New Savage Dimension ( ETU - Recruiting Now)

[Greywolf]

It's the first semester of your Freshman year at East Texas University. Away from home and with four years of study, or maybe more importantly, parties to look forward to. Whether you're here as a science major, on a sports scholarship, or just want to study in the highly respected anthropology and folklore department, ETU has drawn you to it.
Tearful farewells from your parents over, and a few awkward conversations with your new dorm mates later, you're looking forward to the freshman orientation this evening.
At ETU they call Freshman orientation the Sweat Lodge. Your dorm Resident Assistant spouted some stuff about how the Native American sweat lodges were considered places of rebirth that provided important revelations. At least the letter said there’d be food and music. . .


East Texas University is a setting combining slice of life activities of college students, study, exams, parties, relationships, with investigation of strange supernatural occurrences on campus. Over the course of the campaign characters will uncover secrets and mysteries, some mundane, some not so easily explained away, all the while needing to keep up their exam scores or face censure from the college administration.

There is a Players Guide for the setting on Drive-Thru, and here is the Teaser Trailer. It is my intent to take the characters through the Degrees of Horror plot-point campaign.

Mechanically characters start as Freshmen (Novice characters), and assuming they keep up with their studies will advance to Sophomore (Seasoned), Junior (Veteran) and Senior (Heroic) years of study.

This is a magic-poor setting. No arcane backgrounds, none at all. Though obviously some knowledge of the supernatural, and techniques to combat it can be developed during play.

Combat will inevitably play a part, but so will investigation and NPC interactions, so bear this in mind when creating (hopefully) balanced characters. One-dimensional murder-hobo's are likely to end up being arrested if they go on a killing spree, but being able to defend yourself a little saves you from relying on your buddies to pull you out of situations you may end up in. Also bear in mind that you are college age, so there will be upper limits on starting skill ranks (usually d8), and you'll need a good background for why any combat skills are that high.

Ideally this game will run with approx 6 - 8 varied characters. From a role-play point of view, as a GM I like to have players who interact with each other, and NPC's. This is after all a social hobby. Posts with openings for other players to join the scene and play are what I'd hope for. So if that sounds like your sort of shindig, get your application in and who knows, maybe you'll find an acceptance letter and an orientation pack in your mailbox soon. . .

[Greywolf]

Current Player Slots

1. Zoe Marsh - petite Arts major taking a minor in computer science
2. Philippa-Lynn - Daughter of a military family studying Maths with a minor in ancient history
3. Eugene Whitaker - History and archaeology student, works part time at a pizza place to make extra money.
4. Renate Hodges - Kinesiology Major.
5. David Malec - Jock and anthropolgy major
6. Daniel Carey - Ex army returner to college. Major as yet undecided.
7. Jason Lawinski - self styled 'cool geek'. Studying computer science and creative writing.
8. Gage Cartwright - Criminal Justice major.

[Philippa-Lynn]

Hi, concept for Phillipa Denise Lynn

Pip is usual age for a fresher 16/17
She was born in Portland Oregon, daughter of Hank and Karen Lynn.
She has 1 older brother, Hank jr, and a younger brother, Patrick.

Currently the family home is near the US Naval base in Pensacola, Florida.
Her mum works on base in the commisary and her dad is a chief phot technician.

She has travelled widely with her family, Australia, Hawaii, along with US postings.

She will be studying Mathematics with Ancient History, at ETU. She has some experience of handling guns, .38 pistols and winchester rifles at the shooting range on base and in quarries with her dad and brothers.
Her sport is field hockey, half back. She captained her team at college.
She has long black hair and she wears glasses. She is 5’ 7” and 140 lb, her fitness regime includes swimming and tai chi.

At college she was strong in science, maths, and history. She has a smattering of Latin taken in an online course.
Bookish but social. Strong willed with a tendency to obey and enforce rules.
Doesn’t suffer fools gladly but can keep her own counsel until she has all the information to make a judgement.
Hopes to become a research scientist.

[KahlessNestor]

Here is Eugene Whitaker, the character I made for the first time we tried ETU, though it never actually started.

He's good at school, and pretty much nothing else LOL An archaeology major, he's basically college me.

[Koshnek]

Are you running a campaign, or something you came up with yourself?

[Greywolf]

Are you running a campaign, or something you came up with yourself?

The intention at the moment is to base the game around the Degrees of Horror plot point campaign with additional material flesh it out a little.

[Koshnek]

That's a really cool campaign . Unfortunately, I've played through it before .

[Icosa]

Aw man, I had an ETU character made and everything, but I don't have any character slot left. It'll be at least another quarter before I can get another one.

Maybe next semester!

[Greywolf]

Aw man, I had an ETU character made and everything, but I don't have any character slot left. It'll be at least another quarter before I can get another one.

Maybe next semester!

PM me your character's high concept please.

[Danyar]

I am working on getting my last EP needed for my 3rd character. I will build it today so you have an idea.

[Greywolf]

I am working on getting my last EP needed for my 3rd character. I will build it today so you have an idea.

A high concept will be sufficient for now.
Then I'll open up the forum and you can all post characters in there. Once we have the starting point you can tweak them a little before play stats to try and get a balance between you all.

[Greywolf]

Have had three more expressions of interest on Facebook today, so if they pan out we can move across to the ETU forum this weekend and get full blown characters written up and approved ready for play.

[Jason Lawinski]

Jason Lawinski "Jay Law"

Jason is a nerd, but a cool nerd. Kurt Cobain and Shaggy (Rogers not 2Dope) are his role models. He is from Milwaukee WI and has spent most of his life playing games and watching movies, and most situations remind him of something from one or the other. While his parents aren't enthusiastic about his slacker lifestyle they do notice his gift with computers. He is a Computer Science major with a minor in Creative Writing. He also definitely stands out from the typical school crowd.

His family is very well off, but you wouldn't know based on how he looks and acts. He denies being spoiled even though he is an only child and has never had a job. He says that he spends his time with movies and games to learn life lessons to prepare him for the future.

[Daniel Carey]

Daniel Carey grew up in town, but didn't stick around, he enlisted along with his best friend David Oscar. The Two-Dees as they were known were inseparable in high school, playing the same sports, same x-box games, once they even dated sisters. They even got it in their enlistment contracts that they would be assigned together.

Dan came back to Pinebox to go to college. Dave came back in a pine box. After the funeral, Dan mostly stayed away from old friends, most are either graduated from college or never went. Dan isn't sure what he's doing to study, possibly Psychology or Criminal Justice. In High School he was popular kid, athletic with good grades. Since his return he's quieter, sticking more to himself and a few other vets on campus. In his spare time he works out and reads, sometimes at the same time.

OOC: I was going to study history, but we seem to have a lot of that already.
OOC: not planing on using military background to weasel my way into higher combat skills. Dan mostly drove a desk in the army

[Zoe Marsh]

Zoe Marsh



Zoe moved to Texas from Minnesota. She came to ETU to study Art, mainly painting and sculpture. Ever since she was a little girl she made art in one way or another but when she received her first paints at age of 6 she fell in love.
Short and scrawny with light blond hair and big blue eyes she was the only daughter of her loving parents. Her dad was a computer science geek that imparted his daughter with his love for coding and fandoms. From the two loving parents, she was most close with her da, bonding over long camping trips into the open wild landscapes of Minnesota. She used to love these camping trips for she loved admiring nature and soaking up inspiration for her painting but they also gave her solid survival skills, her father insisting on her learning how to fend for herself in the great wilderness and how to use a rifle.
Super shy and introverted, growing up without siblings made Zoe into somewhat of a recluse. Super smart in unconventional and unpredictable ways she retreated most of her childhood in books and research gathering approximate knowledge on a cornucopia of useless subjects, like ancient lore, mythology and the occult, that fuels her unconventional, cynical sense of humor.
Not sporty but does yoga religiously.

[Daniel Carey]

From a role-play point of view, as a GM I like to have players who interact with each other, and NPC's. This is after all a social hobby. Posts with openings for other players to join the scene and play are what I'd hope for.

I don't know how things are usually done here, but I was in a game once in which they had a thread for the current "plot", Chapter 1 - The SweatLodge, for example, then some roleplaying threads more or less by location. So anyone could post in the Dorm thread, or the Pizza Barn thread, etc. more or less taking place before or after the main plot

[Greywolf]

From a role-play point of view, as a GM I like to have players who interact with each other, and NPC's. This is after all a social hobby. Posts with openings for other players to join the scene and play are what I'd hope for.

I don't know how things are usually done here, but I was in a game once in which they had a thread for the current "plot", Chapter 1 - The SweatLodge, for example, then some roleplaying threads more or less by location. So anyone could post in the Dorm thread, or the Pizza Barn thread, etc. more or less taking place before or after the main plot

That's quite common here too. We have a thread like that in the Shaintar group.
Will go with what feels right at the time.

[KahlessNestor]

Hm. I basically made "me" in college (history/archaeology major, band nerd, poor, fat, smart). But maybe we need a jock or cheerleader LOL I could remake a more tropey character to fill a niche if needed.

[Daniel Carey]

In terms on concept, you'd be a Scholar. I'm a Local, if you squint I could be a Martial Artist or Jock

I think one of the fun parts of modern gaming is you don't have those rigid stereotypes like Barbarian, Ranger, Cleric, etc.

[KahlessNestor]

I'm the guy you have to run faster than when the zombies come...

[Greywolf]

I'm the guy you have to run faster than when the zombies come...

Old school Call of Cthulhu joke.

[Gage Cartwright]

I'm Gage Cartwright a criminal justice student aspiring to be a police officer. Gage is no dummy, but does tend a little more twords the physical side. He prefers to deal with facts and tangable evidences, he is a bit suspicious of people, but once he considers you a friend, there is nothing he wouldn't do for you.


Although, since it seems we already have a criminal justice major (probably should have read the other ideas first!) I would be fine with switching my character up.

My other idea would be Paul Templeton, a devout young man who is studying busniess and hopes to one day run his own religious non-profit. He is a friend to most everyone, but nobody would say he's part of the in crowd. He's never invited to the party, but is somehow always there when someone needs a ride home from it.

[Danyar]

David Malec is an ok Jock. He plays first base on the baseball team and has no dreams of making the majors. He was able to secure a sports scholarship and is using it to his advantage as he studies his major of Anthropology. He is from Virginia Beach, VA and has dreams of becoming a CSI after watching the various shows on TV. He likes to help people and treats others with respect and courtesy. While physically fit and excercises daily, he absolutely loves junk food, Ice Cream, Cakes and pies. His ideal Friday/Saturday night is watching movies and eating a pint or 2 of Ice Cream.

[Daniel Carey]

I could switch from CrimJ to Psych easily enough, either fits. Maybe with a minor in CrimJ so we'd share a few classes

[Greywolf]

I could switch from CrimJ to Psych easily enough, either fits. Maybe with a minor in CrimJ so we'd share a few classes

I wouldn't worry too much. A little overlap is OK, and especially in terms of classes, as the academic disciplines will probably infrequently come into play. Though obviously part of the setting rules dictates passing classes the roll for which depends on you Major skill.

[Renata Hodges]

Renata, the black sheep daughter of a wealthy and influential family. She wants to be in Criminal Justice, but has been shoehorned into sports and sports medicine. Dad wasn't too keen on the idea of his little girl being in harm's way.

[Greywolf]

OK all, have PM'd you all with an invite to come play in our new ETU Forum

The PM details all the next steps you need to take, but if there's anything not clear drop me a message or ask one of the other in the character creation discussion thread.