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Xiander
2011-08-20, 02:38 PM
Hello playgrounders.

I should start by explaining my situation. I have had a run of lacking inspiration, leading to me not GMing for half a year or so. Now i finally have a hint of inspiration in me again, and on top of that I have planned a one shot session for the 11. September.
We are playing Icons, a system which i find intuitive and fun and which none of the players are familiar with. (This is a plus since it allows me to fudge with great ease if things should go south)
I have come up with the fundament of a plot, but i find myself stuck when it comes evolving it further and making sure the players find it interesting and has something to do.
So I turn to the playground for help.

The plot this far:
1) I will tell all the players to incorporate a certain day into their characters BG as a turning point. (the day they discovered their powers, or the day they decided to become heroes, or any other thing they can come up with.)

2) On the same day, or possibly the day after depending on circumstance and the players characters and stuff, an object i have named "the dragons egg" crash into the center of the heroes hometown, leaving a nice crater. (not entirely sure what the dragons egg actually is or where it comes from yet, but i think it has the power to turn people into dragon-like humanoids)

3) Soldiers sent by an unknown organisation appear in town to investigate/seize the dragons egg. (I have no idea what organisation it actually is or how they know about the dragons egg, I do know they have super-advanced technology though)



From here I am completely blank. So, give me any ideas you have.

SilveryCord
2011-08-20, 02:51 PM
1) Game turns into a competing coalition pile up; whoever currently has control over the Dragon's Egg needs to be taken down quickly or they'll have access to insurmountable power

2) Dragon's egg is military force's secret weapon, during experimentation a large sector of their research base was destroyed in a quasi-nuclear event (think Second Impact in NGE or the events on Ragol in Phantasy Star Online), and they have come to reclaim it so that it doesn't fall into other's hands.

3) Military force is a tough-as-nails, ends-justify-the-means agency, but is actually seeking to do good by reclaiming Dragon's Egg; just does so in a mysterious way. The egg, however, continuously interferes (possibly creating it's own half-dragon forces) with their plans and causes havoc and pandemonium wherever it ends up.

Xiander
2011-08-21, 02:43 AM
1) Game turns into a competing coalition pile up; whoever currently has control over the Dragon's Egg needs to be taken down quickly or they'll have access to insurmountable power

I'd like for this to happen, but i might need at least one other faction to make that work. Which I wouldn't mind, I just don't know who it should be...



2) Dragon's egg is military force's secret weapon, during experimentation a large sector of their research base was destroyed in a quasi-nuclear event (think Second Impact in NGE or the events on Ragol in Phantasy Star Online), and they have come to reclaim it so that it doesn't fall into other's hands.

I've been thinking this over, and I like the general feel. I do however think, that I would like to keep the dragons egg rather mysterious. Meaning that rather than being something they created, it should be something they discovered and tried to weaponice.


3) Military force is a tough-as-nails, ends-justify-the-means agency, but is actually seeking to do good by reclaiming Dragon's Egg; just does so in a mysterious way. The egg, however, continuously interferes (possibly creating it's own half-dragon forces) with their plans and causes havoc and pandemonium wherever it ends up.

I really like this. I'm thinking the organisation is a secret research team (think torchwood one), with total jurisdiction of any object of study in their care. The dragons egg was found in space (because all cool things comes from space) and brought to the organisation for study.
The egg itself had other ideas though. By affecting several of the scientists working with it, the egg manipulated events into resulting in an explosion, which propelled it in a high arch, resulting in it crashing into the center of the heroes hometown.

I do need a cool name for the organisation. Is Chimera taken?

So what i am lacking now is ideas for other forces interested in the egg, possible origins of the egg and ideas for other stuff i need to implicate.

Also would anyone be interested in reading a log over the session if it goes well?

trajet
2011-08-21, 11:38 AM
As far as the origins of the dragon's egg it could be the result of inter-dimensional research. The research team was tasked with analyzing a small dimensional rift with the expectation of finding a new form of low-cost energy. What they found, however, was the dragon's egg. When too much energy is focused on it, such as a research team throwing x-rays and electricity at it, it releases a concentrated kinetic discharge as part of a safety protocol. Once that has occurred it will scan the area, approx. 100 sq. miles and will phase shift to an area of safety based on population density, seismic activity, etc.

As the phase shift ends, a similar kinetic discharge occurs, this time causing the egg to crash into the area and be buried under rubble.

The research team wants to find it to examine it more and possibly figure out a way to utilize its kinetic discharge.

As for the dragon effects: When touched by a sentient lifeform, the dragon's egg increases physical prowess and drastically changes the appearance and physiology of its host. The egg can be placed inside of the host's body using phase shifting as with its means of transportation. Once the egg is placed within it's host, a concentrated kinetic blast may be released from the host. The host may also transfer a share of the egg's power and convert other sentient lifeforms into draconic beings with weaker bonuses than the original host.

After a time the host and all others affected by the egg would be drawn towards the rift in an effort to cross through the dimensional rift.

I think a very neat idea would be to have civilians find the egg and become the host/convert other civilians. As superheroes you can't just kill innocent people under the control of some otherworldy artifact. So you have to figure out a way to stop and reverse the process. All the while the agency is trying to get the egg back from the people/dragons that you're trying to save.

QuidEst
2011-08-21, 12:32 PM
I think it's sort of a species-terraforming device. Rather than move in and start competing with an indigenous species, aliens (either from this dimension or another) just chuck a few rocks down and wait a century. At the end of that, plenty of locals look like them. After that, they can move in without any trouble and simply out-compete any stragglers. If it doesn't work (say, the transformed people are killed off and the rock quarantined), there's little reason trying to move in peacefully would fare any better. Either they leave it alone or invade. Just my thoughts…

Xiander
2011-08-21, 03:26 PM
Cool stuff



More cool stuff

These ideas really tickle my fancy. I think I will alter them slightly and combine them into something that fits the mood I hope to achieve.
Alas, i do not have the time to do so now, but tune in tomorrow for a piece of flavor text i have in mind.

Mean while keep the ideas coming. Specifically I would like to hear ideas for a fourth side (The organisation being one, the egg being the second and the players the third). Just to turn things real complicated. :smallbiggrin:

B!shop
2011-08-22, 08:00 AM
What if the "Dragon Egg" and the mysterious things happening aren't connected at all?

Maybe the real cause of the dragon-like creatures is something else and the dragon egg arrive is just a mere coincidence, something that fools every faction interested in the dragon egg or the dragon people.
Or maybe the real origin of all the things happening is a virus present on the dragon egg surface.

This could help you to develop a less straight plot.

QuidEst
2011-08-22, 12:31 PM
Well, if this is a superhero plot, then you really ought to have an independent villain with an interest in the whole scenario.
Your options include:
-Play it straight, and have the villain want the egg.
-Subvert it, and have the villain take advantage of the conflict to do something unrelated.
-Use it for exposition by having the villain work out the truth behind the egg and try to get in good graces with the aliens. (Or whatever- use knowledge about the egg rather than the egg itself)
-Confuse things, and have the villain claim to be the egg's creator, or otherwise know what its purpose is. Red herrings for everyone!

Severus
2011-08-22, 06:53 PM
Dragon's egg is a mixed blessing. Some few people that get within proximity to it, awaken into supers (your players). Others cannot sustain the energy and devolve into lizard subhumans, perhaps with occassional twisted powers.

Government is trying to control the egg, both to protect citizens, but also to gain control of the power.

Players learn that the egg is going to hatch and must find a way to stop it or it risks devolving most of the planet. If they destroy it, they lose their powers and save the world, but if they can just freeze the egg, maybe they can keep their powers.

What will they do?

Nachtritter
2011-08-22, 06:57 PM
I don't see any mention of death rays here.

If it's a superhero campaign, include death rays. Giant, shiny ones with those electrostatic balls at the end, like something stolen from Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon.

Trust me on this.

In a pinch, Walking Eyes are also acceptable.

Xiander
2011-08-23, 04:40 PM
First, something i might work out a way to hand to my players to give them a little information.

Chimera research-team field lock
Case: Anomaly 573

Case summary
Abnormal readings during a random sweep, led to the discovery of anomaly 573.
The item in question is a sphere, approximately 1.4 feet in diameter. I glows with a pale blue light at all times and gives of traces of energy without any visible source. The weight and density of the sphere compared to its other physical attributes suggests that it is not compose of any kind of matter previously observed on or in close proximity to planet earth.
WARNING: The anomaly has adverse effects on any living being who comes into direct contact with it. Treat with care.


8/20/2020
Following readings from a standard random sweep, we located a natural cavern containing Anomaly 573 at 13:54 today. The cave is small and had no natural openings, the opening of the cave was disguised as reparations to a gas main. No civilians have shown any signs of suspicion
How the anomaly came to rest in the cave is still speculated upon. It may have been her since prehistoric time and may indeed have been a factor in the creation of the cave. However the unique energy signature of the anomaly combined with the fact that we have not registered it at an earlier point leads us to believe that the appearance of the anomaly is more recent.


8/21/2020
While attempting to move the anomaly, a human accidentally achieved skin contact. The human (from here test subject one) has been adversely affected, both physically and mentally and we have been forced to restrain him. Test subject one is currently being moved to a secure location.
The study of the anomaly has been delayed until specialist equipment can be safely moved to the location of the anomaly. The delay is frustrating but happily temporary.
Agents have come to nick name the anomaly “the dragons egg”.

8/22/2020
(logistic notes on the movement of specialist equipment to the location)

8/23/2020
The equipment has arrived and standard scans and analysis has begun. (complicated notes on scanning results and analysis of them)


Adversities have arisen, and advanced backup must be called. Our attempt to move the anomaly with the equipment reverse-engineered from anomaly 246, resulted in a violent reaction from the anomaly, followed by it's disappearance.
Scannings show that the energy released by the anomaly before it's disappearance, cannot have been enough to move it far. Sweeps are being done to locate it again in order to secure it. Hopefully we will have a clear lock on it before backup arrives.



Well, if this is a superhero plot, then you really ought to have an independent villain with an interest in the whole scenario.
Your options include:
-Play it straight, and have the villain want the egg.
-Subvert it, and have the villain take advantage of the conflict to do something unrelated.
-Use it for exposition by having the villain work out the truth behind the egg and try to get in good graces with the aliens. (Or whatever- use knowledge about the egg rather than the egg itself)
-Confuse things, and have the villain claim to be the egg's creator, or otherwise know what its purpose is. Red herrings for everyone!

This come close to my own thoughts, sadly i cannot make up my mind, and I am unsure whether the villain should be a single person acting on his own or another organisation.
Good solid ideas though :smallsmile:


Dragon's egg is a mixed blessing. Some few people that get within proximity to it, awaken into supers (your players). Others cannot sustain the energy and devolve into lizard subhumans, perhaps with occassional twisted powers.

Government is trying to control the egg, both to protect citizens, but also to gain control of the power.

Players learn that the egg is going to hatch and must find a way to stop it or it risks devolving most of the planet. If they destroy it, they lose their powers and save the world, but if they can just freeze the egg, maybe they can keep their powers.

What will they do?

This is really something.
I had thought of the egg being the source of their powers, but the idea of the powers being revoke-able is really something. I have to tinker a bit with it to make it fit the system completely, but I really do like it.
The egg hatching is something I am not sure about. I don't think i want it to be an actual egg, but rather an egg shaped object that makes dragons. It might however be prone to evolving in some way. Which could be reconciled with the idea that it might take a host.

I just had a strange Idea: The egg could actually be an alien lifeform... of sorts. It does not have most of the attributes we use to define life, but it is sentient and has what can possibly pass for a conscience. And as far as it knows it is the last of its kind.
The egg has crash landed on earth superman style. It is confused and afraid, but not in actuality evil. It might even be able to be reasoned with, if the players are very persuasive.
The dragon morphing is a self defence mechanism, which the egg at this point fails to be able to control. The same is true for it's for it's ability to teleport and exude great blasts of force. It does however control its limited ability to communicate telepathically, though it is having trouble interpreting the simplistic minds of humans.


I don't see any mention of death rays here.

I promise to include at least one deathray. You have my word. :smallbiggrin:

QuidEst
2011-08-23, 09:20 PM
This come close to my own thoughts, sadly i cannot make up my mind, and I am unsure whether the villain should be a single person acting on his own or another organisation.
Good solid ideas though


Depends on which you go with. If he's trying to obtain the egg, it's an organization. (Shady sub-set of a profitable and otherwise above-board company that has its hands in everything. They hired a powered or non-powered villain-for-hire to acquire the egg, and are offering enough money and "benefits" that he'll follow through.) Anything else is the villain acting under his own power and with his own resources, whatever those may be.