[OOC] Gotham Knights: A Batman RP [Cancelled]

[Fingal]

Gotham Knights

A Batman RP

In 1939, Gotham City, New Jersey was one of the most infamous cities in America. Controlled by corrupt city officials and organized crime, it was clear that if there was to be any chance of saving it, a more drastic solution would be required. It was then that the 'Batman' appeared to strike fear into the hearts of the city's criminals, a cowardly and superstitious lot. First there were the mobsters and racketeers of Carmine Falconer and Sal Maroni, but soon the 'supervillains' emerged - the Joker, the Scarecrow, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and many more.

It is now 1954, and Batman's crusade is now in its fifteenth year. He is not alone, however, for he has his 'Bat Family's for support in his quest. Their combined efforts will be needed, for Gotham's redemption is far from complete.

Story Premise

Gotham Knights is, or seeks to be, what you might call an “interactive graphic novel,” in the vein of such titles as Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Batman: The Long Halloween or Hush, with lots of characters and a large mystery to be solved.

Gotham City, Batman, and the characters associated with him hardly need any introduction, but some explanation is needed for the particular version of the world used for this game. Unlike the comics, where characters age much more slowly than in real time, this universe assumes Bruce Wayne was born in 1913, became Batman in 1939, and from there he and the world age in real time. As such, this is a historical game, in addition to a superhero game. Despite being set in 1954, this game does not reflect the campiness of the Silver Age Batman comics. Instead, it is the modern Batman of Year One and later, transposed to a more or less realistic 1954.

Your Characters

Your character should be a member of DC’s Bat Family, not an OC. I would prefer that the more central members (such as Batman, Robin, Batgirl, or Catwoman) be PCs before more secondary ones – it’s a lot easier to have a Batman game without, say, Cassandra Cain than Bruce Wayne.

The GM reserves the right to refuse any character submission.

Themes of the RP

The “feel” of this game comes from Film Noir and other detective fiction of the 1940s and 50s, along with Batman titles such as Year One and Hush. Every Batman fan has “their” Batman, and “my Batman” is the World’s Greatest Detective version of the character. As such, this game is set on the mean streets of Gotham, with one of the major focuses being investigation and detective work, as your vigilante studies blood-spattered concrete and bullet-riddled corpses, seeking to piece the clues together.

This is a superhero game, and as such action will play a role, but players should take care to keep their characters’ abilities relatively grounded, in keeping with the street-level nature of this story.

Another important aspect of this is that I would like to “stage-manage” the characters as little as possible, allowing the players to decide what their character ought to do in a given situation.

---

Rules

1) Follow the rules of the Guild.
2) Make at least one IC post every seven days. If you think you will not be able to post by the end of seven days, please send me a DM and let me know in advance. Do not ghost us.
3) No godmodding or powergaming.
4) Players are encouraged to make suggestions, but the GM's word is final.
5) Consensual relationships between characters are acceptable - but keep it PG-13.
6) Be polite

---

Character Sheet Format

Image/Faceclaim
Name:
Alias:
Age:
Gender:
Skills/Abilities:
Equipment/Weapons:
Bio:

---

Gotham City map

---

Character Ideas (including but not limited to)

Batman/Bruce Wayne: Available
Nightwing/Richard "Dick" Grayson: Available
Red Hood/Jason Todd: Available
Robin/Tim Drake: @KaliW
Batgirl/Barbara Gordon: @Fabricant451
Catwoman/Selina Kyle: @SouffleGirl123
Batwoman/Kate Kane: Available
Batgirl/Cassandra Cain: @scrawls
Spoiler/Stephanie Brown: Available

[KaliW]

Alright, buckle up because I'm sending in my application and it's a real doozy! Fingers crossed it'll knock the socks off of whoever is reading it. Here's to hoping for the best!

Tim Drake a.k.a. Robin

Name: Tim Drake
Alias: Robin
Age: 16
Gender: Male

Skills/Abilities:

Sharp Intelligence: Tim possesses a high level of cognitive ability, enabling him to quickly process information and make astute observations. He leverages this talent to unravel mysteries and bring criminals to justice.
Expert Detective: Tim's investigative skills are unmatched. He is skilled in gathering evidence, tracing leads, and piecing together clues that others might miss. This makes him a vital asset in the fight against crime in Gotham City.
Combat-Ready: Tim's extensive training in various forms of martial arts has honed his fighting abilities. He can hold his own in hand-to-hand combat, making him a formidable opponent in close-quarters encounters.
Gadget Guru: Tim's utility belt is filled with an array of gadgets, including a bo staff, grappling gun, smoke bombs, night-vision goggles, and forensic tools. He uses these tools to navigate hazardous situations and carry out his duties as Robin effectively.

Equipment/Weapons:

Bo staff: A sturdy and reliable melee weapon, the bo staff allows Tim to take on multiple opponents and defend himself in hand-to-hand combat.
Grappling gun: This versatile tool allows Tim to scale buildings, swing across gaps, and escape from tight situations.
Smoke bombs: A tool used to cover his escape or create confusion among his enemies, Tim uses smoke bombs to evade capture and gain the upper hand in battles.
Night-vision goggles: Essential for night-time operations, Tim's night-vision goggles allow him to see in the dark and track criminals in low-light environments.
Forensic tools: Tim is trained in the use of forensic tools, including fingerprint powder, magnifying glasses, and ultraviolet lamps. These tools help him gather evidence and solve crimes in the most efficient way possible.

Bio: Tim Drake was raised in a family that emphasized the importance of education and hard work, but he had a secret passion for the masked vigilantes who patrolled the streets of Gotham City. He was particularly captivated by the original Robin, and the way they used their detective skills and mastery of martial arts to bring justice to the city. Despite knowing the dangers that came with such a life, Tim was drawn to their bravery and the idea of following in their footsteps.

As a young boy, Tim found that he possessed a natural talent for detective work and martial arts. He spent his teenage years honing these skills, always with the hope of one day becoming a vigilante himself. His dream became a reality when Batman took notice of his knowledge of the second Robin's identity and offered him the opportunity to become the new Robin. Despite the challenges and risks involved, Tim eagerly accepted the offer, eager to help protect Gotham City and fulfill his lifelong dream.

However, being a vigilante was not without its challenges. Tim faced criticism and skepticism from some members of the Bat Family, who saw him as inexperienced and unable to handle the dangers of the job. Undeterred, Tim proved himself time and time again, using his skills and resources to assist Batman in solving complex cases and bringing down dangerous criminals.

In addition to the difficulties of being a vigilante, Tim also struggled with his own feelings and sexuality. The 1950s were not a time of acceptance and understanding for those who were different, and Tim faced discrimination and prejudice as he tried to understand and embrace his own identity. Despite these challenges, Tim remained committed to his role as Robin, always standing by Batman's side as a loyal friend and partner.

As he grew into his role as Robin, Tim came to embrace the darker aspects of himself, using his experiences to fight for equality and justice, even if it meant going against the norm. Despite the difficulties he faced, Tim never lost his sense of purpose and remained dedicated to helping protect Gotham City and the people who lived there.

edit1: Made his story a little longer.

[Fingal]

Alright, buckle up because I'm sending in my application and it's a real doozy! Fingers crossed it'll knock the socks off of whoever is reading it. Here's to hoping for the best!

Tim Drake a.k.a. Robin

Name: Tim Drake
Alias: Robin
Age: 24
Gender: Male

Skills/Abilities:

Sharp Intelligence: Tim possesses a high level of cognitive ability, enabling him to quickly process information and make astute observations. He leverages this talent to unravel mysteries and bring criminals to justice.
Expert Detective: Tim's investigative skills are unmatched. He is skilled in gathering evidence, tracing leads, and piecing together clues that others might miss. This makes him a vital asset in the fight against crime in Gotham City.
Combat-Ready: Tim's extensive training in various forms of martial arts has honed his fighting abilities. He can hold his own in hand-to-hand combat, making him a formidable opponent in close-quarters encounters.
Gadget Guru: Tim's utility belt is filled with an array of gadgets, including a bo staff, grappling gun, smoke bombs, night-vision goggles, and forensic tools. He uses these tools to navigate hazardous situations and carry out his duties as Robin effectively.

Equipment/Weapons:

Bo staff: A sturdy and reliable melee weapon, the bo staff allows Tim to take on multiple opponents and defend himself in hand-to-hand combat.
Grappling gun: This versatile tool allows Tim to scale buildings, swing across gaps, and escape from tight situations.
Smoke bombs: A tool used to cover his escape or create confusion among his enemies, Tim uses smoke bombs to evade capture and gain the upper hand in battles.
Night-vision goggles: Essential for night-time operations, Tim's night-vision goggles allow him to see in the dark and track criminals in low-light environments.
Forensic tools: Tim is trained in the use of forensic tools, including fingerprint powder, magnifying glasses, and ultraviolet lamps. These tools help him gather evidence and solve crimes in the most efficient way possible.

Bio: Tim Drake was raised in a family that emphasized the importance of education and hard work, but he had a secret passion for the masked vigilantes who patrolled the streets of Gotham City. He was particularly captivated by the original Robin, and the way they used their detective skills and mastery of martial arts to bring justice to the city. Despite knowing the dangers that came with such a life, Tim was drawn to their bravery and the idea of following in their footsteps.

As a young boy, Tim found that he possessed a natural talent for detective work and martial arts. He spent his teenage years honing these skills, always with the hope of one day becoming a vigilante himself. His dream became a reality when Batman took notice of his knowledge of the second Robin's identity and offered him the opportunity to become the new Robin. Despite the challenges and risks involved, Tim eagerly accepted the offer, eager to help protect Gotham City and fulfill his lifelong dream.

However, being a vigilante was not without its challenges. Tim faced criticism and skepticism from some members of the Bat Family, who saw him as inexperienced and unable to handle the dangers of the job. Undeterred, Tim proved himself time and time again, using his skills and resources to assist Batman in solving complex cases and bringing down dangerous criminals.

In addition to the difficulties of being a vigilante, Tim also struggled with his own feelings and sexuality. The 1950s were not a time of acceptance and understanding for those who were different, and Tim faced discrimination and prejudice as he tried to understand and embrace his own identity. Despite these challenges, Tim remained committed to his role as Robin, always standing by Batman's side as a loyal friend and partner.

As he grew into his role as Robin, Tim came to embrace the darker aspects of himself, using his experiences to fight for equality and justice, even if it meant going against the norm. Despite the difficulties he faced, Tim never lost his sense of purpose and remained dedicated to helping protect Gotham City and the people who lived there.

edit1: Made his story a little longer.

@KaliW

Looks nice, but could you please adjust Tim's age to 16? 24 is a little too old for the continuity I'm using here - it's closer to how old Dick should be.

[KaliW]

<Snipped quote by KaliW>

Looks nice, but could you please adjust Tim's age to 16? 24 is a little too old for the continuity I'm using here - it's closer to how old Dick should be.

@Fingal

Done! :D

[Fingal]

<Snipped quote by Fingal>

Done! :D

@KaliW

Great, thanks! I forgot to mention you can add a picture/faceclaim if you like.

At minimum, I would like to have a Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and a Barbara Gordon. If we can get a Kate Kane, Stephanie Brown, or a Cassandra Cain, that would be great.

[DClassified]

Someone I had been thinking about, I just realized would be very interesting, especially during this era: Lucas Fox.

Still working on Grayson, but if no one takes up the Batman role, I’d be willing to work that up instead.

[Fingal]

Someone I had been thinking about, I just realized would be very interesting, especially during this era: Lucas Fox.

Still working on Grayson, but if no one takes up the Batman role, I’d be willing to work that up instead.

@DClassified

I'm planning on waiting for one or two weeks before starting the game, to give people time to join.

[KaliW]

@Fingal Added a picture of him!

[Fingal]

@Fingal Added a picture of him!

@KaliW

Nice!

I'm hoping to get a Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle before too long.

@DClassified, were you planning on having Dick already settled down with someone? If so, I'd prefer it be Barbara Gordon.

[DClassified]

I imagine with them it’d be an on again off again sort of thing, but I don’t want to tie her too far in with Dick’s story, in case someone wants to play her.

[Fingal]

I imagine with them it’d be an on again off again sort of thing, but I don’t want to tie her too far in with Dick’s story, in case someone wants to play her.

@DClassified

Understood. If you know if anyone who might be interested in this game, feel free to invite them.

@Master Bruce @Lord Wraith @Omega Man, would this be something you might be interested in?

[Fingal]

@Fingal Added a picture of him!

@KaliW

Forgot to mention, your Tim Drake submission is APPROVED.

[Fingal]

@Master Bruce @Omega Man, any chance you might be interested in this game?

[SouffleGirl123]

Hello hello. I'd be keen! Between Barbara and Selina do you have a preference?

[Fingal]

Hello hello. I'd be keen! Between Barbara and Selina do you have a preference?

@SouffleGirl123

I'd love it if we could have both as PCs, of course, but between the two I'd have to pick Selina. But I leave the decision up to you.

[SouffleGirl123]

Easy! I'll write up something later but if someone in the meantime really wants to play Selina I'm happy to swap over

[SouffleGirl123]

Did you have a wanted age/adds to backstory for Selina @Fingal?

[Fingal]

Did you have a wanted age/adds to backstory for Selina @Fingal?

@SouffleGirl123

Catwoman first appears in 1939, in line with Year One, so probably close to Batman in terms of age - so about 41, give or take a few years? By this point in her career, she's probably more of an antihero instead of a villain (less headaches for Bruce).

Here's some Who's Who bios from back in the day, it may help with ideas: at.tumblr.com/about-faces/the-evoluti…

[SouffleGirl123]

Let me know if you want any changes :). When we have a Batman I'm opening to discussing their dealings with each other more and alter the backstory accordingly

Selina Kyle

Name
Selina Kyle

Alias
Catwoman

Age
36

Gender
Female

Skills/Abilities

• Lockpicking- Give her a few moments and Selina can break into almost anything with no signs of force.
• Acrobatics and parkour
• Distinction of precious objects- with spending such a large chunk of her life a thief she has a keen eye that can tell fake objects from authentic, mainly pertaining to jewels but she has a keen eye for other objects such as artifacts too

Equipment/Weapons

• Lockpicks, she keeps lockpicks stored in her gloves. With the tap of a small button on her palm they slide out resembling cat's claws.
• Cat o' nine tails whip
• Grapple gun

Bio
Selina had a troubled upbringing at best. Her father was a drunkard, a nasty habit that contributed to her mother's untimely demise when Selina's younger sister was a toddler. With their father barely present, and scarcely sober when he was, young Selina was left with little choice but to scour the streets to ensure her and her sister had food on their plate. Initially Selina efforts were isolated to taking thrown out food goods from shops and swiping leftovers from the plate of patrons at the local diner but there was only so long that could last before people caught on. Bins were locked and diner staff were instructed to swiftly remove the plates of finished guests. This pushed Selina into a life of thievery.

Initially, Selina was only involved in petty theft, a loaf of bread from the bags of bakery customers, fresh produce from horribly surveilled markets. For a few years she made do with this alone but coming into her teen years Selina found herself enjoying the rush that came from taking something that wasn't hers. What was once a necessity to survive had become her fun, like some twisted game. She honed her natural acrobatic skills and learnt how to pick locks from some of the orphaned teens who lived in the slums. Earlier on the petty crime only really escalated to stealing from stores but the more she stole the more adrenaline would be pumping through her veins. Each steal created its own high which pushed her to more elaborate forms of theft.

Selina's first major theft happened in 1935, only days after her 17th birthday. She had broken into a the house of a well-off family within Gotham city and had escaped many blocks away with some expensive jewellery before she was caught by police. The state and her victims took pity on her considering her age and background and convicted her to only a year in jail, likely one of their biggest mistakes. Due to her age, Selina was sentenced to an adult prison, putting her in the presence of skilled thieves and fighters. In a place where she was meant to rehabilitate and 'learn her lesson' she had only deepened the artistry of stealth, acrobatics and thievery. In this time she also learnt how to use her charms to get her way. In the time she was imprisoned her father just disappeared from home without a trace, her sister was then taken in by their local church's orphanage.

On release, Selina was sought out by Marcus Tillyweather and offered a 'clerical job' for a real estate company that was a front for a crime mob. They set an agreement that they would teach her the tricks of the trade for time of service when she perfected them. Externally, Selina fronted as someone who had cleaned up her act. She took in her sister and earned what appeared to be an honest wage all the while she was assisting in covering up heists and attacks.

At 21, content in her skills and that she had taken away any suspicion she was still living a life of crime, Selina decided it was time to give back to her boss. Inspired by the stray cats that lived among the orphaned youth in the slums Selina took on the persona of a cat and officially burst onto the scenes of crime. In this persona she became a rather successful asset to Tillyweather's mobs but more notably became a huge thorn in the side of those who vowed to end crime in Gotham. She became a renowned jewel thief, often striking in the dead of night. Although she didn't intend to murder she had no qualms with fighting adversaries, many of which being homeowners holding a gun to her head. She didn't consider it wrong of her, someone is hardly innocent with their gun raised at another. Her biggest adversary, however, was Batman himself. Their fights were stuff of legend, at least that's how Selina would put it, those of wit and words even more so than ones of strength and dexterity. Many times he'd catch her and put an end to her crimes while other times she's sneak away into the night before he could but not without a few flirty remarks or perhaps a gloating comment written in lipstick.

6 years into her time as Catwoman Selina departed from the crime syndicate that had raised her and with good timing too as only a year later they were found and hunted by police and vigilantes alike. Selina's life of crime showed no signs of slowing but when she was a couple years into her 30s something changed in her. A life of hard crime lost its appeal. She'd blame it on her age or the normalcy it had become making it less appealing but truthfully it may be less of a something but a someone who had changed her. Over the years Selina had grown an admiration to Bruce's dedication to the city of Gotham she couldn't understand, a cruel fate that resulted in her becoming soft. She found less joy in her crimes and although she never fully let go of her life as a thief it was an odd occurrence. She felt lost in herself, she knew no other way to live and one day she admitted that to Batman. Soon she found herself assisting him with some of his own investigations; breaking him into places of interest and identifying certain objects.

She currently sits on an odd fence between villain and hero. While she has leaned more toward vigilantism in current days her methods are not the most ethical nor is she adverse to risking lives for her end goals. With not partaking in crime the way she had before the thought of going back to it brings back fond memories of the high it brings, a mind trick that often results in her going after another hit and needing to be reigned back in.

[Fingal]

Let me know if you want any changes :). When we have a Batman I'm opening to discussing their dealings with each other more and alter the backstory accordingly

Selina Kyle

Name
Selina Kyle

Alias
Catwoman

Age
36

Gender
Female

Skills/Abilities

• Lockpicking- Give her a few moments and Selina can break into almost anything with no signs of force.
• Acrobatics and parkour
• Distinction of precious objects- with spending such a large chunk of her life a thief she has a keen eye that can tell fake objects from authentic, mainly pertaining to jewels but she has a keen eye for other objects such as artifacts too

Equipment/Weapons

• Lockpicks, she keeps lockpicks stored in her gloves. With the tap of a small button on her palm they slide out resembling cat's claws.
• Cat o' nine tails whip
• Grapple gun

Bio
Selina had a troubled upbringing at best. Her father was a drunkard, a nasty habit that contributed to her mother's untimely demise when Selina's younger sister was a toddler. With their father barely present, and scarcely sober when he was, young Selina was left with little choice but to scour the streets to ensure her and her sister had food on their plate. Initially Selina efforts were isolated to taking thrown out food goods from shops and swiping leftovers from the plate of patrons at the local diner but there was only so long that could last before people caught on. Bins were locked and diner staff were instructed to swiftly remove the plates of finished guests. This pushed Selina into a life of thievery.

Initially, Selina was only involved in petty theft, a loaf of bread from the bags of bakery customers, fresh produce from horribly surveilled markets. For a few years she made do with this alone but coming into her teen years Selina found herself enjoying the rush that came from taking something that wasn't hers. What was once a necessity to survive had become her fun, like some twisted game. She honed her natural acrobatic skills and learnt how to pick locks from some of the orphaned teens who lived in the slums. Earlier on the petty crime only really escalated to stealing from stores but the more she stole the more adrenaline would be pumping through her veins. Each steal created its own high which pushed her to more elaborate forms of theft.

Selina's first major theft happened in 1935, only days after her 17th birthday. She had broken into a the house of a well-off family within Gotham city and had escaped many blocks away with some expensive jewellery before she was caught by police. The state and her victims took pity on her considering her age and background and convicted her to only a year in jail, likely one of their biggest mistakes. Due to her age, Selina was sentenced to an adult prison, putting her in the presence of skilled thieves and fighters. In a place where she was meant to rehabilitate and 'learn her lesson' she had only deepened the artistry of stealth, acrobatics and thievery. In this time she also learnt how to use her charms to get her way. In the time she was imprisoned her father just disappeared from home without a trace, her sister was then taken in by their local church's orphanage.

On release, Selina was sought out by Marcus Tillyweather and offered a 'clerical job' for a real estate company that was a front for a crime mob. They set an agreement that they would teach her the tricks of the trade for time of service when she perfected them. Externally, Selina fronted as someone who had cleaned up her act. She took in her sister and earned what appeared to be an honest wage all the while she was assisting in covering up heists and attacks.

At 21, content in her skills and that she had taken away any suspicion she was still living a life of crime, Selina decided it was time to give back to her boss. Inspired by the stray cats that lived among the orphaned youth in the slums Selina took on the persona of a cat and officially burst onto the scenes of crime. In this persona she became a rather successful asset to Tillyweather's mobs but more notably became a huge thorn in the side of those who vowed to end crime in Gotham. She became a renowned jewel thief, often striking in the dead of night. Although she didn't intend to murder she had no qualms with fighting adversaries, many of which being homeowners holding a gun to her head. She didn't consider it wrong of her, someone is hardly innocent with their gun raised at another. Her biggest adversary, however, was Batman himself. Their fights were stuff of legend, at least that's how Selina would put it, those of wit and words even more so than ones of strength and dexterity. Many times he'd catch her and put an end to her crimes while other times she's sneak away into the night before he could but not without a few flirty remarks or perhaps a gloating comment written in lipstick.

6 years into her time as Catwoman Selina departed from the crime syndicate that had raised her and with good timing too as only a year later they were found and hunted by police and vigilantes alike. Selina's life of crime showed no signs of slowing but when she was a couple years into her 30s something changed in her. A life of hard crime lost its appeal. She'd blame it on her age or the normalcy it had become making it less appealing but truthfully it may be less of a something but a someone who had changed her. Over the years Selina had grown an admiration to Bruce's dedication to the city of Gotham she couldn't understand, a cruel fate that resulted in her becoming soft. She found less joy in her crimes and although she never fully let go of her life as a thief it was an odd occurrence. She felt lost in herself, she knew no other way to live and one day she admitted that to Batman. Soon she found herself assisting him with some of his own investigations; breaking him into places of interest and identifying certain objects.

She currently sits on an odd fence between villain and hero. While she has leaned more toward vigilantism in current days her methods are not the most ethical nor is she adverse to risking lives for her end goals. With not partaking in crime the way she had before the thought of going back to it brings back fond memories of the high it brings, a mind trick that often results in her going after another hit and needing to be reigned back in.

@SouffleGirl123

Looks great, your submission is APPROVED. Do you mind if we don't use the "armpit window" suit for Catwoman? Maybe the suit from Hush or something similar? If the suit you chose is your favorite, I don't mind using it.

Hider

And here's the 40s-50s costume for good measure:

Hider

Looking at the timeline, Selina's mom could have been killed by Spanish influenza.

Also, what is Selina's relationship to Holly Robinson (assuming she exists)?