RPG Archives Slayers: Infinity (OOC)

Looking to sign on some players interested in playing out a Slayers game. It is suggested that you are fairly familiar with the world, but not necessary to participate. I will be GMing and directing this story, which will be episodic and close to the feel of the Slayers TV anime series'.

Infinity falls into play after Slayers Next has ended, but is some time before the beginning of Slayers Try. The main group has been up against seemingly unbeatable foes - Ruby Eye Shabranigdo, The Red Priest Rezo, Gaav, and Hellmaster - unbelievable accomplishments that are the stuff of legends. The defeat of such greater powers has shifted the flow of magic behind the scenes, and there are a few ambitious individuals who plan to take advantage of this...

If you'd like to take part in this, please read the following rules and the RPG sticky above this thread in the forum, thanks - and then reply here with your interest to participate.

 

"ANYTHING GOES" RULINGS v1.1
Don't be scared. There's not as much text as it seems...and frequent examples. Anything goes is pretty simple once you've given it a try.

Not Your Ordinary RPG
If you've ever participated in a Roleplaying game, you're probably familiar with the concepts of characteristics, skills, actions and the die rolling that goes with them. Anything goes sacrifices quite a few of these elements in order to better focus on the roleplaying aspect of the game. Thus, Anything goes acts more like a co-operative story, with each player adding their own character's perspective to the mix.

How do I Join?
Simply request to be added. All that's required is a desire to participate, and the Game Master (GM)'s okay. If you'd like to be an existing Slayers character, such as Lina Inverse or Zelgadis Graywords, and that character currently has no player you can assume control of them. Also, if you'd rather bring in your own original character, that is encouraged as well. Either choice comes with a little responsibility:

As an existing character you have very little initial work to do. No background or description is needed - all that work has been taken care of by the magnificant Slayers Books, Manga, Anime, and Games. The only catch here, is you have to make that character believable. Lina would not normally openly admit to liking Gourry just as Amelia would not pass up an opportunity to carry out an act of justice. These characters are expected to act in certain ways, so your actions can sometimes be limited to make them seem more real.

As an original character you are required to create a physical description and background. How tall are you? Do you have scars? Do you wield magic or a sword? If so, to what degree of skill? Do you have an annoying trait that stands out like a sore thumb? The more detail you provide at this point, the better players can come to understand how you act. One last important point is that original characters have 2 restrictions:

1) They must be believable. What this means is, you can't be an invincible fighter, or sorceror with limitless power. If your character is dominate, it can ruin the fun for other players. So, keep yourself mortal!

2) They have to fit into the Slayers Universe. Sorry, no Gundam pilots or Saiyans here... You're most likely a glory seeker, traveling priest, bandit or someone else in that realm of possibility. If you couldn't picture it fitting into a Slayers storyline, it probably wouldn't in the RPG, either.

Two Modes of Play
Play style changes depending on what the situation of the players is. The reason for this is to speed through less important events (where the results of actions are obvious or uneventful) and to focus on the high points or more in-depth actions. In this way, everyone can get some level of participation, even if they're not directly in the action. Despite whether you narrate or interact, you must wait for another player (or the GM) to post before you can post again.

Narration is a recommended mode for all players who aren't involved in important events, or are separated from the main group. When playing in Narration, you write in a story fashion, dictating the course of actions that involve you. The difference between Narration and Interaction is that things are one-sided, you advance the plot yourself, deciding (within reason) in past tense what has happened. Narration should not involve too many different ideas and should be left open-ended, allowing the GM to react to your added scenario. Make sure things check out with the current state of things in the RPG as well...If Zelgadis is currently in Seiyruun searching ruins for the Claire Bible, he definately can't be at Dragon's Peak when Lina and Gourry hike up there, can he?

An example, is this hypothetical Narration by AnimeBill, currently playing as Filia:

Filia looked up and down the street, unable to find Lina. She wasn't here at the Magic Shop nor at any of the inns, stuffing her face. Something didn't feel right. It was if a sudden cold wind had decided to take up permanent residence in her spine. Where could she be? She gave up her search, turning her back towards the discarded alleyway - the one place she hadn't thought to look.

In the above scenario, no one has taken Lina as their character, and the GM had noted that she'd recently gone missing in an earlier narration. BillAnime has succesfully added on to the story without compromising the situation the GM created. He also really didn't introduce too much, except that Lina really doesn't seem to be about, and that Filia is looking for her. The ending is left open, Filia is heading away from the nearby alley, and feeling uneasy - a situation that could be expanded on, by the GM or another player in an Interaction...

Narration should never be used to unwillingly force another player into a concrete situation (that's the GM's job!). AnimeBill can't type that "along the way, Filia meets up with Xellos (played by AnimeJoe) and pounds him 50 feet into the street pavement with her big mace...unless, of course, AnimeJoe told him he could!

Interaction comes into play when things need to be more specific - a climactic confrontation between Gaav and the gang or one player conversing with another. In this play mode, you are very limited in what you can write - it has to be short, something you could physically do in a few seconds time - since it's a cooperative effort. In Narration, it was solely you who decided what happend for everyone. In interaction, you merely write what your character alone does. Interactive play is written in movie script fashion...your character's name is presented first, then any lines, with stage direction (notable actions) in brackets:

For Example, let's pretend AnimeJoe's character, Xellos, ended up running into AnimeBill (Filia, leaving the alleyway). The next three posts could be as follows (with AnimeJoe posting the 1st and Last, and AnimeBill the other, of course...):

XELLOS: (Sees Filia walking by) Well, look here...it's the tempermental gold dragon girl...imagine that.
FILIA: (Keeps walking) Hmmph! I don't have time for monsters like you!
XELLOS: (Eyebrows quivering) "Monsters like me?" You're one to talk...

Thank Your Lucky Stars!
There are no stats in Anything Goes, so everything depends on what the GM decides on, right? Wrong. This is where the only real game ruling comes in. When you first join, you'll be awarded a certain amount of lucky stars...These represent quirks of fate, or moments in life where things go your way. Lucky stars are also a way to keep score on how well you're doing in the game. Certain actions (excellent roleplaying, interesting narration, achievements or goals) can grant you lucky stars by the GM. The other purpose of Lucky Stars is to spend them to add a little extra fun for you, the player. You can find your current "Lucky Star" rating in the first post of the "in Play" thread. Lucky star requests are made in the "Out of Game" thread as follows:

Bad GM Call-Don't like the fact the GM had it begin to rain, soaking your favorite cloak? Time for a "Bad GM Call"! If the GM made a decision you feel strongly against, let him know what you'd like in place: "I think the rain should hold off for another half hour, at least..." If acceptable, the GM'll take off a Lucky Star, revise his post and you're on your way!

Near-Impossible Feat-Want Lina to get lucky and dodge that direct spell blast in a fight? That's not really believable, meaning you couldn't simply say it happens in Narration...unless, you state it's a "Feat". A Lucky Star'll have Lina make a daring escape, and roll out harm's way at the last instant.

GM For A Day-Wanna change up the story a bit? Go right ahead! State your post as a "GM for a Day" and you can post once as if you were the GM...meaning you've got full control of every body in the world that isn't a player...and (within character) some leeway with other player's characters...for only one Lucky Star!

The only restrictions for Lucky Star use, is that they can never be used against another player, such as to cause harm to them, or put them in a compromising situation. And you can't use it as a game-ender, either (meaning, the GM's the only real person to say when this episode's complete and over)

How do I Die?
You can't. In Anything Goes, if your character gets real beaten up, or suffers an immense attack, you aren't killed, merely what will be referred to as "Bonked". When you are bonked, you are temporarily out of commision (unconscious or whatnot) until EVERY player and the GM have each made a post following your bonked condition. After this period, you are fully recovered, as if no harm came to you in the first place, and can play as normal.

Never Set In Stone
These are just my meager attempt at rules. If you find something's not working out, or that you have a rule you'd like to bring in, don't think I'm unmovable. Bring it up in the "Out of Game" section...revisions are most likely to come. Until then, enjoy! Anything Goes!

 

*the only bump I'll ever give this*

One bump in case any interested parties haven't seen this yet. As soon as it drops off the main page I'll lock it and pretend it never existed.

 

Maybe, rosebarks.

It's kinda an odd time, actually. All the RPGs on here are about to be closed. Buuuut...if I decide to recreate the Slayers game after that, you can try again, ok?

Fow now, I must reject all join requests, as this RPG thread will be archived soon.