[OOC] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

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Sakuro
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[OOC] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Sakuro »

Shapers posses the awesome power to create life. Want a tool, a trap, an army? A Shaper can summon it into existence. A Shaper can make an army of mighty creations, and they totally obey them. Usually. But all fear their wrath and all seek their aid.

You are not a Shaper. You were created in a moment of need by a young Shaper, stranded on a forgotten island populated by rogue creations, Outsiders from unknown lands, and home to forgotten Shaper secrets. Will you obey? Will you guide them? Will you seek to betray them and find your own way?


~*~

The setting for the game is based off Geneforge, by Spiderweb Software. If you haven't played it and are curious, the game is currently free on Epic Games. It is a fantasy setting and though there is magic and monsters, it isn't like D&D or Lord of the Rings with pantheons of gods, Orcs, Elves, and so on. Don't worry. Players won't need to know details about the setting. Learning as you play is probably best in this scenario.

While in the computer game the player is the Shaper, my idea for a story sets the PCs as creations made by a NPC Shaper. The PCs will start out subservient to the Shaper. In effect they'd be like the Suicide Squad. The Shaper could kill them in an instant if they get out of line. There will come a time when they'd have an opportunity to break away. This could take months or years real time, however

What are the PCs? They're newly created artificial biological lifeforms. They can take almost any form: a fire breathing lizard, a floating tentacle creature that shoots psychic bolts, an acid spitting worm, a blob, or even humanoid. They could be highly intelligent, near animalistic, or anything in between. They won't have knowledge beyond communication and basic understanding of the world. Nor would they have skills that aren't innate. Not to begin with.

What would the PCs be doing? While the game will be somewhat sandbox the PCs can expect to escort their Shaper around, helping them survive on a hostile island, and explore the world. At the start, and perhaps for a long time, they will be furthering this NPC Shaper's agenda. Though the PCs could seek to guide the Shaper's actions, manipulating or advising. There will be exploration and combat in the game. I expect social scenarios would be difficult until the PCs get some experience and invest their time and PP in becoming more adept in those fields as they wouldn't be starting with Skills such as Persuasion and Deception.

Who is the Shaper? I am not going to give you much information to start with here. I will say that they are an academically inclined teenager alone on a hostile island. They are inexperienced in the ways of the world and will be dependent on the PCs to a degree.

Character Creation A D&D style mage or wizard has their spells. A Shaper has their creations. That's you. You were made for a purpose. What is your's? That can serve as inspiration for designing you character. The PCs are all newly made creations. They won't have Skills or Advantages that reflect learning or social connections. Everything needs to be inherent to their nature. Also, instead of a background, I'd like a brief writeup on what the character looks like, and an explanation of how they function. If they can fly, how do they fly? If they breath fire, how is it that they breathe fire?

All characters will begin with "Illiterate" and "Bound to the Shaper's Will" as Complications. The latter reflecting the Shaper's influence over the character and the fact they could be killed at the Shaper's whim. Additionally, I'd like you to include one or two Complications that reflect your character's nature. Are they dumb or animalistic? Or maybe they're too smart for their own good. Do they lack hands or otherwise find fine manipulation, such as handling tools, difficult?

The PCs start at PL 7 and will have 105 PP to work with at character creation.

Variable, Jack-of-all Trades, Teleportation, Time Travel, and Dimensional Travel are all off limits. Space Travel doesn't fit the game. Luck is limited to 2 ranks. Movement Effects are limited to 5 ranks. Eidetic Memory will only function for memory recall, Trained Skill and Expertise Skills still need a rank in them to be used. You also will not have Equipment to start with. This includes Devices. Also note that Lethal Damage will be used in this game.


Threads
Main In Character Thread, the main story is played out here.
Extended Interludes, this is where side stories and social scene may be played out.


Cast
The Mind, a floating psychic vampire brain that thirsts for knowledge.
Meat Shield, an ever alert regenerating one eyed protector.
Craze, a mischievous avian trickster with a fondness for shiny things and carrion.
Pounce, a companionable cat girl huntress and explorer.


Supporting Cast (NPCs)
Shaper D'Tan, an apprentice Shaper. The creator of the player characters.
Last edited by Sakuro on Tue Apr 04, 2023 10:12 pm, edited 18 times in total.
Evelyn Gracen, in AEGIS Squad
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Doctor Malsyn
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Doctor Malsyn »

Taking it all in summary, PCs would be akin to someone's minions I suppose?
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Sakuro
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Sakuro »

Yes. The PCs would act as the minions of a young and inexperienced Shaper.
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Doctor Malsyn
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Doctor Malsyn »

It's different, but interesting. I'll vest a little bit of interest towards it.
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mrdent12
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by mrdent12 »

Could be fun. Not sure of my time, but if time permits I'd be interested
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kenseido
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by kenseido »

Seems like some potential for some interesting stuff. Assuming I can think up the right idea, it could be fun.
pathfinderq1
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by pathfinderq1 »

I'm at least tentatively interested. We played the first Geneforge game ages ago, but we were more inclined to some of the other Spiderweb software games (Avernum/exiles).
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Tony Jones
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Tony Jones »

Don't know anything about the source game but sounds like an interesting premise. So colour me interested!
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Tony Jones
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Tony Jones »

One thought that occurs is, would we know about the Shaper that created us in advance, as the type of person they are would probably influence the type of creatures they create? Or would we create creatures, and the personality of the Shaper be driven by them?
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Sakuro
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Sakuro »

Tony Jones wrote:Don't know anything about the source game but sounds like an interesting premise.
Good. I prefer that. Your character's wouldn't either. They would be learning through play.


Tony Jones wrote:One thought that occurs is, would we know about the Shaper that created us in advance, as the type of person they are would probably influence the type of creatures they create?
I'm not going to give too many details but this I will say: The Shaper is young. As in a teenager. They're inexperienced in the ways of the world and alone on a likely hostile island. They are also going to be academically inclined.

If you are looking for inspiration, think about what your creature's purpose is. What was it made to do? Were they created to hunt food? Were they designed to coordinate communication between the Shaper and other creatures further afield?
Evelyn Gracen, in AEGIS Squad
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Doctor Malsyn
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Doctor Malsyn »

I have some ideas for a creature to create, taking inspiration from an old PC of mine. Something psionically inclined. I'll set all that aside until you're set to start though.
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mrdent12
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Re: [Interest Check] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by mrdent12 »

Playing a purpose created minion type creature could be fun. I can see some interesting storylines playing out with starting as a naive loyal companion/protector/aid to becoming something more possibly.
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Sakuro
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Re: [Recruiting] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Sakuro »

I'm going to go ahead and run the game. The original post has been edited to reflect this, including some character creation guidelines. Feel free to use this thread, or contact me in PMs, to brainstorm ideas.
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RainOnTheSun
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Re: [Recruiting] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by RainOnTheSun »

There's a mechanical idea I've had for this system that I think might work for this, a bodyguard type with a high toughness and Interpose - but I'm not sure what kind of form would be appropriate. An iron golem? a human-looking body made of some supernatural material?
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Re: [Recruiting] MnM 3e - Geneforge: the Created

Post by Doctor Malsyn »

The Mind
Image
"Brain Ooze" - Pathfinder Beastiary

PL-7
Height: 15 cm long
Weight: 3 lbs.
'-he thoughts the thoughts the thoughts the thoughts the thoughts the thou-'
Description
The Mind represents the Shaper's deep desire to learn and know more, made manifest in the form of an actual brain. It's small, somewhat pinkish to pale-white in color. Its strange swirling patterns are unbefitting of something human, and strange black energy pulses and ripples across its surface. Completely against the grain of normality, two tendrils extend outward from either side to act as basic manipulators.

In truth, the manipulators it possesses seem largely vestigial. The bulk of all its fine manipulation is done by reaching out with its resonant psionic power, capable of mentally lifting loads outside the capabilities of a common man. Using this power, it has left the ground far behind by floating freely in mid-air. A thin bubble of telekinetic energy wards off most attacks, leaving it far tougher than it first appears.

Mental powers beyond the physical allow it to plant itself within the mind of its shaper, as well as its fellow creations and whatever allies it comes across. By turning this power on others it can instead pry thoughts out of their heads, and in fact, it needs to do this on a regular basis in order to 'nourish' itself properly. Fine-tuning this ability even further allows it to inflict direct damage to something's nervous system without its notice.

Though it lacks eyes, it seems capable of observing the area around itself with perfect clarity.
Complications
Motivation: Knowledge "I need to know more. I need to know more. I need to know more. I need to know more. I need to know-"

Bound to the Shaper's Will: The Mind is fully subservient to its shaper and must obey all commands given to it.

Illiterate: Though it possesses a raw amount of sheer intellect, it nonetheless still needs to learn the local language.

A Free-floating Brain: Despite its vast psionic power, at the core of it all The Mind is exceptionally fragile and helpless on its own.

Repitition: By some quirk of its creation or development, The Mind is obsessed with repetition. Be that its own thoughts or actions, it will often repeat itself multiple times before it's satisfied.

Thought-Vampire: In lieu of regular forms of nourishment, The Mind is required to consume thoughts from other beings in order to properly sustain its psionic abilities. If improperly nourished, it'll lose access to most of its abilities until it's able to consume another creature's thoughts.
Abilities: -4-10-4+14+14+4 = 14
Strength -2(-5), Stamina 0, Agility -5, Dexterity 0
Fighting -2, Intellect 7, Awareness 7, Presence 2

Advantages 8
Eidetic Memory, Assessment, Hide in Plain Sight, Improved Initiative 2, Move-By Action, Ranged Attack 3

Skills 4 (8/8) [+4 ranks]
Stealth 2(+14), Intimidation 0(-4), Investigation 2(+9), Insight 2(+9), Perception 2(+9), Exp: History 1 (+8), Exp: Creatures 1 (+8), Exp: Tactics 1 (+8), Persuasion 1 (+3)

Powers 66
Mind over Matter: 13+8+6+3+17+2+18+1+1
..Such a small thing: Shrinking 12 (Size rank -5, +6 Active, +12 Stealth, -6 Intimidation, -3 Str, -1 Speed), Permanent, Innate12+1
..Telekenetic Shielding: Protection 8, Sustained 8
..Detect Thoughts: Senses 6 (Accurate, Detect Minds 2, Radius, Danger-Sense)
..Limited Scrying: Senses 3 (Darkvission, Radius)
..Self-Proppelled: Flight 5 Continous, Subtle 1 16+1
....(dyn)Telekineses: Move Object 7, Accurate 2, Precise ([14]+3/17) 2
....(alt)Group Flight:Shapable Area Affects Others Flight 5; Concentration Subtle 1 1 (16/16)
..Telpathy: Communication 2 (Mental, 1 mile), Area, Selective; (Linked) Comprehend 3 (Languages, Understand/Understood by all) 12+6
....(alt)Consume Thoughts: Mind Reading 6, Cummulative, Effortless; Feedback, Ranged [(3/R) 18/18] 1
....(alt)Mental Lance: Alt-Resitiance(will) Perception Range Damage 4, Subtle, Insidious 11

Offense
Initiative: +3
Unarmed: +0, DC 10
Telekenisies: +7, DC 17 Grab
Consume thoughts: +3, DC 16 Will (cumulative, effortless)
Mental Lance: DC 19 Will (Subtle, Insidious)

Defense 5+5+2
Dodge 5 (DC 16), Parry 0 (DC 16), Fortitude 5 (+5), Toughness 8 (+8), Will 2 (+9)

Power Points
Abilities 14 + Powers 66 + Advantages 8 + Skills 5 (10 ranks) + Defenses 12 = 105/105
Went a bit Weird{TM} with this one. The Mind is more of a clever spy as opposed to something geared towards dishing out raw damage. Excellent stealth, an ability to sense and read the minds of others, with all that I'd imagine The Shaper would find plenty of use for it.

Of course, it's also dangerously intelligent and possesses some worrying habits, but I'm sure nothing bad will come of that combination.
Last edited by Doctor Malsyn on Tue Dec 27, 2022 10:16 pm, edited 9 times in total.
Am I dead? Am I alive? The answer may surprise you!
------------
"What a week, huh?" "Doc, it's only Wednesday."
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