Boseman Student Generation

Dec 6, 2022 5:27 am
The place to make PCs.
Dec 6, 2022 7:43 am
Some Rambley Details About the Setting

Boseman High School is a high school in the American upper Midwest -- let's say Michigan. It's the beginning of your senior year, so late Septemberish when the seasons are starting to turn and the nights are turning chilly. You've been at school almost a month as the game opens -- a school with several hundred kids that is fed by both the small town of Boseman, and the surrounding (very) rural areas, where kids are bused in from. Boseman itself is a working class town with a main street, a run-down mall, a bowling alley, a diner, a small community college, an old movie theater, a public pool, and an outdoor event center that's used for concerts, ice skating in the winter, and the county fair. (Feel free to name any of these places; I'll start a thread covering known people and places.)

The area is heavily wooded; there's a large state park, lots of hunting and fishing areas, hiking trails and various outdoor activities. Shooting, ATVing, and rednecking are common activities. Still, kids are bored and get up to no good. The Sheriff and his deputies are vigilant about underage drinking, pot smoking, back-seat sex, breaking up parties at the lake, and coming down hard on petty criminals. They suck!

One town over is Mill Creek -- where you'll find a nicer school, better athletes, newer cars, cleaner restaurants, a bar where it's easy to get in as an underage drinker, a biker gang and a strip club.
New Hindrances and Edges from the East Texas University book...

◼ Minor Hindrances: ADHD, Annoying Family Member (was Roommate), 'Fraidy Cat, Party Animal, Second Fiddle, Overprotective Parents
◼ Major Hindrances: Poverty
◼ Edges: Devout, Local Favorite, Test Taker, Guts

Happy to discuss any and all of these for those who don't have ETU.
Other Stuff

Once your characters are built I'll ask some specific questions, but there are some things to muse about in the meantime...

◼ Describe your family and home life. Siblings. Your room. Pets. The relationship your parents have. You know the drill.
◼ Do you have a best friend? Who is that, if so, and do they attend Boseman?
◼ Who is your favorite teacher and why?
◼ Answer one: who are you currently crushing on, or who did you just break up with and why?
◼ How do you get to school every day? (If you have a car, it's gonna be a junker unless you have the Rich or Filthy Rich Edges.)

Oh -- if anyone needs help in building their PC, just let me know.
Dec 6, 2022 7:50 am
Oh, those of you with access to Qralloq's fancy custom SWADE sheet, please feel free to share it here so folks can use it...
Dec 6, 2022 7:56 am
[style]
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[/style]

[table]
[b]Name:[/b]||[b]Pace:[/b]|
[b]Toughness:[/b]|
[b]Bennies:[/b]|[_=1]|[b]Parry:[/b]|
[b]Wounds:[/b]||[b]Fatigue:[/b]|0|
[/table]

[table="rolls"]
Trait | Skill | Roll 
[b]Agility[/b] | (base trait) | 1d4, 1d6
.
[b]Smarts[/b] | (base trait) |1d4, 1d6
.
[b]Spirit[/b]|(base trait) |1d4, 1d6
.
[b]Strength[/b]| (base trait) |1d4, 1d6
.
[b]Vigor[/b]| (base trait) |1d4, 1d6
.
[b]Unskilled[/b]|(any)|1d4-2,1d6-2
[/table]

[linebreak]
[table]
[size=150][u]Weapons[/u][/size]|[u]Attack Roll[/u]|[u]Damage Roll[/u]

[/table]
[linebreak]
[size=150][b]Edges[/b][/size]



[size=150][b]Hindrances[/b][/size]



[linebreak][u]Armor[/u]

[size=150][b]Equipment[/b][/size]

[linebreak]
[size=150][b]Background[/b][/size]
Dec 6, 2022 8:08 am
Sorry this is so disjointed. Dropping some of this in as it occurs...

CATS!

Concept: Classic B-Movie where crazy shit happens to the teens, who are otherwise getting up to all kinds of no good. These are regular kids who will have not so regular things happen to them and those around them. And some of them might not make it to the end credits.

Aim: To play a roleplay-heavy, sometimes action-packed, hopefully always enjoyable teen romp that lasts a few months / less than a year.

Tone: Light, Irreverent, Humorous, Gross, Horny, Maybe Poignant (once or twice only)

Subject Matter: Gore, So Much Swearing, Sexy Times, Body Horror, Bugs, Assholes, Bullying, Prejudice, Intolerance

Zach Tidwell

bowlofspinach

Dec 6, 2022 7:27 pm
Zach Tidwell
Okay, posting my initial thoughts on the questions. Let me know your thoughts on it. Details may still change. They usually do at least when the game starts, but for a general feel, I was thinking something like this:
Zachary Tidwell has moved into Boseman with his family over the summer break. After coming out as trans three years ago, he has finally been able to start hormone therapy about a year ago and he has managed to convince his parents to allow him a new start in a new town where nobody knew him before. His goal is to go stealth, without any of his peers knowing that he is trans, despite how difficult that still is for him at this stage.
His parents have made a deal with the school to help out with this, though the fact that official documentation still lists him as Janina and as female means that he's constantly dreading that info coming out. He also hasn't had top surgery, so he relies on binders and on skipping sports or any other opportunity that might force him to get out of the thick hoodies he dresses in whenever possible.
He's smart and does well in school but is somewhat uncomfortable socially as he doesn't feel like he can freely express himself. His interests are artistic and musical, he loves theater, but in order to try and fit in (and avoid accusations of being gay or questioning of his masculinity), he often sticks to the most masculine guys he can find and may try to match the behavior of the tough boys around him, including mimicking their bigotry.
Quote:
◼ Describe your family and home life. Siblings. Your room. Pets. The relationship your parents have. You know the drill.
Zach's parents care a lot about him. They're constantly concerned about him and will try to coddle and protect him as much as possible. They're good people, as much as this change is still difficult for them and even causes tension in their relationship to Zach as well as their marriage from time to time, but as a moody, hormonal teenager, Zach sometimes can't stand them.
He has a two years younger sister, Rose, who grew up in his shadow as the less pretty, less smart of the two. After Zach came out and began transitioning, Rose decided this was her chance to step out of the shadow. She's become more outgoing and sexual, partying, drinking and going after older boys. The two don't often get along but both worry and care for the other, both thinking that the other's chosen path is a lot more dangerous than they realize.
The family lives in a small house near the edge of town. They don't have much money so Zach only has a small room to himself that is still mostly filled with moving boxes he hasn't gotten around to unpacking. It's a practical small space with a bed, desk and bookshelf but barely any decorations on the walls. His pride flags are safely tucked under his bed rather than displayed proudly like in their old apartment.
Quote:
◼ Do you have a best friend? Who is that, if so, and do they attend Boseman?
Abigail Gilmann is a former classmate of Zach's. The two have been best friends for years and she, being bisexual herself, managed to help him figure himself out. Even after moving, they're in constant contact, texting or calling whenever they can.
When some of his new classmates noticed, he lied and told them she's his girlfriend, even making up lies about their relationship and sex life. It's something he feels embarrassed about and hasn't told her yet.
Quote:
◼ Who is your favorite teacher and why?
Zach doesn't know his teachers that well yet, but he likes Mr. Carlsson, the science teacher. During his first week at Boseman, Zach was caught by him trying to act cool by throwing slurs around and heavily reprimanded. While that does mean that Mr. Carlsson is not a big fan of Zach, Zach respects him for it. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he's really good looking, which makes his classes a lot more interesting.
Quote:
◼ Answer one: who are you currently crushing on, or who did you just break up with and why?
On his first day at Boseman, Zach literally ran into Aaron Connery. Aaron's a year younger than most seniors since he skipped a class. He also volunteers in the school library. He's not the most classically handsome but Zach likes his smile, which is more important anyway.
Neither of the two boys dropped any books that they then had to pick up, making accidental hand contact and looking into each other's eyes while blushing, but as an avid romcom fan, Zach autocompleted the scene to a proper meet-cute in his head. He barely knows anyone at the school yet, so Aaron is the one his mind wanders off to in class at this point. He's not quite sure if Aaron knows him as anything but that new kid who hangs around the jocks, though.
Quote:
◼ How do you get to school every day? (If you have a car, it's gonna be a junker unless you have the Rich or Filthy Rich Edges.)
Zach's parents insist on driving him to and from school every single day, no matter how often he tells them how embarrassing that is. The most frustrating part, they do allow Rose to be picked up and taken to school be her friends when she wants. They'd never let Zach do the same.
Last edited December 7, 2022 11:33 am
Dec 6, 2022 8:53 pm
Love it, bowl! Lovingly detailed and very believable! Will ask some follow-up questions shortly, but when you finished this text up make sure you append it to your sheet to make it easy to find and reference, please.
Dec 6, 2022 10:05 pm
https://i.imgur.com/gMaT021.png

◼ Describe your family and home life. Siblings. Your room. Pets. The relationship your parents have. You know the drill.
Emily Richardsen (which everyone misspells as Richardson) much to her chagrin) has a chaotic family. Her mother and father always have their own agendas at the expense of the kids. The family is in the witness protection Program, (WPP). She has one younger brother, Steve who she gets along with reasonably well but she mothers him and feels she needs to protect him which annoys the shit out of him so he's become quite rebellious. They have been known to fight physically but nothing serious. Just loose fists in frustrated anger. He isn’t as tall as she is yet.

Has a dog Arnie, a doe-eyed mutt that she absolutely adores. He sleeps on her bed.

They live in a nondescript house on several acres of land and try to appear normal even though they have a healthy bank account.

◼ Do you have a best friend? Who is that, if so, and do they attend Boseman?
Not yet since it’s only been a few weeks at a new school but she wouldn’t mind some friends if for no other reason else than to sell pot so is actively pursuing an in. ◼ Who is your favorite teacher and why?
School bores her as she is smarter than most of them, teachers included. Has a crush on the math teacher.◼ Answer one: who are you currently crushing on, or who did you just break up with and why? The Math teacher. ◼ How do you get to school every day? (If you have a car, it's gonna be a junker unless you have the Rich or Filthy Rich Edges.)
Piece of crap high mileage van and takes her brother too.

Other stuff: She's complex. While she enjoys the idea of friends and acceptance, she can be happy alone in her own world being geeky too. She hates that they left her friends and old home and school, but she loves the countryside and can and does disappear for hours in the woods. I can see her gravitating toward Zach as a potential friend since he's another new kid and because she prefers male company as she is a bit of a tomboy and finds girls boring.

Freddie

Qralloq

Dec 7, 2022 1:50 am
Freddie


Freddie VP of the student council at Boseman. His family are long time residents, and his late father even spent a session on town council about six years back. The Solomon money comes mostly from being upper middle class Michiganders for a number of generations. Gill Solomon was an accountant by trade, and a successful one. His first wife disappeared following a quiet divorce, and he remarried a young hotty, Freddie's uncomfortably-too-much-of a step-MILF.

Freddie is outgoing and ambitious, but also nervous. He seeks admission to University of Michigan-Ann Arbor to pursue Molecular Biology, or perhaps Behavioral Neuroscience (if he can get through Steadman's Biology with close to perfect marks). The student council gig is designed to provide the right sort of extracurricular padding for his transcripts.

Following a car accident (his fault) last year, his volleyball and baseball hobbies were dashed, leaving him somewhat more somber and withdrawn, but he's coming out of that trauma and looking more like his old self.

# Describe your family and home life. Siblings. Your room. Pets. The relationship your parents have. You know the drill.
Step mother Belinda is a trophy wife, late 20s. Father, Gill, died last year in a car accident that left Fred a bit frail as he is still recovering. Two younger sisters, Debby and Sarah, quiet girls who are in therapy for the trauma. They blame Fred because he was driving. Debby was more outgoing until puberty then became withdrawn. Sarah was always quiet and nervous.
# Do you have a best friend? Who is that, if so, and do they attend Boseman?
Norm Chadwell, President of school council at Boseman. Norm is more popular than Freddy but they've been close since middle school, when they both shot up and dominated volleyball. Their popularity rose meteorically, at least until the accident.
# Who is your favorite teacher and why?
Brittany Maidstone, P.E. The woman is kind and sharp-eyed, her advice piercing. Freddie feels she helped make him rise to his heights as an athlete. The fact that she's easy on the eyes doesn't hurt either. Now, if only she taught swim class...
# Answer one: who are you currently crushing on, or who did you just break up with and why?
Priya Sunder. She's got these old world folks that hope she'd meet a nice Indian boy, but Priya and Freddie snuck around together a bunch. They've broken up now, as they were caught with her bra off in his car. She's likely to be ungrounded in another decade or so, but has told him she doesn't want to be around him any more.
# How do you get to school every day? (If you have a car, it's gonna be a junker unless you have the Rich or Filthy Rich Edges.)
His father's career and then life insurance has left his family well off. Freddie drives a Tesla Model 3.
Last edited December 7, 2022 4:14 am
Dec 7, 2022 3:06 am
Emily and Freddie are great too!

KCC

Dec 7, 2022 2:05 pm
https://i.imgur.com/8pXoICT.jpg

Lily Palmer

Describe your family and home life. Siblings. Your room. Pets. The relationship your parents have. You know the drill.

Lily’s relationship with her parents is… fine. Not amazing, but certainly not as contentious as you might expect. They’ve always supported her ‘work’, if that’s how you’d describe it, (that’s how she describes it) and so tolerate giving her a certain amount of freedom that they maybe wouldn’t have otherwise.

Our own little Carl Bernstein…

Dad calls her ‘Woodward’, sometimes; when he thinks he’s being funny.

And then there’s Poppy; Santa’s last delivery to the Palmer house. A papillon; the smallest one you’ve ever seen. And maybe she’s not walked quite as much as Lily promised she would be when Poppy first arrived… She can be a little ratty at times.

https://i.imgur.com/7X2rsg8.jpg

Poppy Palmer

Lily’s room is covered in magazines, newspaper clippings, scrap books, and a gathering pile of copies of the school paper. On the wall, is the first front page she put together. Not the story of the century: it wasn’t even a -gate, but she was proud of it. And so were mom and dad. Poppy, too… maybe.

Her prized possession sits on the bedside table; her camera.

Do you have a best friend? Who is that, if so, and do they attend Boseman?

https://i.imgur.com/UJYKQLP.jpg

Wendy Lin

Best friend, and co-editor of the school paper, Wendy keeps Lily on track. They’ve known each other since kindergarten, and have stuck together through thick and thin. A little arm twisting by the parents made sure that school never separated the two girls.

Who is your favorite teacher and why?

https://i.imgur.com/0BuU7JV.jpg

Mr Levitt

Levitt doesn’t suffer fools, and there’s plenty of those at Boseman. Lily Palmer appreciates the frankness with which he goes through life, his love for English literature, and his encouragement of the school paper. He’s a man that would happily cut you in two, if crossed.

Answer one: who are you currently crushing on, or who did you just break up with and why?

https://i.imgur.com/fu7gbXn.jpg

Justin Lin

Wendy’s brother, and friend-by-association for years now. He’s always been around. Yes, Wendy knows. Yes, she thinks it’s gross. Well, she knows he’s gross.

And it’s nothing serious anyway. Just a passing thing once in a while. When he swings by to pick up a stack of papers for distribution and helps fill Lily and Wendy in one the sports news; something they are obligated to include in the paper…

How do you get to school every day? (If you have a car, it's gonna be a junker unless you have the Rich or Filthy Rich Edges.)
Alternating weeks of hitching a ride with Wendy or Lily’s parents.
Last edited December 7, 2022 2:38 pm
Dec 7, 2022 4:22 pm
Brilliant! These are all great, folks! Busy day at work, but I hope to ask just a couple of follow-up questions of each of you as you build the stats behind these faces. Thanks for all being so quick at this!
Dec 7, 2022 8:26 pm
Oh Hello, guys and gals of Boseman. Avatar testing!
Dec 7, 2022 8:49 pm
Alrighty, a few follow-up questions for each of you if that’s okay. Apologies if this is a little rough… rushing off to a work meeting.

Zach
Sparks at the School

If you’re okay with it, I’m thinking the school is perhaps at the front-end of some non-binary / transgender upheaval. Meaning some students are very for those rights and issues, some are against, and the administration is split and doesn’t entirely know what to do with kids who identify as a different gender than is on their birth certificate. There are requests for a non-gendered bathroom, the school paper wants to run progressive stories, and the church, PTA, and various parents are up-in-arms about a lot of it. Nothing so bad as Florida, but definitely a kerfuffle. Cool?

Teachers

Since Zach’s parents have worked with the school, am I safe in presume the teachers know the score — that Zach is transitioning quietly?

Abigail and Aaron

Is Abigail also a senior / 17ish? How far away is she?

You mentioned that Aaron skipped a class — you mean a grade, I think, in North American parlance. He’s 16 rather than 17, right? Does Zach know his sexual orientation?

Sportsbros

You mentioned a couple of times that Zach will gravitate towards these bozos. Is he planning on trying out for any sports?

Emily
Witness Protection

Your family is in the Federal Witness Protection Program. Do you keep that secret, or are you kind of loose with that info, thinking it might make you seem a little badass? Are you all using assumed names?

The Van

Are we talking minivan or van van? Is it yours to use, or is it a family vehicle?
Freddie
Just some private notes…
Lily
The Lins

What are Wendy’s parents like? Did they approve of your dating Justin? How do your parents get along with them?

The Paper

Are you okay if I put the paper under fire in the game, from some religious types who object to some of the progressive content it contained last year? If you don’t, what was some of that progressive content?

Your Camera

What kind of camera is it, and why is it so special to you?
Dec 7, 2022 9:09 pm
Harrigan says:
Alrighty, a few follow-up questions for each of you if that’s okay. Apologies if this is a little rough… rushing off to a work meeting.

Emily
Witness Protection

Your family is in the Federal Witness Protection Program. Do you keep that secret, or are you kind of loose with that info, thinking it might make you seem a little badass? Are you all using assumed names?

The Van

Are we talking minivan or van van? Is it yours to use, or is it a family vehicle?
Who is the family hiding from? Do you have a big stash of pot you got from somewhere, or who is your regular supplier?
[f=bold
For WP - She might tell those she is close to or ends up close to but not make it general knowledge just yet if at all.

The Van - is a second family car, beat up old, high mileage Dodge Caravan, a muddy brown color, mildly rusted wheel arches and a dent in the back right quarter panel. A sticker on the back windshield says Honk if you Love Fishin'.

Stash of pot is from somewhere and all the names are fake.
Last edited December 7, 2022 9:16 pm
Dec 7, 2022 9:52 pm
Windyridge sent a note to Harrigan
Last edited December 7, 2022 10:02 pm
Dec 7, 2022 10:07 pm
Sparks at the School

The impression I had was more conservative small town school where it's just not really an issue most students are thinking about, aside from offensive jokes and prejudices. I do kind of like the idea that the topic has recently been brought out, maybe inspired by the paper and opposed by the PTA and some other groups. Zach's arrival might have also kicked something into gear among administration, who aren't completely sure how to deal with him and so the issues have been raised in official contexts.
But less of an actual movement and more of an academic debate for most people involved with lots of uninformed voices, pushing any actual queer people into silence. Which would be pretty uncomfortable for Zach, seeing his rights debated and feeling unable to chime in even.
So, some discussion happening and some progressive voices calling for change yes, but mostly a dismissive and prejudiced atmosphere and not like a big upheaval and no like queer student groups or something. Maybe some vocal activists who get mocked for it.

Or that would be my thoughts, put down by tired brain that's trying to make stuff make sense. Happy to discuss it.

Teachers

The administration definitely knows and some teachers were told but probably not all. But rumors spread in the teacher's room so it's a safe bet that most teachers probably at least know that there is a new trans student at the school even if maybe not who.

Abigail

Yes, they're the same age and used to be in the same classes before Zach moved. She lives far enough that you can't just drive over whenever you feel like it, but a trip over would be possible if you set a weekend aside for it.

Aaron

Bullying people for their broken English is very rude! Yes, that's what I meant. And no, Zach doesn't know his sexual orientation. Or much of anything about him. It's mostly just a "He's cute" crush. Not a "We've talked" crush.

Sportsbros

Definitely not. He already tries to get out of gym class as much as possible because changing with the other students is extremely stressful. He's not going to deliberately put himself in a position where he'd have to do that more.
Dec 7, 2022 10:24 pm
Qralloq sent a note to Harrigan
Dec 7, 2022 10:51 pm
Emily
Sorry for the private text goof-ups. No more of that. Plain speak or Notes from now on!

🔸 Got it on the van.

🔸 Fake names, cool. Come up with some real ones at some point if you want!

Harrigan sent a note to Windyridge
Dec 7, 2022 11:18 pm
Zach
🔸 With the ‘mood’ at the school, I was just trying to make it a little less oppressive. If you’re down with making the whole place a little less tuned in, I’m fine with that. Maybe there are a couple of students making noise and there have been a few articles in the school paper upsetting parents (this is a big thing in the US right now), but overall I’m cool with having it evolve from Zach’s situation — rather than having him stumble into the middle of something big already brewing. Cool? A "mostly prejudiced and dismissive" air, for sure.

Hm! Maybe the paper does an anonymous article on Zach and -that- sets off the PTA!

🔸 Okay, on teachers knowing — I’ll make some assumptions, but from time to time I’ll probably ask if so and so knows, etc. I also like the idea of a rumor spreading. This is a small town and I guarantee some of the students have parents who are teachers there.

🔸 Me being a bully: get used to it! Wait a minute, you should be used to it already!
Dec 7, 2022 11:23 pm
Fred
🔸 Freddie or Fred?

🔸 Understood on everything else. Good stuff.
Dec 7, 2022 11:26 pm
Windyridge sent a note to Harrigan

KCC

Dec 8, 2022 1:05 am
The Lins

What are Wendy’s parents like? Did they approve of your dating Justin? How do your parents get along with them?

Wendy’s parents are pretty chill. Not as chill as Lily’s, by any means, but Wendy has been spared most of that ‘Tiger Mom’ bull crap that’s so popular these days. Maybe it’s small town America that caused her parent’s to ease up on their kids. Maybe it’s an attempt to break the cycle…

Oh, no! Lily and Justin have never dated! It’s just a crush. And maybe one-sided. The paper keeps her busy, along with everything else that goes on in life. So she’s never even had time to explore… all that with him. Wendy has been tight lipped about it. Trying to spare Lily’s feelings?

While both sets of parents hadn’t been friends before, there was that polite camaraderie of having kids that are in the same class. Hellos at the school gate.

And then things like birthday invitations started to be sent out; then coordinated Halloween costumes, sleepovers, requests for tickets to their favorite band, invitations for one child to tag along on the other family’s vacation. All the processes of two young girls becoming best friends.

And the parents kind of fell into step with each other. Dinner a couple of times a year, maybe a camping trip. An overnight stay at the city while the kids go see some band or other, they can’t keep track. Christmas cards, carpooling for school, and so on.
Last edited December 8, 2022 1:23 pm
Dec 8, 2022 6:39 am
Checking some character math.

Fred: looks like you spent six points instead of five on attributes. Also, should Toughness and Parry both be 4 rather than 5?

Emily: similarly, seven points spent on attributes rather than five. You've only taken one edge, is that right? You can direct two of those Hindrance points to attributes, but to my eye you still have one too many. And I think your Toughness and Parry should both be 4 as well?

Might be wrong on these. I'm no pro at building SWADE characters.
Dec 8, 2022 7:33 am
Quote:
🔸 With the ‘mood’ at the school, I was just trying to make it a little less oppressive. If you’re down with making the whole place a little less tuned in, I’m fine with that. Maybe there are a couple of students making noise and there have been a few articles in the school paper upsetting parents (this is a big thing in the US right now), but overall I’m cool with having it evolve from Zach’s situation — rather than having him stumble into the middle of something big already brewing. Cool? A "mostly prejudiced and dismissive" air, for sure.
Sounds good, I think
Quote:
Hm! Maybe the paper does an anonymous article on Zach and -that- sets off the PTA!
Oh, I like that idea! He would be mortified to find something like that. It might even be how he meets Lily when he goes to confront the editor (of course only because he's concerned about the student in the article. No other reason...)
Quote:
🔸 Okay, on teachers knowing — I’ll make some assumptions, but from time to time I’ll probably ask if so and so knows, etc. I also like the idea of a rumor spreading. This is a small town and I guarantee some of the students have parents who are teachers there.
👍
Quote:
🔸 Me being a bully: get used to it! Wait a minute, you should be used to it already!
👎
Last edited December 8, 2022 9:09 am

KCC

Dec 8, 2022 1:27 pm
The Paper

Lily and Wendy are just about getting to put their own stamp on this thing. Since they took over, early last year, things have come a long way. Readership is up… for the most part.

They’ve had one or two big stories, and a lot of the usually tat that fills the pages of a school paper.

Your Camera

What kind of camera is it, and why is it so special to you?

Uncle Mike, an actual journalist… for the Michigan Chronicle, so not exactly hard hitting, boots on the ground journalism. But he wasn’t always like that. He turned the camera over to Lily when he finally took a job that kept him in the office and off the streets. The money is better, and the work is easier, but the hunger is gone.

(I figure the camera is functional, but not expensive or the latest gizmo. Probably a decade and a half out of style.)
Dec 8, 2022 1:54 pm
Harrigan says:
Checking some character math.

Emily: similarly, seven points spent on attributes rather than five. You've only taken one edge, is that right? You can direct two of those Hindrance points to attributes, but to my eye you still have one too many. And I think your Toughness and Parry should both be 4 as well?

Might be wrong on these. I'm no pro at building SWADE characters.
I get 1 point each for the 2 minor hindrances and 2 for the major for a total of 4. The edge cancels 2 of those 4 points leaving me with 2 leftover to add to the 5 base attribute points for a total of 7 for attributes.
Dec 8, 2022 2:36 pm
Changed Parry and Toughness (I thought I had automated those in the sheet; bad Deadpool).

The 6th stat bump came from one of three Edges. (1 free, +1 from major hindrance, +1 from two minor hindrances)

He goes by Freddie, but isn't militant about it.
Last edited December 8, 2022 3:16 pm
Dec 8, 2022 4:21 pm
Oh and I fixed Parry and Toughness. I blame Q for that as I presumed it auto-calculated and never checked.😒
Dec 9, 2022 7:00 am
Windyridge says:

I get 1 point each for the 2 minor hindrances and 2 for the major for a total of 4. The edge cancels 2 of those 4 points leaving me with 2 leftover to add to the 5 base attribute points for a total of 7 for attributes.
Brilliant!

Except that increasing an attribute by a die costs two Hindrance points...
https://i.imgur.com/IpFb9gp.png
Dec 9, 2022 7:05 am
Windy is trying to cheat. Straight to detention, Emily!
Dec 9, 2022 7:07 am
Qralloq says:
The 6th stat bump came from one of three Edges. (1 free, +1 from major hindrance, +1 from two minor hindrances)
Oho, one thing I think I was forgetting is the free Novice Edge from being human.

That's the "free" Edge you mention?
Dec 9, 2022 7:19 am
NOW HEAR THIS !

I mentioned in the Discord not loving the "pick Hindrances to get points" thing. It smacks of older point-buy games where players would often abuse the concept by loading up on disadvantages and limitations that... weren't. Ones that wouldn't come up in play, ones that facilitated jackassery, etc. SWADE isn't as bad as something like GURPS or HERO, but it's still kind of goofy to my eye. Instead...
HOUSE RULE!

🔸 You have four Hindrance points to spend on Edges (cost 2pts each), skills (1pt each), or attribute die types (2pts per die increase).

🔸 Choose some Hindrances you like and that fit your character concept. Generally 1-3, but do what feels right. I'll use these as flags, as signposts for the kinds of trouble you want your PC involved in.

Cool? Simple enough? Basically, you get max Hindrance points and can spend them normally... then you should pick some Hindrances that simply make sense.

KCC

Dec 9, 2022 11:29 am
I think I’m pretty good, as is! Loyal is a little lame, so I may take a second look on that. Just waiting on my updated sheet to get approved by our DM!
Dec 9, 2022 3:09 pm
bowlofspinach says:
Windy is trying to cheat. Straight to detention, Emily!
Terrible start to the school year but typical of her. 😁
Dec 10, 2022 6:59 am
Emily -- what's up with your Edges? Do you just have the one?

Zach -- looks good except for Trouble Magnet. Tsk. However, we can roll with it. I was actually thinking it was more like Weirdness Magnet, which wouldn't fit. If it's just something going wrong once per session / chapter, that's fine. Oh -- actually, your Toughness should be 4 rather than 6?

Freddie -- looking good, Fred!

Lily -- Digging her deep specialization. But Toughness should be 4, Parry should be 2?

KCC

Dec 10, 2022 7:10 am
"Got it!"
Dec 10, 2022 7:11 am
Quote:
looks good except for Trouble Magnet. Tsk.
😝
Quote:
If it's just something going wrong once per session / chapter, that's fine.
I know that's just what we all get and what the game is about, but I still needed to enshrine it
Quote:
Oh -- actually, your Toughness should be 4 rather than 6?
Yes, you're right. I fixed it. I misread how it works when I originally did it
Dec 10, 2022 7:25 am
Let's now also do a little world building. Anyone is free to answer these... if we have multiple answers both / all can be true, or I'll pick one from those supplied. (For all of these... fell free to pluck from my short town description, build on it, or pitch something new.)

🔸 Where in town do kids go to 'park' and make out?

🔸 Who, other than Emily, do kids get weed from?

🔸 Who has an older sibling who will get underage kids alcohol? (Can be a PC or NPC)

🔸 The sheriff is an asshat who doesn't like Boseman or the kids going there. What's the name of his much more sensible and cool deputy? What makes them sensible and cool?

🔸 What's the best place in town for a burger? Ice cream? Pizza? (Opinions may differ!)

🔸 Which cell carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Cricket) actually works decently in the town of Boseman?

🔸 What's the name of the crazy old guy who lives in the woods? Which one of you knows him a little?

🔸 Which teacher or administrator is rumored to have had a career in porn?

🔸 Which two teachers are rumored to have hooked up at a staff party?

🔸 Which teacher seems to be hiding something, and why do you think that?

🔸 Which school sports team is dominate? Which one is terrible?

🔸 What's the best food in the cafeteria? What's the worst?

🔸 What's the most dangerous place in town, where two teens were rumored to go missing a few years ago?

🔸 Who runs the RPG club at the school?

🔸 What is the name of the radical climate activist student at the school?
Dec 10, 2022 7:27 am
I'm sorry, Lily, I didn't catch that.

KCC

Dec 10, 2022 7:51 am
https://i.imgur.com/Uf3qY4W.jpg

Officer Yvonne Bentley

When the cops are called, it’s Bentley’s cruiser that Boseman students hope to see responding. Oh, she’ll chew you out real good, and she loves cutting a smart ass down to size, but if you keep your head down and your mouth shut, she’ll get you out of there with nothing more than an early night.

She knows the kids smoke weed, and get up to a whole lot of no good. Unlike the Sheriff, she knows her boys have enough to be doing around Boseman instead of worrying about some underage drinking. She also remembers what it’s like to be young.
Last edited December 10, 2022 7:51 am
Dec 10, 2022 7:58 am
Throwing out some first thoughts on some questions:
Quote:
🔸 Who, other than Emily, do kids get weed from?
There's this girl, Johanna, who graduated a few years ago and now works at the bowling alley. If you know the right words to say and 'tip' really well, you'll find a little bag extra in your rented bowling shoes.
Quote:
🔸 Which teacher or administrator is rumored to have had a career in porn?
Some students have on the internet found old porn videos from the eighties of Mrs. Carlisle, who teaches French. As she's quite a bit older now than she used to, openly expressing any interest in seeing them, even as a joke, is bound to get you mocked for being attracted to the older woman. Still, there's a large part of the student body that has seen them.
Quote:
🔸 Which school sports team is dominate? Which one is terrible?
The school soccer team is actually really good. The rest of the students just can't agree on whether that's something to be proud or ashamed of.
Quote:
🔸 What's the most dangerous place in town, where two teens were rumored to go missing a few years ago?
The movie theater parking lot. Some people in town have begun jokingly suggesting that the reason why the theater never shows any horror movies is because you get the horror after the movie.
Quote:
🔸 Who runs the RPG club at the school?
Zach doesn't know. But if someone else does, please let him know 😄
Dec 10, 2022 2:56 pm
Quote:
🔸 Where in town do kids go to 'park' and make out?
The banks. There is a camping spot, even an old wooden picnic table if you want to leave your vehicle. It got wrecked when the river flooded six years ago, but now makes a great place to park get it on.
Quote:
🔸 Which cell carrier (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Cricket) actually works decently in the town of Boseman?
Nobody likes Verizon. But, the school paper did an investigative piece and guess which one had the best coverage, even behind the Stop N Go no man's land? Yup, the big V.
Quote:
🔸 What's the name of the crazy old guy who lives in the woods? Which one of you knows him a little?
M. Chandling (no one knows his first name). He once said that he sort of knew Freddie's real mom, back in the day. Freddie's working up the courage to go speak to him more than say, "Sup?".
Quote:
🔸 Which teacher seems to be hiding something, and why do you think that?
The physics teacher isn't all there. Secretive, harangued, and perpetually late, he's seems to have a busy life inside that lab outside of class hours. He sleeps there sometimes, too. What's up with that?
Quote:
🔸 What's the best food in the cafeteria? What's the worst?
The creole sliders are fucking sex on a plate, if you can get one before they run out. But everyone with any sense stays away from the macaroni special which taste vaguely of laundry detergent.
Last edited December 10, 2022 3:12 pm
Dec 10, 2022 4:48 pm
Who other than Emily for weed? No one if she can help it.

The Circle Road is an uphill gravel seasonal road that the kids drive their four-wheelers, bikes or cars on which adjoins the deep woods and ends in an infamous partying spot. Sometimes they pitch tents and spend the night.
Dec 10, 2022 4:55 pm
There are two math teachers at the school and one of the students saw a juicy email from one to the other. It looked like Heather and Kevin were planning a rendezvous in an out of town motel.
Dec 10, 2022 6:24 pm
Quote:
Who other than Emily for weed? No one if she can help it.
I smell a gang war brewing
Dec 10, 2022 6:35 pm
The proof will be in the bud. Far superior to the crap the other hicks are growing. Come one come all and buy my weed!
Dec 11, 2022 5:09 am
Thanks for all the awesome ideas so far -- will try to compile them tomorrow in a single place.

Two last things:

🔸Everyone roll a d4 to determine what cell carrier you're on:
1: Some local trash like Cricket
2: AT&T
3: T-Mobile
4: Verizon

Write this down on your sheet in a place you'll remember, please.

🔸Let's start talking about how you all know one another, why you're together, etc. I'd *love* to avoid that whole 'never met before' slog, and by starting the game 3+ weeks into the school year, I think we can presume you're all at least acquaintances.

Might you all share some classes? Be in a club? Share detention, Breakfast Club style? We can zero in. What might put you all together at either the homecoming football game, or the homecoming dance? Perhaps avoidance of the dance? ;)
Dec 11, 2022 5:25 am
For connections, since Freddie seems to be an athlete type, even with his injury, he and Zach might hang around with some of the same people at school. If Freddie is a bit more laid back and less macho, Zach might enjoy that. They could be friends.

As for Emily, they're both new and Windy said Emily might gravitate towards Zach as another new kid and a boy, so maybe they get along fairly well. They could have decided to go to homecoming together. Better than going alone, right?

As for Lily, I'm not quite sure. Maybe if that article about Zach (anonymously) just dropped, he could search her out during homecoming to talk to her about it. Maybe KCC has some idea about a connection, though
OOC:
I did not realize reroll aces was turned on 😄 What provider do I get for a 7?
Last edited December 11, 2022 5:26 am

Rolls

Phone roll - (1D4, RA)

(43) = 7

Dec 11, 2022 4:23 pm
I like the idea of a club, even an informal one. Perhaps they play cards at lunch time in the cafeteria, and have a set table that is just 'there's'. By cards, I mean it could be a classic game like Bridge, where skill is difficult and important, or it could be a modern game like Magic: The Gathering. However, a game that requires exactly four makes the idea easier, at least in that Lily and Freddie could be desperate for two new players.

I imagine that Lily and Freddie have known each other a long time, and so they could have realized they both like the same game. Maybe they've been playing it for the prior year, but the other two left last year (graduated, or moved). Then, Zach and Emily could have joined up, either interested or experienced in the same game.

Just an idea.

Rolls

Cell carrier - (1d4)

(1) = 1

Dec 11, 2022 5:07 pm
Emily would love any games like Magic or Bridge. The lunchtime games are a good idea.

Emily and Zach, homecoming is a fine idea.
OOC:
Oh I get the best cell phone carrier!
Last edited December 11, 2022 5:08 pm

Rolls

Which Crap Carrier do I get - (1d4, RA)

(443) = 11

Dec 11, 2022 8:05 pm
bowlofspinach says:
As for Lily, I'm not quite sure. Maybe if that article about Zach (anonymously) just dropped, he could search her out during homecoming to talk to her about it. Maybe KCC has some idea about a connection, though
Dig it -- might have it here. What about this: Lily knows, but has not written the article *yet*? She's working on getting Zach to agree, quietly?
Quote:
I did not realize reroll aces was turned on 😄 What provider do I get for a 7?
A phone from the F U T U R E !
Dec 11, 2022 8:10 pm
Quote:
Dig it -- might have it here. What about this: Lily knows, but has not written the article *yet*? She's working on getting Zach to agree, quietly?
That would also work, though he's very unlikely to be persuaded. @KCC, which way do you prefer? Article already written or in planning?
Dec 11, 2022 8:15 pm
Lots of good ideas here around games and such too -- let's take this whole thing to the Discord since it's kind of a dynamic thing.

KCC

Dec 12, 2022 12:21 am
I feel like Lily might not stir up the pot by writing an article without permission on a topic like that! I do like the idea of her trying to persuade Zach that the people need to hear a story like this. Voices that need to be heard, etc!

KCC

Dec 12, 2022 3:11 am
OOC:
Cell Provider

Rolls

1d4 [ RA ]

(3) = 3

KCC

Dec 12, 2022 3:15 am
I feel like Lily is the kind of kid to know everyone. Not in an intimate, or even friendly way. But she knows who’s who and what’s what. Maybe Year Book shenanigans lets her put names to faces. Dipping her toes in everything, no matter how boring, is a good way for her to make acquaintances.

She’ll join the MtG group, if everyone helps out delivering papers/leaflets to hotspots around campus! She’s a real pain in the ass sometimes!

Wendy for sure sits with us, but doesn’t play Magic. That’s some nerd shit her brother gets up to! ;)
Last edited December 12, 2022 3:16 am
Dec 12, 2022 6:26 am
I too like that Lily is angling for the article. Cool, bowl? So one kid knows Zach is transitioning -- Lily. We can figure out how she knows in-game.
Dec 12, 2022 3:17 pm
Emily would jump at the idea of distributing flyers for Lily. She can press the flesh and meet potential stoners!
Last edited December 12, 2022 3:17 pm
Dec 12, 2022 3:24 pm
Zach might not jump at it, but he really wouldn't mind doing it as a favor

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