PL: The EPIC OOC - closed thread

[Cerillium]

I see a fair post exchange in the IC. One character lays out the consequences of actions. The other character chooses to call a bluff or ignore those consequences. I verified that the character's handler confirmed in TG discussion that her character would follow through. There's nothing malicious there. I do see incredible lack of forethought by one player. How else was this scenario supposed to play out other than with two choices: back down or die?

Depth of grief is determined by degree of influence x violence of death. Nobody feels much pain if some classmate's grandmother - that nobody has ever met - passes away in her sleep. The story will horrify the entire school should that grandmother be Queen Elizabeth, or if she was a known member of her community that was viciously murdered by Charles Manson. Her grandchild will mourn, but not nearly as deeply as the grandchild's own mother.

Giovenith's reaction fits with her character. Marcus' reaction seems on par for his nature. The other characters that knew Torii best current have offline handlers.

Two questions came up:
1. Why didn't Marcus just fist fight her? Because "fisticuffs" isn't something 40K characters, especially AdMech, engage in. He was raised in a brutal environment. The thought to fist fight wouldn't occur to him.
2. Is Torii perma-dead? No. All the old characters have clones. However I'm looking at her death in the IC and thinking some time needs to pass. Yes, char dev would be good. What would also be good is to stop taking shit for granted. "Kill the natives! Kill their children! Not backing down to a fight!" got Torii dead. She finally bit off more than she could chew and, for once, the other character didn't back down.

A reminder to those with characters out on adventures. Your GM do have my permission to kill off your characters should you disregard their safety for stupid reasons. Play smart. Read posts through.

[The BranRiech]

I have to say I would have preferred to have Drova fight Torii instead.

The alternative was pretty good too though, I feel like nothing that heavy has happened before (Character dying on Christmas and all)

[Cerillium]

I have to say I would have preferred to have Drova fight Torii instead.

The alternative was pretty good too though, I feel like nothing that heavy has happened before (Character dying on Christmas and all)

It's nicely written and we see a lot of interesting reactions occurring. Good job by all, including Torsi. Sadly I won't be able to add to it before leaving for work.

[Monfrox]

Hey guys I'm finally back from a shitty day of work and-

>Torii is dead

O-oh...

[Tiltjuice]

Unrelated matters:

• Slo, bump Sandy's triage and first aid to 3, please. I believe they're at 1 now. For Amanda, add "Underworld Contacts" to her mundane skills. These pertain only to the contacts she's made through IC play.
• Ched, bump Romy's Power Armor to 3, please. The extra point reflects his experience servicing the thing alone (without techs from his home dimension).
• Fvaar, Nick's 4th ability (a very small amount of actual telepathy) can go up to 2 (you have it as less than 1 currently). It allows you to fudge the connection more and you've used his abilities wisely.
• Prim, add the Supernatural Ability "Daemon Friend" to Aegis. Level 3. I'll give no other information other to say it's restricted to his exposure to Rache. It's something Aegis will need to explore on his own.
• Gio, I just realized we didn't add flight to Willow. Considering it's his main mode of transportation and he's exhibited skill in it, please add it at a 5. Also add "Daemon Friend", Level 4. Same restriction as Aegis.
• Tilt, Chrys needs "Daemon Friend" as well, though this is expanded (not that she's aware of it). Level 4.
• Torsii, Torii needs a 3 in mechanics to reflect her growth in that field.

+1 this so I don't forget again. Too many balls in the air >_> Many apologies.

[Torsiedelle]

Sadly, I won't be down for posting.

Not feeling well.

I'll just wait a bit, until the Island thing is done with. I kind of lost interest. I ruined it anyways.

[Giovenith]

Sadly, I won't be down for posting.

Not feeling well.

I'll just wait a bit, until the Island thing is done with. I kind of lost interest. I ruined it anyways.

Hey, you didn't ruin anything man, you just created dramatic tension, there's nothing wrong with that. Nobody is mad with you in real life.

[Torsiedelle]

I ruined it.

Fuck the Christmas scene, I fucked Bran over, and I fucked myself. Now I have no reason to do anything on the island, since I fucked my chances at helping with hunts or Holidays, and I don't even feel motivated to interact with character now. No effort at all by healers or anyone else to help with CPR or anything? Not even an actual fight? Just boom, and then "too bad.", and now Drova is kind of fucked on interaction, and I fucked myself by taking a chance, and it just feels like something is wrong.

I shouldn't have suggested any trips, and just stuck to training in the building. I feel like I would've been better off with just waiting for the scene to end so the hunt could resume.

I've been anxious and annoyed since yesterday. I'd had a shitty week/Christmas and just wanted to unwind and not get into the "Muh deep morals" crap because things seemed good like they used to be.

And now I can't think of a way to not come off as an ass because I know trying to explain why I feel like that will just end in people not getting the point and getting annoyed like always because I suck at explaining shit.

[Giovenith]

Don't feel like an ass, I understand what you're saying. Take some time to cool down. It's not an easy thing, we know. Do what you need to do.

[The BranRiech]

Couldn't help but feel a little bit like that too, Torii.

I mean, the first character I come back to interact with ends up dead because of the scene my character started. Not the best way to start things off, and to add insult to injury, I had previously missed Tilt when he tried getting Drova's attention back on the beach. I feel like I screwed something up, and so soon after coming back. I know it's not my fault, but I can't get it off my back.

[Fvaarniimar]

I ruined it.

Fuck the Christmas scene, I fucked Bran over, and I fucked myself. Now I have no reason to do anything on the island, since I fucked my chances at helping with hunts or Holidays, and I don't even feel motivated to interact with character now. No effort at all by healers or anyone else to help with CPR or anything?

Honestly, I think the issue there may be a lack of healers on the Island. Slobo didn't animate Sandy's stand-in, ditto for Luxans, I haven't seen the guildies in ages, no one seems to have ReAnima on hand...And char!Gio was way too upset to stick around for the fight. Ditto for cardboard Nick, who anyway couldn't do anything really useful. That takes us down to cardboard Brit, and honestly, if someone who appears to know CPR is doing it, do you interrupt to try doing it yourself? IC (and OOC!) people care. I think that if Katya hangs around, she'll get quite an outpouring of support. I'd go so far as to say that characters will go out of their way to include her, if she's up to doing stuff.

Additionally... How would a heaven oneshot sound to you? Or a eulogy? Tora's death...stinks, but it isn't permanent, and the cloud could have a silver lining.

Additionally, this was intended to be a surprise after you mentioned the lack of gifts, but, well, all your chars /have/ pictures and I seriously don't know what you'd want drawn. So:

This certificate is redeemable for ONE drawing, the nature of which* is to be selected by TORI.
*within reasonable limits, mainly those of Fvaar's drawing abilities

[Swith Witherward]

Couldn't help but feel a little bit like that too, Torii.

I mean, the first character I come back to interact with ends up dead because of the scene my character started. Not the best way to start things off, and to add insult to injury, I had previously missed Tilt when he tried getting Drova's attention back on the beach. I feel like I screwed something up, and so soon after coming back. I know it's not my fault, but I can't get it off my back.

You didn't screw something up.


And this is an awesome name for a RP.

Anyway, I'll explain in a minute.

[Giovenith]

It's okay to feel like that, it's not an illogical thing to think. Actions have consequences and we all feel bad when we do something that has an unintended consequence, including in RP - we've all had a moment like it before. Like I said, just take some time to yourself and try to look ahead, char!Torii isn't permadead and there will always be more adventures. Let yourself be upset, but remember that no one is upset with you and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.


BTW, NA's Jedi character did try to heal her, so no one didn't try.

[Torsiedelle]

I just need to work out this grumpy attitude. Coffee and my comfy thinking chair work.

[Giovenith]

I just need to work out this grumpy attitude. Coffee and my comfy thinking chair work.

*approval*

[Torsiedelle]

I could always use a character portrait, Fvaar, or something non-PL related depending on your style. Any examples I could see?

And you don't really have to do that, Fvaar, but the offer is nice. Thanks.

As for other maters...

I'm just bent out of shape. I TG'd Swithers last night, and we talked over how things were unfolding. I didn't expect any punches to be thrown, but I did expect an actual chance; I didn’t know shit about any lightning attacks or fancy things like that. Besides, it's a problem I've had before in PL that I didn't mind, but over time it pisses me off - being taken down instantly is something that often happens when there's a fight with my characters, it seems, at least in post-classic. Torii vs Kei, Torii vs Marcus, both ended up with one use of a power, and the fight over without contest. Torii is always told she has no chance against anything, and to me it continues to feel that way, since Post-Classic PL. With the exception of Amanda, Bran, and...well, them, I think I play the only mundane Humans, and they just can never compete, even in the areas they should be strong in. It's frustrating sometimes.

Don't take that as "muh heroics" bullshit, either. I'm not even asking to be a hero in any case. I just get annoyed by the new hierarchy of character powers. I'm still a fan of old PL.

I don't know how to take this to my next point, buuuut...

I was peeved in general by reactions. To be honest, I've been annoyed by most of the cast in PL for years. It kind of has to do with the usual "you have no chance, Humans can't handle this." talk, and the whole every-adult-is-a-wise-and-disciplined-sage thing. I like Bran because he's a guy. He can be smart and talk the talk, but he's really just a goofy guy who's good at fixing shit, not a politician or a supernatural being. I liked NVE and his characters because they were smart and could get down to business, but they had fun and usually even encouraged mischief and stupidity. I dunno, I'm usually worried to recieve the same stern opinions IC from most characters I don't usually interact with. I want to work more with them, but...I dunno. You know what, forget this last paragraph.

Uuuuuugh, I just need to dump shit all out sometimes. I feel like a dinosaur in PL sometimes. Fuck me.

[Swith Witherward]

"Well that ruined everything," they said as the world seemed to crumble around them. But this isn't the case, as we'll see...

It's a Wonderful Death
A Holiday Classic
Staring a bunch of actors I'm too tired to invent names for!

Swith, how can you make jokes at a time like this? Can't you see we're all very sad and concerned?


Fuck that shit. Is this not PL EPIC? We're sorta a mockuromcomascifialafantasysliceo'life RP. The most epic fucking thing just happened... to an old and trusty character that so many people did like... on actual Christmas Day... on actual Christmas Day in the IC. Death comes to Holiday Dinner! What fucking RP does that to anyone on Christmas? That is so fucking EPIC!

Torsi, there's no reason to be glum over all this. You've given us all a reason to expand our own characters. Torii isn't perma-dead, and you do have other characters to play. I'm not saying that to be callous. I'm saying it because, well, my characters tend to die in RP. I'm attached to them. I pitched a fit here once because NVE fucked up and his actions killed Naomi. But I also quietly went with the results when Charu did something stupid (twice), and used Nes to springboard growth for Marcus, Sep, Thad, Naomi and so on.

What would have happened had Torii not died?

Drova and she talk. Giovenith rolls her eyes and says, "Oh, you guys!" Marcus wonders what's for desert. Everyone else sits around. It starts to stagnate because people grow bored with sitting around having feels. "When will we go back to the Building, Cer?" It's also a stereotypical Teen Club resolution. There might be some fighting and sulking in there, and someone is bound to run off to have a good cry before coming back with snotty eyes and a puffy nose. We know this will be the case because this is The Formula. The Formula is what keeps shit shallow.

This death is a springboard for some major growth in the IC. Besides personal issues, the characters have seen that they're not cohesive as a group, and they know there is a war in the future. This can motivate them to take things more seriously. (Actually, it breathed a bit of live back into Agy and I as players, especially when we realized we might be able to help everyone accomplish this.)


Someone asked me in PM if mundane characters can run with the gods?

Oh fuck yeah. Bran's been proving that since day one.

C!Bran with his frumpy overcoat and giving heart. The gods to out and get their asses handed to them, and then they return to the Building to find... warm, fluffy waffles and an ear willing to hear them lament. But that wasn't good enough for c!Bran. He was on a tireless quest to become more... more powerful, more supernatural, more helpful, more useful. The gods watched him blunder around, and saved his bacon from the fire on many occasions. But they did it because c!Bran is c!Bran, a young man honest in his failures but genuine in his love. And when c!Bran's life was in peril, those gods turned towards his foes with an unholy fury in their eyes. They moved heaven and earth (literally) to protect him. They did it because he made them waffles... because he made them laugh... because he made them see what it means to be kind, and gave them a reason want to know him better.

I miss that old Bran.

Mundane characters can also engage in battles alongside potent characters. It means giving that potent character space to work, and focusing on an objective other than "Protecting you!" I prefer "Keeping you safe from afar" when I run mortals. It's usually why I pick snipers and demo experts, or medical personnel, when I'm in a mixed levels game. Let the gods have their fun. I'll head-shot the winner while he yells in triumph... if he's not on my team.

So, as it currently stands, this is how a battle in PL would play out...

Giovenith is working on paper bird attacks. Torii refuses to leave her. Marcus picks up a pipe to fend off foes. Neither god nor cyborg can fully unleash anything without risking the human beside them. They get struck by rocks. They die. Torii, in this case, is a liability.

-or-

Giovenith is working on paper bird attacks. We've seen that she can produce a protective field around herself. She engages that field and then fashions her deadly attack. Marcus activates his defensive properties... the simple spark that killed Torii is a low-level manifestation of his defensive capability... and Giovenith remains unharmed in her bubble. Meanwhile, Torii has set herself into position at a distance and is sniping the things that are preparing to lob rocks at Marcus and Giovenith. Torii also knows her friends will be drained afterwards, so she clears a path to safety as they flee, though it means lingering in position and thus revealing her location to the enemy. Torii, in this case, is a badass and savior rolled into one.

/rambling

[Fvaarniimar]

I could always use a character portrait, Fvaar, or something non-PL related depending on your style. Any examples I could see?

And you don't really have to do that, Fvaar, but the offer is nice. Thanks.

....

Uuuuuugh, I just need to dump shit all out sometimes. I feel like a dinosaur in PL sometimes. Fuck me.

Toriynnosaurus Rex?

Every character portrait of mine ever

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/btsziy6endcd ... XJCa?dl=0#

I'm probably closest to a fine artist in style - interesting change from the manga and cartoony styles. I can attempt those with effort, but...my strengths lie elsewhere . I tend to like drawing from imagination.

[Torsiedelle]

It never really happens, though. A lot of fights are short and/or sudden, and don't leave much room for characters to get distance or cover.

Torii is supposed to be an exceptional marksman, and a guerilla type when not sniping. I just never see any space for those, though.

I'm also not saying it was bad for the death, but it really annoys me. I was just wondering when the hunt would start up again, so I could use Torii for it how I intended. With the way things happened IC, though, and with the attitude a majority of characters have? Why would my other character even want to look at them, much less help them? Why help or care for anyone? Much better to just let them carry on and let natives kill more people. They haven't shown Katya any reason to support them or want to help them anymore.

So now, logically speaking, I'm just sitting on the sidelines and waiting until the Island trip is finished. I have no other reason to actually interact.

[Tiltjuice]

It never really happens, though. A lot of fights are short and/or sudden, and don't leave much room for characters to get distance or cover.

Torii is supposed to be an exceptional marksman, and a guerilla type when not sniping. I just never see any space for those, though.

I'm also not saying it was bad for the death, but it really annoys me. I was just wondering when the hunt would start up again, so I could use Torii for it how I intended. With the way things happened IC, though, and with the attitude a majority of characters have? Why would my other character even want to look at them, much less help them? Why help or care for anyone? Much better to just let them carry on and let natives kill more people. They haven't shown Katya any reason to support them or want to help them anymore.

So now, logically speaking, I'm just sitting on the sidelines and waiting until the Island trip is finished. I have no other reason to actually interact.

Emotional response can count as that. There's lots of ways to grieve. Ask for an explanation from a character or two, and you'll get one. That's not unheard of in the process.

Immediate actions tend to get immediate reactions, and then everything goes to shit. That's a classic theme, in writing - but it doesn't mean there can't be thought behind the post. Make it shine, make Katya grow.

On a lighter note - since when is Brit MLP Michael?

[Fvaarniimar]

I wonder...
Items letting you teleport beyond a few feet are barred. But what if Tora picked one up that would teleport her literally a few feet at a time, within line of sight? Not overpowered, shouldn't overshadow her, but might give her time to find cover, especially if teleport spam is allowed.

Maybe Marcus could even make/procure it as a peace offering...

Alternatively, would "Cover me while I get to cover, please" do the trick? It's not like she isn't planning to return the favor

Alternatively... Tilt's chars have mentioned the possibility of her joining the Conservators iirc, although there's definitely a religion conflict that would need to be resolved. Extra time is kinda their thing.

[Torsiedelle]

I'd considered the Conservator route, or even cultist, but one of the main reasons why I enjoy my characters is in them being no different from a normal person.

Really, Bran and NVE were who I relied on for Torii's growth and for her being more useful. I found the Conservators and Chaos, and the tech priests too stuffy and goodie-goodie for my tastes, while Raptors and Prim's magic were more free and chaotic. They were a very welcome departure from every other group that dominated the scene and went on about doing good and being above violence. Raptors would cause disorder and go overboard with experiments and intel, and they gave everyone else a run for their money. Prim's stuff is more secretive and less concerned with others, from what I see. Both of those appeal to me, and by extension, my characters, because they fit their interests more. Torii is all about tech and weapons, and saying "fuck you" to decency and morals to get the job done. Raptors are for her. Katya is more involved with magic nonsense, and more formal, so I could see her potentially allying with Primordial and his gang.

Thing is, NVE is gone, and Prim's shenanigans are neutered, IMO. They aren't as prevalent, or even existent. That kills my opportunities as well.

Torii's whole big stick a year ago was using Bran's TF gun with Raptor tech splicing to make a tool. She can't do that now. I don't want to just forget everything for Torii for the last year with a clone either, because that will just open a whole new can of worms that I just don't want to deal with, assuming she looses memories.

I can't grow her because something stops me every time.

[Tiltjuice]

I don't see any reason she would lose memories.

Cultists are 40K in basic origin. They're really not that goodie-goodie. Conservators...you could get away with saying that, and that's partly my fault because I stuffed up the initial concept considerably (you might have noticed my tugging away from the idea of "time cops"). I thought about it and it was horribly cliched and didn't give them any chance to grow, either; made me want to tear my skin off at some points. Just hangnails, really. Child's play. Plus, this just isn't that kind of RP. I'm trying to hint at what they are, really, but to borrow from D&D a sec, their alignment should come out more a bit during the God War.

We're not asking you to change your characters that drastically, just to acknowledge that there are supers because this is a combination game. Here's the crux of the issue from my point of view.

Torii is all about ... saying "fuck you" to decency and morals to get the job done.

You're seeing this as an us vs them, humans vs supers thing on a strict morality scale, imo. It isn't. It's about a group banding together against an unknown enemy. There will always be somewhere else to get things.

Torii wants tech and weapons. Go to the tech priests.

Katya wants magic and formality. Keep going after Prim's chars. Or have her approach one or another pantheon in spite of her nation's anti-supernatural thing. If you want, do both. A person doesn't have to like the people they're working with, only to hold their nose until closing time. Then it's go home, kick off the shoes and do whatever.

[Highfort]

Family events today. Will post later tonight.

[Swith Witherward]

I don't see any reason she would lose memories.

Cultists are 40K in basic origin. They're really not that goodie-goodie. Conservators...you could get away with saying that, and that's partly my fault because I stuffed up the initial concept considerably (you might have noticed my tugging away from the idea of "time cops"). I thought about it and it was horribly cliched and didn't give them any chance to grow, either; made me want to tear my skin off at some points. Just hangnails, really. Child's play. Plus, this just isn't that kind of RP. I'm trying to hint at what they are, really, but to borrow from D&D a sec, their alignment should come out more a bit during the God War.

We're not asking you to change your characters that drastically, just to acknowledge that there are supers because this is a combination game. Here's the crux of the issue from my point of view.

Torii is all about ... saying "fuck you" to decency and morals to get the job done.

You're seeing this as an us vs them, humans vs supers thing on a strict morality scale, imo. It isn't. It's about a group banding together against an unknown enemy. There will always be somewhere else to get things.

Torii wants tech and weapons. Go to the tech priests.

Katya wants magic and formality. Keep going after Prim's chars. Or have her approach one or another pantheon in spite of her nation's anti-supernatural thing. If you want, do both. A person doesn't have to like the people they're working with, only to hold their nose until closing time. Then it's go home, kick off the shoes and do whatever.

Interesting sidenote: the cultists are very tame in the PL IC because, in prior nation incarnations, our group got spanked. We avoid Mod wrath now.

Always keep an eye on Moderation. If we see a lot of reports about sexting, we ask players to lay low with their suggestive posts. Numerous reports concerning gore, lay low on the violence. With the Moratorium still fresh in Mod memory, and people actively policing RP in search of PG13 violations, PL is forced to walk a very conservative line. That's why Cer encouraged Prim to go much tamer, and why we haven't seen much in the way of behind-the-scenes "cocaine waterfalls" antics from the Lads.



Okay, I'm not seeing Torii saying "fuck you" to decency and morals when I read her posts. I'm not seeing any rebelling at all. She comes across as emotionally fragile, certainly willing to lash out at people, but only doing so as an excuse to hide. She doesn't know who or what she is, and doesn't have an identity. She's just roaming, a bit lost, searching for her purpose at times.

When I see her shout "NO!" when told to run, and then she stands there next to more powerful characters during a battle, or runs into battle carrying only a simple weapon, I see "death wish". To onlookers, it would seem that an emotionally deluded character wants to go out in a blaze of FIM, and she's going to take other characters out with her, come hell or high water!

Basically, what I'm saying is that it's good to want to be in battle, but if the character isn't smart enough to pick their battles, they endanger the entire group.