OOC Thread

Be sure to read and follow the guidelines for our forums.

Mar 23, 2024 8:30 am
Hello and Welcome!
Apr 27, 2024 12:34 pm
Hi all. I'm very excited to be playing with you all. I'm very much looking forward to some Teenage super-shenanigans.
Apr 27, 2024 12:51 pm
And so am I!

I originally proposed to submit two 'characters' for this game; one is the teenager everyone knows, and another is his/her Mask persona. It's a gimmick, really, and you don't have to do it if it's too much hassle. The only main benefit I could think of was to allow you to have two distinct portraits when posting.

What I am asking of you, if you can, is not to reveal the answers to your personal background questions to other players, at this point of time. I find it helps facilitate roleplaying; if you want to know something about your teammate, you will need to engage with them in character. Talk with them. See what they are about.
Apr 27, 2024 1:11 pm
That sounds really interesting. As the transformed, I'm not really going to have a teenage character. The thing about the transformed is that they are always in their fear inspiring form.

I hope that's not a problem for the game. For me being a huge monster and trying to fit into a normal life is a lot of the fun of that playbook.
Last edited April 27, 2024 1:12 pm
Apr 27, 2024 1:20 pm
Yep. The transformed doesn't have a 'secret identity'. He (or she) could always be identified as the monster they are.
Your character is still assumed to be a high school student at Westview, freakish though he may be (edited: unless you prefer not to, but that might exclude you from some fun interactions)
Apr 27, 2024 1:40 pm
Hello everyone! Name's Canadiac. I'll be playing a rodent-controlling Janus named Vermite. Happy to meet you all!
Apr 27, 2024 1:55 pm
Welcome aboard, canadiac.

I created private subforums for every player who joined under the 'Player Threads', to keep track of your background story, run an occasional private scene, or for any questions you might have for me that you want to ask in private (I prefer it over PMs). You should only be able to see and post on your own subforum- let me know if this is not the case.
Apr 27, 2024 2:55 pm
Hi all!
Thanks for inviting me. I just looooove the teen super hero genre. I have played the game before and am currently in another Masks one as well on GP. That made me doubt for a moment if I should join this one. But I am glad that I did! For I love the themes.
I am from the EU timezone.


As for my character (still thinking of a name): She's is a bit the weird kid at school. She is a bit of a goth kid. Bead necklaces, jewelry, black clothes. She is into, what kids think is wicca.

She's a sorcery based Nova.
Last edited April 27, 2024 2:57 pm
Apr 27, 2024 3:12 pm
Hi ClaCle, I'm happy that you decided to join us!
Apr 27, 2024 3:43 pm
Alright, finished my character sheet and have it posted to the game. I put an artistic realistic portrait for now. I can find a photorealistic character portrait, or if this one works alright, it does have the exact vibe I'm going for. If not, do let me know.
Apr 28, 2024 1:55 am
Howdy everyone! Thanks for the invitation, Delirium, and to everyone, I'm very excited to game with y'all! :D

I'm playing Eriko Sawada, a.k.a. the Slugger. She a Beacon that uses athletics and baseball gear to try contending in the ring with actual supers.
Apr 28, 2024 1:56 am
https://i.imgur.com/J144Nblm.pngHere's what I was thinking of for the Transformed:

Sonny Blair is a huge red monster, standing well over 2 metres in height, and about as wide. He's incredibly strong and well-nigh indestructable.

Despite his alarming appearance, Sonny attends school and tries to live as much like a normal teenager as possible. His mother is a fierce advocate for Sonny's rights and is determined that her son should not be disadvantaged due to discrimination because of his appearance.

Sonny was (and still is) a huge fan of superheroes. He thinks that perhaps his mutated form could be more than just a handicap and so he decided to take the name used against him, when he first came to public notoriety, and use it as his hero name.

He is The Ogre!

(Or maybe just "Ogre". Or maybe something else. He's really still figuring this stuff out)

Edit: I've submitted Ogre/Sonny and he's public so everyone should be able to see him.
Last edited April 28, 2024 2:14 am
Apr 28, 2024 3:40 am
I LOVE how this team is shaping up!

All private threads should be available now, you can use yours to post the answers to your background questions (putting them on your character sheets would make them viewable by everyone)
Apr 28, 2024 12:51 pm
Not the most popular kid at school... Jodelle Miller.
Dresses weird, a bit a loner and barely has any friends.
Quite different than her jock basketball super star brother Jason.
[ +- ] Art
Apr 29, 2024 1:24 am
https://i.imgur.com/lCaE8PR.png

Enola Paddock is the out-of-town student from a rural town in Wyoming. She’s resourceful, self-sufficient and hardworking, but her quirks are what make it difficult to fit in. Her powers of controlling rodents gives her an oddly personable relationship to squirrels, mice, and rats (especially her pet rat Ghost). Meanwhile, she’s a band kid that plays the saxophone and prefers jazz and folk music over pop. She has one friend (thousands were you to count the city’s rodent population) but is otherwise bogged down by her job and commitment to her family to have a wide friend’s circle.
Apr 29, 2024 9:54 pm
Glad to be here everyone! Thanks for inviting me! Working on my character sheet now.
Apr 30, 2024 12:58 pm
Hello everyone! Just wondering how everyone’s doing and if there’s anything we should get started on as a team
Apr 30, 2024 3:00 pm
Hello everybody, I've finally gotten in, and mostly post during the week, but every other monday is a question due to my scheduling. That out of the way I'm that kid who only goes to the private school because their mom is a teacher there. I'm also still learning this particular forums use and quirks so it may take a little for me to get fully comfortable or versed in them.
Apr 30, 2024 4:49 pm
Welcome to the game, Mr_Beastly, Skychan

I'll open the 'When Our Team First Came Together' thread soon, and once all players introduce their characters, we will fill in the relationship/influence part too.
Apr 30, 2024 7:02 pm
Hmm, I've submitted my non-mask but looks like we aren't submitting two per player then?
Apr 30, 2024 7:22 pm
I've given the option to submit two characters; that way you can have different portraits when posting as a high school student, or as your masked avenger. Up to you if you want to do it.

I posted an initial prompt for 'When Our Group First Came Together'. Have fun with it!
Apr 30, 2024 7:39 pm
Delirium says:
I've given the option to submit two characters; that way you can have different portraits when posting as a high school student, or as your masked avenger. Up to you if you want to do it.

I posted an initial prompt for 'When Our Group First Came Together'. Have fun with it!
It doesn't seem to want to let me submit a second.
Apr 30, 2024 7:52 pm
Try now. I updated the characters per player to '2'.
Apr 30, 2024 10:52 pm
Not that it's a problem, but is there a reason Shadowhex has the Bull's questions ("We defeated a dangerous enemy..") as well as the Nova question ("We destroyed our surroundings in the fight...")
May 1, 2024 3:48 am
We don't have a Bull in the game, and we needed someone to say who the villain was. There are other questions in other playbooks we are not using too, but this one looked particularly important to answer.
May 1, 2024 5:43 am
Now that we have all the characters should we do relationships?

I have 2 relationships for Ogre:

X comforted you when you were at your lowest

I imagine that Ogres had some low points since he transformed into a monster.

X knew you before you changed.

I'm thinking that Ogre is a New York local, so this would suit someone who has been around the area for a year or so
May 1, 2024 5:55 am
I have the following 2 relations.

1. You hang out all the time with __________________ to blow off steam.
2. You once hurt ________________ when you lost control of your powers.

Based on the themes of the characters I can see 1 could very well be Ogre. Jodelle also has a subtheme about being yourself while being different.
May 1, 2024 1:21 pm
dunderklumpen says:
Now that we have all the characters should we do relationships?

I have 2 relationships for Ogre:

X comforted you when you were at your lowest

I imagine that Ogres had some low points since he transformed into a monster.

I am happy to suggest Vermite for this relationship. She’s an out-of-towner, has troubles adjusting to city life, and has some weird quirks thanks to her powers. Suffice to say, she would likely know what it’s like to be an oddball and could empathize with Ogre to some extent.

Now Vermite’s relationships are:


X knew you from civilian life first.

This can be anybody really.

You refused to to tell Y your secret identity when they asked.

Again, this is pretty open-ended.
May 1, 2024 2:11 pm
I'm going to need a confidant amongst you. Someone with whom I've done something to shame the legacy of The Shadow! and someone I've told an important secret to.
May 1, 2024 10:46 pm
skychan says:
I'm going to need a confidant amongst you. Someone with whom I've done something to shame the legacy of The Shadow! and someone I've told an important secret to.
What are you thinking for the sort of thing that shames your legacy, @skychan? Different types of legacy are going to have different values.
May 1, 2024 11:18 pm
Are we still waiting on Mr_Beastley? It would be a shame to sort out all the relationships and not include them.
Last edited May 1, 2024 11:18 pm
May 2, 2024 3:31 am
I sent the player a PM, lets see how it goes.
May 2, 2024 1:20 pm
Eriko's questions:

[Blank] is awesome, and you take every chance you get to hang out with them.

You've got to prove yourself to [blank] before you feel like a real hero.


I'm also going to suggest Eriko to be the local that knew Ogre before he changed. She wouldn't really bat an eye at the physical change itself, and would probably be a little envious that he has any powers to speak of. And that last part is something we can either say he knows about already, or save it for a potential conflict / reveal between the two later.
May 2, 2024 2:53 pm
My guesses

1. You hang out all the time with Ogre to blow off steam.
We both are a bit different I guess. My subtheme for my character is generally a transformed's main theme. I guess we can relate.
@dunderklumpen

2. You once hurt Enola Paddock when you lost control of your powers.
I nearly blasted her to bits. So sorry Enola! I tried to run after her into the alleyway she crawled into. But Vermite just happened to be there having solved my mess. Now I feel guilty to both Vermite and Enola.
@canadiac
Last edited May 2, 2024 2:54 pm
May 2, 2024 5:26 pm
Because each (most) of you have secret identities starting out, the answers to your Relationship questions should refer either to the character's public, or Masked persona. This is especially relevant to Enola/Vermite , which is playing the Janus. She marks potential whenever she reveals her secret identity to someone who doesn't know it already (the Mask move).
May 2, 2024 5:31 pm
I don't want to hold back the 'When Our Team First Came Together' thread. We can skip Fogblade's prompt and get back to it later. Blacklight, you're up next, followed by Slugger.
May 2, 2024 6:14 pm
Delirium says:
Because each (most) of you have secret identities starting out, the answers to your Relationship questions should refer either to the character's public, or Masked persona. This is especially relevant to Enola/Vermite , which is playing the Janus. She marks potential whenever she reveals her secret identity to someone who doesn't know it already (the Mask move).
I sort of hope to have illustrated this properly sufficient, what I meant, in my suggested relation with Elona / Vermite. But as I was typing that on my phone, it could have been better I guess.

I accidentally hurt Elona - I feel guilty to Elona for hurting her. So when Elona ran off, I ran after her. But I didn't find Elona but Vermite.
I think Vermite cleaned up the mess I caused with Elona, having helped her - now I feel guilty to Vermite too for cleaning up my mess.
May 2, 2024 6:41 pm
ClaCle says:
My guesses

1. You hang out all the time with Ogre to blow off steam.
We both are a bit different I guess. My subtheme for my character is generally a transformed's main theme. I guess we can relate.
@dunderklumpen

2. You once hurt Enola Paddock when you lost control of your powers.
I nearly blasted her to bits. So sorry Enola! I tried to run after her into the alleyway she crawled into. But Vermite just happened to be there having solved my mess. Now I feel guilty to both Vermite and Enola.
@canadiac
Sounds good to me! I think that it would likely be Vermite that got hurt, and then Enola just sorta showed up to school with the same broken arm as Vermite. Coincidence?!
May 2, 2024 8:17 pm
Well here's a bit of background on my legacy...

The Shadow
It is a known unknown hero who has been active since the golden age of heroics. They are infamous for having always worked alone and intentionally cultivated a mysterious reputation. Despite the passage of years it is only recently that rumors that it is not a single man but rather a family of hero's who have maintained this identity over the years. Evidence slowly piling up, evidence that Blacklight's appearance seems to confirm, that or she is the first of The Shadow's children.

One of the most well known feats of The Shadow is the defeat of the villain Death Ray. He delivered the villain in chains to the steps of city hall, but only after they had unveiled a death machine using a captured Silver Savior as a power source and had humbled and defeated the rest of Vanguard. Death Ray had delivered an ultimatum to the city which was about to run out of time. But just before the Mayor went out to surrender is when THE SHADOW made his move.

Rumor has it that The Shadow has always been, will always be. Until very recently it was also that there is only one Shadow who never changed. THE SHADOW's reputation is one of being the lone avenger. The lone hero who arrives after all other hope is lost or failed. The one who will appear to avenge as often as save. The Shadow is rarely the first to arrive to fight but time and again the one to get justice in the end. They are known best for balancing the scales after the fact. Generally only acting after a villain has gotten away with something. For the most part they are rarely seen outside the shadows they create, and talk and interact little with the public.


With that written, I'm thinking that actually being known or seen to join a hero team would probably be something to bring shame, so who wants to have been the person to invite Blacklight to join the team? That person might also get to be my super secret confidant.
May 2, 2024 8:32 pm
Anyway that's the main bit might need to edit the first paragraph a little, to fit with just where along the timeline we're starting as far as the reveal of Blacklight not being The Shadow proper is concerned.

As an aside, how much do we know about each others powers? How long will we have been a team before more action starts? I found not knowing anything about anyone's powers was a little tricky as far as the prologue goes so I couldn't really call anyone else out as doing something awesome to save people. :P
May 2, 2024 8:51 pm
Gotcha @ClaCle. That was a neat way to include both Enola and her Mask.

Skychan (and all): The next in-game scene would start a month or two after "When Our Team First Came Together". You should know about each other's powers by that point and establish some rapport as outlined under the Relationship or Influence part of your playbook.
May 2, 2024 10:32 pm
ClaCle says:
You hang out all the time with Ogre to blow off steam.
We both are a bit different I guess. My subtheme for my character is generally a transformed's main theme. I guess we can relate.
That sounds really good. Given that Sonny is Ogre and vice versa, do you want it to be Ogre hanging out with Jodelle or Shadowhex. Either works for me.
Last edited May 3, 2024 2:23 am
May 2, 2024 10:45 pm
WittyName says:
I'm also going to suggest Eriko to be the local that knew Ogre before he changed.
@WittyName, great minds think alike. Sonny and Eriko know each other from back before. Does Ogre know Eriko's identity? I'd say let's decide later, leaning towards no.

@skychan, I'm also going to stick my hand up to suggest that, You once got caught doing something that shames your legacy with Ogre.
I'm happy to go with anything that you pick, but here are a few Ogreish ways this might have happened. Ogre is excitable and exuberant.

* Maybe Ogre convinced Blacklight into the media spotlight with him. Showing off ensued.
* Ogre's loves being in a team, it's entirely possible that he kept pestering Blacklight until she joined the group.
* Maybe Ogre and BL were practicing and did some damage to they city that they had to own up to.
Last edited May 2, 2024 10:46 pm
May 2, 2024 10:50 pm
@WittyName, I just had an interesting thought. If Slugger has been doing the hero thing for a while. Maybe Slugger knew Sonny before he changed. Sonny Blair is a huge fan of superhero's so maybe he was following Slugger just as she was getting started. So Sonny/Ogre and Slugger have the relationship and Sonny doesn't know that Eriko is Slugger. It does require that Eriko has had the Slugger identity for a while though.
Last edited May 2, 2024 10:51 pm
May 3, 2024 2:22 am
skychan says:
Well here's a bit of background on my legacy...

The Shadow
It is a known unknown hero who has been active since the golden age of heroics. They are infamous for having always worked alone and intentionally cultivated a mysterious reputation. Despite the passage of years it is only recently that rumors that it is not a single man but rather a family of hero's who have maintained this identity over the years. Evidence slowly piling up, evidence that Blacklight's appearance seems to confirm, that or she is the first of The Shadow's children.

One of the most well known feats of The Shadow is the defeat of the villain Death Ray. He delivered the villain in chains to the steps of city hall, but only after they had unveiled a death machine using a captured Silver Savior as a power source and had humbled and defeated the rest of Vanguard. Death Ray had delivered an ultimatum to the city which was about to run out of time. But just before the Mayor went out to surrender is when THE SHADOW made his move.

Rumor has it that The Shadow has always been, will always be. Until very recently it was also that there is only one Shadow who never changed. THE SHADOW's reputation is one of being the lone avenger. The lone hero who arrives after all other hope is lost or failed. The one who will appear to avenge as often as save. The Shadow is rarely the first to arrive to fight but time and again the one to get justice in the end. They are known best for balancing the scales after the fact. Generally only acting after a villain has gotten away with something. For the most part they are rarely seen outside the shadows they create, and talk and interact little with the public.


With that written, I'm thinking that actually being known or seen to join a hero team would probably be something to bring shame, so who wants to have been the person to invite Blacklight to join the team? That person might also get to be my super secret confidant.
If I may offer Vermite for being your confidant. She’s no stranger to keeping secrets (her whole career as a superhero is a secret after all). Plus she isn’t the kind of hero who wants to be in the limelight like Shadow, so they could revel in their anonymity.
May 3, 2024 5:50 am
dunderklumpen says:
ClaCle says:
You hang out all the time with Ogre to blow off steam.
We both are a bit different I guess. My subtheme for my character is generally a transformed's main theme. I guess we can relate.
That sounds really good. Given that Sonny is Ogre and vice versa, do you want it to be Ogre hanging out with Jodelle or Shadowhex. Either works for me.
That is anotherthing our characters have in common.
Jodelle doesn't bother too much with keeping up a secret ID and shadowhex is just "a nickname".
She believes "I am who I am". And when going super-hero she'll just wear some extra robes and that's about it.
May 3, 2024 6:53 am
We're making good progress everyone, I love how everything starts to tie together.
You can give influence now to one or more of the other PCs, as described in your playbook.
I'll open a thread soon to track all of it in one place.

Edited:
The thread opened under the 'Setting' Subforum. I tried to do justice to your characters when describing them, but if you have a better one-liner let me know and I'll happily replace my own.
May 3, 2024 9:45 am
I give influence to one teammate, so I think it makes the most sense to give it to Shadowhex
May 3, 2024 1:37 pm
So ultimately, I think I'm going to say:

Slugger knew you from civilian life first.

I feel like Slugger would be the kind of student Enola would've bumped into at school. Enola is normal-seeming and is feeling a bit like a fish out of water having come from a rural town, so maybe Slugger was one of the first people who greeted her upon coming to the school.

You refused to to tell Shadowhex your secret identity when they asked.

This I feel could build off of the time when Shadowhex hurt Vermite. To try and mend her wounds, Shadowhex needed to take off the mask. Vermite freaked out and made her escape, petrified at the thought of someone knowing her actual identity.
May 3, 2024 1:39 pm
Hello everyone! I am apparently the final player of this game. Still getting used to all the intricacies of this forum but it looks like a cool group so far. I applied with a Bull I'd like to add to the mix if that's cool. A little bit of gratuitous edge, a 'bad kid' sort of angle, but not nearly as bad as their image might put on. The only thing I've set in stone character wise is a name: Beau Baines, hero name "Retribution" I think, unless something cooler comes up. Nice to meet all of you.
May 3, 2024 2:01 pm
canadiac says:


This I feel could build off of the time when Shadowhex hurt Vermite. To try and mend her wounds, Shadowhex needed to take off the mask. Vermite freaked out and made her escape, petrified at the thought of someone knowing her actual identity.
That is slightly different than how I envisioned it but also very cool. Might work even beter.

As for the guilt trip, Vermite gets my single influence I can give away.
May 3, 2024 2:04 pm
dunderklumpen says:
[quote="WittyName"]
@skychan, I'm also going to stick my hand up to suggest that, You once got caught doing something that shames your legacy with Ogre.
I'm happy to go with anything that you pick, but here are a few Ogreish ways this might have happened. Ogre is excitable and exuberant.

* Maybe Ogre convinced Blacklight into the media spotlight with him. Showing off ensued.
* Ogre's loves being in a team, it's entirely possible that he kept pestering Blacklight until she joined the group.
I like this,
I think Ogre is the one to have convinced Blacklight to join the team. She was even enthusiastic enough to get a bad ass costume and let the public actually see her in it as opposed to being nothing but a shadowed figure. This understandably has upset The Shadow but she hasn't explicitly said she's part of them or that its more than a single hero but a legacy.

I'll also take up Vermites offer to have been the one to be my confidant. She'll be the one to whom Blacklight has admitted a secret.... now how to do this pm perhaps?

Oh and of course... Blacklight is so enthusiastic about being on the team that she gives influence to EVERYBODY on the team. Go Go Legacy Nervous Peer Pressure!

Oh, and I should say that she has demonstrated her powers for the team. They are... impressive.
She can create shadowy portals through which she and others can pass. Anything that is within a shadow nearby she can sense, touch, taste, and smell. It's a background niggling itch unless she focus' on it and gets weaker with distance. Finally she can manipulate shadows themselves, moving them about, shaping them, and even physically grasping things with them. However if she does get 'physical' with the shadows then they begin to emit blacklight until whatever physical force she is using is released. She has proven to be no slouch but nothing like Ogre's superhuman strength and toughness or even Sluggers extremely well trained physical skills. It's pretty clear that until she became a hero she had never thrown a punch in her life and she isn't yet comfortable getting up close and personal in a fight.
Last edited May 3, 2024 2:12 pm
May 3, 2024 2:11 pm
Welcome to the game, mochi05, I'm sure you'll get up to speed in no time.
Feel free to post on your private thread if you have any questions for me (it is under the 'Player Threads')
May 3, 2024 2:28 pm
Updated Our Team thread with your influence and relationships. I'm missing the one question from Ogre ('who comforted you when you were at your lowest'), and both questions from Slugger and from Retribution, our new player. Slugger, Retribution, and Vermite also need to select who they give influence to.
May 3, 2024 6:35 pm
Ah yes! Forgot to do that.

Slugger and Blacklight both have influence over Vermite. Slugger because they'd know who Enola is in real life, and Blacklight because SECRETS!
May 4, 2024 2:19 am
Welcome @mochi05!

I'd like to suggest that Retribution comforted Ogre when he was at his lowest if that's ok with you. That gets the character into the mix.
May 4, 2024 7:08 am
dunderklumpen says:
I just had an interesting thought. If Slugger has been doing the hero thing for a while. Maybe Slugger knew Sonny before he changed. Sonny Blair is a huge fan of superhero's so maybe he was following Slugger just as she was getting started. So Sonny/Ogre and Slugger have the relationship and Sonny doesn't know that Eriko is Slugger. It does require that Eriko has had the Slugger identity for a while though.
@dunderklumpen I'm definitely leaning towards Ogre not knowing that Slugger and Eriko are the same person, as well.

I have a little wiggle room with precisely when Slugger began operating, but the backstory I gave Delirium implied more or less the current year. But I certainly don't mind extending that to (what I assume to be) sometime greater than a year (like a year and a half) to accommodate your idea. I really like it, and the change would alter functionally nothing about Eriko's backstory.
canadiac says:
Slugger knew you from civilian life first.

I feel like Slugger would be the kind of student Enola would've bumped into at school. Enola is normal-seeming and is feeling a bit like a fish out of water having come from a rural town, so maybe Slugger was one of the first people who greeted her upon coming to the school.
@canadiac I'm game. Eriko would unironically be the annoyingly-chipper weirdo that latches on and says she's your friend by lunch time. :D

@mochi05 Welcome! I'm also going to suggest Retribution fills in Slugger's "[Blank] is awesome, and you take every chance you get to hang out with them," relationship. Eriko is probably the weakest fighter in the group, and as a Bull, Beau is likely to be one of the strongest, and that would probably mesmerize Eriko.

@skychan Gonna suggest Blacklight fills in Slugger's "You've got to prove yourself to [blank] before you feel like a real hero," relationship. Blacklight's powers are incredible, and coupled with her "alleged" legacy, if Eriko can get her approval, she'll feel like she got the approval of an A-lister.


Eriko gives out 3 influence, because she so excited to be here! One each to Ogre, Retribution, and Blacklight (help round out those influence numbers)
May 4, 2024 9:40 am
Thanks for the welcome everyone! I'll briefly go over my character here, because a lot of this info would be both relatively public and also potentially useful for doing relationships and such, haha.

Beau Baines, aka Retribution was a normal kid a year ago, good student, fairly well-liked but not popular - the kind of student you'll forget was in your class once you leave school. Peppy sort of style, generally "nice" and "happy" if you had to describe her. Last year, she vanished off the face of the earth for a few months, to a small splash, and then without warning, appeared back at school (to a much larger fanfare). The 'new' Beau is dark, withdrawn, a haunted gaze and feeling a lot more like a razor's edge. There'd be rumours and such going about that they started fights - maybe worse - and there is some evidence that Beau's in some hot water at the moment. As Retribution, they're definitely a rugged, dark sort of anti-hero in appearance, although less so in practice - building up a dangerous image but being driven by some internal, strong drive for justice. Retribution has combat prowess, but not finesse, mostly focusing on hitting first and hitting hard, and is stronger than the average human.
dunderklumpen says:
Welcome @mochi05!

I'd like to suggest that Retribution comforted Ogre when he was at his lowest if that's ok with you. That gets the character into the mix.
I like this a lot! As someone else who was (visibly) changed against their will, I think Beau/Retribution would find a particular kinship with him. Do you have any idea for what that might have looked like? Because I have to have opened up to someone about the worst of my past as my starting Love, and Ogre would honestly be a decent option for that, depending. Meaning I do think he would know Retribution's true identity in that case.
WittyName says:

@mochi05 Welcome! I'm also going to suggest Retribution fills in Slugger's "[Blank] is awesome, and you take every chance you get to hang out with them," relationship. Eriko is probably the weakest fighter in the group, and as a Bull, Beau is likely to be one of the strongest, and that would probably mesmerize Eriko.
Ooh, I do like that. Especially if it's not completely reciprocated - the difference in aesthetics and vibes between them could be fun. Or maybe Retribution feels the need to protect Slugger as one of the more delicate members of the group. A lot of ways this could go.

As for my relationships, I need
[X] is your love. You've opened up to them about the worst parts of your past.
[X] is your rival. They tried to control you at a crucial moment.

If someone else thinks the love relationship might work better I'm all ears. I'm also not going to make either of these relationships romantic for the moment, although I am open to playing around with platonic/romantic relationships as it comes up. Plus the actual Love and Rival can change a lot during play, these will just determine starting dynamics.
May 4, 2024 1:24 pm
Retribution comforted you when you were at your lowest.
mochi05 says:

As someone else who was (visibly) changed against their will, I think Beau/Retribution would find a particular kinship with him. Do you have any idea for what that might have looked like? Because I have to have opened up to someone about the worst of my past as my starting Love, and Ogre would honestly be a decent option for that, depending. Meaning I do think he would know Retribution's true identity in that case.
I can see things going wrong for Ogre early on when he starts hero-ing. He helps someone, but the crowd turn on him and chase him off. Retribution could have found him hiding from an angry mob in a dark alley and close to tears. Some hero-hero support at that time would have meant a lot to him.

As to love or rival, I can see Ogre fitting for both, but I think a silly rivalry, based on feats of strength could be a lot of fun. Ogre and Retribution could knock each other silly without worrying about harming each other.
May 4, 2024 1:55 pm
mochi05 says:
Thanks for the welcome everyone! I'll briefly go over my character here, because a lot of this info would be both relatively public and also potentially useful for doing relationships and such, haha.

Beau Baines, aka Retribution was a normal kid a year ago, good student, fairly well-liked but not popular - the kind of student you'll forget was in your class once you leave school. Peppy sort of style, generally "nice" and "happy" if you had to describe her. Last year, she vanished off the face of the earth for a few months, to a small splash, and then without warning, appeared back at school (to a much larger fanfare). The 'new' Beau is dark, withdrawn, a haunted gaze and feeling a lot more like a razor's edge. There'd be rumours and such going about that they started fights - maybe worse - and there is some evidence that Beau's in some hot water at the moment. As Retribution, they're definitely a rugged, dark sort of anti-hero in appearance, although less so in practice - building up a dangerous image but being driven by some internal, strong drive for justice. Retribution has combat prowess, but not finesse, mostly focusing on hitting first and hitting hard, and is stronger than the average human.
dunderklumpen says:
Welcome @mochi05!

I'd like to suggest that Retribution comforted Ogre when he was at his lowest if that's ok with you. That gets the character into the mix.
I like this a lot! As someone else who was (visibly) changed against their will, I think Beau/Retribution would find a particular kinship with him. Do you have any idea for what that might have looked like? Because I have to have opened up to someone about the worst of my past as my starting Love, and Ogre would honestly be a decent option for that, depending. Meaning I do think he would know Retribution's true identity in that case.
WittyName says:

@mochi05 Welcome! I'm also going to suggest Retribution fills in Slugger's "[Blank] is awesome, and you take every chance you get to hang out with them," relationship. Eriko is probably the weakest fighter in the group, and as a Bull, Beau is likely to be one of the strongest, and that would probably mesmerize Eriko.
Ooh, I do like that. Especially if it's not completely reciprocated - the difference in aesthetics and vibes between them could be fun. Or maybe Retribution feels the need to protect Slugger as one of the more delicate members of the group. A lot of ways this could go.

As for my relationships, I need
[X] is your love. You've opened up to them about the worst parts of your past.
[X] is your rival. They tried to control you at a crucial moment.

If someone else thinks the love relationship might work better I'm all ears. I'm also not going to make either of these relationships romantic for the moment, although I am open to playing around with platonic/romantic relationships as it comes up. Plus the actual Love and Rival can change a lot during play, these will just determine starting dynamics.
Hello there! Can't wait to play with you. No notes for me on your choices for the Love/Rival.
May 4, 2024 2:02 pm
Looks like we're almost done with the introductions. I'm counting on Retribution to figure out who is her Love/Rival by the time I make the opening post of our game tomorrow ;)

Maybe a few additional questions in the meantime, to pass the time:

• Does your Team have a favorite hangout place? Could be a rooftop overlooking Manhattan, an abandoned warehouse, some forgotten underground access tunnel, or maybe even a parent's basement, but it needs to be a place where they can meet and talk with each other discreetly, be themselves, and not worry about prying eyes

• How do you quickly get in touch with each other when there's trouble? Do you have a Discord channel for your Team? Burner phones (because some of you have secret identities)?
May 4, 2024 3:58 pm
dunderklumpen says:

As to love or rival, I can see Ogre fitting for both, but I think a silly rivalry, based on feats of strength could be a lot of fun. Ogre and Retribution could knock each other silly without worrying about harming each other.
I actually think the ‘silly feats of strength’ thing could tie really nicely into being my Love! Since I’m imagining any of Retribution’s relationships to be...more vitriolic than most to begin with. And since I chose the Listener as my bull’s heart, I could totally see them coming to his aid after being ostracised, very quietly lending an ear... sort of a monsters commiseration session with a fair amount of "that’s rough, buddy" and punching out feelings. You’d probably be the one of the only people to start with who’d have seen Retribution-Beau’s softer side.

With that being said, my Rival... I could see Blacklight the legacy being the one who tried to control me at a crucial moment? I’m the loose cannon, it’d make sense for a legacy with some experience to be the one to pull back... how does that sound?

As for a hangout place: that’s a MUST bahaha. A rooftop is classic... if they’re not all taken already... with a bunch of dark themed heroes and a guy named Ogre I do likethe idea of something literally underground, though. For what it’s worth.
Communication? Group chat is always the funniest option. Especially if there’s a divide between people who really want to use it properly and those who don’t. Is my two cents.
May 4, 2024 7:05 pm
WittyName says:

@skychan Gonna suggest Blacklight fills in Slugger's "You've got to prove yourself to [blank] before you feel like a real hero," relationship. Blacklight's powers are incredible, and coupled with her "alleged" legacy, if Eriko can get her approval, she'll feel like she got the approval of an A-lister.
Eriko gives out 3 influence, because she so excited to be here! One each to Ogre, Retribution, and Blacklight (help round out those influence numbers)
Sounds good to me! She does look like she's got things under control and does have a very potent power just the sort of thing to draw the attention of a powerless person.


@mochi05 I'm not sure that Blacklight is the right one for having been your rival with that as a set up. She's more likely to have been pushing you on to go do something than reining you in at the moment. Any other personality traits she might rub up against?

I suppose one option is for it to have been Min, in her role as teachers pet trying to control you in school? She's definitely a follower, so if you've made an enemy of the popular kids Min might have said something or done something to try and ingratiate herself with them and pissed you off that way.
May 4, 2024 8:48 pm
For the hangout.

A part of my story is a shop which involves all sorts of magic trinkets that don't work for most people.
I think the shop owner would be quite interested in hosting a witch, an ogre, a ratwhisperer, and one of the shadow legacy. She'd tolerate the baseball jock if we tell her Slugger is with us.

So the place could be a backroom in an obscure wicca shop.
May 4, 2024 11:58 pm
Sure! Another fun and potentially awkward hangout spot would be the cafe Enola works at. When trouble goes down and we need to suit up, it would be interesting to see how Enola would make the suit change inconspicuously.
May 5, 2024 12:15 am
skychan says:

@mochi05 I'm not sure that Blacklight is the right one for having been your rival with that as a set up. She's more likely to have been pushing you on to go do something than reining you in at the moment. Any other personality traits she might rub up against?

I suppose one option is for it to have been Min, in her role as teachers pet trying to control you in school? She's definitely a follower, so if you've made an enemy of the popular kids Min might have said something or done something to try and ingratiate herself with them and pissed you off that way.
Pushing me on to do something Beau didn't want to do could potentially still count as trying to control me, IMO, but that's up to interpretation. Retribution is definitely, on the more volatile and violent side as a superhero, lots of rushing in and not following classic rules in general.
I do kind of like the idea of it being Min specifically though... there's a chance that Beau wasn't particularly close with these popular kids in the Before Time, and coming back as changed as she was definitely rubbed some people the wrong way. New Beau is kind of scary and kind of weird, the perfect opportunity to have popular kids spreading rumours, or to have made enemies of the more jock-ish popular kids. Bonus points if they were stuck on a group project together for school.
May 5, 2024 1:03 am
I'd like to vote for the magic shop tied to Jodelle as the hideout, as much as I also like Enola's cafe as an idea. If it's situated in one of those scrunched up houses that New York has, all sandwiched between apartment complexes or offices, we can have the basement full of magical knick-knacks AND the rooftop two / three storeys up too. One for proper meetings, the other for a splinter of the group to break off and have a heart-to-heart or an argument.

That said, I also vote we use Enola's cafe to have meet-ups as our student selves. Bonus points if we bother Enola during her shift :D
May 5, 2024 1:05 am
Magic shop sounds like a great idea to me.
May 5, 2024 5:02 am
Min works at a pizza place across the street from campus so that's another possible meeting place for students when we want one. But I do like the new age shop for a 'hideout'.

@mochi05 So what sort of critical moment are you thinking of that might have either a properly subservient schoolgirl would have tried something or Blacklight as a hero who believes very much in being proactive about heroing would have stepped in? She does however feel quite strongly about protecting bystanders/innocents, so maybe if you were risking them she might have tried to rein you in on the hero side.
May 5, 2024 10:19 am
I'm game for a new agey shop as a team meetup, ironically wouldn't be the first time. I do also like the idea of using the cafe as a civilian meetup place for janus shenanigans.

As for critical moments... It depends how mean you want either side to get, I suppose. I could see Beau getting into, threatening to, or straight up starting a fight with one of the more popular jocks at school, which would of course upset both the popular kids and also, y'know, disrupt school in general. And she certainly wouldn't take kindly to some random classmate she doesn't know that well telling her to cut it out. Could potentially even be someone who was giving Sonny a hard time, to link it together.
Otherwise, Retribution is definitely a little careless and one-track minded once battle hits - I could also see them totally missing or underestimating the damage they'd cause to innocents on the way to try and track down someone that, say, she suspects is tied to those who changed her. Or something like that.
May 5, 2024 3:58 pm
Hmm... I think perhaps Beau was threatening a jock, and Min tried to get her to stop with an appeal to authority like, 'or I'll tell the teachers' and then following through and actually telling the teachers who started that fight she hadn't been able to stop verbally.
May 5, 2024 4:07 pm
I like that idea a lot. In that case I’ll lock in Ogre as my Love and Min as my Rival, and give influence to both of them in turn (and only them!)
May 5, 2024 5:11 pm
Magic shop it is!

Though do feel free to bother Enola at work ;)
May 5, 2024 5:23 pm
Good! So we have a consensus, and I'll include the Magic shop somewhere down the line, and you can freely refer to it in-game.

As you might have noticed, the first post of the game is up, and it's a good time to repeat that you're welcome to PM me if the subject matter ever makes you feel uncomfortable. My storylines tend to be darker than usual for a Masks game, but I'm more than willing to tone it down if you find something to be particularly unpalatable.

Because it is a PbP game, for the sake of expediency, go ahead and declare a Move and roll the dice if you think it is justified from the narration. Worst case, I'll say that you haven't met the conditions to trigger the Move. Still better than a back-and-forth, and I believe we'll be aligned in most cases anyways.
May 6, 2024 2:49 am
Anyone know if this site has a scrachpad or note area/function? I'm going to need to go through this thread to pick up all the stuff and squirrel it away somewhere.

Edit,

What grade is everyone in anyway? I was thinking Junior year for Min, but could shift to make things more convenient wtih others.
Last edited May 6, 2024 3:00 am
May 6, 2024 3:24 am
What grade you're in is entirely up to you, but all PCs are at least 16 years of age.
May 6, 2024 4:17 am
Junior works for me also! I don't know much about American school systems beyond TV, but that'd be 16/17 right?
May 6, 2024 4:34 am
I think so, yes. You all don't have to be in the same grade, btw. Some of you could be seniors or sophomores.
May 6, 2024 5:15 am
Depending on birthdate yes, 16-17 for junior, usually 17-18 for senior.
May 6, 2024 5:49 am
Jodelle has al older brother at school. I guess she is sophmore then. As we play in october her birthday was probably very recently
May 6, 2024 9:42 am
I think Junior sounds about right for Ogre. Somewhere between 16 and 17 years old.

In Australia, this known as Year 11
May 6, 2024 11:22 am
Enola is actually senior since part of the reason she has her job is to save up for college. So I imagine her around 17-18.
May 6, 2024 11:26 am
Alright, cool. Beau has to have had some history at the school prior to her change, but I don't think it makes sense for her to be a senior given how much schooling she missed. So I think Beau is gonna be a Junior as well.
May 6, 2024 9:38 pm
Eriko is a Junior! 16 years old, on the younger side.
May 7, 2024 2:25 am
I don’t want to be too presumptuous or anything (it also depends on the result of Min’s defend roll going through) but I think it could be kind of fun for the failed provoke on the Bull to give them Angry. Beau’s very tunnel-visioned right now and failing a provoke does kind of feel like waving a big ol’ red flag in front of a charging bull, lol. (Whether or not Beau gets the chance to act on this, I’ll wait and see...)
May 7, 2024 3:27 am
The Provoke Move doesn't give a condition to your target in case you fail your roll.
But if you think it's fitting, you can volunteer to mark 'angry'.
May 7, 2024 3:42 am
The provoke move doesn’t, but as part of a fail any number of gm moves can happen if appropriate. I will volunteer the angry though - fitting that a Bull should be angry as often a small possible, aha.
May 7, 2024 5:45 am
I think I need to reread the rules to get a better handle on proper move usage.

As an aside though, if I HAD used the right roll originally and gotten a 10+ would I be correct to narrate the results?
May 7, 2024 7:25 am
It's best to include in your OOC comments who, exactly, you are trying to defend, and from what. Same when you want to trigger the 'Provoke' move - specify who you are trying to provoke to do what.

The only characters under immediate threat right now are the Ogre and Jodelle, who will mark a condition unless someone steps up to defend them. The narration needs to support that somehow. Maybe by defending their character, trying to soothe them, etc. I didn't see how removing Lisa from the scene helps much in that regard, because she's been mostly silent once the drama started to unfold. It seemed more like a 'Provoke' move, because you are getting her to leave the scene, something which she wouldn't have done without your intervention.

I'm ok with you rewriting your post if you were trying to trigger a 'Defend' move.
May 7, 2024 11:10 am
I'll wait to see what the result of that is, because it'll be important for what Beau does next - she's planning on sticking herself right in the middle of this situation, potentially now angry and not thinking her best as well, but depending on what it is Min is doing / succeeds at could drastically alter the response.
May 7, 2024 1:52 pm
Accidentally rolled comfort twice in my post. It’s meant to be the first one
May 7, 2024 5:10 pm
Delirium says:
It's best to include in your OOC comments who, exactly, you are trying to defend, and from what. Same when you want to trigger the 'Provoke' move - specify who you are trying to provoke to do what.

The only characters under immediate threat right now are the Ogre and Jodelle, who will mark a condition unless someone steps up to defend them. The narration needs to support that somehow. Maybe by defending their character, trying to soothe them, etc. I didn't see how removing Lisa from the scene helps much in that regard, because she's been mostly silent once the drama started to unfold. It seemed more like a 'Provoke' move, because you are getting her to leave the scene, something which she wouldn't have done without your intervention.

I'm ok with you rewriting your post if you were trying to trigger a 'Defend' move.
Like I said, I got too cute. The intent was to defend them, just by causing a distraction and excuse for people to deescalate and leave. I don't mind having a less successful roll and a failure to properly draw away attention. No need to rewrite anything.

But, should I (on a fully successful hit of a 10+) be narrating like I had or just giving the intent and letting you do that? I'm still not entirely sure what the proper method for storytelling in this system is.
May 7, 2024 5:56 pm
Yes; so getting them to leave, or step down, would have resolved the entire problem, which goes beyond the intent of a 'Defend Someone' Move. Defend is about saving someone from immediate harm, not eliminating the entire threat.

Regarding narration on successes - it is very context-dependent. For example, all answers are provided by the GM when you're 'assessing the situation'. But I wouldn't mind you describing how you 'directly engaged a target' - provided we agreed beforehand that the Move actually triggered (some foes might be invulnerable to specific attacks, or be too fragile/harmless to require a dice roll. some opponents, like robots, can't be intimidated or persuaded, etc, etc).
May 7, 2024 7:17 pm
Cool thanks @Delirium

Hopefully I will pick up proper move usage quickly.
May 8, 2024 4:01 am
Quote:
Quietly intruding on the scene, Beau steps up to Ogre, and then into Stacy’s personal space, and brings one fist out of her pocket to place against Stacy’s chest with the intent to push her away.
Oh boy. I was planning on having the Trio + Cam leave after Jodelle's roll. Now it looks like Stacy is going to exit the stage a different way.
Post coming up, I'll describe up to the point where Beau puts her hand on Stacy, in case one of you would like to catch Stacy (or stop Beau) before she is sent flying across the hall.
May 8, 2024 4:45 am
Ha! Sorry. It’s an introductory scene, gotta get everyone’s personalities in full force, haha. Please feel free to intervene, this is just my interpretation of the fail from Eriko.
May 8, 2024 4:48 am
Oh boy well things are probably going to get fairly explosive now. Lets hear it for DRAMA!
May 8, 2024 8:14 am
OOC:
OOC:
Apologies if I'm too late with this roll. Please ignore it if I shouldn't be making it.

Edit: If the success makes sense, I'll choose to expose myself to danger (presumably hate/fear/ridicule), and I will also clear Angry.
Yes, the roll makes sense.

I'm not sure how to adjudicate this:
According to the rules, since Beau is considered a PC threat, she would have had a -2 to her rolls to hurt Stacy (Directly Engage a Threat?). However, Stacy is NOT a physical threat, and hurting her doesn't require a Move or a dice roll. It would have been pretty much an automatic success.

So I think in this case I'm inclined to say that the Ogre stopped Beau by moving her arm, but Beau could try again and force another 'Defend' Move until the Ogre inevitably fails the dice roll, if she is so set on harming Stacy. Thoughts/Suggestions?
May 8, 2024 8:40 am
I'll leave what happens next up to @mochi05.

I won't constantly defend against an attack against a target. That's just not very Pbta.

Oh, I also see that Clearing a condition is only for npc threats, so I'll just expose myself to cost, retribution, or judgment. Never defended against a PC threat before.

@mochi05, What do you think should happen? Is Beau going to back down or press ahead and attack Stacey?
Last edited May 8, 2024 10:44 am
May 8, 2024 8:42 am
Quote:
I won't constantly defend against an attack against a target. That's just not very Pbta.
Yea, I tend to agree.

I'll let you and @mochi05 come to a consensus as to what happens next, because none of the other NPCs can really do much to stop either the Ogre or Beau.
May 8, 2024 11:55 am
Yeah I think on a success I’m going to honour the roll - I don’t like munchkinning in a regular game much lass in a Masks game. You just will have... not succeeded in abating her anger ;) Just got her to stop for now. Which definitely won’t do either of our reputations any good if I’m being honest.
May 8, 2024 1:55 pm
The scene is pretty much concluded, and all villains have departed.
I'll give you some time to collect yourself (in-play), before moving on to the next scene.
May 8, 2024 2:11 pm
Very fun, can’t believe we managed to avoid an all-out altercation just now. Saving it for later, haha.
May 8, 2024 2:20 pm
It could have easily gone that way, but most of the team have cooler heads and didn't take the bait.

I'm happy that each player had the opportunity to showcase their character, and we now know what each of you is about. The next scene will feature a more typical Mask villain, so stay tuned!
May 8, 2024 7:18 pm
Delirium says:
It could have easily gone that way, but most of the team have cooler heads and didn't take the bait.

I'm happy that each player had the opportunity to showcase their character, and we now know what each of you is about. The next scene will feature a more typical Mask villain, so stay tuned!
Same bat time, same bat channel!
oh excuse me
Same BAT time, same BAT channel!

Yup it was a nice little opener. Get our feet under us a bit. See the problems of secret vs public identity, and of course the drawback that most of us literally don't know who anyone else on the team really is. Ogre of course being the exception.

Edit:
We're missing a hero in our hero thread.

We might also want to have our new age/ magic shop hideout included.
Speaking of, how often do we meet up? Daily, every mon-wed-fri-sun, just when needed?
Last edited May 8, 2024 7:55 pm
May 10, 2024 7:17 am
Concluded our first scene, and moving on to the next!

Slugger – you can mark one potential for failing your roll to ‘Provoke’ Beau.

If any of you wants to run your own scenes; be it to comfort or support one another, hang out, or play out any other interaction between your characters, feel free to create your own threads.
May 11, 2024 3:26 pm
Like Beau Blacklight would like to protect the kitty, but should that be defense or unleash her power given that one is the intent the other is the means.
May 11, 2024 3:28 pm
Protecting the cat would be a 'Defend' move.
May 11, 2024 3:32 pm
skychan says:
Like Beau Blacklight would like to protect the kitty, but should that be defense or unleash her power given that one is the intent the other is the means.
Retribution has already rolled a hit, so the cat is saved. You'll have to choose if you expose yourself to danger, or escalate the situation.
May 11, 2024 3:40 pm
I would like to expose myself to danger, I think - stepping out in front of a threat without any amount of subtlety or forethought. If we had enough team I'd welcome the help to get it to a 10+ but I think we only have the 1 team right now (since we haven't entered battle yet...?)
May 11, 2024 4:02 pm
You haven't entered battle when you made your move, but you are all in one now.
@mochi05, you can describe how you saved the cat, and how you opened yourself to danger.

Let's next answer the following questions:
•Who do you consider to be the leader of the Team, and do you trust him/her?
•What is your purpose in this fight?
May 11, 2024 4:39 pm
Not sure who I consider to be the leader - maybe Vermite, for drawing us all here? Either way I think the only people Beau would actively trust right now might be her love/rival, potentially. And my purpose specifically is to Stop This Guy from doing something clearly malevolent - Beau is a pretty simple person, haha.
May 11, 2024 4:52 pm
I've been thinking; I want to give every player the opportunity to do something impactful, and since there are six of you, I figure the best way to do it would be to explicitly call out which player(s) have the 'right of way' when it's time to make a Move, rather than going by whomever gets to post first (if we go by first-come, first-served, some characters might never get to be in the spotlight).

I'll include which character has precedence in the OOC notes of my posts, when relevant.
May 11, 2024 6:00 pm
That's a pretty slick way of handling things I like it. And thanks.
May 11, 2024 10:47 pm
Yeah. I’ll also step back from making any moves until everyone else has had a chance to post unless specifically called.
May 12, 2024 12:46 am
I think it makes sense for Vermite to be the leader and my purpose is also stop the weird cat-eating zombie.
May 12, 2024 9:26 am
Was a bit confused, but I see now that while I was typing yesterday's post @Delirium made a post as well which just got in a bit earlier. I completely missed that :) Jodelle isn't a quick biker I just guess :)
This post was made before I even knew of this one)

The calling for rounds and shots works for me. I'll hold from posting then until it's my go.

I also think that Vermite should lead this one as she made the call for this mission.
My purpose is also to stop the zombie.
May 12, 2024 3:20 pm
@WittyName - you got a hit on 'directly engage a threat'. Which option would you pick?

• resist or avoid their blows
• take something from them
• create an opportunity for your allies
• impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition

Your current Team pool is 3. You can also spend a little bit to increase the result to a '10' and select 2 options.
May 12, 2024 3:24 pm
Oh, I didn't think about the team pool. I would absolutely love to spend 1 to take "Resist or Avoid Blows" in addition to creating an opportunity for Retribution... letting her either get out from under the thing, or get a few more blows of her own in.

I like the idea of Vermite being the leader! Kinda makes sense, too, considering her powers... she's used to directing her rodents :D

Slugger's purpose is to keep as many people un-bitten as possible.
Last edited May 12, 2024 3:28 pm
May 12, 2024 6:45 pm
Sure, Vermite can be the leader for this bout since
She’s the first on the scene. I don’t think she’d fully trust the rest of the team just yet and I think she doesn’t have influence over everyone. I do believe we aren’t necessarily caught off guard and we all share the same
Purpose however.
May 12, 2024 11:53 pm
I just deleted a post asking about Team in OOC in the Volume 1 thread. I didn't want to be cluttering up that thread when team is being discussed.

I'm happy to narrate an assist to Help Slugger turn the 9 into a 10. It's worth noting that Slugger can only spend team selfishly to adjust the result. This doesn't give a +1 but can shift Slugger's Danger label to give the same result.

Spending team selfishly is fun!
May 13, 2024 6:43 am
Someone else will have to spend team on your roll, you cannot spend team on your own roll to give a bonus. You can use team selfishly to shift your labels to help the roll, though. EDIT: didn't see every post here for some reason! My bad.
Last edited May 13, 2024 6:44 am
May 13, 2024 12:58 pm
dunderklumpen says:
I'm happy to narrate an assist to Help Slugger turn the 9 into a 10. It's worth noting that Slugger can only spend team selfishly to adjust the result. This doesn't give a +1 but can shift Slugger's Danger label to give the same result.

Spending team selfishly is fun!
I see now. In that case, since you're offering, I'll accept the assist. :)
May 13, 2024 1:51 pm
Ah, almost forgot, I am going on a family vacation until saturday, and I don't know if I'll have internet to be able to post, or how often. Please feel free to move one without me during that time, even if I do manage to pop in here or there :D
Last edited May 13, 2024 1:51 pm
May 13, 2024 3:04 pm
I agree about us all sharing the same purpose, and go Vermite.
May 13, 2024 8:55 pm
It seems everyone shares the same purpose in the fight, and no one mistrusts Vermite to lead them.
The current Team pool is updated to '3' (assuming someone helped Slugger with her Move)
May 13, 2024 9:45 pm
Quote:
Not sure if charging a flare is actually a move
I dont think it does. You can take another Move before the Zombies will react
May 13, 2024 11:25 pm
There doesn't seem to be much point in me narating any help as the threads already moved. So, let's just spend the team and say Ogre helped.
May 14, 2024 4:18 am
Yes, it was shadow senses to locate him and such. I figured without those it would have taken running around wildly to try and find him.

As for the max roll (probably the last one i'll ever get.) Pulling him to safety... ish... I think instead of taking influence over him, I'll do the add a team to the pool.

Hope I've got that correct.
May 14, 2024 6:14 am
@ClaCle - which option are you choosing for the 'directly engage a threat'? (resist or avoid their blows, take something from them, create an opportunity for your allies, impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition, inflict additional harm). And are you spending more than one burn to avoid collateral damage? Feel free to describe the effects of your spell, including any damage to the environment (if relevant).

Edited: nvm, noticed you updated your post ;)
May 14, 2024 6:21 am
Anyone can feel free to make the next Move.
One of the Zombies (the one Slugger batted off Retribution) has been hurled through a window by Shadowhex. The other one is standing right next to you, having followed Blacklight through her shadow portal.
May 14, 2024 12:54 pm
Anyone care to help Vermite with her roll? Just needs a +1 to make it a hit
May 14, 2024 1:13 pm
I can help! Let me get that post up and I'll drop a team on it. Retribution's ready to rumble. I'll let Ogre have a chance after to make an actual move.
May 16, 2024 2:04 pm
Quote:
Kinda angling for a pierce on Dr Harris (and co), Beau isn’t exactly a trusting person and wants to know what their intentions truly are, shuffle everything into the danger ranking, that sort of thing.
That sounds like a 'PIERCE THE MASK' Move. Roll, and ask your question(s)!
May 16, 2024 3:50 pm
Oh boy. Beau’s natural paranoia preventing her from making any objective observations here, haha. I’ll take the potential though.
May 16, 2024 7:57 pm
There's still 3 points in your Team pool, in case a couple of you would like to turn either Beau's or Blacklight's failure into a success.
Else I'll portray the consequences of the miss.
May 19, 2024 1:34 am
I am returned, properly. I was able to read along while away, so I'll be back at posting in short order :)
May 19, 2024 2:41 am
Awesome! By the by, I’ll reply to those pierce questions in a bit, but I’ll give some time, because what the doctors do or don’t say could possibly affect retribution’s response (although I think the actual answers to the questions will be more or less the same... gotta think on ‘em though)
May 21, 2024 4:30 am
Quote:
"We should get Deon to a hospital"

He goes over and gently lifts Deon.
The Ogre is such an endearing sweetheart. Now I feel bad for having the NPCs scorn him earlier. It's like kicking a giant puppy.
May 21, 2024 5:31 am
Isn’t that the whole point of being the transformed? Heheh.
May 21, 2024 7:03 am
Delirium says:
The Ogre is such an endearing sweetheart. Now I feel bad for having the NPCs scorn him earlier. It's like kicking a giant puppy.
...but we all know you'll do it again...

;)
May 21, 2024 12:53 pm
WittyName says:
Delirium says:
The Ogre is such an endearing sweetheart. Now I feel bad for having the NPCs scorn him earlier. It's like kicking a giant puppy.
...but we all know you'll do it again...

;)
LOL! Yeah, Ogre is such a golden retriever. I love it!
May 21, 2024 2:14 pm
Poor Ogre. We love you!
May 21, 2024 6:08 pm
Vermite's distraction is successful; I'll let the player narrate how her swarm of rats give you all an opportunity to escape (or take any other action).
And please keep OOC chatter to this thread, otherwise the story thread will become difficult to track.
May 21, 2024 11:03 pm
mochi05 says:
Isn’t that the whole point of being the transformed? Heheh.
Indeedy it is.

With regard to Vermite's move. You can have multiple members adding team to help (up to 3), but spending 2 team to turn a partial success into a success, doesn't feel like a good use of team to me.
Last edited May 21, 2024 11:03 pm
May 23, 2024 12:21 am
Just FYI, I have a final assignment due Monday that I really need to crack down on, so I likely won’t be responding to anything until then. And if you do catch me making posts, hit me. After that I will be MUCH more free.
May 23, 2024 3:09 am
No problem! Totally understand.

Did we want to spend our team on convincing Deion to let us handle the situation? Any takers?
May 23, 2024 4:26 am
I'm never really sure if convincing someone is a Provoke in Masks. The description doesn't really describe what we're trying to do.

So I'll defer to @Delerium if the move is suitable before helping. Ogre's dialog just before Vermite's probably already qualifies as help.
May 23, 2024 11:25 am
dunderklumpen says:
I'm never really sure if convincing someone is a Provoke in Masks. The description doesn't really describe what we're trying to do.

So I'll defer to @Delerium if the move is suitable before helping. Ogre's dialog just before Vermite's probably already qualifies as help.
Yeah I'd agree. I wanted to just cover the bases
May 23, 2024 4:11 pm
We will wrap the scene up soon, and then the team can get a breather, think/talk things through
May 25, 2024 4:12 pm
I don't expect anything out of the ordinary would happen at Doctor Ellison's lab, so unless someone thinks otherwise, we will skip this part and proceed directly to the gathering at the 'Moonstone Grove'. Ellison would run some tests on Deion, and make sure his wound wasn't infected before releasing him back to the care of his mother. That's about the gist of it.
May 25, 2024 7:49 pm
Good with me
May 25, 2024 8:34 pm
Sounds good.
May 26, 2024 3:52 am
Sounds good to me too.
May 26, 2024 7:07 pm
Quick question: should we act out Enola visiting Angie to return the cat and make the excuse for Deion’s mom? Not sure how to proceed
May 26, 2024 7:20 pm
Sure; If you're interested at playing it out, I'll happily run that scene (I believe it is just Enola going)
You can continue on the main thread in the meantime, assuming the cat has been safely returned
May 27, 2024 1:06 am
Delirium says:
Sure; If you're interested at playing it out, I'll happily run that scene (I believe it is just Enola going)
You can continue on the main thread in the meantime, assuming the cat has been safely returned
I think it’d be interesting for Enola to try. Let’s do it!
May 27, 2024 3:48 am
I split that interaction into a sperate thread. Easier to track that way, and we can progress the main thread in parallel
May 27, 2024 2:50 pm
Hey I've had a thought, would it be possible to have a 'shared' player thread where we can publicly track what conditions everyone has? Jus so that we know better when one of us is suffering and react appropriately? Normally around a table we could just ask but in this setting I can easily see that sort of thing getting lost if not immediately acted upon. We could each put one post in and then edit it with our current status.

Might even help Delirium to keep track of things like that too.

On a related note, some of you have awesome character sheets, do you think one of you could pm me the code you used to write them so I can upgrade blacklight to that awesome standard with the check boxes and everything.
Last edited May 27, 2024 2:55 pm
May 27, 2024 3:17 pm
Sure, I can add a condition tracker to the 'Our Team' thread.
Quote:
I'm both going with Ogre's "Wish I Could Be" and "sharing a vulnerability" from my team moves section, but I'm not sure how/if they combine. In theory I can mark a potential from Ogre's and remove a condition with the other by giving him influence, but can you give someone more influence if they already have it?
If you're giving influence to someone who already has influence over you, they immediately shifts your labels.
May 27, 2024 3:52 pm
skychan says:
Hey I've had a thought, would it be possible to have a 'shared' player thread where we can publicly track what conditions everyone has? Jus so that we know better when one of us is suffering and react appropriately? Normally around a table we could just ask but in this setting I can easily see that sort of thing getting lost if not immediately acted upon. We could each put one post in and then edit it with our current status.

Might even help Delirium to keep track of things like that too.

On a related note, some of you have awesome character sheets, do you think one of you could pm me the code you used to write them so I can upgrade blacklight to that awesome standard with the check boxes and everything.
Understood! Thanks for moving it over. I wait for your post now, right?
May 27, 2024 3:59 pm
Yes, I'll get around to it later today (I hope). It's been a hectic day.
May 27, 2024 4:32 pm
Delirium says:
Yes, I'll get around to it later today (I hope). It's been a hectic day.
No problem! Take your time. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t waiting on me for something
May 27, 2024 10:35 pm
skychan says:
I'm both going with Ogre's "Wish I Could Be" and "sharing a vulnerability" from my team moves section, but I'm not sure how/if they combine. In theory I can mark a potential from Ogre's and remove a condition with the other by giving him influence, but can you give someone more influence if they already have it?
@skychan,

There are rules for double-influence (it comes up a lot in a Masks game). If some one gets influence over a character and they already had it, they shift your labels (one label up, one label down).

Edit: I'd would be easier for me to shift labels if you made Blacklight's character sheet public.
Last edited May 28, 2024 2:45 am
May 28, 2024 5:21 am
Alright, I’m back! Huzzah. Catching up on reading now.
May 28, 2024 12:16 pm
Very nice "sharing a vulnerability" @skychan. Gives us quite an insight into Blacklight
May 28, 2024 2:37 pm
Delirium says:
Sure, I can add a condition tracker to the 'Our Team' thread.
Quote:
I'm both going with Ogre's "Wish I Could Be" and "sharing a vulnerability" from my team moves section, but I'm not sure how/if they combine. In theory I can mark a potential from Ogre's and remove a condition with the other by giving him influence, but can you give someone more influence if they already have it?
If you're giving influence to someone who already has influence over you, they immediately shifts your labels.
Right! I forgot about that but now I remember having read it!

So yes, I'll mark potential, lose the condition hopeless and Ogre, Shift my Labels!
dunderklumpen says:
[quote=skychan]
Edit: I'd would be easier for me to shift labels if you made Blacklight's character sheet public.
hopefully I figured out how to make the character sheet public properly.

And again if anyone has the cool code for your sheets please share they look awesome.
Last edited May 28, 2024 2:43 pm
May 28, 2024 5:53 pm
skychan says:

hopefully I figured out how to make the character sheet public properly.

And again if anyone has the cool code for your sheets please share they look awesome.
Seems no one has a shared sheet atm?
[ +- ] Code for my sheet. Adjust were needed
May 28, 2024 6:54 pm
I only just realized that the short bio I had on the NPCs was not visible because their character sheet wasn't public. All the hard work for nothing ;)

I fixed that now - clicking on any of the NPCs portraits would give you a little tidbit of information about them that you can either assume to know, or can find out through the rumor mill easily enough if you're so inclined. I'll keep on updating the NPCs info based on what you reveal in play, so you don't have to keep your own notes about them.
May 28, 2024 9:24 pm
Thank's ClaCle, hopefully it isn't too hard to do up properly.

Quick edit, everyone take a look at the fantastic cat in distress pic our dear GM found us in the loose ends thread.
Last edited May 28, 2024 10:04 pm
May 28, 2024 11:27 pm
For what it's worth, this is my basic Masks sheet. Sometimes it needs a bit of adjustment for more complicated playbooks, but it works for me.
[ +- ] Masks sheet
May 29, 2024 6:51 pm
so odd question, but anyone know how many times the x-mansion was destroyed between 1989 and today? :P Wasn't sure where to ask it but then thought, hey I'm in a super hero game, I'll ask there!
May 29, 2024 11:48 pm
I'm not sure if you realise this @canadiac, but when you use Mask to swap your labels, I'm fairly certain that this change is, like all label changes, permanent. Your Freak and Mundane don't switch back unless you use the same move again.
Last edited May 29, 2024 11:48 pm
May 30, 2024 12:27 am
Dunderklumpen is in fact correct. Just going back and forth between identities is not enough to trigger the move - it’s about choosing one path over the other and how it carries through both identities.
May 30, 2024 12:30 am
mochi05 says:
Dunderklumpen is in fact correct. Just going back and forth between identities is not enough to trigger the move - it’s about choosing one path over the other and how it carries through both identities.
Oh! I gotcha. So it’s be 3 Freak for the session, and then I’d switch next session. It says "once per session" so I assumed it would change back
May 30, 2024 12:54 am
Correct! The once per session caveat is to prevent cheesing it by just swapping your labels with every minor thing you do - it’s gotta Matter, even if just to you. This does have the funny side effect of, because you might have your labels changed in the meantime, emphasising your masks label and then bringing it down to -2 or something, but I think that just makes it more interesting to do.
May 30, 2024 10:50 am
I don’t want to rush things, but eventually you will need to get around to decide what to do about Dr. Harris (if anything). If it’s not something you want to discuss with each other, then we’ll skip to the following day (once you are all ready to proceed)
May 30, 2024 10:55 am
Ogre is definitely wanting to raise that. I was waiting for a bit just in case there was a GM move incoming for the C&S failure.
May 30, 2024 11:29 am
Ahh, sorry. No GM move incoming (for now).
May 30, 2024 1:04 pm
Delirium says:
I don’t want to rush things, but eventually you will need to get around to decide what to do about Dr. Harris (if anything). If it’s not something you want to discuss with each other, then we’ll skip to the following day (once you are all ready to proceed)
Ok. I was kinda expecting Marlene to get involved. She very explicitly texted about the Grimoire. So that's basically where I shifted the focus too. :)
Kinda hoped she'd answer the Q where she got it. But if it's not a biggie then I'll unfocus from it
May 30, 2024 1:15 pm
Marlene refused to share the name of the grimoire’s owner (my post had her dodging the question when you asked about it). You might try pressing her again later when the two of you are alone.

Also, you can consider your ‘sharing a vulnerability’ successful and clear one of your conditions.
May 30, 2024 1:40 pm
Delirium says:
I don’t want to rush things, but eventually you will need to get around to decide what to do about Dr. Harris (if anything). If it’s not something you want to discuss with each other, then we’ll skip to the following day (once you are all ready to proceed)
Not to worry, I was just letting us all get a chance to finish getting upstairs and settled-ish.
May 30, 2024 1:58 pm
Delirium says:
Marlene refused to share the name of the grimoire’s owner (my post had her dodging the question when you asked about it). You might try pressing her again later when the two of you are alone.

Also, you can consider your ‘sharing a vulnerability’ successful and clear one of your conditions.
Ok, thanks for clearing up. I kinda missed the dodge the question :)

With the vulnerability share that clears anger for Shadowhex and gives Slugger @WittyName influence over Shadowhex.
Last edited May 30, 2024 1:59 pm
May 31, 2024 6:16 am
At least I get influence out of the botched roll. Which is why I love these systems. Because - as the rest of y'all are gonna find out real quick - I have the worst luck on the planet, and I can at least feel like I'm contributing when I earn stuff for failure :D
Last edited May 31, 2024 6:16 am
May 31, 2024 6:03 pm
Don't forget to mark potential as well when you fail a roll.
Jun 4, 2024 12:51 am
Hey all, I'm sick with covid and likely to ne out of things for a few days. Don't wait for me
Jun 4, 2024 11:32 am
dunderklumpen says:
Hey all, I'm sick with covid and likely to ne out of things for a few days. Don't wait for me
Take care. Wish you a speedy recovery!

For the all the rest - did we finalize our plan and we're ready to move forward?
Jun 4, 2024 1:53 pm
dunderklumpen says:
Hey all, I'm sick with covid and likely to ne out of things for a few days. Don't wait for me
I am so sorry to hear that! Get plenty of rest and get well soon! We’ll be here whenever you’re ready
Last edited June 4, 2024 1:53 pm
Jun 4, 2024 2:11 pm
Delirium says:
dunderklumpen says:
Hey all, I'm sick with covid and likely to ne out of things for a few days. Don't wait for me
Take care. Wish you a speedy recovery!

For the all the rest - did we finalize our plan and we're ready to move forward?
I think we’re still deciding on who is doing what part of the plan
Jun 4, 2024 3:07 pm
I've thrown in an attempt to kind of organize things but certainly its not final.
Jun 9, 2024 2:23 pm
Moving things along, anyone who hasn't decided what part he wants to play in the confrontation with Dr. Harris can do so later on.
The only thing I would like to know is if you want to go out now (it's already getting pretty late in the evening), or wait for the following day.
Jun 9, 2024 2:30 pm
I admit I was assuming we would need to spend a day or so to track down their new hideout. But Blacklight is generally for proactive action. She also is planning to ask TheShadow what the best way to tip off the police is.
Jun 9, 2024 4:16 pm
How quickly you track him down depends on your resourcefulness. If you can't figure something out, events would start to unfold which would make finding him a lot easier.
Jun 9, 2024 7:58 pm
I'm all for attempting to track him down right away, but my character also doesn't have any conditions, lol. It may be worthwhile using the night to get some heart-to-hearts going to clear some of those :)
Jun 12, 2024 12:50 pm
I’d be down for one-on-ones! Vermite would likely just try to follow her brother back to the Lost Boys’ new hideout anyways. So maybe someone wants to join her on a stakeout
Jun 13, 2024 10:39 pm
Seems like comic book land has a different idea of whats about to go down.
Jun 14, 2024 1:46 pm
I'm about to go on vacation for a week and a few days so my posting will become especially erratic over that time.
Jun 15, 2024 4:18 pm
skychan says:
I'm about to go on vacation for a week and a few days so my posting will become especially erratic over that time.
Thanks for the heads-up, enjoy your vacation!

I'll start our next scene soon, taking place the next day (when in the day depends if Enola manages to track down the Lost Boys or not)
Jun 24, 2024 9:49 pm
Sorry I was entirely eaten by my trip, I'm back now, but caught Covid, yay! So I should have more time to lay in bed at the computer now.
I'll see how well I can catch up.
Jun 25, 2024 7:44 am
Welcome back, and speedy recovery.
I'm not sure who is still with us, @dunderklumpen was also down with COVID, and I saw an absence notification from @ClaCle
What about the rest?
Jun 25, 2024 7:51 am
@Deleirum,

I've just come back in the last day or so. Covid was pretty rough, but I've mostly recovered now.

I wanted to ask if it was okay before jumping back into the game. My absence was longer than expected, so if the game has moved on without me and it no longer makes sense for me to come back in that would be fair enough.
Jun 25, 2024 8:19 am
You're welcome to jump back in. The game hasn't moved much forward, due to multiple absences.
You can read the last three posts, Enola tracked down the doc and his gang to an abandoned hospital in Queens, and it looks like (some of) you are skipping school to go there now.
Jun 25, 2024 8:24 am
@Delerium, thanks for that. I'll read to try and catch up with the current threads.
Jun 27, 2024 5:40 am
I don't see any life sign from the rest of the players. I'll give it another day, and if you're still interested in continuing, I will search for replacement players.
Jun 27, 2024 4:41 pm
That's really sad I was enjoying things.
Jun 27, 2024 5:19 pm
skychan says:
That's really sad I was enjoying things.
It will be alright.

I will move things forward on the main thread tomorrow and try to conclude this adventure, for whomever is still here, and search for replacement players in parallel.
Jun 28, 2024 11:06 am
I'm definitely still keen even if it means re-recruitment and a reboot
Jun 28, 2024 11:06 am
I'm definitely still keen even if it means re-recruitment and a reboot
Jun 28, 2024 3:49 pm
dunderklumpen says:
I'm definitely still keen even if it means re-recruitment and a reboot
What Dunderklumpen said!
Jul 1, 2024 10:40 am
@Delerium, Is the current rp thread (where the heroes receive and message from Vermite while in school) still ongoing? If so, I'll post.
Jul 1, 2024 10:54 am
Yes, it's still ongoing. Feel free to post.
Jul 7, 2024 5:34 am
Sorry for the delay there, holiday stuff. Back now.
Jul 7, 2024 10:13 am
Hello everyone.
Thank you for inviting me to the game Delirium.
I shall read things up a little bit and then get my character up and running.
Jul 7, 2024 10:32 am
Hello Everybody!

Hi Dunder :)

Still trying to think about what i'm going to do... Maybe adjusting my character Harmonia with the playbook Nova.

Will let you know.

Thanks for accepting me.
Last edited July 7, 2024 11:01 am
Jul 7, 2024 11:26 am
@Delirium I have been reading the story so far. And with the zombie thing going on, I don't really feel comfortable any more with the character idea I presented to you by direct message. There is too much itch between the zombie-plot and playing a character who is being brought back from the dead.

Would there be an issue if I were to submit a new character idea with a new playbook?
In this case The Beacon?
Jul 7, 2024 11:40 am
Hi all, welcome to the game!

Take all the time you need to catch up. I was thinking of involving you once the Ogre and Blacklight make their move against the Doctor. It would be a sort of playing through the 'when our team first got together'. But I don't mind retconning and assuming you were always a part of the group, if that's what you prefer.

@Shorty - sorry, I should have mentioned that the current story had some parallels to the idea you pitched. You're more than welcome to switch to the Beacon
Jul 7, 2024 3:22 pm
Hello! Quick question for character backstory reasons. Do any schools beside the high school have a name? Or an I ok to just make up a middle school for my pc's sibling to go to?
Jul 8, 2024 2:58 am
Ooh goody new people, hello all welcome in!
Jul 8, 2024 4:12 am
You can come up with whatever names you need, @MEGalodon
Jul 8, 2024 11:14 pm
Hello -
Please can you explain the following from the nora playbook line by line? Thanks.

1. When you charge up your powers, roll + conditions you currently have marked.
// Roll what, with which label? How can i add a condition to a roll? Does it mean like -2?

2. On a hit, hold 3 burn.
// This part is clear

3. On a 7-9, mark a condition.
//No burn acquired?

4. On a miss, hold 2 burn and mark three conditions.
//Does it mean get three conditions? Afraid, Angry etc...

Thank you!!!
Jul 9, 2024 3:59 am
You roll 2d6, and add the # of conditions you have to the result.
On a 7-9 you hold 3 burn, and mark a condition.
On a miss, you hold 2 burn, and mark three conditions (like Afraid, Angry, etc)

Burn makes some Moves easier. You could still achieve the same effects without a burn. Overcharge, for instance, is like the 'Unleash your powers' Move, but spending 2 burns gives you an automatic 10+ on your roll. Shielding is like a 'Defend' Move, but uses Freak instead of Savior. Some Nova flares give you entirely new options, like 'Elemental awareness' (ANY question about the world is less limiting than 'Assess the Situation').
Jul 9, 2024 4:49 am
Hey all. Good to see some new players, especially ones I know.
Jul 9, 2024 6:52 am
1. When you charge up your powers, roll + conditions you currently have marked.
// Roll what, with which label? How can i add a condition to a roll? Does it mean like -2?

No label, but count your conditions. If you are afraid roll +1. If you are afraid and angry roll +2 etc.
There is some maximum to the +

2. On a hit, hold 3 burn.
// This part is clear


3. On a 7-9, mark a condition.
//No burn acquired?

You get burn, as 7-9 is still a pass. But also get a condition.

4. On a miss, hold 2 burn and mark three conditions.
//Does it mean get three conditions? Afraid, Angry etc...

Yes. Being awesome comes with risk.
Jul 9, 2024 11:20 am
Thanks for all the answers.
Last edited July 9, 2024 11:20 am
Jul 9, 2024 11:21 am
@delirium

Please does she needs a burn to do simple task like flying, block bullets, or lift a car? Was kind of her main things when i built her. Thanks.
Last edited July 9, 2024 11:22 am
Jul 9, 2024 11:37 am
Not only you don't have to expend a burn for these tasks, some of these (flying, lifting a car) don't require a roll at all. Stopping bullets would require a roll if you're trying to protect someone else from harm (the 'Defend' Move); and you will only use a burn for that if you want to use your 'Freak' label, rather than 'Savior' (assuming you picked the 'Shielding' flare).
Jul 9, 2024 10:17 pm
@Nebula, in general terms the Nova is meant to be a hero with great powers, but also one that is prone to crashes and failures.

The Nova is a bit of a roler-coaster ride. As well as the use of abilities through standard moves (Unleash, Defend etc) using burn gives you powerful effects, but taking conditions from charging your powers can cause problems.
Jul 9, 2024 11:59 pm
Thanks for the guidance.

Yes, i understood that part she will mess up, break things etc... sounds fun.
Jul 9, 2024 11:59 pm
Thanks for the guidance.

Yes, i understood that part she will mess up, break things etc... sounds fun.
Jul 10, 2024 6:03 am
I always like to check the full book.
After every playbook they have written a page or 2 on how they envision the playbook. What is really helpful there is that they mention a few characters from popular fiction who they inspired the playbook on.
For Nova the most famous one is Jean Grey. She uses her powers normally from time to time, but can push them way further than most other x-men. That is when she's using flares :)
Last edited July 10, 2024 6:03 am
Jul 10, 2024 10:45 am
I'm done...
https://gamersplane.com/characters/custom/29113/


Things to be aware for the others PCs.

You hang out all the time with Blacklight to blow off steam.
You once hurt Ogre when you lost control of your powers.


If you choose happy facade, give Influence to three teammates.
- Ogre
- Blacklight
- Next PC Joining
Jul 10, 2024 6:23 pm
I just submitted mine. Let me know if I need to add more details to the civilian sheet. The relationship questions implied she was already on the team, but since this is the first time meeting I wasn't sure if I should answer them
Jul 10, 2024 7:14 pm
Oops. I did submit my character but I did forget to do the influence and relationships.


You are so excited to be here. Give Influence over you to three of your teammates.
Let's be excited with the newbies together and give them to Nebula and MEG's characters and to Blacklight, for her being a Legacy really appeals to Claire.


____________________ is awesome, and you take every chance you get to hang out with them.
You’ve got to prove yourself to_____________________ before you feel like a real hero.


I am leaving these two open for now until get a better idea of both characters of Nebula and MEG.
Jul 10, 2024 7:23 pm
I approved everyone's characters, and will send you a PM on your private thread to discuss your backstory.
I'm assuming that the three new heroes learned about Dr. Harris's experiments, and tracked him and his crew to the abandoned hospital.
I'll give the Ogre and Blacklight the chance to join you before I set the scene.
Jul 10, 2024 10:18 pm
Just a quick question then, have we met already or are we doing this as our meet up adventure?
Jul 11, 2024 12:19 am
I suggest Harmonia is friend with your character. Both look asian, about the same age, both had an helicopter mom. :) In my experience of high school, cute girls hangout often together.

Or... they can have a healthy rivalry going on.
Last edited July 11, 2024 12:21 am
Jul 11, 2024 12:49 am
No one would be close to Lauren, but they've worked on a group project or two with her before if they're in the same grade.
Jul 11, 2024 7:01 am
Claire would certainly seek out contact and try to make school-friends.
She can use some :)

Delirium, will we get a sign somehow when to jump in?
Last edited July 11, 2024 7:03 am
Jul 11, 2024 1:43 pm
That you know each other from school doesn't necessarily mean you know each other as heroes (Ogre being the exception), since most of you have secret identities. It will probably be easier to assume that (at the very least) you've heard of one another by reputation.

You're all free to post on the main thread.
Jul 11, 2024 10:47 pm
Can we have a summary about the current doctor, who is the mad scientist and what are you all trying to do?

Would it be reasonable that Harmony been tracking his wereabout as well?
Jul 12, 2024 6:23 am
In brief:

Dr. Harris lost his daughter to cancer. Stricken with grief, he devoted his life to researching a way to bring people back from the dead. He is experimenting on cadavers, but so far everyone he resurrected has come back as flesh-eating zombies. A couple of them managed to escape containment and cause some trouble, almost eating a teenage boy alive – which they would have, had the heroes not intervened at the very last second. Dr. Harris believes he is doing the right thing and that his research will help humanity (though what he really wants is to bring his daughter back). He even provided medical care for the bitten boy, and is going to take better measures to keep the ‘Resurrected’ from escaping again
.
Another complication are the ‘Lost Boys’ – teenage runaways and gang members who each lost someone dear to them, and are helping the doctor with the hope he could resurrect their loved ones. Their desperation makes them as dangerous as the Zombies, but the main concern was how to neutralize them without harming anyone.

The Doctor and the Lost Boys are using the abandoned hospital as their main HQ. The Lost Boys have been hijacking medical supplies at gunpoint, and involved in some other crimes to procure money for their operations. Harmonia could have stopped one of these robberies and interrogated a couple of them, or tracked the Boys back to the abandoned hospital.
Jul 12, 2024 11:42 am
How do you guys play this out if someone call the cops on the doctor? Sounds simple enough?
Jul 12, 2024 1:59 pm
Well, probably watch the zombie apocalypse start :) As every one knows in a super hero world the police won't be able to contain zombies and everything will go pear shaped... at least that is the assumption that our team made the first time we considered it ic.
Jul 12, 2024 2:00 pm
Nebula says:
How do you guys play this out if someone call the cops on the doctor? Sounds simple enough?
The best-case scenario is that they think it is some sort of prank call. The worst case is that they send a couple of cops to investigate; things are highly likely to escalate from there and end with multiple casualties
Jul 12, 2024 5:12 pm
Nebula says:
How do you guys play this out if someone call the cops on the doctor? Sounds simple enough?
While it makes sense, it's the way to kill any modern day rpg :)
Jul 13, 2024 1:24 am
Quote:
things are highly likely to escalate from there and end with multiple casualties
Right, didnt think about it. Good point for good super heroes to dont call the cops haha
Jul 13, 2024 10:57 am
Delerium says:
almost eating a teenage boy alive – which they would have, had the heroes not intervened at the very last second.
We also saved a cat!
Nebula says:
You once hurt Ogre when you lost control of your powers.
@Nebula, what's you feeling on how this happened? Were they mucking around? Did Nebula mistake Ogre for a threat first time she met him? Ogre's out and proud at the high school as a mutated monster, so Harmonia would definitely know of him, but he might not know Harmonia.
Last edited July 13, 2024 10:58 am
Jul 13, 2024 11:37 am
I'm happy to hear your ideas but here is one...

She blasted a villain escaping in a car, and the perp lost control of the vehicle, and hit Ogre. She felt bad about it, and he perfectly know it was caused by Harmonia. She apologized and that was the end of it. But he spent days at the hospital.

He doesnt know Harmonia is the cute girl called Hanna at school.
Last edited July 13, 2024 11:39 am
Jul 13, 2024 11:56 am
Sounds good to me.
Jul 15, 2024 3:04 am
Just a quick heads up. Normally I post less on weekends and while I would be trying to catch up right now I have a killer headache. I'll try to get something in for Blacklight in the morning but if I posted now it would be perhaps one sentence long and not worthy of you all.
Jul 15, 2024 5:47 am
Take care, we can wait of course. :)
Jul 15, 2024 2:56 pm
Nebula says:
Take care, we can wait of course. :)
Thanks, feeling back to myself this morning. So away we go! I think this counts as an ordinary use of her power but if not let me know and I'll drop a roll in.

Edit:
I am amused that Blacklight probably causes the shrodinger's cat problem. In that if I hadn't looked and we had gone in the front door the doctor wouldn't be about to stick a needle in a girl, but since I did look he is! Instead we would have been battling our way to the door of the room to find him... just about to stick a needle in a girl!
Last edited July 15, 2024 3:01 pm
Jul 15, 2024 9:08 pm
I hadn't really thought about the visibility through portals but, to be honest I doubt people who can't see through darkness could see through the portal. So while Blacklight can certainly see through properly everyone else probably just sees an opaque blacklight shadow in the form of a circle till they get to the other side. Also the portal is in line with the ground and ceiling of the room, so the angle to shoot the doctor if you could see through it might not exist, of course you are a super hero so maybe it would anyway :P
Jul 16, 2024 4:27 am
If the portal is opaque, there would be no way to shoot someone on the other side; you don't know where he is positioned, or if the portal would even take you to the same room as him.
Jul 16, 2024 5:50 am
OK. Was just wondering how they look. Leap of faith then I guess :)
Jul 16, 2024 3:32 pm
Shorty says:
OK. Was just wondering how they look. Leap of faith then I guess :)
yup, plus always better to put more limits on a power as potentially broken as portals than less. Its the same reason I'm having Blacklight worry about a 16-18 foot drop rather than just being cool with it. Many of you guys have the bad ass physical prowess and I'm not going to MHA away just how cool you are compared to everybody else by being extra strong/durable/etc.
Jul 17, 2024 10:29 pm
Well... I was going to roll for pierce the mask, but given his answer it doesn't really matter if she believes him or not about his intentions... They are bad enough he needs to be straight up stopped even if he is sincere. :P Though I'll give others a chance to chime in before I post again.
Jul 20, 2024 11:34 am
@delirium

Quick question, if things goes bad, does normal bad boys human can do something against Harmonia who has invulnerability and super strength or it doesnt matter and she has to roll her savior or danger even vs normal human?

Thanks! :)
Jul 20, 2024 2:09 pm
@Nebula
Harmonia has nothing to fear from everyday humans. She should have enough ways of making herself invulnerable to them.
Since you (all) had a previous run-in with the Zombies, you should know that they do have superhuman strength, are extremely resilient, and have a venomous bite that can paralyze a grown man (and it is still unclear what would happen to a person who died from suffering such a bite). Blacklight was right saying that you probably shouldn't leave them for the police to handle.
Jul 20, 2024 5:16 pm
Oh i thought they were just guys, so all of them are zombies?
Jul 20, 2024 5:35 pm
No, there are two distinct groups; the (mostly) mindless, flesh-eating Zombies, and the 'Lost Boys' - teenage runaways and gang members helping the Doctor because he promised to resurrect their loved ones.

The 'Lost Boys' are all very living, 'normal' humans, and are the ones waiting just outside the operating room.
You haven't seen the Zombies so far, though Blacklight observed them using her shadow-senses and knows they are somewhere in the hospital, behind locked doors.
Jul 20, 2024 10:32 pm
Ok thanks, thats what i understood. :)
Jul 21, 2024 12:44 am
I've added the roll and choices to the previous post rather than make a new one.
Jul 21, 2024 2:57 pm
@dunderklumpen

The Doctor doesn't really have anywhere to retreat to, so you can consider him vulnerable to you. The rest of the gang members were also scared off.
Jul 22, 2024 11:08 pm
oh joy! we have just triggered the Zombie Apocalypse! or Clayton has. Dr. Harris... This is really why you shouldn't be doing what you're doing!
Jul 24, 2024 5:16 am
@Shorty, @MEGalodon

I thought it might be worth mentioning that we (other players) can't see the sheets for Mimic or Night Arrow as they are not public.

When label shifts, influence, etc. happens this is going to make things difficult
Jul 24, 2024 6:27 pm
@skychan, the Defend move is used to defend someone from an immediate threat. Blacklight using her powers to block the corridors and herd the Zombies into one path would be an 'Unleash Your Powers' Move (When you unleash your powers to overcome an obstacle, reshape your environment, or extend your senses). Since you also have a +2 to your Freak, you still rolled a 10, making your action a success. Just keep it in mind for next time.

Everyone else - since we're starting a fight, let me know who you think your leader is, and what is (each of yours) objective.
Your initial Team is '3' (2+the one from a successful Defend Move). It can be potentially higher based on your answers.
Jul 24, 2024 6:38 pm
dunderklumpen says:
@Shorty, @MEGalodon
I thought it might be worth mentioning that we (other players) can't see the sheets for Mimic or Night Arrow as they are not public.
When label shifts, influence, etc. happens this is going to make things difficult
Fixed
Delirium says:
Everyone else - since we're starting a fight, let me know who you think your leader is, and what is (each of yours) objective.
Your initial Team is '3' (2+the one from a successful Defend Move). It can be potentially higher based on your answers.
My objective would be to get out, with at few people harmed as possible I guess.

Leader.... uhm...??
Jul 24, 2024 9:27 pm
Thanks for the correction. It's why first time gaming in a system works better over an actual table. :)

Now for some Blacklight thought process.

Hmm... who's our leader...

The concrete girl? no...
The woman with the bow? maybe...
Harmonia? Well she could have been given her fame but she doesn't seem to be taking charge...
Ogre? Hes a great guy but hasnt really felt like he tells me what I should be doing...
Oh carp, am I the leader? Holy Carp! I'm the leader!?!

Goals
1 - don't let anyone die
2 - keep the zombies from starting an apocalypse
3 - arrest the doctor
Jul 25, 2024 12:22 am
Leader: Ogre looks immediately to Blacklight as the leader because of awesomeness!.

Goals:
* arrest the Doc
* don't let anyone come to harm
* contain the zombies.
Jul 25, 2024 12:28 am
Ooo, ouch! No amount of team is going to save that Defend roll
Jul 25, 2024 2:04 am
I think I went overboard with the # of Zombies that can manage to get past Harmonia (she did say she was blocking the entrance). I will recon it to 2-3 which will only put Zuri at risk for now.
Jul 25, 2024 11:29 am
dunderklumpen says:
Ooo, ouch! No amount of team is going to save that Defend roll
Ack! Make that two... rip Zuri?
Last edited July 25, 2024 11:30 am
Jul 25, 2024 12:08 pm
@Shorty, failures in Pbta are different from other RPGs. When a failure happens that's a prompt for the GM to make a move. You should probably wait for @Delerium to outline what happens as a result of Ogre's failure before overriding any outcome with another move, especially a duplicate of the move that just failed.
Jul 25, 2024 1:01 pm
I never played pbta out of sync before. I need to find my pacing still. During the stand off with the doc, I waited for others to cplete their thing, but then I was quiet for a few days. Trying to find the rhytm
Jul 25, 2024 1:07 pm
Don't worry about it, I wanted to give you a couple of chances to save the girl anyways.
In general it's a good idea to wait and see the implications of the previous Move before making your own, but I'm less strict about it in a PbP format.
Jul 25, 2024 2:05 pm
@Shorty - I think there is a mix-up with your labels. Your Savior should be +2 according to the playbook, not +0. That could make the difference for your Defend Move, particularly if someone spends Team.
Jul 25, 2024 2:48 pm
Well I think that Blacklight is in position to spend team to help. But given the maleability of the situation just let me know if I'm spending team to help, making a move to defend, or straight up engaging the threat. I can see where any of the three would apply, just let me know which you want me to go with Delirium.
Jul 25, 2024 3:17 pm
Delirium says:
@Shorty - I think there is a mix-up with your labels. Your Savior should be +2 according to the playbook, not +0. That could make the difference for your Defend Move, particularly if someone spends Team.
You are right. Saviour and superior were mixed up. Fixed that now.
Makes the roll a 5
Jul 25, 2024 3:28 pm
So if ogre and I both spend 1 team we can have shorty succeed and it would take our team pool from 3 down to 1
Last edited July 25, 2024 3:28 pm
Jul 25, 2024 3:46 pm
Yes, and it doesn't have to be the Ogre. It can be any member of the team.
Jul 25, 2024 4:07 pm
Sweet, well then I guess I'll wait to find out if she's getting any further help and if I should/need to make a move to start fighting those 3 zombies. Ick... Bad zombies, Bad!
Jul 25, 2024 10:54 pm
Hey all. This is just a quick note to say I won't be continuing in the game. Good luck and have fun.
Jul 26, 2024 1:04 am
I've been busier than I thought I would be the last two days so this is late, but I also agree with Blacklight being the leader.
Jul 27, 2024 9:50 am
Take care @dunderklumpen
Aug 1, 2024 3:40 pm
I'll give night arrow or mimic a chance to post again before I do.
Aug 2, 2024 2:09 pm
@shorty - Harmonia is dealing with the zombies outside the operating room, but there were still three that managed to get inside, and they were about to attack Night Arrow.
Aug 2, 2024 3:07 pm
Thanks for the clear up. Two seperate situations have me a bit confused
Aug 3, 2024 4:28 am
@MEGalodon - you missed rolling one of the 1d6 on your last Move.
Aug 3, 2024 6:01 am
That's the same understanding on my end, Harmonia is in the corridor, at the entrance of it to try to stop the zombie for making it in the room where everybody else are.
Aug 3, 2024 7:02 pm
Fixed it & rolled a second die. Got 7 total
Aug 13, 2024 1:28 am
soryr wanted to post but have the flu. maybe tommorow
Aug 16, 2024 9:42 am
You're each welcome to trigger your playbooks' 'share a triumphant celebration with someone' move (if you feel like it).
Also, choose one of the following:

• Grow closer to the team. Explain who made you feel welcome; give Influence to that
character and clear a condition or mark potential.
• Grow into your own image of yourself. Explain how you see yourself and why; shift
one Label up and another down.
• Grow away from the team. Explain why you feel detached. Take Influence over you
away from another character.
Aug 16, 2024 4:15 pm
I'll probably be choosing the middle path due to having been accepted by the police. But I need to think about just how it will affect me.

I've decided to drop danger and increase superior. Due to not having actually finished off any of the zombies but feeling more capable and recognized by the police and that they will be possibly depending on her judgement.
Last edited August 16, 2024 4:30 pm
Aug 16, 2024 7:29 pm
Grow into your own image of yourself. Explain how you see yourself and why; shift one Label up and another down.

I will put in the details in an IC post. But going for this one too.
Night Arrow actually proved to herself she can be a superhero even if she isn't super at all.
Aug 16, 2024 11:54 pm
I'll go with the first one and give influence to Blacklight since she's the one coordinating everything.
Aug 17, 2024 2:08 pm
I updated the 'Our Team' thread with the current roster.
Mimic - you will need to give two of the other team members influence over you, the ones you (currently) most look up to.
Harmonia - you need to decide if your demeanor is happy (in this case, you give influence to everyone), or locked down ( give influence to one)

Since we're about to complete the first adventure, I'll be happy to get some feedback from you. If there is anything you would like to see more (or less) of, or if you have any concerns about the tone of the campaign (too dark?), the pacing, or anything else.
Aug 17, 2024 3:45 pm
The tone of the game is a bit dark, but that works fine.

As much as I love Masks I don't feel really connected to my character yet. A good part of Masks is the team doing things masks off, as normal kids, which hasn't happened yet. Maybe it is because most of us jumped in at the middle of something. But that is something that would be cool to do.
Last edited August 17, 2024 3:46 pm
Aug 17, 2024 11:49 pm
Since the theme is dark she will be locked down. She gives influence to @skychan 's character.

Personally i like dark theme. :)

It will help we begin a new chapter to get into my character.
Last edited August 17, 2024 11:50 pm
Aug 18, 2024 7:11 pm
I'll kickoff the next chapter within the next couple of days. It will start with some off-mask activity before segueing into the action.

Some time will pass since your last adventure so I'm going to need a + Mundane roll from @MEGalodon to see how you're managing your obligation, and a + Savior roll from @skychan to see how the members of your legacy feel or react to your most recent exploits.

@skychan - maybe elaborate a bit here on the Shadow legacy, so the rest of the players can answer the following questions about Blacklight's performance:

- Has she been upholding the traditions of her legacy?
- Has she maintained the image of her legacy?
- Has she made the other members of her legacy proud?
Aug 18, 2024 11:42 pm
Quote:
- Has she been upholding the traditions of her legacy?
- Has she maintained the image of her legacy?
- Has she made the other members of her legacy proud?
Can't say i know much about Dark Light legacy so far. Assuming they are good guys, her legacy would be proud of having purge the zombies and stop the mad scientist.
Aug 20, 2024 2:43 pm
Here is the basic rundown on the Shadow. I;ll be happy to go into more detail if anyone has questions.

It is a known unknown hero who has been active since the golden age of heroics. They are infamous for having always worked alone and intentionally cultivated a mysterious reputation. Despite the passage of years it is only recently that rumors that it is not a single man but rather a family of hero's who have maintained this identity over the years. Evidence slowly piling up, evidence that Blacklight's appearance seems to confirm, that or she is the first of The Shadow's children.

One of the most well known feats of The Shadow is the defeat of the villain Death Ray. He delivered the villain in chains to the steps of city hall, but only after they had unveiled a death machine using a captured Silver Savior as a power source and had humbled and defeated the rest of Vanguard. Death Ray had delivered an ultimatum to the city which was about to run out of time. But just before the Mayor went out to surrender is when THE SHADOW made his move.

Rumor has it that The Shadow has always been, will always be. Until very recently it was also that there is only one Shadow who never changed. THE SHADOW's reputation is one of being the lone avenger. The lone hero who arrives after all other hope is lost or failed. The one who will appear to avenge as often as save. The Shadow is rarely the first to arrive to fight but time and again the one to get justice in the end. They are known best for balancing the scales after the fact. Generally only acting after a villain has gotten away with something. For the most part they are rarely seen outside the shadows they create, and talk and interact little with the public.

Rolls

savior - (2d6+2)

(62) + 2 = 10

Aug 20, 2024 7:51 pm
I'll give Influence to Harmonia and Night Arrow since Blacklight has it already from the after session questions.

Rolls

Obligation roll - (2d6+3)

(63) + 3 = 12

Aug 21, 2024 12:32 pm
Sorry for the delay. Looks like Mimic managed her obligations just fine so far, and the Shadows are somewhat impressed with Blacklight (even though she *gasp* joined a superhero team!). New thread is up, I will write the epilogue for the previous story by tomorrow
Aug 21, 2024 10:40 pm
I know, joining a hero team really is just not done is it.

As an aside I'll be on vacation for about a week starting tomorrow so don't know about my availability to post.

Also I was wondering if we were going to rp the meeting later that night to see if people felt like unmasking to each other etc.
Last edited August 21, 2024 10:45 pm
Aug 22, 2024 6:25 pm
Enjoy your vacation!
Regarding a team meeting, I can set up a new thread for that and let you play it out - if everyone are interested.

Just let me know where/when you meet. If you already decided that you unmasked weeks ago, after the first episode ended, just make note of it in one of your in-play posts, because I don't know how long it is going to take playing that team meeting scene.
Aug 22, 2024 7:24 pm
I'd be interested if other people are. Mimic's other relationship is that she refused to reveal her identity when a teammate asked, so if the meeting ends up being offscreen it could be Blacklight if @skychan is ok with it.
Aug 23, 2024 11:58 am
It looks like Shorty (Night Arrow) hasn't logged in the last few days. I hope we haven't lost her.
I'll wait one more day, then I will post on her behalf to get things moving.
Aug 25, 2024 12:20 am
Sorry who is Claire Withmore? Thanks. Is it Night Arrow?
Aug 25, 2024 10:33 am
Yes, Claire is Night Arrow, though none of you know that (yet?)
Aug 27, 2024 2:29 pm
Hi I'm back from vacation, but it will take me a little bit to catch up and post.

edit: That epilogue post was awesome.

still catching up slowly
Last edited August 27, 2024 4:58 pm
Aug 28, 2024 11:27 am
Welcome back!
Aug 31, 2024 1:35 pm
Are you still interested in engaging with one another, or do you want me to push the scene forward?
Also, looks like we lost Shorty :( (looks like player hasn't logged in a while...)
Sep 3, 2024 12:32 am
Sorry, but i have trouble keeping up with the game because of personal reasons. RL is been hard on me.

Therefore i will be leaving the group.

Thank you for the game @delirium and of course all players.
Sep 3, 2024 2:55 pm
Well, drat. Things aren't looking great.
Sep 3, 2024 3:48 pm
Sorry to see you go, @Nebula
I think it's just you who is still here, @skychan.
I'm going to need a bit to think if I should try looking for replacement players or not.
Sep 3, 2024 4:13 pm
I'm still here! I just accidentally closed the tab before actually posting & didn't realize. If we're still going Lauren's just lurking in the discord
Sep 4, 2024 11:16 am
I opened the game for additional players. Lets wait a few days before continuing.
Sep 8, 2024 7:14 pm
New players - feel free to introduce yourselves ;)
I'm going to add the fifth player by tomorrow EOD, and then we can go ahead and fill in the relationships part of the playbooks.
Sep 8, 2024 8:42 pm
Hi, everyone!

I'll be playing Ronnie Ryckowski.
Sep 9, 2024 2:40 pm
Hi,
I'll wait a bit before doing anything IC for us to see what's happening with the game.
Sep 9, 2024 4:59 pm
Hello! I will be playing Haillee Haugen, an exchange student from Norway.
Sep 9, 2024 5:31 pm
Hi!
Sep 9, 2024 8:35 pm
And I'll be playing Ronnie Ryckowski, social outcast.
Sep 10, 2024 6:21 am
Hey team. I'll be introducing Yvonne Campos
[ +- ] Spoiler
a.k.a. The Blue Reaper
[ +- ] Spoiler
Sep 10, 2024 8:27 am
Welcome all!

I updated the setting thread with a brief on each hero. (you're welcome to come up with your own bio if you want and I'll edit it). Lets work out the starting relationships for all characters. The premise of Masks is that you're all part of the same team, though for the purpose of this game you only know each other superhero personas (until you choose to reveal them in-play).
Sep 10, 2024 2:42 pm
Well if we're sticking with what's happened so far my guess is that Blacklight would probably have been involved in trying to recruit people to a team if that helps give people a starting point.
Sep 10, 2024 4:44 pm
You're all welcome to start posting on the new thread and get in on the action.
We can sort out the Relationships in parallel on the OOC thread.
Sep 10, 2024 7:18 pm
Are we new folks supposed to be in on the Discord already?
Sep 10, 2024 7:45 pm
Yes, you're all part of the same team
Sep 11, 2024 3:14 am
So I have these questions to answer for connections.

You keep trying to impress _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with your antics.

I think The Wrecker maybe? Just based on the name it seems like Blue Reaper would want them to vibe.

You and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ pulled an awesome (if illegal) stunt together.

This feels more like a civilians thing. So I'm wondering if Lauren got caught up in something Yvonne was doing. I'm thinking...one of the popular jocks was spreading rumors and slut shaming girls at the school, damaging their reputations because they would not date him. So Yvonne snuck in a blow up doll and rigged it up in his locker so when he opened it the doll would pop out and a loud porn sound clip would play making sure everyone in the hall heard it and saw what was happening. Lauren caught Yvonne breaking into his locker, stood lookout and suggested adding a name sign with "The only girl [jock name] could get!" written on it.

These are just suggestions and I'm willing to switch anything if someone doesn't like it.

Also I have to give Influence to 3 people. I'm thinking Wrecker, Blacklight and Mimic
Last edited September 11, 2024 7:46 pm
Sep 11, 2024 4:08 am
The second one is an awesome prank!

If Lauren passes on it, Ronnie would totally be down to help pull that off.
Sep 11, 2024 2:37 pm
Lauren wouldn't have made suggestions, but she'd pointedly look away and pretend she didn't see anything. Loudly greet any teachers approaching if she sees any.
Sep 11, 2024 2:51 pm
So here are Whimsy's questions.

You’ve been learning about Earth by spending time with _____________.

You have a crush on ________________ but you keep it under wraps.

Anybody up to be Whimsy's bestie or secret crush?

Also my Outsider is of a cheerful nature so everyone has influence over her.
Sep 11, 2024 3:55 pm
Blacklight or Li Min could be the crush, though I don't know anything about Whimsy as yet.

Shall I reset my questions now for the new group delirium?
Sep 11, 2024 6:38 pm
@skychan - yes, I think it's better that way.
Sep 11, 2024 7:48 pm
MEGalodon says:
Lauren wouldn't have made suggestions, but she'd pointedly look away and pretend she didn't see anything. Loudly greet any teachers approaching if she sees any.
Fair enough. So that's what happened. Lauren isn't quite the hoodlum that Yvonne is, but she's been noted in the "good people" column.
Sep 12, 2024 2:14 pm
So Blacklight is going to need a confidant, who she's told some secrets, and someone with whom she's done something... like come out and organized a team with that goes against her legacy. Any takers?
Sep 12, 2024 3:13 pm
Ronnie is a good candidate for either of those but the secrets confidant might be a better fit
Sep 13, 2024 11:58 am
If Whimsy was the confidant, it would play into Whimsy having a crush on Blacklight.
Sep 13, 2024 12:42 pm
Everyone; also note to which characters you give influence to; this could impact some of your rolls and/or moves.
I'll give you a day or two to interact with each other before moving the story forward. Blacklight can form shadow portals, which is why she proposed to gather somewhere so she can teleport you all together. But if you have another clever way of getting to the island quickly on your own, feel free to narrate it on the main thread.
Sep 13, 2024 7:49 pm
I see a bidding war! Or I just make Whimsy my confidant and Ronnie perhaps is who helped gather the current team together with her?
Sep 14, 2024 1:51 am
I have "_____________________ knew you from your civilian life first"' and "You refused to tell ___________________ your secret identity when they asked." I think blacklight still has one influence from me because she's the leader. For me the influence is from 'You look up to your teammates; they seem to have this superhero thing figured out.'
Sep 17, 2024 2:32 pm
I believe that the default start is that everyone has influence with blacklight because she cares what the team thinks of her.

Ps I usually am away from posting on weekends, and every other monday. But I will try to check at least daily outside of that.
Sep 17, 2024 7:22 pm
skychan says:
pierce the mask? is this the correct roll to assess the situation? - (2d6+1)

(35) + 1 = 9
'Pierce the mask' is when you're trying to read a specific person. What you're looking for is the 'assess the situation' move.
You rolled high enough to ask one of the following questions:

what here can I use to ________?
what here is the biggest threat?
what here is in the greatest danger?
who here is most vulnerable to me?
how could we best end this quickly?
Sep 17, 2024 7:30 pm
Hmm, well Blacklight would be split on which question to ask but given she feels responsible for the leadership of things I guess I'll go with the more leaderly of the two.

how could we best end this quickly?
Sep 17, 2024 7:38 pm
Martinez indicated that many prisoners are loose, but that seems more like a distraction while the assailants are heading to the supers underground prison. Stopping them before they get there is probably the prudent thing to do. The other prisoners don't have superpowers, so they will be easier to handle (though the hostages complicate matters greatly). You might want to consider splitting up, if you're feeling confident enough.
Sep 20, 2024 2:45 pm
I split up the threads - Mimic and Wrecker on the main one, trying to stop the supervillans, and a second one for saving the hostages (Black Light and Blue Reaper)
Sep 20, 2024 5:11 pm
I figured THE DARK should have some kind of catch phrase and didn't want to steal the traditional ones of

Who knows what darkness lurks in the hearts of men; the shadow knows
or
Are you afraid of the dark?
or
I am the terror that flaps in the night!
etc...

If anyone has a cooler catch phrase please let me know.
Last edited September 20, 2024 5:14 pm
Sep 20, 2024 5:53 pm
How about:
• 'When you stray from the Light, expect The Dark'

• 'Mankind's most primal fear is of...The Dark!'
Sep 24, 2024 7:01 pm
Greel says:
OOC:
fudge

Rolls
Blue Reaper: DIRECTLY ENGAGE A THREAT - (2d6+(0)+(0))

(33) = 6
You can always spend a Team to shift your label and turn the roll into a success. Or Blacklight could spend one.
I'm going to start your team pool at 4, btw (3 initial, +1 from Blacklights defend Move).
Sep 24, 2024 7:37 pm
I'm quite willing to spend a team to help out on that if you would like.
Sep 24, 2024 9:22 pm
I will elect to spend a Team and shift my labels Danger up (0 to +1) and Mundane down (+1 to 0). I'm making those changes now.

I will elect to "impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition". Preferably frighten.
Sep 24, 2024 10:26 pm
Does the Rival/Love in Bull's Heart have to be on the Team?

At any rate, Ronnie needs those two positions filled.
Sep 25, 2024 6:03 pm
Delirium Yes, she's going into the cell. I wouldn't mind spending a team either, but I'm not sure how she could help right now
Sep 25, 2024 7:01 pm
witchdoctor says:
Does the Rival/Love in Bull's Heart have to be on the Team?

At any rate, Ronnie needs those two positions filled.
The default is that every relationship on your playbook is someone from the team. But it doesn't have to be romantic Love.
Sep 25, 2024 7:23 pm
Greel says:
I will elect to spend a Team and shift my labels Danger up (0 to +1) and Mundane down (+1 to 0). I'm making those changes now.

I will elect to "impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition". Preferably frighten.
@Greel; feel free to narrate how you subdued both men.
Following that, you will need to decide how to help the rest of the hostages.
Sep 28, 2024 1:46 pm
Greel says:
OOC:
Looking to get all eyes, but also all guns, pointed at Reaper before blastin with the fear cannon.
The more appropriate move would be 'directly engage a threat'. You're using your powers to make them capitulate, not trying to provoke them to do something with your words (which they aren't really susceptible to).

You still scored a hit. You can choose to inflict a condition ('afraid' seems most fitting), plus one of the options for the move.
Picking 'impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition' will end the fight, but it would leave you hurt from the exchange of blows.
Sep 28, 2024 7:25 pm
Sure, I will post that later today.
Sep 29, 2024 7:39 pm
Greel says:
Edit: updated to change the move to Unleash.
@Greel; What do you hope to achieve with your 'Unleash Your Powers' Move? If you're trying to scare the convicts, that would be a 'Directly Engage a Threat', rather than an Unleash. Or you could use the 'Unleash' to do something crazy with your powers, like trying to teleport out of the cell with all the hostages?
Sep 30, 2024 7:48 pm
Hey sorry. I figured out what happened. I was posting while busy and did not remember what your suggestion said properly. I have corrected my post to Directly engage a Threat with the intention of taking down the bad guys and using the "impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition" option as you suggested.
Oct 5, 2024 2:56 pm
Greel says:
OOC:
Not one for cleanup, Reaper is ready to go. Should they just appear in the other thread?
I want to give Mimic and Wrecker the opportunity to make a Move. If they won't make use of it you can rejoin the main thread.
Oct 5, 2024 3:00 pm
Sounds good
Oct 5, 2024 7:01 pm
I can do something. I was waiting on wrecker to go because it seemed like his thing. Should I roll assess the situation to see if there's anything they can use to slow him down?
Oct 5, 2024 7:23 pm
Yes, go ahead and roll for 'Assess the Situation'
Oct 7, 2024 10:16 pm
So Reaper is in danger even though I chose "resist or avoid their blows"?
Oct 8, 2024 4:24 am
Reaper avoided his blows, otherwise I would have told you to mark a condition.
The danger results from the effects of the Villain's own Move, which impacts everyone in the scene.
Oct 9, 2024 2:49 pm
@MEGalodon - did you intend to make your own Defend Move, or try to assist Wrecker using Team?
@witchdoctor - even if Mimic does spend Team, you will have to do so as well and shift your labels if you want to get a hit on the roll.
Oct 9, 2024 4:32 pm
Yah, its not looking great for our heros here.
Oct 9, 2024 6:08 pm
@Delirium Whichever one makes more sense. I thought we'd already used a team before
Oct 10, 2024 8:12 pm
MEGalodon says:
@Delirium Whichever one makes more sense. I thought we'd already used a team before
Your initial Team pool started at 4. You used 1, and now potentially another 2 to save the NPCs.
@witchdoctor - let me know if you want to spend that Team as well and shift your Savior label to score a hit on your Defend Move.
Oct 11, 2024 6:54 am
Yeah, I'll spend the Point. Saving people, even undeserving people, is what Heroes do...

I'll shift Freak to Savior to make it +0 on both.
Oct 11, 2024 4:04 pm
Well, that actually went better than I was expecting it to with my initial danger-2 as a roll. But I figured all the cerebral approaches were flat out well... out given Blacklights got the angry condition so... direct attempt to beat him up activated! And then miraculously it's NOT failing horribly.

Yet...
Last edited October 11, 2024 4:04 pm
Oct 15, 2024 1:58 pm
Delirium says:

@skychan - the Wrecker marks the 'angry' condition.[/ooc]
You know, temporarily restrained or not (and yes I totally expected a mere temporary situation there) this feels far worse than pretty much any other outcome :) "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry" as a quote comes to mind. The helicopter is another great choice of target because really it's probably one of the hardest things for Blacklight to affect with her shadows. This is certainly working out to be a quite dramatic showdown.
Oct 18, 2024 10:38 am
Greel says:
Perhaps an Unleash?
The most appropriate move would be a 'Defend'. You can go ahead and roll.
Oct 18, 2024 5:19 pm
Does your teleportation have any visible affect on the world around you? ie light flashes, fairy lights, tinkling sounds etc? just checking for descriptive purposes.
Oct 18, 2024 7:47 pm
skychan says:
Does your teleportation have any visible affect on the world around you? ie light flashes, fairy lights, tinkling sounds etc? just checking for descriptive purposes.
I wasn't picturing anything to fancy. Maybe just a warping of space around them. Like pushing into an elastic barrier before popping through.

Oh...like the visual effect on the air they did in the My Hero Academia anime for Gentle Criminal? If you watched that series.
Oct 18, 2024 10:59 pm
Sorry, I assumed directly engage would start since she was attacking him that's on me. Should I describe her doing something else once Greel finishes with the helicopter?
Oct 19, 2024 3:26 pm
Added defend
Oct 19, 2024 7:24 pm
MEGalodon says:
Sorry, I assumed directly engage would start since she was attacking him that's on me. Should I describe her doing something else once Greel finishes with the helicopter?
Sorry @MEGalodon, I didn't explain myself properly. It is impossible to tackle the Wrecker, because he is so much stronger than Mimic. You're basically Spidey fighting the Thing. Throwing punches or using brute strength isn't going to do much. You can update your post to describe another way in which Mimic managed to harm, or aggravate him. At any case, your roll is still a hit, so I need to know which option you picked for 'Engage a Threat' :

• resist or avoid their blows
• take something from them
• create an opportunity for your allies
• impress, surprise, or frighten the opposition
Oct 21, 2024 3:51 pm
I'm back so should be able to focus on the game in a timely manor once more.
Oct 24, 2024 2:41 pm
@skychan, @greel, @witchdoctor - either of you can make the next Move.
Oct 29, 2024 3:50 pm
Wrecker I think you forgot to actually post that you were jumping in to fight your dad, though you did roll. Or whatever it was your doing. Going super saiyan maybe? :P

Also, I am now terrified of the Wrecker family. They are badass and giving me disturbing viltrumite vibes!
Last edited October 29, 2024 3:50 pm
Oct 30, 2024 4:31 am
@witchdoctor - how are you trying to Engage Wrecker Sr? Punch him? Grab him?
Oct 30, 2024 7:21 am
Yes. Ronnie is trying to put a fist into his Dad's face. He can't allow anyone as dangerous as his Dad back out into the world.
I'll update the post to reflect that.
Oct 30, 2024 8:25 pm
I'll let someone else use a move if they want, otherwise tomorrow I'll have Blacklight try throwing the wreckage of a burning helicopter at him. ;) Doubt it will work but it's something at least.
Nov 4, 2024 2:53 pm
I marked afraid for Blacklight. Though I have to admit the system does seem a little strange with every failed action leading to getting hurt and or conditions even on partial successes much less failures. It really makes those -1 or -2's basically guarantees of failure once the team pool runs out. I've never played in the system before, is that normal or are we just particularly bad at this?
Nov 5, 2024 5:25 am
Yes, the system is a bit wonky like that. You can usually avoid getting hurt when using 'Engage a Threat', as long as you rolled a hit and picked 'resist or avoid their blows'. I probably need to give more opportunities to use 'Defend' when the villain makes his own countermoves.
Nov 7, 2024 9:01 pm
...Anyways, the Wrecker is down to his last condition, so the fight shouldn't last too long. Any of you may make a Move.
Nov 19, 2024 3:55 pm
On the upside Wrecker will be nice and clean when he beats us silly?

Also Blacklight won't hold the portals open very long, she probably actually can't with so many under such stress so whomever posts next can keep that in mind for their descriptions.
Last edited November 19, 2024 3:56 pm
Nov 21, 2024 8:39 pm
@witchdoctor - I'll place Wrecker Sr's fate in your hands. He could have perished underneath the waves. He could have washed ashore. Or carried by the currents somewhere far away, picked up by some other superheroes (or your own team) and brought back to prison, or Blacklight could have lost track of him, leaving his fate in limbo. Or anything else of your choosing.
Nov 22, 2024 9:18 am
Leaving Wrecker, Sr.'s fate in limbo is a very comic-book thing to do...so I think that's a valid choice to make. There's no fun in killing off every villain you meet. Tho, I figure the authorities might be a bit skeptical about the ambiguity of his fate and aren't entirely convinced he didn't just escape.
Nov 22, 2024 6:05 pm
Honestly limbo is pretty on brand. It's not like it would be easy to keep track either since she intentionally picked a spot at the very farthest edge of her vision so he would effectively be a speck on a mountain top and very easy to lose track of.
Nov 23, 2024 3:59 pm
Yes, that does sound fitting. I see skychan already updated her post to say she she lost track of him. I'll give you a bit of time to react to that before I move things forward again
Nov 26, 2024 3:42 pm
Really the more I think about her darksight the weirdly creepier it gets. Especially thinking about the ocean at night, because for most when you look into water you can see things that are very near the surface but then the details get less and less, but for her at night it's the reverse where things near the surface are probably entirely invisible but as you get deeper then things become clearer and easier to see but still limited by her actual ability to see. And seeing this way has got to be sort of like x-ray vision but not quite the same. And when the idea of losing track of him came up it makes PERFECT sense in just how easy it would be for that to happen. I mean, the ocean has got to be like looking at the mountains from miles and miles away, and so you can 'see' a spot on a mountain but it is going to super easy to lose track of just what tiny spot you had been concentrating on. Especially as there is a weird layer between your normal vision and the mountain that is moving! darn waves!

You do not have permission to post in this thread.