OOC: "Lost In Space: Survive and Thrive"

[DeadManTyping]

OOC
"Lost In Space: Survive and Thrive"

IMPORTANT NOTE:
In order to keep this OOC manageable, I beg of you all...
Please only post your interest in the game here and nothing else
unless you get prior approval from the GM.
I am taking on a lot here, and I really need for this thread
NOT to become a chat room.
Thank you so very much.​

The Story -- The background and unfolding story both.

Universal Knowledge: An explanation of how all PCs know everything the other PCs know.

The Universal Encyclopedia (link coming)​

Game & Role Play; 1x1 & Group -- an explanation of how this is part game, part role play.

How to Join -- becoming a player.​

Planet "X": A description.

Characters: a list of all PCs and their corresponding NPCs.

Shuttle Section #1 -- Writer: DeadManTyping

Shuttle Section #2 -- Writer: AliceInChains36​

I will add more information later.

 

[DeadManTyping]

Planet "X"​

Discovery:

• Our characters never expected to be here on Planet X.
• Therefore, the information below begins very minimally.
• As the characters learn more, it will be added below.

Location of Planet X:

• Far, far away.
• Exact location relative to Earth is unknown.

Astronomy:

• 1 moon (remarkably similar to Earth's moon).
• 20 hour day.
• Length of year: unknown.

Terrain, climate, and environment:

• Tropical rainforest.
• Hot and humid.
• Considerable, diverse plant and animal life.

 

[DeadManTyping]

List of Characters:​

(Coming)


List of Players and their Player Characters (PCs):

• DeadManTyping, your Game Master. (For experimentation only.)
  • PC #1:
    • NPC #1
    • NPC #2
    • NPC #3
    • NPC #4
    • NPC #5
    • NPC #6

 

[DeadManTyping]

The Story:
Background and Continuing​

Background:

• En route to a distant planet, a transport carrying thousands of settlers is redirected to a different planet in a different star system.
• The original destination has vast, flat plains onto which the transport's shuttles would have glided to safe landings.
• This new planet, however, is covered by mountains and thick rain forests.
• The shuttles crash land, to varying degrees of damage and loss.
• Fortunately for the crash survivors, the planet is inhabitable.
• Unfortunately for these survivors, the planet is inhospitable.
• Dangers lurk in every direction, from microbes to monsters.

The Unfolding Story:

• Not here yet, but soon.

 

[DeadManTyping]

Game and Role Play Both:

• "Lost In Space: Survive and Thrive" is both game and role play.
• The game portion is similar to dice driven, table top games (such as Dungeons and Dragons).
  • The die roll portion will be very simplified.
  • Most die roll situations will require just 1D6 ("one die, six sided", for those of you unfamiliar with such game terminology) or 2D6 rolls. That's about as complex as the rolls will get.
  • I actually plan on having 2D6 at home, at work, in my car, etc.
  • By doing so, I can respond to Game Thread replies from my phone where ever I am at the time.
  • Sometimes, I will post the odds of results for certain events prior to them taking place, so the players will know up front into what kind of danger they are getting their PCs.
• The role play portion is typical creative and interactive story telling.
• Often the two elements play off one another. For example:
  • After a die roll (game portion) sets a large predator upon your characters, you may have the chance of describing the creature (creative role play).
  • After describing the creature, you may get experience points to spend on your characters/situation (game portion).

1x1 and Small Group Role Play Both:

• Players have two ways of playing:
  • 1x1: If you prefer 1x1 role plays, your player characters (PCs) and that PC's non player characters (NPCs) can be isolated away from the other players' PCs/NPCs. You can play only with the Game Master.
  • Group Role Play, Small or Large: If you prefer, your PCs/NPCs can be in the same locale as those of other players. (You will still play with the Game Master, of course.)
  • After we have ironed out some wrinkles, you can create additional PCs and play them in an a new or existing 1x1 or in a new or existing group role play. (Concerning the latter, you must have the existing player'(s) permission to join.)
• Leaving a group role play:
  • If you find you are not happy in an existing group role play for whatever reason, there are easy ways to separate PCs into 1x1s or smaller groups.
  • Every player is different. Every writer is different.
  • No one should be offended if a fellow player wishes to go a different direction.

 

[AngelEyes1994]

Hi. I am just today returning to role play. I had an issue force me to simply walk away. I'm afraid that I disappointed some of my fellow writers, so if you are not interested in having me participate in your game, I totally understand. But your concept sounds very interesting. I used to play Dungeons & Dragons, so the idea of a table top SciFi game sounds really neat.

If you are willing to take a chance on me, just tell me what I need to do.

 

[DeadManTyping]

I am all about Second Chances, so don't sweat it.

Anyway about joining, I'm in the process of designing a system by which players can allot 100 points towards, for example:

• The number of non-player characters they wish to have;
• The number and diversity of resources they wish to begin with;
• The expertise that some of their player characters and/or non-player characters have in certain areas;
• And more.

The idea is to allow the player to decide what is more important to them: having lots of non-player characters to act as sacrificial lambs, to have just 1 or 2 highly skilled player characters or 3 or more halfway intelligent ones, etc. in a minimal number vs more non-player characters with slightly lower skills, and such forth. When I get home and can get to my computer I will better edit this to make it easier to read, but for now I think this is ok.

 

[Aliceinchains36]

This thread looks pretty cool. I may join

 

[Kenzie63]

I am really intrigued by this. Would love to join.

 

[TertiusHuman]

I will not lie.

The concept interests me and I even have a character idea already

 

[AngelEyes1994]

I am excited to see so many other people excited. I can't wait to get involved.

 

[DeadManTyping]

I will be working on this today at lunch and this evening. I hope to have us all posting to the in character thread before the weekend is up

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Sounds good and I am interested in joining

 

[rBo3guK]

i pmed you but you didnt reply, and everyone is writing here - i'd like to join.

 

[DeadManTyping]

i pmed you but you didnt reply, and everyone is writing here - i'd like to join.

Yeah, sorry about that. Originally I asked for interested players not to post their interest here. Then I realized that such posts act as a bump for the thread. As far as not PMing you back, that was an oversight. Sorry.

 

[DeadManTyping]

Joining the Game/RP​

NOTE:

• I have been told by a handful of prospective players that the Character Sheet is overwhelming and confusing.
• Therefore, I am going to restructure it.
• If you haven't already begun a Character Profile, DON'T.
• I will remove this note when the Sheet is ready.
• If you subscribe to this thread, you will see my announcement that the Sheet is ready.

It's been a while:

• I have not GM'd a table top role play in a long time.
• I will make mistakes, and then I will fix them.
• Be patient with me, please.

Questions, Suggestions, and Complaints:

• If you have questions, suggestions, or comments, please PM them to me.
• Do not post them here in this OOC.
• Managing the OOC is going to be difficult enough.
• Please do not turn it into a chat room.

The story -- your story -- begins:

• Our game begins with the crash on Planet X of dozens of Transport Shuttles.
• Each player begins with 1-3 PCs and a group of NPCs.
• In D&D, players roll dice to establish their character's abilities.
• In our game, each player is given an initial number of points to spend on:
  • A PC and that PC's skill or career, called a field of interest (FOI).
  • That PC's non player characters (NPCs), collectively called a section.
  • Initial resources.
  • And modifiers of the above.
• I will send you a Player Character Sheet:
  • Complete the sheet.
  • PM the sheet to the GM.
  • Once the sheet is posted here, you can post to the IC thread.

 

[DeadManTyping]

CHARACTER SHEET:

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Click this link to open the sample profile sheet I created for my "practice" PCs/NPCs. Take a look at the sheet to get an idea of what your sheet will look like when you finish.
• Come back to this post.
• Select "Quote" in the bottom right.
• Copy and paste this entire post into a PM to the GM (me).
• Answer all of the questions.
• Be sure that your answers are to the right of the Bold formatting so that your answers are not bolded.
• Delete the instructions and explanations, saving only what is in bold (and, of course, your answers).
• Review your sheet, check your math (for the spending of XPs).
• PM the sheet to me.

EXPERIENCE POINTS (XPs):

• Despite having had no experiences yet, each Player begins with 300 Experience Points (XP).
• You can spend some or all of your XP on:
  • Player Characters (PCs).
  • Non Player Characters (NPCs).
  • Increased Experience Levels of either or both.
  • And Resources (Gear, Food, and Water).
• You can save some of your XPs for later use.
• And you can earn more XPs:
  • By successfully performing tasks.
  • Making smart decisions.
  • And writing creative role play posts.
• After you settle in, you can spend more points. Think of it as discovering resources, an additional PC or two, or more NPCs in the jungle over the next day or two.
• Whether you play 1, 2, or 3 PCs, each player begins with 300 XP total, not 300 XP per PC.

PLAYER CHARACTERS (25 points)

• All players begin with 1-3 PCs on the same shuttle.
• Each PC begins with an Experience Level (XL) =3.
• 3 PC forms are available below.
• Delete any you don't use.
• Remember, you can add PCs at any point if you have enough points.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Player Character #1: Name:

• Age and Gender:
• Field Of Interest:
• Value to Section: Expand on your FOI if you wish:
• Experience Level:
• Die Roll Modifiers: Ignore this!
  • FOI related: Ignore this!
  • Non-FOI related: Ignore this!
• Modification Sources: Ignore this!
  • Ignore this.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Player Character #2: Name:

• Age and Gender:
• Field Of Interest:
• Value to Section: Expand on your FOI if you wish:
• Experience Level:
• Die Roll Modifiers: Ignore this!
  • FOI related: Ignore this!
  • Non-FOI related: Ignore this!
• Modification Sources: Ignore this!
  • Ignore this.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Player Character #3: Name:

• Age and Gender:
• Field Of Interest:
• Value to Section: Expand on your FOI if you wish:
• Experience Level:
• Die Roll Modifiers: Ignore this!
  • FOI related: Ignore this!
  • Non-FOI related: Ignore this!
• Modification Sources: Ignore this!
  • Ignore this.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOI and MODIFIERS:

About PC FOI:

• This is your PC's skill.
• The following are just a few examples of FOIs. Their original duties are obvious in their name. I've also commented on how they might serve a purpose on Planet X. I am sure you will have your own ideas for FOIs. You can either PM me to discuss it or simply put it here and, if I have an issue with it, I'll PM you:
  • Security: their weapons training means they will make good hunters.
  • Transport Officer/Shuttle Pilot: leadership, security, perhaps some technological expertise should it become necessary.
  • Medic: this is a gimme.
  • Botanist/farmer: helpful in identifying and classifying flora.
  • Zoologist/rancher: helpful in identifying and classifying fauna.
  • Dietician/Herbalist: naturalist, aid to the medics and botanists maybe ... whatever.
  • These are just ideas.

FOI Modifier:

• Each PC cost of 25 points gives you an adequately trained but not highly experienced "professional".
• For example, 25 points gets you a Medic, not a Surgeon; a book-learned scientist, not a celebrated Nobel prize winner; a respected leader, not a worshipped God.
• Each XL3 PC will perform adequately enough to be appreciated by his/her Section. But (s)he won't be solving all of the Section's problems overnight; nor will (s)he have total loyalty from his/her Section.
• Also, the greater the difference between a PC's XL and his/her Section's XL, the more loyalty (s)he will get from the Section. For example, an XL6 PC leader gets more loyalty and respect from an XL2 Section than an XL4 PC Leader gets from an XL3 Section.
• You can modify the PC's FOI level if you wish.
• Each increase in Level adds a +1 modifier to all 2D6 rolls affected by that PC's FOI Experience Level.
• XL modifiers aren't cheap:
  • Level 3 to Level 4 cost is 25 points.
  • Level 4 to Level 5 cost is 50 points.
  • Level 5 to Level 6 cost is 100 points.
  • And so on...

NPC Section: Note that all NPCs must be the same XL.

• NPCs:
• Experience Level: XL=

Explaining NPCs:

• NPC's cost 1 point each.
• They act as sacrificial lambs (when fatalities occur), laborers, scavengers/foragers, and security.
• A Section begins collectively as XL=1.
• However, the Section's XL can be modified -- increasing their value and effectiveness in the above 4 duties -- by spending points:
  • Level 1 to Level 2 cost is 1 additional point per NPC.
  • Level 2 to Level 3 cost is 2 additional points per NPC.
  • Level 3 to Level 4 cost is 4 additional points per NPC.
  • And so on...
• If you decide you need additional NPCs at a later point, they join the Section at the current XL and cost (ie, if the Section is XL=4, the new NPCs cost 8 XPs each; 1+1+2+4=8).
• Increasing 1 level adds +1 to die rolls for the Section, making it harder to kill NPCs, making them work harder and more efficiently, etc.

Resources:

• Food:
• Water:

IGNORE THE CALCULATIONS PORTION AND SKIP TO THE EXPLANATION PORTION BELOW.

Experience Point Expenditures: Before post = 300 XP

• Spent:
  • for PCs @ 25 XP each
  • for XL increase (XL=3 to XL=)
  • for NPCs @ 1 XP each
  • for units of Food @ 5 units/XP
  • for units of Water @ 5 units/XP
• Gained:
  • .
• CURRENT XP BALANCE: 300 - = remaining XP

Explanation of Resources:

• Each Shuttle carried not only a Section of colonists but their Resources.
• The crash of the Shuttles resulted in a loss of Resources.
• For our purposes, only Food and Water will be tracked (produced and consumed).
• How many Resources survived is a function of what you want to spend to save them.
  • Food:
    • Food, obviously, gets eaten.
    • Food can be replaced via recovery (from the greater crash site) or foraging (from the environment). Be cautious of eating things with which you are unfamiliar!
    • 1 unit of Food will sustain a NPC for 1 day.
    • 1 XP will buy 5 units of Food.
  • Water:
    • Water, obviously, gets drank.
    • Water can be replaced via recovery (from the greater crash site) or foraging (from the environment). Be cautious of drinking unfiltered water!
    • 1 unit of Water will sustain a NPC for 1 day.
    • 1 XP will buy 5 units of Water.

 

[DeadManTyping]

A Universe of Knowledge​

Explanation:

• There is only one OOC.
• It will contain all discoveries made and lessons learned by all PCs, regardless of their proximity to other PCs.
• To account for the knowledge one player will glean from another, regardless of whether or not they have PCs in proximity to one another, we are going to pretend that every crash site is connected to the still-orbiting mother ship via satellite communication.
• The PCs make frequent reports to the mother ship as it passes overhead; and as it does so, the mother ship downloads that accumulated information to the crash locations ... to all of the crash locations.
• Therefore, all PCs (players) know anything and everything that the other PCs (players) know ... universal knowledge.

The Universal Encyclopedia:

• I will create a Universal Encyclopedia in which information I deem important is catalogued.
• It will be located at this link (still to come), with information linked alphabetically.
• I would advise players to subscribe to it as some important information will only be found here, while other topics initially discussed in the IC will be expanded upon here.
• Please, please, pleeeeeease ... do not post in the Encyclopedia! If I have forgotten to add something or added it but incorrectly so, PM me about the issue.

 

[DeadManTyping]

Okay, the Character Sheet is ready ... I hope.

You will find a link to it in the 1st post of the OOC.

I am using my own instructions to create a Section of my own, for practice. I just want to make sure everything works. If you want to wait until I have finished it before you take the time to create your own sheet, feel free. If you are in a hurry to get it done, get it done.

Please remember that sheets are to be PMd to the GM, not posted directly here.

I will start the Game (IC) Thread tomorrow.

 

[DeadManTyping]

I forgot something:

• Each Profile Sheet is for a different Shuttle crash site.
• If you want to write 1 crash site, this information is irrelevant to you.
• But if you want to write 2-3 different crash sites, you need to complete a Profile Sheet for each crash site.
• Keep in mind that you only get 300 XPs to start total, not 300 XPs per crash site.

 

[DeadManTyping]

Shuttle #1

Writer: DeadManTyping

Current XP = 140 (last updated Day 1)​

Player Character #1: Rob Davis

• 34 year old male
• Field Of Interest: Shuttle Pilot, Lieutenant Commander.
• Value to Section: Leadership.
• Experience Level: XL=4
• Die Roll Modifiers:
  • FOI related: +3.
  • Non-FOI related: +1
• Modification Sources:
  • 25 XP spent to increase XL from 3 to 4.

Player Character #2: Gina Martinez

• 26 year old female
• Field Of Interest: Medic
• Value to Section: Medical; nutritional.
• Experience Level: XL=3
• Die Roll Modifiers: None

Player Character #3: Andrei Blok

• 22 year old male.
• Field of Interest: Botanist/farmer.
• Value to Section: Plant identification, cultivation (when the time comes)
• Experience Level: XL=1
• FOI Modifier (if any): None.

NPC Section:

• NPCs: 30
• Experience Level: XL=1

Resources: Last updated Day 1

• Food: 100 units
• Water: 50 units

Experience Point Expenditures: Before post = 300 XP

• Spent:
  • 75 for 3 PCs @ 25 XP each
  • 25 for 1 XL increase (XL=3 to XL=4)
  • 30 for 30 NPCs @ 1 XP each
  • 20 for 100 units of Food @ 5 units/XP
  • 10 for 50 units of Water @ 5 units/XP
• Gained:
  • None
• CURRENT XP BALANCE: 300 - 160 = 140 remaining XP

 

[DeadManTyping]

Shuttle #2

Writer: AliceInChains36​

Player Character #1: Dr. Melanie Blake

• 23 year old female
• Field Of Interest: Doctor (medic)
• Value to section: Doctor, co-leader
• Experience Level: XL=5
• Die Roll Modifiers:
  • FOI related: +4.
  • Non-FOI related: +2
• Modification Sources:
  • 75 XP spent to increase XL from 3 to 5.
• Personal Notes:
  • Melanie was a medical prodigy, the reason she's such a high level at such a young age.

Player Character #2: Sergeant Amelia Weaver

• 26 year old female:
• Field Of Interest: Security.
• Value to section: Leader, strategist, and survival and military training.
• Experience Level: XL = 4
• Die Roll Modifiers:
  • FOI related: +3.
  • Non-FOI related: +1
• Modification Sources:
  • 25 XP spent to increase XL from 3 to 4.

NPC Section:

• NPCs: 35
• Experience Level: XL=2
• Die Roll Modifiers: +1
• Modification Sources:
  • 35 XP spent to increase XL from 1 to 2.

Resources: Last updated Day 1

• Food: 100 units
• Water: 100 units

Experience Point Balance: Before post = 300 XP

• Spent:
  • 50 for 2 PCs @ 25 XP each
  • XL increases:
    • 75 for PC #1 (XL=3 to 5)
    • 25 for PC #2 (XL=3 to 4)
  • 35 for 35 NPCs @ 1 XP each
  • 35 for NPC XL increase (XL=1 to 2)
  • 20 for 100 units of Food (5 units/XP)
  • 20 for 100 units of Water (5 units/XP)
• Gained:
  • 50 for a great profile presentation. (Thanks!)
• CURRENT XP BALANCE: 300 - 260 + 50 = 90 XP

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

.....

 

[AngelEyes1994]

To my fellow writers:

It doesn't appear as if DeadManTyping (DMT) is coming back.

I am interested in Hosting and continuing this idea, but not with the complexity that DMT was.

Is there anyone interested in something like the following:

• All PCs would be at the same crash site.
  • This would make handling resources easier. (I never understood how DMT was going to handle that.)
  • PCs can operate alone or with others.
• NPCs will initially be written by the Host (me):
  • NPCs will follow the actions and ideas of PCs who impress them.
  • PCs who thoroughly impress NPCs with their actions will "attract" them permanently, putting them in the hands of the PC's writer.
  • NPCs assigned to PCs still act as sacrificial lambs, allowing the PCs to do more risky things without getting themselves killed.

Just an idea. I would like some input from those of you who expressed an interest.

Just FYI, I like sexual role play as well as games, so ... if anyone is interested in characters interacting sexually, we can do that in threads in the SRP forum that could be linked here. (I did this one before in another role play, and it was great.)

Anyway, post your response to my idea here. (I don't have a problem with this becoming a chat thread because, if we do this, I'll be starting a different OOC thread anyway. And I doubt that DMT will have a problem with it ... cuz he's gone.

 

[Kenzie63]

I'll jump on bored with your idea Angel. Was really hoping he was coming back but I like your idea too.