TTRPG Tuesday: Expanded World Seed/Tendency

Well well well if it isn’t TTRPG Tuesday.  No time for the diary entry that precedes the recipe, let’s get right into the peas and carrots and patty-pan squash of the thing: expanding one of my Spectres of Brocken World Seeds to fit the new format template that Aaron’s laid out for the published version.  And maybe after I do one, I’ll do some more, or look at the ways in which this would differ from my Bulb system.  Here we go!

HEADLAMPS IN THE FOG

The City and its bridges shine in the night, reflected by the inky water of the bay.  When the wind blows from the North, a thick fog covers the waterfront and rain runs together with motor oil.  The city is home to millions, the lofty towers built and occupied by the unthinkably wealthy, the destitute unhomed and out of sight in the cavernous tunnels and sewers beneath the Earth.  Law and Order are maintained by the righteous Millennions, a mechanized peacekeeping force piloted by the bravest, most just and true.  The three prestigious Academies of Vhong, Mbati, and Cueainn test and refine those who seek to become pilots.  But behind this cursory gilding lies a rotten truth: the Millennions do not protect people, they protect the hierarchy.  Innocents are persecuted for profit, the public is disenfranchised, and the greatest criminals hold sway over whole squads of mechs.  The system works like a well-oiled machine - but for whom? It cannot grind on like this forever, and there is only so far that citizenry can be pushed before they turn to desperate measures.  Revolution looms.  Conspiracies approach their culmination.  Between the coal gas streetlights and the shadows spilling from the allies, everything will be changed forever.

Suggested Words

Elite, Mystery, Private, Informants, Mercenary, Sabotage, Scions, Crackdowns, Obscure, Corruption, Isolation, Suspicion, Conspiracy, Experimentation, Decadence, Snitching, City, Elimination, Struggle, Discontent, Toil, Turmoil, Borders, Distance, Disenchantment

Factions

The Inkfingers - Contraband, Bootleg, Speakeasy, Grey Market, Contracts, Whisper Network

Millenions - Justice, Law, Order, Punishment, Aces, Enforcement, Licensing, Muscle, Lockdown

Vhong School - Subterfuge, Elegance, Ambition, Forbidden, Unearth, Awaken, Invoke

Mbati Preparatory - Structured, Segregated, Status, Order, Compel, Impose, Demand

Cueainn Institute - Reckless, Unsanctioned, Experimental, Yearning, Remembering, Vendetta

The Coverup - Effective, Brutal, Silence, Business, Farsighted, Cynical, Calculating, Dispose

Pilot Names

Quan Thue, Corso Corrigan, Makao “Lucky” Makusu, Valteri Spiro, Chess Wakai, Nkatye Shah, Jingu “Golden Girl” Scareces, Spap Deboru, “Egger” Egg, Fal Chuer, Shuto Branter, Keppel Spores, Retuno Caravalez, Jepeshu “Snakearm” Kadaganashawinye, Veronimous Ty, Gad Sue Mino, Pzwrklz Ulth

Pilot Links

Criminal Family - Effortless, Uneasy, Certainty

Service Connection - Weary, Practiced, Accountable

Childhood Friend - Trust, Nostalgic, Distrust

Clubbing Mate - Instantaneous, Longevity, Bloody

Trusted Servant - Familiarity, Chafing, Loyalties

Mech Names

J-62 Wild Goose, J-82 Mallard, J-84 Special Brokenwing, Hyperion Pennant Standard, Hyperion Pennant Special, Deboru Tram, Deboru Tram II, Deboru Tram III, Seraph, Oilslick, Twinbarrel Heavy, Double Magazine, Sazerac Special, Chrome Flapper, Reckoner, Confidence Mannequin

Suggested Pilot Traits and Mech Features

Convictions	Possible Mech Features
Protect Those Important To Me	Double blades, Rescue pulsar, Passenger cockpit
Be The Strongest There Is	Souleater system, Tank chocolate supplements, Feedback netting
Outrun The Past	Tripod base, Long distance jets, Carbon camo armour
Hit Them Before They Can Hit You	Data rifle, Taxicab caltrops, Remote listening posts
Don't Die	Decoy cockpit, Hammerhand gauntlets, Protective wings
We're Stronger Together	Sympathetic pulsar, Encrypted radio, Heartbeat loadout
Make Them Pay	Igniting shells, Ripper power blades, Tracking pulsar

 

Impulses	Possible Mech Features
Take Away An Advantage	Scramble pulsar, Cablethrows, Cement shells
Take A Defensive Stance	Trenching pitons, Rocket scrambler, Ceramic exo-armour
Overwhelm Them	Overclock serum, Multiple arms, Clamber pitons
Strike First Strike Hard	Remote mines, Rocket gauntlets, One-shot cannon halberd
Focus On The Larger Goal	Automated mechanic, Battery supercharger, Fieldscan pulsar
Figure Out Their Weaknesses	Intelligence radio band, Angled blades, Chimera shells
Call In Support	Long range radio, Dropbeacon pulsar, Payload launcher

 

Potentials	Possible Mech Features
Speed Demon	Extra fuel tanks, Streamlined armor, Velocimancer markings
Deadeye	Lockon pulsar, Needle blades, Spiral shells
Strategist	Targeting Paint, Maneuver jets, Long distance scope
Leader	360 cockpit, Cover fire submachinegun, Banner flares
Empath	Enhanced sensors, Reconnaissance pods, Open cockpit
Engineer	Quick-release armour, Cutting torch, Reinforced cable winch
Adaptable	Spare limbs, Multi-blade, All-surface pitons

 

Flaws	Possible Mech Features
Coward	Quickburn jets, Flashpods, Bogus distress pulsar
Impulsive	Gyrotating cockpit, Locomotive quarterstaff, Redliner treadfeet
Cruel	Cockpit mines, Spike lance, Vise gauntlets
Cold	Battle autobacus, Endotherm trap, Jointlock stun bolts
Haunted	Recycled shells, Stolen powerblade, Self-damaging crash armor
Tempestuous	Gatling arm, Interchangeable axe blades, Experimental fuel
Oblivious	Below spec armour, No-HUD interface, Rear spike panels
Insecure	Auto-mace, Extra-large cockpit, Triple shoulder rockets
Arrogant	Galvanized spear, Railroad whip, Highlight markings

Whew, that’s a lot actually! Especially once I got to the table and realized that Aaron had the same table for all three Scenarios so perhaps they’re meant to be universal - but for the hell of it, I adapted all the mech features, though left the categories alone.  Even beyond the world set of words, it seems like many features come down to possible words.  Interesting.  Not the direction for my bulb system I think but an interesting constraint, and inherently lyrical.  Well it’s late and I have hockey in seven hours, no more outro good bye!