Monster Hunters: Justice (OCC)

[ericthered]

Notes:

Particulary ruthless wizard: Read 'Immortal' in this spot. Not all of them are wizards, but they are all ruthless and have the power to pull such a stunt off.

The King of Brown won't be merging with Jack's personality-- fae and humans are too different. He will be bound to jack though -- his ability to act beyond jack will be extremely limited. I could certainly see them having an influence on each other though. Also, jack will have a good bit of fae knowledge but not the full set. His hidden lore roll will also be fairly high -- cursed ones, near, high, and resident fae will all turn up stuff (in various quantities).

As a note, Jack's exact powers from brown should come from a template you request from me, as the opening post. That supernatural set is fine. If it helps you can give me a suggested budget. The weaknesses will not be as generic as "Iron", but I'll work on that. In all likely hood he'll mostly just loose his supernatural abilities rather than taking extra damage.

cinematic bardic skills are valid, but will require an advantage to unlock. Ravens and Pennies 'Other trained by a master'. Its a large group. Yes, this is a house rule. Keep it or leave.

[Talosian]

Particulary ruthless wizard: Read 'Immortal' in this spot. Not all of them are wizards, but they are all ruthless and have the power to pull such a stunt off.

I'd used an immortal in a previous version of the story, but it got dropped accidentally. Dur hur.

The King of Brown won't be merging with Jack's personality-- fae and humans are too different. He will be bound to jack though -- his ability to act beyond jack will be extremely limited. I could certainly see them having an influence on each other though. Also, jack will have a good bit of fae knowledge but not the full set. His hidden lore roll will also be fairly high -- cursed ones, near, high, and resident fae will all turn up stuff (in various quantities).

Okay, I can live without the merging, as the end result (him acting oddly fae-ish) is entirely justifiable by having grown up with a fae in his head, constantly trying to influence him. Brown being unable to act directly is perfect. Narratively, Jack's knowledge of fae would be limited to whatever Brown happened to say (and he's not interested in giving Jack lessons on the subject). In game terms, I've been building Jack with Hidden Lore for Near, High, and Resident Fae, as well as Gates (at an as yet undecided level), with the idea that this represents knowledge that Brown would share when he felt it necessary (this is a bit abstract, I can justify cutting it down by making Brown a bit less helpful). Brown could arguably have a greater breadth of knowledge about various fae things and types, but he probably never really cared.

I'm alright with letting you do the details of Jack's powers and weaknesses. I'd actually thought about having his abilities shut down by certain things, but didn't want to get into the details of putting together appropriate limitations. As a rough guidepost to my original plan, here's the current version of his brownie related abilities.

Spoiler:  

Illusion (Independence, +50%; Mental, +100%; Pact, -15%; Magical/Fae, -10%) [57] - With or without Mental is fine, as both have fun upsides. Independence allows him more versatility with its use.

Invisibility (Affects Machines, +50%; Can Carry Objects (Up to No Encumbrance), +10%); Switchable, +10%; Visible Reflection, -10%; Glamour, -5%; Pact, -15%; Magical/Fae, -10%) [52] - Visible Reflection was added for flavor, and isn't a critical element.

Elastic Skin (Glamour, -5%; Pact, -15%; Magical/Fae, -10%) [14]

Night Vision 5 [5] - Currently without modifiers, and likely not appropriate unless physiological changes can be justified by having a cohabitating fae.

Frightens Animals [-10] - Inspired by folklore, and justified on the basis of animals sensing the resident brownie.

Revulsion (Iron) [-10] - Iron was chosen because it's classic, but isn't critical. I do like the flavor of Revulsion, though, as it provides a means by which to distinguish that he isn't actually normal.

Trickster (CR: 12) [-15] - I included this as part of the "racial" template I had Jack's powers under. It also serves as the Pact disadvantage. (On that note, will disadvantages in the final template count against the disadvantage limit?)

Vulnerability (Iron, Wounding x2) [-20]

EDIT2: I hadn't included Frightens Animals. Also, the total cost of current supernatural abilities is 73, and budget-wise, anywhere from 65-80 should be easily manageable. Higher or lower shouldn't be a huge crisis, but would require more revision. (If Illusion gets cut entirely, that would also free 8 points from Artist (Illusion).)

cinematic bardic skills are valid, but will require an advantage to unlock. Ravens and Pennies 'Other trained by a master'. Its a large group. Yes, this is a house rule. Keep it or leave.

I adore house rules, and Ghostdancer's work is always great. I'll incorporate this into my draft.

EDIT: I posted too soon. Are there additional cinematic bard skills that I'm unaware of? The ones I'm aware of don't form a large group, though 5 points doesn't sound unreasonable anyway.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by Talosian

I adore house rules, and Ghostdancer's work is always great. I'll incorporate this into my draft.

EDIT: I posted too soon. Are there additional cinematic bard skills that I'm unaware of? The ones I'm aware of don't form a large group, though 5 points doesn't sound unreasonable anyway.

I think that's what he meant about it being a house rule, bumping it up to the 5 point level.

Ericthered: My stuff has been adjusted.

[Talosian]

Jack Brown - Current

Wordy Sheet

Spoiler:  

Description: Jack is a rail thin seventeen year old, with finely tapered facial features, disheveled and jaggedly cut brown hair, and unsettlingly cheerful green eyes that contrast sharply with his pale skin. He's about five and a half feet tall, and if his gaunt and bony appearance filled out, he would be quite handsome. Jack usually wears acrobat tights and a leotard under his slick combat vest, covered by jeans, a long sleeved t-shirt, and an uncharacteristically smart coat. He's typically shoeless, regardless of weather and situation, but he does wear shoes and boots when necessary. He has many odd mannerisms, often staring quizzically into empty space and laughing at nothing. Most people would conclude after a short observation of his appearance and behavior that Jack is somewhat disturbed, and they wouldn't be entirely wrong.

Background:

Brownies are a chaotic and shifty group of fae that delight in tricks and pranks of all kinds. Their tricks are rarely life threatening, but often malicious or mean-spirited in nature. Because of this, higher fae typically find them to be absolutely insufferable nuisances, and avoid them as much as possible. In the absence of higher fae, brownies are free to rule themselves - insofar as brownies can be ruled. The brownies usually allow the cleverest and most capable brownie to title itself the King of Brown. The King of Brown has little to no real authority, but can usually push other brownies around enough to get its way. A King of Brown usually lasts until it is deposed by irritated or ambitious brownies, though some have met more unfortunate ends at the hands of angry mortals and High Fae. In the case of one particular King of Brown (hereafter referred to as the King of Brown, or simply Brown), he amused himself by continually plaguing an especially ruthless immortal wizard, and he paid an unusual price. Furious, the immortal decided that the King of Brown needed a special punishment, and he bound him into a passing child.

Jack Marlin was an entirely ordinary boy of eleven who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. When the King of Brown was initially thrust upon him, the King was so weak that Jack was unaware that anything had happened at all. It didn't take the King of Brown long to recover, however, and Jack was soon subjected to the constant tirade of an outraged - and completely trapped - brownie. Eventually the two came to accept that they were stuck together, and made a tenuous peace. Over time, Brown – the King refused to accept a proper name – influenced and shaped Jack's personality in his own wild and fae image. At the same time, Brown was forced to be patient, and his cruel and capricious personality was tempered by time and familiarity. Driven by the demands of a bored brownie and his own changing nature, Jack soon fled his peaceful - or, as Brown said, insufferably dull - home, and joined a traveling circus.

At twelve and a half years old, it took Jack – coached by Brown – dozens of lies to convince a circus that he was fourteen and had no other home. With some subtle assistance from Brown, Jack eventually succeeded. He traveled with across the continental United States for the next three years, learning skills and tricks from the entire circus. Numerous scuffles and tense situations broadened his skill set, and Brown was always willing to share helpful tips – tips that were guaranteed to, in his words, “Make things more interesting.” He occasionally ran into supernatural creatures and powers during this time, but with caution and Brown's abilities, he was always able to escape or lead them away.

At fifteen and a half, Jack returned to his circus' camp after a night of sowing subtle mischief across town, and he found a gruesome massacre. Horrified and sickened at the results of what Brown described as a Demon Fae attack, Jack fled. After this he wandered on his own, searching out trouble and sharpening his skills. He began to ferret out the supernatural, and hunted down the monsters among them. When he found an enemy he couldn't handle, he'd make just enough contacts to provide a tip to the right organization, and then vanish again.

(All he needs is details for how we're getting together and an organization, and I'll finish this off with rolling him into Portland.)

Supernatural Connection: Jack's connection to the supernatural is through the King of Brown, for the most part. Most of his supernatural encounters have been the result of Brown's influence, and he suspects that the Demon Fae attack on his circus was not a coincidence. He's loosely aware of various supernatural organizations, but only enough to be able to get in contact when he has a tip for them. (He'll likely end up attached to an organization as well.)

Family: Jack's family presumably still lives in Cleveland, Ohio, but he hasn't gone back to check on them (read: spy on them) for years. When he left, his family included his father, David Marlin; his Mother, Christine Marlin; his older sister, Jaime Marlin; and his younger brother, Nathaniel Marlin. Jaime would be nineteen now, and Nathaniel would be fourteen.

Friends: Most of Jack's long-term friends died in the circus massacre, but he knows that a few people weren't there at the time, including Esther Woods and Erik Halloway. Esther and Erik trained Jack as an acrobat, and the three of them formed the tight-knit core of the Acrobats. A few of the other performers had retired or dropped out of the circus before the fae attack, such as Seth Schmidt, a veteran magician and former mentor of Jack's who struck out on his own shortly before the attack. He hasn't seen any of them since, and he hasn't made many friends since then – Brown's jokes and advice usually ward people away from Jack.

Employment: Jack hasn't had anything that passes for employment since the circus, instead scrounging or stealing anything he needs as he travels. He has occasionally taken up street performance, but is always wary of over-vigilant law enforcement. If he found himself in need of a stable job, he'd start looking for work as an acrobat or a performer.

Housing: Jack often sleeps in unusual locations, and isn't bothered by sleeping outside. When he stays in a location for more than a day or two, he'll usually rent a room in a flophouse.

Crunchy Sheet

Spoiler:  

Jack Brown

Attributes [298]
ST 11 [10]
DX 16 [120]
IQ 15 [100]
HT 12 [20]

HP 15 [8]
Will 14 [20]
Per 14 [20]
FP 12

Basic Lift 24 lbs
Damage 1d-1/1d+1

Basic Speed 7.00
Basic Move 7

Fright Check 16

Advantages [127]

Ambidexterity [5]
Charisma 1 [5]
Combat Reflexes [15]
Conscious Dual Nature [10]
Destiny 1 [5]
Fae-trained Performer [5]
Fit [5]
The King of Brown [75]
Quick-Sheathe (Knife) [1]
Signature Gear 1 (Knives, 2 long, 4 large, 6 small) [1]

Disadvantages [-70]

Compulsive Thrill-Seeking (CR 9) [-15]
Curious (CR 12) [-5]
Delusion (Brown is my Ally) [-10]
Enemy (Elven Lord; Powerful Individual, -20; Fairly Often (9), x1; Hunter, x1) [-20]
Impulsiveness (CR 12) [-10]
Sense of Duty (Companions)[-5]
Skinny [-5]

Quirks [-5]

Always Smiles
Always Wears Earbuds
Dislikes Shoes
Show-Off
Talks to Himself

Skills [100] - All skills are TL8.

- Combat [22]
Brawling, DX+0, (E), 16 [1]
Dual Weapon Attack (Knife), RSL+0, 18 [4]
Dual Weapon Attack (Thrown Weapon (Knife)), RSL+0, 18 [4]
Fast-Draw (Ammo), DX+1, (E) 17 [1] (Includes +1 from CR)
Fast-Draw (Knife), DX+1, (E) 17 [1] (Includes +1 from CR)
Fast-Draw (Pistol), DX+1, (E) 17 [1] (Includes +1 from CR)
Guns (Pistol), DX+0, (E), 16 [1]
Knife, DX+2, (E), 18 [4]
Throwing Weapon (Knife), DX+2, (E), 18 [4]
Wrestling, DX-1, (A), 15 [1]

- Lore [7]
Hidden Lore (Gates, US), IQ-1, (A), 14 [1]
Hidden Lore (High Fae), IQ-1, (A), 14 [1]
Hidden Lore (Near Fae), IQ-1, (A), 14 [1]
Hidden Lore (Resident Fae), IQ-1, (A), 14 [1]
Hidden Lore (The Corners), IQ-1, (A), 14 [1]
Hidden Lore (The Market), IQ-1, (A), 14 [1]
Occultism, IQ-1, (A), 14 [1]

- Miscellaneous [13]
Artist (Illusion), IQ+1, (H), 16 [8]
Disguise (Human), IQ+1, (A), 16 [1]
Driving (Motorcycle), DX, (A), 16 [1]
Observation, Per+0, (A), 14 [2]
Scrounging, Per+0, (E), 14 [1]

- Social [10]
Acting, IQ+0, (A), 15 [2]
Body Language, Per-1, (A), 13 [1]
Detect Lies, Per-1, (H), 13 [2]
Diplomacy, IQ-2, (H), 13 [1]
Fast-Talk, IQ+1, (A), 16 [4]

- Wildcards [48]
Move!, DX+0, (W), 16 [24]
Perform!, IQ-1, (W), 14 [12]
Thief!, DX-1, (W), 15 [12]

[298] + [127] + [100] - [70] - [5] = 450




The King of Brown
Destiny (Brown Frees Himself) [-10]*
Trickster (CR 12) [-15]
Revulsion (Iron) [-10]
Frightens animals (only when using powers-20%) [-8]
Vulnerability (Iron, *1.5) [-10]

Illusion (Independence +40%, Area 4 yards +50%, Pact -15%, Magic -10%, fae weaknesses*** -10%, anchors to objects +0%, Ranged +40%) [49] ****
Invisibility (Pact -15%, magic -10%, fae weaknesses-10%, can carry objects (light encum)+20%, Affects machines +50%,switchable+10%)[58] ****
Elastic Skin (Pact -15%, magic -10%, fae weaknesses -10%)(alternate to invisibility)[14/5=3] ****
Night Vision 5(Pact -15%, magic -10%, fae weaknesses -10%, nuisance effect (faint eye glow, -1 reactions) -5%) [3]

Contact Group (King of Brown, Fae knowledge, skill 18, appears on 9, unreliable) [10]**
Spirit Empathy (Specialized (Trickster Fae), -50%) [5]

* to **** See post 134 on page 14.

Current Equipment List
(I can write up or zoom in on the equipment list if necessary, but I figured I should at least get it up as soon as possible.)

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Talosian

As a rough guidepost to my original plan, here's the current version of his brownie related abilities.

EDIT2: I hadn't included Frightens Animals. Also, the total cost of current supernatural abilities is 73, and budget-wise, anywhere from 65-80 should be easily manageable. Higher or lower shouldn't be a huge crisis, but would require more revision. (If Illusion gets cut entirely, that would also free 8 points from Artist (Illusion).)



I adore house rules, and Ghostdancer's work is always great. I'll incorporate this into my draft.

EDIT: I posted too soon. Are there additional cinematic bard skills that I'm unaware of? The ones I'm aware of don't form a large group, though 5 points doesn't sound unreasonable anyway.

Its an effectively large group, rather than an actually large one. The abilities are quite powerful.

reserve 100 points for the template. I don't know that I will use them all, but please reserve them. Your idea of faerie memory is accurate. They all have far more experience than mortals, but they don't pay much attention, even a figure such as the king of brown. You will have some 'fae social' skills that show up that way though. Most of the magic will be illusion (though not mental )

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

Ericthered: My stuff has been adjusted.

page reference for precognitive parry? I can't find it in powerups, powers, supers, basic ....

[the_matrix_walker]

Martial Arts, Page 62.



I switched back to a straight up Detect, rather than the Modular one, and switched the danger sense to limited precognition and took it out of the Alt-Ability array. I decided it wouldn't be much good as an alternative. That made things a little pricier, so the rare Vulnerability to Peach Tree Wood is back. If you'd rather see the return of the fire vulnerability (or something different) instead, let me know.

[ericthered]

Matrix Walker, Were did all the powers on your sheet come from? I don't remember discussing any of them, apart from vauge references. You don't have to ask me to make normal changes, but I'd like to be asked about powers, and ESPECIALLY everything on the template.

No to the enhancements on ST (unless you can point out to me where you asked about it).
I'm really leaning against the reliable on detect (use acute sense instead)
The alternate abilities on detect are not legal if it stays as an alternate itself, and probably no period.

I'll make final calls a little later. right now I'm a little grumpy that I found these when combing over your sheet rather than being asked about them, but I don't know if that's my fault or not at this point, so I'm going to wait. I get very grumpy if I feel someone tried to pull a 'better to ask forgiveness than permission' on me.

Why did you change danger sense to precog?

Could everyone tell me where they think their character is in the approval process? I think its pretty much in the final stages for everyone but Skullcrusher (I'm waiting for another sheet), and Talosian (who is moving quickly), and matrix WAS in the final process before he messed with the template.

[Talosian]

Most of the magic will be illusion (though not mental )

Sounds good. <prays silently for invisibility>
(I'd survive its loss, but it's very character and lore appropriate. No prank like an invisible prank. If it can't pass, would an illusion themed Chameleon be viable?)

-

I'm currently modifying Jack in GCS as prep for possible template costs (I may also make minor adjustments such as squeezing in Ambidexterity). Currently looking at dropping Persuade, Suggest, Alt-Trained by a Master, and a level of Charisma if I need to fit the full 100 points. Once the template is in it shouldn't take more than an hour to finalize his sheet (assuming the rest of it stands up to scrutiny). In the meantime I'll probably revise and expand his backstory for depth and clarity.

I put together an organized list of any questions I had about other details:

What Hidden Lore skills should he have/would be especially appropriate? (Currently has Resident, Near, and High Fae, and an unspecified Gates. He also also has Area Knowledge (Kingdom of Brown), which may be inappropriate or irrelevant.)

Can gates be used to travel between Faerie and the human world? If so, what would the appropriate specialty be called? (I'd imagine that this is what Brown would know best.)

What organizations are in play? I've seen reference to Vigilae Luminis (fanatic-ish monster hunting secret society), and Cherion (supernatural involved megacorp?), but Jack probably wouldn't mesh well with either group.

Jack's background was extended, but left open ended pending details about the starting situation. Will the final players already be a group, or will they form in play?

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Matrix Walker, Were did all the powers on your sheet come from? I don't remember discussing any of them, apart from vauge references. You don't have to ask me to make normal changes, but I'd like to be asked about powers, and ESPECIALLY everything on the template.

oops! I had been making revisions when asking you about things and making those references.

Originally Posted by ericthered

No to the enhancements on ST (unless you can point out to me where you asked about it).

Those have been there quite a while, I only recently labelled the Enhancements as "Ability Settings"... I thought they were approved.

I tend not to save my PM's, as my box fills up... I wish I had, I know there were some relevant ones... The Enhanced ST Based Damage came up as a result of our discussion regarding grappling ghosts, and I added Affects Insubstantial to Leech and ST, and in the PM I sent you about it, I mentioned taking other enhancements "Since I was already modifying ST based Damage" (or some such) and since they seemed like cool Chi effects. It was at the same time that I added the claws (which I'm not sure if I specified, I might have assumed it wouldn't be a concern, sorry)

I screwed up in thinking that you reviewed the sheet and that your not specifically responding was consent.

Originally Posted by ericthered

I'm really leaning against the reliable on detect (use acute sense instead)
The alternate abilities on detect are not legal if it stays as an alternate itself, and probably no period.

The thing on Reliable, is that I don't really need it for the Sense roll portion. What I wanted it for is the IQ Based Analysis roll... The Detect is Alternative to Leech+Affliction, so he can "Sense Chi" by drawing it in from all around him, or "Suck Chi" by drawing it in from a victim. Detect is the only Alternative Ability he has... Could you be referring to the Alternative Enhancements on Detect?

Originally Posted by ericthered

I'll make final calls a little later. right now I'm a little grumpy that I found these when combing over your sheet rather than being asked about them, but I don't know if that's my fault or not at this point, so I'm going to wait. I get very grumpy if I feel someone tried to pull a 'better to ask forgiveness than permission' on me.

My apologies, I thought we had discussed the options and was waiting for you to go over the sheet and let me know what worked for you. I'm surprised to hear that there is any power you don't recognize, so I think the fault is probably somewhat mutual... But I will accept all of the blame! For the record, I wasn't trying to pull anything though.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Why did you change danger sense to precog?

I just thought precog would be cool. I can switch it back or drop it entirely. It grew from my interest in Precognitive Parry, but I can just take a Special Training perk if you want me to skip the Danger Sense/Precognition.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I'm so sorry if I made assumptions and took liberties... I did think that the updates were pending review and you just hadn't gotten to it yet. I certainly didn't mean to surprise you as I obviously have...

I'll change anything you want into anything you like... so sorry again!

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Could everyone tell me where they think their character is in the approval process? I think its pretty much in the final stages for everyone but Skullcrusher (I'm waiting for another sheet), and Talosian (who is moving quickly), and matrix WAS in the final process before he messed with the template.

I think I am done unless you want any changes you haven't mentioned yet.
I do need to work out some more charms and rituals. Since rituals can be created on the fly its not a big deal but it will keep from slowing things down the more I get worked out and approved in advance.
Also good to work on some more charms, been looking at Tarot cards to see what rituals can fit which, based on the Separith and the traditional card meaning or even name.
That would just be flavor for the charms or prepared symbols though.

I do want a damage bonus ritual I can use for increasing basic weapon or fist damage and been thinking of rituals for effects like Dresdens motion rings and armored duster. I think the ruby would be just Bestow Bonus to Hidden Lore Gate rather then a charm or prepared Crossroads effect.

I had finally found the Schtick perk in Pyramid 3/44 for Niche protection but decided its probably not worth the bother for Tarot Master.
Let me know though :)