Topic: TRAIN OOC

[MartAnimE]

TRAIN: a Bee Train inspired cyberpunk RPG

In the not so distant future, many aspects of our daily life tasks have been taken up by AI and robots, leaving humans with lots of free time for self-actualization.
Jobs are scarce and poverty is rampant, but you need not worry, for you are part of an elite few, specially selected to embark on a journey towards a better life.
Your skills and fortune are in high demand in Bee City, a private community. You will play a crucial role in the city's development, as a worker and investor.
You have boarded TRAIN (Transatlantic Railroad Artificial Intelligence Navigator), a long distance train fully operated by an AI computer and robot crew.
TRAIN will carry you safely on a luxurious, scenic, railroad trip across the ocean, towards Bee City. Think of this time as a vacation and relax!

As this game is Bee Train inspired I'd like you to please select a Bee Train character.
Playing multiple characters is allowed, but I recommend you pick only one this time.
I feel character interactions are more dynamic if acted out by different players!

For all interested in playing, here's a list of questions that might help you get started:

1 - What are you?
A) human/animal with fully organic body
B) human/animal with part organic part cybernetic body
C) human/animal conscience in a fully cybernetic body
D) AI in a fully cybernetic body

2 - If you answered 1B or 1C, did an accident or illness cause it or did you choose to become like this?
    Please specify the cause, extent and reason for your transformation.

3 - What is your name, gender, and age?

4 - Were you selected for this trip as a worker or as an investor?

5 - How did you learn your skills or earn your fortune?

6 - Who would you like to have with you on this train?

7 - Who would you hate to see on this train?

Please send me your answers in private and feel free to ask any questions here, or Discord, or PM! Thank you!

[MartAnimE]

Given the cyberpunk setting, it seems fitting that I borrow the concept of Dolls from Avenger.
In this universe, Dolls are extremely popular AI robots modeled after young children.
Built to counter some of the loneliness caused by low birth rates worldwide.
Regarded as a luxury toy by some, a surrogate sibling or child by others.
You will likely encounter a few of them on this journey!

[MartAnimE]

Based on your individual answers, I compiled a basic outline for all the playable characters and NPCs here, for easy reference.
The backstories add to the world building, but I will keep the details in spoiler tags if you'd rather not know about the other passengers.
Legal names are disclosed if available. Codenames and nicknames are capitalized. Whatever name is in bold is the character's preferred name.

Margaret Burton

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, female, age 20, investor, traveling with Dolls Laetitia and Poupée
- privately tutored by Vanessa Rene, education in robotics and AI, inventor of Dolls
- heiress to the Burton Robotics fortune, gifted savant genius, rather eccentric

Laetitia

Spoiler: show

- fully cybernetic Doll, female model, age 8, traveling with handler Margaret Burton
- the first Doll, a prototype built and developed by Margaret Burton herself
- upgraded to match newest models, highly developed AI, oddly mature

Poupée

Spoiler: show

- fully cybernetic Doll, male model, age 12, traveling with handler Margaret Burton
- the second Doll, male test model, also built and developed by Margaret Burton
- upgraded to match newest models, AI and personality match his model's age

SUBARU (aka Mariko Misono)

Spoiler: show

- cybernetically enhanced human, female, age 19, worker, traveling alone
- education in computer science, expert hacker, mentor to fellow hacker TSUKASA
- cyber implants allow her to walk again after becoming paraplegic in a car accident

Elenore Baker

Spoiler: show

- fully cybernetic human, female model, age 23, worker and investor, traveling alone
- trained in martial arts and computers, highly enhanced strength, speed, stamina, and hacking
- licensed her likeness for mass production of prosthetic bodies, became cybernetic to achieve enlightenment

SORA (aka Ryou Misaki)

Spoiler: show

- fully cybernetic human, male model, age 11, investor, traveling alone
- gifted hacker, Doll body upgraded to match newest models, highly enhanced hacking
- uploaded his conscious to Doll's body so he could stay young forever, childish and mischievous

Vanessa Rene

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, female, age 33, investor, traveling with bodyguard MADLAX
- graduated with honors in Information Science and Technology from Soldophine University
- former private tutor to Margaret Burton, former International Affairs Manager at Bookwald Industries

MADLAX (real name unknown)

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, female, age 25, worker, traveling with client Vanessa Rene
- raised and trained by SSS in the war-torn country of Gazth-Sonika, mercenary for hire
- exceptionally fit and athletic, trained in firearms, hand to hand combat, and survival skills

SPEEDY (aka Dr Spencer Edy)

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, male, age 36, worker, traveling with Doll Nei and bodyguard Layla Ashley
- diplomat, medical doctor, mechanical engineer, robotics engineer, Doll enthusiast
- acquired Nei as a surrogate child after his biological daughter died

Nei

Spoiler: show

- fully cybernetic Doll, female model, age 10, traveling with handler SPEEDY
- one of the earliest models of mass produced Dolls, upgraded to match newest models
- AI and personality match her model's age, customized to resemble SPEEDY's deceased daughter

Layla Ashley

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, female, age 22, worker, traveling with client SPEEDY
- raised and trained by CROSS (former Space Force Military), mercenary for hire
- exceptionally fit and athletic, trained in martial arts, dual tonfa, and survival skills

Limelda Jorg

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, female, age 30, worker, traveling with partner DOG
- DOG unit police officer, former designated marksman at Gazth-Sonika Royal Guard
- fit and athletic, expert sniper, trained in firearms, hand to hand combat, and survival skills

DOG (Digitally Optimized Guard)

Spoiler: show

- fully cybernetic DOG, male model, age 7, traveling with partner Limelda Jorg
- DOG unit police officer, Doberman Pinscher model, upgraded to match newest models
- highly enhanced strength, speed, agility, stamina, smell, hearing, sight, and bite power

Milosh Havel

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, male, age 39, worker, traveling alone
- former French Foreign Legion, mercenary for hire, hobbyist painter
- fit and athletic, trained in firearms, hand to hand combat, and survival skills

Carrossea Doon

Spoiler: show

- cybernetically enhanced human, male, age 42, investor, traveling alone
- former senior consultant at Bookwald Industries, renowned pickup artist
- cyber implants supposedly enhance his sexual prowess, proud of his "GIFT"

TSUKASA (aka An Shoji)

Spoiler: show

- cybernetically enhanced human, female, age 18, worker, traveling alone
- gifted with computers, self taught hacker, mentored by fellow hacker SUBARU
- cyber implants enhance hacking abilities, presents masculine, often misgendered

SSS (real name unknown)

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, male, age 45, worker, traveling alone
- former military, background in mercenary training in Gazth-Sonika
- fit and athletic, trained in firearms, hand to hand combat, and survival skills

Mireille Bouquet (aka NOIR)

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, female, age 24, worker, traveling with partner Kirika and pet Myshkin
- trained by her uncle Claude in Paris, mercenary for hire under codename NOIR
- fit and athletic, trained in firearms and hand to hand combat

Kirika Yuumura (aka NOIR)

Spoiler: show

- fully organic human, female, age 21, worker, traveling with partner Mireille and pet Myshkin
- woke up in Japan with no past memories, worked with Mireille under codename NOIR for past 5 years
- exceptionally fit and athletic, wide range of weapons and martial arts training, full extent of skills is unknown

Prince Myshkin

Spoiler: show

- cybernetically enhanced cat, male, age 9, traveling with handlers Mireille and Kirika
- became a stray after his first owner died, adopted by Mireille and Kirika during a business trip to Russia
- cybernetic collar translates his thoughts into human speech, propulsion mechanism allows him to fly and assist on missions

[MartAnimE]

It took me a bit longer than expected to finish the map and general planning, but I should be ready to start the RPG in November!

Here's the MAP and a brief description of each TRAIN car (top to bottom, left to right):

CAR 1

- Crew Compartment
- Infirmary
- Artificial Garden

CAR 2

- Restrooms
- Indoors Pool
- Pool Lounge

CAR 3

- Restrooms
- Traditional Media Library:
  Row 1: Books
  Row 2: Games
  Row 3: Movies
  Row 4: Music
- Study Area

CAR 4

- Restrooms
- Restaurant & Bar
- Dining Area

CAR 5

- Passenger Suites:
  Room 01: Margaret & Laetitia & Poupée
  Room 02: SUBARU
  Room 03: Elenore
  Room 04: SORA
  Room 05: Vanessa & MADLAX
  Room 06: SPEEDY & Nei & Layla
  Room 07: Limelda & DOG
  Room 08: Milosh
  Room 09: Carrossea
  Room 10: TSUKASA
  Room 11: SSS
  Room 12: Mireille & Kirika & Myshkin

You may use the map to navigate purposefully or you can just get lost and explore TRAIN spontaneously.
The map is mostly for my own reference and I will always provide additional description as needed, in the game thread.
All players still interested in participating please let me know here or on PM and I will start the game thread as soon as possible.
If for any reason you changed your mind and you're no longer interested that's also fine, I can make it work with any number of players.

[MartAnimE]

Spoiler: TRAIN RESTAURANT & BAR MENU • show

  BREAKFAST

- Bacon & Eggs & Toast
- BLT Sandwich
- Eggs Benedict
- Chicken & Waffles
- Pancakes & Fruit

  MAIN

- Amigo Tacos
- Beef Wellington
- Crab Cakes
- Curry Rice
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Filet Mignon
- Gourmet Burger
- Grilled Salmon
- Omurice
- Pasta Carbonara
- Ratatouille
- Spaghetti & Meatballs
- Steak & Lobster
- Sushi Platter
- Tonkotsu Ramen

  SIDES

- Bread Rolls
- Buffalo Wings
- Caesar Salad
- Chicken Soup
- French Fries
- Fried Rice
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Roasted Vegetables
- Tomato Soup
- White Rice

  DESSERTS
- Apple Pie
- Bluberry Muffin
- Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Vanilla Ice Cream

  DRINKS
- Apple Juice
- Black Tea
- Chocolate Milkshake
- Coffee
- Green Tea
- Hot Cocoa
- Milk
- Orange Juice
- Soda
- Strawberry Milkshake

  LIQUOR
- Beer
- Bourbon
- Champagne
- Gin
- Rum
- Sake
- Scotch
- Tequila
- Vodka
- Wine

  COCKTAILS
- Air Mail
- Amaretto Sour
- Americano
- Aperol Spritz
- Army & Navy
- Aviation
- Bee's Knees
- Bloody Mary
- Boulevardier
- Bramble
- Caipirinha
- Clover Club
- Corpse Reviver #2
- Cosmopolitan
- Daiquiri
- Dark ‘n’ Stormy
- Dry Martini
- Espresso Martini
- French 75
- Gimlet
- Gin Basil Smash
- Gin Fizz
- Hanky Panky
- Jungle Bird
- Last Word
- Mai Tai
- Manhattan
- Margarita
- Mezcal Margarita
- Mojito
- Moscow Mule
- Naked & Famous
- Negroni
- Old Cuban
- Old Fashioned
- Painkiller
- Paloma
- Penicillin
- Piña Colada
- Pisco Sour
- Pornstar Martini
- Rum Old Fashioned
- Sazerac
- Sidecar
- Southside
- Vesper
- Vieux Carré
- Vodka Martini
- Whiskey Sour
- Zombie

[MartAnimE]

 Added the RESTAURANT & BAR MENU above, for easy reference. The COCKTAILS section includes pictures!

[MartAnimE]

(Does she recognize the man holding the Doll?)

I have provided basic info for all the characters and NPCs on this thread. Some would naturally be more notorious than others, Speedy probably being one of them given his many accomplishments in several fields, but it's up to you whether your character would recognize them or not.

[MartAnimE]

Some of you are playing Madlax characters with minor to major deviations from canon, here's a few things to consider so all the backstories are aligned:

- MADLAX only knows Vanessa, though Vanessa could have mentioned some of her friends before.

- Vanessa is Margaret's former tutor, they were next door neighbours, they are close friends and know each other well.

- Elenore knows Vanessa and Margaret,  I assume they were neighbours, they're friends though not as close as they were in the anime.

- Doon knows Elenore, I assume they were neighbours, though not particularly close. He may recognize Vanessa since they both worked at Bookwald.

In the interest of keeping things consistent, please let me know if this works for all of you or if you have different ideas that won't conflict with each other's backstories. Thanks!

[MartAnimE]

I'm sorry to announce that I have decided to cancel the TRAIN RPG. I apologize for the disappointment and I appreciate all of you who stuck around for so long. I take full responsibility for its failure and don't blame any of the players. It just became obvious to me that the game never quite took off with the engagement I had envisioned for the story, and what little enthusiasm was left for this project has completely died out. However, this was not a total loss, I'll take my lessons from it and apply it to any future projects. My next RPG will be quite different, and I already have some ideas, but I'll post more about it in the near future!