Mass Effect D20, Sundays (Opinions Please)

Mikey K. said: So there we go! You could be assigned to the team by some Alliance politician who wants to show that they can play well with the other races. So they show that via suggesting you over a human operative, or something. I dunno, just a brainstorm off the top of my head. Also maybe the specter saw the report of my defense of the clinic. I guess maybe impressed in the way I took my targets alive and the creativity in it and thoughg that out of the box thinking would be good for the group. As well she I still very much developing after this incident she can see raw potential she can personally mold as she fit. Since this is a Council thing, maybe the mix bag of races is partial to show they have no hard feelings and to bridge the gap between races. Kinda of like how the Normandy was built by both Turians and Humans, so it make since that Alliance would still get a little say, enough to be able to make a recommendation on my behalf. And I am assuming I will have met with this specter sometime before the first mission, so I should write about my first meeting with her as she will be the first turian my characters met. I am glad to hear you got most of the skills done, as I am curious on how medical procedures will be done. I am thinking my human will be a biotic specilist, who is oddly very strong considering he is human and Alliance wants to show him off as a possible specter canidate.

Hmmm.....handle animal? The animals I've seen on the ME far and few in between. Unless somebody wants to use thresher maw as a mount I think this one is pretty useless.

goatman92 said: Hmmm.....handle animal? The animals I've seen on the ME far and few in between. Unless somebody wants to use thresher maw as a mount I think this one is pretty useless. A pet varren would be awesome though! Arn't you going to be a Krogan? You should have a pet varren!

meh, follower npcs are a burden. Can't pull their own weight and a lot of work to maintain. Also as an idea, how about instead of having separate software on our omnitool, we install a protocol VI. Hear me out, omnitool sre mobile devices and as such would only bring limited capabilities. Maybe have cluster programs, medical packages have programs that supply bonuses to surgical, medical, and biological checks. Maybe a bonus to medigel healing?

Apps. Call them apps. That will be awzum :P

I don't play biotics very often. Are their abilities less effective against shielded targets??

Draken Toflen said: Mikey K. said: So there we go! You could be assigned to the team by some Alliance politician who wants to show that they can play well with the other races. So they show that via suggesting you over a human operative, or something. I dunno, just a brainstorm off the top of my head. Also maybe the specter saw the report of my defense of the clinic. I guess maybe impressed in the way I took my targets alive and the creativity in it and thoughg that out of the box thinking would be good for the group. As well she I still very much developing after this incident she can see raw potential she can personally mold as she fit. Since this is a Council thing, maybe the mix bag of races is partial to show they have no hard feelings and to bridge the gap between races. Kinda of like how the Normandy was built by both Turians and Humans, so it make since that Alliance would still get a little say, enough to be able to make a recommendation on my behalf. And I am assuming I will have met with this specter sometime before the first mission, so I should write about my first meeting with her as she will be the first turian my characters met. I am glad to hear you got most of the skills done, as I am curious on how medical procedures will be done. I am thinking my human will be a biotic specilist, who is oddly very strong considering he is human and Alliance wants to show him off as a possible specter canidate. If you like. I don't plan for my character to know the Turian at all until appointment to the task-force. Whatever records are out there about my character, or word of mouth, would be the reason they got put on the team.

Mikey K. said: Draken Toflen said: Mikey K. said: So there we go! You could be assigned to the team by some Alliance politician who wants to show that they can play well with the other races. So they show that via suggesting you over a human operative, or something. I dunno, just a brainstorm off the top of my head. Also maybe the specter saw the report of my defense of the clinic. I guess maybe impressed in the way I took my targets alive and the creativity in it and thoughg that out of the box thinking would be good for the group. As well she I still very much developing after this incident she can see raw potential she can personally mold as she fit. Since this is a Council thing, maybe the mix bag of races is partial to show they have no hard feelings and to bridge the gap between races. Kinda of like how the Normandy was built by both Turians and Humans, so it make since that Alliance would still get a little say, enough to be able to make a recommendation on my behalf. And I am assuming I will have met with this specter sometime before the first mission, so I should write about my first meeting with her as she will be the first turian my characters met. I am glad to hear you got most of the skills done, as I am curious on how medical procedures will be done. I am thinking my human will be a biotic specilist, who is oddly very strong considering he is human and Alliance wants to show him off as a possible specter canidate. If you like. I don't plan for my character to know the Turian at all until appointment to the task-force. Whatever records are out there about my character, or word of mouth, would be the reason they got put on the team. Yeah I think I will just have my character meet her with the rest of the group, I do not know the specter's character so I can't really predict, and my interaction it meeting a races for the first time should be a little amusing. You got an idea for a character yet?

Joe R. said: I don't play biotics very often. Are their abilities less effective against shielded targets?? Shields no, armor and barriers yes.

I have a few ideas I'm kicking around in my head, but I haven't settled on one. I want to wait until I see the character creation. EDIT: My newest idea is a biotic gunslinger, based off my love of Westerns.

Yeah I am just chopping for a opportunity to make this character, although I think it will be hard to balance my skill in medicine and machinery. Also do you think we will get some form of morality system? Like Paragon or Renegade, becuase I am not sure I want that or not.

I know the Mass Effect book had a system for that. I am not sure how it works, though.

Yeah its just I think player are capable of setting their own system and don't need a mechanic in the rules to enforce it.

I just realized something, how are we going to handle guns overheating since this is before shepard?

Space Bananas (or I have no idea)

Well, in the Mass Effect PDF I read, (and I didn't read it ALL), there was a part where you can track Paragon points and Renegade points. These could total up to 120. However, I did not see any part of what you could DO with these points. Nor is "Paragon", "Renegade" or "Morality" listed in the index of the system. However, replacing body parts is heavily featured. Guns overheating will be a matter of ammo. We're using thermal clips. I highly doubt you will EVER have to worry about running out of ammo. Morality is going to work in tandem with the Reputation and Force Point system. Characters in Star Wars D20 have a 'Reputation Bonus' that they can use on certain rolls (Diplomacy and Intimidate). The more famous (Paragon) or infamous (Renegade) you are, the higher the bonus to your Diplomacy and Intimidate checks. As well as other applicable checks. Furthermore, decisive actions will result in Hero Points, which can boost rolls. Hero Points used along the Paragon Path will grant one type of dice bonus, and Renegade Path choices will result in a comparable dice bonus. Also, I'm pretty much done with the skills and slogging my way through the classes. You all should have something to read by this evening (though I might skip adding all the pictures to get it done).

Oh. Looks like your Diplomacy skill ranks are a function of your Paragon Points in the Mass Effect D20. You divide your Paragon Points by 5 and that determines the max ranks in Diplomacy you can have. However... I don't want to track Paragon Points. And I don't want to do math to determine Diplomacy ranks. So... meh. Doesn't really sound like a fun concept to me. There are plenty of diplomatic folks who aren't Paragons, at all.

I don't need no pictures, I have imagination for that! NOW GET ME THESE RULE! I am deeply sorry for the outburst, I am just eager.

So I used the ME 3 multiplayer to create an image of my character. So with no further ado... Ura'Vex!

Ok so the basics I guess are covered, what abou equipment variety? Are we gonna use ME1's loot style, ME2's permanent upgrade system or ME3's Variable gun type as well as modding system? Also how about armor? ME1 used only Full suits, while the later series used armor parts as well as suits. In any case will we be able to mod said armors?

I think mods and pieces make more sense, but it sounds like making enough variety might be tedious. However having just pieces we combine to make our armor would allow more customization to our characters skills. I think we should use full suits with a few simple mods that give plus to tech or shields or other abilities, for simplicties sakes.

So, based on the ideas you guys have, do you think I should go Asari (Biotic) or Drell (Infiltrator)? Obviously I will have my human backup just in case.

I think the Drell as with perfect memory and additional tech support is just too helpful to deny. EDIT: I also just think a Drell would just be more interesting person in general.

It could definitely work. I imagine we would have more than 3 of us? Or since that is the game party size is that what we are gonna go with? And the Asari would count as a "human" if we have another human, which would mean you can be your Quarian and Goatman his Krogan.

Mikey K. said: It could definitely work. I imagine we would have more than 3 of us? Or since that is the game party size is that what we are gonna go with? And the Asari would count as a "human" if we have another human, which would mean you can be your Quarian and Goatman his Krogan. You do have a good point about the Asari, but I think calling Asari human is like calling a monkey a human. But whatever, I guess we don't actually have a biotic specialist yet, so it might be a good idea. Me - Tech/Healing Goat- Combat Mikey- Biotic It would be balanced.

I know it's not really, but Joe said he would let an Asari count toward 50% human ratio.

Mikey K. said: I know it's not really, but Joe said he would let an Asari count toward 50% human ratio. Well that something I can live with exploiting. And a balance party is probably better to have, I just always prefered tech powers.

Depending on what happens with our party up until the game starts I will keep both ideas on the table. Maybe even create all the characters just to get used to doing so, once we have the file.

And I still need to write something for my human back up. I am trying to decide if I want to focus on tech or combat. I kinda just want to do one or the other.

Alan Zidell Race Human Age 24 Former Blue Suns mercenary, he was inducted into the specter's service when his particular cell was obliterated by rival Eclipes. Being the only survivor due to him behind the front lines launching cyber attacks, he ran as he saw his cell being defeated. He also saw it as an excuse to leave the Blue Suns which he want to do for a long time, but could not do because Blue Suns threatened to kill him if he left. Impressed by his technical expertise, our specter offered my to join her contingent after seeing he was not completely ruthless like other mercs. He joined the Suns back when he was sixteen to escape poverity of Earth. He actually hacked Zaeed's credit account when he was visiting, and Zaeed being impressed offered him a job in the Blue Suns. That was the only time this character ever met Zaeed, because soon afterwards Santiago would launch his coup on Zaeed. Alan had no part in that because he was then serving in a different detachment of the Blue Suns. He is kind of hot head and egotistical, thinking he is the best in what ever he does. He has a quick tongue and fast to make joke even if they aren't very good, although he only cares if he thinks their funny. And that is all I got so far, a narcissistic engineer with a pension for bad jokes. Feel free to suggest stuff to backstory/ personality development.

Well, here it is. An extremely rough version with just some of the bare bones of information on characters. Mass Effect d20 based on Star Wars d20 There's a lot here that should look familiar to players who've played in other d20 games, such as Pathfinder or the original Star Wars d20. For those of you unfamiliar with the d20 system, I'm sure it doesn't make any sense at all. I hope that you guys (of which it's looking like I've got 3 who are putting up with all the bells and whistles >.<) bear with me if you haven't played d20 games before. There's still a cubic crapload of work that has to be done. I'm missing 3 tables of class/level progression. The skill section doesn't even cover all the biotic skills (and covers none of the standard skills). The reputation system isn't explained. And there's nothing explaining the combat / equipment sections. Most of those sections are going to be verbatim from Star Wars d20, just with a little Mass Effect window dressing. I also need to figure out how to make a custom character sheet on Myth-Weavers, so there's lots of work to do. I'll start sending out the invitations to people to join the campaign soon, and from there we can get a group formed, and I can assist with the character creation process. A few notes: I excluded Batarians, Elcor, Hanar, Volus and Vorcha from the races section because none of them seemed to be particularly appealing as PC races (the same was fae and giants aren't appealing in D&D). Biotics are a sets of skills opened up by a couple prerequisite feats. This means any class can potentially be a biotic. Being a biotic means diverting skill points from your primary class skills and putting into biotic skills. There are three branches of biotics, but they can somewhat overlap. I'm still looking at simple, RP-friendly systems to deal with Paragon/Renegade actions. The Reputation feature of Star Wars does a good job of helping with this, but I'm experimenting with a few different ways to reward/encourage decisive action, and decision making that will come into play at a later time. I'm going to take Paragon actions to mean: non-violent, selfless action designed to help others. Renegade actions are: violent, bad-ass actions that get the job done with some collateral damage. When people think 'Renegade' I'm hoping they envision 'Dirty Harry' and not 'Voldemort'. Finally, I'm sorry this is taking so long to put together and that there isn't commonly available source material, character sheets, or books. The Protheans just left me scraps of data and I'm trying to piece it together as quickly as I can. Whatever wiped it out sure was thorough about it...

I wish I was more familiar with d20 rule set, because I would jump right in there to help you make the rules. Although I am always willing to help, in what ever way I can. I imagine one person doing this conversion would be quite a burden. Now lets take a look at these rules. Okay I like what we got for quarian race option, and I am assuming that Tech Specilist would be the class I want to take if I want be medic/engineer person. Seems a little strange that a class so focus on its skills gets only 4+Int modifier skill points. And I am assuming treat injuries is everything I want for a doctor, or that plus Knowledge (Biology). But I like it so far as I can sort of see how I am going to make this character, it just seems like I might not have enough skill points to get all the skills I want. I don't really know what is a standard amount for a character's skill.

Drell have skin venom? Ok I guess I can accept that but, orally? Who would...How...Why is that a thing? Are we really gonna see people licking drells in the campaign?

goatman92 said: Drell have skin venom? Ok I guess I can accept that but, orally? Who would...How...Why is that a thing? Are we really gonna see people licking drells in the campaign? That is mention by Mordin if you talk to him while romancing Thane. Apparently they have sleight toxin on their skin that causes hallucination. It won't matter but you can't leave a detail like that out.

Well i really doubt someone will try to romance drells in th campaign but ok.

I really want to play a drell and try to like... rub my arm on someone's tongue. Anyway, after a cursory examination of the document of which I spent a whole 3 minutes doing, things look pretty decent. I will start figuring out what classes I need to make my character ideas to do what I want them to do. Great work, Joe.

i gotta say, the mastercrafting is pretty weird. Paying XP for weapons well.....it'd better be damn good. I also have to ask, how do we use armor? No the equipment, but you know the armor that you have to shoot off before damaging the enemy? I'd suggest two ways. One Armor is used as DR and each armor has at least some DR. Or we could have like the vitality thing that cn only be replenished by having someone repair it or something.

To address a few points: Draken - Tech Specialist Skill Points - A Quarian Tech Specialist will likely have a high Intelligence score (from 16 to 20). This means that, with the Intelligence modifier bonus, a Tech Specialist should have closer to 7 to 9 skill points per level. goatman92 - Drell Skin Venom - It's in the Mass Effect Wiki. I have to confess, I was STRUGGLING to find things and aptitudes to give the Drell. But the skin venom ability is just a minor nod. Their most powerful abilities are, without question, their Eidetic Memory and their Bonus Feat. goatman92 - Mastercrafting - Yes, it's pretty overly-complicated. Those are just the rules for the class-feature direct from Star Wars D20. The part about spending XP is a bit over the top, IMO. Especially because it says if spending XP would cause you to lose a level you can't do it, which is ridiculous. I never ONCE heard Mordin complain about that. Armor - Suits of armor have four values significant to them: Armor Bonus - this represents the level of deflection a suit provides, and adds in to you Defense. Max Dex Mod - this is how flexible the suit is and how agile the wearer can be in it. It determines how much of your Dexterity modifier can apply to your Defense. Damage Reduction - how much damage your suit can take before the wearer starts being damaged. Think of it as to how well the suit soaks up damage. Armor Check Penalty - how cumbersome the suit makes other tasks such as climbing or acrobatics. Applies to skill checks. Characters will have Wounds (which represent literal damage their bodies suffer) and Vitality (or Shields/Armor/Hollywood Magic). Once you deplete an opponents Vitality (if they have any), they're soft and squishy. Biotic barriers are created using Temporary Vitality, which work like normal Vitality but are lost first and do not stack. I'm still considering the rate at with Vitality is replenished, which might be slower than shields in ME, but necessarily so because of how Biotics work.

Joe R. said: To address a few points: Draken - Tech Specialist Skill Points - A Quarian Tech Specialist will likely have a high Intelligence score (from 16 to 20). This means that, with the Intelligence modifier bonus, a Tech Specialist should have closer to 7 to 9 skill points per level. Okay that make sense. Well I have only one question then, what is with this "custom environmental suit" I see in the description? How does that work? Now I can't wait to get my omni-tool!

Draken - In answer, the Custom Environmental Suit is the suit that all Quarians receive when they reach maturity. The entry (which clips the page a bit), shows the Armor Bonus, the Fort Bonus, Max Dexterity and Damage Reduction given by the suit. I'm still making alterations to the Quarians, however. For example, Quarians are going to have an extra 1,000 credits they start with to spend on gear and equipment. However, any money left over from this sum is lost after character creation. It represents the gifts a Quarian receives before going on their pilgrimage. Also, when it comes to diseases, Quarians will be considered to have a Constitution of 3. Which means they have a -4 penalty against all rolls to fight disease. Their suits, however, provide a +2 bonus against this. They can also take antibiotics (which might make them a little 'out of it') for another +2 bonus. Finally, a Quarian might have implants to further help them cope, granting another +2 bonus. Furthermore, there's information there on upgrading a Quarian Environmental Suit to with armor, like the kind you see on Kal'Reegar in Mass Effect 2. Lastly, Omni-Tools are going to be pieces of equipment that you can load 'apps' (yeah, I'm stealing that) onto. These apps can do things like provide a hacking platform (Computer Use kit), bypass tools (Disable Device kit), triage assistance and medi-gel (First Aid kit), communicator boosters (communications relay kit), and a myriad of other useful items, even weapons, without taking up valuable inventory space. I figure Omni-Tools will have a limit to how many 'apps' they can be loaded with. Shifting them around from backup drives would be fine, but it would take time. I'm going to tackle more of that when I get to work on the Equipment section.

I've been reading over the book you gave for the last night and I've came up with a turian pilot scout that I'd love to play but I also have others. I'm in the process of finishing creating them but I have multiple different characters. Don't really want to post them here cause it would be huge spamming since it would be a huge page. Anyways I hope I get a invite, I've been looking for a mass effect rp on here for a year now and this one with the rules seems great.

Hey, Codey. Are any of your characters human? We have a large lack of them, and the DM wants more, so I might have to end up making one as well as convince someone else to make one to reach the 50% threshold he wants.

Codey R. said: I've been reading over the book you gave for the last night and I've came up with a turian pilot scout that I'd love to play but I also have others. I'm in the process of finishing creating them but I have multiple different characters. Don't really want to post them here cause it would be huge spamming since it would be a huge page. Anyways I hope I get a invite, I've been looking for a mass effect rp on here for a year now and this one with the rules seems great. Hey Codey feel free to share your character ideas. I think a key to making this enjoyable is character synergy, in both combat and roleplay. So let us know what your thinking so we can comment. Mikey K. said: Hey, Codey. Are any of your characters human? We have a large lack of them, and the DM wants more, so I might have to end up making one as well as convince someone else to make one to reach the 50% threshold he wants. I have posted an idea for a human character 13 posts up, tell me what you think.

Well, yeah, you did, but you REALLY seem to want to play the Quarian. I'm trying to make that happen. :p EDIT: Also, are we gonna see the Sentinel, Biotic, and Vanguard classes? I see them on the skill points table, but don't see class listings for them.

Mikey K. said: Well, yeah, you did, but you REALLY seem to want to play the Quarian. I'm trying to make that happen. :p EDIT: Also, are we gonna see the Sentinel, Biotic, and Vanguard classes? I see them on the skill points table, but don't see class listings for them. I do really want play my quarian, but being quarian is about being selfless and this is example of that.

I was going for quarian at first but I saw that Drak was adamint about him being one so I decided against it. I really want to play a pilot, so quite a few of my classes have something to do with piloting if not full on. The turian is the one I really want to play but his backstory isn't set in stone so I could definetely switch him to human. I also have a human biotic going on that's a W.I.P

I don't think anyone we have has focused on pilot, so you can definitely take that role and run with it.

Codey R. said: I was going for quarian at first but I saw that Drak was adamint about him being one so I decided against it. I really want to play a pilot, so quite a few of my classes have something to do with piloting if not full on. The turian is the one I really want to play but his backstory isn't set in stone so I could definetely switch him to human. I also have a human biotic going on that's a W.I.P What kind of pilot? Like shuttle pilot, fighter or more warship like the Normandy or bigger. It is kind of hard to see how this will work, but I am willing to hear it out. It will be interesting at least which is all I really care about.

Also how many people do want in group total? I think ten is much, but more then four.

Just pilot, At first it will more than likely be a frigate pilot like the normandy all though flying something bigger like a Turian Cruiser would be cool but that kind of stuff is more war based. Later on once he's leveled he'd learn towards C.S.C piloting (Combat Support Craft) If you can't tell I'm really into the ships in mass effect. The GARDIAN systems, Kinetic Barriers, Disruptor Torpedoes, I love it all