Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Jig
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Jig plagiarist / extraordinaire

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"I think it's time for something... different."


TL;DR Summary

A modern city operates on a day-to-day basis completely unaware of the metaphysical forces that keep it running. God exists, but nobody says his angels like him. It's only a matter of time before they revolt, and one of them gets the top job - after all, it's been done before; but who can they trust? The lore of this is not based on any world religion and is still in development.

  • Lots and lots of player-interaction
  • Expect to be writing collabs
  • Loads of opportunities for creativity and designing
  • A slow, measured RP
  • Hammy, badass, beautiful characters with uncanny powers



Proper Description:

"When people talk about 'God', they just don't get it. 'God' is not an individual, but an idea. 'God' is the embodiment of those forces which underpin existence and subsequently writes the rulebook for reality. Reality must exist, and 'God' is subservient to that truth - and not vice versa. Should God be deposed, the vacuum would therefore simply form a new God, typically within and from whoever had the power to overthrow their predecessor. Since my own creation, I have witnessed this cycle enough times to know, and watched physics itself be reshaped based on little more than caprice.

Of course, this misconception about God is perfectly understandable; individuals cannot perceive that which exists at a higher plane of existence than themselves. Even God is internally constrained by the duality of existing as an individual and as the highest power that there is, simultaneously finite and infinite. God is therefore physically indistinguishable from the Hosts (sometimes called 'Angels') underneath him and neither are distinguishable from plain old mortals underneath them.

With great power comes great responsibility, but also, typically, great arrogance."

Excerpt From The Book of Trouble


OoC


A certain amount of lore is coming, but this isn't going to be lore-based. Essentially, the players will play Hosts, most of whom will think it's time for a new God. Of course, one doesn't simply stab God in the face. Without the support of the others, no one Host will have the power to defeat God - but, since the Hosts are all squabbling amongst themselves, and many of them might rather like to play God, a position which they cannot share. Allegiances, rivalries, egos and betrayals will all come to the fore.

This isn't a game where I want you the players to compete, even though your characters may well. I'd like people to work together when writing posts and be prepared for lots and lots of collaborations; rather than leaving the plot to chance and hope that you like where it goes, I'd encourage you to work out ongoing character relationships from right off the bat and be open and up-front about where you want to go with your characters - it doesn't mean you can't keep secrets if you know where you're going and what you're doing, but does hopefully mean that you won't feel lost. If this kinda way of doing things isn't for you, nor is this game: everybody in this should be happy and comfortable to talk about what they'd like to get up to and to support one another to do it.

The fun part: characters. 'Hosts' are based on humans, but with metaphysical powers. They're not god, but let's say they can work miracles. Their power is an expression of their own individuality: if crazy-lasers suit your character, then crazy-lasers you may have. You know those characters that nobody likes in most other games: the ones that are too cool for school, too OP, unrealistically beautiful? Bring them here. Get your ham on and start chewing scenery, because you're literally only a few steps down from actual goddamn god. Clearly, there'll be many more details about exactly what a Host is in terms of the lore, but it's going to be something along the lines of mortals that refused to die or simply ascended from life on account of being so intense and enlightened.

Should this get interest, I'll put together a proper setting, but expect a vacuous metropolis full of stores and fast food and pop music and bright young (mortal) things all splashing about in self-interest and decadence. If you ever played The World Ends With You, think Shibuya, and you're there.
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by ravenDivinity
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ravenDivinity many signs and wonders

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Interested.
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Dead Cruiser
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Dead Cruiser Dishonour Before Death / Better You Than Me

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This gives me vibes of Exalted. Familiar with it?
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Jig
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Lovely to see some interest! :)

This gives me vibes of Exalted. Familiar with it?


I'm afraid not. Wikipedia says it's High Fantasy, and therefore I won't have come across it but the notion of arcane lore and the notion of a deity that doesn't resemble either classical pantheons or the judeo-christian god are definitely common threads between this and Exalted. Hardly Divine definitely isn't high fantasy, though; it'll be set firmly in the context of a modern city, because the notions of decay and people being just awful can manifest very easily in the vacuity of modern life.

This is super-duper mega-based on The World Ends With You, a cult classic in which people who die in a given city get a second chance at life, if you play the Reaper's Game (a kinda tournament in which you have to battle the embodiments of the negative emotions of the city) and you just think you're fighting for your life except there's actually a whole goddamn celestial battle going on around you that nobody ever quite has the courtesy to tell you about. When you unlock the New Game Plus, it actually kinda says that you'd better play the whole damn game again and find some unlocks that explain just what the fuck's going on. But nobody has ever heard of TWEWY, so there's no point in trying a TWEWY game - but, equally, it means I can plagiarise be super-inspired by it. :P
Hidden 8 yrs ago 8 yrs ago Post by Wicker
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Interested! I know you've stated you're interested in more "dynamic" characters, but in order to avoid crossing any lines, I'm curious: where are you drawing the line? What kinds of guidelines are you going to impose on any prospective characters?
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Jig
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Interested! I know you've stated you're interested in more bombastic characters, but in order to avoid crossing any lines, I'm curious: where are you drawing the line? What kinds of guidelines are you going to impose on any prospective characters?


Honestly, I was going broadly to just trust people; If it's excessive, I'll ask people to tone it down at the sheet stage. In terms of lore, the Hosts are kind of physical manifestations of their own individuality, if that makes sense: realism isn't really a factor.

In terms of actual skill/power etcetera, I was going to put together a very basic stat-sheet (in addition to a comprehensive proper-sheet) for people to rate themselves/10 in each field, with no real rules and only with intervention from me if it seems excessive. We're talking fields like combat, cunning, reputation, etc. While I won't micromanage, I want to encourage people right from the start to support each other in telling the stories they want to tell, and if people buy into that, there isn't any need for balancing; people will scale their strengths and weaknesses according to what sheets are already around, so if they want to play a super-powerful Host, they can do that, while similarly-powered Hosts may find themselves rivals, or valuable allies. Equally, somebody may wish to play a weaker Host who has to use their cunning to either betray or bribe or brown-nose their way as high in the food chain as they can, knowing they'll have to use the strengths of others to do so. Or, you could well be stupid AND weak, in which case you might enjoy being a lackey to somebody smarter or stronger or both.

I take the sheet section kinda seriously and hopefully you can see why: I want to trust people with the freedom to build their character in a way that they'll enjoy in a way that harmonises with everybody else doing the same thing. I do read the sheets carefully and I'll definitely want to at least discuss any aspect that I'm not sure about; this might make me seem like a total bitch, but I like to think people understand what I mean here.

If/when we get to sheets, and, when I write the skeleton (need to work out some lore first), then I'll have a much clearer idea of what information I'm asking for and what information I should expect. Sorry if this didn't really answer your question, but the upshot is: if you can make it cool in a way you like and doesn't trample anybody else, it'll be just fine by me. In order to give youse freedom, though, I have to play things by ear, and will therefore adopt a strict policy of, in addition to playing god IC, being god OoC. :P
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Dead Cruiser
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Lovely to see some interest! :)

<Snipped quote by Dead Cruiser>

I'm afraid not. Wikipedia says it's High Fantasy, and therefore I won't have come across it but the notion of arcane lore and the notion of a deity that doesn't resemble either classical pantheons or the judeo-christian god are definitely common threads between this and Exalted. Hardly Divine definitely isn't high fantasy, though; it'll be set firmly in the context of a modern city, because the notions of decay and people being just awful can manifest very easily in the vacuity of modern life.


The notion that I gained was that in Exalted the player characters are something like miniature gods, mortals imbued with a fragment of divinity. One of the first events in the chronology of the setting is the previous incarnations of the player characters banding together and overthrowing the primordial titans that created the world they live in.

So you probably see where I'm coming from, now.
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Turboshitter
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Interest hooooooo!
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Tarquin
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Tarquin

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Juuuuust going to sit here and be interested.
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Zoldyck
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Zoldyck

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This seems pretty awesome to be honest. You have my interest! :D
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Jig
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It seems we have enough interest for me to put time into working this out properly!
Expect an OoC this evening (GMT) or tomorrow. :D

The notion that I gained was that in Exalted the player characters are something like miniature gods, mortals imbued with a fragment of divinity. One of the first events in the chronology of the setting is the previous incarnations of the player characters banding together and overthrowing the primordial titans that created the world they live in.

So you probably see where I'm coming from, now.


I definitely get you now. While there's wiggle-room, I'm probably going to build it so that Hosts are integrated into 'mortal culture' somewhat, so that does seem similar.

This seems pretty awesome to be honest. You have my interest! :D


Ben je nederlands? Het was leuk om mijn nederlands te kunnen oefenen :)
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Stairdweller
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Hi there - I am also interested. Have you read Warbreaker, by Brandon Sanderson, by the way? I feel like I sense some slight thematic similarities. You might enjoy it. Also I'm pretty sure it can be downloaded as a free eBook. Legally, I mean.
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by ravenDivinity
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ravenDivinity many signs and wonders

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Is this still happening?
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Jig
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I threw up an OoC, but it was my birthday this weekend so I've been a staggering drunk and apparently forgot to give youse the heads-up. I'll dig it out from the mountain of spam that has exploded all over the Advanced pages and stick it here. :)

oopsie
Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Jig
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Hidden 8 yrs ago Post by Kassarock
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Kassarock W O R L D E A T E R

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Very, very, very interested
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