[OOC] Worlds of Fire

[ErhnamDJ]

If I wanted to have Douglas learn a little bit about higher tech stuff, but not very much, how would I do that?

Say he encountered a laptop, how and I thought maybe we would know what it was. Would I take High TL with Unreliable and Requires IQ Roll? Something like that?

[Lamech]

Spoiler:  

ATTRIBUTES [94]

ST 8 [-20]
IQ 15 [100]
DX 10 [0]
HT 10 [0]

HP 10 [4]
Will 14 [-5]
Per 12 [-15]
FP 10 +10 FP that is only accessible for magic (like ER)
Basic Speed 5
Basic Move 5
Basic Lift 13

Damage 1d-3/1d-2
Height 5'6" Weight 110 lbs

ADVANTAGES [64]
Magery 6 (Dance Limited) [41]
Luck [15]
Wild Talent (spells only-20%, requires prep time (8 hours)-60%, only under moonlight -20% (effectively “at night” retention+25%) [5]
Unspent Points 3


DISADVANTAGES [-5]
Sense of Duty (adventuring companions)


SKILLS [97]: All skills are TL8, unless noted otherwise
Various spells, see Grimoire [55]
Psychology IQ/H IQ-2 13 [1]
Brainwashing IQ/H IQ+1 16 [8]
Diplomacy IQ/H IQ IQ-2 13 [1]
Hidden Lore (monsters) IQ/A IQ-1 14 [1]
Computer Op IQ/E IQ+0 15 [1]
First Aid IQ/E IQ+0 15 [1]
Cooking IQ/A IQ-1 14 [1]
Armoury IQ/A IQ-1 14 [1]
Thaumatology IQ/VH IQ-3 12 [1]
Interrogation IQ/A IQ-1 14 [1]
Detect Lies Per/H Per-1 11 [2]
Fast Talk IQ/A IQ-1 14 [1]
Research IQ/A IQ-1 14 [1]
Hypnotism IQ/H IQ-2 13 [1]
Holdout IQ/A IQ-1 [1]
Guns DX/E DX+4 14 [12]
Stealth DX/A DX+1 11 [4]
Explosives(demolition) IQ/A IQ-1 [1]
Mathematics (BTC) IQ/VH TL^ IQ-2 13 [2]


QUIRKS [-5]
Attentive
Incompetence: Drive
Callous: thinks that usually there are things more important than people's feelings.
Like: Prefers to use a revolver over other guns.
Broad-Minded

PERKS [1]
Standard Operating Procedure: When John wakes up casts missile shield, shield, and haste, and maintains them throughout the day. Under normal circumstances maintaining it costs no fatigue. (If it does cost fatigue, due to low mana, lost skill/IQ whatever obviously I can’t do this.)

EQUIPMENT
16,000$ tied up in various normal things, clothing, furniture, food ect.

Revolver, .38 Damage: 2d-1 pi Acc 2 Range 120/1,500 Weight 2/0.2 RoF 3 Shots 6(3i) Bulk 8 Rcl-2 $400 (I assume I can update this to a TL8 version with all the stats the same except the TL.)
10 extra clips of ammo (weight 2)

Concealable Vest (from High-Tech p.66)
Location DR Cost Weight
Torso 12/5 1000$ 2
First Aid Kit weight 2 50$
Holster, Shoulder 1lb 50$

Backpack, Small 60$ 3lbs (normally not carried)
Crow Bar 20$ 3lb (normally kept in backpack)
GPS Receiver 200$ 3lbs (normally kept in backpack)

2000$ spare change (in a bank/debit card)

Grimoire: 64 points worth of spells in total, I don’t think any of them have a TL, but if they do its TL 8.

Spoiler:  

Body Control Spells [3]
Itch 19 [1] Spasm 19 [1] Tickle 19 [1]
College of Healing [17]
Lend Energy 19 [1] Lend Vitality 19 [1] Recover Energy 22 [8] Minor Healing 19 [1] Major Healing 18 [1] Great Healing 18 [1] Relieve Sickness 19 [1] Cure Disease 19 [1] Neutralize Poison 19 [1] Stop Bleeding 19 [1]
Mind Control [10]
Foolishness 19 [1] Daze 19 [1] Mental Stun 19 [1] Sleep 19 [1] Fear 19 [1] Bravery 19 [1] Charm 19 [1] Emotion Control 19 [1] Ecstasy 18 [1] Loyalty 19 [1]
Movement Spells [10]
Haste 20 [2] Great Haste 19 [1] Apportation 19 [1] Levitation 19 [1] Slow Fall 19 [1] Flight 18 [1] Hawk Flight 18 [1] Teleportation 18 [1] Ethereal Body 18 [1] Glue 19 [1]
Protection and Warning [9]
Missile Shield 22 [8] Reverse Missiles 19 [1] Shield 20 [2]
Gate Spells [1]
Phase 19 [1] Note: Teleportation is also a gate spell
Communication and Empathy [5]
Sense Foes 19 [1] Sense Emotion 19 [1] Truthsayer 19 [1] Lend Language 19 [1] Borrow Language 19 [1]
Knowledge College [1]
Memorize 19 [1] (Far-Tasting is also here)
Necromancy [2]
Steal Energy 19 [1] Steal Vitality 19 [1]
Food College [2]
Far-Tasting 19 [1] Seek Food 19 [1]
Meta-College
Bless 19 [1]

Changes are in red, and the traits removed are below. Also note every spell skill has changed.

Removed Traits

Spoiler:  

Reputation (small group, always recognized: law enforcement
For being "eccentric", a few too many coincidences, and knowing far too much about brainwashing.
Gun Permit

[Totem]

Originally Posted by ErhnamDJ

If I wanted to have Douglas learn a little bit about higher tech stuff, but not very much, how would I do that?

Say he encountered a laptop, how and I thought maybe we would know what it was. Would I take High TL with Unreliable and Requires IQ Roll? Something like that?

The simplest answer that I can come up with would be Tech Level Familiarity:

Tech Level Familiarity [1 or 2 points per area]
Rather than buying up a full Tech Level, familiarity with individual areas of specific TLs can be bought up. This does not represent full familiarity with a TL, but rather a broad understanding of a specific part of that TL. The areas that can be studied are:

1. Arms and Armour - Guns, weapons, etc
2. Transport - Vehicles and modes of transport
3. Civilian - household equipment and belongings (telephone, PC, bed, general layouts, etc)
4. Sciences - Medicine, physics, mathematics, astronomy, etc

This is not a definite or exclusive list. Further areas can be developed to suit specific needs.

This costs either 1 point or 2 points:

• 1 Point buys you familiarity with this but not functional understanding; you do not need to make Fright, Awe or Confusion Checks for technology that you have familiarity with and do not need to be ignorant of such things in play, but you cannot learn any skills related to this.
• 2 Points buys you sufficient familiarity that you can learn functional skills based on this TL area; TL8 (Transport) [2] would allow a TL3 monk to learn Drive (Car) or Mechanic (Car). This does not allow creative skills: the monk would not be able to learn Engineer (Car) for instance.

This can be bought at any TL that the character does not already possess, irrespective of intervening TLs. It cannot be used to learn skills at default.

Should cover it: Douglas can buy up TL8 (Civilian) for 1 point which would basically represent being used to civilian equipment and living at a 'regular' TL8 world, and thus avoid any penalties for misunderstanding what stuff is. If necessary he could also buy up others for other worlds or TLs as well.

[Totem]

Originally Posted by Lamech

Grimoire: 64 points worth of spells in total, I don’t think any of them have a TL, but if they do its TL 8.

Checked this again, it now adds up. Just waiting for Douglas and Seann.

[ErhnamDJ]

+1 Per
+1 Enhanced Dodge
+1 to Guns skill

Total: 21 points. I had one point saved from earlier (see my post on page 9).

Changes are in red.

Name: Douglas Trask

Attributes [155]
ST 12 [20]
DX 13 [60]
IQ 11 [20]
HT 12 [20]

HP 12
Will 12 [5]
Per 15 [20]
FP 12

Basic Lift 29
Damage 1d-1/1d+2

Basic Speed 7 [15]
Basic Move 7

Social Background
TL: 6
Cultural Familiarities: Western-Sorta
Languages: English

Advantages [63]
Combat Reflexes [15]
Cultural Adaptability [10]
Cutting-Edge Training (Armoury skill is TL7) [1]
Fit [5]
Gunslinger (Revolvers Only, -60%) [10]
Hard to Kill 1 [2]
Hard to Subdue 1 [2]
Jumper (Teleportation, Requires 5 FP) [0]
Off-Hand Weapon Training (Pistol) [1]
Payload 10 (External, -50%) [5] (Allows him to carry twenty-nine pounds outside his body that don't count as encumbrance)
Peripheral Vision (Breakable, -20%; Can Be Stolen, -30%; ESP, -10%) [6]
Social Chameleon [5]
Weapon Bond (Colt Walker) [1]
Enhanced Dodge 1 (Accessibility, Not against mindless, -10%; Telepathy, -10%) [12]

Disadvantages [-45]
Low TL 2 [-10]
Loner [-5]
Motion Sickness [-10]
Sense of Duty (Adventuring Companions) [-5]
Phobia (Oceans) (15) [-5]
Wealth (Struggling) [-10]

Quirks [-5]
Distinctive Features: Big beard, Bald head
Minor Delusion (Thinks he's careful) [1]
Minor Code of Honor (Keeps his word)
Minor Addiction (Caffeine)
Lactose Intolerance

Skills [61]
Acrobatics (H) DX 13 [4]
Acting (A) IQ 11 [2]
Armoury (Small Arms)/TL7 (A) IQ-1 10 [1]
Body Language (A) Per-1 14 [1]
Brawling (E) DX 13 [1]
Carpentry (E) IQ 11 [1]
Chemistry/TL6 (H) IQ-2 9 [1]
Climbing (A) DX-1 12 [1]
Detect Lies (H) Per-2 13 [1]
Escape (H) DX-2 11 [1]
Fast-Draw (Grenade) (E) DX 13 [1]
Fast-Draw (Pistol) (E) DX+2 16 [4]*
Fast-Talk (A) IQ+2 13 [8]
First-Aid/TL6 (E) IQ 11 [1]
Forced Entry (E) DX 13 [1]
Guns/TL6 (Pistol) (E) DX+5 18 [16]
Holdout (A) IQ+1 12 [4]
Knife (E) DX 13 [1]
Machinist/TL6 (A) IQ-1 10 [1]
Mechanic/TL6 (A) IQ-1 10 [1]
Observation (A) Per-1 14 [1]
Scrounging (E) Per 15 [1]
Search (A) Per-1 14 [1]
Smith/TL6 (Iron) (A) IQ-1 10 [1]
Stealth (A) DX+1 14 [4]
Survival (Desert) (A) Per-1 14 [1]
Throwing (A) DX 13 [2]
Wrestling (A) DX 13 [2]

*Includes +1 for Combat Reflexes

Equipment
Colt Walker (TL 7 version that doesn't explode!) Fine (Accurate) 3 Acc - Very Fine (Reliable) 17 Malf. (roll twice) - 2d+2 pi+ - range 110/ 1,200 - $1650 each - Bulk -4 - Weight 4.7/0.15

Colt Walker (TL 7 version that doesn't explode!), .44 American - Swing-Out Cylinder - Fine (Accurate) 3 Acc - Very Fine (Reliable) 17 Malf. (roll twice) - 2d-1 pi+ - range 120/ 1,300 - $1650 each - Bulk -4 - Weight 4.7/0.15

Colt Revolving Rifle, .56 - Damage 3d+2 pi+ - Fine (Accurate) Acc 4 - Very Fine (Reliable) 17 Malf. (roll twice) - Range 180/2,000 - Weight 11 - RoF 1 - Shots 5 - Bulk -6 - Rcl 3 - 6x Scope (+2 Acc)

Bulletproof Vest - Torso - 6 DR - $750 - Weight 8
Steel-Toed boots - Feet - 6/2 DR - $100 - Weight 4 - +1 to kicking damage
Sunglasses - Eyes - 1 DR - $10
Duster (+4 to Holdout) - $50 - Weight 5

Balanced, Fine Long Knife - $1680 - Weight 1.5

Multi-Function Knife - $25
Multi-Tool $50 - Weight .5
Duct Tape (69 yards) $1 - Weight 2
Belt - $10
Collapsible Cup - $3
Grooming Kit - $25 - Weight .5
Mirror - $5
Pocket Watch - $100
Sewing Kit - $1
Binoculars (TL6 - 6x magnification) - $150 - Weight 3
Compass - $25
Canteen - $10 - Weight 3
Small Backpack - $60 - Weight 3
Rope, 1/2" (10 yards) - $10 - Weight 2.2
Fishing Kit - $5
Black powder (1 lb in steel can) - $5 - Weight 3
Bullet-molding equipment - $25 - Weight 1
Cigarette Light - $10
Matches - $1.50
Personal basics - $5 - Weight 1
Small Pouch - $3
Water Purification Tablets - $5
Belt Holster x2 - $50 - Weight 1

MK III Grenade (x6) - 8d+2 cr ex - $120 - Weight 6

Small First Aid Kit (bandages, one dose of morphine, and two doses of sulfa) - $10 - Weight 1

$3,000 worth of gold (should be almost three ounces)

New clothes!

Ammo!

Stats [155] Ads [63] Disads [45] Quirks [5] Skills [61] Saved [1] = Total [230]

Background

Douglas is from a world that slipped into darkness, after the technological age passed. The sky burned bright. All was a desert. The few who survived drifted through the ruins, used what little they could find. Douglas found a machine. It bored into his brain, changed him. he can move across worlds. But if he so much as moves on a train or in a car, he becomes ill. He's searched across the worlds. Most are empty. None have answers.

[Totem]

Originally Posted by Totem

The simplest answer that I can come up with would be Tech Level Familiarity:

I should point out that this also works in reverse (so to speak): Seann could buy Tech Level Familiarity (Civilian) to bypass TL penalties on Computer Use and Research rolls for a specific TL lower than his own (I will be counting TL penalties from here on).

Also, Tech Level Familiarity doesn't count towards a Perk limit, so any number of levels can be purchased in it (a seasoned traveller might purchase Tech Level Familiarity (Civilian) TL 3-14 for 11 points and be excused assorted penalties for any mainstream world they are likely to visit).

Originally Posted by ErhnamDJ

+1 Per
+1 Enhanced Dodge
+1 to Guns skill

Total: 21 points. I had one point saved from earlier (see my post on page 9).

Looks good.

[Totem]

Originally Posted by Talosian

As a separate question, how many SEUs (Standard Economic Units, which I believe were specified as credits) are characters getting for gear? On a related note this sentence on the updated first page of the OOC

implied to me that prices need not be multiplied like mad due to being above TL8. Is that correct? If so, YAY.

(As a final note, we're assuming that all gear used/expended thus far has been replaced, yes?)

Regarding the above: yes, equipment bought in the Western Harbour is priced at your own TL. I may adjust this later depending on what happens as a result of it. Also, ammo and so forth has been replenished, repairs have been made, etc.

[ErhnamDJ]

Are we going to get money for stuff here?

[Totem]

Originally Posted by ErhnamDJ

Are we going to get money for stuff here?

Players who were assisting against Chu'dam get the following:

• Whatever reward they were originally asking for for that job
• 5000 SEU for use in the Western Harbour

New players start with their existing equipment and starting money as normal to represent everything that they turned up with to begin with and might have added to since then.


The Western Harbour does not accept currency from elsewhere, so conventional money is no use. Raw materials are good, but it has to be something practical: Universal Constructors and industrial grade transmuters mean that gold, platinum, or anything like that, is worth no more than its mass or the artistry that has gone into crafting it. SEUs are awarded based on reputation and successes.

That being said, you can purchase wealth as an advantage or disadvantage to reflect relative levels of success on missions compared to everyone else. "Success" is defined by a somewhat esoteric process that involves stopping the Blazen as fast as possible without upsetting the Powers That Be in the process. Ways that avoid simply slaughtering everyone who might be a Blazen are worth more.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by Lamech

Frosty: Optimization note: Right now you can go down in points and go up in effectiveness. A couple ways to pull this off
1) If you drop the points in surgery, first-aid, diagnosis, and physiology down to one and add some of those saved points to physician, you can then use the rules for "buying up from default"; surgery, first-aid, diagnosis and physiology all have a physician default which they'll be effectively at. You can end up with all of those skills much higher,
2) Drop all IQ skills above 1 cp down a couple of ranks, and add two IQ. You'll be more effective across the board and have more CP.
3) Take levels of the healer talent and drop the skills it helps.

And you may want to add a note like: "physician really at 16 for non-defaulting purposes" or "Healer talent is really training" if you don't want specialized doctor aptitude or silly levels of physician.

You don't have to do it, but I always like more CP when making characters. Even if its just to stash them away for emergencies.

Thanks for the tip. I hope I understood the rules correctly.

Spoiler:  

Lucie Bertrand

Lucie Bertrand was born to a wealthy, aristocratic Parisian family who afforded her the luxury of an education at the Lycée Janson de Sailly and the benefits of multilingualism. After graduating from Janson with a Baccalauréat, Lucie travelled to Switzerland and enrolled in the University of Zurich. She studied medicine for six years, earning a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree upon graduation. Lucie had originally planned to return to France to practice medicine, but while she was at a convention in Geneva she heard about the Médecins Sans Frontières, a humanitarian-aid organisation that provided medical aid to war-torn regions and developing countries facing diseases.

Lucie joined MSF and ended up travelling the world helping people throughout Africa and Asia. One day, after returning from a mission in Libya, Lucie heard about "The Fight" against "The Blazen". Naturally, she volunteered and was drafted into The Front Line. She had no idea of what she was getting in to.

Basic Attributes [160]:

ST - 10 [0]
DX - 12 [40]
IQ - 15 [100]
HT - 12 [20]

Secondary Characteristics [13]:

Damage (Thrust/Swing): 1d-2/1d
Basic Lift: 20 lbs.

HP - 15 [10]
Will - 15 [0]
Per - 15 [0]
FP - 13 [3]

Basic Speed: 6.00 [0]
Dodge: 9
Basic Move: 6 [0]

Build [0]:

5′4″, 120 lbs. (SM 0).

Age and Beauty [4]:

Age: 33 years old
Physical Appearance: Attractive [4]

Social Background [21]:

Technology Level: 8 [0]
Culture: Arabic [1]
South Asian [1]
Sub-Saharan African [1]
Western European [0]
Language: English (Native) [4]
French (Native) [0]
German (Native) [4]
Italian (Native) [4]
Maghrebi Arabic (Accented) [2]
Singhalese (Accented) [2]
Swahili (Accented) [2]

Wealth and Influence [0]:

Wealth: Average [0]
Reputation: 0 [0]
Importance: Status 0 [0]

Advantages [10]:

Jumper (Time) [0]
Jumper (World) [0]
Language Talent [10]
Resistant to Disease (+8) [5]
Social Regard +1 (Respected) [5]
Talent (Healer 1) [10]

Perks [5]:

Accessory (Personal Poison Snooper) [0]
Autotrance [1]
Deep Sleeper [1]
Honest Face [1]
License (Medical) [1]
No Hangover [1]

Disadvantages [-45]:

Bad Sight (Nearsighted; Mitigator, Eyeglasses, -60%) [-10]
Code of Honor (Professional; Hippocratic Oath) [-5]
Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10]
Sense of Duty (Small Group; Party) [-5]
Vow (Great Vow; Never refuse any request for aid) [-15]

Quirks [-5]:

Alcohol Intolerance [-1]
Congenial [-1]
Humble [-1]
Incompetence (Guns) [-1]
Responsive [-1]

Skills [87]:

Biology/TL8 (Earthlike/Biochemistry) (IQ/Very Hard) +3 [20]
Boating/TL8 (Motorboat) (DX/Average) -1 [1]
Boating/TL8 (Unpowered) (DX/Average) -1 [1]
Carousing (HT/Easy) +0 [1]
Climbing (DX/Average) -1 [1]
Cooking (IQ/Average) -1 [1]
Diagnosis/TL8 (Human) (IQ/Hard) +1* [6]
Diplomacy (IQ/Hard) -2 [1]
Driving/TL8 (IQ/Average) (Automobile) -1 [1]
Electronics Operation/TL8 (Medical) (IQ/Average) +1 [4]
Electronics Repair/TL8 (Medical) (IQ/Average) -1 [1]
Expert Skill (Political Science) (IQ/Hard) -2 [1]
First Aid/TL8 (Human) (IQ/Easy) +4* [4]
Hiking (HT/Average) -1 [1]
Knife (DX/Easy) +0 [1]
Mechanic/TL8 (Automobile) (IQ/Average) -1 [1]
Naturalist (Earthlike) (IQ/Hard) -2 [1]
Pharmacy/TL8 (Herbal) (IQ/Hard) -2 [1]
Physician/TL8 (Human) (IQ/Hard) +3 [16]
Physiology/TL8 (Human) (IQ/Hard) +1* [7]
Poisons/TL8 (IQ/Hard) -2 [1]
Scrounging (Per/Easy) +0 [1]
Surgery/TL8 (Human) (IQ/Very Hard) +1* [10]
Survival (Per/Average) (Earth/Desert) -1 [1]
Survival (Per/Average) (Earth/Jungle) -1 [1]
Survival (Per/Average) (Earth/Plains) -1 [1]
Swimming (HT/Easy) +0 [1]

* Default from Physician/TL8 (Human).

Summary:

[160] + [13] + [4] + [21] + [10] + [5] + [-45] + [-5] + [87] = 250

Equipment:

a pair of Eyeglasses (TL5). $150, neg. LC4.
a Survival Knife (TL7). $30, 0.9 lb.
a Pocket Knife (TL7). $5, 0.1 lb.
a Survival Tool (TL7). $100, 2 lbs.
a Doctor's Medical Bag (TL5). $10, 1 lb. LC4.
an IV Kit (TL6). $15, 0.5 lb. LC3-4.
a pint of Plasma (TL6). $200, 0.5 lb. LC3-4.
some Dextrose (TL7). $4, 2 lbs. LC3-4.
some Saline (TL7). $3, 2 lbs. LC3-4.
an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) (TL8). $1,200, 3 lbs. LC4.
a month's supply of Soap (TL5). $1, 0.25 lb. LC4.
a week's supply of Foot Powder (TL6). $4, 0.5 lb. LC4.
a 10-use bottle of Insect Repellant (TL6). $2, 0.25 lb. LC4.
a bottle of 50 Salt Tablets (TL6). $1, 0.1 lb. LC4.
a four-use bottle of Sunscreen (TL6). $2, 0.25 lb. LC4.
a month's supply of Vitamin Pills (TL7). $3, 0.1 lb. LC4.
a week's supply of Hand Sanitizer Gel. $1, 0.01 lb. LC4.
24 Sterile Gauze Bandages (TL7). $24, 2.4 lb. LC4.
12 Hemostatic Bandages (TL8). $240, neg. LC4.
an Electronic Thermometer (TL8). $30, neg., 2xT/1,000 readings. LC4.
an Otoscope (TL7). $150, 0.25 lb., 2xS/10 hrs. LC4.
a Percussor (TL5). $10, 0.25 lb. LC4.
a Stethoscope (TL5). $15, 0.25 lb. LC4.
a Sphygmomanometer (TL6). $20, 0.5 lb. LC4.
a Suturing Kit (TL6). $20, 1 lb. LC4.
an Ether Mask (TL5). $50, 2 lbs. LC3.
4 doses of Ether (TL5). $20, neg.
a vial of Ammonia Inhalants (TL5). $0.20, neg. LC4.
6 doses of Morphine (TL5). $6, neg. LC3.
100 doses of Analgesics (TL6). $3, neg. LC4.
100 doses of Antibiotics (TL6). $5, neg. LC4.
a 10-dose tube of Antibiotic ointment (TL7). $5, neg. LC4.
30 doses of Antimalarial Pills (TL6). $5, neg. LC4.
a Micro-Flashlight (TL6). $5, neg., T/2 hrs. LC4.
and a Notebook with a Pencil (TL6). $1, 0.1 lb. LC4.

Cost: $2340.20
Weight: 20.21 lbs.

Type: Psi (World and Time).
Prep time: Needs to enter a trance at will. Requires one minute of complete concentration and a successful Will roll, at -1 per additional attempt per hour. A Will roll must be made to break the trance and appear at the target destination. If failed, Lucie continues to jump through worlds and time, but can try to break the trance again after five minutes. On a critical failure, Lucie arrives at the wrong destination.
Steerable: Yes.
Other enhancements/ limitations: The advantage is a psi ability within the Teleportation power. Anything that blocks Teleportation will block it, but it can benefit from Teleportation Talent.