[GUMSHIELD]

The Hunter x Hunter anime has recently finished and the manga is currently on hiatus, so I thought it would be a good idea to fill the hole that it has been left in my heart through roleplay.

I don't have any other projects at the moment, so if this seems popular, I'll start working on it right away.

I have a few thoughts/ideas/concerns that I would like to inquire about. I would greatly appreciate any feedback from any fans of the series and experienced site-runners.


CHARACTER GENERATION

I want the application process to be somewhat analogous to the Hunter Exam and the water divination nen test respectively. The actual Hunter Exam will be represented by a conventional, written application detailing the characters personality, likes, dislikes, background, etc. It could also be written in the style of an in-character interview. To represent the water divination test, I thought it would be interesting if each characters nen-type was randomly generated after the character application has been accepted (of course characters are still capable of using nen abilities which don't match their type, they just won't be as effective). I think this method could, theoretically, be effective at balancing the number of nen-types on the site and encouraging members to concentrate on characterisation. I would really like to avoid the inevitable mary-sues.


COMBAT SYSTEM

I think a balanced combat system is absolutely necessary for a site based on a shonen battle manga. In the series, characters typically use hidden information to their advantage. I want to reduce the likelihood that someone could start a fight with another character, read their opponent's character profile, and exploit the information their own character would not likely possess. I think I may have to rely on a stat-system, but at the same time I don't want to deter people with an overly complicated combat system.

Another option I use is a combat-system based on rock-paper-scissors?


CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Of course I would love for there to be a character development system. I can only imagine this working if I did employ a stats-based combat system. Characters would likely gain EXP from combat and by completing missions.


PLOT & MODERATION

I think the site will be a character-driven sand-box. There won't be an overarching plot, but I think there should be regular events which members may choose to participate in. I also think that members will be responsible for creating their own groups, much like the Phantom Troupe and the Zoldyck family.


If anyone is interested, please don't hesitate to PM me or post a comment here.


(EDIT: I've been thinking that since Nen powers are quite closely tied to personalities, it might be best not to randomise it)

[Ginger]

Character-driven sand-box sounds like fun and follows the same flow that similar anime have set. Maybe Staff can give fun events from time to time to twist things up?

[HADES | ALONE]

I've wanted a HxH rp site for soooo long ;u; count me in if/when you make this! As for stats? I don't think they're a good idea. As much as they help, the hinder as well. And also most folks don't like em. (Though I'm neutral towards them, even if math hurts my brain.) And a sandbox/character driven rp sounds perfect!

Just add some ic or ooc events once and a while (maybe once a month? and months with Holidays you just do a Holiday event?) Also, everyone knows how cool the HxH characters are and some folks may want to be the next Gon, Killua, etc, etc.

Do you have any plans of stopping people from trying to completely emulate or rip off canon abilities, histories, personalities? Because the last thing I wanna see is ten wanna be assassins from some "old and evil assassin family" "4 teh angzt". :I

[๖ۣۜΩmega]

Instead of stats, you could use an overall ability ranking, such as levels or something. Most sites uses letter ranks, like E, D, C, B, A and S. Experience that is accumulated could go towards ranking a character up and possibly affording new techniques or whatever it is characters in HxH use. I don't know, I've never seen it. But I'm a big combat nut so I know a thing or two about power levels and stuff like that.

[GUMSHIELD]

Woah, thanks for the responses guys. First I'll address the events.

There was an event system that was implemented on the first rp site I joined which I'd like to implement. There will be 'Official' and 'Unofficial' events;

Official events are created and ran by the staff. They are relatively difficult, but offer better rewards.

Unofficial events are created and ran by the members. They are relatively easy, but the rewards aren't as good.

I'd like to have an Official event every month or so, but I'd also like to support the members to come up with their own, Unofficial, events.

It has been quite stressful trying to create a stat-based combat system, so like you guys propose, I might just implement ranks. I think stats would have only been necessary for an unbiased pvp system, but I think I'll just have to trust members to resolve combat situations on their own and the staff will mediate when necessary.

I was thinking characters could have the following attributes in their character profile (based on Pathfinder)?;

Strength - measures muscle and physical power
Dexterity - measures agility, reflexes, balance and control
Constitution - represents health, stamina, resistance and durability
Intelligence - determines how well the character learns and reasons
Wisdom - describes character willpower, common sense, awareness and intuition 
Charisma - measures characters personality, personal magnetism, ability to lead and appearance

Then each attribute will be allocated a rank (S, A, B, C, D, E, F).

D-F rank in any attribute represents an average person.

I'll have to get back to you guys about how Nen will work, it deserves its own post really.

In terms of ripping of characters, I am worried about attracting mary-sues/gary-stus based on characters from the series. If people choose to draw inspiration from characters from the series I want to encourage them add a twist or make them more flawed.

[๖ۣۜΩmega]

As in my previous post, I'll only be contributing to the combat portion. Honestly, I feel using that many attributes with ranks would still be restricting. Since HxH isn't a RPG like Dungeons and Dragons or stuff akin to that, denoting a character's intelligence, wisdom and charisma with stats doesn't seem right as normally those are personal traits someone has. My pitch is narrow it down to three catch-all attributes, such as Vigor, Dexterity and Spirit.

Vigor: A combination of Strength and Constitution. It would determine a character's physical prowess and endurance.
Dexterity: Same as you put it. Agility, reflexes, balance and control.
Spirit: This could determine the power of one's Aura, or the effectiveness of it.

Falling back to numeral statistics, keep it low though where a player is given a handful of points, like say 5 to allocate, with the cap being 3 or 4 to start. 0 would denote average as would be acceptable except for in Spirit where a minimum of 1 is needed to develop one's Nen. Also, could still use the letter ranks, E through S to determine overall ability. By ranking up, the character would receive additional points to allocate and the attribute cap for that particular Rank would go up. Having one more or one less than another wouldn't necessarily mean a character was weaker or stronger but 2+ more/less is where the advantage shifts. It's obvious that a S Rank character with optimal stats wouldn't lose to a rookie at E with beginner points but it would be possible for an A or a powerful B to win, it'll fall to their skill and Nen.

I don't know, I just did a lot of reading on HxH's Nen stuff and got inspiration to come up with a more defined combat system. Draw from it or not, either way is fine. Just thought to make it less restricting to allow more creative freedom. Because like I said, I'm big on combat stuff. c:

[GUMSHIELD]

Hmm, you make a good point about too many attributes being restrictive. I really like the stream-lined system you proposed ๖ۣۜΩmega. It reminds me of the levelling system they used in Skyrim and has given me the idea of including perks;

Perks are divided into the three attribute categories; Vigor, Dexterity, Spirit.

You add stat points to each attribute in order to 'purchase' a perk. You have 3-4 perk slots (at the lowest rank?).

Some examples of Vigor perks; Enhanced Strength, Enhanced Stamina, Poison Resistance

Some examples of Dexterity perks; Weapon Proficiency, Enhanced Agility, Enhanced Speed

Some examples of Spirit perks; Enhanced Senses, Charm Animals, Mental Resistance

You might be able to purchase perks from a perk store...

...Or members will be allowed to create their own perks, based on how they have allocated their stat points into each respective attribute.

Generally vigorous people will be capable of similar feats, but this allows characters to specialise if necessary.

I think this still allows creative freedom, characters with similar stats to differentiate themselves, but it prevents people from improvising what their character is capable of when it suits them.

[๖ۣۜΩmega]

Hm, yeah, it could add something more interesting for players to look forward to and all that but 3 or 4 at the lowest rank, which would be E, which is the newbie level, it seems kind of high. So I propose that either each rank has its own maximum cap of perk slots or their attribute level divided by 2 equals their perk slots pertaining to each type of perk, while also meeting the prerequisite of the perks. Such as to obtain Enhanced Strength, need 2 or 3 Vigor. Therefore a minimum of 2 in any attribute would be needed to have one perk of that type.

I think purchasing perks would be ideal, either canon to the site or originally thought up but would still need to spend whatever currency you'd have. I'd assume Experience Points/EXP. Though the players coming up with their own would have to be different than ones on the site and need to be approved.

Now, I've been thinking about Nen, the types and how it could be implemented. In theory, any Nen user can utilize any type but only at less effectiveness than their true type. This could be capitalized by building up one's Spirit and obtaining a secondary and possibly tertiary type. According to the info, 100% for your main type, 80% for adjacent types, then 60% and finally 40%. By claiming another type as your secondary, it would get boosted by 10% and then the tertiary by 5%. So say someone was an Enhancer with enough Spirit for a secondary type, they could claim Transmuter and have a total of 90% effectiveness rather than 80%. Then if they make it for Tertiary (if also used) Emitter would be 85% or Conjurer could be 65%. See where I'm going with this? However, using this system would limit characters to only using those types. Though I think it would allow for better individualism and for their own planning rather than being jack-of-all-trades.

As for Nen itself, the number of a character's abilities/techniques would either be based off how much Spirit they have or their overall rank. I think the latter as Spirit would help determine the power/effectiveness of their Nen. Each Rank would have an ability cap and players could spend EXP to afford slots. Something along those lines.

Anyways, I've just been on a Hunter x Hunter spree, up to Season 3 now, and gettin' an itch to RP it >o>

[GUMSHIELD]

I'm not sure about having a tertiary nen type. To be honest I haven't thought that far ahead in terms of character development.

Perhaps at the lowest rank, E (without a Spirit perk?), you only have one nen ability and it has to be the same nen type as you. As you develop your Spirit and increase your Hunter rank, you will eventually be able to upgrade your abilities with other nen types; for example a high rank Emitter might use an ability to project their nen (100%), enhance it (80%) then manipulate it (80%).

As you say, you can purchase additional ability slots with some form of currency.

If the secondary nen type is implemented, it should be at the higher hunter ranks, like A or S. Like something to aim for when there is nothing else to do in terms of character development.

Specialists will need to be limited and/or require more approval.

Also I was thinking of adding Experience to the list of attributes. It represents knowledge and expertise. Examples of perks related to this attribute include; Computer Expertise, Cartography Expertise, Gourmet Expertise, Medicine Expertise, Mountain Survival Expertise, Desert Survival Expertise.

I thought including this attribute would accommodate non-combat characters. Vigour and Dexterity will be the physical attributes and Experience and Spirit will be the mental attributes.

I'm glad you started watching Hunter x Hunter, you must be enjoying it if you've gotten that far is so little time.