planning Alternate timeline, and some questions

[Time Shield 405]

I've never done a forum RP before, but I've been the DM/GM of tabletop games in the past.  I'd like to start a game set in an altered Equestrian timeline, and have a good idea of the story and how to play it all out.  My main question, though, is whether it should be RP only or if it's possible to use tabletop systems in the game.  Obviously the biggest problem I see is dice rolling; if anyone has done a tabletop-style RP in a forum, I'd like to know how dice rolling is handled.

 

That in mind, I'm most familiar with GURPS, and aside from actual character creation it would be the easiest to play, and it's definitely the easiest to mesh into a pony setting (I have already come up with all the proper racial templates for the types of ponies).  I'd be happy to run the game using the GURPS system, but if it's not feasible, I don't mind doing it as RP-only also.

 

A quick synopsis of what I had in mind:

 

Life in Equestria during the past year has been far from perfect.  After the disappearance of Princess Celestia, and her successor struggling to reunite her confused and disheartened subjects, order was gradually re-established.  Just when things were beginning to look optimistic, rumors of a greater threat began to spread, bringing a sense of uncertainty and helplessness once again.  While some struggle in hopes of returning peace to Equestria, most others have accepted the harsh reality of the situation, that this is their lot in life.

 

One pony, however, has had troubling visions over many years, and knows the truth: that none of this is right.  Things are not as they were meant to be.  The destinies of only a few have been lead askew, but that is all it took for the fate of Equestria to change.  This pony also knows that he is helpless to fix this alone, but his visions tell of others that can help him set things right again...

Edited May 1, 2015 by Time Shield

[A Joe in the Bush 255]

I've done a tabletop RPG on a forum once before, and we just went by the honour system. we just rolled our own dice or used online dice rollers. It mostly worked out, though the GM had to leave the forum at one point, so it ended.

 

If we were to do it With Tabletop RPG rules, would we have to create completely new Ponies or could we adapt OC's? And when you say you have racial templates for the different pony types, do you mean All the pony types? (including the rarer ones like Batponies, Crystal Ponies, Changelings and Zebra's.) Or is it just the big three?

[Time Shield 405]

I've done a tabletop RPG on a forum once before, and we just went by the honour system. we just rolled our own dice or used online dice rollers. It mostly worked out, though the GM had to leave the forum at one point, so it ended.

 

If we were to do it With Tabletop RPG rules, would we have to create completely new Ponies or could we adapt OC's? And when you say you have racial templates for the different pony types, do you mean All the pony types? (including the rarer ones like Batponies, Crystal Ponies, Changelings and Zebra's.) Or is it just the big three?

 

Just the big three.  Four, actually... there's an Alicorn template, but I wouldn't allow Alicorn OCs for this RP.  Also, adapting OCs is fine.

 

The thing that's nice about GURPS is that it's designed to fit with literally ANY setting.  It has everything you need, and if there's something you need that's not in the system (for example, a skill or ability that doesn't exist), it gives you instructions for adding it in.

 

On the pony racial templates I made, all three of them have these common traits:

• Hooves (with modifier 'Able to grasp') -- This subset of the Claws advantage turns the hands into blunt strikers that also have a small amount of damage resistance.  (The 'Able to grasp' modifier ensures that you can still pick up things with them.)
• Horizontal -- This disadvantage means that the character is typically on all fours, which means they can't use their forelimbs to carry things while walking; they have to either stop to use one forelimb, or sit back to use both (or in the case of pegasi, they have to be flying).
• Talent (optional, variable) -- All ponies above a certain age range must take a talent (of variable cost) which gives them a bonus to using skills applicable to the talent; this is to represent the pony's cutie mark.

In addition, Earth Ponies get the following:

• ST +2 -- Increase in strength
• HT +2 -- Increase in health

Unicorns get the following:

• IQ +1 -- Increase in intelligence
• Magery: 1 -- Able to cast low-level spells; this can be increased with additional points spent towards it.
• Striker: Horn -- In case you really want to try and strike something with the horn.  

Finally, Pegasi get the following:

• Flight (Winged) -- Able to fly, so long as their wings are not injured or otherwise incapacitated/bound
• Walk on Air (Accessibility: Clouds) -- Able to walk on air as if it is solid, with the limitation that it only works on clouds

And for the heck of it, Alicorns get the following (the template is VERY expensive though):

• IQ +2
• Magery: 3
• Striker: Horn
• Flight (Winged)
• Walk on Air (Accessibility: Clouds)
• Mana Enhancer: 1 -- They regenerate magic more quickly than usual
• Reduced Aging: 5 -- They can live for a few thousand years

Edited May 1, 2015 by Time Shield

[A Joe in the Bush 255]

Alright, I'll sign up for this once I figure out how to upload my OC's to the Character database.

 

EDIT: Can I sign up as Hidden Antler, an Earth Pony Ranger?

Edited May 2, 2015 by The Only Joe

[Time Shield 405]

Alright, I'll sign up for this once I figure out how to upload my OC's to the Character database.

 

EDIT: Can I sign up as Hidden Antler, an Earth Pony Ranger?

 

Sure, that sounds good!

 

I'll try to figure out how we're going to do character creation for this; it's the one difficult part of GURPS, since there are so many options that it can get a bit time-consuming unless you know exactly what you're looking for.  Since I have the sourcebook, we could always just go over what you want him to have, and I can make my recommendations for how best to match it to the system.

Actually, I'll just send you a PM.  We can work it from there if you'd like.

[Time Shield 405]

By the way, just for clarification I intend to use 4th Edition GURPS.  I have earlier editions, but they're packed away in a box; this is the one I have ready at hand.  Once character creation is done though, everything that's needed is pretty much on the character sheets, so in my experience you rarely need the book to look things up unless you're the gamemaster.

[Aidan OGain 112]

I see some interesting potential, here. Can't commit to play, but I'll throw this idea out there. what if one of the PC's discovers that their life is better in the current timeline than in the "correct" timeline? And then what about Princess Never-was, and those in power thanks to the change? Lots of possibilities for conflict and ethical dilemmas, if you want to play it that way.

[Time Shield 405]

I see some interesting potential, here. Can't commit to play, but I'll throw this idea out there. what if one of the PC's discovers that their life is better in the current timeline than in the "correct" timeline? And then what about Princess Never-was, and those in power thanks to the change? Lots of possibilities for conflict and ethical dilemmas, if you want to play it that way.

Oh there's definitely an issue with those in power, and there will be some resistance to change. There will also be another dilemma faced by the players if they really want to fix things, but that's for the ending.

 

Ok, I've set up an actual Searching thread now:  http://mlpforums.com/topic/127751-destiny-askew-info-and-searching/

Edited May 3, 2015 by Time Shield