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I've been trying to start a magical girl game, but I'm having the hardest time figuring out what would attract the sort of players I want. So, I'm trying a different angle. I have a few different general themes as well, no preference:
Children growing up in a world destroyed by man. Like Fallout or The Gunslinger had a brain child with Sailor Moon or Madoka. (Though obviously a little more of the latter than the former, bringing it to a sort of Bokurano level of darkness.) They would start off scrounging for food and supplies, warding off bandits and the like, but as they grow in power would start to make real changes in the world around them.
The Magical School with a Kekkaishi-like twist, in that the students are trained to use their various powers to protect a magical artifact hidden within a temple underground. A little less dark, but centered on the students more than anything outside the walls. Field trips would lead to new dimensions, and substitute teachers may not be entirely human...
And... just about anything else. I'm open to suggestions, questions, and comments.
There will be a system. There will be teenage girls. I never said anything about not allowing boys, as even Sailor Moon had Tuxedo Mask, Kinomoto Sakura had Syaoran Li, etc etc. (Although there will not be more boys than girls.) It will be light-hearted if not a little dark around the edges, and it will be about love, hope, justice and maybe even friendship. These are non-negotiable, at least if I am expected to run it.
That said, and I know that I proposed other systems, but I've really come to enjoy the concept of this 3.P system. I will propose this system as well, to see how it is to the public's liking, but the others (MnM, Hero, and BESM) are still on the table.
A maximum of five magical girls, with a maximum of one boy for each girl. Boys are not necessarily 'tied' to any girl, but they may do so as the game progresses and emotions are... stirred. (Yay, puberty!) I'd prefer to have each girl choose a separate color out of a small list, while the boys will not be so limited.
THAT much will be the same case for whichever system is chosen. This is where the 3.P format comes into play.
This is the Magical Girl base class, as would be used by the five girls. It is complete with feats, PrCs, archetypes, etc. It may need some tweaking for what I have planned, but I want to hold off that decision until I've seen it in action.
This is the Spellshaping magic system, which isn't necessarily tied to magical girls, but I found it very cool, and would like for the boys to at least take a look through it. Regardless, if they don't choose a Spellshaping class, they may choose another class if it fits THEIR concept better, makes sense, and follows the Rule of Cool.
Both of these systems are based on the very 4E-like term 'per encounter.' I don't mind this so much, seeing as that allows me to turn whole combat scenes into puzzles of their own. Plus, I've never liked Vancian Magic anyway. Players shouldn't feel restricted, have a list of combat options available at all times, and be required to think before acting.
It also takes some weight off of the concept of balancing combat and non-combat skills, so EVERYONE can be useful in both arenas. That is about as far into 4E as I want, though, as a main focus of the game is the social interaction, both with other players and NPCs.
Count me in friend. Been trying to play a game like this for ages.
I'm welll versed in all of these systems; though I'd prefer if we can stick away from Hero. Due to the greater liberty for creativity I'd vote for MnM or BESM over 3.p, but I'm willing to play in it if preferred. I know my way around both spellshaping and, the magical girl class so I'm fine playing either a mahou shoujo or a chevalier. Moreover, I'm willing to aid with mechanics, fluff and even story development if desired as Co-gm/ assistant.
Of the presented campaigns I prefer the later, though am willing to play the former should there be more interest for it. Seeing as you mentioned it, I am willing to provide alternative settings/campaign ideas and suggestions for either of the posted settings if you truly want to 'hear' them.
I am very interested by this. More by the post-apocalyptic thing than the magical school, but any would be fine.
I lack experience with the PF system however, I have only played it a couple times. I can still use it, I'm just liable to ask newbie questions and make a few mistakes. (really the only system I handle really well is the NWoD)
In that case, I should drop this here then. I present to you Princess: the hopeful. It's magical girls and boys for the world of darkness setting/system. It should serve us well for the darker magical girl setting should we go for it, since it's specificly designed for games in which the forces of light, love and friendship must act in a dark and/or crapsack world. If we want to play a game with a bokurano or madokaesque tone, this is ideal for it.
Granted, like all else, this is nearly a possible suggestion for the cm.
I really like those Magical Girl class rules. I find them... Elegant. The idea of the Device/Costume thing is certainly nice. I vouch for it!
If "Archetypes" are allowed, I would probably go for a Devicer or a Spirit Shooter. There does not seem to be a way of making a Devicer that just happens to use a ranged Device rather than being a Spirit Shooter - too bad.
If "Archetypes" are allowed, I would probably go for a Devicer or a Spirit Shooter. There does not seem to be a way of making a Devicer that just happens to use a ranged Device rather than being a Spirit Shooter - too bad.
Rule Zero tends to help these situations, especially when the GM already had that same thought days ago. ;)
1) Are you looking for a certain number of players? (I imagine 2 is too few)
2) What kind of D&D weapon would you consider Nanoha's Raising Heart to be?
...yeah that's all I got. Silly questions.
2. A quarterstaff, obviously - it's just that she never actually uses it as a weapon, relying exclusively on her illuminations in combat. In fact, save for archetype's Costume points shortage, I'd probably try to justify Nanoha as a Kofu Shoujo...
Also, very much interested. Currently, D&D/PF Magical Girl class is in the second place in the list of "things I want to try in RPGs", the first being Princess the Hopeful (Also, on an unrelated note, I'm playing a PbP game of Magical Burst on another foe=rum currently, so... you got the pattern).
As for the setting, I'd prefer the second one - Mahou Shoujo simply doesn't "click" together with the post-apoc for me, though I'll run with it if that's what people agree on.
Oh, by the way, both MnM and BESM are fine by me too, jusat somewhat lower on the list of priorities.
I'd like to throw my hat in for interest too if you guys don't have enough just yet! I think for me the main draw is just how much fun it'd be to play out something several steps away from the usual DnD slogfest - the emphasis on characters and a quirky storyline to go with it sounds as if it'd be right up my alley!
To mirror jamieth, I sort of liked the second idea a bit more - if only because it seemed as if it might have some more quirky potential, but I'm honestly perfectly okay with both. Similarly, I can't say that I have a system preference either! The pathfinder one posted did seem as if it would have some potential, though, with the side effect of being very easy to pick up and learn.
I would be interested in playing a Majo, provided the system is pathfinder with that class you have linked.
I feel concerned over something post-apocalypse, that kind of thing is too depressing for me.
Alternative Idea
How about something set in the modern world, an urban fantasy?
Something like Sailor Moon, not a magical school.
Magical girls in a normal school.
Do you abuse your powers, or show restraint?
The concept is not being 'born into a role' or 'having circumstance thrust upon you'. The hero must rise up and deliberately seek out opportunities to protect what is precious.
A story about personal power, self-motivation. The average person has too much to worry about to go looking for trouble, you do not simply see a drug deal, the struggle is concealed so uninvolved people are not bothered.
Do you listen to your authority figures, and leave the maho in its forbidden tome, or are you a curious person who wants to explore the possibility of a dangerous thing being used for good?
Going beyond what is reasonably expected, nurturing the best in others, facing yourself, seeing with clarity, lack of judgment and condemnation. There is so much to share.
Setting: Middle/High School
Financial Background: Rich Girls (300,000 - 600,000+ salary family)
Daily Worry: Personal fears, self-nurture (growth)
Long-term Worry: Purifying the impure and banishing devils (not killing)
Emotion Theme: Purity, knowledge, experience, love for all-creation
Family Worry: Crime, greed, psychology, community, civics
Necessity: Proactive behavior, courage and curiosity
Maho theme: We should decide this together
How do you feel so far, do you like it?
Last edited by Miyako-gozen : 09-11-2012 at 04:09 AM.
Interest, probably as a spellshaper. Will put something together as soon as I'll read the codex. For the system, 3.P is perfectly fine. Any chance of getting the 16?
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So is the idea cool or is it uncool? Let everyone else know what kind of setting each of you likes.
This is an invitation to write your personal preferences down. For example, 'I like spaceships and space wars', or 'survival horror in a confined location with some breathing room (like a ship or a building complex)'.
Last edited by Miyako-gozen : 09-12-2012 at 04:47 PM.
The idea of using the 3.P system to run a game set in a pseudo-real world settting seems strange to me, but... Why not!
Basically, I... like fantasy and urban fantasy, and would count "magic school" as fitting either. It wouldn't be my first choice, but I'm sure I'd enjoy it a lot.
I have a fondness for post-apocalyptic settings, but I seem to be the only one to favor this suggestion thus far, so I'll agree to something else.
I'd be interested as a player. As for the exacts of what the campaign elements are, I'd prefer there to be some sort of fantasy element to it outside of Magical Girls. Maybe non-human races or something.
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I will agree to post-apocalypse on the condition that it is something like Neon Genesis Evangelion or Appleseed.
The world is damaged, there should be hope. Civilization has already begun to rebuild itself, and there is a nation/city state where quality of life there has already returned to developed country pre-disaster levels.
Last edited by Miyako-gozen : 09-12-2012 at 05:50 PM.
As for different species, what did you have in mind?
Monster Types
Sci Fi (aliens, robots, science freaks of nature)
Fantasy (ghosts, kappa, kitsune, neko-mata, goblins, werewolves etc.)
Religious (kami, gods, world-shattering monsters, devils, demons)
Supernatural (dream monsters, shadows, spirit-possessed items)
Let's see some cool ideas.
Invaders from another dimension after a science project gone wrong?
Too much fiddling with the Book of Death calls terrible demons?
Terrors manifested from your subconscious?
A parallel world setup of magic-and-technology?
I personally feel the supernatural should always be vaguely understood at best. Too much control, regulation and discovery and it becomes no different from science. A big part of magical girls is doing the impossible by emotion and faith, regardless of what reasonable thought says is prudent/possible.
Current Projections
Setting: Post Apocalypse Urban Fantasy
The world has survived passed the apocalypse and civilization has started to rebuild. There is a place where quality of living has returned to pre-apocalypse levels of developed countries.
Possible: Non-human species. Fantasy elements besides magical girls.
Last edited by Miyako-gozen : 09-12-2012 at 06:00 PM.
For the monster types, I'd like to see fantasy and/or supernatural, though they do overlap a bit.
For setting, maybe an urban fantasy one. Magic/Fantasy Races/etc exist, they've just been adapted into a more advanced world.
I've asked a friend for what type of monsters we should fight. He's currently working on getting ideas. I'll update this post when he finishes.
EDIT: And he has finished. Here's what he said when I asked for "A monster for Magical Girls to fight that is vaguely understood and urban fantasy appropriate" (spoilered for length):
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"We call them The Whispers, because that's what they used to be. I'm not sure what they are, no one really is, at least noone who hasn't heard there seductive words a few times too many. What I'm pretty sure about is they arrived, in our neck of the words at least, about 15 years back. It was rather simple by Dark Forces standards. Well, it seemed that way at least, none of the Others stuck around when the Whispers arrived.
After everything else cleared out, well, things just got kinda... Worse. Tempers were shorter, Anger ran high. Love sputtered, Friends drifted apart...
Those were bad nights, but well, anymore I kinda wish things were still like that, cause that was the best it'd be. See about 3 months after that... That's when the first Mutations came. It started small still, hair fell out as skin hardened for one poor bullied kid, then his eyes... Dear God the eyes... They... they were like a whole into the Black, the deepest, darkest, expanse of Void between eyes you can think of, but Crueler... Oh so very cruel.
Then other, stranger things, one old lady, one of those nice kid loving people becuase they miss their own? Well lets just say that before the.. insect thing, I kinda wish she had grandkids to dote over... Not any more. Or that washed up lawyer, he... Those wings... leather feathers, I still hate thinking about those... Or the claws they hid...
Well, the Mutations were... Terrifying, to say the least, but at least they were rare even if most people were starting to get down right mean to each other. But then the cults had to crop up, and I started to notice the Whispered, the cults, they did strange things. Dark, foul rites that make no sense, mixing motor oil and tea leaves, and using it to season elaborate banquets was the most normal one I can and I think the main dish was the hosts kid. And I mean still living. Or the Dawn Dances, were they fling random junk all over and drag anybody who doesn't join on their own into the mess. Or the food drives that end with a bonefire on the edge of town. Or the just screwed up celebrations when one among them becomes Whispered.
I have no idea whats going on right now, but I have even less of an idea about those things. There not normal, their not human anymore. Who ever they were, thats gone. When the speak, its a chorus, a mad garbled chors that speaks of madness and passion and killing and revilers. And, they shift the world. Straight roads end where they began. If your lucky. Fire gets up and walks like spiders and sparrows made of mud flap out of rivers. Butterflies of broken glass and grass shavings take wind singing the praises of The Whispers.
But... its worse than that, the Whispered, they... they hate us. Us specifically, those blessed by the Light who might oppose the Whispered orders of their masters, or maybe themselves. But worse than that, they love us. They hate what we do and our Mandate, they hate our powers and what we use it for, but they love the person inside. And their trying to save us. And to them, that means catching us and showing us the Way. ...
I lost someone real close to me that way. My best friend. We would do anything for one another... Now shes Shattered, and all she wants is to burn to watch the world burn. And bring me along for the ride.
From what I've heard, its starting to sound like a good idea after all..."
He's said that the fluff can be changed with mo major issues, and he can provide intermittent help with ideas for monsters and such. However, he'll be unavailable to DM/Play.
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Originally Posted by Lix Lorn
Those who post with ponies become ponies themselves.
And if you stare too long into Equestria, Equestria stares into you.
As for the setting, well, usual Mahou Shoujo setting IS urban fantasy pretty much by default, and I'm OK with post-apoc as well; actually, I just like to play the class, in pretty much whatever setting in can fit. (Though, admittedly, I'd prefer it to be closer to the tropes; the "afterschool heroes" setup. But, I don't really insist - as I said, I'm in for pretty much any setting.)
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