Sanctuary (Freeform Cyberpunk Superhero Sandbox) [CLOSED]

[Totoro]

Sanctuary is a freeform superhero game designed to set up a player-driven sandbox as superhumans come to conflict over the heart of the city. The game will be set in the fictional mega-city 'Sanctuary' in America in the year 2099. It will have heavy cyberpunk elements and a dystopian society. The heroes will be split into 'Custodians' and 'Renegades'. Respectively one side will seek to maintain the flawed but stable status quo while the other aim to upend it despite having little in the way of a concrete plan if they succeed. Players will have the opportunity to form rivalries, alliances and all kinds of plots and plans as they seek to tip the city in their faction's favour. Neither side will be labelled as truly being heroes or villains. In the setting superpowers will be commonplace and obtained from a wide array of sources. For this game all powers will be decided using a random generator. Players will be able to chose a category of powers for a character and all of that character's powers will be generated randomly from that selected category. LINK to the generator in question for those curious. 

This is currently an interest check. Please post in this thread if interested in this game concept. I would like at least 4-5 writers to start this game.

The Setting

In 2099 the world has mostly been split into vast mega-cities and rural land dedicated to farming. While natural areas are still preserved they are few and far between gigantic farmlands and sprawling cities that blot up entire horizons. While nations remain their power and the power of their leadership pales in comparison to that of corporations worth hundreds of trillions who can manipulate the populace on a grand scale using their sheer wealth as a near-infinite resource. Ordinary people are forced to work what jobs still need a human hand while machines have taken over the vast majority of labour work.

War is near non-existent with the only real conflict being those who rebel against corporations and strive to upset the state of the world. Invariably they meet disastrous ends but once in a while they leave a not insignificant mark on the way out. Over the years science and data have outstripped belief and faith with university education being a basic right however most degrees are of minimal use and unemployment continues to be a problem with those struggling to make their way in the city often ending up homeless.

The City

Sanctuary City is a vast city in the centre of the United States, one of the largest cities in the country it has a population of more than fifty million people and covers an area of over one-thousand square miles. The city is most prominently controlled by Maximo Corp, a vast company involved in countless industries across thousands of subsidiaries. Although there is a mayor and a police force the city's security is truly in the hands of the superhero organisation 'Custodian' under the umbrella of Maximo Corp and they are most consistently opposed by criminals branded 'Renegades' who seek to overthrow the dystopian leadership.

Most civilians live in vast skyscrapers and tower blocks in repetitive, monotonous apartments that afford some luxuries based on one's value to the system. Almost all work is pre-assigned and all people are expected to work in order to afford housing and food. Families are expected to keep to no more than one child with excess childbirth incurring vast punitive fines. The city's entertainment is largely digital with highly advanced holograms, exotic clubs and all manner of other amenities available to those with the funding.

Under the surface the criminal element of the city are those who refuse to be a part of the system. They often have excellent technological understanding to keep their operations clandestine and avoid the wrath of the city's custodians. They tend to deal in highly potent drugs, humans and opportunities to break the rules and feel more free or alive. The gangs range from the odd rogue individual to those with a broader organization, scope and plan.

Technology

In the year 2099 humanity has made countless advances in technology ranging from quality of life improvements to vast, sweeping changes. The presence of superpowers for more than a century skyrocketed humanity's progress in the sciences. New technology includes absurdly powerful internet, holograms, hard-light, plasma and laser weaponry, ionic reactors, flying cars, teleportation devices, lab-grown mass-produced food alternatives, cloning, cybernetic enhancements, cellular manipulation, virtual realities and functional artificial intelligence. In short, for the right price, there is little that cannot be accomplished through science and superpowers. Magic, too, exists in the form of superpowers that bend or break the laws of physics entirely.

Superhumans

Superhumans are commonplace and have been for more than a century. They are most often graded by power and, separately, by either fame or infamy depending on which applies to them. Some highly powerful characters who have yet to truly use their abilities may be less known just as some highly famous characters may not be particularly powerful but instead determined and prolific. Power level and fame/infamy will be determined by me and may adjust over time in-game. Characters will have the ability to gain more powers over time as they develop their skills and abilities.

Power Levels

Power Levels

S: Powers that are a threat to an entire city.
A: Powers that are a threat to a district or large town.
B: Powers that are a threat to a large skyscraper or a village.
C: Powers that are a threat to one large building or a group of smaller ones.
D: Powers that are a threat to a single building or moderate group of people.
E: Powers that are a threat to a small group of people.
F: An ordinary person or someone not notably more dangerous than an ordinary person.

Fame/Infamy

Fame/Infamy

0: A widely feared Renegade, one of the absolute most-wanted in the city.
1: A well-known Renegade responsible for at least a few high-profile crimes.
2: A Renegade who committed at least one famous crime or a string of smaller ones.
3: A criminal who is suspected of being a renegade but it is not yet certain.
4: Any ordinary criminal, even on a low level, has the base tier of infamy.
5: An ordinary civilian, famous for nothing and infamous for nothing.
6: A recruit Custodian who has yet to make any notable name for themselves.
7: A rookie Custodian, past their first few months.
8: A rising star Custodian or one who has settled for middling fame. Successful but not truly renowned.
9: A widely known Custodian, likely recognized by most people in the city and known by some outside of it.
10: A legendary Custodian, adored in their home city, respected in their nation and known around the globe.

Rules

1. Do not cause or participate in drama. Bring interpersonal issues to me.
2. Have a reasonable standard of English. Third-person past-tense is required. Some mistakes are of course allowed.
3. Do not godmode (This includes NPC's). Do not write a mary-sue.
4. Please read this post in full before asking questions/submitting a character.
5. Inform me if you will not be able to post for more than two weeks. Please try to be an active and enthusiastic part of the game.
6. GM word is final. This includes on randomly generated powers. I will do my best to avoid giving anyone either useless or overpowered powers.
7. Please be aware this game will feature graphic and upsetting content at times.
8. Please avoid controversial topics in the game's OOC. These include politics and religion.

Character Creation

Segment will be added if interest check is passed.

F.A.Q

Why randomly generate powers? In this game player against player conflict will be frequent. In order to balance the powers of characters and avoid the creation of mary-sues or selection of powers with the intent of abusing them a random generator creates a level playing field among the characters. I will make minor alterations and veto certain powers if the generator grants them due to the fact some powers present in the generator are not suitable for group games.

How many characters can I play? As many as you can consistently keep active. If a character goes one month without an IC post I will ask that you reconsider them. There will be limits on the amount of high fame/infamy and high power characters per player. Power levels will be determined by me based on the character's described powers. Fame/Infamy will be decided by me based on the character's described backstory. If you disagree with my assessment I will be willing to listen and may adjust.

Can I play a more normal person? Yes, you can, so long as there are plans for them to interact with the other PC's in some way.

[Kadigan]

I find myself interested. I fear the random power I may receive .

[Totoro]

I find myself interested. I fear the random power I may receive .

Some of them are incredibly bizarre, for sure. I think it'll at least be different.