News Half-Life 2 Roleplay: After-Life

[PepicWalrus]

While Iike the idea of people being able to be post Combine born I am currently in the 5-10 range.

What I envision is majority of the world is not well off. The Populus is a unified effort of many different factions, and species coming together using the alien technology to rebuild hence how they get to an advanced state very quickly. However majority of the world is dangerous outlands, untamed xenian wilds, rising and falling nation states, nomadic tribes, syndicates, insurgencies, hold out groups, ect ect. The Populus cities or "Bastions" as I plan to call them are oasis' in a very hostile environment and while they have a very strong foothold the actual size of their territory isn't massive. 5 years would ne 1 city 10 years I'd say they only have 3 cities tops 20 maybe 5-6.

However I intend the Populus to still be in a "we're still figuring out how to really make this work without totally imploding" state. Different species have very different needs and thinking processes and we want the community to have control over the legal side of things with different political parties pushing their needs.

For the main server it'll focus on the Populus city angle and the immediate outer sector with the right map but the world as a whole will be very diverse. Raiden and I plan to steer away from the massive narrative event lead direction for the main server for player created directions but I'd like the event server to remain open to explore the wider world with smaller narrative events.

Perhaps if this REALLY takes off for a long period we can continue down the time timeline to 20 years or something eventually. But while I like the idea of post Combine born characters and it fits with the 20 years between HL1 and HL2 it feels too big a jump.

 

[PepicWalrus]

this is very cool btw please stick to ur guns on this. player trust is essential to interesting stories. im gonna give this iteration a brief go it's got some steam behind it

This is something we're pretty set on is detaching species from faction and having at least Humans Vortigaunts and Transhumans be available to everyone with Xenian races like Alien Grunts On the wish list as well as available and possibly Race X as a post launch addition but those are tentative. The ones listed are locked in pretty much.

We also don't need to worry about "well they're just a human wearing a vortigaunt costume" given the setting and reasoning the ones available default are pre planned to be those and explained by the fact they've just assimilated into society so much that they've lost touch with the vortessence and are more human in personality. The ones that have perks or higher expectations will still need to be applied for. Obviously there'll always be a baseline of expected quality but we are accounting for the past reasons they are typically locked behind applications already.

 

[Cindy]

 

[PepicWalrus]

Never the end is never the end is never the end is never the end is

 

[deathwolf]

hl2rp excitement got me brewing i think im going to get back into gmod posing

 

[MaXenzie]

hl2rp excitement got me brewing i think im going to get back into gmod posing

it already got me doing SFM stuff again

 

[Cindy]

been tasting ash in my mouth any time i try to get excited for an rp project as of late only to see it wither away, so idk if ill bite this go around

gl to the team & players all the same

 

[Trains]

 

[Eternal Light]

@chronos has a good point that steers me towards 5 years. I'm comfortable with 10, but, as others have stated, 20 seems way too far and detached.

Also, can Vortigaunt apps not require a backstory that fits the setting per-say, but rather showcase creativity? The apps for this iteration basically got trashed, and I have a good one I want to reuse from elsewhere, but it might not fit the setting exactly.

I want to add, on launch, unless it is a scripted event, stuff like coups and political upheavals need to be restricted for a time until the server's official factions or groups can get their bearings. On Netspark, basically nothing was set up and there was a coup and assassinations and a bunch of stuff causing mass confusion. The citizens got left in the dust of course.

Any plans to rectify this recurring issue in HL2RP where the citizens get neglected?

 

[MaXenzie]

Also, can Vortigaunt apps not require a backstory that fits the setting per-say, but rather showcase creativity? The apps for this iteration basically got trashed, and I have a good one I want to reuse from elsewhere, but it might not fit the setting exactly.

apps have always been the worst part of indenturing yourself to a more unique character

as a creative writer, the last thing i want to do is be made to sit down and do a written exam, and then wait potentially for weeks for an answer that may just be "sorry but apps are now closed and so everyone is denied on principle"

here's where i give immense props to @Raiden and @PepicWalrus for being proactive about acquiring people
instead of hoping to god the person they want around is going to apply, i received a message from them saying they'd like me around to help out

i think that same mindset can, and should be applied not just to staff/administrative duties, but also to whitelists and character roles
i will always think back to @Rabid becoming part of CAB not because they applied, not because they needed the role to fulfil a duty as staff, but because @Blackquill saw their character, saw their roleplay, and went "I like the cut of this person's jib" and just offered them a place in the faction unconditionally (at least, far as i recall)
and as far as i know, that character went on to be one of the best in the iteration

to me, that should be the norm
if you want someone in your faction, or on your team, just offer them the spot instead of waiting for them to play along with the bureaucracy

 

[deathwolf]

it already got me doing SFM stuff again

im hoping for bullsquid ranches
people making volked weapons
transhuman cults with actual funky transhumans rather than bald people or cops
some ppl playing xenian controllers/kingpins
some ppl playing some race-x fellas
scientist characters making funky augments/implants

tribal clan wars within the city
transhuman railway (not the traders)
cool drugs
cool clubs

 

[PepicWalrus]

@chronos has a good point that steers me towards 5 years. I'm comfortable with 10, but, as others have stated, 20 seems way too far and detached.

Also, can Vortigaunt apps not require a backstory that fits the setting per-say, but rather showcase creativity? The apps for this iteration basically got trashed, and I have a good one I want to reuse from elsewhere, but it might not fit the setting exactly.

I want to add, on launch, unless it is a scripted event, stuff like coups and political upheavals need to be restricted for a time until the server's official factions or groups can get their bearings. On Netspark, basically nothing was set up and there was a coup and assassinations and a bunch of stuff causing mass confusion. The citizens got left in the dust of course.

Any plans to rectify this recurring issue in HL2RP where the citizens get neglected?

Unattuned Vortigaunts will be available to everyone which are basically biotic in a way just without the enslavement aspect. They've assimilated into human society and lost touch with the vortessence. TLDR unpowered vorts will be a default option for everyone. I'm sure there's a way to make the old idea work.

For the opening that's a ways ahead buy I've put some thought. I don't want a huge narrative event but more just a tone setter. Some big celebration perhaps to explain why all the people who are outlanders are coming to the Populus Bastion. Freeman Day or something. Getting people situated will be a focus. We'll put safety limits in place yes. We also will likely do small snippet play test events leading up to launch since we need a slew of new systems for this to even happen. Test those out while making it canon.

It is a concern that is on my mind as to what the average person who just wants to live day to day will do and while it still needs solid discussions I think placing the economy around this class of citizen will give strong support to it. I like the idea of having a legitimate materials economy that is tracked. Peoples day to day jobs fuel the economy and we try to minimize things bring spawned out of thin air but have actual supply and demand.

Shop sells this which is made by company which uses materials collected by group ect ect. All of these operated by players. This would be controllable if things get dire or bottle necked we can do injections of resources as admins in a lore friendly way. Supply delivery, large cache found and whoever claims it first can score big that sort of thing. Given we want to automate resource collection with Hotspot nodes this should function without constant admin'ing required if we create the systems for it. Meaning every step of that economy chain matters.

 

[PepicWalrus]

been tasting ash in my mouth any time i try to get excited for an rp project as of late only to see it wither away, so idk if ill bite this go around

gl to the team & players all the same

I'm guessing that means you wouldn't accept epter the lore team invite I was planning to speak to you about 🤔

 

[MaXenzie]

I'm guessing that means you wouldn't accept epter the lore team invite I was planning to speak to you about 🤔

 

[Cindy]

I'm guessing that means you wouldn't accept epter the lore team invite I was planning to speak to you about 🤔

for my sanity im afraid not

im flattered but i cba to commit to another creative project at this time

 

[Vaz]

for my sanity im afraid not

im flattered but i cba to commit to another creative project at this time

We hope to still see you around though??

 

[Eternal Light]

Unattuned Vortigaunts will be available to everyone which are basically biotic in a way just without the enslavement aspect. They've assimilated into human society and lost touch with the vortessence. TLDR unpowered vorts will be a default option for everyone. I'm sure there's a way to make the old idea work.

I was referring to the applied Vorts; I'm not sure how y'all plan on doing the applications though.

Shop sells this which is made by company which uses materials collected by group ect ect. All of these operated by players.

Personally, I hate the idea of someone sitting in a shop waiting for passersby to come and purchase goods. Is there an alternative? Let's be honest, I don't think many people enjoy sitting around and waiting for someone to need that shirt you have in stock or the flashlight everyone already has (just throwing stuff out there).

Something that came to mind: I'm assuming there will be a hunger/thirst system? I'm too tired to check the og post rn; but, if there is, I'm hoping empty hunger and thirst bars don't kill you, but just bring progressive debuffs.

 

[MaXenzie]

im hoping for bullsquid ranches
people making volked weapons
transhuman cults with actual funky transhumans rather than bald people or cops
some ppl playing xenian controllers/kingpins
some ppl playing some race-x fellas
scientist characters making funky augments/implants

tribal clan wars within the city
transhuman railway (not the traders)
cool drugs
cool clubs

i want the vibe to be Gunsmoke 3-esque, because that was one of the best Gmod RP experiences i had

walking downstairs from my apartment and into the laundry room to see a robot and an alien beating the shit out of each other over a disagreement on who put their reds in with their whites
strange paranormal circumstances occurring due to unnatural scientific phenomena
gang wars one day, abrupt business meetings between those same gangs the next
intense politics backed up by people who have no right backing them up

all wacky shit but grounded within the universe through in-universe justification
shit happens. and it was fuckin fun lmao

 

[PepicWalrus]

i want the vibe to be Gunsmoke 3-esque, because that was one of the best Gmod RP experiences i had

walking downstairs from my apartment and into the laundry room to see a robot and an alien beating the shit out of each other over a disagreement on who put their reds in with their whites
strange paranormal circumstances occurring due to unnatural scientific phenomena
gang wars one day, abrupt business meetings between those same gangs the next
intense politics backed up by people who have no right backing them up

all wacky shit but grounded within the universe through in-universe justification
shit happens. and it was fuckin fun lmao

Pretty much this.

I really want this but half life themed when people walk down the street.

 

[Vaz]

Pretty much this.

I really want this but half life themed when people walk down the street.

No, For real.. This is my mindset when ever we go through a black market/ back alley esc location.

I hope we get this in this iteration, and I am MORE than down to help get this vibe going!!