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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: admiralducksauce on December 01, 2010, 08:55:08 PM

Title: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: admiralducksauce on December 01, 2010, 08:55:08 PM
Hey all,

Eventually I'll get to run another DFRPG session for my group (everyone's so busy this time of year), and I'm thinking about throwing an evil semi at them.  They're all monster-hunting bikers, so I'm trying to combine the vibes from Christine, Duel, and Road Warrior (and other car chase/horror-auto movies from the 70s/80s).  My problem is I have no idea where to start statting out an evil sentient semi truck.

The PCs are generally armed with shotguns at best.  If they were set on getting some heavy weaponry, I think that'd be a neat time-sensitive and sufficiently dicey proposition, so I'd be inclined to have something like C4 or a LAW rocket or RPG potentially kill the semi.  They can't kill the driver; there IS no driver.  Tricking it and luring it seems a valid tactic as well, like in Duel.  But let's say they do want to slug it out, Mad Max style, and try to take out its tires?  What if they steal a cement mixer or fire engine and kamikaze it into the evil semi?  Are there any guidelines either in the rules that I'm missing or stated somewhere else that could help me out?
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Blackblade on December 01, 2010, 09:20:45 PM
Something like this?

(http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/a/a4/NemesisPrimebox.jpg)
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: MijRai on December 01, 2010, 09:30:58 PM
Supernatural Toughness, Strength, and Speed. Hulking Size. A modified Living Dead to represent a lack of healing without an autobody shop and the scariness of a self-driving car. Stunts to do Fists attacks and athletics dodges with Driving. You get the idea.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: devonapple on December 01, 2010, 09:40:19 PM
The PCs are generally armed with shotguns at best.  If they were set on getting some heavy weaponry, I think that'd be a neat time-sensitive and sufficiently dicey proposition, so I'd be inclined to have something like C4 or a LAW rocket or RPG potentially kill the semi.  They can't kill the driver; there IS no driver.  Tricking it and luring it seems a valid tactic as well, like in Duel.  But let's say they do want to slug it out, Mad Max style, and try to take out its tires?  What if they steal a cement mixer or fire engine and kamikaze it into the evil semi?  Are there any guidelines either in the rules that I'm missing or stated somewhere else that could help me out?

There are guidelines for designing opponents (scaling the opposition) in the GM section. Depending on the challenge you want to provide, you add up however many Refresh points your group has spent on their Powers and Stunts, and then use that as a baseline for buying this monster truck its powers, spending more or less as you prefer the challenge to be.

I'd say give the monster truck Hulking Size, and maybe a Stunt or two to cover its increased land speed (giving it Inhuman or higher Speed would grant other bonuses which might not be appropriate).

The Driving skill has a section on dealing damage with a vehicle, but there aren't any detailed rules about intravehicular combat, so you'll want to just handle that as you see fit, allowing opposed Driving checks to place and fight off Maneuvers (such as Against the Rails, Under the Gun, Pinned, Blown Tire).

Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Bruce Coulson on December 01, 2010, 10:17:34 PM
The original story of the genre is "Killdozer", by Theodore Sturgeon.  (Great story, btw.)  In the story, the protagonists were trapped on an island...

Hulking Size (duh), Superhuman Strength, Stamina, Toughness and Speed (at least).  Catch should fit your story needs; possibly 'Holy Stuff' or something more obscure...

Fists (for ramming), Alertness, Athletics, Endurance...  Other than Intimidation, no real need for social skills...

Aspects:  Freaking Huge, I'm a Semi!, Unstoppable, I Fear Nothing...

Some really nasty spirit/demon from the Never-Never (not fae; too much iron).

The above is tough, armored, regenerates, can absorb consequences, and should be a fearsome-enough opponent.  But it's not that smart or manueverable, so it can be tricked.

As for guidelines; whatever makes a dramatic story.  If your players can steal a cement truck and manage to make the rolls to ram (don't make it easy for them to get to a construction site or the truck; the kill-semi isn't a genius, but it could figure out what they might be looking for and try to cut them off)  maybe it works...or maybe the semi, battered but still functional comes rumbling out of the debris field...  At a guess, a speeding truck would be a weapon:4

Hope this helps...
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: crusher_bob on December 02, 2010, 05:57:39 AM
Various forms of attempted vehicular homicide are normally weapon: 5.  Though this should probably not be combined with giving the truck supernatural strength too...
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: zerogain on December 02, 2010, 07:24:31 AM
Oh goodness... I just had flashbacks to KITT vs. GOLIATH...

I think you've pretty well got a fair bit of advice up above.  I especially like the Living Dead variant power, but on top of that unless the players are going to get said heavy duty weapons then I would not give the evil truck any special Toughness beyond maybe some Armor.  Perhaps you could say Armor:2 representing it's impressive size and large amount of damageable real-estate, but similar to a Red Court Vampire you could put a small catch in there and say "No armor on tires".

Now I'm not sure how you aim for a vampire's belly in the game, whether or not it's a maneuver or you just say (input anyone?), but that seems to work.

Beyond that your zones for any engagement are going to have to be a lot bigger, and you'll be using a lot of the chase mechanics.  As far as "aiming for the tires" or what have you, that isn't an instant blow-out until they do enough stress to inflict a physical consequence.

Lastly since this is sentient, I am assuming a spirit rather than a computer?  And if a computer I'm assuming you don't have any hexers or are not playing with those rules?  Also if it's a spirit you can get away with bending the rules of reality a lot more, especially if someone boards it and tries to attack it from the inside.  Maybe it spawns wire tentacles and such to physically bludgeon or try to electrocute the intruders?
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: crusher_bob on December 02, 2010, 10:52:05 AM
As for aiming at the belly, I'd say it's something like starting a grapple.  You have to have an aspect based leg up on them before you can do it.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: admiralducksauce on December 02, 2010, 12:23:23 PM
Good advice all over, thanks guys.

I was even considering that due to the nature of any combat from the backs of speeding vehicles, any attack would have the same prerequisites as a grapple - a successful maneuver that puts an Aspect on the target like "clear shot at the tires" for the bikers or "right on your bumper" for the truck.  Car chases with guns shouldn't relegate the actual chase to the back burner, and I hope that requiring maneuvers like this will spark more creativity and keep it from turning into a "I shoot the truck" snoozefest.  I like the Catch being the truck's tires, that works well.

Maybe the only actual grapple would be if they somehow boarded the cab and tried to steer the thing.  I'm not keen on having the semi shapeshift or anything, but if PCs were on or in it, it's a lot tougher than them.  It wouldn't think twice before barreling through a mall to get them off or slamming into freeway traffic to shake up or hurt the guys inside.  I mean, it's likely going to be doing that anyway - part of the challenge is that it's not about the PCs vs. this truck, it's the PCs trying to stop the truck from hurting people.  Or at least it should be IMO.

As an aside, I had this vision of someone going for the gas tank (because it's kind of obvious) and blood spraying out from any bullet holes in the tank.  That'd be pretty cool.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: zerogain on December 02, 2010, 03:32:12 PM
Darn it, Admiralducksause, darn it all to heck ;-)

Now I want to do something like this in MY game...  How supernatural are you planning on this being?  I had this thought that the demon-spirit running the rig might actually be in an artifact lodged somewhere in the truck's cab.  That way someone has to actually get on board.

You could show this off by having weak-spots, when hit and shredded, become demonically twisted somehow.  Maybe the gas tank starts bleeding when it's hit or something like the injuries heal but with some sort of metalized flesh rather than metal...  Sorry if I'm going too far on this but I just keep coming up with these ideas.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Bruce Coulson on December 02, 2010, 03:52:29 PM
If you go with the 'Living Dead' power, perhaps a Feeding Requirement for repairs?

It has to run down and 'consume' other vehicles to get the raw materials.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: ralexs1991 on December 02, 2010, 06:14:25 PM
Darn it, Admiralducksause, darn it all to heck ;-)

Now I want to do something like this in MY game...  How supernatural are you planning on this being?  I had this thought that the demon-spirit running the rig might actually be in an artifact lodged somewhere in the truck's cab.  That way someone has to actually get on board.

You could show this off by having weak-spots, when hit and shredded, become demonically twisted somehow.  Maybe the gas tank starts bleeding when it's hit or something like the injuries heal but with some sort of metalized flesh rather than metal...  Sorry if I'm going too far on this but I just keep coming up with these ideas.

remind me never to get into your car O_o
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: admiralducksauce on December 02, 2010, 07:23:11 PM
I like the Feeding Dependency idea a lot (thinking of the Duel truck with all the license plates-as-trophies).

Quote
I had this thought that the demon-spirit running the rig might actually be in an artifact lodged somewhere in the truck's cab.  That way someone has to actually get on board.

Maybe the truck's shifter knob is the offending evil focus, like a tiny skull.  Honestly, for my game I'm going to leave it mysterious and probably take the best idea my players have as a declaration or something.  Maybe they'll rationalize it like a Bob the Skull thing, a spirit possessing a device.  There are magic swords, magic bullets, why not a magic truck?  Who says a golem needs to be humanoid?  Maybe it's a Horse of the Apocalypse, gotten loose from its rider.  I'm hoping though that I can make the situation frantic and dire enough to where they don't have time to do too much smartphone googling or library visits.

I like that it's something weird even for the supernatural community.  It's a big black truck and it's here to wreck your shit.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Vryce on December 02, 2010, 07:35:19 PM
Could make the island have a auto junk yard... they Spirit/Fae/Demon/whatever keeps jumping from auto to auto growing bigger as the "Good Guys stop it" or lots of Little auto minions.  a mini copper hunting people down.. lol
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: devonapple on December 02, 2010, 07:37:11 PM
Could make the island have a auto junk yard... they Spirit/Fae/Demon/whatever keeps jumping from auto to auto growing bigger as the "Good Guys stop it" or lots of Little auto minions.  a mini copper hunting people down.. lol

Reminds me of the Junk Titans in "Star Wars: the Force Unleashed."
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Arcteryx on December 02, 2010, 08:02:38 PM
Um, wow. +1 on the thread, and a gas tank that BLEEDS when its hit?

*shiver*

Awesome.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Vryce on December 02, 2010, 08:49:41 PM
The more i think about this the more great it sounds.  Its a battle of forces, wizard Hex's V/S Technomaoncy demons.  Ghost in the machines, Magnetic earth demon that can shape the Autos on the Island, Oil elementals, Gas(in gas form) elementals, Carbon monoxide demons.  Ohhh ya
Bulldozers, muscle cars, and cranes ohhh my!
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: devonapple on December 02, 2010, 09:06:00 PM
wizard Hex's V/S Technomaoncy demons. 

That's a good idea - I wonder if wizard Hexing could be another Catch option for the Toughness powers? Would they be handled as straight shifts of direct Stress damage for the killer truck? Should the Hexes remain "free" to cast, or should they cost Stress to overcome this spirit's power?
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: admiralducksauce on December 02, 2010, 09:14:15 PM
If I were doing that, I'd use Hexing as a normal evocation attack with the benefit being that it satisfies the Catch.

It's a moot point for me, as there are no wizards in my group of PCs but it's a good idea for anyone else considering demonic killdozers.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Bruce Coulson on December 02, 2010, 09:18:23 PM
Not sure a Wizard's Hex would work.  Although the original truck was powered by a diesel engine, it's more likely (or more terrifying) to have the killer-semi powered by the blood and souls of those it devours, with the gasoline and oil being burned as part of a 'truck guise' -0 Power.

What's left are the air brakes and mechanical links; very old technology.  If a wizard COULD hex them, undoubtedly the spirit would resist such efforts...

Put on George Thoroughgood's "Bad to the Bone" when the truck makes an appearance, for atmosphere.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Vryce on December 02, 2010, 09:25:24 PM
have the HEx work on just the lights... but the head lights are the only light source in the area..:) evil grin
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Arcteryx on December 02, 2010, 10:47:58 PM
have the HEx work on just the lights... but the head lights are the only light source in the area..:) evil grin

BAHAHAHAHAHA

Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: zerogain on December 03, 2010, 04:08:03 AM
Using player declarations for that is awesome.  I'm so used to making everything like the good D&D DM I am that I sometimes forget about the strength of the player narrative.

Put on George Thoroughgood's "Bad to the Bone" when the truck makes an appearance, for atmosphere.
That sealed it.  The truck lives in my game too.  A future story of course, but hell... I have got to do this now.

So Vryce mentions technomancy.  I wonder if we have a new branch of magic here?  We know (some guys)
(click to show/hide)
have access to a type of magic that is not hindered by running water, would it be possible for another strange series of entities to have magic that requires technology instead of being repulsed by it?  Would it clash directly with our standard magic from the books?  Would operators of this technomancy be able to directly oppose hexes from white council types as a block or armor?  There might be wizard hackers after all...

Throw that in and the truck could very well be a construct too, with the actual villains being technomages who control all the entities that Vryce mentions.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: devonapple on December 03, 2010, 05:34:15 AM
So Vryce mentions technomancy.  I wonder if we have a new branch of magic here? ... Would it clash directly with our standard magic from the books?  Would operators of this technomancy be able to directly oppose hexes from white council types as a block or armor?  There might be wizard hackers after all...

Theoretically, these technomages and wizard hackers would be fighting an uphill battle to keep their magic and tech secure in a world where all a regular Wizard has to do is look at tech funny to make it break down. Though they would have to be able to create Wards as a Block against Hex effects, a magical EMP-proofing one could say.

But considering just how pervasive the Wizard-tech-Hexing is in the fiction, such a magical discipline would have a hard time getting established. Then again, cults seem to get by long enough to become a danger to the world, right?

Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: admiralducksauce on December 03, 2010, 12:18:37 PM
I think that such a cult might have enough success getting up to the point where it was dangerous simply because most Council wizards seem to avoid technology.  A cult whose magic wards and then works with computers, databases, and other information technology could be exceedingly dangerous, well-funded overnight, and the Council probably wouldn't notice until the cult had a foothold established.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Vryce on December 03, 2010, 01:55:07 PM
I think it would be tough for those int he wizarding world to get the Technomancy thing going.... not imposable we are talking about magic, (as Dresden sees it) magic is just the manipulation of energy.  maybe someone with little power but a high degree of control could make it happen...
Now on the other hand, a nerd computer game playing hacker turn ghost, might be able to manipulate machines to such a degree that feels like Techomancy…
The internet gains awareness but only enough to gain a foot hold in the Nevernever…
There could even be a powerful earth magic that makes his item run via magnetic wards.  Its not really Technomancy but it looks like the car is moving with a engine..
I’m reaching on the last one but still lots of fun to think about.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Belial666 on December 03, 2010, 06:45:46 PM
Fae magic, strangely enough, does not hex anything. Nor does any other type of non-mortal magic.



So, a group of changelings with Seelie or Unseelie magic can be quite good technomancers.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Buscadera on December 03, 2010, 08:09:52 PM
Personally, I liked the initial idea of the truck being some strange unknowable demonic entity rather than the summoned being of a strange new technomancy cult. It had a much more menacing vibe. When the session ended with the heroes victorious, the GM could describe how at the bottom of the cliff where the truck's crippled shell lay, a headlight began flickering ever so faintly...

But YMMV. One thing I like about the Dresdenverse is that almost anything can fit in as long as it isn't too goofy and that restriction is even lifted sometimes.

Fae magic, strangely enough, does not hex anything. Nor does any other type of non-mortal magic.

So, a group of changelings with Seelie or Unseelie magic can be quite good technomancers.

I have a Fae Con Man character written up with that as his shtick. He'll walk into a bank and request to withdraw a large sum of money, glamour the computer screen until he gets his cash and escape leaving everyone none the wiser.
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: Richard_Chilton on December 03, 2010, 08:26:30 PM
A quick note about wizards and technology:
Someone has put together a listing of everything that Jim Butcher has said publicly about the Dresdenverse and one of those thing is that the wizards v tech thing is recent.

From http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,21772.0.html (http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,21772.0.html)
As technology advances, will wizards become marginalized?
It sort of depends on where magic goes.  Magic wasn’t always screwing up post WW2 tech.  Before WW2 magic had other effects.  It sorta changes slowly over time, and about every 3 centuries it rolls over into something else.  At one time, instead of magic making machines flip out it made cream go bad.  Before that magic made weird molls on your skin and fire would burn slightly different colors when you were around it.  I do mention this in Ghost story (in passing).  It’s not really aware or something like that, but it is something that changes along with the people who use it. 

----

Which hints that there could be someone out there using techno magic.

Richard
Title: Re: Statting a Killer (Literally) Semi Truck
Post by: admiralducksauce on December 04, 2010, 02:25:50 AM
Personally, I liked the initial idea of the truck being some strange unknowable demonic entity rather than the summoned being of a strange new technomancy cult. It had a much more menacing vibe. When the session ended with the heroes victorious, the GM could describe how at the bottom of the cliff where the truck's crippled shell lay, a headlight began flickering ever so faintly...


Yeah!  Like the end of Christine, where the bumper starts bending itself back into shape.  For my own game, I don't really plan on explaining why there's an evil this (http://www.floridatransam.com/pictures/trans%20am%20website/2009/transam%20and%20rig.JPG) or that (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ACQccpcVwNk/TDfAuHmlGeI/AAAAAAAAJ28/6z2dDGDvI-I/s1600/willie8.jpg) trying to crush motorists.  But it's fun to throw around ideas.  My personal favorite, and maybe the one I'll go with if my players don't come up with something cooler, is that it's a runaway Horse of the Apocalypse.  Although honestly if I went that route I'd have to rip off Supernatural and use a Charger, Mustang, and then two of the remaining three cars I could find with horse names: Bronco, Ranger, and Pinto.