[19:05] <+Ian_stewart> Hey there! I'm Ian Stewart, writer for the New Horizon RPG! It's a tabletop RPG which focuses on Humans and their artificial brethren as they live and grow as a society on a far distant colony world.
[19:06] <+Ian_stewart> We use a system called Vo|t, which is a little different from most, but can be pretty darn neat, I'll post some links to their wiki later on.
[19:07] <+Ian_stewart> So, lets get started, shall we?
[19:07] <~Dan> Anyone have any questions to get us started?
[19:08] <~Dan> (I'll give'em a sec here...)
[19:08] <+Ian_stewart> (Good idea. No one can here is if we type like this. Makes us seem like we read minds.)
[19:08] * ~Dan chuckles
[19:09] <~Dan> Okay! So can you give us an overview of the setting and what makes it different?
[19:09] <+Silverlion> Is it a transhuman game?
[19:09] <~Dan> Oh, there we go. :)
[19:10] <+Ian_stewart> Yes and no! There are many instances where humans try and make themselves something more than they are, including a long eugenics campaign to cleanse the gene pool. However no human beings have ascended to new heights, as it were. We have, however, diversified.
[19:10] <+Ian_stewart> Mostly in the form of gene grafted humans. Those are the 'Medeans,' humans who've been given a third DNA helix, which interacts with, and selectively overwrites base DNA. Basically it allows them to pick and choose genetic traits even from other species and still only pop out ordinary human children.
[19:11] <+Silverlion> What are the artificial brethren?
[19:12] <+Ian_stewart> The three races of the Waveform Androids. Typically abbreviated to 'Wafans.' Not robots, per se, but extremely advanced analog technology as opposed to digital consciousness. We had the typical rebellion against human masters things, but everyone eventually grew up. They're broken into three different heritages.
[19:13] <+Ian_stewart> The Aesir are the smallest and most human. Average around five foot, and only their perfect physiques and blinding hair colors usually give them away. Also being as big as a large toddler is a give away.
[19:14] <+Silverlion> I take it isn't a hard science game then?
[19:14] <+Ian_stewart> The Vanir are... Think of Mega Man robots/reploids, mostly human in overall build but of a large, solid scientific construction.
[19:14] <+Ian_stewart> Not especially hard, no.
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[19:15] <~Dan> Welcome to #rpgnet, Stephen!
[19:15] <+Silverlion> The last kinda are Jotun?
[19:15] <+Ian_stewart> The last are the Jotuns, which are the least human in structure. Think of them as anthropomorphic Gundams or Transformers that... Don't transform.
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[19:15] <+Silverlion> Indeed.
[19:15] <+Ian_stewart> Hey there, Stephen!
[19:15] <+Silverlion> What do you mean by analog in this case? Are they clockwork?
[19:15] <~Dan> Welcome, Guest007! You can set your nickk with the /nick command.
[19:15] <+Stephen> I made it for a little while. I'm at work though, so I may disappear unexpectedly
[19:15] <~Dan> No problem, Stephen!
[19:15] <+xyphoid_> Any particular SF that inspired this game?
[19:16] <+xyphoid_> like, if I like ______, i'd like this game?
[19:16] <+Ian_stewart> Their conciousness is basically driven by a fractal lightwave technology immersed in a quantum foam, the lightwave itself acts as a process randomizer.
[19:17] <~Dan> (Question pause while Ian catches up. Thanks!)
[19:17] <+Silverlion> Ah, so not truly analog, but post-digital..interesting
[19:17] <+Ian_stewart> Inspiration? Fallout, Phantasy Star, Mega Man, Star wars, and the best Sci-Fi of all... Buffy. (I jest.)
[19:17] <+Stephen> I draw inspiration from almost everywhere, it really depends on the subject at the time. With New Horizon having such diverse areas, inspiration comes from things such as Anime, Television, mythology, and current scientific breakthroughs
[19:18] <+Ian_stewart> I troll wikipedias science pages like a dog after a bone.
[19:18] <+Silverlion> You are not a true geek unless you've played Phantasy Star Online/Universe :D
[19:18] <+Stephen> I would add Warhammer 40k to Ian's list, as well as Trigun
[19:18] <+Ian_stewart> And trigun by extension leads to firefly.
[19:19] <+Stephen> can't forget Firefly
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[19:19] <+Stephen> I am definitely a Whedonite
[19:19] <+Ian_stewart> I think if you like any of these things, it might be worth a look.
[19:19] <~Dan> (Welcome, Guest37! You can set your nick with the /nick command.)
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[19:20] <~Dan> (Alternately, you could just log off without a word.)
[19:20] <+Stephen> that works
[19:21] <+xyphoid_> so, what kind of things do characters do? what's a default adventure like?
[19:21] <~Dan> So are the Wafans actual machines, or organic?
[19:23] <+Ian_stewart> Defaults vary from place to place. Anywhere from bounties on aggressive animals and bandits in wilder regions to river caravan work up to investigating white collar crime in a post modern city.
[19:23] <+Ian_stewart> Wafans are machines, just rather sophisticated ones, their anatomy may... Change soon. Charles Stross has had a rather profound impact on me.
[19:23] <+Stephen> When I wrote up the description of a Wafan's body, I used organic language as much as possible. The idea is that they are beginning to bridge the gap. Just as humans are becoming more machine, the Wafans are slowly becoming actual organic organisms. They have nervous systems, muscles and many other things designed using synthetic methods that mimic organic
[19:23] <+Stephen> Ian informed me that he hasn't pointed out our preview material yet
[19:23] <+Stephen> our website is (Link: http://www.newhorizonropg.com)http://www.newhorizonropg.com it will be getting a massive overhaul over the next year, but preview material can be found in the book section
[19:24] <+Ian_stewart> (Link: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TabletopGame/NewHorizon)http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TabletopGame/NewHorizon And if you aren't confused yet, this will help you become confused as quickly as possible.
[19:25] <~Dan> What does the game have in the way of "kewl powerz"? Any psionics, cybernetics, etc.?
[19:25] <+Stephen> a New Horizon adventure might include corporate and political intrigue, or simply military campaigns. You can be a hunter out in the wild, a captain on the sea, or anything else.
[19:25] <+Stephen> There is a large list of cybernetics
[19:25] <+Silverlion> Interesting a TV tropes page.
[19:25] <+Stephen> Prometheans are simply our name for cyborgs
[19:26] <+Ian_stewart> Prometheans are a rather interesting 'race,
[19:26] <+Stephen> They have an extensive list of modifications that they can choose from, depending on how human they want to be
[19:26] <+Silverlion> Is there a metaplot or just a setting
[19:26] <+Stephen> Wafans are essentially the pinnacle of cybernetics, their entire race is designed off of cybernetic style technology
[19:26] <+Stephen> there are actually several plots that we plan to focus on with later books
[19:27] <+Ian_stewart> What Stephen said, but I want to see what intrigues players the most and adjust my plans accordingly.
[19:27] <+Silverlion> So yes to metaplots?
[19:27] <+Stephen> There is a large plot that will be slowly revealed
[19:28] <+Stephen> and many side plots involving factions and organizations
[19:28] <~Dan> I take it the answer was "no" to psionics and the like?
[19:28] <+Ian_stewart> For now!
[19:28] <+Stephen> the biggest issue right now is that two of the major factions are in a sort of 'cold war' state
[19:29] <+Stephen> magic/psionics are hinted at, but nothing is known in the larger world at this time. Our plans for anything of that sort are left for a later book
[19:29] <~Dan> Ah, I see.
[19:29] <+Silverlion> Problematic, I think, but I hope it works for you.
[19:30] <+Ian_stewart> But keep in mind, any technology sufficiently advances is indistinguishable from magic. Conversely any magic sufficiently categorized is indistinguishable from science.
[19:30] * ~Dan nods
[19:30] <+Stephen> the emergence of any type of magic system is actually part of our metaplot
[19:30] <~Dan> (brb)
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[19:31] <+Stephen> it will be a major world event oer which I hope to focus some type of large scale cooperative play or something of the like
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[19:34] <+Ian_stewart> That sort of thing would be pretty fun to see. Players often throw a lot of interesting curve balls.
[19:34] <~Dan> Hmm... Any concerns about leaving people playing one character type when they now want to take advantage of the "latest and greatest"?
[19:35] <~Dan> Like if "magic" (in whatever form) suddenly becomes available.
[19:35] <+Stephen> We hope that as new material gets released it continues to make each race interesting and entertaining
[19:35] <+Ian_stewart> Well, people seem to be overly fond of the Medeans. I can't help but wonder if people think they're supposed to be literal furries?
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[19:36] <+Ian_stewart> If nothing else that'll make an interesting niche market.
[19:36] <+Stephen> Medeans are dfinitely a popular race
[19:36] <~Dan> (Welcome, mib_3v5gd0! You can set your nick with the /nick command.)
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[19:36] <~Dan> They would seem to be the most varied.
[19:37] <+Stephen> that's something we have tried to work on. we want every race to be interesting and playable
[19:37] <+Ian_stewart> (Link: http://imageshack.us/f/832/louhis1w.jpg/)http://imageshack.us/f/832/louhis1w.jpg/ Maybe if we made them less attractive? Like, extra hands growing from their noses?
[19:37] <~Dan> Oh, while Stephen's here: can you say a bit about the core mechanic?
[19:37] <~Dan> (Unless you're another "setting guy", of course. :) )
[19:37] <+Stephen> I'm a setting guy who has read the mechanics a bit
[19:38] <+Stephen> first off, New Horizon uses the Volt system (Link: http://www.voltsystem.net/doku.php)http://www.voltsystem.net/doku.php
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[19:39] <+Stephen> I look at it as kind of a limit system, or a goldilocks system. Unlike most games where the larger number is always better, in Volt you are trying to hit a threshold without going over
[19:39] <+Ian_stewart> Best thing to come out of Sweden besides The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and their bikini team.
[19:39] <+Silverlion> Hrms
[19:39] <~Dan> So the "Price Is Right"/Blackjack method, as seen in Pendragon and Fading Suns?
[19:40] <+Stephen> the target number is based off of the character's stats, and external factors. The point is to get as close as possible to the number without going over. If you go over, you want to be as far away as possible
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[19:41] <+Stephen> so a target number of say 10. Player rolls 5, that's a success. It isn't great, but it isn't terrible. 9 or 10 would be great successes. 11 would be a catastrophic failure, while 20 is just a failure
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[19:41] <+Silverlion> Why that instead of a "roll over better is higher system?"
[19:41] <+Stephen> I actually have not tried either of those games, so I can't say
[19:41] <~Dan> Hmm. That's interesting, re: failure.
[19:42] <+Stephen> I didn't design the system, so I can't really comment on that end. The Volt guys get all the credit there
[19:42] <+Ian_stewart> I once tried to wash my hands and triggered some sort of thermonuclear detonation by being one over the mark. I think we fixed that, though. Coolest TPK ever, though.
[19:42] <~Dan> And there's no distinction between "attributes" and "skills"?
[19:42] <~Dan> Ian: LOL
[19:43] <+Ian_stewart> I had somethign great for that earlier! hold on while i dig it up.
[19:43] <+Ian_stewart> I'd actually thought it a bit odd myself, having been a bit of a junky for the nitty gritty of character creation in video games. But... On one level or another it kind of makes sense to me, especially after I heard somethign called the Theory of Multiple Inteligences. Heard of it before?
[19:43] <+Ian_stewart> Basically, the notion is inteligence is split into a number of different categories. For example; You can be extremely gifted at mathematics, but not even properly throw a baseball. That's because you lack in 'Kinesthetic' inteligence.
[19:43] <+Stephen> attributes and skills work the same way, it just depends on what is being attempted
[19:44] <+Ian_stewart> A karate blackbelt, on the other hand, is exceptionally gifted at understanding his own body and its limitations.
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[19:44] <~Dan> Howdy, Lassek!
[19:45] <~Dan> What's technology like in the setting?
[19:45] <+Ian_stewart> Depends on where you're standing, quite a bit. Stephen, care to explain how inconsistent I am?
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[19:46] <+Stephen> You have your base score (for the attribute or skill) it is modified by external factors. Say a large rock imposes a -2 and a character has a strength of 8, then their target number is 6.
[19:46] <~Dan> And what sort of dice are you rolling?
[19:47] <+Stephen> if they have a rank of 10 in driving, and the road is extremely well maintained for something like a +1 bonus, then their target is 11
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[19:47] <+Stephen> D20
[19:47] * ~Dan nods
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[19:47] <+Ian_stewart> Two of them, namely.
[19:47] <+Stephen> the setting is one where technology is ever present, but not always noticeable
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[19:47] <+Stephen> Ian is right on that, you roll 2D20 for every action
[19:48] <~Dan> (Sorry to have you running on two different tracks. Let's focus on the system for the moment.)
[19:48] <+Ian_stewart> I'll be sure to explain my quaint idea of tech distribution afterwards.
[19:48] <+Stephen> not much more I can really say on how the system works without going back to the material I have, and I don't have time to look
[19:49] <~Dan> Ah, no worries, then.
[19:49] <~Dan> Okay, back to tech.
[19:49] <+Ian_stewart> It ranges from high, to low, to occasionally simply 'no.' Gunpowder weapons are still the common currency, but energy weapons are creeping in. Bladed swords and stuff looted from the prop room of Star Wars pop up.
[19:50] <+Ian_stewart> Televisions and computers are basically rolled up scroll like devices. But major transmisisons liek Tv and Radio are buggered on the planet, it gives off more electro magnetic interference than Stephens groinal region.
[19:50] <+Stephen> which is a lot
[19:50] * ~Dan chuckles
[19:50] <+Ian_stewart> Stephens lap can fry and iPhone.
[19:51] <~Dan> What keeps the areas with high tech from overrunning those without it?
[19:51] <+Stephen> The moon of New Horizon seems almost hostile toward technology. The creatures can eat machines as easily as people, the atmosphere shreds transmissions, and strange viruses seem to appear out of nowhere
[19:52] <+Stephen> Most of the factions are banded together under the Avalon Accords, kind of like a UN
[19:52] <+Ian_stewart> With much, much bigger teeth.
[19:52] <+Stephen> High tech is available everywhere, but some people choose to live a simpler lifestyle
[19:52] <+Stephen> the farmers who still use animals and plows may have a tank hidden in the barn
[19:53] <+Ian_stewart> Though not necessarily a large one. Ripped from the set of New dominion Tank Police is feasible.
[19:53] <~Dan> Is there any advantage to living "the simple life"?
[19:54] <+Stephen> I have to go soon, so I will answer what I can before then
[19:54] <~Dan> No problem, Stephen. Thanks for stopping by!
[19:54] <+Stephen> Some of the creatures of New Horizon seem to leave humans alone if they aren't using high technology
[19:54] <+Ian_stewart> Also it keeps life much more free of what some see as needless complexity.
[19:55] <+Stephen> think of it as a brilliantly post technological world in some respects. They have advanced to the point where the simple life is feasible and easy enough to live for those who want
[19:55] <+Stephen> Technology is ever present in the form of Wafans and Prometheans, but they might still use ancient methods, updated with modern learning
[19:56] <+Ian_stewart> Beautiful, Stephen.
[19:56] <+Ian_stewart> I was thinking of firing you, but you just changed my mind.
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[19:56] <~Dan> Heh. :)
[19:56] <~Dan> (Howdy, egyptian!)
[19:56] <&egyptian> (howdy!)
[19:57] <~Dan> Are there any built-in Big Bads in the setting?
[19:57] <+Stephen> the most common big bad is a predator known as a Grim Stalker
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[19:58] <+Stephen> Think of it like a Dire Bear on steroids with chameleon abilities and acid spit
[19:58] <+Ian_stewart> Running in to one is kind of like just hopping into a meat grinder. Not very friendly.
[19:58] <~Dan> Welcome to #rpgnet, Michal!
[19:58] <+Stephen> there are hints of other menaces out there as well, the more intelligent kind
[19:58] <+Ian_stewart> Hey Michal!
[19:58] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Thank you Dan
[19:58] <+Ian_stewart> And then there are the 'Oracles.'
[19:58] <~Dan> What are they?
[19:58] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I'm sorry for being late, but here I am
[19:59] <~Dan> Glad you could make it!
[19:59] <+Stephen> Our history includes a being known as Oberon. He didn't originate from earth, and his goals are unknown
[19:59] <+Stephen> he caused a world war for a while
[19:59] <~Dan> Ah... So there are intelligent aliens?
[19:59] <+Stephen> yes
[19:59] <~Dan> What are they like?
[19:59] <+Ian_stewart> Beings with access to Earth Tech. The colony regressed a bit, but a few people still have access to tech which is still superior. The Black and White oracles are supposed to chronicle the worlds history in either the perspective of the good man does or the evil.
[19:59] <+Stephen> New Horizon has ruins from unknown civilizations that were there before the earthlings came
[20:00] <+Ian_stewart> More than one, I might add.
[20:00] <+Stephen> there are hints of survivors, but nothing large yet (metaplot mayhaps >_0 )
[20:01] <+Stephen> and I'm out
[20:01] <+Stephen> night everyone
[20:01] <~Dan> ttyl, Stephen!
[20:01] <+Ian_stewart> Adios, Stephen. Michal, why don't you say hello?
[20:01] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Hello everyone!
[20:02] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Looks like I'm here to take over the torch from Stephen for the next hour.
[20:02] <+Stephen> works for me, just let me know what fires I need to put out later
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[20:03] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> hehe, will do
[20:04] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Ian: so what else can we say about Oberon?
[20:04] <~Dan> (And if you've said all you can say, it is Oberon out?)
[20:05] <+Ian_stewart> Oberon was a being like Wafans, but far more deviously sophisticated. His kind once invaded New horizon and... Were defeated by something, and Oberon imprisoned. His technology was advanced enough to appear as magic. He was seemingly defeated after his cage was broken, but that may not necessarily be the end of him.
[20:07] <~Dan> Oh... I'm not sure if anyone answered what intelligent aliens are like in the setting?
[20:08] <+Ian_stewart> The only one encountered has been Oberon, actually. He was very... Fae in his attitudes and dealing. Not necesarily the good kind of those either. Hence his human given name.
[20:10] <~Dan> Ah, gotcha.
[20:10] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I guess it depends on the being. Oberon, a said already, was much like our wafans, but other alien being do still exist. And we are trying to introduce them as humanoids.
[20:11] <~Dan> I see a lot of swords in the artwork. Is there a setting-based reason why melee combat is viable?
[20:11] <+Silverlion> Later all.
[20:11] <~Dan> Bye, Sil!
[20:11] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> later
[20:11] <+Ian_stewart> Scientifically speaking? Or is... A more accurate answer?
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[20:12] <~Dan> Well, I mean, why don't folks rely on firearms?
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[20:13] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> It all began by us specifying that weapons performing piercing damage cause less damage to NH native creatures. That lead to making rifearms cause less damage.
[20:14] <~Dan> Ah, I see.
[20:14] <+Ian_stewart> That's the scientific explanation. It basically is the justification for the underlying fact. Swords are awesome.
[20:14] <~Dan> :)
[20:14] <~Dan> Are there some high-tech melee weapons?
[20:14] <+Ian_stewart> A few, yes, let me grab an image.
[20:15] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> And in truth, that's what you'll see when fighting wild animals in the game. Attacking them with melee weapons will simply allow you to kill them.. let's say "faster", although it's also more dangerous as they can more easily attack you as well.
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[20:16] <+Ian_stewart> (Link: http://imageshack.us/f/38/grensword1v.jpg/)http://imageshack.us/f/38/grensword1v.jpg/ This is a sword belonging to a sort of... paragon of the Prometheans. Earth tech. It interacts with magnetic fields and gravity in such a way it can alter its weight and mass at will. Imagine being hit by a sword which weighs the better part of a ton. This is an extreme example.
[20:17] <+Ian_stewart> (Link: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/grenw1e.jpg/)http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/grenw1e.jpg/ If you want it, you need to take it from him.
[20:18] <~Dan> Nice. :)
[20:18] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> In the three core books, we try to show mostly standard weapons, while trying to make them look more high-tech. But some NPCs do posess more powerful and more unique weapons. It will be up to the GM to specify how a player may get his/her hands on one of those weapons, and why the NPC would be willing to part with it.
[20:19] * ~Dan nods
[20:20] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Gren's sword is one such example. Gren, being officially dead for many years now, has hidden his sword someplace, and we'll set up an adventure for people to find it later.
[20:20] <~Dan> What sorts of vehicles are there?
[20:21] <+Ian_stewart> Unicycles are prevalent, but a few experimental new two wheeled 'dual-cycles' exist in out of the way places.
[20:22] <+Ian_stewart> Transportation is actually pretty close to earthly, simply more advanced. Trains use mag-lev technology for propulsion, jets use it for take off. wheeled vehicles dominate the road, but are vastly more efficient.
[20:23] <~Dan> Any spacecraft?
[20:23] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> But regarding melee weapons, we tried in many ways to make NH feel more... D&D, and less Star Wars, which is something you'll be able to notice in many places. Allowing melee weapons to have a more prominent role, making people actually do more melee weapon fighting than shoot, was one of those things we wanted for the setting.
[20:23] <+Ian_stewart> Space travel is something we may delve into later, but doesn't play much of a role at the moment.
[20:24] <~Dan> You mentioned something about a disaster on the moon?
[20:25] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> There is nothing wrong with Star Wars per say, but when you think SciFi you often think, space combat, shooting with laser guns, etc. And we wanted to make it more rought, focusing on exploring the worlds, fighting with melee weapons, and so on.
[20:26] <+Ian_stewart> Yes, the exodus from Earth was precipitated by mans hubris blowing up in his face. Earths unstable teleportation tech, centered on the moon, destabilized and took a rather large chunk out of the moon which shotgunned the eastern hemisphere pretty hard.
[20:26] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Not having space travel, was also something we wanted to avoid, for making the setting feel more medieval and less Star Wars.
[20:26] <+xyphoid_> what support have you got for running exploration-based games? it's something that's often hard to design for GMs, as opposed to combat
[20:28] <+Ian_stewart> At the moment... Mostly ideas for all manner of bizarre other worldly phenomena endemic to the planet.
[20:28] <~Dan> So there's supernatural-type stuff going on?
[20:29] <+Ian_stewart> Yes and no. Think of New Horizon as a place that's mostly there, but a little bit... Somewhere else. And the somewhere else bleeds through from time to time and changes the playing field.
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[20:30] <+Ian_stewart> An example would be a 'whorl,' a phenomena not unlike a small and extremely lethargic black hole.
[20:30] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I don't know if this will answer the given question, but we are also introducing "exploration" as a term taken from mining, where discovering gemstones and rare metals is soemthing our conporations are much interested in, and would pay money for.
[20:31] <~Dan> So dimension-warping weirdness?
[20:31] <+Ian_stewart> Yes. There are some places where the rules are simply different.
[20:32] <~Dan> Does this tie into the "magic" that might show up?
[20:33] <+Ian_stewart> I couldn't say... Insert shifty expression here.
[20:33] <~Dan> Heh. No worries.
[20:34] <~Dan> What are some of the weirder creatures?
[20:34] <+Ian_stewart> Balls of tentacles that drop out of trees and try to strangle you weird enough, or should i stray into the silicon based stuff?
[20:35] <~Dan> Up to you. :)
[20:35] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Let's explain the silicon based creatures
[20:36] <+Ian_stewart> They can range from fairly mundane but extremely robust to bizarre silicon based arthropods.
[20:36] <+Ian_stewart> Take it away, Michal, I need a diet coke anyhow.
[20:38] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Our iconic create is the Grim Stalker. This one is one of the most powerful creatures we have on the planet so far
[20:39] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> And since it's silicon based, it can eat anything from a human to a wafan/car/building etc. Finding one dining on a left-over jeep isn't uncommon.
[20:39] <+Ian_stewart> (Link: http://ertacaltinoz.deviantart.com/art/Hans-Limitt-and-Grimstalker-157033365)http://ertacaltinoz.deviantart.com/art/Hans-Limitt-and-Grimstalker-157033365 I can't rationally explain how this man has domesticated one, so jsut roll with it.
[20:39] <~Dan> Cool. :)
[20:39] <~Dan> Anything kaiju-scale?
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[20:40] <~Dan> (Howdy, GL!)
[20:40] <+Ian_stewart> Some yes, but nothing predatory on land. There are gigantic turtles with symbiotic forests on their backs. In the ocean?... Bad juju.
[20:41] <+Ian_stewart> Sea Gorgons are unpleasant things with an almost human like face, they abduct humans and Wafans and use them like magpies to bring them shiny things until they die.
[20:41] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> (Link: http://www.newhorizonrpg.com/poopydoodles/grimstalker.jpg)http://www.newhorizonrpg.com/poopydoodles/grimstalker.jpg
[20:42] <~Dan> What advantage, if any, is there to being a "normal" human?
[20:43] <+Ian_stewart> Easy. Versatility. The 'Olympians' are as versatile as humans now, but with a much cleaner gene pool free of most hereditary conditions. They can change their gear easily, or even change into a Promethean or Medean if their story leans in a direction that makes that a good choice.
[20:44] * ~Dan nods
[20:44] <~Dan> How strong is the strongest possible PC?
[20:45] <+Ian_stewart> He could probably punch out Spiderman. But he'd be dumb as a brick unless he'd acquired a metric ton of points over years of gaming. ...Did we mention how new points are acquired?
[20:45] <~Dan> Nope.
[20:46] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> They keep thom captie in caves under the sea, caves that have air-pockets, of course, enough for those humans and wafans to live there but without allowing them to escape.
[20:46] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> ...them captive
[20:46] <+Ian_stewart> Think The Elder Scrolls, but at the GM's discretion.
[20:47] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> We prefer that the GM sets the boundary, but the volt rules make the scale more... exponential in nature, meaning that while the stat value of 8 is normally strong, 9 or 10 is extremely strong. Some very large jotuns have the value of 12, and although the scale goes to 18, we haven't given that number to any given NPC or character
[20:47] <~Dan> Is that a "hard cap" universally, or just for PCs?
[20:48] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I'd agree, a very strong jotun could punch out spiderman, but we don't have anything to go against superman or the hulk
[20:50] <~Dan> I mean, is 18 the highest possible score for anything in the setting?
[20:50] <+Ian_stewart> Michal, can you take that one?
[20:50] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> As I said, we don't recommend giving anyone a higher value an 12. But if you'd give someone Strngth 18, and that scale is exponential in nature, meaning that 9 isn't just 1 point strnger than 8, but rather twice as strong as 8, or more, then 18 would be extremely strong.
[20:50] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I haven't even thought that far ahead, to compare it with some known character, to get an understanding of how strong 18 would actually be
[20:51] <+Ian_stewart> Eventually more than a single point is neccesary to gain an extra level in the fields, two or even three.
[20:51] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Nope, 18 is just the highest value we've put on our character sheets, that's a ll
[20:51] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> But if you look at some of the animal character sheets, than values above 18 do exist
[20:51] <~Dan> Gotcha.
[20:52] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Some creatures you simply don't fight unless you have a huge bomb and on army handy
[20:52] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> on=an
[20:52] <~Dan> Looks like we have just under 10 minutes left in regular Q&A time... Anything you guys would like to mention that we haven't covered so far?
[20:52] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> One thing...
[20:55] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> As we are working on completing the GMG book right now, I want to mention that we are focusing a lot on filling our NPCs, our corporations, and anything else in there, with adventure seeds. Things to give GMs as much possibilities as possible, but without forcing them in any given direction of course. But they are there, from interesting notes, rumors,etc
[20:56] <+Ian_stewart> With that, if there are no further questions, I have an engagement elsewhere in not too long.
[20:56] <~Dan> No problem. Thanks for joining us, Ian!
[20:57] <+Ian_stewart> The pleasure was all mine! I'll be sure and drop by again some time!
[20:57] <~Dan> Please do!
[20:57] <~Dan> I'll have the log posted shortly.
[20:58] <~Dan> Thank you as well, Michal! Do you need to run as well?
[20:58] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I'd like to thank everyone here for listening to us today as well.
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[20:58] <+GenoFoxx> g'night
[20:58] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I can answer a few last questions, if there are any, but it's 4 in the morning here in Sweden, and I have to go to work in a few hours ;)
[20:59] <~Dan> Oh, jeez... Well, a special thank-you to you then, Michal!
[21:00] <+Ximni> Yay Sweden!
[21:00] <~Dan> I should probably log off myself, so why don't we call it a night here? :)
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[21:00] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> The peasure was all mine. We would be very happy to do more of these interviews in the future. We can stay in touch if you like, and return when we have other books released to talk about them, etc.
[21:00] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Ximni: Indeed ;)
[21:00] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> Good night everyone!
[21:01] <~Dan> Please do! I'm also a reviewer, if you'd like one of those once you get published. :)
[21:01] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> I can send you a copy of all 3 books as soon as the third one, the GMG is finished
[21:02] <~Dan> Sweet!
[21:02] <+MichalLysek_NewHorizon> We'll keep in touch then, through me, Stephen or Ian. Good night!
[21:02] <~Dan> Good night! Sleep well!
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