HYPERKINETIC
an unofficial d20 Spycraft resource
 
Section Nine: Play-By-Post Information
Document ID 1222-ODA-D012
Security Clearance: Zenith
Section 0 - Administration
All Levels
Section 9 - Operations: Covert Action
All Field Operatives
 
THE SCHPIEL
I. THE SYSTEM: d20 / AEG's Spycraft Espionage Game
  1. Our collective imaginations, persistence, effort and d20 Spycraft game system will empower the engines that push this game forward. *grin*

    2.  
  2. The Spycraft Lite PDF is meaty enough and allows you to get by. However, the Spycraft Espionage Handbook is highly recommended. Being the faithful gamers we are, I'm sure most of us already have it. *wink and grin*

    3.  
    The Spycraft Espionage Handbook and d20 corebooks provide us with a treasure trove of useful tools and resources and it's my sincerest hope that we bring this imaginary world to life through our role-playing. Purchasing the game companies' products is the least we could do to thank them for this wonderful game.
     
  3. Most of the published rules are sufficient for our needs. However, should the need arise, I will publish the house rules and modifications that will come into play.
     
    The rules and stats described in the published material should still provide the participants of some idea of what the characters, equipment and vehicles are capable (or incapable) of doing.

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  4. The GM will make the rolls to determine the results of any skill tests and the like. Yes, there are online dice rollers but using those slows down the game.

II. CHARACTER CREATION [Modified: April 2, 2003 12:25:26 AM]
  1. This is a game about the good guys, the cowboys and cowgirls in white hats, you get the idea. The GM strongly urges you to create characters that work well within a team. Misanthropic players and psychopathic characters need not apply.

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  2. The character concept and background is going to be one of the important factors in the application process. The Spycraft RPG book has an excellent section detailing questions that will help you build your character. There are also a lot of role-playing books and web sites with good resources that can help you weave your character's background, please make use of them.

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  3. Characters will be generated using the rules described in Spycraft Espionage Handbook. This Play-By-Post Series uses the a Modified Point Buy method to generate ability scores. After the selection process, your Section 9 Control Officer will send you the information packet with the Modified Point Buy details. Department modifiers and Ability Score bonuses due to levels are applied after all points are spent and the base score is calculated.

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  4. DCIS Operatives in this PBP game start at level 4. Players who have actively participated in the previous Section 9 PBP game start at level 5.

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  5. You may choose from the Departments and Base Classes as described in the Spycraft rulebook. The choice of department should reflect your agents history and background. For example, if your agent was part of a a violent, political organization before she was recruited into Section then you might want to use D-2 or D-4. Or your character could come from the same organization, though with a decidedly more political bent, then D-1 would be the way to go.

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  6. Section 9 Control reserves the right to review and allow/disallow any Prestige Classes, Departments, Feats, Skills and other crunchy bits from other Spycraft and Shadowforce Archer books. Please let me know if you are interested in a specific Prestige Class, new Department, Feat, etc.

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  7. The team will be composed of approximately 4-5 operatives, of differing types. The minimum number of operatives will be 3 and the maximum should be around 5.

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  8. It is very unlikely that the team will be made up of 3 or more Faces or 3 Wheelman or 3... you get the point. *grin* However, it will be in the team's best interest to have some cross-training. For example, two characters with knockout social skills, feats and abilities will be very useful, especially when the team has to split up and tackle two separate social situations. One should be a Faceman and the other could be a Faceman or she could be from another Class but spend a lot of skill points in CHA skills.

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  9. A caveat regarding snoop characters: This is probably one of the last character-types that I will be looking for. If you plan on submitting a snoop character concept, I prefer snoops that are active in field operations over "couch potato" snoops.

III. IMPORTANTTM POINTS TO REMEMBER
  1. The First Rule: If it's not fun, then we're not doing it right.

    2.  
  2. Play Nice: You are expected to conduct yourself in a manner suitable to group cooperation and group enjoyment. Contribute to the fun of the whole group when playing. Don't play in a style that detracts from the fun of the game. Play fairly and honestly. Be considerate of others, and their right to enjoy the game as much as you do. Follow the spirit of the rules, as well as the letter of the rules.

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  3. Venue: This Play By Post game will be hosted on AEG's Spycraft/SFA Forums. The in-character game threads will be in the Agent Transmissions Forum. Though AEG is hosting the forum, this is not an official or sanctioned Spycraft event.

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  4. Number of Players: At this point, I would be able to accommodate a maximum of 5 players. Familiarity with d20 and Spycraft is a must. However, dedication and a good imagination are equally as important, if not more so.

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  5. Player Availability: We all have lives outside this pocket dimension of our imagination. We all go on vacations, get into accidents, have to deal with difficult relationships with our friends and family, and we all have serious work/school work to do. I'm sure all of you know that the strange thing called LIFE has a funny way of getting in the way of gaming.
     
    However, I am asking that the participants make a commitment to a 3-month "tour". If the Pilot serial ends in less than three months then I won't hold you to the 3 month tour commitment. By the conclusion of the first serial, you will probably have suffered enough at the hands of a cranky GM and you are free to leave or sign on for another mission. *genuine smile*
     
    3 month In trying to get this off the ground, I have expended a good amount of time and energy and I expect the same from all the participants. We're not getting paid for this, I know, but I want to make our efforts worth something beyond 3 weeks. If there's something that you can do to improve game play or help out with the administration of the game, please let me know! =)
     
    If you've got a thesis, a wedding, an epic series of final exams or any important event that will take you away from the game for more than 2 weeks then, with all humility, I recommend that you do not sign-up for this game.

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  6. GM Availability: I usually take a quick look at the forums during my lunch break and several times during the evening. I also check my e-mail daily. I try to be accommodating and strive to reply ASAP so send me your questions, suggestions or concerns.
     
    Once we get the ball rolling, I can commit to an hour or two every other day to post major updates.
     
    There maybe times that I would be away for a few days but I will inform you of any such occurrences.

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  7. Getting to know... your character! If I'm away I'll let you know and I would appreciate it if you would do the same. Please let the GM know how to handle your character in case you miss a few days. The more familiar I am with your character, the better job I can do filling in the gaps.

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  8. Frequency of Posts: Your active interest and participation is essential. Play-By-Post live on frequent posts. Many PBP games have died due to a lack of interest and activity. Players are expected to post 4 to 5 times a week.

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    After I post each update, everybody will be able to make their individual posts and with some luck and cooperation: formulate a plan of action for the group for the next few "rounds".
     
    I don't want the game to crash and burn so I want to keep a brisk, steady pace and avoid any unnecessary slow periods. I hope to give you enough time to think through what we want to do, but not at the expense of losing spontaneity. Sometimes your characters have only a moment to react to a situation though you (the players) might take up to a day or two to meditate, mull, hem and haw before finally hashing out a response. Lets try to keep in the spirit and the swing of things.
     
  9. Posts:
    Use the third-person, present tense when describing your character's actions.
     
    Also try to follow standard Internet writing format: no indentations and a single line break in between paragraphs. This is more of a preference since it makes things easier to read.
     
    When annotating your in-character posts enclose your comments with double parenthesis and begin with the "OOC:" tag.
     
    For example,
    GhostFox slides forward on the crossbeam hoping to move as far as she can on the beam but still remaining cloaked in the darkness, hidden behind the glare of the lights.
     
    ((OOC: Skill Checks: Balance +6, Move Silently +9))

    The GM would then resolve the skill checks.
    GhostFox moves forward on the beam with ease and takes a position closer to the guard, on the edge of the light's glare.
     
    ((OOC: Balance 16 + 6, Move Silently 3 + 9. Not the highest of die rolls but the sentry doesn't lift his head and still seems unaware of you.
     
    You are now about 35' away from the guard. That's as far as you can go without having to make any more Hide and Move Silently skill checks.))

    The player then responds with another post with his or her instructions.
    Perched on the crossbeam, GhostFox surveys the scene. She thumbs the control to disable the laser sight and draws the modified pistol. Taking slow, deep, calm, evenly spaced breaths GhostFox aims the silenced firearm at the mook by the stairs, guarding the door.
     
    She whispers a radio message to her teammates, "In position and sentry in sight. Locked, cocked and ready to party..."
     
    ((OOC: GhostFox will activate the laser sight (free action?), then fire two wide bursts at the sentry (two half-actions).
     
    Ranged Attack: +6 plus or minus any range and any other modifiers the GC sees fit (+0 BAB, +3 DEX modifier, +1 Wide Burst, +2 laser sight bonus if the target is within 50 feet). The pistol has a full clip, after the first combat round, she will have 4 bullets left.
     
    If GhostFox fails the attack roll by a margin of 3 or less, she will spend an action die to make sure she succeeds at hitting the sentry.))

    And above all, POST POST POST!

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  10. More out of Character chat: Once we've got our group together, I'll be starting an OOC thread that will facilitate player-to-player communication. This would also give the GM some insight to what the players and the team want to do and plan accordingly. Very detailed instructions may also be posted in the OOC thread.

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  11. House Rules: Are described in the Operations page.

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  12. Interested? If you think this game is for you, then think again. Read this document. Take your time. Digest it.
     
    ((Queue Elevator Muzak))
     
    Still here? Great! Send an e-mail with a preliminary background for your character. A concise statement of your expectations and any suggestions are welcome as well. I will also ask you to fill out a fairly detailed questionnaire to give me an idea of what you're looking for in a Spycraft PBP game. I think it's important that all the participants see eye to eye on some things.
     
    After the initial selection process, I'll let you know when to send a detailed character sheet, a fairly meaty background.
     
    I also need to know what elements do you want to focus on in the game? Character Development? Combat? Exploring the Game World? Intrigue? Politics? Problem Solving? What are your likes, dislikes, other interests, etc. This will let the GM get to know you a little better in order to run a better Serial for everyone.

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  13. GM Email: For the purposes of this Section 9 Play-By-Post game, I can be reached at dcis_section9@yahoo.com

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  14. Don't forget that the GM is also a participant and is here for the fun of it too. I'm not in this out of the kindness of my own heart (well, maybe a bit) but if I'm not having fun then the players won't either.

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  15. If You've Read This Far, You Need to Know This! It is unfortunate that I have to do this, but it has become glaringly obvious that most prospective players are not reading these guidelines before they submit their characters. Please include the following code at the beginning of your next e-mail, as 'proof,' if you will, that you have read the package. Thank you. Authentication: Seven-Centaur-Jiu

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  16. And finally, see Rule #1: If it's not fun, then we're not doing it right.
 
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