OOC Planning and Plotting a Starbound RP inspired on Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Dragon Ball

I should begin by explaining my ridiculously long title.

Basically, I love dark and gritty as much as the next person. It's realistic, down-to-earth, and adrenaline pumped.

But when you combine the gritty with the silly, you yield interesting results. Such as The Hitchhiker's series and most of the works of Akira Toriyama, such as the Dragon Ball series. So where does this all lead?

Most of Starbound's writing so far verges on the absurd, and I say we take the mostly dark style we've been going with in RP's so far and put in this setting. With a relatively small group(6 to 8 people, with others maybe being able to join in as we go, just maybe?) and a slow but steady pace, we could make for some interesting ideas.

It'd require a slightly longer paragraph form format, I think.

The initial idea I'm presenting is starting with bunch of ragged adventurers seeking revenge on the one dreaded villain of the skies - Dreadwing the Penguin. I'm imagining some morphing will have to be made to fit him into a darker tone, less cuddly penguin and more freaky space pirate lord-esque and broading the definition of penguin to some alien species of sort.

I hope I'm making some sort of sense. Am I? I guess.

Open for discussion, suggestions, yadda yadda. Make yourself at home.

 

Wait, although I see the niceness of the whole thing, since when is DB in anyways "Dark"

 

It is not. It's severely silly but with eventual "darker" elements(incredible amounts of graphic violence, killing, etc) and in general serious moments or concepts in a lighter atmosphere.

At least the manga, that is.

Example: Android 16's death, The Namek Saga, the beginning of the Cell Saga, King Piccolo's death, etc.

In a very similar way to Hitchhiker's, where usual gritty elements often give way to even darker ones (the futility of effort in the last book, Agrajag) while in a world where two missiles are dealt with by transforming them into a whale and a flower pot.

 

Ah, in that sense, it is a perfectly good idea. Might help out myself, if I get the time

 

I would be very interested in an RP like this.

So, very dark and broody settings, with occasional humor/nonsensical things here and there?

 

I think what he means is a very humor-based setting, but with a lot of grimdark backdrops. I think the word would be "Grimderp".

 

It's less 'mostly one thing, with a bit of other'. It's a rather good mix rather. The backdrop and logic (like physics and survivability) would be realistic, though, so I guess Paladin's a closer guess.

If that seems interesting.

 

Oh, I see. I got the idea that it would be more humor, due to both Hitchhikers and DB having more humor than grimdark, but that seems good too.

 

Right now I think between us three interested, we should agree on a plot.

The prototype drabble I'm writing for this is some Hitchhiker's inspired backdrop of how and why penguins are an intelligent, space travel capable species, together with cosmetic modifications to make them more intimidating overall. I'm pretty sure I'll use Dreadwing as a villain, but as an efficient captain of a fleet rather than the implied aloof single UFO pirate who preys on distress beacons.

What I need now, although, is a reason to go after him, though I guess each character could have his own?

 

If the PCs are human, have Dreadwing be the man penguin behind the destruction of Earth: Purposely unleashing the Beast from Beast From Beyond The Stars on Earth. As for why, he assumed the planet was a junkyard planet (like Raxxus Prime from Star Wars) due to the high amount of ozone and debris in the atmosphere.

If PCs aren't human, have Dreadwing destroy their hometown/city, or kidnap someone precious to them, or just steal something valuable.

...or that. That would work too.

 

We could make that first thing true, since it sounds really cool, and non-human or humans outside of Earth can have their own reasons.

 

On a side note: I recall a piece of lore from Starbound that has a human player commenting that the prisoners of a USCM Penal Colony were only allowed a maximum of thirty video games at one time. The player also remarks that it is "oppressive." Not sure if we can use it or not.

 

It may be, at least as a background element. If it's acceptable, I'm gonna finish the drabble that'll be the opening of this, then post it up to see how it is. If you guys like it, I'll post up a character...sheet...thingy...thing.

 

I would join in with this. Just a question: will the races be limited to those existing in Starbound?
Also, Dreadwing is the first boss. It would be cool if you involved the other bosses somehow. Anyway, here's a raccoon.

 

That depends. What races are you thinking of, per say?

 

I don't know. Races from Mods or suggestions, perhaps.
What if Dreadwing had a bounty on his head? That could be the drive for at least one character.

 

That's a given, about the bounty.

And depends on the mod races. If it fits the mood, sure.

 

Will there be normal Starbound gear/tiered weapons or more with guns and an "all swords are the same, some just have extra effects" thing or how will it be?
Also, LETS DO THIS ALREADY!!! I WANNA KILL EVIL PENGUIN ALIENS!

 

More RP logic than game one. So no real need for hardcore weapon scaling, at max there will be one explosive weapon that will be competed for.

Also, send character Apps. Simple stuff. The motivation for the adventure doesn't need to be there yet since the premise isn't fully built, so the backstory is just a short origin one, pretty much.

Name:
Race:
Appearance:
Personality & 1 Paragraph of Backstory:

 

This is an app that may not be final.

Name: Toadmuncher

Race: Floran

Appearance: Dirty red mushroom cap thing on his head, beige skin, wears Floran hunter clothing and some sort of light armour (not sure what the armours are in this RP).

Personality: His favourite food is toads, earning him his name. He is not as savage as others of his race, but enjoys a good hunt. He is sarcastic, though this can be hard to pick up for most non-Florans, and he likes Glitch, because they're cute and cuddly.

Background: Toadmuncher was the sprout of two Florans who had a fine dining (or the Floran equivalent, anyway) restaurant. Toadmuncher was the hunter/gatherer/maintenance man/dish washer/kitchen hand for them, but soon got sick of his mundane life. Collecting his bow, some light armour, provisions, adventuring gear and hijacking a delivery truck space ship, he set out to become the greatest hunter. Toadmuncher started with small prey- petty space criminals, wild life on planets and the like- but soon found a bounty out for Dreadwing: the greatest prey of all (sort of). His first encounter with the space pirate ended badly, so now eating him is personal.

Equipment and skills:
Basic survival gear, food, light armour. He prefers the bow, but seeing as bows suck, he uses a hyper drive plasma battery powered multi-arrow vintage black FluxKiller v05. He calls it Susan.
Toadmuncher is a skilled hunter. He is also good at repairing and can clean even the toughest stain from a purplinoceros fur rug; occulemon stew, hot bone, Hylotl brain matter- anything!
Another thing he "brings to the table" (get it?) is that he can cook Floran food quite well. Then again, it IS Floran food.