Polybius

Built From the Ground Up (World Building RP)

Hm. I want to make a steampunk republic, but the level of technology still seems vague. Are we already in space?

@Vahir

Maybe something like this. Just for inspiration.

Built From the Ground Up (World Building RP)

Hm. I want to make a steampunk republic, but the level of technology still seems vague. Are we already in space?

@Vahir

This is interesting. Maybe a Jules Verne level of tech ala War of the Worlds? Are we supposing all planets have the same level of technology?

Built From the Ground Up (World Building RP)

<Snipped quote by Polybius>

A mixture of both a Magi-Tech.
You can go the traditional Sci-Fi route or use Magi-Tech.

@Cow1525

OK cool. Will probably wait to see what other people are thinking. Could we get a larger version of that map?

Built From the Ground Up (World Building RP)

Overall, since this is a Sci-Fantasy RP...

@Cow1525

I'd like some clarifications on the level of tech. Is this science fiction or fantasy? Mixture of both? Magi-tech?

Built From the Ground Up (World Building RP)

I'm interested I suppose.

Megacorps & Mechs | Thread Updated Monday

Megacorps & Mechs

Inspired by: Ace Combat, Armored Core, Mechwarrior, C.O.D. & the novel 1984 by George Orwell.

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The World:

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In recent history, once powerful democracies have fallen to authoritarian regimes, more puppet states for Megacorps. than true nations. Political dissension is met with an iron fist. Surveillance, Political Police and Corporate funded elections ensure authoritarian power. The proletariat suffers, living in slums and ghettos near the Megacities where corporate elite live lavish lifestyles. The workers of the nations are forced to toil for powerful companies continuously stripping the land of dwindling resources. Outside of the megapolis, a desolate wasteland of overworked rural areas, abandoned cities and stripmined mountains dot the landscape. Nature prevails in some places, reclaiming abandoned military facilities from centuries past.

Note:This is decidedly not Earth but is set in a slightly future setting. Details on technology given below. Here is a world map to get you started. Stake a claim and edit as you see fit:

World Map

Corporations:

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The mega-corporations of the future act like autonomous governments within the more traditional countries. The economies and armies of the corporations are often more powerful than the nation it resides within. Short of declaring an all out dictator-ship, the corporations act with impunity in international politics and affairs. Only a few foolish citizens believe their nations act without corporate interference, the rigged elections more a circus than a democracy.

Nations:

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As corporate campaign contributions expanded, governments became more centralized, and weaker. Over the past two hundred and fifty years, governments slowly ceded power to the megacorporations behind closed doors. Nations rule in name only, politicians the plaything of CEOs and Company Boards. Any dissent is ruthlessly silenced or quickly covered up.

Conflict:

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War is inevitable. As resources dwindle, conflict erupts openly and covertly between Corporations and Nations alike. Distant lands (and the unfortunate foreigners) are often the locations of these wars, Megacities safe from the destruction resulting from incessant warfare.

Technology Examples:

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This is not a hard sci-fi RP. Feel free to pull some Trek style Techno-babble out whenever you need it. Obviously keep it in the realm of possibility however.

Kataphract Suits

To give soldiers an edge on the battlefield, Synthetic Armor suits were developed. The Twenty-Five million dollar suits give a soldier increased damage control, durability, fatigue resistance, healing and communications. The technology is highly classified and only a handful of companies have access to it.

Drones

Combat action of the future relies heavily on unmanned drones for fire support, recon and surveillance. Drones have evolved beyond the single fixed-wing aircraft of the past few decades. Helo-choppers, hover-drones and even simple bi-pedal support-fire drones have been developed.

Energy Weapons

Laser weaponry was originally developed for defensive measures, but has since been switched to a more offensive role. Originally intended for fixed-site firing platforms, energy weapons have advanced so far that even small-arms are in development. Rifles and Rail-Guns are commonly equipped to soldiers.

Shielding

High-yield energy weapons are efficient killing machines, but can be thwarted with molecule-dense energy shielding. Computer guided sensors analyze a firing pattern and provide a shield grid for incoming fire. Overheating shields can explode.

Mechs

Mechs are classified into several distinct categories: Heavy, Support, Lightweight, and Experimental. Once clunky and inefficient, new power sources developed by Megacorpations have advanced Mech warfare greatly in the past few decades, overtaking the role tanks once played.

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Useful Tools & Links:

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Name Generator
Nations of 1984
Concepts & Themes in 1984
Armored Core Wikipedia
Armored Core at TVtropes.org
Ace Combat Wikipedia
Random Corporation Names

What Can I Play?

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You can play as a Megacorp, a private company, a puppet nation or any other sort of faction/government you can think of. If you have a suggestion not listed that's fine too.

How Does the Game Work?

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This is a free-form style game. You can post however you wish, whether that be character driven stories or more simplified goal-orientated nation/corporation etc. bullet style posts with what your up too.

Rules & RP Expectations

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Maintain decent grammar and writing structure. Do not make any outrageous claims like "I invented time-travel" and don't jump the timeline ahead. I expect at least two posts a month.

Example Nation Sheet: (Add subsections as you feel necessary, but keep the sections below at the top)

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NS Frame

[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Location:[/b]
[b]Leadership:[/b]

For Corporations:
Brief History
Employees & Company Divisions
etc.

For Nations:
Brief History
Government Organization
etc.

[b]Foreign Relations:[/b]
[b]Long-Term Goals:[/b]
[b]Current Goals/Projects/Active Missions etc.[/b]

[b]Military Forces:[/b]

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_{All artwork is the property of the respective artist}

RPGC #9: REBIRTH

Argh. Late start. Good idea but late start. If anything, I'll get a first draft in.

closed

Guess I'll shelf this for now.

Weird Roleplay Ideas You're Afraid To Pitch?

Not afraid, just not sure how to do it:

A fantasy world where all of the magic is cast using verbal commands. Pretty plain and simple. The source of magic? Ancient nano-technology built into the planet (which is itself artificial) that uses verbal commands. Think an entire world that functions like the Enterprise. The world would be littered with 'ruins' of that same ancient civilization-technology still intact. Doors would open, lights turn on. Hell, you could have armies of nanobots roaming the atmosphere looking for someone to heal with the proper commands. Satellites in orbit could rain down fireballs and death at but a word. A global neural-net of information could be accessed and data transferred, recorded etc. It would really depend on the way the characters and world were written around it. The descriptions from those ignorant characters points of view etc.

Hex Halls of the Endless Sphere

Hex Halls of the Endless Sphere

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The precursors found sanctuary in the endless sphere below. Using a combination of Hex, Tech and Genius the first races dug deep and made safe their own kind. The Titans waged a war above, the only salvation to dig and dive deep into the black heart of the endless sphere. Caverns were discovered, hollowed out and mined. The tools by which the precursors would find sanctuary, behemoth-gyros and gear-walkers, fire-legs and piston-rivers, those machines still exist, humming steadily in the dark below.

The Endless Sphere

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"...of which we know only a fraction. The propensity of the halls is only to confuse and confound-a Genius trick played by our ancestors to confuse the damnable Titans from finding our deepest sanctuaries. Fear not, follow the paths marked on your maps young ones, the Hexes in the Halls are their only to thwart and protect you from the black hellish tentacles of the Titans. Steer clear of the upper chambers! Only a fool would linger in the halls defiled by the natural light. Those caves besieged by surface light are deathtraps. Slithery things creep in from the surface and steal away the unwary to certain doom. Stay in the dark young souls and stay alive..."

Hex, Tech, & Genius

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• Hex-
  the supernatural ability to manipulate the eldritch energies of the world. Hex comes in many forms-curses, glyphs, spells, wards, incantations, etc. The effectiveness and power of such Hexes are largely dependent on the inherent ability of the Sorcerer. Relics and artifacts from the Surface Times are also ways to increase Hex potency.
• Tech-
  Gears, Gyros, Mechs, Drills, Behemoths, Walkers, Fire-Legs, Piston-Rivers; all steam and Hex-powered tools from eons past. The variations of Tech are infinite, only the quantity of such machines is limited. They rarely run out of power-testament to the technological marvel of the Surface Times. A piece of Tech might be the lifeblood of a small village-a heat engine or a drill that provides mineral ore. The destruction of such a valuable piece of Tech might spell disaster for a village. Over the centuries the rarity of these machines has increased. But, new Machines are uncovered as new caves are dug, tombs unsealed and halls discovered.
• Genius-
  The preternatural ability of a small percentage of the population to understand engineering and mechanical functions. These are the mechanics, pilots, architects and engineers of the powerful guilds that rule the economy and society. The guilds have a monopoly on Tech for the most part. They are the ones scouring the darkest caves for new machines, the ones that operate the behemoths and particularly complicated Tech.

Example Races

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• Cadaceans-
  A diminutive race of varying levels of demonic guise. Cadaceans are said to be the offspring of the Titans, lost in the caves 'neath the endless sphere. Millenia later, Cadaceans mix easily with other species and form a small minority in most settlements. Cadaceans find Hex work particularly enjoyable and are fine craftsmen.
  
  
  
• Primans-
  The most plentiful species beneath the sphere. Primans were once human, but a millennium spent in dark caverns has given them dark vision and made them more hardy. The species varies wildly in appearance and demeanor. Primans are skilled and efficient workers, administrators and fighters. They relish conquest and pillaging as much as developing societies.
  
  
  
• Kubolds-
  The lizard-like Kubold are on par with Cadaceans in stature and intellect-preferring Tech over Hex, however. The Kubold kingdoms are many, and the mob-like armies of the tribes often invade the upper halls of the Priman kingdoms. They are mortal enemies of the Faye.
  
  
  
• Faye-
  The philosophical Faye are not nearly numerous as the other races, their settlements few and far between. The cities they build are decidedly beautiful-preferring ascetic and form over function. They cultivate mosses, mushrooms and bio luminescent grasses to fill their halls with ethereal light.
  
  
  
• Hollowed-
  The treasonous souls that refuse to return to the light. The undead stalk those most distant halls, living quietly and unprovoked. They are empty shells of their former selves. Some enclaves have been established in Priman cities, but these are the subject of prejudice and avarice. The Hollowed are not easily provoked-but once the tide of the zombie horde is rolling, it will not stop.

Playing The Game

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Construct a city-state or entire kingdom beneath the endless sphere. A combination of races is preferred in each territory-create your own or use/modify ones from above. Invent guilds/gods and religions as you see fit. Consider the nature of the setting-dark fantasy, subterranean, mythological past with elements of horror and mystery. At the onset of the game, it will be discovered that the stories of the ancient Titan War that drove people below is not exactly true-the surface will be discovered and explored/resettled. I am not necessarily looking to GM this game as supreme dictator-I want to play. I think we can all put on our big-boy pants and assume that everyone will be non-dickish. I have provided a setting framework with plenty of questions to be answered, ideas to be explored. Feel free to invent a NS for your concept or I can write one up for you. Questions? Interest? Claustrophobia?

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