Cortex Steampunk Game 1 OOC Discussion

[IsabellaRose]

On 04/12/2025 at 05:57, AsBloodTurnsEverCold said:

Alright lets see if I did this right: 

for Kojo's Modus Operandi;
Given the nature of The Other Theory and its importance in Kojo's life I've gone with The Arcane Hand. 
Passion has been stepped up to D6 
The Other Theory is also now D10.
Kirsa has been stepped up to D12 and the relationship has been changed to "She refuses to let me go." because a loyal cultist would hold onto an asset with an iron grip. 

If I read the instructions right we were supposed to do two things so firstly; 
I've introduced 2d4 The Golden Seven Church (Religion, Influence) - Unassuming. Small. It is simple wood and lacking in flair. It is a collection of polished pews, and small artifacts that tell of a proud legacy of faith. Its old, cracked bell rings twice to beckon believers and its doors remain open for those in need. The only notable thing is the cross on the wall...made of the same material that has caused a town to boom. The Seven Names Church is so often found where it is needed. It welcomes in the needy of all sorts. It greets with open arms the weary gunfighter, and the bandit. It does not turn away the whore, the hunter, or the thief. It welcomes in all...so long as they are willing to listen and accept grace. They will even advocate for those in need. They only ask that you listen and the doors to the sanctuary and kept wide open. 

Of course there are those outside of the church who will tell you...its a ploy. Kindness is weaponized in those walls and wielded to get whatever they need. The Seven Names Church only opens its doors to assets, and people its priests and sisters believe they can tame. The simple box that is the church is a place where people are broken...sometimes you can hear the screams. The substances they proclaim as part of their faith is used to break down the strongest of people and turn them into obedient sorts. 

They're not so humble, their riches are just hidden....only for the deserving. You can see the glint sometimes. This church popping up means that they've laid eyes on profit  And anyone who would stand in their way will be tamed, or dealt with. 

A bit of a threat to Kojo (or anyone else) 

I've also connected Joshua Thane to Jane Montgomery as "Arranged to Marry" though I'm more than willing to change that if its too much. Two members of a wealthy family. It wasn't uncommon for marriage to be arranged for financial and strategic reasons. Seems like it'd be interesting to deal within. 

Kojo is all set!

[IsabellaRose]

On 04/12/2025 at 09:52, WickedCadrach said:

@DreamsnThings That's totally understandable. I hope we still see you around, but I definitely get it when it's just too much for what's going on in real-life. 

I've moved that relationship step-up from Ramona to Jack Beckett (d4 -> d6). 

I want to make sure I get this right, so I'm going to try talking it out a little here. 
1) When I add a Circle or Diamond to the board, it's added as a Resource to my character sheet. I draw a line from my square to that Resource (not a Relationship).
2) When another PC draws a line from their Square to one of my Circles, that Circle upgrades from a Resource to a Relationship for both PCs.
3) If a third PC draws a line from their Square to that same Circle, they also get that connection as a Relationship. 
4) If a PC's Square is not connected to a Circle, they should not have that NPC as a Resource or Relationship on their character sheet. 

If I got that right, then the only NPC Relationship Missy should have is Jack Beckett (because Missy and Alicia both have lines drawn from their Squares to his Circle). Jane Montgomery, Red Jenny, and Holland Buck should all be Resources. And I think this also means Adelaide Montgomery needs to be put on the board as a Circle?

@IsabellaRose did I get that right? 

You hit it exactly right!

And, yes, Adelaide should be on the map. I'm not sure why she's not, tbh.

[IsabellaRose]

On 05/12/2025 at 07:56, MagnificentBastard said:

Okay I think I did step 7 correctly.

I can't tell since you didn't write down the steps you took.

• It looks like you connected The Blue Hour Lady > occasional allies > Edmund. This would make her a resource on your sheet instead of a relationship, and you would need to add two specialties for her.
• I don't see where you did this step: "Draw an arrow from your square to an existing circle (NEW Relationship) or diamond (NEW Location)."
• It looks like you stepped Passion up to d10.
• I didn't see where you did "Add or step up a Distinction or Ability."
• I didn't see where you did "Step up a Relationship or Location tied to your practice."

 

[MagnificentBastard]

22 minutes ago, IsabellaRose said:

I can't tell since you didn't write down the steps you took.

• It looks like you connected The Blue Hour Lady > occasional allies > Edmund. This would make her a resource on your sheet instead of a relationship, and you would need to add two specialties for her.
• I don't see where you did this step: "Draw an arrow from your square to an existing circle (NEW Relationship) or diamond (NEW Location)."
• It looks like you stepped Passion up to d10.
• I didn't see where you did "Add or step up a Distinction or Ability."
• I didn't see where you did "Step up a Relationship or Location tied to your practice."

 

Draw an arrow from any circle or diamond to another circle, diamond, or square: Drew an arrow between the railroad and the mines

Draw an arrow to the Blue Lady. Fixed the Blue Hour Lady I thought if two people had connections to an NPC it was relationship.

Step up Passion.

Step up Magical Legacy.

Step up relationship with Kojo.

[IsabellaRose]

On 08/12/2025 at 02:31, Chiyako said:

For Alicia's Modus Operandi, I've decided to go with The Tinker's Way. She is a scientist through and through, to the point that she utilizes her own body for her experiments. Science is her one truth and it is her greatest weapon. Nothing else truly makes sense for her.

As Truth is already maxed out Passion will be stepped up (from d4 to d6).

I will step up the Mad Scientist Distinction (from d8 to d10).

I will step up Alicia's relationship with Missy (from d4 to d6). She is at least interested enough that she wants to find out what the woman actually is. The statement remains unchanged.

I'll connect an arrow from Gwenael Auclair to Alicia with the following statement: "A friend, a rival, and a curious specimen."

Finally I'll connect an arrow from Alicia to Gearheart Repairs as a new Location for her with the following statement: "If there is something I can't make, she probably can." as well as the following blurb under her own resources: (Engineering, Inventions) - Sometimes the devices, structures, or tools required for science are not objects that Alicia can make herself, at least not up to the quality that she requires. For these things a master in other fields is required.

Alicia is all set.

However, given the relationship you originally setup with Gwenael, I think the link you specified in this step is unneeded. His feelings toward her are implied in the initial step, so this feels redundant. I'd strongly suggest making a different connection. It could be between Gwenael and another PC or NPC (tying your NPCs to others will make them more important and connected to the overall story), or between another NPC and Alicia, or whatever, but I think you're missing out on the option to make a fun romantic triangle, rivalry, or some other interesting dynamic.

[IsabellaRose]

23 hours ago, MagnificentBastard said:

Draw an arrow from any circle or diamond to another circle, diamond, or square: Drew an arrow between the railroad and the mines

Draw an arrow to the Blue Lady. Fixed the Blue Hour Lady I thought if two people had connections to an NPC it was relationship.

Step up Passion.

Step up Magical Legacy.

Step up relationship with Kojo.

Okay, thanks for the clarification. Everything looks good except for the two items below:

1. You were correct - Connecting Edmund > Blue Hour Lady does indeed make her a Relationship. The arrow on the miro board went the other way, so I assumed you had used this as the arrow from any circle to another square. The direction of the connection makes a difference.

• NPC > PC is just a link, the NPC doesn't even get added to the PC's sheet. 
• PC > NPC is a Resource if it's just one PC linked. Two or more PC's linked to an NPC turns them into a Relationship.

2. The Railroad > Silver Mines connection seems like the same thing that I said to Chiyako above. When you created the Railroad location, you already specified that Edmund uses the railroad to move his silver from the mines. So the relationship you specified here seems redundant and a wasted possibility. You're missing out on the option to make a fun romantic triangle, rivalry, or some other interesting dynamic. Use other peoples' NPCs. Link them to each other in interesting ways. It's a lot more fun for everyone when all the NPCs and Locations are interconnected instead of just connecting your own locations and NPCs to each other. 

[Chiyako]

1 hour ago, IsabellaRose said:

Alicia is all set.

However, given the relationship you originally setup with Gwenael, I think the link you specified in this step is unneeded. His feelings toward her are implied in the initial step, so this feels redundant. I'd strongly suggest making a different connection. It could be between Gwenael and another PC or NPC (tying your NPCs to others will make them more important and connected to the overall story), or between another NPC and Alicia, or whatever, but I think you're missing out on the option to make a fun romantic triangle, rivalry, or some other interesting dynamic.

You make a good point. I'll redirect him instead then in an arrow to Edmund Blackwood. It will have the following descriptor: "A potential rival in poker or otherwise".

Gwenael is a scientist but also of some level of nobility. He enjoys the finer things in life too, including games and potentially gambling. A local nobleman of sorts would be a proper rival for him, whether it be for those games or whether it may be potentially towards attention that may be levied in the direction of other interests he might have.

[IsabellaRose]

4 hours ago, Chiyako said:

You make a good point. I'll redirect him instead then in an arrow to Edmund Blackwood. It will have the following descriptor: "A potential rival in poker or otherwise".

Gwenael is a scientist but also of some level of nobility. He enjoys the finer things in life too, including games and potentially gambling. A local nobleman of sorts would be a proper rival for him, whether it be for those games or whether it may be potentially towards attention that may be levied in the direction of other interests he might have.

I love it! Anything that promotes dramatic interactions!

[MagnificentBastard]

6 hours ago, IsabellaRose said:

Okay, thanks for the clarification. Everything looks good except for the two items below:

1. You were correct - Connecting Edmund > Blue Hour Lady does indeed make her a Relationship. The arrow on the miro board went the other way, so I assumed you had used this as the arrow from any circle to another square. The direction of the connection makes a difference.

• NPC > PC is just a link, the NPC doesn't even get added to the PC's sheet. 
• PC > NPC is a Resource if it's just one PC linked. Two or more PC's linked to an NPC turns them into a Relationship.

2. The Railroad > Silver Mines connection seems like the same thing that I said to Chiyako above. When you created the Railroad location, you already specified that Edmund uses the railroad to move his silver from the mines. So the relationship you specified here seems redundant and a wasted possibility. You're missing out on the option to make a fun romantic triangle, rivalry, or some other interesting dynamic. Use other peoples' NPCs. Link them to each other in interesting ways. It's a lot more fun for everyone when all the NPCs and Locations are interconnected instead of just connecting your own locations and NPCs to each other. 

Added a connection to be one of the founding members of the music hall.

[IsabellaRose]

I think we're just waiting on @WickedCadrach to do Step 7 before we move on.

[WickedCadrach]

Ok, I have Step 7 wrapped!

First, some housekeeping. I put Automaton Heiress, Adelaide Montgomery on the board (she should have been there a while, I just got confused early on), and Jane Montgomery has been reverted from a Relationship to a Resource at the same level (2d8) 

Step 7 

Draw an arrow from any circle or diamond to another circle, diamond, or square.

-Connected Adelaide Montgomery to the Railroad (Replacing Union Workers with Automatons) 

Draw an arrow from your square to an existing circle (NEW Relationship) or diamond (NEW Location).

-Connected Missy to Joshua Thane (I'm running out of ways to bribe him)

@AsBloodTurnsEverCold we both upgrade Joshua Thane to a Relationship instead of a Resource. 

It's the cost of doing business to bribe the local law. No con is air-tight and it pays to be proactive. However, if Missy had known the sort of man Joshua Thane was... the sort of appetites he had... she may have thought twice about getting his attention.

--Modus Operandi: Smoke and Mirrors--

Step up Glory or Passion.
-Stepped up Passion (d6->d8)

Add or step up a Distinction.
-Stepped up Velvet Voice (d8->d10)

Step up a Relationship or Extra.
-Stepped up relationship with 'Judge' Holland Buck (2d4->2d6)

[IsabellaRose]

Excellent! We'll move on to Step 8 as soon as I get it posted. I'll notify you here!

[DreamsnThings]

Glad things seem to be going well over here ^-^ looks like things are really coming together 

[IsabellaRose]

3 hours ago, DreamsnThings said:

Glad things seem to be going well over here ^-^ looks like things are really coming together 

We're so close to finishing the eternal setup phase...

[IsabellaRose]

Step 8 is ready! Details are in the Rules thread.

For the Pathways map, I highly encourage you to draw that arrow back from an NPC you didn't create to a PC that has nothing to do with them. The more messy complications we have, the more fun this game will be!

 

[IsabellaRose]

Also, keep in mind that when you turn an NPC from an "Extra" into a "Relationship" that makes them a "Feature" (see the top of the Rules thread).

Features are NPCs that you collectively decide (by pinking your PCs to them) are important NPCs who will get a lot of screen time or play heavily into the plot. I will create full character sheets (stepping through all the steps just like you did, but without the map connections) for every Feature. Right now the Features are:

• Kirsa Autenrieth
• TIAL-V
• Jack Bennett
• The Blue Hour Lady
• Joshua Thane

When I create their sheets, I'll be giving them all their own Values, Relationships, goals, and motives. 

[AsBloodTurnsEverCold]

Fairly simple step this time.

I've gone with motivation The Innocent for Kojo; given his past Kojo knows how cruel the world can be and given his present he's aware how easy it is to fall into clutches of things you don't understand. He is, ultimately, a man of the people despite his situation much of the time when has to strike a man down its not for his own benefit. Perhaps he's a bit naive and its distracting but he can't possibly ignore people in need. 

Stepped up Justice to D8 

Stepped up relationship with Edmund to D6 no change in statement. 

Connected Willis Sloan to Alicia as "Wants her gone." because he believes in the rumors about her being a vampire and frankly? That's not good for business.

Edited December 13, 2025 by AsBloodTurnsEverCold

[StarlitSiren]

Motivation: Self

Millie's life, at this stage, is about her OWN wants, her experiments, her tinkering, and this new found lease of life that freedom from a stifling family has brought.

-Glory stepped up to d6

-Gearheart repeirs setepped up to 2d12 (we're going all in!)

 

And let's get messy on the Miro board...

@WickedCadrach ol' Willis Sloan is onto you, Missy, and he's getting some blackmail material together <3

[WickedCadrach]

Alright, Step 8!

Draw an arrow back to a Lead Square.

-Drew a line from Clayton Cash to Alicia (Mistake or not, he can't forget that night) 
@Chiyako I thought a zesty little indiscretion between Alicia and a man too wide-eyed and innocent for this life would be a fun entanglement. 

Missy's Motivation is: The Innocent

"You can’t stand to see the helpless caught in the crossfire. Orphans, settlers, dreamers, and anyone who doesn’t have the grit or the gun to stand for themselves are your cause, sometimes despite yourself. Maybe you were one of them once. When trouble comes calling, you put yourself in harm’s way without a second thought. Who do you protect, and why do they matter? Have you ever saved someone who didn’t deserve it? What happens when your compassion and your survival clash?"

Spoiler

"You talk funny."

Missy didn't say anything. Tugging at her flour sack dress, she looked at the ground. The older boy was staring at her like a frog he'd just cupped out of the creek, and the look itched her almost as much as the coarse-cloth the charity man had found her when the change of clothes her mama packed got stole off the train. 

"George, you shut your fool mouth. She ain't here to talk. Are ya, girl?" 

"No, ma'am," Missy replied, fidgeting on her heel as the woman wiped her rough hands on the stained apron around her waist. 

The woman nodded at that. "Damn right, you're not. You want to eat, you have to work. Talking that hoity-toity way 'round my sons don't do it. Your folks are gone. Far as the state's concerned, I'm your mama now, so do what I say, work hard, and you got a bed and bread."

"I already have a mama." Missy's cheeks were burning. She didn't mean to say it, but the words bubbled up before she could stop them, her little voice high and defensive. The whole ride on the train coming out of the East and crossing the Mississippi, the other kids had said the same lies over and over until she couldn't do anything but clap her small hands to her ears. "She's coming to get me as soon as Daddy and her get enough money to—"

The woman's calloused hand caught Missy across the cheek. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes, sniffing as she felt the heat building, threatening to spill over into tears if she dared open her mouth again. 

"Let me clear somethin' up for you, girl," the woman said, bending forward to come closer to Missy's eye level. "I've picked up a dozen of you brats since the war ended. How many's parents you think come and got 'em?" She cocked an eyebrow, meeting Missy's hot gaze before giving a short, sharp nod as if they'd just come to an unspoken understanding. "George, show the little miss the spot we cleared for her in the barn."

Step up Passion or Justice.

-Stepped up Passion (d8 -> d10)

Step up a Relationship, Asset, or Resource.

-Stepped up Relationship with Alicia (d8->d10)

[Chiyako]

First, I shall draw an arrow from The Blue Hour Lady to Millicient Gerenhart with the following caption: "She lets on like she knows something she shouldn't know."

For Alicia's Motiviation, I shall go with The World. While Alicia's experiments are definitely for herself, her scientific pursuits are for the world at large! For science! Her hunger for knowledge leads to scientific progress, and that is not something she does simply for her own gains. This isn't to say that her reasons are entirely altruistic, more than science itself should be pushed forward.

I shall step up Power (from d10 to d12).

Finally, I shall step up Gwenael Auclair (from d4 to d6) since they know each other better than what a d4 is worth.

[IsabellaRose]

9 hours ago, AsBloodTurnsEverCold said:

Fairly simple step this time.

I've gone with motivation The Innocent for Kojo; given his past Kojo knows how cruel the world can be and given his present he's aware how easy it is to fall into clutches of things you don't understand. He is, ultimately, a man of the people despite his situation much of the time when has to strike a man down its not for his own benefit. Perhaps he's a bit naive and its distracting but he can't possibly ignore people in need. 

Stepped up Justice to D8 

Stepped up relationship with Edmund to D6 no change in statement. 

Connected Willis Sloan to Alicia as "Wants her gone." because he believes in the rumors about her being a vampire and frankly? That's not good for business.

Kojo is all set!

8 hours ago, StarlitSiren said:

Motivation: Self

Millie's life, at this stage, is about her OWN wants, her experiments, her tinkering, and this new found lease of life that freedom from a stifling family has brought.

-Glory stepped up to d6

-Gearheart repeirs setepped up to 2d12 (we're going all in!)

 

And let's get messy on the Miro board...

@WickedCadrach ol' Willis Sloan is onto you, Missy, and he's getting some blackmail material together <3

Millie is all set!

[IsabellaRose]

6 hours ago, WickedCadrach said:

Alright, Step 8!

Draw an arrow back to a Lead Square.

-Drew a line from Clayton Cash to Alicia (Mistake or not, he can't forget that night) 
@Chiyako I thought a zesty little indiscretion between Alicia and a man too wide-eyed and innocent for this life would be a fun entanglement. 

Missy's Motivation is: The Innocent

"You can’t stand to see the helpless caught in the crossfire. Orphans, settlers, dreamers, and anyone who doesn’t have the grit or the gun to stand for themselves are your cause, sometimes despite yourself. Maybe you were one of them once. When trouble comes calling, you put yourself in harm’s way without a second thought. Who do you protect, and why do they matter? Have you ever saved someone who didn’t deserve it? What happens when your compassion and your survival clash?"

  Reveal hidden contents

"You talk funny."

Missy didn't say anything. Tugging at her flour sack dress, she looked at the ground. The older boy was staring at her like a frog he'd just cupped out of the creek, and the look itched her almost as much as the coarse-cloth the charity man had found her when the change of clothes her mama packed got stole off the train. 

"George, you shut your fool mouth. She ain't here to talk. Are ya, girl?" 

"No, ma'am," Missy replied, fidgeting on her heel as the woman wiped her rough hands on the stained apron around her waist. 

The woman nodded at that. "Damn right, you're not. You want to eat, you have to work. Talking that hoity-toity way 'round my sons don't do it. Your folks are gone. Far as the state's concerned, I'm your mama now, so do what I say, work hard, and you got a bed and bread."

"I already have a mama." Missy's cheeks were burning. She didn't mean to say it, but the words bubbled up before she could stop them, her little voice high and defensive. The whole ride on the train coming out of the East and crossing the Mississippi, the other kids had said the same lies over and over until she couldn't do anything but clap her small hands to her ears. "She's coming to get me as soon as Daddy and her get enough money to—"

The woman's calloused hand caught Missy across the cheek. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes, sniffing as she felt the heat building, threatening to spill over into tears if she dared open her mouth again. 

"Let me clear somethin' up for you, girl," the woman said, bending forward to come closer to Missy's eye level. "I've picked up a dozen of you brats since the war ended. How many's parents you think come and got 'em?" She cocked an eyebrow, meeting Missy's hot gaze before giving a short, sharp nod as if they'd just come to an unspoken understanding. "George, show the little miss the spot we cleared for her in the barn."

Step up Passion or Justice.

-Stepped up Passion (d8 -> d10)

Step up a Relationship, Asset, or Resource.

-Stepped up Relationship with Alicia (d8->d10)

Missy is all set!

[IsabellaRose]

3 hours ago, Chiyako said:

First, I shall draw an arrow from The Blue Hour Lady to Millicient Gerenhart with the following caption: "She lets on like she knows something she shouldn't know."

For Alicia's Motiviation, I shall go with The World. While Alicia's experiments are definitely for herself, her scientific pursuits are for the world at large! For science! Her hunger for knowledge leads to scientific progress, and that is not something she does simply for her own gains. This isn't to say that her reasons are entirely altruistic, more than science itself should be pushed forward.

I shall step up Power (from d10 to d12).

Finally, I shall step up Gwenael Auclair (from d4 to d6) since they know each other better than what a d4 is worth.

Alicia is all set!

[MagnificentBastard]

@IsabellaRose

I connected the Judge to my character.

Picked "Yourself" as motivation, chose Power and Shameless Flirting.

[IsabellaRose]

1 hour ago, MagnificentBastard said:

@IsabellaRose

I connected the Judge to my character.

Picked "Yourself" as motivation, chose Power and Shameless Flirting.

Edmund is all set!

The LAST STEP is coming up!