Esper Shift: An Animesque Fantasy RPG - Sign-Up Thread!

[Ghost]

Welcome to the sign up thread of my RPG, Esper Shift. While I am aware that the set-up may appear very sci-fi, it will for the most part be a fantasy story. Though this is my first time GMing an RPG on a forum, I hope those of you who decide to join up as players will enjoy it. As I lack experience, I may play it a bit by ear starting off, but I hope this won't be noticeable.

Great thanks to Siriel for helping me with the technical stuff. As per his recommendation, this thread will remain up for a while before the actual game starts, so you can take your time with your characters.

A caveat, however: For plot-related reasons it may not be possible to join the game after a certain point.

NOTE: Character registration is closed.
________________________

The Story So Far:

The research of psychic powers -the superhuman abilities exhibited by certain exceptional individuals- were long considered nothing more then questionable pseudoscience. Telepathy, psychokinesis, clairvoyance; for the longest time these things remained unconfirmed hearsay and the stuff of fiction and fantasy.

However, in recent years the existence of psionic abilities have become accepted as reality thanks to the efforts of dedicated researchers. Foremost of them are Joseph Zener, a brilliant visionary who's work helped elevate parapsychology into an accepted field within the scientific community by proving the existence of abilities beyond those of normal humans. Those born with these abilities became known as ”espers.”

With the existence of the espers confirmed, the UN formed a research agency with the goal of increasing understanding of these abilities for the betterment of mankind. This enterprise, led by Zener himself, would become known as the Abraxas Project. The final stage of the project was the founding of the Zener Institute; a combined school and research facility located on an obscure Asian island.

As a candidate of this program, you have joined the Institute in hopes of learning more about the mysterious power you were born with. After much testing and training, you have gained a degree of understanding and control of your ability and has shown the potential to advance to the next level. In recognition of your talent, you have now been hand-picked to join the top students of the Institute in the Advanced Class, where you will receive further instruction.

________________________

NPC

These are the non-player characters your characters will interact with at the beginning of the game. Many more NPC will appear as you advance along the storyline.

Joseph Banks Zener: Founder of the Zener Institute and head of Project Abraxas. Most likely the world's greatest authority on espers and esper powers.

Tyler Jackson: A senior esper employed by the Institute. He has the power of cryokinesis, allowing him to drastically lower the temperature of an area, freezing it. He is in charge of the psychokinetic and martial arts training of the advanced class.

Catherine Silva: A senior esper employed by the Institute. She has the power of psychometry, allowing her to gain information about people and objects via touch. She is in charge of telepathic and clairvoyance training, and also the chief counselor of the Institute.

Viir Ikine: A kanan noble.
________________________


Character Creation:

Please fill out the following character sheet:


NAME: The full name of your character.

GENDER: Your character's gender.

AGE: How old your character is. Should be between 13 and 19 years of age.

NATIONALITY: Where your character is from.

WEAPON DISCIPLIN: The weapon style your character has specialized in. Since dedicated martial arts training is known to improve esper powers to a degree, your character will have been trained in a weapon-based fighting style as part of the project. (Assuming he or she was not a martial artist to begin with, that is.) This can by any kind of weapon that isn't a firearm. Note, however, that the Zener Institute does not allow personally owned weapons, so your character won't have brought any along.

APPEARANCE: What your character looks like. Pictures are welcome, but written detailed descriptions are encouraged.

CHARACTER HISTORY & PERSONALITY: A basic description of your character's past and his or her more prominent character traits.

CHARACTER SONG (Optional): Music you associate with the character.

PERSONAL SKILL: Here you may chose one minor skill your character has. Nothing extraordinary – basically just an everyday talent which he or she happens to be good at. Cooking, drawing, singing, etc.

PHYSICAL STATS: Stats that determine the physical and mental abilities of your character unrelated to his or her esper power. You have 5 points to distribute between these stats.

Brawn: Concerns strength, endurance, durability and similar physical aspects.
Agility: Concerns dodging skills, acrobatics, reflexes and reaction time, etc.
Skill: Concerns fighting abilities and personal skills.
Perception: Concerns attention to detail, noticing the small things and being aware of ones surroundings.

ESPER ABILITY: This is the psionic power your character is born with. While the Zener Institute classifies esper powers in three rough categories: Telepathy, Psychokinetics and Clairvoyance, this is mostly out of convenience. In reality, each power is unique to the esper, and can take almost any form – even if two Espers have similar powers, they will almost always differ in some way.

When describing your chosen power, please be as specific as possible: I will want to know the ability, its effect, and preferably the mechanics behind the effect.

Observe that a few powers will be banned for plot-related reasons, either because I've already given them to important NPC or because I believe they might break the game. If you pick one of these powers, I will let you know. Also, as GM I reserve the liberty to impose restrictions to your powers or suggest alternatives.

ESPER STATS: Stats that determine the properties of your character's esper power. Note that since the exact nature of esper powers can very greatly, the stats may mean different things depending on the power. We will decide this on a case by case basis as required. You have 10 points to distribute between these stats, but note that you must have at least one point in everything except Range.

Power: Generally indicates the scale the power works on.
Skill: Generally indicates the quantities of effects the esper can manifest and/or the degree of fine control he or she has of her power.
Range: The effective range of the power. This is the only esper stat it is possible to have 0 points in, in which case the power only works on direct physical contact.
Time: Generally indicates how fast the power can be activated, the speed of which it can be carried out, and/or how long its effect lasts.

("Speed" is now "Time," but otherwise means the same thing. Hope that won't lead to any confusion.)

_______________________________


ESPER SHIFT CHARACTER ROSTER. (Thanks, Yun.)
Falcon's PC Quick Summary List.
PC and NPC Themes.
Map of Kana.

[Yun Lao]

NAME: Inoue Noburo

GENDER: Male

AGE: 16

NATIONALITY: Japanese

WEAPON DISCIPLINE: War Hammer

APPEARANCE:


CHARACTER HISTORY: Born into a rather large family, Noburo quickly found himself acting as the housekeeper in his mother's stead while she worked. While he enjoyed it and his life at home, he found his various attempts to socialize at school to be much more difficult due to his bizarre personality. His status as a loner was further entrenched when his powers emerged during an incident in which he was forced to deal with a group of bullies who had targeted his younger sister. Shortly after, a representative from the Zener Institute offered Noburo the chance to attend. While initially reluctant to leave his family, he eventually was convinced through their efforts.

PERSONALITY: Noburo's stern looks, usual quiet behavior, and his actions may give him the appearance of a stoic, however, once he opens his mouth, it becomes apparent that it is nothing but. Although not stupid, his tendencies as a Cloud Cuckoo Lander and the fact that he tends to speak long after his mind has wandered from the topic of the conversation he originally sought to add something to tends to give that impression of idiocy if not weird or simply insane. This, compounded with his extremely innocent and trusting nature, only serve to further make social interaction with him difficult. Despite all of this, he is extremely dependable and fiercely loyal and protective to those he cares for; unfortunately, his family are the only ones who know this side, perhaps because they are the only ones who can understand his train of thought.

FAMILY:
(Name/Relation/Age/Occupation) [Detailed Biographies Here]
Hideaki/Father/43/Carpenter
Sayuri/Mother/41/Office Lady
Shinobu/Eldest Sister/23/Professional Wrestler
Ayano/Second Eldest Sister/20/Seiyuu
Yuuka/Third Eldest Sister/19/College Student
Mitsuko/Younger Sister/13/Middle-School Student

CHARACTER SONG:
Shoji Meguro's "Electronica of the Soul" [Main]
MUCC's "Tsubasa wo Kudasai (Aishuu ver.)" [Combat]

PERSONAL SKILL: Housework

PHYSICAL STATS:
Brawn: 4
Agility: 3
Skill: 2
Perception: 1

ESPER ABILITY;
Name: "DESTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK"
Category: Psychokinetic
Description: A dual-purpose ability in which encompasses both offense and defense, Destructive Feedback takes the form of a surrounding barrier that absorbs outside energy. Once absorbed, this energy, along with the psychic energy that was used to create the barrier, can be converted into a projectile beam of energy. This barrier cannot usually been seen by the naked eye, with the exceptions of when it absorbs and energy and when fired.

Requirements and Weaknesses:
- While it can absorb energy such as the kinetic energy of moving objects, the results tend to be much weaker compared to when it absorbs "purer" forms of energy, such as natural energy (electricity, fire, etc) or abstract energy (psychic, magic, etc.)
- Obviously, should an outside energy source be too great for the absorbing barrier, it will shatter.
-In its initial state, the barrier can only cover one side (front, back, and each side) at a time, and must be actively placed up with each usage.

ESPER STATS:*
Power: 6 (Low kinetic energy attacks like arrows or punches need several direct strikes to wear the shield down. It now also resists stronger blows better, but melee weapons still pose a danger.)
Skill: 5 (Noburo can create two barriers with a maximum size of 1 X 1 meter.)
Range: 5 (Noburo's feedback beam has a range of 15 meters.)
Time/Speed: 5 (After firing his feedback beam, Noburo must wait 21 seconds before he can use his ability again, or seconds if the barrier breaks before that.)


*NOTES:
Power: How much energy the barrier can absorb.
Skill: How many barriers Noburo can create, and how large he can make them.
Range: The range of Noburo's feedback beam.
Time/Speed: How much time Noburo needs to regenerate the energy to use his ability again.

[Yun Lao]

NAME: Inoue Noburo

GENDER: Male

AGE: 16

NATIONALITY: Japanese

WEAPON DISCIPLINE: Escrima Sticks

APPEARANCE:


CHARACTER HISTORY: Born into a rather large family, Noburo quickly found himself acting as the housekeeper in his mother's stead while she worked. While he enjoyed it and his life at home, he found his various attempts to socialize at school to be much more difficult due to his bizarre personality. His status as a loner was further entrenched when his powers emerged during an incident in which he was forced to deal with a group of bullies who had targeted his younger sister. Shortly after, a representative from the Zener Institute offered Noburo the chance to attend. While initially reluctant to leave his family, he eventually was convinced.

PERSONALITY: Noburo's stern looks, usual quiet behavior, and his actions may give him the appearance of a stoic, however, once he opens his mouth, it becomes apparent that it is nothing but. Although not stupid, his tendencies as a Cloud Cuckoo Lander and the fact that he tends to speak long after his mind has wandered from the topic of the conversation he originally sought to add something to tends to give that impression if not weird or simply insane. This, along with the fact that he is extremely innocent and trusting when it comes to most things, only serve to further contrast what he seems from what he truly is; however, despite this, he is extremely reliable and fiercely protective of those he cares about. Currently, his family are the only ones who can truly figure out his thought pattern.

FAMILY:
(Name/Relation/Age/Occupation)
Hideaki/Father/43/Carpenter
Sayuri/Mother/41/Office Lady
Shinobu/Eldest Sister/23/Professional Wrestler
Ayano/Second Eldest Sister/20/Seiyuu
Yuuka/Third Eldest Sister/19/College Student
Mitsuko/Younger Sister/13/Middle-School Student

CHARACTER SONG: Shoji Meguro's "Electronica of the Soul"

PERSONAL SKILL: Housework

PHYSICAL STATS:
Brawn: 1
Agility: 2
Skill: 1
Perception: 1

ESPER ABILITY;
Name: "DESTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK"
Category: Psychokinetic
Description: A dual-purpose ability in which encompasses both offense and defense, Destructive Feedback takes the form of a surrounding barrier that absorbs outside energy. Once absorbed, this energy, along with the psychic energy that was used to create the barrier, can be converted into a projectile beam of energy. This barrier cannot usually been seen by the naked eye, with the exceptions of when it absorbs and energy and when fired.

Requirements and Weaknesses:
- While it can absorb energy such as the kinetic energy of moving objects, the results tend to be much weaker compared to when it absorbs "pure" energy, such as electricity or psychic energy.
- Obviously, should an outside energy source be too great for the absorbing barrier, it will shatter.
-In its initial state, the barrier can only cover one side (front, back, and each side) at a time, and must be actively placed up with each usage.

ESPER STATS;
Power: 3
Skill: 2
Range: 2
Speed: 3

Updated for much justice. I may continue to tack on more useless and random stuff; you have been warned.

[Yun Lao]

NAME: Inoue Noburo

GENDER: Male

AGE: 16

NATIONALITY: Japanese

WEAPON DISCIPLINE: War Hammer

APPEARANCE:


CHARACTER HISTORY: Born into a rather large family, Noburo quickly found himself acting as the housekeeper in his mother's stead while she worked. While he enjoyed it and his life at home, he found his various attempts to socialize at school to be much more difficult due to his bizarre personality. His status as a loner was further entrenched when his powers emerged during an incident in which he was forced to deal with a group of bullies who had targeted his younger sister. Shortly after, a representative from the Zener Institute offered Noburo the chance to attend. While initially reluctant to leave his family, he eventually was convinced through their efforts.

PERSONALITY: Noburo's stern looks, usual quiet behavior, and his actions may give him the appearance of a stoic, however, once he opens his mouth, it becomes apparent that it is nothing but. Although not stupid, his tendencies as a Cloud Cuckoo Lander and the fact that he tends to speak long after his mind has wandered from the topic of the conversation he originally sought to add something to tends to give that impression of idiocy if not weird or simply insane. This, compounded with his extremely innocent and trusting nature, only serve to further make social interaction with him difficult. Despite all of this, he is extremely dependable and fiercely loyal and protective to those he cares for; unfortunately, his family are the only ones who know this side, perhaps because they are the only ones who can understand his train of thought.

FAMILY:
(Name/Relation/Age/Occupation)
Hideaki/Father/43/Carpenter
Sayuri/Mother/41/Office Lady
Shinobu/Eldest Sister/23/Professional Wrestler
Ayano/Second Eldest Sister/20/Seiyuu
Yuuka/Third Eldest Sister/19/College Student
Mitsuko/Younger Sister/13/Middle-School Student

CHARACTER SONG: Shoji Meguro's "Electronica of the Soul"

PERSONAL SKILL: Housework

PHYSICAL STATS:
Brawn: 1
Agility: 2
Skill: 1
Perception: 1

ESPER ABILITY;
Name: "DESTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK"
Category: Psychokinetic
Description: A dual-purpose ability in which encompasses both offense and defense, Destructive Feedback takes the form of a surrounding barrier that absorbs outside energy. Once absorbed, this energy, along with the psychic energy that was used to create the barrier, can be converted into a projectile beam of energy. This barrier cannot usually been seen by the naked eye, with the exceptions of when it absorbs and energy and when fired.

Requirements and Weaknesses:
- While it can absorb energy such as the kinetic energy of moving objects, the results tend to be much weaker compared to when it absorbs "pure" energy, such as electricity or psychic energy.
- Obviously, should an outside energy source be too great for the absorbing barrier, it will shatter.
-In its initial state, the barrier can only cover one side (front, back, and each side) at a time, and must be actively placed up with each usage.

ESPER STATS;
Power: 3
Skill: 2
Range: 2
Speed: 3

Updated with some minor updates (how I worded the history and personality still feels awkward to me, but oh well.)

[FalconX2000]

Updated with some minor updates (how I worded the history and personality still feels awkward to me, but oh well.)

A very promising looking character Yun.

Maybe we'll have the opportunity to have him masquerade as a butler...

[Ghost]

Updated with some minor updates (how I worded the history and personality still feels awkward to me, but oh well.)

I like it, actually. This guy is going to fit right in.

The family members is a nice touch. I love his sister, the proffessional wrestler. XD

Seriously?

Of course not. What kind of writer do you take me for? oO

Anyway, have you decided on which weapon to go with? Because if you want the slingshot, I believe owe you the same warning I gave RZ.

[FalconX2000]

Of course not. What kind of writer do you take me for? oO

Anyway, have you decided on which weapon to go with? Because if you want the slingshot, I believe owe you the same warning I gave RZ.

I think I'll be going with it, yes. Am I not allowed to go back to using tonfa after the warning?

[Ghost]

I think I'll be going with it, yes. Am I not allowed to go back to using tonfa after the warning?

Of course you are. The whole point about the warning is to give you a fair chance to back out.

[Yun Lao]

I like it, actually. This guy is going to fit right in.

The family members is a nice touch. I love his sister, the proffessional wrestler. XD

Yeah, she came from a random story I thought up while trying to eventually think of a backstory for Noburo. While that story didn't make it, I figured I would bring her over for giggles.

[Yun Lao]

NAME: Inoue Noburo

GENDER: Male

AGE: 16

NATIONALITY: Japanese

WEAPON DISCIPLINE: War Hammer

APPEARANCE:


CHARACTER HISTORY: Born into a rather large family, Noburo quickly found himself acting as the housekeeper in his mother's stead while she worked. While he enjoyed it and his life at home, he found his various attempts to socialize at school to be much more difficult due to his bizarre personality. His status as a loner was further entrenched when his powers emerged during an incident in which he was forced to deal with a group of bullies who had targeted his younger sister. Shortly after, a representative from the Zener Institute offered Noburo the chance to attend. While initially reluctant to leave his family, he eventually was convinced through their efforts.

PERSONALITY: Noburo's stern looks, usual quiet behavior, and his actions may give him the appearance of a stoic, however, once he opens his mouth, it becomes apparent that it is nothing but. Although not stupid, his tendencies as a Cloud Cuckoo Lander and the fact that he tends to speak long after his mind has wandered from the topic of the conversation he originally sought to add something to tends to give that impression of idiocy if not weird or simply insane. This, compounded with his extremely innocent and trusting nature, only serve to further make social interaction with him difficult. Despite all of this, he is extremely dependable and fiercely loyal and protective to those he cares for; unfortunately, his family are the only ones who know this side, perhaps because they are the only ones who can understand his train of thought.

FAMILY:
(Name/Relation/Age/Occupation)
Hideaki/Father/43/Carpenter
Sayuri/Mother/41/Office Lady
Shinobu/Eldest Sister/23/Professional Wrestler
Ayano/Second Eldest Sister/20/Seiyuu
Yuuka/Third Eldest Sister/19/College Student
Mitsuko/Younger Sister/13/Middle-School Student

CHARACTER SONG: Shoji Meguro's "Electronica of the Soul"

PERSONAL SKILL: Housework

PHYSICAL STATS:
Brawn: 1
Agility: 2
Skill: 1
Perception: 1

ESPER ABILITY;
Name: "DESTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK"
Category: Psychokinetic
Description: A dual-purpose ability in which encompasses both offense and defense, Destructive Feedback takes the form of a surrounding barrier that absorbs outside energy. Once absorbed, this energy, along with the psychic energy that was used to create the barrier, can be converted into a projectile beam of energy. This barrier cannot usually been seen by the naked eye, with the exceptions of when it absorbs and energy and when fired.

Requirements and Weaknesses:
- While it can absorb energy such as the kinetic energy of moving objects, the results tend to be much weaker compared to when it absorbs "purer" forms of energy, such as natural energy (electricity, fire, etc) or abstract energy (psychic, magic, etc.)
- Obviously, should an outside energy source be too great for the absorbing barrier, it will shatter.
-In its initial state, the barrier can only cover one side (front, back, and each side) at a time, and must be actively placed up with each usage.

ESPER STATS:*
Power: 3
Skill: 2
Range: 2
Speed/Time: 3


*Notes:
Power: How much energy the barrier can absorb.
Skill: How many barriers Noboru can create, and how large he can make them
Range: The range of Noboru's feedback beam.
Time/Speed: How much time Noboru needs to regenerate the energy to use his ability again.

Edited and updated for Ghost's Stat Notes.

[Ghost]

NAME: Inoue Noburo

ESPER ABILITY;
Name: "DESTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK"
Category: Psychokinetic
Description: A dual-purpose ability in which encompasses both offense and defense, Destructive Feedback takes the form of a surrounding barrier that absorbs outside energy. Once absorbed, this energy, along with the psychic energy that was used to create the barrier, can be converted into a projectile beam of energy. This barrier cannot usually been seen by the naked eye, with the exceptions of when it absorbs and energy and when fired.

Requirements and Weaknesses:
- While it can absorb energy such as the kinetic energy of moving objects, the results tend to be much weaker compared to when it absorbs "purer" forms of energy, such as natural energy (electricity, fire, etc) or abstract energy (psychic, magic, etc.)
- Obviously, should an outside energy source be too great for the absorbing barrier, it will shatter.
-In its initial state, the barrier can only cover one side (front, back, and each side) at a time, and must be actively placed up with each usage.

ESPER STATS:*
Power: 3
Skill: 2
Range: 2
Time/Speed: 3


*NOTES:
Power: How much energy the barrier can absorb.
Skill: How many barriers Noboru can create, and how large he can make them.
Range: The range of Noboru's feedback beam.
Time/Speed: How much time Noboru needs to regenerate the energy to use his ability again.

Power: 3 = The barrier offers decent protection against low kinetic energy strikes such as punches or arrows, but will break from heavier attacks.
Skill: 2 = Noburo can create one barrier with a maximum size of 1 X 1 meter.
Range: 2 = Noburo's feedback beam has a range of 6 meters.
Time: 3 = After firing his feedback beam, Noboru must wait 23 seconds before he can use his ability again, or five seconds if the barrier breaks before that.

[Yun Lao]

Power: 3 = The barrier offers decent protection against low kinetic energy strikes such as punches or arrows, but will break from heavier attacks.
Skill: 2 = Noburo can create one barrier with a maximum size of 1 X 1 meter.
Range: 2 = Noburo's feedback beam has a range of 6 meters.
Time: 3 = After firing his feedback beam, Noboru must wait 23 seconds before he can use his ability again, or five seconds if the barrier breaks before that.

Inoue Noburo: no-seller of weak punches and arrows!

[Ghost]

Inoue Noburo: no-seller of weak punches and arrows!

Average punches, actually. He may also be able to stop one or two minor sword slashes if he's lucky.

[Yun Lao]

Average punches, actually. He may also be able to stop one or two minor sword slashes if he's lucky.

Eh, it's actually better than what I had figured his starting potential would have been.

[Sound Silence]

Calling Hydrokinesis, if that's okay. Full sheet will be up...later.