ORIGINS OF THE HOLLOW

Chaos

Also known as subspace, or the space between space, Chaos is what has been come to be known as the basic form all things in Reality. All matter, energy, even natural forces can be derived from the fabric of Chaos. Think of it as unconstructed or compiled data. Its volume is limitless, though it can take up virtually no space, nor does it exist in any specific dimension or single point in space. Chaos is everywhere. When “stretched”, Chaos appears as a luminous formless white sheet, though the very of observation affects the nature of Chaos. Thus this description varies from a faint rippling to flashes of pseudo-colors. With the discovery of the Field, it is possible to further affect and even shape Chaos with Mancy. The Hollow itself exists inside a space of stretched Chaos, and is completely surrounded by the material.

The Administrators

These were the frontrunners of all Chaos related research and technologies. They were the first to harness the power of Chaos, and where solely responsible for endeavor into Chaos, and the creation of the Hollow. They alone reside inside of the SSV Erebos, watching over the colonists who live upon the surface of the World. However, all communication with the Administrators ceased during the Lost Age with no explanation.

The SSV Erebos

At the center of the Hollow exists a massive stallar vessel the size of a small city. The SSV Erebos was the ship used by the Administrators, as well as the first colonists of the Hollow, to enter and survive Chaos. Further, this ship houses a machine called a Reality Engine which creates and maintains the World’s existence, stretching Chaos and establishing Reality. This Reality Engine also produces light similar to that of a star. Thus, the SSVErebos acts as the Hollow’s sun. [IMAGE]

The Library

This is a massive data storage hub containing the collective knowledge of all of Humanity. Further, any data created within the Hollow may be stored here. This knowledge is accessible by anyone in the Hollow, and contains anything from novels and research to movies and games. This data can never be completely destroyed; its resolution is simply reduced proportional to the percentage of data missing. However, during the Lost Age, all connections to the Library were suddenly disconnected, and when it returned, all data had been formatted. Though there were those that had copied portions of this information, nearly 75% of the data stored in the Library has been lost including much of the history before the Hollow’s creation.

Nyx

This is the sentient artificial intelligence which permeates most Administrative technology from the SSV Erebos to the Orichalcum Factories on the World’s surface. She is charged with the protection and maintenance of cybernetic and digital systems. If ever there were a cyber-attack on any of the systems she inhabits, she would attack them in kind; ensuring that the assailant is completely incapacitated. During the Lost Age, all systems permeated by Nyx were placed into lock-down, this includes the Library, and all attempts to communicate with her since have been unsuccessful. [IMAGE]

Specializations!

[] – This denotes the maximum rating of a Specialization. The cost of the first rating of any Specialization is listed. The bp cost to increase a Specialization to a new rating is equal to half the Specialization’s initial bp cost. That is, if rating 1 costs 6bp, all greater ratings will cost 3bp.

Agent – 8bp

Reduce the Rank required for Knowledge Tests and the Level required for Gather Information Tests by 1 per rating. [][]

Architect – 8bp

Reduce the Level of Sabotage and Repair Tests by 1 per rating. [][]

Big Ego – 8bp

Increase all Social Defenses by 1 each per rating. [][]

Charisma – 8bp//Requires Big Ego

Reduce target’s Social Defenses by 1 per rating. [][]

Cracker – 8bp

Increase Cyber Combat rolls by 1 per rating. [][]

Provision – 8bp//Requires Cracker 1

Increase Firewall rating of all party members by 3 per rating. [][]

Efficiency – 8bp

Reduce Tax requirement for Tech Powers by 1 per rating. [][][]

Overclock – 14bp//Requires Efficiency 1

Increase Tech Power values by 1 per rating. [][]

Delay – 8bp//Requires Efficiency 2

Increase Tech Power Durations by a factor of 1 per rating. [][]

Brawler – 8bp

Increase unarmed Melee Action pools by 1 per rating. [][][]

Assault Training – 8bp//Requires Brawler 1

Gain a +1 bonus to Melee based Utility Actions per rating. [][]

Follow-Through – 8bp//Requires Brawler 2

Reduce Melee Damage required to Overwhelm a target by 1 per rating. [][]

Focus – 8bp

Reduce Mancy Power Energy costs by 1 per rating. [][][]

Adept – 14bp//Requires Focus 1

Increase Mancy Power values by 1 per rating. [][]

Intensify – 8bp//Requires Adept 1

Increase Mancy Power Durations by a factor of 1 per rating. [][]

Force – 8bp//Requires Adept 2

Reduce Mancy Damage required to Overwhelm a target by 1 per rating. [][]

Bombardier – 8bp//Requires Force 1

Mancy Powers now deal Explosive Damage. []

Medic – 8bp

Increase Medical Consumable Unit sizes by 1 per rating. [][][]

Doctorate – 8bp//Requires Medic 1

Reduce the Level of Medicine Skill Tests by 1 per rating. [][]

Physique – 10bp

Increase Health by 3. [][][]

Thick Skin – 8bp//Requires Physique 1

Reduce Bleed Condition Durations by a factor of 1. []

Sturdy – 14bp//Requires Physique 2

Increase Tolerance by 1 per rating. [][]

Warm-Blood – 8bp//Requires Sturdy 1

Reduce Slowed and Chilled penalties by 1 per rating. [][]

Composure – 14bp//Requires Physique 2

Increase Willpower by 1 per rating. [][]

Guts – 8bp//Requires Composure 1

Gain a +1 bonus versus Fear Effects per rating. [][]

Precision – 6bp

Reduce penalties to Ballistics by 1 per rating. [][][]

Quick-Scope – 6bp//Requires Precision 1

Gain an additional +1 bonus with Aim Actions. [][]

Exploit – 8bp//Requires Precision 2

Making a Weapon Attack Action with an Aim Action bonus provides a -1 Armor Penetration bonus per rating. [][]

Second-Skin – 6bp

Reduce Armor penalties by 1 per rating. [][][]

Bandolier – 8bp//Requires Second-Skin 1

Increase Encumbrance by 2 per rating. [][][]

Articulate – 14bp//Requires Second-Skin 2

Increase Speed by 1 per rating. [][][]

Dodgy – 14bp//Requires Articulate 1

Increase Defense by 1 per rating. [][]

Sharp – 6bp

Reduce Environmental and Range penalties to Awareness by 1 per rating. [][]

Flashing Eyes – 14bp//Requires Sharp 1

The character may roll half their die pool with an Avoid Action when Flat-Footed. []

Ebon Gaze – 14bp//Requires Sharp 2

The character is unaffected by Black or Blinding intensity light. Instead it is treated as one level higher or lower respectively. []

Tempered – 10bp

Increase Energy by 2. [][][]

Questions from The People's Champion and Jenni:

There are many terms that you use and refer to without defining them for your readers, assuming they will automatically understand. The first of which I noticed was the repeated use of 'reality maelstrom'. You have given us a vague idea of what this might be, and your own writing and my assumptions lead me to believe that it is a large, powerful outburst of chaos leaking/escaping into reality. However, as you get closer to presenting this as a finished product remember that you need to define everything so that unfamiliar people can track what you are saying. You do seem to split chaos into two separate things, Fae which are the autonomous beings ((which I assume come from the people that were destroyed by chaos early on)), and other thingsincludingreality maelstroms. What are the options for chaos that aren't fey and also aren't reality maelstroms? 

Also, are things in Chaos destroyed or broken down? It seems like things are broken down and float about in chaos until they are mushed together in unsettling ways and spat back out into reality... 

Your second paragraph in your explanation to Chrono was quite honestly confusing, and even after a few read-throughs I'm not sure what you are saying. What is the "inherent problem"? What are energy cascades/their aftermath? When and how did people start interacting with, and even more so startharvestingchaos? 

Hope these help.

First part: Still fleshing this part out as it is fairly new... or rather, has become more apparent that it must be more important. Thus, how exactly I deal with the mechanics are still being fleshed out. Right now, I simple know there are two (vague) forms of Chaotic anomalies: expulsion and cavitation. Expulsion being leaks, tears, fissures in Reality, and Cavitation being things formed within Choas of entities from Reality manifesting back into Reality.

As for Question two... broken down would be more appropriate.

Third: inherent problems are not defined as of yet... Energy Cascades are probably a result or a solution (or both). Finally, people, specifically those who first colonized and create the Hollow, have been experimenting, interacting, and harvesting Chaos since the world's inception. The how is through Factories, which I will go in the greater detail with later... because it is 12:30AM... and I have work at 6AM...

These did help, and are things that I have been thinking about. Specifics are wonderful, and thank you again!

Answering some questions.

To start, what do you mean by "outside entities" when it comes to the fae? Is it that there are actually creatures outside the Hollow in this Void which destroys everything since its absolute chaos, or do you mean the thoughts and alike or beings on neighboring planes? Though it wouldn't really come up in setting I am kind of curious.

The fae is a blanket term for Chaotic entities which act autonomously , as opposed to other Chaotic phenomenon such as a Reality Maelstrom. Chaos is the space between all space, and thus does interact with multiple planes (universes). Nothing naturally exists physically in Chaos, and everything that enters Chaos is almost certainly destroyed... but there destruction echoes across Chaos. These echoes may well manifest as something... stranger.

Normally, this echo results in a Reality Maelstrom which eliminates the inherent problem in a magnificent display of power rather quickly, or evaporates slowly over many years in the form of energy cascades. However, with the harvesting of Chaos for energy and materials, dead-zones are theorized to exist on Chaos where partially deconstructed entities or echos will pool. To this fissures in Reality may occur, resulting in the strange rock formations and environments created on the Borderlands of the Hollow. However, there are times where something horrific is produced. Enter the fae.

During the first year of the Hollow, as well as during the Dark Age, many people were lost to Chaos either in Reality Maelstroms, fissures, or Factory or Observatory accidents. Their echoes in Chaos are more dangerous than that of a anything inanimate or otherwise. From Chaos, their consciousnesses, and ever their souls', are deconstructed and reformed, often conglomerating and fusing into one another forming a Fae. Upon entering the Hollow, Reality, they manifest as horrifying monstrosities with enormous power beyond any normal being native to the Hollow.



Second, since this is chaos going kind of crazy on the outer edges of the world, as much as some of the effects create beings, there doesn't seem to be anything set up in system that would allow this specialized anti chaos unit deal with anything other than shooting/fighting it. What can they do with a reality maelstroms, or atmospheric disturbances, or anything they can't shoot and or kill?

To this question... I have no answer at the moment beyond shooting at it. I plan to implement equipment which rely on the character's Skills but not necessarily their monies to solve problems such as this. Like a portable Field Emitter or small Reality Engine. As well, larger problems may be solved with larger story set-pieces which will be written into the lore along with the Observatories and Factories. The characters exist to pursue rampant Fae and infiltrate hazardous, often Chaotic, environments. AS well, they hunt down threat beyond Chaos to the Hollow (political and public security stuff here).



Also, where exactly are the borderlands where these disturbances are happening? As I recall, the Hollow is an inward built sphere equadistance from the center. The observers are also evenly place, so there really isn't a edge to work with. Why aren't these anomalies appearing directly in the center of cities?

The Borderlands exist between each Observatory. That is, the border between each Nation. Thus, they exist opposite the axis the Observatories are located. The Observatories "fight back" or more correctly "dream away" Chaos. Ergo, the cities are MORE protected... they are not immune. The Observers themselves could wake up momentarily, Chaos would crash inward to the Nation at the center. OR a Factory could breach, spilling Chaos and those entities trapped inside into the city center possibly destroying its Observatory, thus destroying the Nation.



Now when it comes to current mechanics, as you mentioned, the class system feels tacked on.

Classes are gone. I like everything you said after that sentence, and I have thought of that (looking at Mass Effect as it did the same thing), but right now Specialization (Feat) Trees exist to create progression as well as the inherent progression from spending bp and Ore on new skills, powers, and equipment. Converting a Vidjah game into a Tabletop is difficult... whiiich is partially the reason this has turned into my own game and isn't simply a Mass Effect conversion (as it was before).

Thank you Chrono!

Many updates...

The game has gone through lots of revision as of late, and many rules and number have been re-writen... and I am only getting started.

Currently, I am re-balancing all the equipment, powers, etc. and I plan to cut down on the number of things the player, and character thereof, must worry about i.e. all their equipment. 

Still, I would still like people to provide feed-back and their own thoughts and ideas which may help in the games development! 

https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/

Above is a link to the rules of the game!

Lots of thoughts.

I believe I am coming to an answer that will tie a campaign, characters, and motivation together.

Basically, the area in which the Hollow exists (Chaos) is... odd... and thus odd things will occur when absolute pure energy interacts with creative beings or entities with an existence.

Think of Chaos as you would Exalted. Save that no one can survive it. Period. Entering Chaos is death. Your consciousness, body, and soul are ripped apart and converted into chaos.

However, there are times where Chaos interacts with outside entities in an odd way may this be through the manifestation of... "things" on the borderlands, reality maelstroms, aberrations, or the coalescence of those consciousnesses lost to chaos producing more powerful entities: The Fae.

Basically, the OSSTG will become something different. An ministry formed by the powerful nations of the world to hunt down such oddities in the world and contain or destroy them. If world politics and such become involved in the campaign at some time, they should and will be secondary to the overall threat.

It will be an overall change to the setting as a whole.



Yes, the political aspect as a focus is boring... so it should be THERE as flavor, and no, there need not that be all that much description for the GM to know how to handle political turmoil (much like your own council of death campaign, Jenni). The major problems the characters should face are those which trancend politics, nations, etc. This being Chaos, and how the people of the Hollow effect, as well as how they are effected by, it.

I have been mauling over character proggression and an aspiration aspect like D&D has with its leveling system and such. At this point, the game is still along the line of shadowrun's progression i.e. big and better guns.

I think I'd like the progression to stay away from the power creep aspects of D&D in that a level 20 character is so much more powerful statistically than a level 1 character. I still want their to be a difference, but not 10HP one 1d6+3 damage attack versus 200HP and 5 2d8+10 damage attacks.

To this, I have been playing with a Chasis leveling system which is basically a class which the character takes on at the begining of the game... but I am still not saticfied with it... it is uninteresting, seems tacked on, etc. I want something more purposeful like the classes from Borderlands, or from the up coming Destiny game. Something with small guildlines to give the character a role of sorts and something to aspire to with enough space to give characters the ability to become unique.

Rules: Playable. World, Story, and Lore: on deck.

https://the-hollow.obsidianportal.com/wikis/main-page

The rules of play, character creation, equipment, and powers are done (until someone finds something broken or ripe for exploitation…).

THUS, I will now be focusing on writing the world itself. The peoples, Nations thereof, borderlands, story, conflicts, history, legends, lore, ect. LOTS of writing. Before focusing solely on the rules as well as my gallery, I had written a good 30 pages of the stuff. All of it needs heavy editing and revising. So, updates on the that will begin here.