Six High Straight (A Wild Card realisticly superpowered Casual/Adv. RPG)

[Nightraider]

Inuyasha said
Quick question, I just started working on my CS (I know I said I'd do it a while ago... *sheepishly looks away*) and I was wondering. Do our characters wear costumes? I'm assuming they do but I'm not quite sure, judging by the other two CSes sumbitted.

I suggest you go back and read the "Aces" section of the OP again, you'll see it there. As for the CS, there's no rush on it, I was going to BUMP the Int Ch again today to see if I could get anymore people.

And if you *taps screen and points* yea you, if you're interested in this, don't be afraid to throw your name down

[Azariel]

i'm interested. i'm thinking a joker-ace who's body has the power to psionicaly fuel a set of armor he built himself in a fugue state just after he flipped his wild card, an event triggered when masked assailants broke into his home and killed his fiance`.

[Nightraider]

Azariel said
i'm interested. i'm thinking a joker-ace who's body has the power to psionicaly fuel a set of armor he built himself in a fugue state just after he flipped his wild card, an event triggered when masked assailants broke into his home and killed his fiance`.

Interesting. Just out of curiosity tho, what part makes him a joker? Is he stuck in the armour? Because it just sounds like you've got a basic Ace there (which I'd have no problem with, so far, no one's gone for one)

[Nightraider]

We're still open for business folks, altho I will be opening the OOC/IC by the end of the weekend, it will be an open entry RP, just throw up your CS for revision by yours truly.

[Nevis]

I went from mildly interested to fairly interested over that OP-and get the sense that I will like much more later (and I didn't read the tiny details yet). I'm interested. For the note, regardless of which section this gets put in, my posts will be Advanced.

Is a character with soul/ether powers alright? Idea is that he was a latent (unknowingly a suicide) until around (or maybe even after) the story starts. Basically he can externailize his own soul, turning ethereal for short bursts (like 2 seconds; overusing can have SERIOUS consequences), float (basically a slow walking speed) and making an ether blade through a focus (specifically a sword hilt. Does not affect material objects and thus can't damage bodies; zaps souls for a usually non-lethal tazer-like effect). As to whether he qualifies as an 'Ace' or not I'm a little grey on, as, while he does have several abilities and they are good, none of them are really that strong (at least not in the beginning :p) comparatively.

[Nightraider]

Nevis said
I went from mildly interested to fairly interested over that OP-and get the sense that I will like much more later (and I didn't read the tiny details yet). I'm interested. For the note, regardless of which section this gets put in, posts will be Advanced.

That's what I like to hear! It is such an interesting Universe and it's really the tiny details that matter as well as the "in-your-face" story aspects. You learn in the subtle ways that the Wild Card has inserted itself in the world. As for the Cas. vs. Adv., I'm adhering to the "quality over quantity" mantra. While it WILL be in the Adv. I won't be coming down hard on the post length, but I will be watching grammar, punctuation, structure, continuity which will be at Adv levels. This is for the Casual RPer who wants to step into the Adv format (which many of us had to do at some point.

Is a character with soul/ether powers alright?

Dude, there's a guy who takes LSD and other psychedelics to induce one of his many split personalities (all with their own powers) to come forth until the effects wear off. I think "soul power" is fine :P

Idea is that he was a latent (unknowingly a suicide) until around (or maybe even after) the story starts. Basically he can externailize his own soul, turning ethereal for short bursts (like 2 seconds; overusing can have SERIOUS consequences), float (basically a slow walking speed) and making an ether blade through a focus (specifically a sword hilt. Does not affect material objects and thus can't damage bodies; zaps souls for a usually non-lethal tazer-like effect). As to whether he qualifies as an 'Ace' or not I'm a little grey on, as, while he does have several abilities and they are good, none of them are really that strong (at least not in the beginning :p) comparatively.

What I will say about the powers (this goes for everyone) is that the (In-Universe) hypotheses of the Wild Card powers is that they are all psionic in some form, whether it be direct (telekinesis, [insert-item-here]-kinetic and some flight powers) to indirect (tech geniuses with devices that defy the normal engineering properties, space-time manipulators) and links to the activation of unused genetic material leftover from our evolutionary ancestry (explaining the appearance of wings, insectiod exoskeletons and the like on the human body).

As for your "category", I'd call him as an Ace. If it was merely the 2-second ethereal and the slow-float, then I might class him as a Deuce, but the sword kind of puts him over to Ace status. Couple of questions: Is the sword the only shape he can manifest? Is this an actual "soul" or is it some kind of energy? Will he be manifesting other powers (or extending these) in the future? (No need for spoilers, just a yay or nay).

Finally, if you're considering playing this type of character for the ethereal ability alone to develop, might I suggest Wraith ? If not, and you have other plans, disregard the suggestion.

For everyone else, the OOC/IC will be up by the end of (my) Sunday, so you may post any CSs there and the RP will be an open entry form.

[Nevis]

Aside from occasional typos (common enough in my long posts), I always use proper grammar in basically everything except chatrooms or specifically to invoke memes and such. So.

Well... that's a bit grey and depends on the metaphysical nature of the setting (which I don't know about). I am pointing out that the greek term for mind and soul, pscho/psyche, and the root of the very word psychic are one in the same. Basically, the mind and/or consciousness bear an innate connection (if they aren't a part of) the soul. The particulars really depend on the metaphysics present.

As for his abilities and what soul/ether is-ether, in myth, tends to vary between being like air or energy; different places have claimed lightning as a form of it, or it as the air of the divine realm, or as an ambient nonphysical energy-the stars were thought by some to be focused and intense ether. It's a bit grey and insubstantial by nature.
His ether-form in particular has a sense of vapor-ishness to it, like a cloud or mist, whereas his 'sword' is more like something between light and lightning and is more like 'energy' in traits. Part of that, though, is that it sort of doesn't fully exist as a physical object; it's literally immaterial and can only indirectly affect other ether/soul matter.
As for the sword-he technically can't even manifest that on his own. He carries an old, actual sword handle with long since broken blade that he focuses his own energy through and makes a replacement with. And, while this is really the greatest focus of his particular power (the ether form and floating are really weak supplementary abilities to it), it is the only form it can take-or rather, vibration. He can't alter the nature of his soul to do anything other than 'tazer'; only extend it outward, and in a pretty simple shape (a double-edged one-handed sword blade).
Regarding his growth, more an extension of his basic theme rather than new abilities-like how an animal will expand on basic traits as they grow up. There will be two distinct areas of it, like childhood and adulthood, one a bit of a base, the other basically 'completing' it. His powers, essentially, start as extremely basic ether abilities with the default grey-white color and a ghost/cloud-like feel. Later they will get colored by his own individual traits and character, becoming red and taking on a more fierce and somewhat dragon theme rather than ghost-no additional abilities, though, basically just more/stronger energy, and thematic sense (well, unless you're planning on actually implementing dragons. I'm not sure how that will turn out :/).

[Nevis]

Aaactually, I thought about it and I have a more fitting character idea. The one I previously mentioned is more for a fantasy setting-and I have one I've had stowed away for a superpower setting for a while now.

A character that has complete conscious control over his body at a subcellular level. That is, he can consciously alter his DNA, cellular make-up and speed of cellular regeneration. By extension this gives him greatly enhanced strength (not as much as someone with their main power, though; his is limited by what is biologically possible, unlike a pure 'super-strength' power), enhanced speed (again, not physics-defying), enhanced healing and healing speed and immune system, shapeshifting (I'll go into more detail in another paragraph) and enhanced digestion.
All of his abilities are really just different techniques given by his two actual basic abilities-the ability to alter his DNA and the ability to control his cellular regeneration and multiplication. By altering his cellular make-up and growing more cells at a faster rate, he can grow more strong cells (or faster, etc), he can effectively grow stronger or faster. By only increasing the speed of cellular regeneration/growing of new cells, he effectively heals faster; note, though, that cells growing at a faster rate is an effect and is part of the problem of cancer and increases the possibility of making a mistake in the genetic code copied (and the more complex the type of tissue, the more so), and he can only activate it consciously-thus meaning the faster he goes, the greater the chance he'll become sick/grow malformed tissue (he can easily remove it without any lasting effects; quite a problem in time-sensitive situations, though), and ESPECIALLY with organs (and he can't fix those as readily), meaning he can't heal organs as fast. As it is also conscious-only, he cannot heal from wounds while unconscious or survive outright mortal injuries like dedicated healers.
As for 'shapeshifting-this is limited mainly to gross mutations like strange appendages, looking like other humans or growing natural weapons. While, technically, he can (in theory) shapeshift into any biological matter, it will actually turn him into that-meaning that, were he to turn into a dog, for example, he would have the intelligence of a dog and not be intelligent enough (or perhaps even remember being) to return to his natural form.
The last part-digestion-is important as he has to spend the physical energy to grow as normal-which means eating A LOT to be able to do what he does, often as he's doing it. Growing flesh takes a lot of matter and energy. Unfortunately, especially in combat-and as using this power seems to tap into the most savage 'do-or-die' part of his mind, and considering the specific nutrients needed, this can mean other humans make a near-perfect (and available) source. Think Carnage from Spider-Man (or a very toned-down Alex Mercer from Prototype).

[Nightraider]

That's cool man. You can have two characters (as long as only one is Ace class)

As for the OOC/IC for everyone else, apologises, RL is a cunt and throws unexpected shit at you. Lucky thing is I will have all next week free so I will get the OOC/IC up and message anyone who expressed interest who hasn't made an appearance in a while.