OOC Discussion
This message was last updated by the GM at 07:39, Thu 04 June 2015.

Welcome to the Wasteland, Bod Man!

And then... there were two.

Thanks. I have not looked at the rules yet. I'm sure that will shake some ideas lose for characters. It seems most interesting if we played road warriors of some kind. One thought I had was a guy with a rolling brothel - a big bus with 6 or so berths for ... Activities. There's also a driver and a couple of guards.

Being lawmen of some kind might also be interesting.

That's pretty good idea actually.  If necessary, I'll change the game rating to Adult, but only after we get more players and start the game.

If you decide to go with the Rolling Funhouse tricked out like a post-nuclear  Partridge Family bus, feel free to give me some broad themes about the working girls and other crewmen and I can develop them, unless you want to detail them personally.

There are a lot of factions and groups that I haven't mentioned so as not to give away too much.  Just talk about themes you're interested in and I'll see if it will fit into what I already have.  If not and you guys are really interested in something, I'll create something.

Everyone welcome thegiver!

Nice to meet you all!

In reply to thegiver (msg # 7):

Howdy

Welcome aboard, bud!

Good seeing the family getting together.

Ah, basic RP is the generic form of Call of Cthulu. I'm familiar enough with that rule set.

Everyone welcome maxmcgloin!  His concept is a old warrior-sage, abroad in the wasteland.

Weclome. I can dig that. Kung Fu shit right there.

I was wondering if anyone would be down to tell a bit more about themselves. I am always curious as to who I am playing with, where you are from, what your background is. RPGs always have such a diverse spectrum of people and you never know who you are going to meet.

I guess I should go first. My name is Jeff, I am 28 and am from Bakersfield, California. I am currently living in Japan with my wife and teaching out here.

I am Max. I live in the SF Bay Area, so I am also in California. Many years ago I also lived in Asia, and spent a couple years teaching English in Taiwan.

Good idea. It's always easier to collab this way. My name's Hannah, I'm 22 and live in the UK, where I'm currently a jobseeker ( :/ )  who's probably going back to school in some capacity fairly soon. I've been to California once (It was Santa Ana) but never Asia. The most obscure Mel Gibson role I know off the top of my head is that he voiced the colonial love interest guy in Disney's Pocahontas (I'm pretty sure anyways)

I don't know any cool Mel trivia, other than Apocalypto was great.  So many people died in that movie I wasn't sure who it was going to be about.

Name's chris. I live in Texas. Work in advertising. 39 years old. Big fan of mad max (seeing fury road tonight). Also have always loved the post apocalyptic genre. Big gamma world player from back when it was tsr.

Hey my name is Cullen. I'm 23 and right now I'm a business student in Massachusetts. I just marathoned the three older mad max movies before seeing fury road last week. Awesome stuff.

Hey you all.  Name's Kev.

I'm in Illinois.  Never been to California.  40-something years old.
Big fan of the Mad Max movies and most post-apocalyptic stuff if its well done and not utterly dark.  Although some silly low-budget ones are fun as well.

TV's "Jericho" was pretty cool.
Movie "The Road" was good. (I'm hoping we dont go quite that dark though)
The "Book of Eli" could have been better.

I too was playing (mostly GM) "Gamma World" in my high school days.
We tried to play  "Aftermath" but that ruleset was a nightmare of complexity!

Also love the game "Car Wars" playing or GMing.

I have played a lot of Cthulhu so I should know this system ...pretty much?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:17, Fri 22 May 2015.

Welcome Big Kev

In reply to Big Kev (msg # 19):

I played a lot of Aftermath and found it simpler than it appeared. Not that different from brp, just really just took getting used to the system. But I had already played Bushido so it was not that new to me.

Loved Car Wars and played in roleplaying campaigns using the Champions and Gurps systems.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:43, Fri 22 May 2015.

Also played quite a bit of car wars!

Everyone welcome Jari!

Welcome Jari. Let's save what's left of the world.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:21, Sat 23 May 2015.

Hi Jari!

Hi Jari

Hey, Welcome!

Hi there everyone and thank you for the welcome.

A little bit about me.  I'm possibly the oldest of us as I turn 45 in a couple of weeks time.  I'm British, live near Maidstone in Kent (SE of London) and work in London, also in advertising.

I've been role-playing for approaching 35 years and I've tried a lot of systems over the years.  I'm a big fan of post-apoc settings and am looking forward to gaming with you all.

Hi Jari welcome to the game.

Welcome!

What kind of advertising work do you do? I'm an account director and develop marketing strategies for consumer packaged goods (mostly).

Everyone welcome Erwin Smythe!  We are now full up and I'm aiming to start tomorrow night so we can get fully underway by the end of Monday.

The game map didn't post with the same zoomed in quality.  Use the download link (I put it on Mega).

Thanks for the welcome.

I work in the media side of advertising.  I used to plan and buy campaigns but I now run an accountability team ensuring that we meet our deal commitments to clients (on a global basis).

Ok, I'm taking a break, I'll be back on in a couple of hours and then I'll focus on answering questions and posting character specific info messages.

Welcome to the game.


I did mention this in a PM but just to let everyone else know I'm away on holiday from Monday to Friday next week.  I hope to have WiFi in the hotel and be able to post in the evenings but I can't guarantee it.  I might therefore disappear for several days.

I will try to get Jari complete by the end of Sunday however.

Thanks.

Maybe a Check In/Check Out thread would be a good idea. I am sure people will be away for various things throughout the duration of the game and it would be good to know if someone is just on hiatus or if they have dropped out.

Welcome Irwin

Thanks all, glad to meet you.

Ok everyone,

I'm taking care of rl stuff today, but I will continue to push out the info pushes.

Given some of the mature themes and language inherent in post-apocalyptic games, what do all of us think about changing the game to Adult?

I was already running on the assumption that it was, so that works for me.

Probably a good idea.

I will send my statement via PM now

I don't have any problem with the rating, but I think you technically have to remove us and have us re request to join with an age statement. Not a big deal but it's a bit of work on your end to turn all of our characters to npcs to save what we've done, then delete us all, then re add us.

That sounds like a hassle.

Can we all just agree that we are OK playing in an adult themed game and those who are not comfortable with that can back out?

Ditto.

No, there are very strict rules.  Each player has to send me the following statement in a PM:

I, <rpol username>, am <your real age> years old, and it is legal for me to view adult content in my current place of residence.

This is a non-negotiable rule which protects rpol.net, so it's a requirement.

I will not change the game type flag until I have statements from all the players, so right now we are still currently operating under rpol's Mature Games Policy as found in the Help section of the site. That means nothing that wouldn't be printed in a mainstream newspaper.

Ah, gotcha.

In reply to Yollie Guevara (msg # 47):

I was in an "Adult" rated rpol game for over a year and the only real difference is graphic sexual descriptions.

And those got annoying after a while.
I've browsed other A rated games since and in my opinion the porn interludes get in the way of actual roleplay. and I don't bother with A rated games here anymore.

We can have some profanity with the M rating, and violence. But love scenes need to "fade to black."
Imply what you like? But we won't be detailing bedroom scenes.

So this is roughly equivalent to a Rated R for violence movie.

Oh, wait, you mean this isn't the right place for me to act out my post-apoc snuff-writing hobby?

DAMNIT.

That's correct.

Apologies, sarcasm doesn't drift through the ether of the Internet well enough sometimes.

Great posts ICly!  I'll be able to respond when I get back from work.

Yep. Nice writing folks!
It looks like some of us may have done this before.

Yeah, this is pretty awesome. Thoroughly impressed so far.

Damn, Yollie is going to want one of those puppies... damn you, Lucas.

Also loving everybody's posts. I think I'd like a car mascot but I would hate to endanger an actual puppy and my car's upholstery at the same time. Maybe there's a really leathery indestructible puppy.

You're thinking of a football with a face drawn onto it. We can make that happen.

Get her a life-size plastic Target Dog.

Or one of those nodding dogs. It could go on some crazy dash shrine.

Jump right in folks! The water is warm.

Erwin? Jack? Jari? ...looking forward to reading your posts!

Uncaring? Feel free to take over this desperate traveler guy I'm squeezing.

Christmas? Puppies grow up to be excellent car alarms.
...and they love goat milk!

I wanted to link up stories with Higgins when he comes in off the road. So, Yollie is going to do her thing until she sees the motorbike come in, or Higgins bullet riddled body come in.

Possibly a stupid question, but...
Does the Taco Bell have actual tacos?

That's actually a pretty good sell. Also I saw Apocalypse Now today (my road crew are basically ersatz boat crew) and there was a part where the surfer guy who took acid started carrying a puppy around, so I think it's a sign. I'll type something up.

Waiting for the nod from the GM, sorry.

Jari is currently traveling irl, and Erwin will be nodded shortly.  If there are any other issues which I need to take care of, please send me a PM.

Remember that part in The Matrix where the helicopter pilot turns into Agent Smith?  Well, I'm about to do that to Lucas' possible customer.

Do Yollie and Crow know one another? Being an East Highland Hills native, it seems like that would be a given. If so, can you PM me what exactly she would know about him?

It has traditional soft tortilla tacos with tomato, peppers, chard and cabbage, and your choice of chicken, rabbit, fish, goat and 'leftovers'.  There are also burritos, tamales, and a variety of fried foods.  Guacamole is made fresh daily.

Hot Damn! ...now my mouth is watering for some leftover goat and cabbage taco!

That would make some real nasty gas though...

That legit sounds freaking awesome. Indian food tonight (closest I can get to spicy goodness in Japan aside from homemade Mexican food MacGuyver style).

Crow is acquainted with most folks in the town, but no one really knows him. He is a skilled healer, and if you end up needing a doctor he is about as close as you are going to get. He is pleasant enough but beyond what is needed to calm a patient or barter for his services, Crow keeps to himself when in town. Most folks are fine with that as he is a bit strange.

Given that both spend time in the wilderness on foot, Yollie and Crow might have come across each other in the sticks. Crow is often hunting for herbs or scavenging on his own.

Not sure how much first aid Yolie has, but if that women is in bad shape it would probably make more sense to take Crow with you. Although he stops by Lost Hills from time to time, he travels regularly.

Yep. But we have no idea where Crow currently is.

From how I picture it, we have to drive through East Highland Hills to get to this dude's wife on the Slow Ride. Without getting too meta there's an opportunity right there for Crow to get in the scene.

This is a truck stop. Crow has been back here a few days, there is little doubt you know he is around. Going out and helping folks like this is what he does. Does not seem like meta-gaming.

The rest is your call.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Mon 01 June 2015.

Your first post had in orange East Highland hills. That is the town proper. The Travel stop is removed from the town in order to keep Road Warriors and non-locals out. If you were in the town, then you were not at the Travel Stop.

We are currently at the Travel Stop. I may have read your location wrong - or misinterpreted the meaning, but I am pretty sure that is what it said.

Either way, if you are in proximity to us, you should probably make yourself known like Christmas did.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:23, Mon 01 June 2015.

My character posting in the truck stop thread.

Yes. As was my initial post - yet Yollie was neither in the Travel Stop nor East Highland Hills, she was in the foothills outside of it.

Can we currently see Crow?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:24, Mon 01 June 2015.

In reply to Yollie Guevara (msg # 76):

My character is at the general store at the truck stop. I am not sure I can clarify it any more than that.

Let me try this again, different tactic.

There are two locations: East Highland Hills and the Travel Stop. They are separated as to keep natives and road-people out of the town and safely rounded up at the Travel Stop.

Your first post had the location listed as "Lost Hills General Store," so I assumed you were not at the Travel Stop, but rather at a general store inside of East Highland Hills. Easy mistake since it turns out you are.

Thinking you were back in the town-proper, Yollie had mentioned driving through town and picking you up on the way.

Now that that isn't the case, you can enter the IC and introduce yourself to our current situation any way you see fit.

Cool?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Mon 01 June 2015.

Great glad that is clear now.

Anybody know what base skill levels are for
Animal handling ?
Crossbow ?

Well, longbow is 5, so I would assume that is what a crossbow is. Not sure about animal handling. Sorry, bud.

I was WAY off.

Crossbow base is 25.

I'm currently not seeing Animal Handling in the book. It might be a GM-handled thing.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:39, Mon 01 June 2015.

As I read it, the old guys casings are empty brass casings, not firable ammo?
Is that correct  Uncaring?

Not of much use to Christmas, but interesting if we can find out where the guy got them.  ...Maybe a hidden prewar stash?

Sorry everybody. I have a rl situation at home and doubt I will be able to post tonight. Be back tomorrow hopefully.

Not a problem at all, man (or woman, I forget who's who). Take care of you and yours. We will be here waiting.

Besides, this can be good Yollie/Christmas dialogue time.

Yup. Best of luck with things, Lucas.

Real life comes first.  Take care of whatever you need to.

Hope everything is ok.

As soon as Crow is done bargaining for the mag he will be out and about and should be easy enough to spot.

WiFi signal is weak here so I am signing off. Good luck all! Be back tomorrow afternoon probably.

Glad to see everything is good on your end, aside from your WiFi signal.

See you tomorrow, bud!

As Lucas drives west I'm not sure what to post as the new location title?
Are we in the travel stop environs before pulling off for Yollies house?

We will be on the Slow Ride West.

To get there, we travel through East Highland Hills and Yollie will get off there. But I can write all that up in one post, so we don't have to waste time with multiple posts while she's getting the shotgun.

I thought road warriors were not allowed into easy highland hills.

Will the group be passing Higgins? I figured they'd come out where Higgins is waiting.

From how I understood it, his wife was off to the West, not the East where Higgins is.

I also imagine that the highway itself is self contained or re-routed in order to protect the township.

Higgins, depending on how many entrances / exits the Travel Stop has, we may have just passed your hidden spot?

Uncaring? Is there more than one way out?

If you have a CB radio? I've got mine on receiving, scanning the channels. Most likely Erwin does too.

My oversized mutant Wrecker truck is pretty distinctive and Higgins would recognize it easily.

The wife is indeed a few miles west on Slow Ride.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:14, Fri 05 June 2015.

with this many people along, the dying wife guy probably thinks we're going to clean him out and leave him wearing a barrel with suspenders or something

I think the problem is Yollie's family lives in East Highland Hills, south of Slow Ride but the I-5 where Higgins is is East of us. If the road was re-routed around the town or if the town is completely removed from it now, then Higgins can catch up to us no biggie. But we shouldn't be passing by him to go West.

If cb radios are pretty common I think Higgins would have one. But if they are on the rare side he may not bother.

Crow does not have a radio

CB radios are not common.  Someone would need to have a working radio set, a power source, and a reason to use it.  That said, if someone made enough of an effort they could get one working.

There are two gates to the Travel Stop.  To the east there's the Road Gate by the interchange between the Slow Ride and the Road.  This is where Higgins is.  The other gate, called the Oilfield Gate, is directly west down the Travel Stop's main drag.  This is the gate Lucas would use to go west on the Slow Ride to Dying Wife Guy's car. Note that the Travel Stop sits directly on the road and controls access with its gates.  The gates themselves are dump trucks.

Will be heading down I-5 this weekend. Will have to pull in to make a quick pit atop.

At the Taco Bell, and swing by the general store in the Love's Travel Stop!

I am a little jealous of you folks that are near the area.
That must be delightful!
...grab me a goat and cabbage burrito at the Bell while you are there Crow!

Yollie I love your details on the shotgun!

"a Remington 870 pump-gun that had been in the family for generations now. Black steel stamped with the words "3 in. Magnum" on top of the action silhoutted a brown wood stock and pump.".

I am guessing it will hold 5 shells? Am I right?

In reply to Crow (msg # 102):

Are lots of you guys based in California?  If you are what time is it there now?

I'm UK based so may be on a very different timezone to many of you.

I aim to please, baby. Without looking at what the rules say a shotgun should have, I am picturing the home-defense/tactical model with the 18" barrel and 6-shot tube with one in the chamber. Ultimately that will be Uncaring's call, but it is a pretty standard weapon. My dad was in law enforcement and I grew up handling weapons my whole life. It is probably the most conservative thing about me, because other than that I am pretty liberal haha.

I was born and raised in Bakersfield and my wife is from Fresno. We met at university in Bakersfield. I've been to this Travel Stop many, many times in my life and I previously dated a girl who went to Cal Poly, so I made the drive on the Slow Ride many times as well. Currently the wife and I are living in Toyama-ken, Japan.

I prefer the old 58 that you can take from Bakersfield without having to go north on the 99 or the I-5. It is windy as hell, but it is a damn beautiful ride. It also bypasses hitting Paso Robles and having to go south again.

And dude, a goat and cabbage burrito sounds so damn bomb right now.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:33, Fri 05 June 2015.

Yup. Spend my share of time driving to Disneyland, Fresno, Yosemite and Vegas. I-5 , 99 and a bunch of other stretches of highway. The central valley is a cool setting for a post apocalyptic game, though with the ground sinking and the seas rising I wonder if it wont be an inland sea by then.

In reply to Jari Helminen (msg # 105):

I'm in California too.

Went through last night. Some great names for towns in the valley.

Uncaring made us a really spiffy map of the Travel Stop!
AmAZing to an old fart like me that is not proficient with google maps. ..thanks Uncaring! I'm starting to think you actually DO care!

Does the place really have a functioning
Car Wash?  ...That's gotta be expensive!

Don't tell anyone, I have a rep to protect!

The car wash isn't functioning, but people can use the structure as a shady place to perform maintenance or wash themselves.

I'm going to sprint to that car wash.

Fantastic maps BTW!

I'm very impressed.

This is that level of immersion that leaves the player's no opportunity to slack off. Well done, Unc. Digging it, dude.

Double post D-Baggery:

I also get the feeling that Tiff is into Jari. It's gotta be the accent... and the well maintained SIG 716.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:43, Sun 07 June 2015.

I'm glad you like the maps.  I'm trying to use the great resources available online.  I'm taking screenshots of Google Earth and then using Inkscape, a free open source substitute for Illustrator to create the layers with the labels and so on.

By the way, on the Central Valley map, you can zoom in by holding down ctrl and scrolling with the mouse button for any of us who didn't know.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:48, Sun 07 June 2015.

I could be mistaken, but I believe that right now the only person who can hear Crow is Yollie - and vice versa.

I think so, yeah. everybody else is inside the cab and the engine is still on

The gun-hut that holds Scaff and the machine gun is also between Yollie, Crow and the cabin.

Just two lonely Native Americans enjoying the sun.


Edit: Today's silence has given me all the sad. All the sad is belong to me.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:03, Tue 09 June 2015.

Lucas said in the beginning that he would occasionally have posting delays.

yesterday I saw a die antwoord video featuring yollie in a bouncing old style car, which I think was prophetic

Unc - It's not a dig on any player for not being able to post. It is simply me wanting to play.

Christmas - "Yolandie fukkin Visser all up in ya face, Hosh Pagamisa Rok Fukkin Wys!" Also, that is not the proper way to greet a South African in Afrikaans. I learned the hard way. ;)

Not sure what the truck is like, if it still has all its windows intact ect.

In reply to Yollie Guevara (msg # 122):

Oh I know, I just wanted to let everyone know that this was not unexpected.

Seems like after 20 years most gear would be in rough shape. That would be especially true of fragile or high tech items would be patched together if it works at all. So windows on vehicles would likely be replaced with screens or grates ect.

Maybe. It's Lucas' call, really. (I know my car has windows)

My apologies guys for not posting. Sorry.

The Wrecker back of cab has two small plexiglass windows, small shuttered view slots and gun ports you guys could ...yell through?

The back glass... hmmn. You have a good point Crow.
I'll say the glass in minimal. Lucas has patched in sections here and there but its not the original glass by any means.
The truck overall has roughly 1/3 as much glass as it had originally, replaced by armor, bars and grills.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:57, Tue 09 June 2015.

Lucas we need a clear layout of your truck.  There's the cab, then the sleeper compartment, then the back of the truck.  Are the cab and the sleeper compartment one space?

Ok everyone, Real Life(tm) has thrown it's first challenge at this game.  I have to go on a work trip for 2 or 3 weeks, and all I'll have is my phone.  I'll try to post, but no promises.

I'm leaving on Sunday, so let's finish up Dying Wife Guy.  I'll post the scene when I get back from work.

Ugh. That sucks. 2-3 weeks is a long time.

Maybe we should start a round robin story or something just to keep us all engaged.

Damn. That is a hell of a bummer, dude.

I agree, let's smash this adventure out before then. Sporadic updates or none at all will suck, but we will make due. I am ready to simply character develop with the other PCs. Maybe take Christmas out hunting and get her some time in with the bow and teach her some survival skills in exhange for stories from the road or some shit.

We will make it work.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 129):

That's a pain but we'll figure it out and survive.......

Ouch... I felt bad about leaving you guys for two days.

Well I can adapt. Let us know what we are allowed to do while you are gone Uncaring?

Our doing some sort of story as Bod and Yollie suggested sounds good to me. Uncaring can decide if any of it counts as "real" when he gets back?

Yes, it's a big drag.  This happens 2 or 3 times a year.  My boss is telling me I have another one coming up in July, but he doesn't know the dates yet.  That should be it for the year.  It's unusual to get 3.

I'd be happy to try a round robin thing/character development etc during downtime.

To expediate things, Unc, what kind of rolls are you looking for to acertain the extent of Beth's injuries and what needs to be done to stabilize and save her?

I assume Crow will be doing most of that, but if I can give an assist, let me know.

First Aid is all that can be done for her right now.

As of now I'm in travel mode, but the scene is going so well that I'm going to try to keep postinv.  Please bear with the inevitable typos and phone nonsense.

Should we start a round robin/characters hanging type of thing?

Could spitball ideas for one at least? ...anyone?
AFAIK Lucas knows or has met all the PCs now.
Including Jack if he eventually joins us.

Who wants in?
What is your idea?
Maybe something social?
A town get together of some kind?

A hunting trip like Yollie proposed would be cool. Maybe characters hitching rides, warming barstools, public justice, screwing around at the Bakersfield library? Whatever's everyday/serviceable backdrop for interpersonal stuff we don't need no GM for(tm).

A hunting/gathering type mission would be Yollie's cup of tea, but I am down to run in anything that comes up.

In reply to Lucas Mancuzo (msg # 140):

My idea was not involving our characters directly (maybe peripherally). I don't want to do anything that will potentially screw up the game flow. I was thinking we could do a round robin story with a totally new character. Maybe one of these npcs that have been created. Maybe with someone completely new. Someone starts, writes a couple of paragraphs then the next person picks it up. Perhaps to keep it cleaner, the writer can designate the next person to post. That way we don't stepmon each others toes. The second person continues the same story, moving it along. Then they pass it on etc. Should keep is engaged in the world without getting in unc's way.

I'm relatively new to PbP, so maybe I'm missing something, but I'm unclear on how playing our own characters in a paralogue scenario would affect the main continuity. As much as I'd like to play Brattie (no sarcasm), wouldn't playing out established npcs be the more likely thing to infringe on GM things? Again, maybe I'm missing something.

It may or may not, but I'd hate to create something that impacts one of our characters in some compelling way that messes with what the GM is working on. I think the GM needs to be involved with anything affecting character movement. Maybe not so much if it is in the past, but still, seems cleaner to avoid that.

I was mainly just clarifying what I was suggesting in the earlier post - what I thought would keep involvement in the game while avoiding character movement.

I would suggest flash backs. That would be a way for characters to share more about themselves without causing issues for timing and setting.  Any differences could just be flaws of memory.

Seconded.

Flashbacks are a good idea.  Take Bod Mans round Robin idea with one of your characters and write a short vignette, then be the cow rite for the next person.  As long as the prologues  don't change the gear advantages or anything else, we should be ok.

Ok. That sounds good.

Flashbacks sound like a great idea as they will help bring to life characters backgrounds and personalities.

Where should we post them?  In the OOC?

UF - if you have enough access on your phone please could you create a dedicated thread for these flashbacks?

Right, so while we are waiting...

What's everyone up to? Any big plans for the upcoming weekend?

If the weather here stays hot and humid then I'm going to maybe wriggle out of helping a friend paint her flat and swear off the indoors. (Going to write up a flashbacky thing and post it somewhere also)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:08, Thu 18 June 2015.

In reply to Yollie Guevara (msg # 151):

I just accepted an offer on my house and that means that my offer on a house my wife and I want to buy has also been accepted.......

Scary times!

Good luck to you Jari! ..I hope home loan rates are still low there? They are here. Get a low rate locked in if you can.

Nicely done Christmas! I hope I can think of something half as good as yours.

:) you're too kind, but most of the credit goes to uncaring's great outline of Christmas' mom and spotify ('a boy named sue' came on and I realised that I would be writing a bar brawl between parent and child).

I asked the damn question and then I failed to answer lol. Apologies.

I got super sick on Thursday and have been out of commission since then, but the good news is that I got to play hookey from work on Friday. Also, I got super medicated cheaply (praise Universal Japanese healthcare) and now I am back and in the action.

The weekend consisted of sickness, art shows, shopping, more sickness, sleep. It was wonderful.

I will try and get a flashback post in tomorrow if I can get my brain to work long enough. Now, I am off to entertain 40 elementary school kids with the wonders of colors, fruits, and numbers. It is going to be magical.

looking at art while just above deliriously ill actually sounds pretty good. What kind of stuff did you see?

In reply to Christmas (msg # 157):

It was something of a mix of all types of art forms for the local Assistant Language Teacher community in my prefecture. My wife and I entered a picture we took at the Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day 2014. The theme of the art show was "Boundaries."

In that particular picture, we had been waiting in this enormous line for over an hour to get to the Meiji Shrine and we happened to be the last group through before they held the line and let an allotted amount of time pass to let the next group through. My wife was able to turn around and get this awesome photo of the Imperial Guard standing in front of literally thousands of people with these ropes stretching across on either side of him.

There were also musical performances and paintings as well as arts and crafts. Aside from the $5 tiny sodas it was a blast.

Hi everyone I should be back on the 29th.  Great solo post Christmas!! I hope to read some from all of you!

I will try and get something up before the weekend is up. This last week has been intense - sorry for the delay, everyone.

Don't worry about it. Looking forward to reading.

(and ty Unc)

Apologies for not posting - I've recently accepted an offer on my house and had my offer accepted on a new one so I've got a lot of paperwork to organise.  I am checking in periodically however and am ready to go once UF is back.

Thanks.

Congrats on the new house.

In reply to Crow (msg # 163):

Thanks.

I'm moving this week and may be without proper internet for a day or two.

Hi everyone:

1.  I'm back.
2.  I'm exhausted.
3.  I'm going to sleep for a couple of days and then we'll restart this weekend or when Christmas is ready after her move.

Welcome back, UF. I hope the trip was... well, short of "good" I hope it didn't make you want to gauge your eyes out.

Jari, awesome news about the house, dude.

Christmas, good luck. It must be moving season. A ton of people I know are switching houses, cities, countries, etc.

Welcome back. I have been busy too, so timing is good.

In reply to Yollie Guevara (msg # 167):

Thanks Yollie.

Welcome back UF.

Jari, I believe the ball is in your court on our interaction.

In reply to Higgins (msg # 170):

Apologies.  Will post later today.

Are we ready to start again?

new neighbour volunteered her wifi pw, so don't wait on my account. also ty yollie

I'm here.. I might have to miss a day but be back the following day.

Okay, we have two.

Still here.

Ready and waiting.

Good to go.

Still here.

Still here

Apologies for not posting - RL is kicking me with stuff related to buying a new house (plus work).  I hope to catch up tomorrow.

Sorry.

Everyone, I'm sorry for my posting delays.  I'm having a hard time irl.

Don't worry about it, dude. Those of us who have stuck around have done so for this long. I am sure we can stick it out until you get level again.

Also, it just occurred to me that Yollie am sitting in the back with Crow and can't really get in on the conversation or share what she knows until we are stopped.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 182):

No worries.

That is why Crow has not replied in character.

... is*

Damnit. It has been a long day.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 182):

It's np at all. Best of luck with things.

Sure Unc, I have no problem with waiting. Just let us know how you are doing every few days would be nice.

I may be wrong but I thought Crow crowded into the cab/sleeper to continue treating the wife?
If not, Scaff can yell out of a gunport to you one or two folks in back.
I'll edit my post to reflect that...

I believe Crow's last post did have him accompanying Beth into the truck.

So, Yollie is sitting in the back by herself attempting to catch butterflies.

Sorry I forgot your pick up truck is more lime a semi with a sleeper.

Right Crow. Its a longnose semi sleeper except for the tow stuff in back.

Sorry Uncaring?
 I don't have internet at home, so I can't reply as often as I would like, especially on weekends. If I can't get on much tomorrow? I will get caught up Monday.

All right, sorry about that momentary lack in posting. Work picked up pretty nicely, but now the kids are all off on their summer vacation till the beginning of September. Life is good, amigos. Life is good.

Also, Unc... I loved this:

"It was impossible to tell what the building had been before the war, but some people still called it Jack in the Box."

Nice touch. Got me dying for a Sourdough Jack. Good Lord it has been years.

Yeah :) I think one of my favourite things about post-apoc media (I've been playing The Last of Us, recently, which, imo, is really well realised characterisation & setting-wise, if nothing new) is that you get to play archaeologist in ruins from your own time.

Hi everyone,

Real Life(tm) has raised up the second obstacle.  I have another work trip for the next two weeks.  I should have better connectivity this time, but I can't say for sure.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 195):

Well... thats Real Life for ya.  ...I can wait as long as needed.

It would be nice to figure out where my garage is though.

I think Crows VW van is parked in the Travelers lot north of/behind the General Store, is that correct?
Thats how I wrote my post anyway.
If I got that wrong I will edit it.

Looking forward to Crow's next post.

Lucas, your garage is in the mechanics' shop in the lower right corner of the Travel Stop map.

Crow's van is in the Traveler Lot to the right of the Motel 6.

Everyone, again, I'm sorry for this delay.  Please feel free to continue with any backstory writing you may feel inspired to do.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 195):

No worries.  When you're able I need a reply to message #125 of the East Highland Hills Travel Stop thread.

Thanks and hope that you're work trip isn't too bad.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 195):

It's alright, I think we're all patient here. I had other flashback ideas, so it'd be nice to try those out.

Dear all,

Is anyone interested in joining in a Twilight 2000 game that I GM and am in the process of restarting?  If you are then please check out the following link to another game or send an rMail to Mahatatain with any questions about the set up.  I'm currently looking for a couple of players and also have one existing PC that is available for adoption if someone prefers that route into a game.

Please note that I've checked with Uncaring Fate and he's fine with me posting this here.

Thanks,

Mahatatain.

I am not familiar with the game system, but I would be willing to give it a go. Can you tell me more about the PC you already have that needs filling via Private Message or Rmail? That way I could simply jump right in.

I'm not familiar with Twilight 2000 either, but curious. I'll check it out.

Thanks for the responses - rMails sent to both of you.

Anyone else interested?

In reply to Jari Helminen (msg # 203):

Awfully tempting. I used to play t2k back in the day. I recall rolling a lot of d6s for auto fire. Really fun times.

Sure let me throw my hat in!

Is anyone else going to post any back-story for their characters? I am thinking Higgins and Jari would be particularly satisfying to hear.

Not to mention Lucas before the war. I'm sure that's something.

In reply to Yollie Guevara (msg # 205):

I want to and have a vignette half worked out in my mind but have been too busy to get it written up.  I'll see what I can get sorted.

In reply to Jari Helminen (msg # 206):

I'd like to as well but work has been kicking my butt lately.

Boss man, do we have an idea for a tentaive re-start date?

Yes.  I'm aiming for this coming weekend.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 209):

Superb.

Looking forward to it :)

Ok, here we go.  Everyone who is still with us, make some noise.

Everyone has made it back to the Travel Stop.

Jari & Higgins are at the Bunker.

Lucas is heading back to his trailer and Christmas is heading back to her car and crew.

Yollie and Crow are with Beth and Donnie at Crow's Trailer.

We'll pick up with Jari and Higgins negotiation at the Bunker, and the Donnie & Beth story arc.

Crow, you're center stage with Beth.

Yollie, you can continue to assist with Beth or enter a transition period like Lucas and Christmas.

Lucas and Christmas, you have successfully reached a conclusion with Donnie & Beth, so feel free to do slice of life type stuff or embark on new adventures.

Lucas:  There is still the matter of payment and Donnie's promise to tell you where he got the brass.

Christmas:  There is second part to the Donnie & Beth story arc, but it's separate enough to be its own adventure so feel free to chart whatever course you like.

Jari and Higgins:  The second part of the Donnie & Beth story arc will have opportunities for your skills, but your characters may not want to take those opportunities...

I am down to see the Donnie and Beth story through and assist in anything where I can.

Ok well let's get these bullets bought so we can find out who Donnie and Beth are.

Awesome. I'll probably hock my explosive, check out the Six and see where that leads me.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 213):

Sorry if I'm dragging this trade out.  Hopefully we can conclude it in the next post.

Last week was pretty busy, but I am good to go and ready to get back to daily posting.

We are rockin' a solid three days of no posts right now.

Everyone still good? What are we waiting on the IC? I have a busy day, but either today or tomorrow I plan on getting another Yollie post in EHH.

My responsibilities at work have tripled due to someone leaving, so weekends will be the most likely time I'll post.  They won't be the only time, but the most likely time.


Lucas is waiting for some PM support and get Donnie over to bug him, and Yollie needs a response in EHH Proper.

Christmas escaped the carwash before I could have someone bother her.  Christmas, do you need something from me before you head over to the Bunker?

Nothing I need, but a bothering would be welcome.

Oh, behave. ;)

Hi everyone.  Work has been difficult.  I have to work this weekend but I'll try to post on Sunday.

Everyone, I'm not doing well.  I will post as I'm able.

Well take care of yourself! ..We will be here.
Is there anything you want prayers for?

Yeah, what's going on, boss?

Anything we can do to help?

Also still around. Best of luck with whatever you have going on right now.

Just throwing out a what's up and how's everyone doing to everyone on the forum.

I hope all is well.

*My attempt at not letting the forum stagnate regardless of mindless blather. ;)

Hi Yollie. Doing great over here. I'm still in a game on rpol, so I've got my eye on this one ;)

Hello everyone. Same here. I am in three other rpol games and co-gm one, read a few more that are entertaining enough. ...so I check here whenever someone posts.

Anybody in a particularly good rpol game? I could possibly play one more...

I looked at Jari's "Twilight 2000" game and that is high quality, but a bit more complicated than I was looking for.

Yeah, sadly that is why I didn't join Jari's game either although it looks pretty awesome. I just didn't have the time to learn an entirely new system.

Maybe in the future, though.

I am involved in a few other games on a freeforum I moderate - mostly Warhammer 40k, with some Star Wars, Pathfinder and a Shadowrun playtest tossed in.

As far as Rpol, I just got involved in a Werewolf: The Apocalypse game. It is my first time playing Werewolf, but the system is a lot like Vampire: The Masquerade which I have a lot of experience with so the learning curve is really low.

Sounds great! Vampire the Requiem was my gateway rpg, so I'm peripherally aware of the Werewolf games and very much grounded in urban fantasy. The rpol game I'm in at the moment is Apocalypse World, which I guess is as different to our game here as is possible while being post-apoc; more gonzo things to worry about than where our bullets come from. We've made our post-apocalypse a jungle-choked, rain-soaked affair with lots of psychic scars and witchiness colouring the land, which I'm enjoying a lot. Anybody else like PbtA style games?

Sorry, Christmas (excuse my ignorance) but are PbtA and PbP the same thing?

What type of system is Apocalypse world?

It's kind of a neat, narrativist system with a very collaborative playstyle, where only 2d6 is ever rolled. Mechanics are principles defining focus/tone an the GM side and moves which look like this on the player side (a move for the biker boss 'class'):



PbtA means 'Powered by the Apocalypse' which is any system derived from Apocalypse World's 2d6 & principles thing. There are some really great, thoughtful ones and a lot of meh ones.

That looks like a lot of fun. Simple. Super simple.

Would you mind describing your character in that game. Color me intrigued.

Sure thing, although it'll be an infodump that may look like gibberish :P

I'm playing a Skinner, which is the irresistible rogue/performer/fixer character type. Her name's Ingenue, and she's a neo-mystic, aesthete grifter from cult-infested jungles, with all the ethereal magnetism associated with psychic monsoon country. She's become a strange post-apoc celebrity* figure, owing in part to her insane look, a torched marriage to a notorious cartel figure, and performance art to do with her tattoos that glow and creep to the psychic maelstrom (which is probably a weird consciousness that butts against the real world and is probably made of psychic feedback from the big kaboom. *the concept of celebrity, in our game, is possibly a churning, half-decayed mass-memory cobbled into a very scary, imperfect thing that a lot of people think is a God)

Anyway, in the game she's ingratiating herself into a radio cult, partly because she wants it to be about her and partly because she wants to use mass-communication to experiment with the maelstrom's unpredictable symmetry.

In reply to Christmas (msg # 236):

Everything about that response was super sexy.

That game sounds awesome. Let me know if there is an opening that needs filling.


...ugh, I swear I wasn't trying to make a lame double entendre.

Thanks, will do! There's actually a 2e in the near future, that may prompt me to run my own game. I'll let you know.

Just checking in, seeing how everyone is doing. I hope you all had a good holiday season and are having a good start to the New Year.

Cheers.

Hello Yollie and all!   I am okay. Survived the holidays.
Hope you all are well ...or at least improving. Merry Happy!

Hi everyone. I also made it through to the post-2015 wasteland of today :P Hope everybody's doing well.

Work trip tomorrow.

I am not quite sure how to integrate Yollie back into what is happening currently with the others. She for sure wouldn't be aimlessly wandering around the Motel 6. So, I think I am just going to sit back and wait for an opening.

Yes, I did Christmas' and I need to do yours and Lucas', and Higgins if he's with us.

In reply to Uncaring Fate (msg # 244):

Yrt another work trip begins tomorrow.

I've returned but I'm sick as a dog.  I will continue when able.  Thanks again for your patience.

No problem. I am just excited to see this PC progress.

Sorry I have been so slow to post guys. I am still around though.
And sorry you feel bad Uncaring. Get better!

Yollie I am not sure how to get Yollie back to pestering Lucas?

If you can think of something I'm open to it, but most likely Lucas will be trading off parts from his salvage trailer to NPCs I suppose.
As its still "Market Day" I think...

Higgins? I think I still owe you a bike repair? ..Sorry man.

It's not your fault Lucas.

So, we have some action in the IC. Let's get to it. Sound off if you're still around.

I believe Higgins and Lucas at least are in the scene with Donnie.

Jari and Higgins can easily opt for meeting up with Lucas after his response, since their business at the arms merchant wouldn't take too long to conclude.  I have to respond to Christmas and set the situation with you, Yollie.

Will try to post IC tomorrow.

Thanks.

No worries, Unc. Whenever you are good to go, I will get a response in.

Hi, everyone. Sorry for disappearing without a trace I've had a few misfortunes, but am alive and well (with internet even) and heartened to see a purple number next to this game. How's everybody?

Hi again!  I'm glad your ship is righting again.  Things have horrible here, but I've gotten more sleep over the last couple days. I think I'm more capable now.  Let's see what happens.

I'm really sorry to hear that, Unc. I hope things get better for you soon, it sounds as though you've been suffering.

I'm working on a post around my weekend things (my writing brain is a little rusty, so forgive any delay) I'm imagining the court area as like walls and fences cobbled a drained pool with a light roof (or just a tarp shade) over the top - is that accurate?

If it is just myself and holl, I am still down to rock and roll.

ditto!

In reply to hollholl (msg # 258):

I'm on a work trip.  I'll be back on Friday night.

Sorry all.
I have had a very busy summer and family has been more demanding of my time, so I have not been checking Rpol much, even my Rpol Walking Dead game
(fortunately I have other GMs to depend on there).
RL has been kicking my butt.

Lucas will return, hopefully soon? But I cant write much today.

It is good to see some activity here! ...I shall return!

In reply to Lucas Mancuzo (msg # 260):

Really glad to see you back, even if its in a small capacity, Lucas.

Do we have any tentative dates or time-schedule for updates?

This weekend, assuming nothing horrible happens.  I lost Internet last weekend so I had to make up my classwork and there was a general uprising against management at work, so we'll how that goes.

Here's to hoping nothing terrible happens.

An uprising against management? That sounds like a story I would very much like to hear.

We got a real piece of work as a department manager back in march, one of those people who thinks she's so cool and crafty for using her position to screw people over to prove how tough and bad she is.  She's been contriving violations so she can write people up just to threaten them and have power over them.  She was working directly fir one of the vice presidents last year so she thinks she's untouchable.  She delays approving my sick time, makes me do the request form over even though it's right, and a host of other petty insults.  I have practice playing this game, but other people don't really because of their technical skills value. Now they're getting hit, written up and threatened.

Well... there was an organizational workplace environment survey, and every last one of us cut loose.  The legions had enough of the mad emperor.a lot of us went up to corporate EO and more went to getmeanotherjob.com and said so.  I contacted an attorney because interfering with medical leave is against the law as is disability discrimination (I get treated more restrictive than everyone else).

Then everyone called the department COO, even the praetorian guard.  So we'll see what hapoens.  If she touches me it's retaliation for an EO complaint, and that's a napalm filled can if worms I'm waiting for her to open.  Anyway the hole thing has just absolutely been horrible for the last 7 months.

Wow, that's intense. Has anyone heard back from the powers that be yet concerning the maelstrom of complaints?

If you don't mind my ask, what is it that you do for a living?

No no one has heard back and I doubt anyone will.  I've seen this organization ignore race hate, blatant sexual harassment, legal violations and all manner of utter ineptitude.

The current coo seems pretty good so well see if he'll let this person destroy his department or not.  Hopefully it will get her to shut the Fuck up, because retaliating against someone who went to eo is very serious and she wouldn't want us peons to be a speedup on her way up the corporate ladder.

Well, best of luck to you all. That sounds like a really shit situation.

In other news, let's keep the post train moving!

It's complete shit.  More news even one of the lamest people is mad because she's making people abandon the department

Use the anger you feel toward her to give us sweet, sweet updates.

Sorry again all.

My Fall is proving to be difficult as well. My Leg was too swollen to walk on for a time, but okay now. Then my car was rendered undrivable. Then I lost my tablet computer.
My Family continues to be demanding of my time, so I still have not been checking Rpol much.

 I really hate to keep missing Rpol, and will be back at some point.

I read part of the "Christmas at the Six" stuff just now,
Unc you are really a fine writer! ...when I can return here I will attempt to be worthy of your quality!

Will pray about your awful work situation.   ...PEACE!   ----Lucas

Lucas, may God bless you and restore you to full health.

Some good news.  The general uprising is taking effect.  I went to the big boss with documents proving harassment and discrimination, then another important worker laid it all out to him and then quit.  He won't let anything happen without his direct authorization, so her teeth are pulled for now.  She changed her tune pretty quick, too.

I'm going to end the game.  You were all great, and you stayed with it for so long, but my health isn't getting better and I have multiple work trips coming up.  I was doing very well when we started so long ago, but I just haven't recovered from the work trips and the treatment.  I will save the game as an archive.

Damn, this is a bummer. I had a lot of fun RPing Yollie for the parts we did. Can you tell us where you had the story going? What was Yollie going to find when she went with the Alpha Company?

Uncaring? I can respect you wanting to take a break man,
Perhaps a long break if you need that?

But personally I am not going anywhere.
My patience is infinite,
and barring RL death or dismemberment, I will probably be on Rpol for many years to come.
I look forward to this Winter being a better time for me to post, with very little RL outdoor work to distract me as the frost and snow accumulate,
 l plan to get back into Rpol for the next few months.

Its a terrible shame our RL timing worked out so very badly this Summer-Fall.
I feel this may be my fault for being so inactive?

If you don't mind, I plan to post a bit more as Lucas, just because I don't like feeling that I did not do my part.
I know you said you did not blame me for my inactivity, but I still feel bad about letting everyone else down.

Thank you very much for keeping this game open as an Archive, as I plan to copy most of it to Word file (if that's okay with you Unc).


Yollie / Pearldrum1, and Christmas, Higgins, and all the rest:

You are magnificent players, and I hope we can do something together again at some point?
My Walking Dead game "Days Gone Bye" is limping on without me at the present time, as my RL has been soooooo screwed up lately,
but I've got 3 assistant GMs to keep it moving now (just got the third strapped in this week) so even without me, that game is NOT going to die any time soon!
Sadly the other Main GM there died a few months ago
(I got a confirm this week from his mom. A Tragic loss. The kid was brilliant in some ways)

So even despite a RL GM death, "Days" marches on! Over 3000 posts. I am a bit proud of that.


But Shameless Plugs aside, this has been one of my all-time favorite games even outside of Rpol. Thank you so very much Uncaring!
I wish I had just half your talent with maps and the other neat enhancements you created for us here!
I am about as old as Lucas, and not as computer/net savvy as I would like to be.

(Sighs)

I will second Yollie's motion:  "...Damn, this is a bummer!"

Such a great game!
And games in this subgenre seem to be rather scarce on Rpol.

And Uncaring?
I cant imagine a finer GM when you felt up to doing it.
You are really very good at this man.
Thank you. Sincerely.


(Awkward pause)


Uncaring,  ...Can we please finally know what your RL condition is?
I kept imagining chemotherapy vs cancer. ...I really hope that's NOT it.
It seems your condition is long term though unfortunately.

My former fiancée got bone cancer in her leg many years ago, and it reoccurred twice. What a nightmare.
After two bone replacement surgeries, years on crutches or in wheelchair, and several rounds of chemo, she is cancer free for about 12 years now, Praise God.
She wont talk to me anymore, but praise God anyway. I am glad she is healthy.

I hope you recover Unc, and have a lovely life.
You have given us some great times here and I appreciate it.

Lucas...

You convinced me.  I'll leave the game up, work on GM planning, and just see what happens.  I'm not going to promise anything, and I feel I'm entering into another bad time.  More in PM's.

Hey, all.

I haven't heard from any of you in quite some time, but I still think back on this game fondly.

I sincerely hope you are all doing well.

Cheers.

Still hope you are all well.

If any of you ever come across this, I run a PbP forum. Please come by, make a profile, and catch up: playbypostgaming.forumotion.com

I hope you are doing well given these crazy circumstances. Take care.