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Enforcer84
May 14th, '06, 12:44 PM
This was darting around in my brain the last two days (watched Advent Children AGAIN) and ...

It's an unholy union of FFVII's Mega corporations and their private armies, FFXIII's "Gardens", with a dash of Xenosaga, D&D, Marvel's New Mutants, Harry Potter, and Suikoden thrown in.

Three campaign ideas as well.
Campaign One: The Academy
This is where talented but young characters grow and develop into the warriors they will be.

Campaign Two: Post Graduate: Tour of Duty
This is where the newly graduated, still young adventurers work off their tuition advances by working as trouble shooting teams for one of the megacorps that fund the Academy

Campaign Three: Free Agents
Adventuring in the game world.

This is a thinly disguised Superheroic game world. Yeah, there are knights and wizards, wandering monsters and ruins and dungeons to explore, but the PC's and major NPC's are as far above the normal warriors and citizens of the day as Champions Characters are above individual Viper agents.


The Academy
Created by a joint effort of several mega corporations they seek out children with great potential and train them as warriors and operatives. The process has been refined to six years. The children accepted are generally between 10-12 years old. Their first year is spent in general training to increase physical and mental abilities and see to what areas they gravitate. The second year is a little more specific where the Fighting, Magic, and Stealth determinations are made early and their focuses narrowed down. Years three and four are intense training in their chosen field and introduces them to Materia. Also, beginning in the third year they are placed into classes of seven to learn teamwork and small unit tactics. The last two years focuses more and more on the "team aspect" and the seven students spend most of their time training as a unit and living together.
Once they graduate they either work off thier debt to the corporations (if they can't afford to pay it) or make thier way in the world (if they can). The Corporations try to keep units together if at all possible as they are familiar with eachother's abilities and have trained together for years. The individual Units often become as families.

Materia:
Materia comes in Two Major types. Magic Materia and Support Materia. Magic Materia allows even non magicians to cast a particular spell or set of spells (Depending on the power of the individual materia). When used by a magician the Magic Materia enhances spells wtih similar nature or allows the magician to cast spells he or she currently doesn't know.
Support Materia allows for special abilities and effects that anyone can use. Support Materia might increase attributes, allow special attacks or movement options, etc. Support Materia and Magic Materia often work together to allow even greater abilities.

Magicians:
Magicians can use magic without requireing Magic Materia, but they can use the Materia to enhance their spellcasting. Magicians learn magic via Research, Materia Maturity (using a paricular Materia long enough so that it becomes one of your spells), Spells can be also granted by powerful beings.
As for the types of magic, borrowing again from Final Fantasy there are:
White Magicians: Focus is positive energies, Healing, Curative, Purifying, and Anti Undead
Black Magicians: Focus on "Attack Magic". Mainly Elemental blasting spells but also crazy effects.
Red Magicians: Utility Magician. They combine attack, defense, and special effects. They also are more "Weapons Oriented" than other Magcians, and can focus magic through their chosen weapons.
Silver Mages: Very rare. They command time, space, and reality. They command vast energies and can be very deadly.
Summoners: The ever popular summoning spells; they can summon extradimensional beings as brief "Attacks" or single effects, or even summon them for extended periods of time as warriors, scouts, advisors, or companions.
Blue Magic: This is the "magic of nature" Blue Mages spells and abilities are gained through their experiences with the creatures and nature around them. They are akin to the D&D druids, they can learn spells through Materia, though Blue Magic Materia is uncommon if not rare, but they can also learn spells through their encounters with the creatures and mystic areas of the world. Blue Mages are among the most adventurous of all people as they become more powerful the more they experience the world around them.

Materia Affinity: Each individual has a special affinity to a particular Materia. They can use that particular maeria with enhanced effect and they gain particular enhanced abilities from it. For example: affinity with a Lighting Materia gives the character +3 Dex and 5pts of resistant ED vs Electrical Attacks. If they use Lightining Magic it gets +3DC's Damage and +3 OCV.

Note: After seeing nuswordgraphites FF post. Materia gives bonuses for equiping it. The Affinity bonus is permanent and does not disappear, however, an individual can generally only have affinity to one type of materia. Afinity bonuses also "Stack" so if you get +3 DEX for your affinity bonus and a particular Materia gives you +3 DEX as well, then you get +6 DEX and yes these effect figured characteristics.


...that's all I have at this point more as I think of it. :help:

I need a new filing system for my brain. :nonp:

Enforcer84
May 14th, '06, 12:49 PM
Why seven? Dunno. It seems the magic number.

Generally the teams are broken into:

Main Frontline Fighter
Main Attack Magician
Main Defense Magician
Main Stealthy Person
Secondary Magician
Secondary Fighter
Secondary Stealthy

The secondary characters tend to be effective backups on more than one category so your secondary stealthy guy might be a better straight up fighter than your primary stealthy guy

Enforcer84
May 14th, '06, 03:09 PM
So the Basics of the Academy, because I am that anal retentive...

Brand new, first year student 50pts. (if you want to play a first year you could go (25+25 disadavantages).
First year is basic training: +50 pts (package created)
Second year: Determine "Focus" (Fighter, Magician, Stealthy) +50 pts
Third Year: Materia basics, Tighter Focus: Knight, Monk, Rogue, Ranged Combat Specialist, Basic Mage Packages (White, Black, Red, Silver, Blue, and Summoner) +50 pts
Fourth Year: Improved Materia Use; Team Work; Fighters and Rogues Continue to specialize (Ie Dragoon, Samurai, Paladin, Dark Knight, Ninja, Corsair, Ranger, Gunman, Archer, etc), Mages learn more magic spells. +50pts
Fifth Year: Unit Oriented missions; continued training in chosen areas (new skills, talents, spells, etc); Unit breakdown. + 50 pts
Sixth Year: Graduation; Materia Affinity revealed. +50 pts

so by the end of their Academy career they are 350 pts.
I've made package deals for the first three years already on HD. But I got a game in a half hour so I'll post them later this week.

pointyman2000
May 16th, '06, 07:11 PM
*subscribes to this thread* :D

I like what I'm reading so far and I'm eagerly waiting for more info. :)

Thia Halmades
May 16th, '06, 07:27 PM
Congratulations. You built what I built but you called it Final Fantasy; this is similar to my concept for the entire war campaign that I converted into Hero, where my rank structure comes from, etc.

So I've already done my own variation on this, and (as promised) I'm going to be doing a Final Fantasy conversion - and I think you meant Final Fantasy VIII (SeeD) not XIII - that's a character from VII, and hasn't been released yet.

So I'd be happy to help - what do you need? Oh, and feel free to use my Cloud Build.

Enforcer84
May 16th, '06, 10:38 PM
Congratulations. You built what I built but you called it Final Fantasy; this is similar to my concept for the entire war campaign that I converted into Hero, where my rank structure comes from, etc.

So I've already done my own variation on this, and (as promised) I'm going to be doing a Final Fantasy conversion - and I think you meant Final Fantasy VIII (SeeD) not XIII - that's a character from VII, and hasn't been released yet.

So I'd be happy to help - what do you need? Oh, and feel free to use my Cloud Build.
yeah, I meant 7 & 8, damn roman numerals!
This weekend when I have the time I'll posst my first 3 year packages.

Enforcer84
May 19th, '06, 07:49 PM
The Academy Year One Package:
Physical Training:
+3 STR
+1 DEX
+2 CON
+1 PD
+1 ED
+1 SPD

Mental Training:
+3 INT
+1 EGO
+3 PRE

Perks: Academy Student (Membership 3pts)

Skills:
+ 1 w/ All Combat
+1 w/Weapon of choice
KS: The Academy 11-
KS: The Sponsors 11-
Tactics 8 -
Teamwork 8 -
WF: Weapon of Choice

50 pts
This is what all cadets gain over the course of the first year. The Weapon of Choice is a 2 pt skill level.

At the end of the first year, students are put into one of three blocks, Fighters, Mages, or Rogues.

Package also includes one Disadvantage: Watched, the Academy, (Mo Pow, NCI, 14-) 20 pts;

First year Cadets stay in a single Dormitory.

Enforcer84
May 19th, '06, 08:07 PM
Each Cadet spends the second and third years in one of the three "Temples". The Temples are basically dormitories for the fighters, mages, and rogues.

The second year packages are:
Fighter:
Increased Physical Training:
+3 STR
+1 DEX

Training:
+2 Levels Hand to Hand or Ranged Combat
+3 Levels with Chosen Weapon Category (Swords, Bows, Knives, Hammers, Etc)
Analyze: Combat
Breakfall
Climbing
15 pts chosen from the following list:
Background SKills, Combat Skill Levels, Defense Maneuver, Demolitions, Fast Draw, Hoist, KS: Weapons or Fighting Styles, Paramedics, Rapid Attack, TF, Two-Weapon Fighting, WF, Weaponsmith

Mages:
Increased Mental Training:
+3 INT
+2 EGO

Training:
+2 w/all Magic Skills
+3 w/Magic Style of Choice
Analyze: Magic
KS: Arcane & Occult Lore
KS: Style of Magic (INT/5+10)-
Magic Skill (INT/5+11)-
10 Pts of the Following:
Background Skills, Combat skill levels, Cryptography, Deduction, Inventor, Paramedics, TF, WF

Rogue:
Increased Physical Training:
+3 DEX
Increased Mental Training:
+3 INT

Training:
+1 with Weapon Category of Choice
Breakfall
Climbing
Concealment
Security Systems
Shadowing
Sleight of Hand
Stealth
Shadowing

11 pts Choice of Any skill

Enforcer84
May 19th, '06, 08:17 PM
In year three it gets tricky. Materia is introduced, and everyone learns:

Materia Basics Package:
Analyze: Materia
KS: Materia 11-
KS: Materia Compounds 11-
Materia Use (INT/5+9)-

Materia Compounds being the study of using magic & support materia together, principals on the effects of linking the various Materia to weapons, armor, items, and eachother.

In the third year, each cadet settles into their particular "Job Class", it is the "Introduction" to that Class.

The Classes are:

Fighter:
Knight
Ranger
Monk

Mage:
Black Mage
Blue Mage
Red Mage
Silver Mage
Summoner
White Mage

Rogue:
Rogue

I'll post these packages soon.

UltraRob
May 21st, '06, 07:40 PM
It seems like you're setting this up to use static school campuses where the characters study, but I'd like to suggest an alternative. Instead of having the PCs hang around a campus, why not (at 2nd year or perhaps 3rd) send them on a walkabout of sorts. Have them journey through a network of temples, monasteries and other places where they can learn from experts in various fields, and perhaps pass various tests too (to gain entry, or to leave). They might even be able to learn different things at the same temple, but each PC can choose which things to learn, differentiating their studies more.

Just a thought.
Rob

Enforcer84
May 21st, '06, 09:42 PM
It seems like you're setting this up to use static school campuses where the characters study, but I'd like to suggest an alternative. Instead of having the PCs hang around a campus, why not (at 2nd year or perhaps 3rd) send them on a walkabout of sorts. Have them journey through a network of temples, monasteries and other places where they can learn from experts in various fields, and perhaps pass various tests too (to gain entry, or to leave). They might even be able to learn different things at the same temple, but each PC can choose which things to learn, differentiating their studies more.

Just a thought.
Rob
There is some of that in the later years, but the corporate sponsors want to keep costs low and the initial culling of the students and coding them helps. Once their path is chosen and they are set in their Units the Units take "Field Trips" that conclude with training for one or more of the members.
But two newly graduated units with an equal make up will be very similar abilitiy wise.

Inu
May 22nd, '06, 05:01 AM
Nice. :D I'm a big fan of the FFVIII Gardens and the like.

If it's meant to be FF-style, I'd suggest that the packages there are what PCs get, with NPCs often getting lesser packages. So maybe only 30-35 points is required to pass each package (ending up at around 250 points), while the A-grade students (such as the PCs) get up to that 350 points. It also gives a good range for graduates of the school. :)

So... can I play? I'll pay for plane tickets out here, if you agree to immigrate! :D

Enforcer84
May 22nd, '06, 08:40 AM
Nice. :D I'm a big fan of the FFVIII Gardens and the like.

If it's meant to be FF-style, I'd suggest that the packages there are what PCs get, with NPCs often getting lesser packages. So maybe only 30-35 points is required to pass each package (ending up at around 250 points), while the A-grade students (such as the PCs) get up to that 350 points. It also gives a good range for graduates of the school. :)

So... can I play? I'll pay for plane tickets out here, if you agree to immigrate! :D
Where to? I'll see if my company has offices there.

and as for NPC/PC stuff, it's true in the games, but here...
actually, you could simply give the PC's 50pts to start and when they get out they're 350 and NPC's don't get that so when they get out they're only 300pts.