the_vulture

So, between calls, I'm going to be attempting to roll out some sort of simple set of role playing rules to be used in a play-by-email RPG, as I've been really inspired by rowyn's efforts with the game she's running and I'm thinking of starting one of my own some time in the not-so-distant future.

So far, I've decided on having 3 primary stats: Mightyness, Moxie, and Mojo. Mightyness would be cover all the physical end of things, like strength, agility, etc. You would use this score to determine: how readily one can strike a foe, amount of damage, dodging falling buildings, avoiding stepping in dog poop, etc. Moxie deals with all things mental, including hotwiring a car, researching paranormal phenomena, doing your taxes, etc. Mojo is the magic/spiritual stat and would include feats of willpower, psychic prediction, and skewing your odds of winning the lottery.

The three secondary stats would be derivatives of the primary (just like a colour wheel!). They would include Meat, an average of Mightiness and Mojo that would represent your general ability to resist and mitigate physical damage and how long you can run to avoid taking damage in the first place. Mana, an average of Moxie and Mojo, would, for most characters, work something akin to Force points in WEG Star Wars, representing Fortune smiling upon the character and allowing him or her to do something extraordinary. For those characters capable of casting magic, it will also dictate how much magical might a character can toss around in a given period of time. Finally, there is Monay, an average of Mightiness and Moxie, which represents the character's wealth and influence. It would be used for things like bribing security guards, flirting with the sexy member of the opposite sex, and ensuring you have change for the parking meter.

I'm thinking of having stats scores ranged on a scale of 1 to 9, with 4 being average untrained human. Die rolls would be resolved by players stating a number from 0 to 3, which would be multiplied by a randomly determined 1 or -1 and then added to the applicable stat. The result would be compared to a target number or an opposing roll.

Character generation would include a few Merits and Minuses, wherewith unusual abilities and disabilities could be purchased.

That's the system thus far. I welcome any suggestions as to how they could be tweaked or expanded.

As for campaign ideas, I've got the following rolling around in my head:

1) A modern martial arts comedy fantasy based at least somewhat on the film 'Big Trouble in Little China', where bonus Mana can be earned by the entertainment value of various postings.

2) A gritty urban fantasy based on the arrival of magic into the world, in a style similar to Shadowrun, only more contemporary.

3) Something nice and postapocalyptic! This could involve a rural or urban setting (compare Mad Max to The Warriors) and may or may not involve mutation (ranging from normal humans to mutant anthropomorphic animals, a la Roadhogs). 

4) Any other idea that might just catch my fancy between now and then (whizz one by me, if you're interested).

So, any of that sound interesting?

It's Wednesday and I is tired. Not so much in the spiritual, emotional, or mental sense, but pretty much in the physical. And that, even seems to be focussed primarily in my legs. Yep, instead of getting easier after a two day break, it seems that biking to and from work is getting harder. That's a bit troubling as I figure I won't be moving out till the end of August, leaving well over two weeks of biking left to suffer through (*whimper*). Over the last two evenings, I've actually had to walk my bike over hills that I used to be able to ride. And not only are my legs wearing down, all this riding is taking its toll on the bike, which is in dire need of some maintenance (including adjusting the chain tension, readjusting the derailers, readjusting the seat height, reseating the front tire bead, and replacing the rear brake pads, as well as a good lube job). The new apartment cannot come soon enough!

Sadly, though, finding a new roost is proving a lot more involved than first anticipated. That mostly has to do with me being picky. With an 'okay' from the Universe (provided by haikujaguar in her latest One Card Draw found here: http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/548295.html?thread=8846023#t8846023 ), I've decided that I'm going to be a bit less miserly about how much I'm going to be spending on my apartment this time 'round. I want a living space, not just a space to live in. That means something larger than my last flat, and definately not a shared accomodation. Still, I figure I should be able to get something decent for only $650 a month. What's an extra $100 for a bit of luxury?

Finding the dream home may prove a challenge, if my first attempts at viewing are to be any indication. The first place I went to see was in a small, four apartment block building. The interior was rather nice and had ample space. It even had features such as built in humidity control and in-wall heating. The outside was, well, unfinished. That, in itself was not such a bad thing, as the building had just been recently erected. However, I couldn't help but frown on the support posts for the external stairway and balcony resting half-way off their concrete feet. Even more alarming was noticing that the floor on the inside of the apartment was already sagging over a beam (the place had been finished just last November!). Add in that the neighbourhood looked kinda skeezy and that makes it an 'uh unh' from me.

I was supposed to attend a viewing at another place today. Yesterday, however, I decided to scout out the neighbourhood for the place, as I had a bit of extra time and the apartment was very close to work. Sadly, the apartment, a basement suite, was also very close to a number of downtown's nightspots, conjuring the uncomfortable image of my living room window being peed on by some drunken reveler at three in the morning. If THAT wasn't deterrent enough, as I was looking around, I was startled by the thunderously loud 'BING BING BING' of a railway crossing signal. Yes, the apartment was right next to the only rail line running through town, a rail line, I might add, which is exceedingly active.

Can you say "cancel the viewing"?  I knew you could!

I think I may actually look into one of the professionally managed apartment complexes. They're pricier, but may prove much more worth the expense. And, hey, my job will be paying me enough to afford a slightly more affluent lifestyle any how.

Speaking of the job, the training is going well. I've had a second test in which I've scored very high. And the crew I'm with continuous to be a fun lot to be around. This is aside from all the nifty stuff I'm learning about cellular communications, like how wireless telephone networks work and how to send an e-mail using the text feature of my phone (didja know you could do that?). I think I may come to really enjoy my employment with this company.