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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!

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