From: [N C CUT 132] at [TWNMOE10.Edu.TW] (Brian Phillips)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime,rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: GURPS R Dream
Date: Sun, 10 Jul 94 17:10:22 GMT
The following is Carol Chen's GURPS R-Dream Campaign write up based upon
the Japanese manga Dark Green. Carol wrote this as part of her final
project for the RPG course I teach at National Chengchi University (Taipei,
Taiwan, ROC). Comments and suggestions will be forwarded to the author.
Please, don't slam her English - she's a student. Suggestions welcome,
flames will be ignored. BTW, the format problems with the example
characters at the end are my fault from when I tried to convert the Winword
file to ascii.
GURPS (Genric Universal RolePlaying System) is a tabletop RPG rules system
published by Steve Jackson Games (sorry, I forget the Japanese publisher
for you animaniacs).
Peace,
Brian David Phillips [n c cut 132] at [twnmoe10.edu.tw]
Meiguo Langren Zai Taibei (An American Werewolf in Taipei)
=================================================================>
GURPS R-Dream Campaign
Carol Chen
Version 1.0, June 7, 1994
Dec. 20, 198x
All the people on the world have the same dream
Some find themselves in the desert
Some sea Some volcano Some city
Some even space
They all perceive the coming of certain catastrophe
Less than half remember the dream
"How about this?"
"Just stamp it out!"
"Simulation of cockroach...."
"I like this one,
the one we made last time was too big."
"Fail again!
Sweep them out."
The story is based upon Sasaki Zhingko's comic book "Dark
Green." I do not have too much experience to design a paper
like this, so most of the headings here are inspired by Bingo
Pajama's GURPS Dune Campaign. Psionic powers are suitable
for the game, and super powers are allowed here. This is
done in such a hurry and there will be more to be continued.
I am sorry for Hokuto and Ryuon, there should be more details
of them.
* * *
SETTING
R Dream
People dream about a specific dimension called "R Dream". It
is in the open field with few buildings in certain spots. In
Spite of the omen of the future, the other common experience
of people is that they are all involve fighting-Civil War,
W.W.I or II and so on. Most of the time they are fighting
with Yale-the enemy of people in this setting. One can enter
the dream consciously and, if his will is strong enough, he
may go to the world he adore much subconsciously. But things
like this would happen probably once in million times,
besides the man must be tough as Hokuto.
There is no borderline in the R Dream. People can talk
freely despite the fact they come from different countries.
People do not have many choices in the R Dream, actually only
two: to kill or to be killed. One "could" die because of the
hurt or injury he or she gets in the R Dream. To survive in
the battle field, one can either to fight or to wake up from
the nightmare.
R Dream has been thought to be a new mental obstacle resulted
from highly civilized society. The encephalon wave of people
entering R Dream show in a stable situation. It looks like
brain dead, yet these people can still have surprisingly
splendid mental actions in their dreams.
The "R Vegetables" are people who have sleep for a long time
since they enter R Dream. Some infants sleep into R Dream
even when they were born. This is quite dangerous for the
babies because the brain cells should be developed in three
months from their birthdays.
Campaign Style
Characters are suggested to be members of the Salvation Army
which is the only well-organized group in the R and live the
Base. Starting point as set to be 300-400 for PCs who are
supposed to be above average people yet lower than the
heroes. In R, People who remember their identities in the
reality own the same personalities and appearances; those
have no memory of the reality will have different
personalities and appearances, sometimes even genders. And,
the latter will not know what happened in the R after they
wake up.
Special Suggestion for the GM
You can go on in both sides of the setting: in reality and in
R as you wish and the situation permits. Going on this way,
ask your PCs to roll against his Will to see if he can switch
into to other side. When he fails, he can keep on trying if
he wants to get into R. If he wants to come back from the R,
he must wait for another day in R Dream's time. If the PC
tries to wake up in order to avoid the fighting with powerful
Yale, the GM could punish him to roll a -5 for cowardice.
The other PCs will react to him at -2 here after because they
know he is a coward no matter he succeeds or not. If he
makes it, he can do nothing except waiting in two rounds; he
just waste two rounds for dishonor and damage caused by Yale
when he fails.
Special Suggestion for the Player
You can have two totally different PCs if the GM permits.
But any of your PC will not any memory of or about the other.
Campaign TL
For PCs and most people in the R, TL is supposed to be 7
since the time is set in 198x, but it can be deducted in this
way when we talk about those heroes in the R. For example,
Hokuto usually carries a modern rifle (TL7) which always be
used as a laser rifle and does more damage than a laser
rifle. Ryuon can "call out" his sword and makes a much
stronger explosion than a bazooka does. Different
individuals, even with the same weapon, make different damage
decided by the user's mentality/brain power/psionic power.
HYPOTHESIS
The evolution of animals has been controlled by the
conscience of plants. Life is not created by them, but
plants have known the to change the equation of animals.
They have changed the animal genetic elements to improve the
revolution. Plants created eyes, ears, noses for the
animals because they want to know and to research the
material world through animals. And that is why animals have
smell, hearing or vision. Human being is one of the
simulation they have made. Everything actually was done
under the suggestion imparted into human subconscious at the
very beginning
Yale
Far different from other games, Yale is not the intruder
coming from other places or from the opposite side. It is
produced by human beings. Yale is the concrete of sin:
nuclear war, environmental pollution, the destruction of
nature. Developed countries threaten the planet by
scientific and economic power; Under-developed counties
smother nature with skyrocketing population.
"R Dream" Plan
The human brings the world including the plants which create
the simulation of human on the road toward doom. So the
plants decide to warn from the spiritual aspect. They give
men R Dream so that men can destroy those elements (Yale is
the concrete.)causing the doom.
PLACES
Atlas Space
A space above the sky of R Dream. It looks like a little
universe made of glass with map on its ground. " Map"
contains much more information than one might expect for it
has what did, does will happen in the very spot at certain
time.
Base
The stronghold of the Salvation Army. One of the most
amazing things in the R Dream happens here. There are steel
factories, weapon manufactories in the R Dream.
Constructions in the Base and the power of the weapons
produced here actually are formed by the mental power of men.
When the mental power reaches certain level, human desires
will be concrete. These are the sources of Yale, too.
Green Hill
The paramount spiritual forms of plants live here , and
astonishingly, they live in the shape of giants. (That means
these are so called gods. Imagine that Zeus is just a pine.)
The Lake
People can see their identities in reality through the lake.
Jump into the lake, then one can go back to the reality
immediately. But it is moving all the time. People who are
lost in the R Dream are "R vegetables" in reality. They
might want to see the Lake.
MONSTERS
Yale can transform into any objects: food, weapons and so on.
When it is not in disguise, it is a cloud/black shade with
hideous appearance. You know what monsters always look like.
Here are two example transformations of Yale:
Fogyale
Fogyale causes all the feelings odd to confuse people. Once
the warriors go crazy and mad, they will attack their
companions. Yet Fogyale has rotten and decay odor, PCs with
Acute Taste and Smell have +2 in attack roll for the odor
will tell them where to hit and they do not have to roll
against their IQ to see whether they hit the Fogyale or their
companions. PCs with Intuition do not roll, either. Those
with the disadvantage No Sense of Smell have -2 in their
dodge and, if they fail to roll against IQ-3, they hit their
companions. A critical failure in the roll-the PCs enjoy
committing suicide.
Trashyale
Trashyale is very hard to find for it could only exist under
the ground while men seldom go beneath. It can hurt only
after it touch and tangle the victims, so the Trashyale can
do damage at least in the second turn. But it's so erosive
that the victims have permanent wounds , sometimes even
crippled, once they are hit.
Special Suggestion for the GM
Create your own Yale as long as your players think it is
fair. (This is from the master of game masters, Mr. Phillips)
Everything around people might become Yale in the next
second. But you should tell PCs own sense of danger before
your Yale acts. Give them 2 seconds.
EQUIPMENT
Talking pebbles
A talking pebble is extremely rare. To get one, the PC has
to go beneath and risks for never coming back because there
are few exits. All of the pebbles are placed together under
the ground. Each of them represent one person. The one gets
the pebble could talk with the one the pebble represents if
both of the two are in the R Dream. When the receiver is in
the reality out of R, the holder of the pebble can only
"tell" the receiver what he wants the later to know and can
get the response from the receiver. So as far as I know,
only Ryuon has such a pebble representing Hokuto.
DAMAGE
Weaponry and Shields
PCs can pick their favorites in TL7.
Calculating for Damage
As I have mentioned before, in the R Dream, a certain weapon
will cause different damages when it is used by different
people. Weapons in R Dream are symbols. The power is
determined by the user's Will. PCs do damage according to
the weapons they use, but 1d more damage per level if they
have Strong Will advantage.
NEW ADVANTAGES
Penetrating Vision 25 points
Yale usually appears as the dark shape or fog. Even in
reality where it can not attack, it permeates all around
people. It might cover the area completely as it is
fighting. PCs with Penetrating Vision can see through Yale
and hit it easily. +2 in attack roll and 1d more damage.
Night Vision will not work when fighting with crafty Yale.
Identify 10 points
One can help people wandering between R Dream and reality and
people forgetting whom they are in reality to identify
themselves.
Hokuto Hishiogi
The Top Warrior
ST: 14 Speed: 8.75 Thrust: 1+0
DX: 18 Move: 8 Swing: 2+0
IQ: 18 Dodge: 10 Punch: 1-2
HT: 17 Kick: 1+0
Fatigue: 14
Will: 19
Vision: 18
Hearing: 18
Smell: 18
ADVANTAGES: SKILLS:
3D Spatial Sense Free Fall
17
Absolute Direction Jumping 17
Appearance: Very Handsome Japanese
18
+1 Charisma Fast draw: Magazine
18
Combat Reflexes Fast Draw: Rifle
18
Danger Sense Guns: Pistols
19
Drone Range: Galaxy-Wide Guns: Submachine
17
Enhanced Dodge Speed Load: Auto Rifle 17
G-Tolerance: .3G Increment Computer Operation
14
+1 High Pain Threshold Emotion Sense
15
Strong Will Beam Weapons 16
Toughness
DISADVANTAGES:
Honesty
Impulsiveness
One Eye
Sense of Duty ( All Life )
Truthfulness
Hokuto in reality is a student who failed twice in the Joint
College Entrance Exam. His goal is the Art College and he
does extremely good in painting.
At the very beginning, there was no Base in R Dream, and R-
Hokuto was the one leads people fighting against Yale. R-
Hokuto was older, taller and less compassionate than Hokuto.
He was a tough guy with determined fortitude. R Dream was
stronger and more confusing then. It was appallingly
difficult for men to deal with the anguish of nature. Under
the guide from Green Hill, people tried to call out someone
sleep in the cradle of nature-only the man born in the R
Dream could peer Yale.
Hokuto and Rutu the Northern were the only two passing the
trail. They went into the non-consciousness and Lead Ryuon
out of it. In some aspects, Hokuto and Rutu are the parents
of Ryuon. But in the journey, Hokuto lost his right eye and
Rutu her left ear. Before this event happened, Hokuto
never remembered what he did in the R Dream. He did not
believe R Dream which was a fashion topic at that time. And
there was a long time he had not entered R Dream. By
accident he came into R Dream again when he tried to sleep
consciously, and he made. Yet he has no memory about what
the former Rhokuto did before. He forgets everything
including Rutu-the one he loved. It seems like the former
Rhokuto was sealed into the deepest of his subconscious.
Ryuon is much dependent upon this amiable Hokuto, though
sometimes he complains about that Hokuto is too genial and
thoughtful to everyone. Hokuto loses his memory and they do
not meet Rutu soon. It takes much time and striving for them
to find out that they are father and son.
Ryuon
R Dream-born Hero
ST: 13 Speed: 9.75 Thrust: 1+0
DX: 20 Move: 9 Swing: 2-1
IQ: 18 Dodge: 10 Punch: 1-2
HT: 17 Kick: 1+0
Fatigue: 13
Will: 18
Vision: 18
Hearing: 18
Smell: 18
ADVANTAGES: SKILLS:
3D Spatial Sense Acrobatics
14
Absolute Direction Free Fall 15
+1 Animal Empathy Jumping
19
+1 Cat's nine lives Fast draw: Sword
19
Danger Sense Fast Draw: Pistols
19
Enhanced Bare Hand Parry Speed Load
19
Enhanced Block Shortsword Duel 14
Enhanced Dodge Speed Load: Auto Rifle 17
+1 High Pain Threshold Guns: Pistol
18
Intuition Detect Lies 12
+2 Weapon Master Disguise 17
DISADVANTAGES: SUPER POWERS:
Code of Honor: Elegance Disintegrate
14(10)
+1 Compulsive Behavior Morph
16(5)
Curiosity
Impulsiveness
ADVANTAGES:
Sense of Duty ( All Life )
Truthfulness
Costume
Ryuon could not speak at the first time he appears in R
Dream. No one knows whom he is till the day he met Hokuto
who gave him the name. Before he met Rutu, Ryuon and Hokuto
tried as possible as they could to search for Ryuon's
identity but they never succeed. He has no past.