Kammergericht Nights: Monster-hunting in Post-WWII Berlin | NC-Exotic

[Callie Del Noire]

I imagine there are some good pieces.

I looked up the webley, it’s a very iconic gun.

[Lokus]

I imagine there are some good pieces.

I looked up the webley, it’s a very iconic gun.

It certainly is!

The system is very abstract. Light pistol or heavy pistol. Rifle. SMG. We aren't really ever digging into the details or particular characteristics of the weapons. But sometimes it's nice to get the "set-dressing" right.

[Callie Del Noire]

It certainly is!

The system is very abstract. Light pistol or heavy pistol. Rifle. SMG. We aren't really ever digging into the details or particular characteristics of the weapons. But sometimes it's nice to get the "set-dressing" right.

Yeah while a player MIGHT have a trench gun stuck somewhere, one doesn’t walk thru the streets with it.

A Webley is a great thing. (I was amazed at how long they stayed in service.)

[Metraxa]

Well, I'm working on an American, but I'm finding that the stat system is twisting my brain more than it probably should, or at the very least there's something I'm not getting about how you divine what you have to pull from for the three scores. Can someone lend a poor man a hand?

[Callie Del Noire]

I think I’d describe it as a condenses version of the old storyteller attributes

Physical is your physical stats (Strength, agility ect)
Mental covers anything that would deal with intellengence and so on (science, ect)
Social are your social skills (how good you are intimidating, seducing, lying)

The dice pool spread builds you as a person.

Using my guy.. with a 2 Physical and Social.. I’m dead average (ish)
My mental Stat is 4 so I’m the ‘nerd’ of the group so far.


Now Tags add to actions that you use.. for example.. I have speak many languages.. that could be applied to Social for talking to someone in their own language or Mental for translating a book (if I understand the write up) and

Flaws can detract from them.. for example I have Flashbacks/Nightmares.. I might have an episode and lose dice in a mental skill while trying to defuse an X-tech bomb. (I’m stressed and nervous, ect)

Does that help?

[Metraxa]

I think the part I'm most confused with is getting the numerical value for the stats themselves at this point. I don't do system based RPGs all that often so I guess it doesn't come that naturally to me.

[Callie Del Noire]

Typically on ‘pool assigned’ stats.. each number represents a dice to roll for actions..  you can add Tags/Flaws to alter the dice for something your attempting.

Example: I try to shoot someone with my charaters pistol I use my physical dice 2 and I activate my Lucky shot getting 2d6 (from 2 physical) and another 2d6 (from lucky shot). You use your flaws to refresh your tags.. so for me, sometime later I run into someone familiar to the memories that I have in my Flashbacks flaw and take a penalty to the action BUT I refresh my flaw

Does that help clear it up?

Of course this is my read on what the GM posted so I might be wrong but that is how I get the system at hand

[Metraxa]

I just want to know how you get the initial value for each stat. Do you roll a single dice, is there some kind of combination plus division going on. How did you come to the 2/4/2 stat spread

[Callie Del Noire]

I just want to know how you get the initial value for each stat. Do you roll a single dice, is there some kind of combination plus division going on. How did you come to the 2/4/2 stat spread

You start with a pool of 8 dice to spread between the three stats.. I went 2/4/2 and dicequeer went 2/3/3

[Lokus]

I just want to know how you get the initial value for each stat. Do you roll a single dice, is there some kind of combination plus division going on. How did you come to the 2/4/2 stat spread

You start with a pool of 8 dice to spread between the three stats.. I went 2/4/2 and dicequeer went 2/3/3

Hey Metraxa - Callie has it exactly. Here's a cut and paste from the Chargen section (third or fourth post on the first page). in hindsight I could have used "assigns 8d6 between the the stats" -- and I think I'll edit that now.

Step 3. Assign stats

There are three stats, Physical, Mental, and Social. Each player assigns 8d6 to the three stats. All stats must be at least 1d6, none can be higher than 5d6. They will form the basis of your "pool" in conflicts. As a special note, gun combat is controlled by Mental, a combination of Willpower, Perception, and Marksmanship training. Physical and Social combat are controlled by their respective traits.

Ex3: Political Officer Igor Komenoshenko has Physical 2, Mental 2, Social 4

[Lokus]

Well, I'm working on an American, but I'm finding that the stat system is twisting my brain more than it probably should, or at the very least there's something I'm not getting about how you divine what you have to pull from for the three scores. Can someone lend a poor man a hand.

Callie did a great job. But I will make a slight correction. You can't dodge bullets. Gun combat is a mixture of perception, willpower, and cunning -- our "smarty pants" characters will be very good shots.

So, we take 8d6 and divide it. So, 3d6 (or 3, because we're always talking d6s) Physical, 3 Mental, 2 Social. If you try to climb a fire escape faster than an opponent? That would be a 3d6 roll. If you get a total of 6 you succeeded. If you get 9 you have two successes. If you have 12 you have 3 successes. 15 is 4, and if you rolled your max, 18, you'd have 5 successes.

There is a big difference between 2d6 and 3d6. If you're rolling 2d6 you are going to want to use one of your tags, if you can.

I will walk us all through the first few tests and conflicts, I wouldn't worry too much about "system mastery" because there isn't much of one.

[Metraxa]

At this point I'm probably going to make an American, someone who knows how to go for a round or two because we've got an intel officer and a doctor, so we're a bit lacking in the muscle department :V

[Callie Del Noire]

Please, I prefer the title ‘Professor of the Erractic Sciences’

[Lokus]

At this point I'm probably going to make an American, someone who knows how to go for a round or two because we've got an intel officer and a doctor, so we're a bit lacking in the muscle department :V

If you're looking for a tag to really put you over the top, is there anything in mid-20th c American martial arts more iconic than "Golden Gloves Boxer"?

[Callie Del Noire]

Or “Backroom brawler” or “School of Hard knocks”

[Metraxa]

Name: Gordon Briggs
Nationality: American
Background:  A Midwestern boy born and raised, like many Gordon would heed the call to arms as the United States joined World War 2. It was his first real experience with the wider world beyond his hometown, both the good and the bad.

Initially part of Operation Torch, he would go on to see action in the Italian campaign as Sicily fell and the Italians flipped to the Allied side. While troops landed on the beaches in Normandy, he and his unit were advancing northwards towards the Gothic Line. While not suffering the brunt that those moving into Germany would, the Gothic Line would herald his first encounter with X Tech. At night the Germans deployed some sort of biological weapon, one that struck men down and left them screaming in agony, before rising again with black eyes and rickety movements. Nothing more than a puppet for some sort of creature that had taken them over (To distinguish from the zombie troopers being used in Poland).

He was the only one from his unit to survive, hiding in the crags of the rocks and clutching to his rifle when reinforcements arrived and the monsters were put down with heavy firepower. It was this encounter which would eventually bring him to the attention of the RPA. It was not the only time he would run into X Tech, but the most notable amongst his record, and he would approach the rest with an increasingly cold demeanor. When approached by the RPA he leapt at the chance to do some good, and put some of his nightmares in the ground.

Stats:
Physical: 4 Mental: 2 Social: 2

Tags: Backroom Brawler, Cool under Pressure, Hometown Charm
Flaws: Insomniac

Agenda:
- National: Keep X-Tech out of Soviet control
- Personal: Locate the Ahnenerbe secret archives

Equipment:
M1911 .45 pistol
M4 Bayonet
Notebook

[Lokus]

Name: Gordon Briggs
Nationality: American
Background:  A Midwestern boy born and raised, like many Gordon would heed the call to arms as the United States joined World War 2. It was his first real experience with the wider world beyond his hometown, both the good and the bad.

Initially part of Operation Torch, he would go on to see action in the Italian campaign as Sicily fell and the Italians flipped to the Allied side. While troops landed on the beaches in Normandy, he and his unit were advancing northwards towards the Gothic Line. While not suffering the brunt that those moving into Germany would, the Gothic Line would herald his first encounter with X Tech. At night the Germans deployed some sort of biological weapon, one that struck men down and left them screaming in agony, before rising again with black eyes and rickety movements. Nothing more than a puppet for some sort of creature that had taken them over (To distinguish from the zombie troopers being used in Poland).

He was the only one from his unit to survive, hiding in the crags of the rocks and clutching to his rifle when reinforcements arrived and the monsters were put down with heavy firepower. It was this encounter which would eventually bring him to the attention of the RPA. It was not the only time he would run into X Tech, but the most notable amongst his record, and he would approach the rest with an increasingly cold demeanor. When approached by the RPA he leapt at the chance to do some good, and put some of his nightmares in the ground.

Stats:
Physical: 4 Mental: 2 Social: 2

Tags: Backroom Brawler, Cool under Pressure, Hometown Charm
Flaws: Insomniac

Agenda:
- National: Keep X-Tech out of Soviet control
- Personal: Locate the Ahnenerbe secret archives

Equipment:
M1 Garand
M4 Bayonet
Notebook

Great! And that's a good X-tech hook in his background, too.

Although rifles and SMGs might be available for certain missions, day-to day the RPA carry a pistol. As an American Capt Briggs (and they're all captains in their military, even if they weren't during the war) will have an M1911 .45 pistol (Heavy Pistol +2d6)

***

Although I will bemoan the missing Soviet Officer for now (and keep recruiting open) I think we're ready to move forward.

We will establish Trust between the characters in the first scene IC, which I should have up in a couple of hours.

[Metraxa]

Ah, fair enough. I shall amend the weapon thing to take that into account. Though I'm keeping the bayonet, since it's the standard issue Army knife at the time from what my research says

[Lokus]

Ah, fair enough. I shall amend the weapon thing to take that into account. Though I'm keeping the bayonet, since it's the standard issue Army knife at the time from what my research says

There isn't really a place to hang it from your day uniform (tan shirt and pants, khaki jacket and tie. Forage cap or wedge cap) -- bayonets are normally held to the canvas "web belt" that you won't wear in that order of dress. But I am sure a resourceful young man like Gordon can figure out somewhere to keep it. Strapped horizontally along his belt at his back for instance.

At night there's a lot of room with a trench-coat.

[Lokus]

The OOC Thread is up.

The IC Thread is up

[Callie Del Noire]

Trust question   How do you increase it? I had to flip a coin and still want to up for Captain Gibbs, because I see Wallace as a team player type

[Lokus]

Trust question   How do you increase it? I had to flip a coin and still want to up for Captain Gibbs, because I see Wallace as a team player type

At the end of any "Case" (like the unnamed one that's starting right now) you *may* increase trust or decrease trust with each of the other characters by 1d6.

Note that if another character is trying to manipulate or betray you, your trust counts against you.

In the case of out-right betrayal, trust is automatically set to 0, and the betrayer had better hope they just achieved their Personal or National Goal (oneof the ways to get re-assigned away from the RPA).

However one could maintain an unhealthy relationship, keeping their character's trust at 3d6 while continually being manipulated by that other character.

***

In the end this is a game, and we want the player to have agency over their character (even in NC scenes). Manipulation is limited to Social contests, and winning a social contest grants a "boon" -- which is a far cry from Charm Person or some kind of Mind Control. Nobody is forced to have a character divulge their darkest secrets, sleep with someone, or act against the interest of their Goals just because another player rolled really well and gained a boon.

Of course nothing is stopping the player from having their character do any of that, either, should the player wish to.

[Callie Del Noire]

I can’t wait for this to get moving

[Lokus]

The Berlin Reserve Police Agency is looking for one or two new Agents.

We've been up and running for a month and a half, and seem to have lost a French officer (their player has stopped posting).

I'd love to be able to recruit a new French officer and a Russian officer.

The RPA is formed by the Military occupation forces in Berlin, and is mostly male. However the Russians and French both have the option to play as female characters. In the case of the French, a spy/resistance leader. In the case of the Russians, one of the rare but documented female combat officers (or perhaps a surviving Night Witch pilot).

If you're interested, of have questions, please ask!