Potential RPs in the Halo Universe

[EliteCommander]

Edit: The story has been decided upon. Here is the thread: https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/182869-halo-aegis-team/ooc

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I have, for a while now, been considering creating an RP in the Halo universe. I have seen suggestions for Halo stories around the site, but nothing that quite matches what I have been looking for. I feel like, for Halo in particular, there are many different ways it can appeal to different people. Some people might be drawn towards the idea of being a Spartan supersoldier, playing as the most elite of Humanity. Some might be more interested in a story focusing around regular soldiers, some might prefer something like a horror story of trying to survive against the Flood, and some, like myself, like to explore playing as the other species in the universe.

I’m hoping to create an RP that has long-lasting appeal, so instead of committing to one idea of my own, I would rather get input from anyone who might be interested on what kinds of stories might be most appealing to the group of players I end up getting. I will say that I do want to have an RP that allows for players to make a character from any, or at least most, of the Covenant/former Covenant species, in addition to Humans. I feel like the interaction between Humans and their former enemies, especially if they have to work together, could create some of the most interesting situations to play through, and it’s not something that many Halo RPs I see would really facilitate.

To start off the conversation, I do, of course, have a few possible stories of my own to suggest:

• The post-war era is one of the more likely settings that would allow for both Human and alien characters. I recognize that it is not usually the most popular time period among the fanbase, but I still think there is a lot of potential there for unique stories. The UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios do work cooperatively in certain areas, so there is opportunity to create a story about a team, or teams, being deployed on formal missions with proper military support. Likely, it would take place in the Joint Occupation Zone against opponents like Jul ‘Mdama’s Covenant or Insurrectionists. Our characters could be anything on the scale from standard soldiers, up to Spartans and other comparable options.
• In the post-war era, Humanity has become the most powerful faction, but if we want to go for a different “feel” to the RP, we could still have a setting that keeps the same sort of underdog story for our side as existed during the Human-Covenant war. If we choose a location at the fringes of settled space, it opens up the option of having our characters, cut off from communication with the UNSC or Swords of Sanghelios and without much support, having to survive against a more powerful foe. Like before, our enemy could be Jul ‘Mdama’s Covenant, rebels, or, depending on the year, other militarized groups like the Banished.
• There is also the option to forego having military characters altogether. While Halo is a series of (mostly) military shooter games and most of the lore focuses on that aspect, the lore has expanded to show more of what other parts of the setting are like. After the fall of the Covenant, there is no longer a singular, dominating force within the Orion arm, but several factions recovering from near-destruction on all sides. There are pirates, criminals, and smaller factions like Jiralhanae warlords. If we wanted to, having an almost “Star Wars”-like adventure with a small group in this setting is an option open to us.

I am looking to gauge the interest in a Halo RP, and hopefully find a specific setting that is tailored enough to the preferences of the group we have to keep it active. I am curious if anyone likes any of the ideas I have suggested, or if you have any of your own ideas to suggest. I am expecting this will probably be a small group RP, but if there is enough interest in the same kind of story, I can accept more.

[Miraboreasu]

Of the ideas presented, I find the first one most pleasing. A joint UNSC-SoS operation has a lot of potential, especially in terms of interpersonal drama.

[EliteCommander]

Indeed. A significant part of the appeal for me is how those cultures clash, especially in light of the history the species have. It can be hard to just move on past decades of total war. There is often a kind of animosity that can vary greatly from species to species, or individual to individual. Some have recognized why the war happened and moved past it, others still hold on to that anger. The ability to have that interaction between species is the only part that I'm really attached to. For everything else, I just want to make sure to get the input anyone who is interested before committing to a single, concrete story.

[Skyrte]

[EliteCommander]

I shall take that as a sign of interest. I think.

[Miraboreasu]

@EliteCommander Personally the only things I can think of that would warrant a joint operation might be a Covenant splinter faction (perhaps The Banished) making some trouble in the area, a Flood outbreak (which could lend to some horror elements), or perhaps even some guerrilla warfare against The Created.

Only somewhat related, but this concept art would make for an awesome Elite design.

[EliteCommander]

@Crab Bane I'm not against setting the RP during the time of the Created. Since Infinite isn't out yet and there is only limited lore of what is going on in that time, though, we'd pretty much just have to accept that we'd be making up things to happen that may not be lore friendly. I am fine with that, if that's what you and the others want, it's just something to consider. That would give us more creative freedom with our story.

If we go for other time periods, I think there are a few of ways to justify joint operations. A powerful enemy, or something very important would do it. For example, when the Ark's monitor went crazy and tried to activate the Halo array, they sent a joint team to stop it. Also, along the border of UNSC and SoS space, there is an area called the Joint Occupation Zone, with colonies governed by Humans and Sangheili. If Jul 'Mdama's Covenant or another faction made an attack there, I think it would make sense for both militaries to respond together. I think it all depends on the "scale" of the stakes we want to go for. Halo games usually portray "fate of the galaxy" sort of threats, and that can certainly be fun to do. We also have the option of bringing the stakes down to something like individual planets or settlements. We could be a specialized team working, essentially in peacekeeping, against raids and insurrection from the Covenant or rebels. It's a smaller story, but it could be more personal.

I do like that Sangheili design, as well. It looks like an ancient, or maybe ceremonial sort of armor, with a variation on a curveblade.

[Miraboreasu]

I like the idea of a small, rapid-response team. Maybe deal with Innies, pirates, or other threats. I'm already thinking up characters for the situation.

[EliteCommander]

In your opinion, about how skilled would you want our characters to be? A specialized team like that would probably be special forces. In this era, that could include Spartan-IV teams (and the top-tier Sangheili, and other aliens) if we want, or we could keep it to forces more comparable to ODSTs.

[Miraboreasu]

Maybe something along the lines of Kilo-Five, though I'm certainly not opposed to solely having Spartans and Elites; in fact, having a SPARTAN-III in the group could lead to some team drama, given why they were conscripted. Hell, we could throw in a Kig-Yar merc who's simply there for money.

[EliteCommander]

If the team includes both Spartans and ODSTs, then players would be free to pick pretty much whatever they wanted. I know my primary character will be Sangheili. In that sort of team, he will probably be an old veteran of the war. In a team without Spartans, I would probably make a talented, but less experienced Sangheili with a lot to prove.

[Miraboreasu]

I see. I have a few ideas for characters, namely a S-III Headhunter (S-IV, if not allowed) with something against the Elites as a whole and a Sangheili who, even during the War, had a healthy respect for the human race.

[EliteCommander]

I know Spartan-IIIs are rare, based primarily on the fact that the vast majority of them died in suicide missions, but I know some did survive. Headhunters were meant to be the most deadly of the IIIs, so the only reason to disallow it would be if we considered them too strong. But, we're deciding the power scale of our team right now, so that's not an issue. We might want to stay willing to change things around, in case we get new ideas from new players, but right now, I think everything you've suggested is fine.

Right now, we seem to have three players, including myself, who are interested. By my standards, that is perfectly fine for a small group, but I do want to give some more time to see if there is more interest.

[Muttonhawk]

You can count me in as probably an elite. I have some reading to do about post-war things but I am ready and willing!

[Miraboreasu]

Since we have a confirmed hingehead Sangheili character, I'll go with a Spartan.

[EliteCommander]

That's fine, if that's what you want. I personally will be making a Sangheili, an old veteran of the war.

I will probably create an OOC tomorrow, since I haven't seen any disagreement as far as the setting is concerned. The story will most likely focus on a specialist, multi-species team operating in the Joint Occupation Zone at the borders of UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios space. Anyone is free to make multiple characters if you like (just don't overwhelm yourself). Characters can of course be Spartans, Humans, and Sangheili. But, Unggoy (Grunts) and Kig-Yar (Jackals) are also valid options. A Mgalekgolo (Hunter) is probably a difficult sort of personality to portray, but I would be willing to let someone try. Jiralhanae (Brutes)...would be a lot harder to fit believably into the story. If anyone is wanting to try that, talk to me and we might be able to figure something out. No guarantees, though. Yanme'e (Drones) are a hive species, and probably not appropriate for the story.

[DeadDrop]

URF Rp.

[EliteCommander]

@DeadDropIs it that you are looking for an RP involving rebels, or focusing on them? The current iteration of this RP that we have been discussing focuses on a specialist join-operations team dealing with threats like rebels.

Admittedly, the morality of the Halo universe is a bit interesting, since the UNSC is pretty much a military dictatorship. The UNSC did officially cede political power back to the UEG in 2553, though they retain much of the entrenched political power they held in the colonies. Not to mention, ONI sort of runs the UEG as a shadow government. There are quite a few moral grey areas that get overshadowed by existential threats to all life in the galaxy.

[DeadDrop]

I'm ready for this slow burn bone chilling joint-spec ops post-covenant war RP.

[EliteCommander]

I'm working on an OOC thread today.

Now I just need to think of a title for the RP. I'm rather bad at titles.