This board is for players to meet and communicate.

If you have any questions about the game itself or any other questions for the GM, you can post them here or in a Private Message (PM).
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:51, Sat 06 Mar 2004.

One more thing, please choose your character name and send it to me in a Private Message. Also, start looking for a portrait for your character.

SOrry, I know I"m one of those stragglers, I was just wasn't sure how to intro into the game, or exactly what was going on.

Oh, hello to everyone, the name is Xan.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:07, Sun 28 Mar 2004.

Doh!  I watched Reloaded again and realized they already have a Lock (spelling different, mine refers to the philosopher) AND a Binary (but you have to watch the credits to know his name).

The first overlap must have been subconscious because he is one of the main characters.  The portrait even looks a little like him.  Hmm...

The second was purely accidental.

[Just wanted you to know this so you don't think these names have any connection with the movie or the characters in the movie.  They don't.]

Hey everyone

Just a quick post introducing myself and hopefully get to know some of you outside of our posting on the boards.  From our first few posts it looks like we have some good roleplayers and writers on our hands.

Anyway, hope you all enjoy the game and I look forward to playing with you all.

Cheers

G

Since Grid introduced himself I thought I would do the same. My name is Fil and I'm currently a student at a small college in Massachusetts. In addition to this game, I'm also Libery Lass in the MnM game: Liberty League. I hope that we all have a good time doing this and maybe even take something away from it.

Hey everybody, just wanted to apologize for the lack of posting. Had a big test this week I COULD NOT fail, so I was busting my ass studying. Once my character is complete, I'll get back into the swing of things.

Hello all:

I'm a late comer to the game, just dropping by here to say hello.

Cheers.

Everyone, just a note to say I probably won't have access to post until sunday or monday. I've got to pull a late nighter at the radio station for another DJ, who's on vacation. I'll check in if I can before then though.

Hi, folks. I'm the newest victim.. er.. player. Remember, shoot the guys in the camo, not me, ok?

:)

Hey Hey Viper, welcome aboard.

Whilst you are helping out our friends with the medical supplies, can you take out that Agent Mulder guy too.

Thanks.  :-)

Yeah, sure.. just as soon as X programs in a Howitzer.

"On it."  (C:

Ok guys, good and bad news:

Good News: I've been hired on full time at the radio station here, which means my own spot and a MUCH larger pay raise than I anticipated.

Bad News: Due to the above fact, as well as the other multitude of games I play/run here on Rpol, I just can't maintain the posting regiment that is the norm here. So, I'm gonna have to leave the game. I really wasn't that well into the game anyway, and I hadn't had time to completely commit to learning the GURPS rules, so I'd just be dead weight, when another eager beaver could probably do much better in my spot.

Perhaps if time permits in the next couple of months I can return to the game, but right now my plate is just too full. Hope everyone enjoys, and maybe I'll be back.

Okay...


"Xan, go stop the demolitions team!"

;)

Don't know who ya are, but I guess we'll miss ya!

I have a face! Fear me!

Nice to see a new face, and best of luck to Xan.

If the GM permits, I'd still like to be allowed to remain undeleted from the board, and check in from time to time. Thanks for the well wishes.

I won't delete you from the board, but Xan is about to die...he's got a live grenade three feet in front of him.

That said, best wishes to you.  Definitely check in, and if your schedule opens up, let me know...although you may need a new character at that time.

No problem, Xan, the sequel, will be ready. This shall also give me some time to check out the rules further.

Anyone have any comments about the game so far?  Any improvements you think would help?  Anything you like or don't like?

Is pacing too slow or too fast?

I need feedback.  :)

Hello folks, new player here. Roach, screw-up extrodinare. I'll be joining you guys soon.

I'm liking it but at first I thought it was a little slow.

*Kicks a rock*

Sooo...

Hows everybody doing?

Well, and yourself?

Groovy, groovy.

*Pokes Caine's body with a stick*

Question time!

This is suppose to be the first mission for the characters in this campaign, correct?  If so, I assume that none of us have encountered an Agent before, so we have little idea exactly who or what they really are right?

I hope of have this right, because that's the way I'm playing my character;  no idea who this annoying Agent guy is.......

That's the way I'm playing it. Though Viper's background includes a 'small' encounter with an Agent, he hasn't made the connection yet. These are like 'Microsoft Agent, v.01.1'. ;)

Cool, thanks Viper.  I thought for a minute I had missed something.

If only they were made by microsoft!  They'd be full of bugs and crashing constantly.  I look forward to meeting the Agent that just stops suddenly in the middle of a chase and says, "An illegal error has been performed by his Agent, it will be shut down".

Hello everyone, meet the fresh meat.  Couldnt let you all leave me out of the fun.  Um, hurry up and take care of that agent for me will ya?  Sometime before I am introduced if you could, thanks :)

Agents:  All you know about Agents is what was in the note given to Binary.  The first mention EVER of Agents, and you were there!  :)  More details about the Agents is actually contained in the disks that Laz is holding, so your characters will soon...hopefully...learn much more.

As I continue to design this game around GURPS rules, I have decided to add something other than just the Focus Skill.

When Character Points are issued, I will also issue "Codebreaker Points" (CDP).  You will receive probably about half as many CDP as you do CP (although I'm still working out the balance).

Normally, in GURPS, advantages and the like are inborn and can't really develop.  However, since the Matrix identity is a computer construct, these points will allow you to add certain "advantages" to your character, allowing for more diverse character improvement.

For example, regeneration or improvement on your Focus Skill will be possible through CDP, including numerous other "abilities."

I will also be introducing "Esoteric Skills," which in GURPS are cinematic martial arts types skills that fit seamlessly with the GURPS universe.

Any comments or suggestions as I continue to develop this?  I am working on the list of Codebreaker Skills at the moment, mostly adapted from existing GURPS abilities.

The matrix looks alot like a blend of esoteric skills and super powers to me.  Esoteric skills cover the enhanced combat and reflexes side, but some things are handled best with super powers and the variety of limitations available to them.  Use our bullet time focus power for instance, Altered time rate X 3, Accessibility (matrix only) and some crazy variation on limited use.

Dodging bullets could be a seperate ability from bullet time looking something like this - Invulnerability: bullets, accessibility (matrix only), Accessibility (only if wins contest between weapon skill and DX), limited use.  Even enhanced time sense with the same limited use limitation could work.

The super leaps could be a combo of super powers and esoteric skills. Esoteric skills seem to cover most of the distances leaped in the movies, except for that crazy leap Morpheus makes while training Neo in the jump program (only possible with super jump).

GURPS... too... flexible...

You're on the same track I am.  I am pulling CB Advantages from the Supers Books and also from Magic, but I'm trying to limit it to keep a certain control over the realism.  Esoteric skills will remain basically unchanged from the book.  Your jump example was EXACTLY how I looked at it, and the Focus Skill was taken from Enhanced Time Sense and then modified.

I will give a list of CB Advantages that will be exhaustive only in the sense that GM permission will be necessary, and possible modification made, for additional advantages.

Example:  There will be a regeneration advantage where characters can completely heal themselves via the Matrix, but doing so costs a certain number of CBP, so you will have to keep some on reserve just in case.  There will also be an allowed conversion from CP to CBP to load characters up one way or the other.

In the end, this game will be a fast progression game where the characters quickly advance, so the game is not intended for long term low level play as it is now.

When I was considering making a GURPS Matrix game, I played with the idea of having everyone be Chi Mages with a Matrix Only limitation. Here's the article http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid.../article.html?id=313

A limited number of super advantages makes sense, too.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Wed 23 June 2004.

I'm a bit confused by Lot's bit. Which messege did the marines say that they'd be out in three minuits?

Lot was just assuming that the marines did not want to still be in the building when the explosives went off.  Apparently he was mistaken, looks like they intend to stick around to make sure that the bombs do go off.  This also tells us that they never set enough explosives to bring down the entire building to begin with.

We need special acces to get to that link Viper.

The Chi Mage idea is very good, and I will be incorporating some of its ideas.  I just hope I have enough time to incorporate everything in time to put out a good set of rules.  Bear with me.  You're the guinnea pigs in this GURPS Matrix experiment.

Roach-The marines left immediately after setting charges, quickly rushed through the security protocols two floors up from the bottom floor, and then took the fast elevator to the top.  You can probably assume they told the security station to contact medics and meet them at the top.

Only the bottom underground floor of this facility was in charge of the Matrix project.  Thus, there was no intention to destroy any but that floor.  (As you can tell by the rubble, it's already been through some hard times.)

True. It's an article in Pyramid, SJGames online 'zine. I've got about a dozen and a half useful articles bookmarked.

Ah well.

Umh, I'm a little confused on where we in the elevator are, we are at the top, right? How close are the marines to us, I'm thinking of making a run to the computer room.

You are not at the top.  The "time for elevator to reach the top" is how long until the elevator reaches the top.  Remember that the elevator moves at only about 5 feet per second (a slow freight elevator), and it is over 2000 feet to the top, so there is a total of over seven minutes to go from bottom to top.

Right now, those in the elevator cannot do anything about the marines.  They may deal with the agent chasing after the elevator and prepare for the explosion below.

Okay, as I thought. Thanks

Unfortunately, this has gotten much more complicated logistically than I ever intended...but it's very interesting seeing it all played out.

BTW, in case any of you were wondering why in the world we had that whole episode of going through the water with the live electrical wires...

...I expected originally that someone might use it to incapacitate the agent after finding that bullets had a hard time hitting.  The agent would step into the water, the PC's would lower the live wire, and...zap!

Something similar had come to my mind as I was reading through the old posts. I would have used that to take care of the squad of marines, didnt think of the agents.  Our characters dont know it yet, but every marine is a potential agent.

Shhhhh!


Hehe.

Going off on a long weekend tomorrow morning.. I'll be gone till Monday night, so I'll see you Tuesday.

Boy lose a couple posts and everyone vanishes.

I sure hope no one's vanishing.  We're at the very end here, and then we get to start the Codebreaker Rules.

NOTE:  My home computer had a major hard drive crash on Friday.  This doesn't really affect the game any except that I can't modify the web site until it's up and running again.


UPCOMING EVENTS:
After this adventure, there will be a very short "mini adventure" in the real world which hopefully won't take more than a few weeks real time.  That should give everyone a chance to become familiar with the Codebreaker Points, spend the points I'm about to award, and develop a plan for the character's future in point spending.

Then we will begin the second major adventure, "Digital Fortress," which should introduce all sorts of twists and turns on the Matrix ideas.

Question:

Seems CBP limits how much you can do in the matrix pretty harshly.  Is there no way to regain fatigue while you are in the matrix?  What happens if you take advanced regeneration and fatigue conversion? can you restore fatigue that way?
Is there any method other than buying more strength or learning more advanced chi mastery to increase your fatigue pool?

Yeah.. I'd definately like to see some way to regain fatigue in the Matrix, or at least some way to increase it.. Otherwise, scenes like the 'Government Building Lobby' would be practically impossible.. or at the very least, be the end of the mission.

Greetings everyone.
As far as I can tell I've just been accepted into the game, name's Fault, and I'll be your resident Berserker. I look forward to joining the team.

_{On a side-note: what with having both the Daredevil and Overconfident traits, I give myself all of about four seconds before Fault dies a horrible, gruesome death.}

Seems likely, lol.  Welcome Fault.

Welcome

Couple more questions:

If we take chambara martial arts does it work as if we had the Trained by a Master advantage?  Would we have access to esoteric martial arts skills?

Do we have to pay double after character creation to increase our stats? IQ, HT, DX, ST?

Since I'm still out of the country, I'll have to look at these technical questions closely when I return home and have the rulebooks.

I modeled fatigue after the GURPS psionics.  I'll also look into getting them back while still jacked in.  I do have a concern, however, with turning it into power gaming and losing the ability to make it challenging.  It does not follow the logistics necessarily of the movies, as I've tried to make it more worthy of an RPG and character development over several adventures.

Well, Psionics generally only cost fatigue if you fail..

I understand you don't want it to turn 'power', but in order to actually be useful in anything more than a 'single combat and jack out' type of situation, there has to be a way to recover the fatigue spent.

I would suggest something akin to the 'Recover ST' spell from Magic.. It's passive, not immediate, but does regain quickly enough to be useful.

I am thinking of a couple of possibilities:

(1) Fatigue= Strength + Total Codebreaker Points
(2) Fatigue= Slowly recoverable over time (so your strength would represent fatigue, but it will probably be fully recovered between one battle and the next, similar to normal fatigue.)

Any more ideas? (I'm still looking at the other rules.  Just got back into town and am swamped with work.  Sorry for the agonizingly slow delays.)

I'm going to have to back out of the game. With RL issues, I don't think I can keep up. Sorry folks.

Sorry to see you go, hope eveything works out.

I'll keep Roach on the Hyperion in case you want to join up again.  Thanks for the notice and for playing.

-Heath

(1) would make more experienced characters much more powerful in the Matrix, which isn't a bad thing.

(2) would make us have to be more careful in the short term, but still be able to keep going without having to jack out and back in to recover our abilities.

I'd tend to go with (2)... though I certainly wouldn't complain about (1).

Mitose I already claimed the blanket, sorry chief.

After some thought, this is what I think I'll do for Fatigue:

CB Fatigue= STR + Total CBP
Plus, you may choose to utilize actual Fatigue (i.e. non-CB Fatigue) if you need to.

In effect, your CB Fatigue will equal:  STR + CBP + (up to STR/Normal Fatigue).  Use of normal fatigue will tire your characters as any other strenuous activity and therefore should be used sparingly.  But this also gives them the chance to "recover" fatigue, although it is only normal fatigue.  CB Fatigue will not be recoverable within the Matrix.  In your character descriptions, the CB Fatigue will not include the normal fatigue, as it is purely optional whether you use it or not and will change depending on the situation under factors not related to use of CB abilities.

This also means that choosing an ability with CP of increasing your normal fatigue may actually have an effect on use of abilities in the Matrix (contrary to my earlier assertions).  You may use your CP to buy such abilities if desired.

CB Fatigue= Your total CBP
non-CB Fatigue= Can be used as a buffer if you run out (based on strength), with normal fatigue affects.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:41, Wed 25 May 2005.

I like that quite a bit. It turns CB Fatigue into a sort of "Buffer Stamina," and allows those who want to specialize in CodeBreaker skills able to use said skills more frequently.

Hey all,

just wanted to say hello and that i've enjoyed reading your exploits so far. I'll be playing Snow and i hope i can keep the good form up.

Trained by a Master is not a prerequisite for the Matrix version of Chambara Martial Arts.  THis means that yes you have access to them without taking that skill (essentially, the initial access of 10 CBP to gain access to chambara martial arts acts in lieu of that prerequisite).

I don't think that's what he meant, boss.

I think Lot's asking about access to skills like Power Blow or Pressure Points.

Chambara Martial Arts will give you access to all the skills listed here:

http://www.fortunecity.com/riv...693/matrix/id101.htm

(So in a word, yes, it does give you such access.  If you want a skill not listed on this site, you will have to ask and I will consider it.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:14, Tue 24 Aug 2004.

LOL,

Snow turns up, says a couple of words then falls out of the ship!! This never happened to Neo! :)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:57, Fri 27 Aug 2004.

If you have not already done so, please update your character using the CP and CBP awarded at the end of the last adventure.  You may give it to me by PM or post it in Character Details.  (If the latter, please let me know you have done so.)

Any questions, please let me know.

I just realized that I haven't posted anything about character advancement other than the CBP.  For those who don't have the basic GURPS rulebooks, you may not know how to use the CP's properly.  If that is an issue, please let me know, and I'll post the advancement rules when I've got a chance.  (If it's anywhere on-line already, please let me know.)

I think we are waiting on someone to close the doors using the keypad.  Jade, you are at the controls right?

I think several of you may be waiting for me to post certain rules that you don't have the rulebooks to (such as martial arts-related rules).  If you have any such requests, can you please post them publicly on this thread?  Then I can compile them and post the answers for everyone.

(Also, I've had delays due to real life that have prevented me from such a time-consuming endeavor as typing and posting rules, so I'm hoping to do that soon.)

Thanks.

Well, I need to know how to improve attributes and skills.

Due to construction around my house, it looks like I will be without internet over the weekend.  If you have anything else OOC you want me to get ready for you, please let me know.  I will try to get the improvement rules.  If you have the Basic book, they are done as listed there, but I will try to post them for those who don't.

What a spanner Snow is, that the second horribly bad roll since i started!

ah well, PM me when hes conscious....

We are now nearing completion of the second mission.  I've noticed a drop off in the posting rate.  To keep the game moving, please let me know in a PM if you want to continue playing into the 3rd mission (inside the Matrix).  I'm trying to determine if I need to recruit some new players. :)

We have two radios, who has the other?

 I believe I have it. Jade handed it to me when you left for the train.

Talk to Locke man :)

Okay, everyone, something has come up.  I will be leaving the country this afternoon and traveling for about three weeks, at which time my internet access may be only intermittent.  That said, even if I don't post, THE GAME WILL CONTINUE as soon as I return, so "don't nobody go nowhere."

I would suggest all of you take some time to review the web site, refine your characters and update them with the new CP, talk amongst each other, etc.  I will move this forward as fast as possible.  (The last thread is left open so that you can talk to each other as the Hyperion makes its way toward Zion.)

ADVENTURE THREE: DIGITAL FORTRESS
The next adventure (inside the Matrix) will begin unraveling the mysteries of how your crew can take down Zero-One and will be focuses on both intellectually challenging puzzles and plots, as well as Matrix-style combat and disclosure of Matrix mysteries in (hopefully) unique ways.

In other words, you ain't seen nothing yet....

That said, I will be advertising for more players in January.  I'm looking for active players who post frequently and have proactive characters.  If you know anyone from any other games who might like to join, ask them to send me a PM before I advertise publicly since the slots generally fill up within 24 hours of advertising.

Update:  I will be out of the country for one more week.  Everyone get ready to jump back into the game!

As we will be starting in just a few days, please update your characters with the CP's and have them ready, since the next adventure is an "in-Matrix" mission.

We have any new players lined up yet?

At this point, it looks like we just have Lot, Fault, and Jade.  I have had a couple of inquiries, but I think I'm going to post a general advertisement.  I just got back into town last night.

Snow is here too.....

Sorry.  You're right.  We have four active players.  I think I'll try to get it up to six or seven.

You can all raise your health points back to maximum levels (both in Bio and in your character sheets).

Anyone reply to your ad yet Heath?  Ive been talking with a friend about the game and he seems interested.  Might hear from him in a day or two.

I've got three people interested.  Only one has so far submitted a character.  Your friend is welcome to submit.  Make sure he references you so that I don't reject him.  I think it makes the game stronger to have people who actually know each other.

Update:  still looks like three new players.  We're working out the details still, but I may begin posting the next mission anyway.

They complete enough for dialogue yet?

It looks like at least two of the players will be in the Matrix...and you guys get to help bring them out...

The others can discuss if they've been added.  Still waiting on one or two.  (Anyone can talk OOC on this board.)

To the new players:  Feel free to introduce yourselves OOC, although your characters have not yet quite joined the game.

Greetings.  I'm looking forward to participating in the game.  Although it's been years since I've been in a GURPS game, I am a big fan of the Matrix movies.

(Sorry so brief.  Like so much of the U.S. of A., I'm a bit under the weather, so it's off to bed early tonight.)

Sorry, correcting spelling on your name now.  Oops...

Heya just posting hi till we meet IC :)

I don't suppose it would be appropriate for me to give a hint on the last verse.. even if I don't really know how it ties into Vegas.

;)

Hey everyone, I'm pleased to be joining you. Looks like a great and exciting game.

Demian worked for the city police as a system admin and "counter-hacker" before being pulled out. So, he might be familiar with some of your more public hacking exploits, if you have any. If any of you want to PM me, I can work it into the IC introductions.

Heh.. well, Cutter's exploits were of a slightly... different sort. If Heath thinks you might have heard something, I'll let you know..

Of course, if you were crew on the Freebird, and it was the Freebird that pulled him out...

Grins so I'm kinda confused on who was on the new ship, am I right to assume Cutter and myself...or is there something I missed?

Yes, go back and reread the post with the personnel transfer.  Five people transferred over to join the existing group of four (which is Jade, Snow, Fault, and Lot).

grumbles a combination lock that works the exact opposite that it should....

I'm just taking it as deliberately making it so the lock couldn't be picked because a machine program could just sit there and try every possible combination.  Only by not using the numbers as a traditional combination would the lock work. :)

As an aside, if you ever have a dial-combination lock that can be set (usually on store cash vaults, so the combinations can be changed when staff turnover means too many people out there have the old combo), see if you can get the locksmith to set it to the same number.  He probably won't, because he knows he'll have to reset it once you see what it does.  If you start turning said dail around to the right (CW) it eventually unlatches without having to know the combination.  (I don't understand locks well enough to explain why this works, something about how the three catches inside line up if they're set to the same number apparently.)

Your numbers were backwards, or else I probably would have allowed it anyway...

Well I went back to look at it, if you look at the way a combintion lock works it's 3 turns to the right, 2 to the left and 1 to the right. 30 was three times to the right, 6 two times to the left, and 2 to the right. If they were backwards, I would have thought the combination to be wrong since it was the opposite than any other combination lock I've ever used ;)

For everyone's information, this is the solution:

The round pick is the order in which the numbers are turned.  The "day" on the date is the number to turn it to.  The "handed" is the direction each turn goes to.  The crossword numbers are the numbers corresponding to the name.

So, 5, 4, 8 is Floyd, West, and Fless.

Putting these in order:  First, Second, Third leads to:

Fless - First - Right - 2
West - Second - Left - 6
Floyd - Third - Right - 30

So the correct combination is:

Right 2
Left 6
Right 30

I was not concerned with the number of spins or anything else.  If you got those in the right order, you would have opened it.  Sorry if it was a little enigmatic.  But don't worry...Zero-One didn't get it either.  :)  But I guess that's why they call me at ASWoT:  "Enigmatic Codebreaker and Conundrum Decipherer."

New Draft Stats
	Name		      	Handed	Draft Pick  		Date
1.	William Traynor…	Left	Second Round		May 29, 2005
2.	Freddie Ames		Right	First Round		May 12, 2005
3.	Hank Theron		Right	Third Round		June  23, 2005
4.	Aaron West		Left	Second Round		June  6, 2005
5.	Sigmund Floyd	        Right	Third Round		June 30, 2005
6.	Michael Snider	        Right	First Round		May 14, 2005
7.	Thesmond Thatcher	Left	Second Round		May 21, 2005
8.	Ronald Fless		Right	First Round		May 2, 2005
9.	James Bronson	        Right	Third Round		June 18, 2005
10.	Reginald Fernandez	Left	Second Round		June 1, 2005

Crossword has filled out:
5 Down:         Father of psychoanalysis.  “freud”
4 Across:	____ blind mice.  “three”
8 Across:	The Spanish word for day.  “dia”

I see what you were doing.  When I put "first," "second," and "third," that was the order, not a number of turns.  In other words, you didn't need to transpose the ordinals.

Ok I understand now, it's funny how the rounds worked out the way they did :)

It also didn't help that the crossword clues, in the order given, yielded a third-second-first solution.  :)  Most crosswords list the across clues before the down clues, so I thought the order was deliberate.

Yeah, it was deliberate.  I did them in the proper order first and realized it was too easy.  So I switched them on purpose.  And there was the redundancy of having them in the correct order and using the found pick to show which is first, second or third.  That would make the round pick irrelevant, and I kind of liked that idea...so it got a bit messy.

Character sheet updated

This is to get your input as players.

To date, I have been using character points (CP) and codebreaker points (CBP).  However, our stats are divided into three areas:

Out of Matrix Skills
In-Matrix Skills
Codebreaker Skills

What I am thinking of doing is also dividing the character points into three separate types:

CP (character points:  for any points earned outside of the Matrix)
MCP (Matrix Character Points:  for any points earned inside the Matrix)
CBP (Codebreaker Points:  as currently used, earned separately for inside the Matrix).

This would mean that use of CP increases your skills overall.
Use of MCP would only increase your skills used inside the Matrix.
CBP increases only Codebreaker Skills.

One other difference is that only MCP would be convertible into CBP.  Regular CP would not.

I think this is more balanced, but perhaps overly complicated.  Let me know what you think.

I like the concept of Matrix-only CP, simply to represent the humans' growing sophistication in manipulating the Matrix.  They would, I'm guessing, be limited in being spent only on those skills that can be augmented within the Matrix by improved strength and reflexes (guns, judo, jumping, and similar skills).

I like it GM.

One of the other main advantages of the in-Matrix skills is that there are no boundaries.  You can have whatever skill level you can acquire, unlike in the real world, where strength and certain skills have a definite limit.  That's why I have a dividing line at all.

By dividing them, I think it makes it less complicated.  You know that CP goes toward both Matrix and real world, MCP goes only to Matrix skills, and CBP goes only to CB skills.  It also makes sense that only MCP can convert.

The problem is that I'll have to try to decide if any skills learned in the Matrix can increase skills outside the Matrix...such as your knowledge.  So that creates one unrealistic barrier, but if that's the only one, then I don't think it's so bad.

If you see your character stats showing up as BLUE, then that means I updated them.  If you still see the red private message format, then that means I haven't yet received your updated character.

Sorry for the delays.  My work schedule has been beyond hectic.  If you have any final comments or moves to post before we begin the battle phases, please let me know. If you need to update your characters still, please do so now.

I also suggest reviewing some of the rules and other issues related to battles.  Many of these I've previously posted.  Check out "player goodies" and the web site.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:36, Tue 22 Mar 2005.

I will be out of the country for the next 10 days, so I won't be posting unless for some reason I get onto a computer.  Please consider your next moves and think about what has happened.  You can converse freely because the man on the dais is not acting in a threatening manner, nor is he currently doing anything that requires quick action.  He appears content to wait.

For any who may have noticed, fortunecity.com, the web site host I use, recently went through an overhaul.  In that process the root addresses changed.  That means any image that I posted via "img src" now shows up blank.  I don't know how to fix it (short of changing them one-by-one), so let me know if there are any pictures in particular you want me to repost (such as rules, etc.)

This is a major source of frustration for this board in particular because so many technical things and related images are critical to running with the rules.

I think we may be short a few people. Not very good since I'm not primarily a fighter.

Yeah, it got quiet just before the action starts.

they were dropping pretty fast there...  so what's the plan?

Let's get a roll call to see who's left.  I know we have:

Screed
Methuselah
Jade

Who else is still with us?  Please let us know so we can get this moving or replace you.  You can PM me if you don't want it public.

Snow is here,

Is it just 4 people?  Last chance before we go in...

I'm still here. Just haven't had much to say.

For anyone who is still here but not posting regularly:

Even if your character is just observing, can you please just tone in every couple of days?  I'm always trying to figure out how and when to move the game forward.  Silence indicates AFK.

edited last post...

This is to get you pumped up about the Matrix again (humor):

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/i...tarwarskidmatrix.wmv

http://www.jedimaster.net/matrix_agents.htm

hey look, someone already got Binary and two others...

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/05...NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

LOL. Except Binary's not naked.

Actually, the picture I used was from Blade Trinity.

I just did a major overhaul to the website.  It should be much more user friendly and easy to understand.  I also fixed up to accommodate the rules issues I posted.

Please take a look at it and let me know if there is anything that you think should be changed, added, or done to improve it.

http://www.fortunecity.com/riv...693/matrix/index.htm
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:21, Fri 10 June 2005.

excellent.  I had a question about skills and went straight to the answer!

Looks like we'll be getting three new victims characters to join the group.

sounds like a plan.. just in time... will they be 'appearing' on the ship or when we get out of the current fracas?

Probably back in Zion -- yes, you might actually make it back there this time (emphasis on "might").  Still waiting for the character stats.

New characters, feel free to introduce yourselves.

New victims?

That's cool man.  Can I help?  Where are they?

Hey wait a minute...

Why are you all looking at me?

Of course the way things stand you might be getting three new characters to BE the group!  :P

Ha!  That wasn't my intention at all.  I thought that we were supposed to supplement the group, not replace it.

Do try to survive.  I'm looking forward to playing with you all.

 Hello, everyone. I'm Cala, martial artist, origami aficionado, and traitor to her people.

Really?!  You mean it?  You like origami?

 Hey, what else are you going to do when you're stuck in a simulation for days on end? Learning how to make birds and flowers out of paper seemed like as good an idea as any.

Do you like to leave them places where you've worked, like Gaff in Blade Runner?

 No, I prefer to use beaten enemies as my calling card.

My mistake.  I thought that you just folded your enemies into swans and cranes and the like.

 I would, but the bones just make it so difficult.

Ouch.  In my mind, I keep hearing the sound of wood cracking.

Just remember that in the Matrix, "there are no bones."

 "and it is not the bones that break, it is only myself?"

 Hmm. I'll keep that in mind next time I'm trying to shatter someone's femur.

Ha!  I think that we'll have some fun here.

 I certainly hope so. Now we just have to wait for our soon-to-be teammates to _hopefully make it back to Zion

They can make it!

Yes they can!

If they can't make it...  we'll be very lonely.

While I'm finalizing the next adventure, please feel free to tell me the things you are looking for.  (You can PM me if it is something you don't want to say in public.)

You can tell me about certain connections or background history you want tied in, types of play (action, puzzles, etc.), or whatever.

Anyone can post about this, even our new players.

By new players, that probably includes me. ^-^

Hey all, I'll be joining up with the group in the next mission. I'm the stealthy spy-type who can work his guns.

 Welcome, Dracos.

Hello Dracos.
Welcome to the game.

Looks like two more players will join us.  Once all the details are squared away, we'll start the next mission.  Until then, enjoy Zion.  Who knows if you'll ever see it again.  ;)

Two more?  Woo-hoo!

If anyone still has character stats out, please get them to me ASAP.  I think we're all about ready to start...

I realize that the Matrix idea has many possibilities.  If you have a specific idea (such as a unique NPC, type of skill, story arc, etc.), then feel welcome to send me a PM with the idea, and maybe I can incorporate it.  Don't feel that all your ideas must be restricted to your characters alone...I'm looking to make it the best game I can, not just a game of my ideas.

EVERYONE PLEASE NOTE:  I will be leaving on vacation from Aug. 4 through Aug. 22. Because I may only have limited access, I'm going to delay the actual start of the next mission until I get back.  So it's a good time to develop your characters, interact, etc.

I will try to post the intro to the adventure before I leave, though.  That way you can make decisions on equipment and all that.

Have a nice holiday.  Send me a postcard!

As noted, I go on vacation tomorrow.  Nothing like a good vacation to open up the imagination...hopefully, it will turn into making the next adventure very interesting.  I'm putting together my final ideas for it...hope your characters survive.  :)

HELLO EVERYONE!  I'm back...  I hope you are all still here and ready to move forward.  Please start posting again.

Welcome back Heath!  Did you have fun?  Did you get to relax?  Did you bring us anything?

I'm still jetlagged...and unfortunately, work accumulates while I'm on vacation.  Now, I've got a stack of it!  Straight from high relaxation to high stress.  I'd like to say I brought you something...but...no.

 Welcome back!

I'm on vacation until the 3rd of September.

So in about 2.5h from now, I'll be starting my last year of highschool (yay) so posting will be back down to anywhere between once to three times a day for me. I know this probably doesn't matter to most y'all, just wanted to let ya know in case I disappear or don't post for short periods at a time...

Okay, I was thinking of putting the stats in a notice like before.  Then I realized it may be better just to do it in your character description for easy  changing.

As an example, I inserted Screed.  Please click on his portrait to see what I am talking about.  This way you can check your stats quickly and I can make changes directly in there without going to the character sheet.  Anything you want private put in a PM imbedded inside it.

Screed's is just an example.  The more detailed you can be about the particular stats for the run, the better (for example, the gun stats, etc.).

Any questions?

Also, keep in mind that in addition to the new weapons described in debriefing, there is the entire list of weapons now posted on the website...hundreds of them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:48, Sat 03 Sept 2005.

When you choose a weapon, please insert it into your character description in the following format (quote and copy this for easy use):

WEAPON         dmg   SS   ACC   WT   ROF   SHOTS   ST   RcL
IMI Uzi 9mm    3d-1  10   7     9.5  10    32+1    10   -1
M-16           5d    12   11    8    12*   20       9   -1


* = Selective fire, automatic or semi-automatic.

I will also make a list of preferred weapons once you start making preferences.

Even the new weapons should have stats in the Basic Book.  If you have any problems, let me know.  I'm trying to cut down the work on me because battles can be complicated in GURPS and I want to be able to quickly reference what I need.

OOC: I am.

As am I.

I am ready...

okay, I'll be ready also.

I may not have said this for awhile, but just in case for newer players:

If you haven't done so, it is probably a good idea to go back and read all of the first adventure (all of them would be even better, but I won't ask too much from you).  The first adventure was the primer and discusses many types of rules and how play goes, such as during combat (although keep in mind that the focus rules changed).

How in the heck did we go from Log 4-2 to 4-5 did I miss something?

lol.  My aixelsyd kicking in.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:07, Sat 24 Sept 2005.

Ok, just making sure.  Thought I missed something BIG over the span of 1 day.

I have some temporarily bad news.  I am moving back to the US tomorrow and will be staying at a temporary place for about a month.  This means I will probably not have much internet access.

Feel free to talk and strategize amongst yourselves.  However, my involvement to push the story forward will be limited for about the next month.

Please stick around.  Use the time to better define your characters, chat amongst yourselves, etc.  As Arnold says, "I'll be back."

We'll pick it up with you going to the meeting when I get back...

Ahhhhh.... Good to know

I guess we should all get to know each other a little better or at least what we can expect out of each other in combat.

Shadow is mainly a close in martial artist with arm-lock being a specialty.  He does have some use for pistols and can pilot the ship when needed.

You can expect me to shoot from far away.  If they get close, I will move farther away or behind someone.  If you can't tell, Screed talks, and talks.  He also does sneaky stuff, traps, locks, computers, driving, tactics, math, and just all around go to guy for stuff.  He's a kid and likes to have fun.

I'm unofficially back...don't have my books or anything else yet...it's still on a boat from Japan.  But I do have Internet.

At least it's not a boat from China.  We all know how slow those are.  So, where are you now?

San Diego...and boy do I need to change this portrait!  :)

Can I have everyone check in so I know you're all still here?  You're either being very patient or I'm talking to myself.  Still waiting on my books and stuff; probably be another 1 to 2 weeks.

You are talking to yourself.  Several people checked the post you made last Friday which you can see on the cast list.  So they are still around.

But I liek to think you are talking to yourself.  It makes a funnier mental image.

I also have one additional player waiting in the sidelines if anyone drops out, so that's another reason I was checking.

why wait, bring 'em on...

I'm still around

Still here as well

I'm here too.

I haven't been here in a couple of months.

Good, sounds like we've pretty much got the group.  If I can just get my act together from this side now... :)

Sorry for the delays, everyone.  I'm still in a mountain of boxes at home.  Hope to turn back to this any day now...

Any comments or questions?  If you look at where you're at, you'll see that the groundwork for the adventure (i.e. the goals of the mission) have just been laid.

really?  I thought we were almost done.. :P

I would like to set a hard date for starting this up regularly again.  Let's go with Monday, Nov. 14th.  That's the day my Internet gets hooked up at home.

The game is officially on again.  Let's get moving!  Sorry for the delays.

If you are wanting to join the game or a player returning, please make this known to me immediately.  I am going to begin a recruiting phase to replace any inactive players or those who fail to follow up in joining the game.

All waiting lists will be deleted!

I must know where we stand on players because things are going to get hairy very soon.  If you are currently participating in the game, you don't need to worry.

Not worry?!  We're going to die!  :)

Tell me about it, parking garage chased by 2 agents.  ick.  Thats why I want out of the van.  :)

Sorry for the delays.  Holidays and an impromptu business trip kept me busy.

I feel like we've lost our momentum.  Any way to get it going again?

This is the time of year when many go on vacation or don't post much...for the next two weeks or so.  This includes me, unfortunately.  So if you don't see a lot of rip roaring, fast-paced action, don't worry...it's coming.  And when it hits you, I just hope you guys can survive...  :)  Truthfully, though, if you have free time over the holidays, you may want to think about reviewing the combat rules and determining what types of strategies you will employ.

Good luck and happy holidays to all of you!


(I will still be around and posting, but life is crazy and hectic, so it's a little more irregular.)

FYI, I'm out of town until January 1, so please expect posting to be irregular.

Reminder:  if you have time, it's a good time to review combat rules.

I have to apologize.  I was trying to think of a number puzzle to deactivate the silencer device, but I couldn't come up with anything.  It would have been nice with the countdown to the meeting going...but curse my inability to think of one that worked.

Also, I'm in the middle of preparing for another bar exam, so my posting will be irregular through the end of February.  Sorry for yet more delays on my part.  Not on purpose, I assure you.  Sometimes real life just sucks.  :)

Busy here too so no worries.

Combat is about to begin.  I would like to turn around a few rounds of it this weekend, so please give me all necessary details by Friday for your individual characters (PM or public is okay).

Then I'll be out of town Tuesday through Thursday next week, hopefully with some quick turn arounds again starting next Friday, and this adventure should quickly come to its climax...hopefully.

What details are you looking for?

I'm crouching behind something suitably heavy on the other side of the room from the listening wall.  I'm holding my bag over the shoulder with my left hand for easy access and my blaster pistol is in my right set for three round burst.

What I'm looking for regarding the fight is something like this:

I have my gun readied before anyone enters the door.  I will aim at the first person (or group if automatic weapon) who comes through the door for two seconds and then fire with my ___ set on [auto/semiauto](ROF=__; Rcl=__)).  I will continue to fire for ___ rounds or until the situation changes or I am wounded.  My basic score to hit with the weapon is ___. I believe I have the following penalties/bonuses to this score:  ___.  I will target (If specifically targeting a body part) with penalty of (-___).

If you are going to use a Codebreaker Skill, indicate the details, including how much Matrix Fatigue you will spend on it (such as for Focus).

Remember, I handle combat in 3 round (3 second) increments.  So please include all subrounds (such as in Focus Speed) in your description.  If something weird happens, I don't post a full 3 rounds.

The more details you give me the better I can pull it off without making any guesses.  Honestly, this is a good time to go to the website and review some of the basics of battle to make some informed decisions.
Check the quick references for combat rules:  http://www.fortunecity.com/riv...693/matrix/index.htm

Especially look at the combat basics, ranged weapons and single shot or automatic weapons (as applicable).  Aiming and the flowchart may also be useful.

***
BTW, I'm out of town and having really unreliable internet access (wireless--comes in and out).

I'm back in town but see no activity.  Please go ahead and post.

PM

'Them' being an AI, a werewolf, and a vampire.  :P

[singsong voice] But I GOT A SHIELD! {dum-da-da-DUMMM} =p

Sorry for the delays.  I'm out of town with spotty Internet access at best.  Be back in town Monday.

ok

If anyone's interested and has the time, I'm starting a new D&D game soon:  link to "ADnD 2nd - The Crusaders' Lounge"

The feedback about this Lounge idea was very positive in the game proposal thread...several people promised to steal the idea.

If any of you posted or wanted to post since May 6th, please do so again.

I'm planning some changes that should revitalize the game.

Can everyone check in?  Just want to see if we lost anyone.  PM or response here is fine.

Still here, will post tonight.

I am back.

I'm not...  :)

How many people have access to the Martial Arts book and/or the Compendium I?

NOTE: I was having problems updating with my Web Host, so I migrated to Tripod.  Please note the updated link in the website.  http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/

You may not visibly notice many changes, but there are some background changes and other things going on that will help me get it updated faster and better in the future.

One thing I want to draw your attention to is a list of the skills, some of which are NEW! and which I will be updating with details in the near future.

Check the "Cost Matrix" by scrolling down here:  http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id99.htm


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:50, Sat 20 May 2006.

I have no books.

I have both.

Sorry I wasn't around sooner but I got violently ill at 0300 Thursday, to the point that I blew most of the blood vessels in my face. I look like I was in a car accident. In any case, I'm back, and I'm ready to go.

(If anyone wants to see pictures just ask ;) )


Edit:

By the way, I do not have the books.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:38, Sat 20 May 2006.

The reason I ask about the books is because no one has picked Chi Mastery or Chambara Martial Arts, so the new info from the AI will "upload" it into your brains.  Should make it more like the movies and give you some fun combat options...except that I'd have to type out the descriptions from the books if people don't have the books.

I should be able to get the PDF version of Martial arts and send you the copy/paste of the text if I can.

Is there an online link to a pdf version?  That would also work.

Nah, no link that I know of.

I accidentally gave NPC access to a couple of players which may have led to some posting issues (oops), but I think I cleared that up now.  If you find you have access to an NPC, please let me know.

I thought about going that direction in the future.  After I picked up a few more advantages.

I'm typing them all out...my aching hand...

You can see the progress by visiting the website.  Still a ways to go, and then I will be editing to make it more Matrix friendly.

post edited...

Okay
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Sat 10 June 2006.

I forgot to say this:  please send me a PM with your choices.  This is something that is not to be coordinated between you.  If we have multiple people choose the same thing, that's okay, we will have NPC's to do the rest.

The reason for this is that these are skills that you developed before ever meeting up.

PM

D'oh!!!

did codec and/or jinx ever make it onboard?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:26, Sun 11 June 2006.

Double D'oh!!   Might help if I actually READ the posts,  geesh.

lol

PM

Please, everyone, place your chosen skill and level on the character sheets thread by editing your character sheet there.

And let me know if you haven't told me already.

done...

done as well.

Sorry for my delays.  I'm actually going out of town for a week.  Please go ahead and read the following sections on the website:

http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id101.htm
http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id103.htm

You will be meeting Master Zhang Sanfeng if and when you get away from these Sentinels.  You may go ahead and start updating your characters based on it, as follows:


I may do a bit of fine tuning, but will let you know.

Also, XP's are being handed out below:



Jade does not get CBP because she died and had to be revived with previous memory before going into the Matrix.

I will be handing out CP after this encounter is over.

Okay, I'm back in town and finally catching up with work.  Don't you hate it when work piles up because you take a vacation?

Anyway, I hope everyone had a chance to update their characters.  As you will see, I have not completely updated every single statistic on the web site, as I am trying to type in all the details from the rulebooks for the benefit of those who don't have it.  So if you have any questions about a particular skill, just let me know and I'll type up that one next.

I was going to have one last final attack with the Sentinels, but for the sake of time, I think we'll make it quick and move on.

yes, what is the sharpshooter skill?

My char sheet on this site says up top that I have 60 download points. This was the same (probably old) char. sheet I was forced to take when my newest one was lost. Do you think this is just old or do I have leftover CP's?

What are the following, when you have a chance -

Trained by a Master
Sharpshooter

Dual Weapon attack
Sticking
Power Blow
Precognitive parry

Thanks

Hopefully, I'll get a chance over the weekend to look at this more closely and answer your questions.

Codec, I'd have to check.  I think I just did a copy and paste from your private messages.  Why don't you check and see and tell me what you think?

I remember now, it just means I have used all my CP's. Nevermind.

Sorry for the delays.  My wife decided it was spring cleaning time this weekend, so I didn't get to the updates I was intending.

 A question regarding the update and Chambara Martial Arts/Trained By A Master:

  I don't quite understand how Chambara Martial Arts and Trained by a Master interact. If you wanted to learn, say, Immovable Stance, would you need Trained by a Master, Chambara Martial Arts, or both?

No problem.  That just means I don't have to have my character updated right away.

I was thinking of going with Sharpshooter, but just about everything else requires trained by a master.

We /are/ being trained by a master. THere is a master in the upload that gives us the training. (Think Morpheus and Neo in the movie, but Morph is a program instead). Also when the skills are directly inputed into our brains, we were "trained" as well :) .

Yes, but we need the "Trained by a Master" advantage for most of the skills listed so far.  When Heath gets the other ones updated, I will make a more informed choice.  Of course since we are not in the matrix at the moment, there's still plenty of time.

Yeah, I've been working on this scenario with the Sentinels for now.  We'll peg down the Matrix details when this is over.

By breaking this up into individual tasks, I'm trying to go with the speed of the individuals.  Hopefully, we haven't lost anyone over the summer.  Otherwise, the Matrix may need to free a new soul...

"PL"  is that a Private Letter?

Personal Lubricant?
Puffy Labrador?
Pretty Logger?
Puppy Love?

I think he means Private Line.

postapocalyptic llama (with frickin laser beams on their heads)

Throw me a bone people.

Yeah, I left my map at home.  :P

Just wondering, do you guys enjoy this out of Matrix adventure, or are you just being patient with me until you get back into the Matrix.

*Best voice of torturer*

"Because I can make it end at any time."  :)

This is good. The matrix adventure has its perks, but this is good too.

It works for me.  :)

I really debated about whether to get you back safely right away or put you through this, and then figured, since I'm still working on getting all the skills and everything ready, we might as well do it.

That is true!  :)  How's that coming?  I had forgotten about that though I still have my ideas saved.

Don't ask.  Real life's been a bear.  I'm changing jobs, refinancing one of my houses with a very complex international deal, all sorts of things...and in the meantime, I actually had a heart attack and was hospitalized, so now I've got health issues too...and here I thought I was immortal.

Holy moley.  As long as it's nothing serious, sheesh!  Just wow.

Well, I got a free helicopter ride out of it.   Actually, not so free.  You'd be surprised how expensive flight for life is -- $9000.  Thank goodness for insurance.

Must be really good insurance.  :-p  I'd be surprised if I got a bicycle ride.  :D

Hey, guys, I had to go out of town suddenly without much Internet access.  Should be back up and normal again by Monday.  Thanks for your patience.

no problem, I've gotten used to the spurts...

Again, my apologies for the delays.  I had health issues, work crises, and everything else when I got back this week...why do I bother with a vacation at all?  :-)

So your sickness can get away from work and have a vacation. :)

Sorry for my absence of late.  I won't go into the sordid details.  My life is in transition, but I'm going to try to keep on top of things here.

good luck.  In the absence of saying anything else, glad you're alive.

Mr. Shadow, where are you piloting.  You have final sayso...  :)

In case any of you haven't seen it, we started up a new lurker game:

link to "Lurking for Leisure"

Everyone's welcome to join it.

Looks like we've got five people.  :)

Codec, You mind me putting you into the adventure?  I didn't mean for any active players to be out of it.

He edited his last post...

No put me in! Sorry about that. Probably should've made a new post.

Thanks, didn't catch it.

What were we going to do w/ all the points from our last mission? I still have 60 pts of CP, 3 leftover (X amount were already used) CBP, and a Sharpshooter advantage (explain advantage please).

You can spend those points at anytime on improving your character.  You can also convert CP to CBP at a cost of 3 to 1.  The web site discusses improving your character if there are questions about that:  http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id112.htm

I thought those 60 points were what were were going to spend in this disk here with the master.  Or are did you get more.  Sorry, not to pry.  :)

Sorry, maybe Screed's right.  Where did that CP come from?  If it's the one from the web site, then that's part of this training.  I just wanted you all to have ample time to review and update your characters.

I thought that's what this was for.  Kind of work it into the game.

Right, we, or at least I, was waiting on answers to questions and the website to be updated with skill descriptions.  I'll go back and find my questions in a bit.

IIRC we got it after the whole raid on the Merovingian HQ. Didn't you say we'd need it for 'hard stuff ahead'?

Unfortunately, I haven't found a lot of time to input all the details of the specific skills into the website.  If anyone has the books, that's best.  If you have access to the skill descriptions online somewhere, please let me know.  Right now, it's just a matter of typing what's already in the books.  (I thought of some minor changes to make them "Matrix-like" but obviously I need the original rules put down first.)

Codec, I see that those are the XP you will get for your training here.  You can go ahead and apply them if you want with the new skills (per the discussion on the web site), but please keep a copy of your current stats for the training purposes of the current adventure...since the changes will apply when you are through.

Alright then.

man, I put that code in my scratchpad so long ago I forgot about it.

Next.


:)

Hopefully good manners won't get my arse beat to a bleeding pulp. I pray or we're dead... ;)

Craptastic...Ok plan B. Don't hold hands with the disgruntled/senile AI. Are there any others ideas floating about here to prevent our inevitable demise at the hands of a 1 hit KO master?

Ask for the next lesson because you've learned this one?

Well attacking him would probably get us all beat to a pulp. Holding hands is like asking to get beat down. I really don't think negotiations would work too well either...

Lesson learned: Don't trust rogue AI...

Oh great...Well for whatever reason I can't access a singular part of the Masters of The Matrix website that's dedicated to the game...I've bebopped about with it for a while now. It's just not loading up, can't connect with it or something. Could I get the CBP skills PM'ed to me so I can see 'em please. Thanx.

Please everyone check out the chambara martial arts page again.  I've updated to answer questions about the advantages.  Also, please don't choose iron fist as an advantage, as it does not give access to the cinematic skills I think you'll want.  Instead, choose, Trained by a Master, Sharpshooter, or Weapon Master:  http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id101.htm

Basically:

Trained gives you access to all cinematic skills, Sharpshooter is based on guns, and weapon master gives you special attacks with archaic weapons and access to a limited number of cinematic abilities.

Please keep trying to access the site, Codec.  The CBP skills are posted with individual links to each one.  Maybe you'll be able to access it if you've rebooted.

Just so there are no questions:

TRAINED BY A MASTER:  (40 POINT COST normally)
Anyone can go to the nearest karate school and learn to be a good martial artist.  This training does not teach any of the mystical abilities in Cinematic Skills.  To learn these special skills, one must have been trained by a true master, most likely found in a remote, ancient school or temple...or in the Matrix.


This is the prerequisite to learn all Cinematic skills.  It is also a prerequisite to any Chambara multiple attacks, applying to both armed and unarmed combat.


 WEAPON MASTER:
A character with this skill has been trained intensively on archaic weapons, knowing where to strike the human body for deadliest effect.  A Weapon Master gets no bonuses for guns or modern weapons.


When using archaic weapons, the WM gets a dmg bonus equal to 1/5 of his skill with that weapon (does not apply to defaults).  He is at least familiar, if not proficient, with virutally every sort of primitive weapon.  Even with those weapons with which he is not trained, he has an improved default skill.  Physical/Easy Compat/Weapon Skills default to DX-1; Physical/Average ones default to DX-2, and hard to DX-3.  Weapon skills are purchased from original defaults not improved defaults this advantage gives.


A WM gets multiple attacks as per the Chambara Fighting Rules (p. 64).


A WM may learn the following cinematic skills: Blind Fighting, Drunken Fighting, Flying Leap, Kiai, Mental Strength, Power Blow, Precognitive Parry, Pressure POints, Throwing Art, and Zen Archery.


 Sharpshooter:
This is the cinematic ability that supernaturally accurate shootists possess, the equivalent of Weapon Master but for handguns.  To a sharpshooter, the gun is a natural extension of his hand, and he can make uncannily precise shots without aiming.  Only handguns can be used in this manner.  The character never takes a Snap Shot penalty, and he automatically gets the Accuracy bonus of his weapon, without a turn of aiming.  Furthermore, he can use any handgun, archaic or futuristic, at a default value of DX or his highest gun skill-2, whichever is greater.


The sharpshooter also has an innate understanding of the workings of any handgun; he can make Armoury rolls for any handgun, even models he has never seen (apply the TL penalties for guns of different tech levels, as per p. B185, but max penalty is -6 to skill).

Alright for whatever messed up reason I can only access the tripod website. The FortuneCity one was twitchy, and wouldn't load w/ my PC. Go figure...

I've moved totally to Tripod.  I don't think you should see anything on fortunecity anymore if you're clicking in the right places.

Would sharpshooter possibly be a prereq for blindfighting with respect to guns?

I'll have to check with the rules.  I hadn't considered that.

As people are agonizing about their choices here, the ultimate goal is that you would get all three major component advantages here:  TbaMaster, WM, and Sharpshooter.  So if you don't choose one now, you will probably be able to chooose it down the line...if your character survives.

If anyone has any further questions about updating your character, please let me know.  We will take it one step at a time.  Please let me know if you have completed this first step and are ready to face your...challenge.

Do you want me to add the 60 pts now or later as I've chosen my advantages, and stuff already?

I think we add them now.

Can we use saved up CBP to spend here on these skills?

If you've already done it, that's fine.  Otherwise, I'm doing the walkthrough now which will bring you up to spending those points.  So either way.

Can we use saved up CBP to spend here on these skills?

Yes.

I am making a concerted effort to finish updating the chambara skills.  Last night, I finished the esoteric skills.  Please check daily and don't feel you have to finalize your characters until you feel comfortable you know what's going on with it:  http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id101.htm

Okay, just have to do cinematic maneuvers and it'll all be up.  I may want to do some "Matrix" adjustments for them to make sense, but this will definitely get you going.  The chart for point cost is also included for your easy reference.  You may want to get really good at a couple skills instead of getting a lot of skills.  (It's also easier for you to remember to use them in the game that way too.)  But ultimately, it's up to you.

How is the skill check done for yin/yang healing?  It might be nice if a couple of us took it.

You roll against the skill (with any modifiers).  I will also have to look at the time required to use it...probably 30 rounds minus your skill level would work.

I was just wondering what your thoughts on what the modifiers would be.  Head blown off a minus ten maybe?  Is it contingent on time since wounded, amount of wound, or what?

Thanks

I was thinking it depends more on the stress of the situation.  It'll be like Neo healing Trinity in the movie.  Yes, maybe the deeper the wound or more complexity involved in it, the higher the modifier.  Also if it's covered in clothing or armor, that would make it tougher.  Those types of things.

Sounds cool.  Could you give me sort of an idea of the value of the modifiers?  Are we talking 1 to 5 or 1 to 10?  just looking at where I'm going to buy the skill up to.  Thanks...

1 to 6 is typical.

IT IS FINALLY DONE!

I put in all the descriptions...now I'm going to Disneyland.

I also included the Maneuver CP cost table.

Please read through it and finish updating your characters.  And hold any questions until I get back from Disneyland!  :)  Just joking.

Here's the link again:  http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id101.htm

Yay! good job...

Hypnotism: Mental/Hard No default
This is the skill of affecting another mind through verbal and mechanical means.  ONce hypnotized an individual will be extremely suggestible.  Roll a contest of Hypnotism skill vs. the victim's Will-1 for each command that is given.  Any command that threatens the victim's life or loved ones will be resisted at +4 to his Will.  The effects of hypnotism last 1d nhours unless terminated sooner.

Post hypnotic suggestions may also be given, instructing the victim to do something long afterward.  Normally at +1 to victim's Will for each full week of delay.

First attempt takes 5 seconds.  If fails but subject is cooperative, can make second attempt at -5.  If that fails, cannot hypnotize him that day.  Should victim resist hypnotism deliberately, a Contest of Skills is made: Hypnotism Skill vs. the patient (will +3).

A successful H roll gives +2 to any use of Surgery skill, being a quick and safe anesthetic.  Successful hypnotism also puts a subject to sleep, and can thus be used as an attack, though only against one person at a time.  A successful Hypnotism roll can also help the subject remember something he forgot.

Thanks again

Call me slow, but which figure represents which advantage?  Don't want to imply that I want the wrong advantage.

NOt sure I understand the question.  What figure are you referring to?

I think he means these figures, the ones that represent 'trained by a master', etc.

Oh, the people.  Those don't necessarily represent anything.  They're your opponents as soon as all char. updates are in.  Different skills will have different advantages over each one.

How is everyone coming with their updates.  Just to let everyone know, I took the support/defensive direction again.

Roll with blow
Invisibility art
Light Walk
Kiai
Yin/yang Healing

Well with the Esoteric Techniques what do you roll on? Also do you get bonuses still with extra CP's added in? (I only have 3E lite)

My changes:
NEW STUFF:
Push  DX+1 [8]
Power Blow IQ+2 [16]
Fire Walking IQ+3 [4]
Hand Clap Parry [8] +1?
Roll W/ Blow [8] +1?
WhirlWind Attack [8] +1?
And a plus 1 bonus to Judo w/ a total bonus of +2 now.

You roll against your DX or IQ level, as the case may be.

So you use your points to purchase your level and increase it according to those charts, and that's what you have to roll (or less) on 3d6 for success.

Oh, are you talking about the maneuvers?  That goes to your default.

I direct you to: http://members.tripod.com/mastersofthematrix/id55.htm


Basically, the "default" is listed.  That's your ability without learning the "maneuver."  However, the specific maneuver can be increased with practice, so you spend points to increase it.  Usually its maximum value cannot exceed the value of the prerequisite forming the default.

So if it defaults to Judo -4, then that's the value with you never learning the maneuver.

But if it's a "hard" maneuver and you spend 6 points on it, then that specialized maneuver would be the same as performing general judo on the target.  It sort of takes away the modifier for using a difficult maneuver subskill within the general category of "Judo."

Ok I get it then.

Do we have any weapons on ourselves?

Shoot, my bad.

To help give you ideas in a martial arts setting, I updated the Rules Updates link above to include:

1- All of the maneuvers in Compendium I (including Disarm, as requested by Screed.)  I can give the detailed descriptions of others upon request...just saving my typing fingers.  Most are probably self apparent.

2- The Acrobatics maneuvers in Compendium I (which may occasionally be useful in the Matrix or Battle).

3- The basic martial arts maneuvers from the Martial Arts book.

--I may add more.  I'm looking through the books now.

I may consider the Katana skill as a replacement for a fencing prerequisite (or maybe at -1). Please let me know if this is something that interests you.

Please note that the cinematic maneuvers are on the web site that I recently updated.

Other maneuvers are possible if you find them online and get them approved.

Let me know if you have questions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:16, Sat 11 Nov 2006.