Notes
Construction has now been quantified
-Basic DC is equal to 20 times number of rooms built, with a few points of leeway if the GM feels like being nice.
-DC multiplied by 1.5 if the construction is to be kept secret while under active scrutiny
Also, each level in a field now gives +10 to appropriate blueprint creation. This stacks for projects which overlap multiple fields, but those tend to have higher DCs, so it evens out.
In addition, the game will now proceed on a regular update schedule.
Votes will be locked and tallied on TUESDAYS, starting at 10:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
Updates will be posted on SATURDAYS at 3:30 PM Eastern Standard Time
Action 1: Go Rescue Eggman
Autosuccess
As it turns out, pretty much the entirety of MAD decided to go on the mission to rescue Robotnik, necessitating the rapid acquisition of additional aerial transport. In this case, the solution was to bash together a few helicopters via Forging Furnace for most of those going on the expedition, with some others using Orichalcum suits for personal flight.
The search for Robotnik was over extremely quickly, as the man had landed far to the north in the southern Amazon rainforest. For most, this would make finding them harder due to all the foliage, but in Robotnik's case it made the charred clearings he was leaving in his wake stick out like a sore thumb. As it turned out, the man had managed to cobble together a highly effective flamethrower using parts from his ejector seat, was fueling it using rendered-down animal fat, and had proceeded to go on a rampage of destruction, fully intent on burning his way out of the jungle.
When the rest of MAD arrived to airlift him out, Robotnik was both relieved at not having to spend any longer out in the wilderness, and disappointed that he didn't get a chance to finish the job.
Action 2: Infiltrate the Illuminati's network
Roll 80 + 18 (manpower) + 120 (skill) + 97 (equipment) = 315
Success
(NOTE: Someone called for 5 Espionage Navis on this. You don't have 5 Espionage Navis yet.)
The Illuminati is a massive organization spanning the entire globe, with its fingers everywhere. It is alert, it is omnipresent, it more or less can make the entire Supernatural side of the world dance to its tune with a bit of effort. It apparently has never had to deal with Mad Science.
While the Illuminati's cell structure prevents easy access to their entire network, subverting a few local cells is doable. A multi-pronged approach is used, with Mr. Blank putting on his best T.I.E. and pretending to be a supervisor from another Illuminati cell. Meanwhile, Felicia, Ralph, and Madison infiltrated via Shadow Gate. Back at base, the rest of the team was directing a Mechanogoblin in through the ventilation system, the small robot having no trouble with the cramped passages.
There are a few minor hiccups where you think your cover is about to be blown wide open, but all in all the operation goes well, giving you access to all the information the Illuminati gathers in the greater Buenos Aires area.
XP
@OneArmedYeti Espionage 5 (3/13)
@Moronis Espionage 3 (3/9)
@Shadowhisker Espionage 1 (3/5)
@theflyingbiscuit Espionage 3 (2/9)
@Revya Alt.Zero Espionage 1 (2/5)
@Shadowhope Espionage 4 (3/11)
@Megaolix Espionage 1 (2/5)
@Hazard Espionage 4 (2/11)
Action 3: Upgrade L.E.A.R.N.E.R. to Mk 1.5.4
Roll 77 + 14 (manpower) + 120 (skill) = 211
EPIC SUCCESS
The new 1.5.4 model of the L.E.A.R.N.E.R is a huge improvement over the previous model. With the help of a vast array of colleagues that were also Mad Scientists, Viper Jaminson was finally able to overcome the last few barriers in his way and develop a new model of his neural implant that could over time improve
all skills, not just those related to research and development. In addition, it was about five times more effective a learning aid, and probably close to the peak of what could be done to improve what is otherwise a purely conventional brain. And of course appropriate safety measures in place to ensure that it doesn't go haywire and fry the brains of the scientists in question if hit with an EMP or just over time, secondary things like those are also improved or put in place.
In addition, since work was completed ahead of schedule, the team looked into the original device's tendency to delete memories, and how it did so. They then came up with a way to very selectively delete or alter memories without an invasive implant being required, as an added benefit of the research. However, it's not yet a technology that can be easily used in the field even with extensive preparation and extra time, and if used more than a little on a target it can have... significant repercussions.
(L.E.A.R.N.E.R 1.5.4 developed. Adds .5 XP to each action undertaken. MAD can now selectively edit and delete memories if needed, although there are limitations.)
XP
@ConfusedPotato Research 7 (6.3/17)
@
EternalStruggle Research 2 (3/7)
@
rolling-the-dice Research 4 (6/11)
@
OneArmedYeti Research 2 (3/7)
@
Moronis Research 2 (4/7)
@
PurposefulZephyr Research 4 (3/11)
@D.D. Spectator Research 3 (1/9)
Action 4: Acquire Luján Partido Bunker
Roll 25 + 32 (manpower) + 100 (skill) = 157
Success
It's not very big yet, barely as big as the Pilar office building, but MAD now has its very own supervillain base buried beneath Argentina's soil very close to its capital. Plus, if need-be the facility can easily be expanded.
Base Get!
Luján Partido Bunker
co-ordinates: -37.48, -59.05
Size: 8
Concealment: 5
Fortification: 6
Rooms
-1 Storeroom
-2 Laboratories
-1 Workroom
-1 Security Checkpoint
-1 Garage
-1 Infirmary
-1 Robot Maintenance Hub
XP
@Void Stalker Operations 2 (2/7)
@Rotekian Operations 4 (2/11)
@rolling-the-dice Operations 1 (1/5)
@Space Jawa Operations 2 (1/7)
@D.D. Spectator Operations 0 (1/3)
Action 5: Study Dream Creatures
Roll 78 + 8 (manpower) + 60 (skill) + 14 (equipment) + 40 (???) = 200
EPIC SUCCESS
Courtesy of an array of Dimensional and Anomalous Energy sensors, observation of the Dreamplane is pretty straightforward. You easily get a pretty basic picture of the Dream Creature life cycle; it starts when someone has a particularly vivid dream, which can spawn anywhere between one and twenty Dream Creatures. These Dream Creatures have barely any existence at all, and most fizzle out within a few days.
However, some of them manage to slip back into another Dream, increasing in power and picking up some thematic elements from the Dream in question. The Dream Creatures notably also seem to grow in intelligence and personality as they participate in Dreams, as their behavior gets more complex. After a certain point, Dream Creatures However, before you can fully take this train of thought to its logical conclusion, you notice one particularly anomalous Dream Creature.
Resembling a mechanical dragon, this creature is far more powerful than the other Dream Creatures around. Even more worryingly, it seems to be building something resembling a portal generator, rendering down its fellow Dream Creatures for raw materials. Given the maniacal cackling and general behavior, it's pretty clear you have a Mad Dream Creature on your hands.
Even more worryingly, the thing apparently seems to know you're watching, as parts of its 'lab' begin flashing in morse code, saying
HELLO SHAPERS I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A DEAL I WANT ACCESS TO THE MATERIAL PLANE YOUR DATA ON IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO MY EFFORTS IN RETURN I WILL SHARE MY INFORMATION ON THE BIOLOGY AND PHYSICS OF THIS PLANE
Data Gained
-Dream Creature Life Cycle
-Awakened Dreams
-The Awakened Madness
Well, now what?
XP
@Void Stalker Research 4 (6/11)
@theflyingbiscuit Research 2 (5/7)
@Space Jawa Research 3 (3/9)
@Painfulldarksoul Research 3 (1/9)
Action 6: Upgrade Pandora Orb
Roll 82 + 8 (manpower) + 60 (skill) + 50 (fields) = 200
EPIC SUCCESS
The project to upgrade the Pandora Orb is now a roaring success. The issues with the Black Blood have all been fully resolved, with it now healing the orb's host expeditiously and without major issues, though they don't heal at combat-relevant speeds. Even better, the orb is smarter about integrating new versions of equipment, meaning that you don't need to first un-integrate a blueprint to make room for a new one; you can just integrate a new piece of equipment, and if there isn't room, the Pandora Orb can harmlessly expel the old equipment through the host's stool, with the host getting to chose which equipment to jettison. Even better, it can easily displace older models of Pandora Orb, allowing those with the original version to painlessly get access to the new model's functionality.
Blueprint Gained: V3 Pandora Orb; can integrate up to 5 blueprints into host (doubling effectiveness), doubles healing rate, can swap out integrated blueprints without first spending actions to un-integrate existing components.
XP
@Ylamona Research 2 (5/7)
@Phasehand Research 2 (5/7)
@Shadowhisker Research 5 (5/13)
@Keeper Of Storms Research 3 (7/9)
Action 7: Acquire the Mine
Roll 22 + 230 (manpower) + 1135 (skill) = 1387
EPIC SUCCESS
The new base in the mine is built. It's the most built anything has ever been. It qualifies for above 100% being built. It is incredibly built. Wow, people are saying, that mine is really built. Luckily, the foolish ecology activists were, despite being extremists, actually okay with technology and genetic modification and such, many being huge fans of Fairweather Agricultural, so when the connection is made public they shut their trap immediately. This allows the group to get to work, and get to work they did, going at record speeds. Funds are now rather strained with this combined with the hired workforce that will stay on for another fortnight, so few if any further employees can be hired for the duration, but the results are unarguably worth it.
It was difficult to hide the robotic workers and the nature of some of the built rooms from the contracted labor, but in the end could be done without less of effectiveness. A significant base has sprung up, and further investigation into the mine has showed that with the application of mad science, there are actually several deposits of minerals other than iron and copper that can be extracted, and of course the sizable caverns of the site make it a large base with minimal effort on the part of MAD. All in all, a smashing success.
(Result: New base acquired, Size 12. Rooms: Storeroom (1), Lab (2), Workroom, Garage, Infirmary, Training Room, Robot Maintenance Hub, Security Checkpoint. Mining is occurring separate from the room structure, bringing in an income of raw materials. Failures where the cause/consequence would be lack of resources and lack of resources events lessened in severity significantly.)
XP
@them8 Operations 5 (3/13)
@Bass11 Operation 3 (4/9)
@Umi-san Operation 3 (2/9)
@trekbook Operations 5 (3/13)
Action 8: Develop Skillsoft
Roll 54 + 6 (manpower) + 40 (skill) = 100
Success
Dr. Navarre returned to his work of crafting .nsm files, and this time enlisted the help of two of his colleagues to do so. With triple the science the work gets done three times as fast! Or rather in this case gets done at all. By the end of the week, the .nsm format files are fully operational, and after a brief operation to implant a Neurocomputer (which doesn't conflict with the new L.E.A.R.N.E.R design, thankfully) up to three skill files can be uploaded into the brain of the individual. However, they only benefit those without any aptitude in that skill. Yet that's hardly the true point of this design. Fellow scientists can donate their skills to the network, and these are much superior to the generic files currently available, assuming the scientist has any skill at all in the relevant area.
(Neurocomputer Skill Memory files (.nsm) can be crafted and uploaded to the Neurocomputer once per turn. The Neurocomputer can only hold 3 Skill files at a time, barring further upgrades or improved versions. Currently, NSM files are limited to a
+1 in a single Skill category (Research, Operations, Espionage, or Combat). However, if players so choose, they can donate their skills as well via an Operations action, effectively creating a "Super NSM file" with a skill bonus of whatever number the player has in a particular skill. However, if an individual has a skill level equal to or greater than that of the bonus, .nsm files don't help.)
XP
@Genon Research 3 (1/9)
@
Painfulldarksoul Research 3 (1/9)
@
Hazard Research 2 (4/7)
Action 9: Advance Understanding of Nanotechnology
Roll 48 + 6 (manpower) + 30 (skill) = 84
Success
The art of making machines and materials at a very small scale, Nanotechnology is a very broad field, that overlaps with a lot of others. Modern integrated circuits are nanotechnology, some of the strongest materials on the planet such as carbon nanotubes and graphene are nanotechnology, and by some metrics living cells are nanotechnology. Thus, improving your understanding of how things work at very small scales will greatly improve MAD's abilities to blend these fields together.
Field Advanced: Nanotechnology
XP
@Ylamona Research 2 (6/7)
@Phasehand Research 2 (6/7)
@Shadowhope Research 2 (5/7)
Action 10: Upgrade Angelfield to Mk 2.3.7 98 + 6 (manpower) + 55 (skill) = 159
EPIC SUCCESS
Congratulations!! You've taken the first step to actually effective immortality! Upon being installed, the Angelfield 1.7.2 (don't ask about 1.7.1) creates and retains a detailed model of the host's body and thereafter passively works to restore functionality and reverse the gross damage caused by injury, inflammation, bacterial diseases, and some viruses. Subtle damage, like that resulting from some other viruses, radiation, aging, thinking, breathing, etc., is as of yet not healed (see Angelfield 1.7.1, notes). Dependent on possessing sufficient resources, repairs can happen rapidly. Regrettably, some aspects of injuries require time to iterate through proper tissue, cellular, and molecular alignment and the Angelfield's model is still an assailable weakness if not monitored and subsequently repaired by a sufficiently intelligent being.
@ConfusedPotato Research 7 (5.2/17) -> Research 7 (7.2, 17)
@EternalStruggle Research 2 (2/7) -> Research 2 (4/7)
@Megaolix Research 2 (4/7) -> Research 2 (6/7)
Action 11: Research Time
Roll 45 + 4 (manpower) + 25 (skill) = 74
Failure
The very next morning after the decision was made to continue research into how to make time do things, the participants (DeDeDe and Waldo) were found dead. It was very obviously a deliberate killing, as there are fragments of expanding bullets inside the brains of both participants. Further, whoever did this was extremely thorough, causing sufficient brain damage that the two of them won't be restorable to any state remotely resembling what they were pre-incident without either extensive reconstruction (at which point you're basically just making a wetware AI in their image), or an external backup (which neither of them had).
Casualties
@Lizard Knight (Make a new Character)
@dunk1010 (Make a new Character)
Action 12: Design Comprehensive Risk Assessment Model 7 + 4 (manpower) + 40 (skill) = 51
Failure
Ironically, the Comprehensive Risk Assessment Model couldn't assess the risk of stripping open walls to insert new - and apparently unprotected wiring -, of CRAMming donuts into the various orifices of the core hardware nor, indeed, of having a litter of kittens in a conveniently sized but noisy cubby. Thankfully for the base, fire alarms and water sprinklers were installed first. Regrettably, this saved neither CRAM nor the cat minion inside it from a painful, fiery death.
One (1) member of the
multitude that is the Unusual Stray Cat Colony fallen. All research progress lost, some hardware progress retained (reduced difficulty for implementation).
@PurposefulZephyr Research 4 (2/11) -> Research 4 (3/11)
@Bass11 Research 4 (3/11) -> Research 4 (4/11)
Action 13: Design Integrated Teleporter 23 + 4 (manpower) + 20 (skill) = 47
Failure
The teleporter became sentient and teleported both your notes and the "volunteer" intern it was integrated in with it into oblivion, probably. Neither of you really understand what happened quite yet.
Lost(?): Progress.
Intern. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@them8 Research 2 (2/7) -> Research 2 (3/7)
@trekbook Research 2 (2/7) -> Research 2 (3/7)
Action 14: Improve Replicator Hub 42 + 16 (manpower) + 115 (skill) = 173
EPIC SUCCESS
The combination of two decently skilled people and a three-times the amount of only slightly less skilled (non-people) digital intelligences equals a group very well suited for reducing the cost of a room that makes (non-people) robots. The robotic laser machines and robot-part-making machines and robot-piecing-together machines and robot machines still take up room though.
The Replicator Hub now costs the same as a Forging Furnace. Still a Room. Still has laser turrets.
@Trondason Research 4 (2/11) -> Research 4 (4/11)
@Speed53066 Research 4 (1/11) -> Research 4 (3/11)
Action 15: Improve Dryads
Roll 74 + 4 (manpower) + 35 (skill) + 30 (fields) = 143
Success
The new Dryads are a complete success! The plant-based clones are now completely indistiguishable from a human in both appearance and behavior when fully grown, and far more obedient to boot, at least as long as the one giving the orders has been implanted with the appropriate pheromone gland. With the appropriate skillsofts, chances are that MAD could completely eliminate the need for hired minions. That said, they still need a couple weeks to grow to maturity, but that's biological constructs for you.
Blueprint: Dryad V2 (2 skill ranks to distribute as chosen to any skill, can pass for human, can use equipment, maturation time 2 weeks)
XP
@Umi-san Research 4 (4/11)
@dunk1010 Research 3 (5/9)
Action 16: Integrate Pandora Orbs: Orichalcum V1, Time-Stop Button, Net Navi, Computerized Reality Model, Dynacap Capsule (ALERT! They're trying to integrate a Minion. How will that work?) 56 + 6 (manpower) + 50 (skill) = 112
Autosuccess
You've made two archetypes for integrated Pandora Orbs: One with a bunch of stuff and no Black Blood and One with a bunch of stuff including Black Blood.
The integrated Net Navi's are now housed in the orb. While still capable of participating in research efforts remotely when they can reach the target data over a wireless network, EM blockage, distance, and damage to the host may interrupt their contribution and endanger the digital entity.
The Dynacap Capsule was used to hold the various, quite sizable parts. The impact of such a containment method on their effectiveness and, indeed, the actual effectiveness of the various parts is yet to be field-tested.
Only time will tell whether or not including unrefined Black Blood was a wise choice.
No XP Gained; Free Action.
@Trondason Research 4 (4/11)
@Speed53066 Research 4 (3/11)
@Phasehand Research 2 (4/7)
Action 17: Integrate the Dynacap System with all of MAD's equipment 15 + 4 (manpower) + 40 (skill) = 59
Minor Failure
Regrettably, such an undertaking is not easy and eventually both of the scientists who tried their hands at it gave up.
No progress made.
@Trondason Research 4 (4/11) -> Research 4 (5/11)
@Speed53066 Research 4 (3/11) -> Research 4 (4/11)
Action 18: Combat Training 45 + 2 (manpower) + 5 (skill) - 50 (lone wolf) = 2
Failure
You went into a training room all alone, looked at yourself in the mirror, and then punched it. This, surprisingly, did nothing to the mirror but a lot to your hand.
Injured, 2 Weeks.
@Genon Combat 1 (0/5)
Action 19: Design Stationary SEP
Roll 2 + 2 (manpower) + 15 (skill) - 50 (lone wolf) = -31
Failure
The one thing you did not do was show them all. You showed nobody anything, because the stationary SEP design did work. For about five seconds. Then it exploded. It
just exploded without enough force to overpower the SEP Field, and the design
just worked well enough and had weird interactions with some upgrades you had idly thought about and not been warned off of that the field remained in place for a few minutes after the generator's destruction. This was bad because it meant prompt medical attention was not available, and that was unfortunate because you were peppered with flaming shrapnel. After the field did finally fall, your colleagues came to your aid and rushed you to the infirmary, but by then the damage was done. Luckily, with MAD's advanced biological action you would only be partly out of action for a week, and then just somewhat injured for three more, but this was still a setback. Good thing the SEP wasn't at all designed to explode, otherwise you'd be dust and ashes.
(
@Revya Alt.Zero Crippled for one turn and
Injured for three turns afterwards.)
XP
None (Lone Wolf)
Action 20: Upgrade Shadow Gate
Roll 26 + 2 (manpower) + 15 (skill) - 50 (lone wolf) = -7
Failure
The upgraded Shadow Gate likewise violently detonated, although in this case it was an implosion. Luckily it didn't unleash horrific shadow demons or anything, but the shockwave as it finished wiping itself from existence slammed you into a wall, breaking a few bones in the process. Fortunately there was nothing too important broken, nor was there bleeding, and you also received quicker medical attention. You're back on your feet quickly, although you maybe shouldn't go into the field in the near future.
(
@Keeper Of Storms Injured for two turns.)
XP
None (Lone Wolf)
Action 21: Design Yin-Yang Shadow Crystal Fusor
Roll 23 + 2 (manpower) + 10 (skill) - 50 (lone wolf) = -15
Failure
Since your design called for material from the shadow dimension, you were naturally intrigued by the possibility of a better Shadow Gate, and as such stopped by that part of the lab regularly, even if you were too preoccupied with other projects to actually help. This also meant you suffered the same fate as Harlequin when the device imploded, and you broke a similar amount of bones in similar places.
(
@Rotekian Injured for two turns.)
XP
None (Lone Wolf)
Action 22: Hire Skilled Workers
Roll 55 + 2 (manpower) + 15 (skill) = 72
Success
You very skillfully hire many, many workers. Well, only a hundred, but under the guiding hands of a mad scientist these hundred could probably outperform any other group of skilled labor on the entire planet. Unless that other group was also being guided by mad scientists, but still. You just hire them on for a very short contract of three weeks, which has them wondering what they're supposed to do in just three weeks. The answer is build an outpost in a mine, but that leaves them doubtful. After all, how could they do that in just three weeks? Well, they end up doing all the basics in one, so that shows them for daring to doubt you!
XP
None (lone Wolf)
Illuminati Report
This is the information you have gained from the Illuminati this week.
-Supernatural Demographics near Buenos Aires
--
Wizards
---310 unaffiliated independents
---102 solo operators associated with one group or another
---6 unaffiliated groups
---2 groups connected to the Arcane Society of Merlin
---4 groups connected to the Neo-Aztec Council
---3 groups connected to the Atlantean Inheritors
---1 group connected to the Pàiduì xiàngdǎo dìngdān, a wizard society connected to the Chinese Communist Party
--
Werewolves
---239 unaffiliated specimens
---22 packs of 4-8 members on average
--
Vampires
---16 nests of Vampires, averaging 6-10 members
---87 unaffiliated Vampires
--
Dream Creatures
---The presence of Mad Dreams has been noticed, but the Illuminati really has bigger problems
--
Cultists
---Over the past year, there have been 107 cults to the Old Powers in the Buenos Aires area. Usual lifespan after discovery is <1 week.
--
Aliens
---There are four attempted alien infiltrators in Illuminati custody within the Buenos Aires area
---There are 18 suspected aliens currently at large in Greater Buenos Aires
---Intelligence indicates that there are two major interstellar powers with interests on Earth, currently at war with each other.
Illuminati perspective on Mad Scientists
-The Illuminati has had several encounters with Mad Science over the past month, but still isn't sure how it works
--They know of MAD and SASRI's existence, but they have very limited information about both groups.
--They know MAD has a base in Pilar, but they don't know the exact location
--They suspect that Fairweather Agricultural has ties to MAD
Recent happenings
-An alien infiltrator just got mauled by a werewolf within a quarter mile of your base; you could probably collect the corpse if you hurry
-The order to perform CONTINGENCY: FALSE UNVEIL has just been issued by the Illuminati High Council
-The Buenos Aires Police Department has recently hired a solitary werewolf with a reputation for not giving a shit about the masquerade
-A Vampire tried to enthrall the President of Argentina, and had to significantly deplete their blood reserves to escape without being gunned down by their security, which happened to include a previously covert unaffiliated Wizard.
Credit to my co-GMs
@ConfusedPotato
@EternalStruggle
@Umi-san
Actions
Each Character receives
-1 General action (can be any type)
-1 Research action (must be research)
-any number of free actions
Please be aware that taking part in an action without another player participating results in severe penalties.
EXECUTIVE DECISION: The Awakened Madness
[]
Accept the Awakened Madness's offer
[]
Refuse the Awakened Madness's offer
FREE ACTIONS
[] Boss Minions Around
[] Install Pandora Orb/Integrate Blueprints
RESEARCH ACTIONS
[] Design a blueprint
-[] Details?
[] Advance Understanding of a Field
-[] Details?
[] Study a Supernatural Phenomena
OPERATIONS ACTIONS
[] Hire Minions
-[] Details
[] BUILD Minions
-[] Select Blueprint
[] Acquire a new base
-[] Details?
[] Expand/Modify an existing base
-[] Details?
[] Manufacture Equipment
-[] Select Blueprint
[] Start a Front Business
-[] Details?
[] Acquire Other Funding
-[] Details?
ESPIONAGE ACTIONS
[] Search for suspicious activity
[] Write-In
COMBAT ACTIONS
[] Suppress an ill-advised action
[] Write-In
TRAINING ACTIONS
[] Research Training
[] Operations Training
[] Espionage Training
[] Combat Training
