@Katsumi Y.
Yeah, that was a fudge up on my part. Katsumi is supposed be 'Negative' / Betrayed Friends with Hilda.
@Everyone
Alright. Hopefully I'll have the sign up thread ready to go by the end of today. I'll be wiring up the Sign Up Thread and my characters in what time I have available to me today. I'll be excitedly waiting to see you all post on your CS there once it's ready to go! I'll make an additional post here once it's ready. Also, I am a bit of a neat freak, so I sort of hope that the sign up thread will just have characters at first. When you do sign up, I will invite all of you to a grou conversation, where you can have 4 page chat antics or discuss things such as 'someone join my team battle pl0x' or the like.
I sort of realized that I was going to tire myself out if I perused writing the lore section in the detail I originally planned. Since I decided on how the 'story' was to be outlined, revealing everything any anything isn't required at the start. Nonetheless, here is some basic information of note that is hopefully useful.
On a side note about siblings. Because everyone has different last names, all siblings are assumed to be adopted. If you two want to be blood related and have the same last name then you can do that, but because that requires a lot of changing beyond your own character profiles, just assuming all siblings are adopted is the less painful alternative! - and if they're twins... well we just say they adopted different last names. >_>
Lore Details on Hisakawa and the World at that Time
Virtual Immersion
Virtual Reality has come a long way from wearing bulky googles on your head. Two major technologies are credited with founding today's modern field of Virtual Reality - known among experts are 'Virtual Immersion'. The two technologies credited for this are:
'Superimposed Active Render Field', which allows for a 3d environment to be displayed in the real world, and be interacted upon. The equipment to set up a field is slowly starting to become less expensive than it once was - and is seeing installation in public places such as Cafe's, Libraries, and even Schools across the country. This technology is based upon similar principles used in the US military's advanced stealth cloaking technology.
'Electropulsar Spinal Attatchment', An electronic device implanted onto a human's spinal cord. It interfaces with the Brain, allowing for sensations such as touch and feel to be simulated by directly inputting signals through the spinal cord. It was originally developed to force organ functions in the event that the brain dies so that the organs may be remain salvageable for hospitals.
All students in the RP can be expected to have the Electropulsar Spinal Attachment installed on them. Understandably, Adults and Elderly may or may not have this item equipped due to health concerns.
Hisakawa Koukou
A Prestigious Japanese Academy that has 'embraced change' since it's founding over a hundred years ago.
Hisakwa was one of the first schools in Japan to embrace accepting international students. It has always encouraged an environment where students are taught to be free of any sort of prestigious, and to exercise independence and responsibility. It's longstanding tradition has made it a highly sought after school for students across the world. Many alumni have gone on to be very successful after graduating. The academy was also one of the first schools to adapt the Virtual Immersion system for it's entire campus. At the time, it was one of the biggest in the world, and most expensive. It implemented the Virtu-Ava system, which was adapted to other schools in Japan and across East Asia, as other schools began installing their own Virtual Immersion Systems.
But, only 6 or so years later, the system is now considered highly buggy and ancient compared to newer and more developed models. With the school still paying off it's debts from the old system, the students and staff at Hisakawa have to contend with the strange occurrences that the 'bugs' in the system cause on their daily school lives from time to time.
Class 2-A
The class that everyone in the RP is assigned to by default. It's worth noting that, because we're under the Japanese School system, students stay with the same 'class' in all subjects.
Class 2-A is located on the second year floor of the school building. The only real notable feature about it is that it's conveniently located a door away from the bathroom on the floor. The teacher assigned to 2-A is the the somewhat detached but unexpectedly observant Mayu Yorihase. A shining example of the dip in the quality of teachers with the advent of electronic learning media. Teachers in this day in age only really exist to make sure students behave, and to give out assignments. Much of the 'teaching' is just done through a pre-recorded Virtual Immersion lesson made years ago.
Social Morals Club
A club that exists solely to stamp out the formation of NEETS 'Not in Education, Employment, or Training' in Japanese Society as mandated by a government policy from decades ago.
the phenomenon of people withdrawing from society was observed at the start of the century. In the following decades, the government aggressively enacted social policies to discourage people from turning into NEETS across all levels. The problem is now considered more or less considered 'antiquated' but the national school system still requires students to participate in this club. Common Club activities include things as simple as 'take a friend somewhere' or 'help out the elderly in town'. Encouraging students to go out and be friendly and considerate citizens. Overall discouraging the development of any sort of phobias in regards to being in public.
Lore Details on Hisakawa's Virtu-Ava System
Bug
In a nutshell, a bug is when one's computer program behaves in unexpected ways, sometimes but not always causing trouble.
Within the context of the RP, any sort of anomaly in regards the the Virtual Immersion system in Hisakawa is considered a bug. Enterprising students may end up discovering Bugs that they can use to their advantage. For example, it's rumored that Students who defeat a teacher in a Virtu-Ava battle get unlimited access to any room in the school in the immediate weekend, for some reason. A smart student who puts together the right bugs may inevitably end up stumbling upon the secret of the world.
Virtu-Ava System
Pioneered by students at Tokyo University's Computing Department. It started out as a simple semester project to show how Virtual Immersion can be used to create an 'unparalleled role-play game experience'.
The simple code design, and one enterprising students' excellent presentation to the National School Board, saw this system be implemented in schools. With the 'stats' based upon student grades. It was argued that it inspired students to work harder in school, and to have a sort of competitive team spirit, a direct answer to Prime Minister Wakabe's 'Social Thought Shift' proposal from the previous decade. Virtu-Ava tournaments are also now considered a sport, with national and global leagues existing outside of the school system. These run on much move complex rules than what students at the 'Japan National Academic League' would be used.
Avatar Design
The Virtu-Ava system within the Japanese Education System allows students to design their own '3d Avatar' that they can use to replace their own appearance in school - presumably for Virtu-Ava Matches. For safety reasons, each student is only allowed one 3d Avatar. Though other establishments allow users to have as many different 'models' to switch to and from as they like. The students are also taught 3d animation techniques by being encouraged to design their own 'Special Techniques' that they use in battle. The battles themselves are rather simple, though. Once a fight is initiated, a random subject is chosen. The students respective grades are taken from that Subject, and used to gauge each others respective powers. The person with the higher grade emerges as the victor.
Grade Stats
Grades for Virtu-Avas in the Hisawkawa System are decided by a unique test. Ideally, it was supposed be a test with questions in regards to things they were to learn within their respective year. However, due to a certain coding mishap, each test randomly draws from all High School Grade question banks as well as Tokyo university's Entrance Exam Test banks. This flaw was discovered early on during the development cycle, and despite many students' complaints over the years, this glaring bug remains in place. Thus, it can be said that the grades one gets for their Virtu-Ava is dependent almost entirely on a students' luck when taking the test.
Defeated students feel no pain. Rather just some minor to extreme fatigue upon defeat, simulated through proper signals from their spinal attachment. It is possible to simulate real pain, but that option is locked out in the school system for safety and ethical reasons.
The Rp's Intended Story Outline
I usually plan out my RP's to have a definite ending of sorts. So, to hopefully entice people to follow through, this is the general outline of the RP that dosen't really spoil anything.
Incidents and Attempts at Resolutions Route (hoping for 2-3 to be completed)
Introduces characters and tests their relations. The 'common route'.
Side Arcs (occur in between Incident Chapters)
National Academy Gambit War Side Arc (2-3 planned)
Adds a battle story tone. Adds elements to the battle system, features bosses.
Peculiar World Side Arc (3-4 planned)
Reveals more about the world. Hijinks and school 'bugs' are revealed. Key to unlocking the next part of the story.
Betting the Devil Route
(Requires: Peculiar World Side Arc complete)
Changes the story and relationship dynamic dramatically. Plays more plays a bit more linearly than previously, and ultimately leads to an ending.
Uncertain Waltz Ending
'Rp Died' Ending. If this is posted the RP is done.
Shuffle Loop Ending
Revert to Start of Arc, certain start conditions are changed with the next 'loop'.
Certain Mind Ending
'True Ending'
