MJ, would I be out of line to ask for a second simple intuition check? What's the change in circumstance? Well, I just ruled out my first theory. Time to start looking for others. Slammed his forehead into the steering wheel would probably be my next guess. (Realistically)
I think it likely that I might have heard his head slam into the steering wheel, and only now remember it.
I was curious, do you read my notes? Do me a favor, and don't comment on anything written in the notes. Even if it is something blatantly obvious, or that makes absolutely no sense. It made sense to me when I wrote it, and that's good enough for me.
Have I seen anything that would resemble a layout of TerraNova? For some reason, I have the notion that it is a huge wheel of sorts, around a central hub. Artificial gravity would make you feel like you were walking upright with your feet underneath you, even if you were in fact hanging upside down. If the complex were large enough, the effect would likely be unnoticed by traditional senses.
I don't think I ever asked. What's the date? If it isn't important to the story, and may be permitted to do so, I'd like to ask that the date be sometime in November. A date that could make the story's November 19 fall on our November 19. If it isn't important to the story, consider it a personal request.
Might as well tell you. November 19, 2005 was the date I had my last full-blown psychotic episode. I started developing the therapy about a week later, on an inspiration from a coworker. It's kind of a special day for me.
If it's the same date in both worlds, it's like my character and I are celebrating it together, ya know?
NOTES:
You can practice your TK pulse by not throwing it. Do that. All day, practice it like that. In addition to practice, you would also be ready to throw a TK pulse at an instant's notice.
There is no connection between Terranova Habitat and anything you know of Earth--the calendars are completely different, the years are not anno domini, the months have different names and are different lengths.
You still can't figure out what happened to the guy in the jeep. Somehow he was knocked out by your TK pulse, but that doesn't seem to be something you can do.
The maps you have seen of Terranova all suggest floorplans that are huge circles, miles in diameter, stacked atop each other. If you had to guess, the thing is more like a soup can floating in space. When you looked out the window at your hotel, you were on the side of a massive wall, but you could not see too much of the exterior.
--M. J. Young
Get some dinner and get some sleep. After work tomorrow, all of my gold and the rest of my ammo will be here.
By "here" I presume you mean they will be at their respective retail locations for you to retrieve, and that you are planning to do so.
Are you paying daily for the room or over a longer term? How much are you spending on dinner and breakfast?
Just want you to keep track of your money.
--M. J. Young
3,964 credits
Get some food. Spend not more than 15 credits.
While I'm eating, concentrate on building up a TK pulse. It takes 30 seconds for me to wind up for one of those. Since I want to throw one that is 3 times harder, I would wind up for a minute and a half. Build it up but don't release it. Keep building it. THEN, after it's built up for a while, try throwing it at a passerby and see if I can knock him out. Maybe not knowing how I did that could still be useful.
And no, this isn't the same as when I was trying to build up 3 pulses worth of energy. I'm building up a single pulse into a higher level of power than it is accustomed to. It's probably a completely different skill, or at least a new use on the TK pulse.
My character still thinks that the TK pulse knocked the guy out, so he's going to be trying to make it happen. Maybe the verser teacher (any word from her yet?) can tell me how to knock someone out with psionics. Not knowing means that my character will ask more questions. The teacher (is it Lauren? I thought she was hot) Not knowing means more questions I will ask. I'd rather he didn't know, actually.
If I can flick someone's head hard enough, I could knock them out or even kill them. Moving their head that fast and hard couldn't possibly be good for their spinal column. Moving their head would snap their spinal cord. (But John, TK can't break anything!!) TK wouldn't be breaking their spinal column, the momentum of their head would. It would be like breaking a rope by psionically throwing a load of bricks it was tied to. It's not the psionics breaking the rope, it's the momentum of the bricks that breaks the rope.
NOTES:
Don't forget to ask Record Man if you can do more metal working.
I did understand the difference.
The first time you attempt this you simply don't get the TK built up.
The second time you try it, you push yourself backwards incredibly hard. You feel uncomfortable, and try to straighten up--and find that you cannot do so.
Examining your situation, you find that your lower back is sticking out the back of the chair. The chair is--or at least was--solid; you seem to have passed through it such that you have become fused through the chair, or it through you.
For the moment you are stuck.
--M. J. Young
Non-corporeal and get out of it. Keep trying until something happens. Be it a botch or positive results.
Once I'm out, stand up, go corporeal and if anyone is watching, bow with a flourish and say "You have just seen my finest illusion, The Falling Through the Chair trick." Then pick up my backpack and head to the hotel. Try to walk like I belong there. Like nothing happened.
I wonder if there is anyone interested in a magic act that saw what happened.......
NOTES:
Non-corporeal plus an invisibility cloak...... Invisible, bulletproof, and able to walk through walls. Every criminal's fantasy come to life......
As sometimes happens when you are a playtester, the thing you are testing has just been upgraded--favorably, from your perspective, as it will make certain of your favored skills easier. Unfortunately, it did not help you this time.
You attempt to become noncorporeal, and suddenly your entire body is wracked with pain. You cry out, and swallow the cry, but not before it has escaped into the restaurant and heads have turned to see you.
The pain is intense and continuing.
--M. J. Young
I'm going to be praying out loud "Please God Help Me" Speaking the capital letters. In my mind, I'm going to be thinking about how I would like for God to help me. Since I'm in so much pain, this seems like the way to do it.
I would like for God to help me by putting me into the equivalent of a non-corporeal state, and healing my injuries at the same time. I know it's not really my place to say, but this is more along the lines of a 15@10 Do Anything than a healing and non-corporeal. It would be my "Get out of Jail Free" prayer, for lack of a better term. I would pray "Please God Help Me." and think about how I would like to be helped.
And I would be thinking "God, in your infinite wisdom and power, I ask that you do what I request. Or, if in your infinite wisdom can come up with a better means to allow my escape, I ask that you provide it."
I just wanted to clarify something. This is going to be a prayer I plan to use a lot. I wanted a general ritual with multiple applications. As many applications as I can get. That's why I said it would be more along the lines of a Do Anything. I didn't want to potentially confuse you with my semantics.
The time frame is PUSH Pray Until Something Happens.
You pray for two minutes.
Suddenly a form appears beside you. You are not completely certain that he did not walk up from out of sight, but you think he just materialized there--in any case, in those garrish clothes you're pretty certain everyone in the entire station would have noticed him if he'd been here a moment before. He is slender with long blonde hair, but somehow you know he's a guy. He starts speaking with a lilt that is almost a lisp.
"Oh, John, John, John, what are we to do with you? Well, I guess we'll try what you suggest--not an easy skill even for me in a world like this, but let's see what we can do." He starts chanting something in a language you don't recognize at all, still in that same sing-song effeminate voice, and goes on like this for about as long as you were praying for help. He finishes with a flourish--and although there's a little sparkle of light from his hand, nothing happens.
"Oh, dear," he says, seeming dismayed. "That does not seem to have worked at all. We're going to have to think of another way to get you out of this. Have any thoughts on the matter? I know, hang on, let me try this. I'm good at teleports." He starts up again, this time for less than a minute--but again nothing happens.
You have begun to become a sideshow, as people are focusing their attention on you and your strange companion.
"I knew this was a bad world for magic. I said to myself, 'Terry, that boy is going to get in trouble, and you're not going to be able to get him out of it.' I think that what-you-say-is-what-you-get stuff is just ridiculous, but it seems to have cursed me for the moment. John! Boobie! We need an idea here! Hey, I'm not really an incompetent guardian; I'm working against a difficult world. What have we got? Any thoughts?"
--M. J. Young
"We need an idea here! Hey, I'm not really an incompetent guardian; I'm working against a difficult world. What have we got? Any thoughts?"
"Could you dematerialize the chair? You're the angel, can't you think of something?"
When I'm out of this, don't forget to wipe everyone's memory of the event. I don't need a bunch of questions and answers.
"Oh, that's an excellent idea. Don't fall, now, when the chair--well, let me see if I can do it."
He repeats the same ritual, or something very like it. This time you suddenly lose the support holding you up and tumble to the floor rather awkwardly.
"Oh, I am so sorry. But you seem to be unharmed. I expect I will see you again, but looks like job's done, ta-ta and tally-ho and all that." And suddenly he is not there.
Everyone is still staring your direction, and some are gaping.
--M. J. Young
Stand up, dust myself off, and facing the crowd of spectators say in an indignant tone "What's the matter? You never seen a guy get stuck in a chair before???"
Head to my hotel room, 70 credits a night, and order some delivery. Chinese.
Give up on the knocking people out with the TK pulse. I think I would be better off learning how to do it with martial arts....
In the morning, head to work. Ask my boss if I can learn any new metalworking skills.
Your dinner runs you six credits.
As to additional metalworking skills, you already know
- Various tool use skills including hammers, pliers, tongs, and sheers
- Identify soft metals
- Smelt soft metals
- Hammer soft metals
- Welding
- Carve soft metals
- Imprint soft metals
- Alloy soft metals
- Draw soft metals
- Identify hard metals
- Smelt hard metals
- Cast hard metals
- Hammer hard metals
- Cut hard metals
- Draw hard metals
- Temper hard metals
- Alloy hard metals T5@3
--M. J. Young
Can you suggest to me any metalworking skills you don't know? I can see you getting better at these, but if there are skills you don't have at least in the basics, I'm not seeing them. (It might be because I'm too tired. Let's try this: what would you like to be able to do with metal that you don't already know how to do?)
Ah, but I know how to do all of this with BLACKSMITHING. I can weld with a forge, hammer and anvil. I don't know how to use an acetylene torch to weld. I can carve soft metals with a knife, or whatever Mr. Smith used. I DON'T know how to do it with a laser drill. See what I mean? There's got to be higher tech ways of doing what I already know how to do. If nothing else, it would be a boatload of new uses.
3,964 credits minus 70 for the room and 6 for dinner 3,888 left.
Ah, I do see. On the other hand, what you're looking at is doing the same skills with different tools. Welding with a forge involves heating the metal in the hot coals until you can fuse two pieces together and get each to become part of the other; welding with an acetylene torch lets you take the fire to the metal, but the metalworking part isn't any different--you're still heating the two pieces of metal and fusing them together.
However, indeed you should be introduced to the modern tools for these things, and in the process get some bonuses on your blacksmithing skills.
A lot of heating is done with lasers, and they show you how to operate a standard heating and cutting laser.
They are also trying to show you the operation of the molecular analyzer, which identifies the precise makeup of any material or object inserted without damaging the object. It's an extremely complicated process, and has something to do with quantum nonlocality and the ability to examine each atom in a mass very quickly, but you've not mastered it yet. The boss isn't worried, as it is an extremely complex process and some people never get it.
--M. J. Young
"Cool beans boss. Any metalworking that I can do, let me know. I'd really like to get really good at my metalworking. The last place I was at, it was a much desired skill. In fact, you could say that I gave up the chance to rule a kingdom in order to learn it. No regrets about that, who wants to rule a kingdom? Anyway, let me know what all metalworking I can do here, and I'll be more than happy to do it."
I earn 20 credits an hour for 8 hours work. Any other new uses during the day? If not, after work, I'll go get my gold and platinum from the jeweler and then I'll head to the martial arts school and get myself enrolled. (I already marked down everything that I was waiting for, so no worries there.)
One of the things that I would be picking up would be 1,000 rounds of 9mm ammo from the gun store. Like I said, I already marked it down. Once I got that, I would load all of my 9mm magazines. All of the magazines for the MAK 90, including the 100 round drum are all loaded as well.
Also, at the gun store, do they have any 9mm carbine rifles, 357 magnum carbine rifles, or 357 Desert Eagle handguns? The carbines are rifles that shoot the standard pistol cartridge. In real life, I own a Hi-Point 995 9mm carbine. I'd be surprised if they have that gun here, but if they do, I can give you all of the specs on it. I believe you did mention that they had the 357 Desert Eagles. That's (I believe) an 8 shot 357 automatic.
I've got that backpack with all the gear in it on me at all times.
I thought the Desert Eagle was a .50 caliber revolver; is that a different gun, or what am I confusing?
If you would be so kind, for the sake of my copy of your character sheet, tell me what if anything needs to be corrected on this list of items I have added since you arrived in this world:
- 2 kg scrap platinum molded into various broken objects
- Wristop, a computer with a terrabyte of memory and a terraherz processor that fits on your wrist, displays through a flat screen similar to those on the walls, and can interface with most known systems via internal wireless modem.
- 10 Fragmentation grenades, 10':30':60':100':+1/1', fatal 10'r
10 Glue grenades, 10':30':60':100':+1/1', 10' diameter sphere of glue strands difficult check, additional 10'r simple check to break strands - 1000 rounds 9mm ammo
- 1000 rounds MAK90 ammo
- MAK 90 clip, 100 round drum, empty
- MAK 90 clip, 50 round, empty
- MAK 90 clip, 30 round, empty
- Smith & Wesson .357 six-shot revolver with 4" barrel and rubber grip
- 500 rounds .357 revolver ammo
- 3 days worth trail/adventure food. Water is required to prepare these, but some components are ready to eat particularly in the "lunch" packs.
- Full-sized synthetic backpack with lightweight polymer frame can carry 240 pounds in a six cubic foot interior , 3'x2'x1', with a maximum enclosed diagonal (for an object running from opposite corners through the center of the pack) of 3'9". It weights 2 pounds
- High-tech (Terranova) Crossbow, It's a bottom lever action drawstring and a simple mechanical trigger mechanism to release the string. The frame is a lightweight material, something like plastic but extremely hard and not at all flexible. The bow is obviously a different material, flexible, only about twelve inches across but with tremendous draw power when pulled back. Quarrels sit in the track in a drop-in loading system, and there are clips along the right side to hold five quarrels for ready access, point down, fletching up. There is a flip-up cross-hair a pin sighting system that is calibrated for range and gravity. The drawstring seems to be a synthetic spider web. The bow twists ninety degrees, folds down, and slides parallel beneath the stock, making the entirey device twenty-seven inches long, three inches at the widest point, and five inches top to bottom.
- 100 Chlorine water purification pills, one pill per 2.5 gallons/10 liters normal contamination water
- 120 Crossbow Bolts, hunter heads, polymer shank and fletching
The martial arts school gives the link for their class schedule. You are expected to attend one class per week, preferably on the same day and with the same instructor each time, but because people are on very different schedules instructors give multiple classes, usually five classes (of ninety minutes each) spaced across sixteen hours, and three the day before and the day after, so you pick your teacher based on the day/time frame you are most able to attend, along with your level (you are a beginner; there are three levels of group clases, and beyond that instruction is specialized). If you cannot attend a class with your regular instructor you should attend one of the other classes in your level, preferably within a day of your regular day. This does not usually happen.
I believe you have a day off from work in a few days; do you want to schedule your martial arts for your day off, or for after work on a day when you are working, or for a particular day (like, after work the night before your day off)?
--M. J. Young
I thought the Desert Eagle was a .50 caliber revolver; is that a different gun, or what am I confusing?
No, Desert Eagle is a brand name. (Like Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Colt, etc) To my knowledge, they are made in 9mm, 40 and 45 (called Baby Eagles) Then the 357 magnum, 44 magnum (the basis for the guns I designed for Dark Honor Empire) and 50 AE (which is an F-ing hand cannon) The tops of the guns and the magazines can be interchanged. So, a 357, with some modifications, can also shoot 44 and 50 caliber. (I personally will never get a handgun larger than a 357 magnum. If I can't kill it with a 357, I probably shouldn't be shooting at it in the first place) To my knowledge, Desert Eagle only makes semi automatic handguns, but they could very well make anything and I've just never heard of it. I do know they're high-dollar handguns. The larger calibers (357 and up) have a very slow cyclic rate compared to most semi autos, in an attempt to reduce recoil. I've never shot one, but the big guns are physically huge. Mike had 2 1/2 of them. (2 complete guns and an extra top)
And just because I know you're not overly knowledgeable about guns, a 357 is more powerful than a 45, even tho the 357 is a smaller caliber. (it's that percentage of an inch) A 357 has a bullet that's almost as heavy, but it's traveling a helluvalot faster.
Also, 9mm and 357 are actually very close to being the same caliber. (I think the 9mm is a 355) however, the 357 is a heavier bullet moving faster.
The only thing I can think of that might be missing is a plastic ground cloth. I'm not certain at all if I actually bought one or how much it cost if I did, so your call on if I have it or not.
I was also getting the platinum and my 10 pound gold block melted into 2 ounce ingots. I lose a minute amount of both doing this, but it's an acceptable loss to make the game flow better. I think it was something like .2 ounces of each that I lost. Perhaps the jeweler made gold and platinum rings out of the extra?
Check out the martial arts school, and set up lessons for my next day off work. In the meantime, go in and practice boxing. (Do I happen to run into anyone in there who is also training in boxing?)
The Desert Eagle brand name does not exist. You'll have to describe what you want in terms of features.
Their collection of slug throwers is rather limited, but they can special order a lot (and although they will not mention it, they are not the only sporting goods store in the habitat).
You have a Plastic Ground Cloth, green, 6'x5', added to your sheet.
I have also deleted
- 2 kg scrap platinum molded into various broken objects and
- 10# block gold
- 8 platinum ingots, 2z each and
- 80 gold ingots, 2z each
You schedule your first martial arts lesson for your upcoming day off.
In the gym you find a few people practicing katas and working against dummies and other inanimate obstacles. There is someone who seems to be watching, a man in his twenties wearing a white gi with a black belt. As you start practicing, he comes over to you.
"That is an interesting technique. Strike-based, hands, largely defensive. Are you new? Have you studied somewhere else before?"
--M. J. Young
At the gun store "Forget it, I don't need any more guns."
MJ, you need to learn your metric conversions. 2 Kg is equal to 4.4 pounds. 2.2 pounds in a kilogram. That's actually 35.2 two ounce blocks of platinum. The way I remember this is that we had batteries at a place I worked at. They weighed 2,200 pounds according to the label, and were also labeled 1 kiloton. 2.2 pounds in a kilogram. The metric system is so much easier, I don't know why we don't use it......
In the gym, I'd be wearing pajama pants and a tee shirt, with my backpack sitting in a corner.
To the guy:
"Yeah, it's called 'Boxing'. It seems like I learned it a world or two ago..... I couldn't throw a punch to save my life before, but I had a good teacher. What do you do?" I'd still be banging away at the heavy bag when he was talking to me.
I actually do know that conversion; but because role playing games envision worlds in both metric and English measurement systems, the Referee's Rules have "quick conversion" shortcuts in the back to move between the two. These include such shortcuts as a meter is a yard, but three meters is ten feet, that there are two kilometers to a mile and two pounds to the kilogram, and a quart is equal to a liter. It is recognized that these are not scientifically accurate measurements, but they're close enough for use in the game.
But you're right, I went the wrong way on the platinum, I made it two kilograms to the pound, which badly shorted you. Four pounds would be thirty-two ingots, but I'll give you the thirty-five because you spotted that and did the math yourself. As to the extra 0.4 ounces, that's a wash--you get the nuggets.
"I've been studying Okydoky Smoky since I was a kid, and I help out here part time as an assistant instructor. It looks like your defenses are somewhat similar, using your arms to keep out blows, but you seem to be doing a lot more work than necessary for the number of strikes you throw. Then again, most of the strike styles I've seen are more aggressive, very weak on defense. This looks like an interesting sort of style."
--M. J. Young
No problem on the conversion. That just happens to be the one Metric to English conversion that I know by heart. The United States is actually the most backwards nation on earth. Everyone else uses Metric, it works so much easier.
Stop wailing away at the heavy bag and face him.
"Well, I'm interested in learning Okydoky Smoky. How about a friendly sparring match? My boxing against your Okydoky Smoky? Just for the fun of it. Just promise not to completely obliterate me on the mat. It should be fun."
I would be thinking that I would probably lose, but that I wouldn't just hand the guy the victory. He's going to have to legitimately beat me. But of course, it IS just a friendly sparring match, so I'm not going to be trying to kill the guy, either.
Would this be a new use on boxing?
I've got 1@1 on the solid punch. I would try to use this in boxing. I learned it before boxing, but never really got much chance to use it. I don't recall if that's part of Okydoky Smoky or not, but I would like to get better at it. I would be throwing Solid Punches, and I would communicate that to the gentleman.
"I learned this punch a long time ago. I'm not very good at it. It's called a Solid Punch. Would you mind if I threw those during the match? I want to get better at it anyway. Maybe you can help teach it to me."
I have 1@10 boxing. Would that assist my throwing Solid Punches? Perhaps that's part of the Boxing Package? I have no idea, so I'm asking.
NOTES:
If this guy is any good, maybe he would be interested in giving private lessons. It's not like I can't afford to pay the guy if he wants to be paid. Or perhaps I've just made a new friend. Having a blackbelt martial arts instructor as a best friend can't be a bad thing......
Oh and ya know what MJ? I just realized that what you were saying about players not getting what they want is absolutely true. You said that it would be a 3 GE roll on finding a boxer. However, I've got 1@10 boxing. That's a decent level. A potential personal trainer in a different martial art? THAT is a 3 GE roll!!!!!!!
I mean I'd rather be 1@10 in 4 martial arts than 2@10 in just boxing. (That would be the same amount of time required) My money would be on the guy with the four 1@10 scores.
The argument between specialization and generalization rages on. I am a generalist, and my characters show it, lots of options but low skills in most of them. Di Vars is a specialist, and when you hit his areas of specialization he's got you covered.
However, my money is on the guy with the 2@10 in boxing over the 1@10 in four styles. He's going to hit harder and faster. His biggest disadvantage is that someone with skill at analyzing opponent styles will be able to counter him more easily, because he can't switch to something different--but that means he's already against someone who's pretty good and he needs comparable skill to hold his own.
"Oh--you know, I'd like that? But really, I'm working right now--supposed to be watching these others, make sure no one gets hurt and stuff like that. And I've got to get home for dinner when I get off work, or my mom will freak. She still treats me like I'm a kid, in some ways. But then, her home, her rules, if she wants me on time for dinner, I'll be there. So I can't miss my shuttle.
"Another time, though? I think it would be really interesting to see some of that style in action."
--M. J. Young
Well MJ, I honestly believe Bruce Lee would disagree with you. (I am speaking real-world, not game mechanics) He said that it is best to "Fight like water" Water conforms to the inisides of containers. It "Becomes" the inside of the container. If you cannot adapt to your opponent, he will kill you. Something like that. It's in no way a direct quote.
I imagine 1@10 to be a black belt. 2@1-2@10 would be 1st-6th degree black belt, 3@1 and up the rest of the scores. So it would be (In my mind, anyway) a guy with 4 black belts fighting Mike Tyson. Not saying that Mike Tyson couldn't take a guy with 4 black belts, but I would bet on the guy with 4 black belts.
Anyway, back to the guy.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were just another student taking a break or something. Do you ever give private lessons? I could pay you for your time. Not sure how much yet though. I'm not at all certain what the money is worth around here. Is there a way that I could contact you when you were not working? Or could you contact me?"
I would also ask him what he means by "My mom still thinks I'm a kid." Who knows? Under the law, he might be. In that case, I might not want to hang out with him anyway. (Or Dereck, for that matter) (In Paranthsis are OOC)
"How old are you anyway? And what is the legal age to drink liquor and vote? I'm just trying to get an idea of what the laws are like around here. I guess I should be asking, 'Are you a legal adult?' I'm from worlds away, and I don't want to get into any legal trouble over it. Nothing personal, ya know..." Said candidly and directly, making conversation style.
I would assume that on his martial arts honor he would tell me the truth.
Regardless of what he says back
"That's cool. Well, I'll see you. I start lessons here (Or have I registered yet? Have I? I need to keep track of the cash better.) Can you help me get registered, uniform, etc?" (If I haven't, that is)
(And MJ, just a question about refereeing style. Unless it was absolutely obvious that you could not change the person's mind, I would give a different persussion check every time the subject changed. Who knows? Maybe the person might agree to something else. Single persussion check means he will refuse everything on one bad roll. After all, this guy may have refused to spar with me because he'd get fired. What he does on his own time is his concern.)
MJ, have you ever heard of the art of Parkour? It's a martial art of sorts. It's, in essesence, turning the world into an obsticle course. It teaches you how to climb up and over walls, how to scale buildings, avoid obsticles. An expert in the art of Parkour would be very difficult to chase down. If you had a cable modem (Get in the 21st century!!!) I would tell you to do a search on YouTube for it. Is there any indication that Parkour is something that I could learn?
3,888 plus 160 for a day's work, 4,048 credits.
I'm not going to remember that.(In Paranthsis are OOC)
And I think that a blackbelt is professional level; at that point you can be paid to teach others, which makes you a professional. So I would say 1@10 is probably a brown belt, or whatever is one step below black belt in your style.
Besides, crossing the barrier between 1@10 and 2@1 doubles your attacks per minute
and kicks your damage up one category, so I would not trade that for the flexibility of multiple styles--you're more than four times as effective at 2@1 as you were at 1@10 (because you're 1% more likely to hit twice as often for about twice the range of damage).Mooks are 1@10. The guy who takes them all out is 2@1. It's not a guy with four black belts fighting Mike Tyson; it's a guy with high school varsity letters in boxing, wrestling, karate, and kendo fighting Mr. Miyagi.
"Um--well, no, I don't give private lessons. I suppose I could, but I'd probably have to quit my job here because I'd be competing with the school, and anyway I'm still a student myself. I may be a master, but I've a long way to go to match Master Wei."
You registered for class, but have not taken your first class yet. I'm thinking today was your first day of work, and you'll work five days before you have a day off, and you've scheduled your martial arts class for your day off, so that's when you'll be having your first class. But you are in the system and permitted to use the gym.
"I'm here most days, and if I know in advance I can plan to stay; I just have to let my mom know in advance that I'm going out."
"Oh, you know how moms are. I've seen my grandmom with my dad, and it's the same thing: she treats him like he's still a kid. I don't expect my mom will ever really stop thinking of me as someone she needs to raise. I should probably move out, but my family actually owns shares in Masticca. They have their own space, and it wouldn't save them anything for me to move out and would cost me quite a bit to rent my own place or buy shares in another suburb."
I don't use a single persuasion check for everything; you just haven't asked him anything else that makes a difference. He is not available to spar with you today; he'd like to do it another time. That he does not take students is pretty much given--he teaches here at the school as an underling to the other teachers. If you tried to persuade him of something else that is not already answered, I would roll for that. Some things I won't roll for--you can't seduce him no matter what you roll, so don't bother trying. He won't go out to dinner with you because the reason he won't spar after work is that he has to get home for dinner. He probably would accept an invitation to eat out another time, but he has to make arrangements so as not to upset his mother.
You've seen nothing here about Parkour. (Is this something you knew before your character started? You can't look for it if your character does not know it exists.)
--M. J. Young
You've seen nothing here about Parkour. (Is this something you knew before your character started? You can't look for it if your character does not know it exists.)
Yes and no. I knew what it was, but not what it was called. I'm sure you've had things like that before. Parkour is a style of running. I'm sure you've seen the movies where the guy jumps onto a wall with one foot, bounces off, then hits the corner wall with the other foot, and does that over and over until he climbs the side of the wall? That's Parkour. (And yes, people can really do that trick) Going down the side of a building by falling off of the balcony and catching the balcony below? That's Parkour. Jumping and hitting a brick wall just right so that you can climb it? That's Parkour. There could be a "Parkour School" right accross the hall from his hotel room, but he wouldn't know the name. I do know the name. However, I do know that he would be interested in learning it. My character knows what it is, he would like to learn it, but has no idea what it is called, or even that it is a style, and not just a guy that knows a lot of cool tricks.
"Um--well, no, I don't give private lessons. I suppose I could, but I'd probably have to quit my job here because I'd be competing with the school, and anyway I'm still a student myself. I may be a master, but I've a long way to go to match Master Wei."
"Well, I've always been of the mind that what a man does on his own time is his concern and no concern of his job. Think about it. If you ever feel like making some extra credits on your own time, look me up." Then give him my contact information.
Thank him and leave.
Head back to the hotel. When I get there, do another computer search for Martial Arts styles. Just see what all is here. I honestly believe that my character would research Parkour just because the name would strike him as interesting. My (and his) theory on renting movies is "When in doubt, get the one with a good looking woman on the box cover" I rent movies just because the title is cool. Parkour is a name that would catch his attention. He would definitely check it out once he knew what it was. I know it's probably a 3 GE roll, but make the roll, just for the fun of it. After the run of bad luck I've had, I'm due for a break.
Besides, crossing the barrier between 1@10 and 2@1 doubles your attacks per minute and kicks your damage up one category, so I would not trade that for the flexibility of multiple styles--you're more than four times as effective at 2@1 as you were at 1@10 (because you're 1% more likely to hit twice as often for about twice the range of damage).
You're speaking game mechanics. I'm speaking real life. Karate is a style made up of a lot of different moves. Judo is a style made up of a lot of different moves. Someone with a blackbelt in Karate and a blackbelt in Judo have twice as many ways to defend against the same attack. They might not be as good as the guy who is a 4th degree blackbelt in just Karate, but they know more ways to defend against the same attack. Not worth arguing about, just giving my two cents, that's all.
Mooks are 1@10. The guy who takes them all out is 2@1. It's not a guy with four black belts fighting Mike Tyson; it's a guy with high school varsity letters in boxing, wrestling, karate, and kendo fighting Mr. Miyagi.
I laughed when I read this. William Zabka, who played Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid was the captain of his high school wrestling team in real life. The reference struck me as funny for that reason.
Quoting me, John wrote:
Besides, crossing the barrier between 1@10 and 2@1 doubles your attacks per minute and kicks your damage up one category, so I would not trade that for the flexibility of multiple styles--you're more than four times as effective at 2@1 as you were at 1@10 (because you're 1% more likely to hit twice as often for about twice the range of damage).You're speaking game mechanics. I'm speaking real life. Karate is a style made up of a lot of different moves. Judo is a style made up of a lot of different moves. Someone with a blackbelt in Karate and a blackbelt in Judo have twice as many ways to defend against the same attack. They might not be as good as the guy who is a 4th degree blackbelt in just Karate, but they know more ways to defend against the same attack. Not worth arguing about, just giving my two cents, that's all.
And to repeat, the 1@10 is not the blackbelt. He is only half as fast as the 2@1.
This is one of the reasons I ignored "belts" on my martial arts site and replaced them with levels of mastery; even these (which I created for AD&D and translated to MV) don't really do the differences justice. Sure, knowing more styles gives you more options; but the junior high wrestling champ with the YMCA karate lessons and some coaching in boxing may have a lot of options which he cannot use fast enough or well enough to stop Mike Tyson from beating him to a pulp. I know you think that in real life the person who is not quite as good at more styles has an advantage over the person who is considerably better at only one--and that is also true in the game. The point of disagreement is about the numbers: 1@10 remains amateur level, and 2@1 is at least four times as good, and you can switch between styles all you want, but while your trying to figure out which defense to use next he's landing several blows you're not able to counter.
You're going to attempt to find something in the computer. Usually Derek does this for you. I don't see a skill ability level for "use computer"; what do you think it should be?
--M. J. Young
Well, for Use Computer, it would be high amateur, but these aren't running Windows, ya know? Give me a skill learning roll if you think it appropriate.
And about asking for the roll on the Parkour school, I just keep forgetting that I don't know jack about how this game runs, but that's the whole point of the board, right?
Something that I've never liked about this is the way you suddenly have a major skill increase. I mean if I was at 1@10+3 on my boxing, and then got my fourth new use in the middle of a fight, I would suddenly start hitting twice as hard and twice as fast? I know there's probably no better way to do it with game mechanics, but that's far from being realistic. It's not worth arguing over, but I just never liked that idea. Oh well. You designed a cool game, it's just not always that realistic.
In a real fight, you might throw a kick that's from karate, throw a punch that's from boxing, then judo flip the guy. I bet there's no game mechanic for that, unless you're using special attacks.
I have no problem with a 1@7 Use Computer T11@0. These aren't Microsoft, but they are a user-friendly GUI system.
What you find are a number of schools that teach gymnastic and acrobatic techniques.
On the other matter, let's take it up in a new thread, Realistic Game Mechanics (which I have not yet created).
--M. J. Young
He's not going to be interested in that.
Go back to my room and pray. 1@1 Communicate with Deity M+7@7 10:00 TF kneeling with hands folded by bed in home base, appropriate words asking questions, 5:00 worth of answers concurrent with second half of prayer, +40SM
I guess this would be Terry wouldn't it? Never would have thought I would meet an angel that was so gay.... I mean happy.
What I would want to ask would be Where is that verser teacher I asked for, when are they going to get here, and ask what's going on with Derek?
New Use?????????????????????????????
I asked if there was any evidence of psionics among the indigs. The bias was 0@25 when I asked. The indigs weren't capable of psionics. Now the bias is 10@15 and always has been 10@15 <wink> Now the indigs are capable of it, and they always have been. Is there any evidence of psionics among the indigs now?
There is no evidence of psionics here on Terranova.
You do not get an answer to your questions tonight. (What new use did you have in mind?)
Terry is a guardian, not a messenger; it's his job to get you out of trouble, not to answer your questions. You'll see him when you ask for rescue again, probably, but not when you ask for information.
I believe you return to work again tomorrow.
--M. J. Young
(What new use did you have in mind?)
I figured using the same prayer again might count as a new use, since it's a different world, and I had intended to call a different angel.
Kneel and pray again. Pray for the ability to call for Terry at a moment's notice. That I could, in essence, wish him to be there to help me. Time factor is P.U.S.H. Pray Until Something Happens. If that something is that I fall asleep on my knees, so be it.
When I did my computer search, did I find anything that would resemble a weight lifting gym?
I'm not sure how it is that you intended to call a different angel, since you're asking a question that any informer could answer; that it's a different world is a bit trickier, but that's rarely going to be a bonus if the skill doesn't have some special connection to the world and the world is not different in ways relevant to the skill itself.
Concerning your new prayer, I am not certain exactly what you are praying. Let me put forward possibilities for you to consider.
- You could be praying for the answer to your previously listed questions; that would not be praying for Terry to come, because Terry is not an informer but a helper--he can do things to fix trouble into which you've gotten yourself, but he can't give you information beyond what is inherent in freeing you from the trouble.
- You could be praying for knowledge of how to summon Terry more quickly.
- You could be praying for knowledge of how to summon Terry more quickly and for the answers to the previously listed questions.
- You could be praying for Terry to come now, despite the fact that you don't seem to be in any trouble that you can identify.
- You could be praying that you would be given a new skill that you did not have to learn but would simply know, that would summon Terry more quickly.
Several of the places that teach acrobatics also advertize strength training.
--M. J. Young
You could be praying that you would be given a new skill that you did not have to learn but would simply know, that would summon Terry more quickly.
"God, in your infinite wisdom, you sent Terry to assist me. While he isn't what I would have expected a guardian angel to be, I cannot doubt his skill. I would like to have the ability to summon Terry to assist me and protect me with a mere thought. That I could simply think 'Terry, I need you' and he would appear."
Kneeling by the bed and hands folded, head bowed, etc. All of the body bonuses there.
Is that more clear? Time factor is PUSH. Pray Until Something Happens.
Check out the weight lifting school in the morning before work.
If it is at all possible, I would like to have the places that I go to be on a lower floor than my hotel room. If I verse, my gear being above me means it will fall. If it's below me, it will be buried. Falling I can deal with. Being buried is more difficult.
Terry might not be what I would expect a guardian angel to be. I'm sure I'm not what you would expect a guardian angel to be either. However, I have been one several times. Plunger* can tell you all about that.
*What else do you call a 2 year old girl that's "Plunging" face first into trouble?
You collapse after two hours of praying, without result.
It happens that most residential sectors are toward the "top" of the station, commercial sectors in the middle, and the bottom mostly for physical plant and operational machinery, plus docking, storage, and other aspects. So most of the places you would go are below you, although there might be a few small stores and restaurants in the upper levels, as well as the homes of anyone else you might know.
The weightlifting location is in a place that seems a lot like a YMCA--gym, athletic activities, gymnastics, classes of various sorts, acrobatics, trampoline, games, pool (both kinds), activities equivalent to day camp. It's a membership sort of place, and some of the classes and programs cost extra, but generally if you're a member you can use the facilities as long as they aren't being used by a scheduled class. It looks like the weight room is free about half the time.
--M. J. Young
Go check out the weight room. If it's free to use half the time (or do you mean free as in available?) then go in and lift some weights before work.
Just out of curiosity, how would you decide if it's available? If it's free (no charge) 50% of the time, I would flip a coin. On a GE roll, however, I would say that 3-16 meant that it was open, with varying degrees of luck as to what happened, and 17-30 would be that I couldn't use it, with varying degrees of bad luck put in there. Or is this another case of John shouldn't be asking about game mechanics in game?
My bank balance is 4,048 credits. I'm going to pay for the hotel room for 50 days in advance. That's 3,500 credits down, leaving me with 548. To that, I will add (after work) 160 for the pay. Should I verse out before the 50 days are up, so be it. It's not like the credits would be any good to me in any aspect in the next world. Besides, maybe Derek could use the room for that time.
I know I said 548, but I'm going to deduct 20 for dinner last night and breakfast this morning. Seems fair to me, unless you have some kind of objection. So make the 528 as my balance.
528 credits.
Add 160 after tomorrow's post.
I'm good with the money, and your assessment of the use of the GE roll for whether the room is available is what I would do. Probably a 16 would mean a class just broke up with another coming in half an hour to an hour, and the 17 that the class is finishing as you arrive; 3 would mean you've got it all to yourself for several hours and 30 would mean that some special group (the equivalent of an olympic team perhaps) has booked it solid for several days. Probably an 18 would mean that it will be open in half an hour. This is mostly seat of the pants here, and some of it depends on your schedule--if you really don't have half an hour to wait, then an 18 might be less than that. Oh, and yes, by free I meant available. For members it is always free, that is, covered in your membership fee.
The fee is 2c/day if you pay for at least a hundred days, 3c/day for anything less down to twenty days, and 10c for a single day. Obviously if you enroll in a class or program you have to contract for as many days as the program runs.
--M. J. Young
Forget the weight room. I'm probably getting enough weight lifting at the job.
When can I start the Okydoky Smokey?
And when is that verser teacher going to show up? Derek is still in custody, and that had to happen before she could come, so I'm wondering when she's gonna get here.
In my versers survival pack, I have the crossbow and the 30 arrow quiver, as well as enough loose arrows to load the crossbow, and to put one in each holding spot on the crossbow body. So I guess that would be a total of 37 arrows. (I believe you said the crossbow held 6, plus one to load it with.) The loose arrows have the heads wrapped in those 1 inch plastic bags that I got. (I had 100 bags, I used 84 of them for the gems.) That pack and the belt bag are on me at all times, unless where not feasible. I'll have to figure out exactly what my on-person equipment is at all times.
Is there anything here which would resemble a long range rifle range, preferably with an aerial target range? (Clay Pigeon and skeet)?????
Is there any side or front pouches on the 9 mm holster to hold a spare magazine? I have 2 holsters in real life that are made like that. It's a very common design.
Go back to the gun store. I would be looking for a Smith and Wesson 22 LR target pistol. It shoots the same ammo as my Marlin. I own one. It comes with two ten round clips. Original cost, (I believe) $200. However, it was on sale, marked down from $250 and some change. And not to tell you how to do your job, but 22 LR is the single most popular gun caliber in the world. It would be a very bad GE roll indeed if these did not exist. (Of course, that's our world, but you get what I'm saying) I didn't know if you were aware of that or not.
NOTES:
Shoot hawks in flight with crossbow. Is there a new use bonus for something exceptionally difficult? Perhaps 2 new uses? (MJ, don't answer that)
I am wearing that backpack that I bought at all times where it is feasible to do so. If it's not actually on my back, it's close by. On person equipment. The two pistols, ammo and crossbow and arrows are towards the top. The Pearl Harbor jumpsuit is right under them. The rest of the gear is underneath the jumpsuit.
Kabar knife
Straight razor
Ronco pocket fisherman
S/W .357 magnum, loaded
250 rounds .357 ammo
9 mm pistol, loaded with 15 bullets
all spare (loaded) 9 mm magazines
250 rounds boxed 9 mm ammo
9 mm holster, with the gun inside.
crossbow, folded up
30 arrow quiver, loaded with 30 arrows
7 loose arrows, heads wrapped in 1 inch plastic bags
1 Pearl Harbor jumpsuit
100 chlorine tabs
2 quart canteen
three days food
10 four ounce silver crowns
20 two ounce gold pieces
20 two ounce platinum pieces
32 1/2 oz shillings (nickel)
32 1/2 oz pence (bronze)
5 BIC cigarette lighters (one sealed pack)
2 glue grenades
2 fragmentation grenades
The plastic ground tarp that I bought.
And an assortment of gems, I'll decide which later.The belt bag has whatever I said before in Dancing Princess, I'll have to check and think about it.
As I recall, the plan on the martial arts training was you were working five days in a row and then having your first class on your next day off. You had already worked one before you went to the school, and the second is behind you, and the third is beginning, so you have today plus two more days, and the day after that you don't work but have your first martial arts class.
I don't think you can carry your crossbow while you work, but you can leave it in the employee area while you are there.
There are indeed shooting ranges of the sort you request--three of them, in fact. Down side: because of the hazards involved in firing such weapons in a space station, these are far removed from the other areas, near the top of the station. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to get there by elevators.
--M. J. Young