Powers are an important part of a Meta's development, it is what defines them from the other races whether they be for battle or improving/worsening their lives, or just play. This thread is where all information about how to create a power will be placed.
Table of Contents Defining Powers Restricted powers Power Growth How To Choose A Power Power Restrictions
For Tabletop Players: Tabletop vs Text/FreeForm/PostbyPost/Storytelling rps
For people who have not played a diceless or almost diceless rp before. Quick quotations from multiple sources.
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Over a series of threads, an overarching narrative emerges, similar to how a tabletop RPG adventure module or campaign does. Unlike tabletop RPGs, however, there are no dice rolled: players advance the story by consensus, or they use diceless mechanics like comparing relative stat values to determine who would win in a conflict. This is why it’s considered “freeform” roleplay. (Forum adaptations of tabletop RPGs exist)
Freeform PBP RP also differs from tabletop RPGs in that there is usually no game master. The players decide how the story will broadly unfold among themselves, and then they write out what happens, leaving room to be surprised by their own inspiration while writing. If non-player characters as needed for a given scene, the players will play an NPC for a time, all in the service of advancing each other’s stories. Since they aren’t tasked with narrating dice results, the forum’s admins and moderators usually determine and enforce the forum’s rules, while plot leaders are tasked with creating and initiating plotlines that will involve multiple players in a compelling conflict.
Metas has a "simple" dice battle system used for events and some battles between players. Alternate battle systems continue to support the normal diceless or almost diceless battle system used by the rest of Gaia. (Ask the other player/s if there is any possibility for battle what type they would rather use)
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Free-form role-playing is less like tabletop role-playing and more like a collaborative fanfic. In this sort of game, each player creates one (or two, or three, or ten) characters, writes for those characters, and develops them throughout the game. (Most of these games don't have a character limit, so create as many as you want, but make sure you can keep track!)
Free-form games don't really have a goal. There may be a loose plot (for example, the What Happened in Oregon series center on the destruction of Oregon in the Epic turf wars) but there aren't really campaigns. Most of the time, it's difficult to say what will happen three or four pages out, as long-term plans are loose at best and subject to change. As a result, these games are highly character-driven as opposed to event-driven—that is to say, characters determine what will happen next by how they interact with their setting and with other characters.
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In other words, who is this person, and what would they add to the story? The point of free-form role-playing is much like the point of good storytelling: Don't focus on creating the most powerful, most brilliant, or most amazing character in the game. Focus instead on creating an interesting character. Create a character who feels like a person you might sit down and have coffee with: You might enjoy talking to them, or you might not, but the idea is to create a character who feels real.
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Free-form RPGs are about telling a good story and having fun doing it, and stories are all about conflict. Flawed characters cause conflict and are interesting to read about. Perfect characters are rarely interesting.
For the most part, the definition of powers is left up to the player and reviewed by the mods. Powers have limits per battle (ex:charges) and some powers even have limits beyond that. Said powers will be defined below.
When choosing how to define your power, think about what applications it might have. Many powers could be used in different ways than what is described and that's fine! It is up to you to decide how your Meta would utilize their ability while in combat. In regular RPs where combat is not a factor, powers are much more flexible but some might still require an extra limit to keep things fair.
Restricted Powers Below is a list of powers that have special rules or restrictions to them(in general, outside of the official system). These are things to keep in mind when crafting your Meta's powers.
While the main power may have been accepted, moving it to official could possible change the meaning. Also be aware there is a chance the power may be denied in official, though this would likely be rare. If you are unsure if your power qualifies as one of these things, please reach out to a Staff member for assistance. (Broken_illumination or Midnightspirit ).
-Time: Permission must be given from staff to have this power. Jumping backwards or forwards in time is not allowed.
-Resurrection(self or others): Must have a heavy penalty.
-Speaking to Gaia(the goddess of Treterra): Must have permission from Broken_illumination
-Invincibility:Heavy penalty. Case by Case, good limits are a must.
-Healing: Healing below elder can not regrow limbs in other people.
-Dimension Jumping: Can only jump to parallel dimensions of Treterra. No two doubles can be alive at the same time in the same world or they start to die slowly and painfully over a course of a week. Bringing anyone or thing from another world must have permission from broken_illumination. Alternate dimensions(worlds different from Treterra) must also have permission from Broken_illumination.
Midnightspirit Vice Captain
Computerized Lightbringer
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Midnightspirit Vice Captain
Computerized Lightbringer
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Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 7:31 pm
Power Growth
Toddler 3 Powers, can not join battles 1 Resistance (What they are strong against due to their item) 1 Weakness (What they are weak against due to item or experiences)
Child 4 Powers 1 Resistance 1 Weakness
Teen 5 Abilities 2 Resistances 2 Weakness
Adult 7 Abilities 3 Resistances 3 Weakness
Elder 9 Abilities 4 Resistances 4 Weakness
Example: Power with weapon.
Lvl 1 (Toddler): Ember, needle of fire Lvl 3 (Child): Fist size fire, dagger of fire Lvl 5 (Teen): Campfire size flame, sword of fire Lvl 7 (Adult): Bonfire, sword of fire Lvl 10 (Elder): Firestorm(city size), broadsword of fire, etc
How To Choose Powers
Now the fun part, choosing or creating your characters powers. Powers can be used in different ways so not just limited to elemental or even battle oriented. I there are any question feel free to pm or dm Midnightspirit or broken_illumination. Do PM us if confused, to much info and helps us stream line it down to make it easier to read.
Fill this out for as many powers as the characters has:
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Name of Power: Element: Relation to Item/Race:(Assuming their item is a pen. Perhaps the skill is related to the ink in the pen, the metal of the pen casing, or drawings on the pen. Symbology works) Active, Passive or Co-support: (Does it need to be activated? (Ex: Fireball) or is it passive? (Ex: heighten sense of smell). Check virtue if the race of your meta might give an extra boost). Passives get a charge if used actively against another player. A few powers maybe be Co-support and used with another(defense/attack)..these powers are restricted.
Description of Power: (Growth: Description can change with growth. Start with small spark (toddler) and at elder a city wide fire storm). For profile purposes just write down the description for their current stage.
Weapon:Yes/No (If yes, description of the weapon created with this skill)
Limits:Add any limits you wish to add to a skill here, in battle and outside of it. If no limits come to mind just put charge, to indicate it is limited by the battle system. Mods might recommend more limits if they consider a power to strong)
Sub power 1: ("Non-combat" powers. Though they can be used as combat at the start of the player's first turn, once. This is true for all battle systems)
Leave Blank if no power comes to mind. This can be fill in at a later date and passed by the mods again)
Active or Passive: Are they a passive power(on all the time) or do they need to be activated. Max of four subpower passives on a character. ( Passives get a charge if used actively against another player. Passive (permanent) are mutations given to the meta by the item as they grew and are involved in battle. ex:multiple limbs, steel bones, etc ) Limits:
Sub power 2: Active or Passive: Limits:
Sub power 3: Active or Passive: Limits:
Profile example: Here ( first half. Ignore Official system for now)
*Virtue: Virtues are powers or skills related to the race/s that make up the meta. These are listed in virtue under personality.
Angels, Fairy, Fallen, etc all have wings and have the ability to fly. A werewolf with an item that gives them wings will not have the ability to fly unless they use a power slot to do so. Same for an item that gives animal ears, an angel with cat ears will not have heighten senses unless they list a power/subpower that does so.
Virtues:
Angels, Archangels, Fallen, Demon, Fairy, Pixie, Valkyr(with wings), Feral(with wing), Vampires(with wings): can fly with wings
Feral, Werewolves, Nekomata, : Heighten senses, depends on the feral's animal.
Vampires: ability to see in the dark
Muse: Jewel grown on their body
Xana: Optional: Snake hair, web fingers, gills,
A few virtues gain by Item can be listed here if they are just cosmetically because of their item and not an extra ability. Purring, pointed ears, translucent skin, sharp nails, etc.
Example of a filled out Power:
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Name of Power:Fire Frost Element: Fire/Ice Relation to Item/Race: Painting of fire within ice. Active or Passive:Active Description of Power: At first freezes then burns all within a second or so. Child: hand size flame or ice Teen: Campfire size freeze and burn. Adult: Bonfire size freeze and burn Elder: Block size freeze and burn. (City size with permission)
Weapon: Yes Child:dagger of fire/ice Teen:saber of fire/ice Adult: Sword of fire/ice Elder: Sword with wisp of fire and ice crawling up the arms.
Limits: Charges
Sub power 1: Ice Water Active
Can freeze and then melt it for water
Limit: As long as there is enough water in the air
Sub power 2: Frozen emotions Active: Attempt to use command to force someone else to freeze
Limits: Can only be used at the start of battle
Sub power 3: Water Sense Passive: Can sense nearby liquids that contain water Limits: Can even be water combined with something else. Ex: water that seeped into some engine oil.
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Please note that the power created will be modified into another system called the official battle system, mostly for use in events and some player battles. Found here Power Restrictions for the Official Battle System which can be more restrictive that what was okayed here by mods. Mod will help/create for you an official battle system profile from the powers confirmed here.
The powers confirmed here can still be used in their full glory with an alternate battle system or diceless battle system described here Alternate battle system/ Diceless
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Once done post here for confirmation and mods will help change it to the official system. Power Confirmation
Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 7:32 pm
Power Restrictions/ Battle Systems
The powers and limits created will be uses out of battle and for alternate battle systems. It will also be uses for the bases of the official battle system located below. Mods will help create a secondary profile for the official battle system once the powers have been accepted(changes allowed by player) to speed up the process.
Disclaimer: not all powers accepted will transfer as written is to the official system and things might be adjusted on a case to case bases. Well will attempt not to have odd powers between the systems.
Player character(PC) vs Npc vs Non-art characters Non-art character: Each player can own a max of 3 official non-art characters, these non-art characters must have profiles(and have powers confirmed if they will participate in battle) and can be human, true race, or meta(non-rare). Once official art is created the slot is freed to create another new non-art character.
Normal Npc (Nonplayer Character) are usually unnamed characters that are used to further the plot and can be controlled by mods or other players from one post to the next. They have basic powers and health such as, simple elemental powers or something that does not require mod permission. They do not need a profile unless they are reoccurring in battles, such as appearing MORE THAN TWICE in two different rps with intention of continuing to have them appear. Non-battle npcs can appear more than twice as long as they are not heavily important to the plot, they are also not immune to damage nor can disappear at will if a PC tries to attack.
Mod-Controlled NPC: Are npcs controlled by the mods only, they are important npcs to the in-game world. They are used to further plots, Ex: Elder quests, and will eventually have their own profile. They are not usually heavily involved in plots and are just seen in rare occasions when people search for them. Example: Elder overseers: Treterra Goddess etc
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Normal NPC can not be used to support PC characters in official battle against other PC's
Exceptions: Fraction normal Npcs can only fight other PC if they are within their fraction base(SIU, Renegades, etc) or depending on the situation.
A full npc group of police, military, mercenaries, etc are allowed with a few rounds of warning they are coming. List how many(Max 5) and if needed, do contest roll for each. Humans: 5d6 (or basic roll) Magi(rare): 5d6+5 (adult powered), True Race: 5d6+5 (adult powered). Or a general 1d20 ...if not heavily involved with dice then fall back on what is realistically possible. be aware that there can be repercussions in-character if characters that attacking police or civilians etc.(Yes the mods like to read other rps and put it in the news or involve others in plots, not all the time but possible)
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NPC are not invincible nor can they have mod-permission required powers or overly complicated powers.
Player Characters (PC) are characters with Art and profile. So name, description, past, goals etc.
Npc used for non-battle purposes are slightly more relaxed and can appear more than twice.
