[19:09] <+Eloy-3EG> Hey Everyone! I’m Eloy Lasanta from Third Eye Games! We’re the makers of a lot of cool games, like Mermaid Adventures and AMP: Year One. Today, however, I’m here to talk about the upcoming Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. 2nd Edition and its Kickstarter (currently going).
[19:09] <+Eloy-3EG> https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo
[19:09] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, AlsoOwls!)
[19:10] <+AlsoOwls> (Err, ty!)
[19:10] <~Dan> (AlsoOwls: If you’re here for the Q&A, it’s just now starting. 🙂 )
[19:10] <+AlsoOwls> (I followed a thing from facebook to listen to Eloy talk 🙂 )
[19:11] <+Eloy-3EG> In this game, you play agents who work for a shadow corporation to police the supernatural on Earth. You can play as a human or as one of the many demons who call Earth their home and work together with the company to keep it safe from the various apocalypses, catastrophes and armageddons that may lurk around the corner.
[19:11] <+Eloy-3EG> (cool! though I’ll be talking through a bit of clickity-clacking instead of vocal cords)
[19:12] <+Eloy-3EG> In this second edition of Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. we are doing a lot to update the setting and the mechanics to reflect games today. It’s been 6 years from API first came out. And while that may not sound like a lot, the RPG industry has evolved a lot since then (imo)
[19:13] <+Eloy-3EG> (done)
[19:13] <~Dan> Thanks, Eloy!
[19:13] <~Dan> The floor is open to questions!
[19:14] <+Eloy-3EG> Yep, keep the questions coming… otherwise I’ll be forced to ramble on incessantly. lol
[19:14] <~Dan> How much has the setting changed in 2e?
[19:14] <+AlsoOwls> How does the setting work to keep the demons and humans working together?
[19:15] <+Eloy-3EG> The setting itself is being modified to reflect a better version of what we were going for in the 1st edition. While the core of it is staying the same, we’re adjusting certain elements. For instance, an agent no longer has to remove themselves entirely from their past life. They can have a family and home life now, and simply go to their “office job”
[19:16] <+Eloy-3EG> everyday with their family being the wiser. This opens up the setting for more storytelling opportunities.
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[19:17] <~Dan> So sort of a supernatural “True Lies”?
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[19:17] <+Eloy-3EG> AlsoOwls – Every agent (human or demon) has a reason to be a part of the company. This is one of the key features of 2nd Edition, actually. The player chooses the Reasons that the agent joined the company and the Reason they are staying with the company. This combo tells you what initially led them to the job and the thing that motivates them to continue.
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[19:17] <+Eloy-3EG> Dan – yep!
[19:18] <+Eloy-3EG> Specifically keeping humans and demons working together is the fact that they both call Earth home. the vampire by your side doesn’t want the world to collide with the moon anymore than you do, cause this is where he keeps his stuff too
[19:18] <+AlsoOwls> okay this sounds super cool. I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with 1e, so forgive my ignorant questions. How do the players interact with The Company during play?
[19:19] <+AlsoOwls> are there opportunities for supernatural/human conflict?
[19:19] <+grimdragonsoul> is there agents that have forsaken there civilian lives for the company that became so dedicatted to the cause the cause is there life
[19:19] <+Eloy-3EG> It’s cool. While I love API1E, API2E is just a much tighter and more focused game, so this is the perfect time to jump into the setting honestly
[19:21] <+Eloy-3EG> AlsoOwls – Character are basically given a sector that its theirs to police and are given missions that fall under their jurisdiction. Kind of like the police, only there is usually just a handful of API agents (coincidentally like the size of your average gaming group 0 go fig) in most every city.
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[19:22] <+Eloy-3EG> A fun new thing that we’ve added for interacting with the company’s budget constraints is that requests for financial or equipment assistance actually requires negotiation with accounting. lol.
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[19:22] <+Eloy-3EG> grimdragonsoul – Yes! that used to be the default, but now we’ve made it a choice.
[19:23] <+Eloy-3EG> hey acenoid!
[19:23] <+Acenoid> lo
[19:23] <~Dan> (Howdy, Acenoid!)
[19:23] <~Dan> Now, what is the nature of the company? Is it a literal company, and if so, what is its source of revenue?
[19:24] <+Eloy-3EG> Yes, it is a company. It is not a government organization or anything. It’s a separate entity that has taken upon itself to protect humanity from magic and demonic threats
[19:25] <+Eloy-3EG> They have agents within the government and other major corporations, keeping an eye on them, of course
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[19:25] <+AlsoOwls> how much influence does THE COMPANY have over the players/characters?
[19:25] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Baphomet!)
[19:26] <+Baphomet> Sure. Thought I’d stop in.
[19:26] <+Eloy-3EG> API’s been around from the black plague and has had more than enough time to accrue a large amount of investments in the world and amass a ton of wealth. which they then spend on making the world a better place
[19:26] <+Eloy-3EG> hey Daphomet!
[19:26] <+Eloy-3EG> why’d it change that to a B? weird
[19:26] <+Baphomet> Dunno, Deloy. =)
[19:26] <~Dan> (Baphomet: Here for the API 2e Q&A? 🙂 )
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[19:27] <~Dan> (Howdy, Janus!)
[19:27] <+Baphomet> Yes, sir.
[19:27] <~Dan> (In progress (obvoiusly), and the floor is open to questions!)
[19:27] <+Eloy-3EG> AlsoOwls – The company trains the agents, gives them their assignments and then lets them loose. If you (as an agent) can do your job without having to call on the company for help (extra expenses) then they’ll mostly leave you alone and let you do your thing.
[19:28] <~Dan> Eloy-3EG: Do I recall correctly that “demon” in the context of this setting is basically any nonhuman entity?
[19:28] <+Eloy-3EG> there are instances when they have “more” influence, of course. If you’ve negotiated for cybernetic implants, then they’ll likely have trackers in them to protect their investments, and if your Reason to join the company was perhaps an Obligation that you have to the company or in exchange for them protecting your family or something like that, then yeah,
[19:29] <+AlsoOwls> it sounds a rather nice way to be as pushy or hands-off as a GM as your individual group needs.
[19:29] <+Eloy-3EG> they’ll want to keep an eye on you. Likewise, every agent is an investment of time and training, so they’d hate to lose any one agent. freedom unless you mess up, basically. lol
[19:30] <+Eloy-3EG> Pretty much. also if the character are in charge of a sector where portals to other dimensions randomly open, they’ll likely have more eyes on them, as opposed to a quiet area where things rarely happen.
[19:31] <~Dan> Oh, and about cybernetics: In the first edition, they seemed a bit out of left field as compared to other available tech. Does API 2e delve any more into advanced tech from the company beyond cybernetics?
[19:31] <+Eloy-3EG> Dan – Yep. Back in the day, when Humans began what would eventually become API, they believed that all the extradimenional beings they were encountering to be demons from hell. Even though this has been mostly proven false, the monicker has still stuck around. within the company, anything not human is a demon.
[19:32] <+AlsoOwls> Wooooah cybernetics? Yes, do please explain more about the cybernetics and what that means for someone playing a fleshy type character.
[19:33] <+Eloy-3EG> I never saw them as out of left field myself. API2E does go into some other tech items that agents may have at their disposal, but cybernetics is still a favorite for a lot of players.
[19:33] <+Eloy-3EG> AlsoOwls – the major fields of specialization for API2E are skills, fighting styles, cybernetics and magic.
[19:34] <~Dan> Oh, don’t get me wrong: I think they’re awesome. I just felt like they seemed like a huge tech spike as compared to other available tech. If that makes sense.
[19:34] <+Eloy-3EG> There are a lot of different kinds of cybernetics, actually. you can go as small as maybe just an eye or hand implant to being mostly machine. Since the system is point-buy, it’s all about where you spend your points.
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[19:35] <+Eloy-3EG> Well, the company is years ahead of the real world and can also fall back on utilizing demon tech from other dimensions, so they definitely has an edge. lol
[19:35] <~Dan> (Howdy, MonkofLords!)
[19:35] <+Eloy-3EG> hey Monkoflords!
[19:35] <@Silverlion> (Allo MonkofLords)
[19:35] <+AlsoOwls> Do they have any sort of impact on human characters beyond a statistical advantage, or do they also come with some sort of removal from humanity as more are accrued?
[19:35] <~Dan> Eloy-3EG: Do you get into any of that other-dimensional technology?
[19:35] <+MonkofLords> (Being greeted all around har)
[19:35] <+AlsoOwls> (HELLO MONKOFLORDS)
[19:37] <+Eloy-3EG> totally, though most of it is still experimental. in essence, cyborgs have (for a long time) been the company’s test subjects with how well this whole “melding flesh and machine” experiment is going
[19:37] <+AlsoOwls> also, how do cybernetics and magic play against/with each other? do they tend to work as enhancements for skills, or replacements? Are there inherent benefits for certain character builds/archetypes for picking one over the other?
[19:38] <+AlsoOwls> oh my glob that’s so cool
[19:38] <+Baphomet> Okay. Here’s a doozy. I noticed there’s going to be a lot more races in API2 than in the original API. Thing is, when I think of API –.the company, the game — I think of Burners, Lochs, Wolf People, and so forth. I think of those races as the Justice League to humanity’s Superman. Sorta.
[19:39] <+Eloy-3EG> Great questions, AlsoOwls! You can buy into the specializations in any combination you want. I’ve seen characters that are hardcore brawlers on the battlefields without an ounce of magic or tech to help them (by focusing on Fighting Styles).
[19:39] <+Baphomet> Anyway, are you concerned that in adding a huge glut of other races will overshadow the original racial cast?
[19:40] <+Eloy-3EG> if we’re weighing cybernetics vs magic, they both have their own good and bad points. Spells take longer to cast and are often weaker at the first, whereas cybernetics are quick, but can’t get nearly as strong as magic (reliatiy bending in most cases).
[19:40] <+Eloy-3EG> if you’ve played Mario Cart… Cybernetics are like the small and medium cars, where as Magic is like Donkey Kong’s big car that takes a while to rev up, but is the fastest in the end.
[19:41] <+Baphomet> sorry if I interrupted. =( Not sure how this chat goes….
[19:41] <~Dan> Baphomet: You’re doing fine. The floor is open for questions so long as I haven’t called for a question pause to let our guest catch up. 🙂
[19:42] <+AlsoOwls> That’s an excellent explanation, thank you 🙂
[19:42] <~Dan> What system changes are in 2e?
[19:42] <+Eloy-3EG> Baphomet – We’ve already been adding more and more races as the line as gone along. By adding EVEN MORE, I don’t think there’ll be a glut. We’re including new and specialized races that do things that the originals can’t.
[19:42] <+Eloy-3EG> Of course, the originals are the originals for a reason.
[19:43] <+Eloy-3EG> Burners and Taylari and Wolf People can’t ever be replaced.
[19:43] <+Baphomet> Okay, good. thanks.
[19:43] <~Dan> Oh, and speaking of the available races, old and new, rather than force you to do a load of typing, maybe you could give us the links to the relevant portions of the Kickstarter?
[19:44] <+Eloy-3EG> but adding in Mucks (beings composed of slime), Wraps (zombies) and Harpies (flying gossip-mongers) can only add to the fun in my book
[19:44] <+Eloy-3EG> Returning Races: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts?page=2)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts?page=2
[19:44] <~Dan> Wraps are zombies, not mummies?
[19:45] <+AlsoOwls> holy shit you’re telling me I can play a flying gossip monger with mechanical implants
[19:45] <+AlsoOwls> that’s awesome
[19:45] <+Eloy-3EG> New races: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts/1010279)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts/1010279
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[19:45] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, TDaveS!)
[19:45] <~Dan> (Mind the language, please, AlsoOwls. Family-friendly room. 😉 )
[19:45] <+Eloy-3EG> totally! Harpies with cybernetics is awesome. lol
[19:45] <+AlsoOwls> (oops, thank you)
[19:46] <~Dan> (No problem!)
[19:46] <~Dan> Did you see my system question, Eloy-3EG?
[19:46] <+Eloy-3EG> Dan – System changes. Well, API1E had large pools of hit points and stamina points and a good bit of book keeping involved with them. 2nd Edition is stripping a lot of this stuff out and making if much more streamlined.
[19:47] <+Eloy-3EG> One of my recent KS updates also went into specifically the difference in combat between API1E and API2E too: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts/1023564)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts/1023564
[19:47] <+Eloy-3EG> yep. lol
[19:47] <~Dan> 🙂
[19:47] <+Eloy-3EG> Fighting Styles in API2E are quite awesome, if i say so myself. lol.
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[19:48] <~Dan> (Howdy, EdaraRyan!)
[19:48] <+Eloy-3EG> (AlsoOwls – I didn’t know it was family friendly either. lol)
[19:48] <+EdaraRyan> (Hey Dan! Hey Eloy!)
[19:48] <+Eloy-3EG> Hey Ryan!
[19:48] <+Eloy-3EG> Ryan is actually one writer who worked the most on magic for API2E. 🙂
[19:48] <+Eloy-3EG> See? I told you others from the team would eventually show. lol
[19:48] <@Silverlion> That’s a lot of races, just for anupdate.
[19:48] <~Dan> 🙂
[19:49] <@Silverlion> But strangley I want to play a Mummy Martial artist..:D
[19:49] <+EdaraRyan> I just got off back from dinner 🙂
[19:49] <+Baphomet> Race as gimmick/mindset? =/ Are all harpies gossip-mongers? The original races didn’t come across that narrow; you can fulfill numerous concepts with any one of them. Not sure I’ll like the new races much if they come with the concept already filled in.
[19:49] <+TDaveS> The Initiative tracker is going away but it looks like you count down based on the speed of your actions. Is this a major change?
[19:50] <~Dan> I was about to ask how fighting styles work, but perhaps it would be best to recap how the basic system works?
[19:50] <+Eloy-3EG> All of the races (even the originals) come with some sort of stereotype associated with their race. As a player, you can obviously choose to go outside the norm.
[19:50] <+Eloy-3EG> Wolf People = animalistic and rough people, but nothing stops you from playing one as a bookworm or anything.
[19:52] <+Eloy-3EG> So, if you’re a Harpy, you can expect most of them to be passing rumors and whatnot around most of the time. I can just imagine a harpy kid going “Oh, mom, you’re so annoying. I don’t care what your friend William had for dinner yesterday!” lol
[19:53] <+Eloy-3EG> A mummy martial artist sounds amazing too!
[19:54] <+Eloy-3EG> TDaveS – Initative! This is a pretty major change from API1E.
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[19:54] <+Monochrome_Tide> Was it just me or was this not working for folks earlier today?
[19:54] <+Baphomet> Again, good. Thanks for clearing up a concern of mine.
[19:54] <+Monochrome_Tide> (wait, sorry!)
[19:55] <+Eloy-3EG> how it used to work is that you’d roll initiative and then based on your roll, you’d end up somewhere on the combat tracker. Now, we’re removed that step and you just take it right off of your check. So, if you roll a 15 and have a +4 bonus, then you have 19 Initiative. If you perform a standard attack, which is Speed 5, then you’re next Action will be when
[19:55] <+Eloy-3EG> you get down to Initiative 14.
[19:55] <+Eloy-3EG> it’s a little more straightforward now than it was before. Both ways work, but this new way is a little more digestible for new comers.
[19:56] <+Eloy-3EG> I didn’t have any problem Monochrome_Tide
[19:56] <+AlsoOwls> so with the new system, you have to know/announce what you’re going to do at the start of initiative?
[19:57] <+Eloy-3EG> There are systems that do that, where everyone announces at the beginning, but this one’s not like that. Instead, when it’s your turn (when it gets to your Initiative) you say what you’re doing. If you’re targeting someone, they when get to announce their Reaction. then you resolve both at the same time.
[19:58] <+Eloy-3EG> For example: I’m going in for a punch, so my target gets to decide how they want to react. They could block it, dodge out of the way, grab it and enter a grapple with me, use a martial arts throw technique or a number of other options.
[19:58] <+BlasterKyubey210> Stupid question, but is it possible to pull a “Karmatic Kill” with this Initative System (that is, you and your enemy structured their turn in such a way that when they hit each other, they both die on the same “Initiative Step”)
[19:59] <+Eloy-3EG> This game doesn’t use the static Defense rating for characters. My philosophy behind that is that if they have the opportunity to roll a Nat 20 and make that their best attack ever, then you should have the opportunity to also roll a Nat 20 and equally defend it. lol
[20:00] <+Eloy-3EG> BlasterKyubey210 – If you and your end up taking your turns on the same initiative and both of you decide to attack (neither of your switching to defense), then it;’s definitely possible.
[20:00] <~Dan> What is the core mechanic?
[20:01] <+AlsoOwls> so how do the fighting styles work, then, to drag this back to Dan’s question – how would I go about punching Dan on the same turn as he punches me?
[20:01] <+AlsoOwls> (not that I would punch you, Dan.)
[20:02] <~Dan> (No offense taken. 🙂 )
[20:02] <+Baphomet> See you guys later!
[20:02] <+AlsoOwls> (my arms are not long enough.)
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[20:03] <+Eloy-3EG> Core mechanic is 1d20 + Attribute + Skill.
[20:03] <+Eloy-3EG> bye Baphomet!
[20:03] <+Eloy-3EG> Any one can throw a punch, of course. That’s just a POW (power) + Fists + 1d20 check.
[20:03] <+Eloy-3EG> However, using fighting styles, you can make that punch do much more.
[20:04] <+Eloy-3EG> If you are a brawler, you can Sucker Punch them, which actually makes your target lose initiative.
[20:04] <~Dan> (brb – please continue)
[20:05] <+Eloy-3EG> If you’re a Deadeye, then you can hit pressure points
[20:05] <+Eloy-3EG> If you’re Ruthless, then you can change even your regular attacks to Lethal (making your punch like a gunshot)
[20:05] <+AlsoOwls> do the different kinds of fighting styles balance each other — like, are some more effective against specific other ones?
[20:06] <+Eloy-3EG> There are 10 different fighting styles in all.
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[20:06] <+Eloy-3EG> Not necessarily. It’s not like Ruthless is more effective against Swift or anything, cause it does still depend on how the player build their base character as well.
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[20:08] <+Eloy-3EG> each fighting styles does provide different abilities which color how the fighter would choose to engage their target. Brawler gives bonuses to grapple checks, whereas Leader allows you to dole out commands to your teammates and give them bonuses.
[20:08] <~Dan> (back)
[20:09] <+Eloy-3EG> welcome, egyptian!
[20:09] <+AlsoOwls> it sounds very well-rounded, and like there’s plentiful options, awesome
[20:09] <@egyptian> (hi!)
[20:09] <+Eloy-3EG> Thanks! A lot of work went into the new system to really balance it and make it unique
[20:09] <~Dan> Are there styles for ranged attacks, like for archers and/or gunslingers?
[20:09] <+AlsoOwls> about how long does it take to make a character?
[20:11] <+Eloy-3EG> Dan – Ranged fighters will want to look to the Deadeye fighting Style or possibly the Weapon’s Expert one.
[20:11] <+Eloy-3EG> Making a character the first time will likely take anywhere from 30-45 minutes. when you get good at it, I’ve made characters in about 15 minutes. It really depends on how clear a picture you have for your character walking into it. There are a lot of options and you could spend all day contemplating the different combos.
[20:12] <+Eloy-3EG> but if you know what you want, then you should be able to quickly find it, apply it to your character, and get finished fairly fast
[20:12] <+AlsoOwls> that’s also awesome.
[20:12] <~Dan> What are the attributes, and how broad are the skills?
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[20:13] <+Eloy-3EG> The attributes haven’t changed from API1E. Agility (physical speed), Charm (social presence), Insight (willpower), Intellect (smartness), Power (physical strength), Vigor (Physical toughness)
[20:14] <+Eloy-3EG> There are 20 skills in all, which are all pretty broad. The Travel skill (for instance) covers any vehicle you’d drive, ride, pilot, captain, etc.
[20:14] <+RonBlessing> What is the support plan for 2E, aside from the updates to current books?
[20:14] <+Eloy-3EG> hey RonBlessing!
[20:14] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, RonBlessing!)
[20:15] <+RonBlessing> 😉
[20:15] <+Eloy-3EG> The fans of API have been craving Demon Codex: Burners definitely. That’s next on deck after to get API2E
[20:16] <+Eloy-3EG> At this stage in the game, we may do dual-race books going forward, allowing us to cover more in a single book, but we’re still working out the plans on that.
[20:16] <+Eloy-3EG> Many are also looking forward to API Worldwide: Japan, so that’ll come out shortly after Burners.
[20:17] <+Eloy-3EG> we’re also planning a book on magic, focusing on giving more info on the various Orders one can join and the magical secrets they may have unlocked.
[20:17] <+Eloy-3EG> possibly a book on Illegal demons.
[20:17] <+Eloy-3EG> a lot of it is up in the air, so I’m also happy to listen to fan feedback.
[20:17] <+AlsoOwls> woah, wait, /illegal/ demons? Tell me more about /that/?
[20:17] <+TDaveS> We prefer the term Migrant Entities
[20:18] <~Dan> Speaking of illegal demons, how extensive is the core book’s bestiary?
[20:18] * ~Dan chuckles re: migrant entities 😀
[20:18] <+Eloy-3EG> lol. The company has deemed some demon races suitable for residence on Earth. This is your burners, taylari, lochs, hunchbacks, etc.
[20:18] <+Eloy-3EG> Illegal Demons, however, are those demons the company has deemed too dangerous to reside here.
[20:19] <~Dan> (This ruling has led to violent Demon-strations.)
[20:19] <+AlsoOwls> is it possible to play one? 🙂
[20:19] <+AlsoOwls> (Oh boo <3)
[20:19] <+Eloy-3EG> the most well-known are the Carriers, who can literally eat disease. Sound nice, but if one of them dies, they release a cloud of sickness that is a combination of every disease they’ve ever eaten into the world.
[20:19] <+Eloy-3EG> yes. out of the 20 playable races, 5 of them are Illegal. 🙂
[20:21] <+TDaveS> To go back to character creation for a moment. There seem to be a lot of options, cybernetics, magic, fighting styles. Is it best to stick to just one or can a character with a bit of everything still be effective? Also, does playing a non-filthy human impact my optioins?
[20:21] <~Dan> Hygiene is very important in the game.
[20:21] <+Eloy-3EG> The book is still being developed. My official answer will be that the bestiary for API2E will be more than API1E, but until we’re done with it, I can’t say how much more.
[20:21] <+Eloy-3EG> Dan – There is actually a Poor Hygiene Drawback. lol
[20:21] * ~Dan chuckles
[20:22] <~Dan> Mandatory for a Muck? 🙂
[20:22] <+Eloy-3EG> pretty much
[20:22] <~Dan> Is the opposition generally human-scale creatures, or are there more beast-like and/or huge-ass monsters as well?
[20:23] <+AlsoOwls> do the races outline a set of cultural norms, or are there mechanical advantages or drawbacks to playing any?
[20:23] <+Eloy-3EG> TDaveS – Most of the characters I play in API2E have usually a little bit from a couple categories. It basically boils down to whether you want to be a one-trick pony or not. You could take some from each and still be a good generalized character ready to take on any threat, though.
[20:24] <+Eloy-3EG> AlsoOwls – Yes to both. Like I said above, all races come with an outline of their history and cultural norms and lifestyles most of them live. This then feeds directly into their inherent Gifts and Drawbacks they get based on the race
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[20:25] <~Dan> (Howdy, Le_Squide!)
[20:25] <+Eloy-3EG> for instance, a Taylari is a vampire, so they get their Face of Death and the ability to drink blood to heal and are generally tougher than humans. On the flip side, they find it increasingly difficult to heal without drinking blood and have an allergy to garlic.
[20:27] <+Eloy-3EG> Dan – there are a lot of enemies who are just like the players. They are burners and Draconi and harpies living on Earth too. There are times when they have to fight something much bigger though. One of the races, the Tark, are the size of an elephant for instance or Glulick Worms the size of a tower. There are other larger demons here and there though.
[20:28] <+Eloy-3EG> hey Le_Squide
[20:28] <+Eloy-3EG> Ok, I think i’m caught up on questions
[20:28] <+Eloy-3EG> took me a sec to make sure. lol
[20:29] <~Dan> 🙂
[20:29] <+Eloy-3EG> Link reminder: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo
[20:29] <+AlsoOwls> what sorts of forces do the characters tend to be up against? Is it huge MOON CRASHING INTO THE EARTH stuff or more along the lines of ‘is my partner gonna be mad that I spend so much time at work?’
[20:30] <~Dan> Do I recall correctly that this is a “hidden weirdness” setting as far as the general public goes?
[20:30] <+grimdragonsoul> is there a sanity like trait for api, or humanity trait were if the fall below x level they just become baseline creature of instict
[20:30] <~Dan> (Question pause.)
[20:31] <+Eloy-3EG> That all depends on what the GM wants to throw at the players. For the most part, their standard assignments are to keep up with eh demons in their sectors and make sure they are abiding by API’s rules. That means the Taylari have a limit to how many victims they can have, the Harpies have to make sure they aren’t spotted by humans, the Lochs need to stop
[20:31] <+Eloy-3EG> fighting with the Ondine over territory
[20:31] <+Eloy-3EG> A routine “hey, let me see your blue card to make sure you legal” can turn into a debacle fairly quickly. What if they are harboring an illegal demon or what if they bolt off cause they believe they’ve been caught.
[20:32] <+TDaveS> Wait… the vampires get a victim allotment? Like 6 cheerleaders a month no more?
[20:32] <+Eloy-3EG> then, of course, you have your standard breaking up of cults and fighting random monsters portal-ing in and dealing with the aftermath
[20:33] <+EdaraRyan> And of course, don’t forget preventing apocalypses
[20:33] <+Eloy-3EG> Yep. it’s less that each vampire gets an individual limit and more than the vampires in the area can only have so many victims before people start getting suspicious.
[20:33] <+Eloy-3EG> the company knows what actually happened to these people, but it is the sad price for having the Taylari on their side.
[20:33] <+Eloy-3EG> and then, of course, the occasional saving of the entire world. Can’t forget that. lol
[20:35] <+Eloy-3EG> grim – No. There isn’t any humanity of sanity track in API. It’s assumed that you’ve gone through the training to be able to face the supernatural. Humanity is solely up to the player and how they want to play their character.
[20:35] <+Eloy-3EG> this is another place where Reasons comes into play during character creation. An agent who’s sticking around for the Money probably has lower morals than someone who is sticking around for Altruism.
[20:36] <+Eloy-3EG> or maybe they just have different morals, there’s a lot of influence from the concept chosen and its execution without having a whole other stat to limit their roleplay opportunities.
[20:36] <~Dan> (I misread that at first as “sticking around for the Autism” and was like, wtf…?)
[20:37] <+Eloy-3EG> Dan – Hidden weirdness. Yep! Humans are kept ignorant to demons quite purposefully by the company. Here’s a link to the update where I talk about how this is done: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts/1017689)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo/posts/1017689
[20:37] <+Eloy-3EG> My favorite is the Trench Coat rule.
[20:38] <+Eloy-3EG> Inspired by TMNT, it basically means that if the demon is about 80% covered (like if they have a trechcoat and fedora on) then people just overlook them and mistake them for just another person on the street.
[20:38] <+Eloy-3EG> Ok, I think that’s all the standing questions.
[20:38] <+Eloy-3EG> phew… that was a lot of typing. lol
[20:39] <~Dan> How does magic work in the setting?
[20:40] <+Eloy-3EG> There are essentially 3 Circle (levels) of magic. The 1st Circle is simple manipulation of existing elements. the 2nd Circle starts to bend the laws of reality, while the 3rd Circle can actually break them.
[20:40] <+Eloy-3EG> Becoming an adept requires a lot of training, but is SO worth it in the end
[20:42] <~Dan> Are there any “schools” of magic or the like?
[20:42] <+TDaveS> Ho far down the magic track can we expect a starting character to be if they focus on magic? Like if I was a Burner how focused on fire spells?
[20:42] <+Eloy-3EG> Worthy of note is that magic encompasses a lot of different things. A psychic and a cleric are the same as an Adept with a different outlook on their powers, but it all works the same mechanically.
[20:43] <~Dan> Ah… so there are no distinct psionics in the setting?
[20:44] <@Silverlion> Kinda makes sense to me.
[20:44] <+Eloy-3EG> You can start with your 3rd Circle Unlocked, which gives you a lot of extra power, but it’d be like having all of the bullets in the world without a gun to fire them. You Circle tells you have proficient you can be, but you still need to have the spells (which costs points to buy).
[20:45] <+Eloy-3EG> No separate psionics, no. There are several Paths of magic and a few of them are “psychic themed”, so if you wanted to play that kind of character, you’d just stick to those Paths
[20:45] <+Eloy-3EG> Thanks, Silverlion
[20:46] <+Eloy-3EG> I thought it made sense too. lol
[20:47] <+Eloy-3EG> As humans start with more points to spend though, TDaveS, you’d be more proficient in your 3rd Circle as a human than you would a Burner. It’s just how the points balance.
[20:48] <+TDaveS> The filthy meat bags get more points!
[20:48] <~Dan> I get a kind of Men in Black (as in the movies) vibe from API. Fair?
[20:48] <+Eloy-3EG> in fairness, most of the races are made of meat
[20:49] <+Eloy-3EG> Men in Black was a major influence, yep. And that’s a great way to view the game, cause it’s not just about monster fighting. Sometimes, you need to help them, sometimes you need to scold them, sometimes you ned to deport them, etc. It’s not just about killing things and taken their stuff in API
[20:50] <+Eloy-3EG> I think Mucks and Wraps are the exception to the meat-rule. Mucks being slime and Wraps being dried out husks.
[20:50] <~Dan> Is it generally humorous?
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[20:50] <+Eloy-3EG> Humor is actually a big deal in API, yes. It incorporates elements of action, horror and humor into the RPG, making a nice balance of the three.
[20:51] * ~Dan nods
[20:51] <+Eloy-3EG> The twist of humor put into the game isn’t overwhelming or farce, but is an integral part of the setting.
[20:51] <~Dan> So with 10 minutes to go, I like to give our guests a chance to bring up anything that hasn’t come up so far in the discussion. Got anything, Eloy? 🙂
[20:51] <+Eloy-3EG> too much of any of the three elements and it’s not really API anymore. lol
[20:52] <+Eloy-3EG> Wow! There’ve been so many great questions, I think that about did it for questions on API2E.
[20:52] <+Eloy-3EG> We’re currently at 80% on our Kickstarter to get this baby out there to everyone!
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[20:52] <~Dan> How much time to go?
[20:52] <+Eloy-3EG> If you want to help us, go HERE: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo and back!
[20:52] <+AlsoOwls> Thanks for talking about it!
[20:52] <+Eloy-3EG> We still have about 2 weeks left.
[20:53] <~Dan> Sounds like you’re doing quite well, then. 🙂
[20:53] <+TDaveS> Which of meat bags other than filthy humans is most tasty for Taylari?
[20:53] <+Eloy-3EG> Thanks AlsoOwls for coming to listen to me ramble on about my little game. lol
[20:53] <+Eloy-3EG> 80% and 2 weeks to go is a great position to be in, especially with a lot of stiff competition on Kickstarter going on right now.
[20:54] <+Eloy-3EG> Taylari actually love the taste of Wolf People, but it’s often hard to get a bite.
[20:54] <+Eloy-3EG> The Taylari Race will be fun one, cause I plan on incorporating different effects based on the race you drink from. 🙂
[20:54] <+AlsoOwls> Well, after playing in your AMP game this last weekend I wanted to hear more about your other games 🙂
[20:55] <+Eloy-3EG> My games library runs the gambit. None are really like each other, which is part of the design goals.
[20:55] <+Eloy-3EG> and yeah, that was a great game. 🙂
[20:55] <~Dan> AlsoOwls: Be sure to check out my review of Part-Time Gods. 🙂
[20:55] <+AlsoOwls> link me?
[20:56] <~Dan> (Link: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/15/15673.phtml)http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/15/15673.phtml
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[20:57] <+TDaveS> Oh, I do have a question. You may not remember the answer. What was the first API character you created to play in a game, as opposed to highlight the system?
[20:57] <+Eloy-3EG> If you check out this Link: (Link: http://thirdeyegames.net/press/)http://thirdeyegames.net/press/ you can see all of the reviews we’ve received for all of our books (at least the one’s google alerts has told mea bout), including Dan’s. 🙂
[20:57] <~Dan> 🙂
[20:57] <~Dan> (Howdy, Guest68! Please set your name with the /nick command. 🙂 )
[20:57] <+AlsoOwls> I’m already chuckling at your review, Dan. 🙂
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[20:58] <+EdaraRyan> I remember mine 🙂 An awesome Wolf Person who followed the Path of Fire and liked classic rock
[20:58] <+Eloy-3EG> My first one, like from API1E? Oh man… I think it was Julius, the Taylari. He was a club kid mostly. Yeah he was a vampire, but that was secondary to his wanting to party and hating the fact that he was kind of forced to work for API. lol
[20:58] <+EdaraRyan> Useless in a fight but fun at a party
[20:58] <+Eloy-3EG> Like minds, Ryan. lol
[20:58] <+TDaveS> I just picture an AC/SC shirt invovl3d
[20:58] <+EdaraRyan> We belong together, Eloy 🙂
[20:59] <~Dan> 🙂
[20:59] <+TDaveS> AC/DC …. my typing skills are waning.
[20:59] <+EdaraRyan> my Wolf was more into Journey lol
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[21:00] <+Eloy-3EG> and Julius was into drum and bass mostly. lol
[21:00] <+EdaraRyan> I remember my drum and bass phase
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[21:01] <+Eloy-3EG> I’m still in mine. lol
[21:01] <~Dan> Thanks very much for stopping by, Eloy! No need to run off, but I’ll go ahead and log the chat for you now. 🙂
[21:02] <+Eloy-3EG> Thanks for hosting, Dan!
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[21:02] <+EdaraRyan> Everybody, go back API 2nd Edition!
[21:02] <+Eloy-3EG> yes!
[21:02] <~Dan> TDaveS, AlsoOwls, I hope you guys will hang out with us in the future! And don’t be a stranger, EdaraRyan! 🙂
[21:02] <+Eloy-3EG> Link again!@ (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo
[21:02] <+Eloy-3EG> and here it is again for good measure. (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eloylasanta/apocalypse-prevention-inc-2nd-ed-dgs-and-savage-wo
[21:02] <+Eloy-3EG> lol
The Hardboiled GMshoe's Office 