Aberrant RPG - Testing the waters.

[April Rice]

There's more where that came from. (Though this is a little longer than I at first intended.)

Wan Chiu aka Philip Kuok-koi aka David Ou

What is not known:

Wan Chiu grew up on the streets of Metro Manila. He was poor, one of the middle sons of a large family, and his home was smack dab in the middle of one of the worst parts of the city. Throw in the fact that his family was Chinese, not Filipino, and he had a really rough childhood. Even so, he rapidly adapted. He started learning martial arts at the age of three, and was fighting back against local children not long after.

Wan was a bright child, but never learned to apply that intelligence to any kind of study - instead, learning from a young age to use his mind as a weapon against those stronger than him. In time, he was grudgingly respected by his peers, and became the unofficial protector of most of his many siblings. As he reached his teens, he began to lapse in this duty - instead running with the rougher elements of the neighborhood.

Soon, Wan was a full fledged member of a local gang of street punks. Those couple of years continued to harden him as he gradually became a leader in the gang, eventually going so far as to seize control from the original leader. Here, he began to learn how to use others as weapons - tactical thinking came easily to him.

As the gang aged, it began to fall apart - some members leaving, more getting killed or incarcerated. It was around then that Wan found the next rung in the underworld's ladder. He had been noticed by Metro Manila's cell of the Heaven Thunder Triad, and he was selected to become one of the sze kau - the foot soldiers of the triad. He accepted (as they had known he would), and underwent the 36 oaths of initiation. (David's imperial dragon anima is a reflection of the Triad's legendary roots in fighting the Manchu's in an attempt to restore the throne of the Ming emperors.)

Outside of China, Metro Manila was one of the largest and most powerful cells of Heaven Thunder. This lends some perspective to the truth that Wan rose rapidly through the ranks. He remained around the sze kau for the better part of a decade. In short, he proved himself to be an excellent warrior, a skilled leader, and a brilliant tactician. Thus, then the hung kwan died (the 'red pole' who governs the cell's enforcement and military activities), Wan was given the great honor of being chosen as the new hung kwan.

He did well, but made more than a few enemies. There were a number of other individuals suited for the position, and they began sowing dissent from day one. Soon, Wan was constantly having to fight his own men - weeding out those who were trying to dislodge him from his position. This was getting to be too much, and the last straw came along when a few of his detractors presented (false) evidence to the leaders of the cell - evidence which suggested that Wan had been stealing from the Triad since before he became hung kwan.

With his life in danger, Wan began constructing an escape. He turned his capable mind and considerable resources to quietly arranging false documents and untraceable travel, then dropped out of sight. Several months later, he reemerged in San Francisco - now going by the name Philip Kuok-koi.

Philip evaded notice for a long time - five years, to be exact. (If anyone's keeping track, he's something like forty now - a fair bit older than the 'Chinese man in his late twenties' he appears to be.) Unfortunately, Heaven Thunder has a long reach, and will not forget the betrayal of one of the most important leaders of one of its most important cells.

Philip Kuok-koi was identified as Wan Chiu and captured by the San Francisco cell of the Heaven Thunder Triad. While most offenders would have been executed on the spot, it was decided that Wan had committed enough of a crime to be made an example of - and was returned to the Philippines.

Through pure luck, Wan managed to escape his captors while en route from the docks to his former cell's headquarters. He ran - using his considerable knowledge of the city to his advantage - but was soon found again. With triad killers in his wake, he stumbled into the neighborhood of one of the few gangs in Metro Manila territorial enough to take on the triad. This erupted into a massive back alley brawl, which probably would have ended with the locals eventually running off to lick their wounds while the sze kau finished off Wan.

Instead, Wan erupted. Blinded by pain and out-of-control rage, he killed almost all of the combatants on both sides - sending the few survivors running for safety as he collapsed into a Taint-induced coma.

And we're back where we started. It should be noted that Heaven Thunder most definitely knows almost everything about Wan/Philip/David. It should also be noted that they are both still angry at him and a little afraid of what he might do if he gets his memory back. Considering that David doesn't even know about that threat, it could make things very interesting for him very quickly.

What is even less known:

David does have powers beyond those exhibited so far - he just doesn't remember them. (He will, however, be able to use them instinctively when they are called for.) These revolve around two basic foci: stealth and the manipulation of time. He can do anything from turning invisible, to blanketing the area in silence, to blocking other novas' perceptive powers. And, of course, he can control time - stopping others in their tracks, accelerating himself dramatically, and so on.

David is slightly more aberrated than diagnosed. He possesses an aberration that hasn't been triggered yet - the uncontrollable anger that possessed him during his eruption still is in him. His will and intellect are generally enough to keep in in check, but this control can erode when he is badly injured.

(That's it. Lord, I talk too much.)

{Above has been edited slightly. I was uncomfortable with the Taint level, so Amnesia is no longer an aberration, but a Flaw. Also, his reasons for leaving the HTT have been simplified a bit.}

[Templar]

The theme of Eddie's powers have changed since the last time I posted them in his background. He is far less of a main line combatant and more of a stealth and psychic support character (strangely I wrote his abilities over the past two days and they seem very similar to Wan Chiu ).

He has the ability to turn invisible and has quiet a high stealth skill combined with the catfooted enhancement for uber stealth. He has a potent disrupting(extra power) ability and a very tough to resist dominate(parasitic). Obviously he has superhuman attributes across the board, but he specialises in intellegence (Mega 4) and manipulation (Mega 5). He has an almost unbreakable psychic shield (+12 soak/auto successes). He has a minor shapechanging ability (copycat) and a massive bonus to barging things open.

His skills revolve around firearms, driving, martial arts (he's just a student and wants to learn more... so he'll probably get along with Mr. Chiu), stealth, investigation, and related observation skills.

His weakness's are his inability to have any real decent combat role and if stuck in a combat situation will probably get pounded, he can't fly or jump high so may need a lift from the team flyers.

Okay thats all I can think of about him, hope it helps.

[Interceptor]

I'll go ahead do a bit of a rewrite of Morning Star's history, since the Novas involved have just recently erupted, there's no conceivable way he could have had such an eventful life.

Brian Alder is a senior in high school, a suburban player, or at least he wants to be. His biggest aspiration is to become a DJ, like the big ones that come out of Europe, and make his own albums of customized mixes, tour the parties and clubs and get the 'Boy Band' crazy kind of ass that he sees on the Opnet.

At the Prom he's given a unique oppurtunity to help out a rather popular DJ from Chicago who was hired to play for his school. Instead of going to Prom with his girlfriend (who then breaks up with him) he makes an all or nothing overture to the DJ and his crew to provide help at the Prom, any kind of help they need. He was in luck, one of their guys was doing time for selling Meth, and they could use someone to run the boards a bit, as well as help load and unload equipment. He still rented a tuxedo, but was with the DJ's crew most of the night, shagging drinks and food for them, bringing them music chips and even old CDs. He'd never had such a good time. He'd DJed at some of the local parties and stuff, and they liked it, but as far as he was concerned he was in the presence of royalty. They even had rave light show equipment!

His excitement was growing with each minute, along with a nagging headache, but that wouldn't stop him. When the DJ 'Fat City' asked him during a break if he was available again for another Prom next week, that was it. Initial reports would indicate that lighting equipment had shorted out catastrophically, and permanently blinded ten people, most of them students, but also DJ 'Fat City' (Nicholas Similen). Brian fled the scene, but was easily followed by emergncy services, as he supposedly was creating a beacon of light around himself visible for miles.

Project Utopia representatives arrived on the scene surprisingly fast, and with a few injections of Mox managed to bring down the scared and traumatized new Nova. He was brought to the nearest facility for evaluation and training. In the aftermath, Project Utopia was able to bring down many of the litigants exorbitant demands in their lawsuits against Brian for the damage he caused on eruption. Those that were blinded managed to get on average 75% or more of their sight back through the use of Nova healers, but Brian Alder (who took the name Morning Star) is still in considerable debt for the time being.

He has been determined to have received augmentation in a variety of physical and mental aspects, and has developed an uncanny facility for languages, learning 12 new languages in only a few weeks. However some of the main focus of his eruption seem to be in his remarkable appearance and demeanor, easily able to get people to do what he wants through his good looks, subtle words, outright commands, or even sheer terror at his displeasure. He has also become, like many Nova performers, superhumanly good at his chosen medium, in Brian's case remixing as well as singing, which he never had much aptitude with before. The majority of his quantum powers though have to do with manipulating light throughout the different spectrums and wavelengths. He's shown remarkable facility and scope with his light manipulation, especially for someone so newly erupted.

Currently he's trying to put together some remixes and original tracks to make an album, but he worries that that might be just like putting blood in the water for the people he's indebted to.

His parents are very happy, but also a bit scared of him, as might anyone be when their child so easily surpasses everything about them. They can't help but suffer what so many other baselines feel when they're near the inhumanly handsome and charismatic Novas, they're quite often completely starstruck by him. They haven't had much of a meaningful conversation with him since.

For now, he spends most of his time at the MR facility, and wasn't even able to go to his graduation ceremony, though he's been promised a party when he's able to leave the facility. Technically he's still a minor, he won't be 18 until November, but he graduated high school when he easily passed the graduation exams.

[Neil Preston]

The character I am working on is a Weather Manipulator. The history is still in the scetchy stage, but involves Terat experimentation with "un-erupted" novas, and taint.

[Templar]

So far 10 people have shown interest and 6 backgrounds have been written. Having read the great writting of the other players on this board I personaly can't wait to here the other 4. I know for one some of these guys might wind up as npc's for a TT game

[Wakinyan]

Just to give you all a hint on what I really like to see with characters.

More important than what powers a person has or how they erupted is who they are. What are their faults. Their strengths and weaknesses. These are the things that make good characters great characters at least in my book. What kind of personality do they have? How does it influence their powers? This will go a long way of you understanding what I want for this game.

[Interceptor]

Sounds good, I'll send you a PM regarding it. The main reason I haven't included it is there are some things that others need to discover through play. It's on the way.

[Templar]

Okay I'll send somthing about him in a sec I just have to write it all down

[Vincent Carver]

I agree with Interceptor and I'll send you something soon too Totem. I'll send it to you when I send in my character. Speaking of characters, here is a rough draft of mine. (Sorry if I step on anyone else's toes. I have the same problem with character as April...);

Marcus "Monk" O'Dell

Before that peaceful day the universe opened itself up to him, Marcus had been an average, every day person. He taught Martial Arts and self defense courses in his small studio in San Francisco and was active as a volunteer in the local gay community. He enjoyed both contemplative meditation in his quiet little garden and wild nights on the town and in the clubs. All told, he was happy.

Marcus' eruption is something of an oddity in that it was not brought about by trauma or tragedy. After suffering through headaches for a week or so, and with no end in sight, Marcus sought refuge in deep meditation. As he fell deeper and deeper into his relaxed state, Marcus could feel the pain drop away, then the world around him. He felt as if the whole universe were gone; like he was touching the spark of creation itself. It was during that moment of utter clarity that he erupted. When he emerged from his trance, Marcus was concerned to see the effect his eruption had had on his meditation room. Much of the furnishings were either warped and reshaped, or were floating anywhere from a few inches to a few feet in the air.

Marcus showed up on the doorstep of the LA Rashoud facility the next day and checked himself in as a new eruptee. He's been learning about his new abilities under Utopia's watchful eye ever since and has made a few friends among the facility's interns. It is they who have given him the nickname "monk" due to his meditative discipline.

Currently, Marcus is still training at the Rashoud facility and deciding whether he wants to take Utopia up on their employment offer. The local media has found out there is a new Nova in the area and has already made at least one report about him.

[April Rice]

"So far 10 people have shown interest and 6 backgrounds have been written."

? I only count 8. Maybe you are counting those of us with multiple personality disorder? (c; Alex Craft and April Rice are one and the same. So are Preston and Neil Preston.

I'm including character notes with my sheet, Totem - you ought to be getting it later tonight. I have a couple oddball powers in there and a somewhat modified edition of Shroud, so you'll have to let me know if they're kosher.

Aside from being one of the two invisible ninja assassins in the group ( ;, David is also a dab hand at organization and planning: M-Int 3 with Tactical and Stategic Prodigy. The only other powers that would directly benefit the group are Shroud (Sensory Disruption Field) for those mass infiltrations (by the way, anybody else have Blindfighting?) and Accelerate Time from Temporal Manipulation (give himself or other a few extra actions).

And by the way, for the other invisible ninja assassin: we've got to work together or something.

[BlackStar]

Yes, Enigma has it.

[Templar]

When you say "other invisible assassin", are you taling about Eddie?

And thanks for pointing out the alter ego thing... didn't know about that.

[Vincent Carver]

Quote:

Originally posted by April Rice:
By the way, anybody else have Blindfighting

Not yet, but it's on my short list of things I want for Marcus...

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

I think the dice pool for thrown weapons would be Dex+Melee (for weapons meant to be thrown), Dex+Athletics (for non-weapons meant to be thrown, including gernades), Dex+Archery (for bows), or Dex+Might (for non-weapons not meant to be thrown).

Meaning it is unclear.

[Templar]

I still think Dex-Martial Arts would be better than melee, melee is more for close combat weapons IMHO. and besides the throwing weapons that her character would be using would no doubt be martail arts weapons rather than your average knives.

[Preston]

Templar, I'm going to agree with Dr. Troll on this. After all, all weapons are martial. To use D+MartialArts for some weapons, would be like using S+Brawl for throwing a rusty pipe, or brick.

Melee is a more versitile skill, with the handicap that you can be disarmed/caught empty-handed.

[Interceptor]

There is an optional Throwing skill in the Player's Guide, listed under strength. For throwing anything really from rocks to throwing weapons.

As far as Invisibility is concerned, Morning Star has Elemental Mastery of Light. While there is no specific power listed for it, one could reasonably assume that by rolling enough successes he could bend light and cause a weak invisibility field around himself and others (typical +2 difficulty probably and twice the cost as per normal). It would mainly bend light away from those inside it, and thus they would need some kind of super perception ability to compensate and actually see out of it (they're invisible but also they're effectively blind).

[Templar]

Ya got me on that one Preston, it would be too complicated otherwise.

[Templar]

Quote:

Originally posted by Interceptor:
There is an optional Throwing skill in the Player's Guide, listed under strength. For throwing anything really from rocks to throwing weapons.

As far as Invisibility is concerned, Morning Star has Elemental Mastery of Light. While there is no specific power listed for it, one could reasonably assume that by rolling enough successes he could bend light and cause a weak invisibility field around himself and others (typical +2 difficulty probably and twice the cost as per normal). It would mainly bend light away from those inside it, and thus they would need some kind of super perception ability to compensate and actually see out of it (they're invisible but also they're effectively blind).

I can see how that would work, the only problem with invisibility like that is it would look like that of a Predator, you would still be visible but distorted and hard to spot quickly... so the max effect you could get out of it would be like Invisibility 1 without the auto successes from quantum.

I love the idea though, and it could prove really useful in emergencies.

[Interceptor]

Quote:

Originally posted by Templar:

Quote:

Originally posted by Interceptor:
There is an optional Throwing skill in the Player's Guide, listed under strength. For throwing anything really from rocks to throwing weapons.

As far as Invisibility is concerned, Morning Star has Elemental Mastery of Light. While there is no specific power listed for it, one could reasonably assume that by rolling enough successes he could bend light and cause a weak invisibility field around himself and others (typical +2 difficulty probably and twice the cost as per normal). It would mainly bend light away from those inside it, and thus they would need some kind of super perception ability to compensate and actually see out of it (they're invisible but also they're effectively blind).

I can see how that would work, the only problem with invisibility like that is it would look like that of a Predator, you would still be visible but distorted and hard to spot quickly... so the max effect you could get out of it would be like Invisibility 1 without the auto successes from quantum.

I love the idea though, and it could prove really useful in emergencies.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Useful in a pinch but that's about it. It would still be visible to Ultraviolet light (unless he accounted for that with more successes) and Infrared (which he probably couldn't stop).

[Preston]

Or, a technique that would give a straight +2 difficulty to perception checks per level of the EM. As a general note, techniques are weaker than level two powers, with the advantage that they all get stronger as your EM increases.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

There is already a technique that lets you do this: Increase/Decrease

Apply that to Light, get 4 succ on Decrease, and there is NO light inside the effected area. Everyone in the area of effect must use other senses or be blind.

This is stronger than Shrowd in that it is a Maintenance tech rather than a Consentration Power.

This is weaker than Shrowd in that you need 4 succ (1 succ = 25%) to turn it on, and it requires a Q min of 4 (for Anima).

It is the same in that the nova with the power would be immune.

Since in our team(?) everyone have Mega-Perception, it is very likely most of us could function at least a little, and many of us would be immune.

I'd guess that electromagnetic vision wouldn't help, nor would 360 degree sight, but most of the others would help a lot.

[April Rice]

"Since in our team(?) everyone have Mega-Perception, it is very likely most of us could function at least a little, and many of us would be immune."

Erm. That's actually why I asked if anyone had Blindfight. Using the Errata rules, my Shroud kills 6 dots of M-Per (followed by Per, when it runs out of M-Per) on a minimal success.

Incidently, the technique you outlined there doesn't provide Invisibility. It's good for cloaking yourself on a battlefield, but would be pretty useless for stealth - a big blob of darkness moving around isn't too subtle.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

It's subtle if it is at night and you are flying.

[Preston]

A note to everyone:

You have designed yourself as a 30 Nova point character first, right? According to Totem, that is what he initially wants (as we go into the Rashoud facility).

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

I thought it was...

,,

Quote:

Totem:...here is a bit more clarity on the parameters of characters.

1. You will have standard Phase 1: Human step.

2. Step 2: Nova will have the following changes. You have 73 Nova points on which to build from. All characters will start with one point in each Mega Attribute (This will is basically the last 27 points up to 100. Predetermined spending)

3. Quantum limit for starting PCs will be 6. Any purchase of Mastery, purchasing or taking power to Level 4 powers must be approved.

4. The character will be an freshly erupted Nova and will have just been admitted to a Rashoud facility for test and training. During eruption there is no indication that said Nova is anymore powerful than a normal eruptee.

[Jager]

Yeah, he had to clarify me on that point as well.

In the No.4 point, the "no indication that said nova is anymore powerful than a normal eruptee" means we are at 30 NP and our eruption stories should reflect this.

Totem, is that correct?

[Interceptor]

I built him the way Dr. Troll just indicated. If we're starting with a 30 point nove, 27 gets spent immediately. That doesn't leave much for anything else. I spen 73 Nova points after I created the Human part and then picked an Enhancement for each Mega Att.

That's how I thought it was done.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

I think that 27 gets spent for us later (more or less).

If someone has a mega-stat then obviously you get those points back later.

Question/Problem: The point costs at Q6 and below Q6 are different. How do we deal with this?

Example: If I buy one dot of a second level power with an extra (FF+Reduced Q cost), this costs 5 nova points. However, if I have a Q6, then it costs 6 nova points. This is because a "free" extra costs the same as the first dot in the power.

Is that extra point (the difference between 6 & 5) going to be charged to me later or will it just be saved?

I suggest we build these characters in 3 stages:

1) Baseline.

2) Eruptee; 30 points (standard rules+APG).

3) "SuperNova", +70 nova points. During this stage you MUST have or buy at least one dot in each mega-stat. Meaning if you already have a dot you don't need to buy a second.

[Templar]

Hmmm.... I think we should wait on Totems clarification on this before we get too much into creating alter ego novas "levels".

One think I was curious about is who exactly will be involved? Is Totem planning on having us all in his game or will some people be cut? It would be nice to see who has met the criteria and will be involved in the story... as it will effect what powers other people choose for thier novas.

[Wakinyan]

Here is how you will build these characters. It is muc like Troll mentioned.

1) Stage 1 Baseline. (standard rules)

2) Stage 2 Eruptee; 30 points (standard rules+APG).

3) Game Start (less than 1 month as a Nova in a rashoud facility): SuperNova, All PCs will have 27 points allowcated from the remaining 70 that will put one point into each MegaStat (However megastat Quantum rules still apply). The remaining 43 Nova Points can be spent as needed with the following restrictions. Quantum cap is 6. Mega-atts cap at 5. All Quantum powers will cap at 3. I am wanting to promote characters who have a broad variety of powers instead of extremely tight focus.

Remember, while you are powerful you are still new to all of this and I want that to show in your characters.

[BlackStar]

Sorry, but I don´t understand it. In less than a month we go from 30 points eruptee to 100 points supernova?. Nonsense.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

I think we have a second eruption, either while we are in the clinic or shortly after we leave.

[BlackStar]

No, excuse me, but the problem for me at least is that I have made already three sheets because you keep changing the rules to make it. I have had enough. I´m not going to do a fourth one. If this takes my character out of the game, so be it. Sorry, but I think all those changes are not serious nor fair for the people who are trying to play.

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

I don't think it is "changing the rules" so much as defining them.

By definition, a 100 NP game is going to be VERY un-standard.

[Wakinyan]

Blackstar at the very beginning of this I warned everyone involved that I was refining the story as I went. This thread was nothing more than what the title said. "Testing the waters" I didn't require anyone to send me anything I simply asked if anyone would be interested in playing in it. Now you come and yell at me for something I warned about since the very beginning? Don't feel like you are being forced to do anything at all. Don't feel like you have to play. Yes this game if it gets off the ground will be different than normal but that is the point. Do as you will.

[Templar]

The main thing that makes Aberrant work in my opinion is the large number of abilities. This allows people to find a niche and excell making thier character stand out from the others and allowing eveyone some great "spotlight" time... if you restrict everyone to having a wide range of powers then there will be a much less chance of having a niche that makes your character unique.

Don't get me wrong I am still interested but I'm going to put off writting up a character sheet until all of the rules are set. The rules changes already make my character (a stealthy anti-nova dominator) useless to a large degree (without having very large focus, disrupt and dominate are very easy to resist).

I don't mind the fact that I have to re-think my characters abilities as the main story and goals will remain the same (somthing I worked really hard on).

I suggest before anyone comes up with powers and such we make backgrounds and send them to Totem... when we know who is playing we can all get together and discuss what abilities we will all focus in, that way everyone can still be unique but we all have a cool range of powers.

but then... I could be talking out of my ass

[David 'Dr. Troll' Smith]

The only concept shot down has been the 5 dots in a power, and that is needed only for Density Decrease and perhaps the maxed out Q-Bolt.

All the other focus require one dot in the power and lots in the associated mega-stat. If you want a mega-stat of 5, then buy 4 and let the +1 push you to 5.

We have 73 points we control (more if you were going to buy mega-stats).

Example: If you want a disrupt/dominate then you would be getting Mega-Int and Mega-Manip anyway so thats really 79 points you can control. 30 gets you 5's in both M-Manip & M-Int. 6 more gives you the powers, 5 gets you a Q of 4.

That's a total of 41 out of 79, leaving you 38 to be "diverse" with (and two focuses and 9 mega-stats is pretty diverse to start with).

My Character:

I'm going with an Angel/Light theme.

In effect this is a flying brick with the power to give out blessings and curses.

The irony of "Angelus" is what his conscious and subconscious believe and desire are very different animals.

[Myrmidon]

I am thinking of a Weahter Controller.

[April Rice]

Totem, just so I can be absolutely clear: you want two character sheets - one with a 30 np character, and another that is the same character with 70 np added on (including required M-Atts)?