TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY

[empevents]

— TEST DRIVE: FEBRUARY—

Welcome to empatheias' test drive meme. This test drive is to help interested players test their characters in the game's environment. We've included a few prompts that incorporate specific elements of the game, though you'll find all of them have a lot of leeway for players to get as creative as necessary. Before diving in, here are a few things we'd like to remind everyone about the game in general:

• Date reminders. Reserves open Wednesday, January 25 and Applications (Canon | OC) open Wednesday, January 1st.
• OC Reminder! Just a quick reminder that original characters are allowed. Those interested can also use the test drive. OCs do not need to be reserved.
• Emotions are key! Empatheias' premise focuses on how anyone's emotions can affect their environment, be it big or small. While not every emotion will cause a reaction, significant ones definitely will. How much effect a character will have will ultimately be up to you, the player. Also, while we're giving a lot of leeway for the test drive, keep in mind that there will be some limits in the actual game.
• Everyone has an amulet. All characters have a unique amulet that is specialized for them. It will contain all of their emotion drops and it serves as the network device. Remember, communication is telepathic. Otherwise, it works basically the same.
• Assume the character is already in the game. Because "OMG WHERE AM I IS THIS REAL LIFE" threads aren't going to be very helpful in this test drive! Plus those are going to happen in-game, anyway. So to make things easier, just assume that they've been around at least a week or so. Still learning the ropes, but not a complete "first day" experience.
• First or third person allowed. Your threads can be in either first or third, but we'd advise being flexible about it. Remember, these threads can also be used in your application for samples! Reminder: We only require one sample and it can be done in either format. We have also made a change to our sample requirements, so look over the Applications page!

Now with that out of the way, here are some prompts you guys can work from!


PROMPTS

• Prompt A: How about giving the emotions a try?

• Prompt B: Refer to the Task Board and choose a task your character may be interested in taking up. For this prompt, you could have your character ask for help, already be in the middle of the job, or react to it in some way. Perhaps they were an unfortunate victim or want to create a job countering an existing one. You could even have a prompt making a job request. Creating jobs for the purpose of the test drive is absolutely doable.

• Prompt C: How about giving the amulets a go? Start a telepathic conversation and see how it works. Remember, the amulets are sending out the owner's thoughts so might want to be careful about how the stream of consciousness goes...

• Prompt D: Over two years ago, the ill fated Red String of Fate toy made its debut. At the time it seemed like a solid idea, but as it turned out… it didn’t exactly work as advertised. People found themselves tied together with entirely incompatible people instead of the proclaimed “emotionally compatible” and to top it off, personal, influential and private telepathic communication came out drenched in sap and overly lovey-dovey overtones. It was, without a doubt, one of the company’s least successful product launches ever. And you would think that they would have learned. However, they decided to try again, and… well. It wasn’t exactly all that well thought out the second time around. But third time’s the charm, right? Wrong. Even if this time, it’s in the form of rings that will draw two people together in a “matched pair” rather than a string.

1. There’s not really anything wrong with believing in true love, but trying to formulate a product that can detect someone’s ideal mate is innately flawed. Which only means that no matter how many times the product is adjusted, it’s just not going to work. Those who wind up with the product shoved onto their fingers (by a sales rep or through actually purchasing the product) will find themselves, once again, pulled by an unseen force to the nearest person they are “compatible with”. Same height, same hair color, whatever. It’s not exactly discriminatory. …Unfortunately as poor a match as they may be, the two cannot be separated until they share a meaningful embrace. So settle in, you might be together for a while.


2. In certain pairs, normal conversation is often unintentionally made amorous, simply from inflection in voice, or perhaps a heightened affectionate emotion. Or, on the flip side, anger and aggression is increased ten fold, but it’s kind of 50-50 as to what effect will take place, all dependant on which hand they wear the ring. Left, romance, Right? Anger.

• Prompt E: The inexplicably cavernous sewers of Verens are no place for a sane individual, but here you are anyway—dropped there by some horrible emotional shift that made an entire section of street vanish and then reappear above your heads as if nothing had happened. You and the poor fool you’ve been dumped down here with need to find your way to the access tunnels and climb out, or perhaps go the other way and swim out through the Lake Niras outflow. Or just smash your way out, if you’re feeling destructive. But your own emotions will work against you, as you struggle against the terrible scent, the darkness, and the entirely-justified questioning of why your life has taken this horrible turn.

1. There’s something odd about the way the water and sewage is sloshing around your ankles, almost as if it’s rising. But wait, that can’t possibly be a pair of eyes you see under the oil slick surface… could it? You’ve heard rumors about all sorts of beasties down here but surely your mind is just playing tricks on you.


2. Remember that part about emotions turning against you? Maybe you’ve been trapped down here way too long with someone who’s just not living up to your expectations, or you’ve got something else on your minds—but the smell around you certainly seems to be growing thicker, the scent growing harder and harder to ignore. The water and grossness at your feet also seems to be growing thicker almost as though it’s curing like cement. The cause? Negative emotions. But are they yours or the person you’re stuck here with? Perhaps you should work through those post haste…


3. Escape! You’ve made it out, but not without a great amount of effort on both you and your partner’s parts. Did you manage to find a way out through the access tunnels? Or perhaps you really did travel through all that much to the Lake Niras outflow… whatever it is, You’re certainly stinky, and possibly tired and cranky too.

• Prompt F: Some bandits went and stole another airship, only this time the Enforcers are prepared with a few of their own. Join in for some intense air battles. Just don't make the ship explode—they'd like it back in one piece please. Unless you're actually on the bandit team, in which case you probably want to blow up the Enforcer ship.

1. What's an airship fight without some on deck action? Either the bandits are swinging over to the ship you're on, or maybe you're swinging over there. Whatever the case, it's a full on brawl. Just watch out—those bandits are well-armed with some interesting firearms and weapons. If hit, one of the following emotions will start to take over your senses: unquestionable rage, debilitating fear and panic, and sleepiness. Needless to say, these effects will hinder one's ability to fight.


2. Can you fly or are you okay with climbing up the full height of your airship? Then grab a few sleep and apathy grenades and throw them at the bandits. Just be careful not to accidentally hit your allies. Otherwise they will be the ones feeling sleepy and want to give up. Also watch out for flying nets and bullets. Those bandits will definitely try to bring you down.


3. While the enforcers are trying to maintain the integrity of the stolen ship, the bandits feel no such need to hold back and are freely unloading their weapons onto the Enforcer's ships, forcing them to defend themselves. Other than decapacitating the bandit behind the weapon, it's also possible to overload it with intense emotions. Explode it with rage or clog it with happy, loving flowers.

• Prompt G: Make your own! It could include bubblegum and/or toadstools.

For your threads, put the Character Name and the Canon in the subject line to help readily identify them. You're also welcome to use more than one prompt for respondents to choose from. If you have any questions or want to brush up on the game information, refer to the Game Information entry. Otherwise, tag around and have fun!

Comments

[onlydoubts]

So everyone can hear what I'm saying? Wonderful.

[ Another unsettling thought. But he tries, to tune out the other voices - clear his own thoughts. Bodhi has never been entirely good at that, he thinks too much, worries too much. Doubts way too much. No such luck. ]

I hope so.

This isn't what I was expecting. Of after... We're all dead, I think? [ He didn't have the faith in the force, becoming of someone who grew up in the Holy city of Jedha. Not for a while. But strangely enough, knowing he didn't make it - that part didn't bother him as much. The others, they could complete the mission. His part was over. ] That's what this is, isn't it?

[gotyourselfapilot]

You definitely might have been in the beginning. But now? You could be only projecting to me. Try to connect it with something familiar back where you come from. Something where only two people hold a conversation only.

[Poe knows that it's a bit weird in the beginning. The effect alone can take sometime too.]

There you go, hope is a good emotion to have. It's positive.

I'm not dead. I was very much alive before I came here. If you did, I'm sorry, but you can actually have a normal life here. A somewhat normal life, considering, most things will be strange.

[onlydoubts]

Like a comms device? I have one - though I'm not sure that it works anymore. But I'll try.

[ Hope, Jyn had said, is what a rebellion was built on. During the council. He wasn't too familiar with that emotion until recently. But he'll hold onto it, now. ]

Oh. I am, at least I should be. That's... good? [ Strange. ]

Can I ask what your name is?

[gotyourselfapilot]

Very similar to one only that it's done telepathically. So you're going to have to work on shutting off the link. I'm not sure if it'll work in the way you want, but maybe you can mod it into a logging device or recording device. The technology here is really really low tech and boring.

[Yes, hope was something that even Poe hanged onto while he was here. Plus he would stay mostly busy.]

I hope your death had meaning. [It was strange, but at least the other would get to live here. There were things to do. Meeting people wasn't so bad either. There were times it could get boring though.]

Yeah, my name is Poe Dameron.

[onlydoubts]

I see. At the very least, it'll give me something to do.

[ He's used to finding things to do on long downtimes, or flights - with only himself or a small crew. It's how he got so good at gambling. Not too bad at fixing things, either. ]

Thank you. I think it did. If the others accomplished what we were trying to do, it will have.

[ In conversations Bodhi never thought to be having, this would probably be one of them. Very high on that list.

He realizes that if this is a second chance, he may not need to worry about secrecy, or lying - about who he was, what had happened. ]

Poe Dameron. I'm Bodhi. Bodhi Rook.

You mentioned something about emotions - that this place is driven by them. What did you mean by that?

[gotyourselfapilot]

You should try exploring the city. The welcome center does have a board that has tasks that pays in their currency. There's always that too. There's plenty of things, just have to give them a try.

[Bodhi will find out eventually that whatever someone learns here they can't take back with them anyway. The only thing they can do is work together here or try to at least. Poe wants to keep the peace and try to ignore differences. Until the other side choices to be not civil anymore. He would even help the city everyone lives in. Because there are people like Bodhi who would be going back to nothing. To an end. Here he could start new or however he wanted.]

If is pretty big, but if they were brave enough and passionate, I'm sure they accomplished their task. No matter the risk.

[Becasue certain risks were worth taking no matter what.]

It's nice to meet you Bodhi.

You notice very little differences. You may not know it at first. But depending on the emotion being good or bad can cause an effect. Each emotional effect is different from person to person. Also better to show in person.

[onlydoubts]

I'll look into that.

[ Since, if he's going to be staying here, he'll need money, a place to stay. He'd spent most of his adult life working for the Empire, and this is a new chance. He'd been so certain of his doom on Scarif, yet here he is - contemplating finding a job.

And a risk it was, for them. Bodhi doesn't know if he wants to see them here - wherever it happens to be, but at the same time he wishes to know what had happened after... ]

An effect? What kind of effect - something more than a feeling? I think I would like to see that in person.

[gotyourselfapilot]

It'll be good that you do. There's a library too, that has plenty of books that you can read. Some of them are interesting. A lot of them can have the dunamis uses within. They do post permanent jobs too.]

[The task board will have multiple things to do some could be repeated. A lot could give a big reward and others little. It'll depend on what Bodhi will do in the end. Finding a place could be easy even if it's somewhere to stay for a bit.]

The feeling is part of the effect. Come here. I'm not busy at the moment. [Poe will give Bodhi his address.]

--> action

[onlydoubts]

Alright. I'll be right over.

[ Not long after Bodhi says goodbye, he makes his way to the listed address (and surprisingly, does not get too lost trying to find it - the voices from the amulet which he has yet to tune out don't help his concentration much). He fiddles with his googles before sliding them off and putting them in the pocket of his uniform (which he'd yet to change for company, he realizes) before giving a very quick knock.

He shoves his hands in his pockets, staring down at his boots, shifting from foot to foot as he waits. ]