Rhona W

Shattered Steel - A near future mecha RPG

As a possible alternative to my other int-check which seems to be lacking in interest, I also have the idea for Shattered Steel which would be a military-oriented sci-fi game about a small unit of mecha pilots who have banded together in a world that has, at some point in recent history, suffered a climactic event that has 'shattered' reality, resulting in several overlapping dimensions or realities merging into one. The main threat comes from a cross-dimensional empire or power that are seeking to take control of the resulting shattered Earth, and expand into multiple realities. Kind of like the Combine from Half-life 2.

The mecha would squarely be in the 'Real Robot' camp, looking more for the lines of Gundam, Macross, and so on rather than super-robots that call your attacks and have fiery-drill-punch-hands. And definitely more anime than battletech and the like. Although, the specifics of the mecha can be got into should the OOC end up being needed. The idea would be to keep things mainly at an equivalent level of 'power' while also allowing for players to create their own machines, and have a varied aesthetic, to reflect the merged settings/realities.

Players could also choose to be difference races or species, allowing for human and non-human characters to exist side-by-side, though there would be a strict limit on things like super-powers, or unusual abilities, to avoid overpowered Mary-Sue OC's, and especially as the point is making this a mecha-based game, not a superhero/shonen/whatever one.
Likewise, the point is this is a sci-fi game, so 'fantasy' or high-fantasy and magic wouldn't really be a feature either. And characters who are not pilots or mecha pilots wouldn't really feature. Equally, 'enemy' player characters wouldn't really work, as the point is to have characters come together to fight the enemy. And have sufficiently good motivation to do so, other than 'I want to kill things'.

That said, there will be a lot of things other than just mecha punching the bolts out of each other; character drama, looking into mysteries of what the enemy are up to, exploring the weirdly merged world, and various other 'side quests' are all also expected to be part of it, to add a rich variety of things for your characters to expect.

Looking for a fairly small group, and will probably be high-end casual or possibly advanced. Mainly I'm looking for a decent level of writing, spelling, and grammar, more than anything.

If/when I get to posting an OOC, then there'll be a much bigger info dump and setting writeup, but this is an interest check to float the concept first and see if it's interesting enough to put more work into.

Knights of the Skies

<Snipped quote by Silverwind Blade>

I see. Hmm... Are Anime Faceclaims permitted?

I'm someone who finds RPs that demand realistic face claims a bit stuffy, if you don't mind me saying.

Do lasers exist?

What is there to do besides dogfighting and fighter-bombing? I am not good at aerial tactics either IRL or in videogames.

Can I be a political officer/commissar and a pilot?

Edit: Fair warning, btw, I might still lack the time, due to my own games ramping up.

@Letter Bee

Anime faceclaims/art/etc are probably preferred, rather than permitted. I'd certainly intend on using one myself.

Laser exist; but they are considered to be exotic technology and not widespread as of yet. They can be taken as pod-mounted systems for your aircraft, in the same way that missiles, etc. would be.

Other than combat missions of various types, there's also going to be in-character interaction, drama, unravelling the mysteries of what's going on, who's behind things, and the like. They may be the occasional foray into gunfights on foot, but obviously; the main goal is to keep things oriented around your characters being pilots.
As far as 'aerial tactics' go, I'm not imagining everyone or even anyone naming every move or technique, or slavishly adhering to reality, but as long as there's some acknowledgement or knowledge of reality and the laws of physics and planes aren't doing completely unrealistic things, then it's fine.
When/if we get to the point of an OOC, I will post a hefty amount of resources and information that should help.

I hadn't really considered the idea of a 'political commissar' or something equivalent, featuring in the setting whatsoever, regardless of a dual-role with a pilot. I'm not sure how that would fit into the setting as I currently envision it? Again, when/if there's an OOC (mainly depending on interest) then I'll post more about the world. But really, the idea is your characters are fighter/combat pilots first and foremost

If you're too busy then that's fine. Honestly, it seems like you're talking yourself out of it more than anything else, and if you think you're too busy, then that's fine.

Knights of the Skies

<Snipped quote by Silverwind Blade>

Well, I am interested, but I lack the time.

@Letter Bee

Sad face D:
I mean, I'm not expecting a mad rush of posts as it is. Once a week is about right for my pace.

Knights of the Skies

Bump, hoping for some more interest

Augmented Machine Mobile Armor: A Gundam and Armored Core-inspired Mecha RP

Hey, going to have to delay this a bit, I've not been feeling very well and I just don't feel up to posting an adequate OP tonight. Sorry! It'll probably go up in the next two days.

@VitaVitaAR

Hope you feel better soon!

Knights of the Skies

Whats this? Silverwind be back with a new check?

Am interested.

@Slypheed

Yus, I thought I'd take the plunge and give it another try.
Always thrilled to have you aboard!

Knights of the Skies

So, with some trepidation and anxiousness; I return to running RPs, or at least, the thought of doing so.

I have a great and undying love for modern military aircraft, sculpted heavily by movies of the 1980's and early 90's - my childhood - countless hours of building (and modifying!) plastic model kits, and, most heavily for the relevance to this RP idea, the Ace Combat series of video games.

This also overlaps greatly with my love of science fiction, and combining the two, well, that's a given, and a great root for an RP idea.

The basic premise I have in mind - and will be hugely expanded upon should this (pun intended) get off the ground, is that following an apocalyptic war against alien invaders, Earth's society has fragmented somewhat. Sea levels have risen and the geography has changed, some areas are rendered uninhabitable, and the world is a changed place. The United Nations have become a global government, with various independent nations, powers, and so on, rising up from the ruins as the world rebuilds from the earlier war.
Struggling to meet treaty obligations and enforce peace and safety, and with what little 'standing' military it has otherwise stretched thin, the UN draws upon heroes and heroines of the previous war and their descendants to act as peacekeepers. Popular culture and public opinion has romanticised the notion of fighter pilots following the extensive use of airpower in the war, and the mythos of pilots as cool, heroic, and dashing 'sky knights' has become a strong one.
The composite UN squadrons have adopted the name for this new approach of 'troubleshooting' pilots and their aircraft, sent to hotspots of trouble around the world.
Especially, as rising powers have started to adopt reverse-engineered alien tech in their efforts to resist UN power and seize resources, territory and power for themselves, with old enmities and hatreds rising in the wake of the destruction.
The UN has likewise employed reverse-engineered technology on their own craft, refitting tactical combat aircraft with new systems, weapons, and other equipment to give them an 'edge' as a measure to try and curb this rising power.
And in the background, something bigger is stirring...

The idea being that the players will pilot 'modern' to our time, and maybe even a little older - i.e. Cold War - aircraft with retrofitted gadgets against sci-fi enemies and tech, in a post apocalyptic, but still organised and civilized enough setting, so that you can reliably have hi-tech weapons and vehicles around, and some places to enjoy that aren't dirt holes in the ground plagued by roving cannibal bondage gangs, and instead have modern conveniences and a semblance of civilization.

Not looking for a huge group, and I'll elaborate more fully on the setting and specifics if I get enough interest for an OOC. Although, happy to answer questions, if people have them.
At the moment, I'm still spitballing ideas as well.

I've put it as 'advanced', but that's because I like to go into a lot of detail with background and story.
You needn't know scads of information about fighter jets or the military to be involved, but a willingness to learn and at least some passing knowledge would be required.
Equally, I'm not going to be slavishly adherent to the real world procedures, technology and minutiae of things; that just gets boring and cuts down opportunities for dramatic story-telling and exciting moments. Or encourages people to show off their knowledge, which just comes across as kind of... mm, 'bragging' or 'smug' sometimes.
A healthy middle-ground is what's wanted, like the aforementioned Ace Combat, or something similar, like the Area-88 anime and manga.
'Fun, but with a semi-real twist' is what I'm aiming for.
Really, as long as you can write well enough and sensibly, and put together at least a few lines with decent spelling and grammar, then that's good enough for me, regardless of the 'category' it comes under.

Players will take on the role of pilots in one of the Sky Knights squadrons, so will be somewhat experienced pilots, and chosen because they're skillful, and meet the requirements of being capable and good at working together and meet the right goals and markers. So being a psychotic, anti-social, anti-authority borderline feral maniac wouldn't be one of them. i.e. no edgelord overpowered Mary-Sue characters. And no super-skilled teenagers.

Star Trek: Cadets - A Starfleet Extended Training Cruise RP

Amara

Physical Information:
Name: Amara G'rfeld

Age: 25

Species: Caitian

Gender: Female

Height: 5'3" (160cm)

Weight: 55kg (~119lb)

Appearance Description:
Amara is of the particular 'branch' of the species that has a digitgrade posture and feet. As such, she rarely wears footwear, other than in hazardous or 'unpleasant' conditions (e.g. dirty, unsanitary, or unsafe places). She has a long tail with a tufted black tip the same colour as her hair, and relatively large ears for a Caitian, with lynx-like, tufted tips on them.
Her fur is an orangey-brown with a lighter, cream-white hue on her front from her chin along the front of her body down to her inner thighs. She has brown, triangular stripes or markings that counter this, mostly along her back, but also on her cheeks, the top of her tail and on the 'outer' side of her limbs, and as a 'mask' around her eyes.
Her hair-like mane is dark brown and is worn long at the back, and with a long bang at the front, with her left side shaved. The long bang at the front is dyed a bright pink. She has bright green eyes and a pink fleshy nose, paw pads, and other bare flesh.
Both ears have four piercings near the base, including a plug-type piercing at the bottom of both, and then a series of studs or rings.
Relatively slender, as with most female Caitians; Amara has a slim, athletic, petite build. Her curves are very modest and slight for the most part, though she has quite noticably feminine hips.

Starfleet Record:
Division: Operations

Role: Tactical

Academy Major: Starship Weapon Systems and Design

Academy Minor(s): Psychology

Personal Information:
Biography:
Amara had a relatively normal life on Cait (aka Ferasa), growing up in a regular family situation. Always fascinated by travel and by starships and exploration, joining Starfleet was a logical and natural fit for her.
While like most Catians, she is not overly violent or aggressive, she showed a natural prowess for martial arts and athletic pursuits, as well as a keen eye and easy grasp of the use and application of tactical systems, weaponry and their workings. She also showed a clear and keen grasp of strategy, escalation, and the other aspects of dangerous situations, leading her into a tactical role - although, she was equally interested in the pyschology of situations, and at one point almost went into the field of counselling, as this reflected her loving, open, caring and inquisitive nature about others and their personalities, thoughts, traits and minds.

During her time at the academy, she studied hard and eagerly, though not without having her fun; she gained something of a reputation for having a string of very intense, passionate, but brief romantic entanglements, as well as being very embracing of the idea of 'R&R' by thoroughly engaging with - and even organising - more than a few excursions to various party spots.
Despite this carefree side and what would appear to be lacking in seriousness or care for her role or career, or even those around her, Amara does have a serious and dedicated side, and is quite intelligent and thoughtful, and she cares deeply for those she gets close to and sharing her feelings and herself with others is an expression of that deep love and care she has for them - even if it does leave her vulnerable and often with conflicted feelings and thoughts.

Despite being well-versed and knowledgeable on the role and requirements of a tactical and security position, Amara has had little practical experience in the role so far, having only handled small and minor incidents in her position as a cadet, but no actual 'live-fire' situations, as it were. While she keeps it quiet and shows willing, enthusiasm and eagerness to her peers and superiors, there is a constant worry that she may freeze up or hesitate when the time comes for the real thing, and it may be in a situation that results in someone getting hurt, or worse, and how this may affect not just her career, but her life.

Other Details:
Despite her loathing of her 'reputation', such as it is, of being 'easy' and something of a 'freaky' lay, Amara does quietly embrace and enjoy quite an open 'intimate' life, though she is very, very adamant and firm that she doesn't want it to be her defining or memorable trait, or the only thing she is known for, and is keen to live it down.
She is also absolutely fascinated by the fact that Earth cats are so similar to Caitians, and the role they play in human society. Collecting tschotkes, ornaments, curios, memorabilia and trinkets of cats is something she has adopted, and she has a fondness for cartoons and comic strips involving cats... and an odd fondness for Lasagne and hatred of Mondays, which may or may not be related.

Augmented Machine Mobile Armor: A Gundam and Armored Core-inspired Mecha RP

@Senhara: This is always something I have a bit of a hard time putting into words. ^^;

While I'm not yet finished with my second playthrough of AC6, I think Sixth gen isn't a bad comparison overall.

@VitaVitaAR

I haven't played an Armoured Core game since Armoured Core 2 on the PS2, so 'Power Levels' of ACs mean nothing to me as it is.
Is there a comparison from another franchise, or a more universal description?
I figured the idea would be all of our stuff was about the same, generally speaking, so there's an up to go as the game developed.

Star Trek: Cadets - A Starfleet Extended Training Cruise RP

Here's my attempt at a character!

Amara

Physical Information:
Name: Amara G'rfeld

Age: 25

Species: Caitian

Gender: Female

Height: 5'3" (160cm)

Weight: 55kg (~119lb)

Appearance Description:
Amara is of the particular 'branch' of the species that has a digitgrade posture and feet. As such, she rarely wears footwear, other than in hazardous or 'unpleasant' conditions (e.g. dirty, unsanitary, or unsafe places). She has a long tail with a tufted black tip the same colour as her hair, and relatively large ears for a Caitian, with lynx-like, tufted tips on them.
Her fur is an orangey-brown with a lighter, cream-white hue on her front from her chin along the front of her body down to her inner thighs. She has black, triangular stripes or markings that counter this, mostly along her back, but also on her cheeks, the top of her tail and on the 'outer' side of her limbs.
Her hair-like mane is a dark brown, almost black colour and is worn very short and choppy, rather than long, and she has bright green eyes and a pink fleshy nose and paw-pads.
Both ears have four piercings near the base, including a plug-type piercing at the bottom of both, and then a series of studs.
Relatively slender, as with most female Caitians; Amara has a slim, athletic, petite build. Her curves are very modest and slight for the most part, though she has quite noticably feminine hips.

Starfleet Record:
Division: Operations

Role: Tactical

Academy Major: Starship Weapon Systems and Design

Academy Minor(s): Psychology

Personal Information:
Biography:
Amara had a relatively normal life on Cait (aka Ferasa), growing up in a regular family situation. Always fascinated by travel and by starships and exploration, joining Starfleet was a logical and natural fit for her.
While like most Catians, she is not overly violent or aggressive, she showed a natural prowess for martial arts and athletic pursuits, as well as a keen eye and easy grasp of the use and application of tactical systems, weaponry and their workings. She also showed a clear and keen grasp of strategy, escalation, and the other aspects of dangerous situations, leading her into a tactical role - although, she was equally interested in the pyschology of situations, and at one point almost went into the field of counselling, as this reflected her loving, open, caring and inquisitive nature about others and their personalities, thoughts, traits and minds.

During her time at the academy, she studied hard and eagerly, though not without having her fun; she gained something of a reputation for having a string of very intense, passionate, but brief romantic entanglements, as well as being very embracing of the idea of 'R&R' by thoroughly engaging with - and even organising - more than a few excursions to various party spots.
Despite this carefree side and what would appear to be lacking in seriousness or care for her role or career, or even those around her, Amara does have a serious and dedicated side, and is quite intelligent and thoughtful, and she cares deeply for those she gets close to and sharing her feelings and herself with others is an expression of that deep love and care she has for them - even if it does leave her vulnerable and often with conflicted feelings and thoughts.

Despite being well-versed and knowledgeable on the role and requirements of a tactical and security position, Amara has had little practical experience in the role so far, having only handled small and minor incidents in her position as a cadet, but no actual 'live-fire' situations, as it were. While she keeps it quiet and shows willing, enthusiasm and eagerness to her peers and superiors, there is a constant worry that she may freeze up or hesitate when the time comes for the real thing, and it may be in a situation that results in someone getting hurt, or worse, and how this may affect not just her career, but her life.

Other Details:
Despite her loathing of her 'reputation', such as it is, of being 'easy' and something of a 'freaky' lay, Amara does quietly embrace and enjoy quite an open 'intimate' life, though she is very, very adamant and firm that she doesn't want it to be her defining or memorable trait, or the only thing she is known for, and is keen to live it down.
She is also absolutely fascinated by the fact that Earth cats are so similar to Caitians, and the role they play in human society. Collecting tschotkes, ornaments, curios, memorabilia and trinkets of cats is something she has adopted, and she has a fondness for cartoons and comic strips involving cats... and an odd fondness for Lasagne and hatred of Mondays, which may or may not be related.