FPRP General Chat v2: Let's Talk About Roleplaying - Games

Starpath Lore Guide #6: The Rise and Fall of the Mercenary Union When humanity made its great leap into the stars, it never anticipated the turmoil that lay ahead. Indeed, in a galaxy ripe with precious resources, advanced knowledge and technology, and boundless latitude, the general expectation held by the naïve multitude was an end to scarcity and a chance for absolute peace. In truth, these bounties only stoked the fires of greed and ambition. As humans watched the eastern empires maim each other in the worst war seen in centuries, they too became embroiled in their own local conflict, the birth of the Sol System Government. By the end of the 2360s, a decade of severe upheaval, smaller states were desperate for security and turned to hired guns for help. Many of today's largest mercenary organizations have existed for far longer than the 2370s, but at the turn of the decade a plethora of veterans from conflicts far and wide massively expanded the ranks to meet growing demand. As these groups expanded in size and influence, they became less stable, splintering and harboring ill-will. The border states which hired them found not security but rather more trouble than ever. It finally boiled over in 2373, on the planet Trixina. There, diplomats from the lesser states had come to a well-known hotel to find common ground, but in a tragic miscalculation, brought along their mercenary representatives to assist in the negotiations. Three mercenary factions, for reasons totally separate from the political forces which employed them, chose to attack a fourth on the spot to settle an old grudge. The massacre that followed caught so many innocent bystanders in the crossfire that it made headlines across the entire galaxy. It wasn't the first incident, but it was finally enough to distract the UGC from the war in the east. With support from both Sol and the Collective, new galactic laws were enacted placing harsh regulations on mercenary factions. A new arbitration body, the Mercenary Union, was created to resolve disputes before they could erupt into violence. In practice, however, it was a sham. Larger groups held all the power and influence, and used it to capture monopolies over key industries associated with the trade. It should come as no surprise, then, that as soon as the UGC began to fade in the wake of the Oracle War, the Union collapsed unceremoniously. There is an ongoing push to create a new, more functional union to replace it, but most of the major factions remain independent. In my next post, I'll give details about the factions themselves, and in my eighth and final post, we'll talk about private armies- their differences from mercenary groups, their responsibility for the Oracle War, and their recent activities in the southwest quadrant. Kilerabv was the primary creator of the Mercenary Union.

Starpath Lore Guide #7: The Various Mercenary Factions This guide will be formatted as a list, because there's so much to cover. The Boome Marines: Until recently, the Boomes were a mysterious organization of masked soldiers known for poor discipline and high casualty rates. They've been working to dispel this image, especially after they decided to reveal what they had been hiding behind the masks. The Boomes are all clones of a failed super-soldier genetics experiment, and prone to psychotic blind rage which can occur during the heat of battle. Still, they are highly loyal to their creator, whom they call "Father," and have demonstrated their increasing competence in the Oracle War. Recently, they've been working with the Sol Defense Force to further increase their legitimacy. The Death Vigil: Originating on the remote planet Gibel in 2309, the Vigil ran trade escort services for many years and has gathered a renowned reputation. Soldiers from hundreds of races have staffed its ranks, and its discipline is equal to that of any state military force. Inside, however, the story is somewhat darker- the Vigil demands absolute, unquestioning loyalty from its members, and has even been compared to a cult. Currently, its leader is an aged but cunning human named Mordecai. Gold Dusts: Built around vice industries like slaving and narcotics, the Gold Dusts have a specter-like presence throughout the galaxy wherein ties to local outfits can be found on practically any planet where goods are bought and sold. Its members are pleasure-seeking, and will accept the most lucrative contracts. Most of the time, however, they'll send poorly-armed slaves to fight in their place. Star Dusts: A splinter group which broke off from the core of the Gold Dusts decades ago, the Star Dusts are soldiers of fortune in the purest sense. Unwilling to sit idle while slaves fought in their place, the Star Dusts fight for the thrill of battle and the spoils that come with it. Unfortunately, their reputation has been tarnished by rampant drug use within their ranks, and they aren't the first choice for most rational contractors. Wave Galaxias: Originally a unit of veteran Gold Dust slaves known as the Golden Wave, what would become Wave Galaxias turned against their masters during the Gladiator Revolt of 2382. Following this event, the Wave sought to liberate slaves everywhere by force. The next few months, known as the Aurum Sclavus, was a time of chaos for the galactic slave trade in which the Wave grew in strength exponentially. The Oracle War dealt terrible losses to the organization and stemmed this growth, however, and in its wake they have sought further liberation through more peaceful means. By 2384, the Wave had evolved into a humanitarian organization and adopted its current name, with a defense subsection called the Auxiliators. Their President is their former revolt leader, Aver Lagul. Kabelas: These professionals got their start as hunters in the outer fringes of the galaxy, seeking not bounties, but wild game. Only when they discovered that their tracking, trapping, and sniping skills made them well-suited to bounty-hunting and mercenary work did they become involved in the trade. Their reputation is quite good, and they often keep trophies from their slain targets. Alpha Sisters / Omega Brothers: Previously part of a single organization referred to as "The Family," these two groups split off from each other due to an undisclosed incident within their ranks. According to a popular rumor, the leaders of the two groups are siblings, but this is unproven. What is known is that the two associations are totally hostile toward one another. The Sisters only employ women and specialize in assasination, whereas the Brothers only employ men and specialize in intelligence work. All of the preceding groups were created by Kilerabv, with the exception of Wave Galaxias, which was created by Damian0358.

Hey guys, I was reminding the old days of Roleplay Wonderland when I realized RPs still have a place in Facepunch. Ever since those days I've been doing Play by Post RPGs on other forums. Is there anything different to how RPs are run over here? Definitely seems to me like it's a whole lot faster.

[QUOTE=Zuimzado;49726505]Hey guys, I was reminding the old days of Roleplay Wonderland when I realized RPs still have a place in Facepunch. Ever since those days I've been doing Play by Post RPGs on other forums. Is there anything different to how RPs are run over here? Definitely seems to me like it's a whole lot faster.[/QUOTE] I'd say it becomes "faster" because GM's tend to drive the whip home when it comes to getting things in on time

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;49726703]I'd say it becomes "faster" because GM's tend to drive the whip home when it comes to getting things in on time[/QUOTE] Oh, there's a deadline for everything in here?

For the rps that involve playing as a nation, yes.

Starpath Lore Guide #8: Private Militaries and Their Consequences While mercenaries are reliant on transnational businesses, and try to avoid conflict with the states themselves in order to continue operating within their borders, private militaries are loyal only to the parent business. If that business comes into conflict with a state, they are likely to attack the state. This key difference has resulted in massive bloodshed in recent years and was at the cause of the Oracle War. When the UGC imposed regulations on mercenary groups, private militaries were exempt. In 2382, the HarkArk Corporation's Privateers were dispatched to the planet Zeruel to fight against what had previously been thought of as a criminal syndicate, the Crimson Son. However, as would later be reported by returning veterans, Zeruel was actually home to a civilian state, the Crimus, and Crimson forces were fighting to protect their homeland. The Oracle War, then, eventually boiled down to a genocide of the civilians on Zeruel, perpetrated by the HarkArk Corporation. This, along with the earlier destruction of the planet Odenia in the same war, finally impelled the UGC to take action. However, by the time resolutions had taken effect, humans had already been leaving the UGC in droves. The kanad-lead reform effort was received poorly, as the economically-liberal humans and sympathetic aliens of the southwest quadrant viewed the act as an unwanted intrusion by the Collective into a private sector in which they had no stake of their own. Multiple large corporations, especially those with private militaries such as Argos, banded together to create an alliance called the Elysium Combine. The Collective, in turn, declared the organization rogue, and called upon the UGC to send a fleet to suppress it. However, the Black Fleet had already become engaged in other activities, leaving the local forces of the southwest to accomplish the task themselves. Instead, the effort to suppress Yscom, as it was soon referred to informally, failed in spectacular fashion. Local governments in the southwest were under extreme pressure by their constituents to abandon the "kanad-dominated" UGC and support the economically powerful Yscom. Those states which didn't defect by choice were sometimes deposed by civilian efforts, and before long the UGC force had retreated haphazardly to the abandoned planet Starvis to mount a desperate, self-preserving defense. To relieve them, the UGC dispatched forces from the northwest quadrant, which was even less prepared for such a large battle. In their absence, pirates began to organize in the northwest. The UGC managed to break their southwest forces out of the Starvis pocket, but upon their return to the northwest they were beset by a massive pirate armada and chased all the way out to the safety of the Ayr Empire. In one fell stroke, the UGC lost control of the western quadrants entirely by 2384. The balance of power within the UGC shifted even further into the hands of the kanads, making true the fears held by those peoples of the southwest quadrants the previous year. Losses during the retreat were staggering, but the political will of the remaining UGC states is too weak to even fathom vengeance. Meanwhile, Yscom continues to grow in power unchecked. It is unclear what the Combine intends to do with its unchallenged latitude. HarkArk and the Privateers were created by Doomevil. Yscom was created by Deathgrunt. [B]Starpath will be launching later tonight. Stay tuned![/B]

I participate a lot in the TVTropes' play by post forums (it's nothing like the forums you guys might have heard about, we're so different from them that the idea of one of the admins excluding the roleplay forums because 'I don't see the use in them' has been a recurring joke amongst us), and I kinda got into that thanks to Roleplay Wonderland. I might try to run one over here, based on one of my favorite RPs from those forums, but I kinda wanna see how you guys do things in Fast Threads. Or am I overreacting and it's pretty much just like Roleplay Wonderland?

[QUOTE=Zuimzado;49727975]I participate a lot in the TVTropes' play by post forums (it's nothing like the forums you guys might have heard about, we're so different from them that the idea of one of the admins excluding the roleplay forums because 'I don't see the use in them' has been a recurring joke amongst us), and I kinda got into that thanks to Roleplay Wonderland. I might try to run one over here, based on one of my favorite RPs from those forums, but I kinda wanna see how you guys do things in Fast Threads. Or am I overreacting and it's pretty much just like Roleplay Wonderland?[/QUOTE] One way to find out. Come to Rome and do as the barbarians do and see what sticks

[QUOTE=EuSKalduna;49728073]One way to find out. Come to Rome and do as the barbarians do and see what sticks[/QUOTE] I'm already writing an OP. Let me just throw the idea out first: are you guys superhero fans? There's a roleplay I love in TVT called Justice Avengers. The idea is that this is a new superhero universe where you can mix and match Marvel and DC heroes/villains/concepts to create a crossover universe. You can play as a Marvel or a DC character, but you can also combine some elements to create a 'rebooted' version of an old character, for example. What do you guys think?

As far as I know, there are very few character RPs in Facepunch, overwhelming majority of them are nation-based and strategy based. There's been a couple over the years of character ones (unless I'm really blind to them) but I'm not sure if that's due to a lack of interest in that kind of RP or if there's no one willing to GM one often enough.

I seem to remember the Endless dungeon(that was the name, right)being somewhat popular way back when. And we recently had a few character RPs

Character RPs received a resurgence in interest ever since 2014, thanks to Murder at Midnight. Prior to that, the ones that received more attention were in Fast Threads were the nation RPs, though that doesn't mean there weren't any other RPs, as kiler pointed out with the Never-Ending Dungeon. Honestly, I'm surprised by how popular character RPs have gotten again. We have Doomevil's Bay Dogs, Sega Saturn's Starpath II, and I recall hearing about a potential fantasy one in the works by Radley and Viper, though I'm not sure what is going on with that. I recommend you just try GMing here. This superhero universe idea sounds interesting enough, and I'd imagine some people would enjoy the hell out of it.

Yeah uh Radley and [b]I[/b] got a fantasy one in the works, I've been writing up a shitton of lore while also making a map with some input from Radley. [editline]12th February 2016[/editline] But yeah, I prefer character RP's. Used to do alot of 'em back at the Bioware Social Network which was at least nine years ago. After that I hadn't participated in a forum RP up untill Spaceship Crew/Starpath posted by Doom which got me hooked right away.

[QUOTE=Viper123_SWE;49728375] up untill Spaceship Crew/Starpath posted by Doom which got me hooked right away.[/QUOTE] Never played in that or posted in it, but that was a fun game to watch.

We've been playing JA at TVTropes for a few years now and we've got this super fun lore. The best part is that we built it from the ground up, which somehow makes all the connections cooler. There seems to be sizable interest, so I'll get to work on it. On an unrelated side note, has anyone found a way of reading those old Roleplay Wonderland threads? Or are they lost forever?

I tried to look at the Roleplay wonderland threads on TV tropes you mentioned earlier, but couldn't find them. Seems to be lost to time.

[QUOTE=kilerabv;49728426]I tried to look at the Roleplay wonderland threads on TV tropes you mentioned earlier, but couldn't find them. Seems to be lost to time.[/QUOTE] I'm talking about the ones on Facepunch. I can use Internet Archive to see the forum, but I can't read the threads.

[QUOTE=Zuimzado;49728437]I'm talking about the ones on Facepunch. I can use Internet Archive to see the forum, but I can't read the threads.[/QUOTE] I'm not actually sure. Maybe they moved the threads to another section? You can try [URL="http://facepunch.com/archive/index.php"]the archive[/URL].

[QUOTE=Zuimzado;49727037]Oh, there's a deadline for everything in here?[/QUOTE] Definitely when it involves a nation. If you read through the Broken Men RP (*cough*selfinsert*cough*), a lot of the early turns see people being skipped due to them not getting a turn in on time. The past 5-6 turns however have been more relaxed now that the people are locked in and I know them more personally/their plans

[QUOTE=Damian0358;49728464]I'm not actually sure. Maybe they moved the threads to another section? You can try [URL="http://facepunch.com/archive/index.php"]the archive[/URL].[/QUOTE] Nope. Can't find it. Shame. Oh yeah, how do you guys do combat over here? Over on TVTropes we just 'RP it out', but it seems like you guys use rolls?

Yeah, very basic rolls through. I.e A player states his character's action and the GM rolls an 1-10 for it and writes out the outcome from that. Through Sega has been making an more deeper system from that for Starpath v2. Involving Hit Points, enemy rolls and other things that he will explain better in the thread when he posts it.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;49728402]Never played in that or posted in it, but that was a fun game to watch.[/QUOTE] You have no idea how good that feels coming from that.

[QUOTE=Deathgrunt;49728612]Yeah, very basic rolls through. I.e A player states his character's action and the GM rolls an 1-10 for it and writes out the outcome from that. Through Sega has been making an more deeper system from that for Starpath v2. Involving Hit Points, enemy rolls and other things that he will explain better in the thread when he posts it.[/QUOTE] That's a bit weird, but I get it.

[QUOTE=Deathgrunt;49728612]Yeah, very basic rolls through. I.e A player states his character's action and the GM rolls an 1-10 for it and writes out the outcome from that. Through Sega has been making an more deeper system from that for Starpath v2. Involving Hit Points, enemy rolls and other things that he will explain better in the thread when he posts it.[/QUOTE] [url=https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1505836]It's actually been up for like an hour now[/url]:doghidden:

HELL YEAH BOIS

[QUOTE=Sega Saturn;49728764][url=https://facepunch.com/showthread.php?t=1505836]It's actually been up for like an hour now[/url]:doghidden:[/QUOTE] Join in, so I can know for how many people I need to cook

How does this map look? [img]http://i.cubeupload.com/Sm68N7.png[/img]

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;49733871]How does this map look? [img]http://i.imgur.com/gKbQRMs.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] that's pretty sexy

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;49733871]How does this map look? [img]http://i.cubeupload.com/Sm68N7.png[/img][/QUOTE] I would imagine the mountains would be a bit more defined than a few brown lines, but besides that it looks pretty damn cool.