Elements of Nature (A Game) Sign-up and OOC

"Come, little foals, listen to my story. Everypony knows the tales of how the Elements of Harmony, Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness, Applejack, the Element of Honesty, Rarity, the Element of Generosity, Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter, and Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic, saved the world from countless terrors. We all know how they came together to defeat Nightmare Moon, how they persevered under the corruption of Discord upon his initial return. All the stories, the good and the bad, have been told countless times each to countless foals, just like you here now.

"But what you may not know about are another group of elements, the Elements of Nature. Nopony knows exactly how many there were, but it is generally agreed upon that there were at least four. Nopony remembers their names, but I at least remember what their Elements were called: Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. Now, you all know how the Cutie Mark of a typical pony represents mostly the special talent of the pony, and sometimes themes run in families? Well, these ponies were different. Their Cutie Marks were determined entirely by what their elements were, and even changed if they had previously found their special talent. All these ponies were born within the same day of each other, and there were many more things connecting them to one another.

"These ponies went on many adventures together, did many things, but what they did and how they acted affected the world. If they argued, volcanoes would erupt and hurricanes would ravage the land and seas. If they laughed together and helped each other out, flowers would bloom and the trade winds would blow peacefully. Much depended upon these ponies in the world, and nopony remembers them for the deeds they did, not even... wait, am I telling another prophecy? Oh phooey, not again."

---

I think it's fairly obvious what I'm doing here. Looking for at least four players, though I have more elements available if others want to play as well. You can play any kind of character you please, as long as they would have a Cutie Mark (mer/seaponies included). You don't have to play a type of pony that corresponds with your elemnt (Ex: EP can play Wind, Pegasus can play Earth) and you will choose among you who gets each element. Any who sign up after the initial four will be assigned an element of my choosing, so first come first serve if you want a traditional element.

Combat will be similar to that in Mertropolis, and will be using the Racials/Utilities system. This campaign will be taking place about a dozen years after season one, so technology should be about the same as in the show. I also have certain places in mind for each element: Map Earth will be from the Crystal Empire, Fire will be from Apple Loosa, Wind will be from Fillydelphia, and Water will be from Van Hoover.

Feel free to ask more questions, as I have this thing mostly figured out but I'm tired and may have forgotten stuff.

Players - Characters:

Link to Doc containing stuff from IC OP that you can comment on: Link (not the Legend of Zelda kind)

So which element would be for controlling plants? Earth? Water? If it's water could I also do stuff with insects via pheromones or would that require Air? Or would neither of these "not literally the element in question" options even be available? Can earth do metal or gem stuff?

Edit: Are our Attributes/Skills the "normal" way for PT or the Mertropolis way or something else? Are we using Talent Specialization?

Colour me interested! Though I'm more curious about the extra elements than the ones listed, so I may or may not hang back for a bit and see if anyone else wants to join.

Ramsus wrote:So which element would be for controlling plants? Earth? Water? If it's water could I also do stuff with insects via pheromones or would that require Air? Or would neither of these "not literally the element in question" options even be available? Can earth do metal or gem stuff?

Edit: Are our Attributes/Skills the "normal" way for PT or the Mertropolis way or something else? Are we using Talent Specialization?

I could see a way that Earth or Water would be able to control plants, but they wouldn't be as specialized at it as, say, an Element of Life (no this is not what a 5th player would get). Yes, Earth does metal/gem stuff, since that stuff is typically found (surprise, surprise!) in the Earth. Yeah, I guess Attributes/Skills will be done the Mertropolis way (since it makes it easier to get exactly what you want high and what you don't want high less so). Talent Specialization is a Go, since we're already screwing so much with the basic system.

Also, forgot to mention this last night, the Element of Fire will get free Fireborn, Element of Water will get free Waterborn, Element of Wind will get free Airborn, and Element of Earth will get Earthborn (yes I realize this doesn't exist, so I'm making it up now)

Earthborn:

I might as well just tell you what the 5th Element would be (no, not Fifth Element); it is Electricity, and the owner would get (for free) Thunderborn. The 6th Element would be Ice and gets free Iceborn, and I'll come up with more if there are more than 6 players.

EDIT: In place of your normal Element (Laughter, Kindness, Magic) you put a racial or utility talent that is in one way or another related to your Nature Element (Water might take Elemental Affinity: Water or One With The Waves or Element Master: Water).

I think I'll take fire and get a chance to play Stardust (that's the pony my avatar is of).

Right, I think I'll hang back for electricity. (Getting ideas from the game InFamous.) But if not enough players join for that to be an option I'll go ahead and join as one of the first four.

Sort of interested.
What's the free trait for the Element of Air? As there's not an 'Airborn' trait, I figure either Feline Grace or It's Sort Of Like Flying is what it'd be, but you might be homebrewing something like the Earthborn (rocks fall, you don't die) so I just want to check.
Additionally, is the Cutie Mark gifted or needs to be purchased? Asking because it's a requirement, though I suppose the mechanical component could be separate from the flavor.
Additionally additionally, the Affinities are part of the Ability system, not within the legacy rules.
Additionally additionally additionally, new special moves or old ones?

Seems like somewhat of a cool idea, but I know nothing about the Mertropolis system, so I'm gonna look it up now!

EDIT: Got it now, I think I may make a character for this but I dunno.

Accidentally made a water character, but I'll wait for some information before posting

quietkal wrote:Sort of interested.
What's the free trait for the Element of Air? As there's not an 'Airborn' trait, I figure either Feline Grace or It's Sort Of Like Flying is what it'd be, but you might be homebrewing something like the Earthborn (rocks fall, you don't die) so I just want to check.

iDerp. I was looking at the Abilities Doc for these, and Airborn was included as part of the Elemental Resistances, basically taking no damage from falls (is that Feline Grace?).

Additionally, is the Cutie Mark gifted or needs to be purchased? Asking because it's a requirement, though I suppose the mechanical component could be separate from the flavor.

You have to pay for the cutie mark, since I said in the intro that some of these Elements had already gotten their CM's before they got their Element. If someone plays, say, a seapony, who typically would not have a CM, then they simply get elemental patterns spreading across their body instead of a single symbol.

Additionally additionally, the Affinities are part of the Ability system, not within the legacy rules.

Oh.

Additionally additionally additionally, new special moves or old ones?

Whichever you choose, meaning two of you can have the same move, but one new and one old.

EDIT: Also, looking at the piece of art that originally inspired this campaign, I realize that yes, plants are under the category of Earth. In fact, I used a plant to represent Earth entirely. Another thing, if nobody takes Ice, then that also falls under the control of water, but that means less control over plants.

Guys I need a link to genetic engineering, Since I can't find it because of the stupid new system thingy.

Here you go.

And have this too, because otherwise terrible things might happen.

I'm still really confused about a lot of things, so I'm just going to post a bunch of questions. While I'm sure the other players have a good grasp on it, I'd really like to hear the answers from Copper specifically.
Can you use Arcana to make a physical manifestation of your element / something akin to your element (e.g. water, ice) 'magical'?
If yes, can you then use Arcana to manipulate that manifestation instead of the flat d20 roll for bending?
If yes, can you use a different skill like Acrobatics for smooth movements to perform the actions to bend, or whatever each player's high skill is?
Is element bending an incredibly rare thing in this world, or is it more akin to the Avatar's where certain people are more connected but most can do it if they know the actions? (I don't know if that's actually how it is in the world of Avatar, but it gets my point across)
How much can we expect to be able to bend our elements from the flat d20 check?
Can we weaponize our elements with moderately decent rolls (6+ on d20) or is just any sort of bending difficult (simple actions 11+ on d20)?
Are the elements things we've been connected to our entire lives, or are they things that were just recently impacted onto us?
Are we starting together in a group, or are we each separated in the varied towns our elements are listed as? (Crystal Empire, Appleloosa, Fillydelphia, Van Hoover)

If it's alright I'll post intent for taking the sixth spot if it comes into existence...

*Can you use Arcana to make a physical manifestation of your element / something akin to your element (e.g. water, ice) 'magical'?

<<< yes

*If yes, can you then use Arcana to manipulate that manifestation instead of the flat d20 roll for bending?

<<< no

*If yes, can you use a different skill like Acrobatics for smooth movements to perform the actions to bend, or whatever each player's high skill is?

xxx

*Is element bending an incredibly rare thing in this world, or is it more akin to the Avatar's where certain people are more connected but most can do it if they know the actions? (I don't know if that's actually how it is in the world of Avatar, but it gets my point across)

<<< ONLY you four have these powers as inherent in the way that you do

*How much can we expect to be able to bend our elements from the flat d20 check?

<<< a 1 can get you a shot glass of water on your head, a 20 lets you be Elsa from Frozen, but with water powers as well (more prevalent than the ice)

*Can we weaponize our elements with moderately decent rolls (6+ on d20) or is just any sort of bending difficult (simple actions 11+ on d20)?

<<< largely depends on the element. 6 would be enough to set somepony on fire, but 10+ would be needed to make a stone cage

*Are the elements things we've been connected to our entire lives, or are they things that were just recently impacted onto us?

<<< Your CM's changed when you all turned 16, and the powers connected to them you have been slowly forming since then (Ex: when you were 17, a 20 could get you a glass of water)

*Are we starting together in a group, or are we each separated in the varied towns our elements are listed as? (Crystal Empire, Appleloosa, Fillydelphia, Van Hoover)

<<< you all start in the towns you are listed in, though you'll all still be introduced at once. It won't take too long (hopefully) to get you all united, depending on how the game goes.

Ok, now I'm confused.

I thought I was getting to use Arcana for smoke magic (note: not fire or fire-related accessories, just smoke) because I chose that as a power. That's fairly different from everyone getting to use arcana to make any aspect of their element magical. Also it'll wind up either two ways if it's fore the entire element. Super unfair as not everyone is good at Arcana or with everyone shuffling things around so that their best stat is Arcana, which would be super boring.

Edit: I'd also like to point out that people shouldn't really begrudge me being the "wizard" character of the party and want their own "arcana thing" since there's usually only one or two mage types in a party in PT and fire is nowhere near as diverse as the other elements.

If we're bending our element, can we choose to take like, 7 on the bend check and just perform a relatively easy action, or by the nature of the elements they're just unstable and sometimes have a stronger effect than what we wanted to do or just abjectly fail/ backfire?

Stardust

Make sure to add these to the first post so we can find them easily later Copper.

She already did. Like back when the skype chat was made and she asked for our character sheets. Hum's character isn't there, but that one's also not fully finished yet.
Additional question for Copper, are we getting a Power section where we can take an additional Utility or racial trait that's close to what we think out characters can do? (Not a question for Ramsus or Hum, I'm well aware how you feel on this matter. I want to hear it from Copper though, because she hasn't okay'd it anywhere that I can find.)

Sort of, yes, but only to further outline what your Elemental bending abilities are, as to what isn't already given by your Elementborn racials.

Character sheet

I still need to come up with the actual character to this character, so expect changes.

By the way, Are things like Mooks and Companions able to attack? Because I may be going for a "Minion master" type thing.

EDIT: So far that is.

Not sure what Copper is gonna say, but I imagine the answer is something like "yes, but they won't be all that strong unless you make a real investment in making them strong".

Oh and Here's what I have so far, I'm not all that fast at making characters, sorry.

You need to set it to share so we can actually see it.