STATUS:
10+ years of an RP idea, finally finished, on 10.10.2025. Goodnight Raven Squad, you were the best, wildest, most silly near future SOF RP that lived on the guild, and you got a worthy send off :)
10 mos ago
Current
10+ years of an RP idea, finally finished, on 10.10.2025. Goodnight Raven Squad, you were the best, wildest, most silly near future SOF RP that lived on the guild, and you got a worthy send off :)
9
likes
Bio
I've RP'd for the best part of over 15 years now here on the Guild, and particularly like military settings, both contemporary, past and near future. I have even dabbled in a little more experimental RPs, as well as created a plethora of 1x1s over my time in the guild. I like creating RPs with a distinct flavour- and often shift between narrative-led RPs to semi-randomised plots. I've been more a GM lately than a player, and don't really lean into fandom- instead, exploring my own universes lifting themes from other source material.
My main interests are military-themed, near-future RPs, with a focus on technology. But I'm beginning to push what that RP idea looks like- taking inspiration from lots of media and focussing on the fun, indulgent side of RP, whilst also exploring the lows and emotional side.
Raven Squad is a project over seven years in the making, and focusses on a class-based, eccentric yet half-grounded near future special forces team that acts as a response team where you can't send any special forces team in. It's incredibly dumb, incredibly loose, and yet, has delivered some of my favourite plot points in RPG. A brainless action flick a la John Wick and Kingsman meets a complex thriller with a fun left turn in it, Raven has been the culmination of over a decade of loving special forces RPG, gaming influences and other silliness in a package that has provided players with something quite different to a normal military themed RPG. While at an end, this is an RP that is a signature- it's silly as hell, takes itself barely seriously, and is what peak fun military RPG to me should be.
Delta Hyper is a love letter to Wipeout, F1's Drive to Survive (Netflix) and contemporary Formula One, with influences from solarpunk, cyberpunk, transhumanism and other posthumanist concepts. An RP that follows pilots in their ups and downs, it's a story that hasn't got me playing an actual character, but framing the camera at each pilot (played by others), and presenting it as if it were a documentary. Lifting elements from TTRPG, this is a Racing RPG like no other and no parallel exists- using dice rolls and randomisation, with a stats-driven system to generate race results, rather than actually RPing the races, players experience the fast-paced, dynamic world of anti-gravity racing. This means that come Qualifying and Race, the results are genuinely a surprise to everyone- and based on decisions made through dilemmas and decisions made between races. Friendships, rivalry, the glamour and even a little political undertone play out in 2094, in a colourful, utopian future that focuses on the fight to take first place.
Then there's Tactical Breach Wizards: Fireteam Hex. First use of any set IP as a formal setting, this is an RP that offers a darker mirror to Raven Squad, focussing on the other side of the equation- unlikely heroes in an uncomfortable position. I don't normally do fantasy, but the world, the lore, the feeling of the characters and the ability to write a comedy just was too difficult to pass up. An RP that focuses on a group running away from a variety of threats as wanted mercenary wizards in the middle of a post-revolution, Eastern-Europe adjacent 1990s to present Polavia.
Lastly, Dispatch: Heroes of Claremont. This is another IP-adjacent world, albeit drawing on a different setting and a new cast of superheroes. As my "first" proper superhero RP, this combines workplace comedy, a Storyteller-lite system and a fun, diverse, and large cast together in a dynamic, diverse setting.
I'm pretty flexible and try and get back to people on ideas and responses, but sometimes, I may become very busy and it will take some time till I am un-busy. I aim to clear posts within a week!
I think that makes sense. From what I can tell- we don't seem to have a specialist in close-quarters from what I can tell? While GEARS and our operators are quite general purpose (Max even has some anti-infantry for a GEAR like his, there's AA, AT and AP scattered throughout the team), we don't have someone who can bring the boom up close.
Maybe a rifle-type GEAR, come breacher- something designed to bring scalpel-like force in close quarters and apply a hammer to it rather than just suppress the enemy or pick it off from afar. That said, I don't know how much a GEAR can get in close- I think something quite generic/broad would probably work too, specialising to support the team where needed.
Preeeeciely. I like to write characters who can outwardly appear like total bastards at times, but are human (err or just lionhearted...) underneath that. I've met lots of people similar to him who you just get after you get to spend a bit of time with them- you realise they are just a bit wonky yet aren't fundamentally bad people nor mean badly to others out of spite, even if they're absolutely capable of it. Think more Chaotic Good- yeah, a bit mad and willing to bend the rules fully yet ultimately coming towards a moral good.
He certainly has seen a lot- but I think he can be patronising at times, overprotecting maybe too much and not realising he needs to just let his team carry the roles of his work. I think it's him going from a very solitary operations style, giving him his individuality to fitting it back into a team- and it'll come with postives and negatives.
So far I've found Rishun's character quite amusing! I reckon Max will definitely get softer with her- he's already fascinated by her tech as to him it's basically wizardry. He's stubborn but capable of changing his opinion- and I have a feeling he very likely will...
Will be good to see it get moving- I'm enjoying writing and getting involved in this so far.
I think I've pulled off Max low-key the way I wanted to- he's aloof and a little too presumptious so at times I think that has come out well :P I'm really enjoying seeing him bounce off other characters- I think certainly it has been good getting into writing a char like his again!
The lion could only chuckle as the otter ran exitedly, before being told to get back on the yellow walkways. As someone who had often been on board these ships and in airbases, the yellow line was there for good reason. And well, maybe it was exitement overcoming inexperience. Still, Rishun was exited, and her GEAR was certainly capable. Almost SOF-spec for naval wetwork with the aquatic rifle, and while it had a greater number of sensors, it was tailored to a different kind of observation than Max's GEAR would have. More strategic recon, rather than Max's tactical search-and-destroy capabilities. The aquatic rifle was unsuprising, given Max knew the otter's water capabilities far surpassed that of Max's own. And he surfed, for goodness sake- felines and water just didn't seem to blend in nature. Rishun no doubt was exceptionally capable, as her type seemed to be. Still, as the otter fell in, she looked up to Max's tall stature, exitable yet now dialed down a volume. He gave a wry smirk, looking back as she spoke to him. He was already aware of her exitable nature, as he thought of something to reply, knowing maybe now he could get it off his mind before they were a bit more formal and assembled.
"Well especially that we're now a Hunter-Killer team that you and me seem to be in, Rishun. We'll make a good little partnership." Max said, aware the others were coming in, off his formal rest until the others were here.
"If we are working together though...just be careful with that long-range radar set. If we run into anything hostile and it's turned on, your back becomes a giant beacon for anti-radiation missiles. Obvious I know, but the amount of times I nearly got caught out with it when I used one myself to support an AA post....it's a lesson I learned I suppose." Max said, looking on as the others began to slowly come in, before looking back at Rishun. He hated himself sometimes for how he behaved, but well, he was direct. SOF training and his years of service weren't alike Rishun's background no doubt, it made him exitable and passionate but in a very, very different way. More to the point, it made him almost stubborn to a fault, and well, he had to make sure he was on the level with Rishun before they deployed. A personal quirk, given he could have probably done it better, but alas, such was Max.
"I also hear you're incredible with technology and dealing in electronic warfare from your reputation- and I really hope we both get to work together on that. Your mind with drones, my experience in recon....we could be unstoppable. But just keep in mind, don't jump too far ahead with what capabilities you have. Recon isn't about using techology as a crutch, especially if we're the ones holding onto it- when you can't safely deploy a drone or find anything to hack, sometimes you have to play it perhaps....more analogue than digital, if you get my drift. Disembark and get close in if needs be, or do something else to gather information.
"While you might be able to see a wider range of threats, and tamper with them too, you won't have a hard counter to a direct threat if you're an EW specialist. And don't put yourself on the line when it comes to that- it's something I'm happy to do, it takes a lot of experience to get right. That and I've got the 30mm rifle that can hit targets over 2.5km away- so it'll do just that. I imagine you're aware of that fact, if you're getting my gist- but just when we're out there, keep a cool head about you and don't jump ahead when we're looking for intel. Remember, we're both in the business of information, but how we tackle it is very different. I just want to make sure we're on the same level when we're out there. Alright?" Max said, his hushed tones still coming across as heavy, but coming from a good place.
Max knew at the same time, he was trying not to be too far gone right now- he just wanted to make sure Rishun understood. She was a similar age, but he just didn't want her to be too over-enthusiastic in the field and get in over her head when there was something on the other side of the hill that was threatening. At the least, Max knew he could survive a bit longer in a CQB situation and indeed, his rifle was the full-stop to any distant fireworks that might arise.
Max could only shake his head, knowing Silverwind very well was a wily fox indeed, just the was he smoothly let it go. Lookig back at the GEAR, he listened to Silver's intial comments, nodding as he commented on the GEAR and anything to do with Max's input. "Can do. It's nothing an operator like you should have trouble with." Max replied, aware that if a recon operator could take command, the reputable and highly experienced Captain Blade would be fine.
Behind Silverwind, Max could see the deer and bear of the group were alreading begin to already inspect their GEARs over, setting up their arsenals. As a judgy person, Max wanted to see what they had attached, noting that Leslie had taken a focus towards engineering and demolitions, with some AT capability. The ability to fix, as well as blow stuff up to equal measure. Meanwhile, Fionn had gone for a heavy arsenal, a mortar, akin to Silverwind's; but the AA missiles, auto shotgun and 20mm rotary cannon, a weapon that seemed almost impractically large even for the size of a GEAR, made Fionn indeed the boom-boom. In hindsight, perhaps Max could have gone for a slight more anti-armour presence- but no matter, that was what a 30mm rifle did, and with AP rounds, all but the heaviest targets could be breached. An old-school form of anti-tank weaponry, but a relevant one none the less.
His look at the two sterile but well armed GEARS was interrupted however, as the feline saw Silverwind's prosthetic limb come to life, the holographic screen popping up. Looking on, he didn't hear it all, but heard something along the lines that they were going to the amphibious assault craft, and getting taken on board. Silverwind turned back to him, Max attentitive to his comment as he replied. "Was about to say, it'll be good to find out what the plan is..." The lion looked on as Silverwind gathered the rest of the team, ready to follow the Captain to the incoming helicopter and their final briefing.
Glad to hear we're all moving- stuff is getting exiting wtih the other loadouts people have :)
I've only gone and sprained my ankle badly so I'll be cooking up a post today to get my mind off it. I'm writing wtih the intent that our team is all getting in their GEARs and prepping for departure?
Looking forward to seeing what comes next! I feel like I've moved Max a bit too quickly :P
After being asked by someone in this RP about it, feel free to steal my Manifest template if you want to better describe what your char's GEAR is carrying :)
I've RP'd for the best part of over 15 years now here on the Guild, and particularly like military settings, both contemporary, past and near future. I have even dabbled in a little more experimental RPs, as well as created a plethora of 1x1s over my time in the guild. I like creating RPs with a distinct flavour- and often shift between narrative-led RPs to semi-randomised plots. I've been more a GM lately than a player, and don't really lean into fandom- instead, exploring my own universes lifting themes from other source material.
My main interests are military-themed, near-future RPs, with a focus on technology. But I'm beginning to push what that RP idea looks like- taking inspiration from lots of media and focussing on the fun, indulgent side of RP, whilst also exploring the lows and emotional side.
https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/190121-raven-squad-second-storm-military-spy-fi-rp-completed/ic
Raven Squad is a project over seven years in the making, and focusses on a class-based, eccentric yet half-grounded near future special forces team that acts as a response team where you can't send any special forces team in. It's incredibly dumb, incredibly loose, and yet, has delivered some of my favourite plot points in RPG. A brainless action flick a la John Wick and Kingsman meets a complex thriller with a fun left turn in it, Raven has been the culmination of over a decade of loving special forces RPG, gaming influences and other silliness in a package that has provided players with something quite different to a normal military themed RPG. While at an end, this is an RP that is a signature- it's silly as hell, takes itself barely seriously, and is what peak fun military RPG to me should be.
https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/192916-delt-hyper-anti-gravity-cyberpunk-solarpunk-slice-of-life-rp/ic
Delta Hyper is a love letter to Wipeout, F1's Drive to Survive (Netflix) and contemporary Formula One, with influences from solarpunk, cyberpunk, transhumanism and other posthumanist concepts. An RP that follows pilots in their ups and downs, it's a story that hasn't got me playing an actual character, but framing the camera at each pilot (played by others), and presenting it as if it were a documentary. Lifting elements from TTRPG, this is a Racing RPG like no other and no parallel exists- using dice rolls and randomisation, with a stats-driven system to generate race results, rather than actually RPing the races, players experience the fast-paced, dynamic world of anti-gravity racing. This means that come Qualifying and Race, the results are genuinely a surprise to everyone- and based on decisions made through dilemmas and decisions made between races. Friendships, rivalry, the glamour and even a little political undertone play out in 2094, in a colourful, utopian future that focuses on the fight to take first place.
https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/196931-tactical-breach-wizards-fireteam-hex-military-modern-fantasy-action/ic
Then there's Tactical Breach Wizards: Fireteam Hex. First use of any set IP as a formal setting, this is an RP that offers a darker mirror to Raven Squad, focussing on the other side of the equation- unlikely heroes in an uncomfortable position. I don't normally do fantasy, but the world, the lore, the feeling of the characters and the ability to write a comedy just was too difficult to pass up. An RP that focuses on a group running away from a variety of threats as wanted mercenary wizards in the middle of a post-revolution, Eastern-Europe adjacent 1990s to present Polavia.
https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/197399-dispatch-heroes-of-claremont/ic
Lastly, Dispatch: Heroes of Claremont. This is another IP-adjacent world, albeit drawing on a different setting and a new cast of superheroes. As my "first" proper superhero RP, this combines workplace comedy, a Storyteller-lite system and a fun, diverse, and large cast together in a dynamic, diverse setting.
I'm pretty flexible and try and get back to people on ideas and responses, but sometimes, I may become very busy and it will take some time till I am un-busy. I aim to clear posts within a week!
<div style="white-space:pre-wrap;">I've RP'd for the best part of over 15 years now here on the Guild, and particularly like military settings, both contemporary, past and near future. I have even dabbled in a little more experimental RPs, as well as created a plethora of 1x1s over my time in the guild. I like creating RPs with a distinct flavour- and often shift between narrative-led RPs to semi-randomised plots. I've been more a GM lately than a player, and don't really lean into fandom- instead, exploring my own universes lifting themes from other source material. <br><br>My main interests are military-themed, near-future RPs, with a focus on technology. But I'm beginning to push what that RP idea looks like- taking inspiration from lots of media and focussing on the fun, indulgent side of RP, whilst also exploring the lows and emotional side.<br><br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/190121-raven-squad-second-storm-military-spy-fi-rp-completed/ic" title="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/190121-raven-squad-second-storm-military-spy-fi-rp-completed/ic">roleplayerguild.com/topics/190121-rav…</a><br><br>Raven Squad is a project over seven years in the making, and focusses on a class-based, eccentric yet half-grounded near future special forces team that acts as a response team where you can't send any special forces team in. It's incredibly dumb, incredibly loose, and yet, has delivered some of my favourite plot points in RPG. A brainless action flick a la John Wick and Kingsman meets a complex thriller with a fun left turn in it, Raven has been the culmination of over a decade of loving special forces RPG, gaming influences and other silliness in a package that has provided players with something quite different to a normal military themed RPG. While at an end, this is an RP that is a signature- it's silly as hell, takes itself barely seriously, and is what peak fun military RPG to me should be.<br><br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/192916-delt-hyper-anti-gravity-cyberpunk-solarpunk-slice-of-life-rp/ic" title="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/192916-delt-hyper-anti-gravity-cyberpunk-solarpunk-slice-of-life-rp/ic">roleplayerguild.com/topics/192916-del…</a><br><br>Delta Hyper is a love letter to Wipeout, F1's Drive to Survive (Netflix) and contemporary Formula One, with influences from solarpunk, cyberpunk, transhumanism and other posthumanist concepts. An RP that follows pilots in their ups and downs, it's a story that hasn't got me playing an actual character, but framing the camera at each pilot (played by others), and presenting it as if it were a documentary. Lifting elements from TTRPG, this is a Racing RPG like no other and no parallel exists- using dice rolls and randomisation, with a stats-driven system to generate race results, rather than actually RPing the races, players experience the fast-paced, dynamic world of anti-gravity racing. This means that come Qualifying and Race, the results are genuinely a surprise to everyone- and based on decisions made through dilemmas and decisions made between races. Friendships, rivalry, the glamour and even a little political undertone play out in 2094, in a colourful, utopian future that focuses on the fight to take first place.<br><br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/196931-tactical-breach-wizards-fireteam-hex-military-modern-fantasy-action/ic" title="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/196931-tactical-breach-wizards-fireteam-hex-military-modern-fantasy-action/ic">roleplayerguild.com/topics/196931-tac…</a><br><br>Then there's Tactical Breach Wizards: Fireteam Hex. First use of any set IP as a formal setting, this is an RP that offers a darker mirror to Raven Squad, focussing on the other side of the equation- unlikely heroes in an uncomfortable position. I don't normally do fantasy, but the world, the lore, the feeling of the characters and the ability to write a comedy just was too difficult to pass up. An RP that focuses on a group running away from a variety of threats as wanted mercenary wizards in the middle of a post-revolution, Eastern-Europe adjacent 1990s to present Polavia. <br><br><a href="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/197399-dispatch-heroes-of-claremont/ic" title="https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/197399-dispatch-heroes-of-claremont/ic">roleplayerguild.com/topics/197399-dis…</a><br><br>Lastly, Dispatch: Heroes of Claremont. This is another IP-adjacent world, albeit drawing on a different setting and a new cast of superheroes. As my "first" proper superhero RP, this combines workplace comedy, a Storyteller-lite system and a fun, diverse, and large cast together in a dynamic, diverse setting.<br><br>I'm pretty flexible and try and get back to people on ideas and responses, but sometimes, I may become very busy and it will take some time till I am un-busy. I aim to clear posts within a week! </div>