Role Playing Night

[andraste]

Notable quotes from tonight's pre-RPG discussions:

"The porn is a metaphor for the church?" - lokisrose

(We were talking about The Song of Solomon, so it did make sense in context.)

"You're racist against Jedi!" - eldrad_ulthuan

Then we actually started our game. At the moment, we're playing Vampire in a WWII setting. My Ravnos went out for dinner:

"Mmmmmm, tasty Nazi." - andrastewhite

"Nibble Nazis Nuts!" - Fi

And then the Brujah picked up a snack at the bar:

"Do you want to come up to my room for a special drink?"

It looks like I'll be running the Transformers game I've been toying with (no pun intended) at leas for a day in August. That's assuming I'm right in thinking that apathocles wouldn't mind spending an afternoon playing TF while she's in Melbourne ;). I have two players lined up, yay! Running off Big Eyes, Small Mouth since it's good for mech stuff and I know the system.

Working out the ground rules now. Thinking out loud:

- It's G1 'toonverse continuity, post-Season Three. The Rebirth never happened. (Hey, if the Japanese can ignore it, so I can.) Optimus is alive, Galvatron has been cured of his insanity.

- Autobots and Decepticons are both allowable as PCs. (There's an explanation, but it would be a spoiler.)

- Femme Autobots more than welcome. No Deceptifemmes without a damn weird backstory to explain why they exist in the first place.

- There's a simple ground rule for choosing an alt mode: if it's stupider than turning into a tape deck, you can't do it.

- Also, no PCs the size of buildings, because the mechanics of getting them to interact with the rest of the cast make my brain hurt.

- The rules of physics are more what you'd call guidelines.

There are a whole pile of Attributes/Defects/Skills that won't be allowable. (Funny as a Wind Powered Transformer would be, it's not very practical.) Also combing the net for more to add to make up for those I'm deleting. So glad enterprising players have already made up rules for characters being Hyperactive, Grouchy and Insane *g*.

I should not be allowed to invent NPCs while in the midst of an obbession with certain other shows. There's this one Autobot who turns into a green 1971 Buick Riviera ...

Comments

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

!!!

You assume correctly. :D And I really need to start planning how long I'm going to spend over there. What days of the week are you working?

If I could get a job lined up over there (not in a call centre *g*), I would so go 'fuck it', and just move to Melbourne. Good comic stores, good taste in football codes, and just far enough away that I'd be striking out on my own, but close enough that I could visit home reasonably often.

And the company would be tolerable, of course. ;)

There's this one Autobot who turns into a green 1971 Buick Riviera ...

AHAHAHA. Really, you could make up an entire combiner team out of fannish-inspired vehicles. The Buick, The Impala, Elvis's Charger from Good Guys, Bad Guys....

Of course, they'd have a tendency to get blown up a lot.

My current lame obsession is re-casting the Transformers as Australian vehicles. Because there are bright yellow V8s everywhere at the moment, and I just see them and go SUNSTREAKER OMG. Of course, if he hadn't been upgraded since 1984, he'd probably be something a whole lot smaller and crappier. I'm thinking the Ark would bear a strong resemblance to the Kerrigans' carport in The Castle. XD

There needs to be some variety, though. Ironhide is a ute. Beachcomber is totally a kombi. (With systems upgraded so he's eco-friendly, of course.) Possibly he has surfboards strapped to his roof.

Astrotrain is either the Sydney monorail, or a Melbourne tram. I haven't decided, yet. *g*

(I have to pass the time spent walking to work somehow.)

if it's stupider than turning into a tape deck, you can't do it

Aw, man. :p

Funny as a Wind Powered Transformer would be, it's not very practical.

Sailboat TF! :D (Or, as I just wrote: 'sailbot'.) And hey, it could totally work (http://i.somethingawful.com/inserts/articlepics/photoshop/04-13-07-transformers/Saint-Sputnik1.jpg). *g*

And somebody needs to write a story about the 'Cons attempting to harness green energy. Green groups would be siding with them (if the 'Cons played their cards right), while the Autobots are all OMGWTF D: D: D:.

No Deceptifemmes without a damn weird backstory to explain why they exist in the first place

Well, they exist in BW, which is the same continuity. (Okay, they're Predacons. Whatever.) However, I am more than sick enough of DeceptiSues, so I have no problem with this rule.

"Nibble Nazis Nuts!"

*snort*

And I guess there's nothing I can do but say BEFORE NAZIS NIBBLE YOURS.

... God, I feel old.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

The rules of physics are more what you'd call guidelines.

:)

You obviously have a job waiting for you as a scriptwriter for almost any TV or movie SF show. (The only difference would be that you would know when you were being a bit naughty.)

[yma2.livejournal.com]

SQUEEE BESM!

I love that system. It's not the greatest in the world but it's still damn good and it's the one RP system I can run...

I've actually spent today reading up on the rules/setting for the Third Edition which is an entirely new tack but pretty nifty. They actually gave it a SETTING! Which is, much like the new rules set, wierd but kinda nifty.

I take it you are running second ed, right? Good luck with that! I miss playing BESM but I don't know any RPers near where I live for weekly games... It is a fun system though, if a little open to abuse.

[malicious-fox.livejournal.com]

FYI the Phobia defect is wildly under used, if you are intrested i have a list of 47 and counting more intresting phobias.
i think a giant robot with Philophobia would be fun, or Octophobia, Pteronophobia and i think that Metathesiophobia would be the best. ;)

[youngest-one.livejournal.com]

- The rules of physics are more what you'd call guidelines.\

Sounds like one of the best rules an RPG can have. :-)

[lokisrose.livejournal.com]

(http://photobucket.com)

Pika piii! ^___~

[andraste]

You assume correctly. :D And I really need to start planning how long I'm going to spend over there. What days of the week are you working?

Actually, I'm planning to take a few days off while you're in town this time *g*. I already have five days leave saved up. Assuming I'm still working at my current place of employment, I should have enough to cover your trip and a visit to my brother in Canberra later this year. I've only taken seven days of Annual Leave since I started back in October, and we get twenty a year.

If I could get a job lined up over there (not in a call centre *g*), I would so go 'fuck it', and just move to Melbourne. Good comic stores, good taste in football codes, and just far enough away that I'd be striking out on my own, but close enough that I could visit home reasonably often.

That would be COMPLETELY AWESOME. Especially since quixotic_sense is trying to move back to Melbourne too - I need to collect all my peeps in the same place. Today while I was looking for the careers section of the paper for me, I kept an eye out for stuff that would be good for you as well *g*.

AHAHAHA. Really, you could make up an entire combiner team out of fannish-inspired vehicles. The Buick, The Impala, Elvis's Charger from Good Guys, Bad Guys....

Bwa. That would be fabulous.

(Oh, that's the other rule I forgot to write down: no members of combiner teams, because unless everyone belonged to the same group it would be kind of pointless. Will think about working in a combiner team as NPCs, though.)

Of course, they'd have a tendency to get blown up a lot.

Dude, half the reason I'm running this game is so I can make characters with the defect Volatile, which means that you 'explode easily when damaged.' For some reason none of my GMs will let me give that to non-robot characters ...

My current lame obsession is re-casting the Transformers as Australian vehicles.

That is such a great idea! The Ark crash lands on a different continent. Ravage is a dingo!

Astrotrain is either the Sydney monorail, or a Melbourne tram. I haven't decided, yet. *g*

One of my players is going to be an Autobot train called Sidetrack *g*.

Aw, man. :p

You have to admit that this still allows more than enough stupid to be going on with. I said I'd allow zeppelins and Decepticon mopeds if people really wanted to play those *g*.

Sailboat TF! :D (Or, as I just wrote: 'sailbot'.) And hey, it could totally work. *g*

Bwa. That's hilarious. I am almost converted ...

And somebody needs to write a story about the 'Cons attempting to harness green energy. Green groups would be siding with them (if the 'Cons played their cards right), while the Autobots are all OMGWTF D: D: D:.

Hee. Yes. Decepticons windfarms!

Well, they exist in BW, which is the same continuity. (Okay, they're Predacons. Whatever.) However, I am more than sick enough of DeceptiSues, so I have no problem with this rule.

The internets tell me that Blackarachnia was a Maximal protoform reformatted into a Predacon, which would fall under the heading 'damn weird backstory' *g*. If someone had an idea that was worth it, I'd let them have a femme Decepticon, but I don't really see the need to encourage it.

So, have you got a faction/alt form in mind yet?

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm planning to take a few days off while you're in town this time *g*

Woot! Which days are they? I really need to book my plane tickets in the next few days. (I've been waiting and waiting for an airline sale. Was talking to mum about it tonight, and she was all, 'oh, the airlines have been having sales for weeks, now'. Damnit. Still some reasonably cheap seats left. Of course, the main problem is whether or not I can get time off work. They promised me I could when I first started up, but, given that they also promised me I'd have plenty of hours....)

I need to collect all my peeps in the same place.

*hums Pokémon theme*

Today while I was looking for the careers section of the paper for me, I kept an eye out for stuff that would be good for you as well *g*.

Heh, thanks. *g*

Oh, that's the other rule I forgot to write down: no members of combiner teams, because unless everyone belonged to the same group it would be kind of pointless.

And also because I have enough trouble telling them apart in canon, let alone brand-new characters. *g* (Oh, Constructicons. Why must you all share the same colour scheme?)

Dude, half the reason I'm running this game is so I can make characters with the defect Volatile, which means that you 'explode easily when damaged.'

Excellent. *g*

Ravage is a dingo!

HEE.

One of my players is going to be an Autobot train called Sidetrack *g*.

That is such an awesome name.

I said I'd allow zeppelins and Decepticon mopeds if people really wanted to play those *g*.

AHAHAHAHAHAHA OMG. The zeppelin would probably violate your size rules... although, I guess most of him would actually fold down into a relatively small amount of space. (This would also stop him from floating away every time someone punches him.) Where he'd get the helium from each time, I have no idea. It'd probably be easier for him to somehow take hydrogen out of the air. Talk about volatility. *g*

Decepticon moped. I just... oh, man. Thing of BEAUTY.

And technically there are female Decepticons (http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_female_Transformers) (including the awesomely-named Flamewar (http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Flamewar)), but not many, and most of them aren't from regular continuity (or don't exist beyond their toys), so, yeah. *g*

Randomly: Beast Wars II Skywarp (http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Skywarp_%28BWII%29) was originally designed as female, but ended up male. BW loves randomly swapping characters' genders, it would seem. (See: Airazor being turned male in the Japanese dub, which made the whole pairing thing really interesting. *g*)

But yeah, if we're going for a general G1 original toonverse setting, then female Decepticons would probably be out of place.

So, have you got a faction/alt form in mind yet?

Not yet, surprisingly enough. I'll have to have a think on that. (I do have a few OCs floating around in my head, but they don't exist beyond a really basic concept, and they come as a team (whether they're gestalt or not, I'm not sure), so I'd best leave them for fic I will never write.)

[andraste]

Woot! Which days are they?

What I'd prefer is to take the 31st of July plus the 1st and 2nd of August off. That gives me five days in total, including the 3rd and 4th which I have off anyway. King Lear is on the 4th.

My current plan is to run my TF game during the day on the 4th, since we'll have to come into the city anyway.

The time off is somewhat dependent on whether I still have my current job in August, of course.

Heh, thanks. *g*

Everyone with interesting jobs for Journalism grads wants that pesky 'two years experience' but I'll keep looking.

(Oh, Constructicons. Why must you all share the same colour scheme?)

Because green and purple is so stylish?

That is such an awesome name.

I know! The other PC I have lined up is a Nissan Micra called Electra. She's small and yellow and electrocutes things. See comments down the page for a picture *g*.

AHAHAHAHAHAHA OMG. The zeppelin would probably violate your size rules... although, I guess most of him would actually fold down into a relatively small amount of space. (This would also stop him from floating away every time someone punches him.)

Oh, man, now I want to see someone play this, just for the commedy value of a character who keeps floating off in every stiff breeze. Size shifting is not merely allowed but encouraged. I figure the hypothetical zeppelin could end up no bigger than, say, Astrotrain since all the other Decepticons regularly fit inside him. Which is not porny at all, no.

Where he'd get the helium from each time, I have no idea. It'd probably be easier for him to somehow take hydrogen out of the air. Talk about volatility. *g*

Oh, dude. Zeplicon go boom!

Decepticon moped. I just... oh, man. Thing of BEAUTY.

If there is no moped PC, I may be forced to make one up myself.

And technically there are female Decepticons (including the awesomely-named Flamewar), but not many, and most of them aren't from regular continuity (or don't exist beyond their toys), so, yeah. *g*

Flamewar! Does she post rants on the internet a lot?

Not yet, surprisingly enough. I'll have to have a think on that.

No hurry, since we've got two months. Anything Transformers can do in canon is covered by the BESM rules somehow, so I think I can turn whatever you come up with into a workable set of numbers.

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

What I'd prefer is to take the 31st of July plus the 1st and 2nd of August off. That gives me five days in total, including the 3rd and 4th which I have off anyway. King Lear is on the 4th.

Hmm. I can get there on the 31st for $75, which is the cheapest I can get at any time of the week. (Unless, of course, I go with Jetstar, but I'm guessing the getting-from-distant-airport-to-Melbourne thing would more than make up the price difference.) Leaving on the Sunday morning would be expensive (unless I got out by nine o'clock, but there are reasonably cheap flights on the Monday.

Everyone with interesting jobs for Journalism grads wants that pesky 'two years experience' but I'll keep looking.

Sometimes I wonder how they get any new people into the industry at all.

And then I remember that the undergrads all have to do a six-month placement as part of their degree. Sigh.

She's small and yellow and electrocutes things. See comments down the page for a picture *g*.

Awesome! XD

Oh, man, now I want to see someone play this, just for the commedy value of a character who keeps floating off in every stiff breeze.

Hee! Truly, 'twould be awesome.

Of course, you'd have to find a reason why the poor bastard doesn't get himself a new alt-mode. I figure that either a) he's too proud to give in, b) he's nuts, or c) Teletraan-1 won't comply, because he feels like being a pain in the arse.

I figure the hypothetical zeppelin could end up no bigger than, say, Astrotrain since all the other Decepticons regularly fit inside him. Which is not porny at all, no.

When I was asked recently why I 'ship Tracks/Blaster as well as Tracks/Raoul, and Tracks/Sunstreaker, and Blaster/Jazz, and..., one of the answers I gave was that Tracks carries Blaster around everywhere inside of him. And, as we all know, providing transportation for someone with an inconvenient alt-mode = POOORRRRRRRRRNNNN.

And damnit, I was more-or-less successfully suppressing the urge to create a zeppelin character, and then you had to go name him Zeplicon. SUCH A TOTALLY AWESOME NAME. I firmly believe that he needs to exist, whether in RPG form or fic form or whatever.

If there is no moped PC, I may be forced to make one up myself.

I am happy to enable you in this!

Flamewar! Does she post rants on the internet a lot?

If she doesn't, I will be SO SAD.

No hurry, since we've got two months.

Yeah, but two months for me = generally still not enough time to get something simple done. *g*

Anything Transformers can do in canon is covered by the BESM rules somehow

I did not just misread 'BESM'. Not at all.

Also, you'll have to help me out a little, because I know sweet bugger all about roleplaying.

Less than two months, OMG! And less than a month until the movie! I am thinking that we are going to have to watch it, yes. If we can get an empty daytime theatre, we can make with the inappropriate commentary as loudly as we want!

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Of course, you'd have to find a reason why the poor bastard doesn't get himself a new alt-mode. I figure that either a) he's too proud to give in, b) he's nuts, or c) Teletraan-1 won't comply, because he feels like being a pain in the arse.

Or, since he's a Decepticon, d) Megatron thinks it's funny.

[andraste]

Leaving on the Sunday morning would be expensive (unless I got out by nine o'clock, but there are reasonably cheap flights on the Monday.

Please feel free to stay until you can get a cheap flight home! You can always occupy yourself while I'm at work.

And then I remember that the undergrads all have to do a six-month placement as part of their degree. Sigh.

Annoying, isn't it? I keep wishing I could go back and tell my undergrad self to take more of an interest in finding a job post-degree.

Of course, you'd have to find a reason why the poor bastard doesn't get himself a new alt-mode. I figure that either a) he's too proud to give in, b) he's nuts, or c) Teletraan-1 won't comply, because he feels like being a pain in the arse.

Any of the above would work *g*. If Teletraan had any sense, it would have reformatted the Decepticons into fluffy bunnies back at the beginning.

And, as we all know, providing transportation for someone with an inconvenient alt-mode = POOORRRRRRRRRNNNN.

Also, Tracks is obviously a slut. (Please tell me there's Tracks/Starscream fanfic somewhere in the world.)

And damnit, I was more-or-less successfully suppressing the urge to create a zeppelin character, and then you had to go name him Zeplicon. SUCH A TOTALLY AWESOME NAME.

Zeplicon rox00rs!

Yeah, but two months for me = generally still not enough time to get something simple done. *g*

Hey, you only have to come up with a PC. I have to PLAN AN ENTIRE GAME SESSION OMG PANIC!!!

I did not just misread 'BESM'. Not at all.

I do that all the time.

Also, you'll have to help me out a little, because I know sweet bugger all about roleplaying.

Not a problem. If I can give lokisrose a crash course in Transformers - can you believe she didn't even watch it when she was a kid?! - I can give you a crash course in BESM *g*. It's a very easy system, since all rolls are done with two six-sided dice.

And less than a month until the movie! I am thinking that we are going to have to watch it, yes. If we can get an empty daytime theatre, we can make with the inappropriate commentary as loudly as we want!

That is definitely a plan *g*.

[andraste]

Or, since he's a Decepticon, d) Megatron thinks it's funny.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! This is a perfect explanation.

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Oh, Megatron. Truly, your skill at prioritising is beyond compare.

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Please feel free to stay until you can get a cheap flight home! You can always occupy yourself while I'm at work.

Woot! And I certainly have no problem with staying longer. Possibly my boss will, but, given that I'm hardly getting any hours to begin with, I don't think she's in a position to be throwing stones.

If Teletraan had any sense, it would have reformatted the Decepticons into fluffy bunnies back at the beginning.

If I didn't know better, I'd say that Teletraan-1 were some grand puppet-master, manipulating the conflict so as to deny the Autobots victory, and thus keeping himself entertained. He certainly seems to enjoy withholding information about the Decepticons' plans until they ask for it specifically.

Also, Tracks is obviously a slut.

Well, there is that. *g*

(Please tell me there's Tracks/Starscream fanfic somewhere in the world.)

As far as I'm aware, there isn't. There are areas where fandom fails, and Tracksfic is one of them. :(

Hell, until a few days ago, I hadn't even seen any Tracks/Sunstreaker, and they are my OTP of egocentric win. And then I did find some, and it's... um... probably not the greatest fic I've ever read. :/

I really do need to write some Tracks/Sunstreaker. And Tracks/Starscream. And Tracks/Sunstreaker/Starscream. (You and I should totally suggest prompts for the next round of springkink. Or, at least, write crackfic while I'm over there.)

can you believe she didn't even watch it when she was a kid?!

I will admit that most of my watching of it was a 'my brother has it on, and so I'm half-watching it just because it's there' thing. Same with DW, actually. However, I could at least recognise Megatron and Optimus many years later. *g*

[lokisrose.livejournal.com]

Not a problem. If I can give lokisrose a crash course in Transformers - can you believe she didn't even watch it when she was a kid?!
I R soooorry. My giant robot quota was all filled up with Voltron. ^_^

[andraste]

Oh, Megatron. Truly, your skill at prioritising is beyond compare.

Obviously comic relief is far more important than having useful troops. Much as having Starscream around for hott sex0ring is more important than having a second in command who's not trying to overthrow you.

[andraste]

Woot! And I certainly have no problem with staying longer. Possibly my boss will, but, given that I'm hardly getting any hours to begin with, I don't think she's in a position to be throwing stones.

I'm sure they can cope without you for a week somehow *g*.

If I didn't know better, I'd say that Teletraan-1 were some grand puppet-master, manipulating the conflict so as to deny the Autobots victory, and thus keeping himself entertained.

It would EXPLAIN SO MUCH.

I really do need to write some Tracks/Sunstreaker. And Tracks/Starscream. And Tracks/Sunstreaker/Starscream. (You and I should totally suggest prompts for the next round of springkink. Or, at least, write crackfic while I'm over there.)

Indeed we should!

Annoyingly, springkink is no longer accepting claims. There was nothing anywhere on the community (that I could see) that there was a deadline for doing this, so I didn't manage to get in before they shut the process down.

*is annnoyed at not getting to claim any TF prompts*

However, I could at least recognise Megatron and Optimus many years later. *g*

They are legendary!

[andraste]

I R soooorry. My giant robot quota was all filled up with Voltron. ^_^

In my Transformers fanfic, there are a couple of Decepticons watching A Certain Cartoon ...

You have nothing to apologise for, I am just amazed that a child of the '80s somehow managed to not see the show!

[lokisrose.livejournal.com]

Well, you know what my memory's like. ^_^;

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Having Starscream around for hott sex0ring is more important than pretty much anything in the universe.

And okay, Megatron's official position is probably something along the lines of 'I'm not going to break into the Ark just to try to get Teletraan-1 to change your altmode even though I've totally broken into the Ark before without any problems, and Ravage and Laserbeak practically live there.'

But secretly (or not-so), it makes him smile.

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Annoyingly, springkink is no longer accepting claims.

Bah. Just before you posted this comment, I posted a comment to the comm, asking if claims were still open. Because I saw someone else mention the claims being closed, but I couldn't find official mention of it anywhere. I'm glad you confirmed it for me, because I haven't heard anything back. :/

I could give you some prompts, if you like? *eg* Or you could just write some of those prompts for yourself, anyway.

[andraste]

Because I saw someone else mention the claims being closed, but I couldn't find official mention of it anywhere.

I am greatly annoyed, because I made a point of looking at all the admin posts for a date, and found none. If you're going to close claims on a certain day, it's kind of polite to tell people.

I could give you some prompts, if you like? *eg* Or you could just write some of those prompts for yourself, anyway.

I guess I don't really need an excuse to write about Stascream, Thundercracker and Skywarp being courtesans, or whatever.

[andraste]

Ravage and Laserbeak practically live there.

... I now have the mental image of some particularly soft-hearted Autobot leaving out energon birdseed and kitty chow for them.

*spams your inbox like woah*

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

EEE.

And now I'm thinking of the time that kid offered Laserbeak a cracker. The way Laserbeak's eyes just narrow is FABULOUS.

[apathocles.livejournal.com]

Well, I just received a comment, saying they're thinking about re-opening the prompts soon. So, get cracking! Mmm, whips.

And OMG, COURTESANS. YOU MUST WRITE THIS. YES.