Board 8 > Sburbopolis: A game in the style of Homestuck

(+) Yeah! (+)

This could use a bump

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There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out

Because it was about time, we're reversing the usual Hero Review style. I think you'll like it regardless.

The Agent:

Distantly related to the Rogue and Thief, and closely linked to the Foe, the Agent acts in the name of his element, instead of working to destroy it. He is not bound by it, or blocked from tapping into its powers: rather, he is given goals, and left to his own devices. Failure to accomplish them does not bring doom and devastation, but rather causes the Agent to fall from grace: his powers stop increasing, leaving him as strong as he was before he botched his current assignment. Agents have a strange relationship with the constructs of the game: they share a certain bond with the agents of Prospit and Derse, usually working much more closely with them than most players, and a large portion of their quest involves rising up a second ladder - the Lunar Hierarchy. In spite of their unassuming title (and often, penchant for discreet solutions), the Agent is not to be trifled with. A man with a mission is someone to be feared.

Class Bonus:

Takedown Strike ability unlocked.


Element 8: Life

Control over life (and the lack thereof, also known as death) is a powerful ability. When enemies can felled with a simple command and allies brought to life with a minor effort, what is there to fear? Heros of Life quickly learn the cruel answer: the consequences. There is always a price to pay, and a Hero of Life must always give in exchange for whatever he takes away. Inexperienced Heros of Life often find themselves tired, apathetic, or surrounded by a field of death that they do not know how to defuse. Life is a powerful element, but not one that grants automatic victory. Its wielders must be prepared to sacrifice much to make good use of it, and knowledge is, even more than usual, of paramount importance. In spite of its drawbacks, however, Life is not to be underestimated: they say the gift of creation is what marks a god, and who has it in more abundance than the master of life and death?

Element Bonus:

Lesser Animights and Lesser Necromasteries become available. In some cases, Greater Animights and Greater Necromasteries may become available.


Element 9: War

Sburb is a violent game, so who better to win it than a Hero of War? All of the element's trappings are open to its chosen ones. All of its weapons, capable of tearing planets to shreds. All of the ploys that its art encompasses. All of the miseries it inflicts upon its victims. All of the horrors it can visit. War is grim. War is fearsome. War is hellish. And yet, War is the ultimate arena, where the best of the best test their mettle, fighting with the highest stakes possible: their lives. Heroes of War often end up affected by their element, but when they master it, instead of letting it master them, devastation is left in their wake.

Element Bonus:

Lesser Arsenalflairs and Lesser Assaultactics become available. In some cases, Greater Arsenalflairs and Assaultactics may become available.

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Had a small parallel line session today, dealing with Alternalternia. Shortform recap: A purple-blooded troll blew up a starport with a pulsar bomb, and managed to crawl his way into the wastes left behind by the explosion. Bleeding from a hand-sized hole in his gut, he was confronted by the resident of a hive the explosion had leveled, a rainbow drinker. Said drinker tried to get some answers out of him, but he collapsed due to blood loss. After indulging in the heavenly taste of purple blood, the drinker took him in an nursed his wounds, expecting to get some answers out of him when he woke up. Meanwhile, the purple-blooded troll suffered from nightmares where a dark and ominous figure pushed him away from his hobbies, then forced him to kill a rust-blood in cold blood. The parallel line stopped there for the day, but I plan to continue it the next few days while we wait for everybody's schedules to realign again. If you're interested in some Twostuck, be sure to take a look!

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Major, *major* changes and additions to the ruleset implemented today: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vzb40oYMvi5jhFaUtMMORq4QT4yL5MvDC-JSWTSzcY8/edit?hl=en_US

Combat actions are up, as are Noncombat Abilities, a couple new Quirks, and more. Check it out!

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Will do.

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(Maniac64 at work) [Browncoat] ~Board 570901~
All the proteins, vitamins, and carbs of your grandma's best turkey dinner, plus 15% alcohol.

successful completion of the out-checking

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"Oh God, maplejet's trying to be cool again. I'll call the ambulance." - Wylvane
[NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]

Anything happening in the near future?

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"Eet's game time..."

From: Luis_Sera89 | #257
Anything happening in the near future?

In point of fact...actually, probably yes.

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

weeks in the future...but not many...

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There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out

From: SovietOmega | #259
weeks in the future...but not many...

No, as-in, right now.

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

>_<

Wait an hour and I will be off work.

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(Maniac64 at work) [Browncoat] ~Board 570901~
All the proteins, vitamins, and carbs of your grandma's best turkey dinner, plus 15% alcohol.

Currently ITC: Hilarious* misunderstandings within the parallel plotline. These involve explosive powder turning out to be super special stardust, unintenional breaches of ettiquette, and explosions.

*May or may not be actually hilarious. May include heavy Horrostuck elements.

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Threescompanystuck (title courtesy of Snowy) has concluded. It's pretty hard to recap it, given that most of it was humor I can't transcribe, but after what happened above, the situation sorted itself out, leaving the purple-blood trapped with the rainbow drinker (who revealed herself to be the previously mentioned Unirai Stiner) due to the obligations he perceived himself as having taken upon himself.

Key moment from before that I missed: When Unirai opened a girlish pendant the purple-blood carried, revealing a set of pictures of the purple-blood and two troll girls when they were much younger, as well as a picture of three hearts aligned in the shape of a three-leaf clover (not like this %u2663 though).

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Logs covering the events of the day:

http://freetexthost.com/cqbq4pxjvz
http://freetexthost.com/b1svohoawj

Might as well let people check them out by themselves. The humor is pretty decent, and I'm proud of the nightmare sequence in spite of it being super short. 'Ave it!

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

XFD

i might have paid more attention to that had i known that i LITERALLY walked in on it a few minutes into the session

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There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out

One of these days I'll finally finish those classic elements. One of these days!

(read, more progress tomorrow)

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

kanz, the Procrastinator of Stuff

The Procrastinator:

If there is one thing that can be sai

Element ?: Stuff

What is Stuff? "What isn't Stuff" is the better question. Stuff is the stuff hopes and dreams are made up of. It is all the everything, all of it. Except for the bits that are not Stuff. It is the reason wars start and how they resolve. Stuff is important. Used carefully, Stuff can allow the greatest of stories to be told. The Hero of Stuff holds a certain contract with all other beings reliant upon his Stuff. Humans, Robots, Trolls, The Game...all subject to the whims of the powerful Stuff Element. And therein lies perhaps the greatest flaw of Stuff. There is just too much of it. Anyone able to delve into the vastness of Stuff can look forward to a lifetime of mental insanity, horrorterrors, and happy nice men with the special white coats and padded rooms.

Element Bonus:

Lesser Everything and Lesser Everything Else become available. In some cases, Greater Everything and Everything Else may become available. In rare cases, the damn dice will get stuck and give some damn meaning to the sea of chaotic everything.

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There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out

You realize the Stuff element is now canon right

look at what you have done

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Heir of Stuff = god tier

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(Maniac64 at work) [Browncoat] ~Board 570901~
All the proteins, vitamins, and carbs of your grandma's best turkey dinner, plus 15% alcohol.

Homestuff

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SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

The Guardian:

Like the Knight, the Guardian's goal is to preserve the life of her fellow party members. While the Knight does that through sheer combat prowess, however, the Guardian endures. Through the doubts and the pain, the Guardian grits her teeth and keeps on fighting. As long as the Guardian's will remains unbroken, not even the fury of a First Guardian will claim her friends, no sacrifice will be too great, and no sword will get past her shield.

Class Bonus:

Warrior's Spirit ability unlocked.


Element 10: Void

The Void is shrouded in mystery. One of the rarest and strangest elements of all, it takes a very different approach when it comes to empowering its Heroes. Compared to most other elements, Void's powers are practically invisible - rarely does a Hero of Void brandish null rays and shields of nothingness. More often, this element's abilities are passive. Interfering with the archagent's surveillance, nullifying corrupting influences, making the Denizens and Underlings less hostile...all of these and more are powers of the Void. Like an invisible mist that makes its way into a fortress a siege engine could not vulnerate, Void's tenacity and subtlety are as powerful as the deadliest blasts of raw elemental magic.

Element Bonus:

Lesser Clearcrafts and Lesser Nihiluskills become available. In some cases, Greater Clearcrafts and Greater Nihiluskills may become available.


Element 11: Revolution

The only constant across the Incispheres is change, and a few select Heroes can capitalize on that. Less an Element and more a force of nature, the Revolution twists and bends the rules of the game like few others. Knights with the powers of Mages. Bards with the drive of Agents. Ogres reduced to cowering like Underlings. Few things are beyond the reach of a Hero of Revolution, provided he is flexible enough: though powerful, the Element is most definitely a double-edged sword, and those who grow arrogant end up becoming similar to the monsters they fight against.

Element Bonus:

Lesser Anarchaptitudes and Lesser Reignvolutions become available. In some cases, Greater Anarchaptitudes and Greater Reignvolutions may become available.

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Uuuuuuuugh

Feeling so crappy right now. Getting sick once every year or so has the disadvantage of leaving you weak as a kitty. :(

I'll see if I can get another Hero Review out today. Must...make...efort...

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

the hero of revolution:



--
"Oh God, maplejet's trying to be cool again. I'll call the ambulance." - Wylvane
[NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]

Legit theme song of a disillusion Hero of Revolution:

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Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

I feel foolish in my lateness, but is this still open? Might soften the blow of running out of Homestuck.

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SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

pretty sure it's still open, yeah. still a couple of us *cough* who haven't entered the medium... and don't appear to be particularly close to doing so *coughcough*.

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"Oh God, maplejet's trying to be cool again. I'll call the ambulance." - Wylvane
[NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]

Yessssss. Join us...

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"As the size of an explosion increases, the number of social situations it is incapable of solving approaches zero." -Vaarsuvius, Order of the Stick

From: Some_Character | #275
I feel foolish in my lateness, but is this still open? Might soften the blow of running out of Homestuck.

Yes, it is. You just need to fill out the application in the first page, send it to me, and I'll see what I can do to work you in. :)

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

The Blade

The Blade doesn't receive any special powers from his element...which is a good thing, because otherwise he could easily take on the Dersite Monarchs with no outside help. Instead of his powers manifesting outwardly, the Blade's talents develop inwardly. Strikes faster than the eye can see, the ability to hop between planets with a single bound, the strength to cleave a mountain...all of these are talents of the Blade, the epitome of his element's martial skill.

Class Bonus:

May not purchase any Attack Abilities, and no offensive debuffing abilities. Instead, may create a set of Bladeskills that may be triggered when making a basic attack at a certain cost.


Element 12: Mind

'Your mind is the deadliest weapon in your arsenal!' - Commentary in the Sburb program, next to the Context code.

The powers of the Mind Element are vast, and, at times, frustratingly vague. What can and can't a determined mind do? Whie its limits are unknown, Mind users frequently exhibit recurring abilities. Increases in intellect; Psionic gifts, or an expansion of inborn talents; Insights into other players' inner workings; And, with enough training, the ability to directly manipulate other minds. Naturally, this mysterious element lends itself to classes which approach problems with more subtlety than others, such as the Seer, Maid, or Sylph. This does not mean, however, that a Hero of Mind will be unable to keep up as a Knight, for example: in the end, the ability to change the world is just a state of Mind.

Element Bonus:

Lesser Brainpowers and Lesser Psychomantras become available. In some cases, Greater Brainpowers and Greater Psychomantras may become available.


Element 13: Earth

What if life as you knew it didn't have to come to an end? What if the a rain of meteors didn't have to act as a harbinger of an apocalypse, but merely a change? What if every friend you knew wouldn't have to die? That is the Earth Element's ultimate goal: instead of coping with the devastation of the world, its Heroes fight to prevent it. And in spite of having to contend with Skaia's mighty defensive grid, they often succeed. The Heroes of Earth are usually those who stand to lose the most from the Reckoning, and, thanks to that, they are those who will fight hardest to stop the wheels of fate from turning. And in a few cases, what will happen might not be set in stone.

Element Bonus:

Lesser Earthbonds and Lesser Tremorskills become available. In some cases, Greater Earthbonds and Tremorskills may become available.

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

another revolution theme because why not?



--
There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out

Sendage.

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SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

hero of urf better be welcomin' chumps non-stop

--
"Oh God, maplejet's trying to be cool again. I'll call the ambulance." - Wylvane
[NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]

The Thief of Earth would steal meteors or something. That'd be cool.

--
SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

Got it. Quick set of comments:

A) Can you pick one Strife Specibus to begin with? You'll get more over time, but early on a single specibus makes things a little easier for me on the 'server' side.

B) The Dwelling description was missing. Was it supposed to arrive in another PM? For some odd reasons GFaqs doesn't allow you to send four straight PMs in a row if none of them are checked out.

C) A Foil is a special 'new' element I added for this game. Usually Sburb villains and enemies are pretty reactive - you go out to find them and beat 'em up, not the other way around. The Foil is different: he or she is out to get you and is pretty damn good at making your life miserable. The unique thing about Foils is that they come in all shapes and sizes: your Foil could be a very smart, very evil Consort who resents you stealing his spotlight after you started doing heroics, it could be an overzealous Prospitian who believes in 'tough love' training and fights your character at every turn to make you stronger, or even the session's First Guardian, who wants to screw with you for some reason. Regardless of their origin, Foils are always dangerous, because they will change and adapt their tactics to beat you, unlike other enemies. If you've ever seen a boss that one character fights in a solo duel in a RPG because of the long history between them, that's a Foil, if it helps any.

(really curious about your answers to these questions - the rest of the application looked very, very interesting!)

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

I actually didn't yet send the Dwelling description because beyond the room I have no clue. I'll think of something.

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SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

Have any of the foils been introduced?

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"Hope is allowed to be stupid, unwise, and naive." ~Sir Chris

From: Maniac64 | #286
Have any of the foils been introduced?

None.

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

just some advice: don't be all uncertainy and give kan multiple options for the stuff you're not sure about. his answer will always be to choose "all of the above."

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"Oh God, maplejet's trying to be cool again. I'll call the ambulance." - Wylvane
[NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]

So how do you earn the titles? Do you pick them at the start of entering the Medium or are they allocated to you depending on your prior performance?

--
SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

From: Some_Character | #289
So how do you earn the titles? Do you pick them at the start of entering the Medium or are they allocated to you depending on your prior performance?

Neither. You'll see. :P

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

we pick them out of a hat. well, two hats, actually.

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"Oh God, maplejet's trying to be cool again. I'll call the ambulance." - Wylvane
[NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]

well, two hats and a lizard

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There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out

Well, two hats, a lizard, a slot machine and a lunar auspice.

(oh wait, I was supposed to add only one thing, whoops!)

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

Don't think I'll be long now.

--
SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

good. you're missing all the shenanigans.

--
"Oh God, maplejet's trying to be cool again. I'll call the ambulance." - Wylvane
[NO BARKLEY NO PEACE]

Then I guess I will have to be the shenanigans to make it up.

Actually that's not that great of an idea.

--
SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

Session recap...

...Nah, on second thought, **** this ****. It's literally impossible to recap everything that went down here, particularly with all the stuff that is yet to come tomorrow. Suffice is to say, you REALLY do not want to miss Sunday, guys!

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

The discovery of a pesterchum-breaking phenomenon seems pretty important.

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SomeC - sheer explosives since meeting that crazy hobo.
BlAcK TuRtLe grabbed the Guru victory, slow but steady.

From: Some_Character | #298
The discovery of a pesterchum-breaking phenomenon seems pretty important.

OK, yeah this is worth noting. It was a thing. The rest can wait though!

--
Currently playing: League of Legends, Chrono Cross.
Current Projects: Fool's Overture, CYOA: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/60143513

stuff stuff stuff. always too much stuff...

--
There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out