tmnt rpg questions?

*heretic888* · 10-15-2002, 10:59 AM

i have some questions concerning the limitations in these rpgs.

granted, we must try and stay 'in character' as much as possible, but what exactly can a character can and cannot do???

for example, say a villian (like the Shredder) tries to knock out Michelangelo. in the story, Mike is knocked out. however, those of you who have seen the TMNT palladium rpg will recall Michelangelo has a Physical Prowess rating of 24. That means, he's really really frickin' good for those of you unfamiliar. It would be almost impossible (even for the Shredder who also has an impressive P.P. rating) to defeat Michelangelo anywhere near that easily.

I guess what Im tryin to say is: are there any inherent limitations about what the characters can do? I mean Michelanglo has a Physical Prowess of 24 and a Mental Affinity of 19 in the original TMNT rpg, so there are certain activities that, say Leonardo, wouldnt be as proficient at.... do we take this into account???

**HorseTechie** · 10-15-2002, 11:37 AM

It all depends on the person who starts the RPG. The ones here are all free form RPGs. We don't roll dice and go by numbers to decide who does what.

What we do in those, is stay in character to whatever we have. If we know that Mikey is like so and so in a fight... don't suddenly say he can shoot fire from his hands and read minds too. Cause he can't do that. You have to be consistent with your character's fighting ablities.

Another thing with free form play... is that it's easy to come up with ALL powerful characters, since we don't have numbers to control the outcome. So the common courtesy, is to have weaknesses. To fail some fights. And to not Kill Off the other character until they say you can.

If free form RPGs are not your thing, then I guess you can come up with an equilivent. Since they don't have a rolling dice feature on these boards... it might be harder to play a fair dice game here. That's up to you.

**Kali** · 10-15-2002, 11:39 AM

You are in complete control of what your character can and cannot to. Most players are at least vaguely aware of what the character's abilities are before playing. In the senerio you gave, if Shredder tried to knock Mike out, it is up to Mike's player as to whether he is knocked out or not. He may black out completely, become disoriented, get the wind knocked out of him, or it may have no effect what so ever. It's up to the players.

They only thing a character cannot do is be invincible, because obviously it's unfair to the other players and makes the game less fun.

Most of us haven't ever seen any of the Palladium RPG books, I know I haven't, although I'd like to. You may take the points and levels into account with whatever character you're playing, but don't expect that the other players are using the same system.

*heretic888* · 10-15-2002, 12:14 PM

i see, i see.....

what if it is abilities that are 'implied' or 'probable'?

for example, often times Michelangelo or Splinter or whanot have shown abilities that may be interpreted as 'psychic'. The Turtles all trained blindfolded quite proficiently at the farmhouse i might add, so are these 'implied' powers permissible?

Also, i have a question about the 'realism' of the rpg system... for example, Michelangelo in the Mirage palladium system has superior physical strength, physical prowess, physical endurance, and speed to Donatello.... so, for example, an rpg in which Donatello kicks Mike's ass like its nobody's business is rather unrealistic..... is there any rules on 'how good' or 'how strong' each character is. I now you mentioned weaknesses, but the Turtles dont really have any major weaknesses.

*Kameko* · 10-15-2002, 12:22 PM

I'm not even gonna try...

*heretic888* · 10-15-2002, 12:24 PM

gee, thanks... 'ultimate member'.

*Kameko* · 10-15-2002, 12:27 PM

It's just hard to explain. My advice is this: 'Lurk' for a while, get a feel for how things work -- the limitations and such, then give it a shot. If you go too far out of what we consider okay, we'll let you know. And you can always go back and edit posts to make them fit better.

*heretic888* · 10-15-2002, 12:31 PM

a'ight.

**Kali** · 10-15-2002, 12:43 PM

Well, as I said, in the free form RP's you control your character's abilities. They do need to be within reason, but implied powers, such as telepathy or astral projection are allowed. As would be any you wanted to make up, as long as there was a reason.

The thing about these RP's is that in each different game, each character is usually played by a different person and acts slightly differently compared to how that player sees them. Different strengths and weaknesses. It's all up to the player.

As for weaknesses, those are decided too. For example, in some RPs (and this extends to official universes and fan fics) people have had Leo have a horrible phobia of snakes, and others have not. In one RP someone made Donnie lactose intolerant, another had Raph as a drinker, while others, like myself, would never let him near alcohol.

*heretic888* · 10-15-2002, 12:51 PM

interesting.... i think that, for me, i would try and keep the characters as close to the originals as possible..... but mabe thats just me.

*heretic888* · 11-19-2002, 12:48 PM

yup

10-15-2002, 10:59 AM	#1
heretic888 Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,344	tmnt rpg questions? i have some questions concerning the limitations in these rpgs. granted, we must try and stay 'in character' as much as possible, but what exactly can a character can and cannot do??? for example, say a villian (like the Shredder) tries to knock out Michelangelo. in the story, Mike is knocked out. however, those of you who have seen the TMNT palladium rpg will recall Michelangelo has a Physical Prowess rating of 24. That means, he's really really frickin' good for those of you unfamiliar. It would be almost impossible (even for the Shredder who also has an impressive P.P. rating) to defeat Michelangelo anywhere near that easily. I guess what Im tryin to say is: are there any inherent limitations about what the characters can do? I mean Michelanglo has a Physical Prowess of 24 and a Mental Affinity of 19 in the original TMNT rpg, so there are certain activities that, say Leonardo, wouldnt be as proficient at.... do we take this into account??? __________________ "Ninpo began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." (Masaaki Hatsumi)

10-15-2002, 12:14 PM	#4
heretic888 Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,344	oh ok i see, i see..... what if it is abilities that are 'implied' or 'probable'? for example, often times Michelangelo or Splinter or whanot have shown abilities that may be interpreted as 'psychic'. The Turtles all trained blindfolded quite proficiently at the farmhouse i might add, so are these 'implied' powers permissible? Also, i have a question about the 'realism' of the rpg system... for example, Michelangelo in the Mirage palladium system has superior physical strength, physical prowess, physical endurance, and speed to Donatello.... so, for example, an rpg in which Donatello kicks Mike's ass like its nobody's business is rather unrealistic..... is there any rules on 'how good' or 'how strong' each character is. I now you mentioned weaknesses, but the Turtles dont really have any major weaknesses. __________________ "Ninpo began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." (Masaaki Hatsumi)

10-15-2002, 12:24 PM	#6
heretic888 Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,344	ugh gee, thanks... 'ultimate member'. __________________ "Ninpo began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." (Masaaki Hatsumi)

10-15-2002, 12:31 PM	#8
heretic888 Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,344	....... a'ight. __________________ "Ninpo began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." (Masaaki Hatsumi)

10-15-2002, 12:51 PM	#10
heretic888 Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,344	hmmm interesting.... i think that, for me, i would try and keep the characters as close to the originals as possible..... but mabe thats just me. __________________ "Ninpo began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." (Masaaki Hatsumi)

10-15-2002, 11:37 AM	#2
HorseTechie Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Midwest Posts: 5,677	It all depends on the person who starts the RPG. The ones here are all free form RPGs. We don't roll dice and go by numbers to decide who does what. What we do in those, is stay in character to whatever we have. If we know that Mikey is like so and so in a fight... don't suddenly say he can shoot fire from his hands and read minds too. Cause he can't do that. You have to be consistent with your character's fighting ablities. Another thing with free form play... is that it's easy to come up with ALL powerful characters, since we don't have numbers to control the outcome. So the common courtesy, is to have weaknesses. To fail some fights. And to not Kill Off the other character until they say you can. If free form RPGs are not your thing, then I guess you can come up with an equilivent. Since they don't have a rolling dice feature on these boards... it might be harder to play a fair dice game here. That's up to you.

10-15-2002, 11:39 AM	#3
Kali Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California! Posts: 11,101	You are in complete control of what your character can and cannot to. Most players are at least vaguely aware of what the character's abilities are before playing. In the senerio you gave, if Shredder tried to knock Mike out, it is up to Mike's player as to whether he is knocked out or not. He may black out completely, become disoriented, get the wind knocked out of him, or it may have no effect what so ever. It's up to the players. They only thing a character cannot do is be invincible, because obviously it's unfair to the other players and makes the game less fun. Most of us haven't ever seen any of the Palladium RPG books, I know I haven't, although I'd like to. You may take the points and levels into account with whatever character you're playing, but don't expect that the other players are using the same system.

10-15-2002, 12:22 PM	#5
Kameko Sister to the TMNT Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 2,756	I'm not even gonna try...

10-15-2002, 12:27 PM	#7
Kameko Sister to the TMNT Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 2,756	It's just hard to explain. My advice is this: 'Lurk' for a while, get a feel for how things work -- the limitations and such, then give it a shot. If you go too far out of what we consider okay, we'll let you know. And you can always go back and edit posts to make them fit better.

10-15-2002, 12:43 PM	#9
Kali Inactive Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California! Posts: 11,101	Well, as I said, in the free form RP's you control your character's abilities. They do need to be within reason, but implied powers, such as telepathy or astral projection are allowed. As would be any you wanted to make up, as long as there was a reason. The thing about these RP's is that in each different game, each character is usually played by a different person and acts slightly differently compared to how that player sees them. Different strengths and weaknesses. It's all up to the player. As for weaknesses, those are decided too. For example, in some RPs (and this extends to official universes and fan fics) people have had Leo have a horrible phobia of snakes, and others have not. In one RP someone made Donnie lactose intolerant, another had Raph as a drinker, while others, like myself, would never let him near alcohol.

11-19-2002, 12:48 PM	#11
heretic888 Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,344	hmmm yup __________________ "Ninpo began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." (Masaaki Hatsumi)