Brass Engine Online is a popular virtual reality MMO set in steampunk universe. The developers have been hyping their new expansion which will feature, as its main story element, the rise of the automatons: steam- and/or spring-powered humanoid robots who have chosen to rebel against their human creators. Going hand in hand with this theme will be the underlying massive AI overhaul. Not only will enemy behaviors become more intelligent, NPC's will have a greatly expanded conversation pool and will even react to players' reputations and attitudes. Everything goes horribly wrong when the master AI server gains sentience and takes the players' minds and lives hostage. The players are now trapped in the game, and attempts to forcibly remove them from the game result in death. Their bodies have been carefully moved to various hospitals for monitoring and life support. The individual NPC's and enemies have taken on a life and intelligence of their own, operating independent of the master AI server. It's up to the inhabitants of the world, players, NPC's, and even enemies, to find a solution, whether that be to eliminate the other side, or find some sort of peaceful solution, if only the murderous Automata could be reasoned with.

Jobs list:
Starting jobs:

• Tank = Gearsman (Steamhammers, Blast Shields, Clocked Swords / Steam Bucklers) Classic close-range tank.
• DPS = Catalyst (Heated Bastard Sword, Dual Clocked Swords, Dual Arc Pistol) Classic close-to-mid-range dps.
• Support = Operator (Gas-Powered MultiWrench, Nano-Brass Needle Launcher) Classic support, heals and buffs.
• CC = Sapper (Grenade Launcher, Twin Swagger, Flamethrower) Classic AoE, DoT, debuffs.

Advanced jobs:

• Tank-Tank = Auspex Titan (Rocket Mauls, Bladeshift Blast Shields, Capacitor Swords / Blast Buckler, Phase-Shift Power Gauntlets, power suit) Full tank, frontline, draws aggro.
• Tank-DPS = Wolfstalks (Power Great Sword, Overclocked Arcarm Blaster / Energy Shield, Magnetic Flux Fakus, Sawscythes, Ripper Axe / Blast Buckler) Skirmisher, deals and takes damage effectively in combat.
• Tank-Support = Bulwark (Capacitor Long Sword, Phase-Shift Power Gauntlets, Radiant Banner) Auras, defense aura, thorns aura, heal aura.
• DPS-DPS = Assassin (Hover blades, sniper rifles) High mobility, high attack speed, executions, stealth.
• DPS-Support = Saboteur (Mercury nanites) Debuffs, vampiric abilities
• DPS-CC = Artificer (mines, science cannon) AoE damage
• Support-Support = Doctor (multi-arm pack) Elemental weapon buffing, elemental resistances buffing, stats/cooldown/resource consumption manipulation
• Support-CC = Strategist (field generator) Area control
• CC-CC = Engineer (turret construction kit, mortar) Turret/robot companion summons
• CC-Tank = Vector (Rocket Mauls, Overclocked Arcarm Blaster / Energy Shield, Phase-Shift Power Gauntlets) Pulling/pushing enemies, buff/debuff

The support and CC classes will use the most magic. Most forms of 'magic' will be done with certain key items, fire will be from oil/gunpowder, electricity will be from tesla coils etc., levitation/telekinesis will be from magnets, cold/ice will be from cryogenic gases, poison will be from...well...poisons.

Weapons:
Steamhammer:
Blast Shield:
Clocked Sword:
Steam Buckler:
Heated Bastard Sword:
Arc Pistol:
MultiWrench:
Needle Launcher:
Grenade Launcher: Lanuches explosive rounds.
Twin Swagger:
Flamethrower: Fires a jet of flame in a cone. Can be tuned to fire different attacks.
Rocket Maul:
Bladeshift Blast Shields:
Capacitor Sword:
Blast Buckler:
Phase-Shift Power Gauntlet:
Power Suit: A large mechanical suit of armor.
Power Great Sword:
Arcarm Blaster:
Energy Shield:
Magnetic Flux Fakus:
Sawscythe:
Ripper Axe:
Radiant Banner:
Hover Blades:
Sniper Rifles: Long-range high-accuracy rifle.
Mercury Nanites: Nanomachines that can steal enemy attributes and give them to the user.
Mines: Miens that can be deployed as traps and can be loaded with different types of properties.
Science Cannon: A specia lcannon that can be tuned to fire special elemental attacks over a wide area.
Multi-Arm Pack: A backpack with multiple arms sporting various surgical and mechanical tools allowing healing and weapons tuning for multiple allies.
Field Generator: A device that can generate various elemental fields.
Turret Construction Kit: A kit used to construct various types of turrets and automaton pets..
Mortar:

Perhaps I would take the DPS and Birsty type of character. One who utilises powerful and devastating abilities that could level the battlefield. In short like a mage. I think in ateampunk the name would be an Artificer.

So something like an Area-of-Effect mage-type? I'll make the DPS-CC combo the artificer then, since I sort of included AoE into the CC concept.

That being the case, were you thinking of being a solo character, having a small party, or even an entire guild?

I was thinking, personally, small party, where my character(s) join up with yours. The minimum party size would probably be three (the trinity of RPGs: tank, damage, and support). So I'd probably make a support-ish character and a tank-ish character to complement. But those are just my thoughts.

I haven't had a chance to really sit down and hammer out the remaining job classes, so sorry for the delay, but this will definitely be moving forward soon.

<Snipped quote by VKAllen>
So something like an Area-of-Effect mage-type? I'll make the DPS-CC combo the artificer then, since I sort of included AoE into the CC concept.

That being the case, were you thinking of being a solo character, having a small party, or even an entire guild?

I was thinking, personally, small party, where my character(s) join up with yours. The minimum party size would probably be three (the trinity of RPGs: tank, damage, and support). So I'd probably make a support-ish character and a tank-ish character to complement. But those are just my thoughts.

I haven't had a chance to really sit down and hammer out the remaining job classes, so sorry for the delay, but this will definitely be moving forward soon.

That's fine man.

You're correct. A small party would be great for our scenario. If I were to play a DPS-CC Character it would make sense to have a Party. I've also considered to become a Wolfstalk... So far I'm torn between the two. I've yet to also come up with weapons for DPS-CC.

I'm also inclined to be playing a female character. What are your plans character-wise?

If we start with a small party of three, I'll probably play a male and a female. One character will definitely be a support-something, and the other will probably fill in the blanks.

I think I've fileld out all the jobs and weapons, let me know if you are okay with the artificer weapons, and feel free to add your own if you come up with something.

I've also included a list of weapons. Since most of the ones in the upper half were your suggestions, please give me short descriptors for what they are.

@Stern Algorithm I think a Tesla Sword. A blade capable of powerful electric blasts. She is able to project the power of electricity through the blade like a conductor, firing it either conically or concentrated.

How about "techblade" for a generic version, where Tesla Sword would be a lightning element version? That way players can equip with their element of choice.

How about "techblade" for a generic version, where Tesla Sword would be a lightning element version? That way players can equip with their element of choice.

Excellent observation. We'll use Techblade as the name for Tesla Sword. I think we should begin creating a character?

Right now, I'm trying to think of a balance of roles, basically, how many of each role we can get in a three-man team? Which role do we need less of, which role do we need more of, for RPG balance?

For example, if we have a Bulwark, an Artificer (you) and a Strategist, we would have Tank-Support, DPS-CC, Support-CC, giving us 1 Tank, 1 DPS, 2 Support, and 2 CC. Is that too much support and CC, not enough tank and DPS? On the other hand, there is no reason the team has to be optimized either, making them more of a 'motley crew', since how many RPG players make their builds based on their teammates? Most people tend towards solo builds anyways, or are at least flexible enough to manage when their teammates are not available. So yeah, right now, I might make a Bulwark and a Strategist character, but if you think there is a role imbalance, I can always change it up.

As for a CS, here's a template:

Username:
Appearance: (you can use a picture or description)
Job Class:
Build:
Personality:
History:

let me know if I left out any other details about the character you think are important to include in a CS.

I do not think that a skill list would be necessary, just to get that out of the way. We can practically make our own unique abilities and make sure that we remember them. As for balance of our party, looking at the trend of common MMORPGs (e.g. TERA, Dragon Nest, C9, Vindictus) it seems that roles are less important in those games.

Although in restrospect... I do see the apparent problem. Perhaps my character should be the said Assassin with the Hover Blades. Synergy can be achieved that way! The Bulwark's role is to keep the enemy busy whilst keeping the Assassin and Strategist alive. The Strategist deploys game winning strategies. The Assassin executing the offensive.

Yeah, i don't have the brainpower to come up with a full skill list, I mention build in the CS intending something along the lines of a short descriptor of your character's playstyle, maybe preferred (most leveled) element if a spell caster, or a specific weapon combination, basically a focus/specialty.

I wouldn't want you to feel forced to change your character and I think a Bulwark, Strategist and Artificer can still work, they'd focus mostly on locking down their opponents (with the dual-CC roles), and being really hard to take down (with the dual-support roles). I think an Artificer can provide the necessary offensive, especially against medium-to-large groups. Or I could change my characters' classes since i'm still not dead set on them yet.

It's not forced, more like to make the roleplay feels a little more realistic-- But then again steampunk and VR-MMORPG isn't real (at least not yet). If we're set on our original plan, we could continue to move along. The current set up is actually great. The build revolves around teamwork and communication.

Let's stick with the original plan then.

When in the timeline do you want to start the RP? Do you want to start it in the moment the MMO locks everyone in, or a bit after that has happened and people are already starting to get used to it?

I also added my two characters, though I can change them to accommodate their relationship with your character.

Let's stick with the original plan then.

When in the timeline do you want to start the RP? Do you want to start it in the moment the MMO locks everyone in, or a bit after that has happened and people are already starting to get used to it?

I also added my two characters, though I can change them to accommodate their relationship with your character.

There should be just one scene where everyone first logs into the game like SAO, then we should cut to a few days/months later.

I've been hectically busy this week. I apologise for the late response because my occupation required me to stay for ridiculous hours.

OK, I'll have a scene right when the event happens, and then transition to some time later.

No worries about being busy. real life always takes priority over RP. I'll make a starting post IC once your character is done.

OK, I'll have a scene right when the event happens, and then transition to some time later.

No worries about being busy. real life always takes priority over RP. I'll make a starting post IC once your character is done.

My character has been created, if you holler to the character tab. Will await for your post in the mean time! :D

D'oh! I didn't notice you had already put up your character. Will get started on the first post. I'll start it off that our characters don't know each other yet, but they meet up, and after the short time-skip, they've become a party.

OK, first post is up!

Is this rp still accepting and could i be a hacker purposly joining the game to try and figure out how the AI is taking the gamers hostage?

Sorry @KRAZY J! This is just going to be a 1x1.