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Our Shadows Remain (Current Status: Closed)

Started by Intimate Ink, April 04, 2016, 11:58:18 PM

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Pumpkin Seeds


Intimate Ink

Quote from: Pumpkin Seeds on April 06, 2016, 01:37:42 AM
I am kind of wandering if I can play up the storm that decimated the Dream Speakers with a very spiritual type of Euthantos.  Perhaps one that came to sort of weed out the darkness in the Spirit World here along with the mortal ways.  My idea is certainly taking this character to an "other-worldly" type of person.  While I wouldn't mind playing a Dream Speaker, I do like this sort of weeding out corruption aspect to the Euthantos along with the Entropy Sphere.  So sort of merging the notions at least in my mind.  Not sure if anyone sees where I'm going here.

Sounds like a great concept!  I'd love to see something like that if you decide that is what you want.   I think it would fit well in the game, and I would say your character and Muse's character might have some things to talk about if he goes the spirit exploration route that he was talking about.

Muse

#27
  I'm experimenting with the Akashic first.  Don't actually have my book in Odessa with me. 

  Is the Phylacetry flaw a thing in Revised?  Not sure if I actually want it, but it kind of fits with the history I'm adapting. 

<snipped for document link>

  If I don't wind up totally hooked on her, I'll put up a steampunk girl concept too. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Muse

  Also, what skill should I give a manga ka/art student? 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Intimate Ink

Quote from: Muse on April 06, 2016, 03:32:09 AM
  Also, what skill should I give a manga ka/art student?

I think the Talent 'Art' probably encompasses that best, unless I am misinterpreting the question?

wander

#30
Okay, so this is my basic character, without the added GM freebies. This does include the normal freeby points from normal character generation however.
I've not completed yet with his name etc, so WIP for now.







Name:? ? ?Player:wanderExperience:0
Concept:Geeky Space-Time EtheriteNature:MartyrDemeanor:Rebel
Chronicle:Our Shadows RemainAffiliation:TraditionsFace-claim:Devendra Banhart
Sect:Society of EtherEssence:Primordial




~Attributes~


Strength:ooxxxCharisma:oooxxPerception:oooxx
Dexterity:ooxxxManipulation:oooxxIntelligence:oooox
Stamina:ooxxxAppearance:ooxxxWits:oooxx




~Abilities: Talents/Skills/Knowledges~

Alertness:ooxxxArt:ooxxxAthletics:xxxxxAwareness:ooxxxBrawl:xxxxx
Empathy:oxxxxExpression:xxxxxIntimidation:xxxxxLeadership:xxxxxStreetwise:oxxxx
Subterfuge:oxxxx


Crafts:oxxxxDrive:xxxxxEtiquette:oxxxxFirearms:ooxxxMartial Arts:xxxxx
Meditation:oxxxxMelee:oxxxxResearch:ooxxxStealth:ooxxxSurvival:oxxxx
Technology:ooxxx

(6 char gen freebys spent on knowledges)
Academics:ooxxxComputer:oxxxxCosmology:oxxxxEnigmas:xxxxxEsoterica:xxxxx
Investigation:xxxxxLaw:xxxxxMedicine:oxxxxOccult:ooxxxPolitics:xxxxx
Science:oxxxx




~Spheres~


Correspondence:oxxxxLife:xxxxxPrime:oxxxx
Entropy:xxxxxMatter:xxxxxSpirit:oxxxx
Forces:xxxxxMind:oxxxxTime:ooxxx




~Backgrounds~
(spent 5 char gen freeby points here)

Allies:oxxxxAvatar:oxxxxDemense:oxxxxLibrary:oooxxMentor:oxxxxPast Lives:ooxxxResources:oxxxx




~Advantages~

Arete: ooxxx xxxxx (spent 4 char gen freebies)
Willpower: ooooo oxxxx (spent 1 char gen freeby)
Quintessence: oxxxx xxxxx
Paradox: xxxxx xxxxx




~Merits~
Physical - Acute Touch (-1 freeby)

~Flaws~
Supernatural - Cursed (+1 freeby): tech can glitch out on him, his laptop can seem infected with a malware when it's actually perfectly fine.
Supernatural - Echoes (+1 freeby): He carries a strange scent that marks his Mage heritage. Someone clued in may be reminded of the Lower Umbra





Foci
Paradigm: A Mechanist Cosmos/Everything is Data
The Universe was created via a quantum irregularity, through a decimal percentage was Creation started... Through the
method of adapting percentages can we create 'magic'. Creation is also interlaced with dark particles [quintessence],
combined with the observer effect allows wave collapse and quantum form to be decided. 'If there is even the smallest
chance something can happen, then it is possible'... That is the power of Belief behind this Quantum magic. Creation
itself is a larger flowing Pattern of quantum equations, working outwards, it is continual but also can be shifted in a
multitude of ways.


Practice: Reality Hacking.
Through knowledge [arete] & a presence of quantum particles [quintessence/tass], the observer effect can be
performed, creating a desired wave collapse. To sense the unseen, instruments to create this observer effect are used,
including quantum theory and mathematical calculations, with other things that aid or will shift the mage's perception.


Instruments:
> Quantum theory
> Cigarettes & alcohol
> Mathematical calculation
> Demense (unique instrument: Time)
> Visualisation
> Deep Breathing
> Eye Contact (Personalised instrument, Prime, observer effect)





Specialties
Intelligence: Book-Learning.





Background / History
TBA.





~Notable Gear/Equipment/Wonders~
Nothing of major note.





~Anything Else You Want Shared~
TBA.

Intimate Ink

Looks awesome, wander.  I love it, and look forward to seeing the rest.

A couple notes:

1) I'll note that you did not take all the offered freebies so if you choose to take advantage of the 'free upcoming seeking' option, you may.   Obviously you are not obligated to.

2) Be sure and specify to me the value and nature of your flaws since both of them can be multi-valued.  I'm also happy decided what they should be, but think players should have say in it if they want.

3) Feel free to touch base with me when you are ready to work out any details you would like with your various backgrounds, so that you may have easy access to them when you want to make use of them in the game.


wander

Ah, forgot to add the levels of merits and flaws. I'll edit that in.

There's 16 freebys spent above, the base 15 and then I gained 2 from flaws, lost 1 from the merit to make 16. I wasn't sure if I spent them correctly, so I noted where the spends were (Especially with Arete and Willpower).

I do know the Mentor will be my guy's uncle, they share the same style of magic, which I'll mention in his character history when I get to add it in. His allies are his close friend(s), unsure if they'll be Mages or Sleepers. I basically wanted him to be able to call on a favour from his closest friend (again, will be detailed when I write his history) if he needs it.

I also was kinda unclear when it came to Foci, so I wrote down pretty much everything important. I was led to believe in Mage 20th a change from the old versions is you don't have to match instruments to spheres now (though note I did for ones which specifically are used for certain spheres). I'm not completely struck on his instruments atm, but basically I wanted them to be things that he uses to think unimpeded by anxiety and to think and do clearly, or be 'eye openers' to look beyond the veil in a relaxed state kinda thing. :)

Blythe

#33
Okay, I've got my sheet done, and I thought I would share it here for those who would like to have an idea of what sort of character I'm playing. ^^





Model name: Adrian Allen






Name:Michael KayPlayer:BlytheExperience: 0
Concept:Sassy Online Security SpecialistNature:HackerDemeanor:Contrary
Chronicle:Our Shadows RemainAffiliation:Traditions
Sect:Virtual AdeptEssence:Questing




~Attributes~


Strength:●●●○○Charisma:●●○○○Perception:●●●○○
Dexterity:●●●●○Manipulation:●●○○○Intelligence:●●●○○
Stamina:●●●○○Appearance:●●○○○Wits:●●○○○




~Abilities: Talents/Skills/Knowledges~

Alertness:●○○○○Art:○○○○○Athletics:●○○○○Awareness:●○○○○Brawl:●●○○○
Empathy:○○○○○Expression:○○○○○Intimidation:○○○○○Leadership:○○○○○Streetwise:○○○○○
Subterfuge:○○○○○


Crafts:○○○○○Drive:○○○○○Etiquette:○○○○○Firearms:●○○○○Martial Arts:●●○○○
Meditation:●●○○○Melee:○○○○○Research:●○○○○Stealth:●○○○○Survival:○○○○○
Technology:●●○○○

Academics:●○○○○Computer:●●●○○Cosmology:○○○○○Enigmas:●●○○○Esoterica:●○○○○
Investigation:●●○○○Law:●●○○○Medicine:○○○○○Occult:○○○○○Politics:○○○○○
Science:●●●○○




~Spheres~


Correspondence:●●○○○Life:○○○○○Prime:●●○○○
Entropy:○○○○○Matter:○○○○○Spirit:●●○○○
Forces:●●○○○Mind:○○○○○Time:○○○○○




~Backgrounds~


Avatar:●●●○○Resources:●●●○○Influence (Hackers):●●○○○




~Advantages~

Arete: ●●○○○  ○○○○○
Willpower: ●●●●●  ●○○○○
Quintessence: ●●●○○  ○○○○○
Paradox: ○○○○○  ○○○○○




~Merits~
- None

~Flaws~
- Deranged (OCD) (3 pt.} [Details - Cannot abide 'mistakes' and requires everything be neat and clean. If that means washing his hands seven times or pouring over some code fifty times before going to sleep, then that's what it takes.]




~ Specialities ~
Dexterity: Feline Reflexes




~ Background/History ~
(I've made this very short, as it's something I tend to want to work on more in gameplay for systems I'm new to when I can)

Michael is a surprisingly physical sort of guy who uses fighting and physicality as a method of self-control that started becoming fascinated with patterns and coding--and his physical training in martial arts, in a way, is just a "kinetic pattern" that his body learns. He quickly moved into an obsession with the little details, with computers, with tech. He got involved with a hacker cell in the States, not realizing these were Virtual Adepts, and his Awakening triggered.

He passed the tests needed to be a Virtual Adept, and he got involved in some online "activism"...well, mostly. Sort of. Until he got himself into serious trouble trolling the wrong people (powerful people), and then he had to be up and away, using his savings to jet off to São Paulo to try to rebuild his life. He's left his past as well as the people he pissed off behind--he has comfortably re-established himself in the tech industry of the city and sometimes moonlights as a hacker. The money's good; he doesn't struggle for anything, which is just as well.

Magick is still new to him. Because of his issues with OCD, he's loathe to use his new abilities too much. He wants to grow and learn as a Mage, but he can't bear the idea of not doing things perfectly, especially considering what can happen when things go wrong. An incorrectly-cast spell leaves him more obsessive than dirty laundry on the floor--imagine reality not being clean and not being sure how to clean it up. That's how badly-cast magick, or sometimes too flashy or damaging Vulgar magic, makes him feel.

Michael did leave family behind in the States, but it was just his mom and sister. He sometimes wires them money when they are in a pinch. His mother, Lucinda, thinks his online capers are too dangerous, but she's proud of her son nonetheless. His sister, who is ten years younger than him, admires him but finds him to be pompous and spoiled, too self-involved.

Michael is thirty years old and has never been married. Technically, Michael thinks he's straight. He's never had sex on the brain. But actually he's pansexual and just hasn't found the right people to bring that out in him. He's also closer to a Dominant on the D/s spectrum..




~ Notable Gear/Equipment/Wonders ~

  • Smartphone
  • Laptop
  • VR Headset
  • Jigglypuff keychain and a small roll of Jigglypuff stickers
  • A notebook full of mathemtical notes
  • Tablet
  • Disposable cell phone (to talk to fellow hackers)
  • Briefcase (that can hold electronics and notebook; Michael likes to carry his things with him)




Paradigm, Practice, and Instruments

Paradigm: "A Mechanistic Cosmos" definitely is the Paradigm for Michael. He thinks in patterns and understandable hard data, in terms of clean or not-clean. The world is something large and whimsical to him, sure, but it's very quantifiable.

Practice: Reality Hacking - If everything is a pattern, and coding and programming is just language and therefore a pattern...yep. Michael gets lost in this train of thought. But this is his practice. Sometimes he's a little heavy on the use of memes, too.

Instruments:
- Smartphone (probably used for most of his powers, honestly. Depends on how many magickal Apps he creates for it. But ultimately, this is for his affinity Sphere of Correspondence and his favorite instrument)
- Tablet (Books in the digital age go here! Michael finds that his tablet is a good source to store information and review things. It's often a focus for Correspondence)
- Digital Music Files (Technological while still having the beauty of music. Music is all math and patterns, and Michael often tries to fit songs to his spells. Woe betide a Michael Kay humming along on an empty street to a phone's ring tone! This is usuable for all of his Spheres)
- VR headset (for Correspondence & Spirit)
- Meditation (For Spirit & Prime, learned when he trained in Martial Arts, also convenient when trying to calm down from an OCD episode)
- Numbers/Numerology - Michael likes things to feel concrete. Every magickal act should be represented by a symbolic number or formula. This appeals to his feelings about patterns. More often than not, this is for Correspondence or Prime)
- Thought Form - [Jigglypuff] And now that I have lost your respect... Michael used to be really into cartoons when he was younger. To a point where Jigglypuff is important to him. Jigglypuff sings in patterns, is part of a 'cartoon system' of evolution (into Wigglytuff). Michael often keeps stickers of Jigglypuff on his electronics or personal items. For him, this is a connection to Forces--Jigglypuff is active, mobile, and singing--representing movement and energy (increasing or decreasing it!).




~Health~


  • Bruised (-0) -
  • Hurt (-1) -
  • Injured (-1) -
  • Wounded (-2) -
  • Mauled (-2) -
  • Crippled (-5) -
  • Incapacitated -




How I spent my freebies

1 for 1 dots in Resources
1 for 1 dot of Willpower
2 for 2 dots in Influence
14 for 2 in Prime Sphere
Gained 3 pts for Flaw Deranged (OCD)
Note: Took one freebie point offered by the GM for Portuguese (represented as a dot in Academics)
Note: I ended up spending 4 of the 8 "extra" Freebies given by the GM on Arete after realizing the limitations with Arete and Spheres. I am saving my last 4 "G freebies" for later. I used the starting 15 and a points from a Flaw in addition to that..

Intimate Ink

Quote from: wander on April 06, 2016, 05:33:15 PM
I also was kinda unclear when it came to Foci, so I wrote down pretty much everything important. I was led to believe in Mage 20th a change from the old versions is you don't have to match instruments to spheres now (though note I did for ones which specifically are used for certain spheres). I'm not completely struck on his instruments atm, but basically I wanted them to be things that he uses to think unimpeded by anxiety and to think and do clearly, or be 'eye openers' to look beyond the veil in a relaxed state kinda thing. :)

I think you did a great job with the foci/instruments.  Some of the old tradition books seemed to already be drifting away from the specific instrument for specific sphere approach.  I think it's sometimes USEFUL to still think about what are the easiest foci for each sphere to help keep effects from looking quite so vulgar, and I like the canvas being painted narrow enough that it is still conceivable that your mage might be inconvenienced because there is not an easy foci on hand.  Otherwise I'm not looking for exact match-ups.  For the Traditions it applies to I am mainly concerned with what spheres they can operate without an instrument, and for everyone I am mainly concerned with knowing that there still can be that level of inconvenience, and that there has been some thought given to linking the instruments to the character's larger worldview on magic (paradigm).

wander

*nods* I am unsure most on the 'breathing' instrument. In making the character I had originally visualised him having his mind open to hack reality through stuff like asmr and reiki. I then thought that as these things need someone else really to do them to him, they weren't so good. Also, he's not the type to actually have belief in reiki, it'd be more the wiping away of stress it causes that would benefit him.

That said, I may swap it out for 'ASMR youtube videos' as I did originally plan for him to do alot of his math and quantum formulas on a laptop. ^^ He's a very much 'sit down seer' kinda Mage atm before he improves. :)




Blythe, cool character! He seems really powerful and I do love the quirky Jigglypuff hacker theme. ^^ I've never considered a Virtual Adept for a martial artist, so thats cool. :)

I always pictured them mainly as internet trolls and hacktivists before now.  ;D (That said, my character was very nearly a VA, but Ether fits them better for the science and quantum angle ^^)

Intimate Ink

Awesome character, Blythe, as we've already discussed over PMs.  Love it.  :) 

(Jigglypuff, I choose you...)

Intimate Ink

So, since this is a newbie-friendly game, I keep getting caught on an idea that I can't decide  upon.  I'd like to get some opinions.

Since sphere magic can be confusing/intimidating to work with at first, I was debating creating some pre-approved effects (I want to say rotes so bad, but that isn't proper lingo any more... :P ) for people to reference and use.  Some of my own making, some that I pull from various sources with some alterations. 

I'm stuck because part of me thinks it might help those who are learning, the other part of me is concerned that it might become a bit restrictive.  There is a lot to sphere magick other than looking up pre-existing effects and using one, after all.  First, there is always the question of how it works with your particularly character's world view on magic, secondly, it might make sphere magick look a lot more restrictive than it is and discourage people from learning how to creatively string things together.

Anyone feel like offering an opinion one way or the other?

Rook Seidhr

"How Do You Do That?" is basically a book full of those.

It's vital material. I don't see how a new player could get the hang of Sphere magick without it, and it's useful even for seasoned pros. Unfortunately, that's money added to the cost of the corebook.

Blythe

I bought "How Do You Do That?" and....it was really helpful. Insanely helpful.

I think that, if we have players that don't own that, showing some uses of Sphere magic as examples would be very helpful.

Orange Marmalade

I think that'd be super useful, Iinkboyo. GMs vary greatly sometimes in what is necessary, too, so it'll give even experienced players an idea of what you see is capable with various spheres and levels of them.

wander

As I don't see myself getting the book anytime soon, I would love to know a bit more from it's contents and helping me write performing magic. I have a grip on Mages and know the lore, basics etc, but this is really the first proper game I'm going to play with it, so I see myself using fewer options without some outside help saying 'Hey, your Paradigm and Practice is this, so this is how using your instruments would manifest through your Sphere use', which I believe the supplement book kinda covers.

Intimate Ink

It sounds like the general consensus is that providing some rotes would be helpful.   Consider it forthcoming.

On a related note,  for anyone who is interested,  once I open up soft play (by that I mean: free play / no GM led plot yet / good time to roleplay out connections while other people finish up their sheets)  I will be providing an NPC willing to give "lessons" to any new mages.  In other words,  if you want a concept explained to you in-character,  or want practice performing magic without everyone being super-attentive to it in a plotline thread,  etc. you may get it there.   Obviously everything will be colored by the NPC view,  but there will be plenty of accompanying notes for me clarifying such things. 

wander

I am very down for that. :)

I'll likely add into my character's backstory the whole reason he came to Sao Paulo was to learn more about Maging. Fits well with the Mentor background, as I can say he happens to live in the city and gives my guy a reason to be a new arrival and he came with his best friend, who'll be his Ally (where I was reminded that allies are always sleepers after a quick reread last night).

Gonna cement his flaws now whilst I'm here too.

Orange Marmalade

Working on my character tonight! Super excited!

But I'd like to say the author and editor of this M20 book needs to really find a new line of work. This shit is terrible. You get into the System/Rules pages and it is like... page upon page upon page of useless crap you have to dig through while you're trying to actually figure out the system and how things work. You'll get like 2 lines of "When you roll this, here's what happens" followed by 5 pages of flavor text that belongs elsewhere or should have been cut entirely.

And really, what kind of core rulebook is almost 700 pages?!

Muse

#45
  Much closer to done now.  I need to insert paradign and focus information. 

  I inserted Jessica's history at the bottom.  Would love some feedback.  (It's adapted from a similar concept i tried for another game.) 

<snipped for document link>
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Intimate Ink

Wooo, thanks Muse!  I don't have time to read through everything right this second, but you'll hear from me in 24 hours and hopefully much less.  I'm definitely liking all I see on my admittedly quick visual scan.

Pumpkin Seeds


wander

One question as I try to find the words to place down my character's backstory (I have a basic skelenton in my mind, but it's kinda bullet-points atm) and that's how the Mage timeline factors into this game...

The fluff in the OP mentions the Technocrats got a victory 20 years ago (Horizon being taken?) and the Avatar Storm was a thing here too (that happened in 1999 in the week of nightmares, so we're talking 17 years prior?). Just wanted a bit of timeline clarification really.  :-)

Intimate Ink

#49
Yeah, forgive some of the vagueness, since this is supposed to be a newbie-friendly game I was deliberately trying to somewhat gloss over some events so that people not intimately familiar with the game didn't think they were reading gibberish..

I'm making a calculated risk based on the way the information was laid out in M20, in addition to some of the later Mage: Revised supplement books, that canon (not that going with canon is all-important, but I want anyone walking possibly into the game at some later time not being too confused if the storyline veers in a completely different direction.,) is the events of Mage Revised + new events introduced in the later supplements.  I don't want to talk too much on that here since some of it will tie into game plots, but if you aren't the type who minds spoilers we can chat about it some in PM.  I actually have already left a few clues here and there...


So, basically, to make a lot of references I am not asking players on here know: There was the Fall of Doissetep, Technocrat take-over, etc.)  It all seems over from the traditions, but then the Week of Nightmares occurs, culminating in Xerxes dropping the Spirit Nuke to save our collective asses.  The lower umbra gets shredded, which, in turn, sets off a chain reaction that becomes the avatar storm.  Much of the technocrats technology and infrastructure are shredded and they are cut off from their leadership; this causes most of the conventions to change priorities (some materials outright say 'soften up'), save the Void Engineers who take a hard extremist turn.  Over time the storm diminishes until there are only occasional roving storms.  Anyone thinking that business as usual can start again learn they are sorely wrong: the rules and paths of the umbra have changed, many of the  resources/nodes/chantries/equipment/etc. that were on that side of the gauntlet are rubble, many of the leaders (which more or less included all of the Technocracy's leadership) who were on that side were outright dead or missing, and those who aren't have found they are no longer able to cross the gauntlet back into the physical world... not to mention, tend to act very, very disturbing and strange.


Hopefully this helps?