[MUL][UN] PbP: Perfidious Albion, A Scientific Romance (Steampunk)

Started by Caliban, March 23, 2009, 04:01:20 AM

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Caliban

I'd like to set up and run a game (or possibly more than one) on this site, and I'd like to find out who's interested.  The games will have strong plotlines (which may or may not involve erotic scenes); they will be be play-by-posting with an opportunity for some scenes in chat or via IM.  I'll ask each player to commit to posting at least twice per week, at least three weeks per month.  I'll use an appropriate set of RPG rules for guidelines, but the important thing will be the story, and if you aren't familiar with the mechanics of the rules don't worry, I'm happy to help.

I'm guessing the most popular choices would be more-or-less traditional fantasy, contemporary supernatural/horror, and steampunk.  I'm willing to run a game as long as I have at least one player who is committed as I describe above.

For a fantasy game, I'll run something that emphasizes characterization, description, setting, and plot; for rules, I'll use either D&D 3.5 (with optional rules from Unearthed Arcana) or GURPS.  My style owes a lot to Terry Pratchett's "Discworld" series, although of course I'm not as good as he is.  :-/  For a setting, I have a lot of ideas including Ravenloft, or an interdimensional city like Cynosure, or a town with an "adventuring academy" (which actually makes sense in context; it's a combination of Plato's Academy from ancient Greece with a medieval/renaissance university which teaches the trivium, quadrivium, and magick).  Of course with planar gates and teleportation, any setting can be reached (except from Ravenloft of course).
[Update: I have moved all further information about my D&D campaign "Shadows of Terramar" from to a separate Info/OOC thread for this game, and another thread for the game iteself.]

For a contemporary supernatural game -- what I call "magical realism" because it fits the literary term -- I'd use White Wolf's "World of Darkness" (Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf: The Apocalypse, etc).  (I've done both tabletop and LARP games for years, both independently and in groups like the Camarilla Fan Club.  'Nuff said.)  Player-characters could be mortals or any sort of supernatural creature, and I'd try for a style that alternates between Neil Gaiman's work on Sandman and Lucifer on one hand, and Nancy A. Collins' "Sonja Blue" stories on the other...and Kim Newman's "Anno Dracula" series on the third.
[Update: Since Korbl has just started an oWoD game "The New Succubbus Club (general OWoD thread)" I'm suggesting that game to everyone and putting mine on hold.  Thanx, Korbl!]

For a steampunk game, set in the late 19th Century, I have a well-developed an alternate-history setting in which a peaceful compromise (Ben Franklin's "Albany Plan") prevented the American Revolution, and the British Empire is the world's dominant power, and steam-powered supercomputers perform calculations in mere minutes.  (For those who really like trivia, there was an earlier point of divergence at the Putney Debates in 1648.)

"Perfidious Albion: A Scientific Romance" will use GURPS (for players who are experienced with "system" roleplaying) and FUDGE (for those who are new to "system" games); there are free *legal* downloads of "GURPS Lite" and the *complete* rules for FUDGE available online.

Update: The thread for playing Perfidious Albion is up!

Please post a reply and/or send me a PM if you're interested in playing.  If you have any questions before you decide, of course I'm happy to answer them.  If you would prefer a different setting, such as cyberpunk or space opera, let me know.  I have my limits but they're pretty flexible.

[Update added] I wasn't clear in the original version of this post:  You're welcome to play in more than one of my games!

Also, please indicate your preferred style of game, if you have one: action-adventure, roleplaying, storytelling, mystery/puzzle-solving, etc.
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

Crovonovin

A fellow after my own heart!  This post has excited me from the get go, and I would like to pledge my full support of these endeavors.  All off the settings mentioned are of interest to me, in particular the ones concerning steampunk and magical realism.  You seem like the sort to put a great deal of time and effort into the underlying foundation of a roleplay, which is just uncommon enough to make me quite enthused.  There's less risk of stagnation when there's an actual plot guiding the players along.

I suppose I will ask one question, since you mentioned it; what are your thoughts on cyberpunk?  Obviously you haven't listed a clear cut story or system here, but I was wondering if you have as much interest there.  It doesn't seem to be a very commonly used genre on these boards, from what I've seen thus far, and works in that vein have always drawn my curiosity.

Dalia

This post has me intrigued as well - for many of the same reasons as mentioned by Shihong (though I am more familiar with steampunk then cyberpunk).

I'm also new to roleplays with D&D like mechanics and rules, and the offer to be helped through one strikes me as generous. My preferences lean toward horror or steampunk, but all the plots you've pitched piqued my interest.

Caliban

Quote from: Shihong on March 23, 2009, 07:06:04 AMA fellow after my own heart!  This post has excited me from the get go, and I would like to pledge my full support of these endeavors.
Great, let's see how many other people are interested!
QuoteAll off the settings mentioned are of interest to me, in particular the ones concerning steampunk and magical realism.  You seem like the sort to put a great deal of time and effort into the underlying foundation of a roleplay, which is just uncommon enough to make me quite enthused.
I am really, really committed to background, because I'm a perfectionist, and to story, because I was spoiled by reading great fiction like Heinlein, Eddison, Tolkien, and others of that caliber.
Quotewhat are your thoughts on cyberpunk?  Obviously you haven't listed a clear cut story or system here, but I was wondering if you have as much interest there.  It doesn't seem to be a very commonly used genre on these boards, from what I've seen thus far, and works in that vein have always drawn my curiosity.
I'm not sure why it's less-popular with other people, but for me, the domestic events since 2001 have made me much less enthusiastic about doing a future history.  Things are just too weird and too depressing IRL.  (If I could find a link to the New Republic article "Negative-Sum Politics" then I would post it here to show what I'm talking about.)
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

Caliban

Quote from: Dalia on March 23, 2009, 02:02:00 PMI'm also new to roleplays with D&D like mechanics and rules, and the offer to be helped through one strikes me as generous.
My temperament ("Enneagram Type One") means I enjoy "teaching and preaching," so I love explaining things to people.  And I love getting people to play tabletop RPGs; I want to share the joys of my addiction.
QuoteMy preferences lean toward horror or steampunk, but all the plots you've pitched piqued my interest.
In case you're unfamiliar with it, Ravenloft is an explicitly gothic-horror setting for D&D.
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

Caliban

So far I have two people expressing an interest in a steampunk game (one on this thread and one via PM).  Some good references for steampunk are:
* What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist -- The Facts of Daily Life in Nineteenth-Century England by Daniel Pool (available for cheap on Amazon.com);
* An Incomplete Education, specifically the section on English Literature, which discusses obscure details of nineteenth-century British life (likewise available for cheap on Amazon);
* GURPS Steampunk by my old friend Bill Stoddard (available for cheap as a PDF at Warehouse23.com);
* Forgotten Futures: The Scientific Romance Role Playing Game by the brilliant Phil Masters (available for free as shareware, he asks that you make a donation to charity, God bless him!)
BTW, for anyone in the Washington DC area, I'm running a (non-erotic) tabletop steampunk game (set in the same alternate history) on Thursday evenings, using F.U.D.G.E. rules.
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

DarkTide

Man I love FUDGE.  Far too bad its too far away :P, but count me game for anything chosen.

Caliban

Quote from: DarkTide on March 25, 2009, 01:39:29 AM
Man I love FUDGE.  Far too bad its too far away :P, but count me game for anything chosen.
I assume you mean "anything chosen that uses FUDGE."  If so, that makes two people in my steampunk game and one in my fantasy game.  As I said, I'll run any or all that have at least one player.

So, what sort of FUDGE Steampunk character do you want to play?
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

Crovonovin

I should say that I'm not really anywhere near experienced when it comes to using systems...  I've made a few characters using various ones, but haven't gotten a chance to actually roleplaying with them yet.  Never been a tabletop gamer, so my roleplaying has been restricted to freeform.  Still, I would still be willing to participate if you were to put something together and gave a link to the rules or what-have-you. 

DarkTide

Quote from: Caliban on March 25, 2009, 11:12:11 AM
I assume you mean "anything chosen that uses FUDGE."  If so, that makes two people in my steampunk game and one in my fantasy game.  As I said, I'll run any or all that have at least one player.

So, what sort of FUDGE Steampunk character do you want to play?

I meant literally Anything :P. I enjoy WoD too, but I especially enjoy fudge :D.

Edit> Oh and to answer your question, probably a mad scientist of some kind.
Edit2> And GURPS (Naturally just above everyone who enjoys FUDGE enjoys GURPS) and D20 Modern...and well, I have only met one system that didn't at least pique my interests, and that could too really.... (FATAL if you are curious).

MHaji

You had me at Pratchett-style.

The steampunk alternate history setting definitely grabs me the most, but I don't object to any of the others. Any particular timeframe for the game? Short, long, epic?
Ons and offs, in song form.

-

AUCUUCUACGAACGUGAAGCUGACACUCAUAUUAGUCCCAUGAUGGAA

Haibane

I could be interested in a steampunk game. I have never RP'd the genre but I've always been a fan of Victorian and Edwardian science fiction. What story or premise had you in mind?

GrinningHound


goalt

So, hey. Back now, and ready to write. Woo!
O&O


Haibane

I count six people who put their hands up for steampunk, plus a seventh as yet unapproved (who could play if it was PG-13).

My only exposure to the genre is H.G.Wells, Jules Verne and 'Steamboy' (!) but I love Victoriana and steam as a motive power generally is so... I dunno, warm, alive, evocative, so different to electricity and internal combustion. I live in the UK and know most parts of the country so if you wanted some low-down on locations, and places of interest, feel free to use my talents ;)

I've quickly Wiki'd for the Albany Plan and Putney Debates and would be interested in seeing how your alternate history incorporates these politics.

dready

i'll play as well. this is the topic you said that you'd put up, right? O~o

edit: steampunk for sure. :3


BlueMary

*waves her hand for Steampunk*  I have a dashing female Hussar/swordswoman in the works.  ;D

dready

Quote from: BlueMary on March 30, 2009, 03:15:31 PM
*waves her hand for Steampunk*  I have a dashing female Hussar/swordswoman in the works.  ;D
is that somewhat like a striker feat specced fighter?

BlueMary

Erm...y-...I guess a look at the FUDGE system would be a dandy idea.

dready

indeed. ^^ though don't worry, i have the feeling that our characters won't be getting in each other's way in the striker's role, since i'm going two weapon specialist for the start. :3

Haibane

Urgh... system games *shudder*

Wish this could be freeform. I may give it a miss if it's a system game. Or just avoid the system ;)

DarkTide


Haibane

Hheehee, well if Caliban returns to explain it, I will give it a go. But when people start frothing about stats and abilities and combat moves I get cold feet. I'm into characters, not numbers. Roleplaying, not rolling dice.

DarkTide

Yeah, FUDGE stands for: Freeform-Universal-Do-it-yourself-Gaming Engine

Stats aren't even numerically rated.

Edit http://www.fudgerpg.com/files/pdf/fudge_1995.pdf
Fudgey Fudge.

If I ever run a big forum game here it will likely be FUDGE based, if only to help weed out a certain Type of gamer I prefer not to deal with.

dready


Caliban

I have several /d/u/n/g/e/o/n/s/ settings ready to run adventures and tell stories.  These include:

1. Ravenloft. 
The original gothic-horror setting for D&D (where "gothic" is defined as "classic," and "classic" is defined as "old ghost stories, and black-and-white and Hammer films").
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenloft
<http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ravenloft>

2. The Tower of the Fool: an interdimensional tower belonging to Balo the Trickster, Jester of the Gods. 
<http://www.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TricksterArchetype>

The "bouncing tower" travels across the Multiverse, and often beyond, to places (or non-places) like the Far Realm.  Balo is a deity of high weirdness and low comedy, so there's never a dull moment, and you'll die laughing.  Perhaps literally...

<http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-aristocrat-2/>

3. The Plane of Shadow.  Two centuries ago it barely existed; now it's one of the most important planes in the Multiverse, and the gateway to alternate worlds.

4. The Crystal Caverns, and the Adventuring Academy.
In a fantasy-medieval society, there would be institutions of learning inspired by Plato's Academy (where philosophers gathered in ancient Greece) and medieval-renaissance universities that taught the trivium and the quadrivium.  Such institutions would also teach thaumaturgy and goetics along with rhetoric, logic, geometry and astronomy, and the nobility and merchants would send their children to be educated in the liberal arts and practical spellcraft.

And when you have fantasy-medieval versions of frat boys and /c/o/m/p/u/t/e/r/ magick geeks, you just know they wanna adventure!

And when there are some caverns beneath the Dwarven settlement just a few miles away . . . Via Itineris!
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

Caliban

#28
For those who are using FUDGE to build their characters for my game, you can choose either "subjective character creation" or "objective character creation."  For the latter, you have the following sixteen (16) Attributes:

Appearance, Charisma, Constitution, Dexterity, Hit Points, Intelligence, Luck, Magical Aptitude, Mass, Perception, Size, Speed, Status, Strength, Wealth, and Willpower.

This game also uses "specific" skills.  These are the sort of skills described in most RPG rules systems, such as Climbing, Cooking, Dancing, Jumping, Riding, Sewing, Swimming, Lockpicking, and so forth.

In particular, each type of Engineering and each Science is a separate skill.

A character has a total of twenty-four (24) points to buy attribute levels; Good (+1) costs one free level, Great (+2) costs two, Superb (+3) costs four, and Legendary (+4) costs eight.  Some of these points can also be used to buy skills and "gifts":

1 attribute level = 3 skill levels.
1 fault = 1 gift = 2 attribute levels = 6 skill levels.
1 supernormal power = 2 gifts = 4 attribute levels = 12 skill levels.

Therefore, a character ha a total of 24 attribute levels *or* 72 skill levels, or some combination that is the equivalent value.
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

dready


Doktor Sleepless

How does this look? Made it with an online generator:

Sir Curtis Stephenson III, aka Czar Vargo, Robin Hood Of The Skyways!

Attributes
   Perception: Great
   Reasoning: Fair
   Resolve: Fair
   Strength: Fair
   Dexterity: Fair
   Vigor: Fair

Gifts
   Charisma
   Combat Reflexes

Faults
   Show Off
   Addiction (Opium)

Skills
   -- Knowledge Skills: 2 pts. (broad focus) --

Cartography : Good
Academic (Militaria) : Good

   -- Combat Skills: 1 pt. (broad focus) --

Dodge: Fair
Firearm (specific) : Fair
Melee weapon (specific): Good

   -- Social Skills: 1 pt. (narrow focus) --

Interrogate : Good
Oratory : Fair

   -- Technical Skills: 1 pt. (broad focus) --

Pilot (airship) : Fair
Gadgeteer : Fair
Mechanic : Fair
Navigation : Mediocre

Haibane

You're still looking at running the fantasy game, yes, Caliban? And not the steampunk one?

Caliban

Quote from: Haibane on April 05, 2009, 12:34:26 PMYou're still looking at running the fantasy game, yes, Caliban?
Yes, I am.  I apologize for not posting recently, I'm temporarily swamped with an advanced statistics course, but that will abate in less than a week more.
QuoteAnd not the steampunk one?
Steampunk is still go!  For a bit more about the setting:
* The Great Powers of Europe include Britain (of course), France, Spain, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and (sort of) the Ottoman Empire.
Britain is the world's dominant power -- what political scientists call a "hyperpower," like the United States in the real world.  It's opposed by the Holy Alliance (France, Spain, Austria, and Russia), and its only ally is Prussia.
* The entire world outside of Europe (except for China and Japan) has been claimed by the Great Powers.
* The British Empire includes North America (except for Louisiana, the Republic of Texas, and the Empire of California), India, Australia, New Zealand, and about half of Africa.
* Spain still retains control of Central and South America.
* The Ottomans still hold the Caliphate, but the Suez Canal is an international zone.
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

dready

oooh. so what is the viewpoint from japan's perspective? are they for or against steampunk, or are they in the middleground for that area?

GrinningHound

I'm in both games wooooooooooooo.

Oh, and I'd like for everyone who knows what my character in the fantasy game is to roleplay as though their characters do not.  Caliban mentioned who I was in an earlier post.

In the steampunk game I will be playing an Industrial Tycoon.  :P




Haibane

Thanks Caliban. As I said I am interested still in the steampunk game but am waiting to know more about the direction, plot and "point" of the game before I decide on my character.

Can you give us an idea of where we will be, when; what we will be doing and why? And are nationalities important or not? Will the game be combat-centric or more character-driven?

Basically my mind needs to know what is happening before I can grasp the point of it and design a character who will fit into the requirements of the plot.

Caliban

Quote from: Haibane on April 11, 2009, 07:18:30 PMI am interested still in the steampunk game but am waiting to know more about the direction, plot and "point" of the game before I decide on my character.
Ironically those all depend on the particular characters that people come up with, since I have an extremely character-driven game.  (Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're asking about.)
QuoteCan you give us an idea of where we will be, when; what we will be doing and why? And are nationalities important or not? Will the game be combat-centric or more character-driven?
All my games are very character-driven rather than combat-centric.  The characters in the steampunk game can do pretty much whatever they -- or rather their players -- want.  When I see what the characters are, I will provide some suggestions.  By default the game will start in Boston in the year 1870, but anyone who wants can their character to start elsewhere (but not, presumably, elsewhen).
QuoteBasically my mind needs to know what is happening before I can grasp the point of it and design a character who will fit into the requirements of the plot.
Plot?  I'm a postmodernist!  What's the plot of _Finnegan's Wake_?  Or of a Henry James story?  Or (my primary inspiration) a Hemingway story?
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

Haibane

Oh. That's not something I would enjoy then. I need a plot and point to a game. A GM who leads it and gives direction. I need to know where it is going. A bunch of characters who amble about and make things up as they go does not interest me.

I'll drop out.

Sorry.


Kaeil

I have been really really interested in posting here while I waited, and now finally... I would like to ask if you have a space available, and what would be most appropriate character type to work into the setting you are planning?

I'm pretty easy about characters and rather have one that fits the situation with other members then the ideal character who has no place with other players.

Thanks a lot and hope to hear something back,
K

Caliban

Quote from: Kaeil on April 29, 2009, 03:53:19 PMI would like to ask if you have a space available
Sure, the airship holds plenty of room!
Quoteand what would be most appropriate character type to work into the setting you are planning?
Someone who would fit into an old-fashioned steampunk milieu, like that depicted in _The Difference Engine_ or the original printed (and good) version of _The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen_ or _Space: 1889_ or _The Two Georges_.

The setting is described in the first post of the actual game thread, and I expect most of the player-characters will be officers and specialists aboard Doktor_Sleepless' privateer airship, on detached, clandestine, and in fact deniable service for H.M. Government.
"All jocks think about is sports.  All nerds think about is sex." Somewhere at the edge of the bell curve is the girl for me.
"Take off your clothes.  And roll for initiative." I burn for you: I Cor. 7:9
System RP: Shadows of Terramar (d20 fantasy) * Pulp Scripture (WoD contemporary supernatural) * Perfidious Albion (GURPS steampunk)
Do the rocks in my head fit the holes in yours? --> Oohs and Ahhs
Meae Culpae (A&A)

Crovonovin

Hrm.  Just making sure here...I did send my character sheet to you way back when, right?  It's been so long now that I have totally forgotten.