Well, it takes a little explaining really.

Nova was originally GMed by only one person (first Proffer, then Dervish) but the current iteration does not use that method.
Rather than having a single GM guided story, we instead have the collection of characters, and players may submit mission ideas. The time in between the missions is spent with no GM and onboard the Tyrus, but each mission has a GM in the form of the player who's idea it is.
For administration type things, it is often put to the OOC and we work out a consensus between those present, and whoever owns the OP is responsible for editing it to stay up to date. Because Nova was a closed RP between friends, there were no disputes to resolve and no GM was needed for that role.

Well said.

I had a twitch to clarify the short explanation before, but I assumed Ruby was joking. :P

All the character sheets are up, everyone except David should be there. Hiders are indicated by parentheses above details in a CS or such, since nested hiders don't work on this site.

There were a few issues transferring the CS's. Kasy's theme video wouldn't load enough to get to it's original link or show the title or play. The other themes don't have the videos, just the title written down. A few images don't appear to work.
I'll fiddle with the image links later. Mention if there's any issue with the basic info itself.

She probably was joking. But someone will aks eventually.

Hey, the video is non-essential... If you managed to get Kas's sheet thats plenty. History is the important bit.

Huh, my CS appears to have made it through completely unscathed actually. And I'm fairly certain it's the final version as well. Thanks Tick.

I remember checking this RP out several times on the old site, big ME fan and love the universe. been tempted to join but the everyone being a GM put me a little mainly because I have never actually been a GM myself and worried about contribution to storyline arcs etc... and the fact I was still reading up on the history of mass effect before the timeline of the trilogy.

But I did have a Vanguard in mind, but all comes down to if you guys have space for new characters from the original ones you managed to recover.

With the GM thing, you need not worry as we don't expect you to lead any missions by which I mean as a GM, not as a PC. Nova doesn't have a PC leader.

The only other aspect is that while in a mission, players can essentially spawn enemies and locations to an extent. In my mission for example, At no point did I introduce any gunships, but one of the other players decided it'd be fun to have a Blue Suns Mantis gunship on us... And he wrote one in. Even this is not expected, and largely reliant on the nature of the mission we are involved in at any given time. Some missions wont have nearly so major additions, some wont be suited to such things at all. It is an option, not an expected thing.

Damo- Indeed. There's no requirement to be an acting GM, you just have the freedom to if you want and get some say in OC choices. :] It's more to encourage people to act on their own instead of just getting permission from the one GM or following their lead, which gives more initiative for various contributions.

And yeah, if everyone else is cool with it, I'm up for giving a look at some new people wanting to join the RP. So long as you can write to meet the standard (no Mary/Gary-Stu's, no godmodding, no fandom crossing, etc.). :] A number of the dedicated players now are the newer ones, so it's not as if all the new kids always ditch in the first week.

Awesome to hear your recovered CS's are solid, good news. :D

EDIT: Also, Mosis made the best CS. Because it had no pictures. :'D

I must say I've been curious of this particular roleplay for sometime. Course on the old site you all seemed far in so I didn't bother asking. But since it's about a fresh slate again, I do have a question. I know the answer is probably 'hell *beeeeeep* no' due to timeline but if you are will liking to accept noobs, would you allow a Geth to join your crew?

Hey guys :) Good to see everyone again! So do we actually have a concrete plan for going ahead from here? Full reboot? Time skip like the second Nova iteration? I'm up for whatever, though going back to a full reboot seems like it'd be a bit of a waste to me simply because we'd already established a lot with the last game.

@Silver Fox: Are you psychic? Because you are indeed correct that the answer is somewhere in the ballpark of "hell no." At least, I'm assuming that's what the consensus will be. That being said, if this indeed a reboot then we'll probably be looking for some new blood, so you might as well stick around if you've got some other nifty character ideas.

Oh, and thank you Tick for your hard work in recovering all of this stuff. You da best! :D

Mosis Tosis said
Hey guys :) Good to see everyone again! So do we actually have a concrete plan for going ahead from here? Full reboot? Time skip like the second Nova iteration? I'm up for whatever, though going back to a full reboot seems like it'd be a bit of a waste to me simply because we'd already established a lot with the last game. @Silver Fox: Are you psychic? Because you are indeed correct that the answer is somewhere in the ballpark of "hell no." At least, I'm assuming that's what the consensus will be. That being said, if this indeed a reboot then we'll probably be looking for some new blood, so you might as well stick around if you've got some other nifty character ideas.

Fuck no. No reboot. >> I'm not one of those loonies that replays the first part of the game and starts over every time there's a second option to do. We actually made progress and accomplished missions.
If we reboot, I'm making a damn new character for some spice in life or whatever.

This thread was made in the case we got enough of the crew together and everyone wanted to start up again. I assumed we'd pick up from where we left off, going on memory (I know where I planned on going with Tzvi, Kygg, Roland, and Mark). If -any- of you guys did collabs in the last page or two, you should check your email for notifications on private messages. Or, if you're awesome, notifications for posts (in which case, you might have just retrieved page 8/9).

I'd be cool with a timeskip too. What's everyone else's opinions?
Also: Are most of us friendly to the idea of new members?

And hey Mosis. :] Good to see ya back on RPG.
Haha, welcome. I had to do something with myself. :']

Silver Fox: We stick to canon nicely - which means few/no guns with ammo clips, and no geth. Even if the team was high enough on poison gas to decide it was a good idea, when they bump into the geth (which aren't even known to have returned yet), to try and shake hands and add them to the crew, they'd still realize that this would close off jobs, get them killed, etc. etc. the moment anyone realized they had one on 'em. ;]

Aha yeah I kinda figured xD guns with no ammo clips?! Sweet! Loved those things. But thank you for answering my stupid obvious question :D

Tick said
Fuck no. No reboot. >> I'm not one of those loonies that replays the first part of the game and starts over every time there's a second option to do. We actually made progress and accomplished missions. If we reboot, I'm making a damn new character for some spice in life or whatever.This thread was made in the case we got enough of the crew together and everyone wanted to start up again. I assumed we'd pick up from where we left off, going on memory (I know where I planned on going with Tzvi, Kygg, Roland, and Mark). If -any- of you guys did collabs in the last page or two, you should check your email for notifications on private messages. Or, if you're awesome, notifications for posts (in which case, you might have just retrieved page 8/9).I'd be cool with a timeskip too. What's everyone else's opinions?Also: Are most of us friendly to the idea of new members?And hey Mosis. :] Good to see ya back on RPG.Haha, welcome. I had to do something with myself. :']Silver Fox: We stick to canon nicely - which means few/no guns with ammo clips, and no geth. Even if the team was high enough on poison gas to decide it was a good idea, when they bump into the geth (which aren't even known to have returned yet), to try and shake hands and add them to the crew, they'd realize that this would close off jobs, get them killed, etc. etc. the moment anyone realized they had one on 'em. ;]

My thoughts exactly. I've come too far with Kosso to let go of him now unless we go full reboot, and I'm not really keen on that idea. If we do start up again, I've got some ideas on what we could do, but that can wait until everyone's back around I suppose.

@SilverFox: No such thing as stupid questions!

Well depending on what the general consensus will be I think I can work up on a vanguard character idea I have, although it only got as far as an idea mind you lol. God I remember the good days of gun with no thermal clips. it was all about controlling your weapon well enough to avoid overheating it, I see from other character powers and skills that powers and skills are quite open for as long as it not Mary sue like for example.

Thanks for answering my concerns though and looks like if the green light is given, then I would sort out powers and skills/abilities. small weapon load out as a vanguard mostly concentrate on their biotics which also give me the first weakness being long range combat and possibly sticking to light armour. One other idea I had which i would like to put up to find out if it a no no or not is weather it is aloud to be a former N7 operative as those do exist in the 2176CE time frame.

I'll throw up a CS if you guys do end up going with new members.



Name: Orsus Gaul
Race: Krogan
Gender: Male
Age: 170
Class: Soldier, serves as the ships chef (he does his best)

Appearance:

Gaul is of an average build for a Krogan but appears more well set due to standing short at just 7ft, there is a slouched aspect to his stance and more than others of his race is a certain sluggish yet precise nature to his movements. He has amber eyes and dark brown markings across his skin that show his age, as well as a number of small battle-scars dotted about his person.

By far Gaul's most distinguishing feature though is the complete lack of a frontal plate on his head, instead there is only a set of rough bandages where it would normally be. An old persistent rumour in the underworld is that with the right application of pressure a Krogan's plate can be torn clean off, Gaul is living proof. A source of massive insecurity for the Krogan, in public he will usually wear a helmet to try and hide his shame.

Biography:

Like most Krogan, Gaul was born amidst the wastelands of Tuchanka, the scarcity of infants meant that each was cared for with its survival precedent, at least till they reached maturity. His father Grec was killed in a turf dispute while Gaul was still young, he didn't know his father well enough to really feel the loss but the young Krogan respected that he'd had a 'good death', holding ground until reinforcements could arrive to secure, Gaul hoped his own end might be similar.

Cursed with mediocrity while growing up, Gaul was neither especially big nor strong compared to his peers, in a large clan it was difficult for him to really gain recognition and he began to realise that the chances of him impressing one of the few fertile females would be slim. Despite this though Gaul had a measure of intelligence and persistence about him and was determined to leave his mark on the world.

When the time came for Gaul to fulfil his right-of-passage he opted to leave Shath his clan of birth, for Orsus, a much smaller more obscure clan. An unexpected move that many of his Krantt took for betrayal, meaning he had to survive the Thresher-Maw with less comrades than he would of liked barley escaping the ordeal with his life. However his gambit seemed to have paid off, Gaul was no longer the small fish in the big pond and soon began training under a battle-master to rise through the ranks.

It took him almost a century of hard work, proving, outsmarting and bullying, but Gaul eventually ascended to become the head of clan Orsus, though the clan was little more than an extended family. Leading a smaller clan proved to be difficult though and he did his best to try and keep under the radar from larger groups and slowly consolidate power.

Gaul was content in his life, now a veteran chief Orsus had began to prosper under his rule, however this became their downfall. By some freak chance the clan was blessed with a multitude of fertile females, far outweighing the probability of their numbers, it attracted unwanted attention. As soon as word got out Orsus was beset on all sides by more powerful clans hoping to claim the females.

The war was brief but bloody, Orsus was outnumbered but their territory was harsh and Gaul knew how to use it best to his advantage hoping to show other clans they weren’t worth the fight. Eventually though things came to a stand-off, caught off-guard during a convoy, Gaul and a few others opted to stay behind and entrench themselves while the rest fell back, the Krogan had lived a long life and he was done running.

Slowly his men were whittled down and eventually Gaul was captured and awaited what he deemed, a good death. It wasn't to be though, to his horror he realised that this was his old clan Sharth he'd come face to face with and his Krantt still remembered his betrayal after all these years. They didn't kill him, for Krogans do not fear death, instead binding him down they pried with a rusted piece of metal and tore off the old Krogan's fore-plate, then left him broken in the wastes.

Shortly after clan Orsus was absorbed into Sharth, Gaul's lifework melting away before him, he was branded an outcast, not just from the clan but from Tuchanka, without his plate he was no Krogan and Gaul left the planet in shame.

He spent some decades wallowing in shame, broken in body and in spirit, taking dead end jobs and all to frequently holding a barrel to his head and coming closer to pulling the trigger. Some part of his Krogan self kicked in though, he had endured much but this would not be a good death for him.

Instead Gaul has dedicated himself to once again being able to gain acceptance on Tuchanka, inspired by the likes of Okeer and Ganar Wrang, who returned with power to their people. Gaul wizened in his exile believing the key lied in rediscovering the old technologies and ways of the Krogan before their nuclear holocaust instead of relying on aliens.

Gaul also felt it was time he got back into combat, though despite his renewed spirit he remains very damaged goods.

Equipment:

Shotgun Graal Spike Thrower (Sheilah)

Assault Rifle Striker Assault Rifle
Armour: Aldrin Labs Heavy Onix Armour
Omni-tool: HMOT Basic Model
Grenades: Frag grenades.

Powers:
Krogan Beserker
Concussive Shot
Frag Grenade
Cyro Ammo

Tick you crazy old dog! You saved me a lot of work! :D

Rubeh, it goes off of a 'pass the torch' GMing style, so whoever is doing the mission-arc is the current primary GM where other players can add to it as they please. Works pretty well if we're stubbornly holding onto this!

Also, I'm up for taking a look at potential new recruits, depending on who all we get back!

What's everyone else's verdict on new people, considering how many we had before?

Mosis Tosis said
My thoughts exactly. I've come too far with Kosso to let go of him now unless we go full reboot, and I'm not really keen on that idea. If we do start up again, I've got some ideas on what we could do, but that can wait until everyone's back around I suppose. @SilverFox: No such thing as stupid questions!

Speakin' of which, we still have a collab to finish. I'll PM it your way shortly!

I'm open to new characters, but I'm afraid you likey wont be able to have a former N7.

Also just to solidly boot the idea... I really don't fancy a reboot. We've already done that once, and I don't want to lose Kasy's character developement.

Cool. I'll check out the CS, Joytex. :]

Silver Fox said
Aha yeah I kinda figured xD guns with no ammo clips?! Sweet! Loved those things. But thank you for answering my stupid obvious question :D

The lack of ammo clips was the primary reason I joined this RP. :'D
Okay, a reason.

It's cool, no harm done. :] I'd only get wary if you were really set on this bad-ass, individually circuited/brained and soul-full Geth rebel bringing truth to the rest of the galaxy about the goodness of Geth.

Damo021 said
Well depending on what the general consensus will be I think I can work up on a vanguard character idea I have, although it only got as far as an idea mind you lol. God I remember the good days of gun with no thermal clips. it was all about controlling your weapon well enough to avoid overheating it, I see from other character powers and skills that powers and skills are quite open for as long as it not Mary sue like for example. Thanks for answering my concerns though and looks like if the green light is given, then I would sort out powers and skills/abilities. small weapon load out as a vanguard mostly concentrate on their biotics which also give me the first weakness being long range combat and possibly sticking to light armour. One other idea I had which i would like to put up to find out if it a no no or not is weather it is aloud to be a former N7 operative as those do exist in the 2176CE time frame.

Pretty much, yeah.
I don't think there's a strict policy against them, though some here might auto-ban it. N7 operatives are among the many things that are easy to make the "im speshul" characters playing for power-grabs in-game. Same thing with spectres, powerful leader like the Council guys, rich people.

But as long as you write it well and their motive/existence in the RP fits, it's fine with me. :]

Cool. Sounds like we'll be looking at some new entries, so far.

Dervish said
Tick you crazy old dog! You saved me a lot of work! :D

I had to get rid of all those archive tabs somehow. :'D
Edited a bit to make it subtly more readable.

Sundered Echo said
Also just to solidly boot the idea... I really don't fancy a reboot. We've already done that once, and I don't want to lose Kasy's character developement.

Hahaha.
You could always replace all the development factors from Nova into random side characters suspiciously like them?

Kasy really hates this moody drell that she blackmailed, not long after which he was chased down by a gang. She fed a newbie Pilgrim that she had an odd relationship with some food laced with cyanide on a bad day. She taught a cop flying lessons for reasons.

Totally keeping going from before the Guild died. Enough reboots, let's get some shit going.

On topic of the N7 background, not a fan of things like that for reasons Tick outlined, it creates too much temptation for a Sue to be born from the ashes like some kind of derpy phoenix. The main problem is N7 is the Navy SEALs of the Alliance; for someone to work that hard at a career in the military to end up fucking off to join a barely-functioning, small-time mercenary company that has exactly one major heist under its belt is very far-fetched. A big part of Nova's charm is all the characters could conceivably be someone you could pass on the street, not big heroes. Their histories and back stories are as varied and diverse as they come, and most of them have some serious personal flaws that make them more relatable and believable, which is something I think a lot of Mass Effect RPs don't take into consideration. Having an N7 back ground character is pretty much just saying 'and they were the uber best soldier imaginable', which always strikes me as lazy; honestly, there's a million RPs about super soldier going around doing military stuff, this RP is going off of that track where there's no big war to fight, the cast isn't a bunch of gruff bad asses, and they're not motivated by doing glorious, heroic deeds. They're a bunch of misfits trying to scrape by in a galaxy that wouldn't miss them if their ship decompressed in the inky void of space and killed everyone aboard, and they are entirely self-funded; sometimes, there isn't even enough money to eat. It's a lot like Firefly in that regard.

Plus, in regards to the equipment and what have you: Keep in mind that because this is a small, self-funded outfit, characters aren't going to be running around with super expensive and fancy weapons and equipment. The goal is to tell a story, not play it like a video game. It helps to go at it from the perspective of writing up a compelling character first, and THEN picking powers and weapons and what not. Honestly, that stuff should be secondary. The primary draw from this game is character relationships and interaction as opposed to big action sequences, of which those usually happen in grand fashions on the more "exciting" missions, so to speak.