- Invitation Status
- Look for groups
- Looking for partners
- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Online Availability
- I live here.
- Writing Levels
- Douche
- Preferred Character Gender
- No Preferences
SIGN UPS ARE NOW CLOSED!
N i k a i g a n
This RP is a mishmash of inspiration drawn from several sources, but a refusal to commit to any one setting. So let me take you to a place made for throwing all kinds of things together and seeing what comes out.
Several generations ago, after a third world war and during the worst economic collapse in American history, the United States had to bite the bullet and have the international equivalent of a garage sale to pay for rent. In said garage sale, states and property had to be sold.
During this era, California was purchased by Japan who set upon rebuilding the destruction caused by war and economic oopsie-daisies. Fixing up an entire city had a boom town effect. When most of the world is in either a recession or a conflict sparked by bigger conflict (entire countries being reduced to nuclear ash tends to have consequences), a new country being built from the ground up starts to look like a great place to be. Millions from all over flocked to set up shop, work in the construction, and build new branches of their companies. Today, what used to be the Los Angeles sprawl is now the Japanese pseudo country of Nikaigan...
A mega city stretching all along the west coast, dominating the majority of old California. A city built in the image of Japan, by the hands of people from all around the world. A place where no single culture really overtook the other, but rather just melted into one another. A city where people from all over once came to build new lives; and turned into one of the busiest places on Earth. Now that the dust has settled, Nikaigan has become as varied a place in both financial status and living conditions as any mega city worth its salt.
But all that history isn't important. What's important is what we're about to get up to in this city.
And brother, it's gonna be one hell of a ride...
During this era, California was purchased by Japan who set upon rebuilding the destruction caused by war and economic oopsie-daisies. Fixing up an entire city had a boom town effect. When most of the world is in either a recession or a conflict sparked by bigger conflict (entire countries being reduced to nuclear ash tends to have consequences), a new country being built from the ground up starts to look like a great place to be. Millions from all over flocked to set up shop, work in the construction, and build new branches of their companies. Today, what used to be the Los Angeles sprawl is now the Japanese pseudo country of Nikaigan...
A mega city stretching all along the west coast, dominating the majority of old California. A city built in the image of Japan, by the hands of people from all around the world. A place where no single culture really overtook the other, but rather just melted into one another. A city where people from all over once came to build new lives; and turned into one of the busiest places on Earth. Now that the dust has settled, Nikaigan has become as varied a place in both financial status and living conditions as any mega city worth its salt.
But all that history isn't important. What's important is what we're about to get up to in this city.
And brother, it's gonna be one hell of a ride...
Nikaigan is a place where everyone needs something. And some of those things aren't easy to find or do. That's where we come in.
Runners get things done. Or at least they should. We're like freelancers and mercs, but with less bullheadedness and body odor (most of the time). Everyone's got someone to do stuff for them. Companies have PMC's, the government's got the Feds, gangs have their gangbangers, and everyone else gets Runners. We come in all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. From guys you can hire to hit a CEO or a politician, to street level Runners who escort hot cargo, steal stuff, and do other naughty things. Runners tend to be a cut above the average PMC foot soldier or gangbanging thug. We kind of have to be in order to operate.
Runners either work alone, or in small groups. It's sort of what differentiates them from the average gun-toting maniac (and in this day and age, there are indeed enough gun-toting maniacs to create an average). Other than the lack of an organization, anything goes in how a Runner operates or what equipment they use. Whatever gets the job done. Hacking, assault, human augmentation (cheaper than you'd think if you know the right guy), infiltration, drug use (also cheaper than you'd think if you know the right guy), and anything else that'll give you an edge in the field.
Different Runners and Runner groups have different ethics and codes of conduct. Some are okay, even willing to team up with new faces. Some are complete dicks and will shoot you in the back as soon as the job's done. There are even Runners who specialize in killing other Runners.
Runners have become as much a part of the world as the companies, the governments, and the gangs. Even the NPD, Nikaigan's finest boys in blue, tend to admit Runners are dug in too deep and of too great a number to root out entirely. Most police forces around the world give up on aggressively investigating cases involving Runners seeing as there are too many. They're mean streets and they can't sniff up every smoking barrel. Just don't get too comfy. It's still their job to arrest you if they see you firing away. And there are still hard asses in NPD who refuse to back down and will dog you until you're behind bars.
Regardless, everyone, even politicians and CEO's use us. If you thought one-percenters got away with everything, wait till you see what they do with an elite Runner squad. But you've gotta be big to get hired out by the tippy top. Hence the word 'elite' preceding them. And they can do a lot damage. Then again... all it takes is a group of people dedicated enough to scrounge up the cash for a Runner squad just as good or better to give some CEO a taste of his own medicine. Like the six shooter of the Old West, some see the Runner as yet another great equalizer.
We're a part of this city and this world. For better or worse.
Runners
"This really your first run? Just stay close and keep your eyes peeled. You'll be just fine."
"This really your first run? Just stay close and keep your eyes peeled. You'll be just fine."
Runners get things done. Or at least they should. We're like freelancers and mercs, but with less bullheadedness and body odor (most of the time). Everyone's got someone to do stuff for them. Companies have PMC's, the government's got the Feds, gangs have their gangbangers, and everyone else gets Runners. We come in all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. From guys you can hire to hit a CEO or a politician, to street level Runners who escort hot cargo, steal stuff, and do other naughty things. Runners tend to be a cut above the average PMC foot soldier or gangbanging thug. We kind of have to be in order to operate.
Runners either work alone, or in small groups. It's sort of what differentiates them from the average gun-toting maniac (and in this day and age, there are indeed enough gun-toting maniacs to create an average). Other than the lack of an organization, anything goes in how a Runner operates or what equipment they use. Whatever gets the job done. Hacking, assault, human augmentation (cheaper than you'd think if you know the right guy), infiltration, drug use (also cheaper than you'd think if you know the right guy), and anything else that'll give you an edge in the field.
Different Runners and Runner groups have different ethics and codes of conduct. Some are okay, even willing to team up with new faces. Some are complete dicks and will shoot you in the back as soon as the job's done. There are even Runners who specialize in killing other Runners.
Runners have become as much a part of the world as the companies, the governments, and the gangs. Even the NPD, Nikaigan's finest boys in blue, tend to admit Runners are dug in too deep and of too great a number to root out entirely. Most police forces around the world give up on aggressively investigating cases involving Runners seeing as there are too many. They're mean streets and they can't sniff up every smoking barrel. Just don't get too comfy. It's still their job to arrest you if they see you firing away. And there are still hard asses in NPD who refuse to back down and will dog you until you're behind bars.
Regardless, everyone, even politicians and CEO's use us. If you thought one-percenters got away with everything, wait till you see what they do with an elite Runner squad. But you've gotta be big to get hired out by the tippy top. Hence the word 'elite' preceding them. And they can do a lot damage. Then again... all it takes is a group of people dedicated enough to scrounge up the cash for a Runner squad just as good or better to give some CEO a taste of his own medicine. Like the six shooter of the Old West, some see the Runner as yet another great equalizer.
We're a part of this city and this world. For better or worse.
We are a Runner team. We haven't been together for that long, but we all have a mutual friend in common. A mysterious job fixer and hacker who seems to be everywhere, speaks to us through voice changing software, and only goes by the moniker Sovereign.
"Heist blueprints and plans have been sent to your datapads. Run the deletion software it comes with after you've memorized it. Meet at the safehouse at 0200 hours."
Sovereign's the one who put this team together after having worked with each of us alone. They're mysterious, paranoid, and a little creepy considering they've got cameras in the safehouse they've given us. And when I say paranoid, I mean they make the CIA look like forgetful grandma's. But their intel is solid and the jobs Sovereign finds tend to pay better than anything some bar dwelling, two bit fixer can find. Don't get me wrong. We're still street level. We're not corp invading pros. But we're competent. And Sovereign seems to be working up to some big job.
And you heard that right. We have a safehouse. A suite in an abandoned hotel that's been reworked with an armory and has access to a garage. Every good Runner team needs a safehouse they can lie low in that isn't their home. Only an idiot heads straight to their on-the-grid house after a job.
"Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, neighboring suite's been turned into an armory, and garage access is through the elevator in the living room. Clean up after yourselves and take turns stocking the kitchen fridge."
We may only be a cut above street level, but with some elbow grease and a little bit of luck, there's a whole lot of ass we can kick.
"Heist blueprints and plans have been sent to your datapads. Run the deletion software it comes with after you've memorized it. Meet at the safehouse at 0200 hours."
And you heard that right. We have a safehouse. A suite in an abandoned hotel that's been reworked with an armory and has access to a garage. Every good Runner team needs a safehouse they can lie low in that isn't their home. Only an idiot heads straight to their on-the-grid house after a job.
"Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, neighboring suite's been turned into an armory, and garage access is through the elevator in the living room. Clean up after yourselves and take turns stocking the kitchen fridge."
Got all that? Good! Cause it's a simple premise. We're a team. We're still getting used to each other, but we do some good work. We put on masks and shoot things, steal things, and destroy things for money.
Now get your stuff, it's time for a run.
Setting Info
The City of Sunsets is a big place, and newcomers often have a lot to learn.
The following is a series of informatives that can give a bit background to various elements within the setting. While such information isn't totally necessary, knowing it might be fun and even useful.
Additional information will be added with time. Players will be notified in the thread when new information appears.
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Often called The City of Sunsets by its founders, Nikaigan had anything but a humble beginning. The city is currently one of the largest and most active cities in the world. Despite still having its fair share of poverty, financial strain, and crime, Nikaigan is also considered one of the most prosperous cities in the world. The city's growth began slowly, and then grew exponentially once it began to attract people. With the wake of a third world war leaving several countries with economic and social issues, the city's construction acted as a siren call to many struggling groups around the world. It quickly became the new 'land of opportunity' and as more and more people flocked to it, the faster it grew with the help of millions of new working hands. Nikaigan adopted a policy of free entree, allowing immigrants to enter and help build the city. Among other factors, this is considered one of the reasons why the city grew so quickly. The majority of its early working force consisted of American and Chinese immigrants who fled from their respective countries' downfalls. The city also saw a small amount of Russian citizens; however, less and less of them arrived due to Russia closing its borders and making emigration illegal shortly after it began to invade the newly formed countries around it in order to attempt to recapture lost territory. Besides them, refugees and immigrants from nearly all across the globe traveled to the fledgling country. Los Angeles, California had been known as a diverse place in its past; but its metamorphosis into Nikaigan was a whole new thing altogether. During its construction, it was often compared to what the old America once stood for.
Nikaigan's existence wasn't without drawbacks. The environmental damage the city caused was excessive due to its size. While many upper class areas of the city incorporate nature into their construction, the vast majority of it encroached on natural zones and destroyed them. Yosemite National Park is still around, but is now an upper class area with skyscrapers dwarfing the trees (which need to be kept alive by constant professional care). The city being a new country also allowed corporations to perform even more questionable practices than usual at first, since investigations weren't made as thoroughly, or at all due to the city and its infrastructure still forming. Crime syndicates found new markets within the city and dug in during its inception, forming a bedrock foundation within the new country. When overcrowding became a problem, the city solved it by building up, creating monster skyscrapers. It should be noted, however, that Nikaigan did not suffer the same level of overpopulation as other mega cities. While its buildings are large, they are still nothing compared to the mega-structures on the American east coast or any landlocked Chinese city, which feature structures that can house thousands of citizens in what is essentially a concrete box.
The city is still growing to this day, and many areas within its outskirts are still under construction. One site of interest is Kamura, a chunk of the city which is currently being constructed on platforms that extend into the Pacific Ocean. It is a city of diverse variety, from its people, to its prefectures, to its businesses, and even its crime. The boom town effect caused by its inception created a city unlike any other in the current world. While majorly Japanese in identity, it features businesses and prefectures with identities of their own, born from the foreign groups that moved there, and glued together by a metropolitan Japanese canvas. The city stretches from what used to be Southern California, all the way up to the very north where it just barely avoids encroaching upon Oregon. Rumor has it the Japanese are trying to buy Oregon too, but the U.S. is too prideful to sell anymore.
One of the city's biggest competitors in terms of business is Hefford City on the American east coast. This other mega city is often referred to by its nickname, Midnight City, due to the fact that its mega structures block out the sun nearly everywhere save the upper levels; where its wealthiest citizens live. Like Nikaigan, Hefford City dominates its coastline, stretching from Maine, all the way down to around Maryland. Hefford City houses the new capital of the United States after it was moved to New York City and its name was changed to The Carson District. While opinions vary, most are aware that in this rivalry, Hefford City is losing. By a lot.
Today, Nikaigan is a coastal city famous for the orange glow of its sunsets, its bright, colorful canopy of floating advertisements (complete with cartoon mascots and colorful typeface), and for being the home of The International Robot Wrestling Federation's Annual World Tournament (B34S-T0 M4CH0 and RONIN-47 will always be the undefeated champs... in my heart).
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These areas aren't all the regions within the city; nor are they even unique; they are, however, examples of the different landscapes found within the city.
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中
月
"If you can't find it easily, then it's probably illegal. If it's illegal, then you'll just have to look harder."
A street artist sets up shop underneath an overpass on a rainy night. Street art is commonplace in the Chuugetsu prefecture and many struggling artists get along with similar setups.Chuugetsu is smack dab in the middle of Nikaigan (or at least close to it). Packed, bustling streets, stores, businesses, street vendors, shady alleys, bumper to bumper traffic. These places are some of the busiest in the city, and often see the most variety in people. From rich to poor, from foreign to Nikaigan born, from cop to Runner; everyone passes through Chuugetsu at some point. A lot of corporations have buildings in this district and the city's equivalent of Wall Street is within Chuugetsu.
One can also find all sorts of shady deals and black markets tucked away in little corners within the prefecture. Most less-that-legal goodies are purchasable here. There are still a few items that are too 'hot' to move through Chuugetsu. You'll have to work harder for those; you won't find them in Chuugetsu.
Most of the people you see in Chuugetsu don't actually live in this district. Most simply come to work here. But those that do live here are often lower class citizens crammed into tiny apartments. Chuugetsu is a good place for business, but's a terrible place to live.
Chuugetsu is spelled with the characters for center and moon.
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水"Suigusa's the kind of place where you can just stand next to your window and lose track of time..."
草
Many children often make the trip to and from school on foot. Suigusa's safe enough to put many parents at ease.
While apartments and homes in Suigusa tend to be small, the safety and simple beauty of the neighborhood make it a fair trade for many of its residents. The region's citizens are settled pretty comfortably in the middle class and some even think that the apartments' small sizes are to thank for that. The lack of large housing has kept the neighborhood from being taken for upper classes. In a city as diverse and varied as Nikaigan, middle class living comes in many different shapes and sizes. A small apartment in a quiet, pretty, almost meditative neighborhood is one way of living.
A youth skips school to spend some time alone on a rooftop.
There are a few restaurants and stores in Suigusa, but large business mostly make their appearance here in the form of advertisements. Since most buildings are split into many small spaces, companies usually don't set up shop here, though you can still find a few chain restaurants and convenience stores.
A convenience store in Suigusa that remains open 24/7. Perfect for a midnight snack run. It sits upon one of the rail systems that takes trains through the city, with a stop in Suigusa.
Suigusa's often been called a 'children's neighborhood' due to many families choosing to raise their kids in it. Neighborhoods similar to Suigusa that provide safe family living tend to be called children's neighborhoods.
Suigusa is spelled with the characters for water and grass.
[tab=Benijiin]
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Nikaigan is home to many groups with different agendas and levels of influence. There might be too many gangs to count within Nikaigan, but some of the more interested ones have been listed.
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The Nikaigan Police Department are a city funded force comprised of the multi-departmental police force that attempts to maintain order within the city. Emphasis on attempts.
Officers are given capes during the rainy season.
The standard sidearm of the NPD police officers is the MINASA-03, a 9mm handgun with a ten round magazine. It isn't incredibly powerful, but it's enough to keep the peace in most areas. In harsher districts, officers are sometimes issued a modified version of the MINASA that's retooled to fire .45 rounds, as well as openly carry shotguns.
The NPD SWAT department has always been a pretty busy department in a place like Nikaigan. SWAT officers are often trained to think through their tactics vertically as well as horizontally, seeing as how Nikaigan is a city of up and down as much as far and wide. NPD SWAT officers need to be aggressive and efficient in order to keep up with the influx of Runners and gangs.
NPD SWAT officers are heavily armored, and veteran officers can sometimes even give a Runner trouble.
The NPD also features a few robotic units. While robotic units never patrol without a human operator, they aren't uncommon, especially in districts where officers may easily find themselves in danger. Having a small number of mechanical police units tends to dissuade any possible attacks from gangbangers.
All in all, the NPD is competent, but struggles to maintain its control. Several districts are out of their jurisdiction since they belong to corporations. Those districts are policed by PMC's, who often have their own interpretation of laws. There have been a few instances where PMC's clashed with police forces. The politics behind such situations are often so muddled that things get brushed under rugs by companies looking to put the bad publicity behind a curtain.
The Nikaigan Police Department's motto is, "Service First And Foremost."
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The term "Yakuza" tends to get thrown around a lot in Nikaigan. While some of the more uninformed users of the word may use it to describe virtually any gangster (and the sprawl of Nikaigan has quite a few gangs here and there), others know that the term is one to be saved for only the most powerful of criminal organizations. There is also the long line of tradition which serves as the final distinction between a Yakuza and other criminal groups. Much more goes into them than just money and influence. A Yakuza is an organization, a business, and a heritage all rolled into one.
The 77 Lotuses is one of the Yakuza organizations in the city, and has quickly become one of the most prominent. It is also one of the more recent Yakuza groups to emerge. It began as a splinter group from the now defunct Orochikai Yakuza. After losing most of its money and influence to other Yakuza, this older group was shattered and whatever territories the opposing organizations didn't swoop up became small cells under new leadership. The 77 were one of these groups, led by an Orochikai lieutenant, Ichiko Hoga.
Hoga came from a long line of lieutenants within the older organization. Her lineage, however, had always been considered loyal and worthy of responsibility, but subservient at heart and lacking in what it takes to have full control and true power. They were often lieutenants, but never king pins. This had never sat well with Ichiko. She was ambitious. A little power was not enough. But when the Orochikai splintered, she was forced to slink away and bide her time with what she had.
Most of these splintered groups fell to opposition or the law in the coming years, but a few managed to stabilize and operate independently. This was the path of the 77 for a while. However, such a small existence wasn't enough for the ambitious Hoga, and she began to set her sights on bigger goals.
Ichiko Hoga wears a red ribbon in her hair. It's significance is known to only an incredibly select few.
The 77 became one of the fastest growing Yakuza in the city's history. Hoga's merciless conquest swallowed up the businesses and territories of several other Yakuza. In some cases, the 77 swallowed other Yakuza entirely; some of which had been very old and very powerful. Today, they rank among some of the biggest in the city. Their activities often see them shaking hands with large corporations as well as taking on smaller, lower level 'business ventures' such as bank robberies or extortion. They are currently at war with at least two other major Yakuza. Sometimes on the streets, sometimes in meeting rooms; always creeping closer and closer to total control. Ichiko Hoga doesn't intend to stop. She wants more than what she had been trusted with. She wants the city.
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Sovereign doesn't expect us to operate alone. They've managed to find a handful of allies that can provide services and goods we can't otherwise get on our own.
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Alfredo Diaz
"I have solved worse. You'll live."
Brazilian born, moved to Nikaigan at the age of 14.
A neurosurgeon who used to have it pretty easy. Got hired right after he earned his doctorate, worked at a prestigious hospital, and made enough to live more than comfortably. Then, sometime around his early 30's, a rumor sprung up that he was offering under-the-table services to gangs and Runners, including the illegal administration of cybernetics. There was no proof, of course, but it tarnished his spotless reputation. Lots of peers were pretty happy to see the untouchable Diaz brought down a peg though and his office was given to one of his rivals after he was removed from being head of the cybersurgery department.
What made it even worse for him was that the rumors were true.
After his downfall he got into some pretty serious stuff. He began working at a different, smaller hospital; but developed a drinking problem and a ended up with a divorce on his lap.
Nowadays, he still works there, but he also still offers his services to Runners. Sovereign's worked with him before and trusts him (though that might be because Sovereign's got some leverage on him).
He's still good at his job, he WAS one of the best in the industry. However, the drinking problem means he doesn't exactly show up to the den all bright eyed and bushy tailed. In fact, some would describe him as an angry, paranoid, nervous wreck. This is accentuated by the fact that despite being a doctor with the whole Hippocratic oath thing, he's always packing heat. Just... Just in case. He's a mess, but he's one that's good at its job. He at least stays sober enough to keep the stitches in place and the cybernetics from spazzing out. It should also be noted that you aren't his only customers... but he does have a business relationship with Sovereign, so the team gets... more thorough services. -
Mady Höfler
aka "Frostbite"
"They really want to catch us. You must have made a mess..."
Born in Germany, moved to Nikaigan at the age of 23.
Mady grew up in a small town in Germany and spent a lot of time working at her father's shop. Before she was born, her father had wanted a son, but instead ended up with her and her sister. Life didn't always work the way you've planned it to, but he made do. Her father had been an engineer in the German military and worked on the German Mobil MechanzKorper; a specialized group of units composed of troopers wearing power armor. After the war, he opened up an auto shop and was determined to live out his years in a small, quiet town.
Mady learned pretty much everything her father had to teach. After high school, while her older sister went on to become a lawyer, Mady continued to work in the shop. She took to it like a fish to water, and became the kind of mechanic who could tell what was wrong with something just by listening to it. After she decided she wanted to see the world, she moved to Nikaigan and opened up her own shop.
It didn't go well. She couldn't really compete with the massive corporately owned shops. Pretty soon she was loosing money like water out of a punctured kiddie pool. She met someone and started working delivery jobs. She could handle a car pretty well. Really well, actually. Having an innate understanding of the vehicles gives you a little bit of a touch. She figured the stuff she was delivering was probably less than legal, but she needed the money.
Then someone asked her that they had a gig. She'd need to be at a certain place at a certain time. Three people with guns would be there, they'd get in her car, and she'd drive them to a discreet location where they'd get off and they'd never see her again. That's it. And it paid several times more than deliveries. Think of it as a... different kind of delivery.
Behind the wheel, Mady is competent. She's good enough to go fast when she needs to and she knows the limits of the car; as well as how to maneuver within them. She likes to personally test out her own 'creations' so driving in a less-than-civilian manner is totally doable.
She's also handy in that she can work on other vehicles as well. She's willing to tune up anything you've got lying around, or even give it a complete overhaul. She can also work on a few non-car mechanics as well. Nothing as advanced as a cybernetic (that requires medical knowledge) but if you've got a broken exo-suit somewhere, she can probably get it up and running.
Mady's a bit of gearhead and pretty likely to geek out over stuff she finds neat. She can talk a mile a minute when excited, and despite being a dexterous mechanic, she can be clumsy with everything else. Her accent's a little thick, but Nikaigan's got a lot of accents anyway.
And she doesn't own an AE86. She built one.
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Freeform Speech Mechanic
The speech mechanic is simple and involves navigating the flow of a dialogue in order to find the topic you want and press it until you get the information you desire. While Tabletop RPG's often use chance based mechanics for speech, freeform roleplay is focused more on story, and therefore involves a choice based system rather than a chance based one. It's not a question of if you can get it, it's a question of how bad you want it.
Whenever a player is about to try to convince, intimidate, charm, or otherwise persuade an NPC to do anything that they wouldn't do without persuasion, the player and their character will enter a dialogue.
Depending on the character in question's persuasive skills, the player will receive a certain amount of Dialogue Points (DP). During the conversation, players can spend dialogue points to perform one of two options.
Change the subject.
Press the current subject.
The third and fourth options:
Proceed passively.
End conversations
are free
Press: During a conversation, a subject will come up. The subject is what the conversation is currently about. The topic, so to speak. If this subject is what the player is trying to learn about/get to happen/etc. then the player can press for more information/progress on the subject. If they do that, they spend one point to press it. After that, if this subject was arrived at without the use of Change, they will be informed how many points will be required to get to the bottom of that subject. They can then choose to press it, spending points until they get results, or take another action.
Some subjects, however, have no end result. These are things like small talk subjects that have no real direction. Pressing these does nothing, so save your points.
Change: If the subject of the conversation is not one the player wants, then the player can spend a point to change the subject. If they spend a point, the subject will change to whatever the player wants. After this, the player will be informed of how many points will be required to get to the bottom of this subject. Changing the subject gives up on whatever subject you are currently talking about. The amount of points required to get to the bottom of the subject you just gave up will increase by one every turn until it reaches one less than its original maximum.
Passive: Remaining passive means the player relinquishes dominance of the conversation. This action is free and does not require any points. When doing this, the NPC will now assume control of the conversation. The subject can change to a different subject of the NPC's choice. If the current subject is a small talk subject, the NPC may keep the conversation where it is.
When a subject's end has been achieved, the player will only be able to change the subject or become passive.
End Conversation: Always available and self-explanatory. Ends the conversation. Can be used at any time, but is usually only suggested after running out of points. Resuming the conversation at another point has the same effect on subject as waiting twenty turns after giving up on them.
The Table Metaphor
A way to understand it is to imagine the conversation like a table whose top spins around and there are chests on the table. Each chest contains an answer/result that the NPC would otherwise withhold. You have a set of keys. It costs a key to spin the table where you want it. It costs more keys to open the chests since some have more locks than others. And if you do nothing, the table spins on its own and chooses a random chest.
- Pressing the subject edges you closer to getting the answer you want about the subject you're currently talking about (AKA whatever word is being followed by the は particle in a Japanese conversation.) This is spending a key to open one of the locks on a chest.
- Changing the subject redirects the conversation to something you want. This is spinning the table to where you want it. This gives up on whatever subject you're currently talking about. This makes all the locks minus the first lock on the chests you gave up on relock one by one every turn.
- Continue passively gives up on the subject as well and allows the other person to take control of the conversation. You're going with the flow of the conversation instead of directing it. This is letting the table spin on its own.
- End conversation means you walk away from the table.
Example Conversation:
Riley the Bounty Hunter wants to know where Dastardly Daniel is as well as how many men he's got with him. However, Riley may not have enough points to get all the information, and so will have to prioritize what he uncovers in depth. Daniel stopped by a bar and Riley is certain the bartender knows, so he strikes up a conversation with the bartender. Riley will start with five points.
Riley: "Mornin'. Whiskey, straight up."
Bartender: "Comin' up. Have to say, you struck me as a whiskey man the moment you walked in."
(Riley has five points left. The current topic is: Whiskey. Small Talk Subject.)
Riley: (Remain passive.) "Yes sir. Nothing brings a man vigor like drink."
Bartender: "One whiskey, straight up. Say, you seem like a fella who gets around. Where're you headed?" (Riley has five points left. The current topic is: Your Destination. Small Talk Subject.)
Riley: (Spend one point to change subject to Dastardly Daniel's Whereabouts.) "That there's something you can help me with. I'm lookin' for a fella. Goes by the name of Daniel. Dastardly Daniel."
Bartender: "Hmm. Well even if a man like that passed through here, I ain't for giving out information on patrons." (It will take two points to get to the end of this subject. Riley has four points left. Current subject: Dastardly Daniel's Whereabouts.)
Riley: (Press.) "You'd be doin' a whole lot of people a favor. Dastardly Daniel's a loose cannon."
Bartender: "He came through alright. But listen, I don't want no trouble." (It will cost one point to get to the end of this subject. Riley has three points left. Current subject: Dastardly Daniel's Whereabouts.)
Riley: (Press) "Listen. I came to bring a man to justice and I ain't leavin' till I'm finished."
Bartender: "Look mister, I… alright. If you think so… But you didn't hear this from me." The bartender leans closer, "Daniel's taken to hidin' out near Buffalo Peak. There's an old mining tunnel near the south side of the peak that he's been usin' as a hideout." (Subject completed. Riley has two points left. Can no longer press this subject.)
Riley: (Change subject to Dastardly Daniel's Men.) "A man like him's gotta have his gang with him. How many men d'you reckon he's got?"
Bartender: "Mister, now you're askin' me to spill the beans on a whole lotta patrons." (It will take two points to get to the bottom of this subject. Riley has one point left. Current subject: Dastardly Daniel's Men.)
Riley: (Press) "A whole lotta patrons with their faces on wanted signs. Do the town a favor."
Bartender: "There's a lotta men. Enough to make me think twice about telling you too much. Sorry mister, but you're askin' a lot." (It will take one more point to resolve this subject. Riley is out of points. Only options are Passive and End. Current subject: Dastardly Daniel's Men.)
Riley: (End) "Well, thank you for your time sir. And thank you for the whiskey."
Conversation will be done in a private Discord chat and their transcripts will be moved to the IC once finished.
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Freeform Hacking Mechanic
The hacking mechanic functions with a similar philosophy as the speech mechanic in that it tests how much you want something over other things.
The hacking mechanic also allocates points to characters, called Hack Points, depending on their skill in hacking.
Hacking involves plugging a hacking device into a terminal, datapad, or other entry into a network and attempting to unlock certain privileges. These privileges are found in the form of Systems that the hacker can access on a hacking tree.
Different Systems have different costs and the hacker will have to try and spend their points on what they believe is most important.
Systems will be arranged in trees. Each level of branches is a tier. In order to unlock systems in further tiers, the preliminary systems will need to be unlocked first. So, there may be things you don't want, but will need to unlock to get to what you really want. Some tiers will branch into two or more systems. Unlocking one means you can't unlock the other, so if a system branches out, you'll have to choose one. Unless you bridge.
Bridging systems together involves going the extra mile to try and get systems out of order. This involves building a connection between two systems in separate trees so that you can circumnavigate rewards you don't want or get adjacent systems. However, bridging systems has a few requirements, and is expensive. Systems must be horizontal to each other in order to be bridged. Finally, bridging costs equal what the system you're bridging to would cost + one extra point at tiers 1 and 2, two extra points at tier three, and so on.
Imagine Systems as doors that need to be opened with a reward behind each door. And some rewards are hidden behind more than one door. Bridging is harder and requires more effort, but that would be like building a tunnel between the rooms you want. Harder, but possible.
Example Hack:
Tuner, a hacker, is trying to get into a bank's security systems.
The system looks like this:
The Trees are A and B. The Tiers are 1, 2, and 3.
Tier 1 systems cost 1 point.
Tier 2 systems cost 2 points.
Tier 3 costs 3 points.
Tuner has 12 points and wants systems A1, A2, A3, and B3.
Tuner spends one point to take A1. Then he has to choose between A2 and A3. Tuner chooses A2 and pays two points. Normally, he can only have A2 over A3. Unless he bridges. Since he still wants A3, he chooses to pay three points to bridge it and get it as well. He still needs B3, however. He bridges again from A3 into B2, spending another three points to hop onto the other tree. He now spends his last three points and get B3.
In gameplay, each system will have a distinct effect. System A1 may have been "Open Doors" and System B3 may have been, "Open Vault" while System A3 was "Shut off Security Cameras". Hackers will need to decide on what they need the most and how to spend their points most effectively.
Different systems will have different layouts of trees and tiers.
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