[3e OOC] Mystic Troubleshooters: Agents of Z(PL8/120)

[Jalinth]

The game is officially going ahead.

Setting is Tattooedman's Freedom City universe. He is currently running 4 PBP games in that setting here on the ATT, and kindly gave me permission to fill in a bit more of his universe. This game will be taking place outside the city, so people are not going to be stepping on the toes of people living in FC.

One of the more powerful magic users has noticed that he is really, really busy dealing with threats. He's not the only one who is busy, the other top tier mages are also spending a great deal of time dealing with the big picture. This means that other, smaller problems are being put aside until they have time to be dealt with. Of course, those small problems often grow into big problems and even if they don't, they are certainly bad for the people involved. A demonic serial killer may not be a threat to the fabric of the universe, but is really rough on the poor folks it tortures to death.

This is where the players come in. He recruits a team of suitable souls to deal with these "small" problems. The mage is fairly hands off. He directs the players to a problem, provides what information he has, and then lets them do their thing. If he had the time to do more, he wouldn't need the players.

The team is recruited from all over the world, each person chosen for their knowledge about a certain area of the mystic arts. The mage has access to world wide teleportation and dimensional travel, so adventures will not be centered solely around Freedom City. For characters, the first ideas off the top of my head include a British Witch, a Japanese Magical Girl, a Tribal Shaman, A holy Vampire Hunter, or American Techno-Wizard.

I'm feeling somewhat inspired by Dresden, Constantine, Angel/Buffy, and Supernatural.

The game will be 3e. Power Level 8, with 120 power points. Main house rule is skill points are 3/pp rather then 2/pp. At least 3 ranks in Expertise: Magic is required, and more is suggested. All characters will have an area of expertise where they will shine in the form of a free rank of Task Focus. Task Focus is from 2e and I'm changing it a bit to fit better with 3e.

Task Focus (Ranked): They say that overspecialization is death; they haven’t met you. Choose a specific task or situation that can be performed with a skill check, such as keeping watch at night for Notice, fire-element pet monsters for Knowledge (life sciences), or stealth power armor for Craft (mechanical). When making checks that involve your chosen specialization, you gain a bonus +2 bonus that can exceed PL caps. You can buy additional ranks. These can either increase the bonus to +5 or apply to a new task. Only one Task Focus can apply to a given check.

I'm just using the 2e wording for the most part at the moment, however I will have the check apply to two skills rather then one. For example if Necromancy were your area of expertise, then it would apply to Expertise Magic checks dealing with Necromancy and also Insight checks with spirits of the dead.

You can buy a second rank of Task Focus at character generation.

Impervious - I'm house ruling this closer to 2nd ed. You are protected at full rather then half ranks. If I use any published 3e characters with Impervious, I may reduce their ranks.

Fearless will not be available to the PCs. Instead Lionheart will be an option.

Lionheart - +5 to saves against fear that is not limited to PL caps.

Luck - Normally can only be used for re-rolls. Here, you can buy ranks in it and have them apply to any other use of Hero Points instead. My suggestion is Spell Points to buy off fatigue from power stunts, or make use of Instant Counter.

If any more changes come up, I'll put them here.

[Neo-Paladin]

Sounds interesting...if it's 3e, I'd be working up a character Also I hope we can deviate from the suggestions you gave a bit

[Jalinth]

Oh they are just my first ideas to give people a starting point. I'm going to be quite flexible in what I'll allow.

[Israfil]

Sonds pretty cool to me. I'd be down for either edition.

[ClassDunce]

I'd be interested, with a preference for 3ed with maybe a house rule concerning the cost of skill points, if you decide to run this.

[catsi563]

I might be interested as well with a 3 for 1 skill rule given the nature of third eds powers over skills.

have a couple possible ideas.

[The_Watchman]

3e would be my preference

[ripleycat]

I'd be interested as well. 3E would also get my vote, with or without the house rule.

[Shock]

I'm interested. I can work with either edition. An idea is already forming

[Jalinth]

I'll probably go ahead with the game then. I'll spend some time working out what edition I want to run it in. I will be looking for 4-6 players total.

As fair warning to people who want to play - I've got a couple of RL friends who have expressed interest, and promised them a spot. I also tend to favor people who also played in the best PBP game that I ever played in, so Shock and ClassDunce are pretty certain to get spots if they want them. This means there are probably only 1 or 2 slots that will be free when I actually start recruitment. I'm willing to give everyone a chance, but I think it's polite to be clear about my bias in player selection up front.

[Plan B]

Interested.

Competion is going to be fierce for this one.

[Lord Fell]

I'm somewhat interested.

My preference would also be for 3e... and I don't really feel that a house-rule for extra skills/pp is necessary, but I'm not really against it either.

Before I finished reading the entirety of the pitch, my idea was for a character who's not actually a mage, wizard, etc. at all. I'd be leaning more towards someone who, given a different employer and motivation would be a serial killer. "Yes, I did smother a 2 year old boy in New Castle, and I also strangled a Nun in Poughkeepsie. But, the truth of the matter is that kid was a changeling and the Nun was actually a worshipper of Set; the only blood on my hands is corrupted with evil."

[ScourgeXLVII]

I'm interested. I'd be fine with either 2e or 3e, with a slight preference for 2e, but only slight.

I'm still mulling over a few Ideas in my head, but one that I've been mulling over before was an Artificer thief (all robin-hoody; steals from corrupt magicians, pawns the trinkets, gives the procedes to charity... after a little finders' fee, of course), although I've got some other proto-ideas bouncing around in my head.

[Shock]

My idea is an arrogant magic student who has irritated his master to no end. As a sort of punishment he is sent to this other mage to learn some humility. His powers will center around the use of magical force in melee combat with some other minor powers besides.

[Jalinth]

Before I finished reading the entirety of the pitch, my idea was for a character who's not actually a mage, wizard, etc. at all. I'd be leaning more towards someone who, given a different employer and motivation would be a serial killer. "Yes, I did smother a 2 year old boy in New Castle, and I also strangled a Nun in Poughkeepsie. But, the truth of the matter is that kid was a changeling and the Nun was actually a worshipper of Set; the only blood on my hands is corrupted with evil."

Given who the benefactor for the team is, there is basically no chance of someone like that being hired onto the team. I just don't see it happening. He's just too idealistic for that. He's not one to deny people a chance at redemption, but he'd be inclined to have somewhat like that face Justice first. He paid his dues, and expects others to do the same.

And yes, if anyone thinks they know who the Benefactor is, you're almost certainly right. The game isn't going to be in the Main PF universe, but more details will come later.