choose quotes that seem to bear their own beliefs which are probably strongly guided by their life as a ninja.

1. "Ninpo* began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." - Hatsumi-sensei from TMNT.

*(Note: Ninpo is the ninja's art of using tools and strategy. The word "nin" translates to "patience" and "po" translates to "method." It is sometimes used interchangeably with Ninjitsu.)

2. "To discover the truth, to achieve a higher spiritual state, that is the true meaning of ninja." - Hatsumi-sensei from TMNT.

3. "The first rule of being a ninja is: Do no harm. Unless you mean to do harm. Then do lots of harm!” – Master Splinter. (Love that!)

4. "A true Ninja is a master of himself and his environment, so don't forget: We're turtles!" - Leonardo on the definition of a true ninja.

5. "We live together, we train together, we fight together, we stand for good together... we are ninjas." - Raphael.

6. "Anger clouds the mind. Turned inward, it is an unconquerable enemy." - Donatello.

7. (Note: Forgive me. I can't find a serious quote from Mikey, but it's just not right to include him so... here's a quote from him trying to dodge trouble he helped cause. Take from it what you will!) "I'm totally sleepwalking! Mikey's sleeping, and walking, he's totally innocent!" - Michelangelo.

8. "I beg you Leonardo, leave this place. Or you will force me of which my duty commands." - Karai.

Street Fighter
9. - "Not peak nor valley. A good balance lies within. Strive for equity." - Master Zeku, Guy's teacher. Zeku often speaks poetically. Though he doesn't talk Ninjitsu much, I like many of his sayings and so I link them here to share with you. =)

10. (Note: A two-parter here with needed context. M. Bison vs. Guy.) "Is a shinobi, who lives in the darkness, trying to defeat me and make a name for himself?" - M. Bison. "I'm not interested in that kind of thing at all. Just following the heart of 'righteousness!'" - Guy.

11. "For a ninja, winning a fight before you even come to blows is the best possible situation." - Kimberly, Guy's student (her page has a few really good quotes).

12. "Actual fights like these are only a part of my graduation exam. It's sure hard being a ninja." - Ibuki (a young ninja-in-training).

13. "So, that's the plan for today - practicing throwing off pursuers utilizing rivers, followed by nighttime drills without the aid of blades or explosives." - Ibuki's ninja teacher.
 
I'm keeping this answer from Google's AI here as a reminder to myself. Of course, if you guys and gals think this is cool, that's all the more better. =)

A ninja, or shinobi, was a Japanese mercenary, spy, or assassin who operated during feudal Japan's 15th to 17th centuries. They were experts in martial arts, combat, and self-defense, and were often hired by rulers or lords to carry out secret missions.

Known for Espionage, sabotage, assassination, and military deception
Skills Acrobatics, climbing, rope and ladder work, grappling hooks, caltrops, survival skills, trap setting, poison mixing, and more
Training Oral training to avoid written records falling into the wrong hands
Origins Believed to have formed from groups of warriors and bandits who used unconventional tactics
 
On the subject of "what's the team's purpose," I have to look back to Sherwood's mention of the A-Team!

A-Team! Here's what IMDb has to say about them. =) "A team of ex-special forces soldiers on the lam from the military police (even though they didn't really commit the crime for which they'd been imprisoned) leaves a trail of explosions in its wake. But Hannibal, Faceman, B.A. and Murdock always stop to help the little guy against some corrupt local bigwig before escaping the MPs once again."

Oh, man! I haven't seen this in forever! 8D
Exciting as always! And I love that narrator's voice and lines! =)
A-Team Intro High Quality
 
And I don't mean to spam my own game here, but more thoughts just keep coming. I want them down and recorded lest I lose them forever. Go go hyperactivity powers!

Random thoughts:
Looking at her skill selections, I imagine how Kiseko might come up with cool ideas like... what is ideal to drive around San Francisco unnoticed?

Well, one answer to that would be a Volkswagen Bug! Easy to maintain, inconspicious with its small size and shape, and in the '80s these little cars were seen everywhere!

I could see Alya and Toby riding in one with Kiseko at the wheel. Just tint those windows and hope humans think you're going to some kind of costume convention? =)

Vestigial Tail! This might be a lot of fun in some places and potentially troublesome or annoying in others as a good flaw ought to be.

Sure, your family knows quite well that Moyo's Tail has a mind of its own, but I think that only makes all of you better prepared when suddenly a ring of keys goes missing, or you hear the shriek of a nearby skirt-wearing teammate, or it just keeps smacking into the loveseat Moyo's sitting on.

Maybe start calling it the party's sixth teammate? Heh! =)

There are Game Masters that are in my acquaintance who do not allow Partial Speech in their tabletop games because they don't like how the players choose to interpret the voices. So for them it's Full Speech only.

But I've been thinking (you've been warned!).

I don't have the books in front of me, but what if this Partial Speech in no way impeded a Yokai's ability to freely speak to spirits?

I've also been tossing around the idea of Mutanimals being able to communicate freely to all animals. Call it a bonus. This communication too would be unimpeded by Partial Speech. All of these mutations are making the character more human-like in appearance and ability.

EDIT: I added one. =)

Roll 1d6/2. Add 16. This reflects your PC's starting Physical Prowess Attribute (17, 18, or 19).

Kaerri Kaerri I think this minor bump up only affects Kiseko at the moment at least as far as Player Characters are concerned. Toby rolled a 1 too. Now, Kiseko's and Toby's P.P.s are 1 higher. Any future characters have a minimum of 17 too and I like that.

I just kept seeing that result of 1 and it left a bad taste in my mouth for some reason. Now that taste is gone. Heh! Some things are simple!
 
Last edited:
I can accept those conditions to go with my flaws. If I don’t, I’d have to shrink Moyo down a couple of size levels.
 
I can accept those conditions to go with my flaws. If I don’t, I’d have to shrink Moyo down a couple of size levels.
Mini-Moyo! Maybe he'd fit in a VW Bug? Hah! Just pop the moon-roof so he can breathe? What a sight that would be going on the road!

On a separate note, if you just read my post above I added another item at the bottom. =)
 
Sherwood Sherwood Silanon Silanon What's your take on Mutanimals being able to communicate with all animals?
 
Sherwood Sherwood Silanon Silanon What's your take on Mutanimals being able to communicate with all animals?
Would it be (in my case) only be able to communicate with elephants, or all animals?

Also, I am thinking of dropping my Thick Skin mutation for the +25 SDC to go with Full Human Speech. If I’m trying to impersonate a voice on the phone, having the full speech advantage is a good thing.
 
Besides, Moyo has Auto Dodge, so that will help me.
 
As I think about it, I’m posting more about the language and communication thing. I would say it should be species specific. Why would I be able to speak to a dog, or a rabbit?
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top