Q&A Session 1 (09/19/21)
Minor Discussion about Character creation
Minor Discussion about lore and history
Question and Answer Portion
Pre-Session Questions included
Brandon: Well, for Crafting: will all the in game recipes be known when we start? Will they be hidden? Is crafting free-form, or are all recipes already pre-defined?
ANSWER: There are recipes on the website, but in the future more recipes may be unlocked. Furthermore, knowing the requisite skills to a recipe means you know how to make it -- except for the unlocked/unknown recipes.
Brandon: Also, what does the phys rep for a Siege Caster look like? Is it just a cannon?
ANSWER: Siege Casters are supposed to reflect “big guns”. So they can look like flamethrowers, mini-guns, mini-ballistas, etc. There are magical ones that look like dragons (Post Q&A note:) or are made up of bones and a skull.
Brandon: Can you take the same background perk more than once? (For Example: can I take the talented perk twice to pick up two additional skills from a builder discipline?)
ANSWER: Most Perks can be taken more than once. Some Perks, like Marked or Grafted, can only be taken once, as per their description.
Havoc: XP: 5 for attending, 3-5 for npc, 3-5 for clean up... 5 more for $80 event? So a person can get up to 20xp an event?
ANSWER: The maximum amount of XP a PC can gain from an Event is 15 XP. The Patron tier of Attendance ($80) grants 5 XP as though the PC has performed an NPC shift (while providing different bonuses if the PC chooses to NPC). This does not stack with the XP one gets for performing an NPC shift.
Post Q&A note: In fact, there is a game-wide cap on how much XP a PC can have based on the amount of Events that have transpired.
Havoc: ELDRITCH CORRUPTION OR SPELL-SEVER: spell-sever costs 3 pures to cure. How much does a corruption cost to cure?
ANSWER: Spell-Sever is the “street name” for Eldritch Corruption, so they both cost 3 Pures to Cure. Eldritch Corruption
Havoc: Eldritch corruption and stigmata: if your mark gives you a spell like ability will this still affect you?
ANSWER: If it is a Spell, then you will eventually gain Eldritch Corruption. If it is a supernatural ability but not a spell, you are not subject to Eldritch Corruption. Also, Joben wants you to have Alien Whispers (can’t negate Dominate effects).
Havoc: Food: I did read that it is encouraged to bring your own supplies. Does this mean that there is no central inn this time around to get food regularly?
ANSWER: You are correct, there is no NPC cook or chef that cooks food. That also means that there is no Feast. Players are expected to handle their own food needs -- the Camp’s Kitchen is available for limited use but not the Kitchen’s cookware, bring your own.
Havoc: On the very first game night, will we be just arriving to the front or will we be settled into the area?
ANSWER: It will be possible to play a Player Character that comes from the local area (name dropped Gerard Jacobs), but most Player Characters will probably be newcomers to town.
Havoc: Rest? I may just be missing it, but I can't find the spot that explains resting and what you get back for resting.
ANSWER: After 10 minutes of Rest, you may regain all of your Focus. This requires that you be Prone (sitting, kneeling, or lying down) and for no Combat to be occurring within 50 feet of you.
Havoc: What does being attuned to an arcanist discipline mean? Does it mean having a skill from it or having a latent effect on you from it?
ANSWER: Every Etheric Sphere or Magical Discipline has an “Adept” skill. These skills allow a Magic user to use their Arcane Tradition to attune themselves to a Sphere -- this grants the Spells of that Sphere greater functionality when used while thusly Attuned. This costs Components and occupies an Attunement slot.
For example, being attuned to the Projection Sphere using “Projection Adept” allows you to cast Project Wrath without expending Focus.
Patrick: Question: I noticed some skills are shared between classes. If a complex skill from Class A requires 2 basics, and I have one from another class, does it count towards that?
Say I am a junker trying to learn a complex Tinker skill, and I have basic disable device from Junker and a basic Tinker skill, for example.
ANSWER: Correct -- Some Skills count as Skill from multiple Disciplines. Treat Injury is a Skill from the Doctor, Soother, and Survivor Disciplines. Those that want to get a Complex Skill from those Disciplines need only to get one more Basic Skill to fulfill the 2 Basic Skill requirement.
Cheeseboy: This isn’t exactly a “rules” question, but I guess I should ask it here anyway. In the lore of the game, it’s stated that the current timeline is 100 years removed from a world much like our own. So, my question is connected to references to culture of the time before the apocalypse. Now, I don’t expect anyone to be walking around in a Rick and Morty or Simpsons t shirt in this game, but could one make references to the culture of the time before whatever caused this, I believe, magical cataclysm? Let’s say, for instance, one states “ohh I’ve just found a bunch of these small plastic black rectangles in a box in an old storage unit that I’d been trying to get into. I don’t know how they function, but has anyone ever heard of…uhh…Android Officer before?” Obviously an example like that is just meant to be some humorous point of conversation, but the question stands. What sorts of references to popular culture before the apocalypse are we allowed to make and are we allowed to just make up tiny insignificant bits of lore like “Android Cop”? Will anyone even be able to find things from before the apocalypse such as VHS tapes? Thank you and have a wonderful evening.
(Related question) Joco: Along with this. What is your (STAFF) ideal costuming ideas for players? what are things you want players to stay away from in costuming?
ANSWER: *Long winded Ramble about Lore* -- in essence, because of Magnetic Mana-Storms, a lot of electronics, magnetics, and flammable knowledge (books, people) is completely gone. This is not a complete reset of humanity, naturally.
As for what is okay and what is not okay, it is a difficult line to tread. Comedy and hilarity are important aspects to a game, especially when the subject material will sometimes stray to dark themes. Ultimately, this should be resolved on a case to case basis and Game Staff hopes that the Game Participants also use their best judgment about these matters.
Carrie: also, is there a planned location for the events yet? also, what happens if we go back into lockdown - is there an online component planned for just-in-case?
ANSWER: We have several locations in mind, one of which is a location that we frequently use. On the other hand, we have no plans for online Events in case of lockdown.
Brandon: Also, just for my own curiosity: are all monsters going to be Killing Blow Active? Given the ability of PCs to first aid innately, and First Aid themselves.
ANSWER: Some Monsters will inflict Death Blows on Player Characters. Some will only do so when all the Player Characters are downed. A Player Character will need to make their own judgment for the perfect time to Self-Revive.
Gawaine: Can you have both a Bloodline Stigmata and a Graft Stigmata on the same character at the same time?
(Related Question) Havoc: You said we can have both a bloodline and a graft. Could you start the game with both using two Backstory points?
(Related question) WillS: Can you have both an inherited and a implanted stigmata?
ANSWER: Yes, this is possible! Also, using two Background Perks, you can take the Marked Perk and the Grafter Perk to start with a Bloodline/Inherited Stigmata and a Graft/Imbued Stigmata.
Post Q&A Note: So yes, you can start as a Cyborg Angel or a Wolf/Snake/Flower if you wanted to.
Steph: Are there any drawbacks to not picking (an Arcane) tradition?
ANSWER: Yes! Without a Tradition, you have worse choices when picking an Eldritch Corruption because your Arcane Tradition doesn’t shield your spirit from the Eldritch energies. Furthermore, you are unable to use certain Skills like the Adept Skills or certain Rituals.
That said, that option is there for those who want to track their journey to whatever Tradition they choose and for those who become Spell-users without starting as an Arcanist.
Magos Sintoaster: Are all classes squared away or will there be more classes coming?
ANSWER: All 5 Classes have been released. However, within each Classes are aptitudes and similar ways to customize one’s Character.
Post Q&A Note: For example, some Warriors will be sword and shield using Defenders while others will be two-handed or dual-wielding Fighters. Even within these archetypes there will be variations, such as a Defender that uses a Pole-arm to guard their allies and inflict massive damage vs. the traditional shielded Defender.
Gawaine: What determines how many Background Perks you can take at character creation? Is it just "everybody gets 1"?
ANSWER: Everyone gets 3 Background Perks to start.
Gawaine: Armor question: Aluminum chainmail is listed as Body Armor, while a motorcycle jacket qualifies for Heavy Armor. Will the classification of aluminum chainmails vary by the size and coverage of the physrep at all?
ANSWER: Heft, material, and encumbrance determine whether an armor is heavy armor or not. A very thin aluminum chain shirt is Body Armor while thicker and sleeved hauberk is Heavy Armor. Such matters will be under the adjudication of the Design Taskforce during Events.
Post Q&A note: There are benefits and drawbacks to Body Armor vs. Heavy Armor vs. Ultra-Heavy Armor such as expense and the inability to use certain Skills or Defenses.
WillS: Will multiclassing be a thing?
ANSWER: Yes. You can use a Milestone (gained every 100 XP) to gain the Multi-class Milestone and add another Class to your Character. You may only do this once per Character.
Furthermore, even without this Milestone, you may choose to learn Skills from other Classes at a 10 XP penalty.
WillS: Can (foam dart) guns be modded to shoot more accurately? Or as just aesthetic?
ANSWER: Yes, although all Foam Dart guns will be tested to ensure that they are firing at a safe speed.
WillS: Are motorized guns allowed?
ANSWER: Yes, although they are of little use because most ranged attacks are preceded by a Targeting or Concentration count.
Magos Sintoaster: Could I hypothetically show up as an NCR Ranger?
ANSWER: *a lot of rambling* The NCR does not exist in the setting, but the aesthetic does exist. They would probably fit in with the Scavver Caravans or the Illustrados Union.
WillS: Will we need to keep track of ammo?
ANSWER: Yes and no. While you don’t have to count each bullet (except physically), Ammo Packs are automatically considered depleted/deteriorated after 6 months. This means that you do have to replenish your ammunition on occasion, but not all the time.
This does also mean that using Ranged weaponry is not “free” and has a maintenance cost.
Jordan (He/Him): (Question from Argo) Will there be a lexicon for terminology and lingo?
ANSWER: Yes, there will be one posted later on. Currently, there is a similar lexicon for certain in-game terms — https://beyondthefall.squarespace.com/ingame-terms-for-mechanics
Havoc: If a player hates the character they make, will their be a grace period to change the character without xp penalty?
ANSWER: There will be a grace period to all for one (1) and only one rewrite. Game Staff is under deliberation about the length of this re-write period but it will be 1-3 Events, possibly 2 Events.
AnyaDSoli: Are there any components that are considered 'undesirable' or 'impermissible'?
ANSWER: There are no Components that are illegal. On the corollary, some Components will be absolutely indispensable for certain Superior-level items.
WillS: Any forgotten/forbidden stuffs?
ANSWER: The rulebook does not represent all things that a Character can know or learn. More will be unlocked as the LARP progresses.
Magos Sintoaster: If someone has a sentient item for long enough, do they get to know the minor sentient qualities before they choose a voice?
ANSWER: Yes. While the Crafter determines what personality a Sentient Item has, its user has some semblance of knowledge of its true nature and demeanor.
Jordan (He/Him): Will there be an option for non-traditional arcanists to make their own somatic gesture?
ANSWER: Currently, there are no plans for this. Balancing the three different Somatic Gestures among themselves has proven difficult and introducing yet another one will require additional balancing.
Havoc: Are there any practices of magic that are looked down on in general?
ANSWER: All Traditions are “legal”, although some places might look down on Diablerie. For Theurgic Anchors, on the other hand, Xenotheurgy and Necrotheurgy have many detractors and may be illegal in certain regions. They are not “illegal” in the game area, however.
WillS: Are those abilities (Necrotheurgy, Xenotheurgy, etc) going to be available for pcs?
ANSWER: Yes, They are Complex-level Channeler skills.
Magos Sintoaster: Is it possible to change Ammo Packs on the go? Or can you only do it in town?
ANSWER: It is possible to change Ammo Packs if one wishes to do so.
WillS: Can you cast spells through guns?
ANSWER: Currently, there is no way to cast spells through guns. Since most offensive spells are “Piercing”, there is not much of a point. The Channeler Aspect (Warrior Skill) does allow a magic-user to channel their energies into their weapons.
Tom: When are the Periods in this game for periodic abilities?
ANSWER: 1st Period: 10 PM-5AM
2nd Period: 5AM-5PM
3rd Period: 5PM-5AM
Also take note that Periodic abilities cannot be used again until the next Period AND after a Rest has been completed. This means if a long battle crosses into the next Period, a Player Character cannot re-use their Periodic Skill unless they Rest first.
Havoc: Can the Diabolic Circle and line we UV paint provided the player caries a small uv light if asked to show it?
ANSWER: Currently, the answer to that is “No”, but Game Staff has not fully decided upon a true answer.
Tom: Some disciplines grant Dodge and some incentives to use it over other defenses. You can't Dodge even in Body Armor. Is this something that may change in the interest of universally encouraging armor, or is that staying put?
ANSWER: With the Armored Dodge Skill, you will be able to Dodge in Body Armor, albeit at a minor penalty -- you have to augment the Dodge defense which means you cannot augment it further.