Help Thread Plot, Planning & Review Thread Page 10

Started by Mana February 10th, 2014 8:55 AM
  • 29247 views
  • 368 replies

Ray Maverick

Age 27
Male
Seen 3 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
3,411 posts
14.3 Years
@Snooper16 interesting submission, a breath of fresh air. Pokemon abused for competitive purposes reminds me of the Shadow Pokemon concept, which I loved and thought it was neglected by the Pokemon franchise, so I should like to see something along the same or similar lines.

Reading through your idea, few questions immediately popped into my mind. If I understand correctly, the new "Grid Battles" are battles in which P.A.R.T.s are used by both trainers, and that these battles require advanced skills in Pokemon battling, offering a more challenging experience than normal battles. How so?You mentioned that P.A.R.T.s allow trainers to practically summon Pokemon "as though they are units in battle", and the name of the battles suggests a Grid. I can't help but imagine a chess-like neon-lit energy board that spans into the ground after battle is initiated; it strangely brings to mind Yu-gi-oh. So, my question is, how exactly is a Grid Battle carried out? I'd like to know the mechanics.

You said you were going to reveal more on that when you would make the RP thread, but I think it's a vital question that references another question of mine: if the Heroes of the Pokemon League and Team Paradox are the two available opposing factions for the roleplayers, and each use a different kind of battling (The Heroes would be using P.A.R.T.s and Team Paradox would refuse to use that, so they'd battle normally, right?), how are PCs of opposite factions to do battle with each other? One uses, P.A.R.T.s, other doesn't. Are those two compatible with each other?

Snooper16

The Bionic Man

Age 27
Male
The Other Side
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted 4 Weeks Ago
130 posts
9.1 Years
@Snooper16 interesting submission, a breath of fresh air. Pokemon abused for competitive purposes reminds me of the Shadow Pokemon concept, which I loved and thought it was neglected by the Pokemon franchise, so I should like to see something along the same or similar lines.

Reading through your idea, few questions immediately popped into my mind. If I understand correctly, the new "Grid Battles" are battles in which P.A.R.T.s are used by both trainers, and that these battles require advanced skills in Pokemon battling, offering a more challenging experience than normal battles. How so?You mentioned that P.A.R.T.s allow trainers to practically summon Pokemon "as though they are units in battle", and the name of the battles suggests a Grid. I can't help but imagine a chess-like neon-lit energy board that spans into the ground after battle is initiated; it strangely brings to mind Yu-gi-oh. So, my question is, how exactly is a Grid Battle carried out? I'd like to know the mechanics.

You said you were going to reveal more on that when you would make the RP thread, but I think it's a vital question that references another question of mine: if the Heroes of the Pokemon League and Team Paradox are the two available opposing factions for the roleplayers, and each use a different kind of battling (The Heroes would be using P.A.R.T.s and Team Paradox would refuse to use that, so they'd battle normally, right?), how are PCs of opposite factions to do battle with each other? One uses, P.A.R.T.s, other doesn't. Are those two compatible with each other?
You're absolutely right in that regard. The grid you described is exactly how I envisioned it, to be honest. I'll post the mechanics I've thought of so far to try and clear up your first question. As for your second question, the Pokemon League uses P.A.R.T. Pokemon, as you mentioned, while Team Paradox uses actual Pokemon. Another major difference between the factions is how they use items. Since everything is digital for the League, they "assist" their Pokemon with power-ups, whereas Team Paradox uses their own technology and held items. The reason Team Paradox can use held items is because their Pokemon are real, unlike the League's. I plan to create a list of available Pokemon soon, as well as starter decks (League) and starter teams (Team Paradox) that new RPers can choose from. The list won't be final, and will be updated every now and then as the RP progresses. I'll also be sure to include pictures of the actual grids themselves, so RPers will know the layout of common Grid boards they can use in battle. The board that is chosen is up to the RPer that challenges another. Anyways, without further ado, here are the mechanics and other details to answer your first question:

Phases in a Part Battle:
Roll- Roll the dice to see how much Atk/Def points you can get for a turn (for the sake of the RP, we'll use a random number generator).
Summon- You can summon Pokemon into battle. Pokemon are grouped into three sections: Small, Large, and Legendary/Megas. Each section takes up a different amount of "memory", and you can have up to eight slots of memory worth of summoned Pokemon at most (ten if you have the power-up Memory +2 or Memory Expansion Kit +2): Small: 1-2; Large: 2-3; Legendary 4-5; Mega Evolution (if the Mega Stone is equipped on the trainer): 4-5.
Move: Self-explanatory; you move units around on the board. Bear in mind that this will consume Attack points if any units move (you can save Attack points by not moving your units, but this is a decision on every RPers part).
Attack: Again, self-explanatory: Your Pokemon will make a move against another Pokemon. This consumes Attack points.
Defend: If you are being attacked, you can use a defensive move to counter the attack. This consumes Defense points from the last roll, since you can only defend yourself when you're being attacked. It's turn based, much like an actual card game.
Draw: Draw P.A.R.T.s from the deck (League)/Get more Pokemon and/or Items from the "Pool" (Team Paradox).

Items and other Useful Resources
There are various types of P.A.R.T.s, including:
P.A.R.T. Pokemon
P.A.R.T. Items
Power-Ups (lasts one turn, Hero-Side Only)
Super Power-Ups (lasts the whole match, Hero-side Only)

For Team Paradox, they use:
Real Pokemon
Real Items
Held Items (Dark-Side only)
Paradox Tech (Have varying effects, Dark-Side only)

Current Power-Ups/Paradox Tech List for your Reference:
Power-Ups/Super Power-Ups:
Atk +1 (Common)
Atk +2 (Common)
Atk +3 (Uncommon)
Atk DX (+6 Rare)
Def +1 (Common)
Def +2 (Common)
Def +3 (Uncommon)
Def DX (+6, Rare)
Memory +2 (Super Rare)
...Can be expanded upon with suggestions from the RPers; like I said, I'm very open to input...

Paradox Tech:
Metal Substitute (+50 HP, Rare)
Trap Net (Restrains P.A.R.T. Pokemon in a space on the Grid for easier attacking; has no effect on real Pokemon, Uncommon)
Memory Expansion Kit +2 (Super Rare)
...Can also be expanded upon with suggestions from the RPers...

Oh, and before I forget, it's more challenging than, say, a single battle, because you must think about the positions of each P.A.R.T./Real Pokemon on a board, as well as deciding how and when to use power-ups and items (or in the case of held items, when to equip them). I should also mention that each Pokemon has a particular range or line of attack on the grid. I'll post details for individual Pokemon when I start typing the list up. There'll only be a handful of Pokemon at first, but the list can and will be expanded upon with suggestions. Hope that answers your questions! :)
For you curious people who want to see what work I've done for Pokemon Essentials during my spare time.
Let's Go Mimikyu!
The best method of contact would be through Snewper#9625 on Discord! Just let me know who you are before sending a contact invite!

Ray Maverick

Age 27
Male
Seen 3 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
3,411 posts
14.3 Years
Hmm... well, I haven't ran nor been part of an RP that is structured this way, but I would suggest you avoid making it too technical. The way it is structured now, it sounds like you will have to do quite a bit of calculating for every battle, having to keep track of all the turns, cards drawn by the players, attacks thrown and items used, not to mention Pokemon movement in the grid. It might seem like a good idea for a board game, but in my experience, roleplays with a complex gaming system may not last as long because if they don't put off potential players who seek something simpler right off the bat, they might put them off soon after the RP's started. I feel like I have to warn you that to maintain an RP with as many parameters to keep track of would become a tedious business for you as the GM, and a tedious game for the players, who would want some freedom for writing without too many technicalities getting in the way.

Also, I had no idea that P.A.R.Tarot(s) actually referred to a card game. I'll admit I became a little confused by the mechanics at first, I read them a second time and I still am having second thoughts. You seem to fuse Pokemon battles with chess and a card game, which, in theory sounds good, but in practice might be far more difficult to pull off than you might think. One solution would be to simplify things in a system that will be concise, simple to understand and would not require constant maintenance and GM interference. My further suggestions would involve changing the core subject of the RP, decks and cards, so I don't feel like sharing them unless you ask me. I don't wish to discourage you from carrying it out if you feel that it it is going to work

Snooper16

The Bionic Man

Age 27
Male
The Other Side
Seen 2 Days Ago
Posted 4 Weeks Ago
130 posts
9.1 Years
Hmm... well, I haven't ran nor been part of an RP that is structured this way, but I would suggest you avoid making it too technical. The way it is structured now, it sounds like you will have to do quite a bit of calculating for every battle, having to keep track of all the turns, cards drawn by the players, attacks thrown and items used, not to mention Pokemon movement in the grid. It might seem like a good idea for a board game, but in my experience, roleplays with a complex gaming system may not last as long because if they don't put off potential players who seek something simpler right off the bat, they might put them off soon after the RP's started. I feel like I have to warn you that to maintain an RP with as many parameters to keep track of would become a tedious business for you as the GM, and a tedious game for the players, who would want some freedom for writing without too many technicalities getting in the way.

Also, I had no idea that P.A.R.Tarot(s) actually referred to a card game. I'll admit I became a little confused by the mechanics at first, I read them a second time and I still am having second thoughts. You seem to fuse Pokemon battles with chess and a card game, which, in theory sounds good, but in practice might be far more difficult to pull off than you might think. One solution would be to simplify things in a system that will be concise, simple to understand and would not require constant maintenance and GM interference. My further suggestions would involve changing the core subject of the RP, decks and cards, so I don't feel like sharing them unless you ask me. I don't wish to discourage you from carrying it out if you feel that it it is going to work
Truth be told, I actually would want to make a game like this, but I unfortunately lack the scripting knowledge. But yeah, I totally see your point. I'll probably turn this into a fanfic or something. Thanks for your input, it really helped! :)
For you curious people who want to see what work I've done for Pokemon Essentials during my spare time.
Let's Go Mimikyu!
The best method of contact would be through Snewper#9625 on Discord! Just let me know who you are before sending a contact invite!
Male
New Hampshire, USA
Seen June 30th, 2015
Posted June 1st, 2015
98 posts
8.4 Years
This is something I tried to implement on another forum at which I tend to fail.

Spoiler:
Players start out at an advanced level (well-trained to fully-trained teams). New Trainers are also allowed, but this is not the intention of the roleplay. The use of Starters will be restricted and use of Legendaries and Pseudo-Legendaries (ones you cannot catch in the wild in the games) will be banned. The setting is either Hoenn or an original setting (of which I would have all players involved create as I do not have one in mind). The time period is in the future (though there are no real technological advances) and no canon characters exist.

Team Zodiac, a group of 12 (liberally) like-minded individuals, is after Jirachi, the Pokemon of wishes. Their wish is to renew the world and create an environment free of skepticism and conflict. They wish to go back to a time when life was simple and free. Technology has restricted the relationship between Pokemon and Humans so much so that Pokemon are battled for the sake of battling. The only real goal of trainers is to have their Pokemon be more powerful than others. The deep connection between Humans and Pokemon has been lost. Or that's what they believe.

Players will start out as either regular Trainers or part of Team Zodiac (I will have a main PC Trainer but NPC all other Team Zodiac Members). Details on the Team's power-level will be discussed over PM with participating players. The goal of the trainers is to stop Team Zodiac, join them, or persuade them to cease their ambitions. Team Zodiac is searching for Jirachi or any other means to rid the world of technology and educate trainers of their bastardized relations with their Pokemon.

Players may start wherever they wish. Team Zodiac and their goals will be introduced separately and to each individual at different times. The start of the roleplay will be character-development and learning of the main plot. This may either take a long time and players will be able to play in a sandbox setting or the plot may arrive quickly. This will be determined by the overall opinion of the group.

There is the standard limitation of party size (6) but there is no limitation on those Pokemon's move-set size. However, there will be a limitation (but also expansions) on what they can learn (Egg moves will be restricted, TMs and HMs, themselves, will be voided but open for discussion. Pokemon cannot learn how to perform moves out of their type, species, and skill. Move pools will be open for discussion during the recruitment process.) There will be moves the Pokemon can know but are not as effective as the same Pokemon that has developed a strategy behind the move (Two different Butterfree's know Double Team, but one makes 3 copies of itself that can imitate the vision of the next move and the other can make 20 that cannot imitate the next move). Ultimately, the player is to creatively determine the strength and weaknesses of their Pokemon.
Mega-evolution will be unknown. Only Team Zodiac has discovered this ability (Mega Stones do not exist, they accomplish this through deep connections with their Pokemon). Trainers may discover Mega-evolution when I believe necessary.
Battles will be real-time. The "strength" of Pokemon is based off strategy and ability rather than stats, type, and move-sets. Held items will be banned. I will supervise all battles and notify players that are power-playing or under-playing. I will determine whether a move lands or is effective or not.


Spoiler:
Character sheet:
Name: First and Last (middle is optional)
Age: (>15)
History: About 3 paragraphs (3-5 sentences) long. Parents and siblings. Hometown. Education. Brief overview of adventure.
Items: Special or unique items (books, clothing, tools, etc.). I don't care about Pokedex, Pokeballs, Potions, Berries, etc.
Party: Only main party. This does not have to be a full 6 team.
Describe the relationship with the Trainer and other party Pokemon. State where the met, how they were obtained, and when. (This should not be longer than the Character's History)
List all moves the Pokemon uses and a short description of it's power-level or use. They may "know" more than this, but those may be discussed as the occasion arises.
Hoenn: Make a Wish
Forrest Archer Johnson
Medicham, Cacturne, Flygon, Breloom, Shiftry, Masquerain

Brivoo

If any mods are reading this, go ahead and delete the account

Male
In a pigstie, according to my mother.
Seen June 10th, 2017
Posted March 4th, 2015
39 posts
8.3 Years
So, I've been looking through these roleplays everyone has going on, and while I think they're all pretty cool, I've noticed a sever lack of light-heartedness. Humour, if you will.

So I decided to post my own idea in this thread, accompanying it with a statement that could be mistaken for a thinly-veiled insult.

Spoiler:

The main idea is: what if all these villainous teams, these people that by all rights should be classified as 'special needs', actually gained the power of a legendary? What if, in a world where everyone has a pretty standard mode of reasoning, a complete moron were handed the power to conquer the planet?

Let's be honest, you wouldn't be able to stop him. But you're going to be forced to anyway.

Team Cross (Working Title) is an up-and-coming gang of losers and idiots led by a man named Roland, the losiest and most idiotic of them all. While at first they were little more than vandals and were paid almost no mind, these scumbags manage to somehow capture a Legendary pokémon, and use its power to up their defacing of public property to blowing the hell out of said public property.

In an effort to stop their actions, the Pokémon League has thrown all the ten-year-olds they could find at them, but alas, they were defeated at the hands of these mighty foes. Now on the teetering brink of war, the League has asked all of its trainers to help in the effort to defeat this enemy, sending out squads to deal with reportings and sightings whilst at the same time conducting its own investigations.

Five brave souls, aged 12 to 19, were sent as a squad to pursue a rumour of a Team Cross recon troop skulking around Goldenrod City. It was supposed to be an easy job, one they could do with their eyes shut: go in, look around to see if any Cross grunts are shouting out their plans in a dramatic fashion, see none, tell the old lady who called not to worry and then head back.

Unfortunately for them, the old lady turned out to be right.

And so starts the adventure of the (name pending) squad, in hot pursuit of the Team Cross grunts that loudly announced their plans to end the world for no particular reason, standing up to an enemy so incredibly above their own power level their only hope of victory is for them to choke on the glue they've been eating.


It's a work in progress, I'll add more tomorrow from my dream journal and diary of drug-fueled ramblings.
Dude, I don't even know.

(Drakath)

The Champion of Chaos

Age 21
Male
Mount Doomskull
Seen April 5th, 2020
Posted February 10th, 2018
173 posts
8.5 Years
I've had this Halo rp idea in mind for a while.
What do you think? (I'm not necessarily done yet)

Title: Halo: Contact Harvest



Story: The year is 2524, faster-than-light technology has allowed humanity to spread across the galaxy, founding new colonies administrated by the United Nations Space Command, or UNSC. One of these colonies is Harvest.

Harvest is a UEG Agriculture World. The colony was the seventeenth to be settled, and the most remote at the time of its founding. Although Harvest itself is only one-third the size of Earth, its fertile surface serves as the breadbasket for the other colonies. Harvest's surface is beautiful, covered in grassland and forests, lush fields and rolling hills, and a thousand lakes swarming with fish. The orchards are filled with luscious crops. At night, bats filled the skies.

On Harvest, there is only peace and prosperity. However, this peace is interrupted when, the United Nations Space Command Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) notices strange disappearances of human ships around Harvest, and assumes that Insurrectionists are attacking the vessels. ONI pulls Staff Sergeants Avery Johnson and Nolan Byrne from the frontlines of the civil war to raise a militia to protect Harvest.

You: You are a member of the United Nations Space Command. Currently aboard a Pelican on its way to the UNSC Walk of Shame, an ambush for the Insurrectionists. As a member of the UNSC (Spartan, Marine, ODST, ect.), your current duty is to protect Harvest.

Rules:
Follow all PC and RP Corner rules.

This RP will loosely follow the events of the book: Halo Contact Harvest.

Be fair, don't make your character overly unbeatable, and never bunny another player's character without their permission.

To keep track of everything I recommend a notepad app (but use whatever you are comfortable with)
FOOL. YOU CANNOT KILL WHAT IS ALREADY UNDEAD. "My mistake..."

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
So, I said earlier that I was playing around with the idea of an RP combining a Western setting with magic elements. I have now decided that I'm definitely going to go ahead with this. I don't have a write-up yet, but I've got most of my ideas set and I just wanted to see what you think of it.

Gunpowder

Premise
Spoiler:
This roleplay takes place in the giant desert in the south of a country called Jeimas, primarily focusing on the towns within a gigantic crater. The majority of these towns are mining and farming communities. Unfortunately, so far south from the country's capital the government's control is limited and crime is rampant. With this as the case the authorities of these towns tend to rely on the help of bounty hunters to maintain order.

This is no ordinary Western though, the country of Jeimas is renowned for the powerful sorcerers it produces, many of whom use their powers to either commit or prevent crimes. The roleplayers in Gunpowder will have the option to play as a rookie bounty hunter working out of Janet's Bounty Hunting Agency in Spider's Hollow or as a fledgling bandit. As the roleplay progresses the power and reputation of these individuals, regardless of which side of the law they are on, will gradually increase.


Bounty Hunters and Bandits
Spoiler:
Players can be either a criminal or a bounty hunter.

Bandit: The goal of a bandit is to secure territory and/or lackeys and to make money through criminal means – primarily stealing and extortion. The ultimate goal is to become recognised as one of the “Big Bads” the most dangerous and powerful outlaws.

Bounty Hunter: The goal of a bounty hunter is to earn money and increase their reputation by capturing criminals. Common major aims of bounty hunters are to improve the safety of towns and make as much money as possible. More successful bounty hunters can eventually start their own agencies.


Mechanics
Spoiler:
Gunpowder is generally a sandbox roleplay, although some events may cause plots to develop. As the roleplay progresses, the reputations and skills of characters will develop and their ranks as spellcasters will increase and therefore the range of magic they'll have access to will expand.

Each character will begin at the lowest possible rank, with access to a lower number of spells and only one elemental affinity. They will choose some spells from a list of "stock" spells and also be allowed to create a certain number of custom spells.

Magic can be broken down into three categories
  • Black Magic – Offensive spells or spells that otherwise negatively effect a target
  • White Magic - Defensive spells or spells that otherwise positively effect a target
  • Grey Magic - Spells that are neither offensive nor defensive by nature but that could potentially be used for either.

In addition to these categories most spells are also affiliated with one of these five elements (although there are several that are non-elemental also] - Fire, Water, Wind, Earth and Electricity.

Sorcery ranks are the same for both bounty hunters and outlaws and generally define how powerful a spellcaster they are. The ranks are as follows:
  • Rank One - Initiate: Weak spells, one element, two custom – Five spells
  • Rank Two - Noviciate: Moderate spells, one element, three custom – Eight spells
  • Rank Three - Moderate: Moderate spells, two elements, five custom – Twelve spells
  • Rank Four - Accomplished: Moderate spells, three elements, six custom – Fifteen spells
  • Rank Five – Veteran: High Spells, three elements, eight custom – Twenty spells
  • Rank Six - Superior: High Spells, four elements, ten custom – Twenty-two spells
  • Rank Seven - Master: High spells, any elements, thirteen custom – Twenty-seven spells

All spell casters have the innate ability to use magic, however they require a spellbook to structure their gift and as such will always carry one on their person. The further away a spellbook is the harder it is to use magic and if a spellbook is destroyed it becomes practically impossible to cast a spell. It is common practice to burn the spellbooks of criminals who are captured, although recently criminals have been recorded doing the same to their enemies.

In addition to magic, weaponry typical of the Old West is also prevalent and role players will have access to such weaponry. A list of outlaws with bounties in the area of the RPers will be constantly kept updated. These are targets that bounty hunters and criminals alike can make use of to improve their positions and ranks.


Locations
Spoiler:
I'm still working on a map, but I have most of my locations planned.

Spider’s Hollow
Spider’s Hollow is a small but rather central town located in the Great Chasm. It is notable only for it’s popular tavern and for the bounty-hunting agency located there. Most of the breadwinners from Spider’s Hollow earn their income trading with the many travellers who pass through or by working in other nearby towns such as the nearby mining town Gilded Brook.

Gilded Brook
A town slightly larger than the nearby Spider’s Hollow that is populated primarily by miners and their families. The town got its name when prospectors discovered gold by panning the nearby river, something that lead to the discovery of rich gold deposits nearby. Gilded Brook is frequently targeted by bandits raiding the stores of gold.

The Great Chasm
The Great Chasm is an enormous crater located deep into the Barren Lands. Nobody is sure exactly how such a large crater came to be but since its discovery several small settlements have sprung into life within the Chasm due to it’s rich mineral deposits and easily defensible location. Most towns inside the Chasm are only hours away by horseback.

The Barren Lands
The Barren Lands are a large desert region located in the south of the continent of Jeimas. Towns in the Barren Lands are primarily known for mining and livestock as well as for having higher crime rates and harsher climates than locations in the north.

Ironhaven
Ironhaven is one of very few large cities in The Barren Lands and is located several days travel away from the entrance to The Great Chasm – Sinking Road. Merchants and traders from the nearby small towns flock to this city to sell their goods and it one of the few places with a strong government presence. Ironhaven is well known for being the best place to learn sorcery in the south of Jeimas and is characterised by its enormous stone walls.

Larkin
The largest town in the Great Chasm, Larkin is located right near the edge of the Chasm close to the entrance. Residents from Larkin earn their income as farmers on the outskirts of the town, as workers maintaining Sinking Road, as tradesman, working on excavating a railroad tunnel or as miners at the nearby town of Wrench.

Wrench
Wrench is the smallest town in the Chasm and like Gilded Brook is a mining town. The entire community of this town is dedicated to mining the various ores and minerals found underground and within the sides of the Great Chasm.

Silverston

Fairbell

Orhurst
Situated far to the north of the Great Chasm, well outside of the Barren Lands, is the city of Orhurst – the capital of Jeimas. This city is enormous with many well-maintained cobble streets and is the home of many government buildings, businesses and houses – although only the richest live in the large inner city houses. Most residents live on the outskirts of the city with farms and plantations being the furthest out properties. Orhurst is home to the greatest educational facilities in the world including Skyrith Academy, a school and university dedicated to not only educating people, but producing great sorcerers.


That's what I have so far.
Apart from your opinions it would be appreciated if someone could help me find a large number of western-looking character portraits I could use.
RPWLA&MVGGaming Journal

moon

they/them
Seen 11 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
So, I said earlier that I was playing around with the idea of an RP combining a Western setting with magic elements. I have now decided that I'm definitely going to go ahead with this. I don't have a write-up yet, but I've got most of my ideas set and I just wanted to see what you think of it.

Gunpowder

Premise
Spoiler:
This roleplay takes place in the giant desert in the south of a country called Jeimas, primarily focusing on the towns within a gigantic crater. The majority of these towns are mining and farming communities. Unfortunately, so far south from the country's capital the government's control is limited and crime is rampant. With this as the case the authorities of these towns tend to rely on the help of bounty hunters to maintain order.

This is no ordinary Western though, the country of Jeimas is renowned for the powerful sorcerers it produces, many of whom use their powers to either commit or prevent crimes. The roleplayers in Gunpowder will have the option to play as a rookie bounty hunter working out of Janet's Bounty Hunting Agency in Spider's Hollow or as a fledgling bandit. As the roleplay progresses the power and reputation of these individuals, regardless of which side of the law they are on, will gradually increase.


Bounty Hunters and Bandits
Spoiler:
Players can be either a criminal or a bounty hunter.

Bandit: The goal of a bandit is to secure territory and/or lackeys and to make money through criminal means – primarily stealing and extortion. The ultimate goal is to become recognised as one of the “Big Bads” the most dangerous and powerful outlaws.

Bounty Hunter: The goal of a bounty hunter is to earn money and increase their reputation by capturing criminals. Common major aims of bounty hunters are to improve the safety of towns and make as much money as possible. More successful bounty hunters can eventually start their own agencies.


Mechanics
Spoiler:
Gunpowder is generally a sandbox roleplay, although some events may cause plots to develop. As the roleplay progresses, the reputations and skills of characters will develop and their ranks as spellcasters will increase and therefore the range of magic they'll have access to will expand.

Each character will begin at the lowest possible rank, with access to a lower number of spells and only one elemental affinity. They will choose some spells from a list of "stock" spells and also be allowed to create a certain number of custom spells.

Magic can be broken down into three categories
  • Black Magic – Offensive spells or spells that otherwise negatively effect a target
  • White Magic - Defensive spells or spells that otherwise positively effect a target
  • Grey Magic - Spells that are neither offensive nor defensive by nature but that could potentially be used for either.

In addition to these categories most spells are also affiliated with one of these five elements (although there are several that are non-elemental also] - Fire, Water, Wind, Earth and Electricity.

Sorcery ranks are the same for both bounty hunters and outlaws and generally define how powerful a spellcaster they are. The ranks are as follows:
  • Rank One - Initiate: Weak spells, one element, two custom – Five spells
  • Rank Two - Noviciate: Moderate spells, one element, three custom – Eight spells
  • Rank Three - Moderate: Moderate spells, two elements, five custom – Twelve spells
  • Rank Four - Accomplished: Moderate spells, three elements, six custom – Fifteen spells
  • Rank Five – Veteran: High Spells, three elements, eight custom – Twenty spells
  • Rank Six - Superior: High Spells, four elements, ten custom – Twenty-two spells
  • Rank Seven - Master: High spells, any elements, thirteen custom – Twenty-seven spells

All spell casters have the innate ability to use magic, however they require a spellbook to structure their gift and as such will always carry one on their person. The further away a spellbook is the harder it is to use magic and if a spellbook is destroyed it becomes practically impossible to cast a spell. It is common practice to burn the spellbooks of criminals who are captured, although recently criminals have been recorded doing the same to their enemies.

In addition to magic, weaponry typical of the Old West is also prevalent and role players will have access to such weaponry. A list of outlaws with bounties in the area of the RPers will be constantly kept updated. These are targets that bounty hunters and criminals alike can make use of to improve their positions and ranks.


Locations
Spoiler:
I'm still working on a map, but I have most of my locations planned.

Spider’s Hollow
Spider’s Hollow is a small but rather central town located in the Great Chasm. It is notable only for it’s popular tavern and for the bounty-hunting agency located there. Most of the breadwinners from Spider’s Hollow earn their income trading with the many travellers who pass through or by working in other nearby towns such as the nearby mining town Gilded Brook.

Gilded Brook
A town slightly larger than the nearby Spider’s Hollow that is populated primarily by miners and their families. The town got its name when prospectors discovered gold by panning the nearby river, something that lead to the discovery of rich gold deposits nearby. Gilded Brook is frequently targeted by bandits raiding the stores of gold.

The Great Chasm
The Great Chasm is an enormous crater located deep into the Barren Lands. Nobody is sure exactly how such a large crater came to be but since its discovery several small settlements have sprung into life within the Chasm due to it’s rich mineral deposits and easily defensible location. Most towns inside the Chasm are only hours away by horseback.

The Barren Lands
The Barren Lands are a large desert region located in the south of the continent of Jeimas. Towns in the Barren Lands are primarily known for mining and livestock as well as for having higher crime rates and harsher climates than locations in the north.

Ironhaven
Ironhaven is one of very few large cities in The Barren Lands and is located several days travel away from the entrance to The Great Chasm – Sinking Road. Merchants and traders from the nearby small towns flock to this city to sell their goods and it one of the few places with a strong government presence. Ironhaven is well known for being the best place to learn sorcery in the south of Jeimas and is characterised by its enormous stone walls.

Larkin
The largest town in the Great Chasm, Larkin is located right near the edge of the Chasm close to the entrance. Residents from Larkin earn their income as farmers on the outskirts of the town, as workers maintaining Sinking Road, as tradesman, working on excavating a railroad tunnel or as miners at the nearby town of Wrench.

Wrench
Wrench is the smallest town in the Chasm and like Gilded Brook is a mining town. The entire community of this town is dedicated to mining the various ores and minerals found underground and within the sides of the Great Chasm.

Silverston

Fairbell

Orhurst
Situated far to the north of the Great Chasm, well outside of the Barren Lands, is the city of Orhurst – the capital of Jeimas. This city is enormous with many well-maintained cobble streets and is the home of many government buildings, businesses and houses – although only the richest live in the large inner city houses. Most residents live on the outskirts of the city with farms and plantations being the furthest out properties. Orhurst is home to the greatest educational facilities in the world including Skyrith Academy, a school and university dedicated to not only educating people, but producing great sorcerers.


That's what I have so far.
Apart from your opinions it would be appreciated if someone could help me find a large number of western-looking character portraits I could use.
This looks so nice, it's making me eager to join. I wouldn't recommend using character portraits like Klippy did in his zombie rp though. While it's nice to have faces on your players' characters, and while it can be a way to jog their imagination if they have trouble creating a character, I think it's better to let the players choose freely what their character should look like. Within reason :B Not sure if that was what you meant with character portraits but just in case.

Also what rating would it be? Full M?
paired with Ivysaur

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
This looks so nice, it's making me eager to join. I wouldn't recommend using character portraits like Klippy did in his zombie rp though. While it's nice to have faces on your players' characters, and while it can be a way to jog their imagination if they have trouble creating a character, I think it's better to let the players choose freely what their character should look like. Within reason :B Not sure if that was what you meant with character portraits but just in case.

Also what rating would it be? Full M?
The portraits aren't for player characters, they're for the large number of NPCs - since there's going to be a constant list of wanted people. I might just find another way of doing it though.

I think I'd go with a full M, I usually do in all honesty.

Glad you like the idea :D
I've actually nearly finished writing it up now, I just need to get a map sorted.
RPWLA&MVGGaming Journal

Nidoking76

Not splitting the party

Male
Lavender Town. I ain't afraid of no ghosts!
Seen April 14th, 2015
Posted March 4th, 2015
498 posts
9.2 Years
I've actually been thinking of a Roleplay myself. It will be based off of SCP Containment Breach. SCP Containment Breach, for those of you who don't know, is a game that takes place in a secret government society that deals with paranormal artifacts and creatures, in other words, something that has a weird effect. For example, one of these artifacts could be an axe that makes the holder feel nauseous, or a book that isn't effected by gravity. My idea for the Roleplay is tat each player is one of the researchers studying these artifacts, and everyone gets to create an artifact they study.
Play Pokeheroes!
Play Dnadopts!

I haven't been online in forever. Sorry if I inconvenienced you when I left.

moon

they/them
Seen 11 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
I've actually been thinking of a Roleplay myself. It will be based off of SCP Containment Breach. SCP Containment Breach, for those of you who don't know, is a game that takes place in a secret government society that deals with paranormal artifacts and creatures, in other words, something that has a weird effect. For example, one of these artifacts could be an axe that makes the holder feel nauseous, or a book that isn't effected by gravity. My idea for the Roleplay is tat each player is one of the researchers studying these artifacts, and everyone gets to create an artifact they study.
That is the creepiest thing I have ever youtubed/read on the internet. I know Greiger will likely jump and dance at this though, why can't we tag people in posts yet hmm
paired with Ivysaur

Nidoking76

Not splitting the party

Male
Lavender Town. I ain't afraid of no ghosts!
Seen April 14th, 2015
Posted March 4th, 2015
498 posts
9.2 Years
That is the creepiest thing I have ever youtubed/read on the internet.
Creepy? I didn't think it would creep anyone out. Didn't creep me out. Guess I'm not easily disturbed.

Should I not make this Roleplay then? Or just give it a M?
Play Pokeheroes!
Play Dnadopts!

I haven't been online in forever. Sorry if I inconvenienced you when I left.

moon

they/them
Seen 11 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
Creepy? I didn't think it would creep anyone out. Didn't creep me out. Guess I'm not easily disturbed.

Should I not make this Roleplay then? Or just give it a M?
Maybe I just came across the creepiest things. Such as that thing that you need to stare at at all times or it will do something *shudder*, or that staircase that goes on and on forever while a bodyless face haunts you. Or was that from somewhere else?

If there's no gore or such mature stuff in it, an M rating won't be necessary of course.
paired with Ivysaur

Nidoking76

Not splitting the party

Male
Lavender Town. I ain't afraid of no ghosts!
Seen April 14th, 2015
Posted March 4th, 2015
498 posts
9.2 Years
Maybe I just came across the creepiest things. Such as that thing that you need to stare at at all times or it will do something *shudder*, or that staircase that goes on and on forever while a bodyless face haunts you. Or was that from somewhere else?

If there's no gore or such mature stuff in it, an M rating won't be necessary of course.
Oh. I should probably have mentioned that the SCP foundation is a creepypasta website xD

Sorry.

But back on track. Do you think this is a good idea for a Roleplay?
Play Pokeheroes!
Play Dnadopts!

I haven't been online in forever. Sorry if I inconvenienced you when I left.

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
Oh. I should probably have mentioned that the SCP foundation is a creepypasta website xD

Sorry.

But back on track. Do you think this is a good idea for a Roleplay?
It sounds like a really unique and interesting kind of idea. Like Slenderman meets Indiana Jones.
I say flesh it out a bit more and make a proper OP write-up for us to see maybe, but go for it.

Also, the spoiler below contains to full write-up for Gunpowder, what do you think?
Spoiler:

Gunpowder
OOC | IC | GM | Wanted List


Introduction

Welcome to Jeimas, a large and influential country famous for the skill and power of the sorcerers it produces. The north of Jeimas, where the capital of Orhurst is located, is a land of plenty where the government’s influence keeps everyone happy, healthy and safe. The climate here ranges mostly from cool to warm (bar the mountains of the far north) and the land always gets the right amount of rain, never too much and never too little. The north of Jeimas is like heaven on Earth.

That’s the north, the further south you go in Jeimas the worse that things get. Especially once you reach the Barren Lands and the Great Chasm. The Barren Lands are an enormous desert that fills the entirety of lowest reaches of Jeimas until you reach the sea – well they assume that’s how it works, nobody has ever made if far enough through the Barren Lands to find out. In the Barren Lands the ground is almost entirely covered in coarse, orange sand and there are few rivers or lakes. During the day those who live there experience scorching heat, during the night they experience bone-chilling cold. Food is scarce in the Barren Lands, communities rely upon cattle ranches for their supplies of meat and milk and many poor families frequently are forced to go without meat if they can’t catch or keep their own – which is not always an easy feet. Perhaps the worst aspect of living in the South however is the crime. The reach of the government is weak in the Barren Lands, which has allowed numerous outlaws to emerge and thrive without the law to oppose them. Overstretched, outmatched and outnumbered law enforcement in the Barren Lands are often forced to rely upon bounty hunters to handle criminals, and even then there’s always another outlaw to take a captured ones place… assuming they don’t get there first and take control of the territory themselves in the first place.

The worst cases of this affliction can be found in the Great Chasm, an enormous crater within the Barren Lands filled with small communities. The Great Chasm is extremely isolated from the outside world, but is also dependent upon trade with the outside to survive. This is why work is being done in an attempt to expand the small railway line inside the Chasm to link it with the major north-south line. Until then though, horses and carts are used to transport goods to cities outside the Chasm, which is very slow and inefficient and a large part of why those within the Chasm are poverty stricken. If the north of Jeimas is heaven on Earth, the south is hell.




You

You are either a rookie bounty hunter, working out of Janet’s Bounty Hunting Agency in Spider’s Hollow, or a fledgling outlaw. You are also however, a sorcerer. For as I said earlier, Jeimas is a country of magic and even in the Barren Lands spellcasters can be found using their abilities to commit crimes or to capture those who do. Many bounty hunters and outlaws alike have some degree of magical ability.

Bounty Hunters – As a bounty hunter, you will begin your story working under a crotchety, old ex-bounty hunter named Janet. She was once a formidable force in the Barren Lands until she was injured attempting to capture one of the “Big Bads”. As a bounty hunter it is your job to make money by catching criminals and collecting their bounties. The more experience you get as a bounty hunter, the more powerful you will become and your rank as a sorcerer will grow to match. The ultimate goal of a bounty hunter is to not only break off from their agency and to free-lance successfully (so they can keep the entirety of the money they earn) but to eventually build up enough finances and reputation to open an agency of their own. One should not be fooled into thinking that bounty hunters are all allies though, it’s a hard life and competing bounty hunters will often go to extreme lengths to capture their mark, even at the expense of their fellows.

Outlaws – As an outlaw you will begin either working under a more notorious criminal, or committing small robberies and raids of your own. As an outlaw your goal is to steal and extort to make money and to take out anyone who stands in your way. The more your own bounty increases and the more powerful and notorious you get, the higher your rank as a sorcerer will grow and the closer you’ll get to the end goal. The end goal of most outlaws is to become notorious and powerful enough to be categorised as one of the near-legendary “Big Bads” who dwell within the Barren Lands – the ten worst criminals alive who even most bounty hunters try to avoid. The life of an outlaw is not an easy one either, you will not only have to successfully steal, extort and kill to earn your money – escaping the clutches of the law and bounty hunters both in the process – but you will also often be forced into turf disputes and conflicts with other criminals seeking the same things you are.




Gameplay

Gunpowder is predominantly a sandbox roleplay in which you may go about fulfilling the roles of your character in any ways you see fit, thus resulting in the development of plots. Events I throw in along the way, such as the eventual appearances of some of the “Big Bads”, will also serve to develop plots within the roleplay. The roleplay does have an ending planned, but that’s for me to reveal later.

In this roleplay there a certain mechanics to consider, mostly surrounding magic. There are three categories of spells, these are
• Black Magic – Offensive spells, or spells that negatively affect a target
• White Magic – Defensive spells, or spells that positively affect a target
• Grey Magic – Spells that are neither offensive nor defensive by nature but that could be used for either purpose depending on the thinking of the user.

In addition to these three categories, most spells are of an elemental nature being affiliated with fire, water, earth, wind or electricity. At first sorcerers only have access to one element, however as they become more powerful they gain access to more elements. It should also be noted however, that some spells are non-elemental and can be used regardless of a sorcerer’s affinities.
All sorcerers possess the innate ability to use magic, but in order to actually use this ability they require a spellbook, something not easy to come by. The further away a spellbook is from its owner, the harder it is to use magic and should a spellbook be destroyed the owner will not be able to use their spells unless they can somehow claim a new one. For this reason criminals who are captured always have their books burned and often do the same to their enemies.

As characters either capture more criminals or commit more crimes, their rank as a sorcerer will gradually increase to match their reputation, their power growing along with their rank. A character’s rank, determines the kinds of spells they are able to use, expanding the number of spells they can use and the power of their magic. The ranks are as follows

• Rank One - Initiate: Weak spells, one element, two custom – Five spells
• Rank Two – Noviciate: Moderate spells, one element, three custom – Eight spells
• Rank Three – Moderate: Moderate spells, two elements, five custom – Twelve spells
• Rank Four – Accomplished: Moderate spells, three elements, six custom – Fifteen spells
• Rank Five – Veteran: High Spells, three elements, eight custom – Twenty spells
• Ranks Six – Superior: High Spells, four elements, ten custom – Twenty-two spells
• Rank Seven – Master: High spells, any elements, thirteen custom – Twenty-seven spells

As can be seen in the points above, at first you will be able to only use weak spells of one element. Three of these will be generic “stock spells” listed below, whilst two will be custom spells of your own creation. In addition to magic, your character will also be able to use weaponry similar to that of the weaponry available in the Old West (ie. Revolvers, knives, shotguns and hunting rifles, and nothing automatic). In Jeimas, electricity has been discovered, however in the South fires and gas lamps are generally still the majority, flames are used for cooking and most travel is done on foot or on horseback as the steam engine trains are used only for transporting goods or on occasion miners who are returning home from the site.




Stock Spells

Black Magic
  • Elemental Burst – Fire: A fireball is launched at the target.
  • Elemental Burst – Water: A pressurised globe of water is thrown at the target. It explodes with a violent spray on impact.
  • Elemental Burst – Air: A concussive blast of air.
  • Elemental Burst – Earth: A large rock is formed or levitated and launched at the target.
  • Elemental Burst – Electricity: An electric shockwave is sent at the target. It has the capability to stun those it hits.
  • Minor Jinx: Causes sudden, but rapidly disappearing, bad luck.
  • Hex of Pain: If this spell hits it causes pain throughout the targets body.

White Magic
  • Elemental Shield – Fire: Causes a ring or dome of flames to form around one’s vicinity. This is effective at stopping physical or most average magical attacks but can’t stop bullets.
  • Elemental Shield – Water: Forms a bubble around the user. This is great for deflecting most physical or magical attacks but will pop if cut or hit with bullets.
  • Elemental Shield – Earth: A stone structure – generally a wall – is produced. Excellent for blocking physical attacks or weapon attacks but ineffective against many magical attacks.
  • Elemental Shield – Air: A short acting blast of air in all directions that nullifies any average attack for an extremely short period of time.
  • Elemental Shield – Electricity: A matrix of electrical charges are formed around the user. This deflects all physical attacks and some magical attacks but leaves the user vulnerable to bullets and most magical attacks.
  • Minor Healing: Heals small wounds with ease and with time and patience moderate wounds relatively well. More serious wounds are beyond this spell’s capability.
  • Minor Nullification: Nullify weak jinxes or hexes and slightly weakens more powerful ones.

Grey Magic
  • Blink: Teleport to a nearby location instantly so long as it is visible and not magically protected.
  • Minor Repulsion: Repel objects (inanimate or living) in the immediate vicinity. Potential for offensive or defensive use but ineffective on spells.
  • Summon Weak Familiar: Summons a familiar, typically a spirit animal of small to moderate size and practically never a mythological creature bar the most minor of imps. With practice specific familiars may be called.
  • Summon Small Object: Summon a small inanimate object. Along with the next, this spell is pretty much the reason criminals now have their spellbooks burned. It is far easier to summon an object you are familiar with.
  • Short-Distance Portal: A portal that allows you to move from one side of a wall or locked door to the other. Criminals must always have their spellbooks burned.




Sign-Up Sheet

Name:
Age (16+):
Gender:
Status (Bounty Hunter or Outlaw?):

Personality:
Appearance (Image, written or both):

Element (Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Electricity):
Weaponry:
3 Stock Spells:
2 Custom Spells (and a description of each):

Roleplay Sample: Either write a day in the life of your character for this RP, or include a link to another RP.



Rules

  1. GM word is law
  2. All RPC rules apply
  3. Do not god mod and do not bunny without permission – if you don’t know what these terms mean refer to RPC rules.
  4. The GM will determine when your character’s rank increases (although you’re welcome to request this if you feel you have a good reason). When your rank is increased you will receive a PM with a list of the new spells available to you.
  5. Be respectful in the OOC at all times
  6. Try to get a post in at least every two weeks.



Locations

Spider’s Hollow
Spider’s Hollow is a small but rather central town located in the Great Chasm. It is notable only for it’s popular tavern and for the bounty-hunting agency located there. Most of the breadwinners from Spider’s Hollow earn their income trading with the many travellers who pass through or by working in other nearby towns such as the nearby mining town Gilded Brook.

Gilded Brook
A town slightly larger than the nearby Spider’s Hollow that is populated primarily by miners and their families. The town got its name when prospectors discovered gold by panning the nearby river, something that lead to the discovery of rich gold deposits nearby. Gilded Brook is frequently targeted by bandits raiding the stores of gold.

The Great Chasm
The Great Chasm is an enormous crater located deep into the Barren Lands. Nobody is sure exactly how such a large crater came to be but since its discovery several small settlements have sprung into life within the Chasm due to it’s rich mineral deposits and easily defensible location. Most towns inside the Chasm are only hours away by horseback.

The Barren Lands
The Barren Lands are a large desert region located in the south of the continent of Jeimas. Towns in the Barren Lands are primarily known for mining and livestock as well as for having higher crime rates and harsher climates than locations in the north.

Ironhaven
Ironhaven is one of very few large cities in The Barren Lands and is located several days travel away from the entrance to The Great Chasm – Sinking Road. Merchants and traders from the nearby small towns flock to this city to sell their goods and it is one of the few places with a decent government presence. Ironhaven is well known for being the best place to learn sorcery in the south of Jeimas and is characterised by its enormous stone walls.

Larkin
The largest town in the Great Chasm, Larkin is located right near the edge of the Chasm close to the entrance. Residents from Larkin earn their income as farmers on the outskirts of the town, as workers maintaining Sinking Road, as tradesman, working on excavating a railroad tunnel or as miners at the nearby town of Wrench.

Wrench
Wrench is the smallest town in the Chasm and like Gilded Brook is a mining town. The entire community of this town is dedicated to mining the various ores and minerals found underground and within the sides of the Great Chasm.

Silverston
Silverston is a mining community located not far from The Great Chasm. It is a town far larger than most in the Chasm, bar maybe Larkin, and is tough competition for the mining towns there as it is responsible for not only the largest silver mine in the world, but also for smaller platinum and iron ore mines.

Fairbell
Fairbell is a town not much larger than Wrench. It is located only a few hours from Spider’s Hollow and is notable only for its small but beautiful church. There are no religious buildings in Spiders Hollow or Gilded Brook, so religious individuals from those towns often visit here.

Orhurst
Situated far to the north of the Great Chasm, well outside of the Barren Lands, is the city of Orhurst – the capital of Jeimas. This city is enormous with many well-maintained cobble streets and is the home of many government buildings, businesses and houses – although only the richest live in the large inner city houses. Most residents live on the outskirts of the city with farms and plantations being the furthest out properties. Orhurst is home to the greatest educational facilities in the world including Skyrith Academy, a school and university dedicated to not only educating people, but also producing great sorcerers.




Accepted Players

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.




RPWLA&MVGGaming Journal

Foxrally

ya boi
a Torterra's back
Seen 9 Hours Ago
Posted 3 Weeks Ago
2,783 posts
10.1 Years
It sounds like a really unique and interesting kind of idea. Like Slenderman meets Indiana Jones.
I say flesh it out a bit more and make a proper OP write-up for us to see maybe, but go for it.

Also, the spoiler below contains to full write-up for Gunpowder, what do you think?
Spoiler:

Gunpowder
OOC | IC | GM | Wanted List


Introduction

Welcome to Jeimas, a large and influential country famous for the skill and power of the sorcerers it produces. The north of Jeimas, where the capital of Orhurst is located, is a land of plenty where the government’s influence keeps everyone happy, healthy and safe. The climate here ranges mostly from cool to warm (bar the mountains of the far north) and the land always gets the right amount of rain, never too much and never too little. The north of Jeimas is like heaven on Earth.

That’s the north, the further south you go in Jeimas the worse that things get. Especially once you reach the Barren Lands and the Great Chasm. The Barren Lands are an enormous desert that fills the entirety of lowest reaches of Jeimas until you reach the sea – well they assume that’s how it works, nobody has ever made if far enough through the Barren Lands to find out. In the Barren Lands the ground is almost entirely covered in coarse, orange sand and there are few rivers or lakes. During the day those who live there experience scorching heat, during the night they experience bone-chilling cold. Food is scarce in the Barren Lands, communities rely upon cattle ranches for their supplies of meat and milk and many poor families frequently are forced to go without meat if they can’t catch or keep their own – which is not always an easy feet. Perhaps the worst aspect of living in the South however is the crime. The reach of the government is weak in the Barren Lands, which has allowed numerous outlaws to emerge and thrive without the law to oppose them. Overstretched, outmatched and outnumbered law enforcement in the Barren Lands are often forced to rely upon bounty hunters to handle criminals, and even then there’s always another outlaw to take a captured ones place… assuming they don’t get there first and take control of the territory themselves in the first place.

The worst cases of this affliction can be found in the Great Chasm, an enormous crater within the Barren Lands filled with small communities. The Great Chasm is extremely isolated from the outside world, but is also dependent upon trade with the outside to survive. This is why work is being done in an attempt to expand the small railway line inside the Chasm to link it with the major north-south line. Until then though, horses and carts are used to transport goods to cities outside the Chasm, which is very slow and inefficient and a large part of why those within the Chasm are poverty stricken. If the north of Jeimas is heaven on Earth, the south is hell.




You

You are either a rookie bounty hunter, working out of Janet’s Bounty Hunting Agency in Spider’s Hollow, or a fledgling outlaw. You are also however, a sorcerer. For as I said earlier, Jeimas is a country of magic and even in the Barren Lands spellcasters can be found using their abilities to commit crimes or to capture those who do. Many bounty hunters and outlaws alike have some degree of magical ability.

Bounty Hunters – As a bounty hunter, you will begin your story working under a crotchety, old ex-bounty hunter named Janet. She was once a formidable force in the Barren Lands until she was injured attempting to capture one of the “Big Bads”. As a bounty hunter it is your job to make money by catching criminals and collecting their bounties. The more experience you get as a bounty hunter, the more powerful you will become and your rank as a sorcerer will grow to match. The ultimate goal of a bounty hunter is to not only break off from their agency and to free-lance successfully (so they can keep the entirety of the money they earn) but to eventually build up enough finances and reputation to open an agency of their own. One should not be fooled into thinking that bounty hunters are all allies though, it’s a hard life and competing bounty hunters will often go to extreme lengths to capture their mark, even at the expense of their fellows.

Outlaws – As an outlaw you will begin either working under a more notorious criminal, or committing small robberies and raids of your own. As an outlaw your goal is to steal and extort to make money and to take out anyone who stands in your way. The more your own bounty increases and the more powerful and notorious you get, the higher your rank as a sorcerer will grow and the closer you’ll get to the end goal. The end goal of most outlaws is to become notorious and powerful enough to be categorised as one of the near-legendary “Big Bads” who dwell within the Barren Lands – the ten worst criminals alive who even most bounty hunters try to avoid. The life of an outlaw is not an easy one either, you will not only have to successfully steal, extort and kill to earn your money – escaping the clutches of the law and bounty hunters both in the process – but you will also often be forced into turf disputes and conflicts with other criminals seeking the same things you are.




Gameplay

Gunpowder is predominantly a sandbox roleplay in which you may go about fulfilling the roles of your character in any ways you see fit, thus resulting in the development of plots. Events I throw in along the way, such as the eventual appearances of some of the “Big Bads”, will also serve to develop plots within the roleplay. The roleplay does have an ending planned, but that’s for me to reveal later.

In this roleplay there a certain mechanics to consider, mostly surrounding magic. There are three categories of spells, these are
• Black Magic – Offensive spells, or spells that negatively affect a target
• White Magic – Defensive spells, or spells that positively affect a target
• Grey Magic – Spells that are neither offensive nor defensive by nature but that could be used for either purpose depending on the thinking of the user.

In addition to these three categories, most spells are of an elemental nature being affiliated with fire, water, earth, wind or electricity. At first sorcerers only have access to one element, however as they become more powerful they gain access to more elements. It should also be noted however, that some spells are non-elemental and can be used regardless of a sorcerer’s affinities.
All sorcerers possess the innate ability to use magic, but in order to actually use this ability they require a spellbook, something not easy to come by. The further away a spellbook is from its owner, the harder it is to use magic and should a spellbook be destroyed the owner will not be able to use their spells unless they can somehow claim a new one. For this reason criminals who are captured always have their books burned and often do the same to their enemies.

As characters either capture more criminals or commit more crimes, their rank as a sorcerer will gradually increase to match their reputation, their power growing along with their rank. A character’s rank, determines the kinds of spells they are able to use, expanding the number of spells they can use and the power of their magic. The ranks are as follows

• Rank One - Initiate: Weak spells, one element, two custom – Five spells
• Rank Two – Noviciate: Moderate spells, one element, three custom – Eight spells
• Rank Three – Moderate: Moderate spells, two elements, five custom – Twelve spells
• Rank Four – Accomplished: Moderate spells, three elements, six custom – Fifteen spells
• Rank Five – Veteran: High Spells, three elements, eight custom – Twenty spells
• Ranks Six – Superior: High Spells, four elements, ten custom – Twenty-two spells
• Rank Seven – Master: High spells, any elements, thirteen custom – Twenty-seven spells

As can be seen in the points above, at first you will be able to only use weak spells of one element. Three of these will be generic “stock spells” listed below, whilst two will be custom spells of your own creation. In addition to magic, your character will also be able to use weaponry similar to that of the weaponry available in the Old West (ie. Revolvers, knives, shotguns and hunting rifles, and nothing automatic). In Jeimas, electricity has been discovered, however in the South fires and gas lamps are generally still the majority, flames are used for cooking and most travel is done on foot or on horseback as the steam engine trains are used only for transporting goods or on occasion miners who are returning home from the site.




Stock Spells

Black Magic
  • Elemental Burst – Fire: A fireball is launched at the target.
  • Elemental Burst – Water: A pressurised globe of water is thrown at the target. It explodes with a violent spray on impact.
  • Elemental Burst – Air: A concussive blast of air.
  • Elemental Burst – Earth: A large rock is formed or levitated and launched at the target.
  • Elemental Burst – Electricity: An electric shockwave is sent at the target. It has the capability to stun those it hits.
  • Minor Jinx: Causes sudden, but rapidly disappearing, bad luck.
  • Hex of Pain: If this spell hits it causes pain throughout the targets body.

White Magic
  • Elemental Shield – Fire: Causes a ring or dome of flames to form around one’s vicinity. This is effective at stopping physical or most average magical attacks but can’t stop bullets.
  • Elemental Shield – Water: Forms a bubble around the user. This is great for deflecting most physical or magical attacks but will pop if cut or hit with bullets.
  • Elemental Shield – Earth: A stone structure – generally a wall – is produced. Excellent for blocking physical attacks or weapon attacks but ineffective against many magical attacks.
  • Elemental Shield – Air: A short acting blast of air in all directions that nullifies any average attack for an extremely short period of time.
  • Elemental Shield – Electricity: A matrix of electrical charges are formed around the user. This deflects all physical attacks and some magical attacks but leaves the user vulnerable to bullets and most magical attacks.
  • Minor Healing: Heals small wounds with ease and with time and patience moderate wounds relatively well. More serious wounds are beyond this spell’s capability.
  • Minor Nullification: Nullify weak jinxes or hexes and slightly weakens more powerful ones.

Grey Magic
  • Blink: Teleport to a nearby location instantly so long as it is visible and not magically protected.
  • Minor Repulsion: Repel objects (inanimate or living) in the immediate vicinity. Potential for offensive or defensive use but ineffective on spells.
  • Summon Weak Familiar: Summons a familiar, typically a spirit animal of small to moderate size and practically never a mythological creature bar the most minor of imps. With practice specific familiars may be called.
  • Summon Small Object: Summon a small inanimate object. Along with the next, this spell is pretty much the reason criminals now have their spellbooks burned. It is far easier to summon an object you are familiar with.
  • Short-Distance Portal: A portal that allows you to move from one side of a wall or locked door to the other. Criminals must always have their spellbooks burned.




Sign-Up Sheet

Name:
Age (16+):
Gender:
Status (Bounty Hunter or Outlaw?):

Personality:
Appearance (Image, written or both):

Element (Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Electricity):
Weaponry:
3 Stock Spells:
2 Custom Spells (and a description of each):

Roleplay Sample: Either write a day in the life of your character for this RP, or include a link to another RP.



Rules

  1. GM word is law
  2. All RPC rules apply
  3. Do not god mod and do not bunny without permission – if you don’t know what these terms mean refer to RPC rules.
  4. The GM will determine when your character’s rank increases (although you’re welcome to request this if you feel you have a good reason). When your rank is increased you will receive a PM with a list of the new spells available to you.
  5. Be respectful in the OOC at all times
  6. Try to get a post in at least every two weeks.



Locations

Spider’s Hollow
Spider’s Hollow is a small but rather central town located in the Great Chasm. It is notable only for it’s popular tavern and for the bounty-hunting agency located there. Most of the breadwinners from Spider’s Hollow earn their income trading with the many travellers who pass through or by working in other nearby towns such as the nearby mining town Gilded Brook.

Gilded Brook
A town slightly larger than the nearby Spider’s Hollow that is populated primarily by miners and their families. The town got its name when prospectors discovered gold by panning the nearby river, something that lead to the discovery of rich gold deposits nearby. Gilded Brook is frequently targeted by bandits raiding the stores of gold.

The Great Chasm
The Great Chasm is an enormous crater located deep into the Barren Lands. Nobody is sure exactly how such a large crater came to be but since its discovery several small settlements have sprung into life within the Chasm due to it’s rich mineral deposits and easily defensible location. Most towns inside the Chasm are only hours away by horseback.

The Barren Lands
The Barren Lands are a large desert region located in the south of the continent of Jeimas. Towns in the Barren Lands are primarily known for mining and livestock as well as for having higher crime rates and harsher climates than locations in the north.

Ironhaven
Ironhaven is one of very few large cities in The Barren Lands and is located several days travel away from the entrance to The Great Chasm – Sinking Road. Merchants and traders from the nearby small towns flock to this city to sell their goods and it is one of the few places with a decent government presence. Ironhaven is well known for being the best place to learn sorcery in the south of Jeimas and is characterised by its enormous stone walls.

Larkin
The largest town in the Great Chasm, Larkin is located right near the edge of the Chasm close to the entrance. Residents from Larkin earn their income as farmers on the outskirts of the town, as workers maintaining Sinking Road, as tradesman, working on excavating a railroad tunnel or as miners at the nearby town of Wrench.

Wrench
Wrench is the smallest town in the Chasm and like Gilded Brook is a mining town. The entire community of this town is dedicated to mining the various ores and minerals found underground and within the sides of the Great Chasm.

Silverston
Silverston is a mining community located not far from The Great Chasm. It is a town far larger than most in the Chasm, bar maybe Larkin, and is tough competition for the mining towns there as it is responsible for not only the largest silver mine in the world, but also for smaller platinum and iron ore mines.

Fairbell
Fairbell is a town not much larger than Wrench. It is located only a few hours from Spider’s Hollow and is notable only for its small but beautiful church. There are no religious buildings in Spiders Hollow or Gilded Brook, so religious individuals from those towns often visit here.

Orhurst
Situated far to the north of the Great Chasm, well outside of the Barren Lands, is the city of Orhurst – the capital of Jeimas. This city is enormous with many well-maintained cobble streets and is the home of many government buildings, businesses and houses – although only the richest live in the large inner city houses. Most residents live on the outskirts of the city with farms and plantations being the furthest out properties. Orhurst is home to the greatest educational facilities in the world including Skyrith Academy, a school and university dedicated to not only educating people, but also producing great sorcerers.




Accepted Players

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.




Very interesting RP concept. There's just one thing I think needs to be changed - the amount of players. As a sandbox RP, I think there should be much more space for people to join to make the world as big and vast as possible. It's especially hard for people to commit in sandbox RPs as there are very few specific objectives or set plots to follow. Take the Pokemon Academy as an example - the character number is quite high and people constantly drop in and out over time. Plots are self-made and not predefined. Gunpowder doesn't have any restrictions on plot, allowing it to do the same.

(also, what are those islands on the northern part of the island? jungles or accommodations?)
Ex-mod of RPT - Pairs: Gligar & gimmepie
Friend Code
SW-5146-5893-7210
I make memes and other carcinogens

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
Very interesting RP concept. There's just one thing I think needs to be changed - the amount of players. As a sandbox RP, I think there should be much more space for people to join to make the world as big and vast as possible. It's especially hard for people to commit in sandbox RPs as there are very few specific objectives or set plots to follow. Take the Pokemon Academy as an example - the character number is quite high and people constantly drop in and out over time. Plots are self-made and not predefined. Gunpowder doesn't have any restrictions on plot, allowing it to do the same.

(also, what are those islands on the northern part of the island? jungles or accommodations?)
I suppose I can do what is becoming quite common and not have a limit on players. Then I can just close it off if I feel I've got a bit many. Would that be better?

Those northern islands are plot irrelevant islands coated in ice. Ice blue = ice on that map xD
RPWLA&MVGGaming Journal

moon

they/them
Seen 11 Hours Ago
Posted 23 Hours Ago
37,443 posts
15.5 Years
Oh. I should probably have mentioned that the SCP foundation is a creepypasta website xD

Sorry.

But back on track. Do you think this is a good idea for a Roleplay?
I think it can definitely be interesting. But maybe you should have a defined plot and make the players come together early on as one or a couple of groups, with the plot focusing on mystery. As opposed to having a sandbox-like adventure where players make up a lot of their own artifacts and situations.
paired with Ivysaur

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
I think it can definitely be interesting. But maybe you should have a defined plot and make the players come together early on as one or a couple of groups, with the plot focusing on mystery. As opposed to having a sandbox-like adventure where players make up a lot of their own artifacts and situations.
I have to agree with this, you might want to make it more plot driven. Perhaps do something similar to the show The Librarians.
RPWLA&MVGGaming Journal

Cayo

Age 21
Male
USA
Seen June 4th, 2015
Posted May 16th, 2015
212 posts
8.3 Years
Just had a thought, due to the new Pokecommunity Pokemon Showdown League, I was thinking it would be cool to use Pokemon Showdown for a roleplay. Have it be an RP in a tournament setting, or even a journey rp for certain situations. I just thought it would be a cool idea.

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
Just had a thought, due to the new Pokecommunity Pokemon Showdown League, I was thinking it would be cool to use Pokemon Showdown for a roleplay. Have it be an RP in a tournament setting, or even a journey rp for certain situations. I just thought it would be a cool idea.
That has been suggested before (and iirc there's actually a "roleplay" channel on Showdown. However to coordinate server battles and RP posts could be a bit tricky and might stifle creativity.
RPWLA&MVGGaming Journal

Foxrally

ya boi
a Torterra's back
Seen 9 Hours Ago
Posted 3 Weeks Ago
2,783 posts
10.1 Years
That has been suggested before (and iirc there's actually a "roleplay" channel on Showdown. However to coordinate server battles and RP posts could be a bit tricky and might stifle creativity.
I think there's also a roleplay channel on the official PS. I visited, and good god that place is weird O_o
Ex-mod of RPT - Pairs: Gligar & gimmepie
Friend Code
SW-5146-5893-7210
I make memes and other carcinogens

Nagi

she/her
home
Seen 1 Week Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
1,003 posts
8.7 Years
hi! i'm currently working on a Mystery Dungeon roleplay in the sandbox style of the already existing Pokémon Trainer Academy RP. i don't have a whole lot written out yet, but i just wanted to get some feedback on what i have so far as i still have some doubts about whether the mechanics i have in mind will work. i'm still trying to figure out what will be best regarding a level system, too, so any feedback on that would be nice too. (Pokemon level, explorer level, or even no level system at all?)
... and i also need some advice on whether or not to create an overarching storyline. i'm not in PTA myself, so i don't know how it gets handled in there, either. but um, here's what i have so far. i'll add CSS later ( ´ ▽ ` )ゞ

Spoiler:

W E L C O M E
This is the portal that leads to the world of Pokémon. Beyond this gateway, many new adventures and fresh experiences await your arrival. Know however, that only Pokémon inhabit this world. There are no trainers, nor will there be in the course of this roleplay. Be strong, stay smart. And be victorious!

You are a Pokémon that has just arrived in the village of Haven, with the goal of joining its renowned Exploring Guild and starting your training as one of their Explorers. The guild is led by its founder, an imposing Steel/Psychic type Pokémon called Bronzong, and his right-hand and secretary, Snubbull.
The guild aims to educate and train young Pokémon into becoming full-fledged Explorers; Pokémon that are fit to go into Mystery Dungeons, carry out quests and rescues and sometimes even explore completely new areas.


T H E • W O R L D
Haven is the town you will arrive in in your first post. Below is a map of the town with all its facilities.

Spoiler:


Additionally, you will be able to visit many Mystery Dungeons scattered over the country as shown below. More will be added as the RP progresses; these will be 'discovered' by Exploration teams. (sorry, large image, i'll resize it for the real RP)
Spoiler:
Town Icon - Haven Peninsula
1 - River Belle Path (1-star dungeon, Lv. 10-14, )
2 - Brine Cove (1-star dungeon, Lv. 12-16, )
3 - Misty Fjord (2-star dungeon, Lv. 15-19, )
4 - Stone Grotto (2-star dungeon, Lv. 17-21, )
5 - Mt. Copper (3-star dungeon, Lv. 20-24, )


M E C H A N I C S
As opposed to joining the guild and forming a rescue team, in this RP you join the guild as a solo Pokémon Explorer. Every IC day, new missions will be posted to the Bulletin Board that you can take on with up to 4 others. Form groups in the OOC thread and go on missions - or don't. This will be a sandbox RP, meaning you can explore the town of Haven and the Dungeons as much as you like. Do take care not to go into a dungeon that is above your level. The more Pokémon in your group, the higher level dungeons you will be able to challenge, though. All new Pokémon characters start at level 10.

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 7 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
hi! i'm currently working on a Mystery Dungeon roleplay in the sandbox style of the already existing Pokémon Trainer Academy RP. i don't have a whole lot written out yet, but i just wanted to get some feedback on what i have so far as i still have some doubts about whether the mechanics i have in mind will work. i'm still trying to figure out what will be best regarding a level system, too, so any feedback on that would be nice too. (Pokemon level, explorer level, or even no level system at all?)
... and i also need some advice on whether or not to create an overarching storyline. i'm not in PTA myself, so i don't know how it gets handled in there, either. but um, here's what i have so far. i'll add CSS later ( ´ ▽ ` )ゞ

Spoiler:

W E L C O M E
This is the portal that leads to the world of Pokémon. Beyond this gateway, many new adventures and fresh experiences await your arrival. Know however, that only Pokémon inhabit this world. There are no trainers, nor will there be in the course of this roleplay. Be strong, stay smart. And be victorious!

You are a Pokémon that has just arrived in the village of Haven, with the goal of joining its renowned Exploring Guild and starting your training as one of their Explorers. The guild is led by its founder, an imposing Steel/Psychic type Pokémon called Bronzong, and his right-hand and secretary, Snubbull.
The guild aims to educate and train young Pokémon into becoming full-fledged Explorers; Pokémon that are fit to go into Mystery Dungeons, carry out quests and rescues and sometimes even explore completely new areas.


T H E • W O R L D
Haven is the town you will arrive in in your first post. Below is a map of the town with all its facilities.

Spoiler:


Additionally, you will be able to visit many Mystery Dungeons scattered over the country as shown below. More will be added as the RP progresses; these will be 'discovered' by Exploration teams. (sorry, large image, i'll resize it for the real RP)
Spoiler:
Town Icon - Haven Peninsula
1 - River Belle Path (1-star dungeon, Lv. 10-14, )
2 - Brine Cove (1-star dungeon, Lv. 12-16, )
3 - Misty Fjord (2-star dungeon, Lv. 15-19, )
4 - Stone Grotto (2-star dungeon, Lv. 17-21, )
5 - Mt. Copper (3-star dungeon, Lv. 20-24, )


M E C H A N I C S
As opposed to joining the guild and forming a rescue team, in this RP you join the guild as a solo Pokémon Explorer. Every IC day, new missions will be posted to the Bulletin Board that you can take on with up to 4 others. Form groups in the OOC thread and go on missions - or don't. This will be a sandbox RP, meaning you can explore the town of Haven and the Dungeons as much as you like. Do take care not to go into a dungeon that is above your level. The more Pokémon in your group, the higher level dungeons you will be able to challenge, though. All new Pokémon characters start at level 10.

I'm not usually a fan of PMD roleplays, but this actually looks really cool so far.
I really like the idea of it serving as something of an academy for wannabe explorers.

I'd suggest not having any major overarching plot, but sometimes posting plot events that people can choose to be a part of.
RPWLA&MVGGaming Journal