Cytocorps - Worldbuilding & Gauging Interest

[Channelknight Fadran]

Quote

Ages ago, a society of extremely advanced peoples created the Cytosphere: a massive ring around the entire planet. This megastructure harnessed the planet's innate magic to give the inhabitants a perfect world of instant gratification. Simply thinking of a thing would give the Cytosphere the order to synthesize it out of seemingly nothing, granting it to you immediately.
However, not long after constructing this megastructure, a sudden invasion of nigh unkillable monsters came out of nowhere. Called the faiemen, these monsters can draw out a person's very soul as a way of nourishing itself. Overwhelmed by the sheer power and numbers of these creatures, the society was pushed to near extinction.
Those who survived re-fortified the world as best they could, hiding away in decrepit ruins of lost cities and surrounding themselves with shields. Texts and knowledge of the past were lost to time, and all information of who the original people were or where these monsters came from was suddenly gone.
Now, to defend the new age of people, the bravest and strongest join the Cytocorps. They use the Cytosphere's ancient power to summon suits of armor and powerful weapons, fighting back against the faiemen to push outwards and expand their world. 

Welcome to the "gauging interest" bit of this whole thing. I've been really bored lately and need to write me some more epic anime combat, so... here it is. AoT-esque power armor combat sim.

Basically, please join! The pros are that you'd get to really customize your character's skillset, learn how to write riveting combat sequences, play around with deep and heavy themeworks, and also bend to my every will at every moment. The cons are that there aren't any, so you'll be left with nothing but a perfected, incredible experience. Totally for sure.

We'd be playing as new cadets in the Cytocorps, just getting into the world of power armor and terrifying soul-sucking monstrosities. Hopefully that'll give us enough time to develop our characters as people before getting into the "dedicate your hearts" portion of the RP. I'll post a character sheet below to give you guys an idea of what we're working with. Reminder that for now this thread is just to gauge interest and not to evolve into a full-on RP. Don't bother with quote boxes for OOC or whatever. Please pepper me with questions and comments and accusations as you deem fit.

 

Setting:
Most people live underground in excavated tunnels of ancient cities. The ancients lived in massive conglomerates of buildings, putting the vast majority of the city itself on the 'inside.' People now live within these ruins, surrounded by ancient concrete and weak energy shields to protect them from the faiemen.

Training for the cadets also takes place underground, mostly between a few massive caverns:
- Main Hall: Just a really big room. Completely empty except for the occasoinal bunch of training equipment and such
- Dorms: Two separate caverns, one for each biological gender. Most folks are okay with trans and enby folk, but the army literally couldn't care less when it comes to where people sleep.
- All the other stuff: There's a small section for the meal prep folk, several restrooms, storage rooms, etc; but most activity takes place between these three. 

 

FAQ:

What the heck is the power armor?

Good question, real person! By connecting to the Cytosphere, individuals can summon pieces of armor called "Modules." Each module effectively has a single purpose, like "fire a laser beam" or "protect my vitals please." As a rule, each body segment can only host a single module at a time, which is why most people can't just summon everything and walk around like they're Tony Stark in the Hulkbuster suit.

What kinds of things can Modules do?

There are hundreds - probably thousands - of different types of modules out there. I've only designed so many of them so far, so if you ever have a cool idea feel free to let me know. Most follow pretty solid sci-fi tool rules, though. Several of the most basic might provide more power to your punches, give you a rocket launcher, create a small energy shield, or dampen impacts. Here is a comprehensive list of things I've thought of so far for reference. It's in comment/suggestion mode, so feel free to point out mistakes or even just straight-up add/delete stuff. No changes will be permanent until I approve them and I can veto anything, so please add to the pile as you deem fit.

What do they even look like?

Metal.

They're made of metal.

It's kinda dark-ish. Very thick. In most cases the Modules' innerworkings are completely covered up, so you rarely see anything more than just the metal overlay and whatever the heck it's doing. Several Modules happen to provide a lot of force, which apparently is dangerous when applied to a human body, so they'll include lattices of bracelet-like rings and terrifyingly durable joint wires to disperse the force safely. I did my best to describe what they look like in the doc you should have open in another tab right now. If you have any questions... well, obviously I said to pepper me with questions here.

Batteries for Modules come in the forms of colorful glowy crystals, shaped as any one of the five platonic solids. The largest of these are about as big as a walnut (why do people compare things to walnuts so much? I've seen walnuts like... twice in my entire lifespan). The crystals emenate colorful glowy power lines that extend across the Modules and give them power. The color of your crystal(s) and power lines is the same as your eye color (so, of course, don't just stick with regular earth-y eye colors. Have fun with this).

What kinds of Modules should I pick?

Before you pick anything, you should bear a couple things in mind. First is that literally everyone using any kind of Module for an extended period of time (i.e. more than ten seconds) is going to need a power supply. Enter the Main Power Supply Module: a large metal armor piece that fits neatly over the user's chest. No Cytocorps warrior has ever fought a faiemen without a power supply and lived to tell the tale.

There are two other modules that just about everyone in the Cytocorps uses: the Gravitational Redirector and the ForceCap Boots. The second one is basically the long fall boots from Portal 2: as long as you land on your feet, pretty much all fall damage is gonna get completely tanked. The first is a bit more complicated than that. It's a belt module, meaning it goes around your waist (y'know... like a belt does), and its job is to change the direction of gravity for the person wearing it. It takes in all the current gravitational energy and allows the user to redirect it, meaning any direction can be down for the user. As most faiemen are incredibly fast and maneuverable, this module really helps Cytocorps members to keep up.

Those are the standard-issue things. Now onto the actual question that all of you totally asked.

First of all, remember that every body segment can only host a single module at a time as a rule of thumb (it's a bit more complicated than that, but ambiguity here is more late-game stuff). If you look at the doc that I so kindly linked up there awhile back, you'll find a list of body segments as defined in Modular terms. Several Modules only take up minimal space (like the High-Energy claws, which only require a hand), while others take up tons (the ForceCap Boots take up your entire lower body to properly protect your pelvis from pulverizing). Ensure that you aren't stacking with all your ideas, because the result could be... catastrophic.

Second of all, figure out a decent theme for your character. It could be anything, ranging from the basest of gimmicks to the most complicated dynamics that literature has ever seen. My Cytocorps novel thingy (don't ask for it; I barely have two pages written) stars a very anime-protag protagonist, who will do whatever it takes to become the strongest warrior and defeat the faiemen so no one else has to lose their loved ones to them again. For them I gave incredibly basic modules: a Force Amplifier (makes your punch REALLY punch) and some High-Energy Claws. There's another character I made who specializes in dexterity; they use tons of maneuverability modules paired with a Wristblade to dart in and around their foe.

Third of all, remember: when in doubt, decide what would look the most badchull in an anime.

Art?

Yes please.

And uhhh... here're some references.

Old, bad, but kinda helpful?

Spoiler

New-ish, Bad-ish, and Helpful-ish:

Spoiler

Absolutey fudging incredible (credit to alexie from Artfight)

Spoiler

Should I join?

Yes. Duh.

Edited August 30, 2022 by Channelknight Fadran

[Channelknight Fadran]

Oh also the uniform consists of a skin-tight sleeveless shirt and also skin-tight sleeveless pants (meaning tights. without sleeves. why would tights have sleeves?). The idea is to provide the least amount of resistance for any Modules while they're attaching. During training and battle you're expected to wear nothing but the uniform, but outside of that you're free to pull a sweater over it or whatever if you're kinda chilly.

I haven't actually set the color of the uniform in stone yet, despite popular belief. Most people (myself included) have drawn it as a kinda light-ish gray, but maybe it doesn't have to be like that. Considering how simple the uniform is, you probably just have a drawer full of 'em rather than a singular jacket that you have to wear to work everyday.

Basically what I'm saying is that if you want to give your character a diverse wardrobe of colorful uniforms, go for it.

[Enter a username]

1 hour ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

The color of your crystal(s) and power lines is the same as your eye color (so, of course, don't just stick with regular earth-y eye colors. Have fun with this).

I’m thinking of playing a robot/AI. What would those look like for it?

Also the idea of putting sleeves on tights recently had me in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

I always make RP characters that are too similar to myself. Basically just alternate-dimension versions of me.

And am I going to do the same thing here? Yes.

I would like to join.

I'm thinking my character would be some kind of tactician, someone who's more smarts and technique than a "punchy guy." I can't access that google doc right now, so I'll get back to you on more details later.

I might want a character who uses modules that manipulate gravity for combat purposes. Based on the same principle as the Gravitational Redirector, but for combat.

(He'd probably also be fascinated with the Cytosphere.)

[Shining Silhouette he/him]

This seems really interesting- I love the worldbuilding and the whole vibe of the world.

How much of a time commitment would this be? I'd like to join, but I'm going to be more busy in the next couple months, so I don't know how often I'll be able to participate.

[Channelknight Fadran]

9 hours ago, Enter a username said:

I’m thinking of playing a robot/AI. What would those look like for it?

Would not work, unfortunately. The closest things people have to robots in this world are little drone frens that come with various Modules.

1 hour ago, The Bookwyrm said:

I'm thinking my character would be some kind of tactician, someone who's more smarts and technique than a "punchy guy." I can't access that google doc right now, so I'll get back to you on more details later.

I might want a character who uses modules that manipulate gravity for combat purposes. Based on the same principle as the Gravitational Redirector, but for combat.

(He'd probably also be fascinated with the Cytosphere.)

So an Armin! Good to know. We always need a good big-brain boy.

by "manipulate gravity for combat purposes"... I'm assuming you mean something like telekinesis? Controlling gravity for other things? Please elaborate further so I can determine whether or not that'd work.

52 minutes ago, Shining Silhouette said:

This seems really interesting- I love the worldbuilding and the whole vibe of the world.

How much of a time commitment would this be? I'd like to join, but I'm going to be more busy in the next couple months, so I don't know how often I'll be able to participate.

It's a 17th Shard roleplay. Time commitments are directly proportional to how important your character is. If you're like me and like making super plotsy characters, then you'd be on all the time. If you're like you and are gonna be busy for a lot of the time, then I recommend making a character who isn't particularly relevant most of the time.

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

1 hour ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

by "manipulate gravity for combat purposes"... I'm assuming you mean something like telekinesis? Controlling gravity for other things? Please elaborate further so I can determine whether or not that'd work.

So...I'm not sure what I had in mind originally when I said this. But I have ideas now!

What if there was a module (probably equipped on the arms) that let you control a swarm of small little drone-like things for both offensive and defensive purposes? They'd hover and fly using subtle gravity manipulation, and would be equipped with energy weapons and shields. When not in use, they'd rest on the arm of the user, fitting together like scales, but when in use, they'd swarm around their user like a cloud of insects. Or something. (I'm totally not copying the weapon of a favorite video game character...)

Edit: I just realized you already said something about little drones that come with some modules. This would just be a drone swarm.

Other gravity manipulating weapons could involve making yourself lighter or heavier for certain purposes, or being able to create temporary gravity fields to make your enemies too heavy to move, or to launch them into the sky, or to hover them in the air where they can't do anything. Something along those lines.

I'll let you know if I have other ideas.

Edited August 30, 2022 by The Bookwyrm

[Enter a username]

4 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Would not work, unfortunately. The closest things people have to robots in this world are little drone frens that come with various Modules.

Well, I guess I’ll have to be a boring human the– actually, how intelligent are these faiemen? More specifically, how likely would they be to turn on their own, and how likely would the humans be to accept one who did?

[Channelknight Fadran]

2 hours ago, The Bookwyrm said:

So...I'm not sure what I had in mind originally when I said this. But I have ideas now!

What if there was a module (probably equipped on the arms) that let you control a swarm of small little drone-like things for both offensive and defensive purposes? They'd hover and fly using subtle gravity manipulation, and would be equipped with energy weapons and shields. When not in use, they'd rest on the arm of the user, fitting together like scales, but when in use, they'd swarm around their user like a cloud of insects. Or something. (I'm totally not copying the weapon of a favorite video game character...)

Edit: I just realized you already said something about little drones that come with some modules. This would just be a drone swarm.

Other gravity manipulating weapons could involve making yourself lighter or heavier for certain purposes, or being able to create temporary gravity fields to make your enemies too heavy to move, or to launch them into the sky, or to hover them in the air where they can't do anything. Something along those lines.

I'll let you know if I have other ideas.

Drone Swarm sounds AWESOME. Please add it to the doc!

As for the gravity manipulation... I'll have to think about it. I intentionally made the Gravitational Redirector to take all available gravitational force and redirect it, because it wouldn't be nearly as dangerous if you could just casually float around or anything (basically I wanted to avoid making it too much like Lashings). Modules also can't directly affect anything they aren't attached to, so you'd have to stick one onto your enemy first in order to launch them (which also sounds like a cool weapon, so go for it).

12 minutes ago, Enter a username said:

Well, I guess I’ll have to be a boring human the– actually, how intelligent are these faiemen? More specifically, how likely would they be to turn on their own, and how likely would the humans be to accept one who did?

I like where you're going... and also I don't.

Sorry. You're gonna have to be a boring human . The faiemen are intelligent but not social in any way. They have a basic pecking order / hierarchy, but beyond that they're little more than regular pack animals with big brains.

[Enter a username]

5 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

I like where you're going... and also I don't.

Sorry. You're gonna have to be a boring human . The faiemen are intelligent but not social in any way. They have a basic pecking order / hierarchy, but beyond that they're little more than regular pack animals with big brains.

Alright, boring human it–

Have any genetic samples been taken of the faiemen? And if so, has anyone used them to improve, say, the physical attributes of themselves and/or other humans?

[Channelknight Fadran]

Samples of faiemen organics are abundant, but they aren't anything like organic matter as we know it. The genetic coding follows a different pattern than that of humans'.

[Enter a username]

1 hour ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Samples of faiemen organics are abundant, but they aren't anything like organic matter as we know it. The genetic coding follows a different pattern than that of humans'.

Boring human it is then (for real this time).

I actually thought of robotic enhancements before genetic enhancements, because that’s definitely not the main focus of this RP 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Anyone else with questions?

No?

Cool. When should I make the thread?

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

Soon! I'd like to get started.

I do have two other questions: Are there modules that can be summoned to the head? I might want my character to have some kind of tactical visor.

[EmulatonStromenkiin he/him]

On 8/30/2022 at 0:01 AM, Enter a username said:

Also the idea of putting sleeves on tights recently had me in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

what would be the purpose of these sleeved tights?

18 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

Anyone else with questions?

No?

Cool. When should I make the thread?

Poke. I have question. What kind of metal is the covering? at the very least, in terms of its properties.

[Channelknight Fadran]

8 hours ago, The Bookwyrm said:

Soon! I'd like to get started.

I do have two other questions: Are there modules that can be summoned to the head? I might want my character to have some kind of tactical visor.

That looks like one question to me

And yes. I just haven't designed any yet. Feel free to plop something of the sort into the doc.

4 hours ago, EmulatonStromenkiin said:

Poke. I have question. What kind of metal is the covering? at the very least, in terms of its properties.

Good question. I haven't decided. Definitely something durable and light. Maybe titanium?

[The Bookwyrm he/him]

2 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

That looks like one question to me

I originally had two questions, but then deleted the second one because it was mostly irrelevant and forgot to change it back to "I have one question".

[Channelknight Fadran]

So ka

Welp... I'll get a thread up and running pretty dang soon. I've been itching for it so much y'all don't even know

[Enter a username]

7 hours ago, EmulatonStromenkiin said:

what would be the purpose of these sleeved tights?

Good question.

[Channelknight Fadran]

*Ahem*

 

[Enter a username]

I just thought of a question:

Is teleportation a thing?

[Channelknight Fadran]

The Modules are summoned to people via a form of teleportation. I'm going to say that it's impossible for living matter though.

[Enter a username]

On 9/2/2022 at 10:23 AM, Channelknight Fadran said:

The Modules are summoned to people via a form of teleportation. I'm going to say that it's impossible for living matter though.

Does "impossible" mean "impossible to survive," or "it won't activate?" Also, please define "living matter."

[Channelknight Fadran]

Impossible to survive. Because souls.

I guess by living matter I mean organic material that is considered to be "alive"

[EmulatonStromenkiin he/him]

Teleportation of living matter is not possible because the essence of life, the indefinable spark that gives life, is not shifted along with anyone else.

Is space-bending(tesseract) possible?