Serenity RPG

[Tim Burns]

I just found out that there's a Serenity RPG, and I was wondering whether anybody around here plays it or is interested in starting a group. I've never done a pen-and-paper RPG before, but I think this sounds like a fun way to start.

[Matthew Cox]

I've got the PDF of the game book and would love to give the game a try - I've been looking into some online systems for playing pen and paper RPG, maybe we use one of them to assemble a far-flung crew and try it out - anyone else interested?

[Derek Gubler]

I've played the system, and it can be a little wonky if you're not completely familiar with the rules. Instead of using a standard d20, they use different die types to denote your character's strengths and weaknesses. The most interesting part is being able to step down die type to increase your actions. I wouldn't mind playing, but between my work and school schedule, my availability is bizarre.

[Anna]

I've been GMing (Game Master - Person who runs a pen-and-paper game) off and on since the mid to late 80s. I was also an avid MUDder (not to be confused with Cantonites). However, I've not played an online system for pen-and-paper games. I do have a physical group of people (whom I aim to show the 'verse) who come together to play RPGs and I just might look into running a Firefly-based verse, course I'm also happy to try out being a player as well.

[Joshua Woulf]

I'm most definitely into playing. I had the .pdf file and can probably get it again in an instant from when I purchased it off of the website, but my OCD forced me to purchase a physical copy which will arrive within the next few weeks, along with a GM screen, two sets of d2 die (red and blue), and the Into The Black campaign book. I am fine with GMing or playing. I've been role-playing online for almost a decade, and playing tabletop RPGs for 7 years. I may be young, but I am experienced. ;)

[Brett G.]

This could be sweet. I haven't played an RPG in quite some time. Let's see what we can do.

[Anna]

Well sign me up. Tabletop, or online, anything to keep me connected to the 'verse. I might be able to wrangle up another person if there is room in a campaign near the end of August if needed as well.

[Joshua Woulf]

Okay, so we have three people confirmed so far to start essentially immediately. A good-sized crew (colloquially known as "party" in RPG lingo) is in my opinion anywhere between five and seven people. I can do online or in real life, as I told Tim, but my personal preference would be RL. So if Derek and Matt are still interested, I could start another thread asking for opinions on methods of playing and times of availability. Hell, if the place we decide to play has internet access, we could even set up a live stream for anyone who can't make it to watch and join in via chat! It'd be the perfect way to include everyone, just in case someone has to work (If their job is open enough that they could devote some time to it) or stay at home due to any reason! :D

Just a thought.

Oh! and I'm not saying more people couldn't join in after the fact; It'd be awesome to get ourselves some new crew/passengers. Hell, if we get enough, we could even split into two different ships and crews! :P

[Tim Burns]

I'd definitely prefer real life as well, and my best time would probably be Saturday night (I just last week got off of working Saturday nights).
One thing that might be worth broaching at this point is who we're each going to portray. As I understand it, the RPG is set up so that you can either play as the crew of good ol' Serenity, or as a crew of original rebels flying the 'verse. I think we should talk about which of those two options people prefer; I, for one, prefer Mal and the gang.
If that were the case, my thoughts then drift to which character I'd want to play. Of course I wouldn't mind playing the Captain or Jayne (being the other action-heavy character) but I wonder if those characters should go to someone with a little bit more roleplaying experience, who can effectively portray a leader. Jayne would be fun to play if only because I'm so unlike him in real life. I don't think I'm good enough at corny jokes or medical jargon to play Wash or Simon, but I rather like Book (especially since I am a Christian), and even though I don't match him physically (the skin's a bit lighter, dontchaknow), I don't think that's really too big a deal, and I think he would be pretty fun to play.

So how about you. We don't necessarily need to make anything concrete (I call dibs on all the male characters! And River!), but we might as well kinda brainstorm and discuss who we each have in mind.

[Anna]

I prefer rl as well but I'll work with what can accommodate all of us with our times and interest. I guess it'll be up to the GM to decide the setting, guess that would be Mr. Joshua Woulf as I don't have the materials and I've found that using the intended system the first time through a new genre is a good deal of help. So Mr. Woulf, you've been promoted unless someone lays you out with a wicked punch (which is a fairly common occurrence for a crew doing a job out on the border planets - sorry couldn't resist). I also think I have a third person who might be willing to come aboard in a few months so we can have/meet other ppl/potential crew/passengers etc. after we've been at it for a bit.

As for the captain's position Mr. Tim Burns, it just might be appropriate to have a leader who doesn't have a lot of rp experience. It'll make the inevitable blunders happen more readily without forcing a plot-twist to stick the poor crew into a situation that they'll have to get out of - and give the crew someone to blame. At least those are my thoughts.

[Anna]

Another potential GM would be Mr. Matthew Cox. I think the majority (so far) who've responded are in/near Tampa, would be a bit of a drive for him (or for the rest of us) but it'll be worth it I'm sure. Course one could start an online campaign, and another a rl, just a thought.

[Joshua Woulf]

To start, unless you all wish for me to create a setting, I feel that it would be best for me to get a good feel of the thing as a GM or a player (depending upon if anyone else wants to take over, which I have no problem doing) for this particular RPG setting by using the Out In The Black pre-made game.

On the subject of a new crew vs. Serenity, I personally vote for a new crew. I know we're all fans of the original crew, which is why we have this gorram group, but I feel it wouldn't be the same feeling if we just assumed the identity of our favorite characters. Plus, I wouldn't be able to have situations where I can put cameos by the crew, not to mention when we bring new people in that inevitably add in a character not from the show, we'll be heading into the dreaded "self-insertion fanfiction" territory. :P

However, I won't say anything against it if the group chooses to play as the crew of Serenity.

As for availability, I'm pretty much open whenever, Sunday through Saturday, due to the fact that I am a college student on summer vacation. :P And in terms of who should be a captain, here's the way I suggest we do it (And this is presuming we all decide to make original characters):

When you make your characters, have a rough outline of their past, but leave it open enough to add in connectivity to the other characters (perhaps they served under a different captain, or were in the same unit in the war, or were childhood friends, or just both responded to the same ad for the current ship). However, do not set in stone how they got on the ship unless you know for a fact you do NOT want to be captain. Then, of the leftover characters, every PC (Player Character, for those reading who might not understand the jargon of role-playing games) votes on the character they feel is best suited to be the captain of the vessel.

Presuming I am the GM (Game Master, though the initials have been used often enough that you should have figured it out by now), at that point I will speak in private with the Captain, who will get some additional things that will be agreed upon once they are selected, and will have the distinct honor of naming the ship.

And just for Gosa and Giggles, I'll mention the character I have in mind if we do the "new crew" setting and someone else takes the mantle of GM: An orthodox/conservative Jewish pilot with a penchant for women and a tumultuous past. (I used him in a Serenity RPG game I participated in about a year ago.)

Lastly, since this post is getting WAY too big, I'll leave it on this note: I found around the time I made this character for the first time a Java-based program that is a character generator for the Serenity RPG! It's got a few glitches, but overall works just shiny, and is great for getting the basics out of the way before fine-tuning it on paper. Plus by this point a lot of those glitches should be gone by now. I'll get searching for it and let you all know when the Signal gives me something. ;)

-Joshua

[Joshua Woulf]

Huzzah, I have found it! The program is called Composure, and it's found on the official forums for the Cortex System (The RPG system that the Serenity RPG and the other RPG systems the publisher puts out) at CortexSystemRPG.org. I reccomend going over there and looking at all the stuff they have! You'll need to be able to run .jar files, but as long as you have the Java Runtime files, you'll be set.

Note: This is not my file, and I am simply passing it on for you guys to use as a resource. Please give credit where credit is due!