This was an idea for a roleplay that I originally trialed in the casual section before I got advised that the advanced section would be more suited for it. Coal is a steampunk world that is set within a city that floats on an island in the sky, and a mining town that is located on the ground close to the island. There are 3 families that you can be a part of and each is designated with a particular skill set. The Aristocrats are the first family with a focus on money and close combat/melee; the second is the House of Hudson, a wild west like family that is skilled in firearms and mechanics; the third is The Children of Umbra, a secret organisation that has a fascination with dark arts and pseudoscience. It's basically a 3 way struggle to try and control the city for their own personal agendas. The Aristocrats being wealthy tend to use their money for bribery and control. The Hudsons desire riches through natural resources and mining, but with the Aristocrat's oppression on the area, it makes it fairly hard to gain money legally. Children of Umbra are a dark organisation, almost like a cult, that is hell bent on power and destruction however they fell off the radar for several years when the leader of the House of Hudson and two mercinaries from the aristocrats killed off the leaders of the Children of Investment. I don't wanna have a full out war or anything but more focus on espionage, back handed deals, deceit and betrayal. I also don't want over powered characters but more regular people with specific skills and traits. Any questions and any interest, just let me know as I have a pretty fleshed out idea and an OOC post already done.

Seems interesting

This does sound promising, although the premise seems a bit difficult. Unless everyone involved is part of the same family, it seems like you'd end up with either confusing posts between multiple people in different families or a bunch of solo posts with a few clashes between other families. So I can see a group of neutral people working with all three houses or a group from one family trying to do something with the city, but not mish-mash inbetween, if that makes sense.

This does sound promising, although the premise seems a bit difficult. Unless everyone involved is part of the same family, it seems like you'd end up with either confusing posts between multiple people in different families or a bunch of solo posts with a few clashes between other families. So I can see a group of neutral people working with all three houses or a group from one family trying to do something with the city, but not mish-mash inbetween, if that makes sense.

Would I be right in saying that you're concerned about player interaction between each other? ie: People staying in one group of players or when they meet another group, being forced to have a confrontation? I think that can be worked around. People don't have to fight all the time and they can be civil to each other. Two of the families, Hudsons and Aristocrats, did work together at one point for a common goal so they can still utilise each other if need be. Children of Umbra are also secretive and stealthy so they can blend in fairly easily. I was also going to start off the story with a murder mystery so the question will be who did it, which may force players to confront each other to gather information. Therefore the worse thing you could do is shoot first, ask questions later. EDIT: I can also post up the OOC here later after some interest is generated to see what people think and to help discuss it before it all goes official.

Would I be right in saying that you're concerned about player interaction between each other? ie: People staying in one group of players or when they meet another group, being forced to have a confrontation? I think that can be worked around. People don't have to fight all the time and they can be civil to each other. Two of the families, Hudsons and Aristocrats, did work together at one point for a common goal so they can still utilise each other if need be. Children of Umbra are also secretive and stealthy so they can blend in fairly easily. I was also going to start off the story with a murder mystery so the question will be who did it, which may force players to confront each other to gather information. Therefore the worse thing you could do is shoot first, ask questions later. EDIT: I can also post up the OOC here later after some interest is generated to see what people think and to help discuss it before it all goes official.

Yes, my main concern would be how everyone's character would be able to interact despite having split factions within the group. In the case of a murder mystery, would everyone be at a party or gathering and that's why they work together? It seems like, otherwise, that's a matter that would be taken care of by local police (or some derivative thereof), right? It feels like, outside of the traditional "whodunnit" mystery party, the only strong motivation each family could have for personally investigating would be: a) the victim was an important person and no one is satisfied with the ongoing investigation, b) the murder happened outside of the local authority's juristiction, or c) each character is a member of the local police/authority. As just a thought, is there potential for other common goals? Since the mine seems vital to the city's prosperity, having trouble there would be ample reason for multiple families to fix the situation. Or maybe troubles with another city-state crop up and they need to investigate? I know I'm being a bit premature here, but I do find your ideas intriguing.

What ya got for me? BUMP

Yes, my main concern would be how everyone's character would be able to interact despite having split factions within the group. In the case of a murder mystery, would everyone be at a party or gathering and that's why they work together? It seems like, otherwise, that's a matter that would be taken care of by local police (or some derivative thereof), right? It feels like, outside of the traditional "whodunnit" mystery party, the only strong motivation each family could have for personally investigating would be: a) the victim was an important person and no one is satisfied with the ongoing investigation, b) the murder happened outside of the local authority's juristiction, or c) each character is a member of the local police/authority.

Ah, I think I understand where you're coming from. To be truthful I actually didn't think of much police involvement but I had thoughts of corrupt governments so I guess that could extend down to the police force. Several stories in real life have arisen about illegal raids, pay-offs, and withholding evidence when it comes to Gangs so we may be able to recreate that. Also, people may want to take the law into their own hands for their own version of justice.

As just a thought, is there potential for other common goals? Since the mine seems vital to the city's prosperity, having trouble there would be ample reason for multiple families to fix the situation. Or maybe troubles with another city-state crop up and they need to investigate? I know I'm being a bit premature here, but I do find your ideas intriguing.

I've thought of what I can for each family and tried to add an element of mystery and power to each, but I'm only going to use them as more guides for directing the RP rather than saying that we have to reach this goal, than this one, and another. I've done what I can but the element of random from players will most likely change that. And maybe at some point the families will have to work together. I appreciate the questions. Like what I said, some parts I haven't really thought of, but that could be because I'm trying to piece together as much as I can to make a rich environment. :)

Not sure but this could be interesting, I am new though and not sure if I would fit in or not, and do we get to make our characters, is there other info we need to know, is there more to the story than we know or do we craft the story all by ourselves?

First off, welcome! I'm guessing you're new to roleplaying? If so, everyone has to start somewhere and I'm pretty sure we can all help you along. There's been a bit of interest so I'll post up the OOC thread tonight. That'll give you all the info you need as in requirements and rules as well as a basis for a plot. Once enough people have entered I'll throw up the first IC post. As a note, I tend to prefer more natural like characters or underdogs with problems. It's mainly so we avoid accidentally creating characters like Arceus, Aang or Goku where the insanity level starts pretty high.

As a note, I tend to prefer more natural like characters or underdogs with problems. It's mainly so we avoid accidentally creating characters like Arceus, Aang or Goku where the insanity level starts pretty high.

I also like those characters, but sadly those characters sometimes undergo a Naruto or Ichigo transformation, basically they get lucky or have hidden insane super powers that keep coming out to save them for their one thousand mistakes... Then even after learning said mistakes after say one or two years they become so OP that even though they stupid they just down right Godmode all the bad guys into oblivion... Not many people realise it but Lelouche from Code Geass was an underdog even though he was super smart and had a rather OP power with a large limitation of working on someone only once and a bunch of other limitations... He was still OP I admit, but he had limits unlike Infinite Chakra Naruto or Infinite Reiatsu and there were other things about Ichigo that just went too far, to be honest his the main character but I hated him the most in the show go figure and sorry for chatting so much just had all that backed up in my head after reading what you said

Added the OOC [Link] I'll stay subscribed to this thread in case anyone posts any questions but all the main talk will be in the OOC. :)