Men are in general divided by a law of nature into two categories, inferior (ordinary), that is, so to say, material that serves only to reproduce its kind, and men who have the gift or the talent to utter a new word . . . The second category all transgress the law; they are destroyers or disposed to destruction according to their capacities.  The crimes of these men are of course relative and varied; for the most part they seek in very varied ways the destruction of the present for the sake of the better.  But if such a one is forced for the sake of his idea to step over a corpse or wade through the blood, he can, I maintain, find within himself, in his conscience, a reason for wading through the blood.
--- Raskolnikov in Dostoevsky’s ''Crime and Punishment''

Yes, after several long distance phone calls between Anchorage, Alaska, and Cincinatti, Ohio, progress has been made.

High General Sesswanna and I churned out several character sheets tonight for the Vast Empire Role-Playing Game aside from the ones he had already created.  Sesswanna created his originally in a very, very, spiffy Adobe .pdf template (click to view), but we decided to use Rich Text Format (.rtf) instead and used Captain Cosmic's character sheet (an Imperial Army Instructor) as our basis.



If you are in the Vast Empire RPG and wish to play in our upcoming d20 game sessions, please send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

VE ID-Line; Character Name (please supply a first and last name, i.e. "Soontir Fel"); Origin (home-world); Species (preferably human for continuity purposes); Age (the higher your rank, the older you should be - no 17 yr old Lieutenants); Gender; Height (over 5' - under 7'); Mass (weight); Hair (aside from color, include style as well: cropped, crew-cut, hippie, long/short, etc.); Eyes; Skin (no outlandish shades, i.e. "purple"); Handedness (left or right); Notable Features (visible scars, large nose, big ears, missing fingers/toes, etc.); Background Information (the education of your character, how you came to join the Empire, etc.) and Imperial Center Purchases (you may list a maximum of six items).

Please do not list capital ships, death stars, sun crushers, super star destroyers, AT-ATs/STs, or outlandish items in your purchases' entry.  We recommend choosing practical one-man items. A pink bath robe may be glitzy and may sensually arouse other characters, but you may find a thermal detonator or powerful blaster rifle far more useful in certain precarious situations.

You may use other store items you have bought in future games, but the items you list will be your default selection unless special circumstances arise.

If the Vast Empire RPG administrators review your store purchases and find the items themselves or the statistics to be unacceptable, we will state our reasons privately via email and ask you to select a different item.

Now, for those of you who are curious, here is an example d20 character sheet which the Vast Empire RPG uses:

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// BEGIN CHARACTER SHEET
// Vast Empire RPG d20 Character Sheet.
// Created by Joshua M. and Alex N.
// Please do not modify content without permission.


Character:          Player: Cosmic
Class:                Level:
Origin:                Species:

Age:                  Gender:
Height:              Mass:
Hair:                  Eyes:
Skin:                  Handedness:


Background Information:

Type: Imperial Army Instructor
Male Human 3rd level Soldier / 2nd level Noble

Vitality Points: 40
Wounds Points: 12
Defense 15
Speed 10m
Attack +4 or ±0/±0 ranged (3d6 or stun: 1d6/15, Blaster pistol), +4 punch (1d3, unarmed)

Initiative ±0
Reputation 5

Force Points 3
Light Side Dice 0
Dark Side Dice 0
Dark Side Points 0


SPECIAL QUALITIES
Noble bonus class skill (Bluff)
Inspire Confidence +1
Call in a favor (x1)


ABILITIES
Strength 11
Dexterity 11
Constitution 12
Intelligence 13
Wisdom 13
Charisma 14


SAVING THROWS
Fortitude +4
Reflex +3
Will +5


SKILLS
Bluff +6
Climb +1
Computer Use +3
Demolitions +2
Diplomacy +5
Disable Device +2
Gather Information +5
Hide +1
Intimidate +5
Jump +1
Knowledge (Empire) +4
Listen +3
Move Silently +1
Search +4
Sense Motive +6
Spot +3
Survival +2


FEATS
Armor Proficiency (light)
Armor Proficiency (medium)
Armor Proficiency (heavy)
Expertise
Sharp-eyed
Skill Emphasis (diplomacy)
Trustworthy
Weapon Group (simple weapons)
Weapon Group (blaster pistols)
Weapon Group (blaster rifles)
Weapon Group (heavy weapons)
Weapon Group (vibro weapons)


EQUIPMENT
datapad
blaster pistol (4D)
comlink
uniform
rank cylinders
Imperial Center purchases (six maximum)


// END CHARACTER SHEET
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


It was decided that, rather than use a static rank -> statistic system, Vast Empire RPG players may gain added “experience”/levels/attributes pending on their activity in the gaming session.  A player, though only a staff sergeant, who has waded through numerous combat engagements in gaming sessions should naturally reflect that he is more battle-hardened than a lieutenant who has yet to engage in a hectic fray.  Using this system, lower-ranking members of the Vast Empire will be able to eventually surpass higher-ranking members in certain stats/attributes if the higher-ranking members slack off.  They may also gain extra, unique skills that others do not have.  Needless to say, this adds far more diversity and dynamic elements than a standard rank -> stats system ever could provide.

Regarding characters who belong to the Dark Jedi Order, we will be adding the proper bonuses to their character sheets in the distant future.  We do not wish to complicate our current character sheets at the moment until each is nominally bug-free/correct without the addition of The Force.

I conversed with Grand Moff Kadann several weeks ago and he proposed an interesting idea of division vs. division RPG sessions or perhaps squad vs. squad sessions.  It would be intriguing to have a game session in which two Army squads face off in "training simulators" with the objective of capturing a virtual compound or breaking into a New Republic building to obtain classified data from a secured vault.  More information on this at a later date.

Sesswanna and I, in an earlier discussion on AOL Instant Messenger, pondered players collecting items in a RPG game session and displaying them on the roster when a VE RPG campaign officially ends.  For example, if a player manages to find an expensive droid during a gaming session, he or she may keep it for future RPG campaigns if they are able to retain ownership of it until the current RPG campaign comes to a close.  It may then be added to the equipment section of their respective characters on the Vast Empire Roster. (Of course, the items players keep must already be apart of Imperial Center item database for obvious reasons.)

Unlike the previous d6 VE RPG game sessions, it will be much harder for the Game Masters to allow non-VE RPG unit members to instantly participate in an IRC game session.  The d20 character sheets take a lot longer to create and a great amount of detail is needed for the maximum enjoyment of our players.  It is rather annoying to insert a jagged character that is devoid of a past or adequate description into a universe where all the others are.  So, if you are curious about participating, we recommend signing up now rather than being reduced to merely "watching" an RPG session.

If you wish to join the Vast Empire RPG, please send an email to [email protected].  Unless you are not a member of the Vast Empire, you will not be turned down.  It does not matter if you have never role-played before.  There are tons of individuals who will happily show you the ropes.


Questions, comments, suggestions -- feel free to reply.  You do not have to be in the RPG unit to post on this board. Everyone is welcome.


-----------------------
His fate was destined to a foreign strand,
A petty fortress and a "humble" hand;
He left the name at which the world grew pale,
To paint a moral, or adorn a tale.
--- Johnson for Charles of Sweden

Looks pretty interesting.
 
-----------------------
Captain Cosmic
Commander of Training
[OPE][OTH][OPA][IH][CDS][EW1][IOC]
-----------------------
CO/SL/DJK Cosmic/Lion 1-1/mSSD Atrus/VEDJ/VE [VP]
-----------------------

/me coughs Gents.. Is there anyone you would like to thank or credit for their work? Just curious. -Brigadier General Talon Prefect of the Vast Empire Army

Talon: Is there anyone you would like to thank [. . .]? Just curious.

Um . . . well . . . I would like to thank . . . hmm . . . Sesswanna for providing an outlet for my nagging and being the superb friend that he is; Tiana for giving me the communication means to nag Sesswanna; Talon for tirelessly listening to my immature ravings and being there when I needed a shoulder-pad to cry on; Anakin for supplying me with countless cyber-wenches so I did not have to wallow in my self-pity; Exar Kun for sharing my enthusiasm in the ancient Star Wars universe; Raptor for being one of the coolest people to ever inhabit cyberspace; Sithspawn for being the dependable compatriot that he was and the master of espionage that he is; Zed Zeon for restoring my hope that imaginative Flash Gordon-esque character names still exist today; Nomad for being the mental prodigy that he is and ghost-writing nearly all my VE Reporter posts; VaderX for showing me the ropes of being in an online Star Wars clubs; Schnapps for her similar love of A.C. Doyle's writings and sparking my interest in fiction-writing; Stormtrooper 1026 for being a role-model of remarkable determination and dauntlessness;  Blackhawk for proving that it takes a big man to cry and an even bigger man to laugh at him; Shogun for going A.W.O.L. and giving me my first command of a squad as a result; DarkJedi for his amiable conversations on IRC; Athran for always being there and being the nifty person that he is; Kadann for making me incessantly wish I was like him and keeping me from resigning the Vast Empire via a few kind, well-chosen words; Stonefish for showing that old people, though a danger on the road, can benefit society; Spectre for taking over Squad 3: The Raiders after I left and allaying my fears as to its future; SilverFox for his uncanny prophetic advice that always came true; Paladin for his "online SW club career advice"; Darkhawk for helping me emotionally cope with not being the only one who can’t dance; Bear for showing me the true meaning of devotion to one’s love; Aphrodite for being the ice princess of the world wide web; Phoenix for demonstrating that you can be a leader and still be a friend; Darth Haun for his incredible mod contributions to the JK-players of the VE; Geist for first explaining to me what a "fallen angel" was; Cabbel for his trusty back-up in Rainbow Six and salvaging my career as Director of Intelligence; Argon Viper for being the dreaded knight that he is; LG Dark for teaching me how to cram every foul word in the book into a single email; PJ for giving me a reason to rent Disney’s Robin Hood again at the video store; Gene Tierney for the being the goddess of the Vast Empire; Paan for his leadership and compassion; Destroyer for becoming the Naval Intelligence Officer at the most opportune time and, therefore, saving me from Prefect Crysus’ impending wrath; Kelly for her sociable warmth towards Tiana; Ronin for starting all this blissful insanity; Armage Bedar, Moridin, Sarli, and Tony J. Case for their unknowing assistance in my use of the d20 RPG system; Majere for giving me the chance to be Prefect of the Army; Reiner Leal (Merlin/Rumpkilla) for his refreshing late-night conversations; Xizor for teaching me HTML; Eliad Gavron for his beautiful images; Craff Lennox for being the utter incarnation of what every online Imperial club member should be; Riel Fury – Twin Fury – Grrl Fury – and every other fury for each having unique personalities; Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky for causing those bizarre, eyebrow-raising conversations in #Vast_Empire; Reinthaler for restoring to the Vast Empire Navy to its glory; Flare for helping me "to forget"; Atrus for his innate gallantry and not giving a plug nickel what people said about me; LoneWolf and Fallen for their philosophical support; Epic for rivaling the Energizer Bunny; NiksaVel for demonstrating the spiffy use of digital iconology in websites; g5 for his unfailing dependability and doing lots of unnecessary system paperwork whilst never complaining once; Cara for being the All-American girl that she is; Schroe (Prefect Viper) for introducing me to the claustrophobic experience of reading Edgar Allen Poe’s works; Vipress for being the dainty gal that she was; Sartre for politely suffering the agonies of my JK hacking and instilling in me a profound sense of revulsion towards cheaters; Dronshed for teaching me how to hack Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II; Kurtz for being the "guy who is telling you the way it is"; Marenta for proving that femme fatales -do- exist on the internet; Demi Wraith for giving me inspiration as a fellow sibling to stand up to your sister even though, in my case, she always wins in the end; Threeof4 for granting me the happiness of being forgiven; Fury for making the VE store the fabulous service that it is today; Crysus for his unconditional friendship and helping me feed the homeless to the hungry; Daishi for his grammatical assistance and arousing my interest in BattleTech; Harrison for his patience regarding my incessant teasing; Timothy Zahn for inadvertently making me pick the Vast Empire over Rebel Squadrons; JMac for his insightful observations; Amason for just being able to finally meet the legend himself; War Woman for convincing me that deformed toenails are psychologically dangerous; Trigit for his companionship and always being my fellow partner in crime; Donitz for his remarkable XvT/XWA tips and proving that Star Wars contains blatant bestiality; Sauron for favorably reviewing a story I wrote and deftly explaining the mystery of The Force; Cosmic for being an example of unabated activity and E.R. Burroughs for getting me back on the SW RPG band-wagon.

. . . and all the rest of ye IRC-lubbards for the lasting memories you have made.


-----------------------
His fate was destined to a foreign strand,
A petty fortress and a "humble" hand;
He left the name at which the world grew pale,
To paint a moral, or adorn a tale.
--- Johnson for Charles of Sweden

You hear that people? Spartacus can't dance, either.
 
-----------------------
FL/WO2 Darkhawk/Aegis 2-1 (Aegis 5)/Wing1/mSSD Atrus/VEN/VE/(=A=)(=SA=)(=JCPA=)[BRC]

"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad."

*Spartacus is going to let Sesswanna answer this question.
 
-----------------------
"The war was like a bloody dream; I cannot tell
How many heathen souls I sent to a fiery Hell,
I only know that above the fallen ones
I heard dark Odin shouting to his sons,
And felt amid the battle's roar and thunderous shock
The strive of mighty gods that crashed in Ragnarok."
--- Conn's Saga

Yes, that would be me.  The RPG is making good progress, as we have made character sheets and have an idea of how its going to work.  It really is neat.  So, the RPG will be ready when it is!

/me smacks the silly Scottish boy until he cries sorry about that...he just acts up sometimes....
 
-----------------------
Petty Officer 2nd Class Grl Fury
Reserves
Navy of the Vast Empire
[=A=]

Is it too late to get our character sheets in?
 
-----------------------
Captain Riel Fury
Navy Executive Officer
Raptor Five
Founder of Aegis Squadron

Wow, you two like to write ALOT. That's just some amazing thanking. I'll ummm join the RPG, sure, yeah, I'll join.
 
-----------------------
Otto Vox
Army: Sergeant
Dark Jedi Order: Uninitiate
Platoon 1 Sqaud 3: Raiders
TRP/UNI/SGT Otto Vox/3SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VEDJ/VE
"War is war, you can only come out alive if you're good."