Colony

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Colony

Post by cczernia »

Next week we do character creation for Colony. It is basically a game about the first humans to ever colonize another planet in another galaxy. The ship will take over about 300 years to arrive which means everyone you left behind is dead. It is just you and your colony mates.

The games themes will focus on two things:

1. Relationships - Given this is a huge experiment the crew of a colony ship had to be skilled and trained at creating a colony. However, once you get on board there is no going back which means those trained people got to bring their immediate families. New relationships will form and will such a tight group of people conflict is bound to rise up.

2. Exploration of the planet - I'm not defining the planet. This will be done with a successful roll and the players define what is discovered.

Here is the wiki which still needs a lot more info but I'll keep it up to date.

http://zerneeak.com/rpgwiki/index.php?title=Colony
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Concept Ideas

Post by DeadDogg »

Chris asked me to repost this:

Just a couple of thoughts on character concepts:

1. Zoologist in charge of the genetic ARK project. Loves animals more than people. Needs confirmation from Admin before cloning begins. Has secretly cloned her own pets...

2. Psychologist/Rec/Fitness Officer. Hyper-fit ex-Marine in charge of 'sleeper' health, mental and physical, upon waking. Has all kinds of weird anti-grav swimming/exercise machines. At odd with other 'med-pushin' psychiatrist. Believes in personal responsibility and hard work. Loves holo-films and makes me think of Matthew McConaughey, but gay, gay, gay, gay, gay. Perhaps left lover on Earth for this project, knowing that procreation was NOT in his/his partner's future.

3. Zero-G Deckhand specialist/mechanic. Also ex-Military. Resents the Admin and Engineers who can plan all day but don't know how to actually fix things. Has engineering training as well, but feels a good whack with a wrench will straighten out most problems. Was able to bring his daughter, but left his eldest son after a strained relationship.

Some other thoughts about the Colony ship:

Perhaps there are Keepers and Sleepers. The Keepers are waking, generational caretakers of both the ship and Sleepers. After 300 years in Zero-G, they may be a bit kooky and perhaps there were losses of Sleeper pods, revolution, or civil war. I'm almost thinkin' crazed mountain people like you might find in Virginia. Wife suggested making them short and weird shaped, due to not having gravity... Of course, none of the 'original' Keepers are left when the Sleepers wake up. Perhaps the Keepers have an almost superstitious/religious view of the Sleepers when they awaken, as it could have been the only way to maintain cabin-fever like society.

Another idea could be shifts of awakening people, serving at different times, but there could be a lack of perfect information being passed to the new shift. Almost like that movie 'Moon' or something. The PCs could be just starting a shift. Some could have been awake for shifts before.

Anyway, just some thoughts. Looking forward to it.
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Post by cczernia »

Thanks for posting your ideas. I love all of them.

1. The Zoologist would be cool and could play important parts on cloning which is a major part of colonization. Just make sure you have good ideas for human relationships as that is a major source of conflict.

2. I like this guy but part of the mission of the colony is reproduce and successfully survive on the planet. I'd be interested in how this could be part of the character and how it conflicts with him being gay.

3. Great concept.

As for your idea on the colony ship I like combining the two. The keepers are people who wake up periodically and check the systems. They are also responsible for waking everyone up when the reach their destination.
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Post by cczernia »

Quick reminder that we are playing Colony tonight at Andy's.

Oh, and we'll be using PDQ instead of ORE.
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Post by mordraine »

:word:
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Post by Skyman »

excellent I'll bring my goggles
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Post by cczernia »

Updated the wiki:
http://zerneeak.com/rpgwiki/index.php?title=Colony

Also, just throwing out how I envision the game.

1. The main focus is going to be the exploring and mystery of the planet itself. We'll continue to define it using style points and I'll try to introduce general weirdness and mystery for the characters to deal with.

2. The relationships between the colonists with a focus on your qualities. Expect these to pop up a lot.

3. Politics of the colony. One of the things I wanted was a clear power gap when everyone arrived and there is no clear leader. Expect colonists to splinter off and groups like the scientist and military trying to lead.

So, I'm curious what you want? It can either be general (I want to kill aliens) or specific to your character (I want to focus on the love triangle my character is involved in).

It is even better if you tie it into one of my goals above. I'd appreciate a comment from everyone. Also, please post here unless you think a reveal would add to the story.

Any other feedback is good, too (like if you want to switch back to ORE :mrgreen: )
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Post by jimmy corrigan »

o.r.e. please.

for cereal though, i really liked the first episode. kudos, all. i would like to request flashbacks with those we left behind. and via these flashbacks, sort of blend in the different ways that all of the pc's, perhaps unknowingly, had integral relationships to one another pre-launch. i would also like to request more cool gm-driven twists (like being woken up 14 years late with no fuel-- that rocked). that's all for now. i'll try to think of more.
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Post by cczernia »


[quote="jimmy corrigan"]
for cereal though, i really liked the first episode. kudos, all. i would like to request flashbacks with those we left behind. and via these flashbacks, sort of blend in the different ways that [i]all[/i] of the pc's, perhaps unknowingly, had integral relationships to one another pre-launch. i would also like to request more cool gm-driven twists (like being woken up 14 years late with no fuel-- that rocked). that's all for now. i'll try to think of more.[/quote]


Great feedback. You can expect flashback with your "those I left behind" and other characters. I'll try to come up with some good mysteries and twists but can also use help like when DD suggested the thing about the keepers.

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Post by cczernia »

I put together the relationship chart and had some gabs:

What is Arnel Colchak's relationship to Fletcher Penn?

What is Zach Alcala's relationship to Naan Watashe (I know he is rival for Uta but he wouldn't know that)?

What is Chris Ryder's relationship to Arnel Colchak?
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Post by Skyman »

Chris likes Arnell because he helps him get stuff
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Post by SpaceMonkey »

What is Zach Alcala's relationship to Naan Watashe (I know he is rival for Uta but he wouldn't know that)?

I'm thinking Naan is none too shy about telling Uta (and anyone else) his feelings on the matter, so common knowledge.

Naan has also noticed Uta's interest in Zach, but that may just be because he pays a lot of attention to her. Whether Zach has noted this or not is up to him, Naan has not said anything directly to him regarding it.
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Post by mordraine »


[quote="cczernia"]
What is Arnel Colchak's relationship to Fletcher Penn?[/quote]


Fletcher sided with the scientists re: how many troops to bring. Arnel never forgot that and bears a little bit of a grudge.

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Post by jimmy corrigan »

fletcher thinks arnel means well and is just trying to do his job. he thinks the sheriff is a passionate man with some misplaced frustration. fletcher knows that he will be an asset to the colony (probably sooner than we think) and realizes that the best way to work together with the man is to give him a wide berth.
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Post by DeadDogg »

I think my intial concept for Zach's relationship with Watashe was that the Horticulturalist could hook him up with the best, all-organic grub he could get. Perhaps we were 'forced' to work together before leaving, with Zach drawing up dietary plans based on potential survival needs of the crew and Watashe working out how/what to grow?
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Post by cczernia »


Thanks everyone. That clears things up a bit. I can now remove the ? from my relationship lines :cheers:




[quote="Skyman"]Chris likes Arnell because he helps him get stuff[/quote]

Why would Arnell stick his neck out and possibly get fired to get Chris stuff?

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Post by Skyman »


[quote="cczernia"]Thanks everyone. That clears things up a bit. I can now remove the ? from my relationship lines :cheers:









Why would Arnell stick his neck out and possibly get fired to get Chris stuff?[/quote]


Pfft it's not so much sticking his neck out. I don't talk to him all heady scientific like but explain things to him so he can wrap his head around it so he can manage his enforcement folks and not worry about looking like a dumb buck to all the civies

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Post by cczernia »


[quote="Skyman"]Pfft it's not so much sticking his neck out. I don't talk to him all heady scientific like but explain things to him so he can wrap his head around it so he can manage his enforcement folks and not worry about looking like a dumb buck to all the civies[/quote]

Anything that you would legally and reasonably require you can get from Gabe Tablan (though he might be reluctant to give it to you because he thinks you killed his son). What would you need from an officer in the military that you wouldn't be able to get from Gabe? Why would that officer give it to you.

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Post by Skyman »


[quote="cczernia"]Anything that you would legally and reasonably require you can get from Gabe Tablan (though he might be reluctant to give it to you because he thinks you killed his son). What would you need from an officer in the military that you wouldn't be able to get from Gabe? Why would that officer give it to you.[/quote]

Clearance for research since Arnell is part of the review board

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Post by cczernia »

Since Albert will be at rehearsal Monday night for his play I was wondering if we could get together around 1pm to play. Also, we will be playing at Shaun's place so if you don't know where that is get directions from Andy.
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Post by SpaceMonkey »

1pm, college yogurt area, got it.
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Post by jimmy corrigan »

no response yet from simon or derek. hm. maybe not all of us got the day off?
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Post by jimmy corrigan »

hey, if it's still happening at 1, could i hitch a ride from one of you? let me know.
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Post by mordraine »

Here is Shawn's address:

4529 63rd St.
92115

You should be able to google it to get directions. Once you find the house, there's a walkway on the right side of the building. Go to the second door down.
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Post by SpaceMonkey »


[quote="jimmy corrigan"]hey, if it's still happening at 1, could i hitch a ride from one of you? let me know.[/quote]


phone me if you need a ride.

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Post by jimmy corrigan »

andy said he would, but thanks.
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Post by Skyman »


[quote="jimmy corrigan"]hey, if it's still happening at 1, could i hitch a ride from one of you? let me know.[/quote]

I'll be running late. Albrt if you need a ride give me a call

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Post by cczernia »

Game on tomorrow (7/11) 7pm at Mord's.

I updated the wiki with the last game. Feel free to check it out and fix any errors :mrgreen:

http://zerneeak.com/rpgwiki/index.php?title=Colony
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Post by SpaceMonkey »

slight correction: tomorrow is the 12th. Game then, not in 19 minutes.
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Post by jimmy corrigan »

alas, i've got rehearsal tomorrow. so it begins. have fun without me.
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Post by jimmy corrigan »

pff. nevermind. rehearsal postponed due to cast schedule conflicts.

oolony, here i come! yay!
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Post by SpaceMonkey »


[quote="jimmy corrigan"]pff. nevermind. rehearsal postponed due to cast schedule conflicts.



oolony, here i come! yay![/quote]



take that, rehearsal!

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Post by jimmy corrigan »

aaaaaaaaargh!!! i am not happy. as of this morning, like, right now, rehearsal is happening. not happy me is not happy!
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Post by SpaceMonkey »


[quote="jimmy corrigan"]aaaaaaaaargh!!! i am not happy. as of this morning, like, right now, rehearsal [i]is[/i] happening. not happy me is not happy![/quote]



Take that, Happybert* !







*(that's Happy Albert you know)

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Post by DeadDogg »

It looks like I won't be able to make tonight either. Sorry guys. Maybe Zach should get eaten by the local wildlife or something...
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Post by mordraine »

I'm still gonna be there... But will we have quorum? Either way, I'll still be there.
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Post by cczernia »

Game tomorrow (7/19). Place, Andy's. Time 7:00pm

Wiki has been updated with most of what happened last week. I still need to add the flash backs. I can only remember two:

Chris Ryder delivering bad news

Upti giving his disapproval to Naan.

http://zerneeak.com/rpgwiki/index.php?t ... y_Synopsis
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Post by Skyman »

I cannot make tonight
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Post by mordraine »

Hmm... well I'll be there. Obviously.
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Post by DeadDogg »

I'm going to be taking a break from gaming for a little while. Sorry to leave you guys mid-game but this summers hitting me like a ton of bricks. Catch up with you all down the road a bit.
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Post by cczernia »

Colony tomorrow (7/26) at Andy's @ 7pm. John will be joining the group and introducing his character at the session.
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Post by mordraine »

yay!
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Post by cczernia »

We are halfway through the game and I'm having a lot of fun.

However, some things I noticed is with XP and the way the game is set up from a mechanic level it is almost impossible for you guys to fail. Most challenge ratings are difficulty 7-13 and you guys have been getting +8-12 in most situations meaning that you only fail on rolls of 2.

Right now, I don't have a problem with this but it seems silly to even have a system. I've been pumping up the NPCs a little for contested rolls to increase the challenge.

So, I'm curious as to what you think about the mechanics of the game. Would you like it to be more challenging. Would you like to see more extended contests?

Also, feel free to give me any other feedback.
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Post by mordraine »


[quote="cczernia"]We are halfway through the game and I'm having a lot of fun.



However, some things I noticed is with XP and the way the game is set up from a mechanic level it is almost impossible for you guys to fail. Most challenge ratings are difficulty 7-13 and you guys have been getting +8-12 in most situations meaning that you only fail on rolls of 2.



Right now, I don't have a problem with this but it seems silly to even have a system. I've been pumping up the NPCs a little for contested rolls to increase the challenge.



So, I'm curious as to what you think about the mechanics of the game. Would you like it to be more challenging. Would you like to see more extended contests?



Also, feel free to give me any other feedback.[/quote]


Oh, that reminds me, I wanted to apologize for how disjointed and unfocused we were last night. Sorry!



As to the challenges - I think it might have something to do with the nature of the roles. I know for my character, I tend to only be rolling for stuff that he's really good at - investigations and other sheriffy stuff like that. So I think it's perfectly fine that he's almost always going to be successful in those things. That's his job. However, if he were to run into a challenge unrelated to his specialties, I'm sure it wouldn't be all successes.



I haven't even actually spent any of my experience...

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Post by jimmy corrigan »

i also apologize for my contributions to a less-than-focused, albeit fun, game session. however i must say, that was a cool episode!!! i really liked everyone's choices and actions-- it moved the story along in a compelling manner. also, welcome aboard, john (if you can see this forum, that is)!

chris, i think you dealt with fletcher's conflict with the clone children really handily, as far as mechanics go. if you'll remember, i lost that roll off, cause i had the same number of modifiers as they did, and they out-rolled me. if i had a suggestion, it would be just that. pump up npc's just as you did with the clones and all should be well.

have fun with the rest of the campaign, fellow oolonizers!
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Post by cczernia »

Game tomorrow (8/2), Andy's @ 7pm.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep things more or less the same but pump up the NPC qualities a little bit to make opposing actions a little more interesting.
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Post by mordraine »

Slight change in venue, if everyone's okay with that. I'm at Shawnie's Monday night. Sorry for the change! Hope everyone can still make it!
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Post by cczernia »


[quote="mordraine"]Slight change in venue, if everyone's okay with that. I'm at Shawnie's Monday night. Sorry for the change! Hope everyone can still make it![/quote]

No problem.

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Post by SpaceMonkey »

I think i'll bring pizza.
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Post by Skyman »

its a little late to say this but Im not making it tonight. I have to work crap bleeding into my life
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