There are no dibs, in fact I encourage people to take the same types of groups as others if thats what they want to play.
Having two merc groups for example, means direct competiton - no easy clients and prices would have to be kept competitive.
The RP neither requires any particular organisation types nor suffers from having many of the same type, especially as you're not exactly going to be working together....
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Forsythe
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That was quick responding.
Feel free to have at it folks, I'll be around for the rest of the day to critique and answer questions before I must inevitably sleep...
Feel free to have at it folks, I'll be around for the rest of the day to critique and answer questions before I must inevitably sleep...
And we have an OOC
Mass Effect: Underworld
“In other news, the Council has recently denied reports of a Prothean artifact being discovered in the Terminus systems, calling them ‘rumours spread by attention seeking treasure hunters.’ Recent actions by major organisations in the Terminus suggest otherwise - this reporter thinks the Artifact is very real, and the council doesn’t want us to have it. To all the organisations out there hunting the artifact, good for you. Its about time the council shared their toys with the rest of us.
I’m Toruk, and this is Omega News.”
Where there is free civilisation there is crime, and where there is crime, someone will step above the rank and file to organise it. The year 2178CE is no different to any other in this regard, and despite recent setbacks for many of the less organised, for the more powerful groups its business as usual. The galaxy seems to be at peace for now, with no major conflicts brewing, and that is good for business, whatever the business may be.
Only one unusual event is causing ripples among these circles right now. There are rumours circulating across the galaxy that a Prothean artifact of unprecedented power has been located on a remote world in the Terminus systems by a tiny mining corporation no-one had heard of until now. Any Prothean artifact has the potential to advance civilisation by hundreds of years, and that places these artifacts among the most valuable items known to any race, if not the most valuable. Normally they are snapped up by the Council as soon as they are found, but in this case a rare opportunity has arisen - the Artifact’s precise location is unknown and it is deep within the lawless Terminus systems. The Council has been unable to retrieve it so far, and whoever does manage this feat stands to make a fortune large enough to buy a small planet with, as well as earn instant fame across the galaxy.
Needless to say, few are in as good a position to embark on such a risky endeavour as the lawless princes of the underworld that already call space such as the Terminus and Attican Traverse their home, and have hordes of loyal minions to do their bidding. Of course, the original finder of the artifact is still around, and probably already planning out his retirement as he prepares to transport the artifact to the Council. Action will need to be swift and decisive for any crime lord-turned artifact hunter to have a chance at the biggest score in recent history. Not only this, but every other organisation out there is also gunning for the artifact and the Council isn’t going to just stand back and wait for less-than-trustworthy organisations to bring it to them. The only good thing in the whole mess is that the truly mighty power blocs like Aria and the Shadow Broker have decided not to get involved with such a risky and volatile situation. They already have power, influence and a fortune and risking it all to get more just isn’t their style, especially not with the many other concerns that plague them.
Even those organisations that aren’t planning to get involved with the artifact hunt stand to gain from the whole situation. While others scramble for the artifact, they can consolidate and expand their power and influence.
Across the galaxy, boardrooms, bars, HQs and hideouts are ringing with the sound of the some of the more brilliant and power hungry beings plotting how best to profit from the situation. One thing is certain. There will be profit.
Everyone has heard of Aria, Cerberus, The Shadow Broker, Blue Suns, Eclipse and Blood Pack, but the galaxy is a big place, and not even these giants can hope to be everywhere at once. A great many other groups of people band together and form organisations and networks to make their lives on the wrong side of the law easier. Most of these organisations don’t last the year before being torn down, either by outside influence or from within, but a few make it and become real players on the wide and varied field of organised crime. This RP is about those organisations. They can range from highly illegal drug cartels, to organised smuggling rings, to research firms that leave ethics at the door, to information brokers, or even a simple and mostly legal mercenary organisation. This RP presents a playground for the criminal masterminds of every stripe, and while the law is around I encourage you the player to be imaginative and go mad with power. If controlling shadow empires beyond the law and competing with your fellows for petty reasons is your thing, this is the RP for you.
This RP takes place five years before the events of Mass Effect 1, in the same continuity as its spiritual predecessor Mass Effect: Nova. Events that happened in Nova happened in the history of Underworld, and though they have very little bearing on the RP, they may occasionally be referenced. Please take into account the time the RP is set in, the Geth, Collectors and Reapers aren’t around right now, Thermal Clips haven’t been invented and a variety of other things are yet to occur.
The game is run by me, the GM (Sundered Echo). Players control their organisations in the entirety, but control ends there. A main plot will exist that I will control, though it is usually up to you how much your organisation gets involved in it. Ally or fight with each other, plot and scheme and generally indulge in intrigue. The world is a living one and will react to your actions, so don’t be afraid to be imaginative and varied in your interactions. The game is as much about exploration of the Mass Effect setting as it is about my plot, and people are encouraged to interact with no regard to the plot whatsoever.
The rules and standards.
1. While a considerable amount of pettiness is to be expected from the kind of characters in this game, it is to remain in character. We’re all friends in the OOC, and I will not tolerate petty disagreements and fighting for any reason. I am the final arbiter in disputes, and anyone that disagrees will get a visit by a Spectre whose sole purpose will be to ruin your leaders (final) day.
2. I will not tolerate Mary Sue Cerberus agents, Spectres, organisations that make no sense or act incredibly out of character for the sake of power. Organisations that magically acquire far more assets than they realistically could are also not tolerated, and those whose characters are ‘secretly’ working for some other force (like Cerberus or the Council) without informing me well beforehand are also not tolerated. Such characters or organisations will be promptly introduced to Saren.
3. This is an RP, not a strategy simulator. The purpose is not to ‘win the game.’ Organisations made for the sole purpose of wiping out every other organisation will not be accepted. While a certain degree of conflict is expected, remember that we are all here to have fun, and being stomped into the ground is very rarely a person's definition of fun. If I feel it necessary, I will demonstrate the old saying ‘There is always a bigger robotic space cuttlefish’ to you.
4. Technology is currently at pre-Mass Effect 1 levels. While this has little bearing on the larger scale, references to Thermal Clips or guns that are as yet not invented are highly frowned upon and while not quite a Spectre worthy offense, still should not be done. If you don’t know whether something is acceptable, ask. I and the other players can probably tell you.
5. It is very possible that organisations will be destroyed and leaders killed in the course of the game. While I will not likely carry out such destructions myself, the other players organisations are quite capable of such, especially when allied together.
6. I expect posts to be two good paragraphs at least. While I don’t require huge posts every time, single paragraph speedposts are frowned upon heavily. Don’t do them.
7. Real Life comes first. I understand this, and if you feel the need to take a leave of absence that is totally alright. However, and I cannot emphasise this enough, please tell me that you are doing so. It only takes logging on for 60 seconds and writing a very short post saying you won’t be around for a while because of real life to tell me this. That minute of your time will save me and fellow players hours of worrying should you disappear. That being said, anyone who disappears without a trace for two weeks straight will have their organisation torn apart by Spectres, as I will assume you are gone for good.
8. If someone hasn’t posted for a while and they’re holding everything up after a few days, don’t worry about posting order. It’s going to be a loose order as it is; just give everyone a chance to reply before you go ahead. An exception to this rule is if your characters are in a conversation that doesn’t affect anyone else, which I do ask you refrain from speed posting and consider a collab.
On Nation Sheets:
The Organisation sheet presented here has been written to attempt to fit as wide a range of possible Organisations and structures as possible, but I am aware of the fact that it may not fit all possibilities. If you have an idea for an Organisation that does not fit this sheet, feel free to disregard part or all of it. Do let me know beforehand if you take this route though.
“In other news, the Council has recently denied reports of a Prothean artifact being discovered in the Terminus systems, calling them ‘rumours spread by attention seeking treasure hunters.’ Recent actions by major organisations in the Terminus suggest otherwise - this reporter thinks the Artifact is very real, and the council doesn’t want us to have it. To all the organisations out there hunting the artifact, good for you. Its about time the council shared their toys with the rest of us.
I’m Toruk, and this is Omega News.”
Where there is free civilisation there is crime, and where there is crime, someone will step above the rank and file to organise it. The year 2178CE is no different to any other in this regard, and despite recent setbacks for many of the less organised, for the more powerful groups its business as usual. The galaxy seems to be at peace for now, with no major conflicts brewing, and that is good for business, whatever the business may be.
Only one unusual event is causing ripples among these circles right now. There are rumours circulating across the galaxy that a Prothean artifact of unprecedented power has been located on a remote world in the Terminus systems by a tiny mining corporation no-one had heard of until now. Any Prothean artifact has the potential to advance civilisation by hundreds of years, and that places these artifacts among the most valuable items known to any race, if not the most valuable. Normally they are snapped up by the Council as soon as they are found, but in this case a rare opportunity has arisen - the Artifact’s precise location is unknown and it is deep within the lawless Terminus systems. The Council has been unable to retrieve it so far, and whoever does manage this feat stands to make a fortune large enough to buy a small planet with, as well as earn instant fame across the galaxy.
Needless to say, few are in as good a position to embark on such a risky endeavour as the lawless princes of the underworld that already call space such as the Terminus and Attican Traverse their home, and have hordes of loyal minions to do their bidding. Of course, the original finder of the artifact is still around, and probably already planning out his retirement as he prepares to transport the artifact to the Council. Action will need to be swift and decisive for any crime lord-turned artifact hunter to have a chance at the biggest score in recent history. Not only this, but every other organisation out there is also gunning for the artifact and the Council isn’t going to just stand back and wait for less-than-trustworthy organisations to bring it to them. The only good thing in the whole mess is that the truly mighty power blocs like Aria and the Shadow Broker have decided not to get involved with such a risky and volatile situation. They already have power, influence and a fortune and risking it all to get more just isn’t their style, especially not with the many other concerns that plague them.
Even those organisations that aren’t planning to get involved with the artifact hunt stand to gain from the whole situation. While others scramble for the artifact, they can consolidate and expand their power and influence.
Across the galaxy, boardrooms, bars, HQs and hideouts are ringing with the sound of the some of the more brilliant and power hungry beings plotting how best to profit from the situation. One thing is certain. There will be profit.
Everyone has heard of Aria, Cerberus, The Shadow Broker, Blue Suns, Eclipse and Blood Pack, but the galaxy is a big place, and not even these giants can hope to be everywhere at once. A great many other groups of people band together and form organisations and networks to make their lives on the wrong side of the law easier. Most of these organisations don’t last the year before being torn down, either by outside influence or from within, but a few make it and become real players on the wide and varied field of organised crime. This RP is about those organisations. They can range from highly illegal drug cartels, to organised smuggling rings, to research firms that leave ethics at the door, to information brokers, or even a simple and mostly legal mercenary organisation. This RP presents a playground for the criminal masterminds of every stripe, and while the law is around I encourage you the player to be imaginative and go mad with power. If controlling shadow empires beyond the law and competing with your fellows for petty reasons is your thing, this is the RP for you.
This RP takes place five years before the events of Mass Effect 1, in the same continuity as its spiritual predecessor Mass Effect: Nova. Events that happened in Nova happened in the history of Underworld, and though they have very little bearing on the RP, they may occasionally be referenced. Please take into account the time the RP is set in, the Geth, Collectors and Reapers aren’t around right now, Thermal Clips haven’t been invented and a variety of other things are yet to occur.
The game is run by me, the GM (Sundered Echo). Players control their organisations in the entirety, but control ends there. A main plot will exist that I will control, though it is usually up to you how much your organisation gets involved in it. Ally or fight with each other, plot and scheme and generally indulge in intrigue. The world is a living one and will react to your actions, so don’t be afraid to be imaginative and varied in your interactions. The game is as much about exploration of the Mass Effect setting as it is about my plot, and people are encouraged to interact with no regard to the plot whatsoever.
The rules and standards.
1. While a considerable amount of pettiness is to be expected from the kind of characters in this game, it is to remain in character. We’re all friends in the OOC, and I will not tolerate petty disagreements and fighting for any reason. I am the final arbiter in disputes, and anyone that disagrees will get a visit by a Spectre whose sole purpose will be to ruin your leaders (final) day.
2. I will not tolerate Mary Sue Cerberus agents, Spectres, organisations that make no sense or act incredibly out of character for the sake of power. Organisations that magically acquire far more assets than they realistically could are also not tolerated, and those whose characters are ‘secretly’ working for some other force (like Cerberus or the Council) without informing me well beforehand are also not tolerated. Such characters or organisations will be promptly introduced to Saren.
3. This is an RP, not a strategy simulator. The purpose is not to ‘win the game.’ Organisations made for the sole purpose of wiping out every other organisation will not be accepted. While a certain degree of conflict is expected, remember that we are all here to have fun, and being stomped into the ground is very rarely a person's definition of fun. If I feel it necessary, I will demonstrate the old saying ‘There is always a bigger robotic space cuttlefish’ to you.
4. Technology is currently at pre-Mass Effect 1 levels. While this has little bearing on the larger scale, references to Thermal Clips or guns that are as yet not invented are highly frowned upon and while not quite a Spectre worthy offense, still should not be done. If you don’t know whether something is acceptable, ask. I and the other players can probably tell you.
5. It is very possible that organisations will be destroyed and leaders killed in the course of the game. While I will not likely carry out such destructions myself, the other players organisations are quite capable of such, especially when allied together.
6. I expect posts to be two good paragraphs at least. While I don’t require huge posts every time, single paragraph speedposts are frowned upon heavily. Don’t do them.
7. Real Life comes first. I understand this, and if you feel the need to take a leave of absence that is totally alright. However, and I cannot emphasise this enough, please tell me that you are doing so. It only takes logging on for 60 seconds and writing a very short post saying you won’t be around for a while because of real life to tell me this. That minute of your time will save me and fellow players hours of worrying should you disappear. That being said, anyone who disappears without a trace for two weeks straight will have their organisation torn apart by Spectres, as I will assume you are gone for good.
8. If someone hasn’t posted for a while and they’re holding everything up after a few days, don’t worry about posting order. It’s going to be a loose order as it is; just give everyone a chance to reply before you go ahead. An exception to this rule is if your characters are in a conversation that doesn’t affect anyone else, which I do ask you refrain from speed posting and consider a collab.
On Nation Sheets:
The Organisation sheet presented here has been written to attempt to fit as wide a range of possible Organisations and structures as possible, but I am aware of the fact that it may not fit all possibilities. If you have an idea for an Organisation that does not fit this sheet, feel free to disregard part or all of it. Do let me know beforehand if you take this route though.
Thats a good thing data, I will not be accepting parts of existing organisations like Cerberus.
The Mass Effect world has easily enough variance for people to think of things other than the stars of the games.
The Mass Effect world has easily enough variance for people to think of things other than the stars of the games.
'tis all in good humour my friend.
Seeing as how I've managed to do an all nighter, posting an ooc 'tomorrow morning' may very well become 'in a few hours' instead.
Seeing as how I've managed to do an all nighter, posting an ooc 'tomorrow morning' may very well become 'in a few hours' instead.
Perhaps I ought to've mention I was looking for uh.... Sentient races?
Otherwise, good to see more interest.
Otherwise, good to see more interest.
The Imperials asked for a demonstration of High Guard firepower. Rhea obliged.
“The Imperial ships are firing”
Valerie’s voice rang out across the bridge delivering the expected message. “Battlestations. How are our defences holding up?” Rhea asked. With such an exotic and new enemy, she had to determine quickly what sort of measures had to be taken to protect her ship. While by no means fragile, the Intent just wasn’t built to soak up fire the way an XMC could. Valeries hologram appeared next the captain looking more than a little put out. “They appear to be using high powered particle beams. They move too quickly for defensive missiles. The good news is that our ECM seems to have prevented them from locking onto us. I’ve not been hit ye-” The bridge shook as a bolt winged the ships hull. “Lucky shot.” Valerie said in a huff.
“Alright Valerie, prepare a full offensive salvo and target the nearest of their cruisers. Hold fire for my mark, I have a feeling our friends in the Hive are going to respond to the Imperials any minute now.” The two women, one genetically engineered perfection and one coherent light, watched on the viewscreen as the massive vessel below them turned to engage. It was more nimble than it appeared, and quickly brought its weapons to bare. The opening salvo was a thing of beauty, raking across the enemy ship with fire. “Target sustaining heavy damage. Should I finish them?” Valerie’s voice contained just a hint of vicious eagerness that belied her nature as a Warship. “At your leisure.” Rhea said casually. Thus far the battle seemed fairly meagre, though it had the potential to escalate rapidly. With a smile on her holographic face, Valerie simply said “Firing.”
Points of light in groups of four shot from the recesses in the Intent’s hull as the AP cannons fired, as well as a far less noticeable but no less deadly grouping of a dozen missiles fired in rapid succession from the four missile tubes in the Intent’s nose. The AP rounds struck first, only moments after the Hives salvo, stripping away what little armour remained on the Venators facing surfaces in brilliant flashes of matter/antimatter annihilation. Shortly after, the spread of offensive missiles struck, seeking out unprotected ruptures in the hull of the Venator before detonating. The hull bucked and tore apart, great quantities of material being thrown away as the forward section of the ship was gutted, leaving it little better than a burning hulk with engines.
“Target crippled.” came the smug announcement from Valerie. Before Rhea could give the order to finish them with another salvo though, Valerie made another announcement. “There is a small Imperial ship pulling alongside the Hive. Orders?” Rhea didn’t know in the slightest how the ‘hyperspace’ that the hive commander had mentioned worked, but if it was anything like slipstream, having an unwanted ship right on top of you was a bad thing. She had to destroy it, but she couldn’t afford to pull the ship out of position without jeopardising her capacity to hitch a ride with the Hive. “Launch remaining drones and engage it. We need to clear them away.” It wasn’t the only threat the ship faced though, as another lucky shot winged them and rocked the bridge. “Turn the ship and fire on the next nearest Imperial cruiser with AP canons.”
The Valourous Intent swung around on the spot, demonstrating the superb manoeuvrability inherent in its class and opened up on the next Venator, though the AP cannon bursts were deflected by the ships shield. A short distance away, the Intents drones were pelting the smaller imperial ship with low yield missiles, its hull showing signs of great strain, though it was giving as good as it got, with the wreckage of several drones floating nearby. Rhea could tell they were fighting a holding action at this point, and she would soon have to choose whether to go with the Hive or make a break for safe Slipstream distance. But then, this was exactly the kind of situation she lived for. She was after all, only Nietzschean.
Valerie’s voice rang out across the bridge delivering the expected message. “Battlestations. How are our defences holding up?” Rhea asked. With such an exotic and new enemy, she had to determine quickly what sort of measures had to be taken to protect her ship. While by no means fragile, the Intent just wasn’t built to soak up fire the way an XMC could. Valeries hologram appeared next the captain looking more than a little put out. “They appear to be using high powered particle beams. They move too quickly for defensive missiles. The good news is that our ECM seems to have prevented them from locking onto us. I’ve not been hit ye-” The bridge shook as a bolt winged the ships hull. “Lucky shot.” Valerie said in a huff.
“Alright Valerie, prepare a full offensive salvo and target the nearest of their cruisers. Hold fire for my mark, I have a feeling our friends in the Hive are going to respond to the Imperials any minute now.” The two women, one genetically engineered perfection and one coherent light, watched on the viewscreen as the massive vessel below them turned to engage. It was more nimble than it appeared, and quickly brought its weapons to bare. The opening salvo was a thing of beauty, raking across the enemy ship with fire. “Target sustaining heavy damage. Should I finish them?” Valerie’s voice contained just a hint of vicious eagerness that belied her nature as a Warship. “At your leisure.” Rhea said casually. Thus far the battle seemed fairly meagre, though it had the potential to escalate rapidly. With a smile on her holographic face, Valerie simply said “Firing.”
Points of light in groups of four shot from the recesses in the Intent’s hull as the AP cannons fired, as well as a far less noticeable but no less deadly grouping of a dozen missiles fired in rapid succession from the four missile tubes in the Intent’s nose. The AP rounds struck first, only moments after the Hives salvo, stripping away what little armour remained on the Venators facing surfaces in brilliant flashes of matter/antimatter annihilation. Shortly after, the spread of offensive missiles struck, seeking out unprotected ruptures in the hull of the Venator before detonating. The hull bucked and tore apart, great quantities of material being thrown away as the forward section of the ship was gutted, leaving it little better than a burning hulk with engines.
“Target crippled.” came the smug announcement from Valerie. Before Rhea could give the order to finish them with another salvo though, Valerie made another announcement. “There is a small Imperial ship pulling alongside the Hive. Orders?” Rhea didn’t know in the slightest how the ‘hyperspace’ that the hive commander had mentioned worked, but if it was anything like slipstream, having an unwanted ship right on top of you was a bad thing. She had to destroy it, but she couldn’t afford to pull the ship out of position without jeopardising her capacity to hitch a ride with the Hive. “Launch remaining drones and engage it. We need to clear them away.” It wasn’t the only threat the ship faced though, as another lucky shot winged them and rocked the bridge. “Turn the ship and fire on the next nearest Imperial cruiser with AP canons.”
The Valourous Intent swung around on the spot, demonstrating the superb manoeuvrability inherent in its class and opened up on the next Venator, though the AP cannon bursts were deflected by the ships shield. A short distance away, the Intents drones were pelting the smaller imperial ship with low yield missiles, its hull showing signs of great strain, though it was giving as good as it got, with the wreckage of several drones floating nearby. Rhea could tell they were fighting a holding action at this point, and she would soon have to choose whether to go with the Hive or make a break for safe Slipstream distance. But then, this was exactly the kind of situation she lived for. She was after all, only Nietzschean.
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