[OOC] Timeskippers - A Cross-Timeline RP (IC/OOC)

[SimYouLater]

If you saw the TV show "Sliders" in the 90's or read/watched/played pretty much anything (Chronicles of Narnia/GURPS Infinite Worlds/His Dark Materials/Bioshock Infinite/superhero comics/etc.) with a multiverse consisting of multiple dimensions/universes/timelines, that's the most basic way to describe this RP. HOWEVER, I should warn you it's not that simple. While most of the sci-fi is techno-babble and magic exists, the setting attempts to make realistic use of the "quantum multiverse" (read: every time something, anything, happens it causes the timeline to split into versions of itself where all possible outcomes have occured) and the butterfly effect will be extremely powerful. How powerful? After their divergence point, timelines have nothing in common with history as we know it. If the divergence is early enough it's like visiting an alien planet, complete with languages you don't understand and technologies never invented in our timeline. Or even a world where life itself evolved differently and the continents have a different layout. Aside from timelines constantly branching out on their own, the so-called Timeskippers (anyone who jumps "sideways" into another timestream) are a unique case. By leaving their home universe, they have removed themselves from that timeline, and unless they have that timeline "bookmarked" somehow they can never get back to it. The other effect is that they cause a "singular divergence" because their arrival in a timeline creates an entirely new timeline just for the fact that they popped into existence out of nowhere. It should be noted that when a character leaves a timeline, they cause the timeline to be "locked" to their destination for about one month, allowing the characters to travel more-or-less in a group. The plot will be timeline-oriented, with each timeline having a severe problem which our characters will try their best to fix out of the good of their hearts, or for other reasons. I'm also in the process of thinking up a long term story arc which will keep things interesting longer. Anyway, this RP will require 2-3 paragraphs per post. No double-posting. Please place applications under the "Character" tab, and make sure to read the tips on making a good character! --- How do we always end up in different spots on Earth? The gravitational field of a planet affects timeskipping by "anchoring" it to within that gravitational field, but thanks to the differences in gravity between timelines it introduces a bit of chaos and we could end up anywhere on Earth. Note that due to the moon's effects on the tide, we can't end up on a part of the Earth's surface which is covered by large amounts of water or ice, including Antarctica. In addition, the gravitational field in the targeted timeline cannot deviate too far from the current one, so any version of Earth which has gone too far from the space it occupies in a standard timeline, collided with another celestial body, is feeling the effects of a moon that hit a celestial body or been flung away from Earth, or no longer has a sun is impossible to enter. "Money" System Instead of money, we have biotech microchips with brainwave transmitters called Psychic Coins (PsyCoins). They work as follows: 1. You ask to purchase an item(s) at a marketplace, stall, grocery store, department store, etc. 2. You give a psychic coin to a merchant, shopowner, etc. 3. The merchant, shopowner, etc. and anyone else around will be "tricked" by the PsyCoin into thinking you just payed them with an appropriate amount of coins/cash. 4. The PsyCoin will degrade into carbon and silicon within 15 minutes. To keep PsyCoins from degrading while YOU have them, you also have a Psychic Wallet which links with the Coins to tell them "don't turn to dust". Also, because one PsyCoin is used for EVERY purchase no matter how big or small, you could buy a sports car with one PsyCoin for one purchase, and the next day be forced to use one for a mere few bottles of water because you're dehydrated. Everyone starts out with no PsyCoins and no Psychic Wallet, but will get one before we leave the first timeline. If you join later on, then you will get the Psychic Wallet before the characters leave the timeline they are currently in. Psychic Wallets can create PsyCoins out of a sufficient amount of gold and silver, either a gold ring or silver ring, a gold or silver coin, or an outdated microchip. This way, you'll have "money" despite the fact that an american dollar from timeline X which diverged from timeline 1 in the 1970s would not be legal tender in timeline Y which diverged in the 1940s, and most certainly would not be legal tender in timeline Z which diverged 10,000 years ago and thus North America is ruled by 4 or 5 nations mostly inhabited by Native American descendants which use lead coins and leather strips with branded emblems as currency. There is a secret organization that has had timeskip capablities for a while, and has been setting up "intertimeline black markets" whose customers will all be timeskippers. Expect to meet some weird faces if you come across one of these marketplaces, a few of which may be openly hostile to you. They use a "premium currency" called Aether which can only be gained from certain rare sources (no spoilers!), and sell equipment for "TARDIS-like" timeskip devices as well as many other interesting things. Battle System The Emote battle system goes as followed: Each RP-er will take turns (posts) to attack each other, the defender picks if the hit hits or not, he can parry, counter-attack, dodge, etc. The attacker however can find out twists and turns to use Logic against the opponent, making it undodgable, can't be parried, etc. To KO someone, you must have 10 attack hit sucessfully OR 5 Mortal Wounds (Neck/Head & Heart and attacks that go through the body completely.) -Breaking a limb will result in a NORMAL attack but incapacitate/disable that limb. Armor and cyborg limbs are MUCH harder to break. Magic may be capable of healing limbs in a single turn at the cost of attacking. -If poison enters the body, expect extended incapacitation or an auto KO, unless you can get around it! -Also, a major thing about the emote system! It also uses the honor system! Please try not to dodge EVERYTHING. (Let at least 1-3 attacks hit on purpose, etc)

[Pudding]

Hmm. How do you define a paragraph? > Is willing to give it a shot > Unsure if she can whip out paragraphs for a meaningful post > Enters Lurk mode

[DiamondBlizzard]

I believe he means 4 to 6 sentaces as to call it a paragraph.

[Joegreenbeen]

I'm interested.

[Frettzo]

This seems interesting enough. I might give it a shot, though could we know a little bit more on what you've planned for this RP to be? Sure, there's all that timeline switching stuff, but it might be too chaotic to control without some sort of plot skeleton.

[DiamondBlizzard]

This seems interesting enough. I might give it a shot, though could we know a little bit more on what you've planned for this RP to be? Sure, there's all that timeline switching stuff, but it might be too chaotic to control without some sort of plot skeleton.

@Frettzo

I believe there will be some sort of inter-timeline antagonist? I'm not sure honestly, you'll have to wait until SimYouLater gets online. We may vote from a choice of 3-5 timelines to decide which ones we go to and what-not, but I'm not sure if it'll play out Doctor Who-esque, with a plot, or both.

[Joegreenbeen]

So, do I just to post a CS under the Character tab, or should I PM the GM with my CS first? Edit: P.S. Would it be okay if the timeline I create is another offshoot of 5190 where there is magic involved?

[DiamondBlizzard]

So, do I just to post a CS under the Character tab, or should I PM the GM with my CS first? Edit: P.S. Would it be okay if the timeline I create is another offshoot of 5190 where there is magic involved?

@Joegreenbeen

PM him the Character Sheet first.

[Durandal]

I'm interested. Just one question. Are the Timeline Numbers how many years, months, or days ago the timeline split?

[SimYouLater]

Hmm. How do you define a paragraph? > Is willing to give it a shot > Unsure if she can whip out paragraphs for a meaningful post > Enters Lurk mode

@Pudding

I'll be lenient on it. Provided you can make something interesting in a single paragraph, you can post. If not, you need 2-3 paragraphs to make it count.

This seems interesting enough. I might give it a shot, though could we know a little bit more on what you've planned for this RP to be? Sure, there's all that timeline switching stuff, but it might be too chaotic to control without some sort of plot skeleton.

@Frettzo

I believe there will be some sort of inter-timeline antagonist? I'm not sure honestly, you'll have to wait until SimYouLater gets online. We may vote from a choice of 3-5 timelines to decide which ones we go to and what-not, but I'm not sure if it'll play out Doctor Who-esque, with a plot, or both.

@DiamondBlizzard

Each timeline will have its own problems, which usually can only be solved by complete outsiders. I may also introduce a trans-timeline "evil" empire to defeat.

So, do I just to post a CS under the Character tab, or should I PM the GM with my CS first? Edit: P.S. Would it be okay if the timeline I create is another offshoot of 5190 where there is magic involved?

@Joegreenbeen

PM him the Character Sheet first.

@DiamondBlizzard

Yeah, that would be the best option. There's no problem with it, but I'd like to know what you have in mind for the timeline.

I'm interested. Just one question. Are the Timeline Numbers how many years, months, or days ago the timeline split?

@Durandal

Timeline numbers are random, sometimes symbolic. I cba to come up with a system, so I just fudged it.

[Guess Who]

Question: Do we have to pick from one of the timelines on the list on the Character tab, or can we create our own timeline if we want? I don't actually have anything in mind, I'm just curious.

[DiamondBlizzard]

You can make your own timeline.

[SimYouLater]

You can make your own timeline.

@DiamondBlizzard

Yes, that is correct.

[Guess Who]

You can make your own timeline.

@DiamondBlizzard

Yes, that is correct.

@SimYouLater

Cool, now I just have to think of an original form of time travel that isn't also completely ridiculous.

[Joegreenbeen]

I was thinking that my character could be apart of a small group of Cocasians who have been evading eradication. The reason behind their prolonged survival is a force of magic that has been protecting the group since Rome's fall. Note: I've been working on my C.S. and it's turning out to be the best one I think I've ever done. (I'm a bit of a roleplaying "newb" and I don't feel that C.S. are one of my strong suits, but I feel this one is going great. It's probably because your C.S. format is different than I am used to.)

[Guess Who]

I just want to make sure that you all know I'm still here. I've almost completed my CS (the only thing that's really left is to find a picture that fits the description I have in my head and a few other small details) and then I'll PM it to the GM for confirmation.

[DiamondBlizzard]

Alright, take your time guys!

[Joegreenbeen]

I just need to get my Time Line's bio done.

[DiamondBlizzard]

I pretty much have my bio done, just can't post it currently, I'll do so tomorrow.

[SimYouLater]

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! I am starting the RP, however this is not a cut-off date to making an application! This RP is designed to allow you to make a character sheet with no prior knowledge of any previous events (though you have to understand the concept of the setting) and join in once your app is approved! There is only one catch: Anyone who joins, leaves or returns has to explain in-universe how their character got there and then proceed from there (or in the case of leaving, how they get separated from the group or died). If you cannot do so for any reason, PM me to tell me whether your absence will be temporary or permanent and I will do it for you. Thank you for understanding, I hope this unique approach will be much more appealing to everyone. The plot will be timeline-oriented, with each timeline having a severe problem which our characters will try their best to fix out of the good of their hearts, or for other reasons. I'm also in the process of thinking up a long term story arc which will keep things interesting longer. That said, I can't just go off and start it; I promised a vote on each universe we go to. (Yes this means that if your character leaves ahead of everyone else you will not be able to RP until after the others catch up!) So without furthur ado: Timeskippers Vote #1 The options for our first point of arrival are... Option #1 Timeline 3 Global Kowloon (3 votes) Nobody actually knows the divergence point of Timeline 3. All records have been somehow lost. All that is known is that this YACHT (Yet Another Cyberpunk Hell Timeline) is home to a global society that seems to be falling apart at the seams thanks to a lack of architectural standards. The average megacity of Timeline 3 is like an urban maze, similar to the former Kowloon Walled City of Timeline 1, and also like Kowloon the crime inherent in these labyrinthine alleys makes the very idea of entering this Timeline a scary thought. Option #2 Timeline 2582 Forever Train (0 votes) The automobile is not a certainty across the multiverse. In this world, Pennsylvania Railroad and B&O Railroad got wind of the Great American streetcar scandal in the 1930s from a whistleblower who was ignored by the government and the press. Realizing if it were to succeed the days of the railroad would be numbered, they sabotaged the conspiracy. As a result, mass transit flourished in North America and cars fell out of use worldwide. Though air travel displaced the railroads in the 20th century, there is no US Interstate Highway system. 2014 is the 50th Anniversary of the Los Angeles Monorail system and the opening of its station on the Global Maglev Network. Reportedly a terrorist group (actually acting on behalf of Big Air) is out to destroy the station however, but the authorities assure the public they have it under control. What could possibly go wrong? Option #3 Timeline 6735 Magic vs. Technology (0 votes) What if Magic was real? Before this timeline diverged from 5190, the Huns managed to annihilate the Roman Empire plus all the Roman-conquered peoples. Shortly afterwards the Huns underwent a civil war that destroyed them. Europe was left uninhabited for centuries, and China is unable to find suitable markets for silk and opium which forces them to do business with the middle east, which redirects the silk road to Egypt and eventually the rest of Africa. However, a secret civilization grew from the 9th century onward through the magical understanding of the aboriginees of what we know of as Australia. From that point on, this timeline splintered off from Timeline 5190, and in the 16th century the powerful magics of the "Jadu Bhumi" as the Indian Navy dubbed them and their continent became known to Afro-Eurasia. After the Chinese and Indians get a hold of the magic by exchanging technological secrets for them, they formed the "Asian Federation". The Arabs joined shortly afterwards and the new force conquered Egypt. Meanwhile, the "Jadu Bhumi" sent colonial forces in newly-developed magitech ships to the east, discovering the Aztecs. The three groups race to conquer as much of the globe as they can. By 2014 there are three separate communication networks proprietary to the three mega-nations, one of them entirely magic-based. Then someone discovers nuclear fission while experimenting with plastic explosives and uranium...