Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Last Parsec Archetypes: Truf Field Medic



Between arboreal titans swaddling planets and deader-esque seeds taking root in deceased husks, plant-based sentients are a diverse lot beyond the slight, flowery leeks. For instance, look at the intelligent fungi of Sequoia Prime. Dwelling in subterranean cities carved from the root network of deceased forerunners earned them the nickname "trufs". Their bipedal forms are actually a super-organism of cooperating colonies in constant chemical communication. Each colony has it's own sensory organs so while a truf's body is functionally covered in eyeballs, it can be difficult to parse all the information. The truf were exposed to the Big Empty when flaming wreckage and an escape pod crash landed. Though the serran occupant died from his injuries the truf city learned the best way they knew how - consumption. Horrified by their actions once they had expanded context, the truf species as a whole made a concerted effort to join the larger galactic community and ease suffering.

Truf use plural pronouns.

SPECIES - TRUF - Hardy, Regeneration - or Whole Body is a Brain (+1 die size to Smarts), No Vital Organs, Dependency (Moisture/water), Environmental Weakness (Heat/Fire), Bad Eyes

STATS - Strength D4 Agility D6 Vitality D6 Smarts D8 Spirit D6
SKILLS - Healing D8 Notice D6 Knowledge (Science) D4 Repair D6 Shooting D6 Weird Science D10
PARRY 2 TOUGHNESS 9(4) CHARISMA 0
EDGES Arcane Background (Weird Science), Luck
HINDRANCES -  Pacifist -or- Curious (Major), Stubborn (Minor), Big Mouth (Minor) 
EQUIPMENT - Tranquilizer Pistol (2d6+1, causes Fatigue rather than Wounds), Medi-Scanner, Body Armor, 10 tubes of Medi-Gel, Personal Data Device, $100 spending cash.
POWER - Xenoherbal Medication (Boost Trait) -or- Ablative Mushroom Patch (Deflection) -or- Hallucinogenic Spores (Fear)-or- Anesthetic Aerosol (Stun) -or- 2 Fun guys (Summon Ally)


Monday, June 25, 2018

Last Parsec Archetypes: Rokishi

One of the most popular sports in the Known Worlds, RoboSumo's regulating body is a mega-corp in its own right. The objective is simple - remove your opponent from the ring via push or pull, no closed fists. The Kumite Directive manufactures competitors, sets the standings, designates tonnage, referees matches, and negotiates the broadcast distributions for the hundreds of tournaments that take place across the galaxy. The competing droids are organized in indentured stables (also called heya) and earn out their contracts through victories. Most rokishi continue competing long after their indenture ends, though they aren't an uncommon sight on JumpCorp vessels. Life outside the ring is hard for synthetic beings built for ritual combat, constant drills and contests leave little room to develop other skills.

Rokishi names combine the name of their stable and the last two digits of their serial number, they often take on new names after completing their indenture.

The Rokishi is inspired by Brando and Hercules,  from Urasawa's manga Pluto. There's a great article on the series here. Also check out 17776, which is excellent. Wikipedia's synopsis is here.

SPECIES - DROID - Construct, Mods, Vow (Major) Loyalty to the Kumite Directive and abiding by their rulings, Weakness (Electricity) +4 damage from electricity, Outsider (Major) Terminator prejudice, Dependency (Recharging)
MODIFICATIONS - Increase Size x 2

STATS - Strength D10 Agility D8 Vitality D6 Smarts D6 Spirit D6
SKILLS - Athletics D8 Fighting D10 Intimidate D6 Notice D6 Knowledge (Botany) D6 Knowledge (your choice) D4
PARRY 7  TOUGHNESS 12 (4) CHARISMA -2
EDGES - Geared Up
HINDRANCES -  Overconfident -or- Clueless (Major), Quirk (Minor) the courtesies of ritual combat, Obese (Minor)
EQUIPMENT - Atomic Palms (d10+d4+d6, on a raise deal +d10), Body Armor (+4 Armor), $300 in spending cash

SAMPLE NAMES - Rikkidozan61,  Leontiskos51, Wakahamada02, MontBlanc21, Rousey11, Milo88, Akebono79, Gesicht38, Gracie92, Severn13, Kimura27, Kototenzan40



Friday, June 1, 2018

TORG: No Place Like Home


With Torg Eternity's release, Tharkold is my favorite cosm. This mash-up of Terminator, Dark City, and Hellraiser is even more interesting because the savage frontier of the Blasted Land is on its doorstep. I want it to be more Stalker/Roadside Picnic than Mad Max. 
Here's my first step towards making that happen. Because everyone needs a cool home base. 

With the Federation allied with the Reality Raiders, everyday Russian life adopts levels of scrutiny and suspicion rivaling the Cold War. The cities close off as the military seizes transit ways while fleets of surveillance drones scour the countryside. Outside the Wolf's piercing gaze, the Blasted Land is an Ostern dream. The rugged mix of taiga and arid waste awash in  nano-weirdness makes surviving here a rough proposition. Even if insurgency is the best/only way to oppose Tharkold without sparking World War 3. To operate in the Blasted Land, you need an outpost.
First you pick 3-5 features, followed by 2 internal conflicts, and 2 external threats.


Simeon Todorov
Features (pick 3-5)- an abandoned prison, shanties, crude farming, all these pigeons, tunnels into underground vaults, moldy tarps and re-purposed plastics collecting rainwater, feral kids, trailer park chemistry lab, wrecked automobiles or airplanes, rail yard with a working yard goat, Orthodox church sanctuary, heavy industrial remains, eerie totems and graffiti, glowing algae, bustling marketplace, motor pool worth bragging, a fine coating of rust, a well-stocked infirmary, a rickety still made from a radiator, alien flora in bloom, sophisticated armory, an autofactory running on fumes, a library with mixed knowledge, a high frequency radio antennae, exercise bike generator, at a crossroads, so much barbed wire, watch towers with good sightlines

Conflicts (choose 2)- squalid conditions breed sickness, you owe protection tribute, there isn't enough work to go around, scant weaponry, you're a bunch of jackals, too many mouths to feed, potable water is scarce, there aren't very many of you, you provide protection to other outposts, plans of action, faith traditions or lack thereof, psychic privacy, people come and go as they please, your technology is finicky and fragile, the desperate escape with a needle

Threats (choose 2)- two Tharkoldu prides fighting over territory, a labour of bear-sized moles, "Krokodil" a predatory trader, psychic raiders threatening your food and secrets, man-eating anomalies triggered by iron, packs of pangolin scaled wolves, deniable military personnel, gray goo breaking down organic matter, a borganism calling themselves "Zmei", Koschie necrotechnicians were drawn by a recent battle, a recently seeded gospog farm, cenobites worshiping the Blast, weird weather like skyquakes and acid rain, a squad of "Laika" Retrievers stalk the area, cracks in Reality's sidewalk


Fallout 4's Pilgrim mod