Quasi-Post Holocaust Space Opera?

[Vandren]

Ok, I've returned and I've been thinking about starting up a new game.  Basically, the description follows, but I can summarize it as a quasi-post holocaust, space opera hybrid.  So, here's the premise:

Going Home
After the devastating carnage of WWIV in 2471, Earth was abandoned in favor of the Solar colonies.  Only the whole and hardy were allowed to leave.  Those contaminated by radiation, disease, retroviruses, and other weapons of the war were left to rot.  For nearly a century the Solar Governments (Mars, Europa, the Belt, Neptune Station) have watched over Humanity, attempted to avoid another catastrophic war, and kept a watchful eye directed toward Earth to make sure none of the mutants left the planet.

Now, a hundred years after WWIV, Humanity is recolonizing Earth.  Initial plans called for whole scale orbital bombing of the planet to wipe out the mutants.  However, projections indicated that the world would be uninhabitable for at least a thousand years after that sort of action.  So, instead, Humanity is being led by an incohesive group of warriors and scientists called Mutant Hunters, charged with exterminating the Mutants and making the world safe for the second wave of colonists.

Questions
If you're interested:

1) BatlE or NCEF classification?
2) Would you like a (very very simple) combat system or not?
2a) For a combat system I'm debating armor - directly related to coverage (the more coverage the higher the armor rating - powered combat armor topping out) or inversely related to coverage (the less coverage the higher the rating - total nudity tops out the scale).

In order to set this up, I'd want at least three confirmed Mutant Hunters and three confirmed Mutants.  Both groups can be Male, Female, or Herm.  They can work together or individually, there are Mutant tribes (ala Mad Max) and Hunter teams.  I have some more stuff written up regarding both Mutants and Hunters that I can post if there's interest.

[kylie]

I kinda like the sound of this.  Gimme a bit to decide which side to play, not feeling fussy yet on that point...

I'd say NCEF...  If only cause I'm not sure what BatlE means ;)

I'm a little partial to a simple combat system, but freeform is fine too.

Not sure I understand the armor question.  If total nudity provides the best armor, is the idea then more "you can look, but you can't touch very easily" whereas people who start out covered are rather easy to strip down?  Or am I missing it?

It sounds like a nifty environment, though.  I always liked Battlestar Galactica too, as far as space opera style goes :)

[Vandren]

I'd say NCEF...  If only cause I'm not sure what BatlE means ;)

BatlE is the Midtones section.  I'm thinking the Exotic is likely, given that Mutants can take virtually any form (including tentacle beasts, shapeshifters, etc.)

I'm a little partial to a simple combat system, but freeform is fine too.

I'm thinking if it's implimented it'll be optional, asa  means of avoiding OOC disputes.

Not sure I understand the armor question.  If total nudity provides the best armor, is the idea then more "you can look, but you can't touch very easily" whereas people who start out covered are rather easy to strip down?  Or am I missing it?

This comes out of various kung fu and other related movies.  Basically, in the real world an armor rating scale from 0-10 (highest being best) might look like this:

0 = Nudity
2 = Leather Biker Jacket
5 = Kevlar Vest
10 = Sealed Combat Armor

In an inverse would go like:

0 = Sealed Combat Armor (covers everything)
5 = Kevlar Vest
7 = Ragged t-shirt
9 = Stripped to the waist
10 = Total Nudity

(I've seen it referred to as "Bulletproof Nudity" as well - encouragement for scantily clad characters in an otherwise lethal environment.)

[Aysleen]

1) BatlE or NCEF classification?  Either - not picky

2) Would you like a (very very simple) combat system or not? Again either or

2a) For a combat system I'm debating armor - directly related to coverage (the more coverage the higher the armor rating - powered combat armor topping out) or inversely related to coverage (the less coverage the higher the rating - total nudity tops out the scale).  I like having nudity as being the best and highest rating

[Vandren]

I should probably clarify, I don't intend this to be a "everyone's constantly fighting" type game.  That's just the central conflict.  There can/will be other plots, characters can create relationships (of any sort) within the Hunter/Mutant groups or between groups (Mutants capturing Hunters and vice versa).  There can even be pacifist Mutants, though pacifist Hunters might not work so well.  :)

A few more notes:

Mutant Hunters
Four years ago, when plans to recolonize Earth were being finalized, the Solar governments began advertising for scientists and mercenaries to be the first scouts and cleansers.  Roughly 100,000 applied and were accepted.  They were collectively called Mutant Hunters and sent to Mars to await transportation to Earth.  These Humans hardly constitute a cohesive group, though.  Each is responsible for providing his or her own gear and decisions on what to take vary widely.  All of the Hunters have been assigned a zone  to clear, usually a hundred to two hundred square miles or so each.  Some prefer to work alone, others have formed teams of two to six members.  Many have plans to set up a base camp, others plan on moving every night.  There is no uniformity, save that every Hunter has been briefed on the current state of the planet and the known classes of Mutants.  The first group of Hunters was dropped three months ago with replacements coming in every month, usually only a hundred at a time.

Humans average 150 years with “old age” hitting around 100.

Mutants
Left alone for a century, the Mutants created before, during, and after WWIV have been prolific.  According to estimates, there are now over a billion of them scattered across the globe.  Most congregate in tribal or other groups under the lead of various chiefs and warlords.  Some live alone, though.  While the Hunters are technologically superior, the Mutants have numbers, knowledge of their territory, and strange powers on their side.  Technologically, they are backward with some combustion engines and firearms (think Mad Max technology and society).  They are also infinitely variable, the classes and species below are the tip of the iceberg.  Finally, Mutant lifespan varies by type, most are within the Human norm, though a few possess greater longevity or shorter lifespans.



To help the Hunters prepare, the Solar Governments put together the following list of classified Mutants (this is by no means a complete list):

Classes
Animutants – basically anthros/furries.
Morphs – shapeshifters
Mutimals – mutant animals (generally non-sapient)
Phreaks – psis
Rocks – tough, strong mutants, usually not that bright; generally ignore paralysis and stun weapons
Squids – tentacled mutants

Species
Cat-Girls – Animutant felines, housecat base
Dogboys – Animutant canines, usually German Shepherd or Doberman base
Gargoyles – Cowardly Rocks with incredibly tough skin and wings
K’tulus – Squids whose tentacles surround their mouths, otherwise humanoid
Mutimutts – Canine Mutimals, typically horse sized St. Bernards
Octos – Squids whose tentacles replace their arms, usually possess six or eight.
Odos – Morphs who normally exist as a gel but can assume any form
P-Tigers – Tiger Mutimals with limited telepathic ability
Teeks – Telekinetic Phreaks
Teeps – Telepathic Phreaks
Trolls – Very strong, tough skinned Rocks
Weres – Morphs who normally exist as humans, but can turn into animals and/or hybrids, usually only one species

[Aysleen]

Oh - I'd like to play a pacifist/mutant/Teek

[Vandren]

Oh - I'd like to play a pacifist/mutant/Teek

So, that'd make 1.5, not including myself.  :)

Oh, and to better answer the question below . . . BatLE is "Bondage and other graphic scenes that don't reach onscreen rape" with exotic creatures possible.

[Aysleen]

I don't mind rape.

[WarDragon]

Sounds like fun.  Probably go in NCEF.  Nudity being protective might not be logical.... but since when has that mattered at Elliquiy?  ;)

Is it possible for mutants to look mostly human, but just have freaky powers, and so forth (some blatantly mutant characteristics, of course)?

[Apple of Eris]

Hrm... this might be interesting. Chalk me up as a definate 'maybe'  ;)

[kylie]

In an inverse would go like:

0 = Sealed Combat Armor (covers everything)
5 = Kevlar Vest
7 = Ragged t-shirt
9 = Stripped to the waist
10 = Total Nudity

(I've seen it referred to as "Bulletproof Nudity" as well - encouragement for scantily clad characters in an otherwise lethal environment.)

Pardon my pickiness.  But assuming (as you seem to above) that players do not wish their characters to get hit easily, then that is more of an encouragement for being nude than for being scantily clad.  If the point was to be scantily clad, then 10 should be closer to the middle of the scale than to one end of it.  I notice these things because I like tight and revealing/ porous/ displaced attire, more than none ;) 

Of course, there is also a question of whether you imagine a given character winning more or less often.  That does not necessarily correlate with how much stuff they wear.

[Vandren]

Sounds like fun.  Probably go in NCEF.  Nudity being protective might not be logical.... but since when has that mattered at Elliquiy?  ;)

Or in b-movies or Wuxia films?  ;)

Is it possible for mutants to look mostly human, but just have freaky powers, and so forth (some blatantly mutant characteristics, of course)?

Definitely.  The psionically endowed would likely be that way and others classes may be as well.  :)

Hrm... this might be interesting. Chalk me up as a definate 'maybe'

3 interested then . . . ok.

Pardon my pickiness.  But assuming (as you seem to above) that players do not wish their characters to get hit easily, then that is more of an encouragement for being nude than for being scantily clad.  If the point was to be scantily clad, then 10 should be closer to the middle of the scale than to one end of it.  I notice these things because I like tight and revealing/ porous/ displaced attire, more than none Wink

Of course, there is also a question of whether you imagine a given character winning more or less often.  That does not necessarily correlate with how much stuff they wear.

No problem, though it may be overthinking things.  :)  To be honest, I'd be going for simplicity if a system was implimented, and it'd be optional, basically there to forestall arguements and to provide some randomness.  If I wanted to go all out system, I'd use GURPS 3rd ed. (Of course, then I'd have to convert various Mutant types, come up with point totals, and/or provide lists of commons Advantages/Disads for the Mutant types and for Hunters, etc. :))

[MadPanda]

Could be iiiiiiinteresting  ;D ;D 
NCEF?  Why not.
Simple combat system: definitely, if it's going to come up.
Armor...that's a toughie.  I'm inclined to agree with the normal scale (for men) and the inverted scale (for women), but then I'm thinking of all those old pulp sci-fi novel covers.  Or the original Bubblegum Crisis (girls get the sleek and curvy battlesuits, guys get blocky mini-mecha...)

Will think about character--time to do something a bit different (for me), I think: Male human scientist/mutant hunter, probably.

[Vandren]

Could be iiiiiiinteresting  ;D ;D 
NCEF?  Why not.
Simple combat system: definitely, if it's going to come up.
Armor...that's a toughie. 

Will think about character--time to do something a bit different (for me), I think: Male human scientist/mutant hunter, probably.

Well, that's 3 definites and 2 maybes . . . I'll need at least three more definites before bothering a goddess/god to set up the board.  :)

I'm inclined to agree with the normal scale (for men) and the inverted scale (for women), but then I'm thinking of all those old pulp sci-fi novel covers.  Or the original Bubblegum Crisis (girls get the sleek and curvy battlesuits, guys get blocky mini-mecha...)

Ah, but then we also have Conan and his more SF alternate on Mars (John something or other?) and Capt. Kirk who always has to rip his shirt or get rid of it.  :)  Not to mention Gibson's Mad Max phase.

[MadPanda]

Point taken.  For the fantasy stuff, anyway.  I just don't see too many space-opera heroes running around shirtless!   (that's John Carter, his son Carthoris, and that Ulysses Paxton guy for Barsoom, with Conan, Kull, and Tarl Cabot for the thud-and-blunder crowd...)  Although I'm sure the ladies would appreciate a little beefcake with their space opera.

[Aysleen]

Although I'm sure the ladies would appreciate a little beefcake with their space opera.

Then too, if you've got scantily clad women running around, how long would the men be dressed anyway?

[MadPanda]

It's the principle of the thing  ;D  Sort of like why female protagonists in Robert H. Heinlein novels still wear underwear.  ;)

(With apologies to the Admiral's shade)

[Vandren]

Point taken.  For the fantasy stuff, anyway.  I just don't see too many space-opera heroes running around shirtless!

True, though the vast majority of early space opera authors were straight males, so . . .  :)  Much more early female fantasists.  I suppose it also depends on how you define space opera (I'd argue that the John Carter's were technically space opera, even if they were fantasy disguised as SF).  And on whether we go by the writer's or the artist's conception.  Recent space opera, we had Bruce Willis running around half-stripped in Fifth Element, of course, Milla Jovovich was completely stripped or close enough for quite a while too.

Although I'm sure the ladies would appreciate a little beefcake with their space opera.

*looks aghast* You mean Kirk's not?  j/k

[MadPanda]

(scratches head)  I've always thought of the Barsoom stuff as science-fantasy, not space opera.  Lensmen, now...there's your space opera.

I concede the point about James Tiberius "Playa" Kirk.  ;D  He's right up there with Starbuck and Han Solo in Mrs. Madpanda's estimation of Prime Sci-Fi Hunkage.  She's given no opinion on Korben Dallas, though...

[Vandren]

(scratches head)  I've always thought of the Barsoom stuff as science-fantasy, not space opera.  Lensmen, now...there's your space opera.

I concede the point about James Tiberius "Playa" Kirk.  ;D  He's right up there with Starbuck and Han Solo in Mrs. Madpanda's estimation of Prime Sci-Fi Hunkage.  She's given no opinion on Korben Dallas, though...

And then there's the Galactica cast.  :)  Though I'm not sure whether I'd classify the most recent Galactica as space opera or something else.  My realm of expertise is fantasy and I tend to classify SF as good (usually opera or sf-f, I suppose) or not so good (usually "hard" SF).  *shrug*

[MadPanda]

All I will say on the topic of the New Series, besides having a few Unresolved Issues with the backstory which may have been resolved, is that Mrs. MadPanda has not forgiven them for making Starbuck a woman.  Dirk Benedict was apparently her favorite character in the original...

Original series was more a space western than a space opera, methinks.  :) 

[Aysleen]

Dirk Benedict was a HAWT Starbuck...and yea, making him a woman now...wtf is that all about.  Sounds like your Mrs. is quite brilliant ;)

[MadPanda]

She's smarter than she thinks she is, that's for damn sure  ;D

[robitusinz]

I think the whole setting sounds great, and I'd love to join in on a new game on the ground floor.  Count me in as a definite.  I really like the concept, and I don't care much which role I play...I'll either be a Mutant or a Hunter, depending on which side you need more people on.

If I were a Mutant, I'd like to just be a plain ol' super-strong giant.

Hunter, I'd be the meatshield guy.  "Ok, Brick, you go in first, as usual, keep the shields up and clear the entrance for the guys with the big guns."

[kylie]

I want a fem Cylon for Christmas, fem Cylon for Christmas. 

Or, how about for Labor Day?

Hee.

[MadPanda]

Did they come in Femme?

:o :o :o

OH, wait, you mean the new variety!  That's different.   ;D

[WarDragon]

Hmm, I was planning a meatshield type, too... think there's room for more than one?  Perhaps if one of us focused more on defense, and the other on smashing things?

[Vandren]

All I will say on the topic of the New Series, besides having a few Unresolved Issues with the backstory which may have been resolved, is that Mrs. MadPanda has not forgiven them for making Starbuck a woman.  Dirk Benedict was apparently her favorite character in the original...

Personally, I like the newer series better, but I never really cared for the original.  Maybe too much of a Star Trek meat Buck Rodgers, sans continuity.  And the Egyptian-style helmets were just goofy.  But, that's beside the point.  :)

Original series was more a space western than a space opera, methinks.  :)

Well, that can be said about nearly the whole genre.  Sci-fi's always raped and pillaged the Western from before Heinlein to PKD to original Trek to Firefly.  :D

Back to Thread Topic
Hmm . . . ok, current count is five (5) definites and a couple maybes (right?).  I'd like one more definite before bugging anyone about setting up a board.

[Vandren]

I want a fem Cylon for Christmas, fem Cylon for Christmas. 

Or, how about for Labor Day?

Hee.

I'll definitely take one too . . . preferrably a Sharon.  ;)

[kylie]

I'll definitely take one too . . . preferrably a Sharon.  ;)

Tell me about it.  You can see why they made copies!

Hmm . . . ok, current count is five (5) definites and a couple maybes (right?).  I'd like one more definite before bugging anyone about setting up a board.

Well, not sure how you counted me... but I'm pretty definite.  Always hard to say before it starts, but it sounds like a fun environment. 

Just might have to fuss about what exactly to play for a couple days.  Some flipping through my image galleries might do the trick ;)

[Vandren]

Tell me about it.  You can see why they made copies!

For some reason I like her better than Six.  May just be the Asian thing.  :)  And while Lucy Lawless' character was interesting, she (the actress) has never really done anything for me.

Well, not sure how you counted me... but I'm pretty definite.  Always hard to say before it starts, but it sounds like a fun environment. 

Just might have to fuss about what exactly to play for a couple days.  Some flipping through my image galleries might do the trick ;)

Cool, I'll count it as six and put in a request for a board later today, after I get some work done.

[MadPanda]

Woo-hoo!
Going out of town tonight, but I'll be back by tomorrow evening.
Looking forward to this one.

Are we playing 'serious' or 'for laughs'?  It will make a difference in my character...

[Vandren]

I was thinkin' more or less serious, not that comedic elements are horrible.  :)

Request has gone in, so look for "Coming Home (SF)" under NCEF, once a goddess gets around to it.  I'll post the OOC/Background info by midnight tonight (EST), probably.

Oh, and I'm strongly leaning freeform (obviously, given the section).

[Vandren]

Board's up, under NCEF - Coming Home (SF)

[ZK]

I'd like to play. ^.^

[Vandren]

This is a bit early for a bump, but we'll be starting up IC posting Friday or Saturday, so if anyone else wants to get in on the ground floor . . .  :)

Currently, not counting NPCs, we've got 4 Mutants (1 Male, 2 Female, 1 Herm) and 3 Hunters (2 Male, 1 Female).

[Vandren]

Hi folks, we just started active IC posting and have a good group of players.  But there's definitely room for more.  :)

[robitusinz]

Vandren, I'm currently having trouble posting.  I'm still alive, though, so don't count me out.

[Vandren]

NP.  I'll make sure Kylie knows.