While I mull over the leveling system, I have another question: 18+ content yea or nay? Obviously anything explicit would go to PMs.

There will be 18+ content such as drug use, alcohol, sexual language and foul language. So, yes

Wow, this is becoming a lot more than I thought it would.
I don’t have any experience with the mechanics suggested.

About leveling systems, I have a few notes.

We could do this Zelda-style, where accomplishing major objectives gives unique powers or items. In one story I'm (trying) writing, the main character has a time-travel power that initially lets him reverse time by five seconds once a day. Accomplishing key objectives allows him to improve this power a little, either by letting him go back further in time or do so more often. We could do something similar for the player characters; whichever power they choose for themselves, completing story objectives will let them improve upon it. They could also acquire important items, like a Baneblade or a new form of Plot Armor.

So if people are hesitant to do anything like tabletop gaming, we could use this minimalist system instead. Of course, preparing for it would be difficult without having their character sheets beforehand...

About leveling systems, I have a few notes.

We could do this Zelda-style, where accomplishing major objectives gives unique powers or items. In one story I'm (trying) writing, the main character has a time-travel power that initially lets him reverse time by five seconds once a day. Accomplishing key objectives allows him to improve this power a little, either by letting him go back further in time or do so more often. We could do something similar for the player characters; whichever power they choose for themselves, completing story objectives will let them improve upon it. They could also acquire important items, like a Baneblade or a new form of Plot Armor.

So if people are hesitant to do anything like tabletop gaming, we could use this minimalist system instead. Of course, preparing for it would be difficult without having their character sheets beforehand...

I require a character sheet before starting the roleplay, so that wont be an issue. As far as those mechanics go, I love it! I hadn't thought of doing a zelda type system. Genius~! ^.^

As I said a rough draft ;)

Real name: Miyazaki Hakaru

New World name: Yakeru

Nickname/titles: None yet

Gender: Male

Real world age: 28

New world age: 16

Species: Human

Original World: Used to live and work in Tokyo, Japan

Appearance: When he was still a 'normal human' living in Tokyo he was tall and lean, with short but messy dark hair. Dark brown eyes that always look tired and a friendly smile on his lips. Feeling most comfortable wearing shirts with all kinds of prints, baggy pants and sneakers. In this New world he is a bit shorter, standing at 5'3 with long brown hair in a ponytail, yellow-green eyes and even though the tired look is gone from his gaze, the friendly smile did stay. He wears now a gray blueish tunic, linnen pants with leather shin boots, a red battered and weathered cloak. On his shoulders are steel spaulders, his arms and hands leather gauntlets reinforced with steel, 2 leather belts with pouches on his waist and hard leather shin guards.

Personality: In the old world, he was not as heroic as the character he had created, rather walking away from fights or trying to talk his way out of it. Often careful who to agitate or not to agitate. Though kindhearted and willing to help others was a trait he shared with Yakeru. Being Yakeru in this new world however gave him more confidence and his knowhow of the adventures his character used to be in and the fighting abilities made that he became more brave. Still his carefulness is ever present.

Backstory: He used to a mangaka of a fantasy web/light novel called: 'Yakeru, kanpai!' or 'Cheers Yakeru!' , which was fairly popular and got him some internet fame. It told the tale of sixteen year old Yakeru, mercenary and adventurer whose base of operations is a rundown tavern. Along the way Yakeru meets several people who decide to join him on his adventures. You know. Saving the world, kissing the princess. The works.
After years however Hakaru decides to end the tale of Yakeru and starts to focus on another project. Even though fans are pleading, asking, if not demanding to continue, he kindly refuses, believing that 'Yakeru, kanpai!' had a long enough run and that the story was simply told.

One day however he gets shot and killed by a disappointed(read: crazy) fan, outside a store after shopping. He wakes up in a world not his own same as the body he is in, instead he looks exactly like the character of his creation: Yakeru. But this was not the world he had created and it was not his story. Confused about what had happened to him, he decides to make the best of the situation and it sure beats dying. Or is he dead? His head filled with questions, yet no one to answer them.

Skills/Talents: Some knowledge of fantasy worlds, races, etc. from his years of writing. Since he arrived in this New World, he got granted the skill of swordsmanship.

Powers/Abilities: Quick/short distance teleport

Items: Simple sword with a dark red hilt, the crossguard shaped to slightly cover his hand on both sides. His armor. Cloak. Whetstone.

Other:

To flesh this out a bit more, I'm thinking we should require each player character to have a clearly defined Goal, a driving motivation for them to engage with the story. The characters don't necessarily have to implement it in-story immediately (since it's not always appropriate), but it should eventually become a key driver of their character. Whatever that turns out to be, it will greatly affect the kinds of items and powers they'll pick up on their journeys.

So it loops back around to role selection: players will be needing defined roles connecting their characters to the story.

EDIT: Nah, this isn't a good idea. We should let them decide on their own goals. This is hard. ;_;

@TheFox Sounds amazing~! I'll save him and add him once we start the roleplay~ ^.^

About leveling, makes me think about 'Is it wrong to try and pick up girls in a dungeon' (For those not knowing it, look it up it is quite good) where the characters only level up after accomplishing a massive feat? So yes a bit like the Zelda-style thing you mentioned. I would also say no to grinding for exp which would not be good for roleplaying purposes. But I'm down for whatever really.

About leveling, makes me think about 'Is it wrong to try and pick up girls in a dungeon' (For those not knowing it, look it up it is quite good) where the characters only level up after accomplishing a massive feat? So yes a bit like the Zelda-style thing you mentioned. I would also say no to grinding for exp which would not be good for roleplaying purposes. But I'm down for whatever really.

Yeah, i change my mind on the whole "grinding for xp" idea

@TheFox
I like it so far as well. What sort of character arc should we work toward for him? Is he overconfident now and must learn how to temper himself, or is he still the timid boy he once was and needs to learn true confidence? Or did you have something else in mind entirely?

I’m willing to give this a try. Please forgive me if I fall behind or take a little time to reply.

I’m also still trying to work out details of my CS.

@Thinslayer
Good question. To me he has still much to learn, even though he has the skills to defend himself, there are still things from his past life that hold him back. He realizes he is not the hero of the story like the one he created and perhaps the fear that he might die for real this time. He is still unexperienced.

Yeah, I change my mind on the whole "grinding for xp" idea

Same. While we probably could create a leveling system that doesn't involve tabletop mechanics, I'm not ready to put in the level of effort that would require. So we'll shelve it for the time being.

Good question. To me he has still much to learn, even though he has the skills to defend himself, there are still things from his past life that hold him back. He realizes he is not the hero of the story like the one he created and perhaps the fear that he might die for real this time. He is still unexperienced.

What if he doesn't realize he's not the hero of the story? At least not immediately, because he may not be aware that there are other reincarnations like him. And that could be an amazing story arc, where he learns that he won't be automatically handed everything on a silver platter just because he reincarnated; he'll have to work to become somebody, just like in the old world, and he'll have to confront the personality flaws he thought he'd left behind in the Old World.

Mhm I can agree to that, sounds very nice and interesting to play out. Thanks for the input! :)

Isekai eh? I'd be down for it, I had a character I never got to use a few months back...

This blew up from when I checked it out this morning. I'm interested, for sure, but, I gotta ask, is there even a point to being a villain/villainess, since that will align you against a great deal of the cast?

@Conejitoooo

@TheFox
Ooh, I just had another plot idea for him, if that's okay?

Considering his character sheet, he may actually have the opposite problem: he may be capable of more heroic things than he thinks he is. As a reincarnation, he possesses more power and potential than just about anybody else in the world, but his timid personality is holding him back. When people are counting on him to do something important, he fails them at a crucial moment because he doesn't think he can do it. So his character arc would involve him learning to find the confidence to accomplish things he is absolutely capable of.

Just some ideas. :3

@Enkryption
I find the antagonistic role appealing because it aligns me against the majority of the cast. I get to have epic PvP fights whenever they try to challenge me. >:)

You are giving me food for thought haha! But I like it.

@Conejitoooo
I'll make some changes if you want but here was the character, he isn't exactly human but he certainly is epicly derpy.