P2TM Community Discussion Thread: I

[Eclius]

Anyone got any good character-based RP ideas?

[Ceystile]

I was thinking something half murder mystery/half prison escape. The leader of a nation has died under mysterious circumstance and the players are primary suspects, having been with or near the leader at the time of death. They've all been locked up for "questioning and trial", their reputations ruined (bcuz lazy police are lazy, especially in these times) and they could've very well all have done the deed together. Now the country is in a power vacuum and everyone is out for blood, nobody trusts each other but the players will be forced to rely on one another to break out of prison, solve the crime of the real murder and gather enough evidence to clear their names and return to their normal lives while being on the lam, all while suspecting each other of being the real killer.

I was going to try something lower fantasy (meaning very little or nonexistent magic), something different than my usual ideas. I have a couple of others, but I want to see how this will take.

[Langenia]

So who would be up for an RP about being police officers for a department in a city similar to Los Angeles? I've been thinking about making an RP like that for some time.

[Meretica]

So who would be up for an RP about being police officers for a department in a city similar to Los Angeles? I've been thinking about making an RP like that for some time.

I might. Depends on the deets.

[Langenia]

So who would be up for an RP about being police officers for a department in a city similar to Los Angeles? I've been thinking about making an RP like that for some time.

I might. Depends on the deets.

True.

[Kassaran]

Hard-magic system I've been mulling over for a while:

The human body is capable of storing across the entirety of its chemical/molecular bonds, about 125-144k calories. That comes out to roughly over 4% of a Joule. A penetrative projectile requires roughly 120J to pierce human skin, another 80 to crack bone.

Here's the concept: Magic exists, but follows the typical 'obey the laws of thermodynamics and energy conservation' meme. Mana is just stored energy, put into a highly-unstable position and kept suspended due to some sort of harmonizing rock or something (think soul-gem stuff). This becomes the basis for 'magic' in a world still relatively early in technological development.

Magicians are people specially trained in the art of storing this excess of energy and manipulating its form upon expenditure by making simple movements and practicing certain rituals that are just 'exercise' for normal people. Royalty gained power as Magicians by learning how to store this power over dozens of years within their families, creating massive reserves to pull from in times of duress.

Wars fought between Magicians are honestly months of positioning and posturing, trying to bait out a spell from an opposing magician before dedicating to an attack yourself. In a medieval world, the capability of a bullet, would only be available after having stored nearly 2.5 million calories. For an idea of how much power that really is- it's roughly the caloric intake (and then some), for a family of four for a year. A modern family of four.

This is why magic would be so powerful though for people in positions of authority to use, and usage of it would probably be highly guarded and restricted. The investment in time and resources, would mean a noble would need to invest in procuring not just enough resources to support their own bodily functions and the functions of those around them, but also to create the excess to harvest the calories (mana or what have you), to generate spells.

As for how this energy would take form in a 'magic' system, it could be as simple as someone imparting 'power' through motion. As they release a 'thrown' object per se, their release of mana is channeled through their body's muscles and is released through the projectile which then expels the energy from the vector it was received (equal and opposite reactions).

Thermic reactions would be more likely though, meaning that throwing a wooden spear or stake, might cause the projectile to instead catch flame and leave a smoking trail behind it as it flies through the air. Stone might break apart or shatter if it's too brittle or rigid, while metal might just heat up like real bullets do.

The real power of magicians doesn't come from the ways they manipulate energy imparted on objects though, but rather how they redirect the flow of energy in things they come into contact with. Think some real kung-fu stuff with grabbing a projectile and redirecting it back the way it came or elsewhere. Walking through fire, or freezing cold, but not being injured or inconvenienced by the elements.

It'd take an absolute and complete mastery of oneself to achieve, but I could see the upper limits of this 'magic' system being displayed as a master knowing how to redirect the energy from incoming blows the moment they land, their body already moving into low-energy states and creating natural channels of energy-vacuum to guide and redirect those strikes elsewhere or across their entire body.

Just a cool system I was thinking of and honestly really like the idea of. Another idea would be those who learn how to redirect the light energy reflected off of them, to effectively bend light around their bodies and allow them to become invisible or appear as something else like an illusion. Again, all of this, just from the simple concept of rather than having there be some other 'force', it be the advanced understanding of how the physical world can be manipulated using certain techniques to achieve feats of supernatural power and control.

It's a longstanding concept in the Orient and many places around the world, so the more I write about this, the less incredible it seems, but my real focus is more on the amounts of energy required and used to accomplish those feats and making the calculations realistic enough and ground in reality enough to usurp the concept it'd be impossible in the first place.

[Grenartia]

Hard-magic system I've been mulling over for a while:

The human body is capable of storing across the entirety of its chemical/molecular bonds, about 125-144k calories. That comes out to roughly over 4% of a Joule. A penetrative projectile requires roughly 120J to pierce human skin, another 80 to crack bone.

Actually, one calorie is 4.184 Joules, and one Calorie (yes, the capital C makes a big difference) is 4.184 kJ.

I'm honestly not sure which calorie you mean, because small-c implies that the human body only stores 144 Calories, but considering a 2000 Calorie diet (yes, that equates to about 8 MJ) is considered the optimum, that doesn't make much sense, which would mean your figure is 144k Calories (which feels absurd as a number, but considering we got here by ruling out the other option, I'm willing to overlook it).

[Kassaran]

Hard-magic system I've been mulling over for a while:

The human body is capable of storing across the entirety of its chemical/molecular bonds, about 125-144k calories. That comes out to roughly over 4% of a Joule. A penetrative projectile requires roughly 120J to pierce human skin, another 80 to crack bone.

Actually, one calorie is 4.184 Joules, and one Calorie (yes, the capital C makes a big difference) is 4.184 kJ.

I'm honestly not sure which calorie you mean, because small-c implies that the human body only stores 144 Calories, but considering a 2000 Calorie diet (yes, that equates to about 8 MJ) is considered the optimum, that doesn't make much sense, which would mean your figure is 144k Calories (which feels absurd as a number, but considering we got here by ruling out the other option, I'm willing to overlook it).

Ah, I was meaning big-C. I guess my numbers here were wonky because I didn't specify measurements and honestly I'm quite coffee-addled. Anyways, I was estimating watt hours based on burn rate for a candle. So I guess I'll run back in and do the maths all over again since I did fuck it up.

So, yes, the Human body in total, is a consumable 144 Calories. Not that it stores 144 Calories, but that every bit of it, when consumed, equals 144 Calories.

Taking kcal, I did my conversion a bit wonky and see where I went wrong. Yes, 1 Cal is 4.184 KJ. Mostly was just thinking about the conversion of excess energy into stored potential, with technique then affecting how much is lost in transfer and a little more from there.

[Hanovereich]

I could try to start a geopolitical RP, but in the 20th century- maybe close to WW1 or WW2. Anybody up for that?

[Exalted Inquellian State]

I could try to start a geopolitical RP, but in the 20th century- maybe close to WW1 or WW2. Anybody up for that?

I am.

[Hinzland]

used to play NS wayyyy back in middle school, and gave it up back in junior year (used to have a super active nation, deleted now). Glad to be back, any good RPs out there?

[Hanovereich]

I could try to start a geopolitical RP, but in the 20th century- maybe close to WW1 or WW2. Anybody up for that?

I am.

I'm thinking about near WW1, maybe early 1910s. Or the interwar period, 1920-ish.

[Exalted Inquellian State]

I am.

I'm thinking about near WW1, maybe early 1910s. Or the interwar period, 1920-ish.

1910's sounds the best for me personally.

[Theyra]

Okay for my Lost World like rp I mentioned earlier. I got a more concrete idea for it. Basically, due to global warming, a section of ice either melts or breaks away to reveal an ancient structure in Antarctica, and an archaeological team is sent to study it. And while studying it, someone accidentally triggers something and the team is sent far into the past. Back when Antarctica was lush with green and wildlife before it became encased in ice. There will be dinosaurs but, most of the wildlife that will be encountered will be unique marsupials native to the region. Along with bioluminescence plants and animals since Antarctica would have at least four months of darkness because of where it is. So things there would have to adapt to this. So the team would have to try and survive in this "lost" world and try to find a way back to the present. While dealing with the natives of the region both wild and sentient. So anyone interested in this?

[Southland Dark]

Howdy all. So i've had this idea for an RP rattling around in my head for a while.

Rough Genre(s): Horror/Mystery/Sci-fi
Setting: Southern United States, 60s or 70s

Something like if X-Files, Twin Peaks, and Call of Cthulhu miscarried a misshapen and grinning childthing that rides motorcycles and shoots at the FBI. Mostly focusing on a single county, maybe two (possibly expanding in scale later). Emphasis on developing characters, the world, and exploring the horrors/wonders that inhabit it. Themes ranging from high strangeness (UFOs, cryptids) to government agents (men in black, FBI), to witches and ghouls.


Would anyone be interested in something like this? Regardless, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[New yugoslavaia]

Howdy all. So i've had this idea for an RP rattling around in my head for a while.

Rough Genre(s): Horror/Mystery/Sci-fi
Setting: Southern United States, 60s or 70s

Something like if X-Files, Twin Peaks, and Call of Cthulhu miscarried a misshapen and grinning childthing that rides motorcycles and shoots at the FBI. Mostly focusing on a single county, maybe two (possibly expanding in scale later). Emphasis on developing characters, the world, and exploring the horrors/wonders that inhabit it. Themes ranging from high strangeness (UFOs, cryptids) to government agents (men in black, FBI), to witches and ghouls.


Would anyone be interested in something like this? Regardless, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Pretty coincidental that I've been binging the X-Files recently.

Sounds interesting.

[Southland Dark]

Pretty coincidental that I've been binging the X-Files recently.

Sounds interesting.

Thanks! Keep an eye out for the sign-up/interest thread over the next week or so, would love to see you there. The title will be the same as this nation.

[Exalted Inquellian State]

Howdy all. So i've had this idea for an RP rattling around in my head for a while.

Rough Genre(s): Horror/Mystery/Sci-fi
Setting: Southern United States, 60s or 70s

Something like if X-Files, Twin Peaks, and Call of Cthulhu miscarried a misshapen and grinning childthing that rides motorcycles and shoots at the FBI. Mostly focusing on a single county, maybe two (possibly expanding in scale later). Emphasis on developing characters, the world, and exploring the horrors/wonders that inhabit it. Themes ranging from high strangeness (UFOs, cryptids) to government agents (men in black, FBI), to witches and ghouls.


Would anyone be interested in something like this? Regardless, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Wait, so we play as the FBI agents chasing something with at least the appearance of an eldritch abomination, correct?

[Southland Dark]

Wait, so we play as the FBI agents chasing something with at least the appearance of an eldritch abomination, correct?

You absolutely can app as an FBI agent! Sounds like fun. It's up to you to decide what led you to Cooke County. Maybe you received a strange letter informing you of an inheritance from a relative you never knew existed, maybe you are a journalist chasing a story (and bigfoot). I want it to have themes of horror, but still light enough so as to have room for humor and kookiness. I'm still working out the parameters for character application but the only restriction I really have in mind is that I don't want a player to app as someone who has always lived in Cooke.

[Exalted Inquellian State]

Wait, so we play as the FBI agents chasing something with at least the appearance of an eldritch abomination, correct?

You absolutely can app as an FBI agent! Sounds like fun. It's up to you to decide what led you to Cooke County. Maybe you received a strange letter informing you of an inheritance from a relative you never knew existed, maybe you are a journalist chasing a story (and bigfoot). I want it to have themes of horror, but still light enough so as to have room for humor and kookiness. I'm still working out the parameters for character application but the only restriction I really have in mind is that I don't want a player to app as someone who has always lived in Cooke.

I suppose it does sound interesting. How often will posting go on?

Also, I assume the county will be the site of multiple paranormal events, correct?

[Southland Dark]

I suppose it does sound interesting. How often will posting go on?

Also, I assume the county will be the site of multiple paranormal events, correct?

Correct. That would be it's claim to fame in those niche circles which lend credence to such things.

Also a general question directed to you or anyone else who is interested: what do you think about the setting as far as time goes? I wanted it to take place before cell phones became smart/common (or existed at all) but wouldn't be opposed to something in the 80s or 90s around the birth of the World Wide Web.

[Exalted Inquellian State]

I suppose it does sound interesting. How often will posting go on?

Also, I assume the county will be the site of multiple paranormal events, correct?

Correct. That would be it's claim to fame in those niche circles which lend credence to such things.

Also a general question directed to you or anyone else who is interested: what do you think about the setting as far as time goes? I wanted it to take place before cell phones became smart/common (or existed at all) but wouldn't be opposed to something in the 80s or 90s around the birth of the World Wide Web.

The sixties sound better.

[Hinzland]

Correct. That would be it's claim to fame in those niche circles which lend credence to such things.

Also a general question directed to you or anyone else who is interested: what do you think about the setting as far as time goes? I wanted it to take place before cell phones became smart/common (or existed at all) but wouldn't be opposed to something in the 80s or 90s around the birth of the World Wide Web.

The sixties sound better.

The sixties sounds perfect for a men in black/x files type rp. Count me in

[Southland Dark]

Nice to hear some interest, i'm working on it as we speak.

[Southland Dark]

Interest/sign-up thread is close to being finished! Will likely drop it on Friday and begin advertising over the weekend.