IncredibleBee

Eastern Fantasy

All things considered...yokai are generally a bunch of assholes, with the 'good' ones being rare exceptions. I mean, with humans as the majority and a bunch of shape-shifting, human-eating almost-immortal monsters as the minority, yeah, no shit humans would want to have a way of keeping track of them. It's not some secret police tasked with picking out ethnic minorities. It's a bunch of murder-hobos tasked with killing monsters who want to stay invisible and unknown for some edgy, possibly dangerous reason.

Just my thoughts though. Don't know why everyone else is so enamoured with a clean, happy fantasy world without discrimination. Maybe it's the modern sensibility.

@Ashifili

Actually a good number of traditional youkai are harmless or even beneficial. Many serve as guardian spirits and have temples.

Eastern Fantasy

I wanna play anti-establishment and kill guild members.

@Bozo

Well, wouldn't mind an idea similar to this...but well, can't say I like a few things.

though, but I don't have time to write up my thoughts at the moment.

Bee just pretty much summed up my own thoughts xP
Although, I have to say you're assuming that spirits are treated badly after being part of this Guild/receiving this mark. We don't really know that, since we don't have enough information in that regard.

@Rune_Alchemist

The mark thing was started out of fear for Youkai in the first place. It's safe to assume they're not treated well.

That said, I don't mind the concept itself, I'd just rather see some logical consequences from branding/exterminating every nonhuman you see. Like, say, youkai getting super pissed and starting a war against whatever clan came up with the idea.

Eastern Fantasy

No seriously, the plot so far sounds more like we're going to play some kind of fantastical Japanese Schutzstaffel. Apparently this was met with so little resistance that said secret police was able to set up an entire castle from which to plan the systematic subjugation of multiple species, and collude with various race traitors who sold out their own kind. Additionally, this secret police executes anyone who doesn't wear the magical star of david, which no doubt must have numbered in the thousands.
And yet, your game isn't about Japan erupting into a magical civil war over this specific thing.

If you'd like, I could probably very easily churn out a few ideas for the main plot that don't involve us being magical nazis but do leave room for honor, and loyalty, and other traditionally Japanese things. I can even arrange them by time period, if you'd like. And most if not all can easily incorporate magical stuff.

Also, you mentioned griffins, orcs, and elves. Those are all extremely western fantasy races; orcs were codified in Lord of the Rings, and griffins originated in Greece and the surrounding areas. If your goal is to have a Japanese setting, you should exclude traditionally western races.

Eastern Fantasy

So, here is the idea I have in mind so far. It's an older idea I had that I'll try to rehash. Feel free to tell me anything you like or dislike about it.

* * *

In this world, mortals live alongside the various races of supernatural beings called "spirits." Spirits are the term given to magical beings of all kinds. Dragons, griffins, kitsune, oni, and all manner of innately magical sentient creatures fall into this category of beings. Spirits are generally long lived, dying to illness or injury before they feel the effects of old age, and usually have some kind of magical ability. Spirits also possess the ability to appear as a mortal. For many generations, people never knew if the nice old man selling them their clothes was a spirit in disguise. This allowed spirits to live among mortals peacefully, but also kindled apprehension, fear, and hatred towards their kind when they were discovered.

This all changed when "the brand" was created. Mortals created a way for spirits to willingly step forward and reveal themselves in exchange for equal treatment. The brand is a tattoo that is put across a spirit's forehead in their mortal form that designates their race. While no spirit has ever reported the brand causing any negative side-effects, it was mandated that all spirits step forward to be branded or they will be hunted down and executed. In order to enforce this law, The Guild was created.

The Guild is a group of warriors, tradesman, and yes, even spirits, who have banded together to enforce these and other laws. Their duties include seeking out spirits and delivering ultimatums, hunting down those that cause trouble or refuse to accept the brand, and whatever other jobs society may call on them to accomplish. The Guild is a fortress located in the heart of the world's largest city. They have just recently been established and their influence only extends across the city and neighboring regions, but it is steadily growing in power. The Guild is governed by a council who determine what tasks the members will perform and negotiate payment. Anyone may join The Guild, but they are required to consistently accomplish tasks or they will be kicked out and blacklisted. Likewise, anyone my leave at any time, but they will be blacklisted.

* * *

So, if you like this idea, let me know and we can expand on it. I have plenty of ideas for potential plots with the world, and yes, the brand is a controversial among mortals and spirits. I use the term "mortal" here because I figure races like elves and orcs are more akin to humans than the other more fantastical stuff, and so those would be considered mortal races. Also, I'm open to suggestions for the name of The Guild, the city, the region, etc. Throw your lore at me. Otherwise, I have plenty of lore of my own that I can implement.

@Takashi

So basically the premise is that we're going to straight up hunt down minorities and mark them with a yellow star?

Chasers - Boundary of the Crimson Sky [remake]

A burst of flames washed over Vincent, singing his coat. It was hot, but fortunately didn't last long enough to properly roast him. The force did add a few fresh bruises, however.
He was only more annoyed as his support team radioed in, informing him that some strong monster's signature was leaving. He hoped it was something watching him, and not one of the guys he just exploded. They were annoying.
"So conventional tactics won't work on Efreet... does she mean Ifrit? Whatever. Crap, guess I gotta get a salt circle or something." he muttered to himself. Anything that couldn't be taken out with a bullet or a bullet dipped in holy water was a pain in the ass in his book.

The executioner shouldered his gargantuan sword and turned to face the small girl. Vincent's eyes peered from behind his featureless white mask, the blackened eyes betraying no emotion. She was short, skinny, and all around tiny looking. She wore a rather nice dress, meaning she was either from wealth or some kind of fashionista he saw in bigger cities during the day.
She was blonde.

Her eyes weren't some garish color and she lacked a tail and horns. She had no glowing tattoos or even regular tattoos, and her pupils and ears were a normal shape.
This girl was a normal human. Vincent suddenly let out a soft sigh. It was no good to have humans caught in the crossfire.

"Hey." he spoke in a voice louder and rougher than he would have liked. He elected to squat in front of her, otherwise her head would only reach up to his stomach. "It's not safe here. Come with me, and I'll take you home."

Eastern Fantasy

I'm interested.

I don't care either way on a guild-type format, but it takes second priority to a good plot-hook and some interesting villains.
If I were you, I'd look to samurai cinema for inspiration; films like Seven Samurai can be the source of a good adventure for your players. In a lot of cases, however, a guild becomes unnecessary or even burdensome. Adventuring guilds are a staple of D&D and other western stuff, but aren't necessary depending on the plot.

If the game takes place during a war, for example, you don't need a guild, but you'd do a lot better as part of a standing army or even a group of mercenaries.

Another thing you should decide is the era. Even if this is largely a fantasy game, you should take note of the year, because Japan's history has a huge influence on its stories. Sengoku and Bakumatsu are both popular war eras, but have different overtones due to what was happening and even Japan's interactions with the outside world. Edo and Meiji are popular peacetime eras, but also have different flavors. Edo is better for the quintessential wandering samurai, whereas Meiji often deals with the decline of the samurai. Even the first few decades of Edo are different from later years.

Chasers - Boundary of the Crimson Sky [remake]

@IncredibleBee

You're still misunderstanding something, but this is the last time will make an effort about it.

When have I said that YTC's yeah is all magical based? They research the Crimson Sky, to build technologic things, magitech isn't their usual game. Plus, you should recheck out, but it's quote specific that they deal with pharmaceutical research and unscrupulous things like what Vincent went through. You are thinking they are building magical holocoms, and death rays, when what they do are drugs and implants to enhance soldier performance and next generation arms. The magical projects rarely ever see the day light.

Second, how is it that you perform an assuredly lethal body overhaul like Vincent got without the technology described above? Also, the dimension crossing satellite is absolutely impossible without YTC's tech being party of its core drive.

@KoL

Fine, I give. YTC can be the source of the augmentations, regardless of whether they were directly involved.

Chasers - Boundary of the Crimson Sky [remake]

@IncredibleBee

Just mind one thing, it's impossible to have Crimson Sky related technology that has nothing to do with YTC (unless your character created it on their own, but that's not the case with Vincent), even if the project he's in isn't being ran by them, the tech still comes from them. Actually, it must be stolen tech, because they would never lend prototypes to contractors which paints a giant target in his back because YTC will try to shut down the whole project and if they want to there's little that coalition can do to avoid it.

@KoL

Vincent doesn't wield anything inherently magical or related to the Crimson Sky, though. The technology is advanced, yes, but isn't powered by magic and doesn't stem from anything found in that world. That said, Vincent would bring back some amazing combat data after every incursion, so his own group (several nations' governments) would be making leaps and bounds to catch up with whatever YTC has.

In short, Vincent wouldn't have a target on his back because of stolen tech, but he would have one if they didn't like advanced experimental monster hunters or a potential rival in CS research.

Chasers - Boundary of the Crimson Sky [remake]

<Snipped quote by IncredibleBee>
Well, I won't force my ideas on you if you don't want to, but know that you should know that YTC is a PMC (actually, like the Umbrella from Resident Evil, most of YTC income, comes from military contracts) and they do build things for governments ask over the world using Crimson Sky based tech. They are specifically the only Company that can do so and for good reason (they shut down any competition in the harshest easy possible).

Also, most of the mechanical issues you are mentioning really aren't of any big importance. There's electric power on the Crimson Sky, and the radio stations are still there, so making a call is possible unless some specific circumstances happen to jam it. Obviously, the reception should be crappy for normal devices (as the genre dictates) but it still works.

@KoL

Never mind. If you want a support team, go ahead. That works.

But I still say I don't want YTC overtly involved with Vincent's tech and biological augments. It doesn't sit right with me.

Chasers - Boundary of the Crimson Sky [remake]

<Snipped quote by IncredibleBee>

Well, you are forgetting the satellite, not? If he can send commands to it, he can also receive transmissions as well. More over, it must be built and operated by YTC's technology, so it's really no problem at all.

As for your suggestion, that is exactly why the mission control would be needed, he doesn't know anything about that Youkai, to begin with the fact that there was at least one more of them around. More than that would be spoiling, but believe that what I have planned is good.

@KoL

He can send and receive transmissions to summon drop pods, but the satellite enters and exits the dimension with him. The problem is sending transmissions to the Human World from the Crimson World.
Also, it wasn't built using YTC technology. Vincent was part of a really dangerous project involving human experimentation that a public corporation wouldn't be allowed to work on; his augments and weapons were created using military scientists. I was considering DARPA was the major developer behind most of his weapons, for example.