Neon Lights
"Night City never use to be like this, now look at it. It's like a supernova, only a matter of time before it blows."Interest and The Vibe
Character Sheet
[hider=Copy/Paste][noparse][center]Image[/center]
[h3][sup][center][b] Character Name [/b][/center][/sup][/h3]
[sup][sup][h3][center][b] Optional quote [/b][/center][/h3][/sup][/sup]
[color=gray]
[b]LOOKS[/b]
What do you look like?
[b]PSYCHE[/b]
How they act, what makes their head tick, the jist. One paragraph, 5 lines.
[b]HEAT[/b]
Who's on you? (Corps, fed, gangs, whoever. Up to the player, and to what severity. A difficulty meter perhaps, if you put wanted by the fucking army or feds you'll wish you didn't.)
[b]STREET CRED[/b]
Reputation. GM controlled based on actions.
Either put "No-body" or "Small-Time" and some choice words.
[b]THE STORY[/b]
So, where you from pal? Three Paragraphs, five lines minimum.
[b]ARMED IN THE ONE AND TWENTY[/b]
Tools, augments, Weapons, other gear. List them off. Be reasonable.
When it doubt ask us.
[b]...AND THE REST[/b]
Miscellaneous, go wild chummer.[/noparse]
[/hider]
-Do not post in the CS unless you have been approved to post.
- Avoid cliche, your character isn't flawless - far from it.
- Don't omit something in your backstory and bring it in to the rp later on, like that secret code to the corporate bunker or your eurobucks stash.
- We won't be taking anyone under the IC age of 18.
- The more cybernetics you have the more prone you are to going into cyber-psychosis, essentially seeing others as threats (humans) and trying to murder them. That's when you get PKed, having a few augs is fine but know when enough is enough or you'll die.
- Death is common in cyberpunk, try to play smart. That being said, if you die you'll likely stay dead.
- Damage is realistic and medicine is advanced, that being said a quikkstimm wont save you if you got shot a dozen times by Ricky's cylinder shotgun.
- Be mindful of your characters weight and carrying weight. You wont be carrying 10 rifles on you, even if you're augged.The Four-One-One
"Same drek, different day. I told some Jake to have some 2020 hindsight, cus I ain't messin' with those freaks again.""Good morning Night City, to the year Twenty-Twenty. I'm your host. . ."
Six AM, the bodies had been cleared up out of the streets of Studio City. It was rare, not a lot of corpses drop in Studio City. Only in deserted parking lots or hotel rooms, but something definitely went down last night. Network News 54 spits on about a gang battle between The Slammers and some small time thugs. That must be their corpses that were cleaned up, another gang shut down by former actors. The presence of booster gangs have been growing in Studio City, small time corps have beefed up security and the studios themselves now have more "rent-a-cops" then they did before.
Outside of the local buzz, NorCal's state legislatures are still talking about secession while Fed Spooks run around the state doing spec ops missions. That's what the net is buzzing about right now, except it's stuff like that is in the back of your mind. You're in a hide out in Studio City, an abandoned movie theatre. It's your hide out, and now that you've been brought together by force, face or fortune the gang is about to meet the two de facto leaders of the group.
How will you react?The Gangs, The Corps, The Law.
Night City Police Department
"You ain't going nowhere - perp. That polymer one ain't fuck all, we're NCPD! We'll reduce you to slag, so drop it or we're gonna drop you."The pigs.
Local ones at least, the corporate police stay in their corporate zones while the big boys do the rest of the work. NCPD is funded by Night City's city council which seems to have an endless fund for the police department. The corps pitch in, probably to keep the NCPD off them and off their corporate police. That isn't the problem though, they are too spread thin as it is. So many districts, most rookie officers are sent off to the combat zones where they fight the booster gangs, the crazies and the occasional corporate security team. For the most part, they are well trained, brutal and don't take any shit. Some can be nice, but can you really trust anyone these days? They use to be on the corner of every street, but look what the city is doin' to them? They've turned into savages.
Cyber Swat
"Citizen, drop the weapon or we will use LETHAL FORCE!"Brains in a jar in a suit of armor.
They go by many names, Psycho Squad, MAX-TAC, C-SWAT, The ERT and everyone's favourite. The Death Squad.
They come and go frequently in the combat zone, occasionally they will deploy in civil sectors where a unlucky SOB uses too much cybernetics.
Loses their mind, starts killing people. Then they get razed by the AV-4's 20mm or gun down by the squad, no one knows much and it's better off that way. Everyone knows, if you go up against C-SWAT then you better have your will on hand. Dot the i's and dot the t's.
The Feds
President Rodriguez, 2020.
"Listen Governor, Washington isn't going to be holding back anymore. We get paid or you will paid, understand that?"Even after the collapse of 96' Washington still thrives, like a cock roach after a nuclear blast. Leeching onto the remaining states with it's political power, they are the feds after all. Pay the tax or you'll get waxxed, a professional army of Cybergrunt exists still. The U.S.
still conducts raids, occasionally. The last time cybergrunts hit the ground domestically was in the 96' crash, while NorCal (Northern California) and The Feds are at each others necks - it's only a matter of time before both sides clash.
NorCal
Governor Tyler Porter, 2019
"Forget the Fed! We can sustain ourselves, this is not America anymore - this is tyranny at the hand of President Rodriguez!"The State of Northern California - or NorCal for short is the legislative, administrative and judicial body of the state.
Ran under the benevolent Governor Porter, crime is rather spread out - especially in the tech haven known as Night City. Most of the State's enforcers be it State Troopers or Highway patrol spend day by day policing the barren wastes outside of the city limits. Fighting the Nomads that try to raid cities, villages or travellers. On the side of Governor Porter he and his staff try to fight off the ever enroaching Feds who are trying to muscle in on profits made off of Night City. A rumor of FBI agents have been circulating around, so the National Guard is on standby.
Trauma Team International
"Yello? Yea we just got drive banged right past East and Finch street! Send Trauma Team or you'll be tagging and baggin' alot of bodies!The largest medical corp in Night City, remember the whole public model? Waiting for doctors and ambulances. Yea, that doesn't happen anymore. An AV-4 will fly to you in five minutes and get you to a hospital, accompanied on the AV-4 is an avenger minigun, security team and trained paramedics. What else could you ask for, free health care? Don't kid yourself.
Network News 54
"Listen, there is a story out there. I want you to bring me the truth back, every day, got it?"Network 54, was broken off a mayor Broadcasting company when that corporation faced monopoly charges in the early 2000’s, and instantly diversified into several news providers, on-line services, and video-on-demand brokers. Being one of the biggest media mega-corps has it's advantages, covering seventy percent of American news feeds every day the giant has incredible influence when it comes to sensitive topics. A power few say they shouldn't have, besides the cries from the jealous rats who hate success - whats to hate?
Microtech
"Technology at your finger tips."MICROTECH formed when Moon Macrosystems was acquired by EBM. Microtech floudered until Craig’s disastrous T-80 chip malfunction of 2003, wherein all of the EuroSpace Agency’s computers where switched over to the newer Microtech mainframe systems. Although Craig has recovered, Microtech maintains a firm grasp of the mainframe market share, having introduced the Quicksilver Net Server in January this year.
The Slammers
"Hey fucker! Slam it before we reduce your fucking face!"The Slammers are an up and coming gang in Studio City, reject actors led by C-list movie star "Biff Hellcat". The actors, after being rejected from the big studios turned to crime, sneaking onto the movie lot they stole prop guns and held up the NC Stock Exchange & Trade Ctr. Where they stole all the movie companies stocks, after escaping the gang got into a fight with private security on the highway. The Slammers are laying low, but the booster gang has just started it's crime spree.
The Meta
Rules
"Know your place drekhead, or we'll bag and tag you!"
- Myself and @tfd are GMs when we make decisions please respect them as they are final
- Obey guild rules, or the god-emperor was known as Hank may appear. Mercy is unheard of.
- Any OOC Drama should be dealt with off thread, in PMs or whatever medium that isn't the IC/OOC/CHAR
- CS are to be posted in OOC, or PMed to me and TFD. If you have any requests or questions about your character and want to speak so in private.
- Post at least once per week, or you'll be dropped.
- If you are away or unable to post, please let us know.
- One char per player
- Don't god mod/power game or we'll eat you.
- Realistic and semi-realistic (concept art, drawn etc) are allowed. No anime, or it's the bricks for you.
Backgrounds
"So you got a story?"
Rockerboy/girls - are punk musicians in the One and Twenty, a rebel rocker who uses music to rebel against authority. Usually on the stage jamming out, playing to crowds big and small. On tour, across town, state or country. Remember the three A's. Axe. Attitude. Audience.
Solos - are ex-military, killers, hitmen, assassins. All for hire, they live and die by the sword and the gun. You point and they shoot. Doesn't matter who if the money is right, they pull the trigger and don't look back. Allegiance is from wire transfer to wire transfer, they usually work for the corps some on contract while others as security forces.
Netrunners - are geeks, the nerds who hit the net hard. They live for the thrill of cyber space, bustin' into dataforces and taking everything they can. It's not about gaining all the corporate secrets, government intelligence or blackmail. Getting better, getting faster. In net space, you never age, you're never slow. Unless your frontal lobe is fried by another runner, then what does it matter - if you're dead.
Techies - like to play Frankenstein, a lot. Need a grenade launcher in that cybernetic leg of yours? Done, need your augs tuned up. Done. Suffering from cyber-psychosis and don't want C-SWAT turning you into scrap? Call the Techies. Techies love technology and are absolute tech-o-files about it, don't touch that combat chip their working on, you could break it. If they could, they'd go full cyborg. If only we could live fully metal, no flesh. Some do surgery, ex-doctors, vets it's all the same. You get shot, you get fixed if they are good enough at least.
Media - searches for the truth, no matter what. The story is what matters, through thick and thin. Reporters hit the ground, security detail or not they will traverse a combat zone to interview survivors or record that fire fight that's raging by old city hall. Maybe you're a news caster, you cover the big story's on the big screen while your entourage of interns works on making you perfect. Down and dirty or high and mighty? How will you crack the story? Does it matter, the danger is the thrill anyway?
Cops - Local, State or Federal. Cops are the arm of the law, the enforcers of justice. You play it safe, write tickets and do traffic duty. Or you do your job for real, break arms, shoot first and ask questions when it's convenient. You're a loose cannon, you hate your sergeant and just want to get back to when society was simple - back in the old twentieth. Things aren't that simple anymore, maybe you're off the force or still on. Criminals who know you, want you in the floor or don't want to see you ever again.
Corporate - just seem to never have any problems in their life. The cars, girls, wealth it's all there for them. Either they inherited daddy's money or made it on their own in a mega corporation. They'll never know wage slave work, or the insecurities of one of those degenerates on the streets. If they want something they'll get it, somehow. For most, it's about the power, not the cash, if you cross a corporate, you can kiss your life goodbye as they send a security team to send you and your family's life. Watch your mouth, you dirty shit.
Fixers - have everything, everywhere. Need that new rifle that Militech just dropped, a Fixer has it. Need to know where your boss lives? Not a problem, he has that information on his network. Need a fix of Hardfire, it's a call away. A Fixer has connections everywhere, big time Fixer's have connections to Washington and the military. Alone, a Fixer is just a common thug but with resources - a Fixer could take over a city.
Nomad - are homeless, no his home is on the move. He rolls in packs of dozens, maybe hundreds of others like him. Men, Women, Children all on the move in vehicles. Armed to the teeth, living off the land outside the cities. You see, if a pack comes into the city The Law will drive them out unless the cops or gangs haven't already. They are the cowboy of the One and Twenty, the law has never been in their vocabulary and never will be.
The One and Twenty
██ RELIGION IN AMERICA 2020 ██
The popularity of religion has fluxed greatly in recent years. A number of scandals in various religious organizations led many to question their faith, and abandon organized churches wholesale in the 90's. But as the years of martial law and ecological disaster literally ripped through communities, religion on the parish scale once again became popular; while Bishops and Cardinals sat on high, local priests mostly ignores their rulings and helped their own communities in any way they could, even feeding and sheltering them if possible. People regained their faith. Slowly this "grass roots" movement gained popularity, and in time modernized the religious structure of America.
♰ THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ♰
After the 2014 reforms, the Catholic church has seen a strong surge of popularity. With a more modern view of birth control a married priesthood, coupled with a revived image as a safe haven in times of need, the Church has enjoyed a following larger than it's had in the last fifty years.
More and more, Catholic churches have become a sign of stability in a hectic world. The church is still a world power, and the Swiss troops which the Vatican maintains and a standing army have been used, on more than one occasion, to counter Corporation-backed threats against church-owned lands. The Church, now more than ever, "looks after its own," and will go to great lengths to protect even a single member. There have been several cases of unlucky Catholics hunted by one Corporation or another, who have fled to the Church for sanctuary. The usually vanish into the structure of the church, never to be threatened again.
✡ JUDAISM ✡
Judaism in America has not fared well in the post-Collapse period. With the problems in the Middle east, and the cessation of Israeli relations in the wake of the meltdown (Isreal has never forgiven America for the lack of warning in that Crisis), the Jews in America feel cut off and alone. While Israel has its own problems dealing with the fallout of the melt-down, it still offers a homeland for any Jew who can make the trip. While there aren't many synagogues still in existence, the ones that are left have a fierce and loyal following.
☪ ISLAM ☪
There has been a renaissance in the Islamic faith, the likes of which have not been seen since before the Crusades. In America, this has been due to the purging of anti-ethnic terminology and doctrine. There is a mosque in almost every American city. People of all colors and backgrounds are flocking to this religion. During the collapse period, the dietary laws saved many Muslims from the septic conditions prevalent at the time. Both sects of the faith, Shiite and Suni, are here to stay. Islam is especially prevalent among the urban poor; the majority of Americans.
☸ BUDDHISM ☸
Buddhism has grown significantly in America. The change in form and doctrine are the slightest of any major religions. As people emigrated from India wholesale the sect of Jainism has also grown as well.
██ ADDITIONAL NOTES ON RELIGION ██
Many other religions are evident in America as well. Among Christian churches, three particular sects stand out. Since Mormons are, as a tenet of their faith, required to keep a year's supply of food for their family, this allowed a greater proportion of Mormons to survive the Collapse. Although the Mormons have been accused of being both fascist and racist by some critics, they are, and will probably remain, one of the most powerful blocs in the West.
The Scientologists have also fared better than most, probably due to their skill in using the media and an immense amount of stored wealth. During the Collapse, large numbers of believers were lost in both Florida and California, but the sect has been rebuilt through skillful advertising.
In the areas of Dixie that can actually support religion, there has been a resurgence of Fundamentalist Christianity. There are already six major Evangelical Televideo channels funded by opportunists.
██ FRINGE RELIGIONS ██
BEATIFIED CIRCLE OF THE CELTS
A small sect living in isolated communities far from any city. Mainly composed of people who ran away from the fear and aggression of modern life, the Circle tries to guide its flock back to the old celtic ways of communion with nature. led by a group of elders called Druids, they are a peace-loving group who just want to be left alone. They can usually be found either working on their farms or in forests (what's left of them), carrying out tree worship, it is only a matter of time before a corporation tries to get rid of them.
☥ THE IMMORTAL PYRAMID ☥
A strange group, the members of the Pyramid believe human beings to be nothing more than particularly intelligent animals. Therefore, humans don't have souls and thus do not survive death. This religion draws heavily upon the beliefs and ideas of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, incorporating aspects of Rosicrucian and Masonic ritual, with some significance attached to the various Greek titles for academic excellence (Phil Beta Kappa, etc.). Although the ancient Egyptian considered life after death a fact, the cult has disregarded this and proclaimed the gods were actually a mix of animal and man, proving beyond a doubt that man IS an animal and nothing more.
This has led to an obsession with avoiding death. Cult members are very cautious, always carrying/wearing various forms of protective equipment, and fleeing from any mildly dangerous situation. They are currently trying to find enough money to build and enormous data-center shaped like a pyramid. If they succeed, they will try to download their minds into the memory banks and wait in safety until someone finds a way to make them truly immortal.
⚛ WORSHIPPERS OF THE NIGHT ⚛
The Worshippers are closer to a vigilante group. Garbed in all white armored clothing, they roam the streets at night to "protect the night's holiness against the evil that surrounds us."
Considering the night a time of rest and of spiritual purification which should be available to everyone, the Worshippers have decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and sleep in the day, thus keeping the night safe for the rest of us.
Despite their reliance on donations, the Worshippers are often funded by corporations for short periods of time. Several companies like the have the sect patrol their areas because they are less costly than mercenaries, don't require hazard pay, and will fight to the bitter end. On the other hand, they don't "work" during the day.
▩ CASFG (Coalition Against the Satanic Fellowship of the Gods) ▩
This is perhaps one of the most paranoid groups on the planet with an entire system of belief based on the assumption that a group of evil entities (gods) controls the destiny of the entire human race. Fortunately, good gods exist, but in order to enable them to win, the CASFG must weaken the grip of evil on the world.
Coalition members have begun to kill various prominent persons they believe are used as puppets by the Evil Ones. Their suicidal tactics are hard to counter by security forces; some corporations are becoming alarmed/annoyed and may start their own "counter-cleansing" procedure soon.
The popularity of religion has fluxed greatly in recent years. A number of scandals in various religious organizations led many to question their faith, and abandon organized churches wholesale in the 90's. But as the years of martial law and ecological disaster literally ripped through communities, religion on the parish scale once again became popular; while Bishops and Cardinals sat on high, local priests mostly ignores their rulings and helped their own communities in any way they could, even feeding and sheltering them if possible. People regained their faith. Slowly this "grass roots" movement gained popularity, and in time modernized the religious structure of America.
♰ THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ♰
After the 2014 reforms, the Catholic church has seen a strong surge of popularity. With a more modern view of birth control a married priesthood, coupled with a revived image as a safe haven in times of need, the Church has enjoyed a following larger than it's had in the last fifty years.
More and more, Catholic churches have become a sign of stability in a hectic world. The church is still a world power, and the Swiss troops which the Vatican maintains and a standing army have been used, on more than one occasion, to counter Corporation-backed threats against church-owned lands. The Church, now more than ever, "looks after its own," and will go to great lengths to protect even a single member. There have been several cases of unlucky Catholics hunted by one Corporation or another, who have fled to the Church for sanctuary. The usually vanish into the structure of the church, never to be threatened again.
✡ JUDAISM ✡
Judaism in America has not fared well in the post-Collapse period. With the problems in the Middle east, and the cessation of Israeli relations in the wake of the meltdown (Isreal has never forgiven America for the lack of warning in that Crisis), the Jews in America feel cut off and alone. While Israel has its own problems dealing with the fallout of the melt-down, it still offers a homeland for any Jew who can make the trip. While there aren't many synagogues still in existence, the ones that are left have a fierce and loyal following.
☪ ISLAM ☪
There has been a renaissance in the Islamic faith, the likes of which have not been seen since before the Crusades. In America, this has been due to the purging of anti-ethnic terminology and doctrine. There is a mosque in almost every American city. People of all colors and backgrounds are flocking to this religion. During the collapse period, the dietary laws saved many Muslims from the septic conditions prevalent at the time. Both sects of the faith, Shiite and Suni, are here to stay. Islam is especially prevalent among the urban poor; the majority of Americans.
☸ BUDDHISM ☸
Buddhism has grown significantly in America. The change in form and doctrine are the slightest of any major religions. As people emigrated from India wholesale the sect of Jainism has also grown as well.
██ ADDITIONAL NOTES ON RELIGION ██
Many other religions are evident in America as well. Among Christian churches, three particular sects stand out. Since Mormons are, as a tenet of their faith, required to keep a year's supply of food for their family, this allowed a greater proportion of Mormons to survive the Collapse. Although the Mormons have been accused of being both fascist and racist by some critics, they are, and will probably remain, one of the most powerful blocs in the West.
The Scientologists have also fared better than most, probably due to their skill in using the media and an immense amount of stored wealth. During the Collapse, large numbers of believers were lost in both Florida and California, but the sect has been rebuilt through skillful advertising.
In the areas of Dixie that can actually support religion, there has been a resurgence of Fundamentalist Christianity. There are already six major Evangelical Televideo channels funded by opportunists.
██ FRINGE RELIGIONS ██
BEATIFIED CIRCLE OF THE CELTS
A small sect living in isolated communities far from any city. Mainly composed of people who ran away from the fear and aggression of modern life, the Circle tries to guide its flock back to the old celtic ways of communion with nature. led by a group of elders called Druids, they are a peace-loving group who just want to be left alone. They can usually be found either working on their farms or in forests (what's left of them), carrying out tree worship, it is only a matter of time before a corporation tries to get rid of them.
☥ THE IMMORTAL PYRAMID ☥
A strange group, the members of the Pyramid believe human beings to be nothing more than particularly intelligent animals. Therefore, humans don't have souls and thus do not survive death. This religion draws heavily upon the beliefs and ideas of the ancient Egyptian pantheon, incorporating aspects of Rosicrucian and Masonic ritual, with some significance attached to the various Greek titles for academic excellence (Phil Beta Kappa, etc.). Although the ancient Egyptian considered life after death a fact, the cult has disregarded this and proclaimed the gods were actually a mix of animal and man, proving beyond a doubt that man IS an animal and nothing more.
This has led to an obsession with avoiding death. Cult members are very cautious, always carrying/wearing various forms of protective equipment, and fleeing from any mildly dangerous situation. They are currently trying to find enough money to build and enormous data-center shaped like a pyramid. If they succeed, they will try to download their minds into the memory banks and wait in safety until someone finds a way to make them truly immortal.
⚛ WORSHIPPERS OF THE NIGHT ⚛
The Worshippers are closer to a vigilante group. Garbed in all white armored clothing, they roam the streets at night to "protect the night's holiness against the evil that surrounds us."
Considering the night a time of rest and of spiritual purification which should be available to everyone, the Worshippers have decided to make the ultimate sacrifice and sleep in the day, thus keeping the night safe for the rest of us.
Despite their reliance on donations, the Worshippers are often funded by corporations for short periods of time. Several companies like the have the sect patrol their areas because they are less costly than mercenaries, don't require hazard pay, and will fight to the bitter end. On the other hand, they don't "work" during the day.
▩ CASFG (Coalition Against the Satanic Fellowship of the Gods) ▩
This is perhaps one of the most paranoid groups on the planet with an entire system of belief based on the assumption that a group of evil entities (gods) controls the destiny of the entire human race. Fortunately, good gods exist, but in order to enable them to win, the CASFG must weaken the grip of evil on the world.
Coalition members have begun to kill various prominent persons they believe are used as puppets by the Evil Ones. Their suicidal tactics are hard to counter by security forces; some corporations are becoming alarmed/annoyed and may start their own "counter-cleansing" procedure soon.
