Dice Rifts Japan - OOC Thread

[Purr]

D. Rex The maintenance man idea has some things going for it, but why would he be selected to be a part of the government backed team that is being assembled to fight demons in the city?

What if the guy was also a trusted computer hacker working for the government? Kind of like Ishikawa from the Ghost in the Shell manga (the smart and savvy Caucasian-looking guy with the black hair and beard)? That's the kind of guy I think a team like ours could definitely use. He'd know the ins and outs of the city and probably have the ability to hack into networks that would get us the best data very fast (kind of like when the team broke into the garbage company's network). =)

 

[Sherwood]

That is a possibility that could work. There are a lot of character classes that would fit for this idea, and they usually have plenty of skills to help you stay alive, like taking some pilot battle armor skills.

 

[Purr]

Sherwood O.K.. I'm testing out a few things but I could use more information, please.

1. In your world, about how far away is the nearest Ley Line from Hiroshima? I don't get the feeling we'll be interacting with the "Dragon Trails" that often while we're in the city?

2. In the Republic of Japan, is there any racial bias between Japanese and mixed-race Japanese? I feel mixed-race Japanese would be treated like trash in the New Empire (even today's Japan is very "Japanese-first" and still tradition-heavy). But in the Hiroshima of Rifts Japan?

3. I take it the PCs from the New Empire will probably be the only representatives from that faction in the team? Or is that a false presumption?

 

[Sherwood]

Sherwood O.K.. I'm testing out a few things but I could use more information, please.

1. In your world, about how far away is the nearest Ley Line from Hiroshima? I don't get the feeling we'll be interacting with the "Dragon Trails" that often while we're in the city?

2. In the Republic of Japan, is there any racial bias between Japanese and mixed-race Japanese? I feel mixed-race Japanese would be treated like trash in the New Empire (even today's Japan is very "Japanese-first" and still tradition-heavy). But in the Hiroshima of Rifts Japan?

3. I take it the PCs from the New Empire will probably be the only representatives from that faction in the team? Or is that a false presumption?

1. There will still be a few ley lines in the city, just not as commonplace or as large as elsewhere. Ok, I know that is kinda vague, but I don't want to give out spoilers.

2. The cultural bias of a mixed race person will still exist, it just is not as 'in your face' as it is in the Empire or in today's Japan.

3. To be honest, I'm not 100% sure. I'm holding on my npcs until I get an idea of what the players are coming up with. I may go with two different team members, one each from the two different nations, but that is still a work in progress.

 

[Purr]

1. There will still be a few ley lines in the city, just not as commonplace or as large as elsewhere. Ok, I know that is kinda vague, but I don't want to give out spoilers.

2. The cultural bias of a mixed race person will still exist, it just is not as 'in your face' as it is in the Empire or in today's Japan.

3. To be honest, I'm not 100% sure. I'm holding on my npcs until I get an idea of what the players are coming up with. I may go with two different team members, one each from the two different nations, but that is still a work in progress.

1. I'm mainly asking to know how often a Ley Line Walker will be able to use their Ley Line Powers (not a lot from the look of it, which is fine).

2. Hmm. This makes me wonder if I should stick with a pure blooded person of any race (as I would rather racism not play a large role in a game like this; our team will have enough problems with the demons and bureaucracy, I imagine.

3. I'm honestly stuck here too. I want to make a versatile PC that works well with the power level of this team, but that power level keeps changing (not a complaint, but it's important to watch it for the sake of game balance. Like you said, no Cosmo Knights!).

As a rough idea, my character is looking like this (using average rolls):

Spoiler: Very early rough draft

Hit Points: 25 (in human form)
S.D.C.: 270 (in human form)
M.D.C. (in animus form, 50% more in little animal snake form but what's he going to do with it in that form?): 25+55+90+100+30 = 300
P.P.E.: 125
I.S.P.: 100

Important Special Abilities:
1. Spirit Host: Change shapes among human, Animus, and animal (human is S.D.C., Animus and animal are M.D.C. with Supernatural Strength), roughly two minor Psychic powers per level (not of choice but predetermined). If Snake, automatic dodge available in any form. Venomous bite (venom to be determined). Spirit Writing, Ghost Drama (neat but I guess they won't be used often).

2. Ley Line Walker: Excellent spell use, but more than 1/2 of cool special abilities only work when at Ley Lines. Few-moderate O.C.C. Skills with an average selection of Skills to choose from. (Won't have many skills after buying both Martial Art systems.)

3. Martial Art Powers: Turns character from probably having less than 100 M.D.C. to having about 300. Excellent hiding abilities (Arts of Invisibility), Tamashiwara (art of breaking), multiple Body Hardening abilities.

If our power level is going in a downward direction, then I should nerf him (change styles perhaps). But... if our characters are but a handful of people from the New Empire, then... we've got more shoes to fill. That makes me want to go more of a Chi Mastery/soft route.

Thoughts?

 

[Sherwood]

I would like to see everyone be able to hold their own in a fight when I turn out an opponent that can face the group. Obviously, there will be times that you'll face multiple targets of varying power levels and the less combat focused pcs can then shine on their own while the heavier fighters tangle with their opponents.

 

[Purr]

I would like to see everyone be able to hold their own in a fight when I turn out an opponent that can face the group. Obviously, there will be times that you'll face multiple targets of varying power levels and the less combat focused pcs can then shine on their own while the heavier fighters tangle with their opponents.

Same here.

I'm going to keep tweaking him and see how it goes. (The Ninjitsu and Zanji combination appears to be bit too strong which is a pity because even Kaerri agreed that I have a solid and good backstory for him. But... I don't mind changing lots of things if it means for a fun game for all.)

 

[Sherwood]

A lot of this is going to depend on what GunMan2 , D. Rex and Eonivar come up with for their final drafts of their characters.

 

[Purr]

A lot of this is going to depend on what GunMan2 , D. Rex and Eonivar come up with for their final drafts of their characters.

Big time.

 

[Psychie]

If I need to tone down my character I can do so. Just let me know what I need to do.

 

[Sherwood]

If I need to tone down my character I can do so. Just let me know what I need to do.

At this point, it's too early to make that kind of conclusion that you are too tough. Even in a non-martial arts based game, a baby dragon is a real tank. Let's see how the whole party stacks up.

 

[Sherwood]

Psychie thank you for being willing to do that. Not every player is so understanding for their fellow players.

 

[Psychie]

I just want to have fun, and if I am the cause of a lot of angst about characters, that's not fun.

 

[Psychie]

Here is a random thought: are we getting more skills each level like we've done before, or are we going by the book for our skill progression?

 

[Sherwood]

Here is a random thought: are we getting more skills each level like we've done before, or are we going by the book for our skill progression?

We'll do the one where you get a skill every level you go up.

 

[Psychie]

Ok thank you.

 

[Psychie]

I'm thinking of changing my character's name to something a bit more Asian. Blake is nice, but I'm just not feeling it anymore.

 

[Sherwood]

Any thoughts on what that would be? Not that it really matters; just curious.

 

[Psychie]

I have a few ideas. I'll let you know when I decide.

 

[Psychie]

If I keep with the RWBY theme, I could use Yang Xaio Long.

 

[Eonivar]

I have an idea for a Momano Zapper Psychic Headhunter New Republic Street Rat ;-)

The Great Electric Crow! (Or GEC for short)

Dice rolls going on this post.

Ok wow, the dice on this site truly, truly hate me. Sherwood can you roll up some stats for me?

 

[Sherwood]

Eonivar Here are your rolls. I am guessing you are a normal human, so I'm rolling the standard 4d6 and taking the top 3.

19
12
23
20
17
21
10
22

Looks like you have some better numbers here. lol

 

[Eonivar]

Here are your rolls. I am guessing you are a normal human, so I'm rolling the standard 4d6 and taking the top 3.

Thank you so much!

 

[Sherwood]

You are welcome.

 

[Psychie]

Ok, I'm confused. My character has the following power as a part of her OCC:

Chi M.D. Death Blow (special): A death blow that draws on the character's inner spirit with mega-damage and mystical effect against oni and other supernatural beings! Can be inflicted with punch, kick, staff or spear. Same as the samurai.

Checking with the samurai, it has this for the description of the Chi MD Death Blow:

Chi M.D. Death Blow (special): The samurai, yamabushi, warrior
monks, and demon quellers can use a chi death blow attack against
oni/demons, dragons, elementals and other supernatural beings and
creatures of magic! When used against supernatural opponents, the
attack inflicts mega-damage, even if it is normally an S.D.C. attack.
The character can inflict the mega-damage strike with a punch, kick
or hand-held weapon like a sword, axe, spear, club, etc., and does
double normal damage plus P.S. bonus in mega-damage.
The chi attack is so devastating to the creature's body that it cannot
bio-regenerate injury from a chi death blow for 1D4 hours! This is what
makes the attack so deadly to the supernatural.
Limitations: 1. In addition to being limited to the above O.C.C.s, the
character must be pure of spirit and intent. This means there can be no
possibility of regret when this spiritual inner strength is used and it cannot
be used in anger, fear or for revenge, even if the character wants to.
2. Counts as two melee attacks/actions.
3. Limited to supernatural beings and creatures of magic. The chi attack
is not applicable against M.D.C. bots, borgs and power armor, nor
ordinary human beings or S.D.C./hit point creatures.
4. The chi M.D. death blow is not applicable to guns or even the
samurai bow and arrow.
Note: A "chi" death blow draws on the character's P.P.E. reserve of
mystic, inner energy and can be considered a magical attack.

It says that it draws on your personal Chi/PPE, but what it doesn't say is how many points it costs. It is driving me batty. How much does it take to make this power work? Anyone?