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tushanshu_ooc2017-11-07 01:05 am
ironwood) wrote in tushanshu_ooc2017-11-07 01:05 am
SOTS - Game Transition Update - NOV 2017
Hello Chelonauts! As promised, the modteam has an update about some of the new mechanics for Khu Ioduan - Talents and Affinities!
These two mechanics are designed to give characters unique ways to grow and interact with the setting, as well as provide players with regular and semi-customized plot developments that don't require mod requests or direct interaction with named NPCs.
TALENTS
One of the gifts that will be bestowed upon the Dreamfolk on their arrival are referred to as Talents, a magical ability falling into one of five categories: Conjuration, Alteration, Destruction, Illusion, or Restoration. Higher levels improve scale, duration, reduction of limits, and level of interaction.
As part of the application, players will choose their top three category preferences, and the mods will assign an ability with a brief description as part of the acceptance notice.
Talents can be levelled up by spending Activity Check Points (ACP), to a maximum of 5 levels. The number of required ACP per level will be equal to the new level x3, i.e. if a character is at level 1 and wants to go to level 2, they need to spend 2*3 ACP = 6 ACP.
Below are some examples of one ability that falls under each category. There will be a wide variety of Talents and levels per Talent - the different strengths listed here are for the example Talents only, and each character will have their own unique ability.
AFFINITIES
Within Aifaran are some unofficial factions that represent some of the interests or aspects of the city life. These are not ICly recognized groups, in that they have no defined structure, but merely areas of general repute.
Upon application acceptance, each character will receive a randomized set of starter rankings totaling 20 points altogether, which are randomly distributed throughout all the factions using RNG when a character joins the game. This point cap will prevent anyone from being able to max out too many affinity factions at one time.
OOCly, each faction has ranks from 1-5 (1 being the lowest, 5 the highest), with each rank producing multiple different types of interaction with that group throughout the month. Players can choose to have their characters experience one or more of these instances to happen, depending on what their rank standing is with that respective group. Your characters may experience one or more of these scenarios, depending on their rank with this faction. Characters will not be required to experience all instances for all factions in a given month.
There will be a Google Spreadsheet kept current by the mods (similar to Tu Shanshu's Reward Points doc) that can be viewed by the players at any time, so players will always have access to their various Affinity standings at a glance.
EXAMPLE: CRIME
Affinity Rank Changes
Each month as part of AC, players will be required to submit their rank changes, moving 3 points total per month in any combination of their choosing. A faction affinity cannot be ranked at 0 or over 5. Part of the AC requirement will be a (VERY) brief description of the character's behaviour that led to the fluctuations in affinity.
EXAMPLE AC COMMENT:
FAQ
Questions, Suggestions & Feedback
These two mechanics are designed to give characters unique ways to grow and interact with the setting, as well as provide players with regular and semi-customized plot developments that don't require mod requests or direct interaction with named NPCs.
TALENTS
One of the gifts that will be bestowed upon the Dreamfolk on their arrival are referred to as Talents, a magical ability falling into one of five categories: Conjuration, Alteration, Destruction, Illusion, or Restoration. Higher levels improve scale, duration, reduction of limits, and level of interaction.
As part of the application, players will choose their top three category preferences, and the mods will assign an ability with a brief description as part of the acceptance notice.
EXAMPLE: Player lists Restoration, Illusion, and Alteration as their choices. On the app approval, mods assign the following:
• Sinking Touch (Alteration): Your character now has the ability to create pits of quicksand from regular ground. Right now, there is a size limit of ~2m radius, lasts around 10 minutes at a time, and can only be created from existing dirt or mud bases (not paved areas, etc). Higher levels will change these restrictions.
Talents can be levelled up by spending Activity Check Points (ACP), to a maximum of 5 levels. The number of required ACP per level will be equal to the new level x3, i.e. if a character is at level 1 and wants to go to level 2, they need to spend 2*3 ACP = 6 ACP.
Below are some examples of one ability that falls under each category. There will be a wide variety of Talents and levels per Talent - the different strengths listed here are for the example Talents only, and each character will have their own unique ability.
Conjuration - The ability to temporarily summon creations both animate and inanimate. Example: Summoning
Alteration - Changing the physical properties of an object, everything from dimensions to gravity. Example: Sculptcraft
Destruction - Creation of destructive elemental or metaphysical energies. Example: Shocking Grasp
Illusion - The ability to manipulate the mind and senses of others. Example: Eye of the Beholder
Restoration - Healing or restoring physical properties of both animate and inanimate targets. Example: Healing Touch
• Level 1: Can summon low tier worker minions of one type.
• Level 2: Can summon low tier combative minions of the same type as your Level 1 summon.
• Level 3: Can summon mid tier combatants or stationary turrets of the same type as your Level 2 summons
• Level 4: Can summon fairly powerful guardian creatures that can cause a wide variety of effects of the same type as your Level 3 summon.
• Level 5: You can summon a large and extremely powerful creature of the same type as your Level 4 summons. These creatures would require a great deal of maintenance, however and take considerable time and preparation.
• Level 2: Can summon low tier combative minions of the same type as your Level 1 summon.
• Level 3: Can summon mid tier combatants or stationary turrets of the same type as your Level 2 summons
• Level 4: Can summon fairly powerful guardian creatures that can cause a wide variety of effects of the same type as your Level 3 summon.
• Level 5: You can summon a large and extremely powerful creature of the same type as your Level 4 summons. These creatures would require a great deal of maintenance, however and take considerable time and preparation.
Alteration - Changing the physical properties of an object, everything from dimensions to gravity. Example: Sculptcraft
• Level 1: Transforming up to 1 cubic foot of inorganic material into basic shapes. Denser material is more difficult to shape (i.e. wood is easier to shape than metal).
• Level 2: Increase to a cubic yard/meter of inorganic material and more detail possible
• Level 3: You are Michelangelo; sculpting becomes deft and artistic up to 3 cubic meters. Go carve a David.
• Level 4: Can sculpt/shape materials into each other seamlessly up to 3 cubic meters
• Level 5: Can shape building-sized objects - 1 per week at most
• Level 2: Increase to a cubic yard/meter of inorganic material and more detail possible
• Level 3: You are Michelangelo; sculpting becomes deft and artistic up to 3 cubic meters. Go carve a David.
• Level 4: Can sculpt/shape materials into each other seamlessly up to 3 cubic meters
• Level 5: Can shape building-sized objects - 1 per week at most
Destruction - Creation of destructive elemental or metaphysical energies. Example: Shocking Grasp
• Level 1: The equivalent of a handheld stun gun. Quick electric shock, no lasting harm, but makes the tase-ee jump back or stuns them.
• Level 2: Electric eel. Stuns enemy for up to ten seconds and causes damage.
• Level 3: Set phasers to kill. 10,000 volts of electricity concentrated in one place.
• Level 4: Veers into the “weather” school by being able to summon lightning from the upper atmosphere for multiple strikes in one place.
• Level 5: Electromagnetic radiation control to the point where one could theoretically blow out large portions of Aifaran’s power grid for up to an hour. Please do not do that.
• Level 2: Electric eel. Stuns enemy for up to ten seconds and causes damage.
• Level 3: Set phasers to kill. 10,000 volts of electricity concentrated in one place.
• Level 4: Veers into the “weather” school by being able to summon lightning from the upper atmosphere for multiple strikes in one place.
• Level 5: Electromagnetic radiation control to the point where one could theoretically blow out large portions of Aifaran’s power grid for up to an hour. Please do not do that.
Illusion - The ability to manipulate the mind and senses of others. Example: Eye of the Beholder
• Level 1: a small illusion lasting two minutes and affecting sight. Should not be difficult to believe given the present situation.
• Level 2: an illusion lasting five to ten minutes and affecting sight. Moderate nonsensicality allowed; high levels of random will result in a lower time frame. (eg, a suddenly rampaging kirin is believable; a suddenly rampaging dragon will last half the time owing to disbelief.)
• Level 3: an illusion lasting ten minutes and affecting sight and sound. Can maintain up to three at once.
• Level 4: an illusion lasting 15-30 minutes depending on scale, and affecting up to three senses. Larger scale decreases time, as does unbelievability.
• Level 5: illusions last an hour, longer with maintained focus and shorter with number of targets and unbelievability. Can affect as many senses as the user can hold in mind.
• Level 2: an illusion lasting five to ten minutes and affecting sight. Moderate nonsensicality allowed; high levels of random will result in a lower time frame. (eg, a suddenly rampaging kirin is believable; a suddenly rampaging dragon will last half the time owing to disbelief.)
• Level 3: an illusion lasting ten minutes and affecting sight and sound. Can maintain up to three at once.
• Level 4: an illusion lasting 15-30 minutes depending on scale, and affecting up to three senses. Larger scale decreases time, as does unbelievability.
• Level 5: illusions last an hour, longer with maintained focus and shorter with number of targets and unbelievability. Can affect as many senses as the user can hold in mind.
Restoration - Healing or restoring physical properties of both animate and inanimate targets. Example: Healing Touch
• Level 1: Can cure surface abrasions and bruises, alleviate minor ailments and toxins
• Level 2: Can cure deep wounds, mend minor breaks, stop heavy/internal bleeding, cure minor illnesses and toxins, and treat moderate illnesses
• Level 3: Can heal moderate breaks and burns, and continuously rejuvenate an individual for up to five minutes
• Level 4: Can mass heal moderate injuries/illnesses of up to five people, and rejuvenate an individual for up to ten minutes.
• Level 5: Can alleviate major injuries and bring an individual back from near death, can cure major breaks, and completely nullify lethal poisons within 20 minutes of consumption.
• Level 2: Can cure deep wounds, mend minor breaks, stop heavy/internal bleeding, cure minor illnesses and toxins, and treat moderate illnesses
• Level 3: Can heal moderate breaks and burns, and continuously rejuvenate an individual for up to five minutes
• Level 4: Can mass heal moderate injuries/illnesses of up to five people, and rejuvenate an individual for up to ten minutes.
• Level 5: Can alleviate major injuries and bring an individual back from near death, can cure major breaks, and completely nullify lethal poisons within 20 minutes of consumption.
AFFINITIES
Within Aifaran are some unofficial factions that represent some of the interests or aspects of the city life. These are not ICly recognized groups, in that they have no defined structure, but merely areas of general repute.
• Justice (Guards/Law)
• Crime
• Faith
• Commerce
• Turtles
• Arts (Architecture/Creative Arts)
• Sci-Tech (Science/Technology/Engineering)
• Metaphysics (Magic/Mages/Planar)
• Crime
• Faith
• Commerce
• Turtles
• Arts (Architecture/Creative Arts)
• Sci-Tech (Science/Technology/Engineering)
• Metaphysics (Magic/Mages/Planar)
Upon application acceptance, each character will receive a randomized set of starter rankings totaling 20 points altogether, which are randomly distributed throughout all the factions using RNG when a character joins the game. This point cap will prevent anyone from being able to max out too many affinity factions at one time.
OOCly, each faction has ranks from 1-5 (1 being the lowest, 5 the highest), with each rank producing multiple different types of interaction with that group throughout the month. Players can choose to have their characters experience one or more of these instances to happen, depending on what their rank standing is with that respective group. Your characters may experience one or more of these scenarios, depending on their rank with this faction. Characters will not be required to experience all instances for all factions in a given month.
There will be a Google Spreadsheet kept current by the mods (similar to Tu Shanshu's Reward Points doc) that can be viewed by the players at any time, so players will always have access to their various Affinity standings at a glance.
EXAMPLE: CRIME
Rank 1
Rank 2
Rank 3
Rank 4
Rank 5
• Slippery Fingers: You are targeted for pickpocketing on the street!
• Get Trashed: Your property (home, work, etc) suffers vandalism.
• Shakedown: Your preferred places of patronage are harassed for protection money.
• Get Trashed: Your property (home, work, etc) suffers vandalism.
• Shakedown: Your preferred places of patronage are harassed for protection money.
Rank 2
• Supply & Demand: You sense eyes on you frequently, and when looking to purchase your usual staples, you find them either out of stock or ridiculously marked up in price. If asked, the shopkeepers will avoid answering the questions, as if they've been intimidated into silence.
Rank 3
• Swag Swap: You are targeted for a mugging, but you're offered a cheap set of crystal glasses in exchange for all you lose.
• Insurance: You're offered an insurance policy against theft for the month, but if you don't pay up, you may be more heavily targeted.
• Insurance: You're offered an insurance policy against theft for the month, but if you don't pay up, you may be more heavily targeted.
Rank 4
• Mistaken Identity: During what looks like it will be a mugging, the perpetrator seems to recognize you and breaks off the attempt.
• Guardian Criminal: Alternatively, during what looks to be a mugging, ANOTHER mugger will intervene, successfully chasing the first offender away from you.
• Guardian Criminal: Alternatively, during what looks to be a mugging, ANOTHER mugger will intervene, successfully chasing the first offender away from you.
Rank 5
• Sudden Windfall: An anonymous person mails you a package containing what is definitely stolen, but likely untraceable, money and luxury items, the contents of which are now yours to do with as you please!
Affinity Rank Changes
Each month as part of AC, players will be required to submit their rank changes, moving 3 points total per month in any combination of their choosing. A faction affinity cannot be ranked at 0 or over 5. Part of the AC requirement will be a (VERY) brief description of the character's behaviour that led to the fluctuations in affinity.
EXAMPLE AC COMMENT:
Character: Pepper Potts
AC Proof 1 (required): LINK
AC Proof 2 (optional): LINK
Allegiance Rank Changes: +2 Science, -1 Faith
Notes: Pepper offered to teach a class on network basics to some less-than-tech-savvy elders (+2 Science) but flipped off some Ban Om devotees when they wouldn't take a hint (-1 Faith).
AC Proof 1 (required): LINK
AC Proof 2 (optional): LINK
Allegiance Rank Changes: +2 Science, -1 Faith
Notes: Pepper offered to teach a class on network basics to some less-than-tech-savvy elders (+2 Science) but flipped off some Ban Om devotees when they wouldn't take a hint (-1 Faith).
FAQ
Question: What happens if my character gets randomized Affinity ranks that don't make sense? IE; my sweet cinnamon roll gets a high Crime ranking?
Answer: That's half the fun! ICly, it's explained by characters arriving that don't have any background in the city yet. Since these aren't literal, recognized factions, it's a little bendable. Maybe they're going with a gut feeling. Maybe they just don't like your character's face. Who knows! These rankings aren’t static either - they go up or down with each AC, depending on what you want for your character.
Question: What if I don't want to use any of the instances for my faction rankings?
Answer: You don’t really have to if there isn’t anything in there you’d want to play with. Or make up something (reasonably) within the parameters that would be better suited to your character!
Question: What happens when I max out my Talent ranking?
Answer: At the moment, the ranking is capped at 5 levels, which will take 15 AC points to achieve. At a maximum of 2 ACP per month, that's still a long way off, so we haven't instituted anything concretely set for players who want to progress their Talents beyond that yet. We'll be reviewing that once players start to get closer to that threshold, OR if we see that the current progression tree isn't working out.
Question: Can't I choose my own Talent? What happens if I get one that I don't think suits my character?
Answer Talents can be a great source of new CR, with everything from learning how to use them, to ICly studying to rank up the skill tree, to applying them in practical situations (even if that means summoning an imp to carry your groceries.) Contrasting skill sets to a character's personality or main behavioural traits is just more opportunity for that.
Answer: That's half the fun! ICly, it's explained by characters arriving that don't have any background in the city yet. Since these aren't literal, recognized factions, it's a little bendable. Maybe they're going with a gut feeling. Maybe they just don't like your character's face. Who knows! These rankings aren’t static either - they go up or down with each AC, depending on what you want for your character.
Question: What if I don't want to use any of the instances for my faction rankings?
Answer: You don’t really have to if there isn’t anything in there you’d want to play with. Or make up something (reasonably) within the parameters that would be better suited to your character!
Question: What happens when I max out my Talent ranking?
Answer: At the moment, the ranking is capped at 5 levels, which will take 15 AC points to achieve. At a maximum of 2 ACP per month, that's still a long way off, so we haven't instituted anything concretely set for players who want to progress their Talents beyond that yet. We'll be reviewing that once players start to get closer to that threshold, OR if we see that the current progression tree isn't working out.
Question: Can't I choose my own Talent? What happens if I get one that I don't think suits my character?
Answer Talents can be a great source of new CR, with everything from learning how to use them, to ICly studying to rank up the skill tree, to applying them in practical situations (even if that means summoning an imp to carry your groceries.) Contrasting skill sets to a character's personality or main behavioural traits is just more opportunity for that.
Questions, Suggestions & Feedback
If you have a question that we haven't answered here, or you have feedback/suggestions on these two game mechanics that will be going into play, please let us know on this post!
Questions
2) Also, is there a set list that the mods will have for talents? Or will you all simply use your creative magical powers to come up with new and unique ones?
3) Are the Dreamfolk the only ones who have talents?
Re: Questions
2) Each character will get a unique ability from one of the Talent schools, so no one will have the same as anyone else.
3) Yes, the native races to Khu Ioduan don’t receive Talents. The current speculation ICly by those races is that it is something to do with their arrival by the Dreaming, similar to how soul gems were attached to Foreigners on arrival.