A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

[megaplayboy]

I'm intrigued by the idea of running an adventure where the PCs are transported into an electronic RPG world. One of the big conventions of the genre is the "save spot" or "save point", where the progress and current status of the PC group is recorded, and if the PCs happen to get killed after that, they "revert" back to their most recent "save point", in the same condition as when they saved...but with the knowledge gained since then(but not any additional equipment, money or experience).

So I'm trying to figure out how to write this up. It has to be:

1. immobile, locked in the same spot.

2. triggered by the death of all of the PCs.

3. the PCs travel back in time and space to the save spot.

4. They are restored to life with the level of health they had at the time of the save.

5. they don't come back to the save point with any new equipment, money or experience.

So, there needs to be XDM through time(and space?), Regen from death plus Healing, and probably a detect(across time and space, to detect the death of all the PCs).

 

Throwing the floor open for suggestions.

[Tasha]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Detect is not needed. Just some EDM (time),Teleport (prob megascaled,) with one Permanent Location, Healing with Regen, and Trigger (when all PCs die).

 

Or you could just wave your GM magic wand and say it works due to GM Fiat. Personally, I would just get the power writeup close, and just not sweat it because it's not that important.

[Hugh Neilson]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Why can't the EDM take the characters to a location which resurrects and regenerates them (or just Transforms their dead bodies back to their live selves as they were before the last save) then dumps them back where they were at the Save Spot?

[Tasha]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Why can't the EDM take the characters to a location which resurrects and regenerates them (or just Transforms their dead bodies back to their live selves as they were before the last save) then dumps them back where they were at the Save Spot?

 

because EDM moves people from dimension to dimension (including time). It by itself has no Resurrection, spacial movement, etc. I was also trying to avoid using Transformation as it's only to be used when other powers won't fit the effect.

[CrosshairCollie]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

I don't think this really need to be built, unless there's some way the PCs or bad guys can somehow interfere with the Save Point's functioning. It sounds like a pure plot device to me.

[Lucius]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

I don't think this really need to be built' date=' unless there's some way the PCs or bad guys can somehow interfere with the Save Point's functioning. It sounds like a pure plot device to me.[/quote']

 

Crosshair Collie's probably right, but some of us have a compulsion to write things up – especially if they're challenging.

 

Here's my take:

Save Point, all slots 4 Charges (-1), Concentration (0 DCV; Character is totally unaware of nearby events; -3/4), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, Character May Take No Other Actions, -3/4), Limited Power Must include all characters in the Circle; Limitations apply to all (-1/2), Unified Power (-1/4)

 

As We Were: Duplication (creates 4 500-point Duplicates), Cannot Recombine (-0), Usable By Other (+1/4), Area Of Effect (4m Radius; +1/4) (165 Active Points); 4 Charges (-1), Concentration (0 DCV; Character is totally unaware of nearby events; -3/4), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, Character May Take No Other Actions, -3/4), Limited Power Must include all characters in the Circle; Limitations apply to all (-1/2), Unified Power (-1/4) Real Cost 39

 

So we shall be: Extra-Dimensional Movement (Single Point in Time (when all are dead,) Physical Location Same As Starting Location), Usable By Other (+1/4), Area Of Effect (4m Radius; +1/4), Safe Blind Travel (+1/4) (70 Active Points); 4 Charges (-1), Concentration (0 DCV; Character is totally unaware of nearby events; -3/4), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, Character May Take No Other Actions, -3/4), Limited Power Must include all characters in the Circle; Limitations apply to all (-1/2), Unified Power (-1/4) Real Cost 16

 

Except that we remember: Mind Link , One Specific Mind (own), Psychic Bond, Unlimited range in this dimension and can reach into other dimensions, Transdimensional (Single Dimension; Through time; +1/2) (30 Active Points); 4 Charges (-1), Concentration (0 DCV; Character is totally unaware of nearby events; -3/4), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, Character May Take No Other Actions, -3/4), Limited Power Must include all characters in the Circle; Limitations apply to all (-1/2), Unified Power (-1/4) Real Cost 7

 

We remember everything: Rapid ( x1,000,000) with Mind Link, Trigger (Activating the Trigger is an Action that takes no time, Trigger resets automatically, immediately after it activates, Character does not control activation of personal Trigger; Trigger is "spawning"; +3/4) (31 Active Points); Limited Power Only to instantly absorb the memories of the selves that died (-1), 4 Charges (-1), Concentration (0 DCV; Character is totally unaware of nearby events; -3/4), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, Character May Take No Other Actions, -3/4), Unified Power (-1/4) Real Cost 4

 

This Unified Power will

1.Create Duplicates of the characters, exactly as they are

2.Cause those Duplicates to appear at the point in time in the future when all have died

3.Cause those Duplicates to instantaneously remember everything that happened between Duplication and Manifestation (without any corresponding experience, equipment, wounds, etc.)

 

 

edit: I left out a bunch of details - there should be a "one way only" Limit on the Mind Link for example. Also, possibly a Focus Limitation. This is just a first pass at it.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

And now these words from a palindromedary: Save early and save often!

[Xavier Onassiss]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

because EDM moves people from dimension to dimension (including time). It by itself has no Resurrection' date=' spacial movement, etc. I was also trying to avoid using Transformation as it's only to be used when other powers won't fit the effect.[/quote']

 

I think EDM and teleport will work, if it's defined as 'moving the characters back to a point in time before they died.'

 

Or 'taking them to another dimension in which they didn't (yet) die.'

 

That should pretty much cover the 'resurrection' thing.

[Lucius]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

3. the PCs travel back in time and space to the save spot.

Throwing the floor open for suggestions.

 

I overlooked this part. That does make a difference.

 

So if the party "saves" at the fourteenth hour of the Day of Venus, and the last one dies two days later at the ninth hour of the Day of the Sun, they find themselves back the the save point - and it's once again the fourteenth hour of the Day of Venus, and the Day of Saturn and the Day of the Sun have not happened yet at all.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Consulting a palindromedary

[Lucius]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Reasoning from Effect:

 

Save Point: Precognitive Clairsentience (Sight, Hearing, Mental, Smell/Taste And Touch Groups), Rapid: x100,000, Usable By Other (+1/4), Area Of Effect (4m Radius; +1/4), Transdimensional (Single Dimension: Time; +1/2) (190 Active Points); Concentration, Must Concentrate throughout use of Constant Power (0 DCV; Character is totally unaware of nearby events; -1 1/2), Only to percieve through one's own senses in a possible future (-1), Precognition/Retrocognition Only (-1), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, -3/4), Blackout (-1/2), 4 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Turn each (-1/2)

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary thinks it still needs work.

[Tasha]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Save Point,

All slots Trigger (Activating the Trigger requires a Zero Phase Action, Trigger requires a Turn or more to reset, Character does not control activation of personal Trigger; When all "Saved" characters Die; +1/4); all slots 6 Charges (Limited saves Lives; -3/4)

 

43 Extra-Dimensional Movement (Single Point in Time, Any Physical Location), x4 Increased Weight (75 Active Points); 6 Charges (Limited saves Lives; -3/4)

 

75 Healing BODY 8d6, Can Heal Limbs, Resurrection (131 Active Points); 6 Charges (Limited saves Lives; -3/4)

 

28 Minor Transform 8d6 (Equipment and gear back to condition and type when "Saved") (50 Active Points); 6 Charges (Limited saves Lives; -3/4)

 

This Moves the whole party back to the save point (ie back in time), Heals around 16 body, and Brings their Equipment back to the condition it was before the game was saved.

 

In keeping with the Video game feel, I limited the saved games to 6.

[Lucius]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

3. the PCs travel back in time and space to the save spot.

Throwing the floor open for suggestions.

 

This is the important point.

 

So - party saves, then go on to have adventures, and end up with total party kill.

Party finds themselves back in the exact moment of save.

 

Now, Reason from effect.

 

So what has really happened? What has changed between the second before the save point and the second after? What have they gained?

 

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - Except that they now possess knowledge of one possible future.

 

By definition, this is Precognition.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Consulting a palindromedary

[Naanomi]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

I like the triggered precognition as well... if just one character did this, I would force a EDM/resurrection/whatever construct, but as a whole party mechanic this is just precog with some interesting SFX

[Starcloud]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

It gets a little trickier if the creatures they defeated, in the time between when they died and when they resurrected, stay defeated. How would you model that, as opposed to the more focused "single player game save point" presented as Precognition?

[Egyptoid]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

>>> So what has really happened? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - Except that they now possess knowledge of one possible future.

and the Camel inexplicably has two humps.

[Lucius]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Reasoning from Effect:

 

Save Point: Precognitive Clairsentience (Sight, Hearing, Mental, Smell/Taste And Touch Groups), Rapid: x100,000, Usable By Other (+1/4), Area Of Effect (4m Radius; +1/4), Transdimensional (Single Dimension: Time; +1/2) (190 Active Points); Concentration, Must Concentrate throughout use of Constant Power (0 DCV; Character is totally unaware of nearby events; -1 1/2), Only to percieve through one's own senses in a possible future (-1), Precognition/Retrocognition Only (-1), Extra Time (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12), Only to Activate, -3/4), Blackout (-1/2), 4 Continuing Charges lasting 1 Turn each (-1/2)

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary thinks it still needs work.

 

Among other things, we need to reflect the fact that if there is NOT a subsequent "Total Party Kill" in a given amount of time (I'm sure we don't want to have everyone succeed and live happily ever after and then find themselves back at Save Point when the last companion dies of old age fifty years later) then nothing happens at all.

 

Also, a reason (limited Charges might do it; so might a minimum number of users) for entering the Save Point as a group. Otherwise I don't see why people wouldn't save as individuals, so that if any ONE member dies, all snap back to Save Point, rather than only doing so if ALL die.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

House of the Palindromedary

[rentauri]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Wouldn't the save point need some invisibility to the baddies? If memory serves the save point wasn't just a place to save the game it was a place that you didn't have random monster encounters at. Nothing like reaching a save point pulling out the trusty tent to regain all that life and the monster proceeds to eat the group while they were snoozing. Of course the invisibility could be built into the tent as I don't remember being attacked in RPGs while using one.

[megaplayboy]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Wouldn't the save point need some invisibility to the baddies? If memory serves the save point wasn't just a place to save the game it was a place that you didn't have random monster encounters at. Nothing like reaching a save point pulling out the trusty tent to regain all that life and the monster proceeds to eat the group while they were snoozing. Of course the invisibility could be built into the tent as I don't remember being attacked in RPGs while using one.

 

Maybe it's an extradimensional location only accessible to a group of PCs?

[Captain Obvious]

Re: A "Save Spot" for a group of PCs

 

Among other things, we need to reflect the fact that if there is NOT a subsequent "Total Party Kill" in a given amount of time (I'm sure we don't want to have everyone succeed and live happily ever after and then find themselves back at Save Point when the last companion dies of old age fifty years later) then nothing happens at all.

 

Hmm...this sounds kind of like something that might be offered by a sulfer-scented, horned gentleman.

 

In the fine print, of course.