I just started a PM thread with Stirix to establish a connection, if he's interested, but while I was writing that message, an idea occurred to me.

What if BCM uses the TARDIS as an NPC that's gathering up potential Companions and/or Doctors.

Unless someone is writing up his/her character with a built-in TARDIS, this offers a way around that. Perhaps the TARDIS's Doctor is missing and we have to go find him (preliminary adventure or whatever).

Anyway, just thought I'd toss in my two cents.

Don't feel compelled to work out connections between yourselves, how you met, etc. I hope to have the introductory adventure (which is like the second) put you all together. You could all have valid, independent reasons to be there, and meet up then.

So write your backstories up to the point you feel comfortable with, where your character is at when the campaign starts (second adventure, yeah). Don't assume you're already a TARDIS companion (unless that seems essential).

Only Farren necessarily comes from the 40th century or thereabouts. Bluetooth, Stirix, Trace, do you mind if I set you to that time? (Which I imagine should be fine for Stirix and Trace.) How do all you feel about working on a spaceship on a scientific expedition? There'd be jobs for all of you.

The TARDIS is still to be decided. Axander actually has one in his backstory and statted up previous games I've seen him in. So I might go with that, I might decide on an NPC TARDIS. (War TARDIS? Type-103 humanoid? How do you get inside her anyway?)

So, yeah, I realise this may be weird, complicated, and confusing. I may be the Moffat of GMs here. I so love my idea though, and hope you'll get a kick out of it.


BTW, six of you, six pilots of a TARDIS, it all works out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:01, Mon 23 Mar 2015.

PS: I guess the best way to draw connections at this stage would be to consider how you relate to one another. Could they be buddies, is someone taking young Trace as a protégé, how would the two Time Lords get on? That sort of thing. It can be revised later if things don't pan out that way though.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:10, Mon 23 Mar 2015.

Gah, every time we get some awesome conversation like this going, I'm in the process of being kidnapped for an unknown amount of time.

I do have a Time Travel Capsule in my background (Academy instructors disapprove of the term "Tardis"). If we use that, then I'm in my second regeneration. If not, then I absolutely need a connection to someone else to have removed me from 2005 Scotland. Also, if we left it behind, that means there's a dead TTC there.

I'll try to get more fluff stuff up very soon. I don't have my character sheet written up yet mostly because that takes time, and I've been getting minutes at a time to sit at my computer. Was expecting to have time today, but that's not looking like the way things are going.

Speaking for myself I'm okay with this.

I would be fine with this idea.  Farren could be an overt SSS security agent assigned to the ship or he could be on an undercover assignment aboard the ship.

Well if you want to be from the "future", I believe the Ice Warriors were (became) a part of the Galatic Federation (which replaced the earlier Earth Empire) at some point during the 40th Century: http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Ice_Warrior

Just an idea.

Hmm.

Most recently from the 40th century is fine; but part of his history does suggest he's from a way back. Now if he's awoken, thawed out, whatever in the 40th century that works fine.

The Ice Warriors did become a part of the Galactic Federation - which is not a replacement for the Earth Empire FWIW; Earth is just one of many planets to be part of it - but part of his background requires a time substantially before then.

Well I'm not an expert regarding the canon Doctor Who timeline, but according to the TARDIS Data Core wiki, the Earth Empire formed around the 25th Century and fell around the 30th or 31st Century: http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Earth_Empire

Oddly enought, something called the Earth Alliance was formed before the Earth Empire and lasted after the fall of the Earth Empire.  Similarly something called the Terran Federation existed around the same time.  However, I think both the Earth Alliance and the Terran Federation are mainly (solely?) from books & audio-plays rather than the TV series.

The TARDIS Data Core wiki indicates (perhaps incorrectly) that the Galatric Federation was the political entity that succeeded the Earth Empire.  Though, as you say, Earth (and Humans) are only one of several Members: http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Galactic_Federation

Eventually by the 42nd Century, the "Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire" (what a "modest" name!) was spreading across multiple galaxies: http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/S...untiful_Human_Empire
This message was last edited by the player at 23:21, Mon 23 Mar 2015.

Tarys is theoretically capable of piloting a TARDIS, but it was never her specialty, so I suspect that in the war she usually either operated as a specialist on a team, traveled to missions via Time Ring, or was dropped / retrieved from her missions by other Time Lords.  I'm pretty confident she wouldn't have a TARDIS of her own.

It may have succeeded the Earth empire; but it was not a replacement for such. It was closer to a galactic version of the UN to anything.

The fact that they were a member played a significant role in two TV serials; both involving the third doctor; including the third doctor's substantial bias against them in the first serial.

I really only use the TARDIS Wiki when it comes to stuff from the books and audios. When it comes to the TV series, especially the classic series, I trust my own knowledge more.

So, in the interests of disclosure, for Trace I've gone with a high Ingenuity and above average Coordination. Because of his age, I've dropped Strength to below average. He's Brave and Lucky, which is handy because he's dangerously Curious about things. Trace is a Technically Adept engineer/mechanich, highly skilled at using and repairing Technology. Having spent all his life aboard a starship, he's well versed in using various modes of Transport. The Pockets on his clothing come in very handy when he needs the right part at the right time, and the Scanner Gauntlet he wears also comes in useful whenever he needs to study broken machine, an unusual piece of technology, Scan an alien lifeform, Transmit a message or just play music. He's not very good at Fighting, but he's better at it than shooting. Mostly, figures when the bullets, blades and beams start flying, he should just Run for his Life!

I had some time on my hands :-)

I'm not going for -full- disclosure; and I'm still working on my sheet. (I'm at work so can't really get stuck into it for a few hours...), but I will state he's going to have quite a good ingenuity; but will act as a scientist and more importantly... medic. Though being Ice Warrior and all that entails; he probably won't be so anti-violence as you might expect of a doctor.

Yes, the Earth Empire (the earliest) rose around the 25th/26th centuries, became an unholy fusion of Judge Dredd and Warhammer 40K by the 30th (in the New Adventures novels), then collapsed (the background to the 3rd Doctor story "The Mutants).

The Galactic Federation arose afterwards, initially by alien powers like the Alpha Centauri and others, with recovering humans and Earth invited to join later (outlined in novels). Think Star Trek's Federation but less human-dominated. This is where we get the Peladon stories and "Dalek's Masterplan". Ice Warriors are certainly active in that. Humans eventually came to dominate matters, as they do. Things like an Earth Alliance or Terran Federation would be parts of the empire ("Earth Empire" might just be a name) and later members of the Federation.

Obviously I'm going with a novels-based structure for the future history, since they're perhaps the only range to present a coherent time-line, which is thus the basis for Ahistory. Since the new series went further into the future, they don't contradict too much. I won't tie the date down too tightly to keep it flexible, but around the 40th should allow a lot of crossover without bending history too much. I'll read up on it.


Trace, you might consider Inexperienced too, considering your age, though he also may have been through a lot.


I'll check sheets later in the week. Work just keeps shovelled at me.

I've managed to put up most of my sheet, though I need to go through the books more carefully to count point costs. I think I have a spare CP. Also, my Description now has the appearance, background, and personal goal sections filled! Woo!

I've started checking your character sheets and discussing problems and making suggestions. It's proved to be more confusing than expected. So, I'll get through all of you eventually.

Bear in mind, I may be completely wrong when it comes to points spend and gained on traits and packages.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:16, Sat 28 Mar 2015.

I'm just about there. The Ice Warrior part causing headaches - well, that and I've been struggling with sleep all week.

I can send what I have so far if you like.

Sure.

I'm afraid I don't have official stats for an Ice Warrior/Martian. I'd happily buy the Second Doctor Sourcebook or the Third Doctor Sourcebook to get them however.

I've got official Ice Warrior stats! :D

DWAITAS, Limited Edition, page 157. For those who don't have it, here are the crunchy bits of the writeup.

---

Awareness 2, Coordination 1, Ingenuity 2, Presence 2, Resolve 3, Strength 7

Skills
Fighting 4, Marksman 3, Survival 3

Traits
Alien
Alien Appearance: Ice Warriors appear to be reptilian humanoids.
Armour (Major): Ice Warriors wear a bioarmour that resembles a carapace or shell. This armour reduces damage taken by 10. It also slows their coordination; in their native atmosphere an Ice Warrior has his Coordination lowered by 1. In Earth-like atmospheres his Coordination is lowered by 2 (the Attribute score already takes
an Earth-like atmosphere into account).
Cyborg
Natural Weapon (Sonic Gun): Ice Warriors have a sonic gun attached to their forearms that form part of their armour (4/L/L).
Slow (Minor): An Ice Warrior’s speed is halved in Earth-like environments.
Weakness (Major): An Ice Warrior prefers cold weather and can’t stand intense heat. An Ice Warrior gets a -2 penalty to all actions when the temperature rises to 32°C and takes 4 levels of damage as the temperature gets closer to 100°C.
Tech Level: 6
Story Points: 3-4

I'll try to get Farren's public/visible character description up this weekend if I get the opportunity to do so.

I'm gonna have to take a few days. I need to make an important decision about my job.

Good luck!

I've been checking sheets, some of you are done, some needed fixes or revisions. I've been busy today and will be tomorrow. I'll get back to you afterward, Thursday I hope, and hope to start the game later this week.

And there, at last, the game is started.

Right in the deep end. ;)

I've been working on it all afternoon and night, I hope I got all the necessary details in, but it's late now. If there's a problem or something not explained, let me know.

Some of you are still building your characters or revising them, but don't worry. You can use currents for your rolls before changing them. If you need to roll, but don't have stats yet, then I'll estimate, roll, and decide the outcome.

I'm running a heavily modified version of the "Doom of the Daleks" campaign arc from the Eighth Doctor Sourcebook. So no peaking! The Doctor's actions are a sequel/aftermath to the novel Engines of War:
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Engines_of_War
I patched the two together because they were so similar, but that you can peak at.

So, no pressure then :-)

I'm at work at the moment so I'll give it a proper read through tonight.

Woo! Our adventure has begun! :D