Doom (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
doomcatbox) wrote2022-05-10 12:47 pm
doomcatbox) wrote2022-05-10 12:47 pm
Guilty Gear ValorX - Interest Check
The cruelest predator!
Three...
Two...
One...
Let's rock!
Graven Gear ValorX
Welcome to Graven Gear, the first entry in the highly-regarded Graven Gear series, brought to the Playstation One at the turn of the century 1999 and acclaimed for its pulse-pounding tag team battles using "Valor: The Heroic Roleplaying System" as its engine. If you want to know the story before tearing out the guts of your friends in this fighting game, here's a letter from the tournament's sponsor explaining what, exactly, the hell is up:
To many around the Earth, it still hasn't sunk in that humanity has finally vanquished the Gears. It is 2183, one year after the defeat of Apocrypha, and still the shadow of total human extinction looms so large over us that we still expect a Third Awakening to emerge and crush us once and for all. So we cower in pessimism, refusing to reach out to one another, hiding in our villages even as the corpses of the once-mighty Gears rot and rust on the horizon.
No more, I say! This is the dawn of humanity's new age, an age where we can valorously step into our future as one, an age where our best and brightest have triumphed over the worst of our sins! Even if a new threat should emerge, humanity will meet its potential to rise to the challenge as it always has before. And to show the world what we can be, what we are in this very moment... I present the First Apex Flame Trial Tournament! Come, one and all! Come, knights and dragons!
Come, singularities and chainers! Come, and unite as two to show the world what humanity can achieve with hands clasped together! Come! Ride, heroes, ride!
Come! And if you should triumph over all... grasp the chance to erase all of your regrets!
-K.C. Champion
Goofs aside, Graven Gear ValorX is a Valor campaign to be run by yours truly, Doom, and as evidenced by the title is heavily inspired by Arc System Works' Guilty Gear series. Familiarity with the source material is a bonus, but is hardly required, since at this very moment your lovely GM is still catching up with the games herself. Here's a summary of the campaign's premise:
In the twenty-first century on planet Earth, magic was discovered. While the circumstances of its emergence are largely unknown in the modern day, what is common knowledge is that shortly thereafter, a tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape at the time followed as different countries all scrambled to take advantage of it. During this time, the United States of America, desperate to regain ground lost to other nations during this turbulent period, sponsored That Man to create the Gear Project: unthinking biomechanical monstrosities capable of unleashing magical devastation at the command of their master. Before a decade had passed this staggering display of hubris, an intelligent gear that made herself known as Apocrypha turned on her creators and declared war on the whole of humanity with the intent of wiping it out. After several years of losses to the Gears individually, what remained of the nations of the previous age voluntarily dissolved themselves to work as a single entity, and this new alliance issued a proclamation: the Sentencing of all Gears to death.
More than a century later, Apocrypha was finally struck down by the legendary K.C. Champion in circumstances that remain shrouded in mystery a year later, and this shocking turn of events only grew more suspect when they declared their intention to hold the First Apex Flame Trial Tournament, supposedly to demonstrate humanity's potential to a globe still reeling from a victory once thought impossible to achieve. The prize was even more shocking: the opportunity to regain anything that the winner had once lost. While on its face this seemed ridiculous, especially considering all that had been destroyed during the Sentencing, a desperate (and perhaps a little bit crazy) few took up this challenge, journeying to the Valley of the Damned that K.C. Champion had cut into the earth as the final blow against Apocrypha to vie for the chance to wipe away their regrets...
More than a century later, Apocrypha was finally struck down by the legendary K.C. Champion in circumstances that remain shrouded in mystery a year later, and this shocking turn of events only grew more suspect when they declared their intention to hold the First Apex Flame Trial Tournament, supposedly to demonstrate humanity's potential to a globe still reeling from a victory once thought impossible to achieve. The prize was even more shocking: the opportunity to regain anything that the winner had once lost. While on its face this seemed ridiculous, especially considering all that had been destroyed during the Sentencing, a desperate (and perhaps a little bit crazy) few took up this challenge, journeying to the Valley of the Damned that K.C. Champion had cut into the earth as the final blow against Apocrypha to vie for the chance to wipe away their regrets...
GGVX will start after the conclusion of Quinn's Meteor campaign and the end of Witch Busters' Season One. It will begin with a short-run "Season 0," taking place during the First Apex Flame Trial Tournament, where all characters will be level 6 until the conclusion of the tournament. The purpose of Season 0 is partially to establish that good ol' fighting game feel without taking too much time out of the campaign's main story, but mostly to test whether I can handle running two whole campaigns during a schoolyear with a heavier courseload than I'm used to on top of all my other TTRPG commitments. If the answer is "no," the game will take a long hiatus until I'm able to fully commit.
If you're curious about how magic works in the world of GGVX or the current state of the planet, check out this setting primer. Warning, it's wordy. Whether or not you want to bother with all those proper nouns, fill out this form and drop a comment below! Keep in mind that when making your character, a totally gonzo worldbuilding element that seems orthogonal to everything else in the setting heavily strengthens it. Think Slayer being a vampire out of nowhere and similar ideas that make you double take the first time you hear them passingly mentioned in conversation about the series. Each player will also create the "rival" to (note, not necessarily a rival but someone deeply connected to the backstory that has some kind of fraught relationship with) the PC of another player; while these rivals will mostly be run as NPCs, you may be expected to play them at times when an important scene is happening and none of the PCs can be present and similar circumstances.
no subject
Contact:
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Wednesday, assuming that Soleil is finished by then. Sundays can work after either JoJo or SWV finish up. Fridays work if we don't pick back up Kingdom Valor, or if we play particularly late so it's not crossing over much with KV. Tuesdays can work for the singular timeframe of 5-8 ET.
Character Concept: A "delivery specialist" (think Arknights' Penguin Logistics) who goes by the codename "Twilight D" - she's a simple girl without any special powers or particular anything, just Really Good At Hitting Things. No brain cells. Here to rescue a girl she likes. Unbeknownst to her, she is somehow deeply interconnected with important plot things behind the scenes, but she is just so fucking dumb that it all goes over her head anyway. Basically: May but gay, with a more shady merc vibe than pirate one.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? the most batshit stuff imaginable, please,
Questions: Nah
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: HERE
Using an RP journal cuz I don't have a personal one wheee
Contact:
I can make pretty much any day work, though I'd prefer a later start time, since I often work till 4 or 5. 6PM would be ideal for me. I am EST.
Character Concept: Div-0 (pronounced "Devo"), a tall and lanky ambiguously-human figure in yellow and black mechanical armour. Their head is hidden by a boxy helmet with a faceplate that displays emojis based on their current emotional state and gives their voice an electronic, autotuned quality. When problems come along, Div-0 fights with a pair of retractable, wrist-mounted electro-whips. Mad accordion skills. Hasn't met a situation that could not be improved by an appropriate polka. When asked why they're involved in this nonsense, Div-0 proudly proclaims they're on a secret mission from "the President". Which President? Good question. The joke/confusion fu character. Probably severely fucked up in their backstory. No one in good mental health willingly chooses to play the accordion.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign?: Surprise me.
Questions: I'm gonna need a copy of the Valor system made accessible to me, cuz I don't have any materials for it.
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: https://youtu.be/SMhwddNQSWQ
no subject
Contact:
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Wednesday or Friday would probably be best, but I can do any of them.
Character Concept: Petra Malion, sometimes referred to as the Dollmaker, one of the foremost experts in the use of Crucible Field infusions, known primarily for her use of it to create puppet constructs to battle through instead of simply using weapons and armor. The woman herself hasn't been seen in public in over two decades, but her expertly-crafted dolls have continued to appear all over the globe. A recluse, an eccentric, and enough of a genius to get people interested in her work despite that. But what has she been working on in secret, all these years?
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? I ask only that whatever happens is gloriously weird.
Questions: Is this being run in standard Valor or Valor Alter?
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: Right now, I'd say this one.
no subject
Contact:
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Wednesday has the least complications, Tuesday would have me double-dipping with a biweekly game. Friday is XIV raid so has a hard cutoff of 10 PM EST. Sunday is a no-go.
Character Concept: Johnny Carmesi, known also as J.C. or J.C. RIDER. A daredevil rockabilly-styled punk who travels the world. Johnny Carmesi was a stunt driver before an accident landed him in the hands of a top secret US military department and conducting experiments on him that may or may not be connected to the secrets of the Gears. He was sealed away as a result, only recently awakened to the new world after the events of the Second Awakening and the conflict that followed. While he normally looks like an average human, when he fights he reveals his true form - a cyborg-like entity that's more motorcycle than man.
Basically, think Axl Low's basic concept (man out of time + punkass himbo) splashed heavily with Kamen Rider with aesthetics straight out of Redline.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? In the words of the great Freddy Mercury, 'just don't make it boring'.
Questions: Valor or Valor Alter?
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: Heavy inspiration for J.C.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrOemQaEJGU
no subject
Contact:
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Friday is the only unoccupied day at this time, though I can potentially shift some of these.
Character Concept: A Man in Black of the urban legend variety - black suit, black tie, black shoes - that looks and acts decidedly less intimidating than your average Man in Black. Dark brown hair, around neck length, a bit unkempt and hanging over one eye, prescription glasses over brown eyes. Mumbles to himself occasionally, seems a bit scatterbrained, carries around a briefcase he never opens and a gun he never pulls from his holster. Occasionally whines about certain things being "classified" when answered, but usually answers anyway when pressed.
The least spirited person in the room at any given time; will absolutely prostrate himself and beg for mercy if it means he can avoid fighting. Absolutely the kind of guy to hide behind the bodyguard he hired and plead for a reasonable discussion. Combat-wise, mostly a support with a few underpowered attack skills; challenge-wise, surprisingly competent in social situations (which may be useful with a bunch of anime characters).
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? If I fully know what's going on at any time I'll feel disappointed. Give me that Guilty Gear "what the fuck!"
Questions: Already talked to you privately.
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: Currently The Architect.
no subject
Contact: Zephyr#1826
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Honestly anything that's Not Friday there works as of this writing.
Character Concept: Two, actually...
SIGIL - So hey, y'know what you can do with magic? Open portals. Y'know where those portals can go? To Hell. Y'know what's in Hell? Fucked up powerful demon energy. Y'know what's a REALLY BAD IDEA? Trying to make a reactor for it and use it to power a Gear. Your token Big Fucked Up Science Horror With No Hope Of Looking Human Again, cyborg demon flavor.
Gemini - A traveler between worlds that is more interested in observing the situation than anything. Maybe connected to the magic discovered, maybe not. Mysterious Bastard, might work better as a rival than an outright party member, but execution really depends on if I can find fun shit to do with either clone or summon mechanics to facilitate a Split In Two gimmick.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? As many butt-rocky one-liners as you can cram in.
Questions: N/A
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: THROUGH THE SPILLWAAAAAAYS
no subject
Contact:
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Currently Tuesday or Wednesday; Friday should additionally open up by the end of the month. Sunday is my last choice but still possibly doable.
Character Concept:
A lean man in dark leather walks through the door. Strapped to his back is one mean-lookin' machine: half-ripsaw, half-launcher, and all, fortunately enough, enchanted. His gloves and hat hide a lot, but the graying hair beneath it still can't hide his missing eye.
Everyone can feel the tension in the air, a palpable tingling of oncoming lightning. They say he lost everything in the Second Awakening, but he doesn't even know himself. His name, his family, his whole life are total unknowns. Now, he's a wandering fighter for whomever's willing to pay, if the job strikes his fancy. He's only known by the place he's sure he's from, but no one from there seems to know who he is.
They call him... "Kansas".
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? Questions: None at this time
Link your favorite rock or metal song here:
Yes - Siberian Khatru
no subject
Contact:
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Wednesday. Tuesday is doable.
Character Concept: An uncomplicated knight-errant type with a magic sword who is pure of heart and dumb of ass. If I wanted to make them (her?) more complicated I'd make them an older veteran of a horrible war with scars to prove it who remains relentlessly hopeful to spite the Gears; in this case they'd almost certainly be named Sabaton.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? an insane clown posse of bad guys.
Questions: how the hell are you getting our idiots to become a team
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: so I namedropped Sabaton earlier,
no subject
Contact:
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Wednesday assuming it starts after Eric's LANCER campaign finishes, otherwise Tuesday. Might be able to make Friday or Sunday work
Character Concept: a couple options
EXODUS - A surviving humanoid Gear on the run from the Sentencing who hides from the law by repeatedly mutating their appearance. Just wants to find peace among humanity and not constantly worry about death squads coming to exterminate them. Their up-close and dirty fighting style is based on overwhelming speed and sudden body-horror transformations.
ARJEN SAMMET - A mage obsessed with the study of death and preservation, the occasional glimpse of a skeletal face under his hooded wizard robes causes some people to speculate he's actually discovered some means of self-reanimation, leading to his nickname "the Lich". The reason for his obsessive study is to find the means of restoring his terminally ill ${insert family member}, who he's so far managed only to suspend on the verge of death. Long-ranged blaster/support hybrid combat style. (named for Arjen Anthony Lucassen and Tobias Sammet, Ky Kiske style)
ELECTRIC CALLBOY - A cybernetically enhanced supersoldier who's just here for a good time. Another 0-braincell himbo for the cast. Fights with lightning blasts and hidden weaponry that shouldn't all be able to fit inside their prosthetic limbs.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? metal...... Gear? show me a good time, Jack! (aka make it buck wild and full of cyborg ninjas and other high-octane action nonsense)
Questions: I haven't played Valor before what should I know to git gud
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: YOU CAN'T MAKE ME CHOOSE JUST ONE FAVORITE but I'll try to limit it to as few as I can stand to link so here's a few classics: a symphonic power metal rendition of the Iliad, the melodeath Britney Spears cover that inspired a lot of other metal pop covers, some good old thrashy headbanging R I F F S, and face-melting techdeath with fast-rap deathgrowl vocals
no subject
Contact: ectoplasmfear#9086,
Out of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, which works best for you? Tuesday
Character Concept:
Silvius Quinn, a charismatic if somewhat eccentric mage and former corporate engineer who on the surface seems very personable and diplomatic but beneath that has a deeply cynical view of magic and mages, including herself. She's short, has a mess of curly white hair, wears a big blue overcoat and has a pair of red tinted glasses. Intelligent, bit of a prick but a teamplayer never the less, deeply ruthless and single-minded in her goals. What goals? Just goals.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to see in the campaign? I don't know what to expect, I'm just happy to be here.
Questions: None for the moment! I will have more to hit you up with later, I'm sure.
Link your favorite rock or metal song here: Here.