[OOC] MnM 3e - In the Shadow of Imperator

[mrdent12]

I'll need to catch up on it, but I am good either way. If I'm being honest, a break from combat would be nice. So, not sure where we were on the comms link mission.

Also, I got a it carried away with my post and the words just came out. I spaced on Carmans name so left it as a place holder.

[Sakuro]

It would be better not to return to the comms mission just yet then. You were just getting ready to enter a tactical encounter that likely would have included some combat.


EDIT:
Read your post. Man, Diego took every opportunity he could to throw Iona under the bus.

[Supernaturalist]

Sakuro,

I just had an idea (which means it's probably bad, but I'll throw it out there anyway). Since mrdent12 and I are the only one's with PCs, what do you think of the idea of one (or both) of us playing one of the other major characters like Reaper or Hitori? Not only are both those characters important parts of the story, they add some serious firepower to the group that we could probably use. How about Carman? Maybe we could give it a try and if you don't like it, they could be come NPCs again.

I realize that mrdent12 is pretty busy with work and other games, but I'm only playing this one game (and have no desire to play in any of the other games at the moment). I could try to pick up another character and write for them. Would that be too weird?

[mrdent12]

I am down a person in my already understaffed team, so in addition to my normal lead duties I am picking up the slack there as well. So, picking up another PC to play at this point would be a bit draining. It's also partly why I had Diego step back from micromanaging in the previous encounter.

Coincidentally, it jives with Diego's current path he's struggling. Before it was morality, but the current one is taking up the mantle of leadership.

[Sakuro]

That is an interesting idea Supernaturalist. There are some game systems where you play an NPC in addition to your main character. In Wraith the Oblivion you play your PC and another player's Shadow (their dark side). In A Manner of Speaking you play your PC and another player's contact, friend or other close relationship.

Since you have been active and consistently posting, I think it is alright for you to take on a second character. You would need to get the permission of the person who created one of the past PCs or guest star characters (Glyph for Carman, Camus for Hitori, Nariek for Reaper). You may also make a new character. They'd be considered an NPC, and not have the same narrative weight as Iona, but it would give your group more options.

The new character would follow the same creation rules everyone started with: PL 7 mundane human with 105 PP.

[Supernaturalist]

I just checked the last activity of all three PC creators. Here's what it looks like:
Camus - Last active:Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:06 pm
Nareik123 - Last active:Mon Dec 09, 2019 9:18 am
Glyph - Last active:Tue Aug 18, 2020 10:38 am

I looks like they might not get back to me for awhile. I think I'll go the with the "mundane Expert" option. I'm willing to play any type of character that would add something to the overall story. I do think, however, that this particular character should be loyal to Praetor Null. I think it would unbalance things to have a player with two characters supporting the same faction (even though they are ostensibly on the same side).

I had thought about someone who had pilot (and military) skills, but now that the Singapore mission has been removed from the group, I'm not sure such a character would be as valuable. Still, in the future, such a skilled character could help the group travel to foreign destinations in some sort of super-science craft. This could re-open missions outside of Hadron City again. I have a question: Did Hadron City have any sort of "Air Force" to speak of? What did their air defenses mostly consist of? Drones? Missiles? Lasers?

[Sakuro]

I do think, however, that this particular character should be loyal to Praetor Null. I think it would unbalance things to have a player with two characters supporting the same faction (even though they are ostensibly on the same side).

Were the PCs able to recruit another faction to the cause, such as the Jaguars or Temple of the Holy Martyr, I would allow a character to be from one of those factions. However, right now it is just Praetor Null and Dr. Sokolov's groups.

had thought about someone who had pilot (and military) skills, but now that the Singapore mission has been removed from the group, I'm not sure such a character would be as valuable.

Right now the group does not have an aircraft, or any reliable transport for that matter. Nor do they have the logistics to support one: the HQ is lacking an appropriate Feature such as hangar or Garage. Someone who specializes in piloting a vehicle would not be able to play up their specialty.

I have a question: Did Hadron City have any sort of "Air Force" to speak of?

Imperator invaded Hadron City with a fleet of stealth aircraft of varying compositions. Impreator's HQ was a mobile flying "Sky Fortress" that spanned over a mile. After the invasion it floated over the city like a castle in the clouds. After the creation of the Forge, new aircraft were constructed as well.

What did their air defenses mostly consist of? Drones? Missiles? Lasers?

Directed energy weapons are rare. Only Dr. Sokolov, Anastasia, and Imperator have used them until recently. Diego's encounter with Maelstrom showed they were in possession of some. Directed energy weapons are also astoundingly effective against modern armors. Think about kevlar. That doesn't offer any resistance to a ray of energy.

Railgun technology is the staple of Hadron-tech weaponry. Not the only option, but the most common. For anti-air, there'd probably be an explosive round element, rather than solid slug. Drones supplemented all branches of the armed forces. They are mobile and modular weapon platforms that use to outnumber the human combatants serving in Imperator's armed forces. Stronghold hasn't been able to mass produce them the way Imperator once did.

[mrdent12]

I can't recall if we were informed about the Temple of the Holy Martyrs yet or not.

[Sakuro]

Peter mentioned them way back before your first mission. The factions in Hadron City that you are aware of, other than Null and Sokolov's loyalists, are:

- The Reapers. A group that uses Hadron-tech hovercycles and has been raiding Stronghold storage facilities.
- The Jaguars. Latin American dominated gang. Very chaotic. Very big on collateral damage. Ultra-violent. Controls a Ward of the city. Some of their members have demonstrated superhuman strength.
- The Temple of the Holy Martyr. A religious group that venerates Imperator as prophet and messiah figure.
- The First Generation. Militant youths born in Hadron City under Imperator's reign. Diego believes some of them have transhuman augmentations.
- Stronghold. Your nemesis.

I think Diego also suspected that the Midnight Society may have resurfaced and is doing ... something. You don't know much about the Midnight Society, beyond their having some connection to the Macro-Virus. Imperator's people reportedly wiped them out.

[mrdent12]

I recall most of those groups. Of all of them, the only ones we haven't pissed off are Reapers, Jaguars, and Temple of the Holy Martyrs. The first generation is probably still sore about Hitori eating some kids.

[Sakuro]

You have certainly pissed off Stronghold and the First Generation. If Maelstrom was part of the Midnight Society, you definitely made a bad impression with that Faction as well. Hitori ate a lot of their underlings and killed even more while Diego threatened Maelstrom and fought them.

You have visited the Jaguar's territory a couple times but haven't really interacted with them. Peter has a friend in the Temple of the Holy Martyr. You haven't had any contact with the Reapers. Iona gets a First Generation escort on her trips to and from Dr. Sokolov's facility, but they're distant and cold to her.

[Supernaturalist]

The first generation is probably still sore about Hitori eating some kids.

Ah...how I miss Hitori.

[Supernaturalist]

I have 2 objectives in making this new character. 1) Adding someone who has long-term story potential (even if they are not a character central to the plot). and 2) adding something important to the the whole movement that can aid the central characters . I'm not sure what that is yet. I'm still thinking.

[mrdent12]

Sanders is a good template. She helps the main characters first as a liason to the main force and than base manager. So, there is growth there and importance to the sorry without overshadowing the main PCs. Which reminds me, there is the matter of the green house runner needing an audience.

We sorely lack anyone who knows their way around the city.

[Sakuro]

MrDetn offered some good advice. Think of this secondary character as someone who can support the main characters. You also said the group could use some extra firepower. I'll give you a couple special options. No, I am not going to take suggestions for additional special options. I'm offering you these, in part, because they are roles I was thinking about introducing as archetypes for NPCs you could get on side for spending a Favor.

1.) If you go with some kind of heavy weapon expert, I will allow you to have a Rocket Launcher for free (you may not build an Arsenal Array off of this). It will have five reloads per mission and ... I will allow you to break PL caps with the Rocket Launcher so long as you don't try to do anything cheesy to maximize Attack values.

2.) If you go with some kind of squad leader commando/shock trooper I will allow you to have a squad of six PL 6 "Veteran" Minion soldiers as stated out on the GM's handhook. Also for free, but you have to manage the Minions yourself.

Which reminds me, there is the matter of the green house runner needing an audience.

Yeah, might want to look into that. They've been waiting awhile ...